Kimberly Garrison: A belated Mother's Day gift, from a very important person: You

MOTHER'S DAY is our national commemoration of mothers and their contributions. Happy belated Mother's Day to all the moms out there who celebrated their day last Sunday. And I would like to remind you that the best way we can be of service to our families is by taking good care of ourselves.

This column serves as a gentle reminder for moms of my seven steps to increasing wellness, health and happiness. Your health is your wealth, and a happy, healthy you is the best gift you can give your family.

1. Daily inspiration

Read something spiritual or inspirational everyday. Your soul needs nourishment, too. Words and thoughts are things, so be careful of the words you feed yourself. Sow the right seeds. They will manifest into your reality.

I read a variety of inspirational texts - the Bible, the Yoga Sutras and works from the Buddhist, Taoist, new age and other traditions. I even get a daily e-mail from the inspirational site www.tut.com. Food for the soul is a good way to start the day.

2. The owner's manual is within

Spend at least 5 minutes a day in quiet reflection and meditation. The great philosopher Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

3. Exercise daily

Yes, you knew I would get to this eventually.

There are just no ifs, ands or buts about it, ladies: You need to exercise daily. Exercise is good for your heart, your muscles, your bones and even your brain.

If you ignore the health and fitness of your body, it won't serve you well. Our bodies are designed for movement - not our very sedentary lifestyle.

Every day, make it your business to crawl, walk, run, hop, jump, push and pull. At a minimum, your body needs at least an hour of movement a day. Be sure to mix it up by cross-training with cardiovascular, strength training and flexibility activities.

4. Get veggie with it

Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables every day. Vegetables are essential throughout your life. They are chock full of disease-fighting nutrients like fiber and antioxidants that reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer and obesity.

Shall I say more?

5. Nature's candy

Not only is fruit nature's candy, it is also rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, phytonutrients and more. The USDA recommends eating at least 5 half-cup servings a day. The season for good fruit is upon us, so enjoy!

6. Budget your calories

If you are trying to lose weight, maintain a food journal and write down every single thing you put in your mouth. If you can keep a budget, you can lose weight. Ultimately, weight loss is all about the numbers.

7. Mommy, get some sleep

If you want to reduce cholesterol, inflammation and stress in your body, then, baby, get some zzzzz.

Turn off the boob tube, the computer and the cell phone. Get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Pregnant women may need even more sleep.

Sleep deprivation can cause depression, moodiness, memory, concentration problems and overeating, among other things. If you are severely sleep deprived, as many women are, then do yourself a favor and get some rest.

This Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, come out and support the 7th Annual Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Healthy Living Expo. Join the crowd on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Parkway.

For more information and registration, go to www.lbbc.org.

_ Take part in the AARP Health and Wellness Power Lunch at noon Wednesday at LOVE Park, 15th and Arch streets. This event is being held in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department.

Kimberly Garrison is a certified personal trainer and owner of One on One Ultimate Fitness in Philadelphia (www.1on1ultimatefitness.com). E-mail her at

kimberly@1on1ultimatefitness.com. Her column appears each Thursday in Yo!