DON’T REACH FOR THE COFFEE 3 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine If you can’t start your day without your daily cup — or cups — of joe, you’re not alone. More than 450 million cups of coffee are consumed by U.S. residents every day, and unfortunately, heavy caffeine consumption may not be healthy. (It’s a big reason why celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, and Kim Kardashian don’t drink it!) Moderate amounts of caffeine can improve your mental health, and some studies suggest it could even prevent some chronic conditions. However, there are major downsides to overconsumption, which equates to more than four cups of coffee each day. These can include high blood pressure, addiction symptoms, and decreased mentality.
back up. Next, position your right foot on the opposite side of your left knee. Keeping your hips centered, turn your torso toward your right foot so that your right arm is on your right knee. Switch to the other side and repeat as needed. Finally, pull your head toward your shoulders to loosen your neck. Go for a Walk When you wake up in the morning, head outside! Movement stimulates your brain and improves your mood, and the act of walking is relaxing enough that it doesn’t require much effort on your part. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in, wake up slowly, and get outside before a busy day. Just Breathe This might sound like it will lull you to sleep, but there are actually some breathing techniques that can help you wake up! The “breath of fire” is a rapid-fire breathing technique, during which you inhale deeply, exhale deeply, inhale deeply again, and then exhale quickly. Repeat this as needed. Other practices that focus on breathing, like yoga, can be effective, too.
If you want to break out of the caffeine cycle and reduce how much coffee you drink, try replacing that cuppa with one of these methods!
Stretch After lying in one position all night, your body may feel stiff and achy. Stretching awakens your muscles and helps you break out of that groggy morning feeling. Start with your back and do some slow core twists. Then, sit on the floor and lay your legs out in front of you. Stretch forward, then sit
Waking up isn’t an exact science, but once you find a healthy method that works for you, you may never need coffee again. (Gasp!)
BUT EXERCISE CAUTION GETTING BACK INTO SCHOOL SPORTS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN THE CLASSROOM
organized school sports has also been a bit touch and go. That means that many students may try to get back to the ability levels that they enjoyed pre- pandemic, overextending themselves in the process.
After the pandemic took kids out of the classroom (at least on a part-time basis), this year’s back-to-school season feels a bit more ceremonious than usual. It’s strange to think that something that was once such a normal
part of the year will now take a bit of getting used to, but such are the strange times that we’re living in. What’s normal has become strange — though, in the case of learning in the classroom again, hopefully it won’t feel strange for long! Some parents and kids might still have reservations about returning to the classroom. That’s understandable, considering the risks that the coronavirus once posed to large gatherings in close proximity. Nevertheless, since it’s now been deemed safe to return, we applaud the courage of students and parents for taking the first steps toward making our schools normal and safe places of learning once again.
So, with that in mind, the Mission PT team wants to offer this word of caution: If you or a child of yours is trying to get back to their fitness level prior to the pandemic, ease back into it slowly. Don’t rush your return. Otherwise, someone may end up with an injury that makes the journey back to peak physical performance take even longer. This warning isn’t just for students — even if you’re not in school, and you’re trying to get back in shape, exercise caution to avoid injuries. We’re hopeful that students can jump right back into where they left off in academics, hitting the ground running. But when it comes to sports, don’t push too hard. That said, if an injury does happen, be sure to call Mission PT at (480) 550-9100 so we can help
At the junior high and high school levels especially, the return to school also means a return to school sports! Whether it’s the football field, track, tennis court, or somewhere else, the athletes are getting back out there again. Just like time in the classroom this past year, time in
you achieve your goals!
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