Fitness” needs a makeover. It’s not about the size of your muscles, how fast you can run, or how much you weigh. There are plenty of physically fit people who are unhappy, eternally pessimistic, and drained of spirit. True fitness starts with emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Secunda spent 12 years living among the exceptionally healthy and happy Huichol people of Mexico, apprenticing with their legendary shaman. From them, he learned what scientists are just now confirming: that disconnection with our outer environment can make us sick — and connection with nature can heal us. Now he and Allen, a 6-time world Ironman champion, show others how to draw strength, focus, and energy from nature — and use their techniques to transform negative emotions that deplete health and energy. Secunda and Allen can share 7 ways to boost your mood by connecting to nature, and can discuss: Why people who live close to nature suffer from less depression. How to transform loneliness, depression, and anger using nature-based techniques. How to draw energy from the earth when you’re fatigued or depleted .Shaman-healer Brant Secunda and world champion Ironman Mark Allen teach seminars worldwide on fitness, health, and well-being. Their new book, based on the approach they developed, is Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to Healthier, Happier You

Reposted from blogtalkradio.com

According to the annual Conference Board job satisfaction survey, more than half of Americans (52%) say they are dissatisfied with their jobs. But it’s not the work that’s makes us unhappy — it’s how we deal with it while we’re there.

Boredom, perfectionism, anxiety, and impatience make us hate what we do. And feeling physically bad — from sitting too long, caving in to stress, and eating poorly at work — just make things worse.

Here are 10 strategies you can put into practice tomorrow that will make an enormous difference in the way you feel about your job and being there.

Stand up to your office chair.
It’s great that you have the newest ergonomic chair. But if you sit in it all day, you’ll reduce the amount of fat-burning enzyme called lipoprotein lipase by a whopping 94%. To keep this enzyme active and burning fat requires only 30 minutes a day of standing up to read, to talk on the phone, or to consult with a coworker.

Embrace the power of repetition.
If you struggle with boredom from doing the same activities over and over at work, here’s a trick that helps top athletes train every day for hours at a time. Embrace the repetition. Start to see chipping away at the same tasks day after day as powerful ways to reach your financial and professional goals. This is similar to the way our ancestors could plant an entire hillside with corn by hand, one kernel at a time, year after year.

Brush away impatience and frustration.
When you’re impatient with a task that’s taking too long, or frustrated with a complication such as a technology glitch, here’s a simple way to quickly reset your workplace mood. Think of whatever you are doing at that moment — say, consulting the user’s guide for your computer — as your top priority instead of the means to an end.

Change your routine to prevent monotony.
Like the idea of cross training for athletes, workers can stay mentally fit by mixing up the routine. If you work 9-5, try working 8-4. If you always check your email first thing, do something else for the first hour. Rearrange your office. Try making calls instead of emailing.

Stop procrastinating for 5 minutes.
Do you put off working on large projects or tasks as the deadline gets closer, and then eat yourself up with worry at night obsessing about them? Try this. Commit to working on it for just 5 minutes. That’s it. Once you start, you might find it’s not that bad. But even if it is, it will be easier to complete if you’ve been chipping away at it for 5 minutes a day.

Slow down to get faster.
Fitness scientists know that working out at a comfortable level is more beneficial for health than pushing through at top speed or effort. You can apply this principle to your workplace activity as well. If you consciously slow down, take time to think things through, finish one task completely before going to the next, perhaps even ignore incoming calls and emails temporarily, you’ll find that your productivity will increase along with your happiness.

Take time to feed and water yourself.
Don’t skip breakfast. And eat small healthy snacks every couple of hours, such as fruit, yogurt, almonds, carrots and peppers, nut butter sandwiches, dark chocolate, and soup. Keep a liter of water on your desk and sip it all day long. Watch how energized you feel — especially midafternoon, the time you normally crave a sweet and some coffee.

Weightlift for your soul.
“Weightlifting for the soul” is giving up negative thoughts that weigh you down. The next time a negative thought comes into your mind, force yourself to restate it to yourself in a positive way. So, “This is too hard” becomes “I have all it takes to make it through.” Or, “this is a waste of time” becomes “What can I learn right now?”

Look at the now.
Are you a perfectionist? Do you beat yourself up for not doing things as masterfully as you think you should? Try this: Ask yourself if you are doing the best you can right now with everything going on in your life. Instead of focusing on absolute perfection, make the goal to give the best you can in the moment, even if you know on another day it might be better.

Keep making deposits.
View your physical, emotional, and spiritual health as a bank account that should always be tended to. Being healthy goes hand in hand with being happy — in and outside of work. Every day you are sedentary, eat bad food, or indulge in negative thinking is a withdrawal. Every day you eat well, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, exercise, and are optimistic is a deposit.

Reposted from frugalfun.com

This summer, don’t eat foods that will leave you feeling depleted, bloated, and tired. Making better food choices will have a positive impact on your leisure time. As athletes know, healthy food and plenty of water sustain your energy levels, fuel your muscles, and help you recover quickly. The food you eat on the road will serve as your traveling repair kit.

Here are some tips to help you eat healthfully while you’re traveling or vacationing this summer:

Healthy eating starts where you stop.

If you’re on the road and stop at a fast-food joint, your food choices will be limited to fast food. But if you stop at a grocery store that offers whole or healthy foods — fruits, bagged carrots, nuts, hummus — or a supermarket that features a salad bar, you quickly expand your choices (and reduce junk-food temptations).

Eat frequently, and in smaller amounts.

Eating small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day sends a signal to your brain that the food supply is plentiful, so it’s okay to burn through those calories quickly. Limiting your calorie load at a single sitting also gives you lots of energy. Eating too many calories in one meal — even if they’re healthy calories — sends your brain the message that leaner times must be around the corner, so those calories will get stored as fat. Eating too much at one sitting can also make you sluggish and sleepy.

Eat plenty of protein.

Eating the right amount of complete protein for your weight and activity level stabilizes blood sugar (preventing energy lags), enhances concentration, and keeps you lean and strong. A complete protein is any animal and dairy product or a grain plus a legume (such as whole grain bread with nut butter, or corn tortilla with beans). When you need energy for a long hike, a long drive, or a day at the beach, stoke your body with high-quality, lean protein.

Pack snacks so you’re not skipping meals.

Often when we’re traveling, we don’t have access to food at regular intervals. Or worse, we skip meals so we can have that big piece of chocolate cake later. The problem is, your body responds as if it’s facing a food shortage and your metabolism slows way down to prevent you from starving. To keep your mind and body humming, pack healthy snacks in your car or backpack. Examples are almonds, raw vegetables and hummus, yogurt and berries, fresh and dried fruit, and hard-boiled eggs.

Avoid “feel bad” foods.

You know what these are: They’re foods you crave, but after you eat them you feel sick or depleted. When you’re on the road, it’s particularly essential to avoid foods that drain your energy and deflate your mood. Foods to avoid: (1) simple carbohydrates or high glycemic foods, such as fruit juices, sodas, refined grain products, or sugary snacks; (2) anything deep fried; (3) nonfat desserts and sweeteners, which are loaded with chemicals that your body can’t easily metabolize; (4) anything partially hydrogenated (this includes nondairy creamer, Jiffy-style peanut butter, margarine, and most packaged baked goods); and (5) excess alcohol.

Drink lots of water.

Yes, water is a food. The body needs water for virtually all of its functions. Drinking plenty of water will flush your body of toxins, keep your skin fresh, and help you eat less. It will also help you avoid travel lag, symptoms of overexposure to the heat or sun, and junk-food cravings. Believe it or not, many of the unhealthy cravings we experience on the road can be satisfied with a refreshing drink of pure water.

Reposted from pittsburghbettertimes.com

To reduce injury:
• Wear the right gear. Players should wear appropriate and properly fitted protective equipment, such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups and/or eyewear. Young athletes should not assume protective gear will protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities.
• Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
• Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility.
• Use the proper technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season.
• Take breaks. Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.
• Play safe. Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football) and body checking (ice hockey) should be enforced.
• Stop the activity. If pain is present, stop all activity immediately.
• Avoid heat injury. Always drink plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.

Little Swimmers Safe to Splish Splash!
Providing very young children with swimming lessons appears to have a protective effect against drowning and does not increase children’s risk of drowning, according to researchers with the National Institutes of Health.

The researchers state that the findings should ease concerns among health professionals that giving swimming lessons to children from ages 1 to 4 years might indirectly increase drowning risk by making parents and caregivers less vigilant when children are near bodies of water.

“Swimming lessons are appropriate for consideration as part of a comprehensive drowning prevention strategy,” says Dr. Duane Alexander, the director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). “Because even the best swimmers can drown, swimming lessons are only one component of a comprehensive drowning prevention strategy that should include pool fencing, adult supervision, and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”
For more information, visit www.nichd.nih.gov.

Benefits of Circumcision
Heterosexual men who undergo medical circumcision can significantly reduce their risk of acquiring two common sexually transmitted infections — herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the cause of genital herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cancer and genital warts, according to a recent report that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). In the study, circumcision had no effect on their risk of becoming infected with the bacterium that causes syphilis, however.

The findings build upon earlier clinical research funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the NIH, which found that circumcision decreases a man’s risk of acquiring HIV infection through heterosexual intercourse by more than 50 percent.
For more information, visit www.niaid.nih.gov.

Healthy But Not Necessarily Happy?
A new book seeks to change the perception that being physically fit automatically brings personal happiness. According to the authors of “Fit Soul, Fit Body,” Brant Secunda, a shaman, and Mark Allen, a six-time Ironman triathlon world champion, fitness needs a makeover. It’s not about the size of your muscles, how fast you can run or how much you weigh. They say that there are plenty of physically fit people who are unhappy, eternally pessimistic and drained of spirit, and their book employs the message that true fitness starts with emotional and spiritual well-being, which provides the foundation for attaining a fit body.

“Fit Soul, Fit Body” offers nine ways to achieve a healthier and happier life through strategies and advice on how to test wellness, manage stress, overcome emotional barriers, beat boredom, slow down to get faster, choose the right eating and exercise plan, employ the power of nature, quiet your mind and set realistic goals and secure a fit vision for life.
The book retails for $24.95. For more information, visit www.benbellabooks.com.

Peaceful Pregnancy Poses
Many fitness experts agree yoga is an ideal way to stay fit and healthy during pregnancy. The DVD “Prenatal Yoga With Desi Bartlett,” scheduled for release on May 5, is designed for use throughout pregnancy. The program’s goal is to build strength and stamina, reduce stress and fatigue and help pregnant women connect with their babies and changing bodies.

The DVD is segmented into one 20-minute and two 10-minute practices. Instructor Desi Bartlett filmed the DVD while she was six months pregnant. She teaches weekly yoga classes in Los Angeles.
The DVD retails for $14.99. For more information, visit www.acaciacatalog.com.

Reposted from charlotteparent.com

BOYT: What was the inspiration behind Fit Soul, Fit Body?

Mark Allen: There were three key elements that inspired us to write the book. The first started with my journey trying to win the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, which led me to studying with Brant Secunda. The short version of that story is that I had tried to win the Ironman for six years. Six attempts, some top finishes, but all of them just shy of becoming the champion. I had all the numbers in the logbook that said I should be able to achieve that great dream, but there was something inside of me that was holding me back, something not strong enough about my inner character that needed to be fortified.

But then in 1989, prior to my seventh race at the Ironman, I was extremely fortunate to make a connection with Brant Secunda and the teachings of the Huichol tradition that he is trained in. It was as if a light switch was turned on. I was suddenly able to find that inner strength at the most critical moment of perhaps the greatest battle I had in that race, and that win started what would be a string of six Ironman victories in six starts. I have studied with Brant Secunda since that time and continue to use his teaching, ceremonies, and healings to create a positive balance for my life and to maintain what we call a “Fit Soul.”

Brant Secunda: When I was younger, I lived with the Huichol Indians in Mexico with my adopted grandfather Don José Matsuwa, who put me through a 12-year shaman’s apprenticeship. Because life in the Huichol Sierras in Mexico is very active, I was very lean and strong during those years. My body and soul were fit, as were Don José’s, who lived to be 110 years old. Until he was 108 he could carry huge loads of firewood and corn up and down the mountainsides. But after coming back to the modern world, I put on extra weight because, just like many people up here, the lifestyle is not inherently active. We have to make time to develop the health of our bodies, and if we don’t, it can be so easy to put on extra unnecessary weight.

Shortly after Mark Allen’s final Ironman victory in 1995, my family and I joined him in Hawaii when he was inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame. It was two days before the actual race that year, so all the athletes were training like crazy getting ready. So there I was with 1,500 of the fittest bodies–and ME! That was my inspiration to start exercising again. From that moment forward, Mark Allen and I started exercising together, going on many runs, long walks, working out with weights and through means available to all of us in the modern world, I got my physical body back in shape.

Out of all that, Mark Allen and I decided to start teaching a workshop together initially called “Sport and Spirit.” It incorporated many of these simple tools that can completely change your physical body, and also utilized many of the Huichol tools of transformation that help a human being manage stress, release negative emotions, and adopt positive qualities to guide them. We developed tools to help quiet the mind and the internal chatter that can often hold us back from taking the leap of faith that’s required to overcome challenges. Eventually, word got out about what we were doing and a publisher in New York came knocking, asking us if we would want to write a book that would bring these concepts to people.

BOYT: You mention the top 3 emotional barriers that prevent a person from achieving their goals. Please share what the top 3 blocks are and what can be done to break these barriers.

Brant Secunda: We say there are three negative emotions that all others can be related to. These are fear, anger, and jealousy. My grandfather Don José used to tell me, “Grandson, these emotions are not who you really are. And when you have them, you end up paying attention to them. How can you hear what the wind is trying to whisper to your heart when you are paying attention to fear? How can you hear what Mother Earth is trying to teach you when you are paying attention to anger?”

We all have these emotions and can learn to deal with them, and let them go. And even if we can’t completely let them go, we can at least go forward in our lives without letting them hold us back.

One way to release fear, anger or jealousy is to not pay attention to these emotions and indulge in them, as this will only have a negative impact upon your life. These emotions can cause weakness to the physical body, thus diminishing the power of the soul. The Huichols would say to just let them go, that this is actual an option of how to break down these barriers. An example would be to go to a river and breathe in the beauty of life with the sound of the river, and then as you exhale, let go of anger, fear, or jealousy.

BOYT: What spiritual practice keeps you grounded and present?

Brant Secunda: One is to always remember to be humble, that everything in life is a gift–including your own life. It can be easy to get carried away with our self-importance from the perspective that says our own life is more important than all other life on the planet. Don José used to tell me that my life was no more important than a blade of grass.

When you are not humble, you might have that “Why ME?” feeling, as if you don’t deserve to have to deal with the problems or challenges you are facing, that life should be easier or better. Being humble says, “Thank you that I am alive another day, even with all my problems. I am still alive and can still breathe in the air. I am grateful to still see life going on all around me.”

A second practice is try to learn how to listen to your intuition or your higher self that knows everything already, and then to always ask that intuition what is important to be doing right now in the situation that is right in front of you. Ask your higher self what your next move in life should be: What action should you be taking in the next moment and in the one after that? Often the answers we get will not be what our ego would like, but asking helps keep us grounded and present rather than getting carried away with things that may not really be the most important for us.

BOYT: What is the most important psychological change that needs to occur to achieve our goals, in fitness or other areas of life?

Mark Allen: Having a goal is the first step to achieving most great things in life, but then getting there is the real heart of those dreams and aspirations. That journey may require a change of attitude that’s reflected in one of the nine fit soul, fit body keys in our book, called “Live What You Ask For.” There are many people who, for example, wanted to be the Ironman Champion, but very few were willing to live what that goal was asking them to do to become the champion. Living what you ask for requires continually checking in and asking if the actions you are taking, the thoughts you are telling yourself, and the environment you are immersing yourself in are all helping you to live those dreams. Are they helping you Live What You Ask For? This doesn’t mean that you are going to never waver from your plan, or that you will be able to see yourself actually achieving those goals every second of the day. But it is a way to keep the compass guiding your efforts, pointing you in the right direction.

A second change that many people have to make is to develop patience and accept the mundane steps that will lead them to their goals. Most goals, especially the big ones, inspire us to take action. Then over time, the daily efforts required by those goals can become extremely routine. We might get impatient thinking that we should have arrived! If we can keep in mind that profound changes happen very gradually over time through the efforts of lots of work and practice, then we embrace the patience to take those small daily steps in exercise or in developing our inner character necessary to becoming the person we have in our vision.

BOYT: What are the daily practices for the most spiritually grounded and healthy people that you know?

Brant Secunda: This is as varied as there are people on the planet. So it is tough to try to narrow down what you might find most spiritually grounded and healthy people doing. So I will give some examples of what the Huichols would be doing in their daily lives, because they are a culture that really does embrace being spiritually grounded and healthy.

One thing would be to strive to be a kind, compassionate, loving person. Don José emphasized in my training that love is the strongest power of all, and that it helps a human being become whole or complete. He said that love is the foundation of all other power, and that by just walking on Mother Earth we inherently take her love into our bodies and souls, which makes us healthier, more grounded people.

A second practice is to just laugh! The Huichols love to laugh and tease each other. Laughing breaks down barriers and makes us feel good. You know this if you have ever visited someone who is sick. If you can make them laugh, they feel better. Don José told me near the end of my apprenticeship that if I could not tell a good joke by the time I left, then I had not really learned anything. When we get together with others and laugh together, we all feel better. People may not think of this as a practice that can help us have good physical and spiritual health, but most great spiritual people I know enjoy laughter.

One last practice that I would leave you with is to develop trust in a higher power. Early on in my time with the Huichols, they told me I would never really learn until I learned to trust in the Ancient Ones or the Great Spirit. Trust in life helps us to keep going even when life is unfolding in ways that don’t make sense in the moment. Trust opens our hearts and helps us develop our intuition. Trust in life helps alleviate stress by bringing back hope and a sense that everything will turn out just right in the end, even if “right” is not quite what we had in mind when we signed up for the endeavors we are pursuing at the moment. All of this brings a person good health and keeps them grounded spiritually.

Our food supply and eating habits may have changed dramatically since those ancient times, but our bodies are very much the same. By learning how your body is genetically programmed to react to the amount and type of food you eat, you can practice what we call ‘functional eating.’ That’s when food’s primary purpose is to make your body feel great and function optimally.

Here are some tenets of functional eating:

Eat fewer calories at a sitting.
If you think eating a giant heap of grains, beans, and vegetables is wise, think again. Eating too many calories in one meal – even if they’re healthy calories – sends your brain the message that leaner times must be around the corner, so those calories will get stored as fat.

Eat frequently.
In terms of survival genetics, eating small amounts of healthy foods throughout the day tells your brain that the food supply is plentiful, so it’s okay to burn through those calories quickly.

Don’t restrict calories.
Don’t skip meals so you can have that piece of chocolate cake later. Your body responds as if it’s facing a food shortage and your metabolism slows way down to prevent you from starving.

Eat good-looking food.
Studies show that visually appealing food sends messages to the brain that allows your body to absorb and utilize it much better than the same food presented in an unappealing form.

Don’t skip the fat.
Eating the right amount of fat helps you burn fat, but eating too little fat has the opposite effect. Studies show that people on low-fat diets often put on extra body fat because they replace fat with carbohydrate calories, which get stored in the body as fat and depress fat burning.

Avoid blood sugar spikes.
If you eat simple carbohydrates or high glycemic foods, such as fruit juices, refined grain products, or sugary snacks, your body releases insulin, which converts extra sugar in the blood into fat, and then stores it in all the places you’d rather not have extra padding.

Drink lots of water.
Yes, water is a food. The body needs water for virtually all of its functions. Drinking plenty of water will flush your body of toxins, keep your skin fresh, and help you eat less.

Think fiber.
Prevent blood sugar highs and lows by eating carbohydrates that are absorbed slowly and have their naturally occurring fiber still intact. Examples are whole grains, legumes, and fruits such as apples and berries.

Eat slowly.
Eating slowly gives the food time to start digesting and moving out into your body. This helps your body send signals to your brain, telling it to stop when you’ve truly had enough.

Eat colorful foods.
Our ancestors ate as many varied foods as they could find in their environment. To absorb the most nutrients, eat real greens (dark leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and collards) and other colorful fruits and vegetables (orange/yellow, red, blue/purple, and white).

Eat enough protein.
Eating the right amount of complete protein for your weight and activity level stabilizes blood sugar, enhances concentration, and keeps you lean and strong. A complete protein is any animal and dairy product or a grain plus a legume (such as whole grain bread with nut butter, or corn tortilla with beans). Our book has a formula to calculate your own daily protein needs.

Eat with gratitude.
Our ancestors had a profound relationship with their food – they hunted it, gathered it, planted it, picked it, and stored it. For us, food is abundant so we take it for granted. That’s why we overeat, eat unhealthfully, or eat for reasons other than for nourishment. One way to regain your ancient connection to food is to be grateful for it and give thanks before you eat.

Reposted from fitandfabliving.com

Here’s a mini-wellness test. For each of the following questions, answer yes or no.

* Would you characterize your life as mostly stress free?

* Do you spend regular time with a community of friends?

* Do you get out into nature daily?

* Are you mostly free of negative feelings, such as fear, depression, and anger?

* Do you feel that your spiritual health is as important as your physical health?

* Do you exercise every day and find it enjoyable?

* Are you at your ideal weight?

* Do you set clear goals for personal change and follow through with a plan to achieve them?

The more NO answers you had, the more you will benefit from following our nine keys to help you achieve a fit soul and body.

The moment you decide to adapt these ideas to your life is the moment you begin to make physical, neurochemical, and hormonal changes in your body for the better — ones that will support your goal of bringing out your absolute best.

Key #1: Balance your responses to the six types of stress.

Chronic stress produces high cortisol levels that don’t go away. Chronically high cortisol will make you sick, physically and emotionally.

Stress can come from multiple sources including these six: negative emotions, too little sleep, poor diet, overwork, toxic chemicals, and inflammation.

The antidote for stress is balance. Look at each of these six stress triggers individually and work on finding small ways to reduce excesses and achieve more balance in each area. Seek more laughter, calmness, and clarity in your life.

Key #2: Quiet the mind.

Ignoring external chatter and focusing on one thought or a single repetition is an extremely effective tool for dissipating emotional stress and helping shift negative thoughts. Learning to quiet your mind also helps to reduce cortisol levels in your body and increase DHEA, a feel-good hormone that promotes feeling of serenity.

Quieting your mind can help you sleep better, eat more healthfully, and keep work and life pressures in perspective. One of the best ways to quiet your mind is to exercise, especially outside.

Key #3: Transform fear, anger, and jealousy.

Good thoughts lead us to incredible awareness and experiences. Olympic athletes know this, which is why they psyche themselves up before a big event. Each day brings personal “Olympic moments” — for instance, an important meeting, a big workout, a tough but necessary talk with a friend, or a commitment to a daily spiritual practice.

Fear, anger, and jealousy hinder our optimal performance. Bite off a smaller chunk of tasks that seem overwhelming. Get perspective on the real significance of your troubles and reactions by being out in nature. Accept the fact that challenge is normal and life is not controllable.

Key #4: Reconnect with the spiritual world of nature.

Who hasn’t been touched by a rose in bloom or trees coming to life in the springtime? Having a sense that you and Mother Earth have a special relationship lets you know that everything is as it should be, which makes our souls happy.

The more you connect to nature, the more open you will be to its wisdom and calming influence.

Key #5: Honor yourself.

Self-love is the best way to honor yourself, and the most immediate tool you can use to fortify yourself against negative emotions like fear or self-doubt. Learning to honor and love yourself instantly transforms “need” into “peace.”

One of the factors that eats away at self-love is boredom — boredom with work, boredom with your own repetitious behaviors, boredom with life. Try to find what’s new in the old; seek out new ways of thinking and behaving. Draw strength, support, and affirmation from community.

Key #6: Know and set the quest.

To get somewhere, you first have to know where you want to go. What physical goals are you striving toward? What kind of person do you want to become? Having these answers sets your intentions, helps focus your efforts, and provides you with tangible ways to measure the results.

Set small goals. Set yourself up for success; for example, schedule your workouts at a time when you’ll be most likely to do them. Turn your attention away from negative thoughts.

Key #7: Live what you ask for.

Asking for a healthy soul but choosing unsupportive friends will only prevent you from finding peace. Asking for a fit body, but eating junk foods, will only sabotage your own success.

Surround yourself with actions, thoughts, and people who will empower you and allow you to achieve your personal success.

Key #8: Slow down to get faster.

In the modern world, most people feel they must push their bodies and souls to the limit to make any gains in fitness, or in life. Slowing down allows your body to run more efficiently.

Apply small focused changes that are gradual versus intense.

Key #9: Invite your inner cave man to the table.

Our bodies weren’t built to withstand the rapid changes we’ve witnessed in our food industry. The hunting and gathering we once did has turned into drive-throughs, super-sized meals, and chemically laden foods our organs don’t have the ability to use or process.

Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and protein based on ancient genetics keeps you from eating either too little or too much, both of which cause us to hold onto unwanted and unnecessary body fat.

Drink lots of water and eat whole, unprocessed foods.

This article was written by the authors of:

Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You
by Mark Allen and Brant Secunda.

Reprinted with permission. Publisher: BenBella Books, Paperback Edition ©2010. www.benbellabooks.com

Click here for more info and/or to order this book on Amazon.

About the Authors

Shaman-healer Brant Secunda and six-time world champion Ironman Mark Allen are body-soul fitness experts and seminar leaders known for blending ancient shamanic wisdom with the latest scientific findings on nutrition, fitness, mood, and stress, and turning them into fresh tips and advice for improving health and well-being.  Learn more at www.fitsoul-fitbody.com.

Brant Secunda is a shaman, healer and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He completed a twelve-year apprenticeship with Don Jose Matsuwa, the renowned Huichol Shaman who lived to be 110 years old and who adopted Brant as his grandson. Alongside other dignitaries including President Jimmy Carter, Brant cofounded the Peace University in Berlin, and is a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild. Brant lectures at conferences and universities worldwide, and since 1979 has been the director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies in Soquel, California.

Mark Allen has been called “The World’s Fittest Man” by Outside magazine and “The Greatest Triathlete of All Time” by Triathlete Magazine. He attributes his success to his ongoing studies with Brant Secunda, who showed him how to find fitness not only in physical strength but also in the power of personal spirit. Mark has worked as a sports commentator and advisor for NBC. He has also spoken to many Fortune 500 companies including American Express, Honeywell, Northwestern Mutual, and Oracle.

Reposted from innerself.com

Key #1: Balance your responses to the six types of stress. Chronic stress produces high cortisol levels that don’t go away. Chronically high cortisol will make you sick, physically and emotionally. Stress can come from multiple sources including these six: negative emotions, too little sleep, poor diet, overwork, toxic chemicals, and inflammation. The antidote for stress is balance. Look at each of these six stress triggers individually and work on finding small ways to reduce excesses and achieve more balance in each area. Seek more laughter, calmness, and clarity in your life.

Key #2: Quiet the mind. Ignoring external chatter and focusing on one thought or a single repetition is an extremely effective tool for dissipating emotional stress and helping shift negative thoughts. Learning to quiet your mind also helps to reduce cortisol levels in your body and increase DHEA, a feel-good hormone that promotes feeling of serenity. Quieting your mind can help you sleep better, eat more healthfully, and keep work and life pressures in perspective. One of the best ways to quiet your mind is to exercise, especially outside.

Key #3: Transform fear, anger, and jealousy. Good thoughts lead us to incredible awareness and experiences. Olympic athletes know this, which is why they psyche themselves up before a big event. Each day brings personal “Olympic moments”— for instance, an important meeting, a big workout, a tough but necessary talk with a friend, or a commitment to a daily spiritual practice. Fear, anger, and jealousy hinder our optimal performance. Bite off a smaller chunk of tasks that seem overwhelming. Get perspective on the real significance of your troubles and reactions by being out in nature. Accept the fact that challenge is normal and life is not controllable.

Key #4: Reconnect with the spiritual world of nature. 

Who hasn’t been touched by a rose in bloom or trees coming to life in the springtime? Having a sense that you and Mother Earth have a special relationship lets you know that everything is as it should be, which makes our souls happy. The more you connect to nature, the more open you will be to its wisdom and calming influence.

Key #5: Honor yourself. Self-love is the best way to honor yourself, and the most immediate tool you can use to fortify yourself against negative emotions like fear or self-doubt. Learning to honor and love yourself instantly transforms “need” into “peace.” One of the factors that eats away at self-love is boredom — boredom with work, boredom with your own repetitious behaviors, boredom with life. Try to find what’s new in the old; seek out new ways of thinking and behaving. Draw strength, support, and affirmation from community.

Key #6: Know and set the quest. To get somewhere, you first have to know where you want to go. What physical goals are you striving toward? What kind of person do you want to become? Having these answers sets your intentions, helps focus your efforts, and provides you with tangible ways to measure the results. Set small goals. Set yourself up for success; for example, schedule your workouts at a time when you’ll be most likely to do them. Turn your attention away from negative thoughts.

Key #7: Live what you ask for. Asking for a healthy soul but choosing unsupportive friends will only prevent you from finding peace. Asking for a fit body, but eating junk foods, will only sabotage your own success. Surround yourself with actions, thoughts, and people who will empower you and allow you to achieve your personal success.

Key #8: Slow down to get faster. In the modern world, most people feel they must push their bodies and souls to the limit to make any gains in fitness, or in life. Slowing down allows your body to run more efficiently. Apply small focused changes that are gradual versus intense.

Key #9: Invite your inner cave man to the table. Our bodies weren’t built to withstand the rapid changes we’ve witnessed in our food industry. The hunting and gathering we once did has turned into drive-throughs, super-sized meals, and chemically laden foods our organs don’t have the ability to use or process. Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and protein based on ancient genetics keeps you from eating either too little or too much, both of which cause us to hold onto unwanted and unnecessary body fat. Drink lots of water and eat whole, unprocessed foods.

* * *

Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You

Shaman-healer Brant Secunda and six-time world champion Ironman Mark Allen are body-soul fitness experts and seminar leaders known for blending ancient shamanic wisdom with the latest scientific findings on nutrition, fitness, mood, and stress, and turning them into fresh tips and advice for improving health and well-being. Their new book is Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You (BenBella Books). Learn more at www.fitsoul-fitbody.com.

Reposted from blogs.canoe.ca

It’s not difficult to change your body, your mood, and your relationship to life, work, and others. We travel the US teaching people how to manage stress, get reacquainted with nature, and become energetic and healthy.

Here are nine keys to achieving a fit body and a fit soul in 2012.

Key #1: Minimize six types of stress in your life. Chronic stress produces high cortisol levels that don’t go away. Chronically high cortisol will make you sick, physically and emotionally. Stress can come from multiple sources including these six: negative emotions, too little sleep, poor diet, overwork, toxic chemicals, and inflammation. The antidote for stress is balance. Look at each of these six stress triggers individually and work on finding small ways to reduce excesses and achieve more balance in each area. Seek more laughter, calmness, and clarity in your life.

Key #2: Seek a “quiet mind.” Ignoring external chatter and focusing on one thought or a single repetition is an extremely effective tool for dissipating emotional stress and helping shift negative thoughts. Learning to achieve a quiet mind also helps to reduce cortisol levels in your body and increase DHEA, a feel-good hormone that promotes feeling of serenity. Quieting your mind can help you sleep better, eat more healthfully, and keep work and life pressures in perspective. One of the best ways to quiet your mind is to exercise, especially outside.

Key #3: Transform negative emotions. Good thoughts lead us to incredible awareness and experiences. Olympic athletes know this, which is why they psyche themselves up before a big event. Each day brings personal “Olympic moments”–for instance, an important meeting, a big workout, a tough but necessary talk with a friend, or a commitment to a daily spiritual practice. Fear, anger, and jealousy hinder our optimal performance. Bite off a smaller chunk of tasks that seem overwhelming. Get perspective on the real significance of your troubles and reactions by being out in nature. Accept the fact that challenge is normal and life is not controllable.

Key #4: Reconnect to nature. Who hasn’t been touched by a rose in bloom or trees coming to life in the springtime? Having a sense that you and Mother Earth have a special relationship lets you know that everything is as it should be, which makes our souls happy. The more you connect to nature, the more open you will be to its wisdom and calming influence.

Key #5: Love yourself more. Self-love is the best way to honor yourself, and the most immediate tool you can use to fortify yourself against negative emotions like fear or self-doubt. Learning to honor and love yourself instantly transforms “need” into “peace.” One of the factors that eats away at self-love is boredom–boredom with work, boredom with your own repetitious behaviors, boredom with life. Try to find what’s new in the old; seek out new ways of thinking and behaving. Draw strength, support, and affirmation from community.

Key #6: Know your goal. To get somewhere, you first have to know where you want to go. What physical goals are you striving toward? What kind of person do you want to become? Having these answers sets your intentions, helps focus your efforts, and provides you with tangible ways to measure the results. Set small goals. Set yourself up for success; for example, schedule your workouts at a time when you’ll be most likely to do them. Turn your attention away from negative thoughts.

Key #7: Live your intention. Asking for a healthy soul but choosing unsupportive friends will only prevent you from finding peace. Asking for a fit body, but eating junk foods, will only sabotage your own success. Surround yourself with actions, thoughts, and people who will empower you and allow you to achieve your personal success.

Key #8: Slow down. In the modern world, most people feel they must push their bodies and souls to the limit to make any gains in fitness, or in life. Slowing down allows your body to run more efficiently. Apply small focused changes that are gradual versus intense.

Key #9: Eat like a cave man. Our bodies weren’t built to withstand the rapid changes we’ve witnessed in our food industry. The hunting and gathering we once did has turned into drive-throughs, super-sized meals, and chemically laden foods our organs don’t have the ability to use or process. Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates, fats, and protein based on ancient genetics keeps you from eating either too little or too much, both of which cause us to hold onto unwanted and unnecessary body fat. Drink lots of water and eat whole, unprocessed foods.

* * * * *

Shaman-healer Brant Secunda and six-time world champion Ironman Mark Allen are body-soul fitness experts and seminar leaders known for blending ancient shamanic wisdom with the latest scientific findings on nutrition, fitness, mood, and stress, and turning them into fresh tips and advice for improving health and well-being. Their new book is Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to Healthier, Happier You(BenBella Books). Learn more at www.fitsoul-fitbody.com.

Reposted from favedietsblog.com

The good news is that health and happiness can be your natural state, and it’s not difficult to achieve them. All you need is the willingness to try and the commitment to work at it step-by-step.

We travel all around the country teaching people how to manage stress, get reacquainted with nature and become energetic and healthy. Our big message to them and to you is this: It’s not hard to change your body, your mood and your relationship to life, work and others.

Here are nine keys to a healthier, happier you in 2012:

Key #1: Pursue a balanced response to the six types of stress.

Chronic stress produces high cortisol levels that gnaw away at your health. Chronically high cortisol will make you sick, physically and emotionally. Stress is linked to multiple factors including these six: negative emotions, too little sleep, poor diet, overwork, toxic chemicals and inflammation. The antidote for stress is balance. Look at each of these six areas individually and work on finding small ways to reduce excesses and achieve more balance in each area. Seek more laughter, calmness and clarity in your life.

Key #2: Seek to quiet your mind.

Ignore the internal chatter that runs through your mind and practice focusing on one thought or a single repetition. This is an extremely effective tool for dissipating emotional stress and helping shift negative thoughts. Learning to quiet your mind also helps to reduce cortisol levels in your body and increase DHEA, a feel-good hormone that promotes a feeling of serenity. Quieting your mind can help you sleep better, eat more healthfully and keep work and life pressures in perspective. One of the best ways to quiet your mind is to exercise, especially outside.

Key #3: Meet fear, anger and jealousy head on.

Good thoughts lead us to incredible awareness and experiences. Olympic athletes know this, which is why they psyche themselves up before a big event. Each day brings personal “Olympic moments” — for instance, an important meeting, a big workout, a tough but necessary talk with a friend or a commitment to a daily spiritual practice. Fear, anger and jealousy hinder our optimal performance. Bite off a smaller chunk of tasks that seem overwhelming. Get perspective on the real significance of your troubles and reactions by being out in nature. Accept the fact that challenge is normal and life is not controllable.

Key #4: Become one with the spiritual world of nature.

Who hasn’t been touched by a rose in bloom or trees coming to life in the springtime? Having a sense that you and Mother Earth share a special relationship lets you know that everything is as it should be, which makes our souls happy. The more you reconnect with nature this year, the more open you will be to its wisdom and calming influence.

Key #5: Use the powerful tool of self-love.

Self-love is the best way to honor yourself and the most immediate tool you can use to fortify yourself against negative emotions like fear or self-doubt. Learning to honor and love yourself instantly transforms “need” into “peace.” One of the factors that eats away at self-love is boredom — boredom with work, boredom with your own repetitious behaviors, boredom with life. Try to find what’s new in the old; seek out new ways of thinking and behaving. Draw strength, support and affirmation from community.

Key #6: Know where you want to go.

To get somewhere, you first have to know where you want to go. What physical goals are you striving toward? What kind of person do you want to become? Having these answers sets your intentions, helps focus your efforts and provides you with tangible ways to measure the results. Set small goals. Set yourself up for success; for example, schedule your workouts at a time when you’ll be most likely to do them. Turn your attention away from negative thoughts.

Key #7: Whatever you want, learn to live it.

Asking for a healthy soul but choosing unsupportive friends will only prevent you from finding peace. Asking for a fit body but eating junk foods will only sabotage your own success. Surround yourself with actions, thoughts and people who will empower you and allow you to achieve your personal success. In other words, seek to keep your goals and actions in alignment this year.

Key #8: Slow and steady wins the race.

Slow down to be faster, more efficient and more productive. In the modern world, most people feel they must push their bodies and souls to the limit to make any gains in fitness or in life. Slowing down allows your body to run more efficiently. Apply small, focused changes that are gradual versus intense.

Key #9: Eat more like your caveman ancestors.

As scientists learn more about nutrition, it has become evident that our bodies weren’t built to withstand the rapid changes we’ve witnessed in our food industry. The hunting and gathering we once did has turned into drive-throughs, super-sized meals and chemically-laden foods our organs don’t have the ability to use or process. Eating the right amounts of carbohydrates, fats and protein based on ancient genetics keeps you from eating either too little or too much, both of which cause us to hold onto unwanted and unnecessary body fat. Drink lots of water and eat whole, unprocessed foods.

Reposted from huffingtonpost.com