In Pilates, As in Yoga

Yogis know that there are nearly a gazillion variations of yoga out there. Just a list of the more popular ones is enormous –- Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, Vinyasa, Restorative . But did you know that there are also a number of different forms of Pilates? The yoga community as a whole tends to also have an interest in Pilates but they may not be as well-versed on all the ways to practice, so here is a great new blog for the yogi who wants to test the Pilates water and learn about the available offerings. Go to headsuponyourbody.blogspot.com.

Whole Body Vibration

Body Vibration Therapy is a pre or post workout regimen that is gaining a lot of press lately. Sports clubs are offering it and home units can be purchased that “shake up the body.” A recent Reuters article discusses the phenomenon and while it claims that sedentary or older adults will reap the most benefits (for example, it claims to help inhibit bone loss), the Ventura Center for Healing in California boasts a great number of positive outcomes for all adults. These include improvements in muscle strength, a decrease in pain from conditions such as arthritis, an increase in blood circulation, and helps with lymphatic drainage and weight loss. Read about it at health.yagoo.com.

Couch Yoga?

It may seem contradictory to be lounging around on the couch and doing yoga at the same time, but that’s exactly what yogi, Tara Stiles, does on her latest video. The benefits of doing yoga on the couch are that it’s soft and offers extra cushioning, and you don’t have to drag out your yoga mat. This is just a sample of some asanas that work while “couching” but it inspires the mind to explore more poses that can be done in this way. Next time you can’t decide between popping in that new movie and doing yoga, you can do both.