Bikram yoga – get your sweat on

Hi everyone,

A good friend of mine recently told me about her new love for Bikram Yoga.

Have you heard of it?  Well, it is claimed to be the fastest growing form of Yoga in the world.  It was developed by a gentleman named Bikram Choudhury who was a yoga practioner from a very young age.  It usually last 90 minutes and is done in a room with 40% humidity and about 40C (just over 100F.)  Yeah, just like a sauna!  Hence the reason for the title of my post.  If you want to get your sweat on, this is it.

Why the heat?  The heat causes you to sweat so much that toxins are able to get out of your body.  It is part of the rejuvenation process.  The heat also forces you to use more lung capacity than normal.  Humans only use about 50% of our lung capacity on a day to day basis, according to Bikram.   And lastly, the heat combined with the positions/exercises get your circulation working better than without the heat.

Can you try it?  Bikram yoga is supposed to be okay for all levels of fitness, so why not?  Just don’t forget a towel…or maybe several!

Here’s to your health.

Kimberly

Chamonix – a true outdoor adventure

I went on an extraordinary trip in late February to Chamonix.  We flew into Geneva and then it was an hour drive from there.  I didn’t know much about the area other than the fact that Mont Blanc (which overlooks the city of Chamonix) is the highest peak in western Europe.

There were four of us on the trip and we had just chosen it as a good ski destination.  Well, I must say it was magical! The town itself was fantastic – plenty of choice on restaurants, bars, and boulangeries for fresh baguettes.  And then the skiing was equally fantastic.  I was a bit nervous of going there because some reviews said most of the terrain was suited best to advanced skiers.  I am a fairly experienced skier but having not skied in about five years I wasn’t sure how I would do.

In the end, Chamonix offered a great mix of terrain and I was comfortable at all of the four nearby resorts.  I imagine it isn’t the best choice for beginners, but for everyone else there is a great selection of blue, red and black runs.  All in all it was an awesome week!

So, what does this have to do with My Health Villa?  Well, for fitness of course!  Spending a full day on the slopes burns a whopping amount of calories…and you don’t even feel like you’ve been working out.  I think ski/snowboard holidays are the one holiday where you can actually lose weight.  I would say that for that one week my diet was not as good as usual and I certainly had a bit more red wine than normal (you’ve got to do it when you are in France!) but I still felt great at the end of the week because I had been so active.

Taking up a sport is a super easy way to ensure you get more exercise into your life.  And it is so much fun!

I have to quickly tell you about an amazing opportunity that Chamonix provides in the winter.  It is called the Valley Blanche and it is a guided 25km (15mi) ski or snowboard tour down a glacier.  You get taken up Mont Blanc to 3800m in a cable car.  Then you hike down the top of the peak – totally crazy! – put your skis on and go.  The views are incredible along the whole route and some of the snow up there was just perfect.  It is something not to be missed if you are in Chamonix.  A certain level of ski ability is required so just check it out before booking.

Since my trip I’ve actually read a lot about Chamonix and how much of an “outdoor adventure” spot it is.  Anyone who is into hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or anything similar should check it out.  I heard from someone who works there that it is even busier in the summer than in the winter.

All in all, I am just so pleased that I got to experience Chamonix and the nearby resorts.  I will certainly remember it fondly!  Now, what is next….?

To your health,

Kimberly

Resistance bands – do they work?

Hi all,

I wanted to do a quick post about resistance bands because I recently tried them for the first time. I realise they have been around for awhile, but I’ve just never thought about using them.

Then I heard a personal trainer talking about how much he swears by them with his clients…well, if he uses them, I thought surely there must be something good about them.

For anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about, resistance bands are rubber type bands that usually have a handle on each end. They might come in various colors to signify different resistance levels.  You use them similarly to how you use free weights but they don’t actually weigh much. You simply use your body’s own resistance to get a workout.

Anyway, moving on to my experience: I used the easiest resistance level and did a twenty minute dvd workout that came with the bands. It was a workout!! My muscles didn’t feel quite as tired as they do when I use free weights or machines but I could feel the calories burning and got a good little cardio session. I did have some soreness the next day, which meant it worked and was using my muscles in different ways than I normally use them.

It was actually really enjoyable and I would highly recommend it for people who have never done weight training before or for those who are stuck in a rut with their current workout regime.

Resistance bands are supposed to be better because of the way they work your body. You end up using more muscles by having to balance yourself rather than isolating just one muscle (e.g. bicep.) This is similar to the benefit that using a resistance ball gives you.

Give it a try! Check these out.

And I’m always happy to hear what you think.

To your health,
Kimberly