Find some inner peace with this selection of yoga mats from top brands like Liforme,Manduka, andYogi Bare.

Best for support

Toplus Yoga Mat

A yoga mat that's gentle on your joints, providing comfort for the knees, elbows, and hips.

Best for the environment

Manduka eKO Lite Yoga Mat

Manduka yoga mat is lightweight, portable, and easy on the planet.

Best for alignment

Yogi Bare Paws Yoga Mat

Central line design acts as a guide to ensure that you're always in the right position.

We're stressed. You're stressed. Everyone is stressed.

The modern world can be a demanding place, and you could probably do with a break. Wouldn't it be nice to just leave everything behind and escape all the worries and pressures of daily life? No, we're not talking about a trip to some exclusive resort in the sun. We're talking about something you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Millions of people around the world rely on daily doses of yoga to get through the day. The practise combines physical poses, controlled breathing, and meditation. The idea is to reduce stress, build strength, and find some inner peace. Basically, it's great for your mind, body, and soul.

Yoga is something that total novices can try, and you don't even need to be particularly fit or flexible to get started. Simply throw on some comfortable clothes, light some candles, play some chilled music, and you're good to go. There are absolutely loads of yoga services for working out at home available online, so there is no excuse not to give it a try.

The only purchase that you should probably make before beginning your first practise is a yoga mat. This will provide grip, stability, and cushioning for when you're exercising, which is all really important, especially if you're still learning the ropes.

There are absolutely loads of options out there for you to consider, in every shape, size, and style. We have checked out everything that is on offer to bring you a selection of your best options, so you can pick your favourite without doing any of the research. Reading all the reviews and specifications can be stressful, and that's really not what this is about.

We have lined up some of the best yoga mats from popular brands like Liforme, Topus, Manduka, and Yogi Bare. There is something for everyone in this list. Even you.

These are the best yoga mats for 2020.

Read the rest here:
Best yoga mats in the UK: Keep fit at home in 2020 - Mashable

May 07, 2020

I'm broken, like most eventers. Duct tape, bute, and get on with it, right? We, as riders and competitors, treat our horses significantly better than we treat ourselves. A few years back I was gearing up for a fun season with a nice string of younger horses when I got kicked in the side of the knee. Yoga was a large part of my rehab for it and I came back stronger and faster than my orthopedist thought was possible. I also became acutely aware that my collective injuries were causing some minor (or not so) imbalances in the saddle. For example, I struggled with canter half pass right because I was perpetually sitting a bit heavier on the left side. I was out of balance - mentally and physically.

One of the things I love about Yoga is that you can ramp it up and kick the #!(#%! out of yourself, or you can slow it down and it feel like active stretching. Anything you do has a direct impact on your time in the saddle: get fitter, get softer, get kinder, get stronger. This is why I started Om Riding. We combine Yoga geared specifically for equestrians with traditionally formatted clinics (ie. dressage, show jumping, cross-country, gymnastics, etc). As a result, we are able to address the mental and physical side of riding before we even get into the tack as well as get insight into some of the rider imbalances prior to beginning the gymnastics.

Here are three basic Yoga poses you can try at home that will help increase your flexibility and strength, in and out of the saddle.

Here is a quick 10-minute flow video for people to do before they hop on their horses. It's short, sweet, and to the point. It focuses on loosening the hips, back, and shoulders. It's light impact and you do not need a yoga mat for this flow!

Currently, I am unable to travel for clinics due to COVID-19 so we have moved to an online platform. It's been a fun shift and a great way to stay connected with riders nationally. As we hope to begin to travel again, we will continue the online classes as a way to help riders get more time on the mat. Anyone is welcome to join! Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. More information is available here.

Go here to see the original:
Why Yoga? with Lisa Bauman - United States Eventing Association

Your Brain on Yoga is an impressive showcase of medical research from expert contributors including Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D. of Harvard Medical School, Lorin Roche, Ph.D., and Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, Ph.D. The documentary explains the science behind yoga and mental health using specific personal experiences as examples.

The free virtual screening of Your Brain on Yoga is what Cindy and Cobb Rogers are calling a "necessity" in the current state of the world. "At a time when so many are stuck at home, alone with their mental issues, we want to give them an option that is proven to work," says Co-Founder Cobb Rogers, "And we don't just want to tell viewers about the power of yoga, we want to show them that it has actually helped real people."

The passion behind this project spawns from first-hand addiction and alcoholism that troubled the Rogers family for decades. For much of his adolescent life, Cobb witnessed his mother in and out of rehabilitation clinics, trying to regain sobriety and mental stability. Yoga was one of the only therapies that helped Cindy manage her mental illness. Today, she is five years sober and attributes yoga to her recovery. Now, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the mother-son team wants to share the benefits of yoga on mental health, especially during this high stress time.

Hundreds of members of the yoga community from all around the world, including therapists, doctors and instructors came forward to contribute to the project, all submitting recorded videos of their personal experiences and research from their own homes due to COVID-19. This outpouring of participation and passion for Your Brain on Yoga is an impressive show of the mental health benefits of yoga.

YogaPose.com is an entirely free online yoga resource created by Cindy and Cobb Rogers focused on ailment relief through individual yoga poses. The website features a comprehensive library of yoga pose tutorials, all searchable by symptoms, that showcase the physical and mental benefits of each pose.

Register to view Your Brain on Yoga on YogaPose.com. The film will be available to stream on May 9, 2020 and is free to watch, although donations are welcome. For all press or media inquiries, please contact [emailprotected].

ContactYasmin Parsloe, Editor [emailprotected]

SOURCE Yoga Pose

http://YogaPose.com

Read more here:
Mother & Son Partner with Doctors & Yogis to Create Mental Health and Yoga Documentary Amidst COVID-19 - PRNewswire

DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) -- Effective Friday morning, fitness centers, gyms, and aquatic centers in the 22 counties in Iowa that werent originally allowed to open may now allow a single person into their building on an appointment-only basis.

One Tree Hot Yoga on 53rd Street in Davenport shared the news with their clients. Shannon Watkins, owner of the studio said responses started coming in.

"Emails started rolling in and we are almost full for the week. Which is exciting," she said.

The studio will no longer be empty, but it's also not going to be a packed room like they are used to.

"We are allowed to have one client per class, but we are allowed to have the employees here. So we are excited for all of us to get back together again and get used to the heat again," Watkins said.

Watkins has set up flameless candles in the studio to enforce social distancing. Even though classes may not look the same, the coronavirus has taught them new ways to teach -- like starting online classes.

"We were the first to start them once we were told we had to close. it has been an adjustment for all of us. The community and our clients and our instructors and I think its made us better instructors," Watkins said.

As they learn to find peace in the time of the unknown. They plan to continue offering online classes while holding in-person sessions. Leaving the option up to people on what they want to do.

"From a business perspective, we really cant operate with just one client. The feedback we have been given we are certain that we are going to come back from this," Watkins said.

Coming back and trying to adjust to what they once knew.

The single person into a building rule will continue until May 15th. Restaurants and bars, swimming pools, salons, barbershops, libraries, and race tracks in those 22 counties must remain closed through May 15 in accordance with the previous proclamation.

Read the original here:
Davenport yoga studio implementing governor's plan of one person in the building - KWQC-TV6

The Rebound Indiana is a new initiative from WRTV to help you navigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are your source to find all of the information you need on the help thats available and how to access those resources. We are focused on helping you find employment, make ends meet, manage the pressure of these unprecedented times, and ensure these programs work as promised. Visit theINDYchannel.com/rebound for more information.

INDIANAPOLIS Many Hoosiers are spending more time in front of computers and sitting at home.

An Indianapolis physical therapist gives some simple tips for a few things people can do to benefit the mind and body from home.

Social distancing has created an environment where many of us are spending countless hours in a chair. Although work is getting done, it could be taking a toll on the body and the mind.

Fred Loeffler is a physical therapist at the Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center. He is used to working with patents feeling pain.

His team realized, the tools they use with their patients could benefit all Hoosiers right now. It is called "chair yoga."

"Now that we are all sitting at the computers and most of us are at our laptops, which is a shorter keyboard, so we are really forward shouldered, we have our head forward, and we have a rounded back and all those muscles in the front in your peck area get tight and your head and neck muscles get tight," Loeffler said.

With the help of a Kimber Blackwell, a Physician Assistant at IHTC, Loeffler created an online chair yoga tutorial for anyone who is looking for mind and body relief while working from home or to manage stress in these difficult times.

Adapting yoga moves to a chair gives everyone a chance to enjoy the benefits, regardless of skill level.

"The chair yoga is about as easy as it gets and you can progress from there," Loeffler said. "With the chair poses you are just doing a simple mountain pose or extension pose where you are lifting up your head and rolling your shoulders back and taking some deep breaths will give your back, the muscles in your back of your neck and upper back a chance to relax and you can get some stretching in."

These simple movements go beyond stretching the body, Loeffler says deep breathing is one of the most important things someone can do to help with stress and anxiety.

"When we are stressed or when we are in these poor postures we are breathing shallow, we are not really getting full breath, we are not getting full oxygenation of blood and it just makes us foggy and it just makes us anxious," Loeffler said. "So those six deep breaths with your poses and extending your spine and opening things up really do help get oxygenated blood in."

Loeffler says to take a break from working, stretching your arms, and taking a deep breath in, can pay off in the long run.

"It really does help," Loeffler said. "It lowers blood pressure, it lowers anxiety, it lowers stress, it relieves tension, and it gets more oxygenated blood into you. It's efficient if you are a patient dealing with pain or an employee stuck at home working on a computer all day."

Extra time at home can be used to start developing habits that will help Hoosiers successfully rebound into a new normal.

"If you can begin a new chair yoga program and if you can begin incorporating some movement into you, that would be fantastic to have carry over into your everyday life when you return back to a normal work environment or a normal type of setting," says Loeffler.

View the Chair Yoga tutorial with the Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center here.

The rest is here:
The Rebound Indiana: 'Chair Yoga' helps manage stress and anxiety with simple movements - WRTV Indianapolis

Courtesy

When it comes to finding the best yoga pants for your workouts, there are a few factors to consider: comfort, style, longevity the dreaded see-through factor. As we are trudging through challenging times at this current moment, perhaps the best way to relieve a little stress is with a solo run through the neighborhood, some low-impact at-home cardio, or even virtual vinyasa flow classes. Of course, you're going to need the perfect activewear, no matter how socially distant you find yourself. Enter the almighty and versatile yoga pant.

Ahead, we've narrowed down the crowded fashion field to 12 styles that will get you through quarantine and beyond. Scroll through for the best pairs that are flattering, form fitting, stylish, and won't reveal your skivvies when you take a breather from your activity to stretch. We've found everything from classic black to inspiring prints that'll give you all the confidence you need to hit Warrior II like the champion you are. Don't feel like breaking a sweat? They're great for looking cute on the couch too.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1 Tie-Dyed Stretch Leggings

$108.00

Cut from compression stretch fabric, these babies will make you feel fit before the workout even begins. There's a matchingtie-dye sports bra to go with if you feel so inclined.

2 High-Waist Moto Leggings

$114.00

Looking for core support? This pair has a high-waist cut andsculpts the figure, while stayingbreathable for your toughest workouts.

3 Original Super-Soft Yoga Pants

$119.00

An elasticated waistband and drawstring offer extracore support during workouts; the sleek sheen finish offersa chic look for post-workout lounging.

4 Printed Stretch Leggings

$450.00

Made inItaly andperfect for low-impact workouts or leisure activities, Fendi's pantsflauntthe brand's distinctive logo down the sides.

5 Daisy Veronica Leggings

$99.00

These daisy-printed leggings will make you feel put together and ready to workout.Complete the full look with thematching sports bra.

6 Limitless Leggings

$140.00

As their name suggests, the Limitless Leggings are knit from supportive stretch fabric and perfect for high-intensity workouts. Read:Road warriors, we've found your new running partner.

7 Sportswear Legasee Swoosh Graphic Leggings

$34.00

Always a classic,Nike's knit leggings sculpt and contour the figure, hugging your body as you go for that final set.

8 Denim Papersack Leggings

$120.00

With a drawstring tie and sweet ruffle-trim elastic waist, this pair looks likedenim but is actuallyspun from high-tech jersey. Dress them up to make any leisure activity feel elevated.

9 Space Dye Caught in the Midi High-Waisted Leggings

$97.00

Ultra soft, extremely comfortable, lovely lilac: three reasons why Beyond Yoga's high-waisted yoga pantsshould be added to your collection.

10 P Ess 3/4 Tights

$80.00

Get a motivation and mood boost courtesy ofAdidas by Stella McCartney's bright pink,sweat-wicking,super-breathable tights.

11 Black Compressive High-Rise Leggings

$58.00

Made from 25 recycled water bottles, the ultra-high-waisted yoga faves aren't listed as the number one-approved leggings on the Girlfriend Collective's site for nothing.

12 Colour-Block Leggings

$194.00

You can count on the stretch fabric and high-waisted fit here to hold you in all the right places. Coordinate with the sleek yoga backpack from the brand.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

See the rest here:
12 Best Yoga Pants for Workouts and Everything Else - HarpersBAZAAR.com

Learn to write a haiku, how to make Swedish bacon pancakes or explore the history of Motown. For many, the stay-at-home order is a good opportunity to pick up new hobbies or skills and the College of DuPage Continuing Education program is here to help with the free "Continuing Education at Home" video series.

Designed to provide content while ensuring students stay safe and healthy, the videos are posted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on Continuing Education's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Continuing Education's social media engagement has seen a substantial uptick since launching the series, increasing followers on Facebook by more than 20 percent and demonstrating a need among community members.

"Staying connected during this time is critical to the Continuing Education program as we are often seen as the face of the college to the greater community," said Stephanie Abrassart, Continuing Education Program Development Manager. "We want to ensure the community knows that we are still there for them and will continue to provide services to them. Folks are looking for things to do and keep themselves busy and we are happy to help do that by providing a variety of demos and classes."

Early in the shutdown, Continuing Education Dean Joseph Cassidy tasked the department to engage noncredit lifelong learners virtually through video content. Since then, Continuing Education staff and faculty have been creating video content to keep lifelong learners engaged and entertained. The series includes everything from hands-on activities such as baking cinnamon star bread, watercolor painting, yoga and tai chi to memoir writing and brain training exercises. Videos also include experts covering topics such as decluttering, the history of Motown and the history of folk-rock act Simon and Garfunkel. In addition, the series features COD Associate Dean of Public Services Tom Brady covering topics including coronavirus scams, crime prevention through environmental design and COVID-19 updates.

Retired Naperville resident Joseph Kubal said he has watched every video released and eagerly looks forward to future offerings. He lists his favorite videos as Swedish bacon pancakes, haiku poetry and watercolor painting.

Kubal has been involved with educational offerings at COD for about four years, attending many Lunch Break Lectures, Sage Series offerings and Continuing Education courses on a wide variety of subjects. He said Continuing Education has done an excellent job in pursuing its mission during the pandemic.

"Continuing Education is doing a wonderful job of opening up new possibilities for folks to sample a wide variety of disciplines and activities while many of us have a little more time," he said. "The videos help me concentrate on things other than the pandemic and gives me a little something to look forward to a couple of times a week. They help me take my mind off things for at least a few minutes and concentrate on things that may have been on my to-do list or my bucket list for years."

While supporting and guiding the faculty through the process of getting videos made and submitted, Continuing Education staff have also joined the effort to create content for the series, providing videos on topics ranging from baking and sewing face masks to paint pouring.

"While none of these are in our normal scope of work, we are trying to keep students engaged in ways that keep their minds going," Abrassart said.

She added that the series provides the opportunity to test the waters and explore subject areas they might not typically cover.

"The video series has allowed Continuing Education to explore new content areas that are of interest to folks, but that may not be able to be designed into an entire five-week course," she said. "A perfect example of this was our cross lateral brain exercises video. We don't normally offer an entire class in that area of study, but many viewers engaged with that video and it was neat to explore the topic. The series has also been a good testing ground to see what the community is interested in and this helps our programmers with future course development."

Learn more about Continuing Education at College of DuPage at http://www.cod.edu/academics/continuing_education/index.aspx

Read this article:
Learn about the history of beer to yoga with College of DuPage's 'Continuing Education at Home' - Chicago Daily Herald

How your enneagram center can guide your yoga practice to improve your ultimate game.

Tuesday Tips are presented by Spin Ultimate; all opinions are those of the author. Please support the brands that make Ultiworld possible andshop at Spin Ultimate!

Do you tend to become overly emotional when things dont go as expected? Have your teammates ever told you that you should learn to let go?

Have you come to realize that you need to strengthen your focus during games, but you dont know how to do it?

Would you like to find a way to relax your mind and slow down your thoughts after committing a mistake?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, yoga may help you reach your goals.

For LeBron [James], regular yoga has helped him to strengthen his muscles and avoid injury (he rarely misses a game), but as he correctly states yoga isnt just about the body, its also about the mind, and it helps him to stay focused throughout the season and in the playoffs.

When your name is Tom Brady, the pressure is doubled as expectations are so high and the critics are just waiting for him to slip up. Brady is able to perform to such a high level because yoga has helped him both physically and mentally. Brady states, its great for flexibility, its therapeutic, and great for your attitude.

With yoga, you improve mobility and flexibility, which reduces the risk of injury. You also develop better synchronization between movement and breathing during your sports practice, which leads to more efficiency. Furthermore, you become more aware of your body, your range of motion, your abilities, and your limits. You then become skilled at detecting muscle tension, which allows you to relax your body before you hurt yourself.

Yoga is a practice that has become increasingly popular with athletes in recent years. You may not practice it, and you may think this sounds a bit woo-woo or too out there for you. But did you know there are many types of yoga? Depending on your character, your state of mind, and your goals, it is possible to find the type of yoga that suits you and that will allow you to progress in sport.

In this article, I will describe different types of yoga, and give you tips so you can find the types that might be the most appropriate for you based on your personality traits and goals.

I have always been fascinated by the personality traits of athletes and the deep motivations that drive them to act in a certain way. There are many theories about personality and over the past decade I have studied some of them like the MyersBriggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram. Here are some of my discoveries, mostly based on the Enneagram Theory.

In our bodies, we have three centers of intelligence, that I like to call internal GPS, with which we interact to make decisions:

We all use the three centers of intelligence, but according to the Enneagram, in our childhood, we would have developed a preference: we tend to use one of our three internal GPS in a more natural and spontaneous way than the others.

We can compare this behavior to writing: we are able to use both hands, but when the time comes to write, we have a favorite hand that we use spontaneously.

The Instinctive Personality Type

A player who has an instinctive personality type likes competition and battle. They typically like universe points and meeting strong opponents! They are very energetic, focused, and intense on and off the field. They are quick-witted, decisive: they often want to conquer and they may sometimes be experienced as aggressive by others.

In stressful situations, a player who has a dominant action center could tend to become judgmental, intense, and very vocal with their teammates. They can be overwhelmed with anger and frustration. To regain their focus, they need to cool down emotionally, let go of blame, and learn to work with their teammates as a unit.

The Emotional Personality Type

A player who has an emotional personality type likes relationships, evolving in a harmonious atmosphere and being connected with others. They typically love the car ride to go to tournaments! They are very welcoming and they bring people together. They are sensitive, they usually dont like confrontation, and they want to contribute and help their team reach their goal.

In stressful situations, a player who has a dominant feeling center could tend to fear the opinion of others or become afraid of disappointing their teammates. They can be quickly overwhelmed with sadness, melancholy, or embarrassment. To regain their focus, they need to organize and structure their thinking, free themselves from social approval, accept change, and learn to let go of the past.

The Rational Personality Type

A player who has a rational personality type likes structure and knowing what to do in specific situations. They typically like talking about set plays and strategies! They like to analyze their sport and go deep in their understanding. They can be very creative and like to bring new concepts and ideas to their coaches. They want to master their sport, and they often have a solid understanding of the facts.

In stressful situations, a player who has a dominant thinking center could tend to over-analyze and think too much. They can quickly become overwhelmed with fear, worries, and anxiety. To regain their focus, they need to slow down their thoughts, get out of their head, and learn to get into action without needing to know everything.

Did you recognize some of your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions in the descriptions above? Have you identified your dominant center? Would you say you are more of a rational, an instinctive, or an emotional type of player?

According to your personality type, below are a few tips to select the type of yoga that can help you balance your emotions and stay focused in big games.

The Instinctive Personality Type

Players who identify as the instinctive type may benefit from practicing a relaxing type of yoga and avoid overheating. Because they have so much intensity and fire in them, they need to practice letting go of anger and competition, and feeling empathy, compassion and forgiveness. They want to learn to stay calm, cool and collected while focusing and leading their team to success.

Recommended

Best Practiced in Moderation

The Emotional Personality Type

Players who identify as the emotional type have a tendency to become over-sensitive, to fear judgment or to freeze and resist in difficult situations. For these reasons, they may benefit from practicing a dynamic type of yoga that will help them develop combativeness and courage. They need to challenge themselves, and to do so they must push themselves out of their comfort zone. Since they tend to be naturally kind, loving, and compassionate, what they could develop with yoga is discipline and structure.

Recommended

Best Practiced in Moderation

The Rational Personality Type

Players who identify as the rational type may benefit from practicing yoga slowly and deliberately i.e. consciously and intentionally. Because their mind is so hyperactive, they need to slow down, and learn to focus on the present moment and on their body. They want to avoid cold, heat and exhaustion, since it is demanding on their nervous system.

Recommended

Best Practiced in Moderation

When you think about yoga, you probably already feel drawn to a specific style.

An instinctive personality type may like to practice a rather demanding and challenging type of yoga, such as bikram yoga. An emotional personality type may feel attracted by a more meditative and spiritual type of yoga, and a rational personality type may like practicing yoga in a very structured environment, where they can get lots of explanations from the teacher.

What if you tried something different? Practicing a new type of yoga, which you are less used to, could teach you new mental skills and allow you to explore different facets of your personality.

You could also transform the three types of personality described above into mindsets. Sometimes, at the end of the day you feel upset and impatient. You could then choose to practice a type of yoga that is recommended for the state of mind of the instinctive type of player.

If you participate in a yoga class with the goal of stretching, working on your mobility and endurance, it surely will be helpful. But what can be even more powerful is formulating a specific intention that involves both your body and your mind.

Start by defining what you need to work on physically, mentally, and emotionally, set a goal for yourself and choose a yoga practice that fits your goal. When you practice with intention, you accelerate the process of transforming your mind, body and emotions, and it will open up new horizons for you.

Link:
Tuesday Tips: What is Your Yoga Style, According to Your Personality Type and Mental Goals? - ultiworld.com

This spring weather had a lot of us in a good mood last weekend. Hopefully, that continues this weekend. We could all use a nice walk before we settle in for some fun virtual events. Maybe you can ask your mother to join you! Its almost like taking her to brunch, right?

Its graduation season and the disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic means a lot of folks whove worked hard wont get to walk in a ceremony. So how will Berklee College of Music make the best of the situation? The school's class of 2020 will join together in an ensemble to record a tribute to Berklees honorary degree recipients, which include John Legend and Sheila E. Watch the concert at 7:30 p.m. before the commencement ceremony, which happens Saturday.

The Somerville Arts Councils annual event, PorchFest, is not happening in the traditional sense. This year, the fest is moving to the couch with virtual performances from Somerville musicians. The event will be streamed via Facebook Live, so instead of watching from the street with other viewers, everyone can maintain social distance. The performances kick off at 12 p.m. and run to 6 p.m.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is putting together a Mothers Day performance with classical violinist Lilit Hartunian. She is set to play three pieces by composers who were active during French painter Claude Monets lifetime. Each artwork pairs with a piece Hartunian will play. Tune in at 2 p.m.

Grab your mom (virtually, if need be), make some waffles and get ready to dance. Who doesnt love a good, soulful party? Soulelujahs DJ Claude Money will spin for the ICA. (Soulelujah is a vinyl party hosted at The Sinclair in Harvard Square on Saturday nights.) Look forward to a morning of soul, funk and R&B songs that are sure to make you and your mom want to get on up. Catch the set on the ICA's Instagram Live at 11:30 a.m.

Listen, we could all use some relaxation. The days of self-isolation have turned into weeks and the weeks have turned into months. How overwhelming! Yoga is a great way to unwind and this Massachusetts studio has classes available for purchase. From 15-minute guided meditations to 60-minute power flow yoga classes, there is something for yogis at all levels.

Christian Burno Arts Fellow Christian Burno is the arts reporting fellow for The ARTery, WBURs arts and culture team.

More

Originally posted here:
5 Things To Do This Weekend, Including A Virtual Yoga Class And A Mother's Day Violin Performance - WBUR

Coronavirus

Tessa Jenkins, training director and instructor for Bulldog Yoga, is teaching online workouts while overseeing her daughters' virtual schooling.

Tessa Jenkins is the training director and an instructor for Bulldog Yoga. Heres how shes been keeping up with teaching while at home. / Photograph courtesy of Tessa Jenkins.

Welcome to Sweat Diaries, Be Well Phillys look at the time, energy, and money people invest in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle in Philly. For each Sweat Diary, we ask one area resident to spend a week tracking everything they eat, all the exercise they get, and the money they spend on both. Want to submit a Sweat Diary? Email lbrzyski@phillymag.com.

Who I am: Tessa Jenkins (@tessajenkinsyoga), 44

Where I live: Chester Springs

What I do: I am the training director and a yoga instructor at Bulldog Yoga. Im also a wife and a mom to two daughters.

What role healthy living plays in my life: My first career was as an ICU nurse and I feel I have come full circle as a yoga teacher, assisting others in preventative wellness care. I have a history of cancer in my family, so I take steps living my healthiest life with an active lifestyle and eating well to allow me to be the best version of myself for my family!

Health memberships (and what they cost):

Jenkins takes an online plank-focused Bulldog Yoga class. / Photograph courtesy of Tessa Jenkins.

6:30 a.m. Even during quarantine Im making every effort to get up early and get a workout in before my daughters, Lola (11) and Sloan (8), wake up so I can do something for myself before online school begins for the day. I drink a glass of water and head to the basement to do a 30-minute run on the treadmill while catching up on the news. I actually hate running on a tread, but its raining and I need a little cardio to pick me up! I end my workout with a 10-minute plank focused class from Bulldog Yoga online.

7:20 a.m. Enjoying the first cup of coffee with a splash of coconut milk creamer. I cant do coffee without the creamer. Its a guilty pleasure! I catch up on some emails while I sip.

8:30 a.m. Footsteps are slowly starting from upstairs and I make my kids a chocolate, peanut butter, and banana smoothie. Set the girls up for online classes, Zoom codes, print off materials, etc. I am an educator liaison these days, but not very good at it. Were all doing our best, though.

9:35 a.m. Head to my makeshift yoga studio (also known as my bedroom) to get ready to teach a power flow format at 9:45 a.m. Now that studios are shuttered, Ive been teaching virtually on Instagram Live and Zoom in an effort to stay connected with the yoga community. I take voluntary payments for each class and donate 50-percent on a rotation to local charities and support healthcare workers around the region.

9:45 a.m. Teach (and take) 45-minute power yoga flow. When I am in the studio I dont take class as I am usually walking in the room, but in this virtual space I am demonstrating the flow I teach to help virtual students if they get lost, so bonus workout for me!

11 a.m. Return to the kids and help them with the rest of their online school work. Our school teachers are saints!

12:30 p.m. Staying at home proves a lot more time making meals than pre-COVID did. Kids get bagels and fresh strawberries. I have become very good about using up all our produce and having less waste. I shred some kale and make an avocado and kale salad topped with lime vinaigrette and some crushed tortilla chips!

1:45 p.m. Work meeting with the managers of Bulldog consists of brainstorming how we can stay connected and serve our communities both online and near our locations. We also begin to work with the management team on our reopening plan, whenever that may be.

3 p.m. Mentor Zoom meeting with a newer yoga teacher. This connection is everything right now!! PS I have no idea what my kids are doing, but its quiet so lets just go with it.

5:30 p.m. Start prepping dinner while making new playlists for classes this week. At Bulldog, we take pride in our awesome playlists, so I like to keep things fresh. This week its Corona Mixtape.

6:15 p.m. Enjoy some leftovers of cauliflower curry that my husband made the other day. He makes a mean curry!

7 p.m. Sit my booty on the couch and catch up on Ozark for the night.

10 p.m. Goodnight!

Daily total: $0

Jenkins and her dog, Gypsy, out for a stroll. / Photograph courtesy of Tessa Jenkins.

6:15 a.m. Wake up! Once Im out of bed, I sip a hot water with lemon and roll out my mat to do a 45-minute virtual Bulldog class. After, I lift for 15 minutes with weights I have in the basement, concentrating on the upper body.

8:45 a.m. Get those kiddos up (quarantine life has them snoozing a bit longer) and get them some breakfast. I enjoy my first coffee of the day (and hello, coconut creamer).

9:30 a.m. Set up Zoom class for the girls, toggle in between their two school stations, and assist with questions and tech issues.

11 a.m. Head up to the virtual studio in the bedroom and teach a private yoga and meditation class to a group of athletes.

11:45 a.m. Kids plow through their work pretty early, so I decide to teach them some card games. Today is WAR and Old Maid!

12:30 p.m. Lunch for all of us is homemade acai bowls. Luckily, I stocked up on frozen acai at Trader Joes a few weeks ago. I blend in a perfectly ripe (almost too ripe) banana, and top off the creation with coconut flakes and granola. I add walnuts to mine for extra protein and fat. Its delicious and makes me think of the beach.

1:30 p.m. After loading the dishwasher, I plan for end-of-the-week classes, plus a virtual yoga retreat I am holding on Friday.

4 p.m. Weather is dry but cold, so I bundle up and take our dog, Gypsy, for a three-mile walk while the girls ride their bikes. Have I mentioned my husband is working from home too and we are a loud family? Outside is good whenever possible. Living in Chester County brings me beautiful views, rolling hills, and little traffic.

5:15 p.m. Snack time! Im making that trendy whipped coffee that has flooded social media. I sub out regular sugar with coconut sugar and reduce it by half. It turns out to be decadent and totally worth the hype!

6 p.m. Back to the kitchen, sheesh a lot of time here these days! Tonight is a Purple Carrot dinner of spring vegetable pilaf (super yummy).

7:15 p.m. Big trip to the couch. I try Ozark again, but I need something light tonight so Schitts Creek finale. Ewww David!

10:30 p.m. Lights out.

Daily total: $0

Jenkins own home-brewed kombucha! / Photograph by Tessa Jenkins.

7 a.m. I roll out of bed and head straight for the coffee. I decide to write in my journal, focusing on gratitude. Check some overnight emails while laying on my mat stretching out my hips. The hilly walk I took yesterday tightened my hips so laying in pigeon pose and working on my laptop were just right! After emails are scanned, I take a 20-minute hips and hamstring Bulldog class, which does the trick.

8 a.m. Teach (and take) a 45-minute invigorate yoga practice to our Instagram community. Invigorate is a Bulldog offering that is a power yoga class with lots of dynamic movement and awesome playlists! It was nice to see my students from the studio sticking to their yoga practice.

9:15 a.m. Kids are sleeping later and later! They are finally up, fed, and at their workspace for the day. Teaching 3-D geometry to a second grader is NO joke!

12:30 p.m. Lunch time! Having leftover vegetable pilaf with some chickpeas added in to boost the protein.

1:15 p.m. Lola, Sloan, and I make a 10-minute kid yoga video to share with the online Bulldog community. Since so many of us are at home with kids, we wanted to give a PE option. These girls are handling quarantine so well, and I am so proud!

2:30 p.m. Both girls play soccer and this week they were assigned drills to do, so we bundle up and head out to practice.

3:30 p.m. Back to the computer to respond to emails, update social media for teaching schedules, and shoot some photos with my husbands help. Kids are in the kitchen looking for more baking recipes. Again.

4:15 p.m. I brew my own kombucha, which is actually quite simple and saves major coin! Today, Sloan is helping me bottle the brew and we make a quick tutorial about it. Peach ginger this week!!

6:15 p.m. Dinner tonight is homemade black bean burgers and sliced sweet potatoes with avocado sauce, served up from an old Purple Carrot recipe. Thankfully, the kids like this particular veggie meal, so everyone is happy. Girls and hubby clean up. I am off for a date with the laundry.

7:30 p.m. Watching Trolls World Tour with the kids. I taught the girls how to make stove-top popcorn with olive oil and some salt, so its a great movie night.

9:45 p.m. Early to bed.

Daily total: $0

Jenkins completes a strength training workout in her basement. / Photograph courtesy of Tessa Jenkins.

7:45 a.m. Decide to skip the morning workout today. During this stressful and unprecedented time, sometimes rest can be the greatest gift. So I sit at my desk with some hot lemon water and do some journal writing. After, I listen to a meditation session on the Bulldog app, which makes me feel rested but ready to start the day.

9 a.m. Settle the kids into the online classes. Today is hard. We learned that PA schools will remain online for the remainder of the year. Lots of tears and snuggles, and we decide its a pancake kind of morning.

12 p.m. For lunch, I make a green smoothie from the last of the kale, celery, ginger, lemon, some frozen pineapple, and lots of cayenne pepper. Love me some spice in a green smoothie.

2 p.m. We watch Trolls again to brighten the disappointing news of the day.

4 p.m. Im feeling a bit restless, so I head to the basement to do an upper body weight circuit and take an online Bulldog Yoga class with Brittany, my co- manager who I miss a lot. It was like I got to spend time with her, which is the real win of this workout!

6 p.m. Dinner time. I really wanted takeout, but we have plenty of fresh food that needs to be used. So its Purple Carrot again, this time an Asian stir-fry.

7 p.m. After a family clean up and more laundry folding, I learn a TikTok dance with my 11 year old. Not her idea. MINE. Like many others, I am finding joy in the strangest things but we laugh and have some fun then watch some more TV.

8 p.m. Zoom meeting with the soccer team parents. We discuss how well move forward with the training of the team and what the future might look like when the kids can play again. Lots of unknowns. But, nice to see everyone!

10 p.m. Kiddos asleep, and I am in bed listening to one of my favorite podcasts before bed. I think its how I am socializing these days?

Daily total: $0

Jenkins leading her virtual yoga retreat. / Photograph courtesy of Tessa Jenkins.

7 a.m. Up and at em! I drink some hot water with lemon and head out for a 35-minute run.

8 a.m. Home with coffee in hand, and prep for the virtual retreat I am hosting. I had to cancel my first yoga retreat that was planned for May, so I decided to make the most of it and host a virtual retreat with a full yoga class followed by a discussion by my friend who is a mental health therapist.

9:30 a.m. Virtual retreat begins! Amazing fun flow with a great turnout. My friend discusses adapting to this new world and processing emotions in a healthy way. Its enlightening and powerful. Over 45 people attend via Zoom and all money collected goes to charity. It was a fantastic morning of community.

12 p.m. Two over easy eggs with green salsa and coffee, obvs. I feel a bit dehydrated so I filled up a huge water bottle to encourage some fluids.

1:15 p.m. Weekly grocery trip. This is one of the biggest differences to my routine now. I used to go to the store several times per week, now my husband and I rotate the daunting task. My turn today. Throw on my mask and get the hand sanitizer and head to the grocery store, which is now a surreal experience with arrows, signs, gloves, and masks.

3:30 p.m. Family workout! While my husband and Lola do more soccer drills in the basement, Sloan and I both do 20 minutes on the treadmill, followed by a push-up, sit up, and plank competition. To finish off the family sesh, Lola and I do a Bulldog core-focused workout.

6:30 p.m. TAKE OUT TIME!!! Having takeout once per week during quarantine just gives us a cooking break! We have a fantastic restaurant near us, Epicurean Garage, that does curbside delivery and has great vegetarian options ($65). The family enjoys a day off of the dishes and we teach the girls how to play black jack. That counts as math right?

8:30 p.m. Girls go and hang on their own in the basement, so the hubs and I hang upstairs and watch Ozark.

11 p.m. OMG my kids are still up! Its a weekend. And we are in quarantine. Ill allow it.

Daily total: $65

Money spent: $137 Workouts complete: Seven Classes taught: Four

Want to hear more from us? Join Be Well Philly at: FACEBOOK|INSTAGRAM|NEWSLETTER|TWITTER

Originally posted here:
This Philly-Area Yoga Teacher Is Juggling Virtual Workouts and Her Kids Education - Philadelphia magazine