Handstand Pushups...

For just about anyone but the most advanced people I would suggest doing the handstand pushup against the wall. I start by getting my hands in position on the floor or the elevated surface I am using to increase range of motion and then kick my legs up until they hit the wall. If this freaks you out a little, you can try doing a headstand first by making a three point contact of two arms and one head ..even though two heads are supposed to be better than one…

If you are just starting with the HSPUS then you may want to consider each kick up into the wall as a repetition. If for instance in the daily WAC you are supposed to do 5 HSPUS then kick up and then lower your feet back down 5 times. If you can hold the top position of the HSPU for 15-30 seconds then you should move into doing only the lowering part of the movement. You’ll kick up, lower yourself through the press until your head is on the floor and then kick yourself back up again. For safety sake the first couple of times you’ll want to make sure you have something soft under your head.

Once your ready to give the positive or concentric portion of the press a go, then start off with lower reps. One of my favorite methods is to pick a certain number like 8 and make sure I do 8 HSPUS by the end of the day. I could get 3 at once and then 3 in the afternoon and a couple of 1’s at night. Ad a rep every couple of weeks.

If you’re Not Ready To Go Upside Down..

Getting upside down right away can be a little intimidating so what do you do to work up your strength until you reach that point? Here is the progression:

• Pushups on knees
• Straight pushups
• Pushups with feet on a chair
• Pushups with your feet going progressively higher up the wall. You have to face into the wall for this as opposed to facing away from the wall with the kick up version.

The higher your feet go, the more the stress hits the shoulders and moves away from the chest.

Source:

In time you can do this............

Stress and weight loss

Exams are coming soon - about 21 days to go! Stress will start to build up...

Six natural aids for stress relief

• Up your intake of B vitamins, especially B6, B3 and B12. They help regulate the body's response to stress and maintain a healthy nervous system.

• Calcium, magnesium and zinc as well and C supplements can help calm the nervous system and so help treat insomnia.

• Valerian is well-known as a natural sleep aid and sedative. Recent trials have found it can work as well as drugs like Valium, without the side-effects. (Try and find a standardised extract.)

• Some studies also suggest that Passion Flower can lower anxiety that leads to sleeplessness. If you get your hands on a herbal remedy that combines Passion Flower and Valerian extracts, this will be more even more effective.

• Chaste Tree is a herb that is said to increase your body's natural production of melatonin. This helps you have a more restful sleep

• L-theanine, an amino acid derived from Green Tea, reduces anxiety. Some people report that it works as well as prescription medications, without being addictive or habit-forming

• Seditol is a branded product that was acts as an anti-stress and anti-anxiety formula. But it's made of two entirely natural herbal ingredients, magnolia and ziziphus. Users have reported that improved sleep, too.

Then of course there will be jet lag as you travel back from China/Russia etc etc. This will lead to sleeplessness....

How celery can relieve in insomnia .

It's strange but true: celery has been shown to have a calming effect on the central nervous system. In fact, celery seed is often used as a herbal remedy for nervousness, insomnia and anxiety.So if you're suffering sleepless nights, try this:

User a juicer to extract the celery juice. Now mix it with your favourite fruit juice to create a tasty drink. Add some manuka honey to sweeten. The honey will also help you sleep.

Sip this half an hour before you go to bed. It should help you relax and get to the land of nod before you can say "I can't believe I've just drunk a nightcap of celery!

Some early studies on animals are also linking celery to low blood pressure.

Why could this be?

Well, celery contains 'pthalides', compounds which could not only give you a good Scrabble score, but which help relax your artery muscles. With more room in the arteries, the blood can flow at a lower pressure.

The same compounds also reduce your levels of stress hormone, which also help keep your blood vessels relaxed and open.It's still early days for this research, but there's no harm in trying to add some celery to your diet.

Could coffee be an answer to your bad mood?

Years ago it was an evil as bad as nicotine, causing headaches,mood swings, bad breath, heart palpitations and stress.

The caffeine in coffee is said to lower your risk of diabetes ,Parkinson's disease , headaches and even cavities.

It stimulates your brain and - yes - can RELIEVE mood problems. Studies have shown that caffeine can improve your attention span and boost brainpower.

Some of you may come back determined to lose weight....

Research shows that folks who kept a 3 week food log lost an extra 3.5 pounds, so use one of these websites to record your diet:

http://www.fitday.com/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/
http://www.nutritiondata.com/