Yoga For Detox

by Jenni in

​Spring is officially here, which means the weather will be getting warmer and we will start coming out of our winter hibernation. This is my favorite time of year to get on a good health regimen and "clean house" for my body. So get your Green Smoothie and load up on some great detox poses to go along with that glorious season of spring! ​

These are just a few of my favorite yoga poses for detox. If you wish to make it into a super detoxifying flow, I suggest to start with some mountain poses and forward folds to get warmed up, followed by three to four sun salutations. Then, go through each sequence completely before continuing to the next. Each pose should be held for 20-60 seconds. 

Down Dog Sequence

Three Legged Down Dog

Three legged down dog is great for the digestive organs and abominable muscles. Start in down dog position, then lift the right foot off the floor. Tuck the leg in towards the chest and curl your back so the forehead and knee cap are touching. Hold this position, then extend the leg straight back behind you. Complete one sun salutation, then go to the left side.  ​

Side Angle Sequence

Complete the sequence one time through with the right leg, then one time through with the left. ​

Wide Legged Forward Fold

This pose will work the abdomen and get you ready for the ​triangle pose next. Forward folds also increase your heart rate and loosen any tight muscles in the back, legs, and arms. Spread legs about four feet apart and place hands on hips. Look up towards the ceiling and begin to, slowly, bend forward with a straight spine. Intertwine all but the index fingers behind your back and let the arms fall forward. Hold for at least 20 seconds before each triangle pose.

Revolved Triangle

This will work the abdomen, relieve back pain, and help with indigestion. Stand forward on your mat and jump your feet so they are about 4 feet apart. Lift your arms straight out to your side and rotate the left leg 45 degrees and the right leg 90 degrees forward. Rotate your thighs so they are in alignment with the feet and hips are facing forward as well. ​Rotate your left arm to the outside of the right foot and your right arm straight into the air. Hold for at least 30 seconds.

Extended Leg Side Angle Pose

This pose will stimulate the abdominal organs and reduce lower back pain! Stand at the front of your mat and jump the feet about four feet apart. ​Rotate the left foot 90 degrees and the right foot 45 degrees. Be sure that your knees are in alignment with your big toes. Bend the left leg, making sure the knee does not extend past the foot. Extend the body over your left leg and lift the right arm up towards the ceiling while placing the left fingertips on the inside of the left foot. Hold for at least 30 seconds.

Revolved Side Angle Pose

This will do wonders for your digestive system and your intercostal muscles! ​You can either start from standing like the last two poses, or flow from the Extended Leg Side Angle to this. 

After Extended Leg Side Angle is complete, stand straight up and rotate the hips ​so they are facing forward and evenly aligned. Twist your torso to the right until your left side of the body is over the right leg. Simultaneously rotate the back, left leg, forward.  For Intermediate, place left elbow on the outside of the right leg and put palms together in front of the chest. For advanced, place the left hand on the outside of the right foot and the left hand straight up into the air. Bend the right leg until it is at a 90 degree angle. Look towards your left hand and hold for at least 30 seconds.

​Floor Sequence

Full Boat

This pose is great for the abdominal organs and the heart. ​Start sitting on the floor with feet straight out in front of you, a straight back, and hands resting slightly behind you. Balance on your sit bones and bend the legs into the air. Keep abdomen tight and your back straight and lift arms straight out in front of you with palms up. Begin to straighten your legs until they are 45 degrees off the floor and straight. Hold this pose for at least 20 seconds.

Locus Pose

Locus pose will help with any indigestion you have, as-well-as back pain. Lay down with your stomach on the floor and palms facing up at your side. Begin by lifting the head, shoulders, torso, arms, and legs off the floor. Arms should be parallel to the floor, eyes should be gazing forward, and thighs should be off te ground as much as possible. Hold for 30-60 seconds. 

Plow Pose

Plow pose is one of my favorite ways to end a flow! It will help increase energy, stamina, and aid in digestion. Lay on your back with arms at your side and legs out straight. Raise legs straight up, off the ground and place hands on the hip bones. Balance here, with legs straight up in the air and backs straight, then begin to lower legs over your head. Keep your hands on your hips and lower legs until the toes touch the ground. If toes do not touch the ground without bending the spine, that is fine, a straight spine is most important. Once toes are on the floor, extend arms outward and hold the position for, at least, 45 seconds. Then, slowly reverse the flow back to starting. ​

Child's Pose

Rest after your yoga routine with Child's Pose. Begin by sitting on your feet and lower legs with back straight and hands by your side. Curl your back downward and rest your head on the ground. Hold this position for as long as you wish before going into resting pose. ​

​

Five Ways to Spend Christmas Money

by Jenni in

Our little 6 month old 9 lb kitten. He has lion as his end goal ;)

Our little 6 month old 9 lb kitten. He has lion as his end goal ;)

Christmas is just around the corner and, although, it does not look a lot like Christmas here in sunny Florida, it sure does feel like it! Soon, family will be arriving and the festivities will be in full swing. But, what about after the holidays when the family is gone, the gifts are put away, and you have a wad of gift money burning a hole in your pocket? Spending that can be a big decision (I usually hold on to mine for like a month not knowing what to do- then get pillows or something ridiculous like that). To help with the "I have all this money but what do I want to do with it" dilemma, we have the list of five great, and somewhat unexpected, ways to spend holiday cash. 

Internet Finds

While perusing the internet for some great gifts for everyone else on your list, you may have run into something you had no idea you needed, but must have now. Unfortunately, the gift lists have gone out and there is no way you will be getting it this Yuletide season. Buy it! Whether it is something you saw on a blog or a shopping site like outblush or thefancy, there is bound to be something that caught your eye. Good for you for taking the high road and not buying it then. Now, you can buy it and feel uber pleased that you did not splurge! Personally, I have my eye on that ridiculously awesome, extra cushy yoga mat.

Donate It

$25 or $100 or how ever much you get over Christmas may not make that big of a difference to you, but it could be the world to a starving child or homeless kitty. Donating your extra goods to places like World Vision, Free Wheelchair Mission, or The Humane Society would keep those warm fuzzies going well past Christmas, and spread the love by helping another in need!

Get Away

For a great post-Christmas cool off time, pool your money with friends or that special someone and get away. Even if it is only for one night 45 minutes away from town, you are away. This could be a great time to catch up with friends you did not get to see over the holidays, or, spend some time alone with your favorite person!

Save It

No, this is not the most fun holiday spending idea, but it is still a good one. Saving or investing a few hundred dollars right before the new year could be great! It is a nice little cushion to fall back on for those unexpected needs, or, it could make a little extra back as an investment. Think of it more as waiting and being able to buy two pairs of shoes than spending now and only buying one!

Rejuvinate

The holidays can be a bit hectic with all the coming and going and family and you get the idea. Have a little post-holiday pamper time and forget all that stress! There are quite a few spas around that I have always wanted to go to but have not been able to rationalize the spending. If you can relate, a little holiday splurge on some R+R could be right up your ally. Go ahead, enjoy that mud mask guilt free, you deserve it!

Gifts for the Yoga Enthusiast

by Jenni in

Being the yoga enthusiast that I am, there are a few yoga related items on my holiday list that your yoga lover may drool over as well. Here are my top three holiday picks for the yogi's out there!

Good leggings are hard to find, and good leggings that don't cost one of your pretty legs is even harder to come by. That is why I am in love with these leggings and the price. The color is bold and fun but still pretty easy to match, and they are thick enough to not show skin... Oh the joy of being able to do a down-dog without fear of what the person behind me is seeing! These leggins also have great thermal qualities and will help you stay cool in the summer but warm in the winter. Gotta love transitional workout attire.

Let's face it, yoga is not all cupcakes and unicorns; you sweat. And no one likes to be the slip and slide floor show in a yoga class. Yoga rugs, towels, and the like will absorb all that hard work and keep us where we should be... No awkward falls here!

I know quite a few people who have this yoga rug and love it. It does not move around on the mat, hands and feet grip to it well, and it will retain the shape through out washing. Best part, the price. At about $25 it is a gift almost anyone can afford and, pretty much, any yogi will love.

Clothes are so wonderful and I love this uber soft, inexpensive yoga top. The shirt is not too slouchy or heavy that it will simply fall off, but it is not one of the crazy tight ones that ride up either. Ugh, I think clothing that rides up is the absolute worst thing during a yoga class! That's why every color option of this shirt will be on my Christmas list this year! Yay for new uber cute and cozy yoga tops and yay for some price conscience workout attire! The shirts range in price from $25- $47 depending on color.

Get Toned with Yoga

by Jenni in

Yoga is one of my favorite weekly routines

and something that I have seen great benefits through.Although I usually listen to a yoga podcast for instructions, I recently created a yoga flow that has quickly become a favorite for all over toning.It should only take 25-35 minutes depending on how long each pose is held and works the arms, core, bum,and legs!   

Start with mountain pose inhaling and exhaling. This is a meditative beginning ans should take about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Go in to a sun salutation, hold yourself in plank for 20 seconds, then complete another plank position on your fore arms before continuing to chaturanga, up dog and down dog. Stay in down dog for at least 30 seconds alternating weight between the left and right legs. Complete at least two more sun salutations before moving on to warrior.

After final downward facing dog, jump your feet between your hands and come back to standing position. Make sure to inhale when you stand up. Do one more forward bend and and extend your back so it is straight halfway though. bed forward again, then inhale as you come back to mountain. Roll into warrior one with arms above your head. Hold this for 30 seconds to 1 minute before arching backward. hold again for 30 seconds. Place back foot flat and go into warrior two, hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute before leaning body forward and go into side angle pose. Hold pose for 30 seconds to one minute. Come back up to warrior two and hold for thirty seconds, then go to reverse warrior for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Bring legs together and go into forward fold. continuing forward fold and warrior flow with the alternating leg.

After completing the warrior flow and another forward fold, bring leg back and move to warrior one. Make sure to get your balance first, then flow into a warrior 3 with arms in alignment with your ears. Make sure the your hips are even and facing the ground. Hold the warrior 3 position for up to 1 minute. Place the raised leg behind the planted leg and go into a forward fold, rotating from left, to middle, to right in 15 second intervals. Complete with alternating leg after the forward fold.

After the warrior 3 forward fold is completed with both legs, rotate feet so the are both parallel three feet apart and fold forward for thirty seconds. Come up with a straight spine and rotate front foot forward. stretch your body over your front foot and go into a triangle pose. Use a yoga brick here if needed. Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute then come back up to warrior 1 and go into dancing shiva for 30 seconds. Complete another forward fold and go on to alternating foot, then complete one more forward fold and lay down on the floor.

Bring legs into your chest and rotate your head to the left and body to the right. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds and alternate sides. Drop legs to the floor and place arms palms up. Go into Shavasana, the resting pose.