Here are some websites that I have received that everyone should visit:

• Best and Worst Cereals
• Drink Recipes
• SELF’s Organic Face Masks
• THE Best Workout for Y-O-U
• Increase Your Metabolism
• 101 Best Things for Your Body
• Healthy Appetizers
• Core-gasm Workout
• Be Happier!
• Eating Rules
• Boost Your Immunity

Also check out the new blog I started for Delta Gamma at JMU right here!

And then I found this.

It’s an effective, gear-free workout in a short amount of time. That’s what I like — no having to leave my warm room (even stepping into the hallway is like the Arctic!). So I did the 5 simple moves for 2 minutes each for about 30 minutes.

My heart rate’s up, I feel accomplished (and it’s only 7:31 a.m.) AND I caught up on the morning news. What could be better than that?

Also check out more of Harley Pasternak’s tips on Women’s Health Magazine’s website.

Happy Wednesday!!

If you’re a college student (or professor) you’ve probably been hearing that a lot lately.

Now is the time to think about this year’s Flu Shot. Is it right for you?

Cathi Owens, a senior at JMU, has decided not to get the vaccine this year. In her 23 years of life, she has never received the flu shot. She finds it “pointless, as you can still get many strains of the flu even with the vaccine.” Owens beleives that she will keep herself healthy enough without the shot by washing her hands, taking daily vitamins and staying bundled up in the cold Harrisonburg weather.

On the other hand, there are many positives to getting the flu shot as well.

Doctors strongly encourage everyone, especially the elderly and infants to get the vaccine.

This year’s 2010-2011 Flu Vaccine contains:

• An A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus
• An A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus
• A B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

If you’re interested in getting the shot this year, visit the JMU Health Center, the Harrisonburg CVS or your local physician.

Better to be safe than sorry!

Here are some ways to stay fit while staying in the comfort of your warm home!

Invest in a resistance band. They can be used to sculpt arms, core and legs!

                                                   For directions visit this site.

                                Tricep kickbacks are an easy way to tone your arms.                    Keep your back straight and stand with your arms by your chest and push the weights directly behind you.

I know that many of you (myself included) ate WAY too much turkey over the weekend so it’s time to work it off!

Here are some simple ways to destress before the next round of holidays come along!

Rest up before it’s back to work and school tomorrow!

Last spring one JMU senior did more than simply donate her money or gifts to the Mercy House familes — she gave her time.

Lis Palmer, a senior history major and secondary education minor, spent one Saturday morning last spring doing lawnwork for the Mercy House residents. Palmer (pictured in the second photograph below) said her team “helped clean up the leaves outside and pick up trash that had accumulated on their lawns to make it look nicer from the outside.”

In this picture below, Palmer and her friends divide up to conquer the Mercy House courtyard.

Below, Lis Palmer rakes the lawn of the Mercy House.

Photo Credit: Lis Palmer

After cleaning up the outside, Lis and her friends moved indoors to clean some of the apartment-style homes that the residents live in before the new tenants moved in.

Lis Palmer really enjoyed helping out at the Mercy House in Harrisonburg, Va. She loved being able to help out the staff because ”they don’t have a lot of people to help with handywork and cleaning. We were able to do a lot of maintenance work in a short amount of time because there were so many of us, if we weren’t there it would have taken them a lot longer to get it all finished.”

Palmer hopes to help out at the Mercy House again this coming spring and loved the opportunity to help the community.

Going green when you clean has many benefits:

1. You won’t release chimicals into your beloved home

2. It’s cheaper than purchasing cleaners at the store

3. You won’t get that awful cleaning smell.

Here are a few green cleaning recipes:

*Cleaner: White Vinegar

Recipe: 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup water

Tasks: “Dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring” says Organized Home.

Benefits: White vinegar is a “natural deodorizer” and isn’t colored so it won’t stain surfaces (use it anywhere!).

*Cleaner:  Olive Oil & Lemon Juice

Tasks: This combination is perfect for cleaning furniture.

Benefits: Organized Home states that “Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood.”

Recipe: 1/2 olive oil, 1 cup lemon juice

If you prefer to purchase green cleaners that are already mixed for you, try out Imus Ranch products! If you  know of any other good homemade cleaners, leave a comment and let me know!

One of my favorite places to volunteer in Harrisonburg has been the Mercy House. This local organization has multiple facets: it provides temporary homes for the homeless, after school programs for the residents’ children and even has its own thrift shop for the community.

When I volunteered at the after school program in the Spring of 2010 I worked with elementary students. The college aged volunteers worked on homework one-on-one with the students, played outside with them and even taught mini lessons occasionally. It was great to get to know the students — they were full of love and laughter! I personally enjoyed working with the underprivileged population and making them feel loved and worthy at all times

If you’re interested in helping with programs at the Mercy House, visit their website or Facebook page. Here’s a video of some of the items that the thrift store carries too!

This YouTube video shows the benefits of a wonderful local community organization.

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Free Clinic, located downtown on West Water Street, works “with uninsured residents for improved health and life-style change.”

The clinic provides various medical and dental services to its patients.

The clicnic provides various medical and dental services to its patients. The staff aims to help any Harrisonburg resident with no medical insurance and work at least 16 hours per week. For more information on eligibility, visit their website.

The clinic is always looking for volunteers and there are new positions available now. Many JMU students, like Health Science Pre-PA major Kelsey Gruss, have volunteered there. When Kelsey volunteers, she helps out with the paperwork, patient charts, makes calls to confirm appointments, and works with the referrals. She loved getting a behind-the-scenes look into the medical world and thought “it was a great experience volunteering there and it was nice to be involved in the community!”

For more information on how to volunteer at the Harrisonburg Rockingham Free Clinic contact them!

Basic: Tree Pose Experienced: Bakasana

Bakasana pose

While researching yoga, I found that there are many kinds. You can pick the one that best fits your skill and preference. The post popular yoga techniques include:

-Bikram/Hot yoga: WHY would anyone do yoga in a 100 degree room? This site states that the extremely hot temperature “makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.” Here’s a YouTube of a Birkram class.

-Hatha: After reading about Hatha yoga, I learned that it “includes disciplines, physical postures, purification procedures, poses, breathing and meditation.” If you want to try a Hatha routine, here’s a full 43 minute video!

Also check out JMU’s UREC schedule for yoga classes that will fit your skill level and time schedule.

-Vinyasa: When you attend a Vinyasa yoga class, you should expect to not only stretch your body, but also movement. Alignment and chanting are popular in these types of classes. Here is a video of a Vinyasa yoga routine.

Have you ever tried yoga? What’s your favorite type of class? No matter which type of yoga you chose to try, one thing is guaranteed — you’ll be more relaxed, flexible and energized at the end of your session!