Test bed: exploring three new products
Categories: Medications and research
I’m easily bored so am always looking for ways to liven up the workout routine or incorporate new ways of keeping healthy. The latest experiments in my arsenal include:
* Aromatherapy. I’ve developed a growing interest in the healing powers of highly concentrated extracts from herbs, flowers and other plants. Dr. Edward Bach’s work in this area is fascinating. He was a prominent English physician and herbalist in the 1930’s who rediscovered the benefit of flower essences in treating emotional, mental and spiritual illnesses. Here’s an excellent overview provided courtesy of Candy Hilldebrand, an Australian flower essence practitioner.
* Short exercise workouts. Have no idea if this is hype or if it really works, but hey, I’m game and I could certainly use a break from the dreadmill. I’m going to test drive Quatro Fitness, Ryan Lee’s Four Minute Workouts. Members in his forum say they enjoy the cardio and toning benefits of the mini-routines, which are are typically combined into a 12 to 20 minute or so workout and are done three days a week. Lee is a personal trainer whose goal was to create a fitness system for busy people. Each routine is presented online in animation, which is pretty cool. They’re apparently short but fairly intense and okay for beginners. It costs $10/month to subscribe (keeps you active in their forum and provides new routines), so I figured it’s worth a try. Will report back. BTW, here’s what the “new girls’ push ups” look like. Whew - I was never very good at those.
* Meditation music. It’s not usually my style, but I’ve found a play list of new age music that I absolutely love. It’s recommended for meditation but I find it’s fabulous background music when I’m at the computer. Very calming and pretty and a really nice balance when you’re in “work mode”. It cost just under $10 to download from iTunes, and well worth it. You’ll find it here.