The heart of the matter
Hi Team Fit,
As February comes to a close, all the Valentine hearts and love decor disappear from the shelves and social media feeds. While hearts are trending one month a year, heart health should be trending year-round.
The heart is one of our vital organs, keeping us alive. It's time to treat it like the precious commodity it is.
February is celebrated as American Heart Month, a federally designated event that encourages us to get our communities involved in heart health.
As a local small business, we at Salsa City Fitness, Troy, want you to take heart in knowing, we are here to help you meet your health goals. Regular exercise isn't just for weight loss and muscle building (although we do love those reasons). The benefits of a regular fitness routine run deep—every part of your body, including the brain, benefits from exercise.
With a heavy heart that we write, Cardiovascular diseases claim approximately one million lives in our country every year. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans, both men, and women. Don't lose heart; it's never too late to start changing your lifestyle towards better cardiovascular health.
Here are a few practical steps you can follow.
Eat your heart out
You have to nourish your body so it can flourish. Starving and depriving yourself of beneficial food does no good to overall health. Fasting often results in weight swings and poor heart health. A balanced diet consisting of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, and nuts is ideal. Reducing salt, high sodium meats, and condiments are all bonuses.
Another key contributor to ill health is processed food. While an occasional fast food meal is alright, try to limit your intake of frozen food as it is often high in preservatives, sodium and lacking in nutrition.
Regulate sugar intake. Replace sweetened snacks like cookies and doughnuts with fresh fruit/sugar-free alternatives. Join the Salsa City Fam and get access to perks like healthy recipes. Or sign up for our 30 Day Nutritional Coaching.
Don't lose heart, lose weight.
The World Health Organization defines overweight as "Having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 and above." We know it's hard to stay fit during the cold winter months; spring forward and join us at Salsa City Studio for some fun ways to keep moving. Click here for the schedule for February & March 2021.
Make your heart leap.
Cardio exercise uses repetitive contraction of large muscle groups to get your heart beating faster. It is the best exercise for your heart. Doctors say regular cardio workouts can:
Strengthen your heart and blood vessels
Improve the flow of oxygen throughout your body
Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol
Reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and some kinds of cancer
Take that first step and sign up for a fitness class. We offer an assortment of classes for you to choose from.
Sign up for and get your heart pumping with fun dance fitness routines
Salsa & Bachata Dance
Join us for a 4-week Bootcamp with beginner-friendly routines and two short 'n sweet sweat sessions ~ Salsa Dance and Bachata Dance ~is everything you need to keep your fitness routine fun & exciting this spring! Register Now.
Zumba Fitness
Zumba at Salsa City Fitness in Troy, Ohio, incorporates Latin dance and other rhythms and fuses them with fitness aerobics. This fun workout feels more like a party and less like a workout.
Sunday's 6-6:45 pm with Lynn
Monday's 6:15-7:15 pm with Liza
Tuesday's 6:30-7:30 pm with Liza
Wednesday's 4:45-5:45 pm with Brandi / 7-8 pm with Annie White
Thursday's 5:30-6:30 pm with Annie White/ 6:30-7:30 pm with Liza
Friday's 5-5:45 am Erich Courtad
Saturday's 9-10 am with Annie White
Zumba Toning
Zumba® Toning raises the bar (or rather, the toning stick). It combines targeted body-sculpting exercises, and high-energy cardio work with Latin-infused Zumba® moves to create a calorie-torching, strength-training dance fitness-party.
Zumba Step
Zumba© Step literally 'steps it up,' taking the original Zumba fitness formula to new heights. Focusing on the lower body – particularly the glutes and legs – Zumba Step combines the elements of Step Aerobics with the upbeat rhythms and party atmosphere of Zumba.
Wednesday's 6:15-7:15 pm Mandy Johnston
Or try some of our other classes to get your blood pumping.
Cardio Drumming
Cardio Drumming at Salsa City Fitness utilizes choreographed dance movements and cardio intervals with the fun of drumming. This class is popular, so reservations are encouraged.
Pound Fitness
Pound is the world's first cardio jam session inspired by the infectious, energizing, & sweat-dripping fun of playing the drums
Young at heart.
So, cardio exercise contributes to improved blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and other blood lipids, and weight control. However, Some physical activity is better than none. If you are not as active as you'd like, you can start with small amounts of physical activity and gradually increase duration, frequency, and intensity.
An excellent exercise for a healthier heart is Yoga. It has many benefits like increased circulation and blood flow. Besides, practicing Yoga can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and heart rate, which can all add up to a lower risk of hypertension, stroke, and heart disease.
At Salsa City Fitness, we use a diverse blend of Hatha Yoga, incorporating methods such as Vinyasa, Yin, gentle, intermediate, and advanced styles to meet each student's needs and practices. Join us for any of our yoga classes below and namastay healthy.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
Vinyasa Flow Yoga is the practice of centering, calming, and controlling breathing patterns, reviving the body through a series of carefully structured postures that help to move lymph and debris throughout the body, acting as an internal massage of the organs. Vinyasa Flow Yoga can also aid in proper body alignment; and providing limber, more fluid joints, bringing balance, healing, and mental clarity.
Aerial Yoga
Aerial Yoga (also known as anti-gravity yoga) involves exercises inspired by Yoga, Pilates, & acrobatics. It is performed with the use of a hammock, thus achieving a total lengthening &toning of the body. Aerial Yoga works with gravity by facilitating bending and stretching the whole body during exercise, strengthening and rehabilitating muscles and joints, and decompressing the spine as the body hangs freely. Relax and realign the body, center the mind, uplift the spirit no matter what fitness level- explore new boundaries!
Veraflow
Veraflow Yoga allows you to dance, stretch and find your true flow. VeraFlow is just what you need to feel completely relaxed and content. Find your true flow in body and mind as you stretch your body and train your mind to the rhythm of the music. You will leave feeling like you have had a full body massage, with your muscles strengthened yet relaxed and loose.
Avoid drug mart; take care of your heart.
Yearly physicals are a standard measure to stay ahead of any red flags regarding heart health. Prevention is the best cure, and regular blood pressure and blood sugar checks keep things in perspective.
Heart set on health
While healthy nutrition and fitness regimes can keep your heart healthy, excessive alcohol and tobacco use can end up being self-sabotage.
Heart in heart, everyone wants to be healthy. Remember, it is important to talk to your health worker if you have behavioral risks such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco, and alcohol use. They can help you plan the lifestyle modifications you should take to get your heart health back on track. If you are diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes, set targets with your health worker and take your medicines regularly. Involve your loved ones in your journey to a healthier heart.
The pandemic has made a lot of things seem out of control; one thing you can control is your health and wellness.
A regular exercise routine will help you keep your heart and other organs healthy for years to come. Cardio, Dance, Yoga — whatever, you do you. The most important thing is to get out there and do it. Join us virtually or in-person and start your journey towards better health.
Energise, Exhale, Empower.
Sargam Merchant For Salsa City Fitness.