Practice Makes Perfect: Sticking to a Yoga Routine at Home http://ift.tt/1I5exAL

If you're new to yoga, getting hands-on attention from a teacher is the best way to build a strong foundation. But if you're strapped for cash, it's still possible to build a solid yoga practice on your own. Both seasoned students and newbies alike can benefit from these tips on creating a sustainable home practice.

Start slow: There's no need to dive into a 45-minute sequence from the get-go; start with just 15 or 20 minutes when creating your home practice. You'll be more likely to stay committed to your new routine if the length of your practice doesn't seem so daunting. Get started with our 20-minute total-body yoga sequence.

Timing's everything: Every day, do your best to hit your mat at the same time. Whether it's first thing in the morning or once you're home from work, a stable routine will train your mind to crave a regular practice time. You also won't have the excuse about where to find the time to practice if it's seamlessly built into your busy schedule.

Pick poses wisely: A great yoga teacher once told me to choose two poses I love and one I hate when building a practice at home. The ones you love will have you feeling confident and graceful, but the ones we hate are the ones our bodies need the most!

Create a sacred space: Make a sweet home for your practice. Whether it's a corner of your bedroom, a section on your living room floor, or even your back porch, find a place where you'll have ample room for your mat and for fluid movement. Consider lighting a candle or two to kick up the ambience a notch.

Have the essentials on hand: Whether you're a beginner or an advanced yogi, watch this video to learn all about the essential tools for yoga you should have at home. In addition to the quality DVDs we suggest, try out our 10-minute yoga sequences from YogaWorks and Jennifer Aniston's yoga teacher Mandy Ingber or this flat-belly yoga sequence from Travis Eliot to complement your practice and offer the instruction you need.

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1DWCt4A

Get a Better Booty With JJ Dancer's 30-Minute Dance Cardio Workout http://ift.tt/1R1o7J2

Get your body and booty right with this nonstop dance cardio workout! Jennifer Johnson, creator of JJ Dancer, shares how to get those long, lean dancer legs with this 30-minute body-sculpting workout.

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1KEeqMl

5 Foods You Didn't Know Were High in Sugar http://ift.tt/1DV43iz

Even if you're not a dessert junkie, you might be shocked at some of the everyday foods that pile on the sugar. According to the American Heart Association, most women should be consuming no more than 100 calories from added sugars per day, or about 24 grams (six teaspoons of sugar). Added sugars come from sugars or syrups and are cooked into foods or sprinkled on at the table. While you should be concerned about all the sugar you're eating, generally speaking, naturally occurring sugars are less detrimental to your health - especially when they come in the form of a piece of fruit. The following list offers a mix of the two, but learning about all high-sugar foods will help you make smarter decisions in the future.

Spaghetti sauce: One cup of jarred marinara sauce from the store contains 14.5 grams of sugar, much of it from added sugar. Instead of buying the store-bought stuff, up the nutritional value and lower the sugar content naturally with this light and tasty raw tomato basil sauce, perfect for a refreshing Spring supper.

Juice: Robert Lustig, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, said "juice is just like soda . . . there is no difference." It's not surprising that fruit juice is filled with sugar, but even a glass of V8 vegetable juice has eight grams of sugar per serving, and some store-bought green juices contain a large amount of apple juice. Grab your blender or juicer, and go for a leafy-green smoothie instead of a sugar-laden beverage. There's no need to drink all your sugar and calories for the day in one sitting.

Bread: Bread may seem like a strange place to find sugar, but two slices of whole-wheat bread have eight grams of sugar. Opt for stuffing all your sandwich fillings into a large whole-wheat pita that only has 0.5 grams of sugar.

Salsa: You might guess that jarred salsa is quite high in sodium, but even a mere four ounces of this low-cal dip has 3.7 grams of sugar. The jarred stuff is loaded with preservatives, so chop up fresh ingredients for this inventive mango red pepper salsa. Your taste buds and waistline will both thank you.

Milk: Fat-free milk can be a deceivingly healthy beverage choice. One cup of nonfat milk has 12 grams of sugar. Start developing a taste for plain soy or almond milk instead, since both alternatives offer nearly half the sugar content of cow's milk.

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1K2zmvB

Weekend Link Love – Edition 346 http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

It’s the deal of the year for Mark’s Daily Apple readers: Register to win a $500 shopping spree to Thrive Market, and claim a 2-month free membership, $10 off your first order, 4 Primal eBooks, a $10 coupon to PrimalBlueprint.com by May 6 (this Wednesday!). Learn all the details here. Research of the Week It’s […]

from Mark's Daily Apple http://ift.tt/1OOiSxI

Bangin’ Liver http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This is a guest post from Mary Shenouda, Paleo Chef and Lifestyle Coach. Mary, here! You may know me as Mary, The Paleo Chef. Or perhaps you know me as the #EatPlayCrush Girl on Instagram. Or maybe you don’t know me at all, in which case, nice to virtually meet you. I am here today […]

from Mark's Daily Apple http://ift.tt/1bNhoSt

Skip the Pastry Case With These Grab-and-Go Breakfasts http://ift.tt/1QX3TAf

It can be easy to convince yourself to go for that buttery croissant in the coffee shop pastry case. After all, it's so convenient, and you're starving! Luckily, these healthier grab-and-go options are almost as convenient and just as delicious. Click through for delicious ideas on how to resist the pastries and start your day right.

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1KC1O8i

This Hourly Habit Can Benefit Your Health in Surprising Ways http://ift.tt/1GOmlIt

We sit a lot, even though we know it's not good for us. Prolonged sitting (like a normal 9-to-5er is apt to do) can increase the risk of diseases, like diabetes and cancer, as well as death. But a simple change to your daily habits can reduce all of these risks, according to a new study.

The new study, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, looked at data for over 3,000 people and found that just two minutes of walking every hour instead of sitting helped mitigate the dangers of prolonged sitting by decreasing your risk of dying by 33 percent.

The bad news: the researchers found that trading two minutes of sitting with two minutes of standing didn't have the same positive effect, although there are still good reasons to stand up for longer periods when you can. In any case, the researchers point out that two minutes of walking every hour really adds up - they estimate that you can burn an extra 400 calories a week by just adding this practice to your day.

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1DIsQFa