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April 2008
SPRING TO THE SENSES
Heading into spring
Cheerful colours, stimulating aromas, lively sounds – spring lures us out of the house. Finally, it’s time once again for outdoor sports without heavy jumpers! Finally time to work in the garden! Finally time to borrow a convertible on the spur of the moment and catch the sun. A sense of well-being comes almost automatically from just being active in the fresh air. No more hibernating. Now it’s time to heighten your senses and experience spring.
Get out of bed
Birdsong is probably the ultimate sound of spring and the best harbinger of a beautiful day. Go ahead – let the birds lure you out of bed, because a real "shower of happiness" is waiting for you. In our bodies, sunlight promotes the production of vitamin D and the happiness hormone serotonin. When daybreak comes early, the daily dose of these pick-me-ups increases. A good opportunity to start your day with some sit-ups and training for your abdominal-muscles. This exercise is most effective when, while lying with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your hands behind your head and breathing normally, gently raise the upper part of your back. By the way, the twittering of the birds is also a good way to relax after a long day – record the birdsong in the morning so you can listen to it in the evening on the sofa!
Forecast: sunny
When the temperatures rise, soon you will want to send your winter wardrobe into exile. Lightweight outfits in bright colours warm our souls – not just our bodies now. But you should keep your scarf and hat handy for a while yet, merely as a precaution. You will also be well served by anything that can be quickly buttoned or zipped when a breeze kicks up. At the same time, you’ll be well equipped when the sun invites you to a rendezvous at a sidewalk café. Your personal style will dictate whether you choose a refined combination of sport suit and trench coat or a casual leather jacket over a shirt. Either way, you’ll be right on trend, both fashionably and meteorologically
Laugh your way to fitness
When we laugh more than a hundred muscles – from the face to the chest to the diaphragm – actively give their all. If you laugh a lot, your health laughs right along with you. Studies have shown that laughing has a beneficial effect on the circulation and the heart. This is believed to be due to the deep breathing and intensive air circulation involved in laughing. The immune system also benefits from a roar of laughter: laughing demonstrably increases the blood antibody count, boosts endorphin secretion – which in turn reduces tensions – and puts the brakes on stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Just one minute of laughter can equal the effects of 45 minutes of relaxation training. So for your fitness, scientists make this recommendation: Exercise regularly and laugh for at least 15 minutes a day!
