Sweet Tooth
If you're anything like me and have a super sweet tooth but hate the guilty felling after eating a triple choc mud cake then the these following recipes are for you!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Green Tea
It's time to talk tea...
So as you are probably aware there are many different types of teas and most of them benefit your body in some way or another.
Did you know that Green tea was used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health and regulate body temperature, pretty cool huh.
Peppermint Tea was a popular "folk medicine" simply because it was reported to work so quickly and effectively in relieving a variety of disorders like headaches, sinus problems, upset tummy and menstrual cramps. I always make sure I have a packet in the kitchen pantry.
When ever i have an exam or performance coming up I usually am pretty stressed and have trouble sleeping so out comes the Camomile Tea as it has a mild sedative effects, is treasured for its ability to relieve insomnia and encourage a good night's sleep, free of nightmares. If you've been having sleepless or restless nights, a hot cup of camomile tea before bedtime may be just what you need to sleep soundly through the night. Chamomile tea can help to ease anxiety and depression, too!
Cough Cough... feeling a twitch and a tingle in your through Lemon and Ginger Tea please! as dancers we don't have time to get sick, so whenever I feel a little under the weather i just whip out the lemon and ginger (I usually add a teaspoon of honey too) and carry on with my grande jete's.
Happy brewing!! ;)
Relaaaxxx....
Sometimes
in our busy lives, we forget to step back and take a break.
This is especially
true for dancers. There is school all day, then straight to dancing, then home
to do homework and then its bed time. For many of us, this happens 5 days a
week, plus rehearsals on Saturdays. We have very little time to take for ourselves
to relax and recoup. It is so important
for your body to take time out to relieve strain on both our body and mind. We can
see and feel the effect on our body but often we forget about how tired our
mind can get from running around all day, every day. School is mentally
draining with its facts and figures and this is due here and that has to be
done by that date, And it’s the same in your dance classes. Remember tummy in,
posture up, pull your thighs up, hold your head high, pointe your feet, turn
out your legs. I’m already overwhelmed and I haven’t even mentioned remembering
the routines.
Every now
and again, it’s a good idea to take 10 or 15 minutes out (try at least 3 times
this week) and without any interruptions, simply relax. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Read a book
- Take a bath, light some candles even (get parents’ permission for lighting candles)
- Sit in a tree/swing/seat outdoors and listen to some happy, feel-good music
- Are you artistic? Paint a picture
- Are words your medium, write a story.
- Journaling is always a good idea, even if you don’t particularly enjoy writing. I write lists in my journal of everything that is annoying me, overwhelming me, or just simply stuck in my head. You can draw pictures in your journal. You can buy a wreck-it journal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lTwgEylMpo)
- Rent a movie (or a series if your timetable will allow the time). Go to the movies, with someone you don’t always see every day.
- Give yourselves a mani (maybe pedi, depending on school and dancing constraints). Though manicures don’t always have to involve nail polish. If nail polish is a no-go, work on your cuticles, hand massage and shaping of your nails instead with maybe a clear coat of nail polish. Youtube is a great place for ideas.
Tell us what you enjoying doing to relax!
Sore Back Relief
Sore back?
After class you need to make sure you stretch out your back especially from all the back bends and walkovers you do. Below you will find a few stretches that you can do at the end of your lesson.
Hug
Your Knees - Lie
on your back. Grab your knees, pull them toward your chest and breathe. Slowly
push your lower back into the floor. Repeat this a several times.
Side
Knee Drop - Lie on
your back. Grab your knees, pull them toward your chest and breathe, Hold onto
your knees with one hand/arm and extend the other arm onto the floor. Gently
drop your knees to the opposite side. Breathe and switch sides. Repeat several
times.
Traditional
Toe Touch - Keeping
your knees straight roll down and touch your toes. If touching your toes is now
too easy wrap your arms around your legs and bring your chest to your knees.
Then release and roll back up through your spin. Repeat several times.
A little trick to relax your body, lay on your back, bend your knees and feet flat
on the ground. Make sure feet are apart so you can rest your knees against each
other. Wrap your arms around your neck until your hands are resting on the
ground. Lay in this position for as long as you want maybe even put on some
relaxing music as you do this.
Super Smoothies
photo sourced: <http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=4710&catId=2>
Super Smoothies!
Dancer's have high energy needs! Many of you guys have just finished the Sunshine Coast Eisteddfods and might be feeling a little tired and worn out from all the practice that went into those amazing dances! Smoothies are so yummy and are a great and super easy way to eat (drink?) your food on the go. Smoothies are also so refreshing, especially in the summer time!
The basis of most smoothies is milk and yogurt and you can change these to to suit dietary requirements (lactose, almond, goat varieties). My personal favourite is a Mango and Banana smoothie with milk, yogurt, mango flesh (frozen or thawed) and banana. I also love either fruits on their own. Other combinations include a concoction of berries, honey, lemongrass, oatmeal (for carbohydrates), ginger, orange, green tea, cherries, pineapple, and kiwi fruit. These are just a few of the many options and any combinations are possible.
Making a Super Smoothie
Chose your fruit. Such as, berries, banana, kiwi fruit, mango, paw paw, passion fruit, figs or even lychees.Add you liquid. As everyone has different dietary requirements there are different liquids to suite. There is almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, goats milk, dairy milk, coconut milk, coconut water and all types of juices.
The power food. for extra nutrience and all that good stuff add in some of these, Spirulina, chia seeds, flax seeds, oats, LSA mix (blended sunflower seeds, amond meal and linseed.) or quinoa
Make it thicker. By adding natural yogurt, sorbet, ice cream, ice or frozen fruits can help to make you smoothie thicker.
Extra Flavour. Still a little bland.. try adding in some honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, peanut butter or ginger
Just blend it all together and ta da! a Super Smoothie!
Let us know what flavours you have created!
Fueling your body for dancing
Fueling Your Body For Dancing
Are you looking for a quick and easy recipe for a light
meal to take to dancing? Then have a look at the link below. Cous Cous Salad is high in
energy and a good source of fiber but still light on the tummy. The energetiks blog has some great simple and easy recipes especially for dancers!
The article in the link below has so much useful information about how to make sure you are eating enough of the right foods for the amount of exercise you are doing!
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