September 2020 newsletter
September 2020
In this month’s newsletter:
- Studio Now Open!
- Easy Healthy Recipe: Dried Apple Rings
- Article of the Month: The Power of Napping
- And Finally… Self-Care September
Hello healthy people,
Celebrations abound – the Griffen Fitness studio has reopened. With a fresh lick of paint, Covid-19 precautions and only the bare equipment necessities, we’re raring to go!
Outdoor and webcam sessions are still available, all prices can be found on the website – please feel free to purchase via the new online shop.
There’s also some extra exciting news coming up, but I’m going to wait until next month to tell you. CLUE – it’s been a decade since the Healthy Living Yearbook was published.
Recipe of the month: Dried Apple Rings
It’s apple season, more than can be eaten, so why not make you own dried apple rings? So simple, nutritious and a wonderful snack on-the-go. Make these early in the day, as they can take up to ten hours to dry:
6 -8 apples
½ lemon, juiced
– Peel and core the apples, slicing them into 5mm rings.
– Pop them in a big jug of water with the lemon juice, to prevent apples browning.
– Spread dried apple rings on a non-stick baking tray (or silicon baking sheet) in a low oven, 60 – 70 degrees Celsius will do the trick.
– Go away and do something else, check every hour or so. Remember to turn them over after about three hours.
– They’re ready when they’re rubbery and not juicy.
– Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.
Article of the Month: The Power of Napping
Smart people nap. Super-fit athletes nap. Old people nap, and young children nap too. Some of us nap, and some of us don’t. Personally my afternoon nap is non-negotiable. It’s how I can do early morning fitness, and also evening fitness with energy. Napping is a chance to recharge the batteries during the day.
According to the Sleep Foundation, there are three types of napping; planned, habitual and emergency. The main difference is whether it is your body entering shutdown mode (emergency) or whether it’s scheduled (planned). Habitual napping can also be planned, in that when someone naps at the same time everyday (children do this), they may work it into their daily routine. Naps should be short, around 20 – 30 minutes, and fully clothed. It’s up to you whether you lie down in bed, or power nap seated on the sofa. You should wake up energised, not groggy. If you are groggy after a nap, perhaps you’re over-tired in general.
Benefits of napping include better cognitive function, improved mood and energy levels. It’s an oasis of calm in a busy day. Nowadays many people meditate, and it can be argued that meditation has a similar effect. It’s up to you to work out what works best for you. I personally nap mid-afternoon, when I’ve done most of my exercise and activity for the day and I need a final boost. Too early in the day and you might not be sleepy, too late and it might interfere with evening sleep patterns. I always set an alarm, in fact have a bedside clock with a ‘snooze’ function. Setting an alarm means you can really switch off and relax for half an hour. Switch off your mobile phone too.
Many high tech offices are now realising the power of napping, and Google even has ‘nap pods’ for their employees. If it’s good enough for Google, it’s good enough for me.
This article was first published in Trinity Spotlight and Stockbridge Spotlight magazines last month.
And Finally… Self-Care September
It’s easy to be too tough on yourself, especially in this day and age of social media, however we all need to love ourselves. As cheesy as it sounds ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’.
I love the Action for Happiness calendars and newsletters, worthy of your attention.
Have a happy and healthy September,
Tracy 🙂