Do you suffer from migraines? Certain yoga poses can help prevent the onset of a migraine and act as a powerful pain reliever when one of these intense headaches occurs.

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, approximately 36 million Americans suffer from these debilitating headaches. Pain and side effects such as visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, and sound and light sensitivity, generally last between 4 and 72 hours.

Research has shown, though, that practicing yoga on a weekly basis lowers the frequency and intensity of migraines. If you're noticing signs of an oncoming migraine try practicing Seated Forward Bend.

Sit on the floor with a mat or towel beneath you. Stretch both legs out in front of you and flex your feet. Keep your torso upright and exhale all the air out of your lungs. Then, as you inhale, raise your arms toward the ceiling. Exhale and begin to fold your torso forward, bending from the hips. Keep your back flat and fold to a point of comfort. If possible, bring your hands to your feet or rest them gently on your shins. When you've reached as far forward as possible, relax your head, neck and shoulders. Hold for 30 seconds, then release. For a visual demonstration of this yoga pose view this Seated Forward Bend video on YouTube.

Happy holiday season! One of the best things about this time of year is learning about each other’s traditions, and how different cultures and religions celebrate the holidays.

Hispanic communities prepare for the arrival of Christmas with processions called Posadas. They represent the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph on the nine nights before Jesus’ birthday.

In Spain, Christmas Day revelers fill the "Urn of Fate" with the names of everyone present at the holiday feast. Then, two names are drawn out. Tradition holds that those two people will find romance or a lasting friendship with each other.

And more than half the world’s population celebrates a different winter holiday than Christmas. Islamic families exchange gifts on the Islamic New Year to celebrate Muhammad’s long journey from Mecca to Medina. Hindus celebrate the Festival of Lights during the winter months to mark the return of Lord Rama after his defeat of the demon king Ravana. And Buddhists celebrate the Lunar New Year, which takes place between January and April.

No matter how you and your family celebrate this very special time of year, we wish you love, peace and joy, now and in the new year to come. Season's greetings!

Weightlifting can be so rewarding! It’s good for your physical and mental health, and helps you sculpt a stronger body. But weightlifting can also leave muscles sore and make everyday activities a little painful.

To help you recover quickly, drink some cherry juice. A study conducted by University of Vermont researchers and published in Men’s Health revealed that weightlifters who consumed 12 ounces of pure or blended cherry juice twice a day retained more strength and experienced faster pain relief than those who drank other refreshments post workout.

“A concentration of inflammation-fighting antioxidants inside cherries helps erase the ache,” says study author Declan Connolly, Ph.D. " It minimizes the microscopic muscle tears that occur during forceful contraction."

Connolly says it’s best to drink cherry juice shortly after weightlifting or high-intensity workouts. And if possible, find juice blends without added sugar to lower calorie consumption.

Are you hosting overnight guests this holiday season? Impress them and make their stay more special with a little effort.

• Decorate little boxes or baskets and fill them with peppermints, sweet and salty nuts, or pieces of gourmet chocolate. Leave them on your guests’ pillows.
• Frame and place photos from last year’s holiday celebrations with your guests on the bedside table or dresser. This will set the mood and bring back fond memories.
• Stack a nice variety of current magazines, holiday books and the daily newspaper in their bedroom in case your guests forgot to pack their own reading material.
• Before guests arrive spend a night in your guest room to gauge the comfort level. This way you’ll know firsthand whether you need softer pillows, warmer blankets or more light.
  
  Happy holiday hosting!