responds as if it were under stress. On the contrary, when we are breathing right we engage our parasympathetic system which helps us to relax and enjoy; therefore we experience more pleasure and burn fat. Two components that help us feel good and motivated to keep on exercising. So what kind of exercise floats your boat?

And lastly, keep hydrated. Our bodies are made up of over 75% percent water. When we exert ourselves we tend to break a sweat which is one way the body excretes toxins. It is essential to replenish our reserves and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water quality is of importance too. It's similar to the difference between a good bottle of wine vs. a not so good bottle. Been there done that, you might be saying! So pay now or pay later. Buy good bottl

"If you take care of your personal best, the winning will take care of itself". Australian Institute of Sport

A lot of people go to great lengths to make sure they are eating healthy yet are not exercising enough or efficiently and end up stopping altogether. Yet, the human body thrives on movement – just look at our society today. We’re constantly in a rush, moving our bodies to get from here to there all day long. Take notice the next time you are standing in line, waiting for a train or even waiting for the elevator. Nothing seems to be fast enough for us; we get so impatient and have this incredible need for speed.

Exercise is good for us for so many reasons, so let me count the ways! First and foremost, it acts as a major stress release and increases the production of the “I feel good” chemicals and brings the body back into balance. It also lowers blood pressure, aids in digestion, the assimilation of nutrients, increases oxygen and blood flow to the brain, aids in circulation and respiration and is a great antidote for insomnia. Not to mention, we live most of our lives in our head so it's good to get back into our bodies, integrate our experiences of life, and learn to reside there more often. Is that enough to convince you of the benefits? In fact, forget all the facts. As the song goes, it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing, so get out there and try it for yourself. Let me know if you notice a difference in how you feel, look and act?

There are a few things to remember when figuring out how to incorporate a good exercise routine so that you’ll reap the benefits and enjoy it. After all, what’s the purpose of doing anything you don’t enjoy – it’s torture and a quick way to set yourself up to fail. It doesn’t have to be that way. Think of the things you enjoyed doing as a kid or teenager and start there: biking, hiking, dancing, walking,swimming, tennis, running etc. Join a club, get a dog or call a friend. A minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise is all you need each day in order for you to reap the benefits. Exercise can also be part of a spiritual practice and a way to get back in touch with nature and yourself. As the days are getting longer and summer is upon us, getting outside to get some exercise is imperative. The fresh air, sunlight, vibrant colors and creatures all effect our senses and heighten our experience of what it means to feel alive, awake and aware. This is “food” too, as we metabolize the experience of life through each of our senses.

And BREATHE. Breathing is a crucial part of any exercise program. If you are over exerting yourself, out of breath and don’t have it in you to keep going, don’t. You are actually doing more harm than good. Most of the time our minds want to do more than our bodies can, so tune in and heed the body’s advice, it’s wiser than you think. Our breathing also determines what type of energy we burn, sugar or fat. Fat is where we store all our toxins and is burned only in non-emergency situations. Anytime we are over exerting ourselves and out of breathe we are engaging the sympathetic nervous system and the body responds as if it were under stress. On the contrary, when we are breathing right we engage our parasympathetic system which helps us to relax and enjoy; therefore we experience more pleasure and burn fat. Two components that help us feel good and motivated to keep on exercising. So what kind of exercise floats your boat?

And lastly, keep hydrated. Our bodies are made up of over 75% percent water. When we exert ourselves we tend to break a sweat which is one way the body excretes toxins. It is essential to replenish our reserves and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water quality is of importance too. It's similar to the difference between a good bottle of wine vs. a not so good bottle. Been there done that, you might be saying! So pay now or pay later. Buy good bottle

ion of the “I feel good” chemicals and brings the body back into balance. It also lowers blood pressure, aids in digestion, the assimilation of nutrients, increases oxygen and blood flow to the brain, aids in circulation and respiration and is a great antidote for insomnia. Not to mention, we live most of our lives in our head so it's good to get back into our bodies, integrate our experiences of life, and learn to reside there more often. Is that enough to convince you of the benefits? In fact, forget all the facts. As the song goes, it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing, so get out there and try it for yourself. Let me know if you notice a difference in how you feel, look and act?

There are a few things to remember when figuring out how to incorporate a good exercise routine so that you’ll reap the benefits and enjoy it. After all, what’s the purpose of doing anything you don’t enjoy – it’s torture and a quick way to set yourself up to fail. It doesn’t have to be that way. Think of the things you enjoyed doing as a kid or teenager and start there: biking, hiking, dancing, walking,swimming, tennis, running etc. Join a club, get a dog or call a friend. A minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise is all you need each day in order for you to reap the benefits. Exercise can also be part of a spiritual practice and a way to get back in touch with nature and yourself. As the days are getting longer and summer is upon us, getting outside to get some exercise is imperative. The fresh air, sunlight, vibrant colors and creatures all effect our senses and heighten our experience of what it means to feel alive, awake and aware. This is “food” too, as we metabolize the experience of life through each of our senses.

And BREATHE. Breathing is a crucial part of any exercise program. If you are over exerting yourself, out of breath and don’t have it in you to keep going, don’t. You are actually doing more harm than good. Most of the time our minds want to do more than our bodies can, so tune in and heed the body’s advice, it’s wiser than you think. Our breathing also determines what type of energy we burn, sugar or fat. Fat is where we store all our toxins and is burned only in non-emergency situations. Anytime we are over exerting ourselves and out of breathe we are engaging the sympathetic nervous system and the body responds as if it were under stress. On the contrary, when we are breathing right we engage our parasympathetic system which helps us to relax and enjoy; therefore we experience more pleasure and burn fat. Two components that help us feel good and motivated to keep on exercising. So what kind of exercise floats your boat?

And lastly, keep hydrated. Our bodies are made up of over 75% percent water. When we exert ourselves we tend to break a sweat which is one way the body excretes toxins. It is essential to replenish our reserves and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water quality is of importance too. It's similar to the difference between a good bottle of wine vs. a not so good bottle. Been there done that, you might be saying! So pay now or pay later. Buy good bottl

rcise routine so that you’ll reap the benefits and enjoy it. After all, what’s the purpose of doing anything you don’t enjoy – it’s torture and a quick way to set yourself up to fail. It doesn’t have to be that way. Think of the things you enjoyed doing as a kid or teenager and start there: biking, hiking, dancing, walking,swimming, tennis, running etc. Join a club, get a dog or call a friend. A minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise is all you need each day in order for you to reap the benefits. Exercise can also be part of a spiritual practice and a way to get back in touch with nature and yourself. As the days are getting longer and summer is upon us, getting outside to get some exercise is imperative. The fresh air, sunlight, vibrant colors and creatures all effect our senses and heighten our experience of what it means to feel alive, awake and aware. This is “food” too, as we metabolize the experience of life through each of our senses.

And BREATHE. Breathing is a crucial part of any exercise program. If you are over exerting yourself, out of breath and don’t have it in you to keep going, don’t. You are actually doing more harm than good. Most of the time our minds want to do more than our bodies can, so tune in and heed the body’s advice, it’s wiser than you think. Our breathing also determines what type of energy we burn, sugar or fat. Fat is where we store all our toxins and is burned only in non-emergency situations. Anytime we are over exerting ourselves and out of breathe we are engaging the sympathetic nervous system and the body responds as if it were under stress. On the contrary, when we are breathing right we engage our parasympathetic system which helps us to relax and enjoy; therefore we experience more pleasure and burn fat. Two components that help us feel good and motivated to keep on exercising. So what kind of exercise floats your boat?

And lastly, keep hydrated. Our bodies are made up of over 75% percent water. When we exert ourselves we tend to break a sweat which is one way the body excretes toxins. It is essential to replenish our reserves and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water quality is of importance too. It's similar to the difference between a good bottle of wine vs. a not so good bottle. Been there done that, you might be saying! So pay now or pay later. Buy good bottl

r senses and heighten our experience of what it means to feel alive, awake and aware. This is “food” too, as we metabolize the experience of life through each of our senses.

And BREATHE. Breathing is a crucial part of any exercise program. If you are over exerting yourself, out of breath and don’t have it in you to keep going, don’t. You are actually doing more harm than good. Most of the time our minds want to do more than our bodies can, so tune in and heed the body’s advice, it’s wiser than you think. Our breathing also determines what type of energy we burn, sugar or fat. Fat is where we store all our toxins and is burned only in non-emergency situations. Anytime we are over exerting ourselves and out of breathe we are engaging the sympathetic nervous system and the body responds as if it were under stress. On the contrary, when we are breathing right we engage our parasympathetic system which helps us to relax and enjoy; therefore we experience more pleasure and burn fat. Two components that help us feel good and motivated to keep on exercising. So what kind of exercise floats your boat?

And lastly, keep hydrated. Our bodies are made up of over 75% percent water. When we exert ourselves we tend to break a sweat which is one way the body excretes toxins. It is essential to replenish our reserves and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water quality is of importance too. It's similar to the difference between a good bottle of wine vs. a not so good bottle. Been there done that, you might be saying! So pay now or pay later. Buy good bottl

responds as if it were under stress. On the contrary, when we are breathing right we engage our parasympathetic system which helps us to relax and enjoy; therefore we experience more pleasure and burn fat. Two components that help us feel good and motivated to keep on exercising. So what kind of exercise floats your boat?

And lastly, keep hydrated. Our bodies are made up of over 75% percent water. When we exert ourselves we tend to break a sweat which is one way the body excretes toxins. It is essential to replenish our reserves and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water quality is of importance too. It's similar to the difference between a good bottle of wine vs. a not so good bottle. Been there done that, you might be saying! So pay now or pay later. Buy good bottled water or invest in a water filter. Drinking water also helps the body to be light and less tense. Its amazing how many people are walking around dehydrated. If only they would drink a few more glasses of water they would feel so much better. The trick I use - I keep a liter container on my desk and fill it up at least 2x a day. Another way to get it out of the way is to drink a couple of 8oz glasses first thing each morning and then some during the rest of the day. This is very important, especially since the hot summer days are here and so you can stay as cool as you are!

Recipe of the month:
Summer Cooler

As seen in Health magazine, this fruit smoothie/soup is a real keeper and great after a workout!

Ingredients:
1/2 ripe cantaloupe
1 tsp chopped fresh mint
1-2 Tbsp lime-flavored Perrier water
1/4 cup minced pineapple
1/4cup minced strawberries

Blend in blender till pureed and serve.

More on Hearing Your Body Talk --

If your body were to talk to you right now, what would it say?

The body is amazing and has an incredible amount of intelligence and wisdom that we tend to drown out or not pay much attention to. If we learn to get quiet enough and tune in to its messages, it can be our compass and help us navigate the stormy weather in our lives, lead us out of danger and back to safety; our compass or lighthouse that is signaling to us all the time, if only we would listen.

And if you have a hard time finding your compass or lighthouse, we always have those who have gone before us and are shining their light, willing to be a guide for us. I had the honor of hearing from one of “them”, Deepak Chopra. For those of you who have not heard of this man, I encourage you to pick up one of his many books. I have followed him for many years and am always enlightened. He is a renowned MD from India, who in his own words was a great doctor but a lousy healer because he didn’t understand the component of the human spirit. This led him on a quest to better understand the power of the body, mind and spirit as it relates to our life and greater purpose.

I have always been fascinated with people like him. You know they know something we don't just by their presence and when they enter a room. It's palpable. And their power authentic as they draw people to them almost effortlessly, like a moth to a flame. Deepak spoke to us for about three hours and it was absolutely amazing. Besides his extraordinary brilliance and achievements, he is very down-to- earth, happy and at peace, and I thought, I want summa dhat! So I finagled my way through the crowds to meet him. I felt like a teenager again and found myself at a loss for words, wondering what the heck I would say. I really just wanted to shake his hand in hopes it would all just be passed on to me! So I did and touched his shoulder too - I guess time will tell!

Here is Deepak's recipe for figuring out your life's purpose. The point of this exercise is not to let your mind get in the way. Answer in two to three words that come to mind. Don't think hard and let your soul