Exercise your body and mind with a healthy hobby

You work hard and deserve a little “me” time. Getting involved with a hobby is an excellent way to spend your free time, especially if it’s something that keeps your body fit and your mind active. Wind down from a long day at work or spend part of your weekend doing something that truly sparks your interest (vegging out on the couch watching TV or working from home don’t count!). There are plenty of entertaining hobbies that benefit your health from the inside and out by sharpening your brain, pumping your heart and soothing your soul. If you don’t have one already, here are some of our favorite healthy hobbies:

• Gardening. Get some exercise, sunlight and fresh air, not to mention a sense of accomplishment from growing your own crop or watching your seeds blossom into beautiful flowers.
• Yoga. Get it out of your head that yoga is a “girly” workout. “Manly” yoga classes are springing up all over the country. Yoga is excellent for improving strength, flexibility and balance, as well as helping you de-stress.
• Learn a new language. Next time you’re at your favorite bistro, show off your skills by ordering in Italian! There are great at-home programs out there that enable you to learn a variety of languages on your own schedule, or find a class so that you have practice partners.
• Bowling. Depending on your weight, one hour of bowling burns off between 175 and 250 calories. Just don’t get too crazy with the beer and fried bowling alley food, which can turn this healthy hobby unhealthy!
• Cooking. Start experimenting with some healthy recipes and consider taking a healthy cooking class at your local community college.
• Mentoring. Have fun and make a difference. Mentors can do a number of things, such as  going to athletic events, getting pizza, playing video games, going to movies, shooting hoops, helping with homework and the list goes on! Programs such as Big Brother are a great opportunity to offer guidance and truly make a difference in a kid’s life.
• Join a league. Make some new buddies and get a good workout as well. Most cities have plenty of leagues to choose from, including bowling, tennis, basketball, softball and horseshoes. And don’t be self-conscious if you want to try a new activity: you can usually find beginner or amateur leagues.
• Water sports. Nothing is better than some fun in the sun! Jet-skiing, water-skiing, kayaking paddle-boating and wakeboarding are all fun, healthy ways to enjoy yourself during the summer months. Just don’t forget the SPF 30!

Get Empowered About Your Health

The New York Times’ "Well" blog recently featured a Q&A with Elizabeth Cohen, a longtime CNN medical correspondent and patient who wrote a new book called, “The Empowered Patient.” In the Q&A, Cohen talks about her experiences with the health care system, and answers questions such as, “Do patients really have the power to take their health into their own hands?” Becoming an “empowered patient” might mean asking difficult questions or being “a bad patient,” according to Cohen. But it could also mean insisting on a second opinion or seeking out alternative therapies or holistic remedies.

Many patients today are turning to alternative treatments, which are typically defined as “any form of therapy not taught widely in medical schools” or that “have evolved apart from and earlier than the conventional medical approach used in the U.S.,” according to WebMD. In 2007, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or CAM, reported that approximately 38 percent of adults used CAM. Last year, the American Medical Association  also reported that nearly 40 percent of adults and 12 percent of children in the U.S. use herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic services or acupuncture. What these numbers seem to indicate is that 1) an increasing number of patients are more than willing to take charge of their health and become informed consumers of health products, and 2) people are looking for natural wellness solutions that have historical, cultural and scientific basis.

With so many alternative therapies and herbal solutions available today, how do you get empowered about your health? The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine offers several suggestions as a starting point, but there are other ways to take charge of your own healing. In what ways have you become an empowered patient this year? 

Ramuan Celebrates National Yoga Month!

September is officially National Yoga Month, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to remind you about the many benefits of yoga. At the very least, we hope to inspire you to lead a healthier, more balanced life this month.

What’s the Ramuan Connection?

Yoga means “union” or “to join together” in Sanskrit. It is an important part of the Ayurvedic medical tradition, and has ties to Malaysian health traditions, including Ramuan.

From the earliest Indian presence on the Malay Peninsula, yoga has been an abiding presence. Much like yoga, the Malays themselves have long practiced traditional exercise that is a series of bodily movements combined with breathing techniques known as senaman asak badan. Many of the postures resemble elements from the natural world—for example, bending tree, tiger, snake, warrior and blowing flute pose. In many ways, yoga, Ayurveda and Ramuan have the same goal: the mind-body-soul balance.

What Are The Benefits?

Those who practice yoga can benefit from increased flexibility, strength and posture, but Charaka Samhita (the preeminent Ayurvedic text) also mentions yoga as being helpful in removing tension, improving digestion and integrating bodily and mental functions.

How Can You Celebrate National Yoga Month?

It’s never too late to start the practice of yoga, but perhaps you need a little incentive. For the month of September, try the One Week Free Yoga Card, redeemable at over 1,000 participating studios nationwide. Low on gear? Snag a new yoga mat by taking advantage of celebratory discounts, such as YogaDirect’s current deal for 25 percent off all eco-friendly products or this 20 percent off coupon code for Lucy merchandise. And for inspiration on the go, you can also download Women’s Health’s Hot Body Yoga iPhone app to try out new poses and techniques any time you want. Don’t be afraid to take matters into your own hands for boosting the well-being of your mind, body and spirit this month!

A Case of the (Balance) Monday’s

Last Monday, we implemented something called “Balance Monday” on Twitter—which is essentially our version of Follow Friday (the popular weekly international event where Twitterers recommend people they follow to others). We figured: “What better way to start the beginning of a new work week than to support those who keep us balanced every day?”

Balance is an important concept for people who practice Ramuan. The Malays believe that the universe is composed of four major elements (earth, fire air and water). It is thought that these elements exist and function within the body and in interaction with the social and physical environment. An imbalance of these elements leads to ill health.

According to Malay belief, each individual is made up of four humors, the properties of which are hot and moist (blood), cold and moist (phlegm), hot and dry (black bile), and cold and dry (yellow bile). Groups of foods are also classified as having hot or cold properties. For example, watermelon is considered ‘hot and moist’; milk is considered ‘cold and moist’; lemongrass is ‘hot and dry’; long beans are ‘cold and windy’; and the much-loved durian (a fruit found in Southeast Asia) is ‘hot and gassy.’ These foods should be mixed carefully, and sometimes not at all—as is the case with watermelon and milk. (It’s thought that the milk will curdle, resulting in colic, indigestion, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.)

The hot-cold concept of balance is not just a matter of food or medicine—it’s also about a larger, holistic worldview. Wouldn’t we all be healthier people for remembering the bigger picture the next time we find ourselves suffering from a “Case of the Monday’s”? How do YOU stay balanced Monday through Friday? Do you have a Monday ritual that helps you stay on track for the week? Please share it with us!