Weight lifting helps build endurance and burn extra calories. | Aisha Bouderbaden/The Daily Cougar

Undeclared junior Frances Silva and accounting senior Anay Silva enjoy a shady day on campus before Houston heat hits again with a mean streak. | Minh Dam/The Daily Cougar

As the weather warms up and shorts become a necessity, tanning is becoming more popular, but college students are forgetting their sunblock and increasing their chances of developing skin cancer.

A pilot study in 2012 from the Department of Public Health at William Paterson University exposed that 88 percent of students spend more than three hours outside on summer days, but only 17 percent of those students use sunblock during that time. The research also showed that 41 percent reported  as having had more than 10 sunburns in their life. Director of UH Wellness Gail Gillan encouraged students to protect themselves from the sun.

“Working on a tan might be great now, but it can really work against you later. It ages and damages the skin,” Gillan said. “You need to think about how sensitive your skin might be. Even if you don’t burn, you can still damage your skin.”

Seeking substitutes to sun-bathing or tanning booths, Gillan said she looked to the Food and Drug Administration for advice in using spray tans and bronzers.

“Alternatives for tanning are not approved by the FDA, but you should always check the ingredients for allergies and protect all areas of the eyes and lips,” she said.

Gillan said students who plan to spend time in the sun should often reapply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, even if it’s water- or sweat-resistant. She also emphasized the importance of staying hydrated and taking breaks from the sun.

Communications junior Kristina Reyna said she formerly used tanning booths but switched to spray tanning and sun tanning after warned about skin cancer and excessive aging.

“I don’t like to admit it, but the media probably does enforce that tanned girls are more beautiful,” said Reyna, who spray tans about once or twice a week. “I like how I look tan.”

She added that spray tanning takes time, effort and money to maintain.

“I have to plan my day around it, and it’s expensive,” Reyna said. “I pay $50 a month for unlimited services. I use a special body wash to make it last longer too, and I have to wait eight hours for it to dry.”

Pre-pharmacy sophomore Therese Ecobiza also insisted society creates an idea that having a bronze-tan skin tone is more attractive.

“I’m naturally a tan color, so I don’t tan for the color,” Ecobiza said. “I mostly tan to get the sun-kissed vibrant glow, and I like the feeling of tanning, especially at the beach, relaxing and soaking up the sun.”

She said she is fully aware of the consequences of tanning, and prefers bronzers and spray tans in moderation over tanning salons.

“I’m actually taking a class where we just talked about skin cancer and the effects of UV radiation,” Ecobiza said. “When I go to the beach, I do bring an umbrella to get out of the sun for a bit, and I’ve been good about wearing sunscreen once it gets warmer, even just walking to class.

Creative writing senior Joy Lester demonstrated to the group how to properly use a condom. | Anthresia McWashington/The Daily Cougar

Sexually active women are in danger of two things: sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

“I think the job is even more on us to make sure that we can prevent pregnancy. Right now, there are things that we can do that can forestall that or make sure that we can prevent unwanted pregnancies,” said  Women’s Resource Center program coordinator Malkia Hutchinson.

“I don’t want it to be a burden for women to think of these things. I want them to know that they have options out there.”

The WRC hosted its first Gender Talk since Spring Break on Wednesday. This week’s topic revolved around contraceptives, birth control and the issue of consent when it comes to sexual activity.

Gender Talks are held weekly in the WRC, Room 279A of the University Center. The talks, which are open to both men and women, are designed as a safe space to discuss gender and female-related issues. Talks in the past few weeks have ranged from everything from interracial relationships and revenge porn to “Fifty Shades of Grey” and this week’s talk, which discussed how to have safer sex.

“We usually just talk about whatever is in the news, the media, sometimes if there’s nothing really going on we have a standard topic. But if there’s something major that happens, we focus more on that,” said history senior Lyndsie Harris.

“I like that women can get together … and men sometimes, too … we can all converse, it’s good to talk about topics that affect women and both genders.”

Hutchinson led the talk as she discussed different forms of birth control such as copper intrauterine devices, cervical caps, diaphragms and hormonal medications, shots and implants.

She explained how each method is inserted, how it is possible to obtain them and their advantages and disadvantages. Proper usage of both female and male condoms was also shown.

With recent losses in funding of family planning clinics and more and more laws coming up to shorten the window of time in which abortions can be held, if they can be held at all, Hutchinson believes it is important to know about safe sex.

In the wake of the recent Steubenville rape case that is setting the media on fire, the issue of consent during sexual intercourse was also brought up. Exactly what consent means was discussed, as was the concept of rape culture or the thought that modern society dismisses, or is even accepting of, sexual assault.

“I think it’s important for specifically women to have a space where they can go to to speak up about things, talk about things that may not be open to talk about in either their friend groups or in relationships at home with their families,” Hutchinson said.

“I like the idea of having different topics to talk about each week so that … maybe if you have friends who are not like-minded, or if you’re feeling kind of like you have no other support … things like this give people the space to (receive help).”

In the weeks to come, the WRC will be hosting more Gender Talks as well as a Salary Negotiation Workshop on April 5, where women can learn how to negotiate for equal pay with their male colleagues. The center will also be presenting The Vagina Monologues, a play exploring women’s issues and sexuality, on April 19.

arts@thedailycougar.com

“Dogs Don’t Eat Eggrolls,” a routine that showed the progress of how one individual unravels from the rest of the group Maritza Rodriguez/ The Daily Cougar

From dancing to yoga, students learned there are different ways to exercise without lifting weights. Students gathered Wednesday at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center to learn how to live a healthy lifestyle.

The Counseling and Psychological Services held Rock Your Body Day where volunteers answered questions from students who want to live a healthier lifestyle.

“The purpose of ‘Rock Your Body Day’ is to promote greater body awareness, acceptance and improve students’ overall health,” saidKay Brumbaugh, the CAPS outreach coordinator and predoctoral intern Beatriz Craven.

As students walked around the lobby and visited booths, they learned that living a healthy lifestyle involves getting a nutritious meal.

Paul Alfonso, Smoothie King manager, says having a nutritional smoothie can be an alternative for fried food.

“We offer a meal in a cup,” Alfonso said. “We fill the need for various functions that students need before or after a workout.”

The School of Theater and Dance had an ensemble perform “Dogs Don’t Eat Eggrolls,” a routine that shows the progress of how one individual unravels from the rest of the group.

The ensemble’s choreographer, Jhon R. Stronks, said dancing is where you are acquiring knowledge but applying it to your body. The important part is about stopping yourself from doing something, not someone else doing it for you.

“If you are afraid of failing, then you’re just going to have to get over that. Until you actually fail, you don’t know if you will succeed,” Stronks said.

Students also learned that the Recreation Center provides activities on and off campus.

Caleb Whales, assistant director of Outdoor Adventure, showed students the different options they have to get involved.

“Be willing to try something new, believe that you can be successful with it,” Whales said.

Students coming in for their workouts were fascinated with the posters and booths set up on how to be fit. Psychology sophomore Anusha David said she was glad the event happened at the Recreation Center. It gives more awareness and motivation to the students who are coming in for their daily workout.

“It’s great that the event is giving out a message that it’s not all about working out, but it’s also about eating healthy,” David said.

CAPS and the Recreation Center volunteers are hoping their message has encouraged each student to have a healthy mindset and body. Brumbaugh and Craven hope the event has a lasting impact on each student.

“Once our community starts to learn about body image and eating concerns, the stigma attached should start to diminish,” Brumbaugh and Craven said.

Students were shown a video that showed how much editing goes into the images of beauty that are portrayed in the media. From extensive makeup and photoshop, the ideal beauty is entirely fictional and certainly unattainable, leaving people to be unhappy with their bodies. | Maritza Rodriguez/ The Daily Cougar

Different media outlets can portray unrealistic expectations on what the human body is supposed to look like, and a study shows that 90 percent of women and 82 percent of men are unhappy with their physical appearance and wish their bodies were different.

As part of Rock Your Body week, the Counseling and Psychological Services hosted the Media Smart event to show students how movies, magazines and television could characterize an image as subjective as beauty.

CAPS outreach coordinator Kay Brumbaugh wants students to understand the information given by the media and teach them how to make informed decisions about a product.

“It is wonderful when students see Photoshopped images compared to the original and realize that they need to start questioning why they compare themselves with images from the media,” Brumbaugh said.

Kids can be influenced to change their appearance and may cause self-esteem issues — as is the case with young girls and boys who feel the need to lose weight in order to fit into a trend or crowd.

Art studio senior Gaby Markesino said growing up for her was difficult, especially with the media showing what women should look like.

“I know the influence it had on me when I was little,” Markesino said. “I’m a photographer, and I do a lot of work related to the media. It’s awful seeing what the media does.”

Although many researchers think women are the main targets, men can also feel uncomfortable of their image. Magazines and retail stores have pictures of men with six packs and a fine bone structure.

Although some media can have negative effects, some can be a looked at in a positive view, said advertising senior Randy Cantu.

“Be careful and understand the message they are sending out,” Cantu said. “Whoever sees it will be the one to determine on how to handle the message.”

Media has evolved throughout the years. Companies use the media to sell beauty products, sponsor celebrity clothing lines or television shows and all have ratings that would help the business grow. Brumbaugh says students should educate themselves with positive body magazines and websites to stay media smart.

“If someone is faced with a media image and notice they start to compare themselves, it can be helpful to step back and question if this image real or created by a computer,” Brumbaugh said.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Some students end up turning to a fast fix like junk food and learn to rely on caffeine and energy drinks to get them through all-nighters. While this might make students think they are saving more time for studying, by taking on unhealthful eating and drinking habits, they are ultimately hurting themselves.

“Nutrition is not only a healthy behavior that affects students physically. It also impacts their learning and ultimately their success at the University,” said Gail Gillan of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

If university students took time out of their studies to learn to eat smarter, the benefits would improve their health, studying abilities and their success in school.

According to several health websites like Livestrong.com, instead of snacking on a bag of Cheetos or power bars, it’s better to snack on nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans and flax seeds, which are full of memory-promoting nutrients such as Vitamin C, B6 and omega-3 fatty acids. If a student has a sweet tooth, chocolate produces endorphins, which enhance the mood and improve focus and concentration.

There are also certain fruits and vegetables which are known to improve brainpower. Based on an article from Livestrong.com, “certain superfruits like blueberries, strawberries and blackberries contain flavonoids and antioxidants, improve learning capacity and vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, carrots and spinach and avocados which contain monounsaturated fats increase blood flow to the brain and boost brain power.” 

“The complex carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables help us in learning, while carbohydrates that cause glucose levels to fluctuate, do not,” Gillan said.

According to Livestrong.com, other types of carbohydrates such as whole grain bread, cereal, brown rice and pasta can provide relaxing effects on the brain, reduce anxiety and aid in a student’s ability to focus without worrying, which improve their studying abilities. At the same time it’s suggested students avoid certain refined grains mostly found in processed foods, which causes sleepiness.

“Also certain proteins like fish such as salmon, tuna and halibut that contain omega-3 fatty acids improve learning ability and problem-solving skills as well as boost mental alertness,” according to Livestrong.com.

As far as drinking habits, green tea is full of antioxidants, which stimulate the brain and have a calming effect.

Gillan said most students make healthful choices around nutrition that help them academically. She said according to last semester’s Wellness Survey, 60 percent of students indicated fruit and vegetables are in their diet most of the time.

“However, 33 percent still eat high calorie/high fat foods and 28% eat fast foods at the same high levels.” 

While eating fast food might seem like a time saver, investing the time and learning to eat healthy is worth the while in the long run.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Yoga is reported to help students focus. | Wikimedia Commons

The life of a university student is potentially a very demanding and stressful one. Students face all sorts of challenges with juggling school, work and a social life. In doing so, students develop unhealthy eating habits and potentially become overweight because of fast food, but there is a way for students to cope with academic pressures without suffering.

Melanee Wood, the assistant director in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center says yoga is beneficial to students for many reasons.

“Number one, it’s a class that people of any fitness level can do. There’s easy ways to modify the class to either challenge yourself a little bit more or to take it a little bit easier if it’s not your day or if you’re not there fitness wise yet. It’s also a great stress reliever.”

Recent studies have proven college students who practice yoga develop lower stress levels and anxiety, mental clarity and an increase in flexibility and strength.

According to Livestrong.com, certain styles of yoga such as Vinyasa or Flow can help a student develop flexibility, strength and balance. These types of yoga give an individual a more intense workout through constant movement and poses. It’s challenging but good for strength building, maintaining a healthy body weight and increasing energy. In turn this helps students to learn to overcome some of those unhealthy eating and drinking habits that can lead to a negative body image and instead gives the student a boost in self-confidence.

For those looking for more of a challenge, Bikram or other forms of hot yoga is a good suggestion. These classes, which take place in a heated room at about 100 degrees, are good for relieving back pain, stretching the muscles, ligaments and tendons which causes one to sweat out toxic impurities, purifying the body. Hot yoga has also been known to reduce migraine headaches and reduce pain for students suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome developed from long hours of typing away on the laptop.

Per one yoga organization, Sangha Yoga Shala, practicing yoga also develops conscientiousness, which promotes concentration crucial to academic success. Studies have shown yoga can help students to improve their memory, grades and success in classes. By utilizing certain breathing and meditation techniques, students can stay focused when dealing with stressful situations like final exams. Hatha yoga is the best for this type of practice. This style focuses on breathing and meditation exercises, which can help an individual quiet the mind and can act as a natural sleep aid.

Yoga is beneficial to a student’s daily life; it can improve a student’s personal growth by relieving anxiety, enhancing mood, motivation and outlook on life and can help them achieve academic success while making their experience in college an enjoyable one. According to the American Yoga Association, practicing yoga daily allows people to access their inner strength that helps deal with the challenges of everyday life.

Fortunately for UH students, yoga classes are free. Wood says the Recreation Center offers eight yoga classes, as well as a pilates and yogalates, a fusion of pilates and yoga, class. The Recreation Center requires the student sign a waiver to get their fitness pass before joining a class.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Students give in to temptation at Cougar Grounds, near the Hilton Hotel. Studies have shown an increase in the number of college students dependent on coffee. | Monica Tso/The Daily Cougar

The percentage of young adults who consume coffee within a two-week period has increased in the past 10 years.

Students are becoming more dependent on caffeine to balance their rigorous study habits and improve their everyday moods. The growing lines at Starbucks are expected, but students’ health is at risk.

Research conducted by the National Purchase Diary shows that 18- to 24-year-olds are turning to coffee instead of caffeinated beverages. The percentage of young adults who drink coffee at least once in a two-week period increased from 25 percent in 2002 to 39 percent by 2012.

The study linked coffee to a decreased risk in depression and dementia, but its underlying health risks are severe.

The physician at the Student Health Center, Dr. Gwendolyn Lee-Dukes, cautioned students about the over-use of caffeine and said the lack of caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms.

“Fortunately, we have not had any coffee-related incidents here at UH, but too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting and even cardiac arrest,” Lee-Dukes said. “Recent data shows that in 2005, there were 1,000 emergency room visits reportedly linked to energy drinks, and the 2009 data shows this number was increased to 13,000.”

Most students believe coffee and caffeine to be beneficiary. Education junior Angel Chan began drinking coffee her freshman year of high school and continues to drink coffee every day.

“If I don’t drink coffee, I feel very unaware and sluggish,” Chan said. ”Coffee immediately perks me up and gives me the energy to get through the day. It makes me a nicer person too.”

In the Cougar Grounds Coffee Shop, hotel and restaurant management junior Ha Nguyen prepares coffee and takes orders for hundreds of customers.

“Our peak times are from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and also at noon Monday through Thursday when the lines stretch around the corner,” Nguyen said. “By the end of the day, we have taken over 500 orders, and more than half is for coffee.”

The number of orders fluctuates depending on the weather, Nguyen said, but even in the summertime, students buy iced coffee.

The sharp increase of coffee consumers in the last century has led to several extended coffeehouse hours, and Lee-Dukes believes that the increase is influenced by societal trends.

“In the late ’60s and ’70s, coffeehouses were in abundant supply with poetry and music, providing a great meeting point for students, and I sense the same sort of ambiance in our current coffee shops,” Lee-Dukes said. “Starbucks and several other coffee retailers have made coffee and tea ‘cool’ again.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

Held every Wednesday in the Women’s Resource Center, gender talks welcome new and familiar faces on a regular basis. | Maritza Rodriguez/ The Daily Cougar

Drinking is a large part of many college and high school students’ social lives, but too much alcohol may have some consequences.

The Women’s Resource Center kicked off the semester by discussing binge drinking at their first weekly Gender Talk. WRC director Beverly McPhail discussed with students how binge drinking can be a serious problem to women’s health.

Women should be more educated about alcohol and know the limits of their bodies.

“We need to educate women and let them know that it can be a problem,” McPhail said.

“They need to be aware of health benefits, drinking and the consequences of drinking.”

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women who binge drink could create a dangerous habit. A woman’s body responds to alcohol differently than a man’s. Alcohol can lead women to have unintended pregnancies. It also increases their risk of being exposed to violence, alcoholism and chronic diseases.

According to the study, women who have a high household income are more likely to drink. This is because they have more money to spend on alcohol and cars to drive to liquor stores.

Peer pressure also leads women into situations where they end up drinking more than what they can handle. Alcohol is used in a community to socialize at parties or events. Women consume more drinks to be attractive to men.

The study defined binge drinking for women as consuming four or more alcoholic drinks on an occasion.

Public health senior Latasha Micheaux says the study should be more detailed, explaining how women metabolize alcohol based on their body size or the type of drinks being consumed.

“Different people from different cultures and body sizes can deal with alcohol differently,” Micheaux said.

The study also found that binge drinking usually starts among high school-aged students. Girls who begin to binge drink at an early age are more likely to continue in their college life. Parents should take an active role in teaching their children how to control their limits and who to drink with.

“It is really good to learn your alcohol limit at an early age,” Micheaux said. “Once you turn 21, experiment with close friends or family members — anyone you can trust, so you won’t be taken advantage of (in the future).”

UH offers many programs where students can talk to counselors about alcoholism. The Intent and Motivation: Alcohol Group Exercise program helps cohorts such as residential life, sororities, fraternities and athletes talk about alcohol prevention.

“We do have resources here on campus. I hope that Gender Talk can help students deal with their problems on not only binge drinking, but other issues as well,” McPhail said.

arts@thedailycougar.com

While my weight loss came with several advantages to both my physical and emotional health, there is one thing which makes me the happiest — I can finally walk around campus without having aching feet.

Dec. 2010: Weight: 156 pounds Body-Mass Index: 31 (obese range) Pant size: Junior’s 13

Jan. 2012: Weight: 116 pounds Body-Mass Index: 23 (healthy range) Pant size: Junior’s 7

I was happy that I had completed such a feat, but was not sure how long it would take to lose another 20 pounds.

Since it was now summer, I switched from the sole routine cardio machine to swimming laps and riding more often with my cycling group.

Even though I had summer courses, I would arrive to class dressed in athletic gear to make myself want to work out later in the day.

I also made small changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and purposely parking further away to get more walking in.

When it came to eating choices, while studying vigorously, I knew I had to be careful.

Instead of buying the single patty burger at Wendy’s, it is much healthier to order to the Ultimate Chicken Grill.

Small actions like substituting ice cream for frozen yogurt and sugary drinks for fresh water actually helped more than one would think.

All the changes I made in my physical activity and eating habits soon paid off.

By the end of the summer I was 30 pounds lighter, and 10 pounds away from my target weight. I could taste victory.

Fall 2011 seemed like it would be a challenge with 15 hours of classes plus working for student publications, but I was so close that I did not want to let anything get in my way.

In addition to going to my neighborhood 24 Hour Fitness, I would exercise at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Thursday afternoons during my class break just to make sure I was physically active at least five days out of the week.

The new year came sooner than expected, but with it came my target weight.

A couple days before this semester began, I put on my favorite jeans while  I was getting ready to go out.

I was surprised at how big they felt and shocked when they fell off my hips. I went to weigh myself. The scale read 116 — a huge change from the 156 I saw just a year earlier.

I had finally made it.

arts@thedailycougar.com

The Texas Yoga Conference took over the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center over the weekend, bringing yoga demonstrations and musical acts along with it. | Catharine Lara/The Daily Cougar

More than 800 yoga enthusiasts and teachers gathered to celebrate the joys of yoga this weekend as the 3rd annual Texas Yoga Conference took place at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

The conference, which began Friday, was three full days of yoga, workshops and classes.

“I bought a pass for only one day to see Sean Johnson,” said Abbi Armstrong, a University of Evansville alumni who just moved here from Indiana.

Johnson is the founder of Wild Lotus Yoga in New Orleans and the founder of Soul School, an interdisciplinary yoga and spirituality teacher-training program that focuses on bringing soul and imagination to the art of teaching yoga.

Johnson taught an asana yoga flow class called “Wild Lotus Flow,” which, according to the conference website, focused on the “sensuality of vinyasa yoga with the heart and soul of Bhakti yoga in a unique vinyasa experience that weaves creative sequencing, storytelling, live music, inspiring poetry and enchanting mantras.”

This workshop was sold out at this summer’s Yoga Journal Conference and fortunately didn’t sell out this weekend, but the room was still packed with yoga mats.

“The class was everything I hoped for, I really enjoyed it,” Armstrong said. “The technique and music was simply awesome.”

The conference featured many workshops including lectures from Nydia Darby, Nicolai Bachman, Liz Antognoli, Sheri Cherokee, DeAnna Nielson, Shanon Caldwell, Tracie Brace, Cody Drasser & Stephanie Shorter, Lisa Ware and Pam Johnson, among others.

Eric Paskel, Yoga Shelter founder and lecturer on “The Yoga Approach to Relationships,” explored the Vedic roots of the yogic approach to relationships.

“We tend to be ‘experts’ on everyone else’s life, but when it comes down to looking at our own, we are lost, confused and stuck,” Paskel said.

“The only happiness anyone knows is conditioned by an external agent. People are convinced that the happiness they experience is true happiness — but the true path to happiness and success in relationships rests in recognizing and respecting the order and grandeur of this magnificent universe,” Paskel said.

Third-year conference participant Susan Snell made a point to attend Paskel’s lecture because he brings a message that can speak to everyone.

“His lectures are life changing. He is full of life lessons that everyone, yogi or not, can learn from,” Shell said.

Returning participant Jessica Dunegan thought Paskel’s delivered a great message that came at an opportune time.

“It really spoke to me, and I feel better about myself knowing that I can take his knowledge and use it for my life’s relationships,” Dunegan said.

Along with the demonstrations and lectures, attendees were also able to listen to the sounds of Desert Dwellers, Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, Sound of Meaning, and local favorite Tyagaraja and M.Welch, among others.

Though the conference is now over, many yogis are already anticipating what 2012 will bring.

“I can’t wait for the next year’s conference,” Dunegan said. “There was so much to offer with all the yoga classes and workshops and vendors. I had a blast — this is an experience of a lifetime.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

This year’s theme, “Yoga Rocks Texas,” will encompass more than 60 presentations and 20 different styles of yoga from some of the world’s best instructors.

There will also be live musical performances by internationally and nationally known recording artists David Newman, Dessert Dwellers and Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band.

Celebrated local artist Tyagaraja Welch is also set to perform.

The Texas Yoga Conference was founded in 2009 by a trio of UH alumni consisting of Jennifer Buergermeister, and Roger and Albina Rippy.

“We were just yogis wanting to start an event and now it has doubled in size,” said Buergermeister.

“Our goal of the conference is to raise awareness and education about yoga. It strives to educate others about the many benefits of yoga and lead fitness and health seekers toward a better quality of life.”

Buergermeister expressed enthusiasm when she was asked about returning to the sea of red T-shirts at UH.

“It’s going to be the coolest event in town,” said Buergermeister.

“We are excited to come back to our alma mater. Not only is it right on campus, but there will be so many amazing presentations that you wouldn’t want to miss. This is a big deal for us.”

A performance by the Bhaki House Band followed by the new and innovative sounds of Desert Dwellers is scheduled to take place beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Desert Dwellers blend deep bass, earth percussion and culture-crossing instrumentation into sonic incense for mind and body,” said Buergermeister.

There is a correlation between music and yoga and the combination can really elevate the soul.

“Music is everything to me. It builds a feeling and a mood,” said Buergermeister.

“It’s important to incorporate music with yoga. It has a warm-up and a climax.”

The event has invited thousands of participants this year and Buergermeister’s vision for it has always been big.

“I envision this year’s conference as being an event that simply rocks with fun,” said Buergermeister.

“Yoga has something to offer everyone, at all stages of life. Yoga simply makes life more enjoyable — mentally, emotionally and physically. We have a lineup of incredible teachers from all over the nation to bring Houston the most comprehensive and fun yoga conference yet.”

Those who wish to participate in this Texas-sized event should register online to purchase tickets.

Students will receive a discount on day passes to the yoga classes,workshops and the festival’s music concerts.

For more information, call (713) 839-9642 or visit www.texasyogaconference.com.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Coincidentally, I spotted an advertisement on campus by the UH Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

The Wellness branch at the center was offering (and occasionally still does) free nutritionist consultations. I scheduled an appointment and saw the nutrition intern within a few days.

The nutritionist took my weight, height and body mass index, then wrote down my food choices to get my plan started. He calculated my BMI range at 31 — meaning I was essentially obese — and advised me to lower this number. In order to reach a healthy BMI range, I had to lose at least 40 pounds.

The nutritionist provided me with booklets on healthy eating and told me to keep a food journal. I took his advice and scheduled a follow up.

Under the nutritionist’s plan, I was required to eat less, of course, but also to eat small meals throughout the day. The plan I was given to lose weight might work for some, but it failed for me.

Everyone’s body is different, especially when it comes to weight loss and food digestion.

I gained three pounds back with the nutritionist’s plan, but at the follow-up appointment, my plan was edited for my own benefit instead of being more general.

My new plan called for a modest breakfast, lunch, and small dinner and exercising at least five times per week. Still, I was discouraged and thought I’d never successfully lose weight.

Not long after receiving my new nutritional plan, I started going back to 24 Hour Fitness regularly.

After getting winded on the treadmill, I discovered a cardio machine called the Cybex Arc Trainer in the back of the gym.

I gave it a shot and burned twice the calories I was burning on the treadmill in only 15 minutes. Soon enough, I was using the Arc Trainer for 60 minutes, five times a week.

In addition to eating better, I found myself 15 pounds thinner in no time at all.

While the UH Wellness Center was a great help, my success was backed by support from family and friends.

As I began to slim down, I received praise from close friends and even classmates I didn’t know too well.

Some of my overweight relatives and co-workers were inspired by my new lifestyle and started taking their own measures to lose those pesky excess pounds.

With so much support surrounding me, I began tracking my progress via Facebook.

I would share my calories burned at the gym, how many pounds I had lost for the month, and my favorite healthy foods.

After many workouts at the gym and munching on fruit for snacks, I was 20 pounds thinner and lost one size by the end of Spring 2011.

I enrolled in summer courses again and feared the hectic schedule would cause me to once again regain the weight I had worked hard to lose. However, I resolved to see the summer as an opportunity to exercise in the fresh air.

I was now halfway to my weight loss goal and determined to reach a healthy BMI number.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Extra weight had been a problem for me throughout high school, but I was determined to stay healthy in college.

With a gym membership and sack lunches from home, I managed to remain at a steady weight for my entire freshman year at UH.

But then classes started to overwhelm me when I enrolled in summer courses to jump-start my sophomore year.

In order to focus on my studies, I quit going to the gym. That’s when the infamous ‘Freshman 15’ finally got a hold of me.

My summer courses were fast-paced and left me little to no time to exercise at all. With so much homework due by the next morning, my only food options were Wendy’s or Dairy Queen, since I couldn’t prepare my own meals and write an essay at the same time.

I ended the summer of 2010 nine credit hours ahead, a 3.7 GPA, but also with a larger waistline. In only one year, I gained 30 pounds and two sizes.

When my sophomore year began, I found myself wheezing after going up a few steps for a class and my feet aching after walking around campus. I visited the Health Center and weighed in at 156 pounds, which is technically obese for a 5-foot-tall woman. I knew something had to be done.

During my sophomore year at UH, I was enrolled in an introductory genetics class with professor Dan Wells and had to make a mini-documentary on a genetic condition as part of my grade.

I chose to study the “thrifty gene”, a gene found in Native American and Hispanic populations that causes the body to store extra fat.

Since Native Americans went through periods of starvation in the days of hunting and gathering, extra fat was necessary to survive. Nowadays, the extra fat produces diabetes and other health issues because the thrifty gene is still present.

As I completed my project, I interviewed multiple people with weight issues/diabetes. When I heard of their experiences, I officially decided I was going to lose weight right away.

At the end of the Fall 2010 semester, I kicked off my winter vacation by joining a 24 Hour Fitness club near my home. My first workouts were hard and I felt like giving up after a few days. Whenever I wanted to quit, I thought of my project in Wells’ class and gathered the energy to keep going.

The New Year showed up soon after that, and though I had dropped six pounds, there was still a long way to go.

arts@thedailycougar.com

After the season has ended, many of these people will try all sorts of diets to lose weight and improve their appearance. Unfortunately, improving one’s appearance is often the primary motivating factor for weight loss — many people are less concerned about their actual health. Aiming for a healthy body weight is a reasonable goal, however many people will follow unhealthy diets such as the Atkins diet to lose their holiday weight.

The Atkins diet and other low carb diets are unhealthy because they encourage dieters to reduce their intake of carbohydrates to unhealthy levels. The Atkins diet encourages its customers to eat no more than 20 net grams of carbohydrates per day, whereas the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that 45 to 65 percent of all calories consumed should come from carbohydrates. This means that an individual on a very restrictive 1,000 calorie diet should eat no less than 112.5 grams of carbohydrates per day.

Thus, the Atkins diet encourages dieters to restrict their carbohydrate intake to levels far lower than the USDA recommendation. This diet also encourages dieters to “enjoy butter,” whereas the USDA encourages dieters to limit their intake of butter. The diet also makes it incredibly difficult for one to consume many micronutrients like Vitamin C that are found in carbohydrate rich fruits.

There are ways to loose your holiday weight without following unhealthy, carbohydrate deficient diets. Losing weight is simply a matter of expending more energy than is consumed — there are healthy ways to do this. One can replace sugary drinks with water and limit the consumption sweetened beverages, alcoholic beverages, candy, butter and other high calorie foods that are relatively deficient in micronutrients.

Likewise, many dieters often overlook the importance of expending more energy through physical activity. Exercise not only provides the benefit of weight reduction, it also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Holiday dieters should keep in mind that improving one’s health is more important than improving one’s appearance — even though they can do both by dieting in a healthy way.

arts@thedailycougar.com

This decadent treat is low in sugar, closer to its natural form, and hosts a bevy of benefits. It is also rich in antioxidants like polyphenols (also found in red wine and green tea) which help protect against heart disease. For those keeping their heart health in mind and blood pressure in check, forget the daily low-dose of aspirin, dark chocolate does the same thing as aspirin when consumed regularly.

Don’t take this as a free-for-all at the candy counter though. As with everything else you ingest, moderation is key.

Half an ounce is all it takes to reap the benefits of the sweet simplicity that is dark chocolate. However, there are down sides too like sugar, fat, cream and flavorings — additives which make it taste good.

In terms of other psychological and physiological benefits, chocolate contains theobromine, a close relative of caffeine and a mild mood enhancer. It also contains Phenethylamine, which triggers the pleasurable endorphins to release and increase the potency of dopamine — a chemical associated with sexual arousal and pleasure.

It contains anadamides which produce a sensation of elation and exhilaration, and boosts serotonin levels which are notably low in women who experience PMS and in people dealing with depression. Entire classes of anti-depressants have been created to do the same thing at a higher level.

When business major Jason Dickinson was in junior high, he said that a Holocaust survivor visited his school and told of the day he was released from Auschwitz.

He told students that he remembered one of the soldiers helping them gave him a Snicker’s bar and that it tasted like heaven. That story stuck with Dickinson and he still enjoys a Snicker’s bar every now and then, but said “chocolate is better all by itself.”

In the end, chocolate is good, good for you and good for everyone around you — both inside and out.

arts@thedailycougar.com

It’s no secret that the sound of the alarm clock in the morning is the bane of most students’ existence — but having to get out of bed before the sun comes up or having to turn in before the rest of the night is over is even worse.

Even USA TODAY College reports on the loathsome early morning classes and offers a list of classes that would be worth waking up for. But here’s the catch — studies have found that all 8 a.m. classes might be worth readjusting your schedule for because there’s a noticeable difference in academic performance.

In fact, according to an article in USA TODAY College, St. Lawrence University professor Pamela Thacher told the New York Times that she and a colleague found a .02 drop in grade point averages for students who start their days every hour after 8 a.m.

That likely doesn’t bode well with the students that prefer to burn the midnight oil and sleep in, instead of starting the day early.

But think of it this way: If your first class is at 1 p.m., that’s the difference between making a 4.0 and a 3.0. — that’s certainly a sign that taking earlier classes could lead to a better GPA, which is well worth the earlier bed time and the extra cup of coffee in the morning.

Due in part to the notion that having a full day allows more time to get things accomplished, University of Maryland cites that earlier classes cause students to have more regulated sleep schedules, drink less and get work done more efficiently.

But of course, when the rest of your friends are going out on a Wednesday night and you have class early the next morning, it’s tempting to stay out late and sleep in the next morning. Studies show that people who start the day later tend to drink more and study less, when those that started early led healthier lifestyles and had higher grade point averages.

And then there are those that function better in the latter half of the day.

Or maybe the 8 a.m. class you took your first semester of college scared you into staying away from morning classes for as long as you possibly can — but making better grades will be worth small social sacrifices and tired eyes in the end.

Having an earlier routine might even be better than you thought — nothing feels better than increased productivity and higher test scores.

So, get your groan out of the way before registering for classes. Taking that dreaded 8 a.m. could be just what your schedule needed — and it’s all about what you make it.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Some people claim you should bulk up and eat tons of food to build muscle; some claim you should build muscle while losing body fat through altering your carbohydrate and fat intake. But the problem is that these solutions don’t always work for the average student that is juggling classes, work and a social life.

Only through self-application can one find what works best for them. However, before anything can change, you should start with nutrition.

Nutrition alone can have a dramatic affect on your physique. It can increase your muscle size or decrease body fat, and it can give you far more energy and even boost one’s overall well-being. Knowing the best, high-quality foods to eat and when to eat them can reap tremendous rewards to the novice trainer or even an elite athlete wanting to prepare for an upcoming competition.

When trying to get into shape for the first time, it’s best to start by changing your diet. Training is not superior to nutrition, nutrition is not superior to training, and neither is superior to the body’s ability to recover from the two — all are part of an equation that help your body adapt to physical activity.

Here are 10 ways to improve the outcome of your training sessions.

1.  Using a reverse grip when doing presses for the chest engages the chest by more than 30 percent in comparison to standard incline bench press.

2.  Add variety and change your posture in order to sufficiently target and stress various locations of the muscle fibers. Such changes can include changing hand placement, changing the angle of a bench, or spacing of one’s feet when squatting.

3.  One of the best diet approaches is simply to get a moderate to high amount of lean protein, moderate to high amount of carbs and moderate to very low amount of fat. When you are aiming for size, increase the amount of carbs; when trying to burn fat, simply lower your carb intake throughout the day.

4.  Dumbbell presses are superior for chest development as opposed to barbell presses, simply because the range of motion allows your arms to move in a plane that is ideal for better isolation of the pectoral fibers as opposed to incorporation of the deltoids or shoulders.

5.  If you’re losing steam in your workouts, Music can have a positive effect on your mood when training. Similarly, ballet stretches can assist your muscle in recovering and growing.

6.  Using supersets is a great way to add intensity in one’s workouts. Training opposing muscles loosens you up and allows one to be stronger in both muscles.

7.  Train intelligently and efficiently. Aim to be done with training within one hour if possible — otherwise a nasty little hormone called cortisol will negatively affect your workouts if you train for too long.

8.  Testosterone is the king of muscle growth. Testosterone is what separates the huge muscle men from the aesthetic beauty of a model. Men produce high amounts of testosterone, which gives them a natural advantage in rapid growth of muscle tissue.

9.  Try to cut down on the intake of saturated fat; focus on mono- and poly-saturated fats like avocados, olive oil and nuts. Too much saturated fat can increase the storage of fat on one’s physique. Healthy fats can assist with much-needed functions in the body such as hormonal production.

10.  Also fuel up on the body’s most needed resource — water. It is the most abundant product in your body and therefore should always be replaced. Keeping your body hydrated will improve your health, appearance and overall well-being.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Replace your high-calorie cocktails with wine, light beer or pre-mixed margaritas. Try to limit snacking on finger food during happy hour as well — just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s good for you. | Rick Audet/Wikimedia Commons

After a stressful week and with a few exams under your belt, happy hour is most likely calling your name.

Getting together with friends and having a few drinks and snacks after a stressful week is a great way to relax and have some fun, but it is also a great way to take in thousands of extra calories.

Once high-calorie alcoholic beverages are in, our inhibition goes down, cravings go up and we overload on the finger food ordered along with that second (or third) drink. With just a few simple twists, you can reduce the calories and not the fun. All it takes are some healthy choices during happy hour.

Drink to your health

For a healthier happy hour, try wine. This has fewer calories per ounce than liquor. A glass of red or white wine has about 120 calories and light beer has about 95 calories. There are also many low calorie drink mixes on the market, like Skinny Girl margarita and sangria.

Good quality vodka mixed with club soda and a twist of lemon or lime has only 65 calories, while a Bloody Mary has about 100 calories.

If you really want something a bit more exotic, try a mojito. If it’s made with light rum, a bit of sugar and topped off with cold club soda, it could only be about 160 calories and 15 grams of sugar.

Free food: Is it low calorie or fat free?

Just because the food is there and it’s free doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Bars love to supply their guests with salty treats like beer nuts, peanuts, and pretzels that make you drink more — good for them, bad for you.

Instead of thinking “why not, they’re free,” keep in mind that they’re not calorie or fat-free. If you want something to nibble on, don’t be tempted by what’s free. Instead, buy finger foods like edamame, which gives you that hit of salt without the calories and fat.

With low calories cocktails coupled with low calorie and fat free snacks, there is no doubt that you will have a more fun, healthier happy hour.

Cheers to making healthy choices you won’t regret the next morning.

arts@thedailycougar.com