Celebrating the New Year with Health and Happiness
Celebrating the New Year with Health and Happiness
Anna Montage, Health and Wellness Editor
By now you’ve probably already pondered your New Year’s resolutions for this year. Of course, fitness and weight loss goals are right at the top of the list for most of us. But unfortunately, most people who make these resolutions year after year find that they just don’t have the determination to stick with them.
What’s the solution? Well, think of it like this: A resolution is something you have to be determined to do because it’s hard—you don’t naturally want to do it. So instead of making health and fitness resolutions this year, why not make it a year of health and fitness celebrations? After all, a celebration is not only a lot more fun, but it also brings about a sense of gratitude for what we already have, not just dissatisfaction with what we lack.
Sound crazy? Not at all! Yoga is a timeless, ancient method for inducing a relaxation response in the body and mind. This relaxation response can bring about lowered blood pressure, a decreased heart rate and an increase in those “feel good” hormones called endorphins. And of course, we always feel better when we are relaxed, fit and looking our best. Yoga is like a spa vacation that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. Even when you’re not able to practice yoga asanas, you can always listen to one of Wai Lana’s beautiful and soothing yoga soundtracks, such as Yoga Sound or Yoga Music of the Heart.
Wai Lana has made it her specialty to help people enjoy the full benefits of yoga while simultaneously enjoying beautiful scenery, beautiful music and a lighthearted approach to health and exercise. (By the way, if you’ve never checked out Wai Lana’s Smile video on her website, take a look anytime you’re feeling a little down or discouraged!)
So here are some practical suggestions for celebrating health and happiness this New Year:
* Spread the word. It’s so much more fun to live and eat healthfully when you’re helping others enjoy the same benefits. We can do plenty to encourage our friends and family members without being at all pushy. For example, invite friends or family over for a delicious meal that’s packed with flavor and nutrition. Everybody loves to eat, but many people just haven’t experienced how delicious healthy food can be. For recipe ideas, check out some of Wai Lana’s favorite recipes on her website.
* If you have children, have fun teaching them to be healthy. It’s never too early to start teaching children how “yummy” and “delicious” healthy foods are and how “yucky” processed junk foods are. Your kids will laugh as you make funny faces to illustrate just how undesirable this stuff is. Kids naturally love bright, colorful foods—which makes fresh fruits and vegetables perfect for a happy and healthy diet. Although kids are bombarded with advertising almost from birth, the truth is that you are the most important authority in their lives. With the right blend of persistence and humor, you may be surprised at how quickly your child becomes immune to that inconveniently placed display of candy bars at the grocery store checkout.
* Make every meal a celebration of your health. Rather than making healthful foods the exception, make them the rule. Soon you’ll be so attracted to the vibrant, fresh flavors of fresh fruits and vegetables that you’ll find yourself drawn to the produce section of the grocery store and happy to avoid the foods that are devoid of nutrition and vitality.
* Yoga, yoga, yoga. Practice yoga by yourself, practice yoga with friends and family members and help introduce the children in your life to yoga with Wai Lana’s Little Yogis videos and DVDs. Your enthusiasm will be contagious, and you’ll soon find that you’re not the only one celebrating health and fitness this year!
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