Healthy happy you.
I remember taking a dance class when I was a little girl. We would always do floor exercises to warm up before dancing. My favorite was called Flying Butterfly. We'd sit down, facing the mirror of course, and put our feet together and our knees out wide. Then the teacher would say "Fly, butterflies, fly," and we'd flap our little knee wings. Now we know that bouncing your body while you Read more
Over the holidays, I went to a Primary Series yoga class. I pretty much knew what to expect - the sequencing of postures is the same no matter where you take it. But I wasn't expecting Mr. Touchy-Feely Yoga Assistant. Getting assists in class can be awesome - when they're done correctly and with respect. Assists help with your alignment, and can safely and comfortably get you deeper into a Read more
Sanskrit name: Baddha Konasana English Translation: Bound Angle Also Called: Butterfly This is the first pose I do right after a run. It feels utterly amazingly to stretch out my tight hips and low back. Here's what to do: Sit on the ground, bending both knees and bringing your feet together. Using your hands, open your feet up like a book. Use your muscles to press your knees down Read more
If you have the ever popular office job that involves sitting at a desk for eight hours a day, it can wreak havoc on your precious body creating tight hips and lower back pain. Many stretches for your hips also stretch out your lower back, so these poses are like two for the price of one. Butterfly Sit on the floor, bend both knees, and bring your feet together. Using your hands, open your feet Read more
If you're a runner, chances are your feet could use some extra love. Here's a tranquil pose that will stretch your arches and toes like Toe Breaker stretch, but will also open your hips and challenge your sense of balance. To learn how to do this pose and see another variation read more Read more
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
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
Whether you suffer from tight hips because you run, sit at a desk all day, are pregnant, or were just born with oh-so-tight hips, here are three yoga poses you can do every day to increase flexibility and reduce tension in this commonly stiff area. Mix up the sequence each time you do it to keep your muscles guessing. One of my favorite stretches after a run, Lizard will target your hips and hip Read more
When stretching out the lower body, the hips often get passed over in favor of the calves, quads, and hamstrings. Bad idea! Hip flexors are what help lift the legs while running, which means they are prone to tightness. Even if you don't run, but you sit a lot during the day, you're probably tight in your hips, so get a stretching! There's also an added bonus to incorporating some Pigeon Pose Read more
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
