put a lil yoga in your day

So one of my "Top Ten" goals for this new year was adding more yoga into my exercise regimen but also to any part of the day. I can say that so far , so good! I have been practicing yoga almost everyday even if I can't get to a full workout. I can't believe how awesome it makes me feel! I used to do yoga a lot and why I stopped, who knows! But who cares?! I'm back on the bandwagon again! :)

Like I said in my previous post I am a fan of Tara Stiles. She is a well -know yoga instructor that has a studio in New York but also has a couple of DVD's, a book, and has made countless appearances on TV and in magazines. She is a very down to earth instructor so you don't feel intimidated at all when you do her workouts. You can check her out on her website, www.tarastiles.com, or on her youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/TaraStilesYoga. She has lots of mini videos that help you start your day off, get stretched out for the day, help with flexibility or balance and much more. Here are a few of my favorites for a quick yoga session before getting ready for my day or unwinding at night:

*Morning Yoga for Flexibility:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TaraStilesYoga#p/a/729B682FC375AB76/0/dRsC1YdXqOc

*Yoga for Flexibility:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TaraStilesYoga#p/a/F51468E0577E15B6/0/XqBdujwSTGw

*Yoga for Balance:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TaraStilesYoga#p/a/F51468E0577E15B6/0/XqBdujwSTGw

Here are her DVD's:

I just bought this DVD and I'm really excited to try it. She goes to a whole bunch of spots in NY to workout. I think it will be really cool. I ordered this one for about $25 off of her website. But I totally forgot to check out the prices on Amazon for this or the newer one on top. I'm sure you could get it for cheaper on Amazon. 

I also want to get her book:

I will update you once I get this book and read it! :)

For those of you who are skeptical of yoga, not really sure what else it does for you besides bend you in weird ways, there are many benefits of yoga which are very appealing. I have made an extensive list for you which will change your mind if you doubt the power of yoga in any way or just inspire you to practice it more often:

- Improved flexibility

- Better posture

- All over body strength

- Lengthen muscles 

 -Mindful deep breathing

 -Weight loss

- Relaxation

-Less stress, more calm

 -Boost of oxygen levels 

- Happier and content mood

-Relieve symptoms of medical conditions including: asthma, back pain, insomnia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis., depression, headaches/migraines, infertility, allergies, digestive problems

- Massaging and stimulation of all your organs

- Complete detoxification! Remove toxins from the organs, including your skin!

- Increased lubrication of bones, joints, and tendons

- Decreased blood pressure and pulse rate

- Better circulation

- Cardiovascular endurance

- Stronger immune system

- Increased metabolism

- Delay again processes of the body

- Better sleep

- Self control

-Boost Vitamin C production and use (which is a powerful antioxidant)

- Glowing skin

- Mindfulness of self, better focus

- Mindful of better, healthier habits. 

I'm sure there's more but this is a great list that should inspire you to want to do yoga more often! 

Namaste. 

xoxo

-m

2011: The Year of New Beginnings

Happy New Year!

Crazy to think it is now 2011. Wow. Have to get used to saying and writing that out. This is a year of new beginnings for me because of what is in store for me:

- Last year of college for me which means I will be a COLLEGE GRADUATE in December. (Yes it will take me an extra semester to graduate). About dang time... bitter sweet though.
- Starting a new internship and hopefully finding one more to round out my experience.
- A new year with my blog!
- A fresh, new, healthy start to learn new things and to be the best person I can possibly be!

I have some goals for myself this year that I want to share with you. Maybe by sharing it and actually writing it down I will be held accountable to ACTUALLY follow through with my plans. The list I collaborated for myself might seem like a strange mix of important and trivial but hey a goal is a goal, right? Big or small.

1. Master Tracy Anderson's Third Sequence DVD of her Perfect Design Series. 

2. Try Tracy's 30 Day Method. Its a plan she wrote out of workout and eating schedule including a 7 day cleanse. 

3. Start practicing more yoga. I forgot how calming and a wonderful workout yoga is. I am a fan of Tara Stiles and just ordered this DVD. 

4. Eat more fruits and veggies! I will be keeping a food diary to make sure I am holding myself accountable with this. This food log includes inspirational quotes and words I pasted inside to remind me that being healthy is composed of healthy eating, working out, and have a calm happy mind. 

5. Drink more tea and not so much coffee. :)

(Teavana tea.)

6. Get an internship at a marketing firm... (cricket, cricket). Ha this will require more networking and applications rather then will power...or a good mix of both I suppose!

7. Go to Italy. Ahhhh yessss! Italy :) This requires saving...this will be hard for me and my love of shopping. But think positive right?

( San Gimignano, supposedly they have great gelato. Yummmm)

8. Start sewing and make T-shirts. Treadle Yard Goods (I follow their blog, to the right of this page,  if you're interesting in learning more about them) holds all sorts of sewing classes. I've always wanted to try my hand at making my own clothes. This is the year to do it!

http://www.treadleyardgoods.com/classes

9. Pay off my credit card. That's all I got to say about that. 

10. Go with the flow. I am a planner through and through. I have a to-do list every single day, am constantly making plans for school and what I will do after college and when certain things should happen by. I need to let go of my uptight view of always needing to know what's going to happen. I've somewhat started to embrace this and it definitely feels different. Good but different. This will probably will be the hardest for me but I am determined. As the French say:

There ya have it. Those are the top ten things I want to work on this year. I feel that it's a pretty do-able list. I am excited for the new year and the many things that are to come. Hopefully you are all able to compile a list or at least a few things that you would like you accomplish this year. This is the year to do it people! The year of new beginnings! I wish everybody many blessings in this new year!

xoxo

-m