Having a standing spa appointment may sound indulgent, but in reality it can be just as important as any other healthy habit in your wellness routine. Why should you invest your time in a massage? Not only are massages good for your muscles, especially after a long week of arduous workouts, but getting a massage also helps the rest of your body and your mind. Getting a massage helps you relax, Read more

Doing Full Backbend, also known as Wheel pose, isn't exactly on the list of beginner moves. It's demanding both from a flexibility as well as a strength standpoint, so it's best to stick to Half Wheel, Camel, and other easier variations before trying your hand at Full Backbend. When you are ready, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure you're doing this heart-opening pose safely and Read more

You might think that sweating it out can be harmful to your hair, but you should start thinking of your workout as part of your beauty routine. Most of us know that eating a well-balanced diet helps make for a healthy mane. But it hadn't occurred to me that hair could also reap beauty benefits from working out until celebrity stylist, educator, and fitness buff Natasha Sunshine introduced me to Read more

During Aunt Flo's monthly visit, feeling crampy, fatigued, or bloated may make it hard to stick to your normal fitness routine. Instead of skipping out on exercise completely, swap high-intensity workouts with something less intense — light exercise can actually help alleviate symptoms associated with PMS and your period. Here are some low-impact workout ideas to send your period's symptoms Read more

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 Read more

Sometimes, weekends or after-work evenings are made for time on the couch. Whether it's because you've had an exhausting day of meetings and workouts or because you're indulging in a marathon of your favorite TV show, the couch can beckon in just the right way. Unfortunately, the cuddly couch can be the opposite of comfort. Spending too much time sitting or lying on the couch can cause more pain Read more

Stress makes the body and the mind tense and can inspire a flood of unhealthy decisions. While exercising definitely helps alleviate stress, we've pulled together five more ways to help you cool your jets. Tackle the To-Do List The more we put off the items on our to-do list, the longer the list grows, and the more it contributes to elevated stress levels. Schedule a “Blitz Day” to knock out Read more

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! We know planks and dead-lifts are great, but the real question is, how can they help relieve your aching back? Back pain affects about 8 out of 10 people, according to the National Institutes of Health, and is one of the most common medical problems. It's costly too — in 2004, a team from Duke University found that Read more

While teaching a Vinyasa Yoga class Saturday morning, I noticed three of my students shifting around while in Savasana (aka corpse pose), the relaxation pose done at the end of class where you lie on your back and just breathe. Afterward I asked if they were uncomfortable, and they all complained of an aching lower back. It seems like an oxymoron that a resting pose would be so unbearable, but Read more