Gift Ideas For The Yoga Mama

Lululemon's new Sport Cardi (available in heathered charcoal and classic sport grey). It is made with highly breathable fabric - Rayon from bamboo fibres and tencel and includes a wrap tie for customized fit. I love the collar style as well! Retails $128.00 CAD and available from Lululemon.


Sterling Silver Lotus charm with a faceted AAA green amethyst gemstone. Available from karinagracejewelry and retails for $43.00 US.

Yoga Shakti by Shiva Rea has got to be the ultimate in yoga instructional DVDs. This double DVD set includes pre-designed yoga practices as well as a unique "yoga matrix format" which allows you to personalize your own yoga practice using a menu filled with a large variety of postures, meditations and relaxations. Price: Currently on sale through Amazon.com for $23.95

Volkswagen's Fun Theory: Piano Staircase

”Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator and feel better” is something we often hear or read in the Sunday papers. Few people actually follow that advice. Can we get more people to take the stairs over the escalator by making it fun to do? See the results here.



Fun can obviously change behavior for the better.

Exercising During Pregnancy Reduces Risk Of Heavy Babies

Photo by bslider

A new study published in the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology has proven that not only does regular exercise keep moms healthy during pregnancy but it also helps to prevent excessive newborn weight.

HealthDay News reports that the Norwegian researchers found that the chances of delivering a heavy baby dropped by 28 percent in women who regularly exercised during their second and third trimesters.

The study also reported that the number of larger babies being born is on the rise while the number of women exercising during pregnancy is on the decline.

The effects of exercise didn't appear to be as consistently beneficial in women who'd already had children. When these women danced or participated in low-impact aerobics, they also reduced the likelihood of delivering a large baby, but when they swam or trained in fitness centers, the benefit disappeared.

Allen said that while exercise during pregnancy is definitely a good idea, these findings might be different if done with a different population. For example, American women are likely more ethnically diverse and have different average body-mass index levels.

But, in any case, Allen said, "Exercise should be encouraged for everyone who's healthy enough to do it. Exercise shouldn't be discontinued just because you're pregnant."

Allen added that research in the United States has also shown that women who exercise are less likely to have preterm deliveries.

Welch cautioned that as women progress in pregnancy, they should avoid any exercise that has them lay flat on their back, because this can restrict blood flow to both baby and mom. Also, contact sports are out, as is anything where falling might be likely, such as horseback riding.

He said he tells his patients to keep their heart rate to no more than 120 beats per minute during exercise. This allows you to get an aerobic workout, but isn't so much that it might shunt blood away from the baby, Welch explained.

Exercise has always been hugely beneficial to the health of mama and baby. Yoga, Pilates, swimming and walking are low impact, gentle ways to stay fit and keep healthy both during and after pregnancy.

Breasteeding, diet and exercise help to prevent breast cancer

In the largest research study into lifestyle and breast cancer ever conducted, The American Institute for Cancer Research has confirmed that women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and by breastfeeding their children. They have updated a 2007 review of over 800 studies on the affect of nutrition and lifestyle on breast cancer by adding results of 81 new studies.

“This study represents the clearest picture we have ever had on how lifestyle affects a woman’s risk of breast cancer,” said Professor Martin Wiseman, MD, Medical and Scientific Adviser for AICR and WCRF.

Susan Higginbotham the institute's director of research said, "We estimate that almost 40 per cent of breast cancer cases in the U.S. — or about 70,000 cases every year — could be prevented by making these straightforward everyday changes."

The report recommends:

• Doing physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day.
• Limiting consumption of alcohol to two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman.
• Breastfeeding exclusively for up to six months after a baby is born.
• Staying as lean as possible without becoming underweight.
• Avoiding sugary drinks and energy-dense foods.
• Eating more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.
• Limiting consumption of red meats such as beef, pork and lamb and avoiding processed meats.
• Limiting consumption of salty foods and foods processed with sodium.
• Not using supplements to protect against cancer.
• Not smoking or chewing tobacco.

"Having a healthy lifestyle doesn't guarantee a woman won't get breast cancer, but it reduces her risk," said Dr. Alison Ross, senior science information officer for Cancer Research U.K., in a statement commenting on the report.

"If women attend screening and keep an eye out for any symptoms that could be breast cancer, they are more likely to pick up any early signs of the disease when treatment is most likely to be successful."

Similar reviews for colon and prostrate cancer are currently in the works and should be completed by early next year.

The full report of this fabulous study can be found at The American Institute for Cancer.

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Cherry Juice, an alternative to sugary sports drinks

According to new research from Oregon Health & Science University presented at the American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Seattle, Wash, cherry juice could help ease the pain for runners. People who drank tart cherry juice while training for their long distance run, reported less pain after exercising then their peers.

In the study of sixty healthy adults aged 18-50 years, those who drank 10.5 ounces cherry juice (CHERRish 100% Montmorency cherry juice) twice a day for seven days prior to and on the day of a long-distance relay had significantly less muscle pain following the race than those who drank another fruit juice beverage. On a scale from 0 to 10, the runners who drank cherry juice as their "sports drink" had a 2 point lower self-reported pain level at the completion of the race, a clinically significant difference.

While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of tart cherry juice, researchers say the early finding indicate cherries may work like common medications used by runners to alleviate post-exercise inflammation.

The researchers suggest cherries' post-exercise benefits are likely because of the fruit's natural anti-inflammation power – attributed to antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins, which also give cherries their bright red color.

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Yoga reduces Asthma attacks

According to researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine, yoga can halve the symptoms of asthma after just ten weeks.

A trial was run by placing a group of asthmatics through two yoga sessions a week. They also asked them to practice an additional 30 minutes at home, once per week.

At the end of the trial, the subjects - all yoga novices - reported that the severity and frequency of their symptoms had reduced, while their quality of life had improved by more than 40 per cent.

It's thought that the deep breathing involved in holding yoga postures causes similar respiratory stress as in an asthma attack - as the subjects became used to this, they were better able to deal with their asthma.

Yoga is an excellent way to relieve symptoms because there are no side-effects, unlike modern medicine such as corticosteroids,' said the lead researcher Amy Bidwell.

'For some people, regular yoga could mean they need less medication.'

As a firm advocater of Yoga, I found this study to be quite interesting. After having my first child I had some roundness in my back due to muscle loss in my abdomen and the additional weight of my breasts due to breast feeding. Yoga not only helped with strengthening my body but also opened up my chest and straightened out my back. I was able to breath deeper and my posture improved tremendously.

I can therefore understand how Asthma can be improved by gentle yoga exercise.

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