CAUTION: GRILLING IN PROGRESS 5 Tips to Avoid Horrific Home Grilling Accidents
THE SUPER BENEFITS OF YOGA
June 21 is International Yoga Day, which makes it a great time of year to talk about the unique benefits of yoga — the “superfood” of fitness. As a mixture of exercise and mindfulness, yoga is not only challenging but also has myriad health benefits. Many people assume yoga is mainly useful for increasing your flexibility. However, it’s also excellent for further developing your strength, mobility, and balance. These can be key benefits for living a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re an athlete or concerned about aging. Kaitlyn Hochart, a yoga instructor from San Diego, California, writes on Healthline, “During yoga, your body goes through a full range and variety of motion that can counteract aches and pains associated with tension or poor postural habits.” Yoga can help you become more aware of these habits, “[allowing] you to fix these imbalances and improve overall athleticism.” Many forms of exercise are useful against depression and cardiovascular disease, but in yoga’s case, you don’t have to break a sweat to start benefiting from its stress-relieving properties. “The breathing exercises you practice during yoga can help lower your heart rate and shift your nervous system into a more relaxed state. It also promotes better sleep and increased focus,” Hochart writes. Multiple studies agree: Yoga can significantly decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In one study, 64 women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) participated in a 10-week program, performing yoga at least once a week. By the end of the 10 weeks, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD at all. As with starting any new hobby or regular exercise, it may help to set clear goals for yourself. By doing yoga regularly, there are several physical improvements you can look forward to, such as: • Improved range of motion or ease of movement • A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms • An increase in physical strength and endurance • Less weight fluctuation • Changes in the way your clothes fit • Better-quality sleeping habits and increased or stabilized energy levels One of the best qualities of yoga is that you can be of any age or fitness level. So, pull up a YouTube video, find a soft surface, and give it a try!
This January in Glendale, Arizona, a father and his 12-year-old son were in the mood for some barbecue. They went outside to light the grill, but the dad made a big mistake: He used gasoline. Moments later, the grill exploded into flames that covered his son! The boy ended up in the hospital with burns on 95% of his body. When I read this horror story, I knew I should squeeze some grilling safety tips into one of my summer newsletters. As I mentioned last month, I love to grill up burgers at home on my Green Egg, but I always take precautions. The last thing I want is to hurt one of my kids! Here are five things you can do to keep your family safe while you sizzle burgers and hot dogs this month. 1. Dress in your grilling best! If you’re manning the grill, avoid loose clothing that could catch fire and make sure to watch your shirt tails, sleeves, and apron strings. To be extra safe, wear something fitted and accessorize with flame-retardant mitts or gloves. 2. Double-check that your grill is stable and clean. If your grill is on uneven ground, it could tip over and start a fire. Similarly, food and grease buildup can be flammable (and gross!). 3. Scope out your propane tank for leaks. If you use a propane grill, get up close and personal with your tank before you light it. If you smell rotten eggs or hear a hissing sound, you could have a dangerous leak. 4. Avoid using gasoline to light your grill. As that Arizona family found out, liquid gasoline is dangerous and volatile. If you can, opt for another method. Use a grill with an ignition button or choose lighter fluid over gasoline. Also, always light your grill while the lid is open . 5. Don’t light all of your gas burners at once. Instead, light them one at a time to avoid gas buildup that could become a fireball. Just in case, keep your kids away from the grill while you light it.
Good luck, and happy grilling!
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