| from us to you: |
When referring to the heart, we often think of the physical heart... the
amazing "tireless" muscle that pumps the blood through our body our whole
life... a miraculous feat often taken for granted by us all.
With the recent passing of my dear grandmother, I've been reminded of the other profound aspect of the heart...the emotional heart that allows our ability to feel... to feel love, to feel loss, and to feel life. Though intellectually accepting the death of a loved one, I have found one can never truly anticipate the depth of feeling that arises as a result. As I go on with my normal daily routine, I have simultaneously been fully aware of my "heavy heart" in feeling the loss of my grandma.
It is easy to close our hearts to "protect" ourselves from the emotional pain of loss or sorrow. Yet, in doing so, we also deny ourselves the ability to experience the joy, love and connection to each other, including life itself! As our physical heart gives us life and allows our body to move, our emotional heart connects us to life and allows us to feel moved.
With February being National Heart Month, let us remind ourselves to
truly appreciate the gift that gives us life... the gift of our heart!
Lisa Brisse & the State of the Heart Fitness Staff
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| life: living it with heart... |
As humans, we tend to share the common and continual striving for a life
of health and happiness. Sometimes, however, it feels like that state
of happiness is elusive and just beyond our reach. It's easy to think
if we just achieved this or that, we would finally experience that place
of fulfilling happiness. Though we may experience a feeling of temporary
satisfaction, it only seems to fade with time.
We are a society that too often lives from our heads - striving for what
we think brings us happiness ("things") - instead of living from our hearts
- where our true happiness is ultimately found.
So, what does it mean to live our life with heart?
When living from our heart we experience a deep inner peace despite what may be happening around us. We make decisions about our life based on how it feels in our heart, even if it doesn't always seem logical. We experience balance in our lives along with optimal health. We walk through life with more ease and grace. We live life with greater passion, energy & spirit. We feel inspired and empowered because we realize that we are actually the cause of our life, instead of the effect. In our hearts we feel secure because we know who we are is unique; we don't have to compare ourselves to others. We recognize our place and purpose in the web of life and naturally feel the desire to share and to serve. Living from our heart fills us up and we naturally feel love and joy!
This is the life that is available to us in every moment. The journey of true fulfillment and living the life of our dreams is only as far away as the innate passion in our heart. Ask yourself, what makes your heart sing? What makes it dance? What thoughts or beliefs keep you from connecting with your heart on a daily basis?
At State of the Heart Fitness, we believe that not only do we need to take care of our physical heart through proper diet and exercise, but we also believe that true happiness comes when we live from our heart. Let us help you live your life with heart! Can't help but ask... got heart? ?
Adapted from State of the Heart Fitness' "Way to Wellness" Journal
by Lisa Brisse & Nora Walsh.
| Take
care of your heart! 4 ways to lower your risk for heart disease |
Did you know that Heart Disease is the number one killer of Americans,
both male and female? Heart disease prevention considers a wide range
of factors, including smoking, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, obesity,
exercise, diet and nutrition, and other contributors. It may sound like
a lot, but the body is resilient and making a few dietary and lifestyle
changes can make a significant difference & decrease your risk of
a cardiac event. Due to the alarming prevalence of heart disease, here
are some tips to help decrease your risk:
1. FOLLOW A HEART HEALTHY DIET - Americans are notorious
for making unhealthy food choices. Only 19% of men and 27% of women say
they eat five servings of fruits and vegetables. Try to limit intake of
trans fats and hydrogenated oils found in margarine, fast food, fried
food, etc. Also limit refined sugar from cakes, cookies, candy, etc. Using
extra virgin olive oil and garlic in cooking can lower cholesterol.
2. EXERCISE REGULARLY - Sedentary people have twice the risk of developing heart disease as active people! Exercising 3-4 times per week, for at least a half hour at a time is recommended. Find an exercise buddy to help motivate you and keep each other accountable. Always stretch before and after working out, and remember to keep yourself hydrated and get adequate rest!
3. LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE - This means NO smoking and avoid second hand smoke. Limit alcohol intake as alcohol depletes essential vitamin and mineral stores in the body. However, antioxidants in red wine have proven to have heart healthy benefits! Just keep it to one glass. Reduce stress and anxiety as they lead to high blood pressure and other health conditions, and keep your weight within recommended limits; remember obesity is a leading cause of heart disease!
4. GET YOUR BLOOD PANEL TESTED REGULARLY- Make sure you get tested for cholesterol, triglycerides(fat), homocysteine and C Reactive Protein levels. Elevated levels of one or more of these increases your chances of heart attack or stroke, so make sure all are within safe levels. This is one of the most important ways to prevent heart disease. Most can be addressed through natural means, such as exercise and diet, which are basic elements of any heart disease prevention program.
Remember, the heart
equals life. Take care of yours!
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Could your friends and family use some
health and fitness tips?
Refer them to us for their complimentary newsletter.Call us today for more information on any of our programs or services. (310) 842-5657
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State of the Heart Fitness, P.O. Box 7013 Santa Monica, CA 90406
T: (310) 842-5657 info@stateoftheheartfitness.com
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