Healthy happy you.
When I tell people I teach yoga, I hear things like, "I always wanted to take yoga but it's way too hot," or, "I could never do yoga because it's way too slow." The thing is, there are so many different types of yoga that whatever your personality, one style will be right for you. If you've always wanted to try a yoga class, check out the chart below to see which kind of class you should Read more
When you take a yoga class (especially Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Jivamukti classes), sometimes the instructor will call out the names of the poses in their original language, Sanskrit. Here's a list of some animals in Sanskrit and the poses they're named after. Knowing these Sanskrit words really helped me to remember the names of certain yoga poses. Baka - crow, crane or wading bird, as in Read more
When I go to certain yoga classes (especially Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Jivamukti classes), sometimes the instructors don't demonstrate the postures. They walk around assisting students, and call out the names of the poses - in SANSKRIT! Here's a little lesson so the next time you go to a yoga class like this, you can have more of an idea of what poses you're supposed to be doing. Asana - "pose," Read more
I've been to many different yoga classes, from Kripalu to Ashtanga to Jivamukti, and they all have something in common. At the end the teacher always leads the class in chanting "Ommmm." Om, actually pronounced "Aum," is an affirmation of the Divine Presence that is the universe and is similar to the Hebrew "Amen." In the Hindu belief, Om is the sound that was made when the whole universe was Read more
Deciding to try out a yoga class is really exciting, but it can also be confusing since there are so many different types. Here's a brief explanation of some popular kinds of yoga: Ashtanga - Hot, fast-paced, same series of poses every 1 1/2 hour class. This style is great for runners, bikers, or anyone looking to really move and strengthen your entire body. Jivamukti - Physically challenging Read more
Jivamukti is a style of yoga created in 1984 by David Life and Sharon Gannon. The name Jivamukti comes from the Sanskrit word, "Jivanmukti" which means enlightenment. They want the name to remind their students of the true aim of Yoga (which, by the way, is not to get a great looking booty). This class is vigorously physical but focuses more on spirituality. It begins with group chanting, Read more
I was lucky enough to take a class taught by Manhattan-based yoga teacher Kristin McGee right here in San Francisco! Although one busy lady, Kristin traveled across the country to teach Vinyasa Vibes (a new offering at The Sports Club/LA), a flow-based, powerful yoga sequence enhanced by music. The most musical part of the practice? During Savasana, the class culminated in a live sax solo by Read more
No wonder you're confused about which type of yoga to take — there are so many to choose from. Repetitive Ashtanga, insanely hot Bikram, and alignment-focused Iyengar are a few popular ones you've probably heard of, but Vinyasa is quickly becoming a popular choice. Here are some reasons why. The Element of Surprise Ashtanga and Bikram have one thing in common — the sequence of poses are the Read more
Yoga may be blissful, but it isn't cheap! Depending on where you live, classes can run you an average of $15 to $20 a pop. Dropping $50 or more for yoga classes each week isn't an option for everyone, but we can all benefit from a regular practice. The internet is bursting with free full-length classes or shortened yoga routines. If you're willing to pay a little, you'll be able to view a greater Read more
With all the New Year's resolutions floating around, if "trying yoga" is on your list, you're probably wondering where the best place to practice is. With yoga's increased popularity, just about every gym offers yoga classes on their schedule in between Body Pump and Spinning, but there are also studios on every corner that teach yoga exclusively. Keep reading to find out which place you'd prefer Read more
