Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Cardio

Tags

cardio, exercise, fitness, health, outdoors, sports, wellness, winter

Winterize Your Workout
During the frigid winter months, most of our exercise takes place indoors. I wanted to force myself outside more so I scheduled Sundays as outdoor cardio day and Thursdays as brisk walk day. Tuesdays can be either indoor or outdoor cardio. Extreme temperatures, wind chills, icy roads, and lack of daylight all factor in, so be flexible! Cold air triggers my asthma. If I know there is a mild day in the forecast, I’ll swap a yoga day to be outside. Of course, if I’m pushing the snowblower through 8 inches of snow, I might just count that as my outdoor cardio for the week!

Cardio – Winter Workout Tips

Outdoor Cardio in the Winter:
Shovel Snow
Sledding
Cross-Country Skiing
Play in the Snow
Walk/Jog/Run
Bike
Snowshoeing
Ice Skating
Make a Snowman, Igloo, and Snow Angels

Before you workout outdoors in winter, make sure you are only doing outdoor cardio during the warmest part of the day. Before you get dressed, protect yourself by applying a heavy moisturizer to all of your skin with SPF on your face and use lip balm. Wear proper winter workout apparel (think warm and dry). Don’t forget to protect your ears, nose, and fingers! Do your warm-up indoors. Keep yourself hydrated. After your workout session, immediately remove sweaty layers and shower. Drink hot tea or broth. 

Indoor Cardio:
When confined inside, the key is to mix up the workouts… 
Cardio DVDs, Insanity, P90X, T25
Just Dance Games or Zumba Workouts on the Wii
Stationary bike
Elliptical
Treadmill
Run up & down the stairs

What other tips do you have for outdoor winter cardio?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

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Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Tea

Tags

beverage, detox, fitness, health, tea, wellness

Unplug to Recharge Challenge
You can take the easy route and purchase boxes of detox teas or you can custom blend teas that suites your needs and pleases your palate.

Detox Tea Recipes

Use a mesh strainer to steep ingredients in hot water for about 7 minutes. Stir and sip.

Detox Tea #1
1 green tea bag
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
1 Tbsp. lemon
honey (optional)

Detox Tea # 2
1 white tea bag
1 cinnamon stick
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
1 tsp. turmeric
honey (optional)

Detox Tea # 3
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
honey

Detox Tea #4
1 dandelion root tea bag
lemon juice
honey

Detox Tea #5
1 white tea bag
1 Tbsp. lime juice
honey (optional)

Detox Tea #6
1 white tea bag
10-15 mint leaves
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
honey (optional)

Detox Tea #7
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 tsp. coriander 
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
honey

Detox Tea #8
1 green tea bag
1 tsp. cloves
honey

Also check out my Spa Water recipes…

What is your favorite detox tea?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Bath

Tags

balance, Beauty, detox, DIY beauty, health, recharge, wellness, zen

I’m lucky enough to have a large soaker tub. If you have a smaller tub, decrease the recipe to meet your needs. Detox baths can be extremely harsh on your tresses. During your soak, give your hair a deep conditioning treatment and pile it on top of your head.

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Bath Recipes

Dissolve ingredients in hot water as the tub is filling. It is important to drink plenty of water before, during and after a detox bath. Soak in the tub until the water has cooled (about 30 minutes). Listen to relaxing music or revel in the silence. Read a good book or focus on breathing. To boost the benefits, give yourself a lymphatic massage. Slowly and carefully get out of the bath. Moisturize your skin with almond oil or coconut oil.

Detox Bath #1
1/2 c. Himalayan sea salt
1/2 c. Epsom salt
1/2 c. baking soda
a few drops of lavender essential oil

Detox Bath # 2
1/2 c. fresh grated ginger
1/4 c. lemon juice

Detox Bath #3
2 c. apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. Epsom salt

Detox Bath #4
a bunch of sage or sage essential oil
1 c. Himalayan sea salt

Detox Bath # 5
8 green tea bags
1 c. Epsom salt

USE COMMON SENSE:
Do not drink a detox beverage or alcoholic beverage while in the tub. Do not take a detox bath if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or are pregnant.

Also, check out my Soothing Salt Soak recipe…

What ingredients do you add to your detox bath?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Yoga

Tags

exercise, fitness, health, wellness, yoga

On Mondays, I go to a yoga class. On Wednesdays and Fridays, I try to make time for yoga at home (which can be tricky when three furbabies join) . You don’t need to be a yogi or even know about all the types of yoga. The most important thing is just to get started.

YOGA BASICS:
Don’t eat a heavy meal before yoga. Wear stretchy comfortable clothing and be barefoot (although my tootsies may stay covered during cold months). Use a good quality non-slip mat to make your yoga poses more comfortable. Listen to relaxing music and focus on breathing.

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Yoga Resources

Here are some resources to you started…

ONLINE VIDEOS:
DoYogaWithMe.com – The web’s best selection of high-quality, high-definition, 100% free, streaming yoga videos.
20 Minutes Morning Yoga Routine by SarahBethYoga
Full Yoga 30 minutes Routine by eFit30
30 Minute De-Stressing, Refreshing Yoga Workout for Beginners by GymRa
Total Body Yoga Workout With Tim Senesi by Fightmaster Yoga
AK73 Energizing Morning Intermediate Yoga “Coffee Cup” Core FULL BODY by Ali Kamenova
Yoga for Weight Loss – 40 Minute Fat Burning Yoga Workout! by Yoga with Adriene
Yoga for Flexibility, Kino Yoga on Miami TV Life: Episode Two by KinoYoga

BOOKS & CARDS:
“Yoga Girl” by Rachel Brathen
“Yoga, Mind, Body & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness” by Donna Farhi
“The Women’s Health Big Book of Yoga” by Kathyrn Budig
“Hatha Yoga Illustrated” by Martin Kirk, Brooke Boon, and Daniel DiTuro
“The Yoga Bible” Christina Brown
“Yoga for Dummies” by Larry Payne and Georg Fuerstein
Yoga Cards
Yoga Pretzels Cards

APPS:
Yoga 101 by myyogaminute.com
iYoga+ by Breitschmid Productions
Pocket Yoga by Rainfrog, LLC
Yogify by Electronic Arts
Hatha Yoga by bendyware, inc.
Yoga Studio by Modern Lotus
YOGAmazing by Wizzard Media

Do you have any yoga resources you’d like to share?

Namaste

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Unplug to Recharge Challenge

Tags

balance, fitness, health, mental health, recharge, wellness, zen

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you all have a blessed, happy, and healthy 2015!

Most teachers are guilty and taking home too much work. I am no exception. I teach writing to approx. 120 students, that’s a lot of essays to read, revise, and grade. Throw in a busy family life and forget about personal time. As soon as I start to remember this and rebalance my life, family and work responsibilities shift and balance tips again.

Young Wifey’s Unplug to Recharge Challenge (January 2015)

My Unplug to Recharge Challenge for 2015 includes all the things that I normally incorporate in life, but start to get neglected as grownup responsibilities increase. I attached my January calendar, but can be used as a monthly calendar as well. The goal is to spend a minimum of 30 minutes per activity. Wake up 30 minutes early to squeeze in a little me time and keep another block open in the evening.

Yoga
Cardio
Detox Baths
Detox Tea
Pampering
Reading
Writing
Unplugging

Who is ready to take the challenge with me?

XOXO,
Young Wifey