5 Non-Physical Qualities You’ll Gain When You Start Exercising Every Day

There's a reason that when you read about habits of successful people, fitness- and health-related rituals are almost always high on the list. How we feel, how we sleep, how much energy we have and our overall state of health affect every area in our lives.

If we want to fuel an active lifestyle, we must eat whole, nutrient-dense foods. If we want to focus at work, we must get proper rest. If we want to keep up with our kids on the playground, we must keep our workouts up so our bodies stay strong. Our physical health needs to be a daily priority if we seek success in our work, respect in our relationships and have a desire to pursue our passions.

Establishing healthy habits can teach us life lessons as well as benefit our overall well-being. The earlier we start, the more it becomes a part of who we are. What we experience in our fitness regimen can often be a metaphor for what we experience in our day-to-day lives and applied to how we handle what life may throw at us. Here are five skills you can sharpen with a daily sweat session – whether you are 8 or 80 years old:

1. Responsibility

Taking responsibility for your physical health is one of the biggest commitments you have to make over your lifetime. Good health is not something you can buy and no one can do it for you. You – and only you – are responsible for the food you put in your mouth, the time you go to bed and the amount of exercise you get. Taking on this type of responsibility can be very empowering and set the tone for how you take on responsibilities in other areas of your life. From making the right choices as a child to ensuring you hold yourself accountable in work and family life, taking ownership of your actions and your day-to-day health regimens are the most positive ways to achieve a productive lifestyle.

2. Discipline

We've all heard the phrase "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." This is not only true in life, but also in fitness. Our muscles only get stronger when we ask them to do something they can't do, and they'll only develop enough muscle to deal with the resistance placed upon them. In order to grow as athletes, we add resistance beyond what we think our bodies can handle, which results in them growing stronger. If we never push ourselves physically, we don't grow. This mentality can be applied to so many life situations where we resist change. For example, you may resist the idea of reporting to a new boss at work because of the fear of change. By participating and welcoming the change rather than fearing it, however, you can open up to the idea that change leads to progress. Where there is growth, there will be resistance. If you are able to stay dedicated and move past the resistance, you will always continue to grow as a person.

3. Creativity

Anyone who has had a good workout can attest to the clarity it can bring. Regular exercise can clear the mind, boost your mood and open up space for creativity. Ensuring proper "timeouts" for a workout – whether allocating 15 minutes for a mindful meditation or dedicating time after work, after school or even on vacation for a heart-pumping physical escape – will undoubtedly free the thought process and empower you to go forward in a more productive and positive way.

4. Determination

By definition, determination is "a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult." Simply put, if you want something, you have to put in the work for it. You are the only person who can determine what that goal is and what your personal limits are. Each year, thousands of people – many of whom have never been runners but who are intent on pushing their personal limits – commit to running a marathon. If you have ever been part of that training process or any physically-challenging task, you know it's determination that takes you through the last leg and keeps you on track toward accomplishing that goal. So, whether you're in pursuit of the dream job, saving for that once-in-a-lifetime trip or angling for a spot on the student council, set a goal, do the work and enjoy the results that come from your determination.

5. Confidence

Getting and staying fit is a surefire way to increase your confidence. People tend to be very self-conscious when they first begin a physical fitness program and can be embarrassed if they can't do a pushup or run for more than a few minutes at a time. But as they become more fit and their bodies become stronger (no matter the age), they build confidence and start to push themselves to do things they never believed they could do. This almost always carries over into other parts of their lives. Maybe you take on that project that scares you or you join that group that seemed too intimidating before. Like your fitness routine, as you dive further in, your confidence grows, your mental prep gets stronger and you are ready to tackle whatever is thrown your way.

The benefits of working up a sweat go beyond even the impactful physical attributes that we often associate with exercise. So lace up your sneakers, get your to-do lists ready and get moving! Sign up now for all of you classes for the week and make the commitment to yourself!  SIGN UP HERE

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Boost Your Health with Gratitude

During the Holidays many people take time to be give thanks for all the good things in their life. Research shows that if you can maintain a state a gratitude throughout the rest of the year you will be rewarded with better health. Just a shift towards a positive attitude can have a dramatic effect on your overall well being. "Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise, a healthy diet, regular physical examinations," says University of California Davis psychology professor Robert Emmons.

Be Grateful this Holiday season for all of the things you do have and can achieve. Let Sana Vita Studio guide you to gratitude and health with our nutritional coaching and exercise programs.

Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, following small steps can make a big difference in the way you experience your life:
 
    1.    Write down 10 things for which you are grateful.
    2.    Reach out to one person who has made a difference in my life and tell them (verbally, in a card, an email or even social media).
    3.    Write a handwritten card to someone I love and tell them how much they mean to me.
    4.    Do one random act of kindness that I would be grateful for if someone did the same in return for me.
    5.    Write down one thing for which I am ungrateful and then write at least one thing that it has taught me and/or about which I am grateful. With this awareness, whenever the ungrateful energy starts to seep in about this one thing, I can focus on shifting to an Attitude of Gratitude.

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Autumn Stress Management

Stress. It is a factor in our daily routines and as we transition away from the warmth and ease of summer into autumn we are faced with shorter days and colder weather that will effect our moods and our overall health.  Included in the suggestions from The National Institutes of Mental Health to combat stress is engaging in exercise and creating time for yourself.  Pilates, Yoga, and Yamuna  classes are mind-body based exercises that create a connection where you can learn to use your thoughts to positively influence some of your body’s physical responses, thereby decreasing stress.  NIMH suggested these 8 ideas to reduce stress in your life:

Speak Up: Communicate that you are setting boundaries, prioritizing and saying “no” when you need to. By taking these steps, you can prevent yourself from being pulled in different directions. Focus on the highest priority, and limit activities to minimize being overwhelmed.

Create Time-Out Space: Carve out time for yourself. This will allow you to take yourself off the grid. Set aside a regular time to do something you enjoy, without interruptions or distractions. Plan to spend at least one hour each day on your time-out; you’ll be surprised at how energized you feel.

Exercise: This is a tremendous stress buster. Whether it is ten minutes or 30 minutes, moving your body will create a sense of well-being, and give you more energy. Exercise also increases the production of feel good endomorphins, self-confidence, and can aid in improving your sleep.

Talk Don’t Text: Have traditional conversations with friends and family members, sharing what is going on in your life or what may create emotional distress. Though the digital age has benefits, texting is not the same as talking it out with friends, family and other members of your support team.

Gratitude Affects Attitude: Reflect on the positive and think of the things you can express gratitude for. We often feel put upon and may neglect to be grateful,—remember there is something in everyone’s world that can be a challenge.

Adjust Eating Habits: Make wise food choices. Add fruits and vegetables to your diet along with whole grains, nuts and legumes. Reduce the number of fried and/or high fat foods. By making a few adjustments to choose wholesome foods, you can minimize self-induced stress about what you are eating.

Stay Hydrated: All of the organs in the body need water to work at optimal levels and if water consumption is lower than it should be, this will put stress on body organs. When faced with routine stress, low water consumption and poor hydration can magnify the situation. Drinking an extra glass or two of water is an easy fix.

Get Enough Sleep: I talked about sleep deprivation just a month or so ago. Getting enough sleep is essential and beneficial to the body’s organs. Ample sleep will reduce the stress hormones in the bloodstream. Long term higher levels of stress hormones are not good for the heart and can elevate blood pressure.

Join us at Sana Vita for a stress free transition into the autumn months ahead. This month we are featuring a sweepstakes:

Win 2 passes for a ‪Free‬ ‪‎Yamuna Body Rolling Class for you and a friend!

Perfect for every level, whether you're a beginner or just want to know more. Limit one entry per email address per day. Enter each day to increase your chances of winning.

Sweepstakes begins Oct. 1st and ends Oct. 15th.

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