Healthy happy you.
The thing I love about Ashtanga yoga classes is that they are the same every time you go. Same poses, same order, same amount of breaths in each pose, and the class is always an hour and a half. There are no surprises, so you always know what to expect. The teacher keeps everyone at the same pace by counting out loud. Many Ashtanga yoga instructors count in Sanskrit, the original language of Read more
If you've ever walked into an Ashtanga Yoga class, I'm sure you've noticed that it's warm in the room, but not even close to as hot as Bikram. The warmth helps your muscles to loosen up slightly, but the quick-paced and strength building vinyasas between poses is what really heats up your body. Think of it as creating an inner fire that heats your body from the inside out, which helps you Read more
David Swenson is an incredibly well-known yoga instructor and practitioner. He began practicing when he was 13 and was introduced to Ashtanga at 19 by David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff (also very well known). Plus he studied with K. Pattabhi Jois, the master of Ashtanga. His DVD, Ashtanga Yoga: First Series, available through Amazon for $24.95, is wonderful whether you are first learning or have Read more
When you go to an Ashtanga Yoga class for the first time, you'll probably be learning Primary Series. In Sanskrit it is known as "Yoga Chikitsa" which means Yoga Therapy. Its purpose is to re-align the spine, detoxify the body, build strength, and increase flexibility. The room is about 80°F, so your muscles can easily warm up. The instructor talks you though each pose and counts the Read more
If you are a Type A person, someone who can't sit still, or if you are slightly (or completely) ADD, you've got to try Ashtanga Yoga. It's fast paced and follows the same sequence every class, no joke, so you always know what's coming next. The room is heated (not as brutally hot as Bikram), so your body feels more open and motivated to move. The mats are set up in neat little rows, kind of Read more
Are you watching The Borgias series on Showtime? The show merges the sexiness of Renaissance-era opulence with the scandal of a crime family saga, telling the story of the infamous Borgia family, whose corrupt patriarch, Rodrigo Borgia, gained political power in 15th century Italy. To kick off the premiere of the second season, Showtime selected designers in 10 cities to create gorgeous Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! If you're struggling to see your six-pack, you could be making one of these mistakes. By Jenna Bergen, Prevention As the weather warms and Spring break approaches, we're all forced to do that same rather scary thing: unearth the bathing suit and take a good, hard look in the mirror. I did it just last week and was Read more
If you're feeling tight in the hips or side body, Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana) should be your go-to pose. It's part of the primary series in ashtanga, and I always relish the moment when I know it's coming up in the sequence: it's perfect for giving much-needed love to muscle groups that tend to get overlooked. If you want to take this pose to the next level in your practice, here are four Read more
Alec Baldwin made an appearance backstage in the press room at tonight's SAG Awards just after snagging the honor for outstanding performance by a male actor in a comedy series. True to form, the 30 Rock star wasn't shy about discussing his current political views, and he also made light of his recent in-flight Words With Friends flap. Here are the highlights: On his opinion of the 2012 primary: Read more
We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy! You’ll face a higher tax bill next spring if Congress doesn’t act to revive a series of tax breaks that expired Dec. 31, 2011. Among the breaks that Congress didn’t extend in all the Sturm und Drang over the payroll tax holiday are: Alternative minimum tax patch The AMT is a parallel tax system created more than 40 years Read more
