Every year, losing weight tops lists of New Year’s resolutions, and dieters everywhere decide to completely overhaul the way they eat to lose weight fast. After a few weeks, or even a few months, many of these plans fail as dieters are unable to live up to the unrealistic expectations they create for themselves. For more long-term weight-loss success, making small changes in diet to create a lifestyle change is key. Here are some small changes that you can make to your diet to lose a lot of weight over the long term:

Drink More Water

Soda is a bad habit for many — one that can add hundreds or even thousands of calories to your diet every day. Fruit juices and sports drinks are equally high in calories and sugar that can pack on the pounds. A simple change is to simply trade out sodas and other sugary drinks  and substitute with water instead. Over time, this one change can help you to lose a lot of weight. If you don’t enjoy the taste of water, you can add some flavor by dropping in a strawberry or a splash of lemon or lime juice. Avoid mix-ins that contain artificial sweeteners or caffeine.

Control Portions

Do you like to eat a bag full of chips while you sit in front of the TV each night? It can be hard to eat just one. However, this kind of mindless snacking can add up to hundreds and thousands of calories. Working on controlling your portions can help you to lose a significant amount of weight. Instead of sitting down with an open bag of chips, grab a handful and put them in a bowl. Put the bag away and don’t go back for seconds. Often, we tend to eat what we see, or what we put on our plates. Simply putting food out of sight or filling up a smaller plate can help us to eat less.

Cut One Bad Habit at a Time

Do you have a sweet tooth? Or maybe you have a weakness for chili cheese dogs? Instead of calling off all your vices at once, just work on them one at a time. If sweets are your problem, start phasing them out slowly. Once you have become accustomed to eating less sweets or none at all, start working on your chili cheese dog problem. Over time, you will clean up your diet and will slowly change your eating habits for long-term success.

Eat More Protein

Protein digests much more slowly, helping to stabilize your blood sugar and making you feel full longer. Eating protein at every meal and snack will also help you to feel satisfied and full more quickly. In contrast, eating meals and snacks that consist mostly of simple carbohydrates will trigger cravings for more high-sugar, high-fat foods.

Make Healthy Swaps

Instead of trying to cut out all the foods you love, try to find ways to enjoy them in healthier versions. For example, instead of cutting out pasta, try whole-wheat pasta with a low-fat marinara sauce. Instead of cutting out cheese, try low-fat versions. Instead of cutting out fried chicken, try a heart-healthy baked version. In general, choosing whole wheat over white flour and low-fat or low-sugar versions over their whole counterparts can help you cut calories while still enjoying the foods you like.

Add Fruits and Vegetables

An easy way to make your diet healthier is to add more nutritious foods to it instead of focusing on what you have to take out of it. Eating more fruits and vegetables helps you get many of the nutrients you need, while also adding fiber to your diet. Eating more fiber helps to make you feel full faster, leaving less room (and less desire) to eat other high-fat, unhealthy foods. It also promotes digestive health, which can encourage your weight loss.

Add Exercise

Diet is only one part of weight loss; exercising more is critical to overall health and to long-term weight-loss success. Like your diet, you shouldn’t try to make drastic changes to your exercise routine. If you’ve been a couch potato for years, don’t expect to run a marathon this year. Start by making small changes. If you’re not used to exercising, start by walking a few times a week. When you get used to this routine, walk for longer distances or more days of the week. Slowly add in more intense exercise — like running or cycling — as well as strength training. Over time, you will make lasting changes to your physical fitness routine.

Though the excitement of New Year’s resolutions can make us eager to make big changes in our lives quickly, attempting to do so can actually set us up for failure. To successfully change habits in the long term, small steps must be taken. Making some of these small steps to your diet and fitness routine can help you lose a lot of weight in the long term. When you’re able to keep off the weight, you won’t have to make the same resolutions again next year!

About the author:

Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on <a href=”www.collegegrant.net/cosmetology/”>grants for cosmetology school</a> and <a href=”www.collegegrant.net/college-grants-for-adults/”>grants for adults returning to college</a>.

The cold, dark days of winter usually bring on a hibernation instinct in most of us, encouraging us to indulge in warm treats and cozy up under a mound of blankets. However, maintaining health and fitness requires that we continue to get regular exercise, no matter how much we’d rather be huddled up inside. If you’re a runner, or if you’re considering adding running to your fitness routine, the winter months can present special challenges. However, making a few adjustments will ensure that you can stay safe while enjoying this fantastic cardiovascular exercise no matter where you live. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Dress in Layers

The most important consideration for winter running is to stay warm. However, you can’t just pile on a bunch of sweaters and expect that to be sufficient. No matter how cold you may feel when you start your run, your body will heat up and sweat, leading to clothes that are wet and cold. Your base layer should always be made of a moisture-wicking fabric that will draw sweat away from the body. Shirts and pants made of these fabrics are available at any running or exercise store. It is also recommended that you wear an insulating layer to keep you warm and a protective outer layer that is windproof and waterproof.

It is also important to protect your extremities while running. Be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands and moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry. Most importantly, remember to wear a warm hat. A lot of body heat escapes through your head, so wearing a cap or stocking will help keep your whole body warm.

Protect Your Lungs

Contrary to popular belief, running in cold weather is not bad for your lungs. You will not freeze your lungs or irritate them. However, if you find it harder to breathe in the colder months (attributable to your base level of fitness), simply cover your mouth with a scarf or ski mask. If you have a cold or some other chest or throat infection, cold air will aggravate these conditions. In such cases, it is better to stay inside until you are feeling better.

Watch Your Footing

Depending on where you live, the colder months are often accompanied by ice and snow, which can make for dangerous road conditions. You don’t need to buy special gear or running shoes to avoid these dangers. Simply watch your footing when you run, making sure that your path is well-lit and stable. Opt for cleared sidewalks, paved paths, and trails.

See and Be Seen

The winter months are often marked by a shorter days, meaning that you are more likely to be running in dim or dark conditions. Be sure to stay off the road when you are running, especially since cars will require a longer braking distance in the slippery conditions. Even when you are running on sidewalks or marked trails, be sure to wear reflective clothing and perhaps a headlamp to light your path.

Protect Your Skin

Finally, even though the days may be dreary and overcast, UV rays from the sun can still cause trouble for your skin. Wear a good sunscreen when you go out, as well as a lip balm with UV protection. You will protect your skin against harmful rays, as well as common winter skin problems such as drying and chapping.

Don’t let the dark, cold days of winter send you inside and neglecting your fitness routine. Making these adjustments for comfort and safety can allow you to enjoy exercise throughout even the most frigid months. After you’ve indulged in all the holiday treats, you’ll be happy you didn’t skimp on those weekly runs!

Bio:

Born and raised in North Carolina, Heather Green has worked as a fashion and beauty consultant as well as freelancing for various wedding, fashion, and health publications. She currently acts as the resident blogger for Online Nursing Degrees where she’s been researching online rn to msn programs as well as rn to bsn online.

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.

If you’re a yoga devotee, you’re probably intimately familiar with Shavasana (also Savasana, or the corpse pose). You do it at the end of every yoga session, and the rule of thumb is typically five minutes of Shavasana for every 30 you’ve spent practicing other yoga poses. So if you do a 30-minute session of yoga five times a week, that’s at least 25 minutes of Shavasana. When you’re spending so much time in one pose, wouldn’t you like to make sure that it’s as close to perfection as possible?

You might think that the corpse pose is pretty self-explanatory, and it is – but to truly perfect this pose, it takes a little bit more than playing dead. Practice, more heightened concentration, and awareness of the pose’s goal can help you experience the incredible benefits of a perfect Shavasana pose. To get started, check out the following suggestions for improving your corpse pose.

Finding the Perfect Position

Going by the name, a corpse pose would have you simply lie on your back as if you were dead. Easy enough, but it’s tougher than it sounds. To begin Shavasana, sit on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat against the floor, and lean back as you use your forearms to guide your torso down to the floor so that you’re flat on your back. Slide one leg straight out, leading with the heel, as you inhale slowly andexhale. Extend the other leg and arch your back slightly. Now, soften your thigh muscles and allow your legs to turn slightly outward into a natural pose that doesn’t require you to hold any muscles taut. Soften your lower back, but don’t allow it to touch the floor. You want to retain a soft, natural curve in your spine. If you’re having trouble with this, use a bolster to find the curve and remove it when you’re confident that you can retain the curve on your own. Once you’re comfortable in this initial position, you’re ready to move on.

Focusing onAlignment

Try to keep your body symmetrical with your left and right sides reflecting each other along the mid-line of your torso. To get your head in the game, take hold of it with both hands and gently lift it away from the back of your neck. Keep your ears at equal distances from your shoulders – this will help you stay symmetrical along your mid-line. As you support your head with your hands or a folded blanket, try to release your spine and relax it from the base of your skull down to your tailbone.

Using Your Arms and Surface Area

Reach your arms up to the ceiling, perpendicular to the floor, as you rock gently from side to side. The purpose of this is to broaden your back by moving the ribs and shoulder blades away from the spine, giving you the sensation of having more surface area between you and the floor. This will help you feel rock solid as you fully relax your body. Allow your arms to find a natural position at your sides, equally angled away from your mid-line, with the palms facing up. Keep your shoulder blades firmly but gently pressed against the floor, allowing your collarbones to spread open and your chest to expand.

Silencing Your Sense Organs

Your sense organs are always at work, but in Shavasana, it’s important to try to silence them and participate in total relaxation. You can start at the top of your head and work downward, relaxing your eye and facial muscles, your inner ear canals, and nostrils. To become more aware of the stress you’re holding in your nose, try flaring your nostrils and then actively relaxing them. Now, soften the root of your tongue and release the tension in your jaw. If your teeth are gritted at this point, work to soften your jaw muscles and your tongue will naturally relax during this process. Any muscle groups that are still taut should be tensed and deliberately released. Trouble spots can include the shoulders, neck, face, back, and jaw, so make sure that these parts of your body are entirely relaxed.

Breathing and Mental Relaxation

There aren’t any specific breathing tricks to learn for Shavasana. Just observe your breath as if you were outside of your body and become aware of its natural rhythm. Focusing on this simple act of respiration will allow you to relax your mind, releasing any stresses or concerns you might have and eliminating thoughts of what you’ll have to do when you’ve finished your yoga session. Let your breath guide you within the moment of Shavasana and exclude the world as you know it. Detach yourself from your body and watch your thoughts slowly dissipate, enabling you to enter a state of total relaxation. No matter what you do, treat Shavasana as a pose that deserves your full concentration just as much as the toughest handstand. You’ll be rewarded with the perfect ending to your yoga session.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching scholarships for ice hockey students as well as student loan forbearance. Whenever this WAHM gets some free time she enjoys doing yoga, cooking with the freshest organic in-season fare, and practicing the art of coupon clipping.

Photo: Public Domain
URL: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3908380242_97fb2ffa61.jpg

By Connie Trider

Holistic Nutritionist, Personal  Trainer, NLP Practitioner and Fitness Competitor

Well, once again I have the itch to compete in another National Figure Competition so I better make sure my diet is clean, nutritious, and full of good protein sources! With the goal of ULTIMATE fat burning and increasing my Basal Metabolic Rate, I performed a 60 minute interval training circuit using free weight, Pilate’s ring, and of course the treadmill, wearing a heart rate monitor to make sure my heart rate was in the right zone to achieve my goals. Now it’s an hour later and I am ready to chow down!

My Competition Prep lunch for the day:

1 can of tuna mixed with chopped broccoli and cauliflower, rice vinegar, parsley, and of course sprinkled with flax meal! (Don’t knock it til you try it!)

1/2 of a large sweet potato (not a yam-yams are “mostly”orange), with a quick zap of spray organic olive oil, sprinkled with cinnamon

No meal is complete with a cup of hot green tea! ( My way to relax and take a minute for myself)

Health Benefit’s of this meal

Tuna- packed with protein and DHA

Cauliflower, broccoli- cretaceous vegetables loaded with cancer fighting properties, fiber, and minerals

Parsley- detoxifying and packed with chlorophyll. It has been shown to counter toxins while building blood, renewing tissues, and counter acts inflammation. Added benefit- It’s a natural diuretic!

Sweet Potato w/ Cinnamon- loaded with vitamin A, potassium, and cancer fighting properties. Also contains quarcetin, a powerful anti-inflammatory. Cinnamon naturally controls blood sugar and insulin levels. Added Benefit: a great comfort food that leaves me feeling satisfied!

Green Tea- We all know green tea is packed with EGCG which inhibits the growth and reproduction of cancer cells, but did you know that it releases the brains “feel good” hormone, dopamine, which calms the brain and leaves you feeling um- happy! what a great way to end a meal!

You are probably asking yourself if I really put this much thought into my meals. The answer is YES! Stick with my blog and I will continue to post tips and do the thinking for you! Contact me for more detailed information about my programs.  WWW.CONNIETRIDER.COM

I hope you learned something that can improve your wellness and health!

by Connie Trider

We know that our bones help us move and protect our organs from injury, but did you know that they have a huge impact on the health of our immune system? Bone marrow contains red blood cells and white blood cells called lymphocytes. Our white blood cells fight of bacteria and viruses. When we undergo chronic stress, our adrenal glands release cortisol and gluco-corticoids which decrease bone marrow function and weaken our immune system. This could result in the common cold because our lymphatic bone marrow health is weakened. It usually takes 7-10 days for the lymphatic system to naturally heal. If stress continues for a prolonged period of time it can lead to health complications such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Tips for a Healthy Immune System:

1) Find ways to reduce chronic stress- these could include exercising, meditation, visualization techniques, being with friends, and listening to music that you enjoy.

2) Eat lots of organic fruits and vegetables because they are filled with antioxidants.

3) Try to get 8 hours of sleep

4) Drink a ton of water. Dehydration is a leading cause of feeling depressed.

5) Make sure you are getting adequate amounts of calcium. Green leafy vegetables, seaweed, and cottage cheese are great sources!

Contact www.connietrider.com for more detailed information

If you’re looking for a gentle exercise that can improve flexibility and muscle strength while reducing stress, look no further than the ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi. Developed centuries ago as a method of self-defense, this “meditation in motion” is a graceful, relaxing way to improve your overall fitness level.

Made up of a series of slow movements, Tai Chi is like a slow dance in which one posture flows into the next. Your body stays in constant motion and your breathing is matched to the movements to help you achieve a sense of peacefulness and inner calm.

Tai Chi is perfect for people of any age or level of fitness. Another benefit of Tai Chi is that it requires virtually no exercise equipment, can be done indoors or out, and is a great way for someone who is new to exercise or feels intimidated by joining a gym. And since the risk of injury is very low, it’s a great way to get back into shape.

Here are some more reasons why Tai Chi may be perfect. It can:

-       Improve flexibility, muscle strength and balance

-       Lower blood pressure

-       Increase energy and agility

-       Improve cardiovascular fitness

-       Enhance your sense of well-being

-       Fall prevention in older adults

Getting started in Tai Chi is easy for people in virtually any community. The best way to begin is to take a class with a qualified Tai Chi instructor to help get the basics down. That way you’ll learn the proper techniques. You can find courses at your local YMCA/YWCA, community center, health club or wellness facility. Once you get the basics of Tai Chi down, you can also purchase DVDs that will allow you to also practice at home.

So, join millions of Chinese and give Tai Chi a try. At the very least it’s a fun, budget-friendly activity that you can add to your current fitness program. Who knows, it could just become your favorite form of working out.

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at The Online Degrees Site,  where recently she’s been researching online kinesiology degrees and blogging about student life issues. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Kristen Frost was our 20th guest since soma has launched as an LLC in 2009 and here is what she had to say about her experience:

“Scott-

Transformed? Highly Satisfied?  ABSOLUTELY!!!

I know that you know I had a wonderful time in your care.  I just had a video call with my 2 best friends today to catch up (1 lives in Boise, the other in CT) and they want to do a retreat, they loved what I shared.  Needless to say you may never get rid of me.

OK-so my favorite moment?  Though quite painful, I still giggle out loud when I recall laughing uncontrollably while you grinded my PSOAS muscle…..Laughing is so central to my being but I don’t let it out quite like that anymore–THANK YOU!!  I needed to remember how good that feels.

You are phenomenal and I thank you for making my retreat beyond perfect.

LOVE and HUGS,

Kristin”

If you had the chance to design and then enjoy a weekend retreat that was tailored to your own needs and preferences, what would it look like? Would you want to be in a beautiful place, eat wonderful healthy food, to get to know the natural environment of ocean and mountains? Would you want to meditate and have personalized restorative yoga sessions? Would you want to end your evening with the most amazing bodywork you will ever experience? Does that sound better than the usual spa experience where m

ost of your time will be spent inside and eating food that is cooked for multiple guests? Having been to many spas in different parts of the country, my recent weekend at Soma Get Fit was in a different league entirely and far surpasses all my other experiences. Here’s why: For starters, the staff spends considerable time before you arrive to develop a personalized itinerary and menu. They want to know what priorities you have, be it cardio/aerobic, yoga and meditation, hiking, biking, kayaking or other water sports. Once that is established, they develop a schedule that integrates the extraordinary natural environment of Santa Barbara into your entire exper

ience. I biked in town, stopped at a number of beautiful parks where Karen led me and my friend Marlo in Yoga sessions. Scott and Karen took is on an amazing hike into the hills of Romero Canyon where the views and flowers were terrific. We visited a soothing Buddhist temple, which allowed us to appreciate silence and some time for reflection and more. Karen guided us on our kayaking trip in the harbor and educated us about the marine biology of the area.

We went to the Farmer’s Market with our personal chef Lys Poet where we picked out the produce that she transformed into a 4 star meals. Each evening ended with Scott Crawford giving us each the most amazing 2 hours of bodywork. His talent must come from the Gods. His work is magical and you won’t want your session to end.

The activities, the setting, the food and the tone all contribute to this unique experience. But the essential quality of the Soma Get Fit stems from its people. They are invested in creating experiences for their guests that change body and mind. Their goal is to facilitate personal transformations that their guests have envisioned for themselves. They come to you without judgment, they don’t have preconceptions and they really want to “be there” for their guests. They are gentle but determined that the time you spend at Soma Get Fit will mean something, both while you are there and after you leave. The only drawback to this entire experience is that you have to leave. I for one will go back as soon as I can.

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!!!