Instant Results For This Yoga Pose...

Don't miss this great tip that will instantly improve your Reverse Warrior. If you are seriously interested in getting the most out of your yoga, check out this clip...

   Yoga expert and author, Brian Friedman demonstrates the Reverse Warrior.

In my opinion, Reverse Warrior is the evil twin sister of side angle pose. That is to say the benefits are very similar to the side angle pose: asymmetrical hip opening, leg strengthening element of warrior two combined with the side strengthening and side lengthening benefit of triangle pose, but with a higher intensity... especially if you true it up by keeping your top arm straight.

Most yogis will be humbled by this variation because of the rigorous demands of anatomical correctness. Don't let that happen to you. Take a deep breath, use good technique, and do the best you can. The rest will follow.

This is just the tip of the ice burg. If you want more (and I know you do...) I invite you to see what others are saying about Functional Yoga Instruction(tm)...

Awesome Book!
5/5 stars! "Brian Friedman's method of teaching yoga really makes sense and truly allows positive, healthy change to occur in the body. His emphasis on correct alignment and movement rather than on flexiblity makes yoga safe and accessible to everyone. This book goes step by step, and with photos and clear directions, Brian teaches you how to move in and out of the postures correctly, avoiding strain and injury and increasing strength. This is a fantastic, practical book. No matter how much experience someone has with yoga, there is so much to be gained by reading this book and following Brian's method. I highly, highly recommend it."

Must Have Book!
5/5 stars! "This is a must have book to add to your yoga collection whether you are a student or a yoga teacher. I have practiced yoga for over 10 years and taught it for over seven years and I have learned more from Functional Yoga Instruction then in all my personal yoga experience and instruction combined. It has completely changed my practice and how I teach yoga. This book is very organized and explains the techniques in a simple, clear, precise way. Functional Yoga Instruction teaches how to move on the mat in a safe, effective way which spills into proper movement off of the mat. Since I have practiced Functional Yoga Instruction and used the techniques in the book, I move better on the mat, as well as off the mat. It has increased my body awareness and I am much stronger. This book is ALL killer and no filler. I highly, highly recommend it!"

Don't get left behind. Invest in your copy now!

Secrets Revealed: Fat Loss, Part 2

Congratulations!

I know you've been keeping your food journal because you've told me about it. You are amazed at the things you eat and now you see the significance and the power of a food journal. You are off to a great start.

That was part one of the fat burning equation. Let's move to the second part: exercise...

...inefficient exercise to be exact.

Choose Wisely

An efficient exercise can be described as something that you get good at. Think about walking. Maybe the first time you walked a mile it was very difficult to breathe, you may have had to stop for breaks, and it basically kicked your butt. Now fast forward to when walking a mile became easy. Super easy. That means you became efficient at walking.

When this happens, fat burning stops.

An inefficient exercise can be described as something that will always be a challenge. Think about Functional Yoga Instruction TM. There are folks (including me) who have been practicing this method for years and are still challenged by it. That means it will always be a fat burner. Always.

Functional Yoga Instruction TM is Revolutionary

It's no secret, I'm a fan of FYI. No other yoga program comes close to what FYI gives you.

• Fat burning
• Mobility
• Lean mass
• Strength
• Mind-Body connection

And all of this great stuff comes from a your own body weight, some gravity, and a yoga mat. No equipment is required.

Simplify

90% of my personal yoga practice revolves around 16 moves: The most essential moves (asana) that you'll find in any system of yoga. The same can be said for all of our classes at Winter Garden Yoga.

Simple and brutally effective. Warrior 2 is fantastic for strengthening and toning the legs, abs, and arms.

Need more?

Unlikely. It's a hard pill to swallow, but you don't need a ton of stuff to get into shape and stay there. You see, sometimes more is just more. I've written about the diminishing returns on exercise, so I won't beat the proverbial dead horse here. Instead, I want to encourage you...

1. To get started
2. To keep it simple
3. To stay on track

Simple enough?

We'll see... Don't miss the dramatic conclusion when we put all of the pieces together.

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of functional yoga instruction (TM) that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with packed classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

Cardio: The Weakest Link [Contentious Content], Cardio

As Winter Garden's most recognized health and nutrition expert, I have the honor and the pleasure of interacting with and helping a wide array of people achieve their health and wellness goals. And one of the most common questions I get is: "What about cardio?" I'll do my best to address this question, but first...

...I want to be clear...

Cardio is fine if you enjoy cardio; there is nothing wrong with cardio. In fact, I believe that cardio is an important piece to an intelligent and balanced approach to physical fitness and overall wellness. Just ask our VIPs about their personalized action plans.

...Here's the rub...

Cardio is the weakest link in the health and wellness chain. In other words, you get the least bang for your buck. Allow me to explain...

Here's what a balanced approach to wellness and general physical fitness looks like [in this order]

Number one: Strength
Number two: Mobility
Number three: Cardio

Let's run through a few hypothetical questions.

Can preparing for a 5K help you with your upper body strength? No.
Can strength training help you with your upper body strength? Yes... and mobility, too.
Which of these two training methods will help you push yourself off the floor if you happen to fall down?

Can preparing for a 5K help you with your mobility and injury prevention? No.
Can yoga help you with your mobility and injury prevention? Yes... and strength, too.
Which of these two training methods will help you pick up your groceries or grand children?

Let's take another perspective...

Strength burns more calories [for up to 36 hours after training], tones the muscles, and taxes the heart and lungs [in a good way... aka cardio]

Mobility [yoga] burns more calories [because of the muscle contractions... aka, static and isotonic strength], tones the muscles, increases body awareness, increases mobility, and can tax the heart and lungs [in a good way... aka cardio]

Cardio burns fewer calories [and the calorie burn stops when you stop], taxes the heart and lungs [in a good way]

The take away...

Instead of doubling up on your cardio because you missed a yoga class, grab a kettlebell, or pop in your favorite yoga DVD and get started.

Yoga is a great way to cover a lot of bases. At Winter Garden Yoga, we emphasize strength over flexibility, and alignment over depth. This way, you get toned muscles, and a mobile body that is resistant to injury.

Kettlebell training is an awesome way to develop strength, mobility, and cardio in an all-in-one method.

And once you've gotten your yoga and kettlebells done, take the next day to go for a nice walk, get some fresh air, and enjoy the cardio.

Winter Garden Yoga is a world renowned yoga studio recognized for providing a unique form of “functional yoga instruction” that gives you a toned, pain-free body that leaves you feeling great whether you’re currently flexible or not.

Unlike ordinary yoga studios with crowded classes that over stretch and leave you feeling lost in the crowd, our services focus on strength, mobility, and nutrition all wrapped up into a caring, supportive, family-like environment you’ll call home.

Contact us or give us a call at 407-579-9889 for a free, no obligation consultation ($87 value) to find a package plan that is perfect for you.

A Blueprint for Good Technique, Reverse Triangle

This may be a new perspective on an old favorite of yogis everywhere. The name of the posture says it all, REVERSE triangle. In my opinion, the intent of this classic pose is a side bend. Be sure to watch this clip to get the most bang for your buck.

By using the hips correctly the following is achieved:

• Injury Prevention. Movement expert, Gray Cook has said that lack of symmetry can lead to injury.
• Resilience. Fitness expert, Steve Maxwell, said that lateral flexion is one of the first ranges of motion we lose as we age.
• Tone and Lengthen the Midsection. By contracting one side of the lateral chain (toning) the opposite side of the lateral chain must release (lengthen).

There you have it, a simple technique that packs quite  punch (in a kind and loving yogic way).

All the best, Brian

Want to Live Longer?

My friend, Tom Furman, has done it again. He's published some excellent material that is going to help you...

• Improve your upper body strength
• Build your core
• Tone your legs
• Improve your yoga
• And quite possibly give you the tools to live a longer life

If Mr. Furman's name seems familiar to you, it's because I have reviewed his great DVD and ebook called Activate Your Dynamic Range of Motion. I also give him honorable mention in my Class Room Series: Beginner's Yoga DVD.

This time we'll be looking at his new body weight training ebook Armor of War. Please don't let the title throw you. In fact you may think of it as preparation for the war against the damaging effects of old age.

Armor of War is quick, to the point, and packed with easy to use information. Believe me, I've paid twice as much for books that contain half as much usable material. It is definitely worth it's $10 price point.

Mr. Furman gives a brief overview of the history and significance of body weight training. There are stories and quotes from elite athletes who use calisthenics as part of their training to achieve super human results. You'll be in good company once you begin to employ the exercises found within these pages.

The photographs are clear and the instructions are straight to the point. The key to the material is that Mr. Furman takes you through a series of progressions. That means if you can't do a full military push up (yet), Mr. Furman offers a version that is more accessible. If push ups are easy for you, try strapping a backpack with a 25 pound plate on your back. These are just a few of the surplus of offerings in the Armor of War.

I remember an article that made it's rounds across the internet. The study showed that people who cannot get off of the floor without the use of their hands had a higher mortality rate than those who can. Enter the Hostage Get Up. This move, alone, is worth the investment. Here's a secret... I began including the Hostage Get Up in my private client's routines and they love it. I'm teaching them how to get off the ground without their hands and they are raving about the effects on the abs and legs. That's called a "win-win."

What else can I say? Armor of War is a hit. I encourage you to visit Mr. Furman's website, invest in your own copy, and begin to feel the benefits of "augmented body weight training and the art of minimalism."

Activate Your Mobility and Resilience with Tom Furman

     The Activate DVD and its ebook are terrific sources to supplement your yoga, fitness, or stretching routine. Fitness Expert, Tom Furman uses precise language to teach you a very simple and effective way to increase and strengthen your range of motion. By applying Mr. Furman’s method to your existing routine you will become stronger, more mobile, and resistant to injury. Does this sound too good to be true? Please read on…

     We all know that if we stretch a tight muscle that the result will be an even tighter muscle. The technique of Activate calls upon Sherrington’s Law of Reciprocal Innervation which basically states: if you want one muscle to relax, you have to tighten the opposing muscle.  Mr. Furman will teach you the muscles you need to pre-fatigue in order to achieve optimal mobility or flexibility. Do you have low back pain? Check out Mr. Furman’s version of the Sphinx. Do you have tight neck and shoulders? Not anymore once you learn the methods of Activate.

     The DVD contains sequences that were shot indoors and out in the beautiful Florida sunshine. Mr. Furman speaks very clearly as he demonstrates the techniques of Activate. His instruction, demonstration, and the use of animation make it very clear as to what is to be accomplished with more than 20 exercises. Mr. Furman covers virtually every part of the human body to insure that you will be mobile and pain free. Say goodbye to “Mr. Tin Man.”

     The Activate ebook is a condensed version of the DVD. I recommend purchasing both of them as they complement each other nicely.

     These products are professionally filmed, photographed, and packaged. They are a great addition to my library. I love that the techniques of Activate are quick, easy, and most of all effective. I use Mr. Furman’s exercises after my workouts and on my recovery days. I recommend that you do the same.

     Please check out Mr. Furman’s website for more information and more of his great products.

All the best, Brian