Don't Get Mad, Get Yoga

Yoga and meditation build awareness.  The more you are self aware, the easier it is to break free from destructive emotions like anger.  We all get mad right?  But maybe there is a better way.  Studies suggest that chronic anger and hostility are as strongly linked to heart attacks as are smoking, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol.  Yoga appears to reduce anger by increasing feelings of compassion and by calming the nervous system and the mind.

It also increases your ability to step back from the drama of your own life, to remain steady in the face of bad news or unsettling events.  You can still react quickly when you need to (and there's evidence that yoga speeds reaction time), but you can take that split second to choose a more thoughtful approach, reducing suffering for yourself and others.

Enjoy our free Fit Facts sponsored by The American Council on Exercise

This ACE Fit Fact is taken from ACE FitnessMatters^® magazine. Want more information like this delivered directly to your home? ACE FitnessMatters, the bi-monthly magazine from the American Council on Exercise^® (ACE^®), is the source for the most accurate, up-to-date fitness information you need to live a healthy, active life. Subscribe to ACE FitnessMatters Magazine online or call 1-888-825-3636.

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Medical Disclaimer:

Not all exercises are suitable for everyone.  It is recommended that you consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.  To reduce the risk of injury, never force or strain or attempt any exercises sited on this website without the assistance of a trained instructor.  If you experience pain or discomfort during an exercise shown, stop immediately and consult your doctor.  The instruction presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical advice. 

Food for Thought:

To help you and your clients make healthy food choices, Yale University’s Griffin Prevention Research Center recently developed a cheat sheet that rates the nutritional quality of your groceries. The Overall Nutritional Quality Index scores foods on a scale from 1 to 100, based on nutrient, vitamin, sugar and salt content.

Here’s a look at how some of your favorite foods scored, in descending order:

First Place (100 points):

• broccoli

• blueberries

• oranges

• green beans

Close Second (99–96 points):

• pineapples (99)

• radishes (99)

• summer squash (98)

• apples (96)

• green cabbage (96)

• tomatoes (96)

Losers (5–1 points):

• hot dogs (5)

• cheese puffs (4)

• milk chocolate (3)

• apple pie (2)

• regular-cut bacon (2)

• saltine crackers (2)

• soda (1)

• Popsicle^® ice pops (1)