Posts Tagged: life balance


30
Apr 13

Work with your partner to create some life balance

Since having a baby, have you found that your life balance is a little out of sync? Once you have kids, achieving a proper work life balance can be difficult, but it's important that you divide your time and attention properly between your family and your work. While you're trying to spend time with your baby and get all of your work done, your relationship with your partner may experience some strain. However, there are ways to combat this problem. 

For example, you should schedule some romantic time with your partner. Tell each other that no matter what, at a certain time each night, you will have a meal together or simply sit and talk for awhile. Also, don't be afraid to hire a babysitter so you and your partner can get a night out on the town. Consider asking a family member to look after your little one if you're uncomfortable letting a stranger watch your baby. 

Finally, communication is the key to a healthy relationship, so if you feel as though you and your partner aren't getting enough time together you should be sure to tell him or her so you can talk it out. 


29
Mar 13

How yoga can improve life balance and health issues

Have you been struggling with recent health issues? Looking for a new workout that is fun and can promote better life balance? You may want to make yoga a regular part of your routine. Here are three ways yoga can help with minor health concerns.

Trouble falling asleep
If you've been having a hard time getting to bed at night, it could be due to high stress levels and a lack of regular physical activity. Working out with yoga poses and meditation techniques three or four times a week can reduce stress and anxiety while promoting natural tiredness.

Regular headaches
Dealing with frequent headaches can make it difficult to concentrate or enjoy almost anything. To increase blood circulation to reduce the likelihood of tension headaches, yoga meditation and deep breathing exercises can certainly help.

Weight issues
Have you noticed you've put on a few extra pounds since winter? Yoga stretching and meditation exercises are fun and simple ways to burn calories to help manage your weight.


7
Mar 13

Practicing yoga outdoors can improve life balance

While heading to a yoga studio for your regular workout can be great, there's not always enough time in your schedule to go every week. To maintain your life balance without falling behind on your health goals, you might want to consider holding an impromptu session in your backyard or neighborhood park. Here are three reasons why outdoor yoga can be great to maintain your work life balance.

A place to focus
The alternative to yoga at the gym is often practicing in your own home. While this can be nice on occasion, you may find it hard to concentrate when your family members are all around you. Heading outside can provide you with the peace and quiet you need to focus.

Comfortable environment
Beyond being a place where you can practice yoga uninterrupted, the outdoors are also great for helping you feel relaxed before your workout. With green grass under your feet and a cool breeze at your back, Mother Nature is the perfect environment to unify your body, mind and spirit.

Fresh air
Deep breathing techniques are the cornerstone of a successful yoga session, as they are employed in both yoga stretches and meditation exercises. Luckily, you won't have to worry about stale indoor air when you're enjoy the great outdoors.


4
Feb 13

How to properly diet for life balance

Improving your eating habits is a great way to achieve life balance, but you might be wondering how to get your diet started in an effective way. Here are a few helpful tips and tricks to keep in mind about sticking with your nutritional goals in the long term.

Change your snacks
Unless you have incredible will power, chances are you’re going to snack once and awhile during the course of your diet. But instead of going to the usual bags of chips and popcorn, consider substituting those with healthier options like nuts, fruits, vegetables and granola bars.

Use a calorie counter
If you really want to stay on top of your eating habits, a calorie counter can be an valuable tool. You can download these easy-to-use programs for free to your smartphone or computer, allowing you to track nutritional information about your favorite foods.

Diet with a friend
One great way to stay motivated during your diet is to recruit a friend. By working toward the same nutritional goals, you can provide words of encouragement to keep either of you from sliding back into your old eating habits.


16
Jan 13

How to keep up with life balance New Year’s resolutions

If you're already starting to lose steam with your New Year's resolution to achieve life balance and get fit, you might be looking for some encouragement to stick with your health goals. Luckily, yoga is the perfect workout plan for losing weight and increasing strength. Here are some tips to keep in mind in the new year.

Find the right time
Timing is everything, and this is particularly true for fitness goals. You're bound to run into scheduling conflicts between home, work and exercising, so pick a time to practice yoga when you're not otherwise busy. The hours right before and after work are usually free, so head to the yoga studio during these times.

Find the right instructor
Not all forms of yoga are the same, and this also holds true for yoga instructors. Consider visiting different studios to experiment with a range of personalities and teaching styles. You're bound to find the instructor who fits your schedule and desired workout plan.

Find a friend
If these still aren't enough to help you stick with yoga, think about convincing a friend to come along with you. Not only can you encourage each other to keep going to class every week, but working out tends to be more fun when you have a buddy there too.


14
Dec 12

Three workplace life balance tips for the holiday season

As if the pressures at home during the holiday season weren't enough, December is also one of the busier times of year at many offices and places of work. If you're struggling to keep professional and domestic life balance in check, you might want to consider these holiday season tips.

Work ahead
It might not seem like the most attractive option, but working ahead in the weeks before family dinners and holiday travel plans can make your life much easier. Staying an extra hour at work a couple of nights might allow you to leave early to catch a flight without inconveniencing anyone in your office.

Communicate
It can be difficult to keep track of all the shifting schedules of your coworkers and clients, so make communication a top holiday priority for work life balance. Keep a detailed calendar of your appointments, due dates and vacation days. Let others know about your schedule and check with them about their plans.

Take a breather
Sooner or later, the holiday stress in your office or workplace is going to get to you. During these anxious times, don't forget to take a much-needed breather to recharge your batteries. An hour walk during lunch, meditating in your office or grabbing a cup of coffee with your friends can help you feel more relaxed and energized to complete your assignments.


15
Nov 12

Life balance tips for the holiday season

While just about everyone looks forward to the holiday season every year, dealing with the challenges of organizing family events for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve can be a real pain. If you're looking for a way to achieve life balance and make it to January (relatively) unscathed, keep the following holiday season tips in mind.

Start planning early
Whenever you're responsible for hosting a family dinner or party around the holidays, it's best to start planning right away. Throwing a feast for dozens of friends and relatives requires cleaning your home, decorating, shopping, cooking and serving – all of which take a great deal of time. Don't let your responsibilities wait until the last minute.

Don't stress
Between home and work, life balance can seem like a distant memory. But it's important to keep your cool and not stress out around the holidays – this is a time of year for sharing enjoyable moments with friends and family, after all. Consider finding an outlet for any anxieties, like exercising or meditating.

Remember what's really important
If you're freaking out about buying the perfect gifts for your family members, remember that you don't need to spend countless hours and dollars shopping. The most important part of the holidays is spending time with people you care about, and finding a gift that comes from the heart will be more than enough.


15
Nov 12

Three ways yoga can help you achieve life balance this holiday season

Thanksgiving is coming up quickly, marking the first official celebration of the holiday season. But with Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve left to go, the seasonal pressure will only continue to build until January rolls around. If you're looking to enjoy a little more life balance around the holidays, you might want to consider practicing yoga. Here's why.

Stress relief
When you're at work, life balance can be hard to come by during the holiday season, with clients and projects needing to be satisfied before employees go on vacation. That's not to mention organizing and planning family parties and dinners in your free time. Luckily, yoga stretches, deep breathing exercises and meditation can offer stress relief when you need it most.

Weight management
With all the delicious turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes you'll be enjoying this Thanksgiving – plus other holiday dinners – keeping up with weight loss and management goals can be a challenge. Sticking with regular physical activity is more important than ever during the holidays, and yoga can be a fun and beneficial way to go about this.

Better sleep
Dealing with the holiday season can be exhausting, but all that's left to do at work and home can make it difficult for you to catch a good night's sleep – making this time of year even more tiring. However, exercising and meditation can be great ways to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep longer.


24
Aug 12

Three items Dahn Yoga recommends for your first day of yoga class

So, you've decided to take the plunge and join a yoga class – congratulations! Yoga is a great way to achieve life balance through fitness, meditation and better nutrition, whether you have chronic shoulder pain or you just want to be more flexible. But right now your main concern is getting through day one with your instructor. To make your life easier, here are a few things Dahn Yoga recommends bringing along to start class on the right foot.

Loose clothes

Think you'll be able to manage a day of yoga poses in jeans and a polo shirt? Think again. Yahoo! Voices recommends wearing loose-fitting clothing to any and every yoga session. While you could pick up an expensive elastic yoga outfit, something as simple as a t-shirt and gym pants can also do the trick.

Yoga mat

Active.com notes that you should also bring a sticky yoga mat once you've committed to a class. Mats range in price, comfort and thickness, so you may want to speak with your instructor about the best options for your particular type of yoga.

A towel

With all the stretching and sweating you'll be doing on your mat, it's important to bring along a towel to wipe it down in between poses. ISport.com suggests a large, absorbent towel that you can use to clean off your mat and wipe the sweat from your body for maximum comfort and safety.


29
Jun 12

Going abroad? Look for Dahn Yoga locations while you’re at it!

As any American who puts his or her nose to the grindstone for 40 (or more) hours a week knows, a well-deserved vacation is important for restoring life balance. However, Pete McCall, exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, told Prevention Magazine that resting and relaxing are no excuse to actually let yourself go and get lazy.

In fact, McCall insisted that vacation is a good time to recommit oneself to getting in shape. He provided several planning tips for travelers:

- Do some research. Whether you are going to California, Hawaii, Arizona or our nation's capital, try to see if there are Dahn Yoga locations in the area that you can drop in on.

- If you are already taking Dahn Yoga classes, pick a hotel that is near a beach or park, where you can practice.

- Stay focused with clear goals about how long you plan to work out.

- Maintain proper hydration levels in the warm weather. This may mean staying away from boozy cocktails.

- Consider coming home early to give yourself time to plan healthy meals for the next week or so.