5-Minute Stress Reliever Bodyweight Workout

Health experts warn that a lingering effect of the coronavirus pandemic could be a mental health crisis. While therapy and medications for stress and anxiety are often necessary, the foods you eat can also play a role in your well-being.

An American Psychiatric Association poll released in March found that 36% of Americans felt the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic was having a serious impact on their mental health. People were most worried about their finances, the risk of themselves or a family member contracting the virus, and the possibility of becoming seriously ill or dying.

The gut-brain connection

The gut has been called the “second brain.” And we recognize the link between the two even if we don’t realize it: You may feel “butterflies in your stomach” when you’re nervous or “go with your gut” when you make an important decision.

Naidoo said the two are connected physically and biochemically via the gut-brain axis, the complex communications network that links the emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with intestinal functions.

Foods that can hurt mental health

Fried foods, processed foods, trans fats, nitrates and foods high in salt, saturated fat and refined sugars can worsen depression, anxiety and stress.

“If you’re eating processed foods and fast foods every day, that’s basically making the bad gut bacteria thrive, and that’s when you start to run into problems with inflammation,” Naidoo explained.

Too much caffeine and alcohol may also make you feel worse mentally but are usually OK in moderation. Drinking 400 mg per day or less of coffee shouldn’t have an impact on anxiety, Naidoo said.

People respond to alcohol intake differently, but generally, four drinks a day for men and three for women is considered heavy drinking.

How to start eating for your mental health

To shift your diet with mental health in mind, Naidoo suggests starting small. Trying to change too much too fast can be overwhelming and diminish results. “Slow and steady change over time will start to build that healthy gut and basically start to build on the healthy nutrients that are good for your brain,” she said.

Begin with a diet self-check. Write down what you ate over the past 24 to 48 hours, circle the foods that are unhealthy, and then decide on one simple change you can make. You don’t necessarily have to give up some of your favorite less-than-healthy foods, though.

Taking steps to improve your diet for your mental health is especially important today, she said, as the effects of the pandemic will persist. Concerns over jobs, finances, food insecurity, gaps in children’s education and more will take a toll.

A healthy diet can help mitigate or buffer one from these types of effects as it sets the stage for a beneficial gut microbiome and less inflammation, both of which are tied to mood, anxiety, depression and even sleep.

Begin with a diet self-check. Write down what you ate over the past 24 to 48 hours, circle the foods that are unhealthy, and then decide on one simple change you can make. You don’t necessarily have to give up some of your favorite less-than-healthy foods, though.

Honoured to have inherited this 40+ year old teak HK Mook Yan Jong with one piece guava leg.

Wasn't properly maintained and needs a lot of work to remove the shellac, sealant, and other chemical layers on it that have yellowed and affected the wood drying out the surface layer causing some fraying in parts of the trunk and the tracks.
As well as filling and treating some of the small fissures in the trunk.

Will be restoring it to breathe new life into its new home becoming a beautiful piece once again.
Hope to make its original owner of those many decades proud as he looks down from above.

Step by step photos of the restoration work will be posted.

#mookyanjong #woodendummy #vingtsun #wingchun #vingtsuntoronto #wingchuntoronto #vingtsunkungfu #wingchunkungfu #vingtsuncanada #wingchuncanada #martialarts
S3VT Open Studio Wing Chun Sessions starting Tuesday, October 8th at 7pm!
We'll be hosting a 3hr open training environment for all Ving Tsun/Wing Chun practitioners to exchange and build community, knowledge, and skills.
Sessions will then be every first and third Tuesday of the month.

Each session will be limited attendance so be sure to register your spot at:
e: makecontact@s3vt.com
p: 6479662496
$10 Drop-In Fee

#wingchun #vingtsun #training #communitybuilding #wingchunmeetup
Spending the spring, summer, and fall working the Ving Tsun Gwun and making sure the group is proficient in the Lok Dim Boon Gwun form, concepts, mechanics, drills, and applications. 

We spent a good portion of last night exploring how the pole translates to strength and conditioning, and unified coordination that applies to empty hand applications.

Will share some vids and pics from our next sessions.

Photo credit: @s3vtnorth 

#TEAMS3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT
#wslvtworldwide #wslvtcanada #wingchun #vingtsun #wingchuntoronto #vingtsuntoronto #wingchunkungfu #vingtsunkungfu #martialarts #fightingarts #trainer #communitybuilding #Toronto #Canada
Real To Reel // Laap Sau Practical Application 

From the WSLVT Chi Sau Workshop this week as part of our Weekly GTA Wing Chun Meetup on Tuesday, June 18th 2024.

Throughout this evening we worked fundamental Lin Siu Dai Da actions through Chi Sau and then their practical applications.
Here we work Laap Sau to ward off and spread away the interfering action as well as employing Je Lik (borrowing force) to exploit aggression and momentum.

Feed your mind.
Fuel your fist.

#TEAMS3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT 
#vingtsun #wingchun #vingtsuntoronto #wingchuntoronto #vingtsuncanada #wingchuncanada #Toronto #Canada #wingchunmeetup #communitybuilding #martialarts #fightingarts #skills #coach #trainer
One of the greatest gifts that #WSLVT has given has been of community.
Within our own immediate community, friends, and family around the world. 

Humbled, honoured, and proud of the great character and skill of #TEAMS3VT

#S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT #WSLVTCANADA 
#Toronto #vingtsun #wingchun #vingtsuncanada #wingchuncanada #martialarts #fightingarts #communitybuilding #family
Real To Reel // Laap Da (Chi Sau Training)

From the WSLVT Chi Sau Workshop this week as part of our Weekly GTA Wing Chun Meetup on Tuesday, June 18th 2024.
Drilling the fudamenal action of Laap Da from concept, to construct, to fundamental application. 
Breaking it down to its simple components.

We covered several of the fundamental Lin Siu Dai Da actions tying them all together for practical, dynamic application.

Feed your mind.
Fuel your fist.

#TEAMS3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT 
#vingtsun #wingchun #vingtsuntoronto #wingchuntoronto #vingtsuncanada #wingchuncanada #Toronto #Canada #wingchunmeetup #communitybuilding #martialarts #fightingarts #skills #coach #trainer
Real To Reel // Paak Da (Chi Sau Training)

From the WSLVT Chi Sau Workshop this week as part of our Weekly GTA Wing Chun Meetup on Tuesday, June 18th 2024.
Drilling the fudamenal action of Paak Da from concept, to construct, to fundamental application. 
Breaking it down to its simple components.

We covered several of the fundamental Lin Siu Dai Da actions tying them all together for practical, dynamic application.

Feed your mind.
Fuel your fist.

#TEAMS3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT 
#vingtsun #wingchun #vingtsuntoronto #wingchuntoronto #vingtsuncanada #wingchuncanada #Toronto #Canada #wingchunmeetup #communitybuilding #martialarts #fightingarts #skills #coach #trainer
Real To Reel // Taan Da

From the WSLVT Chi Sau Workshop this week as part of our Weekly GTA Wing Chun Meetup on Tuesday, June 18th 2024.
Drilling the fudamenal actions of Taan Da from concept, to construct, to fundamental application. 

We covered several of the fundamental Lin Siu Dai Da actions tying them all together for practical, dynamic application.

Feed your mind.
Fuel your fist.

#TEAMS3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT 
#vingtsun #wingchun #vingtsuntoronto #wingchuntoronto #vingtsuncanada #wingchuncanada #Toronto #Canada #wingchunmeetup #communitybuilding #martialarts #fightingarts #skills #coach #trainer
Thank you to everyone that attended and  participated in lasts night's Chi Sau Workshop as part of our Weekly GTA Wing Chun Meetup.
An honour to share knowledge and skillsets.

Great work and people.

#TEAMS3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT
#vingtsun #wingchun #martialarts #fightingarts #communitybuilding #Toronto #GTA
We're excited to kick off weekly classes in Barrie, Ontario with Coach Sam Tran of S3VT North : System / Science / Skills Ving Tsun this Sunday, June 9th at 9:30am!

Sam is an incredibly skilled and knowledgeable WSLVT practitioner that approaches training and teaching with passion, conviction, and attention to individual needs and details.

There's been some great interest so be sure to enroll at:
s3vtnorth@gmail.com

Address:
Peggy Hill Team Community Centre - Activity Room 1
171 Mapleton Ave
Barrie, ON, Canada

#TEAMS3VT #S3VT #S3VTWSLVT #WSLVT 
#vingtsun #wingchun #martialarts #fightingarts #barrie #canada