Source: http://tonygentilcore.com/2015/12/2-squat-cues-that-pretty-much-work-for-everyone/

I guess before we dive into the cues it may be cogent, first, to discuss what the squat is…especially for those reading who may be hearing/learning about this for the first time.

Photo Credit: Laleh Haverim

Squat – noun [skwot]

1) A weightlifting exercise in which a person squats and then returns to an erect position while holding a barbell at the back of the shoulders.5

2) A place occupied by squatters. Not to be confused as a place occupied by people literally squatting – like a gym, or a really cool house filled with squat racks – but rather, a place where a person settles on a land or occupies property without title, right, or payment of rent. Basically, an a-hole.

3) Nautical. The tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary. Huh, I never knew that!

4) Slang. As in, “you don’t know jack squat about squats.”

For the sake of this post, however, we’re going to stick with example #1. I.e., this:

<img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.westhavencrossfit.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/download.jpg" …

Source: http://www.theminimalists.com/month/

By Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus · Follow: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Throughout October 2015, we shared one practical minimalism tip each day on Instagram. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive: between Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, more than 100,000 people shared, liked, and commented on these photos.

It’s not too late to join the conversation: collected below are all 31 days, including daily photos that give you, the reader, a peek into The Minimalists’ homes and personal lives. We encourage you to share and comment and, most important, apply these tips to your own life this month.

Let’s try something new next month: Each day in October, we’re going to share one practical minimalism tip via Instagram. Follow along and share your own simple­living tips using the hashtag #MinimalismTips. At the end of the month, we’ll share some of our favorites on our website. \ Photo by Adam Dressler.

A photo posted by The Minimalists (@theminimalists) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:35am PDT

#MinimalismTips
Da…

Source: http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2015/12/10/whats-in-my-purse/

Thank you to Ricola® Herb & Throat drops for sponsoring this post as part of an ongoing campaign with Socialstars. #swissherbs

I always love when other bloggers share random peeks into their lives – day in the life posts, Q&A surveys and coffee dates, what they buy when they grocery shop, and what’s in their bag/purse. I’ve shared a number of day in the life posts (September 2014, February 2015, September 2015), I’ve done surveys/virtual coffee dates (Behind the Scenes of the Blog January 2015, Virtual Coffee Date November 2015), and I’ve shared what I buy when I grocery shop (May 2011, April 2013, December 2014), but I’ve yet to do a “what’s in my purse” post. Let’s do this, shall we?

Clutter stresses me out, so I try to not have too much random stuff in my purse at any given time, and I also switch purses quite often (gotta match the outfit, obvi) so I try to minimize the amount of stuff I’m moving around. That said, there are certain things that always come with me no matter what.

First up are the basics…

Source: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2015/12/holiday-reading-savoring-gotham/

Andrew F. Smith, ed.  Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover’s Companion to New York City.  Oxford University Press, 2015.

Oxford’s latest food encyclopedia celebrates the food of New York in 570 entries written by 180 foodies.    Full disclosure: two entries are mine—menu labeling and soda “ban.”  And I also turn up as an entry in the biography section (thanks Judith Weinraub).

The entries cover everything that Andy Smith and his team could think of,  in alphabetical order from A&P to Zeppole (following Zagat).  The entries cover specific foods and beverages, of course, but also history, politics, biography, museums, restaurants, retailers, publishing, media, holidays, neighborhoods, organizations, and bars.

As you might expect from anything edited by Andy Smith, the entries are written well and easy to read.  It’s lavishly illustrated and fun to browse.  A small sample from the “C’s” to illustrate the range: Cosmopolitan, Cotton Club, Cream Cheese, Cries of New York, Cronut, Cuban.

Something for everyone.  And it’s in paperback and affordable.

…

Source: http://tonygentilcore.com/2015/12/appearance-on-the-strength-doc-podcast/

I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited onto several podcasts in recent weeks, and all of them have been unique in the sense of their general flow, topics covered, and conversational approach of each host.

Earlier this week I was invited onto the Strength Doc Podcast with Dr. John Rusin.

It only makes sense our world’s would eventually cross paths. Doc and I have a lot in common.

1) We’re both bald.

2) We’re both jacked.

3) And we’re both doctors. He = a doctor in physical therapy. Me = a doctor in being awesome. Same difference.

John’s a very smart guy, genuine, and someone who’s been providing a ton of excellent content over on T-Nation for the past year or so – to the tune of 1-2 articles per week at times.

The two of us had been going back forth about coming onto his show and the stars finally aligned earlier this week. Funnily enough, after recording the show he was like “dude, I’m so back logged and a head of schedule that my plan is for this to go live sometime in February.”

Later on that day he emailed me and was like, “I sent this to my guy (who’s a strength coach and physical therapist too) to be edited, and he’s so hot on it that we&#82…

Source: http://romanfitnesssystems.com/articles/meatheads/

That classic meathead archetype: we all know him. 

Hell, at some point we’ve probably all been him, right?

It’s easy to become one-dimensional, to fall into that meathead archetype. 

I know, because I’ve been there.

At 22, I’d just graduated college where I’d spent the last four years living the life of a BMOC. Heading home after graduation, we’d just hopped on the highway when I told my girlfriend:

“I’ll never be that guy again”.

She didn’t believe how serious I was. 

But things had to change. 

Upon arriving at my new home, I stayed true to my word and made massive changes to my daily habits and behaviors. 

I cut out drinking.
I started my own fitness business without any clients.
I got rid of most of my friends.
I worked 10 hours a day and studied another 4-6.

Inspiring books, such as Gary Vaynerchuk’s Crush It and Chris Gillebeau’s The Art Of Non-Conformity fueled me and my new work ethic.

I was all in.

These efforts paid off as my business grew many times over; it gave me more experience than any MBA could buy…but it still wasn’t enough. 

Sitting there in my gym one night, all alone on a Saturday night, I asked myself, “Is this it? Is there all there is for me?”

I’d traded social activity, currency, and relationships for being a …

Source: http://zenhabits.net/aspire/

By Leo Babauta

I have a friend who is unhappy with his life — being in debt, lonely, with a job he doesn’t like, in a town he doesn’t like.

I asked him what ideals he has about life that his current life isn’t meeting. He reflected for awhile, and said he wants to find work that he’s passionate about and have friends who care about him.

I agreed that those are great things to aspire to … but that he might try finding things about himself and his life that he appreciates. He might try accepting the reality and finding the goodness in the present, rather than comparing his present life to his ideal life and finding it wanting.

The comparison, the ideals, are causing him dissatisfaction. The reality isn’t so bad if we let go of the ideals and just see the present moment as it is. It’s been my experience that when I look at any moment, even uncomfortable ones, I find that there is a lot to be curious about, a lot to appreciate, a lot to discover and love.

He agreed, but then asked whether he should give up all his aspirations. Which is a great question! But no, I’m not suggesting you give up your ambitions and aspirations. It’s only difficult when we attach too tightly to them, and then we can become unhappy with the present.

What I’m suggesting is a loosening of attachment to these ideals, a turning to the present to appreciate it and get to know what’s in front of us better…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/XK7rU4e8F70/

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you ever felt different—like you don’t fit in at all?

Do certain things captivate other people but leave you struggling to find meaning?

What about the big picture? Maybe you feel you chose the wrong career, or you wonder if you were born into the right family—no one else seems to think the way you do.

Feeling different can be unsettling in a world that values sameness. You can derail your confidence and your progress by demeaning yourself for your differences.

I felt uncomfortably different most of my life—out of place, misunderstood, and alone. I always worked hard to fit in, fighting a constant, frustrating inner struggle with no tools to help me cope.

I always got top grades, but didn’t seem to think the way everyone else did, perhaps because my family was poor but I attended an upper-middle-class school.

I was extremely introverted and shy in an extroverted world. I kept to myself, hiding so no one would know I was different. This broke my heart because I wanted to fit in so badly.

My desire to fit in continued through college and beyond. I finally realized I was wasting a lot of time a…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yogadork/dwhv/~3/87a0Wgm9UEs/

By Amanda Winkler Have you heard the old adage, “no pain, no gain”? This culturally pervasive idea has made its mark on virtually everything – our jobs, our personal lives and very prominently in the way we treat and move our bodies. If you don’t wake up the morning after an intense workout or practice […]

You’re reading No Pain, No Gain, No Bueno – Lessons Learned In Sustainable Yoga Practice by YogaDork. Follow YogaDork on Twitter and Facebook.

…

Source: http://www.thefitbits.com/2015/11/5-ways-to-stay-motivated-this-winter.html

I’ve lost it. My get up and go has swiftly got up and left, probably when the clocks went back and daylight did a runner, if not before.

I thought it was just my early morning mojo that I’d lost, but then it took me until gone lunchtime today to even entertain the idea of getting out for a run, let alone wake up early for any of the brilliant group runs going on around Brighton.

Incidentally, it didn’t go well, but it got me out of my pyjamas nonetheless.

I love a good dose of early morning endorphins, I do. There’s nothing better than getting out in the crisp autumn air while the rest of the city sleeps.

You get it all with morning workouts – clear roads and empty trails, proper peace and quiet, a sunrise if you’re lucky, and a nice big shot of serotonin to see you through the day. When I work out in the morning, I’m energised, full of endorphins and raring to go.

I wrote about why I love winter training only last month, so why is it, then, at the moment I just can’t be bothered?

Even the cat knows which he’d choose… 

 RUNNING 0 – 1 LIFE
Sometimes, when you’re busy at work, with lots on in the evenings and weekend (events, blogging/projects, nights out, family stuff), running and exercise just has to take a back seat. A…