1) It Helps You Learn and Remember.

Your daily cycle from sleep to wakefulness is called your circadian rhythm, and it must be functioning, scientists have learned, in order for you to remember what you’ve learned. A Stanford University study shows that learning retention appears to hinge on how much GABA, a neurochemical, is produced during sleep.

Fitness boot camp classes to be held Monday through Friday in New York’s Central Park.

The group workout classes are an expansion of Method Fitness’s individual personal training service and will continue the firm’s emphasis on cardio and core strengthening for total body fitness. Classes are fitness boot camps in the sense that they are an hour of intense, focused activity and will be conducted by top notch Method Fitness personal trainers who are highly skilled in the science of exercise and health. These will not simply be classes of jumping jacks and pushups, but will follow the core strengthening regimen we use in our personal training.

Boot camp classes will be held three times in the morning – 6:00, 7:15 and 8:30 AM – and twice in the evening – 6:00 and 7:15 PM. Participants will be able to purchase workout packages for either two or three classes per week, although Hilton guests will be able to take individual classes. Monthly packages begin at $200.00. Classes will begin with a quick jog to Central Park followed by a challenging strength workout, and will conclude with a return jog and some cool-down and stretching.

Come join us! See website for details.

The modern diet known as the Paleolithic Diet takes its name from the idea that the diet of cave men and women (some protein but a lot of vegetables) is closer to meeting the nutritional needs of humans because we are more genetically similar to our Paleolithic ancestors than to the post-agricultural people whose diet we have adopted.

The 26.2 mile marathon is coming up on November 2, 2008.

It’s the first Sunday of November every year--a beautiful time to be in New York City. One must apply in advance and then, runners are still chosen from a lottery system but previous runners get preference. Since the application deadline has now passed, consider signing up early for next year and start your training now. Visit the ING New York City Marathon Official Website at: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org where there is also plenty of information about preparing for the run, what to expect, and how to volunteer if you just want to be involved or get inspired to run next year.

So many runners speak of how the New York City marathon changed their life. It’s a robust, long run with hills and inclines that test your strength, but, from the look of the runners who cross the finish line, it’s well worth it.

A) Certification
Make sure your personal trainer is properly certified. There are a great number of personal trainers who are excellent in their field due to their own experience in sports training or personal training in gyms, but certification shows a level of professionalism that you cannot do without.

The top personal training certifications in the US are the following: NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), ACSM (American College Sports Medicine), ISSA (International Sports Science Association), ACE (American Council on Exercise) and NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Assoc).

Especially look for trainers who continue to expand their knowledge base through continued education courses and keep their certification updated. What good is an expired certification? It should be current. Ask the trainer for the name of the association(s) to which he or she has certification and look up its criteria online.

Spa vacations are in the air. Awake, Disney addicts, New York shoppers, Royal Caribbean Cruise takers, and Paris museum hoppers! Awake to yoga on the beach. Tilt your face toward the wind and inhale. It’s a whole new way to vacation. It’s a true rest and break from your work. It’s a way to put your body, mind and spirit first; to make meaningful friendships; and to learn stress-free life habits.

There’s a slight unease that every woman feels entering the testosterone-laden, machine-filled terrain of the modern gymnasium. On a primitive level, the gym is guy territory. Not only is it the arena of the masculine, but women often feel self-conscious about themselves in ways that they might not readily admit.

Why all the fuss for the oil of a crustacean no heavier than a dry pea? The news is that the oil of this small zooplankton is crucial for maintaining excellent health. But what exactly are krill?

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.--John F. Kennedy.

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.--Anthony Robbins.

While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.--Ben Franklin.

You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well.--Dr. Wayne Dyer.