Yoga 4 You

Back to School, Back to YOU

2012-11-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

It's fall! This means back to school for the kids, back to routine and back to YOU! Back to your workout! Remember, before the summer days hit, you had a great workout routine going? Well, it's that time again! There is no better month to recommit to your practice and your body. Here's a tip: one small, consistent habit will create huge change. A daily dose is the trick. I drink a protein smoothy daily and drink lots of water. I try to practice yoga as much as I can, but it's been quite difficult with a baby! My husband and I alternate going during the week (yes, I've gotten him addicted! But I'll explain that in another post!). Daily, consistent actions that are manageable really do add up :)

Here are some tips to keep you on track as you recommit to your practice this Yoga Month:

1. Shift your mood with a little yoga. Deep breathing can release happy hormones.
2. Acknowledge victories. Instead of reaching for a treat, write three things you did well each day.
3. Make a workout date. You'll have more energy when you exercise, so make it a priority.
4. Meditate. Fifteen minutes of quiet mindfulness in the morning will help reduce stress all day long.

I had a great Summer being a new mom and now it's time to ramp up and focus in on my health. So, class is now in session.

“Take care of your thoughts for they become your words. Take care of your words for they become your actions. Take care of your actions for they become your habits. Take care of your habits for they become your character. Take care of your character for it becomes your destiny. Take care of your destiny for it becomes your life. There is no higher religion than the truth.”

New Moksha Yoga West Island Schedule

2012-11-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

Above is the most recent Moksha Yoga West Island schedule. If you want a hot yoga experience, check out this studio! What I really like about this studio is that they offer different classes such as Hot Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Moksha Flow, to name a few. Also, if you're not in the mood for a 90 minute workout, they offer shorter classes (60 min, 75 min). Let me know what you think! It's my second home :)

http://west-island.mokshayoga.ca/home/

2012-06-27T14:17:00.002-07:00

Be hot!

Check out Moksha West Island's Hot Yoga Schedule and try a class today! You will NOT regret it :)

CALM MIND. FIT BODY. INSPIRED LIFE.

Stay in Shape for the Holidays!

2011-12-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

As another holiday season is upon us, why not stay active in between dinner parties, family gatherings and time off work? Although this time can often be chaotic, try to find an hour here and there for yourself we well as your body/mind/spirit. Yoga is THE perfect workout solution for your stressful holiday events. It allows you to breathe, relax and regain piece of mind amidst all the planning, organizing, baking, cooking, and wrapping. One of the great yoga masters, Mandy Ingber, has some yoga advice for the winter season. Check it out:

Yoga practices the art of bringing the body, mind and emotions back to balance. There is a time for energizing as well as a time for relaxing, and we require both. In the winter it is so easy to look around and become distracted by the outside world. Finding what feels right is deeply personal and internal, so developing a routine to keep you stabilized during this time is essential. Some ways that we may energize: going to parties, shopping for friends, eating and drinking taboo foods. Some ways that we may relax: reading a book inside by the fire, taking a walk, reviewing and taking an inventory of your year, focusing on your internal rhythm through breath.

Here are several ways to tune up or tone down your yoga for the season:

POSTURES:The following yoga routine begins with a standard yoga posture and a tune up or turn down version. Depending on your mood, you can opt for the energizing version, or you can mellow the effect with the relaxing version. Generally, poses where we open the heart and expand the chest and lungs will energize, while the forward bends, have a way of relaxing the nervous system and calming us down.

Bridge Pose:
Come to your back, legs bent and feet hip-width apart. Start with your arms by your sides. Bring your heels up to your tush. Make sure your feet are straight and parallel. Take a deep inhale. On the exhale, pull the belly in and rotate your pelvis under, keep peeling your spine off of the floor, one vertebrae at a time. Push the feet down in order to lift the hips up. Keep your chin tucked (see image below, top).
Energize: Extending each leg, one leg at a time (see below, center).
Relax: Place a block underneath your sacrum (see below, bottom).

Forward Bend:Separate your feet about hip-width apart and hang your upper body down, folding over the legs. Allow the crown of the head to dangle down towards the floor. Feel the spine release and elongate. Press the thigh bones backwards. Lift the kneecaps up. Dangle and breathe.
Energize: Place finger tips on floor, on the inhale extend and flatten out or back, on the exhale fold. Repeat 8 times (Images below, top and center).
Relax: Try bending your knees slightly, and "rag doll" the upper body (Image below, bottom).

Triangle [I find this posture demanding as it asks you to use all muscles in your body]:Step your feet about four feet apart. Turn the right foot out, and slightly angle the left foot in. Arms are extended out to the side. Breath in. On the exhale, extend and reach outward through the right arm, as you press the hips to the left. Keep opening the chest as you elongate here. Try to create a straight line from the hips to the fingertips. Keep the length after hinging from the hips. Now keep the chest open, and drop the hand down to the shin, the ankle, or maybe even the floor. Keep opening the chest. 10 breaths. Try to extend and reach through the top of the head. Try to keep the crown of the head and the tailbone in alignment (see image below, top).
Energize: As you open your heart and extend both arms out to the side. Allow your core strength and trunk to support you (see image below, center).
Relax: Try it with a block or even a chair, if you want to ease up a little (see last two images below).

One Arm Balance:
Begin in Plank. Bring the feet together. Move the right hand directly below the face. Rock your body to the side, so that you are balancing on the right hand and the outside edge of the right foot. Feet are flexed and the underside of the waist is lifting up so that your top hip is lifting up towards the ceiling. Press the bottom hand into the floor, so that you are not dumping into that right shoulder. Keep the right arm straight (but not locked). If you are super flexible to the point of hyper-extension, stay aware of not locking the elbow (see image below, top).
Energize: Lift the top leg (see image below, center).
Relax: Rest the lower knee on the floor (see image below, bottom).

Now....the MOST important part of Yoga: Breathing

BREATH:Breathing is all about expansion and contraction. The art of breathing in yoga is called Pranayama. There are two basic breathing exercises I will share with you here. The first is the energizer called breath of fire, or skull shining technique. The second is called alternate nostril breathing and is designed to bring the energy down and calm the nervous system.

Breath of Fire:
Try this for about a minute, sitting Japanese-style, with your spine straight.

1. Relax your abdomen. You can place your hands gently on your belly, as you start to get a feel for the breathing.
2. With your mouth closed, exhale strongly and quickly through your nose, contracting your abdominal muscles to push the air out in short bursts.
3. The inhale should happen relatively automatically, as the focus is on the exhale breath.

Counter-indications:
Avoid this type of breathing if your nasal passages are blocked.
Also avoid this breathing if you are pregnant, or have any heart problems.

Benefits:
Detoxifies the lungs
Energizes the body

Alternate Nostril Breathing:
Start by doing this for three rounds, from a seated position.

1. Use your right hand and close right nostril with your right thumb. Inhale through the left nostril for a four-second count.
2. Immediately close the left nostril with the right ring finger and pinky finger, as you remove your right thumb from the right nostril. Exhale thru this nostril for an eight-count.
3. Then, switch. Inhale thru right nostril for a four-count. Close the right nostril with the right thumb and exhale through the left nostril for an eight-count.

Counter-indications:
Avoid this type of breathing if you have a cold. Do not force the breathing if the nasal passages are blocked.

Benefits:
Increases brain functioning, creativity and reasoning ability
Calms the mind
Calms the nervous system

*Now, wouldn't the holiday season be an excellent time for you to realize and list what you're gratful for? Make a daily Gratitude List. Include at least 3 things about your own great qualities:
For example: That I have a purity of heart.
The universe keeps sending me opportunities to grow.
I wake up every day and try to start fresh, even when things are not going my way.
That my 88 year old grandma is still alive.
The fact that you are reading my blog :)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS - MAY IT BE SAFE, FUN & FULL OF YOGA! ♥

You're HOW old?!?!

2011-11-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Anti-Aging Benefits of Yoga

More and more research is proving that people who practice a vigorous form of yoga just three hours a week are investing in maintaining a youthful glow by switching on the anti-aging hormones that slow down the aging process from the inside out. In fact, some studies show that, on average, three hourly sessions per week can make practitioners biologically nine years younger than their non-yogi counterparts. Now that’s change we can believe in!

Yoga does this by stimulating the endocrine system to produce balanced amounts of hormones, and helps switch on and off genes that we need (or don’t!) to keep us running smoothly. It’s been shown, among other things, to reduce stress hormones like cortisol, a major factor in disease and aging. Make this practice part of your regular routine, and reap the benefits of invigorated health and beauty that will have people asking you what your secret is. You’ll just smile slyly (with fewer wrinkles) and say, “It’s the yoga.” - Saidie Nardni

Yoga in the MTL

2011-05-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

Lately alot of people have been asking me where they should turn to for some great yoga lessons. I thought I'd dedicate this blog post to answering that question. The first questions you need to ask yourself are: What type of yoga are you looking for and in which part of Montreal can you find it. I love Montreal because you can find anything and everything you are looking for - including a wide range of yoga studios.

Hot Yoga Studios

Moksha: You can find three Moksha studios in Montreal - In NDG, on the main and opening soon in the West Island. Click here for official website.

Bikram: Located in the Plateau, on Walker street and in Pointe Claire. Click here for site.

Idolem: On Decarie right on top of Tasty Food pizza. Check it out here!

Siscoe Gym: Situated on Jean Talon West. Learn more here.

Happy Tree Yoga: Minutes away from the AMC theatre. Website here.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga Montreal: Learn the bascics at the studio on Ste Catherine street. Read more here

Naada Montreal: On Casgrain Avenue. Official site here

Studio Yoga Source: If you live in Brossard, you're in luck! The website is here

Hatha Yoga

Equilibrium: On boul. St Laurent. Check them out here

Maya Lotus: In the beautiful Plateau of MTL. Website here

While you're at it, why not find a studio that offers kids yoga? Take a class for yourself while your child practices in the next room. Many studios offer kids yoga - Moksha and Equilibium to name a couple. There are SO many studios in and around Montreal. In my future posts, I'll expand on these studios and talk about even more. Take advantage of what our beautiful city has to offer!

Gaga for Yoga....or not.

2011-04-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

Headline reads: "Lady Gaga caught going to Bikram wearing THIS"

A picture is worth a thousand words.

The first word that comes to my mind is WHY? WHY? WHY do you have to attract attention to yourself everywhere you go? Why can't you just take your practice seriously. It's a personal meditation session after all, not a fashion show, right? You even need help walking? On her way to class in Soho, Gaga looks a little ridiculous. Yoga in platforms? What would Bikram himself say?

Alright, I'll stop hating. But besides her obvious love of looking and dressing absolutely insanely, Gaga DOES endorse yoga.

She isn't shy to proclaim her love for the hot room to 1.3 million of her closest friends on Twitter. In Cleveland not too long ago, Lady G took a private yoga class at Evolution Yoga with teacher Sandy Gross. She claimed to love "that the yoga lesson was creative and loved the hands on assists and that Sandy helped her low back drama in back bends."

I'm glad she can relax her feet on a soft yoga mat after all those shoes she wears. Can we now call her Lady Goga?

Yet another reason to love Yoga

2011-04-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

As I was recently reading the latest issue of Chatelaine magazine, I came across an interesting article in their fitness section:

The Path to Happiness

"For centuries, yogis have believed that the route to inner peace begins on a yoga mat - and now science backs them up. Boston University researchers investigated the effects of lyengar yoga (a low intensity, stability-enhancing practice) on the brain and found that three 60-minute classes per week can help treat depression. The study, which used MRI scans, is the first to show that yoga spikes the brain's production of gamma-amino butyric acid,
A natural antidepressant linked to better moods and less anxiety."

Feel happy!

Thanks Chatelaine :)

You are what you eat

2011-04-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

I wanted to expand on a previous post called "Top 5 Superfoods for You". In this posting, I'll discuss the benefits of each food item and give you an easy-to-follow recipe for each.

1 - SALMON: Is an amazing source of protein as well as Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Omega 3 is important because it decreases cholesterol. You should be eating at least 2 servings of fish per week. Your best bet is to chose wild salmon (most canned salmon is wild).

Super Easy Recipe: Maple Salmon

Ingredients

1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound salmon

Directions

In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper.
Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork.

2- SOY: Is a great substitute for a meat product. I love cooking tofu with yummy asian sauces. Soy milk is also really popular. Soy beans contain high amounts of protein. They are also very rich in calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, Vitamin B, omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. Soy improves your heart health and can potentially prevent prostate cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Super Easy Recipe: Wake Up Smoothy

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups	Orange juice
1	Banana
1 1/4 cups	Frozen berries - raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries
1/2 cup	Low-fat silken tofu
1 tablespoon	Sugar or splenda

Directions:Combine orange juice, banana, berries, tofu and sugar in a blender. Cover and blend until creamy.

3 - GREENS: Green vegetables such as kale, chard, collard greens, bok choy, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, etc... are packed with vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and phytonutrients. They are very filling, high in fiber and low in calories. You can eat them cooked (stirfry them in a non-stick pan) but it is absolutely fine to eat them raw as well so go ahead and toss them into your salad and reap the nutritional benefits!

Super Easy Recipe: Cooked Easy Greens

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 2 pounds hearty greens (escarole, chicory, mustard greens or a combination, large stems trimmed), slightly cover the pot and cook until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain greens in a colander, then let cool about 10 minutes. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons each extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.

4- BERRIES: Are loaded with Vitamic C, folate, fiber and phytonutrients. Fresh berries are actually the strongest disease fighting. Just wash, eat and enjoy!

Super Easy Recipe: Easy Berry Parfait

Ingredients

1/3 cup blueberries
1/3 cup strawberries
1 (8 ounce) container of greek yogurt
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup blackberries
1 pint vanilla frozen yogurt

Directions

In a blender, combine blueberries, strawberries and yogurt.Blend until smooth. In a mixing bowl, fold in raspberries and blackberries. Layer the berry mixture with the frozen yogurt in 6 dessert glasses, finishing with a berry layer.

5- Whole Grains: Contain Vitamin B, Vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber. It is recommended to eat 3-5 servings of whole grains every day. To do this, use whole wheat flour, purchase whole wheat cereals,breads, pastas and rice.

Super Easy Recipe: Classic Bran Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
Mix together wheat bran and buttermilk; let stand for 10 minutes.
Beat together oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to buttermilk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture, until just blended. Fold in raisins and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool and enjoy!

It's a Lifestyle

2011-04-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

The practice of yoga is not how well you can execute the poses and postures. That's all ego. Yoga is way more than a physical discipline, it's a spiritual journey with a rich philosophy that enhance all the aspects of our being and our lives helping us to balance our mind, body and soul. In order to excel in yoga, one must adapt a healthy lifestyle outside of the yoga room. Healthy eating, constant hydration and a regular physical yoga practice are all important. I absolutely love the discipline of yoga. Here's more info on the yoga lifestyle:

A Yama is an attitude or code of conduct towards others and the world around you. Patañjali’s Yoga Sutra mentions five Yamas:

Ahimsa: Non Violence, abstinence from injury, it means kindness and thoughtful consideration of oneself and other creatures.
Satya: It means "to speak the truth"; it is about living a truthful life without doing harm to others. One must consider the consequences of his actions before speak.
Asteya: It means "avoidance of stealing”. One must not steal (objects and ideas), don’t have selfish feelings towards others and not obstruct other people's desires.
Brahmacharya: Can be translated as moderation and moderation in all things, it is used mostly in the sense of abstinence to discipline and preserve sexual energy. One must avoid excessive desires or attitudes that make us deviate from finding the eternal truth.
Aparigraha: It is the concept of non-possessiveness, it means to take only what is necessary to live a life free of avarice and do not take advantage of someone or of a situation.

A Niyama is about self-regulation, is how you interact with yourself, your internal world. The following are the five Niyamas:

Shaucha: It means purity, keeping ourselves clean maybe eating certain foods, purifying our relationships, meditating, letting go harmful attitudes.
Santosha: It means contentment with what you have and who you are, not focus on what you should have don, is to live the present. "Accept that which we cannot change, Change what we can, and have the wisdom to know the difference."
Tapas: This Niyama refers to self-discipline, austerity, is act with discipline, enthusiasm and determination to attain what we want and act accordingly making sacrifices as necessary. Tapas is practiced disciplining the body and mind.
Svadhyaya: It means “to get close to something”; it is learn from our own lives and experiences. You will learn to be centred and to burn destructive tendencies.
Ishvarapranidhana: It means “to lay all your actions at the feet of God”, it is about your relationship to the divine energy of the universe, one must offer the fruits of your life to God.

Yamas and Niyamas are ten ethical precepts that allow us to have a healthier, happier life in pace with ourselves, our family, and our community.

-Yogaweb.com

Torture Chamber

2011-04-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

To me, these photos are SO inspiring. This is what you'd see if you took Bikram Choudhury's 9 week hot yoga teacher training program. Bikram himself describes it as his torture chamber. He says it's better to work your heart for 90 minutes in a Bikram class then having a heart attack later on in life. His reasoning and philosophies make so much sense. And that's why there are Bikram studios all over the world. Set at 105F (about 40% humidity), a Bikram class works every part of your body, mind and spirit. It also challenges your body, mind at spirit like nothing else. The feeling I get after walking out of class is indescribable. I am completely addicted to the hot room (you'll hear me say this time and time again). The discipline of Bikram's 26 posture workout is one of its kind. Bikram himself has his sequence of poses copyright. Why? "You cannot drive the car if you do not have a driver's license," he explains. "You cannot do brain surgery if you are not a brain surgeon. You cannot even do a massage if you don't have a license." And, he says, you shouldn't be able to teach his Bikram Yoga unless you pay him for a license. I've often thought about taking his training course to become certified. The 9 weeks spent away from home (this year's training is in Los Angeles), the admission fee ($7,000 USD) plus mandatory hotel fee ($3,000 USA) makes it more difficult of a decision. For now, I practice to be the best yogi I can be.

If you want to learn more about the Bikram practice and are thinking of trying a class, I recommend reading his book. It'll tell you all you need to know before stepping in the hot room.

Always Listen to your Body

2011-04-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, your body talks to you all the time. It's a wealth of information and always looks out for your well being. It lets you know the basics like when you're tired and hungry, but it also let's you know when you're pushing your body too hard physically. When in the yoga class, (or ANY class for that matter), LISTEN to how your body talks. Your muscles will tell you if you're stretching too hard, your back will inform you if your backbends are getting to be too much to handle and your body will give you signs that you've had enough yoga for the day. One of the amazing aspects of yoga is that its meditation allows you to become in sync with your body. It lets you be present and to receive the messages your body is sending you. Don't deny these messages. Ignoring them can only harm you and possibly even injure you (which I'll cover in a future post). Be patient, you will reach your goals in time.

As in dance, true raw emotions are bound to come out. Let them out. Backward bends, for example, are known to open the heart chakras and expose pent-up feelings. It's completely normal if you've experienced sadness, anger, joy, laughter and even tears during and after this posture. All day long we bend forward - picking up the kids, working at your desk all day, reaching to clean up dirt on the floor, getting something we've dropped etc. When do we ever bend backwards? Hardly ever. Always embrace the feelings, for they will pass. Don't be scared to face them.

The Delicious Benefits of Moksha Yoga

2011-04-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE Moksha hot yoga. I feel so good after each class I take - whether it be a Power Flow class (my fave), Moksha Flow class, Hot Basic, Hot Mix, or Hot Yin class. Any and all yoga will be beneficial to you, and that includes Moksha. Here are some benefits of practicing Moksha Hot Yoga:

-Helps you de-stress

-Weight loss

-Improving your immune system and cardiovascular abilities

-Feeling more energized

-Improve your life outside the yoga room - family relationships for example

-Increases your focus

-Health benefits such as back/knee pain, gets rid of your headaches, cures insomnia, helps with depression, scoliosis, poor digestion, arthritis, posture and constipation.

Are you beginning to see more men in your yoga studios? That's because more and more athletes are showing up to improve their performance. Whether it be hockey, running, boxing, cycling or rowing, Moksha yoga can help you. The benefits of hot yoga started to become popular when the Miami Dolphins began practicing hot yoga as part of their training regime. Since then many athletes have been rounding out their training with hot yoga.

Check out this great introductory video for Moksha

Pranayama

2011-04-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

"When the Breath wanders, the mind is unsteady, but when the Breath is still, so is the mind still." Hatha Yoga Pradipika

No matter which yoga class you take (and fitness class for that matter!), the teacher will tell you to keep breathing. The importance of your breath - your prana, is unparalleled. Breathing is life. Not only is it important to learn how to execute the proper yoga moves, but also to learn proper breating. Breathing in and our through your nose is crucial. If you use your mouth to breathe, you are sending panic signals to your brain. You always want to calm your body by inhaling and exhaling through your nose. Why? Mouth breathing can adversely affect the development of the Thyroid Gland, and can retard the mental development of children. Just keep your mouth closed and you will automatically breathe through your nose. The nose has various defense mechanisms to prevent impurities and excessively cold air entering the body. At the entrance to the nose, a screen of hairs traps dust, tiny insects and other particles that may injure the lungs if you breathe through the mouth. After the entrance of the nose, there is a long winding passage lined with mucus membranes, where excessively cool air is warmed and very fine dust particles that escaped the hair screen are caught. In the inner nose are glands which fight off any bacilli which have slipped through the other defenses. The inner nose also contains the olfactory organ-our sense of smell. This detects any poisonous gases around that may injure our health. The Yogis believe that the olfactory organ has another function: the absorption of Prana from the air. If you breathe through the mouth all the time, as many people do, you are cheating yourself of all this free energy (Prana). The Yogis say this is a major factor in lowered resistance to disease and impairs the functioning of your vital glands and nervous system. The Ancient Yogis knew the importance of correct breathing and developed techniques not only to increase Health and life span, but also to attain super conscious states.

Your Favorite Yoga Poses

2011-04-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know that my favorite celebrity is Jennifer Aniston. Another reason I love her? She practices yoga! She trains with well known LA yoga teacher Mandy Ingber. What are Jennifer's 2 all time favorite poses? Child's pose and tree stand. Even Bikram Choudhury agrees that child's pose (he calls it Half Tortoise Pose) is the most relaxing pose in the yoga practice - just as relaxing as 8 hours sleep. Lowering your head below your heart has this calming effect on your mind, and it's a great pose to do if you're feeling stressed or tired. Child's Pose is recommended for people with lower back pain. It's also the perfect pose to do in a yoga class (not Bikram though) if your arms need a break, or if you feel your breathing becoming too erratic.

Jennifer's other favorite pose is Standing Tree. Tree is a wonderful balancing pose because it doesn't require a ton of muscular strength. When your bent leg is resting on the inner thigh of your straight leg, it's actually quite stable. So you can stay in this position for a while, just breathing and feeling your connection with the ground.

Try these poses at home today and stay in them for at least 2 full minutes while you breath. You'll fell great! What are your favorite yoga poses? I'd love to hear from you. Whether they're beginner or advanced - let me know! How do they make you feel?

Silence is Golden

2011-04-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

Alright everyone - today's blog post is a rant. I'm gonna vent about all those annoying chatterboxes. Unfortunately, yoga rooms are filled with them. I don't know about you, but when I take a yoga class, I expect silence. Not only do I expect it, I crave it. All day long I have to listen to people speak, complain, yell, laugh and whisper. When I get to the studio I'm looking for the complete opposite. I want time to myself, time to breathe. Time to meditate. Time to explore the joys of yoga. Just this past weekend I took class and got onto my mat 5-10 early. These two women were chatting - and not even whispering. What was I supposed to do? Tell these strangers to shut it? Make a shhhhhhhhh sound? Well, I ended up ignoring them and needless to say they ruined my pre-class meditation. So please - if you want to gossip and chit chat do it before class outside!!!

Ok, can we get back to some yoga now.......

The Hot 26

2011-04-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

Each posture is done twice - if you can't get it the first time you'll get it the second. There are details to each pose, the more you practice and the more you listen to your teacher's guidance the easier it will be to grasp. One of the things I love best about Bikram's practice is that each and every pose has a health benefit. For example, let's look at Tuladansana (Balancing Stick Pose):

This specific posture increases your heart rate and gives you your cardiovascular workout. It also may help clear blocked arteries and prevent future cardiac problems. As if those aren't enough, Balancing Stick creates a total spine strech and relieves tension/stress from your spine. Also builds strength in your legs and good for varicose veins. Good enough reasons to practice?

Hollywood Yogis

2011-04-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Feeling fat? Feeling tired? Out of shape? Try a Bikram class. I've been into Bikram Hot Yoga for a few years now and am completely addicted. With a minimum of 900 calories burnt per 90 minute class, Bikram is without a doubt the king of yoga (his practice is even copywritten!). The heat is set at 42 degrees celcius, but this did get easier for me over time and my body did adjust. Even Lady Gaga has been practicing......even if she is in heels.....

Things to know before taking your 1st Bikram class: The teacher never demonstrates the postures and the class is lead by watching the advanced yogis in front of you. Always show up for class hydrated - this way your body will require less water during class. There are 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. The class runs in a sequence - each posture prepares your body for the next one.

Bikram studios can be found all over the world. Try a class and let me know what you think!

Look who else has been practicing Bikram....in Tree Stand.

Watch this interview starring great Bikram teachers Miranda and Mike! BikramYogaMTL
Check out the Bikram article in Oprah's Magazine: 60 Day Makeover

Yoga Glam

2011-03-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE this website - you have to check it out. I found out about it through this other blog that I love called "Elements of Style" (thanks Myr!) Elements of Style
Here is the link: Plank Desgins

So guess what these are? THEY ARE YOGA MATS!!! How cool is this? So this website (Plank Designs - Exhalxe. Inhale. Enjoy), sells and makes these high quality, eco-friendly, fully sustainable rubber mats. Ok, so the price is kind of high, but how cool are they? You'd be the only one in your class with such a stunningly original mat. Shipping is free on all orders over $100.00, so go for it!!! These are yoga mats - glamorized.

Scamming you or Saving you?

2011-03-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Gizmos, gadgets and all kinds of accessories are coming up for yogis. Which will work for you and which are a huge waste of money? In this post, I'll give you my own personal opinion as well what what the pros are saying.

Please note that if you are about to try Bikram Hot Yoga, no props/accessories are permitted in class.

*YOGA STRAPS*: Have you ever been at your local yoga studio's shop and noticed some stuff on the shelf that you had no idea what they were? I have. Before I began my practice, I had no idea what the heck a yoga strap was. I imagined it could be a strap to tie up my mat? I was in one of my first Moksha Yoga classes where I saw it put to use first hand. Straps/Belts are used for bound postures where, for example, your arms cannot reach each other or your hands cannot reach your feet. Over time, your flexibility will only improve and you can ditch the strap. Scam or save? Definitely save. The average price you should be spending on a strap - $11.00 each.

*YOGA BLOCKS*: The purpose of blocks are to help with your body's alignment. They can also make you feel more comfortable in certain postures. Basically, the strap as well as the block are there to aid your practice. Blocks are amazing for any standing pose in which one hand is on the floor (Ardha Chandrasana), any backward bend (the block goes under your back), sitting poses (such as Virasana) and many others. Blocks are usually made with cork, so the material isn't too tough on your body. Scam or save? This accessory will save you in the yoga room. The average price you should be spending on a block - $10.00 each.

*WRISTS*: I've never actually tried Yoga Wrists, but have heard and read only negative reviews. Ok, so what the heck is a yoga wrist? They're basically designed to elevate the heel part of your hand. Why? To decrease the degree of extension and provide you with more comfort with less strain. Check this customer review:
"1.0 out of 5 stars HURTS WORSE THAN IT HELPS!
I was so pumped about these and then I got them and they were too big and hard for my hands. So after one painful yoga class, I cut them in half to better fit the size of my hands. And I have large hands for a girl, but it still hurt pretty bad. I even let the Yoga Instructor try them out and she said that it hurt worse too.
It's not the worst thing you could imagine, but I can't imagine you would ever use it.
It's only $20 down the drain so I'm not too worried about it, just wouldn't waste your time or money on this product--although the stupid youtube videos make it look so wonderful! HAHA"
Scam or save? I think the answer is pretty clear! Overall ripoff price: $20.00 per pair

Top 5 Superfoods for YOU

2011-03-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

1. Berries
2. Grains
3. Salmon
4. Soy
5. Greens

Hydrate of Die

2011-03-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

So, I'd really like to make my entire blog dedicated not only to Yoga For YOU, but also all general Wellnes For YOU. The topic of the importance of water really ties into both quite well. Not only do we need to hydrate our bodies before, during and after a yoga class - but we need to constantly hydrate our bodies with water (no - not beer!) in everyday life. Why is water so important? Well, first of all, we lose water while we exercise. There exist some yoga postures which sqeeze your kidneys and actually release toxins in your body. We need to drink water in order to flush these toxins out. The recommended intake of water per day we are supposed to be drinking is 8 cups! Are you drinking enough?

Dehydration can be a common problem with us too - here are some signs that you may be dehydrated: Your throat is dry, You get light headaches, your lips stick together, and your urine is a dark yellow. Try to drink all day long to avoid dehydration.

Top 10 reasons to drink alot of water:

-Weight loss

-Remedy your headache

-Look and feel younger while your skin stays healthy

-Less body sprains and cramps

-High levels of productivity at work / Easier to concentrate

-More energy to exercise (and of course to practice yoga!) and therefore relieves your fatigue

-Aids in your metabolism and relieves constipation

-Feeling more healthy overall

-Puts you in a great mood :)

-Reduces your risks of cancer

Aren't these good enough reasons to drink some water right now?

Delve into the Benefits: Increased flexibility

2011-03-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

There are many yoga postures and exercises designed to increase your flexibility. Let's start off with defining what exactly flexibility is. According to Wikipedia, flexibility is defined as: "The distance of motion of a joint, which may be increased by stretching." Yoga is all about stretching so your chances of improving your flexibility while practicing is huge! Your flexible body will be much less prone to injuries because it can endure more physical stress. Think of your body like this slinky - The appeal of a toy slinky is that it can bend in all ways and to move from one point to the next without breaking and in unusual ways. Same can go for your body - If you train it and stretch it over time, your body can bend forwards, backwards and in all directions! Basically, yoga and flexibility go hand in hand. If, however, you experience discomfort during your stretching exercises, keep in mind this is a normal feeling. The more you practice and stretch those muscles, the easier it will get and the more results you will see. Another reason you have soreness while stretching can simply be because you haven't stretched that particular muscle group in a few months. Practice makes perfect! The soreness should fade away over time. If you notice severe pain, this usually indicates an injury has occured. Torn tissues, metabolic accumulation and muscle spasms are only a few causes of muscular soreness and pain. I would suggest first finding the exact cause of your pain and then deciding if you SHOULD be stretching them at all.

Watch the below video for great stretching exercises! Happy stretching!

Yoga Postures for Strength

2011-03-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Try practicing these poses in order to improve your overall body strength:

*Warrior 1: Open your legs wide and plant them firmly to the floor. Breathe in and extend your arms up and over your head in a fluid motion. Turn your right foot to where the heel of the right foot is in line with the arch of your left foot. Then, turn your left foot in slightly. Turn your hips and upper body to the right. Breathe in again and reach up through your arms, and as you exhale bend your right knee as though you were sinking into a lunge. Try to make your thigh parallel with the floor. (Keep your knee over your heel!) Challenge yourself to look up to your hands at the end of an exhalation. After resting in this pose, alternate with the left leg.
The warrior 1 pose will help strengthen your entire lower body and help improve balance.

*Warrior 2: The introductory motions are also the same as in Warrior 1. For example, in this pose you also open your legs wide and plant your feet firmly on the floor. Then, you raise your arms out to shoulder height on either side of your body with your hands facing the floor. Turn your right foot so that the right heel is in line with the left arch. Inhale and turn your head to face the right. On an exhale, you will again sink into a lunge. Your goal is to try to bring your right thigh to a parallel position with the floor. After raising up on an inhale, this pose can be done with the alternate leg.

The warrior two pose also strengthens your entire lower body and helps improve balance.

The Endless Benefits of Yoga

2011-03-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

There are oh-so-many physical, emotional and spiritual benefits to this one activity. Here are only some of them:

Increased flexibility, strength improvement, de-stresser, becoming aware of your breathing and its importance, connecting with your inner self, learning how to meditate, massaging the inner organs , complete detoxification, weight loss, toning of muscles and many more. Which other physical activity can give you these many wonderful benefits? With all these reasons why yoga is beneficial to your body and well being, why not become a yogi???