If I have to be in the waiting room at the auto shop for a while, I usually take a book with me to pass the time. When I took my car in last week though, I planned to hitch a ride home with the courtesy driver so I could get some work done. Finding out on my arrival there that the courtesy driver was out that day, left me an unhappy camper in the repair shop waiting room.
I flicked through ‘Home and Garden’. Then I searched for an article in ‘Vogue’ amidst the full-page advertisements, and tried to tune out ‘Family Feud,’ a game show that was playing on the TV. Suddenly one of the questions caught my attention. I tossed the ‘Vogue’ down on top of the Carrollwood Gazette, and turned to the TV to listen thinking to myself, “oh, this is going to be good…” Continue reading →
The five thousand people packed into the arena are so quiet that you can hear the hum of a distant airplane. The player prepares to kick the ball, and as the spectators hold their breath you can cut the tension with a knife. The ball soars up into the air, and for just a moment time appears to be standing still. Then with a sudden explosive roar from the crowd the moment is over. Heaving a sigh of relief the spectators drop back into their seats and relax.
The tension experienced by the crowd in the previous scenario was created by the fight or flight response of the nervous system. It is the same mechanism that causes a deer to stand transfixed by car headlights in the middle of the road. Just like that deer in the headlights, no matter how important you believe your job to be, or how technical your toys are, you are still a member of the animal kingdom. Continue reading →
Two years ago my sister Pat caught a virus that caused her to lose her memory. After several weeks her memory began to return, but there was still something about her that was different to me. It was the little things that changed from how I remembered her, such as how she answered the telephone. It gave me cause to ask myself how large a part did memory play in our relationship to each other? If I suddenly lost my memory, would I become a different person now? And more profoundly, is it our memories that define who we are? Continue reading →
What does the word ‘peace’ mean to you? Does it mean a worldwide end to war – a day at the spa with massage and margaritas – or just getting through the day without a hitch? If you’ve ever uttered the words, “I just want a peaceful day today,” you will need to be clear about what peace means to you if you intend to get what you’ve wished for. Continue reading →
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones… or so go the words to the old song. The song implies that bones, like hair and nails are lifeless tissue, but that is far from the case. Your bones are continually growing, shedding old cells and creating new ones throughout your lifetime.
Traditions such as Halloween, and the Day of the Dead promote the misconception that bones are lifeless. During these celebrations fleshless skeletons are propped up, painted on, and ghoulishly displayed to frighten, or amuse people. Your bones however, are not only very much alive, they have an abundant supply of nerves; something you quickly discover should you ever break one of them! Continue reading →
As a child I often heard my mother utter the words, “give me strength…” Of course she wasn’t calling upon ‘the powers that be’ to pump up her muscles! My mother was seeking the kind of strength that comes from the determination to overcome an obstacle, or to see something through.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the word ‘Strength’ means ‘Power, the ability to act or achieve something’. Therefore, whether it is the ability to act when faced with a mental problem, or with a physical challenge, adequate strength is required to achieve the task. Continue reading →
If being overweight is due to a slow metabolism what does that really mean, and what is it exactly that is causing the problem? Is it due to glandular disease, poor genetics, what you eat, or something else entirely? How much do you really know about how your metabolism works?
The efficiency, or ‘speed’ of metabolism is determined by the following:
- The glandular system and the hormones that they produce, particularly the thyroid
- The digestive system, and the quality of food consumed
- Efficiency of the respiratory and circulatory systems
- Physical activity – type, frequency and intensity
- What is being done to improve all of the above Continue reading →
A group of small children were playing outside my window under the trees this morning. They were jumping up and down with long sticks, knocking the moss off the low hanging branches. Watching them play took me back to the days of my tree climbing, jump-roping youth. I was tempted to grab my broomstick exercise pole, and gambol out to join them. I didn’t though, because isn’t it inappropriate for an adult to be jumping around with free abandon?
The children playing outside appeared to be having so much fun, and I’m sure the word ‘exercise’ was far from their minds! Why is it okay for an adult to play something structured like softball, but not to play at jumping up and down with a stick? I’m not suggesting that you need to start knocking Spanish moss off of trees to get your heart rate up. I am suggesting though that you do something fun, relaxing, or challenging that will achieve the same end. After all, The American Heart Association recommends at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise per day to maintain good health. Continue reading →
Thank you for joining me, and welcome to my blog. I created this site to share with you my three decades of knowledge and experience; to educate, motivate, and inspire you to create a life of total wellness for yourself. I also created this blog for you to ask questions, share your experiences, and empower yourself to grow in every way!
As an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, I have access to cutting edge research in the field of exercise and fitness. More relevant to me though is my experience as a Personal Yoga Therapist. Yoga is not about exercise, or even about stretching, it is a practice of the ‘Citta’, which means ‘the workings of the mind’. Written thousands of years ago, Yoga upholds the law of attraction; what you think about, you will experience. Through Yoga you create Strength, Flexibility, and Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.
If you are interested in getting better as you get older, then I invite you to join me on the exciting path to achieving just that!
Live well, be kind, and act with compassion…
Maria Bott, Yoga Therapist and Life Coach
www.mariabott.com
