Earlier this month, I tried my first yin yoga class with a couple of friends. I didn’t quite know what to expect, but appreciated the relaxed nature of the class and the opportunity to shift into “relaxation mode,” if only for an hour. Yin is a gentle style of yoga that includes seated positions held for three to six minutes…
Updated Physical Activity Guidelines were released last month urging us all to sit less and move more, and reminding us that even small amounts of extra daily activity can be beneficial. I know that for me personally, it can be easy to get stuck in an “all-or-nothing” mindset where, if I can’t do a full workout, I don’t bother doing…
One of the things my aunt and I joked about during her recent visit was temporarily being on the “beige diet.” Case in point, our Friday night fish fry included fries, a roll and, of course, deep-fried fish … beige, beige and more beige. Lunch that same Friday wasn’t much better and may or may not have included one or…
There’s no shortage of healthy holiday eating and food advice this time of year. As a weight-loss and wellness organization, TOPS is happy to share this type of advice on everything from choosing holiday cookies to unique ways to get your pumpkin fix. But food isn’t the only part of the holidays that can be challenging to navigate. Let’s not…
To celebrate National Healthy Eating Day, why not try a new fruit or veggie? My new favorite veggie at the moment is *jicama (pronounced “HIK-ah-mah”), which is also known as a Mexican turnip or yam bean. I first learned about jicama when I found it sold as pre-sliced strips at my favorite grocery store. You can find whole jicama in…
I recently welcomed my aunt and uncle from the Pacific Northwest for a quick family getaway. Originally hailing from Wisconsin, they were eager to indulge in all of the state’s staples including cheese curds, beer, and of course, a Friday night fish fry. To be fair, Wisconsin does have many healthy food options available that extend beyond its culinary clichés.…
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting Gladys who lives across the hall from one of my good friends. While I was visiting my friend for her birthday, Gladys invited us in to her apartment to meet with her family and chat. As we were talking, Gladys pointed out the view from her porch. “Look at that view,”…
Lately, it seems that there’s been lots of talk about “living your best life.” Since the meaning of this phrase is unique to everyone, I wanted to see what it means to some our members. Here’s what they had to say. “Being the best healthy me that I can be.” Bernadette N.R. “Being in tune to all the life around…
Earlier this summer I went on my very first mountain biking excursion in Bend, Oregon, with my dad. I thought this would be a fun and active way to spend part of our family trip and balance out the inevitable vacation calories. And what better place to experience mountain biking than the city that’s a famous hotspot for this very…