Get out of the cold and into the gym: Part I

Get out of the cold and into the gym: Part I

Winter is quickly approaching, and soon the cold weather will take us from the outdoors and force us inside. As a way to keep moving and prevent cabin fever, there are a number of options to help keep the cold and extra pounds at bay through the cold winter months.

Bikram Yoga. If you are looking to get warm and toasty, take a Bikram yoga class. Also referred to as “hot yoga”, Bikram yogis perform their practice in a heated room (104 °F). This form of yoga helps the practitioner build strength, flexibility, muscular endurance and release toxins through the sweat. Classes typically run from anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes. During that time the practitioner will be lead through a series of 26 poses and two different breathing exercises.

If you decide to give hot yoga a chance, be sure to wear light, well-vented, form-fitting clothing so that you are able to keep cool and avoid feeling restricted during the movements. Also be sure to go to drink plenty of water before, during and after class to ensure that you are properly hydrated. It is also suggested to bring a small towel, although most studios provide them for a small cost.

CrossFit. If you are an avid exerciser and/or gym-goer more than likely you know someone who has done CrossFit. While the regimen’s safety has been debated in recent months, there are numbers of people who have found a path to better health through what CrossFit Headquarters refers as the “Sport of Fitness”.

CrossFit is an exercise program that prides itself on being “constantly varied” – the regimen pulls from gymnastics, Power Lifting, Olympic Weightlifting, and endurance sports (e.g. running, rowing, jumping rope) and tests these movements in ever-changing workouts at a high intensity.  The regimen is designed to create a well-rounded and balanced athlete rather than a specialist (e.g. marathon runner).

If you decide to give CrossFit a try, many CrossFit gyms (also known as a “box”) offer a free trial class. However, before settling on a gym, be sure to do shopping around. Avoid gyms that offer Groupons, which discount their services simply to get you into the door, and that do not include introductory classes that require you to learn the movements.

When you do find a gym you are interested in, be sure to ask the coaches about their credentials, the gym culture and community, as well as the types of workouts that regularly appear (NOTE: Offering only long workouts or workouts with a name attached to them should put up a red flag). Each CrossFit gym is different, but doing the proper research can help you find a box that suits your individual needs.

Barre.  Instead of heading to the bar for spirits to keep you warm, try a barre class instead. The ballet-inspired program incorporates dance with other traditional exercises to give the practitioner a toned and sculpted body.

There are various types of barre classes to try – some focus more primarily on dance while others incorporate traditional yoga and/or Pilates exercises into the routine. There are also classes that focus on “strengthening and lengthening” the body, sessions led by physical therapists to perform movements while protecting your joints, as well as classes that incorporate exercise props such as hand weights and exercise balls.

Whatever class you do choose, be prepared to ease into the routine and then get in a killer lower body workout. While Barre classes will give you a good overall workout, they will especially work your core, legs, and butt – and who doesn’t want that?

---

With the cold weather looming it is time to head back inside, but avoid total hibernation by trying out a new type of fitness class to your exercise regimen. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for our Part II of our "Get out of the cold" series for more ideas to keep you sweating through the winter months. 

Mooning the world

Mooning the world

The moon is the hidden power or the other side of us. It reflects within us our deepest emotions, romances and our mind’s imagination. It represents the mirror of our souls. Because of this, it is so important for people who seek their horoscopes. It must be included in the analyzing and calculating of the day and time of their birth dates. The moon stoically stands as the maternal (female or yin) influence. However in Native American tribes (Navajo, Eskimo, and Pueblo), along with African, Japanese, Maori, Teutonic, Oceania, and Sumerian-Semitic groups, Moon symbolism is used in reference to it being a masculine force. One can say, it is a force in all societies.


So we have a big question: How does the moon wield so much force and influence? The moon is considered a luminary, but produces no light source of it’s own accord. It is reliant upon the sun's light to reflect (mirror) it’s image to our earthly eyes.

So how does the moon affect our souls, feelings and our emotions? Try to imagine how the moon’s gravitational pull takes control of the ebb and flow of the seas on a daily basis. Compare that water with our body which contains more than 60% water. That helps explain how we have the daily ebb and flow of our souls, feelings and our general mental well-being. Before talking about the moon’s influence on the horoscopes, let us consider the ancient history to look at the symbolic archetypes that the moon was associated with in the ancient world.

Archetypal Moon Meanings

Nanna or Enanna :

The cradle of civilization is the country that is now known as Iraq but was an area formerly known as Babylonia. Nanna was the god of the moon in the Mesopotamian mythology of Babylonia. Nanna was a Sumerian deity ( the son of Enlil and Ninlil) and became identified with Semitic Sin.  Nanna's chief sanctuary was known as Ur (house of the great light) in South Mesopotamia. It was at Ur that the role of the “Priestess” was developed. An extremely powerful role reserved for women of royalty or women of royal decent, one of the most notably famous was Enheduanna, daughter of King Sargon of Akkad. She was a mover and shaker and associated with the cult of Nanna. The Ziggurat of Ur in present-day Dhi Qar Province of Iraq shows only the foundation of what was left of this once great temple pyramid.

Sin: 

Similar to Nanna, Sin was the god of the moon in the Mesopotamian mythology but in Akkad and Assyria. Sin had a sanctuary at the Assyrian city of Harran (house of joys"). This cult of the “moon-god” spread to other centers of civilization. There are numerous ancient temples to him dotting all the large cities of Assyria or Areas North of Iraq.

In Greece and Egypt:

Moving slightly West of Iraq, the Egyptian god of the moon Thoth was known to have connections with magic, wisdom, writing, and hidden meanings. He was often pictured as a god having as a man with the head of an ibis bird or a baboon. He was often associated with Hermes in Greek mythology and interestingly, like Hecate (also in Greek mythology) is a figurehead of crossroads of change. A female counterpart in Greek Mythology was Artemis — the hunter goddess whose personality highlights includes chastity, protection, avengement, and childbirth. Similar to Artemis was Diana — a huntress archetype and woodland goddess of the Roman civilization. She is protector of women and animals who was also associated with the moon. Along with Hecate, the adopted Greek goddess of the night, the two were thought to represent births, cycles, purification, crossroads and second (otherworldly) sightings and mysticism.

In China…

Kuan Yin was the Chinese goddess of purity, grace, kindness, selflessness and benevolence. She is believed to be a matron of childbirth, and is called upon for aid in conception as well as healing. She also protects transitioning souls and travelers.

In Christianity…

YES, you read that correctly, the Virgin Mary is represented in Christian symbolism usually featuring her with the new moon where she resonates with the concepts of purity, peace, illumination, and perfection. Mary (the Queen of Heaven) is often depicted in art with a crescent moon in the background.  Biblical references such as Isaiah 30,26; 60,19; Revelations 21,23 symbolize the moon to highlight cosmic events, divine sightings and epiphanies and the ephemeral nature of human life, history or the representations of the church. Take a look at Peter Paul Rubens Nativity with Virgin.

Phased by all of this?

The moon has 4 phases during the month. Each affect our feelings and the ways that we act according to which horoscope the moon is in. The moon spends a relatively short time in each horoscope during the month — usually only a couple days plus a few hours before moving on to the next horoscope sign. Let’s take a closer look as we need to know the meanings of the phases, their affects the horoscopes, and when it takes a place. It serves as glimpse into its intricate meanings.

New Moons — (Crescent moon)the start of a lunar cycle, they are symbolic of new beginnings, a fresh start and rebirth. It happens every 28 days in cycles — 12 times in one year.

Waxing Moon — the moon is getting larger in the sky, moving from the New Moon towards the Full Moon.  It is a symbolic of growth, manifestation, attainment and gravidity.

Full Moon — the fool moon is symbolic of the height of power, the peak of clarity, fullness and obtainment of desire.

Waning Moon— the moon is decreasing in size, moving from the Full Moon towards the New Moon. It is symbolic of letting go, surrender, release, quiet time, contemplation and a time of incubation.

When the moon is in a horoscope’s cycle, it represents many, many things but usually is associated with psyche wonder, intuition, balance, renewal and perception. At its peak, it symbolizes transition, illumination, progression and influence. It can bring out the fertility, femininity and receptivity in all.

When the moon is in your horoscope...
What the $%^&* does that mean?

The effect of the moon when it stays in each horoscope for 2 days and few hours will affect all of us not only the horoscope the moon is in. 

For example: your horoscope is a Scorpio and Scorpios are secret people with a lot of things to hide but when the moon is in Gemini for 2 days and few hours Scorpios will be able to communicate more and express themselves more like the other horoscopes.

Another example: your horoscope is Gemini. Gemini people are talkative and very social but when the moon is in Scorpio, they will keep secrets and hide some of their feelings and ideas in that period. When the moon is in that sign’s domain during the month, we pick up the influence of that sign and it will show up in our personality regardless of the sign we were born with or our rising sign. It will exist in our personality for a couple days and a few hours before the moon moves to the next horoscope or next sign.

When the Moon is in Aries:

Aries people light up best when they are recognized for their talents. This can be a bit strange because Aries signs are know for being a bit modest with acknowledging their accomplishments. Aries become illuminated with incredible perseverance and most people will see themselves shining brightly during with Aries in their cycle. Because Aries are known for never giving up and for being persist in pursuing their goals, our efforts will be more perceptible to others during with Aries in our cycle. A brilliant sense of humor that puts people at ease, they absolutely must express themselves and will do this exceedingly well in group projects during this time. They are the consummate cheerleader; always motivating the group. We will take on this aspect during this time. With the moon in Aries, it is a good period to start projects and be more generous with our time. 

When the Moon is in Taurus:

Taurus folks like utter honesty and if they feel mind games are being played, they will want no part of it. They tend to be very classy with killer taste in design, fashion, art, etc. In fact, they need to surround themselves with music and loveliness. They do not make a move until they feel it is right on a visceral level — this will be a good time to be more reflective and not make decisions. It's a gift and a fantastic tool for self-preservation. Trust your inner guidance always during this time. Be at one with the Taurus and postpone decisions until the moon is out of that sign. With the moon in Taurus, it is a good time stay at home and relax. Spend more time with family. This is a good time to shop for stuff for the home.

When the Moon is in Gemini:

Gemini moons do us well as they can create balance in an active mind with some sort of creative outlet. Music is particularly effective as it activates both left and right brain functions. Gemini folks have remarkable communication skills. With the moon in Gemini, we will easily speak to others with confidence and have the uncanny ability to "know" what is being said to you. We will be able to read between the lines and understand subtext of a conversation - even when the mind is thinking instead of listening to what the others are saying. With the moon in Gemini, this is a perfect time to start or book a short travel stay, go to orientations or destinations, pursue short-term study courses and do some networking.

When the Moon is in Cancer:

With the moon in Cancer, we've got amazing intuitive skills. We can train ourselves to express our intuition, be more fluid and open. We will open up a bit but we will feel it is a risk as we feel as if we are coming out of our shell. This is a good time to be with family, children and we will appreciate these moments more with the moon in Cancer. We will feel the need to go back in time and relive memories for a bit. This is normal during the time when the moon is in Cancer. Hesitation is part of this sign but the hesitation will pass.  

When the Moon is in Leo:

You will have energy that is undeniable, charm and intelligence. Your intellect comes into play with a tendency to process to quickly. You may miss subtle clues in communication with others during this time. Some misunderstandings can take you completely by surprise. You like to take risks, and these usually pay off for you because you will be lucky. Your outlook will be optimistic. Perfect time to hang out with friends and open up your wallet. Leading a group will be natural during this time as well as dancing.

When the Moon is in Virgo:

With Virgo moons, you try to make sense of it all - putting chaos into order. Sorting out details and making everything tidy and logical tends to make you edgy, and others will have no idea what's gotten you irritated. Be patient and accepting of this aspect of your self as this is a short period of time. This time of making order from chaos is a gift. Work with it. And while you're at it, ease up on the self-criticism. No one else is as harshly critical about you. Be gentle with yourself. Good chances to start a diet, going to gym, get some medical checks and put the demons to bed.

When the Moon is in Libra:

A moon in Libra is always looking for a yin to your yang (or vice versa). Meaning, you're always seeking a complimentary balance to your energy - particularly in partnerships. You will feel the need to seek a love that challenges your soul. You will work very hard to balance equations by finding solutions. This also means you often attract partnerships with people who have some glaring flaws as they may seem like a solution to your romantic dilemma. Your style will be elevated. The arts, fashion and literary excellence lures every inch of your inherent creativity and electrifies you. This is a perfect time to fall in love (if the person is truly right for you) or increase the bond of a relationship. It is also a time to say I am sorry to those that you love and have wronged.

When the Moon is in Scorpio:

You'll find you are more emotionally synchronized during the waning moon. This is because you feel the need to process your emotions in private where watching eyes cannot see you.  You are deeply intuitive and other people's thoughts/feelings reveal themselves to you like curious magic. You will need time alone to process everything. Book that time in your calendar. Time to take some time for yourself during this period of the moon. You tend to feel more guarded and will want to take great measures to manipulate your environment to match your ideal setting. Scorpios are known for their great sexual abilities. Enjoy this time (wink wink).

When the Moon is in Sagittarius:

Actually, you're quite a brilliant tutor with the moon in Sagittarius. You will win a great deal of admiration from your followers (of which, there are many). It's your enthusiasm that holds people in rapt attention of you and your teachings. You will feel empowered with your teaching abilities. This is a great time to plan on a long travel or immigration. You will become more religious or agnostic. Participate in a spiritual practice and experience yoga. Luck is with you during this time.

Moon Signs in Capricorn:

You're extremely productive, capable and thorough. You will make everything you do look easy to others, which can also put people off. A unique mixture of patience, willingness and dogged determination usually insures victory. You're also remarkably dependable during this time; others will seek you out for guidance and advice. You will have special abilities to stay collected under pressure and make you a fantastic leader with the moon in Capricorn. However, you will feel more emotionally blue and feel the need to hide from people. You also feel the need to be more greedy.

When the Moon is in Aquarius:

With the moon in Aquarius, you become psychically connected. You're the one who hears what a person is saying, but is also knows what is unsaid. It's the moon that enhances your knack for perception. It makes sense that you are able to "read" people to the extreme during this time. In fact, a lot of your decisions and actions are based on unseen intellect because of how you are connected and plugged in at this time. Although you have brilliant perception of what others are all about, you never use it for ill will. You give off a comforting, secure vibe that puts people at ease and makes them trust you. This enhances your ability to help others. This is a great time to deal with technology, computers, phones and electric devices. You will feel the need to change things in your home,
redecorate or paint.

When the Moon is in Pisces:

You live on the darker side of the moon and tend to be reserved. You're just sensitive. Deeply sensitive… OK, overly sensitive at this time. In fact, you have a vein of psychic gold that is so accurate, it scary even to yourself at times. You are incredibly gifted in your powers of observation. You will possess an unparalleled perspective of the world. You really deserve to dance to your own specialized music and rhythm during this time. You feel the need to hide in your home where your world is true. Be ware of drinking or smoking too much on this time. 

This is how the moon transforms us into these kind of persons above and how we take these kinds of personality elements from each horoscope when the moon stays there for too days and few hours before moving to the next horoscope. The moon stays in almost 3 horoscopes every week. We go through 3 types of mood during the week. In speaking on the week, we will talk about how the meaning of days and how they affect us during the week in the next coming Article. Have a great weekend.

Horoscope 101 — a fun start to new beginnings

Horoscope 101 — a fun start to new beginnings

Why do people born under the same horoscope sign act with different behaviors and attitudes? Shouldn’t they be more similar? How do they having different kinds of emotions and personalities? Are people more alike if they are born under the same astrological sign? To answer that question, we will need to know the differences that occur between the horoscope (the date of birth) and the rising sign (the time of birth) and how they effects peoples’ emotions, attitudes, effervescence and their life energy.



During every month in the year, the sun’s rays enter a new horoscope. People who born between 21st of March to 20th of April every year are Aries and people who born between 22nd of October and 21st of November are Scorpios. There are twelve asteroid ranges that make up the horoscopes signs during the year. The horoscope calendar begins with Aries and ends up with Pisces. That’s how the astrological year based. The astrological year begins on the 21st of March and is the first day in Aries. It coincides with the spring equinox. This last sign ends on the 20th of March and is the last day of Pisces. It coincides with the last day of winter. The calendar breaks down pretty easily with a new astrological sign taking place every 30 days. They are as follows;

21st of March to 20th of April — Aries
21st of April to 21st of May — Taurus
21nd of May to 22nd of June — Gemini
22st of June to 22ed of July — Cancer
23rd of July to 22nd of August — Leo
23ed of August to 22nd of September — Virgo
22nd of September to 21st of October — Libra
22st of October to 21st of November — Scorpio
22nd of November to 21st of December — Sagittarius
22nd of December to 20th of January — Capricorn
21st of January to 20th of February — Aquarius
21st of February to 20th of March — Pisces

Let’s take a look at what we call the Rising Sign. It affects the natal chart for everyone even if they were born under the same horoscope sign. We define the rising sign like this: The horoscope that is being in the skyline or the horizon when the sun rises. That sign’s reign takes 2 hours and changes with the progression of the day. The cycle starts at sunrise and which is usually between 6 AM to 8 AM. It does change per country. Time zone also has an affect.

Let’s look at an example: 

If a person is born on the 15th of October at 10:35 AM, their horoscope sign would be Libra. The personality would be 75% to 80% similar to that is associated with Libra. A way to think about it — the portion of a personality gives a person the way of how they feel, think and act.

Because they are born as a Libra at 10:35 AM, their rising sign would be Sagittarius. That sign was on the eastern horizon at the time you born. To calculate the rising sign, look at the time you were born in relation to 6:00AM. The sign will change every two hours. Two hours ahead is another sign but instead of moving forward on the astrological signs as shown above in the astrological calendar year, one moves back. A way to think of it: moving ahead in time is moving backward in astrology. Thus the astrological sign of our friend is a Libra but because he was born at 10:30 AM, he must move back in time four hours to get to 6AM. This is ahead two signs as the four hours is equivalent to two signs. The leap of two signs positions the astrological signs to be Sagittarius. 20% to 25% of that person’s personality would be under the influence of Sagittarius. They would get some of their emotions, attitudes, effervescences and personality from this sign.

Another way to look at it, lets look at another person born on the same day as our Libra friend on October 15th but at a time between 2 and 4PM. When we calculate his rising sun, we would go back in time 8 hours to get to 6AM, and we would go 4 horoscope signs after the Libra to be that of Aquarius. It could also be a little different because of the time zone of your place of birth. Also, depending on the country, sunrise is before 6AM and thus the signs must take this into account. Again, the rising sign influences a personality. It can be the outer projection of a person as society may see them. It does not reflect their inner core values but is how society may see them. For example: a Cancerian may be 70% domestic minded, clinging to family values, the home and nesting, but the rising sign may be that of a Leo. The Leo influence will make them more dynamic, more famous, more of a people person or someone with a leadership style. That is how society sees them, but may not always reflect how or who they really are.

A Rising Signs Break Down

Here are the rising signs and how they affect the personality of the people. Born under the same horoscope, people who have different rising horoscopes will have totally opposite personality traits.

Aries: This sign gives a high velocity, dynamic moving energy. Attracted to red and orange colors, it gives health issues related to the head and eyes. They tend to be more honest, generous but also aggressive as they walk through life than they otherwise would under another sign. More diplomacy is needed to deal with life’s issues.

Taurus: Attracted to the nature, arts and beauty, they tent to move slowly towards their goals with patience and a sense of balance. They have a tendency to have weight issues as they like food and may be a good cook also. They have a instant attraction to all degrees of the blue color.

Gemini: They have a degree of energy and are repulsed by stagnation or monotony. They require a lot of moving around and communication. They will be successful in study and analyzing. They have a tendency to move their hands a lot when they talk. They will encounter a lot of stress because their mind is constantly active and working 24/7. They are attracted to shades of brown, neutrals and sand colors.

Cancer: They are most equated with emotions, romance, imagination and the family. They are highly sentimental, have a tendency to be moody and love to help people. They tend to make mom their number 1 person in their lives and their kids also. They adore the colors of the sky particularly that of a blue summer day with white and silver.

Leo: Lights, action, STAR. They are famous, famous and more famous. They are full of honesty, bluntness with a leadership style. They are very creative people and a bit free spirited. They love to advise people and are good at it. They are attracted to yellow, gold and orange colors.

Virgo: if we will talk about someone with perfect organizational skills, that’s will be Virgo. They have a critical personality and they don’t like surprises. They are traditionalists and their favorite colors are light brown and green.

Libra: It is so easy to deal with a Libra. They have a kind, elegant and diplomatic way to deal with people. They are the peacemakers of the world.  They like to work in the arts and design fields. They too are attracted to all degrees of the blue.

Scorpio: full of very strong feelings and emotions but Scorpios have a tendency to hide them inside. They have the ability to discover and uncover what people are thinking just by looking to their eyes. They are highly sexually charged. Sex plays a great role in their lives. Black is their favorite color.

Sagittarius: They are into sports, horse riding and travel. These are important things to them. They are friendly in dealing with people and like to discover new cultures. They are attracted to philosophical ideas and things with religious significance. They feel alive with reds and oranges.

Capricorn: Always in need of entertainment, they tend to be very easy going with life. They work hard most of your time and look for getting high levels of achievement in life. But they do like to cut loose. Their lucky color, believe it or not, is the brown.

Aquarius: Social personality and total social butterfly. They look for equality, are socially egalitarians, they look for jobs that deals with independence and guarantees them a sense of freedom. They may act strangely or be viewed as eccentric. They are at home with the colors yellow and green.

Pisces: Full of romantic and spirituality, they like the theater, the movie world and drama. They have a tendency to be slightly moody person and like to escape from reality into their own worlds. Their colors are dark blue and purple.

We understand that everybody has a horoscope and if we understand the rising sun, a lot of differences among people can be explained for those who belong to the same sign. Some people can’t get along with others according to their personality differences and behaviors are influenced by their horoscopes. Conversely, others meld quite nicely with each other and get along together because they have a rising sign that makes their association more easily understandable.

We have talked about the sun how it affects the horoscopes and the rising signs but how about the moon or the other planets? That’s what we will talk about next time. So, stay tuned!

-Tariq Al saud - Astrology & Pop Culture Blogger

The Daily Om: The Benefits of Meditation

The Daily Om: The Benefits of Meditation

The act of mediation dates back thousands of years and is still practiced today in various forms. Some of the more commonly known forms of meditation include Tai Chi, Qi Gong, yoga, as well as guided and mantra. Further, it is commonly agreed upon that long-term meditative practice fosters such benefits as reduced stress, improved mood, as well as improved cardiovascular health. It is also suggested that people with greater meditation experience have better emotional intelligence as well as less perceived stress and negative mental health (Chu, Li Chuan).

However, you don’t have to become a yogi in order to achieve better health. In fact, performing a few simple exercises throughout the day can lead to improved mood, memory, and everyday functioning; as well as reduce fatigue, depression, and confusion.

To unleash your inner yogi, start with these brief exercises to practice and experience mindfulness:

Deep breathing. Deep breathing techniques are as it sounds. Focus your attention on your breath, consciously slowly inhaling and exhaling. The process will force you to slow down and empty your thoughts, if only for a minute or two.

Body scanning. When performing a body scan, concentrate on how each portion of your body feels, working your way down from the crown of your head to the tips of your toes. The practice reveals where tension exists in the body and then allows you to fully relax.

Mantra. Mantra meditation requires you to repeat a particular word or phrase you find calming. By focusing all of your attention on the words, the mind is able to release itself of the worries and anxiety it may feel, and as a result, allow the rest of the body to unwind.

Focus on love & gratitude. If you have a tendency to sweat the small stuff, perhaps focusing on love and gratitude may put you at ease. By concentrating on the larger things in life, such as friends, family, your home, your job, your dog – whatever you love and are thankful for, your mind is then allowed to reconsider what is really important rather than getting wound up over what would otherwise be seen as inconsequential.

Regardless of what type of meditative practice you try, first seek out a quiet setting where you can be comfortable. Once you have pinpointed your location relax your breathing and focus all of your attention on your practice.  Simply repeating these exercises 3-4 times per week can help you reap the benefits that yogis, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi practitioners have experienced for thousands of years.