Source: http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2015/12/30/inn-at-little-washington-hiking-little-devil-stairs/

We had quite the treat on Monday night – an evening at the Inn at Little Washington!

Remember when Matt and I stayed at the Inn back in May with our parents? (<– Check out that post for more on the history of the famous Inn!) Well, my family loves it so much they wanted to go back and see it when all the holiday decorations were up, and invited me, Matt, and my brother Steve to join them. Don’t have to ask me twice! It was even more beautiful with all the Christmas lights and trees!

So stunning. The roaring fireplaces were my favorite.

<im…

Source: http://www.sonima.com/videos/morning-meditation-with-deepak-chopra/

Watch video on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eq1tetWUeM

Meditating in the morning can bring about a more positive day when you are able to focus on your personal priorities. In this short video Deepak Chopra, M.D., guides you to step back and focus inward in order to establish four intentions for your day. Through this practice you’ll bring a lightness to your morning and a reflective day to follow.

The post A Morning Meditation with Deepak Chopra appeared first on Sonima.

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Source: http://www.sonima.com/fitness/abdominal-wall/

Active people sometimes fall into a pattern of one or two physical exercise routines that they feel work for them. Whether you practice yoga daily, are a once-a-week runner, or are a cross-country skier, introducing Pilates into your workout schedule can have major positive effects on your body and your mind. If you’re new to Pilates, try this comprehensive core-strengthening series of exercises designed to activate central muscles in the abdominal region.

The following is a series of five exercises that work the entirety of the abdominal wall, including the transverse abdominis and obliques. These exercises are meant to be done one after another, building intense stamina in the core. This series can be included at any point during your exercise routine.

Single-Leg Stretch

Curl head, neck and shoulders off the mat, pull one knee into your chest extend the opposite leg.ShareTweetPlusPinSwitch to the other side and repeat 20 times.ShareTweetPlusPin

Double Leg Stretch

Curl head, neck, and shoulders off the mat. Hold onto your shins and pull legs into chest.
<img class="ali…

Source: http://greatist.com/live/science-backed-tips-new-years-resolution?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

We drank the holiday Kool-Aid, and now we’re full of warmth, cheer, and yes, sweets. We’re feeling optimistic as January approaches. This is totally the year we’re going to save money, meditate, or learn to speak French.

But the stats aren’t in our favor: Fewer than 10 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep them. “It’s just a wish,” says Edwin Locke, Ph.D., one of the pioneers of goal-setting theory. “If you’re going to be serious, you have to plan, keep records, and you may even need outside help.”

The good news is that Locke and other researchers have conducted decades of research to figure out the foolproof way to make and achieve goals. All that science boils down to seven steps, which we’ve shared in the handy, printable checklist below.

One question to ask before you get started: Are you ready? Sure, it sounds obvious or even a little silly, but you really need to figure out if you’re prepared to make a change, says Caroline Adams Miller, a goal-setting expert and author of Creating Your Best Life. If the answer is “yes,” start with step one below:

Click here for a printer-friendly version.

7 Steps to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution …

Source: http://greatist.com/live/magazine-stops-body-shaming-cover?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

When we get to the checkout line at the grocery store, we try to avert our eyes from the health and fitness magazines that promise the secret to “melt belly fat fast!” or tricks to get a “high, tight” butt. The editor-in-chief of Women’s Health just took a major step to stop body shaming by eliminating the phrases “bikini body” and “drop two sizes” from the magazine’s cover for the foreseeable future.

The move comes after readers were polled about terms they wanted the magazine to stop using. We’re stoked that more and more people are championing body positivity—and so happy Women’s Health listened—but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The December cover has plenty of other phrases (“3-minute fat blasters” and “go to bed 35, wake up 25”) to make us feel not so great about the skin we’re in. Check out the full post from Women’s Health here.

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Source: http://greatist.com/move/hilarious-gym-parody-video?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Sometimes all we need is a little distance to fully realize the ridiculousness of the world we live in. That’s exactly what happens when you watch this video about the gym that’s been filmed like a wildlife documentary, complete with a Morgan Freeman-like voiceover. At six minutes, the video is a little long—and the Internet has done wonders to our attention spans—so if you only have time for the highlights, fast forward to these gems:

0:23: “A female human stirs. Her emergence marks the beginning of the New Year’s resolution-ers.” 1:32 “The human males, like the peacocks and other exotic birds of the wild, spread their arms wide and prance around in hopes of intimidating other males, and in the process attracting a suitable mate.” 3:21: “We also have the more vocal group who yell and grunt in order to seek attention from all surrounding homo-sapiens.” 5:02: “Unlike other species, such as the felines who clean up after themselves, these humans have left the gymnasium a wasteland of un-racked weights, dripping sweat stains, [and] unnecessarily soiled towels.” …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/GhyipbJsmUw/

TRIGGER WARNING: This post deals with an account of physical and emotional abuse and may be triggering to some people.

“I say I am stronger than fear.” ~Malala Yousafzai

“Don’t be scared.” It’s so easy to say, yet sometimes, for many of us, so hard to accomplish.

When I was about three or four years old, my dad locked me in the chicken coop in our back yard. This was a punishment. I was naked and screaming, literally jumping up and down with terror.

Another punishment consisted of my mother rubbing human waste in my face.

There are other things they did, other things I went through, but I’ll let those two examples stand as confirmation of the physical and emotional abuse I suffered as small child.

Then when I was nineteen, some friends and I were physically assaulted by another group of young men. No reason, no motive. We were ganged up on one at a time and not a single one of us managed any sort of self-defense.

The police told us “not to bother” pressing charges, so we didn’t. Those guys went home free and clear, but a few months later, I unexpectedly found myself almost convulsing on my bedroom floor, unable to breathe or move, absolutely terrified that the next time I left my house, I would die.

It was quite the on…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/hOE_hgPpiE4/

“Making something, even imperfectly is empowering because it’s an expression of the self.” ~Alton & Carrie Barron MD

Do you ever suffer from stress or anxiety?

If so, you’ve probably tried to find relief, but finding something that works for you can be quite hard. We all react differently to different remedies, and what works for one person may not be the best remedy for you.

I used to suffer from stress and anxiety a lot. After trying lots of different remedies, I finally found relief in an activity I never considered would help.

I was locked into a life dependent on templates for everything that wasn’t basic living. Without clear instructions, clear steps, and a clear understanding of the desired end, I couldn’t get myself to start a project, journey, or activity, no matter how big or small.

At every seminar or webinar, I asked a million questions. I needed to know everything in excruciating detail. The thought of missing or misunderstanding something would send me into a panic.

Just the thought of doing anything without knowing every step in advance caused me tremendous stress and anxiety. Even in something as innocuous sounding as in creating art.

I always loved art. Art materials always made me salivate, but I never made the time for it…

Source: http://wellnessmama.com/69524/benefits-of-rooibos-tea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=benefits-of-rooibos-tea

Herbal teas have many benefits and there are endless ways to use herbs and teas as drinks, in natural remedies, and even in foods. One of my favorites is Rooibos Tea or Red Bush tea from the South African Rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis).

What is Rooibos Tea?

A beautiful fragrant red herbal tea with a naturally sweet taste and floral aroma, Rooibos grows exclusively in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa and on a bush that is very unlike traditional tea plants. The Red Bush (Rooibos) grows about 3 feet tall and has needle-like leaves similar to a pine tree.

Though almost all commercially available Rooibos tea is naturally fermented and dried to reach its deep red color, the Rooibos leaves are green when harvested and this un-fermented tea is available in some specialty places and is higher in antioxidants.

Rooibos tea hasn’t yet gained the popularity that green tea and mate tea have, but it turns out that Rooibos may have just as many benefits, if not more, than these well-known teas. It is important to note that Rooibos is technically an herbal tea and not a true tea.

It is naturally caffeine-free, mildly sweet and delicious with a taste reminiscent …