Assisted Stretch

Greetings all!
 
Here is the question of the week: Will you pay someone to stretch you? I did! Read on to learn about my experience!
 
We all know that stretching is important and has a myriad of health benefits but how consistent are we about stretching? I know I could be better. So when I read about assisted stretch studios popping all over, I had to give this new health trend a try!

Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stretching_cat.jpg

 
I found a studio and booked a 25-minute session the same way you would book a massage. 

This is what the studio promised, "Our therapists are trained to provide a unique blend of deep stretching and massage techniques that not only relax the body but also enhance flexibility and mobility. Assisted stretching can unlock tension and tightness, so you experience a profound sense of release and openness. It's our pleasure to take the work off your hands and provide you with an experience that leaves you feeling refreshed and revitalized."

I was advised to wear comfortable clothing so I wore yoga pants with a t-shirt. 

The experience started on my belly and was very similar to a massage, and I did not feel that much stretching at that point. But once I flipped to my back, that's where the magic was. There is no way I could do such deep stretches on my own. The resistance provided by another body just added another level to the stretch. My therapist was fantastic, with nice energy, great flow and strong pressure. It was very relaxing but also intense. I definitely felt more limber after the treatment.
 
So my verdict? A great concept, and the studio delivered on its promise. I would totally do it again (in fact, I did have another session at a different studio) but it is rather expensive.
 
What did you think? Drop me a line! Will you pay to be stretched and let someone else take the stretching off your hands?
 
Have a great week and stay limber!

Adorable Photos Of Harvest Mice [by Dean Mason]

 

Sources: 

• https://www.sunnyskyz.com/blog/2826/Photographer-Captures-The-Most-Adorable-Photos-Of-Harvest-Mice
• https://www.instagram.com/deanmason.wow

Thought of the week – What Causes Old Age

 

Image from https://lanettascreations.blogspot.com/2016/09/bad-habits.html

“The producer of old age is habit: the deathly process of doing the same thing in the same way at the same hour day after day, first from carelessness, then from inclination, at last from cowardice or inertia.

Habit is necessary; but it is the habit of having careless habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive… one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.”

~ Edith Wharton, A Backward Glance, as read on https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/april-25-2024

Pan-Fried Asparagus

Greetings all!

I subscribe to the belief that everything is better with butter. Here is a delicious Italian-style asparagus cooked with butter and garlic.

Image by Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed

Directions:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add olive oil, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add asparagus and cook until fork-tender, turning asparagus often to ensure even cooking, about 10 minutes.
• Optional: drizzle some lemon or balsamic glaze, add cheese or some nuts

Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it!

Source: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/18318/pan-fried-asparagus/

Hurkle-Durkle

Greetings all!

How is the weather in your city? It was raining pretty hard over the weekend in my area so on Sunday I decided to sleep in and just be lazy.

Image from https://www.instagram.com/p/C2ZVGQxIeyT/ 

Little did I know but I was actually practicing hurkle-durkle! To hurkle-durkle is to linger awake in bed, wrapped in your best blanket well after you “should” have gotten up.

This wonderful and cute-sounding Scottish concept goes back to the 1800s and recently went viral on TikTok.  Hurkle means “to draw the body together,” but the origins of durkle and their combined use are less clear. 

Regardless of the origins, hurkle-durkle just sounds fun, no?! And I have to confess it felt lovely and indulgent and restorative to just lounge in bed instead of thinking of and tackling the next item on my to-do list.

So, if you can and when you can,  indulge in a little hurkle-durkle – and your body and mind will thank you!

Sources:

• https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/hurkle-durkle-meaning-37373366
• https://www.realsimple.com/hurkle-durkle-8553591#:~:text=What%20Does%20Hurkle-Durkle%20Mean%3F%20Hurkle-durkle%20means%20to%20lounge,durkle%20and%20their%20combined%20use%20are%20less%20clear.

12 Astonishing Man-Made Structures Around the World

1. La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

 [photo: NEOPHOTO/ISTOCK]

 2. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE 

[photo: FEVREDREAM/ISTOCK]

 3. Wieliczka Salt Mine Chapel, Wieliczka, Poland
[photo: JOSSK/ISTOCK]

 4. Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Paro Valley, Bhutan 

[photo: ENRICO PESCANTINI/ISTOCK]

5. Great Pyramid of Giza, Al Haram, Egypt 

[photo: KAYIHAN BOLUKBASI/ISTOCK]

6. Great Wall of China 

[photo: ZHUDIFENG/ISTOCK]

7. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France

[photo: CHICCODODIFC/ISTOCK]

 8. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

[photo: MIKEFUCHSLOCHER/ISTOCK]

9. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

[photo: VENTDUSUD/ISTOCK]

 10. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

[photo: R.M. NUNES/ISTOCK]

 11. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

[photo: IAKOV KALININ/SHUTTERSTOCK]

 12. Chichen Itza, Yucatán, Mexico

[photo: ROMRODINKA/ISTOCK]

Source:  https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/the-most-impressive-man-made-structures-around-the-world

Active April-2024 Calendar

Greetings all!

I love it that the 1^st of April fell on a Monday! No more excuses to stay lazy! Here are some great ideas how to get moving.

Image from https://pxhere.com/en/photo/816332

My favorite ideas were from April 13, 19, 21, 22, and 28. In fact, I decided to rehearse the April 22 idea today so I blasted my current favorite song and really went for it! Also, I think April 25 is will be a challenge! What about you?

April 1 – Commit to being more active this month, starting today.

April 2 – Spend as much time as possible outdoors today.

April 3 – Listen to your body and be grateful for it can do.

April 4 – Eat healthy and natural food today and rink lots of water.

April 5 – Turn a regular activity into a playful game today.

April 6 – Do a body-scan meditation and really notice how your body feels.

April 7 – Get natural light early in the day. Dim the lights in the evening.

April 8 – Give your body a boost by laughing or making someone laugh.

April 9 – Turn your housework or chores into a fun form of exercise.

April 10 – Have a day with less screen time and more movement.

April 11 – Set yourself an exercise goal or sign up to an activity challenge.

April 12 – Move as much as possible, even if you’re stuck inside.

April 13 – Make sleep a priority and go to bed at a good time.

April 14 – Relax your body and mind with yoga, tai chi or meditation.

April 15 – Get active by singing today (even if you think you can’t sing).

April 16 – Go exploring around your local area and notice new things.

April 17 – Be active outside. Plant some seeds and encourage growth.

April 18 – Try out a new exercise activity or a dance class.

April 19 – Spend less time sitting today. Get up and move more often.

April 20 – Focus on “eating a rainbow” of multi-colored vegetables today.

April 21 – Regularly pause to stretch and breathe during the day.

April 22 – Enjoy moving to your favorite music. Really go for it.

April 23 – Go out and do an errands for a loved one or neighbor.

April 24 – Get active in nature. Feed the birds or go wildlife-spotting.

April 25 – Have a “no screens” night and take time to recharge yourself.

April 26 – Take an extra break in your day and walk outside for 15 minutes.

April 27 – Find a fun exercise to do while waiting for the kettle to boil.

April 28 – Meet a friend outside for a walk and a chat.

April 29 – Become an activist for a cause you really believe in.

April 30 – Make time to run, swim, dance, cycle, or stretch today.

Have a great week and stay active and healthy! Drop me a line to let me know which ideas you love!

Source: https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Apr%202024.pdf