I looked at the calendar today, and lo and behold, the 2-day Avon Walks’ for Breast Cancer are right around the corner!
As a survivor, I have to do my part and put this reminder out there.  The first weekend event is scheduled for April 4-5 in Houston, Texas.  There are nine events scheduled across the nation, including: Washington, DC; Boston; Chicago; Rocky Mountains; San Francisco; Los Angeles; New York and Charlotte.
The money raised goes to breast cancer research, and helping under-insured women and men receive the care they need.
To learn more and sign-up (please!), go to Avon’s Walk for Breast …read more

Want a great stretch that focuses on the feet?
It’s easy, quick and effective, and if you run or walk a lot, it’s a wonderful way to stretch your heels.
Downward Facing Dog–Heels Down
-With your back facing the wall, bend from the Downward Facing Dog, bringing your heels up against the wall
-Adjust your feet so your heels press into the wall, and your toes remain on the floor
-Don’t worry if your feet don’t completely touch the floor at first, they will get there over time
-Press your pelvis and tailbone up into the air and towards the wall
-Make sure your weight is evenly distributed between …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.  …read more

One of the things I love most about my meditation practice is not only how much more in tune I am with positive energy, but also how much more aware I am of the stressors and negative energy that can permeate everyday life.
Rather than becoming frustrated with these emotions, I am learning to relax with and learn from them.  My evening meditation is the best time for me to tackle these issues.  I sit quietly for a while and just let myself move through the emotions.  Once I encounter a growing sense of frustration, for example, I stop myself.  I ask myself what I am feeling.  …read more

Talking about flexibility the other day really got me thinking about just how stiff and inflexible my hips used to be. 
Of course a daily yoga practice will increase your body’s flexibility.  But there are poses that can help you ease your hips into a more supple place.
The Supta Baddha Konasana, or Reclining Bound Angle Pose
-Place a large pillow behind your lower back
-Lower your rear torso toward the floor, first leaning on your hands
-Leaning back on your forearms, use your hands to spread the back of your pelvis, releasing your lower back and upper buttocks through your tailbone
-Bring your torso all …read more

Trying to choose whether to devote your workouts this year to building core strength through Pilates or enhancing the mind-body connection with yoga? Here’s an idea–do both!
There has been a push to combine the two into a program called “yogilates.” But for the best results, I think practicing each individually has the most impact.  And bonus–they complement one another.
The six Pilates principles of centering, concentration, control, precision, breath and flow could just as easily be used when talking about yoga.
While there is a difference in how much each practice emphasizes both strength and stretching, or flexibility, they each require us to develop …read more