Yesterday I realized: handstands are hard because you can’t see yourself at all. You stare at the floor between your hands, and even if you wanted to turn and look at your alignment, you couldn’t. Even with a mirror, you can get only cursory information. You need a teacher to tell you what you’re actually [...]

“The Institute in a recent study found that yoga is equivalent to conventional medicines when it comes to treating the alcoholics, mentally depressed and schizophrenic patients.” /via @unitedyogis http://dailypioneer.com/nation/12076-docs-rope-in-on-yoga-experts-to-treat-neurological-disorders.html

In yoga class, you’ll often be told to “go deeper” while you’re holding a pose. It’s a yoga cliché, a lesson that’s lost its power. It can be taken literally, but that’s not always the best idea. So what exactly does it mean? Read the whole entry on the Huffington Post

Curious what goes on in a Bikram class? Miss the hot-and-sweaty routine? Here’s a three-minute version of everyone’s favorite 26-pose series. Watch the ribs and bellies dance! via my favorite Tumblr blog, Fuck Yeah Yoga

Brooklyn Outfitters, based in Williamsburg, is leading some cool outdoor adventures throughout the winter. This weekend there’s a 7.5 mile hike up Mt. Wittenberg, “the highest vertical ascent from base to summit” around.

Are you getting depressed because the cold weather is forcing you onto crowded trains, and stealing your endorphin buzz? Let’s find some other options! I’m a fair-weather biker, and I’m fascinated by year-round riders. So I’ve been asking each one I meet for their secrets.

Our friends over at MindBodyGreen, a great site for articles on all things healthy, have launched a couple new resources for green living. Their New York site, ny.mindbodygreen.com, offers local deals on yoga, cleanses, restaurants, and more. And their travel site, travel.mindbodygreen.com, is like Jetsetter for yoga retreats and eco-resorts. They’re currently running a contest [...]

Yesterday’s Times gave us a long article on the distraction engine known as technology. Kids these days — they’re using tech to find their passions (such as sending 27,000 text messages a month), and ignore their reading assignments. “I realized there were choices,” Vishal recalls. “Homework wasn’t the only option.” …Sam Crocker, Vishal’s closest friend, [...]

Well, turns out that those icons of alternative office space — exercise ball chairs — didn’t hold up well with the scientists. You’ll burn at least four more calories per hour (hey, that’s a cookie a day), but it won’t fix your posture. …a 2009 British study found that prolonged sitting on a therapy ball [...]

Need an excuse to get a massage? Research shows that it’s good for your stress levels (duh), and immune system — and that the effects vary by type! Volunteers who received [deep-tissue] Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol in blood and saliva, and in arginine vasopressin, a hormone that [...]