GET SWEATING, GET IN THE SAUNA !

Posted on May 14, 2012 by YogaDork

Jumping in the sauna on a hot summer day may sound counterintuitive but it’s actually the best time to do it. Before the onset of the industrial revolution, saunas were ‘pits’ dug into the ground on cold winter months. Rooted in Finnish culture, the community people would use hot rocks and fire to create a rustic-style sweating hole.

Today saunas have made a modern day empire, making a presence in gyms, health spas and at people’s contemporary add-ons to their own personal washrooms at home.

So what’s so great about a sauna? Well besides flushing out toxins (the average person pours a pint of sweat per 10- 15 minute session) studies have show saunas promote relaxation and a prominent sense of well-being. Below are some of the top reasons why this summer, the sauna should become part of your daily workout regime.

 STRESS BE GONE

The sauna increases blood circulation throughout the body. The result? Well your muscles begin to relax and dissipate soreness while your mind gets a serious jolt of endorphins. Aside from the natural endorphin kick, the sudden increase in blood flow throughout the body, will give you that beautiful sauna ‘glow’.

 CLEAR AND WRINKLE-LESS SKIN

If you can endure at least two fifteen-minute sweat sessions, you will receive a double-whammy of pore cleansing and skin detoxification . According to some dermatologists sweat clears dead bacteria from the skin, promotes capillary circulation, and wards off the breakdown of collagen (that ‘little’ component we need to keep wrinkles away).

BURN CALORIES

Although a sauna is not a solution for permanent weight loss it can help with bloat and fluid. Some say that the body can burn an average of 300 calories per 30 minute session. The body regulating activity that occurs can stimulate caloric expenditure. The key however is to stay hydrated and limit your sessions to 30 minutes. Pair the sauna with a great workout, and slip into your perpetually tight jeans with ease.

BETTER SLEEP

There is nothing better then a good night’s rest. Taking a sauna sesh before bed will raise the body temperature causing the body to re-balance and regulate the body temperature afterwards. It’s this body-temperature regulating process that promotes a phenomenal night’s sleep. If you really want to knock yourself out, follow a sauna session by a hot bath or shower and slip into a gorgeous night of solace and slumber!

The best place to find saunas are at your local gym or health spa, start with short sessions until your body becomes use to the extreme heat. After several weeks of sauna-bathing you may find yourself glowing and gleaming with some super sweatabulous feelings!

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Snooze and Lose: How to Stay Fit and Relaxed on a Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Posted on May 6, 2012 by YogaDork

Ah yes, it’s Sunday. For most of us it’s a day of rest, recuperation and siesta. Our culture, as well as many others have coined Sunday as day to pay tribute to our spirituality, take solace in slumber, and rest..rest..rest! And although we love our lazy Sundays, for us workout freaks, we also want to remain active. So how can we stay both active and relaxed on a Sunday? I may have a few ideas…

Take a leisurely bike ride

Pick a destination across town. Maybe it’s a friends house, maybe it’s an eclectic coffee shop you have been meaning to visit, hop on your bike and start pedaling. This is not meant to be a heart palpitating workout, so skip the bike shoes and throw on some sport sandals instead. Don’t make it a race, set a slow pace, throw on some tunes and ride in pleasant leisure to your destination.

 

 

Garden or Re-decorate 

If the sun is shining and your are lucky enough to have a garden, use this day to uproot old weeds and tend to your plants. Don’t have a garden? Research community gardens in your city or town and see if they need help. If it’s a rainy Sunday afternoon spend some time re-decorating or organizing a room in your house. Don’t make it a stressful project, it should be fun and rewarding. Whether you choose to work in the garden or in the house, both your mind and your body will get a nice little workout.

 

Take Some Artsy Photos Around Town

People often come out of there hiding places on Sundays. Families swarm to church, Sunday brunch, kids run around in the parks, and friends join for cocktails and appetizers at their favorite bistro. Grab a friend or go solo and stroll around your neighborhood with a camera. It’s a perfect time to venture out and catch ‘moments’ on your camera. Not only will you stimulate your creative juices, but your heart will get some blood flow too!

 

 

There is now plenty of reasons to stay off the couch on Sunday afternoons by indulging in activities that are both leisurely, fun and active! How do you stay active on lazy Sunday afternoons?

 

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3 EXCELLENT LIFE REASONS TO GET OFF YOUR ASS AND START EXERCISING AGAIN

Posted on April 23, 2012 by YogaDork

Besides the rude awakening you experience when you break out your daisy dukes from last summer and find that you can’t even begin to zip them up, there are plenty of other but less obvious reasons to get up and start exercising again.

Your calendar is marked for a fancy black tie event

A big event and a little black dress to squeeze into is one of the best motivators to get off your rump and start exercising again. Look at your calendar, do you have a event you have been planning to attend for awhile? Maybe it’s an office party, a High School reunion, or maybe it’s just one of those grandiose parties your friends has organized over Facebook. Whatever the occasion, get a great outfit and start exercising today!

 You just downloaded a killer workout mix

I don’t know about anyone else but the minute I start blasting my 90’s remix I get a serious surge of energy. Every few weeks my ipod needs a makeover and I snag a few more ‘hits’ from Spotify and Pandora. Try revitalizing your workout mix and watch your motivation to exercise go from 0 to 60.

You are about to take a trip

Whether you are traveling to the Caymen Islands or to the white peaks of Nepal, feeling in shape and comfortable with your body while traveling can make the whole experience more enjoyable. Plan out your outfits for the trip, then on slap your yoga pants, head to the gym, your mat, or wherever you get your sweat on and start toning your buns (maybe while listening to your killer new workout mix) and visualize your buff body on vacation.

There are plenty of other good reasons to get of your ass and start exercising again, breakups, new jobs and spiritual shifts can all serve as a catalyst. Whatever life reason gives you motivation, take it, run with it, get off your ass and start exercising now!

What will be your motivator?

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Snacks That Wont Weigh You Down Before A Workout

Posted on April 18, 2012 by YogaDork

I like to work out out in the morning or late afternoon; coincidentally both of these times I am running on an empty stomach. So, I turn to my snack cabinet and graze for I put on my workout pants. Sandwich? Nah, too heavy, pasta sits like a five pound weight in my stomach and prepackaged energy bars never satisfy me . So I sit there bewildered and often bolt out to the gym or my yoga class without being properly nourished.

Deciding what to munch on pre-workout is an important precursor to igniting the right muscles and sustaining energy levels during your workout. I have compiled a list of foods that will best suit different types of workouts, depending how grueling the are.

Yoga -(Moderate intensity)  Steer away from anything too spicy or saucy. Yoga helps stir up the digestive system and anything you eat that may be considered heavy will likely push its way out of your body. Try a handful of nuts, a hearty slice of bread (maybe banana bread) dried fruit or a cup of yogurt. Although it will be tempting to nosh on more, try and abstain from eating until you are full. Nobody appreciates practicing behind a gassy down dog :)

Running – (High intensity)  Abstaining from anything too heavy is a good idea. Sports bars are okay, but may not support your energy levels during the full duration of your workout. Instead try high carbohydrate meals that quickly convert to energy. Cereal, bread, and pancakes (hold the syrup) are great pre-workout running snacks. Stay away from fats and proteins that may inflict cramps during your run. You can even justify consuming an entire bagel before a high intensity run, as your body will use it up fast and it wont weigh you down.

Walking (Low intensity)  Going for a walk still requires some pre-workout fueling but not nearly as much as running or other higher intensity workouts. A banana, apple or a grapefruit is the perfect way to generously nourish your body without slowing you down. Do not make the mistake of inhaling a huge, you may opt to take an hour nap instead of venturing out for your walk. Stick to fruit, simple carbs or easy-to-digest dairy (i.e yogurt, cottage cheese).

What snacks keep you walking, running or yoga-ing throughout the day?

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Top Four Groovy Cities for Yoga

Posted on April 15, 2012 by YogaDork

We have watched as yoga has swept across our country and converted bodies and minds into more limber and peaceful beings. It has been exciting to watch as a variety of boutique, corporate and hole-in-the wall community yoga centers have sprouted up in every little niche around the country. But what cities top the list for offering the best and most variety of Yoga? The Following Four make our list for the Top Four Groovy Cities for Yoga ~

Denver

Samadhi, Vital Yoga, Karma Yoga, Root Yoga, the list goes on for yoga studios and styles that are offered in this mountainous yogalicious city. Samadhi Studio in particular has created a name for itself. Topping the ‘A’ list for teacher training programs, sacred workshops, and a variety of classes Samadhi has been described as an ‘oasis in the city’. It has left an impressionable presence with the local community and has been reviewed as one of the top studios in Denver.  Other studios such as Karma Yoga that offer Thai massage and intuitive counseling modalities, give the city a dynamic and rejuvenating variety to choose from. Framed by the backdrop of  breathtaking mountain ranges and an overall sense of spirituality, it is clear to see why Denver makes our list as one of the Top four Groovy Cites for Yoga.

Portland, Oregon

It would be a paradox to think that a city that has been deemed as one of the utmost earthy metropolis cities in the country would not offer a huge yogic community. From the People’s Yoga holding classes at a mere 6$ a to Yoga Bogha (which you kind of just want to join because of the name) offering a dynamic schedule of acro-yoga and kundalini classes – a yoga buff is sure to find a ‘niche’ in some part of this crunchy city. If the plentiful array of boutique studios don’t appeal to your style, there is always Core Power that offers it’s reputable sweaty and kick-ass yoga classes at convenient hours during  the day. With so many down-to- earth and fun options, Portland easily makes our list as one of the Top four Groovy Cities for Yoga

 

Boston

Considering that Boston holds the record for having the most universities per square mile compared to any other city in the country there  serendipitously seems to be enough yoga as well. Students or young professionals can burn some stress and ride the Green Line to Arlington Street and will find themselves a short walk away from Back Bay Yoga, a studio from a dynamic studio that offers everything from Yin to Acro. They even brag a ‘hip hop’ high-intensity yoga class accompanied by a heated room. If you are looking for even more ways to escape the bone-chilling winters that without warning dump upon this great city, try Karma Yoga Studio, which offers several heated yoga classes in multiple corners around town. With so many options and so many styles, we honor Boston as one of the Grooviest Cities for Yoga.

Los Angeles

Who says you can’t be spiritual and fashionable at the same time? In a fast-paced and demanding city a daily sweat at any of the Bikram Yoga Studios is the perfect way to unwind and keep in shape in a community that often requires both. You can find almost any kind of yoga style you seek, including Bryan Kest’s renowned ashtanga power classes. Take a stroll down by Third Street Promenade and you will stumble upon a plethora of yoga studios on every block. For a more boutique and/or alternative studios try Bhakti Yoga Shala near Venice Beach or The Hub that is tucked away  amidst a residential area in West Los Angeles. Wherever you choose to practice, Los Angeles is jam-packed and bustling with yoga, soaring onto our list as one of the Grooviest Cities for Yoga.

Did we forget a city? Tell us why your city/town makes the list.

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Are You a Cat Person or A Dog Person? What Your Preference Reveals About You!

Posted on April 6, 2012 by YogaDork

The long held stereotype of being considered a neurotic cat lady may actually hold some truth. With the onset of social media and people becoming more vocal about pet-preferences it seems that scientists have taken notice. Research now shows that there may be some key personality differences between ‘cat people’ and ‘dog people’.

According to one study noted in, “Dog People vs. Cat People: What Pet Preference Says About You” Cat people generally tend to be more introspective, neurotic and creative. Dog People on the other hand, are more likely to be extroverted, friendly and agreeable.

Having a tendency towards owning a cat or a dog may even have an influence on how you interact at parties, your music preference and wit. Dog people are more likely to be the life of the party while cat people are more likely to stick with a few friends at a gathering. According to a study by Hunch.Com that polled over 200,000 cat and dog owners,   Dog people are 30% more likely to enjoy slapstick humor and impressions while Cat People 21% more likely to enjoy ironic humor and puns. The study even breaks it down to what Beatle member a ‘Cat’ Vs. ‘Dog’ person would prefer: Dog people are 18% more likely to consider Paul McCartney their favorite Beatle while Cat people are 25% more likely to consider George Harrison their favorite Beatle.

Whether you would rather be sitting at home reading a novel while stroking your kitties tummy to the tunes of George Harrison’s album ‘let it roll’ or would prefer to be playing an exuberant game of fetch with your pup while jamming out to Paul McCartney’s Greatest Hits, the research behind pet preference is still shaky. Scientists say that there is still much to uncover about the truth behind cat and dog preference and how it correlates to personality.

Want to learn more about cat vs dog preference? Check out a study by A research team at the University of Texas at Austin on Dogs or cats? What your preference says about you

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Daves Killer Bread

Posted on April 4, 2012 by YogaDork

You probably have seen Daves Killer Bread in your WholeFoods or grocery store. If not, you will soon. We love this story of a hugely successful bread company started, and has

Daves Killer Bread

Dave and his Killer Bread

“evolved” into what it is today. Daves Killer Bread is a double entendre. It is first off by anyone’s standards insanely good, aka “killer” bread. (Home-made taste, full grain, nutty, and is super healthy with no preservatives, no sugar and low in calories. (aka, you won’t get a muffin top in your yoga pants).  Secondly but was started from an ex-convent who got out of 15 years in prison (hence the second meaning of the word “killer”) and figured how to make money by making really healthy, and shockingly good bread. There’s a cult following for Daves Bread fans. Once you try it you are hooked. It is the most home-made tasting yet insanely healthy bread that you can buy. This company is going to be huge and we can’t wait to see how they expand the next couple of years.

Check out this video to learn more about Dave and how someone really can turn their life around.

Daves Killer Bread

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How to Tune into the Little Signs and Gain Life Direction

Posted on March 29, 2012 by YogaDork

Whether it seems like it or not, the universe does support you. In yoga, we often practice rooting to the earth and feeling the connection between our feet and  the ground beneath us. Our yoga teacher asks us to stand in Tadasana for a reason. She guides us to plant our ‘roots’ through our yoga mat, and  into the earth below.

Off our yoga mat, things can seem a little less stable as we endure the constant ebb and flows of everyday life. But if you truly want to gain some insight – plant your feet and look around for the signs. They are everywhere.

This past weekend I went on a yoga retreat up to Wind Spirit Community, an eco-village in the Southern Arizona Desert. During one of our meditations we were told to ask a question and then venture out through the open gardens until we found an answer. I had a question about transitioning into a new living situation. When I asked the question of what would be best for me I ended up stumbling upon a wind chime wrapped up in wire. After meditating for ten minutes I realized that my answer presented itself : If I chose the living situation I had in mind,I would bind myself, unable to remain flexible like a blusterous chime blowing through the wind.

Life is constantly giving us clues. I came across a huge blue bus the other day that almost seemed superimposed into an otherwise bland part of town. The bright blue bus read in bold block letters on the side ‘YAY LIFE’.  How appropriate I thought, considering I had just had a conversation with a friend about how delicate life was and how we should pay tribute to the breath, or as yogis say ‘Prana’ that we often take for granted. If you have questions and need answers the universe is always there to support you and give you a little guidance. Sometimes you don’t even have to ask a question, life also has a funny way of telling you that you are on the right track.

Next time you have a question or just need a little reminder that you are on the right path, tune into your environment. You may be delighted and enlightened by the little clues you stumble upon along the way.

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In a Workout Slump? Fun and Easy Ways to Get Motivated NOW!

Posted on March 21, 2012 by YogaDork

It’s Monday and suddenly you can’t help but be swallowed up by the buzz of a new week and the tedious work tasks that you put off over the weekend. You stay late at the office to catch up, and by the end of the day you’re totally spent. You think to yourself  ’I can surely put off my spinning class, yoga class (etc) until Tuesday’.

 Tuesday: Another day of work pileup to sift and ‘sweat’ through. You get through the day but indulge in a fair share of carbs and salty office snacks during lunch break to settle your stress. By the end of the day, you feel bloated, low-energy, and the thought of  squeezing into tight workout pants and dragging yourself to the gym is the last thing on your mind. So – you decide to put of your workout for one more day.

 Wednesday, Thursday, and all of a sudden you find yourself on Friday night, not only with a week’s worth of neglecting your workout, but you can’t help but notice that your ‘going out jeans’ feel a little more snug around the waist.

How do you bounce back from a week’s worth  of workout slump without falling into the trap of throwing in the towel forever? Below are some easy and fun proof ways of getting back into the sweat of things.

1) Try something new. If the thought of diving back into your usual workout routine seems mundane and boring, try something completely out of the ordinary. Join a dance class, take your run down a different path, take your yoga practice to an unfamiliar (but safe) part of town and practice in the park. Change things up a bit! It will make easing back into your workout a blast.

 

2) Allot yourself an iTunes budget. Download a crazy mix of tunes to make a killer new play list. Music not only has the ability to get you moving, but it’s scientifically proven to change your brain waves and make your workouts last longer – choose songs that sing to your personal rhythm -download and take off!

 

3) Grab a buddy. One of the best ways to get remotivated is to tag along with a friend that is totally invested in his/her own workout plan. Join her/him in their enthusiasm and watch yours rekindle as well! If you jive well, maybe you will decide on a few classes that you can take on a regular weekly-basis together.

Don’t let a week-long-workout slump keep your feet from ever moving again. Get back into the groove by taking into account these three fun and easy tips. If you can, skip the lunch-break sweets and stay aware of when you are letting your days slip away without ‘breaking a sweat’ (and I don’t mean over you office desk).

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3 Affordable and Soul-Satisfying Yoga Retreats

Posted on March 15, 2012 by YogaDork

Sometimes the idea of breaking the bank to attend a yoga retreat bedazzled with luxury services seems contradictory to what yoga truly stands for, a path of selfless action or service, or what is sometimes referred to as karmic yoga. It seems indulgent then, to attend a retreat garnished with fancy meals , Egyptian-cotton sheets and speciality spa-services.  Besides making a dent in your wallet, these retreats can also mask what a yoga retreat is all about – finding enlightenment within yourself. It’s also about letting go of external medicators. And althoug rates are on the rise, there are rustic and affordable retreats held all over the country that will leave plenty of dough in your wallet while satisfying your soul in a tranquil and spiritually enlightened environment.

Wind Spirit Community

In a valley nurtured by mountain ranges and the richness of the Arizona desert, exists a community that celebrates the harmonious relationship between land, body and soul. Offering affordable personal and organized yoga weekend retreats, Wind Spirit Community provides an environment of rustic savors – an underground stone sauna, a thatched outside shower and several environmentally-sound accommodations; camp sites, deck-tents, and sleep-renovated school buses.Weekend yoga retreats are offered at an extremely reasonable : 250$ per person or $400 per couple. Learn more about their enlightening and soul-quenching equinox retreats here

White Lotus

Overlooking the city of Santa Barbara and the pacific ocean, white lotus foundation offers retreats for a donation of $575 that is also considered tax deductible. The land, considered once sacred to the Chumash Indians offers a variety of physical and soul nourishing retreats. Take advantage of their holiday programs -a perfect opportunity to retreat from the mayhem of material attachment and re-balance your attachment within . Check out the Thanksgiving Yoga Retreat here

Kripalu

Although renowned, Kripalu is often overlooked as being both a reputable and affordable retreat. If you choose from their basic accommodations ( the dormitory bunk rooms) you can expect to pay an all-inclusive rate of about $185 a night. The institute provides extrodinary vegetarian meals, daily yoga classes from some of the best teachers in the world and a mid-day journey dance. Take some time to explore the meditation gardens and breathe in the beauty that casts off the berkshire mountain range. Personalize your stay and check out the R&R retreats here

You dont have to clean out your monthly savings just to enjoy a sacred yoga retreat. There are retreats that offer the same mind and soul-satisfying benefits without the bejeweled blankets and high price tag. Depending on your geographic location scout out yoga retreats that are closer to home or offer carpooling and rideshares from the airport ( as most of the retreats above do). Have any other suggestions of economical and soul-satisfying retreats? Let us know where you take your yoga pants.

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