8 Nutrients You Need for Better Sleep

Set yourself up for restful nights by padding your diet with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that support serotonin, a brain chemical that contributes to relaxation and sleep, as well as foods that contain natural melatonin. 1. Magnesium Get it from: Almonds, cashews, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, salmon, yogurt 2. Melatonin Get it from: Bananas, ...

Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose (Supta Padangusthasana): Step by Step

Oh, your aching back? Or maybe you can't crack those tight hamstrings. Supta Padangusthasana or Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose is for you.   soup-TAH pod-ang-goosh-TAHS-anna) supta = lying down, reclining pada = foot angusta = big toe Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose: Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1 Lie supine on the floor, legs strongly extended. If your head doesn't rest comfortably on ...

Dieting to lose weight? Pssst…it won’t work.

So, What’s the Alternative? Nutritionist Tansy Boggon demystifies myths about dieting. It isn’t a viable long-term option, and yo-yo dieting can have an adverse impact on your overall health.   By Tansy Boggon The beginning of each new year is often marked by declarations to improve our diet, either for health or weight loss. ...

Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Buddha Konasana): Step by Step

A classic restorative posture, Supta Baddha Konasana or Reclining Bound Angle Pose can be modified for any level of hip and groin resistance.   (SOUP-tah BAH-dah cone-NAHS-anna) supta = lying down, reclining baddha = bound kona = angle Reclining Bound Angle Pose: Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1 Perform Baddha Konasana. Exhale and lower your back torso toward the floor, ...

7 Tricks to Nip Allergies in the Bud

Sick of feeling stuffed up? Try these Ayurvedic tips to help you get a handle on your allergies. 1. Increase Your Circulation Try a dry-brush massage before your morning shower and a vigorous round of Sun Salutations before breakfast. 2. Drink Hot Water Fill a thermos with hot water as your day begins. Carry ...

5 Ways to Put the Niyamas Into Practice Right Now

The moral and ethical principles that are the foundation of yoga practice—the yamas (social restraints) and niyamas (self-disciplines)—are especially important. Here’s what you need to know about the niyamas, and how to put them into practice. The five niyamas, part of the second limb of the “Eight Limbs of Yoga” from ...