While refreshing your yoga routine may mean trying out a new class, it can also translate to sprucing up your Spring gear. If you've already got more cropped pants and built-in-bra tops than you know what to do with, maybe it's time to give your mat a new home. You'll love these picks of yoga bags at every price range that are both functional and fashionable. Time to click through and spring forward into all the yoga goodness.
When you're at work, leaving the office for some fresh air can change your day. But if you're swamped with work and tied to your desk, this isn't always a viable option. Even if you can't leave, you can still treat your body to a quick stretching session. Watch this video for three moves that will relieve stress in your shoulders, neck, back, and wrists in less than a minute.
Turn off your music and tune in to a quality podcast. Whether you're an experienced yogi looking for a led flow class or you just want to listen to experts talk all things yoga, you'll find a new favorite in one of these podcasts.
Yoga and Other Useful Stuff With Tara Stiles
Yogi extraordinare Tara Stiles has a video podcast series that covers everything from living your best yoga life to weight loss. It's appropriately named Yoga and Other Useful Stuff With Tara Stiles, and we love listening to her perspective.
CorePower Yoga
The CorePower Yoga podcasts offer a mix of information in their various shows. Asana of the Month offers a short video demonstrating yoga poses, while Ask a Yogi answers questions beginners might be afraid.
Kripalu Perspectives
The Kripalu Center For Yoga and Health, a retreat center for yoga and holistic living in western Massachusetts, hosts an enlightened podcast called Kripalu Perspectives. If you want to listen to a traditional podcast format where experts are interviewed, then try Kripalu. You won't be disappointed.
Keep reading for two more yoga podcasts.
Who doesn't want strong, sculpted, shapely arms? If you're not seeing the results you're after from basic strength-training exercises, you've got to try yoga. These seven challenging poses require holding your own body weight in unique positions, so you end up working the muscles in your upper body more effectively. The burn you'll feel in your arms and upper back lets you know that you'll soon be loving your sexy, strong arms, just in time for strapless-dress season.
If you suffer from lower back pain, it's time to roll out your yoga mat. This simple sequence will strengthen the lower back muscles, alleviate aches, and help prevent future injury.
Depending on your level of comfort and overall flexibility, choose wisely — only practice the poses that suit your needs at this time! Be sure to listen to your body and breathe deep as you flow.
Photo: Jenny Sugar
Plenty of moms already practice yoga on a regular basis, as it's a great way to nurture the mind, body, and soul all in one fell swoop. But have you taught your tots to Down Dog? As it turns out, it's never too early to teach and encourage little ones to develop an appreciation for the practice. We've rounded up some of the best ways to nurture your little yogis — from poses that you can do at home to the smartest yoga mat for kids and a DVD designed especially for them!
A strong and supple spine not only can help free you from back pain and tightness, it improves your posture, making you look taller and thinner. Here's a yoga sequence to stretch and elongate the muscles in the torso. Repeat it through once on the right side and then repeat on the left.
Source: Laughing River Yoga Studio
In this 10-minute flow, get ready to smile, laugh — and then smile some more! Mandy Ingber's yoga for happiness will help you open up the heart, appreciate who you are, and find gratitude in everyday life. With all the fun you're having, you won't even realize that you also just finished a total-body (and mind) workout. Press play to get a peek at why Mandy's celebrity clients, like Jennifer Aniston, keep coming back for more.
Be sure to preorder Mandy's new book, Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover, today.
What do push-ups, cycling, and sitting hunched over a computer all have in common? Tight and tense shoulders. Aside from scheduling an appointment with a massage therapist, you can hop on a mat and show this area some love with this chest- and shoulder-opening yoga sequence. Move through all 11 postures on the right side, and then repeat on the left.
For a simple and inexpensive way to burn major calories, keep your heart healthy, and tone your lower body, running can't be beat. The problem is many people suffer from injuries that could be prevented if they spent a little time stretching their tight muscles regularly. If you're a runner, do these five yoga poses after a run to ease tension and prevent pains.
