Pure Wellness Chicago
Stress Relief
Pure Changes!
We are going through some changes at Pure.
Please bear with us as we begin to transition into Aligned Modern Health throughout 2013. Some staff members are moving to work there full time and we are also slowly merging into their larger, more advanced studio facilities.
All questions can be directed to Christy, christy@purewellnesschicago.com
Thank you!
PreNatal Yoga: Benefits and Try it here at Pure!
Prenatal yoga: worth it or not?
Hands down the evidence says that it is. Check out this article by the Mayo Clinic on the benefits of it:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prenatal-yoga/MY01542
Other less scientific publications also shout the joys of prenatal yoga:
http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10497021
http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/prenatal-yoga-pregnancy-health-benefits/prenatal-yoga-pregnancy-health-benefits-1/
Come try it out whether you are expecting, trying to, or just a curious medical practitioner.
Fridays, starting this week on the 18th, 5:30-6:30 pm at our Lincoln Park location.
We will start it every other week until we build a following.
Hope to see you there!
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!
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.
Just breathe
Why is breathing so incredibly difficult?
Wait, what did Christy just write? Breathing isn’t difficult.
Actually, breathing for most people is very difficult indeed. I have spent 90 minutes with a CEO of a Fortune 100 company helping him learn to breathe. He held his breath constantly… and didn’t even realize it. Holding one’s breath contributes to higher levels of stress, causing the stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) to rise even higher and shunting your blood away from your vital organs to your muscles, as your body will then think you are in fight or flight mode.
Just this morning, a client of mine just would not breathe while doing her exercises.
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale….
I had to remind her every repetition which is not usually like her. She usually brings a near-Zen approach to her workouts even if they are hard. But with family, travel, and work stress, breathing gets pushed to the wayside.
Today, just breathe. Take 5 minutes to sit and close your eyes and just breathe. Take your train ride to work and just breathe. Turn your phone on silent… or even OFF. Wow. Imagine how that would feel?
Just breathe. For your health.
Heart Facts
Fact #1: Your heart is a muscle. It is made up of cardiac muscle and, just like a bicep or tricep, it gets stronger each time you work out.
Fact #2: Your heart has 4 chambers, 2 atria (singluar: atrium) on top and 2 ventricles on the bottom. The ventricle walls are much thicker than the atria walls because this is the part of the heart that is responsible for pumping blood from the heart with enough momentum to get it through the entire body. Wow.
Fact #3: Heart disease can be a silent killer if you don’t get your stress levels under control. Listen to your heart. Notice if you have chest pains, feel fatigued constantly, or can no longer make it through an activity you once found easy (like climbing the stairs). Other less common symptoms can be radiating arm/ shoulder pain on the right side and headaches.
Get outside for that spring walk or run this weekend and celebrate with a happier, healthier heart!
