High Intensity Circuit Training - HICT - is not a new concept, but it is increasing in attractiveness because of its effectiveness and practicality for a time-constrained civilization.

The mixture of aerobic and resistance training in a high-intensity, limited-rest design can deliver several health benefits in much less time than traditional programs. When body weight is used as resistance, it eliminates the limiting factors of access to equipment and facilities. In simple terms, think push-ups, pull-ups, planks and so forth.

HICT can be a quick and efficient way to lose excess body weight and body fat. The built-in resistance training contributes significantly to the quantity of fat burned during a workout. Research has found that these metabolic benefits can be present for up to 72 hours after a high-intensity exercise bout has been completed.

There also may be a greater impact on subcutaneous fat loss with high-intensity intermittent circuit-style resistance training routines than with traditional steady state sustained-effort aerobic work or traditional resistance training. This is thought to be from the increased level of catecholamines and growth hormone found in the blood both during and after high-intensity resistance training exercise with shortened rest periods (<30 seconds).

If you're interested, connect with us and let's figure out a training that works for you.

Everything is connected. Humans are one amazing creation of interconnected organs, muscles, tendons, joints and so forth. Each part of the body is connected neurologically, chemically, mentally and physically. We have more specialists for all the separate parts of the body nowadays. Hand specialist, throat specialist, knee doctors, you name it. We are becoming more and more specialized, and in doing so, we have lost sight of what really makes people better. We have lost the holistic approach to health.

Our body is like a wheel with spokes. The spokes are the muscles and the core, whereas the rim is the spine. The software is the nervous system, digestive system and the hormonal system. On the other hand, the hardware is our physical body, which includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and cartilage.

We need to pay attention to this equation throughout life: Poor Quality Food + Poor Exercise Program = Poor Hardware

Therefore, we need to eat healthy, high-quality foods and workout appropriately.

This Primal Pattern Cert emphasized the importance of Base Conditioning. The seven primal movements (besides jogging & sprinting) are the base movements for most other activities and should be practiced and performed safely and often before moving on to more specialized exercises.

1. Twist
2. Pull
3. Push
4. Bend
5. Lunge
6. Squat
7. Gait

Connect with us if you have any questions on how you could improve your primal pattern movements.
Stay healthy! Stay active.

Ok, I tried yet another super cool alternative therapy that can help you get better fast - Cryotherapy. What you think about it? Have you tried it? Let me know.

The Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) treatments is a cutting-edge 3 minute treatment using liquid nitrogen vapor to help your body heal. Research has shown WBC to be more effective and efficient than an ice bath and offers benefits that traditional cold therapies cannot. This anti-inflammatory treatment exposes you to temperatures between -190 F (-123 C) and -256 F (-160 C) degrees (depending on what level you are on) for a short duration of time, typically 2 - 3 minutes.

Here a list of some of the positive results with WBC:

• Extreme temperature variations help optimize many biological functions. Vasoconstriction and vasodilation, for example, help optimize the function of your circulatory system by strengthening the smooth muscles
  
• One of the mechanisms by which cold thermogenesis (cryotherapy) aids weight loss and reduces your risk of diabetes and other chronic disease is by inducing brown adipose tissue (BAT), which generates heat
  
• In BAT, heat generation is based on mitochondrial metabolism. In muscle, mitochondrial metabolism plays only a secondary role by supplying energy to the muscle
  
• As your body adapts to colder temperatures, oxygen consumption increases, enzymatic activity in the mitochondria of your muscle is up-regulated and the number of mitochondria increases, which results in an overall increase in metabolic rate
  
• Health benefits of cryotherapy include decreased inflammation, pain and swelling; increased speed of recovery following injury; reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety; a lower risk of dementia and much more - (Source Dr. Mercola)
  

Positive results with WBC have occurred when applied to:

• Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases
  
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriasis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Fibromyalgia
  
• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal syndromes
• Depressive, anxiety & sleep disorders
• Decreased libido
• Asthma treatment

A great place to experience CryoTherapy is in Del Mar. Check out Cryo Shield in Del Mar. They offer great service and you can even get in on a "happy hour" sessions from Mon - Fri 12-3pm, call them for details. And they are really nice people, too! So stop by and get your cold fix. It's amazing.

Let me know what you think afterwards.

Looking for a true and proven way to relax? How many people can get true rest nowadays? Most of our contemporary life is consumed with traffic jams, long hours at work, anxiety and stress, which can make it difficult to relax.

I tried something different yesterday. FLOAT - True Rest! Some of the great benefits of a float session:

• Wellness, relaxation, pain relief and better sleep
• Stress and tension release after a few sessions
• Joint pain release, no pressure points at all
• Great for meditation in zero gravity

Float therapy offers relief and benefits which are cumulative. They build on themselves with each subsequent session. Floating uses 1,000 pounds/450 kg of Epsom salt to help inflammation in your muscles and joints. It can help treat sprains, strains and more muscles. The float I tried uses 180 gallons/680 liters of water. Together with all that salt it creates a 30% salt solution, perfect for effortless floating. The brain enters the theta brain-wave state, associated with deep sleep and dreaming. As all external sources of distraction are removed, floating provides an extreme form of rest.

Check out www.truerest.com as one of the great providers of float spa therapy. Contact us today for a $10 off discount for your 1st float.

Enjoy a super relaxing time.

Here a quick summary what adrenal glands do, their job and how to possibly prevent adrenal fatigue:

• The adrenal glands secrete more than 50 hormones to regulate your blood pressure
• Chronic inflammation and/or long-term illness can trigger symptoms associate with adrenal fatigue
• Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, insulin resistance
• Special herbs can help with persistent stress. Some of the most well-known are ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng & tulsi
• Ashwagandha can help the body adapt to stress by balancing the immune system, metabolism & hormonal system
• Rhodiola can benefit your nervous system with its antidepressant and anti-anxiety benefits & it has been shown to help with burnout symptoms

Humans have 2 adrenal glands that are located above each kidneys. They're part of the endocrine system and secrete over 50 hormones, such as aldosterone, cortisol and adrenaline. In fact, our Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is the system responsible for the management of stress. And that's stress from any source:

• Injuries
• Diseases
• Work
• Bad sleep
• Poor diet

Chronic stress can result in HPA axis dysfunction, aka "adrenal fatigue" or "adrenal exhaustion".

Healthy adrenal functioning is very important for your optimal health. Herbs are not the only way to protect and support your adrenals and may not be the most ideal strategy but they certainly can help during stressful times. The best treatment is a whole-body, natural & holistic approach. We need to review your excess stress level and unhealthy lifestyle habits. We need to review your overall diet and what you put into your body.

We should know by now that food is medicine, no matter how frequently the medical community fails to recognize this detail.

Contact us today to figure it out. We can help you put it all together.

Sources:
Dr. Mercola & Dr. Axe articles.