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Community Corner

Spring Cleaning Your Body

As Mother Earth turns over a new leaf, so should you.

We often associate spring cleaning with household chores, but your body needs spring cleaning too.

During the winter months many of us tend to spend more time indoors, eat more and exercise less. The interior darker and colder days can cause us to hibernate and get a little lazy. Then with the brighter days of spring as we start to shed our winter coats, we are not always happy with what we see in the mirror.

Recharge and take charge of your health this spring.

Upon waking begin by taking a deep breath and enjoy a rebirth along with nature.
Everything begins with breathing. Breathe new life into your body.  Andrew Weil, M.D., author and doctor of integrative medicine, has a breathing exercise that you can do upon rising.

First:  exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound; close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. Repeat 3 times

If you want to learn more about breathing exercises, try the Vinyasa Yoga at Satya Yoga and Pilates at 31 Rt 25A, in Mt. Sinai.

Next: Instead of making your way to the coffee maker, try some green tea, or for a natural detox, squeeze a bit of lemon into warm water as this has an alkalizing effect on the body, which helps the body maintain a normal pH.  For a customized healthy tea made exactly to your taste, call Linda Beckerman at Heartworks Inc. in Stony Brook, 631-689-2048

Wake up: Before jumping into the shower, try dry brushing your body with a loofa or soft brush. This is done by making circular motions over your entire body. The skin, being the largest organ, when brushed and stimulated creates a detoxing effect. You can pick up loofahs and brushes at our local .

Remember: garbage in, garbage out. Steer clear of heavily fried foods, sugary snacks, and the three P's: processed, prepared, and packaged. Opt for fresh fruits and vegetables and prepare as many meals at home as possible. Find simple recipes with few ingredients, so making meals is quick, easy and fun.

Get Going: Take your body out of winter storage, combat interia, start moving. Take brisk walks, take stretching breaks at work, do isometrics while you drive. As Newton's Laws of Physics reminds us, a body in motion stays in motion.

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water. Try to reduce the amount of plastic bottles you use, and never leave plastic water bottles where they might be exposed to sunlight as they may leach Bisphenol A, a potentially hazardous chemical into your drink. Opt for stainless steel bottles, in Miller Place carries them in all sizes and designs.

Lastly: but perhaps most important, get plenty of sleep. Poor sleep habits and a lack of sleep in general impairs cognitive function, and causes irritability and fogginess, leading to poor decision making and overeating. You can get new pillows at in Rocky Point. Don't forget to flip your mattresses for a good night's rest.       

As Mother Earth turns over a new leaf, so should you.


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