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6 Ways to Keep Celebrating National Yoga Month

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:36:02 PDT

As September draws to a close, so does National Yoga Month. However, that's no reason to quit challenging yourself to learn new postures. Here's a quick look at some of our favorite yoga videos and slideshows. Lay out your mat, and get sun saluting!

Work Your Abs With Yoga!	Yoga Series For Runners	Yoga For Jennifer Aniston's Abs
How to Do a Headstand	Advanced Yoga Moves	Tush Toning Yoga

Yoga Studios Across the Country Offer Week-Long Passes For National Yoga Month

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:02:39 PDT

If you've always wanted to achieve Standing Bow pose with grace, now is the time. September is National Yoga Month, and to celebrate, over 1,200 yoga studios nationwide are offering one week of free yoga through October - registration is already underway. The hope is to inspire more people to try yoga so they can reap all the physical and emotional benefits of regular practice.

All you have to do is sign up on the Yoga Month website for a free week of yoga at any of the participating studios. After choosing a studio, you'll receive a card in your email that entitles you to a free week of classes; just print it out and bring it to your chosen studio. The one restriction is that you can't use the pass to go to a studio you have visited in the past. Besides a free week of yoga, many studios will be offering free days of yoga that require no prior registration.

Name That Yoga Pose!

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:30:50 PDT

It's September! To many that means college football and baseball pennant races, but for meditation lovers, it's time to celebrate National Yoga Month! Before you run off to your next class, take my quiz to jog your memory on some yoga poses!

Question 1 of 5

What is the Sanskrit name for this basic pose?

Fit For September: Must Haves

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:30:55 PDT

Say hello to September! This month is all about squeezing in your last bits of Summer, while also making a smooth transition into Fall. I love this time of year, it's the perfect weather for an outdoor workout, and I start to see signs of new produce at the farmers market. It's also National Yoga Month, and what's not to love about that? Here are our picks to make sure your September is a perfect balance of healthy foods, inspiring workouts, and let's not forget - cute gear!

Source: Thinkstock

Name That Yoga Pose

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:50:28 PDT

In honor of September being National Yoga Month, let's test what you know about some common and not-so-common yoga poses.

Question 1 of 8

What is this hip opener called?

Fit for September: Must Haves

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:30:00 PDT

Now that Labor Day has passed us by, it's time to kiss the dog days of Summer good-bye. Just because you're putting away your bathing suit does not mean that you should also put away your motivation to stay fit. Being healthy is much more than looking good on the beach. Use my September Must Haves to welcome the first day of Fall, and of the rest of your life.

Source

Energize Your Morning with 4 Wake-Up Moves

Self — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:28:59 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Can't get through your morning without your daily java fix? You're not alone. According to a survey conducted by the National Coffee Association, Americans spend an average of $164.71 on coffee per year. That's almost enough for a monthly car payment or a couple of weeks worth of groceries!

Want to wean yourself off of overdoing the caffeine without sacrificing your sanity? Then look no further than your local yoga studio. Warming up your body in the morning helps the natural release of endorphins, says Desiree Bartlett, a Los Angeles-based yoga instructor.

Not only does yoga do the body good, the energy you cultivate in a yoga class stays with you all day long. "There is a natural gauging of energy and we release old thoughts or judgments we no longer need," says Bartlett. "Through this practice of steadying the mind and observing the breath, the mind stays present, sharper and clearer because it is no longer reviewing the past or making to-do lists for the future."

Incorporate these four moves into your regular routine five days a week to start each day "with strength, clarity and a sense of empowerment." Desiree may have shot these on the beach (we're jealous!) but you can do them on your bedroom floor!

Get the moves after the break.

Would You Pay to Take a Spin Class?

Michele Foley — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:21:59 PDT

Judging from the latest trend in fitness, what's old is new again. Indoor cycling is all the rage, and it's moving beyond drop-in classes at the gym. Contributing to the hybrid fitness craze is a new wave of classes that combine spin with either yoga or strength training. LA-based Yas is a hybrid of yoga and spinning, while New York's SoulCycle turns indoor cycling into a total body workout - students use resistance bands or hand weights to work their upper body while also cycling.

Besides hybrid spinning classes, indoor cycling studios seem to be on the rise. Flywheel, a national chain, is having no problems getting people to come in for its $25 indoor cycling classes. The company has plans to open locations in seven more cities within the next six months.

The idea of paying for a spin class might seem crazy, but it wasn't too long ago that going to a yoga studio had people scratching their heads. The benefits of an indoor cycling studios are many: abundant bikes, complimentary cycling shoes, and a wide variety of classes. These studios also offer the latest stationary bikes and have the kind of amenities you'd expect from any upscale studio or gym.

Source

How to Create a Serene Yoga Spot

FitSugar — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:05:31 PDT

September is National Yoga Month, and if you're unable to take advantage of the free classes yoga studios are offering, don't fret. With a little elbow grease you can transform a corner of your home into a dedicated yoga zone. I learned a few things while recently converting part of my guest bedroom into a yoga space.

It would normally take me a while to tackle a home project like that, but turning an empty space into a serene workout area was much easier than I anticipated. Mostly because the task involved clearing and cleaning. In hardly no time, I transformed the area into the perfect meditating spot. Come check out these easy steps that will have you breathing and stretching easier in your own home.

Best of Yoga: Hybrid Classes

Self — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:28:37 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Still think yoga is for hippies? Think again! Instead of chanting, there are lots of yoga styles that fuse elements of other workouts to make a killer two-for-one workout for any exercise personality.

Since you've never been one to play by the rules, why should your yoga practice? Think of this as your yogi cheat sheet of fusion classes to help guide you through National Yoga Month. And be sure to brush up on first class tricks of the trade to look like a pro!

AntiGravity Yoga: Having trouble mastering the handstand? This is for you. Also known as cocooning and aerial yoga, AntiGravity yoga, created by former aerial acrobat Christopher Harrison, involves using a giant hanging fabric (think of a hammock) to assist with yoga pose and stretches.

AcroYoga: Need a spot? AcroYoga combines traditional yoga with Thai massage and Acrobatics for a partner-based practice. You'll massage, flow, invert, spot and asana with a buddy who is the ying to your yang.

Breakti: It's yoga with a beat! Founded by Anya Porter, Breakti is the fusion of break dancing and yoga.

Learn about more hybrid yoga classes after the break!