Yoga vs. Pilates

Do you know the difference between yoga and Pilates?  As programs of excercise, both disciplines have grown a great deal in popularity over the past several years with men and womnen throughout the United States .  They both also seek to build muscle strength and flexibility. 

The difference between the two disciplines is not so much physical as it is philosophical.  Yoga is more of a spiritual practice with roots in ancient Eastern meditation.  There are many versions of yoga, including the two most popular versions, Vinyasa and Hatha.

Pilates, on the other hand – named for its founder Joseph Pilates – was created early in the 20th century to help rehab injured WWI soldiers.  It is more focused on strengthening and coordinating the core muscles that stabilze the body than it is on mediation.

Does anyone at here at Vista Ridge Apartments practice either?  If so, what are some of the benefits you’ve realized.  If you’re interested, they offer Pilates and several different types of yoga classes at Lifetime Fitness at The Rim (5639 Worth Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78257, 210.222.1984).  If you’re not a member, no worries.  They have a free 7-day trial membership that you can use to to check out the classes and see if it’s for you.  What’ve you got to lose?

(Photo Credit: sazztastical)

Take the San Antonio Fit Family Challenge!

I mentioned a couple weeks ago on our Vista Ridge Facebook page that Men’s Health Magazine voted us the third FATTEST city in the United States of America.  Ouch!  Well, the Fit Family Challenge, presented by San Antonio Sports, is your chance to do something about that.  What is “the challenge” you ask…it’s a program to encourage families to start thinking about nutrition and exercise.

The program runs from May 1 through September 11 with a “Final Bash” on the last day of the Challenge. There will be a Grand Prize Drawing and to qualify for the award, each family must attend at least three Fit Family Challenge Events. These events will be held at various venues throughout San Antonio and all of the events are free.

Here is how you participate:

1. You need to get a Fit Family Challenge Training Journal. This will provide a log for recording the events you attend. Download your Fit Family Challenge Training Journal (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) or pick one up at any University Health System Clinic, WellMed Clinic or Spectrum Athletic Club.
2. Go to at least three official Fit Family Fun Challenge Events. There is a list of the events within the actual Journal. Each time you attend an event, you must get your Journal stamped by event personnel to show that you were present at the event.
3. Bbring your Fit Family Challenge Training Journal with at least three event stamps to the Final Bash on September 11th and exchange it for a Grand Prize Drawing ticket. You must be present to win, so plan on hanging around and visiting with other families who participated.

This could change your life and your family’s life!  The best part is that with events like family Zumba and swimming, it can actually be fun.  For more info, visit the Fit Family Challenge website.

Take a hike!

Looking for a fun, healthy activity to do this summer?  How about hiking?  It’s really great excercise (especially for toning legs) and you get the chance to take in some great natural scenery while doing it.  Hiking is also a relatively low-cost activity.  Depending on how much you hike, you probably won’t need much.  Besides a comfortable pair of outdoor shoes or boots and a sturdy pack, some essential items to carry with you are: a map, a compass, a pocket knife, a whistle, a personal first aid kit, driking water (especially in the heat), a flashlight, matches, rain gear and food (nuts are great…they’re packed with energy).

Once you have the basics, the next thing you’ll need to find are some good hiking trails.  Fortunately, Vista Ridge is only a short drive away from some great trails at the Friedrich Wilderness Park.  You can even print out trail maps from their website.  If you’re new to hiking, start with an easy trail lik the Main Loop Trail.  It’s about 1.5 miles through diverse habitats and it climbs over 300 feet to the tops of the hills!  Oh…one more item you may want to bring is a camera.  Might as well get some great photos while you’re out there, right?

For more info, you can contact their staff at (210) 564-6400, Monday through Friday except holidays, from 7:30 am until 4 pm. Park hours are from 7:30 am to Sunset, every day (except Christmas & New Year’s Day).

Lifetime Fitness Class Schedule: Week of 5/24

For all of the members of Lifetime Fitness located at the The Rim, I’ve posted the group fitness schedule here for you.  Just double-click the image and you will see it in a PDF format that you can view or print.  Hope that helps.   Have a great workout week!

3 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe Around Water

Now is the time of year when swimming pools everywhere, including Vista Ridge, are opening up for summer fun.  But with great fun comes great responsibility, ESPECIALLY if you have young kids that you would like to cool off in the pool on a hot day.

I was just on one of my favorite websites, QuickAndDirtyTips.com, and came across some sensible advice to remember when taking your children near water.

Talk with your children about the dangers of water. It can be a challenging conversation because you don’t want them to be afraid of the water, but you do want them to know that it can be dangerous if they don’t follow the safety rules. Give them a quick checklist if it helps them remember. You can have them remember these three simple rules:

1. Do not play or run near the water.
2. Ask permission from an adult before going in or around a pool.
3. If you see another child near or in the water without a grown-up, tell an adult right away.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summe.  See you around at the pool!

In-Season Produce: Markets near Vista Ridge

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally? If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration. Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world. Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce. According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Texas (and surrouning areas) include:

Blackberries Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cucumber Grapefruit Greens Herbs Mushrooms

Onions Oranges Peaches Potatoes Spinach Strawberries Summer squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes* Turnips

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Vista Ridge area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Vista Ridge

Going Green: Refresh your face

Check out this easy Do it Yourself recipe courtesy of The Daily Green…

Revitalizing Mask

• 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup chopped avocado
• 1 egg white
• 2 tsp. powdered milk

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender until they form a smooth paste.  Apply the mask to your face and neck using circular upward movements.  Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, or until dry.  Rinse your face and neck with warm water and finish with a cold water rinse.  This mask will keep up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator if you need to prepare it slightly in advance.  Makes 1 application.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Vista Ridge blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Play Volleyball. Support the Troops.

I’m sure we can all agree that the U.S. has one of the hardest working and most dedicated militaries in the world.   So when an opportunity to support them and have some fun at the same time comes along, most people would probably want to participate.  Well, here’s your chance.  On March 27, Platinum Sports San Antonio will host a coed volleyball tournament with proceeds going to Operation Military Embrace .

If you’re interested in playing, here is the info that you will need…

• Where: San Antonio College Gyms, 1300 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, TX
• Time:  Captains meet at 8:50a.m.; Play starts at 9:00a.m.
• Cost:  $17 per player.  Prizes will be awarded to all winners!
• Format:  6 on 6 format indoor court.  There will be three divisions: Casual, Intermediate, and Advanced.  This will be a round-robin tournament with playoffs for the advanced division.  Individual players can sign up to be placed on an available team.  All players MUST be 18 years of age and over.

To register or find out more info, contact the Tournament Director Anita Huddleston:

play@platinumsportssa.com
(210) 722-0770

The deadline to register is March 23.