Menu
Menu
With the increasing popularity of yoga in Oklahoma has come a newfound fascination with meditation. Metro businesses offer guided meditation gatherings while cell phone apps and online courses are available to assist us find the time we need to be calm, quiet, and centered.
For some, meditation is a religious practice and for others it is a way of life. Meditation is an ancient practice that originated from India 3,000-years ago.
The word “meditate” comes from the Latin word “mederi,” meaning “to cure,” while the Sanskrit word “medha” means wisdom. Combining both meanings results in the phrase “curing wisdom,” and allows us to
understand why meditation is one of the most important components of any quality health plan.
There are several techniques one can use to practice meditation, including concentration, contemplation, movement, breathing, walking, self inquiry, using sound mantras, and unstructured or wandering thoughts.
The goal of meditation is to allow one the opportunity to be aware, mindful, focused, and accepting of what is presently happening in life in any given moment. A present mindset can be described with the following example: While driving you are suddenly cut off in traffic by someone who turns in front of you without signaling. Instead of swearing and becoming angry, you use meditation techniques to allow yourself to just be aware of what happened and grateful that a collision did not result from the incident.
In the example given above, the individual implementing mindfulness through mediation techniques replaced angry emotions with gratitude.
Stress plays a huge role in our mental health. Worrying, being in a hurry and excessively competing are behaviors associated with episodic stress, or stress acted out through aggression and impatience. This type of stress is common and can easily be regulated with a practice like meditation.
Because meditation changes the way in which your brain and body respond to stress, the practice has been praised for easing stress, anxiety and depression.
Research has revealed that consistent meditation practices reduce feelings of fear, resulting in the practitioner becoming more rational. Hospitals nationwide are beginning to incorporate mediation into their treatment plans.
Contributor: Tasha Timberlake
Integrative Health Practitioner & Spiritual Mentor
Injectables, and not just botox, are becoming part of men and women’s self-care routine.
Marble countertops, velvet chairs, edgy artwork and custom welcome mats etched with the company logo greet you as you walk through the doors of Skinlab Injectables. This cutting edge injectable beauty bar has locations in Norman and Nichols Hills; both are designed with an aesthetic that is far from your typical medical office.
“Almost every adult of a certain adult age can benefit from and afford injectables,” said
Rebekah Voda, Manager of Skinlab.
When it comes to aging, a focus on preventative measures by society has contributed to the
popularity of injectable procedures. “Correcting already settled fine lines is harder and more costly than preventing the lines from forming in the first place. Preventative Botox is key,” Voda said.
The hashtags #findthefountain and #loseyourlines can often be seen in educational posts on Skinlab Injectables social media. They aim to educate their followers on the many different uses of injectables, both medical and cosmetic, while also informing them of the array of services they offer. Their fast-growing Instagram account @skinlab_injectables is nearing 10,000 followers.
Skinlab recommends first time Botox treatments begin between the ages of 24 and 30. The prevention of aging proves long term maintenance to be more manageable. Botox, for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, is recommended every 90 days.
“We take pride in our reputation of providing clients with a “natural look,” Voda said. “The compliment many of our clients say they get the most is that their skin looks amazing. People have a hard time pin-pointing
exactly what has changed, they just know it’s obvious their friend or loved one looks younger, refreshed, and rejuvenated.”
Injectables are on the rise not only in Oklahoma, but nationwide. In 2018, injections of Botox — the No. 1 aesthetic procedure since 1999, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — were up 16.3 percent from the year before. Fillers showed a significant increase in 2018 as well.
Botox is being used for more than just cosmetic justice. Skinlab has seen a significant increase of clients treating an array of non-cosmetic ailments such as migraine headaches, teeth clenching, hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating), and several others.
According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there has been over a 300 percent increase over the last decade of men who received “Brotox.” Botox and PRP Therapy (Hair Restoration) are the top two services for male clientele at Skinlab. The summer months usually see an increase in both female and male clients. .
In addition to injectable services, Skinlab clients are also incorporating IV Drip Therapy and PRP Therapy into their self-care routines. Drip Therapy, also known as Hydration Therapy, consists of a custom blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants delivered intraveneously (IV). With Drip
Therapy, hydration and nourishments occur at the cellular level (hydration from the inside out.)
While IV Drip therapy is used to heal the body, injections of the body’s own PRP is used to stimulate hair growth, increase collagen production, and improve the healing of joints and ligaments. PRP is an all-natural
treatment option.
Additional services available to Skinlab clientele include facials, spider vein removal, fillers and micro needling that treats scars and fine lines by stimulating the skins production of collagen.
To learn more about Skinlab Injectables and to see a full list of services offered visit
www.skinlabinjectables.com or follow them on Instagram @skinlab_injectables.
20 MINUTE WATER WORKOUT
Perform each exercise for 1 minute and repeat 4 times
Shoulder circles
Kicking at side of pool
Jumping Jacks
Jog in place
Figure eight with hands together
Photo:
Briana Tozour
Workout:
Erika Oliveira
You will feel like you are having dessert for breakfast with this delicious and nutritious parfait. Mangoes alone give you your daily dose of vitamin C for the day as well as help with digestion. Add in the blueberries which are filled with antioxidants and pineapple that have Vitamin b-6 and Folate and you have yourself a Tropical Superfruit Yogurt Parfait!! This also makes for a great snack by pool or on the go.
Ingredients
· 1 mango, diced
· 1 cup diced fresh pineapple
· 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
· 1 cup vanilla yogurt
· ¼ cup chia seeds
· 1/4 cup toasted unsweetened coconut
· Almonds (optional)
In a two small bowls, layer mango, pineapple blueberries with yogurt and toasted coconut. Top with more fruit and almonds.
YogaSix, a modern and all-levels accessible boutique yoga studio, is opening its first Oklahoma City franchise location in Chisholm Creek in July of 2020. Encouraging energetic, exciting, and fun movement, YogaSix is a contemporary take on the breathing techniques, exercises, and meditation found in yoga practice.
No matter one’s level of fitness, YogaSix is a dynamic and exciting way to introduce or enhance one’s practice. YogaSix demystifies language typically used within a yoga setting and instead uses easy-to-understand wording that easily communicates cues and poses throughout the class. The fitness studio also addresses the body’s scientific need to move with increasing intensity to overcome plateaus in order to progress in strength and repair itself over time. “It is our goal for every individual who comes through our doors to feel better leaving than they did when they first walked in,” said the new YogaSix area franchise co-owner, Amy Sewell.
YogaSix offers six core classes which range from beginner levels to restorative flows to power classes. Their 101 class is the perfect class for those who are new or are looking to return to yoga, while their slower-paced Slow Flow class offers slow transitions and experienced postures throughout the class. YogaSix’s Hot classes aim to strengthen and stretch one’s practice throughout a heated session and recommends that attendees hydrate well throughout. The Restore classes are slow, low to the ground, and help to open and stretch major muscle groups within the body, offering an opportunity for the body to recover. The Power classes are faster-paced and offer challenging flows that focus on strength and flexibility, all while incorporating a little bit of fun during the power hour. YogaSix’s final class offering, Sculpt & Flow, combines yoga flows with strength training, helping to improve cardiovascular health and endurance with the help of dumbbells, body weight exercises, and other props as needed.
“YogaSix truly offers yoga to the masses through formats and teaching that speaks to all levels,” Y6 lead teacher Katie Kanak shared, “I’ve had a very traditional approach to yoga with an Ashtanga background. I’ve been to India to study three years in a row, and every time I return, my students become more selective. I’ve realized that I’m only accessing a small population with my teaching being so specialized and specific. YogaSix has designed a style, language, and philosophy that can be taught to all.” Kanak is excited to grow as a teacher and have the opportunity to connect with more of the Oklahoma City community through YogaSix.
The physical space offers a full sensory experience with state-of-the-art sound systems, modern lighting, and heating elements that vary depending on the type of class selected. YogaSix’s full-service boutique also offers a retail experience, providing national brands such as Lululemon, Glyder, Onzie, Beyond Yoga, Free People and more.
While yoga is considered personal practice, the team behind YogaSix believes that it should be shared with a community that works together to uplift one another, both on and off the mat. This franchise boutique fitness space intends to build an empowered, connected, and welcoming community and hopes to grow within Oklahoma City in the future.
Yoga Six, a franchise brand of Exponential Group, is located in Chisholm Creek along with their sister studio, Cycle Bar. Chisolm Creek is Oklahoma’s first mixed-use development, combining miles of walking trails with office spaces, apartments, and an eclectic mixture of dining, shopping, entertainment, and fitness options. The focal point of this picturesque space is a small lake, surrounded by trails in addition to play areas and fire pits. The new YogaSix franchise location will provide an area for the community to come together outside in between classes. “We are so excited to be able to provide a place for our community to come together outside of our studio,” shared Sewell.
Right now, YogaSix Chisholm Creek is offering 25% off its founding membership rate, the lowest rate that will be available for the studio at any point in time, which will end when the studio officially opens. Find out more about this promotion, as well as their upcoming VIP week and other offers by visiting yogasix.com/location/chisholm-creek or call 405-608-9334 to join the community today.
You can also stay up to date on the latest news about their grand opening by following them on Facebook at YogaSix (Chisholm Creek) or Instagram at @yogasix_chisholmcreek.
Visit the newest OKC YogaSix franchise location later this summer at 1332 W. Memorial Ave, Suite 102, Oklahoma City, OK 73114.
Author: Samantha Rosenfeld
Q: What is Starting Strength?
A:Starting Strength is how you get grandmother from struggling to get up out of a chair to deadlifting 200lbs. It is the way we get It is the way we get young men and women to pack on just the right amount of muscle and dominate their competition in sports. For our main demographic, it is a way to get stronger than they were in college, get rid of back and knee pain, and feel strong and capable again.
Q: How does it work?
A: Starting Strength is a strength training system designed to safely and efficiently improve strength, health, and athletic performance. Although the program is simple, the execution of it is precise. To lift weights three times per week, and increase the weight on the bar each time, the program needs to be applied specifically to you as an individual. Reps, sets, frequency, and exercise selection will vary based on age, sex, fitness level, and health status. Recovery tactics will vary depending on a variety of factors, and executing the lifts with perfect technique is critical to making continued progress. All this is why training under the guidance of a coach who has a deep understanding of the Starting Strength method is critically important.
Q. How is it different?
A: No Contracts:
We only want people who are committed to showing up to the gym to pay for memberships.
A: Simplicity:
The fitness industry relies on novelty and complexity instead of producing results. Starting Strength is simple, hard, and effective. And that’s why it works.
A: Everyone Gets Dedicated Coaching:
Not just supervision in a large class or guidance from an unqualified “trainer,” you get dedicated coaching and individual programming from a world-class strength coach. Our coaches are the most skilled in the world at making someone stronger than they’ve ever been.
A: Tested & Proven
The Starting Strength method was refined through decades of coaching and millions of hours of refinement, all to produce the most effective and efficient strength program in existence.
A: Everyone Makes Progress Other fitness programs rely on how you feel (tired, sore, and sweaty) after your workout. Starting Strength produces results you can measure – week over week, month over month.
Q: What is the importance of strength training?
A: Strength is the most important aspect of one’s physical existence, and a lack of strength compromises both athletic performance and the quality of life as we age.
The Starting Strength system is a distillation of Mark Rippetoe’s – developer of the Starting Strength method – experiences over three and a half decades as a competitive powerlifter, Olympic weightlifting coach, and gym owner, coupled with a systematic analysis of the physics of human movement under the barbell.
Our mission is to educate the general public about the long-term benefits of strength training and help people reach their strength potential.
Q: Tell us more about the services you offer.
A: The standard offering at our gym is personal training in a small group format, three times per week at 90 minutes per session. The structure of our training method allows our coaches to have an in-depth review and critique for every single member. These plans include the following: Reserved training times with guaranteed equipment, dedicated real-time feedback to ensure safe and effective technique, individual programming to maximize results, nutritional advice to achieve personal goals, the best training equipment in the industry, coaches who have achieved the Starting Strength Coach certification, which is the most advanced in the industry, a custom app to track progress, and fair policies – no sales desk, no contracts, no hidden fees. We also offer twice a week, once a week, and online coaching on request.
Our location in Oklahoma City will also be hosting lifting camps an average of once a month.
Q: Please introduce yourselves and tell us a little about you.
A: Colby Iliff and his wife, Sierra, have lived in Oklahoma City for five years and have two daughters, Hayzlee and Brynlee. Both Colby and Sierra are born and raised in Oklahoma. They believe strength is the most critical foundation to human performance and are dedicated to bringing this knowledge and training to Oklahoma City.
73 Calories // 2G Fat // 6G Carbs // 8G Protein
INGREDIENTS
2 oz cold press concentrate
6 oz Silk unsweetened Almond Milk
2 Tbsp plant-based protein powder
Handful of ice
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients (including ice) in a shaker or mason jar and shake for about 60 seconds or until combined.
Drink immediately.
Eggs in a Basket
321 Calories // 22G Fat // 22G Carbs // 9G Protein
INGREDIENTS
2 slices of Dave’s Killer Bread White Bread Done Right
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Rub both sides of the bread with olive oil. Use a small round object (mason jar cover, round cookie cutter, the top of a glass) to cut a round circle out of the middle of each piece of bread.
Heat a large skillet over low/medium heat and add about a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan.
When the olive oil is fragrant, add the bread and circle cut outs to the pan.
Toast on the pan for for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Flip.
Crack an egg in the center of each bread square.
Cover pan for 3 to 5 minutes until a white film develops over the egg yolk.
When your Egg in a Basket is toasted and your egg is ready, remove from heat and plate.
Sprinkle on fresh thyme and salt and pepper, to taste.
ASK THE EXPERT – IV HYDRATION
FIT405: What is IV Hydration Therapy, or Vitamin Therapy?
Sculpted: Even with a healthy diet and lifestyle, your body demands nutrients. With our vitamin IVs, we can we can deliver key nutrients, antioxidants, amino acids, electrolytes and hydration to dramatically improve your health, wellness and mood.
FIT405: How does it work?
Sculpted: By directly infusing your body with much needed nutrients, your body can perform at peak levels. This is achieved with just a simple
vitamin shot or a vitamin drip at one of our luxurious treatment clinics. Those who are short on time prefer shots, however, if you are feeling
really depleted, we recommend a vitamin drip .
FIT405: Is there any downtown after your treatment?
Sculpted: No. You may go back to work, your workout or travel plans immediately after a vitamin therapy treatment-in fact its recommended to receive vitamins before a workout, travel or work.The vitamins will give you the energy and mood boost you need to get through your day and feel naturally energized, productive and ready to crush your workout.
FIT405: How much does it cost?
Sculpted: Treatments range from $130-$212 depending on the infusion
you choose.
Check your inbox for our Top 15 Ideas for Living Your Best Life in OKC.
Or, go explore our Fit City Partners now
snag our healthy living guide –
Top 15 Ideas for Living Your Best Life in OKC.
