If you love backbends, it's because you are probably emotional with an open heart and tender nature, and hold excitement about the future. Here's a variation to the backbend called Inverted Staff. The base of this pose is actually a headstand, so it's a very grounding.
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Sanskrit Name: Viparita Dandasana
English Translation: Inverted Staff Pose
Also Called: Two-Legged Inverted Staff or Headstand Backbend
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There are two ways to get into this pose. To find out what they are read more
A few weeks ago a study stated that self-breast exams didn't save lives, but I am not buying it. Many women I know have caught their breast cancer early because they did monthly exams. So if you're still a believer and continue to check yourself monthly, you should be reassured to know that most lumps you find aren't cancerous. Here's what you may feel according to Living.Health.com:
A soft lump: It's smooth and round (like a grape), and it moves a little when you press on it. This lump may be painful to the touch, and it can range in size from small to large. It could be a cyst or sacs filled with natural fluid, but you should get an ultrasound just to be sure. If it is a cyst, your doctor may recommend that you go on the Pill to lower your chance of developing cysts.
A hard lump: This will feel like a clearly defined smooth, hard, rubbery, round lump. It could be small like a pea, or up to five inches wide. If you can move it around under your skin and it doesn't hurt, then it sounds like it's a fibroadenoma, which is a noncancerous tumor. They're not as common as cysts, but not uncommon for women in their 20s and 30s since they're caused by hormonal changes. Of course, it's best to have your doctor take a look and perform some tests just to make sure.
To find out what else you may feel and what it means read more
There are a lot of B vitamins, and B12 is an important one. If you're deficient in this vitamin you can wind up feeling fatigued. Vitamin B12 helps maintain a healthy nervous system and your healthy red blood cells. It is involved in the process of making DNA as well as metabolizing protein. B12 helps make white blood cells, which are important for your immune system, and are necessary for pregnant women since they help with an embryo's neurological development. That's a lot for one little subset of a vitamin, but your body doesn't need much — only 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of B12 a day (2.8 mcg if you're pregnant),
and since your body can store several years' worth of this vitamin, a deficiency is rare unless you're not getting it in your diet. Vitamin B12 is mostly found in meat, fish, and dairy products. Check out the highest sources to make sure you're consuming your fill:
- 3 oz. clams: 84 mcg (holy B12!)
- 3/4 cup fortified breakfast cereal: 6 mcg
- 3 oz. of rainbow trout: 5.4 mcg
- 1 tbsp Red Star Nutritional Yeast: 4 mcg (great for vegetarians and vegans)
- 3 oz. beef: 2.4 mcg
Fit's Tips: To see other sources of vitamin B12, check out this chart. If you're not obtaining enough form your diet, then you'll want to consider taking a B12 supplement.
Source
It's nothing new for female athletes to pose for Playboy (Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard and former volleyball player Gabrielle Reece have both posed), but Ashley Harkleroad is the first pro female tennis player to appear on the cover. Although she may not be well-known, she does rank in the top 100 in the world and recently moved up to 72. Harkleroad decided to pose for Playboy to show that athletic women could be sexy. Um, I'm not sure where she heard that they weren't, but I guess there are worse reasons to pose nude.
Her eight-page spread in the August 2008 issue is causing quite a stir on the tennis scene. She said:
"For me, I have a very natural body. I'm an athlete who is fit and not very big-busted at all. I'm proud of that. I wanted to show that female athletes, who are fit and muscular, can have very beautiful bodies just like regular models. l'll be the first tennis player ever. That's kind of cool."
I think it's great to be proud of your body, especially when Playboy's definition of sexy has traditionally been thin and big-busted ladies. To hear what Serena Williams said in response to Harkleroad's photos and to see the first page of her layout read more
I often love the way I look after a nice hard workout. The problem is that when I am working out at lunch, the "I've just sweat buckets" look doesn't always mesh with a post workout meeting with my boss.
Fitness Magazine consulted with workout diva Denise Austin on her own personal locker room beauty tips that make going from sweaty to sweet in minutes. Here are highlights:
- Problem: Ponytail Crease
Fix: To prevent a ridge from forming mid-length, pull hair into a high ponytail and secure with a fabric holder instead of a tight elastic. "When you take hair down, it'll have extra volume," says Austin.
- Problem: Flaky Skin
Fix: Avoid deodorant soap during your post-workout shower. Opt for a gentle body wash or simply rinse with water.
There are more easy tips so read more
You're asking and I'm answering . . .
Hey Fit,
I really want to start running because I hear the benefits are great. I tried a while ago, but afterwards I felt nauseous and generally not well. That discouraged me from trying again. Why did I feel that way? If I start running regularly, will that stop? Thanks.
— Running Newbie
Don't give up on running; I find it the easiest way to fit a regular workout into my life and the health benefits really are great. I think I have a simple solution to your problem, and to see what I have to say read more