Healthy happy you.
In honor of the Winter Solstice, I thought we could use a little light from the yoga world. So take a few minutes to pay attention to your breath and follow this Sun Salutation A sequence. The Sanskrit word for Sun Salutation is Surya Namaskar. Surya means "Sun," and "Namaskar" is a greeting of honor and respect to the divinity present in each one of us. In yoga studios across the world, many Read more
Want to get active? Then check out Get Active America to see if a gym near you is participating in open houses next weekend. Now that it is the weekend, why not try the Sun Salutation. The video will take you through the moves, and your body will feel great after a few repetitions. I want to know which celebrity diet you identify with the most. Do you know the importance of interval training Read more
We've finally learned all the poses that make up Sun Salutation A, so we can link them all together. The Sanskrit word for Sun Salutation is Surya Namaskar. Surya means "Sun," and "Namaskar" is a greeting of honor and respect to the divinity present in each one of us. In case you were curious, the word "Namaste" comes from the word "Namaskar," and is used as a greeting and a way to give Read more
Although it feels like we were just talking about bikini workouts and sunscreen, tomorrow is the first day of Winter — aka the Winter Solstice. You can celebrate by getting outside for a Winter run, cooking up a hearty pot of soup, or do like the yogis do: perform 108 Sun Salutations, a practice called Mala. The number 108 is considered sacred in Hindu and Buddhist belief systems, and it Read more
The secret to Jennifer Aniston's sleek, toned arms, according to her yoga go-to Mandy Ingber, is the Sun Salute. A staple of every yoga class, the Sun Salute stretches and strengthens the shoulders, biceps, and triceps. It's also a great way to warm up before working out. Take a lesson from Mandy and learn the Sun Salute by watching this video. Read more
If you'd rather skip a run than hit the treadmill, then there's no doubt you're continuing with your outdoor runs even through this brisk and snowy Winter weather. That doesn't mean you're not dealing with some discomfort along the way. I've given you some tips on how to beat burning lungs, but if it's your feet that are bothering you, here are some ways to avoid numb toes. First, consider your Read more
Recently, I took a crowded yoga class, where we all had to situate our mats close to each other to make room for everyone. The closeness meant we all had to be aware of our neighbors (especially during Sun Salutations), but the space issue didn't really bother me until we began a series of poses that required more lateral space, starting with Seated Straddle. That's when my extremely flexible Read more
When cold, brisk air is blowing outside, I crave practicing yoga in a heated room. Walking around barefoot in a tank top and feeling the warm arm on my skin is incredibly liberating. Practicing yoga in the Winter is a little different than in the summertime, so here are some things you should keep in mind until the thaw. Don't just head to class in your just your capris. Be sure to wear warm Read more
Yoga is supposed to be all about serenity and bliss, but there's no way you'll feel relaxed and at peace with the world if you're making these major no-nos on the mat. Not connecting breath with movements: For every movement in your yoga practice, there is a breath pattern that goes along with it. For example, to start a Sun Salutation, you inhale to raise your arms up, and exhale to fold Read more
Whether you have five or 50 yoga classes under your capris, Chair pose (aka Fierce) is one of the many basic postures you'll strike just about as often as Down Dog since it's the first pose in Sun Salutation B. As a yoga instructor, I've noticed some major no-nos that you'll want to avoid to prevent discomfort and to make sure you're getting the most out of the pose. Weight too far forward: Read more
