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Even if you've never done regular ol' Crow Pose, you can master this advanced variation of this arm balance with the right preparation. Yoga arm balances may look straight out of Cirque du Soleil and impossible, but breaking the poses down step by step can help you master them. Try out this sequence of yoga poses to stretch your hip flexors, increase the flexibility of your spine, and build your Read more
Good ol' Crow post perfectly illustrates that yoga is not all about stretching. Arm balances take arm strength and a balanced core. The twisted variation known as Side Crow may look more difficult than your basic Crow, but some people find it's actually easier. This pose strengthens your shoulders and abs, and the twisting will also increase flexibility in your lower back. Sanskrit Name: Read more
I think we're all ready to kick it up a notch and try this gorgeous arm balancing yoga pose. I know it looks intense and very advanced, but as with most yoga poses, with a few tricks and some practice, you'll have this pose down in no time. I've never seen this taught in a traditional yoga class, but actually saw it on this old Russian yoga competition video. Talk about an Read more
This pose called One-Legged Arm Balance stretches your front hamstring and strengthens your upper body like you wouldn't believe. I know it looks really hard, but if you practice the prep for this pose, you'll get used to placing your elbows into your belly so you can balance on your hands. Sanskrit Name: Eka Pada Koundinyasana English Translation: One-Legged Pose Dedicated to the Sage Read more
Yoga poses aren't always calm and relaxing. Some poses require a lot of strength and some circus-like balancing skills. At first glance they may seem impossible, but if you learn the tricks and master the preparatory exercises, you'll be able to do poses you never thought you could do. In the yoga video Warrior Triangle Sequence, one of the postures I showed you called Eka Pada Koundinyasana (a Read more
You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic — challenging, but basic — pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them. "I Can't Breathe" If you're well Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body Read more
The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below. A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the Read more
Many people prefer hitting the treadmill to running outdoors, but if you're not careful, along with that toned tush you might end up with a stiff neck, resulting in a nagging headache. Follow these tips the next time you hop on the treadmill to prevent this common running woe. Keep Your Gaze Forward One gym perk is its televisions, which allow you to catch up on the news or your favorite TV Read more
If you're looking to amp up your fitness routine, you need to get unstable. Performing classic single-leg exercises while standing on a foam pad, like the one pictured above by Aeromat, is simple way to do this. The squishy surface forces your core and legs to work harder, increasing your strength gains and caloric burn. Standing on the soft surface also strengthens your feet and ankles, which Read more
