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Strike a Yoga Pose: Rotated Triangle

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

There are many poses that are staples of yoga class, like the standing pose Triangle. It is such a dynamic pose that stretches your hamstrings while lengthening your spine, which makes it perfect for after a run. While Triangle is one of my favorite poses, the twisted variation, Rotated Triangle, used to be very difficult for me. In this variation you revolve your chest to the opposite side increasing the hamstring stretch while twisting your spine. This pose is challenging but definitely worth the struggle.

Sanskrit Name: Parivrtta Trikonasana
English Translation: Revolved Triangle
Also Called: Rotated Triangle

To give it a try

Partner Yoga Pose: Double Plow

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you're looking to increase flexibility in your spine and get an amazing neck stretch, Plow pose is just the thing. Sometimes doing it on your own can be a little too intense, so if you do this pose with a friend, you can help support the weight of each other's legs. There will also be less pressure on your neck so you can spend more time in this restorative position.

To find out how to do Double Plow,

Naked Yoga: Expose Your Asana

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

I love practicing yoga alone or in a class, with friends or strangers, indoors or outside on the grass, but I'm not so sure I'd ever strike a pose without my clothes. Naked Yoga classes aren't anything new, but lately they're becoming more acceptable.

I'm sure you all have your visions of what goes on in a Naked Yoga class, that it's one big group orgy. Just because people are naked in a room together doesn't mean that the focus has to be on sex. Believe it or not, there are many non-sexual reasons people choose to practice without their capris and halters on. Some veteran yogis are looking for a new and different experience, while others are trying to overcome weight or body image issues. Some appreciate the clarity of seeing the instructor's body, and some just like Naked Yoga because it's "taboo." Others feel that being naked is very spiritual and healing, and the physical shedding of their clothes allows them to emotionally shed negativity and judgments.

Fit's Tips: If Naked Yoga appeals to you, get info about the class ahead of time. While most classes aren't about sex, there are definitely some Naked Yoga classes offered that may be on the touchy-feely side. So if you're looking to have a spiritual experience and definitely not a sensual one, it's best to find out before you show up.

If you're interested in finding a studio that offers Naked Yoga classes

Strike a Yoga Pose: Pinching Shoulders Headstand

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

So we're finally up to the fourth headstand in Ashtanga Yoga. The first one is Bound Headstand, followed by Double Arm Headstand, and the third is Forearm Headstand.

Sanskrit Name: Baddha Hasta Sirsasana D
English Translation: Bound Hands Headstand Posture D
Also Called: Pinching Shoulders Headstand

To find out how to get into this pose

DVD Review: Yoga for Runners

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

At this stage of the game, I don't think I could keep running if I didn't do yoga on a regular basis. Running makes me tight and yoga unwinds my muscles and prepares me for my next run. So I was happy to check out Christine Felstead's Yoga For Runners: The Essentials ($30), hoping to learn something new or to reinforce good habits. This DVD is not a taped yoga class for you to follow, but rather a primer on why and how yoga can help keep you on the road.

Felstead began as a runner who found yoga later in life, but was moved enough by the practice to become a yoga instructor and spread the message of the power of yoga for runners. I must say the visual aspects of this DVD are a little austere as are the student demonstrators; none of them look like they are enjoying their practice. The narrative is done in voice over fashion, which has an alienating affect as well, but the information given is incredibly helpful to any runner or yogi. I learned a lot from the program, and felt great after doing all the recommended poses.

To see how the DVD is organized, just

Will Yoga Change Your Shoe Size?

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700

When you practice yoga, your body can experience many changes from your head to your toes. Your muscles strengthen and become more defined, you become more flexible, and your posture improves so you may appear taller. What about your feet though? I've heard of people's shoe sizes changing after practicing yoga for a while. The reason this may happen is because your feet are so active when doing yoga poses. You're always working on spreading and relaxing your toes, and pressing into the little toe-side of your foot to help lift your arches. It's like a strength training workout for your tootsies, making the muscles in them stronger. This happens with dancers and gymnasts, too, and many will experience a slight increase in shoe size. This isn't a bad thing, it just means that you are working your feet, which will help improve balance and prevent injury.

Yoga may also result in a decrease in shoe size. To find out why

Strike a Yoga Pose: Extended Tabletop

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

If you're looking for a pose that will strengthen your shoulders and core, and increase flexibility in your spine then give Extended Tabletop a try. I like to move into this pose from a variation of Three-Legged Dog with your knee bent (see the photo after the break). This is a pose I've only seen in Vinyasa Yoga classes, so it's a newer pose that will help prepare you for doing Wheel.

Sanskrit Name: None Found
English Translation: Extended Tabletop

To find out how to get into this pose

Partner Yoga Pose: Forward Flying

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Soothing partner yoga poses such as Dog Hero, Massage Table, and Double Gate are great for connecting with someone or for a good stretch, but sometimes I'm in the mood for something a little more fun and challenging. You've probably done this flying move with your 2-year-old niece, but it's not just for kids. The reason it's so great when you're older is because the person on the top can utilize the force of gravity to feel deeper stretches, and the person on the bottom experiences an amazing lower-back release from the weight of his or her partner.

To find out how to fly with a partner

Fit Tip: Unroll Your Yoga Mat After Class

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

You were sweating for almost an hour and a half at your last yoga class. The sweat was dripping all over your mat — a sign of all your hard work. At the end of class, after relaxing in Savasana, you rolled up the mat to await your next class.

If you stop and think about it though, you have created a damp and dark environment perfect for bacteria and mold to thrive. You don't want things to be growing or living on your yoga mat. Not only will it start to smell, but it's not healthy to touch or to breathe in mildew. Next time, be sure to unroll your yoga mat or rug after you practice to air it out. Either hang it over a door or lay it flat on the floor in a low-traffic area of your home. Plus, the visual reminder of seeing your mat might just inspire you to take off your shoes and hop into Down Dog.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Forearm Headstand

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Of all the balancing poses, headstands might just be my favorite. They're challenging and work the upper body as well as the abs, but I also love that there are so many variations of the pose. In Ashtanga Yoga, there are actually seven different headstands. The first one is Bound Headstand, followed by Double Arm Headstand, and here's the third, Forearm Headstand.

Sanskrit Name: Baddha Hasta Sirsasana C
English Translation: Bound Hands Headstand Posture C
Also Called: Forearm Headstand

To find out how to get into this pose

In Honor of Yoga Month: Talk About Inspiration!

FitSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

OK, OK, I know what you're thinking. This is some patchouli-smelling, long-haired, hippie-yoga dude who loves to practice shirtless. Try not to focus on that but watch what this amazingly strong and flexible man can do. See how he does Eight Crooked Limbs without even touching the ground, and then later gets himself into Hummingbird? This is two minutes of supreme yoga.

Tell me, does this inspire you to do more yoga, or do you feel like this is only possible for someone with a contortionist-like body?

Partner Yoga Pose: Grounded Backbend

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Backbends are some of my favorite yoga poses. Since our bodies rarely have the opportunity to bend this way, not only is arching the spine a treat but it stretches the front part of your body quite nicely. Not only that, but increasing flexibility in your spine is a great way to stay healthy and avoid lower back pain. Since full backbends (Wheel pose) can be intimidating and challenging, give this variation a try. In it you use your partner's body as support, and be able to gently roll back into the pose.

For detailed instructions

Strike a Yoga Pose: Balancing Sequence

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

If you want to strengthen your quads and challenge your sense of balance give this sequence a try.
Source

Partner Yoga Pose: Shoulderstand on Bridge

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Some partner yoga poses are a little more challenging than others like this one — Shoulderstand on Bridge. It requires strength for the person on the bottom to hold the Half Wheel and it also requires balance for the person on top to hold Shoulderstand. Since this pose involves one person being upside down, it also requires trust and communication. I love that this video shows both the man and woman taking turns and switching positions. It's common to think the woman wouldn't be strong enough to be on the bottom, but she is!

For detailed instructions on how to give this pose a try

Strike a Yoga Pose: Hummingbird

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I think we're all ready to kick it up a notch and try this gorgeous arm balancing yoga pose. I know it looks intense and very advanced, but as with most yoga poses, with a few tricks and some practice, you'll have this pose down in no time. I've never seen this taught in a traditional yoga class, but actually saw it on this old Russian yoga competition video. Talk about an oxymoron!

Sanskrit Name: None found
English Translation: Hummingbird

I know you're dying to try it. To see a video demonstrating an easy way to get into this pose just

Class Act: Yoga Nidra (Yoga Sleep)

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you're stressed out, wound up, or feeling down, then you're in desperate need of Yoga Nidra. It's the definition of deep relaxation.

The nidra class is devoted to bringing you into complete stillness and calmness while still being aware. You come into a comfortable Savasana pose (sometimes a teacher may encourage you to use blankets and pillows to make you feel comfy, cradled, and fully supported). The teacher may talk you through a meditation, use guided imagery, or she may use musical instruments or music to bring you into deep relaxation. Your job is to lengthen each inhale and exhalation, to be aware and in control of your breath, and to allow the stillness to take over your mind and unwind your nervous system. It's common for beginners to accidentally fall asleep, but once you practice Yoga Nidra more often, you'll become better at bringing yourself into a beautiful marriage of relaxation and awareness. It's normal to daydream a little, to experience a sense of weightlessness or floating above the ground, and many people will say they feel like the 45 or 60 minute class flies by within minutes. After the class, you'll emerge feeling refreshed and serene.

Call a yoga studio in your area to see if they offer this type of class. If you cannot find a class, you can try on your own with a book or CD.

In Honor of Yoga Month: Medicinal Powers of Yoga

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0700

All you yoga lovers out there and even the yoga curious, in case you hadn't heard, September is National Yoga Month. Sweet.

The purpose of this month dedicated to yoga is to educate people about the health benefits of yoga, and inspire people to live a healthy lifestyle. If you are interested in taking a holistic approach to healing rather than taking lots of meds, here's a list of some of the ways yoga can improve your health.

Yoga improves levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. In a study conducted in India, those practicing yoga had a 23 percent drop in cholesterol. It may have to do with how yoga can both decrease stress and help with weight loss, two factors that can affect cholesterol.
Improves the quality of life for cancer patients going through radiation. Researchers are also looking into how yoga may improve the immune systems of those with cancer.
Since yoga is all about controlling and slowing down your breath, it can improve the function of the respiratory system, and help alleviate asthma symptoms.
It's been shown to improve digestion. All that twisting and bending every which way helps to tone and strengthen your core muscles and keeps the organs underneath healthy by massaging them.

To learn about the other benefits of yoga

Strike a Yoga Pose: Inversions

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Inversions, in yoga, are the poses where you put your feet above your head. Meant to give your mind a new perspective, they allow blood to flow to your head to improve circulation, which can cure headaches and help relieve depression. Going upside down also increases strength in your upper arms, back, and abdomen. These poses require skill and patience, so be sure to practice these regularly.

Which of these inversions is your favorite?

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Now tell me . . .

Partner Yoga Book: Contact — The Yoga of Relationship

FitSugar — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I find practicing yoga regularly helps keep me feeling centered, both physically and mentally. But that doesn't mean you need to do yoga solo. Partner yoga can be often be twice as fun and more enriching. The book Contact: The Yoga of Relationship ($26) is a great way to learn how to make many poses work for two people.

This book is filled with gorgeous full size black and white photos of really creative partner poses, for both the beginner and the experienced yogi alike. The book is organized around seven points of contact yoga: trust, passion, commitment, love, communication, vision, and union. As you peruse through the pages, you'll see that there are several unique postures to try that are associated with each point. Trying these poses out with a partner is sure to strengthen your connection with that person, and leave you both smiling.

To see inside this book,

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Hand to Big Toe Series

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

If you're looking for a dynamic yoga sequence that'll stretch and strengthen your lower body while challenging your sense of balance, then give these four poses a try. If you can, repeat all four in a row on each leg without letting your foot touch the ground between poses.

Partner Yoga Pose: Back-to-Back Butterfly

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Butterfly pose is one of my favorite hip openers, and there are many Partner Yoga moves that involve this pose. There's the Butterfly Pull, Butterfly Supported Forward Bend, and Seated Butterfly Lounge is great way to stretch. If you have tight hips then you will appreciate trying Back-to-Back Butterfly with a partner since this variation deepens the stretch and it is only slightly hands-on compared to a couple of other partner poses.

To give it a try

Gear Review: Hyde Yoga Trieger Tank

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

When I practice Yoga, I like to keep the girls in place. You know when you're in Down Dog and you notice your chest is slowing falling out of your top. Then have to stop to fix your shirt every five minutes. It can really disrupt your concentration and flow. I was so happy when I found this Yoga Trieger Tank ($42) by Hyde.

The straight neckline ensures that everything stays in place. I also love the thicker straps, so you don't have to worry about them sliding off in your Sun Salutations. It has a shelf bra built in, and I love the unexpected V in the back. Another favorite thing is that this tank is long, so when you raise your arms in Tree pose, your bellybutton won't be peeking out to say hello. It's made with a 92 percent cotton/8 percent spandex blend, so this shirt is comfy and soft like your favorite pair of old PJs. I have it in orange, but it comes in tons of colors like chocolate, black, sky, and lilac. This has quickly become one of my favorite tops.

Strike a Yoga Pose: One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

So many people I know are always complaining of lower back pain and tight shoulders from sitting all day. We're either standing or hunched over a desk and we hardly ever bend our backs in the opposite direction. So give this One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose a try. It's similar to the grounding backbend Inverted Staff pose, but you'll also feel this one in your hamstrings and hips.

Sanskrit Name: Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana
English Translation: One-Legged Inverted Staff Pose
Also Called: One-Legged Headstand Backbend

You can get into this pose from backbend or headstand. To find out how

Partner Yoga Pose: Supported Flying Arch

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0700

I'm all for stretches that increase flexibility in my spine, so if you're the same way, grab a friend and give this pose a try. Not only will you feel like you're weightless, but your partner on the floor will feel a nice release in her lower back.

If you want to know how to get into it

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Half Bound Lotus

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Whenever I say I do yoga, people always ask me if I sit in Lotus and "ommmmm" for three hours straight. Not quite, but Lotus is a pose I often do at the beginning and end of class. It's a pretty advanced pose actually, because it requires incredible flexibility in your hips. If your hips could use a little opening, give Standing Half Bound Lotus a try.

Sanskrit name: Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
English translation: Half Bound Lotus Standing Forward Bend
Also called: Standing Half Bound Lotus

To see how to get into this pose

Strike a Yoga Pose: Inverted Staff Pose

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

If you love backbends, it's because you are probably emotional with an open heart and tender nature, and hold excitement about the future. Here's a variation to the backbend called Inverted Staff. The base of this pose is actually a headstand, so it's a very grounding.

Sanskrit Name: Viparita Dandasana
English Translation: Inverted Staff Pose
Also Called: Two-Legged Inverted Staff or Headstand Backbend

There are two ways to get into this pose. To find out what they are

Partner Yoga Pose: Seated Butterfly Lounge

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Keeping your hips flexible helps prevent injury, and here's a great hip stretch you can do with a partner. It's similar to the Seated Straddle Lounge, but for this one, the person on the bottom is in Butterfly pose with her feet together and her knees out wide.

Get Flash to see this player.

Music: "Shiva Shambho" by Namaste

To see a detailed description of how to do this hip-opening partner pose

Your Favorite Yoga Pose Points to Your Personality

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Even though you're not supposed to have favorites when it comes to Yoga poses (since all poses are seen as mentally and physically beneficial), I can't help but say a little internal "Yay!" when an instructor does Wheel pose in class. I assume you probably have a favorite pose too. Check out what it says about your personality, according to Gaiam Life.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Hand to Big Toe D

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

We've made it to the last of the four Standing Hand to Big Toe poses in Ashtanga Yoga. This series is perfect if you're a runner or biker because not only does it increase flexibility in your hips and hamstrings, but it also strengthens your quads and core, and challenges your sense of balance.

Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana D
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose D
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe D

To give it a try

Gear Review: Lotuspad Eco-Friendly Mat and Strap

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you're an avid yoga or Pilates girl, and you want a quality mat that's good for the earth and light on your purse then check out Lotuspad mats ($40). They're made of 100-percent biodegradable TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), and even though this mat is 5 millimeters thick, when it's all rolled up, it feels really lightweight so it's easy to carry. It resists bacterial and fungal growth and is reversible, so you can use both sides. They come in three colors: earth brown/forest green, fuchsia/lotus pink, and deep ocean blue/soft blue.

If that wasn't enough, they also make these adorable and unique mat straps. The part that wraps around your mat is made with adjustable velcro, so you'll get a snug fit to keep your mat from unraveling. Lotuspad is running a deal right now where you can get a mat and strap for $49. I have the turquoise and brown-dot strap, but click on the pictures below to see the other cheery choices.

To see the other straps

Strike a Yoga Pose: Scorpion

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I know this pose looks extremely difficult, but if you've practice doing it with a ball and in front of a couch, then you're ready to try it on your own. Scorpion pose will strengthen your shoulders, abs, back muscles, and improve your balance.

Sanskrit Name: Vrschikasana
English Translation: Scorpion Pose
Also Called: Scorpion

To learn how to get into this pose

Partner Yoga Pose: Massage Table

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0700

If your back is feeling sore or tight, you need to find someone to lean on and I mean that literally. Find a willing partner and give this double yoga pose a try. To be honest, when I first saw this pose, I thought it looked boring, but trust me – it feels amazing. Your spine and the muscles in your back will thank you.

There's much more to this pose than you think so for the details

Inexperienced Yoga Teachers = Injured Students?

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

I truly believe that everyone can benefit from stretching and strengthening their muscles through yoga. I must admit it saddened me to read a recent article stating that in 2006, nearly 4,500 people ended up in the ER after suffering from injuries during a yoga class. It wasn't just beginners, but also yogis who've been practicing consistently for years. Common ailments included pulled muscles, torn rotator cuffs, exacerbated carpal tunnel syndrome, torn cartilage in the knees, and neck injuries such as herniated disks.

This statistic may come as a surprise to you since yoga is meant to heal not harm. The thing is, if you don't learn the basics from a good instructor, you try to do too much, or you don't pay attention to what you're doing, you could end up hurting yourself.

So how can you prevent an injury in your next yoga class? To find out

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Hand to Big Toe C

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

We're up to the third pose in the Standing Hand to Big Toe series. In Standing Hand to Big Toe A, your leg is straight out in front of you, giving you an amazing hamstring stretch. In Standing Hand to Big Toe B, your lifted leg is out to the side, so it feels amazing in your hips. With this next one, Standing Hand to Big Toe C, it's a bit more challenging and requires both balance and flexibility.

Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana C
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose C
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe C

To give it a try just

DVD Review: Shiva Rea — Creative Core + Lower Body

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

I loved Shiva Rea's Creative Core Abs video, so I was excited to try her newest DVD, Creative Core + Lower Body ($10). It focuses on a combination of fluid movements and holding of postures that targets your abs, thighs, lower back, and bum. I learned variations of poses that in my eight years of teaching yoga I've never seen before, so this DVD was a breath of fresh air and insanely challenging too. Although this sequence was short (only 22 minutes long), my thighs and bum were burning (in a positive way), and my lower back felt open and calm.

This is a great video to pop in if you only have a short time to work out, or if you want to do a little lower body stretching after a run or bike ride. Creative Core + Lower Body is one of the best yoga DVDs I've ever tried. I just wish it was longer!

If you want to see a preview of this DVD then

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Sequence

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

If you're practicing yoga at home and are looking for a simple sequence to strengthen your quads, open your hips, and steady your mind, then give this a try.

Adam Levine: Songs About Yoga

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 has always made it clear that he's not only a rocker, but he's also a yogi. I've always found it a little hard to believe until I read a recent interview that Women's Health did with him on how this front man turned to yoga and never looked back. Here are highlights:

How'd you wind up at yoga?
A year and a half ago, my trainer recommended I try working with L.A. yoga instructor Alanna Zabel to help with my flexibility issues. I'm naturally very tight in lower back and my hips and hamstrings too. My first class felt like someone was ripping my body apart. It wasn't what you'd call peaceful. But I was excited by the idea that the more dedicated I became the more effortless it would become to relax and give in to that tightness. Yes, the torture subsided a bit over time.

How did your body change?
Physically I have always been on the slender side. When I started practicing I instantly felt more sculpted. Yoga carves you into a different person—and that is satisfying physically.

There's more, including his advice for yoga newbies so

Strike a Yoga Pose: Warrior 3

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If you're looking for a yoga pose that makes you feel strong and centered, then it's time for you to spend a little quality time with Warrior 3. It's one of those poses that looks easy enough, but when you're in it, you'll feel it working every muscle in your body. It's named after Virabhadra, a warrior said to have a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet; wielding a thousand clubs; and wearing a tiger's skin. It's meant to make you feel both powerful and at peace.

Sanskrit Name: Virabhadrasana 3
English Translation: Warrior 3
Also Called: Balancing Superman

To see some variations of this pose

Partner Yoga: Poses That Work Your Back

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you're suffering from back pain or just general tightness, this series of partner yoga poses is sure to leave your spine feeling long and flexible.

Home Work: Wall Handstand

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Inspired by the Two-Minute Headstand video, Sugar user ditorres was curious about doing a handstand. While standing on your hands in the middle of the room takes an incredible amount of balance, you shouldn't skip handstands altogether – using a wall can help. Handstands not only build upper-body strength, they work your core as well. After sitting at a desk all day, putting the world upside down can be rather uplifting.

Get Flash to see this player.

Music: "Lahore Connection" by Prem Joshua

I know you're dying to try it so

Strike a Yoga Pose: Pigeon Poses For Tight Hips

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:30:00 -0700

This sequence of Pigeon pose variations are sure to loosen up hips made tight from running or simply sitting all day. Begin with your right knee forward, and then repeat on the other side.

Partner Yoga Pose: Flying Split

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Get ready for Cirque du Soleil people, because this partner yoga pose will have you defying gravity. I know this move looks like it requires Hulk-like strength, but it's about how you and your partner distribute the weight. Once you've got that down, you'll be able to do this tricky pose with grace, and you'll get a killer hamstring stretch as an added bonus.

If you're excited to make your splits fly with a partner, then

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Hand to Big Toe B

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:30:00 -0700

We're up to the second pose in the Standing Hand to Big Toe series. In Standing Hand to Big Toe A, your leg is straight out in front of you, giving you an amazing hamstring stretch. This next one, B, has your lifted leg out to the side, so it feels amazing in your hips.

Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose B
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe B

To give it a try just

Partner Yoga Pose: Child's Pose Pull

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Doesn't this pose look like it feels so good? Well it does! The person folded on the right feels the stretch in his hips, lower back, and shoulders, while the person on the left feels a great stretch in her quads and upper back. Plus it requires almost no effort since gravity is doing most of the work.

To see a detailed explanation of how to do this partner yoga pose just

You Asked: Will Bikram Yoga Help Me Lose Weight?

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:00:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering.

"Hey Fit. I've heard that people lose a lot of weight when doing Bikram Yoga. What's your take?"
— Heated Heather

When I say Bikram Yoga is hot, that's quite an understatement. You don't know how hot it is until you set foot in a Bikram studio. It's like walking into a sauna. The room is heated to at least 105°F and 40 percent humidity. The extreme heat is meant to encourage your muscles to open up quickly, so you're able to get deep into poses. It's a grueling 90-minute class that many people endure because the stretching feels amazing and because they think that this specific kind of yoga promotes weight loss.

To find out if I think it's the key to losing weight, just

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Hand to Big Toe A

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Many yoga poses stretch out your hips and hamstrings, so after a while, you can use the flexibility you achieve to do more difficult poses. This one stretches the backs of both legs, while challenging your sense of balance at the same time.

Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose A
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe A

To give it a try

Partner Yoga Pose: Rising Cobra

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you love poses that increase flexibility in your spine and stretch through your abs and chest then you're going to love Rising Cobra. It's similar to Cobra Hero, but allows the person on the bottom to get even deeper into the pose. The sensation is similar to the backbend in the double pose The Fountain.

Want to know how to do this pose with a partner? Then

Strike a Yoga Pose: King Pigeon

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If you loved Pigeon Twist and Pigeon Crescent, then you're ready to try King Pigeon. It's a little bit more challenging than the other two, but feels great in your spine, shoulders, and hips.

Sanskrit Name: Eka Pada Kapotasana
English Translation: One-Legged King Pigeon Pose
Also Called: King Pigeon

Want to know how to get into it? Then

Partner Yoga Pose: Mirrored Hero Pose

FitSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Looking for a way to stretch your quads and get an intense upper-back stretch? Then give Mirrored Hero a try. It's really easy to do and feels so good, especially if you hold the pose for a while.

For a detailed explanation of how to do this partner yoga pose