Perhaps you decided to try yoga after hearing your friends rave over their yoga classes. They tell you how invigorating the classes are and how they boost their energy levels. However, after your first class, you’re feeling the complete opposite. You’re drowsy and tired, feeling like a nap is the next order of business. If … Read more

Most of us automatically think of energizing flows when we think of yoga. However, yoga is more than revitalizing, energy-boosting flows that get your heart pumping. Many folks use yoga to wind down in the evening after a stressful and busy day.  Bedtime yoga routines are a great way to relax your body and turn … Read more

After hours of sweat and hard work on your yoga mat, it gets rather dirty (and might even smell unpleasant). However, cleaning a yoga mat isn’t as simple as spraying it with any old cleaner you have lying around and wiping it down. If you do that, you might damage the mat, causing irreversible damage.  … Read more

Stretching is an essential part of a well-rounded exercise routine. Whether your main calorie burner is weight lifting, yoga, or cardio-focused, you should remember to incorporate a good amount of stretching into your day-to-day routine. While many folks simply stretch for the flexibility benefits, these benefits go much further than you might think.  Believe it … Read more

Flexibility is essential to many sports, including gymnastics, swimming, and diving. While athletes of these sports consider flexibility a vital part of training, does the need for flexibility end in these sports? Should runners be flexible? Many experts, coaches, and trainers have weighed in on the topic, leading to conflicting results. While some folks argue … Read more

Most of us have experienced back pain at least once in our lives, and some of us suffer from chronic back pain. So, the prospect of doing an exercise that could potentially aggravate that pain is enough to deter almost anyone. However, if you think about it, sleeping wrong could anger your back, so just … Read more

Planks are notoriously tricky. Many folks agree that a plank minute feels substantially longer than a regular minute (did someone slow the timer?!). The primary reason for the (seemingly) lengthy plank minutes is the number of muscles required for a proper plank.  If you hold a plank properly for a bit of time, you’ll feel … Read more

Flexibility is a spectrum. There’s not necessarily a point every person reaches where they could universally be considered flexible. For example, a football player’s level of flexibility would probably be considerably different than the flexibility of a contortionist. So, there isn’t a universal definition of what it means to be flexible.  It isn’t a “one … Read more

Perhaps you’re starting a new class at a yoga studio for the first time and are reviewing what you need to bring for class. As you move down the list, you see the basics: a yoga mat, water, and a towel. However, once you continue lower onto the list, you see “brick” or “block.”  What … Read more

Mat. Check! Mat towel. Check! Signed up for a class. Check! Block? What’s that? If you’re browsing yoga startup guides, you might come across a few recommendations like this. While the mat is technically the only mandatory item you need for yoga, a few other things can simplify the integration process.  The class will give … Read more