Pure Wellness Chicago
Detox
Opening 2 sister studios at Aligned Modern Health on January 7th!
Christy is excited to announce to Pure’s clientele that she will be now directing the fitness and training programs at Aligned Modern Health, which has two chiropractic and wellness centers on the Southport Corridor and in Lincoln Square. You can buy packages for group classes and private training/ Yoga/ Pilates classes through Aligned’s website here: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=33984 and look forward to seeing the same high-quality, personal, professional instruction you get at Pure (and some of Pure’s instructors!).
Pre-sale for packages begins NOW with a discount code of AMH2013 for 30% off a new year package!
Please note that as separate companies, no packages will crossover between the Pure and Aligned.
Any questions can be directed to christy.lyons@alignedmodernhealth.com regarding this new programming to launch on January 7th, 2013!
Slow it down
Mahatma Gandhi once said,
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
With summer commitments galore, these words could not ring more true for most people today. I am sure I am not the only one who feels more exhausted by my weekends than I am refreshed by them. And though I am grateful to be invited to share in occasions that cause for celebration, I am also overwhelmed with scheduled commitments, work, work social commitments, and more. This Monday morning came without any spring in my step; in fact, I fancied wanting to stay in bed for hours, which is unlike me. I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling on these hot summer days.
How can one slow it down while keeping up with life and loved ones? How can one calm the inner storm? Though yoga and meditation help, it can sometimes be about the power of saying “no” and knowing when rest is appropriate. This morning I scheduled no clients and stayed in a bed for a bit. I told myself not to feel guilty and to revel in the moments of puttering around my house, listening to podcasts, and relaxing.
More importantly, I didn’t feel guilty about it. Sometimes life isn’t about going faster, making more money, seeing more clients. Sometimes, you just need to rest.
Where in your week will you schedule some rest? Find an hour, a half day, even a full day. This I challenge you to do!
Meditation 101: Day 3
Today, try the technique of breath awareness.
After you find a comfortable seat, work with your breath. With eyes closed, being to notice your breath. Spend some time here, noticing the qualities it has and smoothing out the inhale & exhale. As you deepen your breath and become more focused, you can even count the inhale and the exhale (i.e. saying to yourself, “inhale, 2,3,4,5 and exhale, 2,3,4,5…).
Set an egg timer for 3 minutes and try this technique, breath awareness, today.
Meditation 101: Day 2
Try some visualization today!
After you find a comfortable seat, work on creating visualization for your meditation with your eyes closed. Many people find nature to have very calming effects, and visualize a relaxing scene to ease into meditation. For example, as you sit with your eyes closed and relaxed breath, picture yourself at the beach. Envision the water, the waves, the sky, and the clouds. Smell the ocean water and hear the sounds of the beach.
Set an egg timer for 3 minutes and try visualization today. Good luck!
Meditation 101, Step 1
Meditation is oh so hot right now. Many claim it’s health benefits, ranging from physical to mental and emotional. So how does one start to meditate anyway? And what is it?
Over the next few days, you can find that information right here on the Pure Wellness blog. So buckle up and get ready to chill out!
Step 1: Create a meditation space in your home or office. Buy a cushion, yoga mat, or pillow and figure out where you will dedicate to calmness. If you need to, a chair can be used instead. This space should ONLY be used for meditation/ yoga practices. Carve out a corner and maybe even put a candle or two for some Zen space and to make it your own!
Monday is a day for beginnings
Most people abhor Mondays. We look at them as a time where the work week begins and all the fun and freedom our weekend gave us is a long 5-day stretch away.
What if we all vowed to look at Mondays in a more positive way? As a new beginning? A chance to begin a small change in one’s daily or weekly routine? A chance to try something new like a new yoga class or a new tone teacher?
What if we just made Mondays into something of a day of renewal? As I embark on an attempt to go gluten-free for various reasons, I am trying to look at this Monday not as a time of dread and complication (gluten is in everything, people!), but as a chance where I am truly excited to start my journey to feeling better, having more energy, and becoming back to the vibrant self I am used to.
Any advice on going gluten-free is welcome! Happy Monday!
PureBootcamp!
Coming on May 21st, 2012, for it’s inaugural week:
PURE BOOTCAMP at 6:30-7:30 am, Monday-Friday!
Dates are 5/21-5/25; 6/11-6/15; 7/9-7/13; and 8/6-8/10! Sign up under Workshops and come get in shape in one week. Complete with diet guidelines, take-home worksheets, and a complimentary class of your choice on that following weekend, get results in just 6 days with Christy and the Pure staff.
Recipe #2: Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
Try this for a new, healthy snack full of protein and straight from my book!
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and patted dry
- 1 tablespoon cayenne (or more, to taste)
- Sea salt (to taste)
- Garlic salt (to taste)
- Smoked paprika (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
- Toss patted-dry chickpeas with spices and olive oil in a bowl
- Spread evenly over a baking pan and roast at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes
- Stir occassionally to prevent sticking (about 2x during the cook time)
Tips:
- Add to trail mix for a low-fat burst of protein
- Experiment with other spices for new flavors (curry for Indian, cumin for Mexican)
It’s Monday: Time to fix that liver!
Let’s be honest: it’s Monday and you might have overindulged this past week. A Friday night drink with coworkers, Saturday night watching NCAA basketball or out with a loved one, and a mimosa at Sunday brunch have left you feeling fatigued.
Let’s kick that liver back into high gear and get your energy back!
First, avoid overindulgence and alcohol for a few days. Your liver is able to regenerate itself but not if it’s constantly under stress. Take some time off the sauce and instead hit the gym with that extra energy and time you have to really get the detox going!
Second, eat loads fresh fruit & vegetables and pop a multivitamin. Your liver is chock-full of nutrient rich tissues and needs nutrient-rich nourishment to get those tissues in top state!
Third, get your Yoga on. The twisting poses will help bring attention to your midsection and give that liver some attention. Think of it as a “squeeze & soak” effect: you twist into a pose, squeezing your midsection and increasing circulation, and then you release the pose where, like a sponge, your midsection is then soaked with fresh blood.
Your liver has 500 functions. Respect it. Love it. Take care of it.
See you on the mat this week!
Christy
Inspiration for the weekend, #2
“Forgive all who have offended you, not for them, but for yourself.”
-Harriet Nelson
I had a staff member of mine pass this quote onto me this week…
Thanks Rachel! I love it!
May you all forgive someone/ something this weekend and move along, for yourself and no one else.
In Pure-ness,
Christy
