blog #79 What type of gloves do I need to protect my hands?

To follow up with my previous post about workout gloves, I’d like to add that there are many types of gloves that can protect your hands and fingers while working out. 

Some of the options that I have seen include: velcro, slip-on, zipper, and seven tabs near the fingertips for easy removal.

Did you know that workout gloves are washable?

I used to wear the slip-on type, but I found them irritating to remove. I now prefer velcro gloves, but actually I don’t wear them at all because I can’t seem to remember them when I go to the gym.

I like grizzly pads, which you can use for pull-ups and heavy deadlifts. Straps are another alternative to gloves, but straps serve a different function, which is to strengthen you grip. (Gloves protect, straps help strengthen, and grizzly pads can be used either way.)

With that said, do any of my readers have favorite workout gloves that they wish to share?

Gloves for protecting hands:

Grizzly grip pads for grip strengthening:

Lifting straps to improve strength:

In closing:

• gloves protect your hands
• grizzly pads may help you grip more, but also strengthen your grip
• straps: strengthen your grip

What if you want a stronger grip?  You should use no gloves (if you don’t care about calluses).

blog #78 Humanitarianism at its best

I have been practicing yoga for almost five years and teaching for about two. I have been afforded the opportunity to take many different types of classes in many different settings with many different instructors and students, all of which has taught me many lessons beyond the yoga itself. At New York Yoga (where I volunteer), Juliana’s class has touched me not only physically but also emotionally. She is so beautiful, in tune with her students needs, and receptive to changes or alterations in poses or the class flow.

Juliana has also found a touching way to connect with the community: She has agreed to volunteer at the Inwood house. There, Juliana will teach yoga classes to a group of homeless pregnant teens. I was so moved by her idea that I wanted to share her involvement with my readers:

Juliana says:

“The blessings that yoga brings to my life, in my capacity as student and as teacher, positively overflow! I sought a meaningful way to pass on this gift. When beginning my search with the question ‘Where can I be of service?’ I wasn't even aware that a population of pregnant, homeless teens existed. Stumbling upon information about Inwood House, an organization in NYC that provides housing and other services to homeless pregnant teens – among other programs), I was thunderstruck. Can you imagine the combination of those three challenges?

I felt immediately that this is a population in whom the loving seeds of yoga might flourish in extraordinary ways. I wrote to Inwood House and told them about my experience as a prenatal yoga teacher and I told them I wanted to provide prenatal yoga classes to their maternity residents. Happily, they've accepted my offer.

• The homeless women’s ages range from 12 to 21. Some attend college, others have a third grade    education, and there’s everything in between.
•  Most grew up in the foster care system.
• The classes will commence shortly and will be a weekly and 45 minutes each.

In closing, Juliana says:

“It's clear to me that these young women will have far more to teach me than I will ever have to teach them. That said, I am dearly hoping I can be of some service.”

Juliana inspires me to give more to my community. 

If you would like a free pass to one of her classes at NYY, please let me know and I will give you one.

You can check out Juliana’s bio and class schedule here

blog #77: Cocktails and alcoholic beverages with the lowest calories

 While volunteering with private practice Registered Dietitian Keri Gans she said: 

“If the cocktail that you are consuming has a long name, then it’s probably loaded with sugar.” 

After thinking about my favorite drinks and their names, I decided to analyze calorie content and blog about my results.

She’s right: Drinks with fancy names, such as a Mai Tai (9 oz.), are loaded with calories (620 to be exact.) 

Check out this link  “High Calorie Cocktails To Watch Out For”

Obtaining from alcohol is a great way to avoid consuming unnecessary calories (and damaging your liver), but if you are going to drink alcohol, keep your drinks simple and stick with hard alcohol only, or light beer.

My recommendations:

(Note: Calories in a shot of vodka depend on the proof and if it’s flavored.)

“vodka +water with lemon” (64-100 calories per shot of alcohol)

“(hard alcohol such as rum, whiskey, gin)+water” (64-100 calories per shot)

“vodka+soda” (64-100 calories per shot)

Light beers (around 100 calories per 12-ounce serving. That’s a bottle or a can--not a pint.)

Wine, red (127 calories for 5 oz)

One exception to the light beer rule: Guinness (126 calories per 12 oz)

Did you know that Guinness beer has less calories then skim milk and orange juice per 8-oz serving?