The Shakti Gymnast

Stress management is something that I think is extremely important for everyone's well-being.  A person who is stressed out all the time is in a constant state of fight-or-flight. This means that our brain is in overdrive trying to help us fight or run away from a 'threat.' A person who is always in this state is inefficient, as he/she is using all of their energy focused on this 'threat.' This 'threat' may be an unwanted email, a person that picks on you, an assignment due, or an important upcoming competition. In this post, I'll be sharing some tips on how to reduce/manage stress. 1. Eliminate/Reduce caffeine intake Caffeine triggers the production of the stress hormone, cortisol. Naturally, cortisol is the chemical that our body makes when we are in stressful situations. Caffeine also blocks receptors that tell us when we are tired. When the body is tired, but we block those receptors from telling our brain that the body needs rest, it causes stress a

No one likes doing things that are hard or uncomfortable... with maybe the exception of David Goggins. So why even think about doing things that challenge us mentally? Why not do what makes us feel warm and comfy inside? Here are your reasons:   1. Mental Toughness is Preparation for the Future Being able to tolerate difficult experiences that challenge the mind prepares us for the future. When we complete a challenging task without breaking, we will come through being more wise about how to conquer our own mind. This also means that we will become more aware of how we react to and tackle challenges. One can then analyze his/her approach and ponder how to improve tackling mentally difficult tasks. By continuously facing difficult circumstances and building mental toughness, in the future, one can become unfazed with a task that is seemingly difficult to most. And when tasks arise that the majority are unable to complete due to being mentally weak, the person who had been preparing ment

In general, most people have heard of gymnastics. It's a common sport that's entertaining to watch and fun to do. If you're looking to learn more about gymnastics, this is the read for you. This is an overview of Women's Artistic Gymnastics:  The Level System The levels for the US Junior Olympics range from 2-10. After Level 10 there is Elite Compulsory and then Elite. Levels 2-5 are Compulsory and they have set routines that all gymnasts must perform in order to move up levels. Levels 6-10 are called Optional and the routines vary, but the skill set must be in accordance with the USAG guidelines in order for the routine to start at a 10.0. Each skill is assigned a letter and the same skill can vary in letter from event to event. For example, a switch half on beam is a 'D', but on floor it is an 'C'. In order to start from a 10.0, the gymnast must have all of the skill requirements.  However, in level 9 and 10, even if the gymnasts has all of the require

I believe what and when an athlete eats before a workout, practice, or competition has an effect on performance. It's important to eat easily-digestible whole foods that will provide the athlete with energy before a workout. As a vegan and recently gluten-free athlete, here are some of my favorite pre-workout snacks and foods that fuel me and provide me with energy before I workout: 1. Dates Dates are high in carbs and fiber. Carbohydrates will provide energy, while fiber allows the food to easily digest after eating, so you can feel a boost in energy right away. I like Joolies Dates  because they are organic, pitted, and have no-sugar added.  If you're looking for a snack with more calories, try cutting the date open and spreading nut butter inside.  2. Figs Like dates, figs are an excellent source of fiber and carbs. I recommend getting dried figs. My favorite figs are from Nutra-Figs . Unfortunately, they aren't organic, but they are kosher and no sugar is added.  3. App

The title of this blog post may be surprising to you, as most of us athletes are told since the beginning of our athletic career that protein is the most important part of our diet. I'm not disagreeing that protein is important; it is, but it's not everything. We, as humans, don't need protein in every meal. And in my opinion, protein should be consumed wisely, as it is can affect energy levels and performance.  Disclaimer: These are all of my thoughts and opinions from past experience and what has worked for me. What Happens When You Consume Protein Protein is for recovery. After we exercise, our muscles are damaged and in order for muscle synthesis to occur in order to heal them, we need protein. When we consume protein, we are telling our body to rest and repair.  When Should We Consume Protein? The best time to consume protein is right after a workout, specifically 30 minutes after exercising, so we can let our body know that it is time to recover and repair our damage

About a year and a half ago I started taking personal training classes to improve my strength and help reduce gymnastics injuries due to muscle weakness in my body. Now I weight train because I love these types of workouts and I have seen dramatic improvements in my athletic abilities. Skills and exercises I have not been strong enough to do in the past come easy to me now. I also notice that I know how to engage different muscle groups to help me do certain skills. I feel stronger, more aware of my body, and healthier.  In The Beginning When I first started taking personal training sessions, I wasn't really familiar with weight training. All I knew was that body builders do weight training to build muscle mass. Before taking these classes, I had back pain. It wasn't from an acute injury and I thought it was due to over-training. I had a muscle-related back injury in the past and it took me nearly four months to recover. I started personal training sessions as a way to improve