Press Here! Face Workouts for Beginners by Nadira V. Persaud

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Press Here Face Workouts for Beginners offers age-defying results through a series of easy-to-follow pressure and massage techniques, which can be used as part of your daily skincare regime.

Benefits of facial workouts are more than aesthetics; a daily workout can have remarkable results in the way you feel. You'll be encouraged to focus on the feeling of each movement to identify problem areas or muscle tension in the face which can display deep lines, sagging skin, and an overall tired appearance.

Through the power of touch and focused breathing, these simple routines will help you feel more energized, de-stress, and maintain a toned and firm facial structure without the use of specialized equipment, whether you want to see a transformation immediately or over time.

My thoughts-

I had recently read about facial massage before coming across this book but didn't know exactly where to start. Press Here! gives countless exercises on taking care of your face, and other close by regions (neck, collarbone, ect). I have recently learned that I have tmj so I was hoping to find some exercises to relax my jaw and mouth muscles which I was delighted to find here. There are also great exercises to reduces baggy eyes and wrinkles, something most 30 something women like me would find interesting. There are also many other exercises targeting certain areas to reduce stress and help us look out best. I absolutely recommend this book to any woman looking for ways to look and feel her best!

The ABC's of Yoga for Kids by Teresa Anne Power (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

A new guidebook to the multiple-award-winning The ABC's 

of Yoga for Kids 

Children today are faced with overstimulation

as they strive to keep up with the demands of our technology

based society. Practicing simple yoga postures is

 the ideal way for kids to naturally unwind and 

obtain physical activity at the same time.  

 With this book, parents and teachers will:
- learn

 proven methods to teach children yoga 
-gain insight

 into what yoga is and how it can contribute to a 

child's active lifestyle 
-understand how you can 

activate many childhood challenges such as ADHD

 and autism 
-have scuss to a sample children's yoga routine 

The ABC's of Yoga for Kids: A Guide for 

Parents and Teachers is a companion to the The 

ABC's of Yoga for Kids, a 32-page, award-winning best-selling picture book that uses the alphabet, rhyming 

vignettes, and colorful illustrations to introduce

 children to yoga in a kid-friendly way. This guidebook supports parents and 

teachers who wish to learn more about yoga for kids, including how to integrat

e yoga into the daily lives of children.



My thoughts-

One of the biggest resolutions I set for myself this year was to keep my whole 

family fit and more active. I love yoga so it is only natural that I seek out yoga

 for kids for my children so they can join in on the fun. The ABC's of YOGA for Kids

 is the perfect book for my 8 year old daughter and 6 year old twin boys. I love

that these are traditional yoga poses but given a "kid" spin on things by the

 renaming of poses to fit the alphabet format. There are several fun games and

 activities to keep being active a fun practice for kids. My only complaint is that 

the book is a little short, otherwise I would rate it 5 stars instead of 4, but this 

will be a good start! I recommend this book to parents of children ages 4-8.

MASH Up Conditioning- Tempo Workout DVD Review

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the Tempo Workout DVD in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

I was so excited to be offered the opportunity to review one of MASH Up Conditioning's workout videos because I am a huge fan of high intensity interval training. If you don't know what HIIT is, it's basically working out at a big level for a shorter amount of time. The idea is that if you work out all of your muscle groups at one time, the impact of the workout will be greater. I have been a fan of HIIT workouts since I discovered them and they are truly the most effective thing for me as far as losing weight and toning up. MASH Up Conditioning's high intensity workouts are great because as the trainers go through the exercises on the video, they tell you exactly what it is you are working on and why. I love that these videos are geared toward anybody who wants to exercise. There is even a beginner level that pregnant women can continue to do through their pregnancy. I know a lot of mine friends are always searching for exercises they can do while expecting, so to me, that is a pretty cool feature. (Always check with your doctor before beginning a new work out routine!) There is also a person doing intermediate versions of the exercises and of course someone doing the advanced version. They are all 3 doing the workouts at the same time, which is cool because you can kind of switch back and forth between the routines. If something is too hard for you in the intermediate level, you can step down to the beginner for that exercise or if something is easy peasy you can give the advanced exercise a try. These workouts are 15 minutes long. Since there are several videos to choose from, you could combine them for a longer workout if you wanted or you could do one in the morning and one in the evening. The way the M A SH Up dvd is set up, you can truly adjust working out to fit into your unique schedule.

I found the exercises to be both fun and doable. I also found that they worked my body out well. I could definitely feel the burn and worked up a good sweet. The only thing you need- and they are optional really- are hand weights. You can start out with lighter weights and work your way up to something heavier as your body begins to get used to the workouts. Another thing I really liked that was included with the workout dvd was an eating guide. It is definitely helpful to have a list of the great "clean" foods you can eat to best optimize your workouts...and your health in general. Finally, the thing that made me most excited about MASH Up is that it was started by two moms (north Texans might I add!) that understand that we as moms sometimes do not have a ton of time to fit extra things into our schedules and created this fitness company with that in mind.

I really enjoyed the Tempo workout and I know I will be utilizing it for my workout routine quite often. MASH Up Conditioning also offers three other work outs that are taught by MASH Up Conditioning certified instructors at gyms. They have been featured in Dr. Mercola's newsletters and will be guest author for an article that will be coming out in the next week or so. If you don't know who Dr. Mercola is, he is one of the big leaders in natural medicine and is a huge advocate of health and wellness, so to even be mentioned by him is a huge deal!

If you are interested in Mash Up Conditioning dvds, you can get them at the Mash Up Conditioning website. You can also mention these awesome workouts to your favorite instructor at your gym to see about making these classes available at your gym!

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About the trainers:

Jamie Zacharias

Registered Nurse, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, Cooper Certified Instructor & Personal Trainer, Collegiate Athlete & Marathon Runner

Jamie has been in the health and fitness industry for 11 years and is a proud mother of 2 and devoted wife. She has been involved with personal training and group exercise at numerous facilities. As a Nurse Practitioner, she has worked in medical weight loss and chronic disease, and has served in academia. She is passionate about helping others achieve and maintain optimal wellness improving their health and be able to better serve where they are called to in life.

Stacy Redwine

BS Exercise Phyisiology & Pre Physical Therapy, MA Missiology, ACE Certified Instructor & Personal Trainer, Collegiate Athlete & Marathon Runner
 
Stacy has been personal training and lead fitness classes all over the country for 15 years and is a proud mother of 5 and devoted wife. She has owned her own fitness studio and has authored several fitness DVD’s. She is passionate about showing others how to fit physical activity into every lifestyle, helping others look and feel their best because healthy living is a vital part of their life, spiritual well-being and stewardship of God’s amazing gift to us, our physical bodies.