There are many poses that are staples of yoga class, like the standing pose Triangle. It is such a dynamic pose that stretches your hamstrings while lengthening your spine, which makes it perfect for after a run. While Triangle is one of my favorite poses, the twisted variation, Rotated Triangle, used to be very difficult for me. In this variation you revolve your chest to the opposite side increasing the hamstring stretch while twisting your spine. This pose is challenging but definitely worth the struggle.

Sanskrit Name: Parivrtta Trikonasana English Translation: Revolved Triangle Also Called: Rotated Triangle

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My dog Bonnie has a toy basket for all her play things. While we're in the family room watching TV, she loves to go in it and pull out a bone or chew toy. So I decided to make a fitness bin that I could dip into while watching TV too.

Instead of sitting on the couch vegging out, there's a whole array of things in my box to encourage me to move. I have a yoga mat, a set of dumbbells, a yoga block, and some fitness magazines. You could also add a resistance band in there for some strength training, or some books demonstrating yoga, Pilates, or lifting exercises. Fitness DVDs are another great addition. Having these fitness items out in the open definitely encourages me to use them.

A new marketing campaign from the New York Department of Health has one message: “Read ’em before you eat ’em.” The Health Department is trying to help New Yorkers use the calorie posting rules to their advantage when it comes to making smart food decisions. The advertisements are being posted in 20 percent of the subway cars and I'd be interested to see if the ad campaign really has any effect on anyone. Though I do like that they picked food items that some folks consider healthy like a large apple bran muffin and the chicken burrito.

Do you think that seeing ads like these would stop you from ordering an item high in calories on a menu, or is it just another way for the government to try to control your eating habits?

When I was little, my family went apple picking every Fall. The crisp autumn weather reminds me of the inclement weather that is just around the corner, so now is the time to soak in the blue sky and sunlight and get physical outside.

Walking through the orchard, searching for trees to pick, is not unlike hiking. Climbing trees in search of the perfect apples is great work for your arms and legs. Plus it's fun! Carrying bags of apples out of the orchard works your arms. Picking your own apples is a workout with a tangible reward at the end — apples and lots of them.

Pack a lunch and you can have a romantic picnic with your honey. Picnicking and picking apples is also a great activity for children of all ages. My nimble 5-year-old is an expert at climbing trees and loves the challenge.

Check out this listing by state of orchards and farms where you can pick your own apples, fruits and veggies.

At a loss of what to do with all your apples? Check out all the apple recipes over at YumSugar.

Bonus points if you tell me in the comments section below what movie the following quote comes from: "How do you like them apples?"

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