Created with the yoga-lovin' man in mind, this gift list includes clothing, mat/mat accessories, books, and chocolate. Who doesn't like chocolate?! Read more...
Created with the yoga-lovin' man in mind, this gift list includes clothing, mat/mat accessories, books, and chocolate. Who doesn't like chocolate?! Read more...
Many people who have never tried yoga think that it will be complicated. But while there are certainly some "how'd they do that?," advanced postures, there are many more simple poses that will look, and feel, familiar to most. Keep in mind that simple doesn't mean easy, however. Doing a basic pose with focused attention is hard work. Read more...
At this time of year, when the holiday hustle is on and the cold weather settles in, I often feel torn between wanting a gentle, nurturing restorative practice to sooth my jangled nerves and needing a kick-butt workout to stoke the fire in my belly. This week's pose caters to the later desire: a nice, long hold in plank pose. Five deep ujjayi...
At this time of year, when the holiday hustle is on and the cold weather settles in, I often feel torn between wanting a gentle, nurturing restorative practice to sooth my jangled nerves and needing a kick-butt workout to stoke the fire in my belly. This week's pose caters to the later desire: a nice, long hold in plank pose. Five deep ujjayi...
Returning from a Thanksgiving trip this weekend? You may not have time to squeeze in a yoga class before heading back to work on Monday, but you can do a little yoga on the plane. These stretches will make your travel time a little less stressful and help you to recover from the crazy holiday before plunging into the crazy work week.
Adolescence is the prime age for Ayn Rand enthusiasts. A philosophy that exalts selfishness can be a good fit for angsty teenagers, but most folks, even avowed capitalists, eventually grow out of it. Some do not, and we call them libertarians. Still, you're a grown-up now, and if Rand is your bag, go for it. If Rand is ON your bag, you can thank yoga-wear giant Lululemon, whose shopping totes now come emblazoned with the question "Who Is John Galt?," a quotation from Rand's hefty tome Atlas Shrugged. It seems Lulu founder Chip Wilson is a fan, whose company philosophy, "elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness," is derived from Rand's writing. It's a rather simplified version of Objectivism, glossing over the unsavory bits about the primacy of self interest. As a marketing strategy, it has certainly sparked extensive coverage in the media, from outlets like NPR, Forbes.com, and Slate. A blog post about the campaign on Lululemon's website has generated close to 500 responses, which run to gamut from extreme praise to extreme disgust. The older I get, the less inclined I am to pick up life lessons from the watered-down copy of corporate advertising campaigns masquerading as ideology. Just because a company knows how to capture amazing market share with booty-hugging pants, I'm not interested in letting them tell me what to think.
...One of yoga's recent trends is new to us but has long been practiced in India: yoga therapy. In the simplest terms, yoga therapy is the application of yoga methodology to the healing of physical and mental ailments. Now that research science is beginning to take a closer look at yoga's positive effects, yoga therapy's profile is on the rise. Read more to find out what kind of conditions can benefit from yoga therapy and how to find a qualified yoga therapist.
Yesterday, I took a yoga class with one of my favorite teachers. I don't register doing anything outlandish, but today I woke up with sore hips. Thinking back, I remembered that we did do something a little different: a long hold of pigeon pose. The Yin Yoga version of pigeon is called sleeping swan. Spending three to five minutes folded over the front leg allows the hips to release more deeply than usual. In order to make this longer hold comfortable, you may want to use a prop such as a folded blanket under your butt on the side with the leg forward. This pose is great to do after you've been sitting upright at a desk or in a car all day. Try it if you are going to be traveling this week.
Rounding up the best yoga gifts this year, I noticed a distinctly environmental bent, which just increases the appeal of these useful and attractive products. Yogitoes PRISM Skidless (above), made of 50% recycled materials, is one example. Also check out great stuff from Klean Kanteen, be present, Timbuk2, ToeSox, Lululemon, Chocoveda, and more!