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spiritual-related stories

Kundalini Yoga

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

Kundalini Yoga is a spiritual and physical practice closely associated with Hatha yoga that is designed to facilitate spiritual enlightenment. More than just a means to fitness, Kundalini yoga is based on the fundamental principle of awakening the seven chakras through breathing, chanting and meditation. The Kundalini is an untapped source of energy thought to sit at the base of your spine like a coiled snake, and it's through the yoga practice that this energy is drawn up. Full enlightenment is thought to be achieved when the energy reaches the Crown Chakra. Kundalini yoga is relatively new to Western society -- it was introduced to North America in 1969 by the 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization.)

A Kundalini yoga session involves a series (called kriya) of postures (called asanas,) each done with an emphasis on the breathing process. Sessions also involve chanted mantras and meditation. Though it's a highly spiritual form of yoga, don't expect your Kundalini yoga session to be easy -- the practice is very physically intense.

Want to learn more? Discover other types of yoga.

Fitness Trainer Danielle Urtnowski Trains her Body and Brain

That's Fit Club, Fitness, Motivation

thats fit club

That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader. We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other. That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.

Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Adidas is giving gorgeous gym bags to each featured member. To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions, with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

danielle urtName: Danielle Urtnowski

Age: 34

Occupation: Personal Trainer & nursing student

How often do you exercise? Four to six times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I always change it up from cardio on the BOSU to plyometric exercises using full body movement to incorporate more than one muscle group at a time.

What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? I have a large puppy who requires lots of exercise.

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Female? Religious? You'll have less anxiety

Diet & Weight Loss

If you're a woman and feel yourself becoming anxious every day, perhaps a dose of religious faith is in order? According to new research, those women with an active life in religion are don't have nearly the anxiety as those without religion in their lives.

In fact, the research went as far as saying that those women who have recently become religious are still three times more likely to suffer from anxiety as those who have always been religiously active.

What do you think? Can a lifetime relationship with religion -- any religion -- free you up from the daily grind of anxiety?

Source

Psychiatrists more open to spiritual discussion than other physicians

Diet & Weight Loss

Although many medical doctors and general practitioners avoid the subjects of spirituality and faith with their patients, a new study says this isn't the case when interacting with your psychiatrist.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors as well -- so why do they broach the sensitive subjects of faith and spirituality with patients? The study found that 90 percent of them said it's always or usually appropriate to ask patients about their religious faith or spirituality.

When trying to find the root of mental conditions and possible problems, this makes perfect sense. The same psychiatrist group were more apt to report that crises of religious faith can make the suffering from their patients worse.

Source

You have to choose to be healthy, intentionally and on purpose

Motivation

I think sometimes, or most of the time maybe, we all get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Choices and decisions get rushed and the lines between what we need, what we want, and what we're actually doing start to blur. The truth is that although it's great to have all kinds of different goals in life you have to be careful you're not trying to do too much at once. When is the last time you really thought about your priorities? Not everything can be at the top of the list. Where is your health on that list? Are you really giving your top priorities the most effort and focus? It seems many people say 'health and losing weight' is a top priority, but then they bog themselves down with so many other things they hardly have time to work on it. Whether you like it or not that means it's at the bottom of the list, not the top.

So take a few minutes to think about what's important to you and to make some decisions. Make the choice to choose, and you may be surprised at how much focus, determination, and newfound success you find you suddenly have.

Source

Need inspiration? 5 good reasons to exercise

Fitness, Motivation

If you went around and asked people why they exercised, or why they should exercise, I bet you'd get hundreds of different answers. I think it's good that there are so many motivations available, especially since sometimes what works for you one day doesn't work for you the next. So if you're currently in need of some renewed inspiration here's a list of 5 good reasons to workout:
  • Get out of your head and into your body. Get away from over-thinking and over-analyzing and get into the natural function of physical movement.
  • Find a great way to de-stress and relax. Exercising for as little as 15 minutes can bring a feeling of inner peace and tranquility.
  • Use your exercise time to work through issues. It's a great time to clear your head and think.
  • Gain confidence and self-esteem-- you won't be able to help feeling better about yourself!
  • Learn to live in the present. Exercise helps your over-all wellbeing, which includes not worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.

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