Aspen Club and Spa

Here’s something most of us might not think about-stretching as a daily form of exercise. Okay, so your heart isn’t pumping and your legs arent pounding the pavement, but stretching has awesome benefits for the body. Do you know that feeling when you wake in the morning- a huge stretch feels soooo good! We often see people stretching before and after a workout, but the art of stretching can be a workout in itself. It gets the blood flowing, loosens tight muscles, increases elasticity and flexibility, and can help reduce stress. Itcan also give you fresh energy. Give these simple poses a try: Raise your arms above your head and grow long. Sway the body slowly to the right, and then to the left. Take a baby back bend if it feels right.  Head to knee stretches are great for the lower back and hamstrings.  Try a few cat and cow stretches as you kneel in a taple-top position.  Meow and moo, (kids love this!) Lastly, lay on your back and do a few restorative spinal twists by gently taking the knees to one side and the head to the other, arms are out like a T. Always remember to breathe while stretching, holding in the breath does no good. Incorporate stretching at least once a day into your life-in the morning when you rise, during a stroll on your lunch, or even at the office for an afternoon refresher. Meow!

Yoga. Whether it’s Vinyasa, Restorative, Bikram or done via a tape in the comfort of your living room, Yoga is for everyone. Fitness and staying in shape has always been important to me. As a young girl I was a gymnast, in high school I ran track, played hoops and was a pretty darn good soccer player…until I injured my knee, tearing my anterior cruciate ligament. That ended my hard core sporty gal days, but I wanted to stay in shape. Alas, working out in a stale gym environment was not for me. Exercise should be fun! I wanted a workout where I could reap the benefits for mind and body while feeling great.

I discovered Yoga through friends, and found it literally, “ah-mazing.” Not only does Yoga tone and strengthen the entire body, but it calms the mind. In this crazy world, how often do we stop and connect with our breath? When one steps on the Yoga mat, and dedicates that hour or 30 minutes just for them, the world melts away. Stretching, bending, moving with grace, all in sync with our sweet breath and vital heartbeat. In addition to increased flexibility, agility, and a sense of calm that soon graces the face of practicing yogi’s, did you know Yoga has health benefits such as flushing out the organs and supplying fresh oxygen and blood throughout the body? It can also be said Yoga provides a connection between ourselves and this earth, a historical spirit and practice that’s been around a long time. Perhaps the greatest thing about Yoga is that anyone can partake, it transcends age and location, sex or body type, and any time to start Yoga is a great time. Enjoy, and Namaste. Deb Weisman