If your friend was doing something that was hurting their health, would you say something? What if it were about their weight — should you say something if you feel your friend has gained too much? If you're Gwyneth Paltrow, the answer is "of course." Ross Mathews, a comic on the Chelsea Lately show, told People that when he saw the actress, she pointed to his stomach and said, "'What's going Read more

In yoga class this weekend, my friends reminisced about what sporty kids they once were. From soccer to track and field, all of these active women were once active youngsters. On the opposite side of the coin was me — while I was as active as the next kid when it came to running around outside, I never got involved in sports, and I never wanted to. Now as an adult, I love to bike and practice Read more

In a few days, I'm heading to my first fitness retreat — a "wellness weekend" packed with fitness classes, spa treatments, and wine tasting. All this, and the hotel is situated on the Lake Tahoe shore. While there will be time to relax, there's also a lot of fitness happening in those three days. From 8 a.m. Vinyasa yoga classes to ballet-inspired workouts and a Friday kickoff that involves a Read more

Sometimes when I work the front desk at my local yoga studio, there's a class that only has one or two students signed up. If the teacher doesn't want to cancel, the class ends up being much like a private lesson for the students, since they get a lot of personalized attention and better access to their teacher. I especially think a small class is the perfect place for a beginner in any type of Read more

There's nothing like a fast upbeat tune to accompany any workout, but sometimes what keeps you going is a good book. I've recently been trying out audiobooks for my treadmill runs, and so far I'm a fan of "reading" while running. Associating my runs with a book means that I'm always eager to keep going, so I'll find out how a suspenseful chapter will end or because I'm in the middle of listening Read more

Lately I've been longing for a long workout at the gym or a yoga class, but my schedule only has room for exercise that is far less time-consuming. But just because a workout isn't long doesn't mean it can't be useful. Whether it's just taking a walk or popping in a DVD before work, short bursts of cardio can be just as effective as longer ones if you up your workout's intensity, which lets you Read more

My last gym was a bare-bones type, so I never got used to expecting any extra perks from being a member. While talking to a friend, however, I was surprised to learn that her gym had member appreciation pizza nights and other social functions. Putting aside the idea of eating pizza at a gym, extra perks help form a community at the gym and keep you coming back. Other gyms and sports clubs have Read more

I recently took a trip to Florida where everyone, tourist or not, seemed like they spent as much time as they could outside in the sun. And all those outdoor activities need someone to run them. Between the pedicab drivers and hoards of lifeguards at water parks, it seemed like all of the locals had a job that kept them out and about and active. When it's your job to stay in shape (or even if Read more

Food allergies afflict more than three million children in the United States, with peanuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs topping the allergy list. A recent study was just released that studied the relationship between birth order and allergies. Researchers found that firstborn children were more likely to have hay fever and pink eye due to a food allergy. The results were as follows: the prevalence Read more

When I think of yoga, it's all about community: the regulars you befriend in class, the shared experiences of awkwardly trying to perfect a pose, and even the aspect of possibly (ew) sharing germs. When it comes to home practice, however, tranquil solitude reigns. And while DVDs (and sites like Yoga Today) can help guide you, there's no interactivity or feedback from a teacher to help you Read more