FitSugar

Healthy Dose Link Time: How Yoga Can Improve Your Sex Life

Michele Foley — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:40:17 PST

3 ways yoga can make you better in bed - Mind Body Green
Gluten-free recipes good enough to fool the bread-eater - Health
Keep your workspace germ free with these 10 tips - HuffPost Healthy Living
More on Ioana Spangenberg, the lady with the 20-inch waist - Blisstree
20 celebs criticized for their curves speak out - Shape
Is it chocolate that's causing your acne? - Self
The secrets of happy people - Fitness

Partner Yoga Poses For Friends and Lovers

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:44:44 PST

This Valentine's Day, forget the chocolate and flowers. Spend some time together connecting with your favorite person by doing some partner yoga. Move through this eight-posture sequence, and not only will you experience a deep stretch in your muscles, but you'll deepen the connection with your loved one as well.

Source: AcroYoga and Flickr User lmpicard

Gear Review: Lululemon No Limit Top

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:07 PST

I don't usually get very fancy with my yoga clothes. A fitted tank with a built-in sports bra is my usual go-to top. It keeps my girls covered and in place, and the fitted body stays put when I go upside down. But some days ~~you ate too many cookies~~ you just don't feel like wearing something tight. You could sport a loose shirt but it doesn't offer the most flattering look, and as soon as you start moving, it can end up exposing your belly even more than a tight tank. Enter the Lululemon No Limit Tank ($64). Sexy is the first word I thought when I saw it, but when I tried it in a yoga class, functional was the second.

Keep reading to hear more details about this unique Lululemon tank.

Essential Stretches For Tight Hips

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:05:31 PST

Tight hips seem to be a common problem for almost everybody - from runners to cyclists, from deskbound bloggers to triathletes. Give this area a little extra love with this sequence of nine hip-opening stretches to increase your flexibility, reduce discomfort, and prevent injury. Try the series in the order listed here, or pick your faves to incorporate into your workout routine.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:36:43 PST

Buying a yoga mat is like buying a new pair of running sneakers. It takes careful consideration and research to find the right fit. Since there are hundreds to ~~confuse you~~ choose from, narrow down your search by asking these important questions.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?
Your budget is a huge factor in the mat you end up with. Do you have the dough to lay down for the priciest one on the market or are you happy buying a cheaper mat? The upside of buying a more expensive mat, like the Manduka PRO Black Magic ($104), is durability, which will actually save you money over time.

How Thick Do I Want It?
If you're new to the mat-buying scene, you might not realize that mats come in different thicknesses. A quarter-inch is the standard mat thickness, probably like the one you've borrowed from your studio. Think about how your body feels on this mat in certain poses where your bones are pressing into the floor. If you've felt discomfort, splurge on a thicker mat, but make sure it's also dense. A thick squishy mat makes balancing postures more difficult.

Keep reading for more things to consider when purchasing a new yoga mat.

6 Ways to Burn More Calories in Your Yoga Class

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:45:49 PST

Yoga classes aren't meant to be huge calorie-burners - increasing strength and flexibility and acquiring a sense of calmness and bliss, these are more the focus when moving through postures. You still burn calories, though, and with these tips, you can burn more the next time you hop on your mat.

Source: Thinkstock

Do You Love or Hate These Popular Yoga Poses?

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:59:36 PST

Pigeon is easily one of my top 10 favorite yoga poses, but my husband can't stand it - his tight hips scream to get out of pose. Here's a list of challenging yoga poses that people either love or hate. From backbends to inversions, tell us which ones you love, or love to skip.

Get the Bod: Jennifer Aniston's Arms

Zelana Montminy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:38:55 PST

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.

What Not to Do in Wheel Pose

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:33:14 PST

Doing Full Backbend, also known as Wheel pose, isn't exactly on the list of beginner moves. It's demanding both from a flexibility as well as a strength standpoint, so it's best to stick to Half Wheel, Camel, and other easier variations before trying your hand at Full Backbend. When you are ready, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure you're doing this heart-opening pose safely and comfortably.

Clenching your tush: It takes lower body strength to hold yourself up in Wheel, but that doesn't mean you need to clench your glutes. Focus on engaging your quads and calves to release tension in your bum, allowing your lower spine to relax and fully extend.

Keep reading to find out other mistakes you might be making in Full Backbend.

Are You OK With Crowded Exercise Classes?

Leta Shy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:06:58 PST

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 neighbor plopped her lower left leg squarely onto my mat.

I'm not a complete germaphobe, but the idea of having a stranger's foot all over my mat grossed me out. I let the moment pass without saying anything, but afterward I wondered if other people would be as annoyed about having to share space in a crowded class, or I was making a big deal over nothing. After all, my neighbor was fine with it - she seemed completely oblivious to the fact that she was interfering with my personal practice!

I tend to avoid crowded classes since I like my space, but other people probably love the energy of a full class. What about you?