H.E.A.T. Blog

Exercise, hot baths and massages are all ways to relieve stress, but did you know that your body also has a built-in mechanism for helping you relax? Breathing. The simple process of moving air in and out of your lungs not only allows you to continue living, it also has been scientifically proven to positively affect your heart, brain, digestion, immune system and other organs. Practicing breathing exercises and meditation - like we do in yoga - can energize you, help suppress asthma and other conditions, and even alter the way your body reacts to stress. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed and need a time out, try taking 5 and letting your natural stress-fighters do their thing. {Read the rest}

Speaking of committing to daily exercise goals, it turns out that the number of people who commute to work on their bikes is way up. NPR reports that rates of cycling to the office have at least tripled over the past two decades in nine major North American cities, including D.C., Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco and others.

It may be the "in" thing to do right now, but even this small change is getting big results: A recent study found that the cities with the highest rates of walking and cycling to work have obseity rates that are 20 percent lower and diabetes rates that are 23% lower than in other places where breaking a sweat during your commute is not so prevalent. Think about that when you're looking for an exercise goal to pursue in the lead-up to Christmas, and let's put Austin on the bike-friendly map! {Read the rest} 

When we were kids, our parents tried to teach us to be a good sport, to play well with others, to work on teams … And while we know now that all that stuff is important (lest we get thrown out of games and find ourselves searching for solo sports), we probably never realized that our ability to learn this simple principle could determine whether we grew into active, healthy adults.

We've talked a lot about the mind-body connection, and now research has uncovered a strong relationship between team camaraderie and the willingness of teenagers to commit to long-term physical activity. It turns out that if kids participate in teams they enjoy (groups that strike a good balance between self-improvement and winning), they're more likely to stick to their exercise regimens over time and stay physically active when they get older. {Read the rest}

If you haven't heard about it yet, the Austin Parks & Rec Dept. is recommending that the city start charging fitness groups like ours a fee to use public parks and restrict when and where we can train. Under the proposal, the city would charge between $500 and $1,500 for a 6-month permit, and the spaces we love -- like Auditorium Shores -- would be off limits to us.

We want to protect our right to use these public spaces, as well as find a way to work together to promote and preserve Austin's fit image. HEAT has suggested that the city go with a permitting system and charge a reasonable fee (that isn't unaffordable for small businesses), and we want to make sure that all the money goes back to the parks for upkeep and maintenance.

Here's what you can do …

Get informed:

Check out these stories and videos to get educated about the issue

HEAT spot on FOX

HEAT spot on KVUE

Speak out:

Let the city know what you think about the proposal by taking a quick survey. The more people weigh in, the more we can help find a solution that works for everyone. Take the survey now, and keep checking the blog and Facebook page for more updates!