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From the Archives : Reducing Belly Fat {Health}

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Exercises are important part of our regimen. But, there are some parts of the body where if fat gets accumulated, it becomes difficult to cut down by regular exercise. I am  talking, here, about belly fat which affects many people and they find it difficult to remove. There are some yoga postures which, if practiced daily, would help in reducing belly fat and also in reducing the body weight.

Yogamudra 

Sit with legs crossed. Reach your arms backwards and hold your left wrist with your right hand behind your back. Then, bend forward, bringing your forehead and nose in contact with the floor. Breathe out during the process. Maintain this state for 8 seconds and then rise, breathing in. Practice 8 times. This is one of the essential asanas for women. It should be practiced everyday.

Benefits: Strengthens Digestive System, relieves constipation, helps with menstrual problems, strengthens heart and removes belly fat.

Bellows Posture

Lie on your back. While breathing out, bend your right leg and bring the thigh close to your chest. Hold your right leg firmly with your both hands. Maintain this position for 8 seconds, holding the breathe. Lower your right leg while breathing in. Repeat with your left leg and then with both legs together. This comprises one round. Practice 8 rounds. 

Benefits: Strengthens digestive system, relieves constipation, helps remove gas and reduces belly fat.

Hare Posture 
Kneel down and hold both heels firmly with your hands. While exhaling, bring the crown of the head into contact with the floor in a posture of bowing down. The forehead should touch the knees. Maintain this posture for 8 seconds, holding the breathe. Breathe in while rising. Practice 8 times.

Benefits: Improves memory and concentration, good for meditation, helps in throat and thyroid problems and reduces belly fat.

Bird Posture 
Stand up straight. Keeping your left leg standing straight and firm in the floor, stretch your right leg as far back as possible. Extend your left arm forward and right arm backward, keeping both arms parallel to the ground. Reach out your right hand hand towards your right toes as if to touch your toes. Keep your back straight. The right leg may be bent slightly upwards. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat this posture with your left leg stretched backwards. This completes one round. Practice 4 rounds.

Benefits: Develops perfect balance, strengthens nerves in arms and legs and helps reduce body weight.

Do you want to lose belly fat?

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Exercising and Pregnancy {Pregnancy} [Part – I]

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Guest Post by Punam

We have a beautiful lake in Bhopal and I am lucky to see that every morning from my balcony. Every evening, when I used to go there for walk even unknown people used to tell me to not come here and why am I walking, doing yoga and exercise *frowns*. 
I have seen many people believing that exercising is not good during pregnancy but this is not true. So, I will be talking about this topic in few parts like  benefits of physical activity during pregnancy, changes associated with pregnancy, general exercise suggestions during pregnancy, how to exercise safely during pregnancy and exercises to be avoided during pregnancy.

Regular physical activity can provide health and social benefits for many pregnant women. Suggestions for exercise during pregnancy include walking, swimming and supervised classes such as yoga or Tai chi. Pelvic floor exercises are also important before, during and after pregnancy.

Unless you have complications, it should be possible to enjoy some level of physical activity throughout most of your pregnancy. The first step is to consult your doctor, physiotherapist or health care professional to make sure your exercise routine won’t harm you or your unborn baby. You may need to modify your existing exercise program or choose a suitable new one if you were sedentary before conceiving.

While exercise during pregnancy is usually encouraged, under some circumstances exercise can be detrimental to both the expecting mother and the growing fetus.

Benefits of physical activity during pregnancy
Exercise during pregnancy offers many physical and emotional benefits. Physical activity may also help manage some symptoms of pregnancy and you’ll feel better knowing you’re doing something good for yourself and your baby. Some of these benefits include:

  • More energy
  • Stronger back muscles which can help manage back pain and strain as your belly grows
  • Improved posture
  • Weight control
  • Stress relief
  • Improved sleep and management of insomnia
  • Preparation for the physical demands of labour
  • Faster recuperation after labour
  • Faster return to pre-pregnancy fitness and healthy weight
  • Increased ability to cope with the physical demands of motherhood.
So, welcome back Punam with this series of posts on exercising during Pregnancy. She blogs at be beautiful with Punam and I always keep on insisting her to provide me material for my blog 😀 This was a one huge article which I am breaking down for the benefit of you. So, see ya next week with the second part in the series. I guess it will come to four posts.
What do you think about exercising during pregnancy? 

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Dealing With Heightened Sense Of Smell

Grooming Lessons Vol. 4 – Breezy Breaths OR not so much!

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Ok, so this is one of the major social faux pas one can ever make! So, be always careful about how you are smelling, orally or physically! Carrying a sample perfume bottle and a handy mouthwash or spray is a very good idea. Let me talk about dental health today.

Be sure to check your breath after the meal
Please do not forget to ditch those onions in your midday meal even if you love them! I know this sounds so obvious but people who love onions tend to forget that the other person talking to them has to bear that smell even if they are standing a meter away from you.
Are you brushing your teeth correctly?
Ok, many people do not really pay attention to how they brush! You should brush your teeth vertically with quick strokes instead of horizontal brushing. I remember the countless times my dad used to comment on my method of brushing till the time he approved of it!

Flossing might be a good idea!

Flossing instead of brushing is a better way to get rid of bacteria and cavities issue. So, take 5 minutes out of your time and give a nice floss to your teeth. That helps in promoting gum health also.
Scrape your tongue!
If you are brushing right and flossing regularly and still have breath issues, get a tongue scraper. The bacteria and the germs which thrive on the moist tongue are more often the culprit of bad breath. In Ayurveda, it is said that tongue should be scraped every morning after brushing to detox the body.
Pull that Oil
I told you some days back that I had started oil pulling. I can safely say that though it is not exactly my favorite task of the day, it makes my teeth clean, white and tends to keep the bad breath away by removing the oral bacteria and germs.
So, always be aware of how your breath smells, even if you have just snacks or coffee breaks! And, don’t forget to simply rinse your mouth after every meal, small or large.
So, do you take care of your breath? Do you use any breath fresheners?
PS: Image copyrights belong to the original owners. I do not claim any ownership.

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