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When you take an Ashtanga yoga class, it always begins with the opening chant, then 5 Sun Salutation As in a row, and then 5 Sun Salutation Bs. In other types of yoga, they usually do variations on these sun salutations, so parts of this series may look familiar to you. Sun Salutation B has just a few more poses than Sun Salutation A. I love to do this as a way to warm up before a run or bike Read more
Just about as common as Downward Facing Dog, Upward Facing Dog pose, or Up Dog as I like to call it, not only elongates and increases flexibility in your spine, but it's a great pose for opening your chest, throat, shoulders, and the front of your thighs. When doing this pose, try not to tense your glutes or crunch your lower back. If it hurts your wrists to have so much weight in your palms, Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! This week's is an inspiring story about marathoner Desiree Davila, who will be representing the US in the Olympics for her first time. The following is an excerpt; read the entire story here. By Bonnie D. Ford At last January's Olympic trials in Houston, Texas, four top women had distanced themselves from the field: Read more
I don't think I've ever met a runner who doesn't suffer from tight hips, hamstrings, or a lower back. The receptive movements and strengthening aspect of running can cause tight muscles that need extra attention. Of course you should never skip the stretching session after a run, but here are three lower-body stretches you should do every day — even on the days you don't run. Open Lizard What Read more
Practicing yoga is one of the best ways to relieve stress, but since you're holding yourself in challenging positions, it's also a killer workout for your upper body. Superstrong, sculpted arms not only look good in a strapless dress, but also enable you to do more advanced yoga poses. Here are some ways you can build a stronger upper body with yoga. Practice, practice, practice: Taking a class Read more
Unless an instructor or trainer calls you out, most people don't pay attention to what's happening with their elbows. When straightening your elbows during weight-bearing exercises, have you noticed if you unintentionally hyperextend them? You'll know that you have hyperextended elbows if your joint extends beyond 180 degrees when completely straightened. Going to the hyperextended place means Read more
Whether you suffer from tight hips because you run, sit at a desk all day, are pregnant, or were just born with oh-so-tight hips, here are three yoga poses you can do every day to increase flexibility and reduce tension in this commonly stiff area. Mix up the sequence each time you do it to keep your muscles guessing. One of my favorite stretches after a run, Lizard will target your hips and hip Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Queen B released her fourth album — appropriately titled 4 — yesterday and, surprisingly, it's more slow-burning ballads than booty-shaking anthems. Still, the always-inspiring singer knows how to motivate us in the gym. Beyonce, who has graced our cover no less than three times, has told us plenty about how she Read more
It's been remarkably hot here lately, and even though I'm used to doing yoga in a heated room, the 90-degree temps and humidity are starting to get to me. To combat the heat, I decided to check out a new three-class yoga series offered by my studio called Yoga and Paddleboarding. All I needed was some comfy clothes I didn't mind getting wet, and they offered a paddleboard I could borrow. For Read more
Training in the Summer seems like it should be easy. The season is synonymous with free time, and with longer days, fitting in a workout shouldn't be so hard. Yet I find it more difficult than during other seasons, and luckily Ironman Tyler Stewart understands my woes. In a web event sponsored by Lunabar, Tyler summed up my problems: "Summer is a hard time to train. We all vacation a lot during Read more
