FitSugar

Work Your Abs With Yoga!

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:42:16 PDT

We all know that yoga is a great way to de-stress, but the ancient practice can also help you tone your midsection. You can fire up your abs by simply rounding your spine as you move from downward dog into plank. Add a twist and you're working your obliques. Watch this video to learn three moves that target your abs while working your arms and booty, too. Can you tell that I love these exercises?

Strike A Pose: Sun Salutation B

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:15:00 PDT

When you take an Ashtanga yoga class, it always begins with the opening chant, then 5 Sun Salutation As in a row, and then 5 Sun Salutation Bs. In other types of yoga, they usually do variations on these sun salutations, so parts of this series may look familiar to you.

Sun Salutation B has just a few more poses than Sun Salutation A. I love to do this as a way to warm up before a run or bike ride. It works the entire body slowly, so it gradually heats up your shoulders, back, hamstrings, core, calves, fingers, toes, and hips. After 5 of these Sun Salutations, my breath feels even, my mind feels calm, my muscles feel alive, and my body feels ready to do more intense poses.

Do you want to see what Sun Salutation B looks like? Then

Start at the front of your mat in Mountain pose, bringing your awareness inward, and following your breath. This is the pose you're in when you do the opening chant. It's a prep pose for Sun Salutation B.
Release your arms to the sides of the body. This is a variation of Mountain pose.
Inhale, bend your knees, drop your hips, lift your arms up overhead and gaze at your hands. This is called Fierce.
Exhale as you dive out and come into a Standing Forward Bend.
Inhale to look up and lengthen your spine.
As you exhale, step or jump back and come into 4 Limbed Staff pose.
Inhale as you scoop your chest forward into Upward Facing Dog pose.
Exhale into Downward Facing Dog.
As you inhale, step your right foot forward between your hands and come into Warrior 1
Exhale, release your arms down, step your right leg back and come into 4 Limbed Staff pose.
Inhale as you scoop your chest forward into Upward Facing Dog pose.
Exhale into Downward Facing Dog.
As you inhale, step your left foot forward between your hands and come into Warrior 1.
Exhale, release your arms down, step your left foot back and come into 4 Limbed Staff pose.
Inhale as you scoop your chest forward into Upward Facing Dog.
Exhale into Downward Facing Dog. Stay here for 5 complete slow breaths. Inhale...Exhale...1, Inhale...Exhale...2, etc.
After 5 breaths, on your next inhale, step or hop the feet forward between your hands.
Exhale into Standing Forward Bend.
Inhale as you bend your knees and come into Fierce.
Exhale your arms down. Sun Salutation B begins and ends with this pose. To do another one, inhale your arms up and continue through the entire sequence again. In an Ashtanga yoga class, they do it 5 times, but you can do Sun Salutation B as many times as you like.

What Not to Do in Downward Facing Dog

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 03:05:32 PST

From your first class to your 100th, Downward Facing Dog is probably the pose you do most often. That's why it's important to do the pose correctly; not only to avoid injury, but to also make it as comfortable and effective as possible. Here are four don'ts when it comes to Down Dogging.

Tense shoulders: It doesn't look like it, but this pose is all about upper-body strength. If your arms and shoulders are weak, you might compensate by scrunching your shoulders up to your ears. This is a big no-no, as it can cause neck strain, shoulder pain, and headaches. Be sure to actively draw your shoulder blades down your back, creating space in your neck. If you find your shoulders tensing up, it probably means you need to take a break. Bend your knees and rest in Child's Pose, and rise back into Down Dog when you're ready. As you continue your practice, upper-body strength will quickly increase, making it easier to hold Down Dog with correct technique.

Keep reading to find out other mistakes you're making in Downward Dog pose.

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,

Gym 101: Strength-Training Warmup

Susi May — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:12:55 PST

A solid warmup sets you up for a solid workout. When it comes to prepping for strength training, an active warmup primes the joints and muscles, prepping them for the heavy lifting. Lauren, my Equinox trainer, introduced me to these moves, and after a little light cardio - for me, it's five minutes running on a treadmill at a 6 mph pace, but the elliptical or a little jump rope would work - Lauren has me do three out of these five moves. Mix and match the exercises however you please, or do them all for a very thorough warmup.

Rocking Lunge
Give an active stretch to both your hips and hamstrings with the rocking lunge. Start in a deep lunge with your right leg forward; you can even bring your left knee to the floor. Straighten your right knee to rock your weight back and onto your left foot to lengthen the hamstring. Flex your right toes as you rock into the hamstring stretch. Return back to your deep lunge and repeat for a total of 10 times on each side.

Toy Soldier
A walking kick, the toy soldier stretches out the back of the leg, both hamstrings and calves. Step forward on your right foot, and kick your left leg forward, bringing your left toes toward your right hand. Step onto your left foot and kick the right leg, bringing right foot toward left hand. Take 20 steps total.

Keep reading for three more moves.

Tips For Practicing Yoga in the Winter

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:24:08 PST

When cold, brisk air is blowing outside, I crave practicing yoga in a heated room. Walking around barefoot in a tank top and feeling the warm arm on my skin is incredibly liberating. Practicing yoga in the Winter is a little different than in the summertime, so here are some things you should keep in mind until the thaw.

Don't just head to class in your just your capris. Be sure to wear warm layers over your yoga outfit. A warm body is less prone to injury.
If you live in a very cold climate, try to get to class at least 10 minutes early to sit in the hot room to allow your muscles to warm up before diving into Downward Dog. Do some Sun Salutations on your own to warm up faster.
To avoid getting sick, ask the instructor not to assist you. They touch every other body in the room, so there's a good chance they can pass germs on to you.
If you have a cold, stay home. I know you think a hot, sweaty yoga class is just the thing you need to kick your cold and unclog your stuffy nose, but be considerate of the other yogis in the class. This is a great time to test out your home practice or use your favorite yoga DVDs.
Use your own yoga mat and never borrow studio or gym mats. It's hard to know when they were last washed or what kind of germs may be living them. Along the same lines, don't let anyone borrow your mat either.
Make sure to bring a change of warm, dry clothes. You don't want to stay in your damp yoga outfit and step outside in the cold air. Cold weather doesn't make you sick, but it sure challenges your immune system.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Quarter Dog

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:30:04 PDT

If you love the way Downward Facing Dog stretches out your hamstrings, calves, and lower back, but don't love the wrist pain the pose can cause, then here's a variation to try. With your forearms on the ground, the quarter dog variation takes the weight out of your hands and wrists. Even though this pose seems relaxing, it's not as easy as it looks. This pose will not only intensely stretch the backs of your legs, but it's also a workout for your arms, shoulders, and upper back.

Sanskrit Name: Catur Svanasana
English Translation: Quarter Dog Pose
Also Called: Dolphin or Puppy

To learn how to do this pose

Breathe Deeply, Improve Your Running

Susi May — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:40:24 PST

Breathing. You're doing it right now without even thinking about it. Put a little thought into the action, and you just might find yourself soaring through your next tempo run. When you're going the distance running, swimming, cycling, and even rowing you need to power your muscles with fresh oxygen. To do this, you need to breathe deeply. Unfortunately, most of us are just breathing into our chest and not fully utilizing our lungs. Cross-training with the noncardio workouts of yoga and Pilates can help. Along with strength and flexibility, these forms of mind-body exercise help you learn to breathe deeply and effectively.

Basically, your lungs are just a bit smaller than your rib cage, but we all tend to breathe in just the top third of the lungs. One reason is that, like all muscles, the intercostals, which run between the ribs, can get tight and inflexible, limiting the expansiveness of your lungs. With a little training and some stretching, you can breathe to your full potential and increase your endurance.

Learn a supersimple breathing exercise, simply read more.

Finally! A Maternity Workout Line You'll Love Wearing

Kate Stahl — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:23:36 PST

Everything a mama-to-be reads says that her workout routine shouldn't stop the minute she gets pregnant. In fact, keeping active during pregnancy has tons of benefits, as long as the mama listens to her body and gets the OK from her doctor. My OB gave me the thumbs-down for my favorite workout, hot yoga, but encouraged me to continue a regular yoga practice, which helped me feel healthy and relaxed during my pregnancy. The only complaint I had about my routine: finding cute workout clothes that covered my expanding belly during my Downward Dog and happy baby poses!

Next time around, I'm definitely investing in new line Via Privé Mamma, which launched this Fall. Founder Sarah Vazirani, a mom of two, was inspired to create the line after trying - and failing - to find great activewear during her own pregnancies. Not only are the styles cute, but they're made with eco-friendly fabric Quadracore, which has a four-way stretch and also wicks away moisture. Keep reading to see Via Privé Mamma styles. Now you really have no excuse not to get yourself to that prenatal yoga class!

Go From Ouch to Ahh: Down Dog

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:06:23 PDT

Downward Facing Dog is practically the definition of yoga. This basic pose is one of the first you'll learn in a class, and also the one you'll do most often. If you're new to yoga, with time, Down Dog may become your favorite pose as your body grows stronger and more limber. But if this pose causes you pain, here are some ways to get relief.

Tight Hamstrings and Calves:
If you're a runner, sit at a desk all day, or were born with extremely tight leg muscles, Down Dog is going to hurt the backs of your legs. Do not power through the pain and struggle to lower your heels to the floor. Instead, keep your heels lifted and focus on pressing the backs of your knees toward the wall behind you. Keep your toes planted and alternately bend your knees pressing one heel into your mat at a time, as if you're walking in place like a mime. With practice, Downward Dog will help to increase your hamstring and calf flexibility, which will alleviate the pain in your legs.

To learn how to alleviate lower back or wrist pain during Down Dog, keep reading!