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Articles for: Exercise

Awaken- Fitness

How To Get Into Shape In 5 Months

You bumped into a high school friend and she has invited you to attend to...

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Lifting Weights Might Lift Your Mood

Aerobic exercise has been linked with reducing symptoms of depression, but…

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What Is Fasted Cardio & Is It Beneficial?

by Abby Moore: Intermittent fasting has become an increasingly popular way of eating for its long...

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The Secret Five Tibetans Slow Aging, Increase Vitality Improve Your Breathing

by Chris Kilham: The Five Tibetan Rites is a system of exercises reported to be...

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Downward Dog

by Hannah Hewitt: Downward Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana is a classic asana that uses the muscles...

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Death Marker Protein Cleans Up Your Muscles After Exercise

(Faculty of Science) Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports...

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Learn To Do A Handstand

by Jenn Dawson: Once you have accomplished your headstand and your forearm stand, you are...

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9 Benefits of Bodyweight Training That Will Have You Doing Pushups All Day Long

The benefits of bodyweight training are quite numerous, 9 of the most important ones which...

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Forget Exercise—These Mice Got Ripped With Gene Therapy

by Vanessa Bates Ramirez: Trying to hack fitness is a multi-million-dollar industry…

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Tai Chi: A Gentle Way To Fight Stress

Tai chi helps reduce stress and anxiety. And it also helps increase flexibility and balance…

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Walking Is The Calming, Restorative Activity We Need Right Now

by Starre Varden: I’ve been walking quite a bit lately — maybe you have too…

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10 Mind, Body And Heart Benefits Of Yoga

by Marcia Kester Doyle: Yoga is an ancient form of stress-relieving exercises with fitness perks that...

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Ask Healthy Living: Does Sex Really Count As Exercise?

by  Sarah Klein: It’s everyone’s favorite workout that doesn’t feel like a workout…

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8 Powerful Ancient Qigong Exercises For Cultivating Healing Energy In The Body

by Misha Cohen: Qigong (pronounced: chee-gun), which combines meditative and physically active elements, is the...

awaken-Kriya To Relax And Release Fear

Kriya To Relax And Release Fear

12 exercises, 37 minutes – 1 hour 11 minutes…

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15 Benefits Of Pull Ups

by James Gross: Pull ups are an exercise that’s been around for as long as...

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4 Ways Exercise Is Good For Your Brain

by Jenn Savedge: The fitter you are, the stronger your brain will be as you...

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5 Ways For Urban Yogis To Live Their Yoga

by Silvia Mordini: AHIMSA – Yoga Sutra Chapter 2 Verse 35 is one of the five Yamas, which are...

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8 Simple Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Day

by Leigh Weingus: It’s not always easy to get to yoga class. Whether it’s a late...

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5 Reasons Why Yoga Is Different From Other Physical Exercises

by Meera Wattts: What makes yoga different from any other form of physical exercise?

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28 Magical Paths Begging To Be Walked

Roads and paths pervade our literature, poetry, artwork, linguistic expressions and music…

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Awaken-Push ups

All You Ever Wanted To Know On How To Do A Push-Up

Have you ever done push-ups and wondered why people talk of incredible results within a...

With darker days can come feelings of being unsettled and down, ranging from the occasional “winter blues” to full-blown seasonal affective disorder. Since daylight affects your internal rhythms, it makes sense that your energy is affected when the days are shorter. There are activities you can do, however, to help balance you out—primarily to ground your energy in the cooler, crisper months. What Is Grounding? Generally speaking, grounding is any activity that reconnects you to the earth and helps you feel calm, centered, and present. In scientific terms, grounding (or earthing) refers to techniques that reconnect you to the electrical current of the Earth, similar to the grounding wire in three-prong electrical outlets. Grounding activities often include walking barefoot outside or sitting under a tree; however, the weather in winter months can make getting outside during the day difficult. Since grounding has been shown to decrease the symptoms of pain and inflammation, as well as improve mood, sleep, and circulation, it is worth exploring the ways you can ground yourself indoors, during the time of the year when you often need it the most. Here are some ways you can practice getting grounded and expanding your well-being. 1. Put Your Feet Flat on the Floor Most suggestions for grounding techniques include walking outside in bare feet; however, you can still get the benefit of grounding by putting both of your feet flat on the floor without going outside. With or without shoes or socks, firmly planting your feet establishes a strong foundation in your body, mind, and energy. Try It: Rather than sitting on the floor, try meditating for a few minutes sitting in a chair with your feet on the floor. Imagine your feet are like plugs connecting into the energy of the Earth. Stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) while in line at the grocery store or the post office, rather than letting your hips fall to one side. Have to give a presentation at work or anticipating an important phone call? Stand firmly on both feet and feel an even distribution of weight between them. A steady stance tells your system you are safe and capable of whatever you need to do. 2. Breathe Deeply Oftentimes, the need for grounding is preceded by anxiety, nervousness, and stress. Taking some deep breaths is one of the easiest and quickest things you can do to calm your nervous system and get grounded. Breathing practices have been shown to have a variety of benefits, including a decreased sense of overwhelm in as little as a few moments. Try It: Try starting with a “Box Breath”, by inhaling for a count of four, holding in for a count of four, exhaling for a count of four, and holding the exhalation for a count of four. Deepening and controlling your breath turns your focus to the felt sensations in the body, which can help bring greater presence in moments of disconnect and disarray. 3. Practice a Sun Meditation There are several ways you can do a Sun Meditation: Bundle up (if necessary) and get outside for a few minutes to stand in the sunshine. Even if you pause on your way to and from the car on your way into work, you can lift your chin and let the sunshine wash over you. If you have a window or porch that receives sunlight, let yourself bask in the warmth of the sun to bring heat and power into your body and spirit. Take breaks throughout your day to let the sun hit your face in one way or another. No sunshine in sight? Visualize your own personal sun 8-12 inches over your head while you meditate. See that sun feeding your spirit with positively charged vitality, the way the sun feeds a tree with its light. Imagine your roots going down into the Earth with every breath you take, helping you to connect to subtle (yet powerful) ground energy of Nature. The quest banner 4. Connect to Your Senses Use somatic mindfulness practices to help you connect to your sense organs and bring you into the moment. Try It: Take a hot shower and connect to the feeling and temperature of the water as it touches your body. Take a bath and delight your senses with calming music, aromatic scents, and dim light or candles. Get a massage or give yourself a self-massage with sesame oil (particularly on your feet and legs). Drink a hot beverage and feel the warmth move through your system. Make a hearty vegetable soup to smell, taste, and savor. Smell essential oils like frankincense or lavender. Listen to Native American drumbeat music; drums activate the root chakra. 5. Do Some Grounding Yoga Postures When you need to bring attention to your body and feel the stability of the Earth beneath you, nothing delivers quite like doing some intentional yoga postures for earthing. Postures that help you plug into the earth and feel fully supported help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, or the “Rest and Digest” response. Try It: Child’s Pose (with or without a bolster under your chest) Downward-Facing Dog Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose Corpse Pose (Savasana) 6. Get a Pedicure This suggestion is less about the outcome and more about the experience of soaking your feet in warm water and having a gentle foot and leg massage. Bringing awareness and circulation to your lower extremities brings your attention closer to gravity. Plus, the calming effects of getting a pedicure and tending to your feet can reduce stress and improve self-confidence. Try using sesame oil on your feet and skin, which is recommended in the winter months in Ayurveda. 7. Invest in Grounding Accessories Finally, consider investing in one of the many forms of grounding accessories on the market today, like a grounding mat, chair seat, or body band. These products can help improve sleep and energy levels in how they direct the Earth’s electric field. See What Works for You Learning how to ground yourself anytime, anywhere is one of the most helpful and useful skills for a lifetime of inner calm, health, wellness, and resilience. Grounding techniques can help you feel in control in a world that often feels anything but. By centering yourself amidst the turbulence of life, you can allow situations to come and go without being untethered by them. Explore and discover a grounding activity that you love and that helps you to find a sense of balance. No matter the weather, you are only a few actions away from self-regulating your mind-body system in the direction of greater well-being and harmony. *Editor’s Note: The information in this article is intended for your educational use only; it does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Chopra Center's Mind-Body Medical Group; and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programs.awaken

7 Winter Activities to Keep You Grounded

by Karson McGinley:  Since grounding has been shown to have many health and wellness benefits, it...

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The 11 Beginner Yoga Poses Everyone Pretends To Know (But May Be Doing Wrong)

by Carla Herreria: Remember when you resolved to do more yoga?

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