Spring Renewal

Relieve Your Stress
Long-term stress not only exhausts you mentally, but it can harm your body by causing constant aching and faster aging. It is crucial for teenagers to find ways to cope with stress, and yoga does just that. Yoga derives its name from the word “yoke”—to bring together— harmonizes the body and mind.
“The flexibility retained from yoga helps for all kinds of sports,” said Noah Morford, an exercise specialist at Carriage Club Fitness Center. “It makes you stronger, leaner, and helps prevent injury.”
The elaborate balance and breathing exercises are proven to reduce muscle tension, blood pressure, heart rate and speed of brainwave activity, factors all directly related to stress. Many yoga poses are designed to temporarily restrict blood flow to a certain area, then re-oxygenate when body relaxes, resulting in the freedom from the negative, circular thoughts which we are prone to.

Move Your Body
Spring is in the air! If you’re not playing a sport then there’s no better time to start a daily exercise schedule. The hardest part of trying to get enough exercise is actually working up the motivation after a exhausting day at school. To combat this lack of motivation, try alternating exercises throughout the week–a jog with a friend one day and 30 minutes of weights the next.
“It is important for young adults to learn proper habits of exercise to decrease risk factors like diabetes and obesity,” said Noah Morford, an exercise specialist at Carriage Club Fitness Center. A steady routine of cardio exercise and stretching goes a long way and is proven to promote better sleep habits and revive your mood.

Eat Your Greens
Salad doesn’t have to be boring. The Mixx, a casual, organic bistro, allows its customers to be innovative with their meal and choose from six lettuces, six meats and over 50 toppings. Much different from other casual-dining restaurants, The Mixx brings its wholesome creativity to two locations in Kansas City, Main Street by the Plaza and The Power and Light District. The menu isn’t just limited to salad–it has a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps and a daily soup. The environment is just as organic and delightful as the food, with olive green walls and large, open windows. The restaurant minimizes its carbon footprint, by eliminating the use of paper and plastic. This unique cuisine uses the art of nature to give customers the satisfaction of a fresh, flavorful meal.

Quench Your Thirst
When owner Nate Watermeier realized Kansas City was lacking a decent smoothie shop, he decided to create KC Juice, which offers a variety of custom smoothies and juices. This original juice bar opened in February of 2009 on Pennsylvania Avenue in Westport, across from Murray’s Ice Cream. Watermeier was inspired to start his own business after working at Jamba Juice. During busy hours, Watermeier takes the extra smoothie from each blender and puts it in 16-ounce cups, creating smoothies with layers of different flavors. These unique, experimental drinks, nicknamed “Kamikazes” by Watermeier, cost $2.75 each. KC Juice uses all non-fat yogurts and relies on mostly local produce, depending on the season.

Tune Up Your Studies
Suppose that a certain song starts playing and a distinct memory comes rushing back to you. The same concept can work when studying for a test. Research shows that listening to the same music on repeat while studying a certain subject helps you retain memory of a specific event or information. Music is proven to trigger an alpha brain wave state – a perfect learning state for taking in information through auditory channels. While music evokes learning by ear, it can also through emotions and visual images. The more senses involved in learning, the more memorable the material becomes.