Instagram's Yoga Girl by Madison Buckles

Scrolling through Instagram you'll find countless accounts: food, fashion, beauty, sports, and many more. Yet none of these accounts are quite as unique as Rachel Brathen’s account @yoga_girl. At first glance you'd think that Yoga Girl lives in a perfect world. She does yoga on the beautiful beaches of Aruba, has a loving husband, an adorable dog named Ringo (@ringo_thegringo), and an equally cute goat named Penny (@penny_thegoat). On top of all of that she travels around the world doing what she loves! However, this unique account gives more than a dose of daily serenity; it allows followers to accept and embrace the realities and curveballs that the world throws at us.

I've been following Rachel for years and it feels that with every post we all get to know her a little more. Opening up her heart to all followers, Rachel writes about the good and the bad in life. From sharing her engagement and wedding experiences with us, to talking about the death of her best friend, yoga girl allows her followers to go along with her in the ups and downs of life. These deeply personal posts have definitely helped me and many others accept that sometimes some situations aren't okay, and that is okay!

Rachel uses her fan base of 1.9 million followers to spread the word for good causes. One campaign that she advertises is @109world, which she actually co-founded. The organization conducts mission trips to countries like Latvia, Colombia, Nicaragua, and more. The organization has 7 passions that they support: education, animals, water, environment, children, food security, and women. While many Instagram-famous people take their followers for granted, Rachel makes the most out of it by supporting helpful organizations.

Yoga Girl’s posts also highlight the great moments in life! Her feed is filled with intricate yoga poses and videos that are all about breathing in and letting the emotion and stress out. We live in a busy world where people never seem to stop and take a break. Rachel’s soothing videos and inspirational captions make you pause and take a breath. Through her account I've realized that sometimes we all need to unplug and reflect on the little things in life.

On first impression, Rachel’s account @yoga_girl might seem to be exclusively for aspiring yogis. However, everyone can learn something from her account. Her feed is filled with raw emotion and positive messages that anybody can be touched by. Whether you're visiting the account to look for a new yoga pose or simply just need to de-stress, Rachel’s account is the perfect place to gain a bit of peace and wisdom. Namaste!

Click here for more on Rachel Brathen and her journey!

Are We Born To Run?

by Emily Readett

In a featured Ted Talk, Christopher McDougall passionately considers the human desires to run. He shares three separate stories of runners today: an underdog marathoner, a super athlete, and a hidden tribe in Mexico. As a runner myself, Christopher McDougall’s ideas on the innovation of running are particularly interesting. I am constantly surrounded by injury, or injured myself. These new ideas introduced during this Ted Talk may offer hope to many like me or my teammates.

In McDougall's first heartwarming story he talks of an Ethiopian underdog, Derartu Tulu, who shows compassion and competitive drive. Tulu hadn't won a marathon in 8 years, yet she sacrificed her chance to victory during a race to help a competitor, Paula Radcliffe, make it to the finish line. Radcliffe was unable to keep up and dropped off, but Tulu explodes forward to claim the win. Derartu Tulu shows a rare mix of competitiveness and empathy that wins her the marathon and the big check to take home to her newborn baby.

Christopher McDougall then shares the story of the Tarahumara Indians. While most tribes like the Mayans and Aztecs are now few to none, the Tarahumara Indians are thriving in a hidden canyon, called Copper Canyon, in Mexico. McDougall shares something remarkable about the tribe; they don't run marathons but mega marathons, more than 100 miles! All of this without injury or any problems.

Christopher McDougall introduces the idea of barefoot running, which is what the tribe in Mexico utilizes. He says that people in modern times have been eager to cash and package something like shoes, always in the intention of improving. McDougall sympathizes with running shoes, sharing his frustrating past of constant injury.

Humans naturally have been running for thousands of years, so why is injury such a challenge? McDougall offers the fact that we haven't always been wearing shoes and that the shoes are the enemy in this sense. He shares that he now, in his mid-forties, has stopped wearing shoes and is injury-free. McDougall has a way to return to the way running is meant to be. He prescribes we back away from the running shoes, the packaging, the marketing, and all the urban marathons. He says we should get back to the playfulness and “nakedness” that has made the Tarahumara one of the healthiest groups of people of their time.

From my personal experience with injury, I find this Ted Talk very interesting and unique. I have always been told how important the right pair of running shoes are, so for McDougall to say that running shoes are half the battle of injury surprised me. I will, however, continue on running in my beloved trainers.

 
To view the Ted Talk click here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_mcdougall_are_we_born_to_run

U.S.A Women's Soccer Team Having Trouble in Paradise by Bethany Gallaher

The U.S.A. Women’s Soccer Team is on the very top of the soccer world right now and nothing can drag them down; except, of course, for the Zika virus that could end their reign as champions. The Zika virus is spread by a mosquito bite and affects women that are pregnant or wish to be pregnant. This virus affects the health of the baby and can cause deformities at birth.

The Women’s U.S.A. Soccer Team will be playing their matches in more rural cities outside of Rio, where people are more likely to be bitten. Due to the terrible effects the virus can have on women, the team has a fear of getting the virus and it possibly affecting future pregnancies. They also have the fear of losing their positions on the team if they decide to reject playing in Rio. This decision could either end their careers or affect their future children’s health.

There are conflicting opinions from doctors on whether or not it is safe for the women to go and play in Rio. Some say that if they have a vaccination, the competitors will be completely safe from the virus entering their bodies. Others say that if the women are interested in being pregnant in the future that they should not attend the games because they are still at risk, even if they get the vaccinations.

The team has come together to state their complaint of it being unsafe for them to go to Rio. They have not decided on what they will do, but they are going to make the decision as a team as to whether they will compete in Rio or stay in the safety of the United States.

I believe that the women are being courageous and are working together to stand up for themselves. The women are making the right decision by not attending the 2016 Olympics. They are choosing life and love over possibly playing just a few games.

These women are taking a stand and setting an example for how important life is. It is the most important thing and nothing should take away their ability to contribute to the beauty of life. They realize that the Olympic Games are just a game and that the virus is real and could affect their future children. The women, knowing that their future pregnancies could be at stake, have decided that it is not a risk worth taking!

If you are looking for more information on this topic visit this website: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/sports/olympics/us-womens-soccer-team-zika-virus-olympics-brazil.html