FitSugar

2010 Golden Globe Awards Trend: Shoulder Flourish

FabSugar — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:08:16 PST

The most interesting trend at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards involves shoulders - you know, one of the subtly sexiest parts on a woman. Many actresses stepped onto the red carpet in gowns that had some sort of shoulder flourish. Whether it was rosettes, ruffles, sparkles, or knots, these shoulders commanded attention. Drew Barrymore's nude Versace dress had one of the most killer shoulder details - a beaded sea urchin! Proceed for more shoulder flourishes . . .

Do You Throw Salt Over Your Shoulder?

DearSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:00:00 PDT

My best friend does it. Her mom does it. I see strangers do it at restaurants, and now I do it too. Whenever a salt shaker falls over and spills, they stand it back up, pick up a pinch of salt, and throw it over their shoulder.

It's one of those obscure superstitions that have been passed down, such as knocking on wood, or not opening an umbrella inside, that we can't help but do. I'm sure many of you are salt throwers too, but do you know where this originated?

To find out

read more It goes back to biblical times when salt was a treasured commodity since it was necessary to use when preserving food. It was even used instead of money. Spilling this prized obsession was almost considered a sac-religious offense, so if you spilled some, throwing salt over your shoulder was aimed to "keep the devil at bay," (just like when you say "bless you" after someone sneezes). Some people think the salt blinds the devil so he can't see your salt spill mess, or to keep him from sneaking up on you while you're cleaning it up. In order to follow through on this superstition correctly, you must throw the salt over your left shoulder (the "sinister" side) with your right hand (the "good" side). The people I know who do this (myself included) just do it for good luck. Are there any other things you do for good luck, or maybe to prevent bad luck from happening? Do you even believe in luck? I'm curious to know. Source

Strike a Yoga Pose: Cow Face

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Sometimes it's nice to do a relaxing pose that stretches your muscles, but doesn't require a large amount of strength or energy. This pose called Cow Face is really calming, yet gives your hips and shoulders an awesome stretch.

The name is intriguing and you might be wondering why is it called Cow Face? Take a look at yourself in a mirror while doing this pose. Your crossed legs are the lips, and your bent elbows are the ears. See it now?

Sanskrit Name: Gomukhasana
English Translation: Cow Face Pose
Also Called: Cow Face

Want to see how to get into this pose? Then

Begin sitting on your mat with your legs out in front of you as if you were about to do a Seated Forward Bend. Now bend your left leg and sit on your heel. If this is uncomfortable, just place your left heel to the outside of your right hip.
Now bend your right knee and cross your thigh over your left thigh, bringing your right heel beside your left hip.

If you want to go further, reach your right arm straight up above your head. Then bend your left elbow, and sweep your left arm behind your back. Bend your right elbow and try to touch or clasp both hands together at the middle of your spine. If you can't reach your hands, hold opposite ends of a towel or strap.
Try to sit nice and tall, with your neck and spine straight. You can press your head back slightly against your right arm to open your shoulder even more.
Stay here for 5 or more breaths and then gently release. Shake out your arms a little and then do the other side.

Fit's Tips: If you love Cow Face pose, here's another shoulder stretch for you to try. Source

Torn Rotator Cuff = Painful Shoulder

FitSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 10:15:00 PDT

About a year ago, I was taking the same yoga class I had been taking for years. I should have been paying attention to what was happening in the present moment, but my mind was focused on a fight I had with a friend earlier that day. When I pressed my hands into the mat and lifted my lower body up off the ground to jump back to Chaturunga (4-Limbed Staff), I felt a pinching pain in the top of my left shoulder. A fellow yogi (who also happened to be a massage therapist) said it might be a torn rotator cuff. Just what I needed.

Your rotator cuff is made up of 4 muscles and their tendons. These combine to form a "cuff" over the head of the humerus bone, and help to stabilize, support and allow your arm to move up and down, as well as rotate. When the muscles get strained or pulled, they can tear, and Bingo! - you've got yourself a torn rotator cuff.

Swimmers, pitchers, and tennis players are prone to rotator cuff tears. You can also tear your rotator cuff lifting something too heavy, by repetitive activities, or if you've injured your shoulder previously in an accident or dislocation.

So how do you know if you have a torn rotator cuff? To find out

read more For me, when I raised my arm above my head, I would feel a piercing pain in the front of my shoulder that radiated down my arm. Some people feel pain when they're not moving it at all, or when they lie on it at night. A torn rotator cuff may also cause stiffness or loss of movement in your shoulder. If you suspect you have a torn rotator cuff, you should definitely have it examined by a doctor. They'll measure your range of motion (or lack of - ouch!!!) in different directions, and test the strength in your arm. You may need X-rays, and possibly an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) so your doctor can better visualize the rotator cuff tendon. In some circumstances, an Arthrogram may be helpful, in which local anesthetic and dye is injected into the joint. If you do have a rotator cuff tear, an orthopedic surgeon will recommend the most effective treatment. In many instances, non-surgical treatments can provide pain relief and can improve the function of your shoulder. Treatments include:

Overall rest, and limited use of that arm (that's what I did)
Use of a sling
Anti-inflammatory medication
Steroid injection
Strengthening exercises, and physical therapy (did this too)

Unfortunately, if these don't work and you're in a severe amount of pain, surgery may be necessary.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Handstand Trick

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Spring weather always reminds of how much I love doing handstands in the grass. You can really dig your fingertips into the earth to get some grip, and if you lose your balance - so what? You have a nice cushion of grass to fall on.

In the Yoga Stretch and Tell Group, one of our readers, snowdaytoday had a question about how to stay up and balanced in handstand.

Doing handstand in the middle of space, with no help can be really scary. I'm a firm believer in using the wall to lean on, but you want to do it in such a way that you can work on your balance at the same time. You don't want to rely on the wall completely for support because then you'll never achieve the strength and balance to stay up on your own.

Here's something you can practice against a wall. Want to see? Then

Stand facing a stable, bare wall (you don't want to kick up and knock over a painting or go through a door). Place your hands flat on the floor, with your fingertips about 5-7 inches away from the wall. Spread your fingers wide and put pressure into your fingertips, as if you were gripping the floor (kind of like your toes do when you're walking). This will take pressure off your wrists and hopefully prevent pain, which many people complain about when first learning to do handstands. Leave your hands planted and walk your legs forward into a short Downward Facing Dog, with both feet together and about a foot closer to your hands than they usually are. Lift your left leg into the air. This is called 3-Legged Dog pose.
Bend your right knee and press off the ball of your foot in order to kick up and plant both heels on the wall. Now place the crown (top) of your head against the wall so you are gazing between your palms. You want your shoulders directly above your hands, so you might need to come down and adjust your hand position.
Now work on bringing one foot off the wall and then the other until you're balancing on your hands with the crown of your head still pressing against the wall (this will help you to stay balanced).

Fit's Tips: Practicing this position is an awesome prep to doing it on your own. Hang out in this pose for a minute or more and you'll build the muscles in your shoulders, forearms, upper arms, upper back, and core that are necessary for staying balanced.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Warrior 1

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 08:45:00 PDT

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 your spine straight, this pose will strengthen the muscles in your belly and your back. Both ways will strengthen your shoulders and the muscles in your neck.

You can get into Warrior 1 from Downward Facing Dog.
Step your right foot forward between your hands, turn your left heel in, press into your feet, and lift your torso up.
You want your right foot to be slightly to the right (not directly in front of) your left heel, so that your hips can be parallel with the front of your mat. You can place your hands on your hips, and gently direct your right hip back and your left hip forward - this is called squaring your hips. Once your hips are square, lift your arms up, and press your palms together. Draw your shoulder blades down towards your hips and gaze up towards your hands. Stay here for 5 breaths. You can come back to Downward Facing Dog and then step your left foot forward to do Warrior 1 on the other side.

Stress Relief Kit: Neck and Shoulder Tension

DearSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:30:00 PST

According to our How Does Your Body Express Your Stress poll, there are a lot of headache and neck pain sufferers in the audience. When my stress level rockets, I'll get intense neck and shoulder stiffness. A few years ago, during a very chaotic period, I began to clench my jaw, too. Of course, these habits lead to tension headaches. Through some trial and error, I've found a few things that honestly help.

To see what's in the Stress Relief Kit,

read more Sombra Fast Acting Topical Pain Relieving Roll-On Gel is the first thing I reach for when my neck and shoulders get stiff and sore from tension. An injury is different, of course. That's when you call your doctor or chiropractor. But if you're simply carrying your stress here, you might add this product to your Stress Kit. Your best bet is to order online. Sombra contains six natural plant extracts, in combination with menthol, capsaicin and witch hazel. I like the roll-on because you don't want this on your hands if you then touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Ouch. I roll it across my shoulders and up my neck, even along the base of my skull. It relieves the tight sore joints, muscle soreness and inflammation pretty quickly; some nights I'll use it before bed, too. Patch test first! It does have a hot-cold stinging sensation, and you should use it sparingly or you'll get an uncomfortable burning feeling! It's powerful stuff. Below you'll find some good stretches and yoga techniques that should help release the tension. Sometimes I fail to notice how much stress I've accumulated in my neck and shoulders. It's all go-go-go, and I lose touch with what my body is experiencing. If I do the rolls and stretches every day, I'm much more aware of the tenderness and strain, which helps me notice my stress level and take care of myself better. It's wise to make an effort every day, particularly during a stressful period, as you will learn how to recognize tension in your back and neck muscles more quickly. This means you can release it before the muscles become tight and sore. Here's a nice set of shoulder stretches to help with stiffness in the neck area. Some yoga help with tension headaches here. While there are no images at this site, the routine is very simple, very effective and easy to remember. If you have any tips that work, please pass them along. I'll definitely try them & add them to my own Stress Kit.

Source

My Fave 3-Legged Tabletop Pose

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:45:00 PST

I love doing 3-Legged Tabletop pose. And it looks like rugeorge loves it too.

Check her out. She makes it look so easy. I love how this pose stretches out your shoulders.

And I love those red hot pants. I've got to get me a pair of those.

Are you ready for the next yoga challenge? This pose is all about balance. It's called Eagle pose and I can't wait to see your pictures. You know you want to show the world.

Post them in the YOGA CHALENGE Group.

Open Your Heart: 10 Heart-Opening Stretches

Jenny Sugar — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:15:17 PST

I can hear Madonna in my head singing "Open Your Heart," and in my mind's eye see her doing her yoga moves on stage. Why not celebrate Valentine's Day and American Heart Month with a little bit of yogic love? Physically stretching the muscles in your chest, shoulders, and belly can create a deep emotional release helping you to appreciate and honor of yourself and your loved ones. These poses also bring a feeling of lightness and contentment. Try these 10 heart-opening stretches to make you feel positively blissful.

Source: Thinkstock

Donna Karan Fall 2012

FabSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:37:06 PST

Somewhere, Marlene Dietrich is smiling. Donna Karan's Fall 2012 collection gave menswear a seductive turn, somehow making the double-breasted suit look just as sexy as the fitted dresses. Whereas past collections felt as loose and languid as a yoga pose, this latest collection was all about sharp tailoring and even sharper edges. Blazers had pointed shoulders, tops had extra wide, stiff cuffs, and skirts and dresses were folded and gathered like the face of a Frank Gehry building. There was lots of structure, and it seemed that Karan is making a strong argument for the '90s power suit. Models were adorned with miniature fedoras - thank you, Stephen Jones - giving the show a slightly playful and sexy undertone, as if they were Vegas dancers playing businesswomen. That said, Donna Karan also paid tribute to Whitney Houston, and the show closed with the late singer's rendition of "I'm Every Woman." No one knows that better than Karan. Side note: the show opened with a preview of her Casual Luxe line, which could be summed up as tartan-loving biker chick. Those looks follow the collection photos.

Trends: power suits, menswear, architectural details, sculptural.
Colors: Red, black, gray, olive.
Key Piece: The fitted menswear blazers, a sexy red cocktail dress.
Accessories:The miniature hats were amazing.
Who Would Wear It: Women who can pull off the menswear look - think Evan Rachel Wood.