Month: December 2018

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are more than just memory loss. They are conditions that can erode a person’s quality of life, independence, and interpersonal relationships. Some medications can slow the process of Alzheimer’s, but once it sets in, it is not reversible. Some forms of dementia can be temporary due to vitamin deficiency or vascular conditions, but most dementia is also irreversible.

Only 25% of these cases are genetic. The rest are preventable.

According to the Mayo Clinic and the International Journal of Clinical Practice, exercise has more impact on aging and Alzheimer’s disease than any other lifestyle factor. Exercising five days out of seven reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by 35%. If two of those workouts involve strength training, it reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by half once you are over 65. Don’t wait, though. Obesity in midlife makes you 3 times more likely to have Alzheimer’s.

Hot yoga is ideal for Alzheimer’s prevention because it combines strength with flexibility and stress reduction. Limberness improves balance and reduces risk of head injuries. Flexibility makes your body more resilient as you age and reduces your risk for overall injury, thereby insuring that you can keep up healthy exercise habits later in life.

Chronic stress quadruples the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr. Vincent Fortanesce of USC points out that the stress hormone cortisol stunts nerve cell growth and connection, accelerating cognitive decline, premature aging, depression, and diabetes. (Diabetes, by the way, makes you twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s). Yoga reduces stress, thereby reducing your cortisol production. It also helps your sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation, according to memory experts Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Gary Small, can really hurt your brain and central nervous system.

Other tips for Alzheimer’s prevention: eat a brain-healthy diet minimizing processed foods and refined starches, focusing instead on fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, Omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamins. Keep your brain active by learning new things, playing with puzzles and riddles. Avoid toxins like cigarettes, because smoking increases your risk by 79%. For more information, visit Helpguide or The Alzheimer’s Association.

Nikki M. Deasy
TriBalance Yoga Center

If you are new to yoga, you might be wondering if you should get a yoga mat. The reality is that in several circumstances, you do not have to have a mat. For example, if you do yoga at home, you can do it on the carpet or if you are at a gymnasium, you can borrow one.

However, if you are serious about yoga or are stuck in a situation where you have to practice in places with a hard floor, a yoga mat becomes a must have. Some yoga mats are really plain whilst others have fascinating patterns and textures to help with friction when trying more challenging poses. Because yoga is about connecting your mind and body, plenty of yoga mats are built to fit your personality and help you achieve these challenging poses.

You may find dearer mats that may offer more support or a special design, but for most of us the average mat will do. Because there are a wide variety of yoga types available, you may wonder about the different ways of which to pick the best mat, particularly if you are new to yoga. The kind of yoga mat you should buy relies on many factors, the most significant being the kind of yoga you practice and your ability level.

If you do more active and challenging poses or need more support, a thicker mat is the best option for you. You may also wish to consider a textured mat if you want help in maintaining poses.

Thinner mats are great if you want a mat that is convenient for you to carry around and to do more relaxing poses. If you prefer a mat that is small enough but will support your poses, sticky mats are just the thing for you. These yoga mats are thinly made and also come in a selection of colours.

It is light enough for you to carry around, and a lot of these mats have guides to indicate where to set your feet and hand. If you are an amateur, such guidance on a mat is an ideal concept till you get used to the basic hand and foot placements. These yoga mats are just perfect in mastering those poses and are very useful in stopping you from slipping off and sliding.

If you are practicing Ashtanga Yoga or Bikram Yoga, cotton mats are ideal for you. Cotton mats are made for soaking up your sweat. These cotton mats will help you to remain in position and not slip off. If your mat is not absorbent, then it is reasonably perilous because wet surfaces can be really greasy. The damp mat is good for gripping so that your feet and hands stay just where you place them.

There are different types of yoga mats for everyone, and the trick to this is to select the mat that will aid you in practicing the kind of yoga that you want, while ensuring that you remain in position and cushioning the impact of the hard floor beneath.