About a year ago, officials in New York City decided to put more regulations on yoga teachers and studios by requiring teacher training courses to undergo a lengthly licensing process akin to other vocational schools such as hair dressing and truck driving. Well, the officials tried. After a huge outcry from the local yoga community that included hiring a lobbying firm and creating a website and...

It makes sense that yoga for horses doesn’t look exactly like yoga for humans. You won’t catch Black Beauty doing downward dog or Warrior II asanas, but while the movements may not be the same, the goals usually are.  The yoga that Gloria Hester of Tucson, Arizona uses to heal horses is all about unlearning harmful movement patterns so the animals can enjoy a body that moves freely...

Parenting is a rewarding yet rigorous, tiring job. Holding and nurturing a child can take a toll on the body, and it’s difficult to find the time to work out and soothe sore muscles. Not to mention the fact that mothers who sacrifice time with their children in order to exercise often feel guilty and soon stop making pilates or yoga practice a priority. What to do?  We know that choosing health...

Go to a yoga class, and 9 times out of 10, most of the people in the room will be female. Guys just don’t show up as often, which is unfortunate because men are typically less flexible than women, so it would follow that they’d benefit even more from yoga. Thankfully, some men are beginning to add yoga to their workout regimen, and noticing benefits such as better athletic conditioning,...

Ever look away from your computer long enough to realize your eyes are bleary, you’ve been hunching over the keyboard, and your legs are starved for movement?  Try these suggestions from Women’s Health to bring blood flow and oxygen to cramped extremities, loosen stiff joints, and energize tight muscles. Here’s a sample tip: The pain: Neck and shoulder Typically, we slouch, rather...

As with any exercise, our bodies can get used to yoga, and that signals that it’s a good time to shake things up. While yoga is an immensely healthy practice, there’s no need to discount other forms of exercise like cardio and weight training. A mix is ideal, and the exercises will work with each other to benefit you more in the long run. Cardio and weight training bring a healthy...

When the castles we’ve built around us threaten to crumble, it can be tough to maintain a positive outlook. There’s no magical cure, unfortunately; we just have to keep working at being upbeat. Luckily, consistent exercise improves the mood by releasing feel-good endorphins, so all this pilates is gonna come in handy.  Our bodies want to move, that’s what they’re designed...

I’m always interested to know what pro athletes do to cross train. Though it depends on the sport of course, and what one is cross-training for, a routine including weights and cardio seems to be the standby. These days though, more and more athletes are adding yoga or pilates to the mix. Professional snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler is our newest example of pro athlete and yogini. In this NYTimes...

I haven’t experienced this yet myself, but I’ve heard that pregnancy makes one feel as if she has lost complete control of her body.  Internally nurturing another human being for nine months can be quite a roller coaster. What better way to get back in touch with the body than through pilates? Pilates is all about body control and awareness, and the focus on deep breathing aids relaxation. ...

I can’t believe it’s mid-February already and I haven’t gotten in the snow yet. This has been a good season, too. Oh well, I’ll get out there soon. For those of you who have made the trek to winter wonderland, here’s a great yoga sequence from FitSugar to help relieve those aches and pains.  It’s a good idea to follow the speed and aggression of downhill sports...