Yoga Preparation & Post-Yoga Nutrition

March 22, 2019

Karolina Gawlak- Marketing Intern/ Member Services Manager
Yoga trains the mind and body, but in order to maximize your practice and feed your mind, you have to fuel your body the right way. Your body needs to be properly hydrated and fueled in order to make the most of your mat time. Here are a couple tips to help ignite your metabolism, improve your digestion, and regulate your emotions.  

Drink Plenty Of Water

A few hours before your yoga class make sure you come well-hydrated and avoid caffeinated products. If you had an intense yoga workout, chances are that you were sweating quite a bit. It is extremely important to drink plenty of water after your workout. Not only does water refuel and replenish your body with plenty of essential vitamins and nutrients, but it also hydrates your skin and muscles. If you are looking to enhance your digestion and neutralize AMA toxins, try this recipe:

3 thin slices of fresh ginger
¼ tsp. fennel
½ tsp. cumin
2 black peppercorns
2 sprigs of mint

Boil 8 cups of water and add the herbs, allow it to steep. Enjoy.

Post-yoga Nutrition

To keep your soreness to a minimum after a yoga workout, try eating plenty of foods that have high levels of protein. … Read More

Spiritually Fasting and Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

January 23, 2019

Alivia Chenoweth- Marketing Employee
Recreation Centers is focused on positively impacting the holistic well-being of the Liberty University community, as stated in our mission statement. The growth of students and staff through the use of our facilities and service to the Liberty campus is one of our core values that we strive to maintain. Holistic-growth is a hard thing to come by but can be done in many ways besides participating in recreational activities. It can also be found in the slowing-down of life through the process of fasting and focusing on your faith and walk with God.
Fasting is commonly seen as a time where you take an absence of food to focus on spiritual growth. That often turns people away from the concept of fasting, but instead think of it as this; the act of humbly denying something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life.
Fasting can be more than abstaining from food. It can be taking a leave from social media, sports, sleep, friends, etc. It’s usually something in your life that is taking up a lot of time and distracting you and pulling you away from spending time with the Lord and preventing … Read More

Holiday Food Strikes Again

January 3, 2019

Gabi Mims- Marketing Employee
You’ve done it again. You’ve beaten last year’s holiday food consumption by—well, let’s just say a large margin. You’re proud of what you’ve accomplished and all the food you’ve eaten, but you know it’s time to start eating healthier.
Here are some easy tricks you can start doing at home or in your dorm that can help you get started on losing your holiday weight.
1. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
You have every right to enjoy the holidays and eat 3 pieces of pumpkin pie in one day. Your stomach might not be thanking you for it now, but don’t be upset with yourself for indulging over Christmas Break. Recognize that you can’t do that every day and move past it. You can work off the extra weight in no time!
2. Stop Snacking
Reducing your snack intake and only eating a reasonable amount of food at meal times will greatly decrease the total amount of food you eat in a day, and therefore the total calories in your diet. In addition, potato chips and holiday leftovers need to go in the trash. These definitely won’t help you get started with your goals, and it won’t help if they’re tempting you from the kitchen.
3. Get Moving
The holidays … Read More

Eating Mindful, Not Mindless

October 24, 2018

Alivia Chenoweth- Marketing Intern
It’s “fall ya’ll” and you know what that means. It is that time of the year where food starts becoming oh-so-good but oh-so-bad for you. The candy comes out for Halloween, the fall flavors at Starbucks are your everyday go-to, and then here comes Thanksgiving and Christmas, and let’s not even go there.
Keeping up regular exercise too in the midst of a 3-month food fest is the most important thing to be doing for your body. It helps fight diseases, it boosts moods and memory, and helps combat anxiety and depression. Plus, it just feels good to be fit.
Here are 5 ways to eat mindful, not mindless:
1. Portion control: You can still eat everything you want BUT in moderation. Yes, please treat yourself and eat those White Chocolate Pumpkin Pie M&M’s, just don’t eat the whole bag. Pay attention to the serving size on the packaging and try to follow along with that.
2. Slow down: Enjoy each bite and put your fork down while chewing, then take a drink between each bite. This gives your body enough time to trigger your brain that you are satisfied.
3. Use technology: Surprisingly, there are a lot of options to help track your calories! Apps such as MyFitnessPal are perfect as you can set goals and it helps you achieve … Read More

5 Healthy Foods on a College Budget

September 21, 2018

John Periera- Marketing Intern
1. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great source of fiber and minerals that isn’t just for breakfast like all those name-brand cereals. You can either eat it plain or add some fruit for extra flavor and vitamins. Unlike most cereals, Oatmeal can keep you full for hours.
2. Eggs
Eggs are the “perfect protein”. Each egg roughly has 6 grams of protein and are perfect for being healthy on a college budget. You can do so much with eggs, it’s unbelievable. You can either eat them fried, boiled, or scrambled. Not only that, but you can add them to a salad or a sandwich. Eggs are cheap and they complement your meals immensely.
3. Brown Rice
Brown rice is a highly nutritious grain. It is good for the heart, aids digestion, and may reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Brown rice is the purest form of rice which is why it’s high in fiber and is still intact with all its nutrients. You can get a 5lb Great Value bag of brown rice for only $3!!
4. Sweet Potatoes
Instead of buying boring, plain potatoes, buy sweet potatoes!! You can get creative with these things such as sweet potato fries (which are delicious), a baked potato, or even cinnamon mashed sweet potatoes. They are a high source of vitamin … Read More