Whether you like 'em or not, down dogs are like the bread and butter of any yoga practice, from vinyasa to ashtanga. Which is why it is so important to do them correctly (gut pulled in, looking at your hamstrings). It is also crucial to flow into the down dog with ease.
In this video Tara Stiles gives an introduction to basic meditation. Meditation can be done while doing the physical yoga poses, or really any time when you have a few moments. Even while you are in line at the grocery store you can practice simple meditation by bringing your attention to your breath. Observe your thoughts and focus on breathing in and out. The intent is to bring yourself back to yourself. Tara leads a guided meditation which begins by encouraging the listener to find a comfo...
In this video from Shiva Rea we learn how to perform hip opening tiger stretches in yoga. Shiva oozes with sensuality and loves what she does. Coming forward into a lunge, take right arm in front of right shin, turn head to right side, and come back into the runner's stretch. Next time you come forward you can tuck the left toes under and turn to the left, a give a HA HA cough. And last, come forward, you can come to the edge of the right foot, turn head to the right, and get even lower, and ...
Sun salutation are one of the most basic forms of yoga. This fitness how to video demonstrates the proper way to a sun salutation with breathing. Proper breathing during yoga poses is crucial in maintaining form and strength. Watch and learn how to inhale and exhale while doing sun salutations.
One of the most challenging yoga poses is the handstand. In this yoga how to video, our host, demonstrates the proper preparation for practicing a handstand. If this is your first time doing a handstand have someone else present for extra support.
In this yoga how-to video Esther demonstrates a routine to strengthen your upper and mid back. Start on your hands and knees and curl your back. Proceed to downward dog and then plank pose. Watch to learn more about strengthening your mid and lower back with this yoga routine.
In this yoga How-to video Kira Ryder looks at how cactus arms can help create the support necessary for forearm balance, or tail of a peacock feather. Watch and learn how the cactus arm movement can help you not only in doing the tail of a peacock pose but also in other yoga poses that require intense forearm balance.
Watch this how to video to use a breathing theme with your stretches. Improve your flexibility and stronger mind body connection with yoga. This yoga breathing theme makes your stretches wonderfully fluid and helps you pace your breathing. It's a good strategy when flexibility is the goal.
On Valentine's Day it is completely unacceptable to look anything less than drop dead gorgeous. While sleek pin-straight hair is great as a go-to hairstyle and a ponytail is wonderful for keeping the hair out of your face during your hot yoga class, we think it's time to amp it up a little for Cupid's holiday.
Leave your schlubby ponytails to your hot yoga class. Ponytails are great for getting hair out of your face for times when you're doing things more active than clicking a computer mouse, but braids add that extra chic touch that looks like you've actually put some effort into your hairstyle.
Curious how to get your hips moving and shaking like a Bollywood dancer? Ashley Lowe from WatchMojo talks to Hemalayaa Behl, a dance choreographer and yoga instructor, about the origins of Bollywood, the Indian cinema, and the most important things to remember when showing off your Bollywood moves on the dance floor like pointing your fingers, the "shrug", the silly face, and most importantly, to have fun!
Before adding advanced yoga poses and twists to a yoga routine, make sure the postures are safe for your fitness level. Learn advanced yoga poses and twists from an instructor in this free yoga video.
This is another "Hottie Workout" that gives you some excellent tips on stripping. This concentrates on popping up using strategies from yoga, stretching and dance to achieve the sexiest moves!
With the high rate of obesity in the United States, it's fantastic to see the massive wave of fitness tools available, even if it's just a trend. And with the companionship of your Apple Watch, keeping track of your progress or fitness goals has never been easier. As my LA Fitness intercom repeatedly announces, "What gets measured gets improved." (Corny, but very true.)
Awakening the female energy that resides in the base of your spine is not a process that can be done in an afternoon but is something you work towards though lots of work in kundalini yoga and work toward an enlightened state of being.
Dina Prioste shows us how to do a triangle pose in this tutorial. Start in a wide stance, turn your back foot in and take your arms out wide with both legs straight. As you exhale reach towards the end of the mat on the right side and reach your arm down as far as you can. Now, take your left arm straight up and look up or look to the side. Remember it's not how far you are reaching, it's how open your chest is. Remember to deep breathe for several seconds while doing this, then do it on both...
In order to do the resting crocodile pose, you will need to lie on your stomach. Separate your legs. Space your legs greater than hip distance apart. Your toes should be pointed. Cross your arms. Your arms and chest should form a triangle with the floor as the base. Rest your head on your hands and breathe deeply. As you inhale this will work your lower abdominal muscles, while it sends more oxygen to the cells of your body. This pose is a recommended pose for anyone who is rehabbing muscle o...
Doing a low back relief exercise can make your body feel more relaxed, and stretch out your muscles. First, lay down on your back with your arms at a T, and cross your right leg over your left. Deep inhale and when you exhale, let your knees drop to your right. As you are doing this, turn your left pinky finger to the wall behind you. When you inhale, go back to your regular position. The left shoulder should stay down and the outer edge of the left foot should go up to the ceiling. Keep repe...
In this tutorial, Dina Prioste shows us how to purify chakras with yoga. First, go into a gentle back bend while chanting a mantra. Then, lie on your back with your feet flat on the ground. Next, lift up your hips and place your fingers under your thighs and look up at the ceiling. When you do the chant, feel the vibrations through your body and remember to deep breathe while focusing intently. When finished chanting, lower your back down to the floor and relax the body. This will open up you...
In this video tutorial, we learn how to do a classic feel good twist with Dina Priost. Begin seated with your knee bent and your feet over to the left side. Your right hand should be just behind you on the floor. Next, turn your torso to the right side and then turn your neck to over the left shoulder. Stay in this pose for around eight deep breathes. This is a great exercise for people with stiff backs or arthritis. You can change this and do it the opposite way if you are interested in stre...
If you only have 5 minutes to practice in the mornings, string together the four warrior poses. Begin in the Downward Facing Dog position. Push into Plank pose. Transition into Cobra pose. Then, push back into Downward Facing Dog. Lift right leg up, swing it through into a lunge. Transition into Warrior I pose. Open from Warrior I to Warrior II. Then, transition into Reverse Warrior pose. Then, Open up into side angle pose.
Stretching on rainy days on rainy days is a means of transforming your mood, in to a more positive one. To begin, sit on the floor. With your right leg extended and your left leg bent, with your legs creating the shape of a number 4, hold your right toe with your right hand. If you are unable to reach your right toe, you can use a strap to help you. Open you chest, by extending your left arm, looking left with your head, making a T with your upper body. You can modify the stretch, while you a...
Dina Prioste wants you to clear your mind by using simple mantra meditation, and show us how to in this video tutorial. This is a great exercise to use if you have creative block and need help relaxing and clearing your mind. First, begin sitting comfortably on a pillow or folded blankets. Bring your left hand inside your right hand with your palms facing up and your thumbs gently touching. Now close your eyes and sit up tall while breathing through the nose. Begin to observe the sound of you...
In this tutorial, Dina Priost shows us how to do variations of the squat. Begin in a standard squatting position, and deep breathe 3 times. Now, place your hands on the ground and crouch down, placing one leg off the floor one after the other. The knees should be placing the arms around where your elbows are. The next move will start with a squat, and place the right arm on the ground with the left raised in the air. Do this with both arms while deep breathing. Place arms on the floor again w...
In this video tutorial, we learn how to do a durnit squat with Dina Priost. This is a great hip opening pose, but it does put a strain on the hips, so avoid if you have hip problems. First, bring your feet a little wider than your hips and squat into the pose. You can also sit on a couple of blocks to make this pose easier. At first, place your toes facing out, which will make it easier to get into the pose at first if you haven't done it before. Let your elbows guide your movements and deep ...
Learn how to do the pigeon pose designed for strengthening and opening the back. You will learn Kapotasana, or pigeon pose,
Backbends shouldn't really be called "backbends", but instead "full body bends" because they involved so much more than just your back. All on its own, your spine has a pretty impressive range of motion, but in order to do a deep backbend, all the muscles and connective tissues that support your spine need to be long and limber. Everyone I know who has an impressive backbend swears by the reclining hero or supta vajrasana posture. Be safe, but if possible, hold this one for a long time.
In this video, we learn how to lose belly fat through yoga with Cindy Mastery. Start out in a seated position with your legs out in front of you. Then, bring your hands out in front of you. As you exhale, make a circle motion around your feet. Engage your core and keep your shoulders leveled during this exercise. Do this several times, then go into starting position. Now, bring your fingertips over your toes and reach your fingers up to the sky. Bring the arms up, then reach back down to the ...
In this tutorial, we learn how to lose belly fat with repetition for the lower abs. The first exercise you can do is a reverse curl. You will start by laying down flat on the ground with your arms next to you, and bringing your legs into the air, raising your butt in the air. The next exercise you can do is side crunches. This will work your side abs and your obliques. You can do this on a yoga ball by crunching sideways with your arm on your head. You can also do leg raises using a yoga ball...
This video is a report by Terry from Good housing keeping. She reports that women of any age should be thinking of bone health and one of the best ways to strengthen your bones experts say is to follow low fat Mediterranean diet.
You may think of ponytails only as gym staples - great for hot yoga when you need your hair out of your face, but not so great for job interviews or cocktail parties. But we ask you to reconsider.
Here are some meditation tips from Tara Stiles. Tara Stiles is a revered Ford Models yoga instructor. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. It is recognized as a component of almost all religions, and has been practiced for over 5,000 years.
Get a six-pack of rock hard abs with this new workout sensation: laughter. Practicing Laughter Yoga brings a host of health benefits, both physical and emotion
This quick how-to video yoga tutorial demonstrates how to do eka pada bakasana. Eka pada bakasana is more commonly known as a one legged crow pose. Watch and learn the basics of this ancient yoga posture.
Learn to round your back with this yoga How-to video. Play with the forward fold, Paschimottanasana (Intense Eastern Stretch) exploring the movements of the tailbone to create different emphasis points. Understand the juxtaposition of your body with a yoga forward fold spinal roll.
This how to video gives helpful tips on how to manage the downward dog. Downward dog can be a challenging yoga position, but with the tips of this video you will be able to master it in no time. This yoga pose is great for stretching your arms and back.
Add inches to your appearance without wearing 12-inch platform shoes. You will need: -the right length jacket
Roll Outs are similar to the plank posture in yoga where you isometrically engage your abdominals and core to stabilize and control anterior pelvic tilt thus preventing hyper-extending your lower back.
Karma yoga refers to the universal principle of cause and effect. Learn how to practice Karma yoga in this video lesson. In karma yoga you should prioritize service & action, let go of ego & materialism and stress selfless service to others. With this how to video you will be able to practice karma yoga.
Raja yoga tries to control thoughts through meditation and yoga poses. Learn how to practice Raja yoga in this video lesson. First, control focus, then distinguish real & unreal, and quiet your thought-waves. With this how to video you will be able to practice Raja yoga.
