Strike a Yoga Pose: Wide-Legged Forward Bend A


Updated 11/19/09 2:28 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 4 comments

Yoga Pose Wide-Legged Forward Bend A

If you're a runner, your hamstrings and lower back must get really tight. Wide-Legged Forward Bends are one of the greatest stretches to do because you can let gravity pull your torso down and you get an amazingly deep stretch. There are actually four versions of this pose in Ashtanga Yoga, and here's the first one. Sanskrit Name: Prasarita Padottanasana A English Translation: Feet Read more

Strike a Yoga Pose: Wide-Legged Forward Bend E


Updated 01/19/12 1:12 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 8 comments

Yoga Pose of the Week: Wide-Legged Forward Bend E

In Ashtanga yoga, although there are technically four Wide-Legged Forward Bend poses, sometimes I've been to classes where the instructor throws in a fifth — Wide-Legged Forward Bend E. This pose is great for stretching your hips, hamstrings, and inner thighs. Sanskrit Name: Prasarita Padottanasana E English Translation: Feet Spread Intense Stretch Pose E Also Called: Wide-Legged Read more

Namaste on Your Way: Yoga Journal's FindYoga


Updated 11/16/11 3:19 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Yoga Directory iPhone App From Yoga Journal

Whether you're visiting your in-laws or on a business trip, spending a few days in a new location doesn't mean you have to put your yoga practice on hold. Word of mouth is great for finding a yoga studio nearby, but if there's no one around to give you a recommendation, you can turn to your iPhone, Blackberry, or Android and use Yoga Journal's new app FindYoga. This free app is a cinch to use and Read more

Sneezy, Stuffy, Runny: Natural Cold Remedies to Do Before Bed


Updated 11/09/11 1:32 PM · Posted by · 1 comment

Natural Cold Remedies to Do Before Bed

If if you eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and wash your hands a bazillion times a day, you can still find yourself reaching for the tissues and cough drops. Luckily cold symptoms don't last too long, but here are some ways to get relief from your ails without popping pills or swallowing gross liquid. Heat and Water Before slipping into bed, take a hot shower. Make sure Read more

Beyond the Basics: Inner Thigh Stretches


Updated 05/19/11 1:20 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Inner Thigh Stretches

After a weekend spent doing Pilates and ballet-inspired workouts, I experienced a type of muscle soreness that was entirely new to me — my inner thighs (aka adductors) were on fire. While I have a series of stretches that I do after every workout, I now realize that none of them really target this often overlooked area. If you've also been neglecting your inner thighs the way I have, here are a Read more

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Ashtanga Class


Updated 10/11/11 6:23 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Beginner Ashtanga Yoga Tips

Ashtanga is one of my favorite forms of yoga because it's fast-paced, fluid, and each class follows the same sequence, so you always know what to expect once you have a few classes under your capris. It's also really intense, and some aspects of it can be a real turn-off to people. Before you head to your first ashtanga class, here are some things you'll be glad you know. 1. You'll Probably Be Read more

If Your Back Hurts in Savasana, You're Not Alone


Updated 07/01/11 6:40 AM · Posted by · 3 comments

How to Relieve Back Pain in Savasana

While teaching a Vinyasa Yoga class Saturday morning, I noticed three of my students shifting around while in Savasana (aka corpse pose), the relaxation pose done at the end of class where you lie on your back and just breathe. Afterward I asked if they were uncomfortable, and they all complained of an aching lower back. It seems like an oxymoron that a resting pose would be so unbearable, but Read more