Your hand and wrist strength is often an overlooked area when it comes to weight lifting. But this area should not be neglected as it contributes in a big way to your lifts and your ability to not only lift the weight but hold it.  This area dips into forearm strength but for this blog let’s just stick to your lower limb.
To develop your hand strength, there are some a myriad of exercises you can add to your regimen.  First, finger tip pushups are great at strengthening your fingers and palm area.  Also, hand grips work the same layers and …read more

Hello readers and friends,
Just wanted to share with you news of my blog moving to it’s new home–She Knows Yoga! (and meditation and Pilates, etc..)
Beginning Monday, December 1, you’ll be able to find me at She Knows Yoga.  It’s been wonderful these past few months getting to know all of you, sharing ideas and information. 
The topics at She Knows Yoga will follow much of what you have been reading on Grounded Fitness.  But, as always, I’ll be making room and opening up dialogues on many topics realted to what I call the “lifestyle.”  I’m really excited about it, and so looking forward to …read more

Yes, and in that order.  Thanksgiving is just a few days away, so I’m not going to fight it.  I’ll eat–too much–first, then this weekend, I’m going to turn my whole body upside down and do a cheap mini-detox.
What’s that going to involve, you ask?  Well, it’s going to be a simple regimen, really, as far as the steps go.  A little less easy when it comes to my ever-waning will power  :-).  I normally love the leftovers from Thanksgiving.  This year, though, I am going to love my body instead.
I’m going to get started this Friday by eating very light meals, …read more

Seriously, who doesn’t want a tighter tummy?  And the older you get, the tougher it is to find exercises that help fight that little tummy drop we all go through eventually.
Here are a couple of quick and easy moves to help you keep that little pouch at bay.  They’re a perfect addition to your daily dose of yoga moves:
Abdominal Lift:
-First, stand straight with your legs about a foot apart, and place your hands on your upper thighs
-Inhale deeply and then exhale
-While the air is out of your lungs, pull your abs in and up.  Hold for about ten seconds and release
-Repeat twice
Abdominal Contractions:
-Place …read more

Regardless of what level your practice is at–beginner, intermediate, exploratory or advanced–the eight limbs of yoga (ashtanga) are vitally important stops along the way to the ultimate goal of transformation.
My last post focused on sustainability, and living a simpler, more beautiful life.
To continue along that thread, I wanted to talk a little bit about purity, or saucha, one of the observances belonging to the second limb.
Saucha is purity that operates on many levels. And it’s this purity of thought and action that can lead us to a more sustainable, contented lifestyle.
On a daily basis, we aspire to cleanliness for our bodies by washing ourselves, …read more

Yes, yoga has taught me yet another lesson. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or be a conspicuous consumer to be happy or have nice, meaningful things or a beautiful existence.
One of the key lessons of yoga is that it teaches you to appreciate the simpler things in life. To be present. To be in the moment. This practice alone has not only helped to quiet my mind, in recent months it has also saved me a lot of money.
In fact, my shopping habits have changed significantly. I buy less processed, ready-to-serve foods and eat more healthfully …read more

Just sitting here on this cold and snowy Friday in northeast Ohio, making Thanksgiving and holiday plans, and thinking about the blessings in my life.
While I can always think of something to be cautious or worry about (sorry, healthy skeptic in recovery here), I have to say, my practices–both yoga and meditation–have not only changed my life, they’ve made my thoughts healthier, too.
There are so many areas of my life where I can see change and positive energy, that in the past I had either overlooked or not even considered.  My practices have spurred me to take self-care more seriously, made me more …read more

I know I write a lot about yoga. But I also love running, and yoga actually is helping me increase my productivity on the road.  I used to run long distance before getting into my practice.  I loved it.  It was relaxing, gave me time to think, and reduced stress, too.  What it also did, I found, was make me a little less flexible. And, on occasion, I would even find myself hobbled and sidelined.
Now that I combine the two, I am finding it is a great fit.  Yoga keeps me limber and increases my flexibility, which helps me prevent …read more

Got a headache?  I do tonight.  Here’s what I am going to go do right after I log off.  It has really helped me in the past, hope it works wonders again tonight.
It’s called the Supported Headstand, or Salamba Sirsasana.  And it goes like this:
-Put a pad or your mat on the floor, and kneel down
- Clasp your hands, intertwining your fingers. Set your forearms on the floor
-Roll your upper arms slightly outward, while pressing the insides of your wrists firmly into the floor
-Position the crown of your head on the floor.  Gently push your hands together, and cup the back of your head with …read more

Well, it’s not earth-shattering news, but apparently, there is a new category for folks who are vegetarians MOST of the time :-)  You’re called flexitarians, and around Thanksgiving, I have to admit, I become one of you, too.
 In fact, the food industry is targeting these folks, providing vegetarian fare with just a wee bit of protein on the side.  Flexitarians could and would be considered vegetarians most of the time.  But when a slice of meat or fish passes under their noses, they don’t say no.  And restaurants and grocery stores are beginning to package food and menu items just for …read more