Feng Shui Your Apartment: Embrace Life’s Mystery

Welcome back to the Berger Blog. In our last post, we introduced you to the science and mystical art of feng shui. We also provided you with a link to download the Bagua map, the tool used to map out the types of energy in your living space so you can improve certain aspects of your life by harmonizing the corresponding energies in those areas. 

This post is about enhancing the Life Journey/Career part of your life. Like we said in our last post, the first step is to align the entry of your apartment with the bottom of the map (so that it corresponds with either the Travel/Helpful People, Life Journey/Career or Knowledge/Self-Cultivation area). 

Then, observe which area of your apartment correlates with the Life Journey/Career area. 

The element of this area is water, both moving and still. Water is often used to symbolize cash flow. But it also symbolizes the courage and flexibility to live with a bit of uncertainty when your life path seems ambiguous.

The colors related to this area are dark colors and black. These dark tones represent the mystery and lack of structure or clarity that your life journey often evokes -- when you’re not totally sure where you’ll end up, or even where you want to end up.

To harmonize the ch’i of this area of your apartment, and therefore enhance the flexibility, clarity and success of your life journey and career, embellish it with artwork that features water -- like waterfalls, lakes or fountains. Also, adorn this area with glass and mirrors, dark colors and accessories or fabrics with graceful, curling lines and patterns.

If you really want to dive deep into feng shui, consider buying an indoor tabletop fountain, like the ones sold at SimplyFountains. This will engender an even more auspicious ch’i because, according to feng shui, the healthy flow of clean, clear water supports courage, flexibility and, ultimately, a healthy cash flow in your life.

Does the entryway of your apartment align with this Life Journey/Career area? While your landlord may not appreciate you painting it black, you can enhance this area with black accessories and accents. When used correctly, this color presents less of a “dark/evil” connotation and, instead, emanates a vibe of bottomless beauty and enchanting mystique.

If you’re still with us, feng shui must be piquing your interest! Whether you believe in the mystical elements of this practice or you just believe it provides some good guidelines for appealing interior design, incorporating the art feng shui into your apartment is a great way to really make the space yours -- and most importantly, make it feel good to live there.

Subscribe or check back soon for how to align and design your space to enhance the Love & Marriage/Intimate Relationship aspect of your life! 

Feng Shui Your Apartment: Chart Your Ch’i

Are you sitting down? Good. Make sure you’re in a quiet space. If not, find one -- this will only take a few moments. Ready? Okay, now close your eyes, breathe deeply and rub the palms of your hands together vigorously until you feel some heat. Move them six to eight inches apart, palms still facing each other. Now, move them slowly together and apart without touching. Feel that? That’s your ch’i. 

If you are an avid “Words With Friends” player, you know that ch’i has multiple spellings (ch’i, chi, qi), but they all mean the same thing -- the animating force behind all forms of life. In other words, ch’i is the energy inside the earth, inside of you and inside your living space. 

This week on the Berger Blog, we’re going to teach you how to feng shui your apartment. Feng shui is the science and mystical art of adjusting the ch'i to harmonize your living space and empower you to be your best self.

There are many types and sub-types of feng shui, and it can get pretty complex and intricate. But for the purpose of these blog posts, we’re going to give you a simple and streamlined introduction to feng shui.

The tool used to understand the energy in a space is the feng shui Bagua map. To download a PDF of the Bagua map, click here. This map identifies the most important aspects of your life (health, finances, relationships, etc.) and shows you where these areas correlate in your home or apartment so you can enhance the energy of sectors that need attention. 

If you’re interested in testing out the ancient art of feng shui in your apartment, download the map and look it over. The first step is to align the entry of your apartment with the bottom of the map. Your entryway will align with either the Travel/Helpful People, Life Journey/Career or Knowledge/Self-Cultivation area.

The next step is to check back soon for instruction on how to make enhancements on certain aspects of your life by altering the colors, positioning and elements of your living space and possessions. We’ll continue to feng shui on Wednesday!

From Apartment Awkward To Apartment Ally: Get Fit & Friendly

It’s Friday, finally -- the perfect time to give you our last social suggestion for building relationships with your apartment neighbors. In last week’s posts, we gave you the skinny on exercising without equipment. (How are those fierce flows and rockin’ arm balances treating you?) But you know what’s even better and more effective than exercising without equipment? Doing it with a friend! 

If you’ve ever felt a lack of motivation to get moving -- which, we can safely say, everyone’s experienced -- try kicking it into high gear with the neighbor down the hall. Not only does having someone to hit the gym or go on a run with amp up the motivation, but it helps build your relationship too.

Keep each other on track with your fitness schedules. And don’t be afraid of a little friendly competition! When used in a positive way, this friendly fire can further inspire you to get moving and, most importantly, get you both closer to your goals together.

Neighbors that work out together stay friends forever -- or at least lay down a strong foundation for friendship.

Have fun getting fit and friendly this weekend! Check back on Monday for our next series on refurbishing your apartment the feng shui way!

From Apartment Awkward To Apartment Ally: Gather, Gab & Grill

Welcome back to the Berger Blog. We hope the last two days have been filled with lots of “hellos” and “how ya doin’s” between you and your apartment neighbors. As you may know, this week on the Berger Blog is all about socializing with your fellow renters and turning awkward interactions into engaging exchanges.

After you’ve graced your neighbors with your warm salutations, it’s time to heat things up to the next level … community BBQ! In three previous posts, we dished out healthy hints to become a lean, mean barbequing machine. Well, it’s time to put those hints to good use and share them with your apartment community.

Everyone loves a barbeque, and as we mentioned in our previous posts, there are plenty of vegetarian, gluten-free and even vegan BBQ options to get everyone excited to dig in. Get together with some of the neighbors you already know to establish a time and place to host the cookout. And if you don’t have a group of go-to party planners, ask your landlord if you can post flyers in your apartment building’s lobby about planning a BBQ. Make sure you include some tear-off strips with your contact information so anyone who’s interested in helping you plan can reach you.

Once you’ve established a time and place -- perhaps a community park at 5:00pm? -- it’s time to set up the food situation. Who’s bringing the quinoa salad? Who’s the designated king or queen of the grill? Who’s taking care of utensils, plates, napkins and drinks? Remember, your planning crew doesn’t have to take care of all the buying and cooking! It’s time to post more flyers, this time posting the time and place of the BBQ, stirring up excitement and asking for help with food, drinks and snacks. Some people hate planning, so if they weren’t interested in your first flyer, that doesn’t mean they don’t love to shop, cook and eat!

Keep the excitement going with updated flyers and even personal invitations that you slide under fellow renters’ doors. Make sure the flyers are colorful and attention grabbing. And try to make the invitations creative and unique to your apartment complex -- incorporate something to tie everyone together, lay the foundation for a close community and get people fired up about firing up the grill together. 

Summer’s just around the corner, so start planning for a sizzlin’ and social BBQ season! Check back on Friday or subscribe for our last social suggestion to activate your affinity with apartment allies. 

From Apartment Awkward To Apartment Ally: Just Say “Hello”

How well do you know your apartment neighbors? Are you on a noncommittal “smile-and-nod” level or a more personal nickname basis? Are you going out together for dinner and drinks or are you going out of your way to avoid contact? 

Your relationships with fellow renters play a large part in your apartment living experience. And it’s not just about enhancing your security with a few apartment allies and having a go-to source when you need a favor. Involving yourself with your neighbors simply makes apartment life more enjoyable. So this week on the Berger Blog, we’re going to give you some socializing suggestions to help you initiate things with that neighbor you’ve been meaning to connect with.

It all starts with one simple word: “Hi.” Or, “Hello.” Or perhaps, “Hey, how ya doin’? How ‘bout this weather we’re having? It’s beautiful out!” It doesn’t take a lot to get a conversation going, and it doesn’t really matter which words you use. What matters is that you take the effort to commence communication. Not only does it get a relationship started, but it also shows your neighbor that you care enough to connect and get to know him or her.

Once you break the ice of that first interaction, every exchange after that will get more and more natural … until you’re popping in each other’s apartments to borrow a few eggs or a hair dryer.

So for now, just work on saying “hi.” Those two little letters can go a long way. Check back on Wednesday or subscribe to the Berger Blog to get another sizzlin’ social suggestion to sync up with your neighbors. 

Apartment Exercise: Yoga On YouTube, Fierce & Free

Happy Friday, everyone! Before you kick your weekend into high fat-burning gear, Berger’s got one more “tight-body, tight-space, tight-budget” tip for you.

We’re sure you’ve heard of P90X, the90-day DVD workout program that combines a variety of exercise techniques, like strength training, cardio, yoga, plyometrics and stretching.  This is a great programthat utilizes “muscle confusion” and allows you to work out on your own time in your apartment. But the DVD set costs around $120 and you’re prompted to invest in equipment like a pull up bar, weights and resistance bands.

So if you don’t want to spend the cash on DVDs and equipment, you’re in luck. If you’ve got a laptop or computer and an Internet connection, you’ve got free workouts at your fingertips. 

• YouTube

It’s become so insanely popular for a reason. Besides shockingly amusing videos of leprechaun sightings in Alabama and cats riding turtles, it’s got a lot of quality (and free!) workout routines. 

• Yoga On YouTube

Sadie Nardini -- NYC yoga instructor, wellness expert and creator of Core Strength Vinyasa Flow -- has an excellent YouTube channel. Check it out for free yoga routines that include a six-minute “wake up yoga in bed,” a seven-minute “flying core sun salutation,” a thirty-minute weight loss sequence and an hour-long “hipster floor flow.” She’s even got “cooling yoga poses for chillaxing” if you’re having a low-energy day and a “fierce flow” to ignite your inner fire.

Sadie uses a core-strengthening focus to tone your whole body from the center out. Plus, you learn the science behind the muscles you’re working. While her sequences strengthen your body, her 19 years of study in the yogic arts, energetics, Eastern and Western philosophy, nutrition, anatomy and ninja training will strengthen your mind.

For the guys out there, these are not easy, “girly” workouts or “lay down and just breathe” yoga routines. While Sadie offers a bunch of sequences for beginners, her “rockin’ arm balances,” scorpion pose and peacock pose are extreme… to say the least.

While you’re calming your mind and toning your body with Sadie, keep in mind that yoga (and a healthy diet) is what helped her fight back from an un-definitively diagnosed central nervous system illness that rendered her nearly paralyzed for over two years as a teenager -- an illness her doctors said was likely impossible to recover from. Check out her website for her full story and tons of yoga resources and wellness tips.

Have a fantastic weekend, full of fierce flows and fitness fun! And if anyone’s successful in rockin’ your arm balances, please let us know! That’s a body-buster worth boasting to Berger about.

Subscribe or check back on Monday for our next blog series on ways to meet your neighbors. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet a future fitness friend!

Apartment Exercise: Multi-TV-Tasking & Toning

Welcome back to the Berger Blog. This week, we’re dishing out tips to tone up and trim down without the exercise equipment that sucks up your salary and priceless apartment space. 

You know what the best thing about watching TV is? You don’t have to sit or lay down to do it! Say goodbye to lazy, couch potato Sundays … and hello to multi-TV-tasking and toning.

So while you’re watching your favorite episode of “Desperate Housewives” or cheering the Phillies and Flyers to victory, do some of the exercises we talked about in our last post. Make a pact with yourself to get up and do something during every commercial, or even turn it into a game and do a certain type of exercise every time your team scores or whenever a Jersey Shore” cast member says something nonsensical.

And don’t be afraid to let down your guard a little. Jog in place, do some jumping jacks and if you really want to let loose, just dance.

Not only does dancing in your apartment give you a heart-healthy cardio workout, but it’s also sure to lift your spirits and boost your mood for the rest of the day. Put the TV on mute and let your body do the talking -- or crank up the tunes to really get your groove going and your fat burning.  

And don’t forget about those free exercise channels on your TV -- now that’s a piece of exercise equipment we’ll endorse.

Check back on Friday or subscribe for an intro into the wonderful world of web-ercising.  

Apartment Exercise: Body Weight, Use It To Lose It

Tomorrow is the beginning of May, the month when we say goodbye to April’s showers, hello to springtime flowers and “bring it on” to our summer fitness goals. In a previous blog series, we talked about slimming down and beefing up with a healthy summer BBQ. This week’s series on the Berger Blog is about slimming down and beefing up with exercises that don’t require expensive equipment or a gym membership.

Let’s face it, getting fit isn’t the easiest process for many of us. It takes time, it takes energy and it takes dedication. But it doesn’t have to take the money out of your wallet or the floor space from your apartment. With some body weight exercise know-how and a touch of creativity, you can tighten up in a tight space and on a tight budget. 

Here are the three ways to use your body weight to your advantage, and lose some of it too:

• Wall Sit

Put your back against a wall and place your feet about two feet away from it. Slide down until your knees are at a 90-degree angle and hold this position as long as you can. It sounds easy, but give it a minute -- you’ll feel the burn in your quads and glutes for sure. This is a great one for all the skiers out there, and anyone who wants to look good in shorts this summer.

• Abdominal Exercises

The main thing to keep in mind when doing ab exercises is variety. Doing 500 crunches a day isn’t going to get you that six-pack. Switch it up and use your full range of abdominal motion -- incorporate reverse crunches, vertical leg crunches, side-planks, planks with leg raises, bicycles, Russian twists, etc. Here’s a Livestrong article that goes into more detail about these exercises.  

NOTE: You can’t “spot reduce” when it comes to your belly. There is no “miracle crunch” that will suck in your lower belly or get rid of your love handles. When it comes down to it, you can have the best ab routine in the world, but if you have a layer of fat covering those muscles, you’re not going to see any results. So if you want your abdominal efforts to have any effect, you have to supplement them with cardio and a healthy diet. And if there isn’t a treadmill in your building, go for a walk or run to fire up that ab flab. Those May flowers are calling your name! 

• Mountain Climbers

Get into a sprinter’s start position on your hands and knees. Keep your hands on the ground and push off with each foot diagonally to the opposite shoulder -- essentially, you’re running in place. You should feel this in your torso and oblique muscles. Do this as long as you can and make sure to keep your back straight, not arched. This is a great way to combine a full-range-of-motion abdominal exercise with that crucial cardio component.

More of a visual learner? Check out this YouTube video on the high-energy mountain climber.

Okay -- less talk, more action. Put that body weight to work! Check back soon or subscribe to the Berger Blog for more tight-space, tight-budget, tight-body tips! 

Your Apartment Fire Extinguisher: If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It

Who said fire extinguishers have to be red? Why not hot pink or lime green or rainbow? Or printed with cow spots, Pac-Man, goldfish in love or strawberries?

If you’re a fan of interior design, trendy accessories and apartment creativity, you’ll love these brightly colored and patterned extinguishers from Fire Design. With options to personalize your extinguisher and special accessories, like the “Lulu Box” in assorted colors, this company certainly turns up the heat on the fire extinguisher industry.

Don’t let your love burn too brightly for these extinguishers, though -- so far, they’re only available in Europe. But we’ll venture to guess they’ll make their way to the U.S. sooner or later.

Until then, keep P.A.S.S. in mind and your fire extinguisher within reach. Check back on Monday or subscribe so you don’t miss the first post of our next series: exercising without equipment! 

Your Apartment Fire Extinguisher: Know When & How To Use It

Welcome back to the Berger Blog, where we’re firing up the facts on your apartment’s fire extinguisher. Our last post was about where to keep it … but it’s not enough to have a fire extinguisher and store it safely. You have to know when and how to use it, too.

Use the P.A.S.S. technique to operate a fire extinguisher:

PULL the pin to break the tamper seal.

AIM low and point the extinguisher’s nozzle, horn or hose at the base of the fire.

Note: Most people make the mistake of aiming at the flames -- this will not control the fire! Also, don’t touch the plastic discharge horn on CO2 extinguishers because they get very cold and can damage your skin.

SQUEEZE the handle to release the extinguishing agent.

SWEEP from side-to-side at the base of the fire until it’s extinguished. If the fire re-ignites, repeat steps AIM through SWEEP.

Only use a fire extinguisher if you know how to use it and the fire is small and has just started. Also, make sure you have a clear exit path behind you -- this means never allowing fire, heat or smoke to come between you and the safe way out.

Not all fire extinguishers work the same way or are designed to fight all types of fires. For example, the red multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers fight:

• Class A fires, which involve ordinary combustible materials like paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics
• Class B fires, which involve flammable or combustible liquids, such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil
• Class C fires, which involve electrical equipment, including appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets

Check out OSHA’s page for a more in-depth description of fire extinguisher types and the classes of fires they’re designed to fight. In addition, here’s a guide that tells you how to buy a fire extinguisher in three easy steps! 

Now that you can officially P.A.S.S. your fire extinguisher test, it’s time for the fun part. Check back on Friday or subscribe to learn how to flaunt your fire extinguisher.