We all know that yoga is good for your body and mind, but new research is showing that yoga offers many specific health benefits that you might not have expected!

1. Prevent arthritis – Building muscle tone has been linked to reduction in arthritis and back pain. Developing flexibility and balance also helped elderly yoga practitioners to avoid falls.
2. Keep migraines at bay – Studies have shown that three months of yoga practice for migraine sufferers led to fewer and less painful migraines. This improvement seems to be caused by a combination of stress reduction and proper body alignment.
3. Improve sleep – Eight weeks of daily yoga improved the sleep quality for sufferers of insomnia, but even twice-weekly practice can offer some improvements. Researchers theorized that yoga helped with the anxiety that can often prevent restful sleep.
4. Fight osteoporosis – Certain poses which require you to lift your own weight, such as Downward Dog, help strengthen bones to prevent osteoporosis. Yoga also lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which is thought to help keep calcium in the bones.
5. Lower blood pressure – Even the restful Savasana pose is good for you! Researchers found that subjects who tried Savasana instead of lying on the sofa had a measurable drop in blood pressure after 3 months of practice.

From all of these findings, it seems that the key is sticking with your practice! For yoga mats and clothing to get you started, visit www.barefootyoga.com!

Posted under Health and Fitness

Here are more exercises at your desk for stretching those tight hips:

Seated Hip Stretch

• Plant one foot flat on the ground.
• Cross the other foot over the thigh, with the ankle just past the thigh.
• Flex your foot to safeguard your knee.
• Sit tall, then gently fold forward, as far as you can go. If you experience knee pain, ease back.
• You can gently press down on your bent knee for a better stretch of the hips.
• Hold for a few breaths, then repeat on the other side.

Quad Stretch

• Hold a chair or table for support.
• Bend your standing leg and reach for the other leg.
• Reach down and grasp your ankle.
• Knock your knees together, then straighten your standing leg.
• Repeat on other side.

Knee-to-Chest stretch

• Sit with a supported back and one foot flat on the ground.
• Raise your leg with your hand on the shin.
• Gently hug your knee to your chest and hold.
• Repeat on other side.

For yoga supplies to begin your practice or take it to the next level, visit www.barefootyoga.com!

Posted under Health and Fitness

…or to at least pull your mat out for a quick 10 or 15 minutes!

It’s that time of year again: the sun starts to shine, the weather warms up, and if you’re one of the few who get the summer off (I’m looking at you, grade schoolers!) then it’s the time of year to relax.

If you’re like most of us and either go to school or work in between school years, than along with the gorgeous weather and feeling of adventure in the air, there are still responsibilities and tasks to perform and prioritize throughout the day. As I’m sure most of us have encountered, daily life can sometimes be intense or stressful whether it’s the dead of winter or 75 and sunny.

Below are five signs you may be in need of a yoga retreat, or at least in need of setting aside whatever amount of time you’re able each day to center yourself, get grounded, and relax. Anytime you take that time just for yourself (no matter how big or small) it makes a difference for your practice, for you, and for how we interact with the world around us.

1. Sweating the Small Stuff

It’s a good sign to take a breath and book that retreat if you find yourself getting overwhelmed or stressed about the little things. Just relax! Do your best and check out retreats somewhere tropical. We’re thinking the Caribbean.

2. Negativity Towards Those Around You

If you find yourself getting irate at the smallest comment or mannerism, that’s a good cue to reconnect with your Zen. When we’re negative to the people around us (and I don’t mean in a constructive criticism kind of way) it’s generally a sign there’s something going on with us or our lives that isn’t working or doesn’t measure up to expectation. Let those expectations of yourself and others go and take a look at what’s truly going on. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: a yoga retreat (you knew that was coming!), a yoga class or solo practice (you probably knew that was too), meditation, or even simply listening to your mind and body’s needs and paying attention to them. Especially if you only drank coffee for breakfast or skipped that Ashtanga class to watch Netflix.

3. A Nature Disconnect

In our busy lives (especially us city slickers!) it can be easy to fall out of touch with nature, and in turn, the natural way of being. If you feel like it’s been a while since you felt sand between your toes or smelled fresh mountain air, check out a retreat somewhere beautiful and soothing like the Berkshires (Kripalu Center, anyone?) or in the Santa Barbara mountains.

4. A Practice Disconnect

If you’re feeling out of touch with your practice and can’t quite put your finger on it, that can be another pointer it’s time to get away for at least a long weekend, if not the whole week. That feeling of disconnect can point to internal (emotional, spiritual and physical) factors that should be addressed, but a change of scenery can also instigate change and renew perspective, helping to reconnect you to yourself and your practice.

5. You Just Want To

Last but not least, go on a yoga retreat if you want to!! There doesn’t need to be negative signs or reasons to go on a retreat. If it sounds like fun and you’re able to, go for it! There ain’t no party like a yoga retreat party because a yoga retreat party creates positive change in your emotional, physical and spiritual well-being!

Need to stock up on some props to take with you? Visit us at BarefootYoga.com and take a breather. We’ve got you covered.

Posted under Health and Fitness