This Gives Laughing Yoga a Whole New Meaning

The Inappropriate Yoga Guy has always been one of my favorite yoga satire videos, but this one I just came across on YogaDork.com takes the cake. I’ll warn you that it’s NSFW or safe for sensitive yogis, but if you can take a joke, you’ll be rolling on the floor after classic lines such as: “I want to do Hot Yoga. I want to lose 10 pounds today because I have dinner at the Applebees tonight and I need to look hot,” and “Yoga massages your organs and if you do enough yoga you will be able to time travel.” The animated characters are a little freaky looking, especially when they talk about yoga using foul language and inappropriate hands gestures, but it’s still funny nonetheless. Haven’t seen enough yet? Check out the second video when you read more.

See the rest here:
This Gives Laughing Yoga a Whole New Meaning

Do You Indulge When You’re on Vacation?

For the last few months, Gwyneth Paltrow has been in Nashville while filming her role in Love Don’t Let Me Down . And as she shares in her lastest GOOP newsletter , she’s fallen in love with everything about the city: its people, music venues, and even its fried chicken! Most of what I’ve heard about Gwyneth’s lifestyle strikes me as being uber-healthy - she’s gone raw before, meditates , and  always seems to be detoxing or on a cleanse . It was actually kind of refreshing to hear that while in Nashville she sampled Southern classics like fried chicken, collard greens, and sweet potato fries - foods she called “a traditional Southern attack.” Since I eat healthy while at home, I do give myself freedom to try new foods when on vacation - especially if it’s a local dish that can’t be missed. How about you . . . Do You Indulge When You're on Vacation? Yes, I might not get the chance to try foods like that again. No, I stick to a healthy diet wherever I am.

More: 
Do You Indulge When You’re on Vacation?

Turn It Off and Get Outside: National Day of Unplugging

I’m not going to lie to you. I’m a huge fan of technology because it not only makes my life easier, but it supports my healthy lifestyle. I’m grateful for my treadmill on rainy days, my iPod’s tunes and healthy apps to motivate me to get moving, and my heart rate monitor that tells me how hard I’m working. I do realize that technology is often overused and abused, and many people would rather sit on the couch watching endless hours of TV or playing video games, rather than taking a walk in the park. The nonprofit group Reboot realizes this as well and is launching a new project called Sabbath Manifesto , “designed to get overworked and overstressed young techies to rediscover the novel Biblical concept of a day of rest.” This Saturday, March 20, marks this first National Day of Unplugging , which means no cell phones, computers, TVs, Twitter , or Facebook . Besides avoiding technology, the other nine principles associated with this day of rest include connecting with loved ones, nurturing your health, getting outside, avoiding commerce, lighting candles, drinking wine, eating bread, finding silence, and giving back. As you’re reading this post, you’ve already broken the first principle of avoiding technology, but it’s not too late to grab your favorite person and go for a walk outside to nurture your health and take a break from being plugged in. Tell me, are you into this idea of setting aside one day each week to ditch your laptop and iPhone and get back to the important things in life, or do you think it’s a silly idea?

See the original post: 
Turn It Off and Get Outside: National Day of Unplugging

Detoxing: Any Tips or Warnings? [Forum]

Hi all, I’ve been reading up on detox diets and am interested in starting next week for one week. I was curious if anyone had any tips or warnings?

Originally posted here:
Detoxing: Any Tips or Warnings? [Forum]

Minutes to a Healthier You: Make a Date With the Stairs

An easy strategy for staying fit and developing a healthy lifestyle is to always take the stairs. It’s a great way to burn calories, build endurance, and strengthen the legs. But taking the stairs might not seem reasonable if you work on the 20th floor; or, on the flip side, maybe you don’t encounter enough stairs in your daily routine. Yesterday, a friend cut our conversation short because, as she said, “I have a date with the stairs.” She went on to say that on the days she misses her yoga class, she does laps between the three flights of stairs where she works for 10 minutes. I found her attitude completely inspiring. I usually take the stairs when faced with them but I’ve never thought to take a “stair break.” Leaving your desk to do some laps on the stairs is a great way to squeeze a small workout into your day. The next time you start zoning out, hit the stairs for about 10 minutes - you’ll come back energized and will have burned about 60 calories ! Taking the stairs also prolongs your life , reduces your risk for heart disease , and is easy on the wallet (significantly cheaper than a yoga class). You can also make it more challenging by being a two timer climber .

Original post: 
Minutes to a Healthier You: Make a Date With the Stairs

Get Fit Challenge: Trader Joe’s Trail Mix

We’re up to week 10 of the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway and this week’s challenge is to share your favorite healthy snack . Here’s a satisfying idea from nic222 that’s easy to munch on anywhere. I try to fit in a piece of raw fruit for my morning healthy snack, but in a pinch, I grab an individual bag of “Just a handful of simply almonds, cashews and cranberries” from Trader Joe’s. The combination is bound to hit most cravings: crunchy, chewy, sweet, and salty. At 210 calories, it feels indulgent, but it’s not too calorie-laden, and the bit of protein is filling as well. Plus, the individual bags prevent you from eating the entire package! You gotta love Trader Joe’s! Tell me about your favorite healthy snack in the Get Fit For 2010 community group. By participating, you’ll also be entered into the drawing for our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card as well as our awesome grand prize .

Read more here:
Get Fit Challenge: Trader Joe’s Trail Mix

Stretch It: Relaxing Hamstring Stretch

Stretching my hamstrings after a run is a must, but since I bike and swim as well, my hamstrings could use all the stretching they can get. So I try to squeeze hamstring stretches in whenever I can. Here’s one that you can do while watching TV or lying in bed. To learn how to do this simple yet effective stretch, read more. Roll onto your right side with both legs straight, propping yourself up on your left elbow. If it’s hard to balance, bend your bottom knee. Lift your right leg in the air, keeping it straight, and reach your right hand to the back of your right thigh, calf, ankle, heel, or toes. Make sure your knee and toes are pointing toward your body to target your right hamstring. Use your right hand to add weight to your leg and deepen the stretch. After 30 seconds, release, roll over, and repeat this stretch with the left leg.

Read more from the original source: 
Stretch It: Relaxing Hamstring Stretch

Food Review: Bear Naked Granola’s New Flavors

Granola is filled with sweet oaty goodness that not only satisfies your sweet tooth, but also fills your belly and gives you energy all morning. Bear Naked is one of my favorite brands because their products always test fresh, homemade, and are made with basic ingredients like oats, agave syrup, and almonds. If you’re also a fan of Bear Naked, you’ll be happy to see they came out with two new flavors of granola: Maple Pecan and Peak Flax . To hear more about these tasty new granolas and see how they measure up nutritionally, read more. The Maple Pecan has a traditionally warm and autumnal flavor, with a very strong hint of maple syrup. The pecans add a crunchy surprise, and every bite reminds me of pancakes at my grandma’s when I was a kid. I equally enjoyed the Peak Flax granola. It has a uniquely sweet hint of honey and lemon that’s very refreshing, and the crunchy texture complements the chewy dried blueberries beautifully. You’ll see on the package that this granola is made with heart-healthy flaxseeds which deliver 320 mg of ALA per serving. When you check out the nutritional info above, you’ll see that both are low in saturated fat, sodium, and surprisingly, sugars. Four grams of protein per 1/4-cup serving isn’t bad at all, but I would have thought they’d be higher in fiber. All in all, I’d definitely recommend trying these new flavors out if you’re a granola fan. They taste great in milk, on top of yogurt or ice cream, and they were especially delicious warmed up.

See the rest here:
Food Review: Bear Naked Granola’s New Flavors

Protect Your Peepers When on the Run

After a Winter of being cooped up indoors, daylight saving has arrived, the weather is warming up, and I can’t wait to get outside for regular runs in the sunshine! But besides being dangerous for your skin , increased time in the sun can be bad for your eyes, too - UV exposure can lead to cataracts and glaucoma. I wear sunglasses while I’m walking to work or outdoors on the weekends, but I completely space when it comes to wearing them on a run. To tell the truth, I dislike wearing them when I’m out on a run - plus, a good pair can cost just as much as a good pair of running shoes! Besides, I wear contact lenses that advertise UV-A and UV-B protection, so I’m set, right? Wrong. After a recent trip to the eye doctor, I found out my contacts aren’t enough protection because they only protect the part of the eye they cover, leaving the rest exposed to the harmful rays. A closer look at my lenses’ packaging revealed this: “UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area.” I wear a hat when I run on super-bright days, but since sun still gets in my eyes, I figure it’s not providing me with 100 percent protection. Aside from running in the dark (which isn’t the safest option), it looks like I’m resigned to learning to deal with sunglasses. And if you have a suggestion for a great pair to try, let me know!

Go here to see the original:
Protect Your Peepers When on the Run

Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak Dishes About Food

Harley Pasternak says that if you follow his 5 Factor diet, you will see results. First, eat five times a day: two meals and three snacks. Next, everything you eat should have five components: lean protein, low glycemic carbs, healthy fats, fiber, and a sugar-free beverage. And to keep it real, there’s a cheat day once a week. The in-demand trainer recently came out with a new book - the 5 Factor World Diet - that draws on lessons learned from constant travel. Harley selected 10 countries with the lowest obesity rates and highest life expectancies and studied what they eat, how they eat, and how they burn it off. Although busy bopping between clients, Harley took some time out of his day to talk all things food: what you should be eating, why fresh food isn’t always better, and yes, even he has a cheat food. To see the interview, read more. FitSugar : Your latest book, The 5 Factor World Diet , is based on the insights you’ve gained while traveling. What are some healthy eating tips you’ve picked up from other countries? Harley Pasternak : I saw a lot of fish - not beef - in the healthiest countries, and whole grains, vegetable, and whole soy - especially in Okinawa where everyone is 100 years old. In Sweden, sandwiches are made with one piece of bread, not two - it’s always always an open-faced sandwich. Physical activity is very much tied to meals too. In Italy they have something called a “pasa giatta,” and when the meal ends they all get up and go for a walk together. And in other parts of the world they go grocery shopping every day, so you’re basically burning off half the meal to pick up ingredients, and when you’re preparing your food, you have more control over what you put into it. FS : What advice do you have for people who can’t walk to pick up fresh food because the nearest market is 30 miles away? HP : I’m a big fan of frozen food and canned food. I know that’s not what we’re used to hearing but frozen and canned food can be as healthy, if not healthier than fresh counterpart options. Fresh produce is not the end-all be-all - when I make smoothies I almost always use frozen fruits, and when I make soups I often use frozen vegetables. You can use canned beans and frozen vegetables for dips as well. Also, don’t be afraid of canned fish, canned salmon, canned tuna, and frozen seafood like shrimp cocktail. It’s another great way to get seafood into your diet, if you can’t get fresh. FS : What are some of your favorite meals from the 5 Factor World Diet? HP : Gosh, there are so many. As I wrote the World Diet book, I was looking abroad for some good fiber recipes and fell in love with Japanese food like soba noodles . I also love the idea of ceviche. Going to Spain and learning to make ceviche was great. It’s absolutely foolproof, even for someone who has no idea how to cook. FS : What about snacks - especially when you’re on the go? HP : Snacks - as should a meal - [should] have a lowfat protein and a fibrous carbohydrate. I tell my clients to grab some plain nonfat Greek yogurt and some frozen berries and mix that together. Soy snacks are great too: edamame , Soy Joy bars, and soy milk are all great. I often make a dip out of nonfat Greek yogurt and natural peanut butter for protein and calcium. It’s 1:2 ratio of peanut butter to yogurt and it’s delicious with apples or pears. FS : Now that you’ve brought up fruit, one of our readers wants to know why there are no grapes or bananas on the 5-Factor Diet? HP : No one is going to live a shorter life if they have bananas or grapes, however there are much, much healthier fruits. I try and tell my clients to choose those fruits over others. I tell my clients to stick to fruits that either have edible skin, edible seeds, or citrus - bananas do not have edible skin, nor do they have edible seeds really, nor is it citrus. Most of the fiber and nutrients that are in a fruit are in a fruit’s skin. A banana is just the densest piece of fruit that you can put in your body, and since it doesn’t have fiber, it won’t keep you full. It’s kind of a shame to have a fruit with no fiber. Grapes are an exception to the rule because they have a special sugar in them called dextrose, which is the highest glycemic sugar that you can possibly put in your body. They actually make grape pills for diabetics so that they don’t become low. FS : Are there any foods that you think people should avoid, even on their cheat days? HP : Absolutely no, not at all. Life is short and you have to enjoy it, and you should indulge when it’s time to indulge. At some point, I think everyone should eat everything at least once. FS : And what’s your cheat food? HP : My cheat food? That’s easy, it’s chocolate chip cookies. I’m the biggest chocolate chip cookie freak in the world. FS : And do you give yourself some cookies every week? HP : At least every week. To get a taste of Harley’s diet, try his recipe for five-spice halibut . It’s tasty and easy to make.

Read more here: 
Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak Dishes About Food

Next Page »