Gaiam Life - Mind-Body Fitness

Stand Up for a Strong Core

Kirs10 — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:53:34 +0000

By The FIRM Master Instructor Susan Barnes

You don’t have to lay on the floor to work your core! Do this standing core workout routine by itself after a short warm up, or add it to the end of another workout to cool down and work your core at the same time. Want more of a challenge? Intermediate and advanced exercisers can add a set of 3-, 5-, or 8-pound dumbbells.

Be sure to stretch when you’re done — a foam roller is especially great after a tough abs session!

Get fit with The FIRM videos on GaiamTV.com.

Quiz: What Does Your Workout Wear Say About You?

Kirs10 — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:51:49 +0000

The 4 C’s of fitness clothing

Author:

Kirsten Longnecker

Are your yoga pants yawn-inducing? Is your sports bra spent? If the last time you bought new exercise apparel the song “Let’s Get Physical” was playing on a radio, it’s time for an intervention.

Much like diamonds, the qualities of yoga and fitness wear fall into four categories. Only instead of cut, color, clarity and carat, our four C’s of fitness clothing are cut, color, condition and crunchiness.

Try the Mermaid Stretch For Your Core!

Kirs10 — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:01:14 +0000

The Pilates mermaid side stretch lengthens and opens the side body. This variation on one knee makes it a more intense stretch and adds a bit of a workout for the obliques. This exercise has an inner flow that uses the breath to deepen the stretch. You can use just your body weight or add light weights. Repeat 2-3 times, then switch sides.

Find full-length Mari Winsor Pilates workouts at GaiamTV.com.

How Yoga Heals Depression

Valerie Gleaton — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:36:45 +0000

Why poses can be better than a prescription

Author:

Jean Weiss

Perhaps you go through your day feeling a general sense of melancholy; you don’t laugh as much as you used to and feel a subtle pressure on your chest. Or maybe it’s more serious; you struggle to get out of bed in the morning and feel breathless beneath a dark cloud. Depression affects nearly 15 million Americans, many who take medication to help elevate their mood.

Inspiration in a Minute: The Lifelong Gift

Kirs10 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:16:45 +0000

What do Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, music entrepreneur Russell Simmons and 1 million school kids have in common? Meditation! Check out this clip from the documentary School of Thought to see why they call meditation the gift you can call on anytime.

We asked experts, authors and readers like you to share their stories of Hope. Every day for the next month, you’ll find new tips for optimism on Gaiam Life, the Stream of Consciousness blog and our social media sites: Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. And don’t miss the GaiamTV.com Hope Film Festival, with FREE films all month long.

Pilates Stretches for Lower Back and Legs

Kirs10 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:43:53 +0000

Gaining and maintaining flexibility becomes more of a challenge as we age, but it’s not impossible. Flexibility adds to our mobility and joint health, so we must make stretching a priority, and Pilates is the way to go.

Join Susannah Cotrone, a teacher with Mari Winsor Pilates, to stretch your lower back and the backs of the legs. If you’re sitting in a chair or standing most of the day these are the areas that need the most attention. You’ll improve flexibility, stave off injury and increase your comfort level in day-to-day activities.

Stay fit with more Mari Winsor Pilates workouts at GaiamTV.com.

Warm Up, FIRM Style!

Kirs10 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:56:38 +0000

Injury-proof your workout with this 6-minute warm-up

We’ve all been guilty of skipping our warm-up, especially when we’re crunched for time. But there are some very important reasons why we need to slow down and take time to warm up, including improved performance and decreased chance of injuries. This six-minute warm-up with The FIRM’s Allie Del Rio is perfect before weight training or a cardio session.

Get fit with The FIRM videos on GaiamTV.com!

Crane Spreads Wings: Learn a Tai Chi Move

Gaiam Staff — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:37:43 +0000

Master tai chi instructor David Dorian-Ross demonstrates the Crane Spreads Wings exercise. Excerpted from David’s T’ai Chi Beginning Practice DVD by Gaiam.

Try more tai chi videos on GaiamTV.com.

Spring Detox Foods & Shopping List

GranolaJoe — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:09:26 +0000

Detoxify and rebalance your body with cleansing foods

Author:

John Douillard