It's no question that yoga is a growing trend across the US. Thousands of Americans will try yoga for their first time this year. The question is, which class or type of yoga is best suited for a beginner? The term "yoga" can be used to describe a) the most relaxing experience you could possibly imagine...or b) the most intense, sweaty, challenging and seemingly unbearable workout. How does a beginner differentiate between all the types available?

Design, this is the part of fashion that everyone dreams about!  Beauty is something we all desire, not just in vanity, but in the way each of us seeks after those things that give pleasure to the senses and to the mind.  Design is the controlled ability to translate thoughts into form, material, and architecture down to the way that object is eventually held, touched, and experienced.  It is the skill and talent of making life more beautiful.  

For us, the big question is how to best consume curcumin and get all the many health benefits the molecule has to offer.  If you are a juicer you may be able to answer this question, but most are hearing this for the first time.  What is curcumin? We linked up with Kathryn Smith, a beyond talented wife and mom turned Entrepreneur, to help answer this question... READ MORE

Wow! It feels like this year is flying by! We’re already in October and I just finished up with one of my favorite year end festivals in California, Feather Fest. 

I’ve been going to Feather Fest and running the class 4 and 5 sections since I was 9.  The race is held on the beautiful North Fork of the Feather River, and is such a special place for me to go because it’s where I learned to creek boat.  I’ve only been doing the creek race for two years because my crazy schedule has made us miss it.  Last year I placed 3rd in the creek race and this year I was really excited to actually learn the race lines so I could have an even faster time! 

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When Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfitt posted an unconventional before-and-after photo in 2013 it was seen by more than 100 million people worldwide and sparked an international media frenzy. EMBRACE follows Taryn’s crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing, inspiring us to change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies.

Gnarly is an experience. The experience of letting go. Letting go so you can hold on tighter. The experience of leaving town, so you can find your way home. The experience of giving up, so you find a way to give it everything. The experience of burning out, so you can rise from rubble. And so it is with those who seek us out. They will not find a brand, they will find an experience. A set of meanings that reflect their desires to become more than they were previous.

Purnaa’s mission is to empower individuals and communities to become whole and complete, free from the enslaving cycle of poverty. They do this by creating job opportunities for those whose marginalized status in society prevents them from getting work elsewhere. As a social enterprise, they make this mission their top priority, re-investing our profits to further Purnaa's social impact.  Each day, in everything they do, they work towards their goal of creating ethical, dignified, and meaningful jobs for those in need. I absolutely cannot imagine what these women have been through, and it warms my heart to know places like Purnaa are out there helping them out—and I am very, very honored to be a part of that.

This is what we asked Laura Palmer, mental performance coach and inventor of Bridgenosis, which is a unique, cutting edge method of reprogramming subconscious patterns so that your heart (aka internal GPS compass) and your mind move in the same direction. She's an expert in helping mindful leaders, entrepreneurs and athletes spot and transform deep-seated beliefs that play on autopilot, out of our awareness and seemingly out of our control. The good news is that...

Kristy Sevy is a classically trained Gold Medal pianist who grew up in The Biggest Little City - Reno, NV. Everything Kristy does, she does to help her girls own their freedom and find happiness. Kristy is Founder and CEO of FuzePlay, a S.T.E.A.M. company that brings together REAL technology, and straight-forward, hands-on play. The interview that follows took place in preparation for the American Express Open Forum...

The Guardian oil blend was formulated to serve as a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant.  It can be used in a multitude of ways to guard against the spread of disease - both at home or when traveling.  Check out these quick and easy used for this amazing healing oil blend...

Perhaps you have already noticed that your ideas move when you move. Instead of having another meeting in the office, over Skype, or via telephone, decide to meet on the trail. You don't have to climb a mountain, but I promise your thoughts move as you move. Those happy little endorphins wake up the brain and we all need our brains in tip top shape when we are formulating ideas and solutions. 

"That picture is a picture of confidence, and preparation and a journey.  That was not just by happenstance or by luck.  That was a long time in the making and I think that is part of the story to get where we are now we are talking about the sports bra.  You know, everything has an evolution.  Its time for a revolution.  This is who we are!  We can be loud, and we can be proud and we can celebrate ourselves like we never have before."  - Brandi Chastain

Are you unable to get the necessary rest leading up to a big race? Find yourself out of breath during a workout because you lack the energy from a bad night’s sleep? You’re not alone, sleep is one of the most common issues we as humans deal with. Additionally, losing sleep can be a more significant problem than we think it is, involving not just our fitness but all aspects of our health. The sleep experts at Casper have been studying sleep and just what causes us to toss and turn all night. At their sleep symposium, Ariana Huffington discussed her mission to educate others about sleep and how widespread this common issue has become.

When it comes to training and working out everyone has their own routine. That includes the time of the day we prefer to workout, the trail or the park where we prefer to go for a run, and maybe even the kind of performance outfit. Every individual’s routine also includes their choice of pre workout and post workout snacks. Without following the right nutrition advice, we can’t get the most out of each workout session. They’re the backbone of a successful workout. If we eat the snacks that the experts recommend, then we can really achieve the results we are looking for.

Every girl wants to look like a star when she works out. The aim of the Three Faces of Eve collection is exactly that—to give every woman the sparkle and class of a diva. Olivia Cano Graff, the designer of the line, grew up with her grandmother, an Old Hollywood star and brave, adventurous woman. She wanted to embody the strength and spontaneity of this woman in her line, to pass on the message that was given to her—a message of female empowerment and independence. 

Every athlete says competition preparation starts at different times. Some say it starts the morning of the competition. Others say it starts two or three weeks beforehand, in the last push for training. I know people who say it starts when they begin warming up to compete. I say it starts the second the season starts. There are two seasons in rock climbing—ropes and bouldering. As soon as I fell off the wall at my last bouldering competition, as soon as I knew my bouldering season was over, I started thinking about ropes. I started preparing for competitions by training endurance and doing lead; I started running to lower my speed times; and I turned my focus away from the gray bouldering walls in my gym and toward the taller, burnt-sienna rope section.

I always run with my gate key, phone, and water bottle. The gate key goes in my Swoob bra, the water bottle is always in my right hand, and my phone—despite the convenient pocket beside my gate key—goes in the side of my shorts.

Whether or not carrying your phone in your bra can make you more susceptible to breast cancer is hotly debated by scientists all over the map. Some studies have shown that your phone’s radio frequency radiation can actually unravel the DNA in your cells and cause mutations similar to radiation poisoning. According to READ MORE ...

Swoob just introduced a new body scrub from a company called Borika. The scrub, a “rich blend of coconut flakes, coconut oil, coffee, Himalayan salt, fresh lime zest scent,” was sent to me for a beta test. For seven days, I’ll be using it, as per the instructions (rub gently onto damp skin, let sit for five to fifteen minutes, then rinse with warm water) and not per the instructions in a testing format (in my hair, in my coffee machine, etc.). Borika advertises itself as being “with organic minerals giving you amazingly smooth skin with antioxidants to treat acne, scars, anti-aging, stretch marks, and much more.”

Biking is, and always has been, a craze.  Biking as a form of transport dates back to 1817.  Using bike inspired designs the Wright brothers engineered modern flight in 1903.  Today companies like Pedego and Easy Motion electric bikes continue to innovate on the many reasons to ride a bike.  Read on for nine biking facts we found interesting.  

It was the late 80's, the temperature was perfectly warm and a light breeze brought with it fresh garden smells. I was at my Grandma's house enjoying the patio deck and backyard pond.  She had a large garden and had just purchased a juicer.  That day I was served a deliciously healthy treat that remains a favorite today - Apple Lemon Juice.  I so clearly remember that moment today that green juice has become a staple in my diet.  

I have found that spending 30 minutes to juice yields about two days worth of juice at about $2.31 a pint.  Not only that, but it is rare that fruits or vegetables go bad in my fridge.  Juicing makes it extremely easy to keep and use fresh produce.  Keep reading to see how I do it ...

Core—noun. The central abdominal muscles of a human; the center of the earth. Core—adjective. Essential, central, fundamental; the central or most important part of something (dictionary.com). Coincidence? I think not.

As a climber, core is the most important part of my workout routine. I need core to keep my feet on the wall when I’m on an overhang and to maintain tension in my entire body. I also need core—like everyone else—when I’m pushing a shopping cart, or getting out of bed, or walking downhill, or going about the rest of my life. Core is essential for everything, the most important muscle group in the upper body for anything from preventing injury to sticking your feet to near-horizontal walls.

So, I’ve compiled five of my favorite core exercises. Each of these can be done in sets—do as many as you can, then take a short break, then do another set. I go up to five sets—the fifth set should be very difficult.

“Listen to your body.” That is what they say. Well my body is telling me right now to eat every sugary carbohydrate in sight! I have never felt more strongly before that my body needs Ben & Jerry’s. 

Why might I be feeling this way? Is this really what my body needs? Well the truth is that our bodies are programmed for feast & famine. And these feast or famine alerts are set off due to stress. And in this 21st century, stress is unavoidable.

I said no. It happened anyways.

Shocked more than anything, I kept my mouth shut. It was my first semester at college. How do you put rape into words? 

It is clear to me now. I should have fought him. Used pepper spray. Walked the six miles back to the dorms.

But I was young and fragile. I just stayed quiet.

Not anymore.

My story is everyone’s story. We are all survivors. 

It’s a Wednesday afternoon, and I pull open the door and smell the gym—the chalk, someone's coffee, the rubbery stink of climbing shoes. The staff members—as always—greet me by name as I drop my climbing bag in the corner, which is already stacked with the bright orange team bags belonging to my friends. Shoes and chalk in my hands, I enter the bouldering area to warm up. This place is like a second home to me. It's where I learned how to lose without losing my confidence; it's where I've won competitions and won the respect of my coaches; it's where I learned to throw myself into something with my whole heart. It's where I've learned to climb like a girl.

If you want to fully maximize and benefit from your time spent working out, pay close attention to what you take pre-workout. What you eat prior to working out can make or break your performance and affect muscle growth if that is your focus. Did you know that depending on what type of workout you are doing there are different recommended pre-workout supplements? We have put together our top 5 supplements of choice and explain which to use depending on your goal and activity type.

Bonjour mon amour, spring is here and it’s time for your favorite leisure activities - napping and snacking. After everyone's 5 month winter Netflix binge, hibernation period is over and we can finally go outside! We'll help you keep it light and easy with our modern picnic tips. Bon appetit and enjoy!

Your adventure is waiting. You crave it, you can taste it, you were born for it. We’re sending you to the edge of the world and back with our top 4 favorite adventure videos. The world is yours to discover.

Check out these amazing videos..

Questions of self-doubt cross my mind every day. Yes, I know what you are thinking. You, Alana? But you look so flawless in your Facebook picture, I would have NEVER imagined that you are a normal human being. Well, the truth is that picture is edited (thank you Instagram) and most women struggle with confidence issues everyday.

At Swoob, we care about women fulfilling their potential and developing confidence. We know the struggles are real and we experience them. However, we also know success and confidence is possible for each of us!

The art of developing balance best begins with a deep, healthy breath of fresh air. The breathing practice known as Yoga breathing, or more formally as Ujjayi breathing, is a time tested holistic alternative to achieving focus, rhythm, and positive thinking. In addition, the Ujjayi breathing technique brings a host of health benefits with every breath.

We were lucky enough to meet up with Rachelle Ballard for guided coaching on where to begin. Rachelle is the the passionate owner of Into the Woods Wellness and offers services dedicated to teaching health and mindful living. Rachelle has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology: emphasis in Wellness Coaching and Nutrition, and is a 500 hr yoga certified instructor.

The goal in Ujjayi breathing is to develop mindfulness and health through a holistic control of the body’s nervous system. When the sympathetic nervous system is at play the body is typically on an extreme and seeking balance. Ujjayi breathing as a technique trains the body in achieving a homeostatic balance. Learning to feel this transition will come over time, and allow for feelings of relaxation and calm to flow as control over sympathetic responses in the body become more apparent. Mindfulness around such internal wellbeing will increase motivation and translate directly into physical feats not yet achieved.

To start you need a good smoothie maker, in other words, a blender or juicer.  There are many blenders and juicers to choose from and prices can sometimes be steep.  Ultimately, your choice will come down to personal preference.  Juicers juice, obviously, and blenders blend.  Both can process raw foods, but in different ways.  We chose to go with a blender because a good blender can come close to juicing, yet accomplish so much more from food processing to blending.  There are a few notorious blenders out there like the Vitamix, the Ninja, and our favorite, the Blendtec.  Each blender varies slightly, but a good quality blender will make all the difference if you plan on consistently using your blender in your meal prep.  A healthy lifestyle deserves a tried and tested blender.