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Darth Vader and Yoga: A Connection Through Breath

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:41:07 -0800

Yoga is all about connecting your breath with your movements.

It's called ujjayi pranayama (pronounced oo-jai pra-na-ya-ma). Some instructors call it "ocean breath," "victorious breath," or "Darth Vader breath." It is said that Yogis performing this breath alone can create enough heat to melt snow around them. If you walk into an Ashtanga yoga class, you will be overwhelmed with an amazing and powerful sound - it feels like the walls themselves are pulsing.

Basically you are turning your ordinary breath into an audible one. When you can hear your breath, it's easier to follow and concentrate on. You can focus on letting your inhalations and exhalations guide your movements - then it's kind of like a moving meditation.

Want to know how to have that audible breath? Then read more

Say out loud - "I love Yoga."
Now whisper the same words, "I love Yoga."
Keeping your mouth closed, slowly exhale out through your nose and whisper "I love Yoga," again. Now inhale and whisper the same phrase.
The breath is moving to the back of your throat and nose.
Now slowly inhale and whisper one syllable,"Love." Exhale and whisper out "Love."
When you're ready, practice breathing this way, through your nose, keeping the breath deep in the back of your throat.

This breath creates the rhythm you use to guide your yoga practice. Take long and deep breaths, and you'll feel its relaxing effects instantly.

Lipstick Jungle Rundown: Episode 13, "La Vie en Pose"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:30:06 -0800

Aw, you guys! I was doing OK with the (probably) final episode of Lipstick Jungle - until they went and hit me with a montage! Seeing the ladies in all their stages of friendship (happily toasting and tearfully consoling each other) made me realize just how much I'll miss this show.

But if it's gone, it went out with an episode that answered many of the questions I've had: Will Joe and Victory actually get married? Is Shane gone for good? To talk about it, just read more.

First of all, Victory's parents are adorable. And very Midwestern. And not used to Joe at all. At the same time, Joe isn't used to people being put off by his grand gestures. So he just keeps trying to wine and dine them with private visits to museums ("they're burning all these lights just for us?") and fancy dinners (but Victory's mom would rather eat her leftovers from the plane).
So it's all pretty much a disaster, to the point that Victory's dad won't give a toast at the engagement party and Joe suggests maybe just not getting married at all.
Nico, meanwhile, apparently spent New Year's Eve with Griffin - and, in typical Griffin fashion, he immediately wants her to sign a letter saying they have a relationship outside the office. I know he's a by-the-books guy, but that still seems a little sudden.
Shane's gone, and it seems to have made things better between him and Wendy. Maddie isn't seeing that, however, and so she acts out big time - even sneaking out to see that college guy she met at Victory's urging. Hee! Love Maddie.

This week's silly work plotline (Wendy wants the rights to a story, but Parador wants them too, and Griffin assumes Nico tipped Wendy off) mostly just serves as a way to get Nico over to Wendy's for one of the most honest conversations I've heard in the whole series: She admits she's been in free fall since Charles died.
It cracks me up that Dahlia and Sal are still together. I imagine the two just going around and stirring up trouble all over town.
The trouble she stirs up for Nico is that appearance on the Today show where the hosts just want to talk about her cougar tendencies. But Nico handles it with grace and says some sweet things about Kirby, including that the age gap that was supposed to divide them "gave us room to breathe." I loved the reaction shots of Griffin and Kirby both watching.
I did not, however, love Griffin's actual reaction. I mean, of course Nico could talk openly about Kirby - she'd had months to process the rise and fall of that relationship! She's been with Griffin what, a week?
Nothing like a toast to make me teary even before the montage.
Drunk Maddie's back! And she's mad because Wendy isn't being honest with her about splitting up with Shane. Except Wendy's totally not splitting up with Shane, a fact Maddie can only realize after puking into a trash can and then talking to her dad.
The second Victory told Wendy that Joe was in financial trouble, I knew that would come back to haunt her, and sure enough, Joe's silently livid and tells Victory some things have to be just between them.
But then! He tells Victory's mom to see if their hometown church can host their wedding!
Then Kirby shows up at Nico's, and he wants her, and they're maybe going to kiss, until Nico's cell phone rings - and it's Griffin. But she doesn't answer, either; we're just left with that moment.
And then: montage!

So, that's (most likely) it. Are you happy with the way things wrapped up? Which guy do you think Nico chooses? And which of the series' greatest moments did you wish had been in the montage?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Strike a Yoga Pose: Goddess

FitSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Channel your inner goddess with this simple but bold yoga pose. Goddess pose builds your inner and outer strength; since it is like a wide squat you will be working your quads and glutes.

Sanskrit Name: Utkata Konasana
English Translation: Fierce Angle Pose
Also Called: Goddess or Victory Squat

To learn how to do this pose read more.

Stand at the top of your mat in Mountain pose.
Step open to the right, opening your legs about three feet apart. Turn your heels in.
Bend your knees coming into wide squat until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Your knees should be directly over your ankles, so adjust your feet if you need to.
When you're ready, lift your arms up, bending your elbows so they are at 90 degree angles, and open your palms away from you.
Hold here for five deep breaths.

Ask E. Jean: How Do I Explain My Extreme Shyness?

E Jean Carroll — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:00:20 -0800

Dear E. Jean,

Whenever I meet a girl I don't know, I suffer from truly spectacular social awkwardness. It's difficult for me to function at any level, including breathing. The result: I'm 40, and I've never had a girlfriend. Never even come close. I've gone out on three dates in my life, each one a disaster. It didn't help that I lived at home into my mid-30s - way too long, I now realize. I'm trying to change my life. I've moved out, bought a house, and have been working hard to overcome my shyness. I've begun having conversations with people I don’t know well. To my immense relief, I'm getting better with practice.

So the question is, now that I'm working up the courage to begin dating, how and when do I tell someone about my odd case history without throwing them for a loop or appearing to be way too peculiar and turning them off completely? Yes, I'm also worried that I'll make every other dating faux pas in the book, but one problem at a time. (Please, please, please no 40-year-old virgin jokes.) - Self-Conscious Enough as It Is

To read E. Jean's advice, read more.

Self, My Swordsman,

I beg your pardon. Did you say . . . three? Only three disasters, sir? Hell, there are hundreds of social catastrophes for you to enjoy. Get ready. Here are your five steps to victory:

Lay Plans: Go to your local church and sign an "abstinence pledge." Statistics show you will lose your virginity within seconds after leaving the building.
Know Your Weak Points: Don't date. It will kill your social life.
Vary Your Tactics: Instead, go to meetup.com. It's genius! Scroll through the dozens of inspiring, egg-heady, wild, world-bettering get-togethers in your area and choose a group that you like. (Yes, there are "virgins" meetups, not to mention the "Beltway Atheists." And if you don't join a group that is at least half women, I'm going to come to your town and hold a meetup called "Bang Jim.") Then all you have to do is show up. Shake hands. Share a beer. No pressure. Make friends of all ages and both sexes.
Wage the PR War: Your story: single guy, a bit shy, good job, owns his own home, no baggage.
Allow Yourself to Be Conquered. And when you get effed-up and shaky in the middle of a conversation-excellent! Most young ladies will walk over their own grandmothers to find a man who will listen to them. (Sun Tzu says the warrior who "gathers the highest intelligence" achieves the "greatest results.") So don’t worry. Wear something handsome, look her in the eye, ask a question, listen, throw out a compliment, ask another question, and in a few weeks you’ll be poking like blazes! Good luck!

To see more advice from E. Jean, visit Elle magazine and AskEJean.com.

Optimism in Iraq: Gains In Security, Solvency, and Stability

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

Could this be the good news from Iraq that we've been waiting for? After five years of struggle, Iraq may be holding the line on two major fronts: al-Qaeda and its finances. The positive news is buoyed this morning by the report that Iraq may agree to a timetable for US withdrawal.

Here's what's happening: American and Iraqi troops appear to be in the midst of driving al-Qaeda from their last stronghold in Northern Iraq in what's being called, "one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror." Operation Lion's Roar (possibly the best title ever) combined Iraqi and US forces to capture more than 1,000 suspects. It was thought that nearly 1,200 al-Qaeda soldiers remained in a final stand in the northern city of Mosul, down from a previous force of nearly 12,000 in May.

Though it might be premature to call a victory over the Sunni-led terrorist group, they are confident through the mission that al-Qaeda has now been forced to operate in the desolate and remote regions of the Iraq countryside, and the reduced violence has led some to be comfortable enough to spend time outside, like this tike at an amusement park in Baghdad. Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced over the weekend that his government has "defeated" terrorism.

To see how Iraq's piggy bank is about to get some relief as well, read more.

Economically, Iraq can breathe a sigh of relief as the United Arab Emirate has agreed to forgive the $4 billion in debt owed to them. This may be the first in a series of warming trends among Sunni controlled Middle Eastern states to welcome their Shiite-controlled neighbor.

Since the invasion and occupation of Iraq by US-led troops and the following take-over by a Shiite controlled government, many Sunni nations were suspicious of the Al-Maliki government. Compounded by the continual bombing, kidnapping, and killing of diplomats, forced many embassies in the nation to close. However, with the decline of violence, President Al-Maliki has reprimanded his Arab “brothers” for being so slow to return. He said he found it “difficult to explain why diplomatic exchange has not taken place.” Adding that, “Many foreign countries have kept their diplomatic missions in Baghdad and did not make security excuses.”

Do you think these bits of good news signal an overall trend toward success? Is the situation in Iraq on it's way to stability and resolution?

Source

Beijing Brings Back Olympics Car Rules to Cut Smog

CitizenSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

While the medals and finish lines from the Olympics are becoming a distant memory - so was the hard-fought clean air that Beijing enjoyed during the Games. Residents have been discussing just how to keep the measures in effect, and now they might have won. A partial victory at least.

Traffic restrictions have been re-introduced to Beijing, hoping to bring back the easy-breathing peace and quieter of the Games. The new plan doesn't go as far as the original measures however - each car only has to spend one day a week off of the roads, as opposed to the every other day plan during the Olympics. The benefit is, "expected to reduce Beijing's average road traffic flow by 6.5 percent," according to one city official. During periods of heavy pollution, the restrictions can be returned to the more stringent every-other-day plan.

How many cars are we talking that will be affected by the plan? To find out, read more.

Beijing has 3.4 million cars on the road, with 1,000 more added every day. So the return of the measures seems great - but residents are complaining that it's too complicated - for instance on Mondays, license plates ending in one or six can't come in to the city. Since the skies in August were the cleanest Beijing has seen in 10 years, should the stricter measures stay? Is this just the tip of the iceberg of sacrifices we'll have to make for the planet in the years to come?

Source

Johnny Depp Has a New Outlook on Life

PopSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 23:54:45 -0700

Johnny Depp is intensely personal, so it's always a special treat when we get to hear him open up. He recently chatted with EW and melted our hearts talking about the scare back in March when his daughter Lily-Rose got very sick after an accident at their farm. Here's more:

"To say it was the darkest moment, that's nothing. It doesn't come close to describing it. Words are so small. But knowing that those people, Tim and the crew, shut down and stood by and waited ... I didn't know if I was coming back. I remember talking with Tim, saying, `Maybe you need to recast.' Now every single millisecond is a mini-celebration. Every time we get to breathe in and exhale is a huge victory. She pulled through beautifully, perfectly, with no lasting anything. Once we were given the all-clear, I had to dive back into the work. I had to get back in there for Tim."

We couldn't be happier for Johnny that Lily-Rose pulled through and made a full recovery, and we're selfishly glad that he was able to finish his work on Sweeney Todd. You can't really go wrong with Johnny and Tim working together.

Source