Yoga studios or shalas have sprouted just about everywhere. People practice yoga for spirituality, physical, and mental wellbeing, or weight management. In one of the conferences of the Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines, a speaker talked about yoga and how some poses or asanas can stimulate our internal organs to secrete hormones that help keep our blood glucose (sugar) levels low but not to the point of experiencing hypoglycemia (very low blood glucose level).

Jonathan Cagas doing a handstand.

Can yoga make you lose weight? Can it help improve some medical conditions? It takes a yoga expert to answer these questions.

I met Jonathan Cagas in 2011 when I started my Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice at Yoga Manila. He patiently guided me until I evolved from being an awkward yoga student who didn’t know what she was doing, to a more confident one who could do “not so perfect” headstands.

In 2007, Jonathan completed a 200-hour teacher training certificate and a 100-hour advanced studies in yoga and philosophy from the Centered Yoga Institute in Thailand and obtained a certificate in pranayama from the Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute in India. On top of his yoga education, he has earned three masters degrees on Physical Education from the University of the Philippines (UP), Diliman in 2005, Sports Science major in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, and Sports Science major in Diagnostics and Intervention from the Leipzig University in Germany. The last two degrees were earned as part of the Erasmus Mundus European Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology program. He is currently an assistant professor at the Department of Sports Science of the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics.

Jonathan defines yoga as a holistic mind and body system that leads one to take care of the mental and physical aspects therefore promoting overall wellbeing. It all starts with Kriyas or cleansing techniques of the breathing system or nasal passages to remove excess mucus that blocks the flow of prana or breath.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a popular gymnastic type of yoga developed by K. Pattabhi Jois focusing on asanas that first cleanse the body to make it healthy and strong. According to Jonathan, this practice was designed for regular people since it involves all the elements of breathing, asanas, and meditative. It is a low-moderate exercise that promotes flexibility and strength. Yoga is not aerobic, it will not make you burn as much calories compared to other types of exercises. “You can burn around three to four calories per minute,” Jonathan says. That’s at least 270 to 360 kcal in 90 minutes of practice. Not much right? So how can yoga make you lose weight?

“Yoga can make you burn around three to four calories compared to other types of exercises,” – Jonathan Cagas, Yoga guru

Since yoga is a holistic system, the discipline encourages a plant-based diet. Jonathan used to be a lacto-ovo-vegetarian (consumes milk and eggs) for a long time and is now a pesco-vegetarian or pescetarian (includes fish). As you get deeper into the practice, you will learn to eat properly by making healthier choices and observing proper meal timing. In the early phases of my practice, I ate an entire chicken gyro sandwich and went straight to my class. I almost doubled over during practice.

The meditative aspect of yoga causes a down regulation of the brain’s hypothalamic system. The hypothalamus controls many metabolic processes including hunger and thirst. Stimulation of this part of the brain causes increased food intake and yoga causes an opposite reaction.

A study done by Alyson Ross, MSN, RN and Sue Thomas, FAAN, PhD, RN on The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies published at The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concludes that yoga may be as effective or even better than exercise in improving a variety of health-related outcome measures including heart rate variability, blood glucose, blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), salivary cortisol (stress hormone), and oxidative stress (which causes the formation of free radicals). More studies are needed to examine the health benefits of the various types of yoga.

If you are contemplating on trying out yoga, here are some tips from Jonathan:

• Talk to the teacher and voice out concerns;

• Know the method and type of practice;

• Take Yin classes for relaxation; and

• Take Vinyasa classes for a more holistic approach.

[email protected]/www.cheshireque.com/IG:cheshirequerdn/Twitter:CheshireQue

Juicing 101

Colorful life stories color my career life. For the past 10 years, I’ve heard countless reasons on why women want to be beautiful and sexy.

Once, a client with a pretty face and Prada purse came to see me and said: “I really don’t need a dietitian. I know everything about being healthy. I read a lot.” I replied, “I understand. Please tell me why you’re here.” Then she burst into tears leaving me mortified. I grabbed a pack of tissues and just let her cry. Then she looked up and said: “I feel so ugly!”

I know how it feels to be ugly. I had horrendous acne breakout I practically had to wear a wide brimmed hat to cover my face. I had fungal infection on my toe I didn’t wear open toed shoes or flip flops until it got better. I felt like my acne and toes were the only things people see in me!

Beauty…  a gift… an aspiration… an obsession… a burden.

Movies, magazines and the media had given us unrealistic standards on beauty. Reed-thin bodies, flawless skin, fashionable women, the list just goes on and on. Society and culture put so much importance on outward appearance. The pressure to keep up with these unrealistic standards of beauty is on.

I have nothing against being fashionable, sexy and beautiful because I love to dress up, I make an effort to stay within a healthy weight range and I don’t look like a an ogress either.

Being beautiful is not an option for women. Every woman must learn how to take care of her appearance.  We need to be good stewards of God’s gift – our bodies. Think about it this way. Putting on sunblock is essential unless you want to end up looking like a prune or having leather-like skin. Being pleasant to look at will show how God blessed you with things that will enhance your beauty. So go ahead and apply make up by all means. Just don’t think less of yourself if you happen not to have all these trimmings. I believe you ladies get my point.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

If beauty is a gift from God, then why does it cause frustration, depression and discontentment?

Since beauty was created by God, let’s see how God defines beauty.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – 2 Samuel 16:7

A woman’s beauty radiates from within. Her inner beauty. When we focus so much on outward beauty, there in lies the problem of breeding discontentment and frustration  in our hearts which lead to low self-esteem or worse, self-hatred.

Ask yourself these questions…

• Do I spend most of my time obsessing about my body?
• Am I satisfied with the results of my quest to pursue beauty?
• How am I dealing with these desires and unrealistic expectations?
• Am I focusing more on what I don’t have or what I have?
• What is the purpose of my life?

When you achieve a sexy body and your skin is already “shining, shimmering, splendid!” you will definitely find yourself wanting to have a new hairstyle, whiter teeth, slimmer arms and many more.

The sooner you accept that inner beauty is more important than outward beauty, the sooner you will have joy in your hearts and appreciate what God has blessed you with. A woman with a joyful heart and a pleasant attitude will look beautiful inside out but an impeccably dressed woman with unbecoming attitude will look like a…. oh never mind…. HAG! 🙂

by: Carlo Camilo Moselina Valenzona of www.veggiecircle.com

Weight problems had been the greatest enemy of majority. But let me inspire you with a story about discipline and strong determination over weight problems.

Cheshire Que had been battling weight problems over the years but thru my spa diet she was able to overcome the battle.

”I started to gain weight when I was 25 years old. I wasn’t eating much and no matter how much exercise I do, I kept gaining weight so I had my thyroid function tested and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

After a few months of medication, I started losing so much weight and it was drastic weight loss so I had to go to the doctor and this time I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.” she narrates.

Cheshire had to undergo radiation therapy and for 2 years her  hormones were crazy so she gain and lose weight rapidly.

It was a cycle which she had to break because she has to look and feel good especially that she’s into wellness.

“It wasn’t easy so I religiously took my thyroid hormone replacement which I need to take for the rest of my life, do some serious lifestyle modification which includes regular belly dancing and followed a low fat, high fiber, well-balanced diet which actually became the my spa diet” she adds.

From then she had to watch her portions and choose foods that are prepared with less fat and less sugar.

“It was relatively easy to eat like this the hardest part was to have regular physical activity because I’m not sporty and I don’t like to work out . I had to choose a type of exercise which I actually enjoy” shares Cheshire.

After 6 years, She stopped belly dancing and practiced ashtanga vinyasa yoga which helped a lot in reducing her visceral fat and increased her muscle mass.

Look at her now! Very Pretty and Gorgeous! 

http://veggiecircle.com/on-winning-over-weight-problems

Healthy is the New Sexy

When it comes to diet, would you choose something restrictive and tiresome or healthy and balanced while letting you enjoy it on the long haul? The choice is yours.

Charm your way to a healthy and sexier you with this newest and practical approach into losing weight: My Spa Diet. Pioneered by lifestyle and weight management consultant /US registered dietitian Cheshire Que, RND, RN, RD, www.myspadiet.com is the first online weight management program in the country that emphasizes a customized diet plan fit for a person’s lifestyle. Collaborating with registered nutritionist-dietitians, it provides a holistic approach on personalized way to meet nutrition needs while losing weight. The diet plan includes life giving foods, teaches smart eating habits and applicable exercise guidelines that considers four phases, pretty much the same concept of a spa: cleansing, detoxifying, rejuvenating, and balance.

Suffering from hormonal imbalance and thyroid problems at 25, Cheshire herself experienced a drastic weight problem. “It was challenging and crazy phase for a dietitian like me”, says Cheshire. “However, I took it as an opportunity to do intensive research; take seminars here and abroad to efficiently create a diet program to restore my health and achieve a healthy weight range which I managed to maintain all these years,” she concludes.

My Spa Diet applies a full-throttle psychology of nutrition and considers social aspect in losing weight that is not drastic, easy to apply, and flavorful menu plan that embraces all food groups but low in fat and high in fiber and nutrients. “It disciplines the body on smart eating, including the importance of hydration in the diet”, Cheshire adds.

By simply subscribing at $11.99 or about P500.00 monthly at My Spa Diet, it teaches clients to incorporate practical tips for gradual and sustainable weight loss that curbs craving for high-fat and high-sugar foods. By assessing the health status and calculating the body mass index (BMI)of a person, the subscriber will be guided with the correct portion serving for four weeks with several menu options that is just enough for a person’s daily recommended caloric intake. What’s more, this online diet plan teaches the art of portion control while letting the patient enjoy a variety of food whether at home or at a swanky restaurant with friends. Another practical tool is the food wheel which shows a number of healthy and delicious food choices. Planning meals are made easier with the online grocery list. Tired of rye bread for breakfast? Then check out other healthy alternatives or foods with added benefit or functional foods. The result is simply an exciting eating habit that will make you lose weight and sustain it!

And while a proper meal is important, hydration is also a huge part of My Spa Diet. “Restoring and maintaining a healthy fluid balance prevents muscle breakdown and enhances metabolism to efficiently burn energy thus aids in losing weight. It also rejuvenates the skin and keeps a clean digestive track. Aside from these, healthier food versions are commingled with aromathera-tea, or simply enjoying a daily cup of tea. Known to reduce risks of heart diseases, cancer, and an “oxidative stress” buster, there’s no reason why someone shouldn’t have a cup per day. Part of Cheshire’s healthy eating advocacy is to regularly include fiber in the diet and shares this tip, “Fiber is your friend when you are trying to lose weight. While insoluble fiber cleans your gut, functional or soluble fiber helps lower your blood cholesterol and control your blood glucose level, that’s why the fiber counter is a valuable tool in the site”, Cheshire adds. “Remember, to fully benefit from its rich detoxifying) properties, eat whole grains, wheat bread, vegetables, and moderate amounts of whole fruits to increase fiber intake,” she recommends.

When the My Spa Diet team came up with this special menu plan, they also had in mind people who suffer from lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, cancer, kidney, liver diseases, and a host of eating disorders. “Feeling sexy is not only about a shapely figure, but being healthy inside out. That’s why we always encourage taking care of your body and it’s never too late to kick start an improved and healthier lifestyle”, Cheshire advices:

“You are what you eat”? Its cliche, but it’s true. Eating better will do the body a world of good. Invest on eating habits that nourish and rejuvenate the body, give energy and help prevent lifestyle related diseases. Losing weight and being sexy is a very welcome bonus, but it should be the benefit of snapping out chronic diseases that should always be the main goal. Needless to say, a healthy body is a sexy body.

To know more about My Spa Diet, contact lifestyle and weight management consultant/US registered dietitian Cheshire Que RND, RN, RD. For appointments, text or call 0916-2743944 or email [email protected]. Check out as well www.myspadiet.com