FASHION Magazine

Around the white, light-filled studio, flashes of lime green, fuchsia and black Lycra blur as a roomful of people sway together, balance one another overhead, roll around or gently connect palm to palm. We’re at 80 Gladstone—a movement studio in Toronto opened by yoga teacher Diane Bruni—and this is Contact Improv, which involves moving spontaneously for an hour and a half while maintaining a point of contact with a partner. You sweat and gain strength from bracing your core and supporting your weight so you can lift your partner off the ground, if the urge strikes you, but you’re also forced to be present and mindful, as the movement is always changing. “It’s a wonderful metaphor for life,” says Bruni, who also offers classes taught by a Shaolin monk. “His spiritual practice is qi gong and tai chi and kung fu. It’s not praying and it’s not sitting; it’s all in movement.”

The search for spiritual stand-ins is on. “The yoga studio is a modern-day church, in a way. It’s where people go to be with their community,” says Jeff Krasno, co-founder of Wanderlust, a festival of meditation, yoga, movement and more that takes place in 14 cities worldwide—including Whistler (July 31 to Aug. 4) and Mont-Tremblant (Aug. 21 to Aug. 24)—and expects about 120,000 participants this year. “It’s about being around people who share your values and beliefs. [It’s] not religion in the more theocratic sense, but there’s an ethos to live mindfully.” In 2012, Krasno spoke at the Gospel of Sweat, held at New York’s Riverside Church and spearheaded by Lululemon, a company known for extolling the virtues of self-empowerment and inner development to its staff. Yogis and fitness aficionados gathered to sermonize about how a growing wellness-focused contingent is “praying through their pores.”

Get yoga-ready with this kit from Joe Fresh’s activewear line, Jogi. One lucky winner will receive a yoga mat, neoprene weight set, microfiber towel, stainless steel water bottle, stability ball plus an additional $150 gift card!

Jogi prize pack, $250.

Enter now! »
See the full giveaway calendar »

We get it: between work, social events, and all the other things you do, sometimes hitting the gym just isn’t possible. But that doesn’t mean you have to forsake fitness altogether! The at-home workout is nothing new (’80s aerobics TV shows, anyone?) but it’s definitely at an all-time high. The downside to this, however, is that the fitness DVD section at your video store can be just as intimidating as a testosterone-infused weight room. Which is why we’re here to help: we’ve found four of the best ways to get a little exercise in at home, including webisodes, video games and something you can do with your iPhone.

Push your coffee table aside, clear some room and get fit at home! »

Whether you’re a workout junkie or finally making good on a New Year’s resolution to get fit, there’s nothing quite like spring’s landslide into summer to motivate an increase in all things fitness. In order to help you maximize this new dedication, we took to the gym (well, gyms) in search of some of the best new workout classes available. All week long we’ll report on our findings, ranging from the most intense CrossFit classes to your best bet for an at-home workout to the most fun ways we could think of for getting fit. First up: High impact. These classes are best suited for those who are well-seasoned at working out, and looking for something to take it to the next level.

Read on, lace up, and feel the burn! »

I have dark under eye circles that seem to be getting progressively worse. Why would that be? I’m pretty good at sleeping almost 8 hours every night.
I have two friends–a guy and a gal–who have expressed this concern to me, and both seek a long-term solution instead of applying the usual concealer quick-fix. The ailment itself may actually be more complicated than sleepless nights.

After a short little hiatus, we’re going back inside our editors’ stylish bags. Today, we’re exploring this Longchamp beauty belonging to copy editor extraordinaire, Emilie Dingfeld. Emilie used to live in France, so the over sized Eiffel Tower print makes perfectly chic sense.

Let’s explore! »

The best part about participating in a month-long workout challenge is the motivation you gain. Before enrolling in Spynga’s Dare to Do 30, finding the time to exercise five or six times a week seemed impossible. Now I know that I can physically achieve this goal, and that finding the time is really just a matter of making it a priority. It’s the finer details that make Spynga stand out: the complimentary towels, the lavender-scented cream used for a quick neck massage during savasana, and the eclectic play list (a spin class blaring the best of the ’90s—or worst, as the case may be—was an obvious crowd pleaser).

Here’s my report on the other classes where I sweated it out:

My yoga instructor prefaces every class with a standard “this is not a competition” spiel, but honestly, given how enthusiastic we Vancouverites are about our downward dogs, I’m surprised it’s not an official Olympic sport.

I wish I could blame my recent gluttony on the holidays, but really I’ve never needed an excuse to overindulge in cookies. Needing the extra push to get back in line with a healthy routine, the Dare To Do 30 challenge at Toronto’s Spynga’s (spynga.com) seemed like the perfect fit. The four-week program includes unlimited yoga and spinning classes along with group meetings with Dr. David Macklin (drdavidmacklin.com) to address nutrition and lifestyle changes. Spynga offers a variety of classes, and I was excited to push myself back into shape with the studio’s unique approach to exercise. Here’s what I tried:

As everyone pours into yoga studios this month to pursue their 2010 resolution to trim down, those who have had enough of the post-holiday crowd should stay home with Eoin Finn’s latest yoga DVD, The Pursuit of Happy Hips ($25, at Lululemon and Chapters. Visit blissology.com). Along with partner Insiya Rasiwala and some past and present Olympic athletes, Finn shows the whole-body benefits of strengthening the hips through the practice of yoga. Focused on preparing the body for the rigours of winter sports, the video is just as beneficial for those who are more likely to curl up on the couch than hit the hill when the snow falls.

New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken.  I fell off the “I-will-not-be-a-slave-to-my-BlackBerry” wagon on January 2 when I happily spent the day organizing my 2010 schedule.  But somewhere between the work deadlines and social engagements, I seem to have forgotten to schedule in time to breath and reboot.  So, I took action.  Down with […]

The post The daily steal: Yoga pants, $15 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Yoga fashion is a bit of an oxymoron. It seems so ridiculous to be concerned about outer appearance while working on inner change and enlightenment, doesn’t it?  Classes are meant to be serene pools of space and time where students can relax into the present, but this is easier said than done when your pants are riding where the sun don’t shine during a salutation.