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Partner Yoga Book: The Joy of Partner Yoga

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:30:00 PDT

It's no secret that I enjoy partner yoga poses. I find The Joy of Partner Yoga ($12.21) by Mishabae truly inspirational. She also made a great Partner Yoga DVD, too. She really knows her stuff.

This book is perfect for newbies and yogis alike. Each page is filled with beautiful photographs and step-by-step instructions of the poses. Mishabae has created sequences of partner poses, so you can flow from one into another. It feels like you are dancing. If you're not into the spiritual aspect of yoga, skip over the introductory pages of each chapter.

Partner yoga isn't just for you and your lover. Any two people can benefit from it, no matter what their relationship. So grab your daughter, your best friend, or your sister and check it out. I guarantee that after doing some partner yoga poses, you'll both be smiling and laughing.

To look at some of the pages click the images below.

View 3 Photos ›

Partner Yoga Book: Yoga for Partners

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:30:00 PDT

I love the idea of going to a Partner Yoga Workshop with my hubby, but he shudders at the idea. He does like to do yoga, but isn't really into going to classes. Why? He doesn't like that instructors tell you what to do, and you don't really have the freedom to do what your body feels like doing. I see his point, so we compromise and do yoga together at home.

When you have no instructor showing you what to do, a Partner Yoga book is really helpful. I just picked up a new one called Yoga for Partners by Jessie Chapman ($10.17 through Amazon).

It has over 75 black and white photos of postures you can do with someone - a lover, friend, or child. Each picture is accompanied by an explanation of how to get into the pose, health benefits, helpful positioning tips, and breathing advice. This book is really easy to use. Just pick a posture and go for it.

Partner Yoga is all about exploring your relationship with another in a creative and playful way. It's sure to deepen your connection, make your body feel open, and bring out some laughs as well.

Tricks for Stress-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:52:52 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

John DiScala, or Johnny Jet, as road warriors know him, is no amateur when it comes to hitting the road. The Travel Channel expert has flown 127,467 miles this year alone! Since a day at the airport can be more exhausting than a day at the gym, we screened Johnny Jet for his secrets to book, fly, and sleep - minus the stress - just like an expert jet-setter.

Be flexible! "I just bought a ticket to Florida a couple days ago and only paid $168 because I left a few days earlier than planned (the 21st). You can sign up for airfare alerts to be notified when the best deals are available."
Go postal. "Ship bags and gifts ahead of time via FedEx or UPS ground, five to seven days before your trip, to make it affordable. If you do pack presents, don't wrap them, because there's a good chance the TSA will unwrap them."
But do come bearing goodies. "Bring a box of chocolates for the gate agents and flight attendants! You will get the best service and possibly even an upgrade."

Read on for more of Johnny's stress-free travel tricks.

More from FITNESS Magazine:

Healthy Travel Diet: The Best Food to Eat on the Road

Beat Stress, Weigh Less: Calorie-Burning Yoga Workout

Find Your Happy Weight

3 Must-Do Yoga Poses For Tight Hips

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:06:42 PDT

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 flexors.

Begin in Downward Facing Dog. Step your right foot forward between your palms keeping your hands on the floor. Lower your left knee to the mat, and release your elbows to the floor as well. Either rest your hands on the ground or bring your hands together in prayer position.
Continue to squeeze your right knee toward your body and gaze forward to encourage your hips to lower toward the floor. After five breaths come back onto your hands. Tuck your left toes and step your right leg back. Take a vinyasa (exhale as you lower to Four-Limbed Staff, inhale to Upward Dog, then exhale to Down Dog), step your left foot forward, and repeat this pose on the left side.

I'm just getting started so keep reading for two more effective hip opening yoga poses.

Don't Wake the Neighbors! Apartment-Approved Cardio

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:31:23 PDT

Living in a tight-spaced apartment with creaky wooden floors pretty much rules out large movements or foot-stomping cardio workouts. However, with Winter storms brewing, at-home workouts may be on the rise. Put away the Zumba and floor-shaking DVDs, and opt for these three cardio workouts instead; you can do each workout indoors without disturbing a soul - your downstairs neighbors will thank you.

Yoga at home: Baron Baptiste is a great Vinyasa yoga instructor, and his books Journey Into Power ($12) and 40 Days to Personal Revolution ($12) offer heart-pumping sequences and pictures of correct alignment. If you stick to his regimen (each sequence is between 20-60 minutes), you'll enjoy a great yoga workout and may even master advanced poses that you never thought possible in a public class.

See more apartment cardio exercises!

Yoga and Regular Stretching Proven to Relieve Back Pain

Leta Shy — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:58:02 PDT

A new study has found that yoga isn't just good for the mind - for chronic back pain sufferers, yoga and stretching can alleviate pain and reduce dependency on pain medication.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, split 228 back pain sufferers into three treatment groups: yoga class, stretching class, or at-home self-care with a back pain book. The yoga group's therapy consisted of weekly 75-minute beginner viniyoga (a style of yoga that focuses on therapeutic and individualized practice) class as well as videos to follow daily. The stretching group was also given videos for daily practice as well as weekly 75-minute stretching classes that focused on stretching major muscle groups and strength training. The self-care group used the book The Back Pain Helpbook.

Find out how the groups fared after the break.

Guerrilla Guide to the Holidays: A Perfect, Price-Tag-Free Gift List

LearnVest — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:15:18 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Don’t look now, but here come the holidays (really, they’re just 10 weeks away!). This year, we’re going to make planning and budgeting for them a snap.

That’s why we’re starting early to help you tackle the season step by step - and save time, money and stress. If you follow our Guerrilla Guide each week, we promise that by the end of December, you’ll be outside on the skating rink instead of stressing inside the shopping mall.

According to our Facebook poll, 78% of LearnVesters were already thinking about holiday gifts as early as last week. So, for this issue of the Guerrilla Guide, we bring you the newest way to sort out your holiday gift list.

WEEK 2: YOUR CREATIVE, BUDGET-FRIENDLY GIFT LIST

As you make your list this year, we want you to think about holiday giving a little differently.

Before you start assigning dollar amounts to everyone and hunting around for products to buy and wrap, first consider whether the best gift for them is a thing with a price tag. According to the Five Love Languages, defined by marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman, people receive messages of love very differently, and only one of these categories involves actual physical gifts. Some people would rather receive acts of service or quality time instead.

Read on to find out more.

10 Money Rules For Young People Entering the Workforce

Bundle — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:15:11 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Bundle story here on Savvy!

When I first graduated, I did some things right with my money (lived cheaply, didn't get into a lot of debt), but I also did some things wrong (didn't ask for raises, borrowed too much money from my parents, didn't save any money for several years). If you're graduating and just starting off, here's some money tips to get you started, from someone who went through what the young graduates of today are going through.

Don't pretend your student loans don't exist

I'm not saying you should become overly worried about your loans right after you graduate, but don't pretend they don't exist! You usually have a six-month interest-free deferment period before you have to start repaying them, so take that time to get organized. Figure out what your monthly payments will be, and start taking the steps to be prepared to repay them when the time comes. Bundle has many articles for dealing with student loan debt, so be sure to read about them if you need extra help.

Don't spend big money going out every night on food and drinks

This is definitely the time of your life to live it up as a twenty-something, but it's also not the best idea to spend all your extra income at the bar every night. You would be surprised how much money you'll save by limiting how much you spend at restaurants and bars. Find ways to live it up for less: Throw house parties, potlucks, brunches, and when you do go out, have the $2 PBR instead of the $8 cocktail - at least sometimes.

Read on for more rules.

Why You're So Tired but Can't Fall Asleep at Night

Self — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:19:50 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Have you noticed that you're tired in the morning and all day long, but you're so wired at night that you can't sleep? Nurse practitioner Marcelle Pick, author of the new book, Are You Tired and Wired?, has a theory for why you're snoozing and losing.

"When we talk about adrenal fatigue, we're talking about the two glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Without the adrenals we wouldn't live. They're meant to deal with the stress that comes and goes, but in our culture, the stress never goes. It's ongoing, with kids, work, the economy, aging parents, gadgets that we never turn off," Pick explains.

All of this stress causes the adrenals to produce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. "Too much cortisol actually increases inflammation," Pick says. "A lot of adrenal cortisol disregulates your blood sugar, causes hormonal havoc and causes suppression of the immune system." In fact, if you've been dealing with a few stubborn pounds or digestive issues, it could be due to adrenal dysfunction. When the body goes in panic mode due to stress, you store everything - and therefore have trouble losing weight," Pick says.

Find out how to deal with insomnia-causing stress after the break.

Texts and Tunes: Itsy Bitsy Yoga

babysugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:00:34 PST

As a new mom, I took "Mommy and Me" yoga classes where my immobile babe sat in her carrier staring up at me as I switched from tree pose to downward dog.

But just yesterday, she slipped into her own triangle pose with ease. I do believe it was her way of asking me to introduce her to the benefits of yoga.

To help me do that, I will reference Itsy Bitsy Yoga ($17). The paperback book illustrates and spells out over fifty eight–minute routines that toddlers and preschoolers can learn and practice as they grow.

To see how yoga can enhance your tot's life,

read more. The author Helen Garabedian has been dubbed "Baby Yoga Expert" by Newsweek. She believes that through her practices, parents can strengthen their bonds with babe, teach patience, discipline, physical strength and calmness. There's even one section called Tantrum Taming Yoga that covers the Donkey, Gorilla, Lion's Breath, and Warrior. If the Gorilla pose can turn my devilish dear into a sweet angel, sign me up!