Vegetable Stalk-er

Posted on by
Reply

This 26-inch brussel sprout stalk is too tall for the picture. I bought it today for $8 at the Farmer's Market along with these beautiful cranberries. The rosemary is from the local grocer and went into a lunch of pork loin, sweet potatoes, and ... brussel sprouts.

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

On the way home from the Farmer’s Market today, I turned heads while holding a 26-inch stem that looked more Sci Fi than brussel sprout.

Yes, its true! The green buds, named after the city in Belgium, are picked off tall rubbery stalks before they reach us in grocery stores. Such a shame! If we bought them looking like instruments of impalement rather than little guys with scrunched-up faces, children might find them cool. Perhaps, kids and adults would better appreciate this relative of the cabbage family if we sold sprouts in Mother Nature’s unusual packaging. How neat would it be to pass an upright jug of upright stalks rather than dreaded mini heads wrapped over foam backing? 

I bought this beauty today for $8, which seems expensive, but a package of about 15 sprouts can cost up to $3 here in Manhattan. As you can see, there are quite a few more than 15. Plus, I can incorporate the greenery into my holiday decorating.

Brussel sprouts are high in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folic acid. Each bud is a colon cancer-fighting machine that can be steamed, boiled, roasted, or sautéd with olive oil and garlic! A good batch of sprouts exhibits firmly closed leaves and a robust green color, sometimes with purple highlights, like this one.

Why dance tango?

Posted on by
Reply

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

After my fabulous LivingSocial purchase, $49 for eight tango classes and four social dances, I am entangled with Argentinian tango. I feel my love affair was ordained by Al Pacino, the high priest of tango scenes, who recently sat near me at Café Luxembourg in Manhattan. No joke!

Tango brings out the Pacino in me, and step names – gancho, parada, sacada — trip off the tongue, a glorious vocalization of tango’s smooth and quick steps. As a former musical theater dancer, I am particularly drawn to tango’s wine-like qualities: Rather than becoming rancid, tango dancers get better with age, as suggested by Pacino’s scene in Scent of a Woman!

Recent studies note that tango may relieve certain neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s. Explanations include tango’s use of dynamic balance, walking backwards, and movement at various speeds. As part of a healthcare movement to integrate arts and wellness, tango – like other forms of dance – could be a useful way to coordinate mental, social, and physical well-being.

A Royal Northern College of Music study went further, surveying 110 tango dancers in the Netherlands and Germany. The researcher, Gunter Kreutz, sought answers to several questions, including “Why do people dance tango Argentino?” Reasons included: (1) stress reduction, (2) fitness, (3) emotions, and (4) intimacy.

I feel all these components when I tango. Had I been more on my toes, I would have asked Al for a dance, assuming he doesn’t mind towering women.

Under Construction

Posted on by
Reply

Ann Votaw is performing Shiva pose on top of Mount Algonquin in Upstate New York. Shiva represents change, something Ann wants for her website. In preparation of a new year, Ann is adding new formats and interactive features! In the meantime, why not join a health discussion on her Facebook page!?

Healthy dose of social media! Can you believe it?

Posted on by
Reply


by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

In the early days of television, minister Fred Rogers felt disgusted at the lack of educational children’s programming. He developed Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, an immensely beloved program that first aired nationally in 1968. “I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen,” he explained in a CNN interview.[1]

Rogers’ statement gave me chills when I heard it on a random program in 2010; in the dawn of social media, his sentiments are particularly poignant, hugely influential in the topic of my graduate thesis: “College students’ perceptions of the use of Facebook for educating college students about health.”

My interest in Facebook surprised me. I consider myself a digital laggard, expecting snickers each year I upgrade my Atari-style cell phone. Also, I am a Facebook convert, having spent years thinking, “Who cares about what you ate for dinner?” Lately, I think Facebook and similar technologies can be used to help people.

For the first time, people who are “just like me,” can share health stories on Facebook pages run by trustworthy organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Red Cross. Interests drive content (consumer-to-source or bottom-to-top) and allow widespread sharing (side-to-side or horizontal communication)[7] with just the click of a mouse.

I complete my graduate thesis this December! In the weeks that follow, I will herald other health-promoting technologies! In the meantime, take a look at the Mister Rogers YouTube video. He was an example of someone use used media for the common good.


[1] Millman, J. (1999, August 10). “Salon Brilliant Careers: Fred Rogers.Retrieved July 30, 2010, from Salon Media Group.
[2] Newspaper Association of America. (2007). Readership Statistics. Retrieved December 4, 2007, from
http://www.naa.org/Resources/Articles/Circulation-ReadershipStatistics/Circulation-Readership-Statistics.aspx.

[3] Pew Research Center. (2006). Online papers modestly boost newspaper readership. Retrieved July 16, 2007, from http://people press.org/reports/display.php3?PagelD=1065.

[4] Project for Excellence in Journalism. (2007). Retrieved May 10, 2007, from The state of the news media 2007: an annual report on American journalism:http://www.stateoflhenewsmedia.org/2007/index.asp.

[5] Selkie, E.; Benson, M.; Moreno, M. (2011, July 1). Adolescents’ views regarding uses of social networking websites and text messaging for adolescent sexual health education.(Social Media and Health Education)(Report). American Journal of Health Education.

[6] Barnes, M., Hanson, C., McIntyre, E., Neiger, B., Thackeray, R., & West, J. (2011, July-August). Use and acceptance of social media among health educators. American Journal of Health Education, 42(4), 197.

[7] Thackeray, R., Neiger, B.L., Hanson C.L., & McKenzie, J.F. (2008). Enhancing promotional strategies within social marketing programs: use of Web 2.0 social media. Health Promot Pract, 9(4):338-343.

Super Yoga Playlists

Posted on by
Reply

Ann Votaw demonstrates a double pigeon pose.

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

This post celebrates technology and yoga teachers short on time and money!

Spotify, a Swedish-born and UK-based music streaming service, launched its US service in July. As someone who finds herself in musical ruts, Spotify allows me to review tried-and-true-combinations. A paid Premium account enables members to access Spotify on mobile devices. A free account grants computer access to approximately 15 million songs interupted by radio-style advertising.

As of late September, all new members must have Facebook accounts. When FB friends join, their profile picture appears on the right side of the screen, along with their favorite selections. Participants can share through FB, Twitter, and Spotify. I downloaded my iTunes library and voila: most of my playlists made it onto Spotify!

To view my back-to-school semester picks, visit Ann Votaw-Wellness Education on Facebook. To hear the music, you must sign up for Spotify.

Fitness Finesse: Q & A with Peggy Levine

Posted on by
1

 

 

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

At the end of her modern dance career, Peggy Levine rode the aerobics craze into the developing field of fitness. While colleagues emphasized “sweat,” Peggy concentrated on body alignment. She opened her own studio in 1983. When the business closed in 2004, students demanded her return. “They wouldn’t let me retire,” Peggy said.

Today, Peggy teaches at Bridge for Dance Studio, Columbia University, and as a Master Trainer through Pilates Institute of America. Her style reflects shifts in her own life: Peggy has stayed fit through college years, the birth of her daughter, and menopause.

Ann Votaw: What is your philosophy on teaching fitness?

Peggy Levine: I think my philosophy on fitness is that it makes you a stronger person, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. A lot of women think they can’t do something, and it can be can’t lift their arms or can’t make enough money. I think my class teaches people to be comfortable in their bodies, so they can feel like they can. My philosophy is to make women stronger, so they can get through the next phase of their lives, not just physically, but to give them the feeling that they can conquer their fears. It’s empowering.

AV: In addition to instructing senior and pre-natal populations, you teach at the university level. What is that like?

PL: I’m tickled pink when I get positive evaluations from the kids. It validates me.  I love it when I get returning students. When you teach the same classes over and over, you wonder if you have any value. I learn from the students.

AV: What recommendations do you have for people entering the field of fitness?

PL: You have to really want this because the competition is fierce. There’s more than just being good at it yourself. You have to really want to impart knowledge to other people. You have to really want to help other people learn how to take care of themselves.

5 back-to-school tips to prevent yoga shoulder

Posted on by
2

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

When I first tried yoga, I developed chataranga-itis, shoulder burn caused by poor form and repetition.

By slowing down my sun salutes, I discovered grinding in every vinyasa series, the weight-bearing portion of sun salutations:  (1) downdog, (2) plank, (3) chataranga, (4) updog, and (5) downdog. [See Baptiste Power Yoga at the 8-minute mark]. When done incorrectly — arm bones rolled inward and bunched toward the ears — the pattern causes injuries like bursitis, tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, and dislocation. When done correctly — arm bones rolled toward the back wall and away from ears, vinyasas offer therapy.

In 2003, 14 million Americans visited a doctor complaining of bum shoulders.  Here’s the reason: The shoulder consists of three bones only – the arm bone, the shoulder  blade, and the collar bone. In comparison to the hip joint, also a ball and socket, the shoulder is shallow, allowing for a great range of motion. With great choice comes great responsibility.

Avoid being sidelined by practicing these 5 non-harming, or ahimsa-inspired tips.

1. When it comes to weight bearing on the shoulders, think stability rather than flexibility. 

2. Roll the upper arms outward, opening the front of the chest.

3. Press down into the hands to activate middle back muscles and keep shoulders from jamming upward.

4.  Use your abominals to hold horizontal shapes and your feet (rather than shoulders) to press from chataranga to updog.

5. When in doubt, replace updogs with baby cobra or cow pose (all fours backbend) to build strength and muscle memory.

New Jersey’s Law Makes Bullying Hard to Ignore

Posted on by
1

 

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

New Jersey offers an extreme but worthwhile experiment in curbing classroom and online intimidation. On Sept. 1, the state mandated the country’s toughest anti-bullying legislation: The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which demands comprehensive policies as outlined in 18 pages of required components.

With an anti-bullying specialist in each school and coordinator in each district, the law answers the suicide of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman, whose roommate used a webcam to record and post Clemeni’s intimate encounter with a man.

While Clementi was a college student – and New Jersey’s law deals with K-12 – the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights does bring awareness to the many faces of bullying: name calling, rumors, pushing, and dominating.

New Jersey is one of 47 states with anti-bullying laws, this latest replacing a softer version. Under new guidelines, schools conduct extensive training of staff and students, appoint teams of adults, and investigate bullying allegations within one day.

Yes, policies will strain resources, but I watch with interest.

Bullying Part III: Q & A with Sensei Michelle Gay

Posted on by
Reply

by Ann Votaw, C.H.E.S.

Sensei Michelle Gay, 4th Degree Black Belt and Founder of Kenwakan Karate, believes bullying is human nature. She teaches skills to develop stronger alternatives: to meet needs by asking for help. The following is an interview at her beautiful New York City dojo, where she instructs children and adults:

Ann Votaw: How would you define bullying?

Sensei Michelle: I think it’s domination of some kind, over another individual. It’s picking on somebody, making fun of somebody, making somebody do something against their better judgment or will, if you can do that. It could be not listening to somebody. I really think bullying is something that begins in the home, and we think it’s okay. We call it discipline or parenting when it’s really authority run amok. Abusive power.

A.V.: How big of a problem is bullying, in your experience as a karate teacher. Do you ever hear about it in your children’s classes?

S.M.: I do hear about it, and it seems like it’s insidious. It seems to always happen out of earshot. It happens in the dressing room. That’s how bullying happens. It happens off the court, in the dressing room, in the dark. It happens when kids, like in Lord of the Flies, are by themselves without an adult. It can’t flourish any other way without some isolation.

Can we always be there to make sure it doesn’t happen? No. That’s why we teach children how to be empowered. There’s a choice they can make. We want them to experience the deliciousness of leadership. Bullying isn’t a way to get what you want. There’s more empowerment in leadership, when someone willingly grants your request. When we see this, why would we chose any other way?

A.V.: How can parents help their children from being bullies or victims?

S.M.: We parents are either modeling being a victim or being a bully. We have to be responsible to that first. “What am I modeling at home?” We need to share our own victories around each other and hold our own. Children will see this, and it will create better partnerships, teams, communities. It’s infectious.

A.V.: What should a child do if he/she is being bullied?

S.M.: Tell someone. Don’t stay quiet about it. Don’t be alone. The more we keep it inside, in a conversation in our heads, it just gets bigger. I tell the kids here to keep telling someone until someone listens.

Take a survey: Please take the time to complete this anonymous, 8-question survey. You do not have to answer questions that make you uncomfortable. Results will be published in a future post. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JZC9LCL