March 20, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC When practicing yoga, it’s easy to get caught up trying to nail each posture, but postures and movement are just one component of yoga. Yoga breathing techniques, or pranayama (prana means “life force” and yama means “control”), is also an essential element
Category: Yoga
The strength-boosting sequence that’ll help you master the yoga headstand
March 16, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC You may be able to twist your way into a bird of paradise with the best of them, but mastering the yoga headstand is a whole different ballgame. Unlike many moves in the practice, which solely rely on flexibility, balancing on your head
The anti-inflammatory breakfast a yoga instructor eats every week
March 15, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC When you work out a lot, properly fueling your body is a must. There’s no way you’ll be able to power through those workouts like a champ if you’re slacking on your meals. One person who especially needs all those nutrients is yoga
How Black women have historically used yoga as a tool for healing
March 11, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Studies prove that anxiety, stress, depression, heart disease, and other ailments affect Black people disproportionately compared to other ethnic groups, but the statistics rise alarmingly when it comes to the health of Black women. Because of the many external and internal social stressors—racism, sexism, socio-economic
Yoga has literally thousands of poses, but a stretching expert says this one unwinds every muscle
March 06, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC No one has an exact count of the number of asanas out there (it could be thousands or millions), but trainer and massage therapist Joe Yoon, author of the newly-released book Better Stretching, says that one pose outperforms the others when it comes
A laughing yoga session in India gave me the most powerful sense of human connection I’ve ever felt
March 03, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC “We’re going to be late!” Our tour guide, Umesh, had us park our bikes outside Jaipur’s morning vegetable market, and told us to run. After eight straight days of unlimited naan while on a solo tour of India with a group called Flashpack,
This yoga teacher swears by weekly baths with 200 pounds of ice
February 25, 2020 at 11:05PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThvmuboEOo4] What happens in a yoga class inspired by the Wim Hof Method? Watch the video to find out. When an instructor says to wiggle your fingers and toes to wake up from savasana, I’m always a little sad. It’s a bit jarring
The soothing yoga pose variations that provide a stretch where you need it most
February 24, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtTbsrp55Ns] Yoga itself is incredibly soothing. A simple flow will have you rolling up your mat feeling more limber and energized than you did before. And the best part about the practice is there are so many yoga pose variations you can
How to use your yoga practice to boost your stamina while standing still
February 09, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Typically, when people want to build their stamina, they start incorporating high-intensity interval training and gradually decrease their recovery time between sets. But stamina isn’t only built in the weight or cardio room: Yoga can help get the job done, too. As a
These chest-opening yoga moves ‘flush out’ your lungs for more open breathing
January 31, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC Whether you’ve been to a single yoga class or practice on the reg, there’s a good chance you’ve been instructed to flow through poses that “flush out your lungs.” If the phrase has ever had you raising an eyebrow in confusion, allow me
This yoga flow boosts flexibility so you’ll be touching your toes in no time
January 30, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpkWNyU20iw] You may feel drawn to yoga for its stress-relieving reputation or its cool, contortionist shapes. But according to The Yoga Alliance (which is basically the Supreme Court of Vinyasa), the majority of folks seek out yoga to become more flexible human
I’m a yoga therapist and MD, and these are the 5 middle back stretches I recommend every day for a healthy spine
January 28, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC The human body is home to 33 vertebrae that support your muscles, protect your spinal cord, and aid in other ways that help you, you know, have a spine. The thoracic spine, or middle back, sits just between your cervical and lumbar sections,
What it’s really like to spend 24 hours at an Ayurvedic wellness retreat
January 25, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC After a particularly busy month, I deemed myself in need of some deep pampering. I’d been burning the candle at both ends, doing extra work during the day, and attending events in the evenings. I was getting a lot done and having a
How to do wheel pose the right way, straight from a yoga pro
January 24, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4lTh09Z5E] Form is everything in yoga (technically, form is everything in any workout, but that goes double for the centuries-old postures). Misplacing a limb (even slightly) on your yoga mat, especially with repetition, can really work against you over time. And that’s
I’m a PT, and I stretch for 5 minutes every day—here’s why that’s the magic number
January 24, 2020 by CWC I always decide how long I’m going to stretch for based on the scenario. If it’s the end of a workout class and we have one minute to stretch things out, that’s all I’ll do. If I’m working out on my own, it all depends
We asked Well+Good readers their thoughts on recovery—here’s what they had to say
January 23, 2020 at 04:26PM by CWC Recovery is a hot topic among fitness folk: What does “active recovery” really look like? How many rest days should you take anyway? Is there really a right way to foam roll? The questions around this should-be-rejuvenating part of your workout routine never
I do hundreds of yoga classes a year, but none has lit up my arms like this 10-minute flow
January 23, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYS8bWyvczU] Anyone who’s tried to execute crow pose (a Cirque du Soleil-worthy arm balance) knows that yoga demands a lot—I repeat, a lot—of arm strength. Even Vinyasa staples like downward-facing dog can light up your body from your fingertips to your armpits. So
5 common myths about meditation, debunked
January 22, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC Meditation isn’t new, but given how the industry is booming in the digital age, it’s also certainly not passé—and great reasons for that abound. The goal of meditation can include facilitating resilience against stress and more compassion toward yourself and those around you.
These are the most popular studios around the U.S., according to Classpass
January 22, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC The beauty of a Classpass membership is that on any given day, you can choose from a seemingly endless number of workouts. From yoga to spin, from boxing to boot camps, you could try a different modality every day of the week (and
Trainers tell us the reason you should switch up your fitness routine on the reg
January 22, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Some people are die-hard fans of one particular workout. Take the SoulCycle crew, Pilates devotees, dedicated yogis, runners, and the list goes on. While there’s certainly something to be said for having a go-to way to sweat, switching it up can also benefit
4 things you should always do to your skin, according to a French facialist
January 21, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC I’ve gleaned beauty secrets from all types of experts, ranging from top dermatologists to facial yoga instructors and everyone in between. But I’m very excited to spill what a French skin-care routine looks like, according to my latest resource: Mila Moursi, a 70-year
I’ve tried it all, and this is the only tool that releases my neck and jaw tension
January 21, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC For someone who lives by the beach in Southern California—AKA one of the chillest places on the planet—I am surprisingly tense. I grind my teeth when I sleep and often find myself with a clenched jaw while I’m working at my computer, trying
Checks+Balanced: How a freelance publicist living in Puerto Rico budgets for wellness
January 21, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC Do you know how much money your friends make? What about how much their rent is or how much is in their bank accounts right now? I’m guessing no. Even in a world where questions about menstrual cups and the ins and outs of sex are completely
I’m a movement specialist, and this is the best stretch based on your height
January 20, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC First things first: Everyone—and I do mean, everyone—needs to stretch. No matter how active you are, how flexible you feel, or how stiff your joints seem, consistently and effectively stretching your body is necessary for a long, healthy, and active life. Without doing
A music scientist explains how to hack your playlist and make your workouts more effective
January 20, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC Picture this nightmare of a situation: you’ve mustered up all your remaining energy after a long day of work to pack your running shoes, sports bra and towel, only to realize once you got to the gym that you forgot your headphones. You
What the first new moon of the decade means for your big-picture goals
January 19, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Over the last few weeks, we’ve experienced some of the most intense aspects that this generation will see. With the Saturn and Pluto conjunction in Capricorn happening opposite a lunar eclipse in Cancer, deep-seated issues likely surfaced, inviting you to devote some attention
These sleek wearable weights take functional fitness to a whole new level
January 19, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC The quickest way to turn any move into an ab workout is to engage your core—this much we know to be true. But the quickest way to do the same thing for your arms and legs, sans dumbbells? Add a set of wearable
7 secrets to living a long, fulfilling life, according to people in their 80s, 90s, and 100s
January 18, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC Wouldn’t it be great if we could just know how to be the healthiest, happiest, and most fulfilled versions of ourselves? Of course, there’s something to be said for embracing the trial-and-error journey of finding what works for you, but we also have
The definitive ranking of boutique fitness locker rooms with the best beauty supplies
January 18, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC My old apartment had a scary bathroom that I hated using. To avoid it, I’d book evening hot yoga classes at Y7 Studio so I could shower there. The shower lines are much shorter in the evening, and the Malin+Goetz shower gel they
How to know if you need to strengthen or stretch your hip flexors—because, ouch!
January 17, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC The hip flexors are one of those regions in the body that you never notice until they’re epically sore. Most of the time, pain eeks into the creases of the hips after a particular grueling core workout or in the aftermath of a