By Jenni Sunde

The benefits of living an active lifestyle are obvious; you look better, feel better, and have more energy.  If you work fulltime, have a family, or run your own business you are likely well aware of how difficult it can be to keep up a fitness routine.  Many people complain about not having enough time or feeling too tired at the end of the day.  Inactivity can actually cause feelings of fatigue.  Sitting all day slows down how quickly oxygen enters the blood stream and can leave you feeling sluggish and drained of energy.

Fortunately, with a little creativity and some even the tiniest amount of dedication you can lead a healthy lifestyle even with a fulltime schedule.  Depending on your fitness goals there are varying levels of changes that you can make.  The truth is that finding a way to become active again is a simple as deciding to do it.

Changing how you commute can be one of the easiest ways to optimize your time for activity.  If you live close enough to work to walk, do it!  Even if it means leaving a little earlier, those extra ten or twenty minutes will not only get your blood pumping, but they will provide you with time to decompress and appreciate your surroundings.  This can be a great way to prepare for the day ahead and to unwind on the way home.  If you don’t live close enough to walk, consider biking to work.  This will help improve your cardio fitness, reduce traffic congestion and lower your green house gas emissions.

If the commute is too difficult to change, there are other simple adjustments that you can make in your daily work life that will help to get you motivated and help combat sedentary-induced laziness.

• Bring a pair of walking shoes to work and leave them there.  This way you can go for a brisk ten minute walk on your coffee breaks instead of just sitting more.  You may even be able to do this more than once throughout the day depending on your work schedule.  You’d be amazed at how much more alert you’ll be from a simple ten minute walk.
• If your building has an elevator, opt to take the stairs instead.
• Pack your lunches instead of going out to eat.  This way you can control your nutrition, save money, and get in the habit of eating healthier foods.  Bring carrots and fruit to snack on so that you can better avoid the chips and cookies left in the break room.
• Walk around the office more.  If there is more than one printer in the building, opt to have your documents printed at the farthest one.

There are also changes you can make in your home life.  Technology is undoubtedly convenient, but it has taken a lot of the doing out of household chores.  This means we burn fewer calories in our daily lives and are less active than even just ten years ago.  You need to find ways to supplement the lost activity that was once involved in house work.  Some options include:

• Walking a few sets of stairs during commercial breaks on tv.
• Saving a few extra dishes for hand washing.
• Hand watering the garden instead of just turning on the sprinkler.
• Using a push mower instead of a sit down mower.
• Take a few breaks from your desk to do resistance training with weights or bands.

Finding ways to engage your family in active interactions is a great way to combine family time with exercise.  Play with your kids more.  Maybe you can make obstacle course in the backyard and have them try to beat you; who doesn’t want to beat their parents at a game?  You could also try:

• Take a special walk with each of your children one day a week and allow this to double as special time for the two of you to talk and spend time together while you get a little exercise.
• Set up some fun family fitness goals and have a prize for whenever someone achieves a goal.  For example, go out to dinner at a place of their choosing.

The most important thing to understand is that you need to make your health a priority.  There is enough time in the day to do everything you need to do, including exercise.  You just need to make sure that you find ways to use time effectively to your advantage.  Plan ahead by marking off time each week to dedicate to your fitness goals; it is really as easy as deciding to do it and the results and finesse of it will follow.

About the author: Jenni Sunde is a freelance fashion writer and pop culture junkie. Jenni specializes in all things lifestyle-related. From home and design to health and beauty. With her love of art and all things beautiful, she delights in sharing her sense of style from her life to your computer monitor. Her title pegs her as an editor at a website that specializes in fashion careers, and another that provides people with car insurance quotes, but her passion leads her into writing with a little more substance and a lot more heart.

April 22, 2010 marks the 40^th anniversary of our celebrated Earth Day, which auspiciously started in our very own hometown of Santa Barbara (http://www.cecsb.org/). Today Earth Day is globally recognized and celebrated as a day to recommit to our 3 R’s: REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE so that our planet and we can live sustainably. However, to live sustainably and to have our planet thrive it takes more than one day a year. It takes an everyday “green” mind over “organic” matter approach to ultimately live sustainably within the means of our natural resources. But who said it’s hard or more work to live within ecological balance!? It’s actually as easy as your ABC’s to be green- all the way from iPhone apps to legislative acts, 3R’s trade-ins to eco work-outs, social meet and greats to green eats, to home cleaning and body cleansing.

Below are some of SOMA GET FIT favorites for living sustainably on Earth Day and Everyday!!

How to be Earth friendly for Earth Day and Everyday:

Eco ABC’s:

We love Care2Healthy & Green Living’s how to be earth friendly daily Eco ABC’s with quick and easy ways to make your day-to-day lifestyle earth-styled. Click on each letter of the alphabet (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/tag/eco-abcs) for an in depth of how to be green or take the challenge and see if you can come up with your very own eco alphabet pledges. In honor of SOMA GET FIT we made our own eco alphabet pledges…

S–Sustainable short showers with low flow showerheads instead of taking baths.

O–Outdoors, outdoors, outdoors! Take the opportunity to breathe in the fresh air on a hike, bike, run or doing yoga outdoors!

M–Mindfulness and meditation. Allow time each day to bring awareness and the extra-ordinary into the ordinary of life!

A–Adventure locally and explore new trails, parks or beaches by foot, bike or board and discover a new sanctuary.

G–Grow a garden, start composting, and I guarantee you will grow a community of eco biodiversity and new friends.

E–Eat local, organic foods that are in season.

T–Turn off all things that plug-in by using a power strip. When your computer, lights, kitchen appliances etc. are not in use its as easy as a flip of a switch to save $ and the planet.

F–Fix it or find it before putting it behind you! In other words instead of throwing things away see if they first can be fixed or if someone else can use it; you know Reduce Reuse Recycle.

I–Invest in or even better yet be inventive and make your own re-useable water bottle, hot mug and shopping bags made of renewable long lasting materials.

T–Transportation first by foot, second by bike, and third by carpool, bus, or mass transit.

Free Eco Apps (for iPhone):

Easy for on the go eco we love iRecycle (http://itunes.apple.com/app/irecycle/) and       FindGreen (http://itunes.apple.com/app/FindGreen/).  They are just a few of our favorite apps for knowing which materials and where we can recycle as well as find local green and sustainable businesses like SOMA GET FIT, bicycle shops to tune our bikes, or find organic restaurants when we are hungry! Latest app that is out for 2010 Earth Day is Billions Acts of Green (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/billion-acts-of-green/) where you and billions of others from around the globe can find local Earth Day events, share eco pledges, and create community projects that fulfill your passion for preservation and protection of Earth.

Eco Acts:

There are many legislative Acts and causes that need your signature as a voice for making a difference in this world. On Earth Day you can do your part by signing the Earth Day 2010 Climate Declaration, which is part of the official Earth Day 2010 Campaign (http://action.earthday.net/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2732) to making an eco pledge and/or take action.

Eco Trade-Ins:

We mentioned Reducing, Reusing and Recycling as a great everyday practice for living an everyday Earth day. But here are a few resources that will keep the 3R’s easy as a click away. Whenever you are in need of “new” stuff or want to get rid of your “old” stuff check out Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org), TerraCycle (www.TeraCycle.net) or Craigslist (www.craigslist.org/). Who knows maybe you’ll find your next bike, kayak, SUP, or even some outdoor adventure friends!

Eco Work-Outs:

During our SOMA GET FIT workouts we like to work it outdoors, and when we need a mat we would rather be in the dirt than on a non recycled sustainable mat, so we go for the green and like to get down in our downward dogs on Eco-Mats that are made from non-toxic TPE, which contain no PVC or latex. Our favorites for finding an Eco-Mat are Gaiam (http://www.gaiam.com/), Barefootyoga (http://www.barefootyoga.com), and Lululemon (www.lululemon.com).

Eco Meets & Eats:

Check what is going on in your community for Earth Day and join your community for some fun meet and greets with fun green eats! On Earth Day Network (http://www.earthday.org/events/) you can find or even create events in your communities to celebrate getting down and green, and in TimeOut (http://www.timeout.com/) you can find the hottest, yet still carbon neutral clubs, bars, and restaurants that are painting the town green. In NYC for example you can join the Earth Day is Everyday Ride (Meet at the southern end of Union Square, E 14th St between Broadway and University Pl, times-up.org; Thu 22 at 7pm, free), for a group bike ride organized by environmental organization Time’s Up! This year’s trek goes from Union Square to Billyburg watering hole East River Bar (97 South 6th St between Bedford Ave and Berry St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn), where riders will take part in a BYO barbecue and be treated to a DJ, dancing and an Eco Art Show, courtesy of JustSeeds Cooperative. And If you like your vino in abundance and sans pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, imbibe more than 20 different “green” wine varietals at NYC’s Chelsea Wine Vault’s Think Earth Drink Green tasting (Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave at 16th St; 212-462-4244, chelseawinevault.com; Thu 22 7–9pm, $30).

So find your city and green-it up!

Eco Cleaning & Cleansing:

Last but not least Earth everyday comes back to the home and to the heart, where spring cleaning and cleansing are often a laborious chore to rid or detoxify ourselves of the burden of dust, pollutants, chemicals, and other build-up. When we clean, treat and care for our homes and ourselves we always go for natural green cleaners such as Seventh Generation (http://www.seventhgeneration.com/) products that are safe for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets, and the people living in our homes and Chivas Skin Care (http://www.chivasskincare.com/) made from fresh hand-milked goats, herbs from the garden, and fair trade shea butter & natural essential oils for our bodies. We also found a great way to get rid of nagging health problems such as allergies and fatigue and enjoy greater energy and a greener planet with this new book Clean, Green & Lean (http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Green-Lean-Toxins-That/) by naturopathic doctor and environmental medicine physician Dr. Walter Crinnion. With these helpful insights on our search to reveal and remove everyday chemicals and toxins in our homes and in our bodies the doctor helps guide us through those certain items in our homes and foods that slow our metabolism and can lead to common health ailments. Thanks Doctor Green!

From ALL of us at SOMA GET FIT…

HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYDAY!!!

..

Check out this interview on how Santa Barbara locals including our Karen Keltner are celebrating Earth Hour.

]]> http://somagetfit.com/blog/2010/04/06/somas-karen-keltner-shares-her-tips-for-earth-hour/feed/ 0 http://somagetfit.com/blog/2010/03/29/running-the-l-a-marathon-as-green-as-i-can-be/ http://somagetfit.com/blog/2010/03/29/running-the-l-a-marathon-as-green-as-i-can-be/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:52:10 +0000 Soma Get Fit Guest Writer http://somagetfit.com/blog/?p=1062 If you’ve ever participated in a marathon, triathlon or other serious athletic competition, you may have noticed a lot of waste that goes along with it. Whether it’s disposable cups, synthetic clothing or corn syrupy beverages, there’s a lot is going on that isn’t in the eco-friendly realm. I sought to challenge myself to see if running a marathon could be something I could do in a greener way. So now, after weeks of training with a green foot forward, here’s what I’ve come up with: My inspiration to you green athletes out there.

1) I’ve Completely Trained Outdoors: I’m fortunate to live very close to some of the great hikes of Los Angeles. So rather than spend hours indoors using treadmills and other machines (aka massive amounts of electricity), I’ve been generating my own and enjoying the beautiful scenery and weather all around me. Plus, with all of the recent rains, the sky is clearer and the hills are greener than I have seen in a long while.  I’ve also had the privilege to train with SOMA Get Fit’s Scott Crawford.  In addition to my cardio regimen, Scott has me on the Gray’s Functional Training system.  I believe this on top of the targeted body work that Scott also provided me with is the number one reason I was not very sore after the race as was able to recover so quickly.

2) I’ve Used Clothing and Shoes Made From Sustainable Materials: I ran in Brooks Green Silence Shoes. We’ve covered their eco-cred in a previous article, but one of my favorite things about them is that parts of the soles are biodegradable. It’s great to know the shoes won’t be sticking around for a bazillion years after I stop using them. I also treated myself to an outfit from Lululemon . Lululemon is possibly the best athletic company when it comes to using sustainable resources and being mindful of its environmental impact. I opted to buy something new because a majority of my workout clothes are made of cotton and cotton can chafe after a while. Realizing that I was going to be sweating it out for over five hours, I decided it was a worthy investment, and something I will continually reuse.

3) I’ve Hydrated with H20 and Coconut Water: I’ve steered clear of the Gatorade, Powerade, Sugarades etc and have been using healthier sources of hydration from filtered water (my own filter and reusable bottle) and Naked Coconut Water which is chock full of electrolytes. During the run I enjoyed Clif Bar Blok Chews, which are also a healthy source of electrolytes. I also munched on the Clif Bar Protein Roks to keep my energy high. I did end up having a few cups of Powerade along the way, but not that many.

4) I’ve Minimized Waste: I always use my own water bottle, but for a 26-mile race running with one in hand will be too much. The race staff are generous to offer water and hydration stations along the route, but I noticed from my last race (a half marathon) how much trash was created by paper cups being guzzled and quickly chucked to the ground by exhausted runners (even in a race, I can’t stop thinking about this stuff). For this one, I’ve invested in a water belt so I can carry some of my own water (and coconut water) and I won’t have to be so dependent on the stations. I did end up having to visit a few of the stations, but I reused the same cup over 10 times.

5) We Carpooled: 25,000 people will be running this race, so hopefully 25,000 cars won’t be driving to the starting line. My fellow We Run Green teammate Lauren Selman and I will carpool to and from the race and to pick up our materials a few days before. The marathon is also offering a shuttle service for runners to take advantage of.

The Verdict? I don’t think these massive races can really be super green; they’re by definition big productions that create a lot of waste. However, I do think individuals can make their own experiences less wasteful and these big races could partner with more eco-friendly companies like Naked Coconut or Lululemon.

Training however, can definitely be done greener and truthfully I’ve enjoyed doing it outdoors and using healthier food and beverages more. Plus I love knowing I’m not running in materials laden with chemicals.

So what do you think? Did you run the marathon? What did you think about the eco-friendly nature of the race? Do you run green or train green? Tell us how in the comments below.

Originally posted by Tracy Hepler from Your Daily Thread.com

Images via Fishbowl2009 Flickr, Brooks Running and Interbike

It has been argued that the greening of athletic shoes is often the most difficult because of all of the different components involved in creating a shoe.

That fact didn’t stop The Brooks Running Company who just released The Green Silence Running Shoe made from 75% post consumer materials and non-toxic soy-based dyes. In fact, the Green Silence uses less than half as many parts compared to a regular running shoe. The components are even biodegradable and whatever needs to be held together is done with water-based adhesives. Basically, when it comes to sustainability, this shoe has set the “Green Standard.”

All of these environmental strides are great, but only if the shoe really works. As you may know we’ve launched the We Run Green Campaign here on YDT as I train for the Los Angeles Marathon, so as a part of my training regimen I took these puppies out for a spin.

The first thing I noticed was how light weight the shoe felt; I use to think my Asics were pretty light, but they seem like clogs compared to these. I also enjoyed the breathability the shoe provided, keeping my feet cool and comfortable. There was plenty of cushion and support too, no different than my regular gear.

The verdict: Brooks achieved its goal of creating a shoe that “incorporates sustainability, without sacrificing performance.” I’m going to keep training in them and use them for the big day. After the 26.2 miles, I’ll let you know if I still like them.

There is just one request I have from a more stylistic perspective – more color selection please! Perhaps if I were part of the German national running team I might feel different, but red, yellow and black are not my favorite color combos.

You can purchase the Brooks Green Silence Online for $100.

Learn More: Check out Brooks’ commitment to the environment and what happens to the lifecycle of your shoe on its website.

Don’t forget, when you’re done with these or any athletic shoes, be sure to recycle them.

We loved hosting Chill Out LA for a Press to Impress Retreat Package. See what they had to say in their review:

http://www.chilloutla.com/chill-out-la/getaways/

This exercise targets the hip flexor which when sitting is tight, this opens it up in turn releases the low back.

1-split stance

2-back toes turned in slightly, hands on hips

3-feel stretch in hip flexor as you lean back slightly and bend into front knee

4-twist hip complex

This exercise builds leg strength and endurance especially in the glutes, while stretching hip and shoulder girdle. Reaching down toward floor when moving into squat engages lats and stretches tense shoulders and necks, releasing tension.

1-feet forward, under shoulders, neutral stance

2-weight shifted slightly towards heals

3-sit down in chair and reach arms towards floor feel back engage and neck stretch

4-float up so that heels stay on floor, mini backbend engaging core, stretching arms back towards ears staying relaxed in shoulders

This exercise challenges balance while working lower and upper body together. Lunge first then rotate, feel core as rotation moves while the back is stretching opening muscles.

1-lunge to side making sure feet stay neutral; keep ankles, knees and hips in alignment

2-after land lunge rotate toward side you are lunging to feel core muscles rotate you while the upper back stretches

3-upon return toe tap other direction

4-twist with toe tap

*Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor or medical professional before trying any of these exercises. Your Daily Thread and Scott Crawford/Soma Get Fit are not responsible for any injuries.

Check out our most recent press in the daily healthy online magazine Vital Juice.

We hosted the LA editorial team here for one of our weekend retreats and they absolutely loved it.

Click below to read the full review and save 20% off your next retreat.

http://vitaljuice.com/entry_detail/la/1037

by Nina Bennett

Upon completing my through hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, I found myself in a peculiar situation. I had no major ties to anything. No job, no relationship, no responsibilities. The world was my oyster, so to speak, yet I found this to be an overwhelming and stressful position to be in!  I would oscillate between dreaming about all the amazing places I could settle down, jobs to pursue, potential relationships to be cultivated, and being completely lost and without direction, overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. My internal compass was spinning uselessly!  Having no clear idea in which direction to focus my energy, my mind used the energy to wind itself up even more! An unfocused mind quickly becomes destructive, pondering the “what- ifs” and worries it likes to create. Things that are not actually a truth in the eternal NOW. Stress is a construction of an overly active mind.

During stressful times in our lives, so many of us do not know which way to turn, what action to take. Our minds spin, out of control, mulling over the millions of possibilities, attempting to figure the answers out through logic. My brother, recently through with college, is in the same situation. “Where should I choose to settle down, to start my life? “ he asks me. Another friend, unhappy with his relationship and living situation also finds himself a victim of his highly creative mind. He wants his life to be different, but doesn’t know how to make it happen. There are so many of us seeking direction; people who have recently lost a job due to the state of the economy, people needing change, people who have lost a loved one. We are all so lost in our thoughts, we are incapable of taking action in the physical world.

So what do we do when we find ourselves in these situations? How do we pull ourselves back into the present moment, back into our bodies, and out of the mental realm in which we have become lost?

My sister is fond of saying “root down to rise up.” The key lies in building a strong foundation. The strength and integrity of the tree begins with its root system. The stability and ability of a building to endure starts with a strong base, a solid foundation. The peace, grace, and sense f direction in our lives begins with the cultivation of our most basic needs. We cannot expect our minds to be healthy and able to make good decisions in regard to our actions if our bodies are unhealthy.

Step 1: Slow Down

The first step to building my strong foundation was to give myself permission to not take any action. I decided that I would allow myself a month to get my body in good health before I made any decisions or took any major action steps. Not only does this reduce the immediate stress of feeling the need to make a decision, it allows the foundation of good health to build slowly, which translates into sustainability in the long run.

Slowing down also brings you closer to the present moment, which is the only place we truly have any control or influence over out lives anyway. In stopping, we can look around us and really see what IS true in our lives at this moment. Not with our minds, but with our total being.

Have you ever tried to draw a flower? Did you draw the traditional “daisy?” Then what if you try to draw one specific flower? Look closely at it and all its unique individual characteristics. The way the light casts shadows, its petals, perhaps the imperfections of it’s specific form. When you look at the flower as one unique flower unlike any other out there, it takes your complete attention. So do this too with your life. Instead of taking a quick, cursory glance at it and saying, “yeah, I know it,” look at it closely and see all the intricate detail. Really study all the minute details. Try not to think about and attach meaning to what you are seeing, just observe. We are able to make an accurate assessment of our situation with the knowledge provided by clear vision.

Step 2: Eat Well

On a chemical level, we are what we eat. Whatever you put into your body is what eventually makes up your body. And your brain! Proper nutrition can go a long way in affecting your experience of life. Trail life made this, too, abundantly clear! My usual meals consisted of nuts, dried fruit, hummus, lentils, couscous, granola, dried milk, and the like, and usually I had plenty of consistent energy to hike 30 miles a day. One resupply, I was unable to get my normal fare and I ended up eating pop tarts and crackers for every meal. Needless to say, I did not feel well physically or mentally. I struggled up hills and was in tears by days end. My malaise did not pass completely until almost three days after resuming normal eating patterns! I observed this trend with other hikers as well. Those who ate healthy foods tended to be more consistent hikers than those that chose refined, sugary, and starchy foods.

There are millions of books and articles out there on diet. Find what works for you. Don’t let diet become another avenue for stress to enter your life! As a general rule, choose foods that are closest to their natural state; the less processed the better. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods. The power of observation applies to all arenas of life! Your body will let you know how particular foods affect you. Keeping a food and feelings journal can be quite illuminating. I discovered that caffeine makes me happy for a few hours after I drink it, but that the next day, I feel like a toddler that hasn’t had a nap! Cranky, uncomfortable and inconsolable! With a little time, attention and experimentation, you will find a diet that optimally supports you .

Step 3: Get Some Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins. Exercise makes our bodies healthy, toned, vibrant. It increases self confidence. Exercise makes you breathe deeply and increases your heart rate, assisting your body in the release of metabolic waste. There is no excuse! Get out there and find some physical activity that you enjoy! And do it! Your stress will decrease immediately!

Being physically active anchors you back into your body, helping you let go of thought for awhile. Pay attention to the physical sensations in your body. Notice your breath, your heart beat. Bring your senses into the present moment. As you become more accustomed to experiencing life through your body during exercise, you will be able to maintain this in leisure as well.

Step 4: Get Plenty of Rest

Sleep is important. It is when our conscious thinking turns off completely. Our bodies go into repair mode. Do not underestimate the importance or rest! Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night.

Try bringing your awareness to these four things, as an experiment, and see where you are in month, or whatever time frame you give yourself. If you find yourself off course, confused and stressed, just patiently bring the focus back to the foundation. In doing so myself, I have found my internal compass has begun to direct me again! In leaning to be here, now, observing without preconceptions, magic happens. Clarity occurs. The unimportant and unnecessary fall away. Give it a try and I have a feeling that you will discover some healthy sprouts rising toward the sunshine, sustained by a sturdy, supportive root system!

Peace and patience on your journey!

Namaste