FitSugar

Strike a Yoga Pose: Downward Facing Dog

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:30:30 PST

If taking yoga was one of your goals for 2011, let me introduce you to Downward Facing Dog. It's probably the most basic yoga pose, and no matter what style of yoga you study, you'll end up in this pose more than a handful of times in one class. Even though it looks pretty straightforward, it's a challenging position to hold since most of your weight is in your upper body. It's also difficult if you have tight hamstrings, so don't be frustrated if your knees are bent or your heels don't touch the ground.

Sanskrit Name: Adho Mukha Svanasana
English Translation: Downward Facing Dog Pose
Also Called: Down Dog

To find out how to do Down Dog,

Strike a Yoga Pose: Three-Legged Dog

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:00:00 PST

Downward Facing Dog pose is a total body pose that's great for stretching out your shoulders, lower back, hamstrings, and calves. It can be really difficult at first, but since it's a pose that's done the most often during a class, you can build your upper body strength fast, so it becomes more of a relaxing pose. To make it more challenging, try this fun variation called Three-Legged Dog. It will open your hips and work on your balancing abilities.

Sanskrit Name: Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
English Translation: Three-Legged Downward Facing Dog Pose
Also Called: One-Legged Dog

To find out how to get into it

Begin in Down Dog. Step both feet together so your big toes are touching.
Shift weight into your hands and your left foot equally. Then raise your right leg up to the ceiling. Try to keep your shoulders parallel with the ground and gaze at your left thigh or up towards your belly to help you stay balanced. To feel the stretch in your left hamstring, try to keep pressing your left heel down towards the ground.
Stay here for five or more breaths, then lower your right leg down and switch sides.

Partner Yoga Pose: Triple Down Dog

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:45:00 PDT

Downward Facing Dog is a total body workout. It stretches your hamstrings and strengthens your upper body. If you do the Partner Yoga pose Double Dog, the person on the bottom gets even more of a deep stretch, and the person on the top gets a killer upper body and core workout.

What happens if you do Triple Dog with three people? It feels amazing to be physically connected to two other people like this. It takes even more strength and communication to get into this pose (and stay in it), but when you do, it's an amazing feeling.

To find out how to get into it,

Partner #1 begins in Down Dog. Partner #2 stands on the left side of them.
Partner #2 places their hands about 8 to 12 inches in front of Partner #2's hands.
Partner #2 lifts their right leg and places their foot on the bone (the back of the pelvis) above Partner #1's bum. Partner #2 repeats this action with their left foot, bringing it to the Partner #1 left backside. Partner #2 cups each side of Partner #1's pelvis with their feet. Partner #2 is basically doing Down Dog on top of their partner. Hence the name - Double Dog.
Now Partner #3 stands on the left side of Partner #2 and gets into Down Dog, with their feet cupping above Partner #2's pelvis.
This pose gets intense quickly because it takes a lot of strength to stay in it. Just make sure all three partners are communicating the entire time.

Fit's Tip: After you've had fun practicing with three people, try it with four or more. It is a veritable downward dog party!

What's Up Dog? Are You Down (DOG?)

FitSugar — Sat, 19 May 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Remember waking up on Saturday morning and watching cartoons? Well this video, while not a cartoon, is quite cartoonish. It is super cute, so beware 'cause you might just start singing this catchy song soon after watching the video.

You've got to get up to get down! Down Dog that is. Check out this adorable musical explanation of Sun Salutation A from The Ohmies (ha, get it? Om. Too cute). It's called "Up/Down Dawg."

You've got to do Up Dog, and then Down Dog. Are you down (dog)?

A Week of the Happy Healthy You

FitSugar — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:00:00 PDT

Planning on eating at Panda Express this weekend? Check out this nutritional breakdown first. It'll help you make a healthy choice.

If you wear high heels you should definitely do these stretches. Add them into your daily routine. It'll only take a few minutes.

Going to the gym? Try these walking forward lunges. It is a classic leg and booty exercise.

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If you are trying to up your calcium intake here's a list of foods high in calcium. Print it out and stick it on the fridge!!!!!

Oh...and don't forget to eat your antioxidants. Not really sure what an antioxidant is? Read this explanation...it is sure to make you want to eat your veggies.

Check out Stella McCartney's new tennis dress. It will inspire you to get on the court.

Exercise your political rights and sign this PHIT petition.

Don't forget to practice your Downward Dog and your Sun Salutation. It is the weekend you have some time to try yoga.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Downward Facing Dog

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:00:00 PST

We've reached the last pose in the Sun Salutation A. Downward facing Dog, or Down Dog as I usually call it is one of the toughest poses to hold in yoga. It works every part of your body, and when you first begin to do yoga, you have a hard time holding this pose for more than 2 breaths. After you practice for a while, you'll build up the muscles and strength in your arms to hold yourself up, and then Down Dog actually becomes somewhat of a resting, relaxing pose.

This pose strengthens all the muscles in your arms, but could put strain on your wrists. You can prevent wrist pain by shifting weight into your fingertips, to take the weight off the heels of your palms.

You can also work your core muscles in this pose, by pulling your navel to your spine, and breathing into your ribs. You'll really feel a stretching in your hamstrings, calves and Achilles tendon. It's an all-around total body pose, which is why it's one of my favorites.

Here's how to get into it.

When you are in Sun Salutation A, once you get to the Standing Forward Bend pose, as you exhale, step or jump both feet back and come into 4-Limbed Staff pose. Eventually your body will be in one straight line.
From here, inhale and scoop your chest forward between your arms, coming into Upward Facing Dog pose. The only thing on the ground are your hands and the tops of your feet. Try to lengthen through your spine and draw your shoulder blades back and down away from your ears.
As you exhale, press into your palms and lift your hips up away from you, so you're in an upside down "V" shape called Downward Facing Dog. Spread your fingers wide and make sure you're creating a straight line with your middle finger and forearm. Work on bringing your heels down towards the ground. They should be slightly wider than your toes, so the outside edges of your feet are parallel with the outside edges of your mat. Work on holding for five breaths.

Fit's Tips: You can definitely work on holding this pose for longer to build and tone the muscles in your arms, upper back and shoulders. This is a great stretch to do after a run because it lengthens the backs of your legs, and if you bend your knees slightly, you'll feel a release in your lower back. While this pose may seem taxing at first, it will soon become your rest pose. So practice up!!!

Is Your Sticky Mat NOT So Sticky?

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:35:00 PST

I recently bought a new yoga mat because well, my hubby took the car that had my prized Black Mat in it. And I REFUSE to use the nasty, stinky, dirty, germ-infested public mats you can rent at the studio.

So I bought a new mat that's a little less thick and a lot less heavy - so I could travel with it.

I was psyched to try my first Down Dog on it. At first it was really sticky and grippy - so I could push into my palms and get a good stretch through my back.

But a few minutes later, as we started warming up, my hands and feet began slipping away from me. My Down Dog was turning into a LONG Dog. I was getting really frustrated, but I should have expected it with a brand new mat.

Want some tips to get rid of the slick, and achieve the stick? Then

Wash your mat. A lot of mats come with some weird (and smelly) chemical on the surface, so just take your mat into the shower and rinse it with warm water. Don't use any soap as this will just increase the slipperiness. Hang it over your shower rod to let it air dry.
That didn't work? Wash it in the shower again, but this time gently scrub it with a new sponge with warm water and NO soap. Let it air dry.
Still no luck? Use it and DON'T wash it. Sometimes your mat just needs to be used. Your sweat helps to break it in and it'll become more sticky.

different mat

Madison Square Garden Goes to the Dogs For Westminster

Sara Yoo — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST

While last-minute shoppers rush to order flowers for their loved ones, another kind of frenzy has hit the Big Apple. The 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show kicked off the canine festivities with a fun fashion show on Friday night, but now it's down to business as the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding breeds and groups take to the ring today to narrow down the Best in Show pool. Take a look at the activity so far - including an appearance by Martha Stewart! - and check back for more updates throughout the day!

Katy Perry and Russell Brand Reach a Divorce Settlement

Allie Merriam — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:50:30 PST

Can You Cash in on Facebook's $5 Billion IPO?

Emily Co — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:15:10 PST

Everyone's buzzing about the Facebook IPO, and after hearing about how many billionaires and millionaires the IPO will create, you might think that it's your chance to make money off this cash cow. But first, you need to educate yourself.

What's the deal about IPOs?

Facebook used to be a private company, which means its shares were not sold to the public. Once a firm goes public, it's on the stock market and it sells a part of itself to outside investors who can afford it. The term for going public is also known as an IPO or initial public offering.

Why would a company go public?

A company that sells shares to outside investors can stand to raise a lot of money. Current estimates of the Facebook IPO are at $5 billion. Companies can do a lot with the capital raised - they can use it to pay down long-term obligations, fund new opportunities, and even acquire competitors. Further, initial private investors who wish to exit can now sell their shares to public investors.

Read to find out about buying Facebook shares.