Natural Beauty, Vegetarian Recipes, Interior Design Inspiration, and Healthy Lifestyle Tips
These pictures will totally inspire your yoga practice. Any age, any shape, any color, any religion.
Let’s all go ahead and try to forget the fact that ‘Men in Kilts Doing Yoga’ would make a pretty rad 80s band name. Let’s also try to forget that the music in the clip, though not 80s style awesome, is totally savage. We gotta focus here on what’s important. This right here is video proof of my working theory that kilts just make everything better. I don’t know about you, but I am totally inspired for today’s workout! Thanks again, Scotland!!!
The genius behind this amazing video is Finlay Wilson a Dundee, Scotland based yoga instructor. Fortunately for those of us who aren’t in Dundee, you can check out Wilson’s online classes here. On a serious note, this guy is not just a pretty face and an awesome body, he’s actually seriously inspirational in terms of his story and his focus on modifications for poses. Check out the bio below from his yoga channel:
In the spirit of Spring cleaning, here is a yoga sequence you can do that will help your body transition with the changing seasons. This sequence is simple enough for beginners and when preformed regularly will definitely get your energy moving toward the cleansing and rejuvenating essence of Spring!
I started out doing yoga because I knew I needed to exercise. My energy levels were super low, no matter how much coffee I drank and by midday I was ready to crawl back into bed. The last straw was that my lower back and legs started to hurt more and more each time I leaned down to tie my shoes. Despite the fact that my body was functioning like I was 176 years old, I still wanted to find the lowest impact exercise I could, because lazy. That’s how I settled on yoga. I figured, I stretch and breathe every day already so yoga is totally in my wheelhouse. I was too embarrassed to actually go to a yoga class though. I chose an at-home yoga app, and in the privacy of my own living room, I began my yoga practice.
My very first full yoga routine was on New Year’s Day of last year and I’ve done a yoga routine every single day since then. I can’t begin to describe to you the difference it has made in my life. I have more energy than I’ve had in years and yoga is totally bringing my sexy back. Anyway, this last year has taught me some of the finer details of yoga—the things I wish I had known when I started that could’ve saved me from some aches and pains and other minor inconveniences. If you are just toying with the idea of starting on a healthier path, and you think yoga might be for you, here are some beginner essentials that you should totally invest in. Where applicable, I’ve also posted a link to a short video to show you how to use the particular item.
It pays off to invest in a good yoga mat. What makes a good yoga mat, you ask. One that doesn’t roll up or slip around when you’re moving from one pose into another. One that doesn’t get noticeably sticky when you start to sweat. Most of all, one that doesn’t wear out quickly and start to shed little pieces of mat all over the place. I really love Gaiam yoga mats (currently discounted here) and Manduka Prolite Mats (find them here).
If you naturally run a little bit hot when you exercise,or if you plan on doing hot yoga, yoga mat towels are a must. These towels are specifically designed to wick up sweat. You can use them in place of a yoga mat or lay them right on top of your yoga mat (especially useful if you’re using the ‘bowling shoe’ yoga mats that the gym lends you).
Yoga bolsters make it easier to get into and maintain poses that are a difficult for you. These are key when you’re trying to relax in a pose that you find a little bit strenuous. Here are some yoga poses that really benefit from the use of bolsters.
I didn’t know how great yoga straps were when I first started doing yoga, but these things are amazing. Yoga straps are so helpful when it comes to improving flexibility. Even if you’re not new to yoga, yoga straps can really help you sink deeper into a pose. Here’s how to use them.
Yoga blocks are also useful for improving flexibility, but they also assist in maintaining the proper alignment in a pose. Check out this intro to yoga blocks.
***Even if you don’t pick up all of these items, you can still get moving and start your daily yoga practice. Remember: this time next year, you’ll wish you’d started today. You can do this!!!
So it’s the beginning of a brand new year! As you know, I absolutely try to avoid making New Year’s resolutions. I feel like I set myself up for failure when I set goals that are too specific to withstand the changing demands of life. I do try to form a basis for my year by setting flexible goals that I hope become part of my daily life. The idea is to cultivate healthy habits so that they just become routine. My mantra is this: Start small if you have to, but make sure, at the very least, that you start! Here are 5 simple habits that I’ve found totally changed my outlook on life. Fa realz. Little things can have a huge impact on your day to day. Cheers to new beginnings!
When you start your day by making your bed, you’re essentially setting a productive tone for the rest of your day. Since it’s probably the largest piece of furniture in your bedroom, making your bed every morning also gives the overall appearance of your space a tidy, put together look.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle… and Zoolander. This should totally go without saying: Wetness is the essence of beauty. You should make it a habit to drink at least 8oz of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Seriously, keep your water bottle on the nightstand and then carry it with you throughout your day. Water is key to a healthy lifestyle.
Even the busiest person in the world can spare 5-15 minutes a day. Out of the 1,440 minutes in a day, there’s ample time for you to get into a fitness routine. Just find an exercise that you love (biking, swimming, walking, yoga, whatever) and no matter what, do it!
It’s no secret that I love spa days at home. As important as diet and exercise are to a healthy lifestyle, so is taking the time to relax. Make sure to take a relaxing Ginger Detox Bath, or give yourself a soothing Honey Lavender Facial, or try any of these DIY beauty recipes.
It’s always tough to break unhealthy eating habits. We all prefer the quick fix and more often than not, the quick fix is loaded with empty calories and over-processed yuck. Planning and prepping meals ahead of time allows us to really think about nutrition and what our bodies need. Meal planning can also drastically reduce the amount of money we spend on grocery impulse buys. Take a look at some of these infographics to plan your course of attack. Remember, you can always start small. Just plan one healthy meal at first, and then build from there!
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? What are some of your lifestyle goals for this year?