Relaxation Remedy

You deserve a break. Yes, you, the attractive one with the shimmering eyes who is currently reading this blog post! 

Often, people neglect time for themselves as the day becomes occupied with countless errands to run and you can't forget that long overdue grocery shopping trip. Suddenly, you are bombarded with tasks you need to complete. However, what you truly need is relaxation. I'm willing to bet that this word feels foreign as the sound of it rolls of your tongue, with a ringing of a faint nostalgia of simpler days. So put those papers aside, and I will walk you through how to properly unwind.

First, you must set the atmosphere. To ease your tension, you must create the proper environment which surrounds your being. Turn off the lights, and ignite your favorite scented candle. Let the aroma penetrate the space as you inhale the inviting fumes while the flaming tip of the wick provides a luminescence flickering that casts a feeble shadow.

Puariea, Natalie. Bath and Body Works Mini Candle Review - Snow Day. 2014. Photograph. BloggerWeb. 28 Mar 2014. <http://lightscameraphoto.blogspot.ca/2014/01/bath-and-body-works-mini-candle-review.html>.

To fill the background, play a collection of soft tunes. My current favorite song is Snow (Hey oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers which is a melodic piece about disembarking the past and starting fresh.

Afterwards, one of the most important factors, is the snacking. You deserve a treat whether it is a bowl (or two, and maybe even three) of creamy ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce or a generous slice of decadent, rich and espresso-empowering tiramisu cheesecake. The naughty dessert I can't help but reach for is dark chocolate. My favorites are the Ghiradelli Twilight Delight 72% individual squares and the Godiva 72% cacoa chocolate bar.

Ren, Lily. Chocolates. 2014. Photograph. n.p. jpg

With your food in hand, it is finally time to settle down. Snuggle up in your coziests, fluffiest and warmest throws and dive onto the couch where you can catch up with your favorite television emissions. My guilty pleasure is the Food Network. If I could, I would hibernate in my house to watch seasons upon seasons of the whimsical Cutthroat Kitchen.

Cutthroat Kitchen. 2014. Photograph. The Food NetworkWeb. 27 Mar 2014 <http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2013/08/08/KT111_Cutthroat-Kitchen-Alton-Brown-suitcase_s4x3_lg.jpg

Do a favor for your body, and please don't crush it under the weight of stress. Visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/13/stress-awareness-day-relaxation-benefits_n_1424820.html for a greater understanding of the benefits of relaxation.


Now, that's enough reading for you today. Time to kick back and relax!

Stressed? Detox with 5 Simple Yoga Stances

It's not only for hippie peace loving nomads and shriveled Indian gurus garnished with wooden beads, yoga is for everyone, including you and I. This ancient discipline is meant to stimulate and balance physical, mental and spiritual forces. Because of it's effectiveness, this art is practiced worldwide today.

The Sanskrit word yoga, translates to "unite" "join," or "attach." These three actions are the key foundations to excelling the practice by achieving a still state of permanent peace with the mind to permit the ability to unite, join and attach onto one's self which allows harmony to adhere the body and soul. Also classified as "union with the divine" this practice enforces mental clarity.

I was personally inspired by the multi-talented phenomenon, mother of two and world renowned lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow to begin my adventure with this practice. In an article with Style, Paltrow admits to waking up at 4:30 every morning for a yoga session despite not being a "morning person at all." Somehow in the midst of her hectic family, acting and singing duties, she still does yoga. As 2013's "Most Beautiful Woman," this routine must be working towards her favor as she manages to remain fresh-faced and sane within the relentless film industry.

So for those who have retired their pair of painful heels after a grueling day in the office, the way to release any stress is through a series of yoga stances which allow unwanted toxins and tension to flush out of your system. Below, are five of my favorite positions, but there are a variety of which you can learn at  the website http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/finder/browse_categories.

Namaste.

Downwards Dog

 

Ren, Lily, perf. Downwards Dog. 2014. Film. 27 Mar 2014.

Go on all fours and straighten the elbows and knees while shifting your weight onto the legs. Lean backwards from your hips and lengthen your spine from the tips of the fingers to the last vertebrae.

Child's Pose

Ren, Lily, perf. Child's Pose. 2014. Film. 27 Mar 2014.

Sit on your feet and place your hands in front of you. From your shoulders, direct your energy backwards, look downwards and straighten your spine. Feel a stretch spread in your back. Most importantly, breathe deeply and loosen any tension.

Warrior 1

Ren, Lily, perf. Warrior 1. 2014. Film. 27 Mar 2014.

Step into a lunge and lean into the position from the hips, lift through the heart and raise your arms with palms facing inwards. Slightly bend backwards. Feel the stretch down your spine and within the space between your shoulder blades.

                                                     

                                                                 

Warrior 2 

Ren, Lily, perf. Warrior 2. 2014. Film. 27 Mar 2014.

Step into a lunge and slightly sink into the position from your inner thighs. Spread your arms, tilt your head to the side and open your heart. Feel your chest expand and the stretch in your shoulders spread to the fingers.

Warrior 3 

                                            

Ren, Lily, perf. Warrior 3. 2014. Film. 27 Mar 2014.

Focus your balance on one leg and slowly bend your torso. Tuck your chin inwards and simultaneously, raise your back leg and front two arms to create a horizontal plank. Breathe deeply and let the oxygen radiate through your body.

Plain Yogurt vs Greek Yogurt

Sorting out the facts about Greek yogurt. 2014. Photograph. Fox NewsWeb.
27 Mar 2014. <http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/13/is-greek-yogurt-really-better-
for-than-regular-yogurt/>.

With a sudden skyrocketing success, greek yogurt has infiltrated the refrigerated dairy section of every supermarket and has become the new rave. For it's high protein content, customers have now replaced regular yogurt for this exotic commodity.

You might be wondering, why the hype? Greek yogurt is sold at a much higher price, but nonetheless it is still yogurt. By adding active bacteria cultures into milk, the mixture ferments and becomes yogurt. For greek yogurt, the product is strained three three times to drain any liquid leaving a very thick and creamy product, whereas normal yogurt is only strained twice creating a smooth texture.

Although, with relatively the same amount of calories, greek yogurt has almost double the protein of regular yogurt which is a benefit because of the longer lasting fullness while decreasing sugar content by half. During the straining process, the milk sugars are squeezed out and the protein remains. However, along with the protein, the fat also lingers. Because of this, regular yogurt has approximately three times less of the saturated fat making it an ideal option for those who possess high cholesterol levels to decrease risks of heart disease.

During the straining process, sodium is also drained. As a result, greek yogurt has half the the amount of the regular kind which is beneficial for avoiding an elevation in blood pressure which inhibits the proper functioning of the kidneys, arteries, heart and brain. Regular yogurt has about one third of a higher calcium content than greek yogurt because it is not lost during the straining. However, both variations are excellent sources of this mineral.

Which one do you choose? The verdict is that these yogurts are nutritional powerhouses. For those on a tighter budget, plain yogurt is the optimal option, but you must avoid aspartame sweetened and sugary versions. If the price does not affect you, I personally recommend Greek yogurt; however, once again you must check the ingredients label for any unwanted added products. Nonetheless, I enjoy indulging upon both forms of yogurt.

Still not sure? Visit http://theloudandclear.com/2012/02/03/yogurt-decoded/ for more information.

McDevitt, Kim. Yogurt Decoded. 2012. Photograph. The Loud and ClearWeb. 27 Mar 2014. <http://theloudandclear.com/2012/02/03/yogurt-decoded/>.

For the Crazy Calorie Queens

Often while in the midst of wandering aimlessly in the grocery aisle, an appealing product draws your attention with vibrant images of decadent fruits and flashy titles claiming to be a "healthy snack" and "low in calories." Immediately, you drop the box in your awaiting buggy. Does this sound familiar?

However, what exactly are calories? To the majority of the population, higher calorie content signifies a greater consumption, resulting in fat gain. So the less you consume, the skinnier you will be right? Wrong.  In reality, calories are merely a unit of energy with the conversion rate of 1 calorie per 0.004184 kilojoules. These calories that we consume consist of the three macronutrient building blocks of our body, carbohydrates (1 gram=4 calories), fats (1 gram=9 calories) and proteins (1 gram=4 calories.)


I was once a crazy calorie queen. However, now that number is insignificant to me because it is replaced by the source of the calorie, the nutrients of the ingredients. Upon first glance, the "healthy" 190 calorie Mixed Berry Nature Valley Greek Yogurt Protein Bar is appealing with the various fruits, assortment of nuts and the coat of greek yogurt; however, one look at the nutrition label will shatter this faux-facade.

Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Protein Bar. N.d. Photograph. General MillsWeb. 24 Mar 2014. <http://www.naturevalley.com/Snack-Bars/MixedBerryGreekYogurtProteinBar>.

Evan, Amos. Oh-Henry-Split. 2010. Photograph.
Wikipedia the Free EncyclopediaWeb. 25 Mar 2014. 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oh-Henry-Split.jpg>.

With 11 whopping grams of sugar, it consists of over a quarter of the bar and has almost the same amount as a snack-size Oh Henry! chocolate. After inspecting the nutrition table, I will glance over at the ingredients. The components descend in the list by predominance and weight. In  this granola bar, sugar is the third highest ranked in the list followed closely by corn syrup and high maltose corn syrup with are both different forms of unhealthy sugars. At the very bottom of the list are the fruits, blueberries and cranberries. The calories from this "nutrition" bar derive from nuts, but also a large portion from sugars and modified oils such as palm kernel and palm oil. Nature Valley isn't so natural after all. An alternative to this snack could be my personal favorite indulgence, a creamy greek yogurt parfait topped with a generous layer of blueberries and a sprinkle of chopped nuts. However, if you are in search of a quick on-the-go bite, I recommend Kashi Granola Bars which are made of wholesome all natural ingredients and can be purchased for a low price at any Costco store.

So next time you are tempted by a product, check the back label before making the purchase and you will be undoubtedly shocked with some of the information companies discreetly hide from the customer. So to all the crazy calorie queens, hopefully you will convert yourselves into nutty nutrition label nuisances!

For more information on calorie counting, visit the website http://www.policymic.com/articles/57555/5-common-misconceptions-about-counting-calories which will unmask all the common misconceptions.

The Reason Why I Am a Morning Person

Often people will approach me with curious eyes and bewilderment to ask how I can function so well in early mornings when others are moaning and groaning. In response, I whisper that the secret is my nutrition-packed green smoothie. Not only is it speedy to prepare, it can also be portable to slurp on during class when there is no time to finish the drink at home.
 Below, I will share with you my Green Machine recipe.               

Ren, Lily. Unblended Smoothie. 2014. Photograph. n.p. jpg

A Green Machine a day keeps the doctors, worries and stress away! 

Ren, Lily, dir. Blending Smoothie  .
Lily Ren, 2014. gif. 26 Mar 2014.

Preparation

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