Just for once, go against everything your mother taught you and be a follower. Join the crowd, jump on the bandwagon and give one of today’s hottest health and wellness trends a try. From meditation to juicing, these fads are sure to have staying power for one very important reason … they work. Becoming a healthy, well-balanced mom doesn’t require double time at the gym or buckets of supplements. In fact, it’s easier than you think. Just start on the inside and work your way out.
Meditate on This
Meditation isn’t what you think it is.
If meditation elicits thoughts of robe-clad gurus, incense and ceaseless “ohm-ing,” you aren’t in the minority. Rooted in 2,600 years of tradition, the practice of meditation may date back to ancient Buddhism but – like most traditions – has evolved with time. Today, more and more busy adults (read: moms like you) are taking a cue from our neighbors to the East by devoting themselves to the art of mindfulness.
Seasoned meditators say a few minutes a day is a small price to pay for the benefits they gain from the practice. In addition to reducing stress, meditation has been shown to improve the brain’s function, increase concentration and promote a general feeling of happiness. “People always say take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else,” says longtime meditator Sara Monaghan. “It sort of sounds selfish, so I think a lot of moms neglect that. But to be a healthy mom, you do have to take care of yourself. You have to have compassion and understanding for yourself before you can reach out and help others.”
Leave your notions of mystic voodoo at the door and stop by Dallas Meditation Center or another local meditation center for a crash course in meditation. Individuals of all levels and walks of life are welcome to come by and find out what meditation is (and isn’t) all about. A variety of classes are available, each engineered to help participants achieve their highest level of consciousness with the help of a supportive and experienced staff.
After learning the fundamentals, take your skills home. Meditation can be done anytime. Even dish duty and the bedtime routine are opportunities to master mindfulness. Also worth noting is that many have found ways to tie meditation in to their respective religion by using it to focus on spirituality. Most studios offer Christian-based and interfaith classes in addition to traditional classes more in line with meditation’s Buddhist roots.
There’s no shortage of mystery surrounding meditation. Misinformation makes many apprehensive about the practice, but they eventually find it to be a helpful and practical coping tool. “You develop a lot more patience,” Monaghan says. “You learn to pause before you react and go through your day more mindfully.”
Not ready to hit the cushion? Pick up a copy of Beginning Mindfulness by Andrew Weiss. $9.70 at barnesandnoble.com
Dallas Meditation Center
Dallas, 972/432-7871
dallasmeditationcenter.com
Fort Worth Meditation
Fort Worth, 817/290-2117
fortworthmeditation.org
Blue Anjou Yoga & Meditation Center
Lewisville, 469/645-8555
blueanjou.com
Drink to Your Health
Juicing is here and here to stay.
Give your body a rest by giving juicing a try. Made from nutrient-dense fruits and veggies such as kale, beets and carrots, cold-pressed juices are hot in health right now.
Try your hand at a three- or five-day juice cleanse and, according to Roots Juices founder Brent Rodgers, your body will thank you. “Your skin will glow, you will have more energy and your mind and body will be reset,” he says. “Digestion will also improve.”
Roots Juices is locally based but ships its juice nationwide. Each juice is made from organic produce using the cold-press process, which can take up to 15 minutes a bottle. Cold-pressed juices retain 50 percent more nutrients than juices prepared at home or with a traditional juicer. All juices are made and shipped the same day and stay good for five to seven days after production.
Don’t expect the sugary, artificially flavored stuff that passes as juice these days. Roots Juices and similar juiceries go heavy on the greens to ensure you get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck. Rodgers insists, however, that there is a flavor for every palate.
Hunger pains are common throughout the first two days of a juice cleanse, and you should be prepared for an inevitable college flashback on day three when hangover-like symptoms come on as your body releases toxins. But by day four and five, you’ll feel better than ever. “Your mind and palate have been reset so you don’t crave margaritas and enchiladas,” Rodgers says. “You crave healthy foods. It’s all about giving your digestive system a rest.”
Some moms opt for a quarterly five-day cleanse, while others do a one-day cleanse a month. Choose a cleanse that works for you. The convenience of fresh juice delivered to your doorstep in purse-size bottles perfect for grabbing and going makes juicing a simple way for moms to do a little something nice for their bodies.
Roots Juices
469/206-7189
rootspressedjuices.com
Work It Out
Forgo hours of cardio for an exercise that benefits both body and mind.
A practice thousands of years old, yoga can’t exactly be called a “trend.” Instead, yoga manages to stay relevant thanks to its diversity and capacity to be reinvented year after year. It’s no wonder yoga remains a go-to for fitness gurus and newbies alike. From the basic downward dog to the highly advanced peacock pose, yoga doesn’t discriminate against age or fitness level but can accommodate anyone.
Everyone knows an hour on the mat can build strength and increase flexibility, but yoga instructor Barbara Altshuler says it can serve as a sanity-saver too. “One of the biggest benefits for moms with children of any age is that yoga is a great way to de-stress in your life, whether you have an infant or a teenager,” Altshuler says. “My children send me to yoga class. It helps me be a better mother, because it reduces my stress level.”
Alshuler is an instructor at Sunstone Yoga, a chain of studios that offers a variety of classes. More advanced yogis favor the Fire series, in which poses are completed in temps of 98.6 degrees. Newbs can master the basics in milder temps with the Water or Wood series. Alshuler says women of all shapes and fitness levels are attracted by the variety of classes and an absence of the “intimidation factor” prevalent in many trendy gyms.
While flatter midsections and toned tushes are an obvious draw, longtime yoga practitioner Christi McCrary says the most valuable benefits are less tangible. “I really appreciate that it works the body so comprehensively,” she says. “But that’s just the body benefit. There is also so much time for introspection that you just don’t get in a gym because of the TVs and the constant flurry of activity.”
Introspection is a rare commodity for moms with small children. Couple that with the physical results yoga yields, and McCrary says you have a win-win.
Sunstone Yoga
Multiple locations
sunstoneyoga.com
