SELF HEALTH + HEALING

"Yoga truly is a unique opportunity for strengthening, stretching, and yes, even healing for the entire body. The back is no exception. Multiple studies have shown a steady practice is a great treatment for back soreness. In fact, several studies have found that yoga can even trump usual care for back pain when it comes to improving back function. For example, people who took yoga or stretching classes are twice as likely to cut back on pain medications for their back aches as people who managed symptoms on their own, one University of Washington study found."

"When stress levels are too high, it hinders the body's ability to burn fat. That's where yoga comes in — it's the perfect way to fight off stress, regardless of your level. These easy-to-follow poses do more than just relax; they stimulate the parts of the body responsible for metabolic function. Breathe deep as you try each asana, and start burning more calories and fat with your practice."

"Learn 10 yoga poses to improve the health and flexibility of your hips.."

Did you know that the hips are made up of 17 muscles? These muscles provide stability and balance, and give us range of motion for almost all our daily activities. Not taking care of your hips can be detrimental to your health and create problems such as poor balance, lower back pain, misalignment in lumbar spine, and limited range of motion in the hips and lower back, to name a few.

But fear not! Incorporating 10 simple exercises into your daily routine can greatly reduce your risk of having hip problems. 

YOGA IS having a major moment. With yoga instructors like our lovely guest editor Tara Stiles generating their own celeb-worthy followings, bold leggings cropping up at high-end boutiques across the country, and your very own home practice right at your fingertips, it’s now become easier than ever to zen out and go with the flow. There’s just one problem: with so many different styles, how do you pick a yoga practice that’s right for you?

In this installment of our TCM 1.0 series, we’re breaking down the basics of picking your yoga practice with LA-based yoga teacher and author on the subject, Meagan McCrary, whose students basically begged for her to create her popular book. Eager to demystify all the tongue-twisting names you see on a yoga schedule, she decided to pen what has now become one of our favorite yoga reads, Pick Your Yoga Practice: Exploring and Understanding Different Styles of Yoga. No two styles are the same, so make sure you choose your class based on your specific personality and goals – knowing what you want is the first step to having a truly yogic experience. Here’s Megan to break down ten different styles of yoga for us, and help us explore the ins and outs of how to get your ‘om’ on…

The must-read guide for anyone who's considered taking up yoga. Yoga is an ancient practice with origins stretching back thousands of years in India. It is designed to help achieve a more positive outlook on life and a focused, permanent sense of serenity and peace. The word ‘yoga’ itself means ‘union’ and ‘union with the divine’; however, many people have stripped away the spirituality and focus of yoga so that most think of it as a group of intensely athletic people putting their legs behind their heads and curling up into jaw-dropping positions.

While that certainly happens–I’ve actually done the leg behind the head thing a few times, but only after years of careful stretches and practice–yoga has so much more to offer than flexibility and the idea of garnering a strong body. People of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities can do yoga and adapt it to suit their individual tastes and needs.