Hello Warriors of the World! Many of you have asked me frequently over the last few years, "What are some ways you stay green and help the Earth?" Well today I wanted to take a few moments to go over some of the ways that my significant other and I stay green and help save our planet! For starters, we all know that driving a car is incredibly terrible and has a huge impact on our air quality. Now, with COVID this has become a bit easier, however we don't drive everywhere! What I mean is, we carpool, we stay home and don't go anywhere at least two days per week, we get curbside and delivery for groceries and packages. When I lived where there was a train or metro system, I would travel this way instead of driving. While Austin has it's own Metro-rail.... it's nothing compared to San Francisco or New York. Another great action we take is in our grocery shopping, and I'm not talking about reusable bags. I am talking about how often we go! We both eat a very plant-based diet and that means we keep LOTS of FRESH fruits and veggies around! I hear all too often, "Oh mine always go bad! How do you keep them fresh so long?" The answer is we DONT! We eat it in time! However.... 1. Buying organic makes a difference. The taste and how long it will last. 2. Are you storing them properly? You can check here! 3. How much are you getting and for what time frame of use? 4. If you don't use it, you lose it! This applies to more than just learning a new language warriors! This most definitely applies to our foods! When we shop, we shop once per week-ish, my significant other does curbside once a week and I hit up Whole Foods and Sprouts in a days run, we buy enough to last us up to 2.5 weeks before we completely run out. We have tested this before. So whatever your excuse, it's really that you just don't want to eat it. Stop buying it and creating more waste. If anything, compost it! Shower, self care, and beauty products..... ladies... I love you, why do you use SO many things to shower with? I see so many choices of body wash, shampoos, conditioners, etc in peoples bathrooms when I cleaned houses for a side hustle. I am astounded you feel you need so many, and so many that are full of chemicals! We use bar soaps that support local businesses in Texas. Organic hair care and facial care. I have shampoo and conditioner, one each. One scent. One brand. Two bottles.... Not five. I have three items for my face because I personally only need three. A cleanser, moisturizer and toner. Outside of this I have two bottles of facial peels that I use once per week and I have had them for nearly 8 months now. Three products for my hair and no brush. Yeah, I let it be natural. What I use merely controls the frizz and allows my waves and curls to hold all day, however I don't use it every day either. I use it only on my off days when I know my hair isn't going up all day for demonstrations. This brings me to one of my favorite ways to be green. Mindfulness. Ahhh yes, I said it! Mindfulness. My partner had asked me one day if I could change one thing what would it be? I quickly answered with mindfulness. Being mindful can open up many doorways to being green. When we are mindful we start to think outside the box, we start to think/wonder/see how our actions begin to affect and shape the environment around us. Reduce, REUSE, recycle. I know we have all heard this before. Reuse, we reuse a lot of things! Bags for storage and jars are the favorite for us. There are many things you can do with them. We reuse parchment paper if nothing juicy, sticky or slimy was baked on/in it. Instead of buying tonnes of bottles of water, we use reusable bottles. There are many things to reuse! During the day time, we reduce our carbon footprint by keeping lights off and blinds open to allow sunlight in. We also have a lot of plants around our home that require light, this helps to remind us to keep the lights off. In the evening we use low-lit colored lights of red or green. We have them in several rooms of the house and they are turned on toward the evening time to help us wind down. So there are many ways that we can be more green, even if you're not out volunteering to clean up the beaches or streets in your area. There are many things we can do at home.
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Do you love to buy salsas, Culina yogurt, and other products in a jar? What are you doing with your jars when you're finished with the product inside? Do you simply throw them in the trash can? Wash them out first? Recycle them? How about upcycle them?
More recently my significant other and I have started to bring in more "green" elements and ways to sustain ourselves into our lifestyle. We discovered one day that we buy a lot of products that come in a glass jar often. So to remedy the fact that we were wasting glass all the time, and let's face it recycling in the country.... is not recycling, we decided to get creative with them. CULINA POTS & JARS Culina is a fairly new company that produces coconut based yogurt. Originally they came in an adorable little flower/planter pot. Recently the company has switched to a small glass jar with a twistable lid. These jars are AMAZING for: 1.storing sauces 2.small items like gummy candies 3.seeds & nuts 4.animal fats/grease 5.activated chia seeds 6.take smaller snacks on the go So don't throw them out! Upcycle them! You can even decorate them as they come bare without a label glued to the whole jar. PASTA SAUCE JARS Okay, we all remember the GIGANTIC Prego jars... well they haven't gone away. We find these jar sizes now come in the salsa that we love to get from Whole Foods. We also love to have a Mango Gummy Bear now and then, since they come in the bulk section and they come a pound at a time we use this jar to store our gummies. This keeps our gummies nice and fresh. We also use the jars to store: 7.broth for ramen 8.food leftovers 9.asparagus in water 10.citrus peels for making into plant food Don't toss these jars either! Upcycle them! Decorate them and make them yours, fit them to the theme of your kitchen or house. TOPOCICO & WATER BOTTLES We love to have a Topo a few nights a week, however that is a lot of glass to be "recycled", what do you do? Get yourself a glass cutter and (11) enjoy some new glasses to drink from! And that (12)bottle cap can be turned into some bottle cap art! Any kind of glass bottle can be cut and turned into a drinking glass, who knows you could have a new side hustle! You may even try turning them into a vase for a plant or a fish( make sure that fish has room to grow!) Whatever you may be drinking or eating from, don't just toss it in the trash can, UPCYCLE IT! Help reduce your footprint and find a good use for that jar or bottle. As the summer months begin to creep in, especially here in Austin, I get asked more and more how to stay hydrated. Now before we get into some of the nitty gritty of this, please keep in mind that every body is different and therefore we all have different needs. When it comes to hydration this is an area that is subjective to the person and region we live in. For instance, I drink (try to, let's be honest I am human) roughly 2-3 gallons of water per day. To the average person this is a lot. When you factor in the fact that I have been an athlete and very active my whole life, and I live in a very hot and humid state this suddenly doesn't seem like so much.
When it comes to hydration we think water is the only way. While it is the main way there are a few other things involved that KEEP you hydrated throughout the day. Let's take a look. For starters, we need water to help metabolize and breakdown nutrients and remove waste from the body(including fat, this is why water helps you lose weight!). When your urine is a dark yellow, that is because you are dehydrated and your urine has too much urea in it. In order to remove harmful waste and toxins in the body we need to drink plenty of water to continue to flush them out. We also lose water in our tears, sweat, feces, breath and spit. So there are multiple ways to become dehydrated throughout the day if we aren't paying attention. Your food can be a source of hydration! Eating foods that carry electrolytes, such as cucumbers, salads, citrus, etc will help you stay hydrated throughout the day so you're not tediously drinking gallons per day. You also want to drink more than just water. Giving the body a small break for a tea or cold-pressed OJ is a great way to stay hydrated as well. Electrolytes are an important part of hydration because they not only give an electrical charge but they transport nutrients. So keeping these in your foods and even squeezing a bit of lime into your water can really boost your hydration, especially in those hot summer months. We also need to remember that while we all need at least one gallon of water per day, that amount changes person to person. These factors are determined by sex, age, weight, activity level and where you live. All of these affect how much water you need to stay hydrated and functioning. Let's be honest, no one wants to be dehydrated. Did you know it only takes 2% into dehydration for your brain and muscle to slow down and begin to stop functioning? That's not much! We also must remember that it takes longer to hydrate than it does to dehydrate the body. So, the first thing we should do upon waking it drink at least one 8-ounce glass of room temperature water straight out of bed. This will also boost and jump start your hydration from the very start of your day! How amazing is that?! Remembering to do this first step, is actually a pretty great way to set the tone for your day as far as water consumption goes. You want to set yourself up for success, not failure. If you are going to workout you'll want to consume at least 2 16-ounce glass/bottles of water before beginning any rigorous activity. If you are only working out for about an hour or under, you really only need water. If you are going HAM all day, you may want to throw a NuuN tablet or some BCAAs into your water. I never really recommend a sports drink as many of them are pumped full of caffeine and/or sugar. The sugar is really what will get you. Adding that extra sugar may make it taste delicious and give you a bit of energy boost, however it also dehydrates you. So I tend to stay away from drinks like Gatorade, Poweraide, Vitamin Water. Yes even VITAMIN water is not good for you. The reason you feel you need more is that sugar is taking over baby! Now you know the basic facts and operations of hydration. Grab your jug and mark it every hour if you need a reminder to drink. But whatever you do, drink that water daily! One of the first things I often see or hear people do when they decide it's time to get healthy is to either seek out a gym to attend, or a gym and a trainer. Today I want to discuss both as I often hear the phrase "You're so expensive! I can't afford training even though I would love to." So I want to take a trip down comparison lane for a minute. For starters, when you hire a trainer at a big box gym such as Gold's, 24 Hour, or Lifetime you are often times getting a trainer who is new, fresh out of school and inexperienced. This is not a bad thing if you are just looking for someone to tell you what to do and converse with you. Often times a new trainer is inexperienced and they are easily distracted and don't pay attention to form or proper progression for YOUR body. I also caught a lot of trainers using the same routines for EVERY SINGLE CLIENT. Why is this bad? Your body is not like mine, and it is not like theirs, therefore it should be treated as an individual with a routine designed for your goals, needs, and current fitness level. You could be getting a routine that is too easy with not a lot of benefit or a routine that could hurt you. When it comes to membership, you want to find a place that you are comfortable with paying for monthly as NO gym (that I have personally seen) offers the membership included with your training if you purchase training. I personally believe in including this in each package a client purchases. If you are in a gym and a newbie, or even a seasoned gym-goer who's been out for a bit you may need that guidance for awhile. So what better way to get you started than with some guided training that INCLUDES your gym membership in the package. You are able to go and workout when you see fit outside of our sessions. This helps to keep you on track and you are saving yourself some money as your membership is included in the package price. Experience is so important, when I say this I am not strictly speaking about their career as a trainer. I am talking about their life experience as well. Finding someone who has been through a lot, injuries, life situations that interfere with staying on track, grieving, medical setbacks, etc. The reason for this is that trainer is going to be able to guide you, educate you and be more mindful of what your body needs. I have personally been through enough life experience for someone in their 50's or 60's even and I am only 31! Being able to relate to my clients and share my experiences has been such a treat and a pleasure to be able to help someone out of a dark place, help them through an eating disorder, guide them out of depression, or help them cope with body dysmorphia. Life experience matters when it comes to trainers, we are literally dealing with your body and life in the palm of our hands. We are here to get you healthy and fit. To help you create a lifestyle that fits your goals, needs, and daily practices. Something that isn't time consuming but gives you all the benefits you need to live the most optimal, functional life you can live. Education of your trainer, have they continued their education in their field or did they just pay to renew their certification? This is SO important, I cannot stress enough that if your trainer is not progressing then neither are you! I personally love to learn, this makes it easier for me to continue my education in training and nutrition, I currently hold about 10 certifications in several different areas. This includes off the wall type of certs that other trainers would not have thought to get such as Sports Surface Debate. This class allowed me to understand how the different surfaces interact with the soles of our shoes. How impact and cushion are important and finding the right shoe is highly beneficial. (If you're looking for the right training shoes btw, they are NOBULL's. Best on the market, absorb the shock before even reaching the knee when you land flat-footed, and they will last you longer than the typical six months). Being a specialty trainer will make someone more expensive, however you are going to get MUCH better care and attention with someone who is educated and experienced. So now that we have discussed a few factors to look for and why some trainers cost what they do, let's compare prices. **THESE ARE REAL PRICES TAKEN FROM THEIR SITES AND FROM WHEN I WORKED FOR SOME OF THESE COMPANIES** As you can see, the average cost is actually fairly high. This is terrible! training should be affordable as... well honestly, everyone needs a trainer for at least a month! Why? You can learn someone about how to workout for YOU, you can learn someone about yourself, and you will learn better self-care from (hopefully) someone who is on the right track and highly experienced. In these sessions, as stated before, you aren't getting much from it with an inexperienced trainer. So let's take a look at what you get with Senshi Training. At Senshi Training (located inside Big Tex Gym) takes pride in treating each client as an individual and as family. We support one another even if we don't participate in a session with another client in a small group setting. We take care to listen to what is stressing and making you regress to help in de-stressing to reach your personal goals. Every routine is specifically designed for your postural deviations and personal goals in mind. How many big box gym trainers can say this? Not many! We also believe that without daily physical activity that our bodies will begin to break down and eventually cause us pain and harm. With a gym membership included with your package it makes it easier to get to the gym without the extra cost. We also help with time management, nutrition, and fat loss over weight loss. We focus on holistic and healthy ways to create a lifestyle that keeps you going rather than shoving a routine on you and expecting you to do it without guidance.
So here are the facts, laid out before you. Next time you are shopping around for a gym or trainer, I hope this gives you some insight into what you should look for and how you should be judging that price. Do your research before spouting off with "You're too expensive!" This is your life, this is your body. If you were injured with a broken bone you would not tell a doctor they are too expensive to set and cast you, right? Why tell a health professional in the fitness industry the same? They are here to get you healthy, educate you and guide you down the right path for you. If that is not something you value, you should NOT be looking into a trainer at all. You would be wasting not only your time, but theirs. You also get their hopes up for a bigger paycheck and an opportunity to enhance someones life. Hello wonderful Warriors of the World!
I hope that you all are doing great and staying safe during these trying times. Over the years I have gotten asked a lot of questions about myself and my lifestyle, so today I thought I would take a little time to sit down and answer some of the most frequently asked questions. Q: Where are you from? A: I generally answer this question sarcastically with a "Planet Earth", however I was born in Portland, OR and we stayed there until I was 8. I grew up in Meridian, ID. Q: What got you started in fitness? A: My family. Unfortunately they all deal with much worse conditions than I do. Battling everyday against Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Jaundice, Autism, Diabetes, Depression, Anxiety, MCAS (digestive disorder), and Spinal Degenerative Disease. Over the course of my life I have shown some signs and symptoms of all of these, however managed to avoid them progress due to the lifestyle I lead. My dads late best friend was also a really big influence into becoming a trainer and nutritionist, he passed away in his sleep two weeks before his 38th birthday. I am now seven years away from that age.... crazy. He had diabetes and gangrene, he got sick and was turned away by the hospital to pass away in his sleep the following morning. Taking care of my body and being able to pass that knowledge onto another person to hopefully enhance their life the way that fitness and nutrition has enhanced mine, became my main goal. And thus, trainer Kaie was born. Q:How tall are you? A: Roughly 5'11" Q:How many days a week do you workout and for how long? A: This answer has changed as I age, my needs change. When I was competing I worked out up to six hours a day. The unfortunate part of this is that it can lead to overtraining and injuries. Now, however, I only spend about an hour and a half at most in the gym, this includes a warm up, work, and cool down. It has actually shaped my body the way I have always envisioned for myself. I workout everyday in some form or another. It could be weight lifting one day and an active rest with nothing but yoga and core the next. Q:What is your squat, bench and deadlift? A:I honestly do not know. For me, lifting isn't about the lifting and going heavy all the time. Again, this can cause serious injuries over time. But right now, I am beginning again since I am recovered from a back injury two years ago. Q:What is holistic/holism? A:This is a great question, I get this a lot. There is a true definition which is: (medicine definition) characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease. Now with that being said, I full hearted believe in this. My style of training revolves around Holism. We examine everything in your life down to what is stressing you out, how to fix it or control it, fat loss, proper nutrition, mind-body connection, the whole works. Everything that affects your life, we take into consideration when writing your personalized routines and meal plans. Q: What is functional training? A: Functional training is training that incorporates movements that make everyday life easier to move through. This can be anything from a burpee to a simple squat. The point of functional training is to create a mind-body connection, stabilize the joints, and enhance the neuromuscular system before introducing heavy weights, athletics, or other modalities into the routine. This ensures safety and proper muscle building with each and every client no matter their age, gender, level of fitness. Q: What diet do you follow? A: Blue zone eating, it is a plant based nutrition plan that can easily be modified to anyones needs. Q:So you are vegetarian/vegan? A: Absolutely not. Not that I disagree with either, they have a time and place for health reasons. However, for those same health reasons I use and follow the BZE plan because it allows me to be 75-85% plant based and still have animal protein. I do eat eggs, pork (minus ham), turkey and sushi. I do not eat any others simply because my system cannot digest them. It has nothing to do with morals, and everything to do with my own health. Q:Have you ever been injured? A:Yes. I have torn my right rotator cuff twice. Once when I was 13 I fell off of my bicycle and landed on my hand then my elbow and up when the ball into the socket tearing my cuff. The second time I was driving and rear-ended by a former friend. I have sprained both wrists from ice skating. I have bit through my tongue wrestling. And about two years ago I fell in my own living room to sit on my chair and nearly broke my back. About 8 months ago I pulled my abductor brevis complex, that's the inside of your thigh connecting to your groin. It's painful. I had six concussions in 2016 as well. Q:Why do you move so often? A: That answer is simple, I am not a tree. Even they can be moved. However, I haven't moved in many years. I usually stay somewhere for at most a year then I am off to discover a new temporary home to enjoy for awhile. Since I have planted myself here in Austin, TX this is where I have been with my business for 6 years and we plan to stay for at least another few. Moving isn't difficult, it's just tedious. I don't mind it. I don't own a lot, it gets easy to load up my car and go. I now have a boyfriend, dogs, we are moving into a house and starting our own home gym, so this makes it a little more difficult to do what I like, which is to just get up and go explore. I like to see new things. I have to learn to travel now instead of move around. Q: How many calories a day do you eat? A: Between 3000-3500. I know that's a lot for a woman, but it is what I eat in healthy, organic foods everyday. Q: Why don't you drink? A: I drink! I drink water, tea, smoothies, juice.... The list goes on. If you are referring to alcohol, I have had one too many bad experiences with it. Not only that I put myself in but that others put me in from being around me and drinking. My sister is a great example, while I love her because she is my sister we have not spoken in nearly three years. The last time we spoke she was very drunk, yet again, and pulling a suicide routine to get what she wanted. To me alcohol turns perfectly good people into trash. Yes, I said trash. My sister is a wonderful and intelligent person, you mix alcohol in there and she becomes destructive and narcissistic to those around her. On another note, I find it to be poison. And from a scientific standpoint it really is! It shuts down parts of the brain to cause blackouts, severed connection between the body and mind, the subconscious starts to do what it wants, and all inhibitions are thrown out the door. It is not a good thing for anyone. I like to remember the fun nights I have, not drown them out with sorrow and depression from fucked up hormones the next day. And finally, it's a depressant. So those who are turning to a few glasses of wine or beer after a long day of work should really be turning to the gym to help balance out those depressive feelings rather than enhance them. Q:You have an accent, where are you from? A:Currently I reside in Austin, Tx and I have been in Texas for 7 years.It is easy to pick up an accent when you stay somewhere a long time. If you are referring to the northwest mixed with Irish, that came from my great grandmother and family. While the Texas accent has definitely taken over, the Irish northwest still comes out now and then.I grew up in Portland and spent a lot of time with my great grandmother who was from Kilkenny, IR but grew up in New Jersey. She also had a mottled accent that was mixed. I don't think it really matters where it's form, it's just ... mine. Q: What do you do for fun? It seems like you only work and workout. A: I hike, I swim, read a lot of non-fictional books and articles, paint, draw, dance. I sing and play seven instruments. I learn other languages. I record videos and blog. I spend time with my beautiful little family. I cook and bake. I do SO much more than just fitness related things every day. It is my passion but it does not consume me. Q: How many squats do I need to do to get a booty like yours? A: I didn't just squat for this ass. I worked my WHOLE body for it. Targeting a particular group of muscles all the time doesn't always work, in fact most of the time it won't. you may see that growth, but good luck with your busted back later or knee because you didn't take time to work the whole body. These are the main questions I get asked the most. If you have any other questions, feel free to hit the contact tab and drop a line! Hello from your host, Miss Kaie and her trusty side-kick, Mr. Victor Z of the upcoming whole life and healthy living podcast: Beyond Whol(istic)! From fitness, to nutrition, world events, biochemistry and so much more. Miss Kaie and a new weekly guest, will be exploring the holistic side of life and the effects that reign over us on a daily basis. Discover how changing the food you eat can change your body, mood, mind, home life, work and many other aspects of your life. Have you ever wondered how meditation works? Or how the city you live in could be making you sick. Or even what allergies are. Find out more on the podcast! COMING THIS FALL. Recently our host, Miss Kaie, spent some time with our main sponsor, Top Trainer Supplements. We may have episode specific sponsors as the program develops, but for now, head on over to the Top Trainer webpage and enter code BEYOND at the checkout for some sweet savings. Join us this fall as we explore the world of holism and beyond! Find out how hormones affect not only your mood and body but life around. Learn healthy lifestyle changes that will help you loss fat, gain muscle and stay that way. We are so excited to announce that our first episode will be on the topic of Holism and Holistic Living. Living a holistic life is highly important to us and part of the human experience. Join us when we launch as we explore this topic, the benefits, ways to live holistically on an affordable budget and much more! For more information and updates on episodes and events, visit our Instagram here! What is mindfulness?
Looking it up by definition, mindfulness is "the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something." So, it's a mental state wherein you are aware, but how is it achieved and what does it mean for your day to day life? This mental state is achieved by focusing one's thoughts and feelings on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. This can be used as a self-therapeutic technique. Maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts though can seem trying at times. Especially as mindfulness so intimately involves acceptance of the thoughts and feelings that you are allowing to occupy so much of your conscious mind. Meaning that we have to pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. A recent study lent this perspective on the topic, saying "though it has its roots in Buddhist meditation, a secular practice of mindfulness has entered the American mainstream in recent years, in part through the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, which he launched at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979. Since that time, thousands of studies have documented the physical and mental health benefits of mindfulness in general and MBSR in particular, inspiring countless programs to adapt the MBSR model for schools, prisons, hospitals, veterans centers, and beyond." (1) A Few Things to Know About Mindfulness: 1) Mindfulness is not obscure or exotic. It’s familiar to us because it’s what we already do, how we already are. It takes many shapes and goes by many names. 2) Mindfulness is not a special added thing we do. We already have the capacity to be present, and it doesn’t require us to change who we are. But we can cultivate these innate qualities with simple practices that are scientifically demonstrated to benefit ourselves, our loved ones, our friends and neighbors, the people we work with, and the institutions and organizations we take part in 3) You don’t need to change. Solutions that ask us to change who we are or become something we’re not have failed us over and over again. Mindfulness recognizes and cultivates the best of who we are as human beings. 4) Mindfulness has the potential to become a transformative social phenomenon. Here’s why: Anyone can do it. Mindfulness practice cultivates universal human qualities and does not require anyone to change their beliefs. Everyone can benefit and it’s easy to learn. It’s a way of living. Mindfulness is more than just a practice. It brings awareness and caring into everything we do—and it cuts down needless stress. Even a little makes our lives better. It’s evidence-based. We don’t have to take mindfulness on faith. Both science and experience demonstrate its positive benefits for our health, happiness, work, and relationships. It sparks innovation. As we deal with our world’s increasing complexity and uncertainty, mindfulness can lead us to effective, resilient, low-cost responses to seemingly intransigent problems. (2) So, to simplify, mindfulness is best thought of as a balancing a healthy self consciousness with a strong sense of the world around you. Mindfulness exercises: -from the Mayo Clinic. -from Pocket Mindfulness. -from WebMD. -from Berkeley. Additional Reading: (3) (4) What's your favorite color? Why is it your favorite color? What color is your car? Why did you want that color? There could be more of a reason than "I don't know, I just do," or "it's pretty." Colors, much like music, affect our mood! Kinda cool right? Right, But Why? Color is a pretty powerful tool. Often times we can use it to manipulate mood, soothe our stress, help us study for an exam, liven a charades party in the living room, or even spark sudden hunger. Color therapy was once a thing of ancient times, dating all the way back to the Egyptians who studied it and used it for curing an array of ailments. (1) In more modern times, while still a topic of study and of science, the thought of color and its influence on mood or any other aspect of oneself has somewhat fallen into the realm of hokey gimmicks. The most notable is the mood ring, the result of binding thermochromic liquid crystals to quartz stones. The mood ring changes colors based upon the temperature and blood pressure of the wearer and has been around since 1975. (2) This, combined with the pop psychology of the basic mood/color correspondance used to teach children how best to describe their developing emotions has many ignoring the very legitimate effect color has on them. Consider the color palettes for the clothes or home decor you chose from depending on the season. Throughout the year, as the light dims and the temperature drops, you may find that the colors people adorn themselves with migrate through the spectrum. In the spring, you may notice a lot of bright pastels and popping sharp colors, often desribed as "loud." Why? Becuase it mirrors the vibrancy of spring, the re-birth of the plant and animal life-cycle and the increace in visial vibrancy of the world around us as we begin to receive more light. (3) Summer may not necessarily bring much of a visual change, but come autumn and winter, you may notice deeper anad richer colors as well as the use of more patterns. You'll see these same changes again exhibited in home decor, or at least, in advertisments for home decor. (4) Those are some outward expression of how color influences and is influenced by mood and other external environmental factors. But this post is focused on mood, so, what has science to say of the matter? Well, Here is Some Research: If you want proof that something works, perhaps look to see what folks in marketing do. We all know the adage "sex sells," but so too does color it seems. Red for instance, is known to be a color associated with excitement and aggression and which draws attention. Hence, branding with red is known to induce or at least heighten a desire to consume; to buy, in other words. Whereas subdued colors such as black and silver are seen as more "elite" and therefore might be better suited to an informed decision on a luxury item. (5) Meanwhile, one study sought to directly assess the relationship between color and psychological function. (6) Several interesting points worth summarizing include - - certain shades of green seem to stimulate appetite in a majority of subjects. - red was largely seen as an "alert" color, which made subjects more cautious, focused, and determined when given a task. - beige and grey were seen as emotionally neutral colors, evoking little or no emotional change or response. - blue, colloquially known as the "color of communication," was largely seen as calming or otherwise soothing. It was only in subjects already displaying a lower sense of joy or emotional drive that blue was seen as somehow "sad." - likewise, yellow was commonly seen as a joyous color. Another study, focusing on college students, found that yellow is "thought of as joyful, outgoing, open, and friendly." (7) This is not necessarily surprising as yellow, which mimics the color of sunlight, produces a kind of placebo effect wherein one may feel a boost in mood owing to a percieved increase in vitamin D. As stated in the article, "yellow ribbons have been used as a sign of hope and optimism since the nineteenth century." Ok, So What Does This All Mean? It means that you can make an informed decision on how you choose to adorn your environment. It means achieving a mode of peace and harmony within and around yourself by using color to help influnece your mood in a positive manner. It also means that you can help others, whether by dressing in colors you know they may like or offering them a space in which the colors may bring them calm or invigoration. You can seek additonal knowledge to further you understanding of this and other topics, and thus, live wholly. Written & Edited by our fantastic editor: Mr. Victor Z. Glenn
Research Conducted by Miss Kaie & Victor Z Glenn Photos: Miss Kaie & EG Prophoto Fitness Connection, this gym became like a second home for me. Quite literally, just last year. I signed up when they first opened here in North Austin. In the last year since they have been open they have gone through at least five new General Manager's just in the time since I had become a member.
THE GOOD Truthfully I haven't found anything good about this gym since day one. I signed up because the price was better, there was more space, I was under the impression I could freely use the studio and was allowed to for a very long time, they have a sauna that is separate for each gender, showers, classes, lots of equipment, etc. It's a normal gym. In the beginning the staff was attentive and courteous. However, this brings me to the bad.... THE BAD Recently I had to switch banks and, upon handing over my new card to a younger male at the front desk I watched him enter the information, confirm with me that this was the new card for charging my membership, then handed my card back to me. Now, this was at the beginning of the month, and until the 18th nobody said a word to me about my account being past due. So for the last few weeks I have been racking my brain and backtracking trying to find out why a bank account that I had shut down was somehow still active. I never thought the first thing I switched for the new card would be the issue. So after calling both the customer service line for my previous bank and getting no help nor even being able to put in a claim about it, and the corporate offices of Fitness Connection also telling me that they would not be doing anything - I am left still fighting a $300 charge caused by an employee over a $10 a month membership. And lastly, I have never dealt with such rude members in my life as I have at this gym. The self-entitlement of the members and staff permeates the air making it thicker than a bad protein shake. And so... BACK TO GOLD'S Back to Gold's Gym, the place that sparked my intrigue and passion for fitness. I not only loved working for this gym but being a member after I left was equally as pleasant. That went for any location I walked in to. The members here are also fluent in gym etiquette and are respectful enough to ask to jump in on a set of yours or to even see if you are done using a piece of equipment. The staff is always friendly and informative; if you miss a payment they call DAY ONE, and I have never had anyone wait over two weeks to mention something. Better yet I shouldn't have to mention something to my front desk. Any information I changed with them was always done quickly and efficiently. No mistakes, no laziness, no carelessness. THE OTHER GUYS While Gold's may be 4x as much as Fitness Connection, I have no issues paying for these reasons. I have tried other gyms as well including, Metroflex in Pflugerville, Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, World Gym, and Equinox. For all of these, many wonderful qualities of the gym and business drew me to them but in the end I will stick with Gold's for this - they have been my least worry inducing, anxiety boosting, or troublesome establishment that I've ever had the pleasure of utilizing. CONCLUSION If you're shopping around for a gym, make sure that you really look into the staff that run the day to day operations. I have brought a lot of people with me to this gym based on a number of other factors outside of the price, the staff being one of them at one point, and now I regret ever switching from Gold's Gym. I am so happy to be returning to Golds next month. It it absurd to make the member pay for an employees mistake. Thus, I impart the following wisdom to you - be an aware, engaged, attentive, and conscientious shopper and consumer. I am nearing my 16th year in the customer service and food industry. I have been everything from the peon FNG all the way to "The Man." Now, there are so many things I have learned from being in every position over the years as a server, bartender, manager, trainer, fitness instructor, business owner, trainee, my list goes on and on. My experience is clear, but one thing I never realized before today was simply this - if you want a great worker, hire an artist. Yes. An artist. You're thinking painter, aren't you? You're largely limiting your scope; an artist is anyone who's creative. Musicians. Actors. Writers. Fashion designers. Photographers. Dancers. Teachers. Here is why we in fact make better workers, from my personal experience over the last decade and a half. 1. OUR BRAINS function and see things differently. For instance, playing the piano helps you compartmentalize because your left hand is doing something completely different than your right hand. You have to focus, think, read, analyze and sometimes even be vocal. That is a lot for the brain to handle all at once, but it can happen. It does happen, everyday. 2. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT because we repeat everything we do out of passion to perfect it. If we are put in the right position and given the right tools and tasks we can accomplish anything you ask us to. But don't micromanage us! NOBODY GETS WORK DONE BEING PRESSED UNDER A THUMB. Given the allotted time and trust we are more productive than someone put under pressure of a constant watchful eye. Let us do our thing and you won't be disappointed. 3. AN EYE for detail. I have had many managers and higher ups tell me over the years that I have a great eye for detail. I can see the small things that most would overlook. Often times being a meticulous artist has saved the paperwork and someone's job. One small error that may have been overlooked but caught by the eye of an artist. Small things matter most when you are drawing, painting, posing a model, picking the right notes for the song. They can make or break any deal. 4. STRESS often times is much easier for us to handle because of the way that our brains function. Compartmentalization comes slightly more natural to an artist but it is something we practice every time we touch the keys of a piano, pick up our paintbrush, or flex our foot forward ready to create and present our best. Since artists are often performers as well, we are used to pressure and deadlines. Time is different for us. It feels different and it flows different. Often times, for me, time is slower even though I move quickly. Art and meditation have taught me how to utilize time, something I have no control over in the end. 5. PRODUCTIVITY is often higher from artists and those that aren't micromanaged or forced to be taught only one specific way. We often times see other ways to do the same thing but more effectively and/or more efficiently. But when stifled and muffled before we are ever heard we can become frustrated and lethargic internally. Affecting the quality of our work. With these things in mind, it is important to remember that mixing personalities of artists and non-artists can create conflict. Artists are often times much more open minded individuals and accepting of others viewpoints. Communication barriers may form causing emotions and tensions to rise bringing into play the trickle down of vibenomics. In the end we should all be mindful of the unique ways one another thinks and approaches the same tasks that we do. |
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