Fasting and Stretching

Fasting:

I completed my reading of "The Juice Fasting Bible" by Sandra Cabot, M.D., and have decided to include one fasting day per week for the month of September.

Fasting can be done safely for one to seven days, or longer, as long as you follow proper methodology and prepare your body before you begin a fast of any extended length. I completed my first one day fast this week. I ate no solid food for 24 hours. I did consume four small protein drinks throughout the day.

I will add one fasting day per week for the month of September. Each week I will try a different type of one day fast (e.g., water only, fresh squeezed fruit juice only, fresh squeezed vegetable juice only, combined fresh squeezed fruit and vegetable juice, and protein drink only) during the month. As I determine what types of fasts appeal to me, I will then increase the duration of my fasting for October and November.

According to Dr. Cabot, "Juice fasting is a wonderfully powerful tool. It can improve your quality of life, increase your fitness, give you extra energy, and even lengthen your lifespan."

I don't know if fasting is something I can incorporate into my life on a regular basis yet, but I am going to give it several months of trying, and at different levels of duration, to find out how it works for me. It may help with weight loss, detoxification and overall general feelings of well being. Time will tell.

Stretching:

For the next two weeks I have chosen to work on a single leg stretch which focuses on the hip and quadriceps muscles. The Goju Ryu application is centered on increasing kicking height and range as well as improving balance.

To perform the stretch you stand on one leg and raise the other leg behind you. You then grasp the ankle that is raised behind you with the same hand as the leg that is lifted (e.g., right hand grabs right ankle). Then you pull the ankle up and towards your back while you slowly lower and bend your upper body forward.

You end up standing on one leg with your upper body parallel to the floor and your leg and ankle raised up behind you. You should look like a "T" as you are bent over grabbing your right ankle that is raised behind you with your right hand. Then switch and do it with the opposite hand and ankle while standing on your other leg. Hold the stretches as long as possible and try to maintain your balance.

It's a challenging pose and not easy to maintain for more that a few minutes at a time.