Athletes Embracing Yoga

You don’t have to be a Hollywood actress, a college-coed or flexible fitness fanatic to excel at yoga, just ask the dozens of athletes (professional and amateur) who have discovered the benefits of this ancient exercise option. NFL football players, pro golfers and stars of the NBA are speaking out about why they have turned to yoga in order to enhance their performance on the field, the golf course and on the court. According to the pros, yoga is one of the best ways to cross-train for a variety of sports, including running, surfing, swimming and skiing, where the body … Continue reading →

Popular New Exercise Equipment

Have you ever seen a new product and asked yourself: “Now, why didn’t I think of that?” I mutter that question each and every time I run on the treadmills at my local gym and peer into the step aerobic classroom. The gym recently acquired a few dozen of those new Slanted Risers. The angled plastic riser fits under a traditional step, like those used in step aerobics classes, to allow you to step up or lie back on a slant. The ad on TV claims: “Not only will the Slanted Riser add a new dimension to your cardio workout … Continue reading →

What Should I Be Doing During Meditation?

Many jokes are told among those who practice meditation. We feel like we should be reaching epiphanies, realizing our relationship with God and a list of other tall, noble orders. What makes us laugh are the experiences that we really have a large percentage of the time that we are in meditation: “I have no idea what I’m making for dinner tonight,” “My feet are cold – I should have put socks on when she told us to,” or “Someone just dropped a weight way too hard.” We also have plenty of meditation sessions that lead us right into sleepier … Continue reading →

The Perfect Yoga Mat

I’m one of those people who get an idea about something that they need and then spend way too much time searching for exactly what I want. This habit is much better suited for house hunting or buying a car than it is for small purchases. Maybe I justify this because I spend almost as much time with my yoga mat as I do in my car. Honestly, my mat has a lot of life left in it. After a nice cleaning, it is almost as good as new. So what, that it is a subdued, olive green and it … Continue reading →

Why Yoga Might Help You Quit Smoking

You may have already gone through several cycles of trying to quit smoking just over the past month of forgotten and renewed resolutions of the New Year. Before you resign yourself to just trying again next year, see if anything here gives you motivation to try again. Becoming more aware of how your body feels and of your breathing patterns is one of the most easily experienced side-effects of practicing yoga. A simple, Gentle Yoga class could provide you with enough body awareness to firm your resolve. The focusing exercises, combined with poses and breath, allow you to better feel … Continue reading →

Moderation in the Yogic Lifestyle – Where Does Caffeine Fit in?

I hesitate to even write about the fact that I gave up coffee and caffeine in January because I don’t want people to interpret this as a judgement on anyone who enjoys it. In fact, I’m sure that I would still be drinking it if it wasn’t for how it affected me. Just like some people abstain from even a glass of wine on a special occasion because it affects them dramatically, I’ve found that java doesn’t jive with my body or mind. The truth is that I became one of those people who would get a significant headache if … Continue reading →

Three Fun Yoga Poses for Kids

I’ve discovered that most children really enjoy yoga. It uses their imagination and it let’s them move around. There are many poses which they find entertaining, but here are a few to get started: 1. Tree Pose. While shoulder stands and Child’s Pose come naturally for kids, Tree Pose takes a few more steps to get started. Start standing. Press the bottom of one foot to the inside of the other leg, or to the thigh. Make sure that the foot is not pressing against the kneecap. As you get your balance, find a focal point (something that is motionless) … Continue reading →

The Yoga Path: Finding My Headstand

After going to my Level 3 YogaFit Training, I was determined to work my way into a headstand away from the wall. Reading Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar and talking to students and other teachers of yoga, I realized that I would need to be patient with myself and not rush it. I had heard that using a corner, rather than just being up against the wall, would encourage proper alignment. I didn’t try it in a corner for several months after my Level 3 training, however, perhaps because of being stubborn. It wasn’t until I had a more … Continue reading →

Top Ten Yoga Class Tips

Without getting too serious about ourselves, I wanted to discuss some common, perhaps amusing, bits of etiquette to watch out for in yoga classes. Hopefully, you’ll know when I’m intending to humor rather than dictate. 1. Make a controlled effort to get there on time. When I say “controlled,” it’s because I don’t want people stressing themselves out just to get to class. I can get past people walking in while I’m taking people into opening meditation, but I know that it can be distracting for the other students. Late or not, we all have the same intention – let’s … Continue reading →

Fitness Challenges: Power Yoga

If you are looking for a challenging workout, then a Power Yoga class may be a great option. Some Power Yoga classes are combined with heat to create names like “Hot Power Yoga Flow” or just “Hot Yoga,” but there can be quite a range of interpretations to what exactly these entail. Some of you may have called to mind Bikram Yoga which is known for its use of high temperatures in the studio to keep muscles limber and warm for increased flexibility. The difference between Bikram and a class named Hot Power Yoga, or some other variation, is that … Continue reading →