Healthy happy you.
Doing stretches for your back not only feels good physically, but they are also energetically stimulating. Backbends open the muscles near your heart. This is the location of your 4th chakra which is associated with love and compassion. It allows us to feel peace and a sense of being centered. Backbends also open your hips, where your 2nd chakra is located, which is associated with sex and Read more
Fun issues like nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and the need to hit the ladies' room — three different times during a workout! — makes it difficult to keep up with a regular exercise routine when pregnant. If you're expecting, taking up yoga (or continuing to go) is wonderful because not only does it alleviate some of these annoying discomforts, your body will stay strong and flexible. Read more
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 Read more
Justin Timberlake was the man of the hour at last night's LA premiere of In Time. Justin, who opted for a fashion-forward camel suit and brown shirt ensemble, posed with his leading lady in the film, Amanda Seyfried, on the red carpet before heading in to check out the screening. JT's mom in the futuristic action movie, Olivia Wilde, was also on hand, as was cute Matthew Bomer. JT's on-again Read more
During Aunt Flo's monthly visit, feeling crampy, fatigued, or bloated may make it hard to stick to your normal fitness routine. Instead of skipping out on exercise completely, swap high-intensity workouts with something less intense — light exercise can actually help alleviate symptoms associated with PMS and your period. Here are some low-impact workout ideas to send your period's symptoms Read more
Tightness in the wrists, a kink in the neck, and discomfort in the knees — these pains can disrupt a great workout, interfering with the benefits of toning exercises or yoga poses. DoD Fitness (the acronym stands for Do or Die) created a line of foamy products to help reduce discomfort in the wrists, neck, and knees during poses that typically strain these areas. We tried the Set of All Three Read more
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
Yoga is over 5,000 years old, it's one of the oldest forms of healing therapy. Humans were not the first to do yoga. Are you surprised? Way back in India, animals were observed in nature, and noted for their particular abilities and accomplishments. To imitate these qualities was considered a high sign of spiritual enlightenment. Many postures require you to "be" an animal, such as in Frog Read more
Everyone can benefit from opening their hips - whether you are a runner, biker, a mom-to-be, or someone who sits at their desk all day - stretching out your hips can help prevent lower back pain, or knee or hamstring injuries. Sanskrit Name: Eka Pada Rajakapotasana English Translation: One-Legged King Pigeon Pose Also Called: Pigeon Pose Our hips tend to be really tight because our everyday Read more
