Healthy happy you.
Hi Fit, I have been practicing yoga on my own for years, and I love it all . . . sun salutations, backbends, forward bends, you name it . . . except for the inverted poses. Despite my best efforts, I have never been able to get into them! Can you recommend any exercises to strengthen my upper body so that I will be able to do them, or do you have any other tips to help me take my practice to the Read more
Now that you've tried the Locust Prep, I think you're ready to move on to Inverted Locust, or at least ready to give it a try. This is a very challenging pose since it requires both flexibility in your back and strength in your upper body and core. So take it at your own speed and raise your feet as high as you can. With practice and patience, you'll soon be able to lift your legs even higher. Read more
Inversions are some of my favorite types of Yoga poses because I love how energized I feel getting blood circulating to my head. Plus overcoming the challenge of putting your head where your feet should be is quite satisfying. Talk about an ego boost. It should come as no surprise that inversions give you a new and interesting perspective on life. Since I have shown you all Bound Headstand A, Read more
Not all women feel the same during menstruation. Some feel like sitting on the couch cuddled up with a heating pad and a pint of Ben & Jerry's, and others have tons of energy to go for a run. I'm a firm believer in listening to your body, but I also know that a little exercise can help alleviate cramps (and your rotten mood). Doing yoga is great when you have your period because the Read more
OK, so maybe Double Arm Headstand wasn't the pose for you. Here's another inversion that requires less balance and is actually a really relaxing pose. It's great for stretching out the back of your neck and your upper back, two areas that rarely get stretched. Sanskrit Name: Salamba Sarvangasana English Translation: All limbs with support Also Called: Shoulderstand Want to hear a Read more
I love inversions. I love the challenge of trying to stay balanced. I love how strong my upper body feels while I'm in it, and I love how energized I feel getting fresh blood circulating to my brain. Headstands, forearm stands, and handstands are all kinds of balancing inversions. Headstands are the easiest inversion since your head and your forearms are planted on the ground. Handstands are Read more
I don't usually get very fancy with my yoga clothes. A fitted tank with a built-in sports bra is my usual go-to top. It keeps my girls covered and in place, and the fitted body stays put when I go upside down. But some days you ate too many cookies you just don't feel like wearing something tight. You could sport a loose shirt but it doesn't offer the most flattering look, and as soon as you Read more
Pigeon is easily one of my top 10 favorite yoga poses, but my husband can't stand it — his tight hips scream to get out of pose. Here's a list of challenging yoga poses that people either love or hate. From backbends to inversions, tell us which ones you love, or love to skip. Read more
Yoga is generally seen as a therapeutic practice that can alleviate pain from previous injuries and help prevent new ones. But a recent article from The New York Times Magazine highlights the practice as something quite different — yoga can wreck your body. The stories are scary and cautionary: healthy, advanced yogis having strokes, breaking ribs, and experiencing permanent disabilities Read more
Do you have a minipanic attack when your yoga instructor says it's time to work on headstands? Whether you've tried inversions a hundred times and can't stay balanced for more than half a second, or are too intimidated to even try, here are five reasons headstands aren't happening for you and how to get started hanging upside down. You're scared of falling: This is a very real fear and a valid Read more
