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Strike Yoga Pose: Locust

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:00:08 -0700

We've talked about some extremely challenging variations of Locust pose such as Inverted Locust where you're balancing on your shoulders and chin, and Locust Scorpion where your feet are touching your head. Now let's take it down a notch and do plain old Locust pose. It's a great way to tone the muscles in the back of your body. It may look relaxing, but you'll definitely feel this one working, and it's a great complement to ab exercises.

Sanskrit Name: Salambhasana A
English Translation: Locust Pose

To learn how to do this pose read more.

Lie down on a mat on your belly, with your legs together. Place your arms by your sides so your palms are facing up.
As you inhale, lift your legs, head, and upper body off the floor. Your hands remain on the floor for support.
As you breathe, try to relax your shoulders and the muscles in your booty. Extend the crown of your head away from your toes, lengthening as much as you can through your spine.
Stay for five breaths, and then release back to the mat.

Strike a Pose: Locust Scorpion

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

If you have been working on your Locust Prep, and full Locust pose, I think you're ready to move on to Locust Scorpion. If you have a flexible back, this pose will be even easier than regular Locust.

Sanskrit Name: Ganda Bherundasana
English Translation: Formidable Face Pose
Also Called: Locust Scorpion

To learn how to do this pose read more.

Begin lying on your belly. Roll over to one of your shoulders so you can bring both arms underneath you. There are two hand positions you can try, so see which one feels the most comfortable. Either interlace your fingers, clasp your palms together, and straighten your arms. Or keep your hands apart with either your palms facing up or pressed into the mat. Then roll your body so it's resting on your extended arms. Make sure your chin is on the mat as well.
As you inhale, press into your arms with all your strength and lift both legs up as high as you can. If your upper body is strong and your back is flexible, lift your hips off the floor, so your spine is as upright as possible. Press your feet and thighs together.
Then bend your knees and lower your feet to your head. Stay like this for five deep breaths. Then lift your feet back up to the ceiling and slowly lower your body back to the floor. Release your back by coming into Child's Pose.

Strike a Pose: Inverted Locust

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Now that you've tried the Locust Prep, I think you're ready to move on to Inverted Locust, or at least ready to give it a try. This is a very challenging pose since it requires both flexibility in your back and strength in your upper body and core. So take it at your own speed and raise your feet as high as you can. With practice and patience, you'll soon be able to lift your legs even higher.

Sanskrit Name: Viparita Salabhasana
English Translation: Inverted Locust

To learn how to do this read more.

Begin lying on your belly. Roll over to one of your shoulders so you can bring both arms underneath you. There are two hand positions you can try, so see which one feels the most comfortable. Either interlace your fingers, clasp your palms together, and straighten your arms. Or keep your hands apart with either your palms facing up or pressed into the mat. Then roll your body so it's resting on your extended arms. Make sure your chin is on the mat as well.
As you inhale, press into your arms with all your strength and lift both legs up as high as you can. If your upper body is strong and your back is flexible, lift your hips off the floor, so your spine is as upright as possible. Press your feet and thighs together.
Stay like this for five deep breaths. Then slowly lower your body back to the floor. Release your lower back by coming into Child's Pose.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Locust Prep

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

If you're looking for a unique way to increase flexibility in your spine, then you'll want to try Locust. The full pose is rather Cirque du Soleil-ish, with both feet extended in the air. It's extremely challenging since it requires both flexibility in the back and upper body strength, so let's ease into Locust with a relaxing prep pose.

Sanskrit Name: Viparita Salabhasana
English Translation: Inverted Locust
Also Called: Locust Prep

To learn how to do this read more.

Begin lying on your belly. Roll over to one of your shoulders so you can bring both arms underneath you. Interlace your fingers, clasp your palms together, straighten your arms and then roll your body back on the mat. Make sure your chin is on the mat as well. If having your fingers interlaced is uncomfortable, plant your palms flat on the mat with your pinkies touching.
Now bend your right knee, lift your left leg off the ground, and gently place your left knee on the sole of your right foot. Keep pressing your arms into the ground to help lift your leg high.
Stay like this for five deep breaths and then switch sides.

Plain Yogurt vs. Flavored Yogurt

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:50:03 -0700

For breakfast, yogurt with fruit and granola has become my favorite. I love that the yogurt offers lowfat protein, and the granola gives me fiber to keep me satisfied until lunch. With all this talk about how Americans are getting too much sugar, I'm trying to do what I can to cut back on added sugars.

I was wondering if there's a huge difference when choosing between plain yogurt or one that's flavored. So here's a comparison between a few flavors of Chobani Greek yogurt. To see the chart, read more.

These numbers are based on six-ounce containers.

	Plain	Vanilla	Blueberry	Honey
Calories	100	120	140	150
Saturated Fat	0 g	0 g	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg	0 mg	0 g
Sodium	80 mg	75 mg	65 mg	75 mg
Carbs	7 g	13 g	20 g	20 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g	less than 1 g	0 g
Sugars	7 g	16 g	20 g	20 g
Protein	18 g	16 g	14 g	16 g
Ingredients	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk.	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Evaporated Cane Juice, Natural Vanilla Flavor.	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Blueberries, Evaporated Cane Juice, Locust Bean Gum, Pectin, Natural Flavor.	Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Clover Honey.

Wow. Plain yogurt is clearly the better option when it comes to sugar. The vanilla, blueberry, and honey flavors have more than twice the amount as the plain. Plain yogurt also contains fewer calories and more protein, so I'll definitely stick to plain.

If you're trying to cut down on sugar, but can't stomach the sour taste of plain yogurt, mix in fresh, frozen, or dried fruit. It not only offers added fiber, but it will sweeten your yogurt naturally, unlike the flavored yogurts that contain evaporated cane juice. Tell me, will this info make you choose plain over flavored yogurts?

Strike a Yoga Pose: Handstand Scorpion

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:57 -0700

There are so many variations of scorpion pose like Locust Scorpion and Forearm Stand Scorpion, but Handstand Scorpion is my favorite. It's one of the most challenging poses you can try because it requires the three zingers - balance, strength, and flexibility.

Sanskrit Name: Vrschikasana B
English Translation: Scorpion B Pose
Also Called: Handstand Scorpion

To learn how to do this pose read more.

I know this pose is insanely difficult, so if handstand isn't happening for you quite yet, practice this pose in front of a wall.
Begin in Downward Facing Dog. If you're in front of a wall, place your fingertips 15 inches away from the wall.
Walk your feet as far as you can toward your hands. Lift your right leg in the air, coming into Three-Legged Dog.
Bend your left knee slightly and jump off the ball of your left foot, coming into handstand. Find your balance and slowly bend your knees, arching your back and lowering your toes toward the top of your head. If you're in front of a wall, lean the tops of your feet into the wall and inch them down toward your head.
Hold this pose for five breaths, then straighten your legs up to the ceiling and lower them back into Down Dog.

Food Review: Earth Balance Cream Cheese Spread

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

When it comes to buttering my bread or baking, I'm a huge fan of Earth Balance natural margarine. It's cholesterol free, low in saturated fat, and dairy free. I just discovered that Earth Balance makes Cream Cheese. Yes it's made with milk, so it's not some vegan alternative, but it's made with rBST-free milk and it's supposed to be a healthier version of mainstream cream cheese.

To see how the two types of cream cheeses compare read more.

Taste-wise, there isn't much difference at all. The Earth Balance tastes slightly sweet, and has a thick, creamy texture that spread exactly like regular cream cheese. Nutritionally, there's a big difference. The Earth Balance Cream Cheese has less calories, less fat, less cholesterol, and more protein. It does contain a bit more sodium and sugars, but not a significant amount. I'm definitely making the switch. I wonder how this will work in a cheesecake recipe?

Serving Size	Earth Balance cream Cheese (2 tbsp / 30 g)	Philadelphia Cream Cheese (2 tbsp / 30 g)
Calories	80	107
Total Fat	6 g	10.7 g
Saturated Fat	3 g	6.4 g
Cholesterol	15 mg	32 mg
Sodium	105 mg	96 mg
Carbs	2 g	1.1 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sugars	2 g	1.1 g
Protein	3 g	2.1 g
Ingredients	Pasteurized cultured skim milk and cream, natural oil blend (palm fruit, soybean and canola oils), whey protein, milk proteins, less than 2% of salt, natural flavor, natural plant sterols, xanthan, locust bean and guar gums.	Pasteurized nonfat milk and milkfat, whey protein concentrate, cheese culture, salt, whey, stabilizers (xanthan gum and/or carob bean and/or guar gums), sorbic acid as a preservative, vitamin A palmitate.

Healthy Dose Link Time!!!!!!

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:45:00 -0700

HealthBolt says if you want to help the planet go old school and eat PBJ instead of an all-American all-beef patty.

Complete Running Network celebrates the power of Title IX with a great ad by Nike.

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Looking for a new way to incorporate summer veggies into your life? Try YumSugar's inspired side: zucchini and pecorino salad.