Yoga and Meditation

Working exercise into your daily routine can be tough. There just never seems to be enough time in a day. But if you can pick apart your daily routine, you can find ways to burn those extra calories and stay heart healthy. There are lots of general tips out there but the secret is dissecting your own lifestyle and determining where you can fit exercise in best for you.

For example, you’re a project manager with 2 kids. Your mornings are filled with breakfast, book bags and school drop offs. You have barely enough time to get out the door. After work, you may go to a school function or come home and help with homework and dinner. You finish up some more work before heading to bed.

1. Consider where you live. Can you bike to work, train or light rail once or twice a week?

2. If you have a double stroller, walk to the grocery store when you can. You may not be able to get as much as you do when driving, but it’s worth the extra trip later…and another reason to hit the pavement.

3. Are you able to take a full lunch break? If you are and are within walking distance, walk to lunch. If not, go for a half hour walk and eat for half. It doesn’t have to be every day, even 2 is good.

4. Just before you go to sleep, do some quick exercises. Just for a few minutes a night can make a big difference.

Not everyone fits this scenario, of course. You may be a stay at home mom, single working professional, work from home or on the road a lot. Whatever the case may be, the most important thing you can do is evaluate each day and try to plan where you can fit some exercise in and if an unexpected opportunity arises, take it. On top of fitting exercise in in short bursts, try to add one or two extended periods of activity a week. It doesn’t have to be a drastic lifestyle change. Just do 30 minutes here and there and if you can stick to a schedule, great.

One type of exercise to keep in mind is yoga. It tones muscle, works your cardiovascular system, and provides a means of relaxation. And best of all, you can get your own mat and practice at home.

If you decide that Yoga is the daily routine you’d like to start, make sure that you get an extra thick yoga mat and a yoga mat bag. These are two essentials for getting started with yoga.