by Andrea BlumensteinRemember how mindfulness and self-care topped the New Year’s resolution lists for yet another year? Well, now that January is behind us (Thank you, next.) we can all take a few minutes to reflect on set goals and expectations. Close your eyes. Breathe. How did you do? This is an observation, nota judgment. Simple, consistent meditation practice eludes many; what matters next is identifying why. Some get stuck because of the relatively liquidness of the concept. The terms mindfulness and meditation can mean different things in different contexts. For others, scheduling a time and establishing a meditation routine that doesn’t get slashed from the schedule as though it was merely saving space for overflow can be challenging. Maybe you need some network of support or community to stick to it. Or, maybe you need a little nudge or external reminder to stay on track. Or, you just have to decide to do it. Either way, there’s an app for that™, so read on. When Apple successfully received trademark approval for the catch phrase from a popular iPhone commercial in 2010, they knew that they had a direct line to the future of, well, everything with the whole app thing. Including mindfulness. It might be because tech bigwigs are rumored to have had the whole brain break thing perfected for quite some time. Meanwhile, others of us were pulling out hair or turning gray with “work breaks” that involved restarting or unplugging-and-re-plugging malfunctioning devices. OM? More like um. If technology has become more accessible, and, in theory, making our lives easier, why are stress levels and burnout reported at alarming levels? Research shows that a big chunk of anxiety stems (and productivity lost) from smart phone usage and our need to be constantly plugged-in. Scientists have actually designated a term for it – nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) – in order to streamline discourse on the growing phenomenon. So, in a seemingly counter-intuitive move, many are opening up their app store for help. The goal of mindfulness meditation is to support with science, rather than specific spiritual teachers/teachings, a practice that enables the practitioner to disentangle thoughts and emotions from the present moment. Back when the iPhone commercial aired, Apple proudly boasted 250,000 apps. Today, the tech powerhouse is currently tailing Android, where users choose from 2.1 million apps to Apple’s 2 million. Paltry! Among the millions of apps to choose from, almost ironically, mindfulness and meditation apps accumulated at a staggering number in recent years. One could easily slip into an internet vortex just trying to pick one to try out. So, for those of you looking to change up your current practice or develop a new one, here are some picks for digitalized meditation to help you sift through the noise. Though the best thing would be to sign up for all the free trials and pick one where you enjoy the voice and the interface because honestly, they are all kind of similar. Head-space Beginners, start here! This is not only the most popular meditation app, downloaded by millions of users, but arguably the simplest. Some might say that the interface is too juvenile. I’m talking cartoons to teach the nuts and bolts of mindfulness. This app focuses on getting users to establish (and keep) a daily meditation practice. Insight Timer This is the most social of all of the apps. It is free with an optional upgrade. It is incredibly user friendly, if you can get past the poor design, but is better suited for people that have at least some meditation experience. Features like Tibetan singing bowls, chat and ability to “meditate together” are the stand-outs of this long running app. There are more than 5,000 guided meditations and have recordings by some well-known mediation teachers but the real tour de force is that users who don’t need their hands held can keep track of their meditation practice. Meditation Studio This app boasts more than 500 guided meditations led by 40 experts. Downloading the app costs $2.99 but comes with rave user reviews. Instead of scrolling through your phone, the meditation studio app offers help with stress relief and anxiety as well. Most of the guided recordings are under ten minutes, so they are totally accessible for a dose of zen on the go. Waking up “Discover your mind” with Sam Harris, neuroscientist, author and host of his popular podcast by the same name. If you are a fan of his already, a trip to this app makes total sense. The opposite if you can’t stand him. His method is geared toward both novice and more experienced users, with the goal to help users sift through their mind to get the most out of their individual internal experiences. Calm This app is regarded by many as having the best visuals, and claims to do more than just help users meditate. The company lists anxiety, depression and stress as among their target conditions. For free, users can access a handful of guided meditations, but they are reported as being less strong than others like Insight Timer. A subscription unlocks additional features and showcases a variety of meditation techniques, nature sounds and cool background choices. Calm is also a website, and the internet buzz suggests that there is a Calm Island on the horizon. Vacation anyone? Inscape This app is geared toward meditation, relaxation and sleep. This is definitely a next-level app, and you might even consider it like the Porsche of the bunch. That may or may not be your thing. The app has a journal feature and a bunch of guided meditations – a lot focused on adult, work related issues. Inscape is also a studio in Manhattan where users can go to meditate. 10% Happier Dan Harris published a book, 10% Happier in 2014 and after its off the charts success, he launched a podcast and then “meditation for fidgety skeptics” with this beginner friendly app. Added bonuses include courses in the form of video content aimed at improving relationships, work and health. There are a handful of meditation teachers to choose from, so subscribers can try out different voices and personalities. New users can check it out with their free 7-day trial.
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Fitness & Health: Why You Should Indulge More In The Things You Love, To Improve Your Health.12/1/2018 by Stephanie Spickler Healthy is more than just an adjective, it’s a way of life. Healthy, in our day and age, is roughly defined as being free from disease or pain; overall physical, mental and emotional wellbeing; The current, full definition can be found here at merriam-webster.com We see “healthy” everywhere, in magazines, in grocery stores..on TV. But what does Healthy actually mean? I figured the definition was a lengthy scientific calculation regarding weight, height, BMI. I am slightly embarrassed to admit I thought that. I didn’t even think about mental wellness or the emotional aspect of the word. How did I not think about that? Probably because our society has been so caught up with the physical, aesthetic aspect. Apparently I did too! So why is the term healthy important and why are changing workouts regularly beneficial to overall health? Because our bodies change on a day to day basis, from the amount of sleep we get, the types of foods we eat and put into our bodies, the hormone levels, environmental conditions. The list goes on. Healthy encompasses so much more than just the physical state of being. Healthy does not necessarily mean skinny, Healthy also doesn’t mean you must look like a chiseled rock. Healthy is different for everyone. A lot of men and women, including myself at times, pack the pressure on internally, to achieve a “look” and we often forget to put enough emphasis on the way we feel. Do you eat the same thing, every single meal, every single day of the year? No, probably not. So why workout the same? Gyms have great equipment options, but they can be intimidating all around sometimes! We need to change more than just the muscles we focus on at the gym that day. Alternating from ‘leg day’ to ‘arm day’ is a great way to ensure you target all parts of your physical body, but you need to change more than that for overall health. I know that when I go to the gym, I constantly worry about my form, whos looking at me, am I doing my reps quick enough?.. Is there someone waiting for the piece of equipment I am using? All those things can distract your mind from reaping all of the benefits of the workout. Try grabbing some free weights from your local store and take them to the park. Take them to the beach with your bestie...get tan, chat with your bestie and enjoy an after workout cooldown in the saltwater! Take your workout somewhere that you can exercise and rejuvenate both your mind and body. Working out isn’t just good for physical fitness, it can provide huge benefits mentally and emotionally. It can boost your mood or help release tension, it can strengthen your muscles and your mind. It’s important to change your workout routine regularly to reap all the benefits of exercising. Just like in eating, we eat a variety of vegetables, a variety of fruits, etc.. variety is key to reaping all the benefits of the foods available to us. So... what does exercise for the mind and the emotional aspect of our health actually mean? Working out for the mind and soul can include so many things! Indulge in whatever it is that you need to work on, personally. Just like when you set a plan for physical fitness, you should create a plan for your mind and soul. Everyone is different and reflecting within yourself to find the things that stretch and work your mind and soul out is the first step. Working out for the mind and soul just means we focus on who we are as humans, our passions, our interests. We actively need to seek activities that enable us to FEEL good, not just look good - activities that help us grow our uniquely precious characteristics and individual skills. I personally change my workout style, intensity and activities. Most of November i kicked butt with intense physical workouts….but the other week I skipped my BeachBody a couple days and opted to completely rearrange the furniture in my great room. I arranged the furniture to focus around one another instead of focusing around the TV so we could inspire more conversation and family time. Everytime I switched my decorative pillows, I squatted. The next day, I rearranged the Art on the walls. I did walking lunges around my home while doing it. Then decorated for the Holiday (which did not include squats or walking lunges...I drank a beer ha! What I did do though was focus intently on making my home feel and look the way I wanted it to in order to feel good living there. It helped clear my mind while I got a workout. I came out of the experience very uplighted, excited and physically exhausted in the best kind of way and according to my iWatch, I burned 98 calories while achieving my target heart rate to consider it a cardio workout! (See more here; Burn Calories By Moving ) There are Beer and Yoga events, who says you can’t enjoy a cold beer while in Warrior pose? I personally think this sounds amazing, life is busy, combine a refreshing beer with a relaxing Yoga workout. So do what makes you happy and do what rejuvenates you. There are Wine & Painting classes you can go to that exercise your mind and soul which can rejuvenate and restore our moods. Maybe painting doesn’t necessarily burn calories or make you sweat like your spin class but it does wonders for your mind and emotional wellbeing, which is very important to overall health. Working out physically is extremely important, there is no substitute for a sweaty workout. It’s important to remember though, that you must indulge in the things that rejuvenate and build your mind and soul to. Even with perfect physical health, without emotional or mental health - we’re not healthy. So let go of the images and ideas of the perfect body or weight and focus on loving yourself all around, enjoy good sweaty workouts, laugh and love to fulfill your soul and work hard to accomplish your goals and dreams - no matter what they are or what they look like because it’s the only way to achieve a true overall healthy life. |
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