Illustration by Jim Stoten (www.nymag.com)I once shunned NYE rezzies, a bit appalled by the commercialization of wellness "tips" that cost mucho benjamins but usually fizzle out by Valentine’s Day. I should probably mention here how much I despise those Bally’s commercials featuring swimsuit models and tanned, buff (sometimes headless!?) bods with those little fake beads of sweat pumping iron in unison in little leotards. But I digress.
But it is a new decade, after all, and I think it’s time for Not Your Average Jane to jump on that oh-ten happiness train. This actual blog was inspired by one run on a friend’s treadmill; so I’m all for some simple action steps to feel WELL – Simply! Personally, one of these simple steps is (admittedly) plugged into my cable box. I’m one of those Janes who loves to slip on some super comf yoga pants but never really feels like opening my front door to the frigid New England air in order for my little muscles to shake (even in down-dog) in front of a class of buff Harvard ladeez. So, enter Exercise TV Fitness On-Demand. This is not a joke. Meghan Townsend’s “AM Yoga” is literally 15(!) minutes of stretching, breathing, a little sweating, and oodles and oodles of happiness. My favorite part is Meghan’s cheerful “Good Morning!” as my kitties purr around my feet in my own living room. If you’re beach-bod training already (yowza), Jillian Michael’s “trouble zone” work-out is. really. hard. And amazing. I love her. More on my girl-crush on JM in later posts, I’m sure.
But if you were like me this morning and skipped the On-Demand button (for a pj kitten cuddle party, perhaps?) to get your daily Today Show/Ann Curry fix, then you've probably heard of the NY Mag feature, “50 Simple Steps to Happiness”. Even if you’re not an NYC lady, some of these tips are just SO exhilaratingly basic that I just could not help but share. A few of my favorites… (read all 50 ways here)
2. “Make your bed. Go figure, but outer order contributes to inner calm. Especially if you’re living in a small space—but even if you’re living in a gigantic loft. Start each day with a concrete, albeit tiny (and therefore manageable!), accomplishment.” —Gretchen Rubin, Author, The Happiness Project
4. “Leave your mouth in that slightly upturned position it takes after saying ‘Cheez Whiz.’ It’s a relaxed, confident look that will convince other people you know what you’re doing.” —Debra Benton, Executive Coach
8. “Never show up for drinks on an empty stomach, or for that matter let yourself get so hungry you’ll eat street meat.” —Kristin Mcgee, Pilates and Yoga Instructor
33.“Start an old-fashioned correspondence with a friend. Handwriting a letter forces you to express yourself in a totally different way.” —Jonathan Arnold,General Manager, Dempsey & Carroll Stationery Engravers
44. “Think like a shark, act like a 5-year-old. Our bodies are meant to be in motion. Don’t stay in the same position for more than 30 minutes at a time.” —Dr. Jeffrey Gross, Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU School Of Medicine
49. “Pause. Allow your neck to relax, your nose to slowly lower, and the crown of your head to rise. Release your whole spine into length. Notice extra tension and release it. Breathe fully and slowly; smile. Begin your morning with this, end with it, use it as many times during the day as possible.” —Mark Josefsberg, Alexander Technique Teacher
Read more: 50 Steps to Simple Happiness -- New York Magazine
4. “Leave your mouth in that slightly upturned position it takes after saying ‘Cheez Whiz.’ It’s a relaxed, confident look that will convince other people you know what you’re doing.” —Debra Benton, Executive Coach
8. “Never show up for drinks on an empty stomach, or for that matter let yourself get so hungry you’ll eat street meat.” —Kristin Mcgee, Pilates and Yoga Instructor
33.“Start an old-fashioned correspondence with a friend. Handwriting a letter forces you to express yourself in a totally different way.” —Jonathan Arnold,General Manager, Dempsey & Carroll Stationery Engravers
44. “Think like a shark, act like a 5-year-old. Our bodies are meant to be in motion. Don’t stay in the same position for more than 30 minutes at a time.” —Dr. Jeffrey Gross, Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU School Of Medicine
49. “Pause. Allow your neck to relax, your nose to slowly lower, and the crown of your head to rise. Release your whole spine into length. Notice extra tension and release it. Breathe fully and slowly; smile. Begin your morning with this, end with it, use it as many times during the day as possible.” —Mark Josefsberg, Alexander Technique Teacher
Read more: 50 Steps to Simple Happiness -- New York Magazine
Namaste!
Not Your Average Jane
No comments:
Post a Comment