Author Archives: Jill

About Jill

Jill Lawson has been a fitness professional for 20 years, and has concentrated on yoga for more than 10 years. She has a bachelor's degree in exercise science, and a master's in physical education. This yogi lives in Southwest Colorado where she teaches yoga and Pilates.

3 Ways Yoga Supports a Healthy Lifestyle

Nearly everyone has aspirations to be healthy. Following diets and new and improved workout plans are popular behaviors at the beginning of each New Year, as many will vow to eat better and get more exercise.

A few months of eating fresh, high quality cuisine and hitting the gym makes a big difference in the way we feel. A slimmer waistline, clearer skin, and an overall feeling of health is worth it, so why is it so hard to stay the course?

Your lifestyle plays a huge role in whether or not your good intentions are going to stick. If you think your lifestyle might not be supporting your desire to be healthy, keep reading. (more…)

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Jill

Practice Yoga From Your Bed When the Flu Has You Beat

Anyone who has been sick with the flu knows that the best thing to do is stay in bed and rest. When your muscles are aching and your fever is high, a lot of downtime is always the best medicine.

The following are a few extremely gentle yogic practices you can do from the comfort of your own bed when you are not feeling well. Each technique will help ease the pain and agony of having the flu this winter, and help you get some much needed, high-quality rest.

 

Yoga Nidra

Nidra, in Sanskrit, means sleep. Especially when you are bedbound, practicing a little yoga nidra will help your body relax and get your mind off of how horrible you feel. (more…)

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Jill

Saturday Morning Drill: Combine Pilates and Yoga in Two Moves

Eventually, no matter how many times you extend into upward dog and stretch back into downward dog, your body will start to adapt and you will hit a plateau in strength and endurance. While we know the goal of practicing yoga is not always about muscular development, when you do want to get stronger, adding Pilates to your yoga sequence is a great way to make that happen.

The following two Pilates-inspired exercises will help you wake up your core and take your yoga practice to an entirely new level. For best results, practice each exercise back-to-back, and in the middle of your yoga sequence, when your body is warm and limber.

Criss Cross Exercise

From a supine position, bring both hands behind your head. Bend both knees and stack them directly over your hips. Lift your head and chest and twist your upper body to the right while extending your left leg at a 45-degree angle. (more…)

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Jill

myInsens Raises the Bar on Incense and Ignites the Senses for Peace of Mind

A boost of positive energy, an experience of total pleasure, and a jolt of pure ecstasy are what we all seek. A tranquil mind, a balanced life, and a calm spirit are what we all need. To realize these wants and needs, we must be open to let love quench our senses and assuage our desires. I found my love wrapped up in a pretty little velvet black box.

Derived from the most exotic, aromatic, and luscious blends of herbs, resins, and oils from around the world, myInsens incense sticks have just raised the bar in the incense industry.

Kaivan Dave, creator of myInsens, founded the company in the latter part of 2024. After spending six months developing more than 120 fragrances, he and a team of researchers decided to narrow it down and only select six of the absolute best, most pleasing aromas.

They made excellent choices. Unlike certain brands of incense products, which can have a strong chemical odor, myInsens smells natural and clean. (more…)

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Jill

Yoga Hurts: 4 Ways to Avoid Yoga-Induced Injuries

By now, many yoga enthusiasts are well aware of the informative article “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body,” written by author William J. Broad, published early last year in the New York Times. While the article stated that yoga may not be appropriate for certain populations, it also carved out a few well-appointed reasons how yoga can actually do more harm, than good.

The “Wounded Warrior Pose,” which is Broad’s latest cautionary piece, highlights not just the inherent dangers of yoga, but of yoga for men specifically. Listing injury statistics and several educated comments from a handful of related experts, Broad paints another hazardous picture of yoga.

Injuries are apparent in any physical endeavor from walking to race car driving. The majority of people might have a hard time believing that an activity as gentle as yoga could be hurtful, but the reality is, yoga is not appropriate for everyone.

The following are a few bits of sound advice that may help men (and women) avoid injuries in a yoga class. (more…)

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Jill

3 Thoughtful Reasons For Taking Up Yoga in the New Year

The popularity of yoga has been on the rise for quite some time. From Bikram’s hot yoga to Anne Anderson’s snow yoga (Snowga), there are styles sure to assuage all types of desires.

Although there are an estimated 22 million people practicing yoga today, a large number of American’s have yet to give it a whirl. If you are in need of a little coaxing to join a yoga class, check out the following reasons why making it your New Year’s resolution might be of benefit to your health and happiness.

You will learn more about yourself

You might be 60 years old and seemingly privy to all of your nuances and inner workings, but there will always be just a little bit more about yourself you can learn.

The word yoga means ‘to yok’ or ‘to join.’ The true purpose of yoga is to unite mind, body and spirit. In the process of this yoking, we discover parts of ourselves that we had no idea existed. This awakening is worth the effort, and it is what makes yoga so much more than just exercise and stretching. (more…)

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Jill

Mind Over Matter Needed to Achieve Health Goals in the New Year

As we approach the beginning of another new year, many will be setting the intention to get back into a healthy exercise routine. Whether it is jogging, stationary bicycle riding, or attending yoga classes with regularity, the motivation to get with the program takes some determination.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” Once your mind is set, the rest is easy. The challenging part is getting over the hump of doubt, impatience, and discouragement.

The following are a few tips that will help you set your mind to your goals so you may find success in making your healthy intentions a reality.

Create a mantra

A mantra is a word or group of words used to sharpen your focus during meditation. Although you might not actually be meditating when you repeat your mantra, it will still have an effect on your mind.

When you create a personal mantra, choose words that support your intention, such as “I have energy,” or “I love yoga.” Your mind will soon start believing whatever it is you are telling yourself, so choose your words wisely. (more…)

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Jill

Colleen Saidman Debuts Her First Solo Yoga DVD

Just in time for the new year, Gaiam, leading distributor of healthy lifestyle products and media, introduced a new weight loss DVD featuring Colleen Saidman. As the wife of acclaimed yoga teacher Rodney Yee, Saidman is not just a yoga celebrity’s sidekick, she is in her own right a successful yogini, businesswoman, and co-director of Donna Karan’s highly honorable Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program.

Stepping out on her own, “Yoga for Weight Loss” is Saidman’s first solo DVD. Combining muscle toning, core work, flexibility and relaxation techniques, Saidman provides a holistic approach to weight loss and health maintenance.

Understanding that successful weight management is not about deprivation, Saidman states, “Weight loss does not simply occur from eating less and burning more calories; it involves other factors such as proper relaxation.” She believes that a relaxed mind and body contribute to making healthy choices, resulting in better health and weight loss.

Saidman’s choices are certainly not about deprivation. Claiming that the purpose of yoga is to prolong and enjoy life, Saidman also endorses the health benefits of drinking wine and having sex. “There is nothing wrong with having sex and enjoying a glass of wine, particularly Estancia.” Saidman has partnered with Estancia winery to help boost their wine sales. (more…)

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Jill

Beat the Holiday Bloat with 3 Yoga Poses

Pass the mashed potatoes, pass the gravy, and pass the Yorkshire pudding, but don’t be surprised about what else you’ll be passing.

Your holiday indulgences can be a challenge to your digestive system. If Mylanta, Beano, or any other so-called gas and bloat-relieving brands are treatments you’d rather avoid, try the following yoga poses to help ease your discomfort.

Wind Relieving Pose

With a name like this, I’ll bet you can guess what this pose is intended to do. If you are in need of a little gas passing, try practicing this pose. Most importantly, make sure you are ready and prepared for the relief it will bring.

Lie on your back with both legs extended onto the floor. Bring your right knee toward your chest and wrap both hands around your right shin. Next, lift your upper body toward your thigh. Press your belly into your thigh as you breathe. Take up to five deep breaths before switching sides. (more…)

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Jill

Maintaining a Yoga Practice Through the Holidays to Prevent Bad Habits in the New Year

The last few months of the year are challenging for many reasons. From Thanksgiving Day to January 1st, many will fall victim to the greater pull of holiday pleasures and ditch their exercise routines and healthy diets.

It isn’t a crime to be a little lenient during the holidays. After all, what other time of year gives us this opportunity to eat and drink with such enthusiasm? The problem arises when seemingly temporary indulgences turn into permanent bad habits.

We all know that the best way to break a habit is to not start one in the first place. That’s why maintaining a consistent yoga practice can help. The following are a few suggestions to keep you motivated to hit the mat before your holiday hedonisms become your New Year lifestyle.

Seek instant gratification the healthy way

Needing something to knock the edge off your holiday stress? Instead of reaching for the eggnog, try taking a 5-minute break to sit, stretch, and breathe on your yoga mat. I guarantee it will bring you more gratification, give you more energy, and not to mention, reduce your daily intake of calories. (more…)

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Jill

Yoga Nidra Practitioners Learn to Consciously Sleep While Calming Their Nerves

We all know get-rich-quick scams work about as well as weight loss from a pill. While these enticements are tempting for most people in this country, there is another camp of people who always seem to want to make things harder for themselves. Be it working, dieting, or exercising, the old adage “less is more” often takes a back seat to the preferred “no pain, no gain.”

For those of you who are tired of experiencing pain for your gain, an ancient yogic practice called Yoga Nidra may help loosen your fierce grip on your need to achieve your goals.

Yoga Nidra is essentially the yoga of sleep, but it is not the type of sleep we engage in while napping, or at night. It is a relaxation induced, conscious sleep.

The benefits of attaining a super-restful yet fully awake state of mind reach far beyond just putting your feet up and enjoying a cup of tea. Yoga Nidra settles the nervous system and slows brain waves for an overall feeling of euphoria and inner peace.

A typical Yoga Nidra class may involve some guided imagery, body scanning techniques, or gentle pranayama practice. To aid in relaxation, participants are instructed to lie comfortably with their eyes closed and listen to the teacher’s vocal directions. (more…)

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Jill