One of the first things people ask when I tell them I’m a TV news producer is “Boy, that sounds like you do a lot!  Is it stressful?”  And the short answer is – yes!  It’s a stressful job that requires your full attention because you are juggling so many elements.  Some days coming home from work, I find myself completely drained.

One thing that helps bring balance into my life is yoga (I also love my barre workouts too… but that will be discussed in another upcoming post!).  Yoga is great for the mind, body  and spirit and is considered one of the most enduring forms of exercise in this age of workout fads (WebMD has a great article on this HERE).  Plus, it’s a workout that almost anyone can do.

For me, I don’t like to use yoga as my only workout because I like to do more cardio-based workouts that will help me shed the pounds.  But, what I do enjoy about yoga is the way it makes my body feel and I try to incorporate it in my routine AT LEAST once a week. I’m lucky in the sense that my barre studio now offers yoga, but I have recently gotten into restorative yoga.  That yoga is a lot more relaxed and the last hour is solely focused on moving your blocks/accessories around in different positions that you rest on that can improve your posture.  I feel AMAZING after a workout like this and I totally recommend it to anyone that is looking for an “escape.” (And let’s face it – isn’t everyone?)  It actually feels as good as a massage to me… with the added benefit of working out my core!

Plus, yoga can be pretty inexpensive too.  Groupon offers a lot of great deals in the San Diego area.  If you are interested in trying out a class but don’t want to pay the full price, many studios offer community classes that are donation-based.  Usually, they are taught by instructors-in-training, but you still get an awesome workout.  Most of the time, I see the suggested donations for these places are around $5-$8.

What is your favorite form of yoga practice?   Have any places you recommend in the San Diego area?

-Brittany

Me getting my beach “warrior two” pose on in Malibu.  How can you NOT enjoy that sunset?