Valentine’s Day: Get Your Love Jones At The Gym– Literally

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Valentine’s Day is the day of love, and it is a great opportunity for women, whether in a relationship or not, to consider getting their Love Jones at the gym or through exercise.  Valentine frame background

 

A new study by the Center for Sexual Health at Indiana University concludes that many women interviewed experience orgasm with physical exercise.  According to this report, these “corgasms” are linked to exercises for the abdominal muscles.  The research, directed by Debby Herbenick, relied on online surveys to gather data and included responses by “124 women who had experienced exercise-induced orgasms and 246 women who reported exercised-induced sexual pleasure.” [1]  The majority of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 63, with an average age of 30.  Most reported that they were either married or in a relationship, and 69 percent stated that they were heterosexual.

This study is significant for healthy green living because it gives women another really great reason to exercise, in addition to weight control, mood enhancement, prevention and management of a variety of health problems and mood enhancement.  Also, sexual health is an important component emotional, mental and social well-being.  A keyboard with a pleasure key - social concept

It is important to note that not all types of exercises were linked to the experience of orgasm.  The study results indicate that 45 percent of the women stated that their first sexual experience while exercising was linked to abdominal exercises; 19 percent experienced orgasm with biking/spinning; 9.3 percent with climbing poles; and 7 percent with weightlifting and running.  The remainder mentioned orgasm experienced with yoga, swimming, elliptical machines, and aerobics.  More women stated that they felt sexual pleasure as opposed to orgasm phenomenon.  The important takeaway here is that exercise can provide a healthy avenue in which a woman can learn to love herself, embrace her sexuality and cherish her body.

Love and sports

When one stops and ponders this concept, maybe it is not that unusual.  After all, if you have ever taken any classes at a gym, think about how engaged the female instructors tend to be, particularly in the spin classes, weight training and both the water and step aerobics.  I distinctly recall the level of excitement by the instructor in the Zumba classes approaching that of an old-time revival.  We all recall the recent uproar at Wimbledon whereby female tennis players grunted and shrieked during matches, prompting the tennis associations to launch campaigns to ban such behavior.  [2]  Just maybe these women are responding to exercised-induced sexual pleasure.  Of course, this would not be considered by the largely male executives of this sport, who probably would never give credit to any sexual pleasure to a source other than a man.  Finally, take a trip to a Baltimore sports event, such as an Orioles or Ravens game.  Even with the singing of the National Anthem, notice the crowd, especially the ladies, scream “O” with the last stanza.  Maybe, just maybe the exhilaration of the sporting event is teasing their sexual pleasure.

Christian Grey has nothing on us.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you are at least somewhat familiar with the book and just-released movie, Fifty Shades of Grey.  As I write this article, thousands of women are in line or online purchasing tickets to see this movie.  Well ladies, now you know you do not have to pay money and sit on the sideline letting Christian Grey be the stimulus for your sexual pleasure.  Spend your money on a gym class, a pair of running shoes or weights and take charge of your own orgasm or sexual pleasure.  Share exercise routines with your husband or significant other to enhance your relationships.  For the men– if you are still out there looking for that great Valentine’s gift, consider the gift of a gym membership or a commitment to exercise together to improve the romantic aspect of your relationship.  Diverse Hands Holding The Word Exercise

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to celebrate love and life.  Hopefully, it will serve as a time for women to love their bodies, embrace their sexuality and strive for good health through exercise.  To do so is to live green, be green.

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[1]  http://www.livescience.com/19145-exercise-induced-orgasm-sexual-pleasure.html.
[2]  http://www.bustle.com/articles/29044-why-do-female-tennis-players-grunt-as-wimbledon-approaches-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about.

Happy International Women’s Day

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International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (Photo credit: Tapio Kaisla Photography)

Today is International Women’s Day, and LGBG is proud to celebrate this day and to salute women all over the world for their hard work and accomplishments to improve the world.

International Women’s Day (IWD) was first celebrated in 1911 in four European countries.  It originally commemorated working rights protests of female garment workers.  While these protests actually began on March 7, 1857, the movement became more organized in 1908, where on March 8th, more than 15,000 women marched in New York City, “demanding better pay, voting rights and an end to child labor”.  In the ensuing years, IWD observances took place on varying days in March.  In reaction to a horrific fire at the Triangle Waist Company building in New York City on March 25, 1911 in which 146 women (mostly immigrants) were killed, a movement was organized to bring attention to the inhuman working conditions of female industrial workers.  This effort led to the creation of the Factory Investigation Commission and the passage of laws that mandated “safety standards, minimum wage, unemployment benefits and financial support for aging workers”.  In 1975, the United Nations designated March 8th as the official day of observance for International Women’s Day.  Over the years, IWD observances have evolved to include observance of  advances of women in human rights and discussions of the ongoing challenges women face in all areas of life, including, but not limited to, politics, education, labor and health.

LGBG is especially proud to salute two organizations recently spotlighted on its site.  First up is No Water-No Life, directed by photographer Alison Jones.  NWNL is a globally focused project that employs photography to document the availability of fresh water resources, raises public awareness and provides education to stakeholders to foster partnerships globally.  With a profound understanding and beautifully conveyed message that water is the key to life, NWNL is a dynamic force and important asset to the green movement.

Our second IWD salute goes out to Africa Inside, directed by Lori Robinson.  This project promotes wildlife conservation and environmental protection in Africa.  LGBG is proud to partner with Africa Inside on its program to eliminate pollution by plastic bags in Africa.  With its exchange program, African citizens receive a reusable shopping tote for every 25 bags retrieved from the countryside.  To date, this exchange program has been an overwhelming success in not only cleaning up the countryside, but also in educating the citizens on the value of their natural resources and the need to protect them.

LGBG congratulates women globally for their tireless work to make our world a better place to live.  We thank you and wish you a Happy International Women’s Day!

Sources for this article:

1.  http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech-Culture/2013/0308/What-is-International-Women-s-Day-video.
2.  http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2012/0308/International-Women-s-Day-How-it-s-celebrated-around-the-globe/Asia-Pacific?nav=638983-csm_article-promoLink.
3.  http://nowater-nolife.org/index.html.
4.  http://africainside.org/.

 

The Green Side of Obamacare

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Earlier today, the Supreme Court submitted its ruling that upholds the constitutionality of the Affordable Health Care Act or as we have come to know it, “Obamacare”.  The overall costs of this act in terms of dollars will be hotly debated for years to come, especially in regards to individual mandates and expansion of Medicaid to cover unemployed and uninsured people.  While there is some disagreement about some of the terms of Obamacare, one positive lies in the mandatory provision of preventive services, especially for women and children.  This definitely fits into the category of a green initiative.  

With this provision, many people, young and old,will get the opportunity to get medical services in a physician’s office rather than in the emergency room.  This experience is important because an established doctor-patient relationship in an office carries with it an educational component.  People with established relationships with medical professionals can attest to the availability of reading material available in the doctor’s waiting rooms regarding nutrition, exercise, hygiene, etc., as well as the videos that often are playing on the televisions.  The wait time in the physician’s office is a dedicated learning experience.  Also, the scheduled block of time for each patient provides opportunities to ask the physician or the assistants general health questions and to get referrals for ancillary services, such as counseling, support groups, etc.  On the other hand, appearances in area hospital emergency rooms are often rushed due to the sheer number of people waiting to be seen.

Preventive services are very important because they incorporate a holistic approach to good health.  They encourage us to make the connection between positive changes afforded by clean air, clean water, healthy diet, environmental changes and other green initiatives that help us to avoid health problems.  

We also can expect to see hospitals and medical practices adopt practices to control the increased flow of visitors to their facilities.  These initiatives include the increased use of visiting nurse practitioners and physicians to homes to treat chronically ill patients, the use of computers and video conferencing to maintain remote contact with patients to discuss their conditions and the introduction of more community counseling, lecture series and classes for patients to address health issues.  

Obamacare definitely is a step in the right direction to educating citizens to live green, be green!

 

Learn Green to Live Green

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Starting a green regimen can be a rather daunting task.  Even browsing the Internet yields so many “hits”, making it  difficult to determine where to begin on this journey.  Attending a green expo is a great way to get educated on green programs and products.  These events feature green commodity manufacturers who showcase their goods in a central location while permitting consumers to view these offerings thoroughly and ask questions.  Demonstrations at these events are both informative and entertaining.  

Green expos can be found in different regions of the country year round.  With a little research, it is possible to find an event in most areas.

One such upcoming event is “Greening Up at the Expo” in Central Point, Oregon this weekend (June 30 through July 1, 2012).  This expo will feature greater than 50 exhibitors and 27 sponsors and will include presentations on many areas of green living, including jobs, financing, entrepreneurship, eco-nature tourism, home building and remodeling, gardening, transportation and energy.  Further details about this expo can be found at theoregongreenexpo.com.  

A second noteworthy upcoming green expo is the “Living and Eating Green Expo 2012” in Cleveland, Ohio.  This event will feature several keynote speakers on topics such as plant-based diets, women, sex and food, food selection and cancer risk, breaking food seduction, and the impact of living green.  There will be several vendors available, who will distribute information and product samples.  Also included is a Vegan Food Fest.  The “Living and Eating Green Expo 2012” will be held on September 8-9, 2012 at Lakeland Community College.  Further information can be found at http://thejourneymag.com/living-and-eating-green-expo-2012/.

A third newsworthy upcoming green event is the Natural Health and Products Expo presented by Green Events LLC.  This expo will be held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in January, 2013.  It will feature organic cuisine, how-to workshops, and health screenings, along with a marketplace of eco-friendly businesses selling a variety of products from natural body care items to organic cotton clothing and Fair Trade gifts.  The venue for this event is the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh.  Additional information can be found at http://thejourneymag.com/living-and-eating-green-expo-2012/.

There are abundant opportunities to educate ourselves on living green.  There are numerous expos, workshops and demonstrations available to learn all facets of green living.  So, let’s educate green, live green, be green!