Everything you need to know about Warming up, Cooling down and Rest days
with Lindsey Corrado-Sampson, Bodytree Pilates, BTB and Xtend Barre Instructor and creator of Spin Tribe
A new year inspires many people to make new health and fitness resolutions. Whether a newbie to fitness or are a regular gym goer there are a couple important elements of exercising that often get neglected and can lead a person to “burn out” or injury, ultimately getting in the way of those goals. In this article we will go over some of the key components that should always be incorporated into your workout routine.
Curried Sweet Potato Red Lentil Soup
with Mira, co-owner of Nectar, Bodytree’s in house juice bar
This modern take on a lentil soup is a perfect to keep you warm on our short winter. A great gut healthy addition to this soup would be bone broth, see how to include this amazing ingredient to boost the health benefits of this simple soup.
Gut Health and Beyond
Dr Nas Al-Jafari, Family Medicine Consultant and Functional Medicine Practitioner at Intercare Wellness
Following on from the Bodytree Breakfast Club this month, and given the resounding interest in Gut Health, I thought it only natural to share my thoughts for those of you who missed out.
The Gut Microbiome is one of the most fascinating and few remaining health mysteries. As it turns out, rather than living in parallel, our microbiome lives symbiotically and operates almost synonymously with us i.e. they are us.
An exciting Musical Year with your Little One
with Silvia Sopkova, mother of three & Kindermusik teacher at Bodytree
It’s that time of the year when everyone is talking about resolutions, health and wellness. Whatever resolutions you’ve chosen to fulfill in this 2018, let’s add few which are musical, easy to make and stick to, and will bring you and your children even closer together.
Probiotics – Everything you need to know!
with Suzan Terzian, Certified Nutritionist, Health & Wellness Consultant
Everyone is curious about probiotics, so I thought I would shed some light on what this health trend is all about. Probiotics are simply the good bacteria in your body, mainly in your gut. Nicknames for probiotics include gut bacteria, gastrointestinal flora, microbiome, micro biotic health, gut flora and friendly bugs.
We tend to think of our gut in terms of food digestion only, but there is so much more to this amazing organ than that. So much of our immunity resides in our gut, which is the first line of defense for our bodies from any harmful bacteria that may want to invade it. So in order to be healthy and have more healthy bacteria, we must create a thriving environment for them to live, and that environment is greatly affected by our diet and lifestyle habits. An imbalance in this ecosystem within us allows the ‘bad guys’(pathogens) to overpower the ‘good guys’, (healthy microflora). There are numerous studies going on right now that are looking at the role of probiotics in weight loss, prevention of respiratory infections, dental carries in kids, and as one method of treatment for inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. It’s obvious to see that the health of our gut is such an essential component to our overall health and wellbeing.
Creating the Perfect Yoga Playlist
by Angela Muller Habig, resident yogi at Bodytree
I walked into my first Power Yoga class drawn in by the hip hop tunes blasting out of the studio. My teacher’s previous career was in the music industry and she practiced from a Jivamukti background – music was as much of a tool to reach students as the asanas themselves. She taught us to build a playlist honoring the sound of each chakra: from bass for root chakra to high pitched bell sounds for our third eye. It is still this formula that I use for my own soundtracks. I try to create a new playlist once every season, often times I will change tracks once a month for Power Flow classes.
Usually I spend around 6-8 hours researching, combining and rearranging tracks. Transition and mood are so important to me – if a song does not touch my heart or move my body it does not make the cut. Often I find myself running towards speakers in restaurants, shazam on my phone in hand, searching for that perfect track. I will ask dj’s for their tunes and even taxi drivers have provided me with inspiration. My main tool is soundcloud – not only do I find it important to support independent artists I have also discovered that when we don’t know the song, we won’t associate memories to it, so it will be easier to keep our mind focused on our practice.
What If The Old Dog Is The New Trick…
with Andrea Marcum, Lululemon brand ambassador and writer
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” – Zen Master Shunryo Suzuki
What if I were to tell you that something as simple as downward dog could be your roadmap to lasting transformation?
We often start doing yoga because we’re looking for a form of exercise. And the physical incentive is a great place to start. B.K.S. Iyengar himself said, “Penetration of the mind is our goal, but in the beginning there is no substitute for sweat.” Look, I understand that working our muscles feels immediate and palpable. Almost instantly we feel like we are inviting progress in some way. I also know that if we’re going to truly liberate ourselves, focusing only on our bodies will not be enough.
Tips for enjoying a Healthy, Holistic Pregnancy in Abu Dhabi
with Simone Burke, Pilates Instructor & Hypnobirthing Educator
Pregnancy is such an amazing and exciting time in our lives, but for some it could be more about battling morning sickness or even the stress of staying positive after a long fertility journey or previous pregnancy loss.
Here are some tips to staying healthy and happy during your pregnancy so Mummy and Baby can both enjoy a relaxing journey!
Recipe: Ultimate Acai Bowl
by Suzan Terzian, Certified Nutritionist, Health & Wellness Consultant
A great way to enjoy a plant based breakfast is to make yourself a smoothie bowl. My all time favorite smoothie bowl is the infamous Acai bowl. I absolutely LOVE it!
Acai berries are mostly grown in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. These dark-purple berries pack a nutrient punch with their antioxidant properties, with health benefits such as increased energy levels, a boosted immune system, and improved skin and nails.
However did you know that many bowls offered at different restaurants are loaded with sugar, making this healthy dish a lot less healthy?
Put Your Best Foot (Straight) Forward
by Kathy Kleiver, Pilates Teacher at Bodytree Studio
Have you ever been behind a truck that appears to be driving at an odd angle even though it’s traveling straight forward? Or perhaps you’ve noticed a car with wheels that tilt inward or outward when viewed from the front or the back, and you think, “That can’t be good for the tires!”? You’re right: it’s not! These are signs a vehicle is out of alignment and needs to be serviced. Let these issues go and they’ll likely cause uneven and/or premature tire wear, steering wheel vibration, or a pulling sensation to the left or right making it harder to control the vehicle, any of which can ultimately pose a safety risk.
Now take a moment to stand up and walk a few steps, then stop and look down at your own feet. Yes…now! Are your feet pointing mostly straight forward, or is one (or both) angled in or out from your centerline? Just as wheel imbalance causes additional wear and tear on a car, foot imbalance can lead to bigger issues in our bodies that can compromise our health. There are obvious ailments like bunions and bone spurs, corns and calluses. But did you stop to think that if your feet aren’t working properly, your ankle, knee and hip joints can be adversely affected, having to create compensatory movements? Or that something as seemingly innocuous as your choice in shoes can lead to arthritis, decreased bone density and nerve damage?
Thanks (mostly) to Katy Bowman, MS, a biomechanist, author, blogger and podcaster, I’ve become obsessed with foot health. Her insightful book, Simple Steps to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet, was eye-opening to me, having myself suffered from foot problems and pain over the years. I can honestly say that incorporating a few of her recommendations and guidelines into my life the last six months has had a positive impact not only on my feet, but on my entire body.
Here are a few of my favorite takeaways from her book:
