FitSugar

Yoga: What's With the Om?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:45:00 PST

I've been to many different yoga classes, from Kripalu to Ashtanga to Jivamukti, and they all have something in common. At the end the teacher always leads the class in chanting "Ommmm."

Om, actually pronounced "Aum," is an affirmation of the Divine Presence that is the universe and is similar to the Hebrew "Amen."

In the Hindu belief, Om is the sound that was made when the whole universe was created. Om is a "word of power," so chanting it before and after a yoga class is believed to produce a profound effect on the person chanting, and in the world.

The symbol to the right represents Om. In this Sanskrit letter the long lower curve represents the dream state, the upper curve stands for the waking state and the curve coming from the center symbolizes deep, dreamless sleep. The crescent shape stands for "maya", the veil of illusion, and the dot represents the transcendental state (beyond thinking).

When the individual spirit passes through the veil and goes beyond thinking, they are liberated from the three states, and achieve enlightenment. Whoa.

I don't necessarily think of "Om-ing" like that - that's just too transcendental for me. I like to focus on the more physical benefits, like the rhythmic pronunciation of chanting Om slows down the nervous system and calms the mind, like meditation. If the mind is relaxed, then it will help to decrease blood pressure, which will in turn improve heart health.

It is also good for relieving congestion or sinusitis. The vibrations created by chanting Om can help clear your sinuses and ward off infection.

Also, chanting Om collectively in a group gives you a wonderful sense of community.

Want to hear what Om sounds like? Then

I'd love to hear about your good and bad experiences having to do with chanting Om in class. Tell me about it in Yoga Stretch and Tell.

At the studio where I go, we do something called Continuous Om-ing with a big group. At the end of class, we all sit up and the teacher starts saying "ommmm..." and other people join in when they are ready, and the whole group of us are following our own breath, Om-ing at different times so it sounds like one rolling beautiful sound, kind of like the Om playing up above. It's amazing and so relaxing to be a part of.

Ommmm my back hurts...

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:30:00 PST

A mini meditation quiz:

Which meditation principle suits you?

Meditation is quiet "me" time.
Meditation is a time to take 15 minutes to truly relax.
Meditation is feeling the om.
Meditation is my back aching after sitting for only 10 minutes. Leaving me with some pain and no om.

If you answered yes to #4 but love to meditate, the Salubrion Meditation Chair is the answer for you. The L-100 meditation seat provides proper back support so you can achieve proper meditation. Salubrion states:

The L-100 Salubrion Seat™ provides exceptional support for floor sitting, assisting in proper back alignment and lumbar curve for superior comfort. At a slightly elevated state, the user benefits from increased blood flow to the legs and greater relaxation. Deeper and longer meditation sessions are achievable due to the elimination of distracting aches, pains, and fatigue.

Omazing!

Buy it here for $48.95.

Yogini Kristin McGee Dishes on Bethenny Frankel's Fave Pose and Getting Ready For Beach Season

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:21 PDT

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 Grammy-nominated musician Dave Koz. After class, Kristin and I chatted about her yoga journey, getting ready for bikini season, and what it's like working with one of her famous clients, Bethenny Frankel.

FitSugar: Some of the moves in Vinyasa Vibes are Ashtanga-influenced. Is that what your yoga teacher training background was in?
Kristin McGee: My original background was really eclectic because I started in the early '90s. I started taking [yoga] at NYU; some of my very early teachers were Jivamukti teachers who did study Ashtanga. Then I did study with Richard Freedman for a while, who is pure Ashtanga, and Cyndi Lee at OM Yoga. I wanted to get deeper into Iyengar classes and get into the alignment and the detail. Now in my practice I want to get more into Pranayama, more of the breathing, and maybe take some more Kundalini classes. I just feel like it constantly evolves.

FS: The Vinyasa Vibes class has live music during final relaxation. Can you elaborate on the experience of live music and yoga combined?
KM: In yoga practice, it’s a very intimate, immediate place. It's almost like live theater or live music where it brings you right into the moment. Music is a universal language, just like our breath is a universal breath. I think the second we're in this surrounding, in this environment with that live music and the intimacy of a live class, it brings it all together in one beautiful experience.

FS: You’ve collaborated with Bethenny Frankel on some projects. What's her favorite pose?
KM: Bethenny’s all-time favorite pose is Straddle Forward Bend because she says it feels like the weight of the world is falling off of her shoulders. Someone like Bethenny Frankel has a million things going on, and I don’t know how she does it! But I think you also noticed it in the practice tonight. Right when we finally got to that Straddle Forward Hang, it was kind of just like, "Ugh! Such a release!" You feel like you could stay there for quite a while.

Keep reading for Kristin's favorite snack before class and how to get your body ready for Summer.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Cleansing Before Pregnancy - Yay or Nay?

Michele Foley — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:40:02 PDT

Lil asks: should you prep your body for pregnancy with a cleanse? - LilSugar
How to eat healthy when Indian is your takeout of choice - Fab Fit Fun
New workout alert! Learn the ins and outs of SLT yoga - Vital Juice
Everything you need to know to achieve a bod like Jen Aniston - InStyle
12 healthy (and homemade) alternatives to the ice-cream truck - Shape
Choose your own workout! Mix and match with these seven moves - Health
Fight Alzheimer's with these omega-3-rich foods - HuffPost Healthy Living
Say om with your co-workers: tips for finding corporate yoga retreats - Mind Body Green

The Spotify iPad App: Is It Worth Downloading?

Anna Monette Roberts — Sun, 06 May 2012 09:30:44 PDT

The Spotify streaming service has taken over the music world om the past year. But while the company offers both an iPhone app and an incredible desktop application, it has neglected to create an iPad app - until this week.

The recently released iPad app is only available to premium members ($10/month); however, you can sign up for a 48-hour trial run, no credit card required. Spotify's premium membership truly is as good as it sounds: the vast music library is ad-free, offers high sound quality, and gives you offline access to your playlists. However, is the Spotify iPad app as good as the desktop app? Here are some of the pros and cons of the new Spotify iPad app (Free):

Pros:

Beautiful graphics and cover art: Spotify's iPad graphics are crisp and gorgeous. Unlike the somewhat flat desktop version, the iPad graphics practically pop out of the page. The iPad app also provides large cover art images, and as with iTunes, you can flip through the album art by swiping your finger.
Simplified design:The iPad app contains a simplified side navigation bar with only five tabs (as opposed to the 12 on the desktop), making the interface more intuitive and easier to use.
Facebook connect: While some people grumble about this, others love the ability to find new artists via their friend's profiles. The design makes it easy to see your friends' top tracks, artists, and playlists.
Text message-like inbox: In a major change in the design, track suggestions and messages sent to your inbox are organized like iPhone bubble text messages.

Keep reading to take a look at the cons.

Headstand? Ugh. How to Stop Hating Inversions

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:18:56 PDT

As beings who walk with their heads stacked over their feet, it's no surprise that going upside down in your yoga class scares the om out of you. Fear of falling, neck or other pains, and the sheer oddness of seeing the world from a whole new perspective can make inversions lowest on your list of faves. If you get upset whenever your teacher suggests headstands, forearm stands, or handstands, here are some tips to help you start loving these beneficial inversions.

Get Buff
When you first learned to walk, you practiced leaning on objects and walking along furniture to build your leg strength before you were able to walk upright on your own. The same needs to happen if you want to hold yourself in an upside-down position. Since our upper bodies aren't used to supporting the weight of our lower bodies, it's important to strengthen your core, upper back, shoulders, arms, and even the muscles in your hands and wrists to feel strong and stable enough to take a stab at a headstand or handstand. Target these muscles on your mat by doing these upper-body toning yoga poses, like Sage and Crow, and using these arm-strengthening tips during your next class.

Move Your Mat
It's perfectly commendable to tackle inversions in front of a wall and/or with a spotter, so don't be bashful about pulling your mat up to a wall or asking your instructor for a hand. This will relieve your anxiety about falling, which is often a huge obstacle that prevents people from trying inversions in the first place. Once you have some experience with safely holding yourself upside down without falling, you'll have the confidence to try it out on your own.

Keep on reading for more tips on conquering inversions.

Geeks We Love: Om Malik of GigaOM

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:08:28 PST

Shows like Beauty and the Geek give male geeks a bad rep. I have news for you folks, not all geeks think pocket-protectors and worn corduroy pants are trendy. In fact, I know plenty of eligible geeky bachelors that showcase the very best of geekiness: smarts, passion, chic clothing, success in their field and the ability to program your TiVo, computer or Blackberry when you’re not in the mood. In an effort to celebrate this month of love, I have put together a series of interviews with some of the most interesting geeky bachelors I know.

Om Malik, who is the founder of GigaOmniMedia, Inc. and executive editor of GigaOM.com, a popular tech blog that offers news, analysis and opinions on topics ranging from broadband to online games and Web 2.0, is the epitome of geek chic. He just happens to love clothes as much as he does gadgets – and has an awe-inspiring gadget collection and closet to prove it! For the full interview with Om,

GS: How did you get into the tech world?
Om: I have dreamed of being a journalist all my life, ever since I was a kid. I started as a rookie reporter at a teen magazine, The Weekly Sun in New Delhi, India.

GS: What’s the geekiest thing about yourself?
Om: I often brag about the total computing power in my apartment, and proud of the fact that have a terabyte of data around the house.

GS: What you are looking for in a significant other?
Om: Intelligence, kindness and humor. Someone who I can look at from the corner of my eye and be pleased as punch that I am her guy! Virginia Madsen, except for real!

GS: What are your Top 5 favorite gadgets?
Om: MacBook Pro, Nokia e70, Sonos Music System, iPod Nano, and my LCD TV.

GS: What are the top 5 luxury gadgets you really want?
Om: Sony Bravia LCD TV (50 inch model), iPhone, Aston Martin, The Prada Phone and Bang & Olufsen phone.

GS: Your first computer was a…
Om: A no name laptop with Windows 3.1. Yuck!

GS: What are your favorite websites?
Om: PopSugar, Gawker, TorrentFreak, WebWorkerDaily and Fark.

GS: Your line of work means you are exposed to more gadgets and tech news than your average citizen (and blogger) how do you decide what is relevant or necessary?
Om: I have a lot of friends who are not really interested in technology. I hand them the device, and then watch how they react. If they like it or are intrigued by it, it is something worth paying attention to. Otherwise, I go for elegance, simplicity and intuitiveness of the gadget.

GS: How do you feel about people calling you a “geek?” I suppose I should first ask, have you ever been called a "geek?"
Om: Not to my face, but I am sure people say that all the time.

GS: What do you consider to be your greatest contribution to the tech/blog industry – don’t be modest.
Om: I get to tell the greatest story to be ever told – technology – that’s as good as it gets.

GS: How many hours do you spend online a day?
Om: I am connected all the time, except when I am sleeping.

GS: What is one geeky habit you’re trying to quit?
Om: Instant messaging – I hate the sound iChat makes.

GS: What makes you an eligible geeky bachelor?
Om: I like clothes and the good life as much as I like gadgets. I think I am kind, thoughtful and thanks to my training as a writer, I do have the ability to listen and pay attention.

GS: Describe your ideal date.
Om: I have not been on one yet. If you have expectations, then you are going to be disappointed. If you are disappointed then even the best date can never be an ideal date. That said, I want a date of thousand surprises, little ones, that make every minute worth remembering.

GS: What do you look for in a significant other?
Om: She should take as much interest in men’s shoes as she does in Jimmy Choo’s.

GS: Tell me more about GigaOm!
Om: GigaOM started off as a personal blog five years ago, but since then has become a daily chronicle of the technology industry. I left my job at Business 2.0 in June 2006, raised venture capital and turned it into a little media company. Think of us as rapidly aging former yuppie brother of Sugar Publishing.
My inspiration is curiosity and the desire to learn new things every day. As a kid my grandfather used to warn me to not mistake education for a finite process. My profession is my education, my motivation. My writing is a mix of analysis, sarcasm, humor and plain old news reporting.

Editor’s Note: Before launching his own publishing venture, Om was a senior writer for Business 2.0 magazine covering telecom and broadband stories. His site, GigaOM.com, is now ranked in the top 100 IT news sites by Hitwise, an Internet tracking service and is among the top 50 blogs as ranked by Technorati, and part of C/Net 100 Most Influential Blogs.

Want more Om? Check out GigaOM.com. Given Om’s flair for fashion you may have to act fast to beat FabSugar to the punch!

Photos courtesy of Thomas Hawk

Skip the Shots: Healthy Bachelorette Party Ideas

Michele Foley — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:37:53 PDT

If booze and male strippers don't sound like your idea of a good time, buck tradition by celebrating your bachelorette party in a healthy - but fun! - way instead. Here are a few ways to bond with your girlfriends while also burning calories along the way.

Say om: Gather up your mats and have a private yoga class; it's a great way to enjoy the company of your gal pals while also de-stressing. Add ayurvedic spa treatments or mehndi painting to the evening for a complete yogic theme. Then end the night with dinner at a nearby restaurant or opt to cook together in your own home.
A morning sweat session: If strength training is more your style, invite your friends to an outdoor bootcamp workout. You'll sweat and bond over push-ups and lunges, but don't forget to celebrate afterward! Once the workout is over, nurse sore muscles with a mimosa-filled brunch.

See even more ideas for a healthy bachelorette party after the break.

Reasons You Should Try Vinyasa Yoga

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:11:23 PDT

No wonder you're confused about which type of yoga to take - there are so many to choose from. Repetitive Ashtanga, insanely hot Bikram, and alignment-focused Iyengar are a few popular ones you've probably heard of, but Vinyasa is quickly becoming a popular choice. Here are some reasons why.

The Element of Surprise
Ashtanga and Bikram have one thing in common - the sequence of poses are the same no matter who teaches it or what city you're in. Knowing what is coming may bring a deeper awareness to your practice, but it can also bring up negative feelings: you may hate certain poses, or the same sequence in every class may be boring after awhile - it can also cause repetitive stress injuries. Vinyasa is different because it mixes things up, which keeps you and your muscles on their toes. Incorporating different standing, seated, and inverted poses will strengthen your entire body, and prevent the plateau effect you might experience from classes that are repetitive.

Newbies and Advanced Yogis Welcome
Studios often offer Vinyasa classes based on levels such as 1, 2, 3, or combo levels such as 1/2 so you know exactly what ability the class is geared toward. This means whether this is your first time on the mat or you've been practicing for 15 years, you can easily find a class to suit your needs and keep you challenged.

Is That Sarah McLachlan I Hear?
There is something beautiful about listening to the sound of 30 people breathing simultaneously, but when you're not in the mood for Tony the Om-ing Exhaler's deep moaning breaths, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that many Vinyasa instructors play music during class. Some melodies are subtle and serene, while some teachers really like to pump up the loud, tabla beats. You might also find some teachers share their favorite artists, so don't worry if you're not into Indian Pop music - your teacher might end class with some calming Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones, or Jason Mraz.

Continue reading for two more reasons to try Vinyasa yoga.

Omm My! 5 Annoying People You'll Find in Yoga Class

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:07:52 PST

Yoga is about self-acceptance and embracing little quirks in others, but let's face it - we've probably all found someone in our yoga class annoying. You may smile at them and even throw out a polite "namaste," but on the inside, you're rolling your third eye.

1. The Show-Off
Oh, you can do a handstand? Wow. Oh, you can do Scorpion Handstand with your feet on your head. Impressive. Wait, now you're folding into Lotus, lowering your knees onto your arms, and coming into some crazy Crow variation?! We get it. You're strong, flexible, and amazing. But do you need to show off all your Cirque du Soleil tricks when the rest of us are doing the humble Tree pose? Come on!

2. The Om-ing Exhaler
Every yoga class has some degree of group om-ing, chanting, and deep breathing, but it's the spontaneous and abnormally loud om-ing exhales, the huge sighs, and other random noises that really annoy. We get it, you're releasing and relaxing, but keep the feel-good noises that border on sex sounds to a minimum.

Keep reading to hear about three more annoying people in your yoga class.