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.
Take a tip from Jennifer Aniston's trainer Mandy Ingber and mix yoga poses with classic strength-training moves to maximize your burn. This 10-minute workout works every major muscle group and then some! You will even learn a few of Jen's favorite moves.
Be sure to preorder Mandy's new book, Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover, today.
Refresh your workout by adding some dance and yoga to your sculpting routine with these five signature moves from Yoga Booty Ballet. The founders of Swerve Studios created this ultimate hybrid workout fusing yoga, cardio dance, and booty sculpting. These moves are so fun you won't realize how much your abs and glutes are working until you're done. Watch this video to learn a handful of exercises perfect for your home workout.
This Cirque du Soleil yoga pose may look out of your league, but with a little trick under your capris, you too can master this bold and beautiful arm balance. It's all in your approach, so follow these step-by-step moves and you'll be Side-Crowing it in no time.
After mastering Side Crow, here's a yoga sequence to help you do two advanced variations called Straight Legs Side Crow and Scissor Legs Side Crow.
Depending on what kind of yoga you practice, there's either a fixed sequence of postures that's the same every class or your teacher is responsible for building their own flow. But regardless of the style of yoga or the instructor, a quality class should always start slow and prepare your muscles for what's to come. If there's a well-designed sequence, there's no need to make time to do a serious warmup at home.
But the brief time before yoga class can sometimes feel a little awkward. If you arrive a few minutes early, there's no need to just sit pretty (or feel out of place). Keep reading to learn three poses that will help you relax, connect, and get ready — without overdoing it — right before yoga.
True yogis not only practice asanas (postures) on their mat, they all have a strong spiritual practice. Ahimsa, a Sanskrit word meaning "non-injury" or "non-violence," is a deeply important focus for many yogis. Aside from living a peaceful life and eating a vegan diet (which many yogis choose to do), choosing products that protect the Earth is another way to carry out ahimsa. From wicking undies, to leggings, to yoga blocks, click through to find out which yoga gear is made with sustainable fabrics and materials so you can feel even better when hopping on your mat.
