9 year-old Lia telling it like it is in this election year. Please share!

 

The Better Sleep Council recognizes the month of May as Better Sleep Month, so that makes this a great month to practice better sleep habits and enjoy the benefits of quality sleep. We talk a lot about nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of our wellness journey, and the importance of sleep may slip out of focus. The Better Sleep Council has information that supports many families are falling short of a restful night’s sleep at least one day per week. Review your practices around sleep, your routines that lead up to periods of restful sleep, and assess how the family functions when sleeping well. Keep a sleep log this month and look for connections to how the family responds to physical activity, stress, meal planning, homework, or family dynamics. Some questions you may answer in the log include: what was the routine that lead up to bed time, was the night restful, how long was the period of sleep, what was the mood at wake time, and what was the mood at sleep time. Have fun looking for connections and enjoy a better night’s sleep for the entire home.

———re-posted from YMCA of America

Spread the word, Hummingbird!!

"SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY" - SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2013 

We are thrilled to announce a very special charity yoga event 
on Sunday, March 24 from 4-7 pm at Expressions of Health in 
Oscoda.

The evening will begin with a 2-hour yoga class based on the 
theme of "Spirit of Community".  The class will incorporate 
postures (asanas), breath work (pranayama), and meditation. 
NOTE - THIS CLASS IS GEARED TO ALL LEVELS OF YOGA.

We will follow class with a wonderful vegetarian meal that 
we will provide.

Suggested donation: $20 with 100% of all proceeds donated 
to the Oscoda High School auditorium renovation project 
spearheaded by Scott Heinrich and Giuseppe Canale of Northeast 
Academy of Dance.

We have room for just 10 people and we expect this to 
fill up quickly.  Please email (jeff@spriggles.com) or 
phone (989/739-5498) ASAP to reserve your spot!!

Hi everyone!

We’re asking for your help in identifying 3 families that Expressions of Health (and Spriggles Books) will sponsor at the Oscoda Community Center for the remainder of the season.  The following is the news release concerning this endeavor:

*****************

Martha and Jeff Gottlieb, owners of Expressions of Health and authors of Spriggles Motivational Books for Children, are looking to sponsor three family memberships at the Oscoda Community Center for the remainder of the 2012/2013 season.  The Gottliebs have established a ”Spriggles Fund” in which a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Spriggles books goes toward avenues which help children lead healthy and active lives.   It is  this fund that will provide the support for the family memberships.

In order for a family to be considered for this sponsorship, a short essay must be submitted that introduces the family and details how this membership will benefit them (including, but not limited to, importance of health, health goals, and time willing to commit).  Three worthy families will be chosen from all entries.  Essays may be emailed to jeff@spriggles.com or mailed to Expressions of Health, 6170 Ridge Road, Oscoda, MI 48750 no later than Dec. 7, 2012.  Families will be notified by Dec. 10, 2012.

***************

If you are aware of any families that may like to participate, please pass this information along to them.

Thanks, and happy holidays!!!!!!!!

Martha and Jeff

Get Active 

Create a calorie deficit by exercising to burn off extra calories before you ever indulge in your favorite foods. Make fitness a family adventure by taking a walk early in the day and then again after dinner. It is a wonderful way for families to get physical activity and enjoy the holiday together.

Eat Breakfast 

Lighten Up 

Police your Portions 

Skip the Seconds. 

Choose the Best Bets on the Buffet 

Slowly Savor 

Go Easy on Alcohol 

Be Realistic 

The following article cites several new studies that have shown if we reduce the amount of time we sit on a daily basis, we can actually increase our life expectancy. Sitting less than three hours a day could increase life expectancy by 2 years.   Of course, this is not always easy, considering our jobs, but there are simple stretches and exercises outlined in this article to help in those situations.  In fact, by just reducing the amount of time spent sitting in front of the TV each day to less than two 2 hours, life expectancy could increase by 1.4 years.

As well, this article introduces us to Foundation exercises, which attack the root cause of most low back pain…weakness and imbalance in the posterior chain of muscles (muscles involving the pelvis, spine, and hips).    The simple and basic Foundation exercises displayed in this article are enormously beneficial to anyone who finds themselves sitting for an extended period of time as well as to those of us with ongoing low back pain.

We urge you to read this article, sit less, and live longer!!

http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/11/09/sitting-less-increases-life-expectancy.aspx?e_cid=20121109_DNL_art_1

Great news!!!  Our Spriggles Motivational Books for Children are being featured on the wonderful Appetite for  Health website, a great site dedicated to offering positive nutritional information and inspiration with a unique twist.  For a chance to win a free set of these books, please visit http://www.appforhealth.com/2012/10/win-spriggles-books-health-fitness-motivation-for-kids/ by midnight, October 28, 2012.

Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2012), a study involved 222,497 Australian adults, aged 45 and older.  Researchers compared data from the “45 and Up” Study with mortality data from early 2006 through late 2010.  Not surprisingly, parallels emerged between daily sitting time and premature death.

**** INDIVIDUALS LOGGING 11 HOURS OR MORE OF DAILY SITTING TIME [BETWEEN WORK AND HOME] HAD THE GREATEST RISK OF EARLY DEATH.****

This data was consistent across the sexes, age groups, body mass index categories, and even physical activity levels.

So the bottom line is….get off your bottom.  Don’t sit, get fit!!!

——-

story from IDEA Fitness Journal, July/August 2012