It's here again - the time of year when all your diet and fitness regimens are put aside for the sake of enjoying food, fun, and fellowship with your loved ones.

After all the celebration and enjoyment is done, however, you'd be surprised how quickly all the hard work you put in to stay in shape goes down the drain. You'll probably smile and be convinced that it was all worth it, but now it's time to get back in shape.

Take advantage of these tried, tested, and proven tips to get back on track:

1. Increase water intake. You can't overlook the wonderful benefits of water to your body. Not only does it hydrate, but when consumed  in recommended portions, it serves to flush the body and helps you eliminate any leftover toxins and free radicals from all those fat-heavy, calorie-dense Thanksgiving fares.

• If you have a hard time drinking plain water, convert it into a more pleasant beverage by making flavored green tea, or squeezing...

During the holiday season, physical health often takes a back seat. We're so busy with family and friends that we neglect our normal routine. That can leave you feeling run down, lethargic, and uninspired. The holidays are a time of good cheer and celebration. The good news is you can experience that joy and still manage to take care of your physical health.

Choose to make your physical health a priority during the holidays. Take the initiative because you're worth it, and your enjoyment of the holidays depends on it. A commitment to your health will lead you to find the time, and the time spent will provide enough energy and self-confidence to get you through the stressful parts of your holiday season.

Get the exercise that your body is used to and that it craves, so you can stay feeling alive. In the midst of all the holiday shopping, get-togethers with friends, and obligations, your workout must be a priority for you to succeed....

If you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. In the US, it’s estimated that between 50-70 million adults aren’t getting enough sleep. Some degree of insomnia is reported in as many as 30% of all adults.

Sleep is vital to both your health and happiness. How happy are you when you’ve had to pull an all-nighter for school, work, or even as part of your social life? 

Consider these 8 tips to get the most out of your sleep: 

1. Set a sleep schedule and stick to it. Our bodies adapt very quickly to our sleeping habits. Notice that if you stay up late and eat, your digestion tends to run amuck.

• Most people require 7-8 hours of sleep to function optimally.
• Your body is much more efficient at sleeping and preparing for sleep if you can maintain a schedule.

 2. Keep your bedroom cool. Your body temperature drops as you near bedtime and is at its lowest during sleep. If the room is too...

It's important for all of us to take responsibility for our health and overall wellness in life. If you want to improve how you feel, how you look, or any other component in your life, developing a wellness program is the way to do it!

Developing your own personal wellness program will enable you to fully understand what it means to have a life-balance and give you a plan for achieving it.

Evaluating Your Life

There are several core areas in your life that you should review when developing your wellness program. All of these areas are important, yet some of them are often ignored because of our busy schedules. These core areas include the following:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Thoughts
• Leisure Time
• Feelings

In order to create a program that ensures your wellness, it's vital to include all of these areas in your plan. This is because, ultimately, all of these key areas have a place in how we feel both physically and psychologically. 

Elements of a Wellness Plan...

Surprisingly, it’s very possible that the choices you make in your wardrobe are working against your good health.

Bear in mind that designers aren’t in the business of making clothing safe. They’re in the business of making them attractive to the consumer.

Making these wardrobe changes can eliminate health issues that your clothes may already be causing:

1. Wear lower heeled shoes. As researchers delve further into the impact of high heeled shoes on physical health, more and more are concluding that they are indeed damaging to the lower back and feet over the long run. To avoid running into any issues with pains or other conditions, follow these tips:

• If you must wear high heeled shoes, alternate with lower heels throughout the week.
• If you do a lot of walking and standing each day, take a pair of flats with you just in case you start to feel weary.
• Try to incorporate exercises that strengthen the back so you’re less...

You probably know that meditation is good for your body and mind. Still, it can be a challenge for a busy professional to find a place to sit and think.

Learn how to create a meditation space in your home or find a sanctuary nearby.
After all, your surroundings play an important role in helping you to quiet your
thoughts and become more mindful.

Benefits of Creating a Meditation Space

1. Increase concentration. A designated area for contemplation makes it easier to switch gears. You can forget about utilities bills and your kid’s report cards. Pay
attention to your breath, and connect with the divine.

2. Screen out distractions. Turn off your phone and keep your laptop out of sight.
Let your family know that you’ll be out of reach for a while.

3. Practice more consistently. Your meditation space is a powerful reminder if
you’re trying to establish a consistent practice. You can look forward to your
next session each time you walk by.

Designing a Meditation...

This post is the second in a series on the 8 Limbs of Yoga.

Satya is the second of the five yamas, or universal truths.

“To one established in truthfulness, actions and their results become subservient.” – Patañjali, “The Yoga Sutras” II-36[1]

The literal meaning of the word satya is “truth.” But in the context of the yamas, it refers to the virtue of being truthful in action, speech, and thought. It includes exaggerations and little white lies. (More on that later.)

According to the Vedas (the oldest religious scriptures in India), satya helps to hold the fabric of reality together. Without satya, the universe cannot function. In the Rig Veda, truthfulness is considered a form of reverence to the divine. In the Upanishads (another ancient Indian religious text), satya is described as the means to Brahman, the Ultimate Reality or Universal Principle. It’s equated to dharma, meaning morality, ethics, or the law of righteousness.

This post is the first in a series on the 8 Limbs of Yoga.  

Ahiṃsā is the first of five yamas, or universal ethics. 

“In the presence of one firmly established in nonviolence, all hostilities cease.” – Patañjali, “The Yoga Sutras” II-35[1]

Ahiṃsā is frequently translated as “non-harming.” Some people have translated it as “non-killing,” but it’s broader than that. “Hiṃsā” is literally “to cause pain” or “to cause violence,” so ahiṃsā is “not to cause pain.” In the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions, it includes respect for all living beings and avoiding violence toward anyone.

One question that repeatedly arises is whether one must be vegetarian or vegan to practice ahiṃsā and be a true yogi. B.K.S. Iyengar said yes.[2] Personally, I say no. While it’s better for the planet (and certainly for the cow and the chicken!) if we were all vegetarian,...