Yoga Props Explained: Blocks


Updated 08/05/09 3:27 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 3 comments

Yoga Props Explained: Blocks

When I walked into my first few yoga classes, I was intrigued by all the blocks neatly stacked against the wall next to the perfectly rolled-up mats. I soon came to realize that those different sized blocks had many useful purposes. Blocks are often used by beginners and those with injuries to help them modify certain postures, but they are also used by experienced and flexible yogis as tools to Read more

Keep Running: Prevent Plantar Fasciitis With These Tips


Updated 02/10/12 4:41 PM · Posted by · 2 comments

How to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain

From pounding the pavement running to spending a day in fashionable shoes that lack proper support, feet take a beating. If you're training for a race this Spring and upping your mileage, it pays to show your peds some love. You can do some preventive prehab to avoid coming down with a case of plantar fasciitis. This painful condition, which can be common in new runners and affects women more Read more

Go Deep Into Your Forward Bend


Updated 01/16/12 12:15 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Tips For a Deeper Seated Forward Bend

If you run, bike, ski, or sit at a desk all day, chances are your hamstrings are screaming for some attention. Get on the floor and give them what they crave — a seated forward bend. This pose looks simple enough, but here are some ways to increase that deep stretch in the backs of your legs. Before folding forward, sit with your legs straight out in front of you. Take your right fingertips Read more

Tiny Yet Mighty Tips For Beginner Yogis


Updated 01/10/12 9:07 AM · Posted by Heather Dale · 1 comment

Beginner Yoga Tips

Perhaps signing up for yoga classes was one of your healthy New Year's resolutions? I have found that yoga can be practiced by anyone at any age and it does a body good . . . both inside and out. And contrary to popular belief, yoga is so much more than just stretching — it's a union of the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some tips I've learned after years of practice that should help you get Read more

15 Smart Things You Can Do With $100


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15 Smart Things You Can Do With $100

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy! At first blush, $100 is only $100. It's so easy to fritter away on eating out, entertainment, or booking a trip online. But you should never underestimate how far $100 can go, even in this economy. "It's smarter to put that money away because once it's in your pocket, it's pretty much gone," says Joel Larsen, a Read more

How Yoga Classes Can Make You Sick


Updated 10/13/11 11:30 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

How to Prevent Getting Sick in Yoga Class

Sweating it out in yoga class could result in a case of the sniffles, and not because you're sweating out toxins. You get sick because you're coming in contact with germs and your immune system is losing. Here are four ways to effectively battle germs during yoga class. Borrowing a studio mat: I don't know what's more gross: how many people have sweat on those mats, or when was the last time Read more

Beyond the Basics: 5 Helpful Quad Stretches


Updated 05/26/11 9:50 AM · Posted by · 2 comments

How to Stretch the Quads

After a series of outdoor runs this week, I wasn't prepared for how on fire my quads would feel during today's yoga class. Going through the Warrior poses proved difficult, and by the time we moved into a variation of pigeon pose, I was breathing deeper than ever before. It was a good reminder that even though I always stretch after working out, I don't give enough attention to my quads — a Read more

New Hybrid Class: Spinning and Yoga


Updated 06/14/11 2:26 PM · Posted by · 2 comments

Spinning and Yoga Together in One Fitness Class

Since the new millennium rolled around, it seems like the ancient practice of yoga has been mixed with almost every form of exercise, from the Pilates hybrid Yogalates to kickboxing's Koga. A new yoga mashup is making its way into the fitness world: yoga and spinning. Before your third eye conjures up images of holding a downward-facing dog while clipped in on a stationary bike, let me explain Read more

Workout Essentials That Aren't Just For Yogis


Updated 05/12/11 10:30 AM · Posted by Heather Dale · 0 comments

How to Use Yoga Blocks and Foam Rollers

The first time you walked into a yoga studio you probably saw a wall of blocks like the ones above, and a few of these foam cylindrical tubes lying around too. I'll admit it, at first I didn't quite know what purpose either of these items served. But after taking a few classes that incorporated both blocks and rollers, I was instantly hooked! What's great about both yoga blocks ($15) and foam Read more

Why FitSugar Readers Love Yoga


Updated 05/26/11 3:48 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 3 comments

Why People Love Yoga

We love reading all the reasons why FitSugar readers love yoga! Here are some of the quotes our members posted in the Get Fit For Summer community group as part of the seventh challenge in the Get Fit For Summer giveaway. By doing so, they're eligible to win a $100 New Balance gift card! lindsgiles — "I run a few half marathons each year and when it gets to training time I normally get super Read more