Healthy happy you.
I really appreciate the meditative nature of this seated pose. Not only does it calm my mind, but my hips crave the internal rotation offered by the position of the bent leg; moving the hip joint in this way makes for healthy hips and knees. This variation of Gate offers benefits to the joints by moving them in a direction we don't often do, similar to Hero pose, but this beginner Gate is easier Read more
The hip joint connects your upper body to the power of your legs. Vital to all forms of movement, the hip joint is worth knowing about. Let's see what you know about this special part of your body. Source Take the Quiz Read more
Sitting at your desk for 8 hours a day is a great way to work towards tight hips. Fight back with this desk hip opener stretch. This is just like doing Pigeon pose but instead of lying down, you're sitting up. Bend your left knee and place your lower leg flat on the desk (make sure to clear a spot). Lean your upper body forward a little and try to keep your spine long. You'll really feel Read more
Sitting at your desk for countless hours in one position can really tighten up your lower body. So why not do something to open up those hips, quads, and calves? You could always do a Wide Squat on the floor, but if you squat down on top of your chair, you can still get a little work done (I'm all about the multi-tasking). Stay like this for a minute or two, or as long as you'd like. I Read more
The last pose we need to learn for Sun Salutation B is Warrior 1. It is a powerful and grounding pose that strengthens your quads, calves, booty, and the muscles in your feet. Working these muscles together helps to build knee joint stability. Depending on how you do this pose, if you actively arch your back, this pose increases flexibility in your lower and upper back. If you work on keeping Read more
Hey folks. Ready for the new yoga challenge? It's called Standing Half-Bound Lotus. You can practice with Tree pose first, and then you can work on this pose. It really opens up your hips, one at a time, while challenging your balance. When you reach your arm behind you, you'll also feel a stretch in the chest and front of the shoulders. Don't forget to get those cameras ready. Go to the Read more
You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic — challenging, but basic — pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them. "I Can't Breathe" If you're well Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body Read more
I was lucky enough to take a class taught by Manhattan-based yoga teacher Kristin McGee right here in San Francisco! Although one busy lady, Kristin traveled across the country to teach Vinyasa Vibes (a new offering at The Sports Club/LA), a flow-based, powerful yoga sequence enhanced by music. The most musical part of the practice? During Savasana, the class culminated in a live sax solo by Read more
Yoga is the perfect exercise for expectant mommas, not only to increase strength and flexibility, but it can also ease common pregnancy woes such as a sore lower back and heartburn. It can also help you hone your sense of balance, which is ever changing as your belly expands. Here's a yoga sequence that incorporates standing poses to strengthen your lower body while increasing the flexibility in Read more
