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Our Nipomo: Focus on improving health in new year

By Jacqueline Frederick/Contributor

How do we improve ourselves in the new year? One way is to improve your health is through exercise. A medical practitioner told me that the No. 1 thing someone can do to improve health is vigorous exercise. The body is designed for movement, and lacking movement, it begins to degenerate faster. For years, people have recommended yoga to me, which I resisted, not really understanding its benefits. I am happy to report that I have discovered yoga and am amazed at how wonderful it is.

Nipomo is fortunate to have two wonderful yoga instructors in Lori and Tommy Anderson of the Yoga Shack. They offer a variety of classes including Restorative Yoga, Vinayasa Flow Yoga, which is very invigorating and gives you a good cardiovascular workout, as well as Hatha Yoga and Pilates. You can find out more about their classes by calling 931-0331 or visiting www.tommyand

loriyoga.com.

Another place to exercise is the Dance Studio located in Nipomo in the professional center at 671 W. Tefft St. It also offers yoga classes. Call 931-0444.

At Curves for Women, a 30-minute fitness program is offered that provides a total body workout. Curves claims that with the combined aerobic exercise for weight loss and the strength training for toned muscles, a workout provides an exercise plan that can burn up to 500 calories in just 30 minutes. Curves clubs also offer a nutrition program with an online subscription program. Call Curves Nipomo at 931-0440.

World Gym in Nipomo is a full-service gym with fitness equipment, weight training and spinning classes.

The newest addition to opportunities to exercise and get in good shape is Healthy Inspirations located in the new Nipomo Village on Mary Street. Healthy Inspirations is a weight-loss and lifestyle program that guarantees its participants will lose two to three pounds per week. Offered are nutritional counseling and guidance, exercise, relaxation therapy and an aesthetic treatment designed to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

And on the subject of health and weight loss, a recent warning was issued by the FDA to stay away from nearly 30 weight-loss products that contain unlisted and possibly dangerous ingredients.

The pills are advertised as “natural” fat busters and have intriguing names like Imelda Perfect Slim and Zhen de Shou. Some are touted as new versions of “ancient remedies” from Asia. Although they may tempt you with promises of magical weight loss, they contain unlisted ingredients, including high doses of a powerful anti-obesity drug, as well as a suspected carcinogen. FDA lab testing found nearly all of the pills contain sibutramine, a powerful appetite suppressant that’s a chemical cousin of amphetamines that can cause heart attacks, strokes and heart palpitations, especially in people with a history of high blood pressure or heart problems.

Most of the diet pills appear to be coming from China and are mainly sold on the Internet.

Most experts in healthy weight loss recommend that staying away from processed foods, eating frequent small natural foods and daily exercise, even for only 30 minutes, will result in weight loss the healthy way.

Jacqueline Frederick is a lawyer, real estate broker and farmer in Nipomo and can be reached at jvflaw@aol.com or 929-1120.