I’m getting ready to run a half-marathon in May, and even though I am not going all the way this year, I am finding that running and yoga are not only a great fitness combo for health, but some of the stretching and yoga poses really come in handy during training. Even to this day, my legs tend to get stiff after a long run.  I thought that after a few years of this, the stiffness would go away, but it hasn’t totally. One of my favorite stretches for my legs is a Standing Hamstring Stretch.  Here’s the run-through (sorry, bad pun): -Place a chair in front of you -Raise your right leg onto the seat of the chair, with your knee pointing upward, hips level, and quadriceps fully engaged -Deepen the stretch, leaning forward from... [Read more]

Do you experience tenderness or pain along your sciatic nerve?  It’s not an uncommon pain.  The longest nerves in our bodies, there are two sciatic nerves, one in each of our legs. These nerves originate from several nerve roots that exit the spinal cord.  Whether you’re active or not, at some point along the way you might feel the discomfort that comes from these nerves being aggravated in some way. Here’s a post that can help.  It’s the Simple Seated Spinal Twist: -Sit on the floor cross-legged -Keep your right knee pointed forward and on the floor -Bring your left leg up, bending at the knee  -Lean slightly to the left, distributing your weight equally onto both sitting bones -As you twist to the left, gently... [Read more]

It makes sense, but this I did not know.  The most productive time for us to try and detox our bodies is during a full moon. Why?  Because the full moon pulls not only at the waters in our oceans, but also those within our bodies, which makes this an easier time for us to release toxins. The full moon is also believed to be the best time for us to begin a spiritual practice. To see a calendar of the full moons through 2010, click here.  You’ll find the dates and the specific times of day when the moon enters this phase.  Our next full moon is March 10, so you have about 10 days to plan your next detox!  Talk about a healthy “save the date..” Peace. Image: Newscom [Read more]

Ever wonder why you feel bloated, have acid reflux or indigestion?  Well, to a certain extent it’s because you’re not digesting your food properly. Here’s a little yogic tip that might help you ease some of these symptoms before you eat. Breathe.  That’s right, breathe.  We’re all rushing around most days before we sit down and eat, which pushes our nervous systems into the “fight or flight” mode.  Unfortunately, for a lot of us, actually sitting down and eating a meal is a luxury. That’s just not healthy, and can leave you feeling quite uncomfortable. But when we feel safe and relaxed, we’re better able to do a lot of things, including digesting our food properly. So before you begin... [Read more]

I am constantly in a battle with myself, over myself.  Seriously.  One minute, I am feeling strong and confident, but the next–after listening to someone else’s negative interpretation of a situation–I find myself slipping right back into the negativity. I know I shouldn’t, I know it is a lot of noise I should just tune out, but It can be challenging to do so.  I can attribute this bad habit to a small extent to being single and living alone–at least that’s part of it. I often sink into deep thought about work, my life, etc., because I lead a quiet, thought-filled life.  But that’s a good thing, too.  I just need to train myself to think and focus on the positive more than I do. Meditation is helping... [Read more]