Eat your veggies!

Eat your veggies!

Would your kids ever consider baby carrots to be 'cool'? Check out this great article featured on Today.

Check out Food & Family, an enlightening workshop offered by The Back Rub Company. In this lighthearted look at the family food dynamic, we talk about healthy family meals, getting kids of all ages to eat their veggies, encouraging healthy habits in children and the lost art of dinnertime.
To schedule call 480-330-2066.

After-school karate club creates success in school.

After-school karate club creates success in school.

School is back in session and many parents are looking for enriching alternatives to daycare. Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts in Scottsdale has launched an After-School Karate Club, complete with a pick-up and transport service in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley School Districts. The program offers supervised study time and assisted homework, a variety of activities and up to three-hours of karate instruction daily.

For more information call 480-200-1187.

Is your kid a dietary disaster?

Is your kid a dietary disaster?

The Back Rub Company offers an enlightening workshop: Food & Family.
In this lighthearted look at the family food dynamic, we talk about healthy family meals, getting kids of all ages to eat their veggies, encouraging healthy habits in children and the lost art of dinnertime.
To schedule call 480-330-2066.

If that doesn't spark some interest, read on...

Top 10 Worst Foods for Kids:

20. Worst Breakfast Cereal: Cap'n Crunch (1 cup) 147 calories; 2 grams (g) fat (1 g saturated); 16 g sugar; 1 g fiber. Sweetened cereals are among the most dominant sources of empty calories in a child's diet. Aside from the added vitamins, which are mandated by the government, this cereal is an amalgam of largely worthless food particles and chemicals. Buyers beware: Most cereals marketed to kids suffer similar problems. Eat this instead: Cascadian Farm Clifford Crunch. (1 cup) 100 calories; 1 g fat (0 g saturated); 6 g sugar; 5 g fiber.

19. Worst Breakfast Pastry: Burger King Cini-minis with vanilla icing 500 calories; 21 g fat (6 g saturated, 5 g trans); 72 g carbohydrates. There is no worse way to start your day than with a combination of refined flour, sugar, and trans fats. What's more, studies show that overweight people who trade fast-digesting carbohydrates for more protein at breakfast have an easier time slimming down. Eat this instead: Burger King Egg & Cheese Croissan'wich 300 calories; 17 g fat (6 g saturated, 2 g trans); 26 g carbohydrates.

18. Worst Side Dish: Bob Evans Smiley Face Potatoes. 524 calories; 31 g fat (6 g saturated); 57 g carbohydrates; 646 mg sodium. Not even an extended bath in hot oil would wipe the grins from faces of these creepy-looking potatoes. When you're eating out, side dishes make or break a meal, and with more fat and calories than Bob's sirloin steak, this side falls woefully into the latter category. The lesson for kids: Just because they're smiling doesn't mean they're nice. Eat this instead: Bob Evans Home Fries. 186 calories; 7 g fat (1 g saturated); 27 g carbohydrates; 547 mg sodium.

17. Worst Home Style Meal: Boston Market kids' Meatloaf with Sweet Potato Casserole and Cornbread 580 calories; 29 g fat (12 g saturated); 780 milligrams (mg) sodium. What begins as beef ends up with 42 ingredients, including partially hydrogenated oil. What's more, the sweet-potato casserole is topped off with marshmallow, brown sugar, and molasses. Eat this instead: Boston Market Kids' Roasted Turkey with Green Beans and Cornbread 210 calories; 6 g fat (2 g saturated); 568 mg sodium.

16. Worst Pasta Meal: Romano's Macaroni Grill Kid's Macaroni 'n' Cheese 600 calories; 31 g fat (20 g saturated); 1,720 mg sodium. This dish used to be more than double the size and caloric impact. The chain finally cut down the massive portion size. Thanks, Macaroni Grill. (P.S. It's still a disaster.) Eat this instead: Kid's Grilled Chicken & Broccoli 390 calories; 5 g fat (2 g saturated), 560 mg sodium.

See 15-10 here.

Yoga Retreat in Bali

Yoga Retreat in Bali

Treat yourself to a magnificent 10-days in Bali with yoga, meditation and more.

One of our wonderful yoga instructors, Danae, will host the retreat October 28th - November 7th, 2010. Attendees will enjoy:

• All-inclusive accommodation
• Twice daily Yoga classes
• All meals
  
• Traditional Balinese massage
• Dance performances
• Guided tours
• and More!
  

For more information please visit Back 2 Bali.

Yoga Concepts for Work

Yoga Concepts for Work

Even if you never step foot inside a yoga studio or attend a yoga class, you can benefit from "yoga concepts" - mental and emotional practices that underlie many yoga practices. By applying these concepts, you can have a more enjoyable work experience, in the form of better and easier decision-making, stronger relationships and overall satisfaction. There are many of these concepts, but here's a simple one to start with: Breathe!!

Before a potentially stressful work interaction (an important meeting, a presentation, a performance review), take a few minutes to practice "break even breathing." Sit comfortably, close your eyes and simply become aware of your breath - count the seconds of each in and out breath. Gradually start to even them out. For example, breathe IN for 4 seconds and breathe OUT for 4 seconds (your count may be more or less...that's okay!). Note your calm feelings and "imprint" those feelings by giving yourself a physical cue. For instance, squeeze your right hand into a fist or pull on your left ear - anything to provide you with a subtle reminder to breathe and remain calm. Resume normal breathing and open your eyes. Go into the interaction, feeling calm and ready!

During the interaction, use your physical cue to bring yourself back to calmness. When you notice yourself becoming tense, simply engage that cue and return to break-even breathing (you can do this with your eyes open). Continually return to that calm place, regardless of what is happening during the interaction. Commit to breathing evenly and staying centered, even if you are nervous or the situation is stressful.

After the interaction, take a few moments to debrief. Ask yourself, What went well? What can I do differently next time? Make note of what you learned and give yourself credit for your efforts. This is NOT a time to beat yourself up! Practice "ahimsa" - the concept of "do no harm" - as you look back over the situation. Use it to learn and to acknowledge, not to criticize!

This is just one of many "Yoga Concepts for Work" that are simple, yet effective ways to practice self-awareness and proactively respond to common work (and home!) stressors.

Georgianna Marie is the President and CEO of The GMarie Group and the creator of the "Yoga Concepts for Work" curriculum, book, Web site and practice. Georgianna considers herself a "yogini in training" and continually practices yoga lessons in her work as a CEO of a successful training and development firm.

Ms. Marie practices Iyengar and Bikram Yoga and is currently pursuing yoga teacher training. She has an undergraduate degree in English, a master's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Instructional Design and Adult Learning.

The Back Rub Company offers complimentary 60-minute Yoga Concepts for Work seminars. To schedule, call 480-330-2066.

Keeping Your Mind & Body Strong, With Martial Arts

Keeping Your Mind & Body Strong, With Martial Arts

Martial Arts are used for one of more of the following: self-defense, physical fitness, competition, mental peace and spirituality. There are approximately 200 types of martial arts and each of them have specific schools. Some types of Martial Arts use similar techniques so they can be divided into broader categories.

Popular types of martial arts are Karate, Taekwondo, Jujitsu, Judo and Kendo. Martial Arts generally focus on positive thinking, self-discipline and high moral purpose. They can be a huge benefit to both men and women. The Back Rub Company's Owner, Tiffany Richards explains how Martial Arts Keeps Your Energy High and Helps Lose Weight.