Highlights of a Decade

This past decade hasn't exactly been a breeze. We kicked it off with Y2K and wound down with H1N1. And everything in between (insert calamity here). But there were some rather notable highlights... in no particular order:

• SUVs Go MIA
• Birth of the Ipod
• Death of the Floppy Disk
• Blogosphere Ignites International Amateur Hour
• The Coolest President Replaces the Foolest President
• The Hudson Succeeded as a Landing Strip
• Al Gore, The Container Store, and Locavores Speak Out
• Transfats Get The Hell Outta Town
• Lawn Chairs Take Over Times Square
• NYC Bans Smoking (Goodbye Dry-Cleaning Bills, to Say the Least)

Just to name a few... Happy 2010.

The Big (Rotten) Apple?

What's got you down, New York? Is it the nonsense up in Albany? The mayhem down on Wall Street? The sour smell in your subway car en route to the office this morning?

Perhaps a winning combo of all three.

.

According to poll results recently released by the CDC, New York ranked number one as unhappiest of all states. But before we can blame Buffalo or Binghamton for these low marks, let's examine some of the major variables considered for measuring overall life satisfaction: climate, air quality, crime rates, and schools. Though upstate may boast of more brutal winters than the Big Apple, New York City's traffic congestion, ailing public school system, and pairing of humid summers with bitter winters (try waiting for the M15 on any night in the middle of February), might explain how we won the blue ribbon for the blues.

The number one state experiencing overall life satisfaction? Louisiana. Good thing we bought that place. Though part of the CDC's data was collected prior to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, it seems crawfish etouffe and Creole music (along with sunshine, warm weather, and a lower cost of living) are more life enhancing than previously thought.

There is one notable statistic New York City doesn't need to be cryin' about this year: the lowest homicide rate on record.

Now go take to these safe city streets and turn that frown upside down.

Massage In A Bottle

'Twould be a best-seller, especially during the holiday season. Alas, many tight shoulders and sore backs must throw down on a spa table for $100 an hour in order to find a bit of relief. Though regularly scheduling massages is a luxury to most, there are definite self-administered techniques which may do the trick -- at least, most of the time. The New York Times recently ran an article about a savvy bunch of athletic / wellness types who have turned to self-massage DVDs and foam rollers in relieving muscle aches and undoing otherwise nasty knots. .

Over the years, my yoga and Reiktini clients have asked me what my own wellness / relaxation regimen includes. Perhaps surprising, it doesn't include a whole lot of massage. Given the benefits of yoga (improved circulation, increased openness in the joints, stimulation of various glands that regulate immune function as well as moods), I don't really experience chronic tightness or stiffness. .

Would I *like* to throw down on a massage table every couple of weeks? Sure. And in this industry, I know plenty of massage therapists who'd happily barter with me. But there's something to be said for self-massage techniques - be it a foam roller for the hammies or a yoga pose to release the hips.

Throw in a lavender-scented eye pillow, and you've got yourself a party.

Junkie Food

A team of British Neuroscientists have found that our brains seemingly crave junk food as much as narcotics, indicating that food addiction can be just as difficult to overcome as drug addiction. Their study showed that a group of lab rats given an unlimited diet of high sugar and fat quickly became oversized, binging rodents demanding more Oreos with their heavy cream. Another group of rats, enjoying a steady diet of mineral water, dark leafy greens, and vegan snack products, were able to activate the pleasure center of their brains with much less hassle than their donut-addled counterparts. Indeed, the fat rats needed more and more stimulation to register the same amount of brain activity.

.

Though this is bad news for the average American struggling with weight issues and unhealthy eating habits, it's even worse for New York City's rat population, diving down deeper and deeper into the dumpster for a quick fix that will never bring true happiness of fulfillment.

Cookie Monstrosity

I was recently offered a cookie by a lovely woman who kept a whole bag of them in her purse at all times. This wasn't just any 105-calorie cookie, it was a dry, timid excuse for chocolate chip. I'd just had my first experience with the COOKIE DIET, a curious weight-loss fad (though it's been around since the 70's) that involves eating six pre-packaged cookies a day in addition to a regular meal. In other words, it offers cookie monsters an opportunity to satisfy their sweet teeth while only consuming about 1,000 calories a day. Sounds like a great idea to me! Who needs meals?

#

We know better than this. Plant-based food, people. Stick with actual meals and enjoy an Oreo when necessary. But for the most part, try to avoid eating items that come out of a box. Or a purse.

Soy Vey!

We're more than halfway through National Vegetarian Awareness Month, and the big question is: How are YOU celebrating? By going raw? By going green? By going to Peter Luger's?

*

Vegetarianism has many faces - be it a vegan student majoring in women's studies at a college in the Hudson Valley, a raw food chef in the Bay Area who hasn't heated enzymes in three decades, or some guy at Whole Foods in Union Square eyeing the buffet's barbecue seitan. Could you eliminate all animal product from your diet, happily feasting on xylem and phloem tubes or developing a huge hankering for almond milk with your oats? And if you could, why would you want to?

It's a valid question. May I now present to you a valid answer (a whole list of them).

Sex Cells

A study conducted by Samsung recently revealed that nearly 1/3 of Chicagoans prefer their cell phones to sex partners. The survey indicated that 3 in 10 participants (emailed at random) would rather give up sex for a year than abstain from their phone activity for the same amount of time. What does this say about the sociology of technology? What does it say about the city of Chicago?

Another interesting little statistic revealed by this study: More than half of those preferring texts over sex were women. That's right - it's two for the price of one for the lady who'd rather the phone and sets it to vibrate.

Clover And Out

Tooty-fruity tobacco, no more. With the recent enactment of a law banning clove and fruit-flavored cigarettes, the FDA has now sent out a letter warning all tobacco companies tobacc...off! It comes as no surprise that cigarettes designed to taste as sweet as candy appeal to a certain young, impressionable population. According to the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, 17-year old smokers are thrice as likely to smoke cloves and fruit-flavored cigarettes than 25-year olds. And I'm sure if they were to further investigate, those 25-year olds quite enjoyed flavored tobacco products when they were 17. So besides the obvious - that smoking cigarettes is an effective way to shorten one's life - I'm sort of curious about when these sweet ciggy enthusiasts shift into the stale stink of plain cigarettes.

Celebrate National Yoga Month

If you've been looking for the perfect excuse to get to yoga class, go no further. September is National Yoga Month, and what better way to celebrate than to roll out a sticky mat and fire up your pranayama? You don't have to be an advanced yogi (or even touch your toes) to experience the many proven benefits of developing a regular practice... so no excuses! Check this out this list of 50 health conditions improved by yoga according to multiple scientific studies -- everything from insomnia to infertility. If you've simply fallen off the dharma bandwagon this summer, commit to yoga for this entire month -- whether you're maintaining a daily practice or attending a weekly class. Make Sept 1 your new Jan 1!

You're Gonna Carry That Weight A Long Time...

... but only if you exercise on a regular basis. Sort of. An increasing number of dietary experts claim that exercising your demons may, in fact, backfire - in a big way. How could this be if so many people keep off unwanted pounds by spending hours at the gym each week?

As was demonstrated on CBS's "The Early Show" this morning, a workout often causes a workup (of appetite) that results in caloric consumption which often surpasses what Sally just burned during her spin class.

Fact: Daily yoga classes will not compensate for nightly Cinnabons.

*

Save that bun-of-sin for rare occasions (or the next time you have time to kill in an airport). Instead, stick with the power yoga but ease up on whatever post-workout snack or meal you're planning to devour. Keep in mind that your hour-long workout is probably burning no more than 500 calories, so sate your ravenous hunger thoughtfully.

Conserve your health as much as your wealth. Now go hit the gym!