Yoga is great for toning the body, including the arms. Flabby arms happen due to excessive weight, age and other factors. Don’t let flabby arms keep you from wearing armless styles. Yoga offers similar benefits to using weights to tone and strengthen the arms and shoulders. There are yoga DVD workouts that are specifically designed to tone the arms, shoulders and upper body. You can use one of these practices in between your regular yoga practice for an added focus on the arms. However, if you have a fairly well rounded, general practice, you will get the benefits. The poses … Continue reading →

The New Year is a time when we assess our lives and make intentions to change certain habits and areas of life. If you have been skipping classes or your home practice, this is the perfect time to make the intention to make more time for yoga in 2011. Don’t call it a New Year’s Resolution because those get dropped by the end of January. Make a general intention to start living healthier and include yoga in your fitness routine. Whether you are just starting out or have been out of practice for a while, the benefit of yoga is … Continue reading →

It’s the end of Thanksgiving weekend and you can’t turn on the television without seeing images of large groups of people waiting in line for the best deals in town. Shopping for the yoga lover in your life is easy and you won’t have to wait in line to do it. There are great gift ideas for every price range. Yoga mats are fairly inexpensive, but range in price. The average yoga mat is a great choice if you are looking for the best price. There are organic yoga mats that are made with all natural materials, if you want … Continue reading →

When you first take a yoga class, you may feel uncomfortable and unsure of the basic things to do and not to do in a typical yoga class. There are some things that are considered proper etiquette in most yoga classes. There are no standard rules and each studio handles things differently and some have rules posted in the studio or on their website. Most of these tips are basic consideration for others in the room. Be on time for class. Nothing is as disruptive to the flow of a yoga class than people opening the door and jostling for … Continue reading →

When asked what area of the body they want to improve, the abdominals are always among the top answers. The image of flat, toned abs is part of the culture in the United States. A strong core is beneficial for posture, digestion and general health. You don’t need to spend money on the latest ab machine advertised on television. Yoga offers the perfect way to achieve a strong, supple core. Forget the six pack abs you see on the latest offering from the exercise industry and focus instead on creating a strong, flexible core. Yoga offers the added benefit of … Continue reading →

If you are looking for a unique vacation that will leave you completely rejuvenated, a yoga vacation may be the perfect choice for your next vacations. Yoga vacations offer the perfect respite from the overcrowded, expensive tourist traps that leave you feeling more stressed out at the end of your vacation than when you left home. The purpose of a yoga vacation is the opposite of the fast paced, packed itinerary and constant moving of the typical vacation. On your yoga vacation, you will actually experience the peace, relaxation and serenity that vacations were meant to be. There are nearly … Continue reading →

The ancient practice of yoga offers a wide variety of physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. The practice began as a spiritual practice and remains a central part of the Hindu religion. Although most often associated with Hinduism, the practice is now used by people of all faiths, including Buddhists, Christians and people of all major religions. The spiritual benefits of yoga can be embraced and enjoyed by people of all faiths. Spirituality has as many meanings as there are people. For some, it is defined as a religious tradition, while for others it is a general concept that involves seeking … Continue reading →

September is National Yoga Month, an effort to promote the benefits of yoga. There are many benefits to the practice of yoga and this month is the perfect time to give it a try. Yoga studios and organizations are offering a variety of activities and free classes in cities around the country. There are many reasons to try yoga, including: The Mind-Body-Spirit connection is one of the biggest benefits of starting a yoga practice. The focus on the movements and meditative aspects of yoga helps to develop a connection that offers physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. Yoga increases flexibility throughout … Continue reading →

Mid life presents unique challenges for weight loss. Some people who have never experienced a struggle with weight suddenly find themselves dealing with the tell tale mid life bulge around the middle. Yoga offers distinct benefits for the unique difficulties with weight loss at this stage of life. After 40, people tend to gain weight and have trouble keeping it off. There is research to suggest that practicing yoga can help people in mid life lose weight and keep the weight off. A study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and published in Alternative Therapies in Health and … Continue reading →