Yoga moves for that perfect Body!

Thousands of years ago, a man sat with his eyes closed, deep in meditation, yet aware of the connection between all beings. When he opened his eyes, he noticed a beautiful, strong tree. But instead of breaking the meditative state and experiencing the tree as "over there," he had a shift in perception.

He saw, for the first time, that there was no separation between himself and the tree. They were made of the same molecules, they breathed the same air, and they could not live without one another -- they actually were the same being in different physical forms.

Sara Ivanhoe, Yoga Instructor/writer, www.saraivanhoe.com. "Like the lotus flower that grows out of the mud, I feel totally grounded here, balanced...so that I can bloom completely,"
In other words, he and the tree were one. This was a moment of identification, connection, and unity. It was yoga. Overwhelmed by this feeling of "tree-ness," he could no longer keep it confined in his mind. This feeling of union had to take a physical form.

The man spontaneously stood up, balanced on one leg, and shot his arms into the air in a passionate expression of the bhav (feeling) of the tree. He had channeled his tree-ness, and was so overtaken with compassionate feeling that he couldn’t help but spring into the pose to experience being the tree: "I know how it feels to be you, it feels like this..." This was the beginning of hatha yoga.

Beyond words, yoga is the experience of union that we once thought was outside ourselves. The yogis pictured here went on a personal journey within to channel their own nature of asana. And because the focus of this issue is on our environment, we especially wanted to explore yoga’s connection to nature.

Sara Ivanhoe, Yoga Instructor/writer. "I am the tree! The tree is me!" says she. This redwood tree, planted in 1908, will turn 100 years old next year. Special thanks to Gary Deutschman for the use of his home.

eEka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon pos) Keshni Kashyap, writer

"Pigeon opens my hips and makes me feel creative!" says she.

Simhasana (Lion pose) Ross, yoga instructor.

"It's all good. Yoga feels good and it's fun!" says he

Vatayanasana (Horse pose) Schein, yoga instructor

"I love Horse because it’s a deep hip-and-shoulder opener. As a balancing pose, it also challenges me to focus on my drishti. It’s fun to incorporate hips, shoulders, drishti, and balance into one posture."

Garudasana (Eagle pose)

Kahshanna Evans, Actress, upcoming indie film The Wrong Hands, her first lead.

"I love Eagle Pose! I love that an eagle connects the ‘heavens’ to the earth. There is something empowering in journeying between the God and the Goddess, connecting and understanding, receiving inspiration from both...uh, oh, now I sound like a real hippie! I feel strong, rooted, and still very feminine when I rock my Eagle Pose."

Parsva bakasana (Side crow) Vinnie Marino, yoga instructor

"It's a little bit like taking flight..."

Ardha chandrasana (Half moon pose) Tom Morley, yoga instructor

"I like Half Moon Pose because I feel like I'm flying for a moment. I actually feel the transition from effort to effortlessness.

Krouhancsana (Heron pose)

Sofia Vassilieva, actress on NBC hit series Medium

"The heron is an intense stretch that restores my inner balance, releases tension in the body and mind, and opens the heart."

nasana (Upward facing dog) Maxine Bahns, actress/certified yoga work instructor

"I love the way I feel in Upward Facing Dog. My chest and shoulders are open, allowing me to take a deep breath. And, at the same time, my spine is elongated and flexed, which helps with the lower back pain I sometimes get from cycling and running. It’s a gentle backbend that fires up the whole body."

HAIR CARE TIPS

1. Oily hair? Invest in a dry shampoo If you have blonde hair, sprinkling a bit of baby powder on your roots and at your crown will soak up excess oils. If you have brown hair, you might be better off with a dry shampoo for your hair color.

2. Wrapping hair around the barrel creates waves There's nothing sexier than long, layered waves. To get them, wind hair AROUND the barrel of a large curling iron. Reverse direction for each 2-inch section (wind up for one, down for another).

3. You can never go wrong with layers Layers are great for any hair type: Super curly, straight or wavy. It makes thin hair appear thicker, curly hair appear manageable and wavy hair appear just-got-back-from-the-beach

Hairstyles for Bridal

Hairstyles for Bridal Attendants

1. When you are chosen to be a bridesmaid, it is because the bride considers you an important part of her life and wants you by her side to represent her on one of the biggest days of her life. An important part of your job as a bridesmaid is to look your best, without overshadowing the bride. When choosing a wedding hairstyle, pick a style that will make you feel beautiful but won't overshadow the bride.
Side Bun
2. A side bun is a fun, creative style that is still formal but a little playful at the same time. The side bun can be worn in a variety of styles; more casually for less formal weddings, such as beach weddings or outdoor events. A side bun is also idea for neater and more formal for upscale events. For the side bun style, the hair is swept to the side of the face and pinned into a bun. The bun can consist of pin curls, or be twisted into a ballerina style bun. If the bride allows you to use hair accessories, add a flower or pretty barrette to the top of the bun, and you will look both classy and elegant.
Side Ponytail
3. A side ponytail is very similar to the side bun, but perhaps a little less formal than the previous style. Side ponytails are good because they can be both formal and informal. They are good for the trendy, less traditional type of bridesmaid who wants to do something a little different with her hair. The hair can be curled first, or worn in loose waves or completely straight. The ponytail is swept to the side and over one shoulder, and secured with a ponytail holder or bobby pin. A small strand of hair can be wrapped around the ponytail to cover the holder, or a pretty hair accessory can be used as well.
Updo
4. A traditional updo makes a pretty, formal bridesmaid style. The hair can be teased at your crown and piled in curls high on the head, or pulled into a neat bun, French twist or knot at the nape of your neck. Curled pieces of hair can be left loose for a messier look, or the hair can be combed back and secured tightly for a neat look. Create a drastic side part, and pin the front of the hair to the side, or comb all of you hair straight back and away from your face.
Half-Updo
5. The half-updo is a good compromise between a full updo and wearing your hair completely down. Pull the sides of the hair back into a half ponytail, or pull the bangs and front of your hair back over the top of your head. Half-updos can be worn curly or straight, and hair accessories can be added to dress up the look.

Celebrities Beauty Fragrence Secrets

They have a number of perfume-sets for men and women 'Signature', 'Intimate', 'Instinct' etc. Posh Beckham chose a pink and silver design for her scent, while masculine David went for a brown color scheme.

Christina Aguilera's 'Inspire' is a fragrance that celebrates the young woman and freedom to express yourself.

Sarah Jessica Parker's 'Covet's is a modern classic fougere fragrance. Precious, feminine and seductive, it is a stunning blend of fresh green notes, gorgeous florals and sensuous woods that instantly draws you in and won't let you go.

Inspired by a shimmering western sky, this fragrance by Shania Twain was released in September 2007 and is described as 'fruity floral' with top notes of mandarin, lemon, apple blossom and white freesia.

Shilpa Shetty has created her own signature scent called 'S2'. The perfume is fusion of many different scents with the keynotes derived from flowers and fruits, including Mandarin, Bergamot, Peach, Jasmine and Sandalwood. She championed the perfume market after her S2 perfume reached Number 3 in the UK Fragrance Chart within 2 weeks of it's launch.


Kylie Minogue launched her very first fragrance 'Darling'. After successful first fragrance Kylie launched a second one named 'Sweet Darling'.

Britney Spears first joined forces with the Elizabeth Arden firm for her debut fragrance, 'Curious'. Then she released 'Fantasy'. It was introduced by the design house of Giorgio Armani. It is a refined flowery fragrance with a blend of fruits, jasmine and heliotrope with low notes of cedar vanilla and musk. Next came 'In Control', a sexy mixture of loquat fruit and sandalwood. Then, Britney recently teamed up again with Elizabeth Arden to create 'Believe', her newest fragrance. It is a delicate and sensual blend of warm, seductive amber and exotic florals.

Mariah Carey has a fragrance called 'M' to her name. In co-operation with Elizabeth Arden, Mariah launched the summer edition of her second perfume, named Luscious Pink. They created the fragrance containing notes of Sicilian bergamot, accords of ocean breeze and Italian sparkling cocktail Bellini.

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has 13 perfumes to her name. The most popular amongst them is 'Glow by JLo'. The earliest editions originate from 2002 and the newest ones from 2009.

Paris Hilton has nine perfumes under her signature line. The earliest edition was launched in 2005 and the newest one from 2009. Paris Hilton fragrances are made in association with perfumers Jean-Claude Delville, Mane USA, Steve Demercado, Jean-Louis Grauby, James Krivda and Honorine Blanc.

The first perfume by famous Oscar winning actress Halle Berry 'Halle' was launched by the actress recently. The scent is meant to be reminiscent of the beach and evoke 'the spirit of a woman who is effortlessly sexy, stylish and elegant.'

Anything associated with a celeb is sure to make a statement and perfumes are no exception. So, what makes celebrities endorse a specific brand of perfume or create one on their own? Take a look at the celebs who have bottled up their own signature scent.

Kim Kardashian's first signature fragrance, called 'Kim Kardashian' was launched. Kim describes the scent as sexy and sultry yet youthful and it transfers perfect from day to night. Some of the ingredients in her scent are Gardenia, tuberose and jasmine.

'Heat' is the first fragrance by attractive and talented Beyonce and it has arrived in the market. Name of the fragrance was inspired by Beyonce's tour and performances. Colour of flacon and liquid was chosen after Beyonce's favourite colour, red, with a wish to look like fire with antique details. A passionate perfume offers honeysuckle, almond and musky cream, while a base finishes with sequoia wood, tonka and amber.

Kate Moss hit the perfume jackpot with her signature 'Vintage'. The fragrance is a perfect mix of fruity, floriental (floral and oriental), vanilla and musk. Her fragrance is inspired by her love for vintage fashion and this is her fourth fragrance after she introduced 'Kate' by Kate Moss, 'Velvet Hour' and 'Summer Time'.
Amitabh Bachchan, known for his immaculate dressing sense and distinctive style, is all set to cash in on his popularity. The Bollywood superstar is preparing to launch a second fragrance named after him in Paris. The new cologne will be launched by the makers of his first signature perfume, French brand Lomani. Lomani introduced in 2002 a floral-spicy blend named after the star.


Leading French perfume brand Jeanne Arthes had named a fragrance after Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Labeled 'Tiger Eyes by SRK', the perfume is Shah Rukh's invincible facets captured in a bottle. The perfume comes in both the male and female version and the bottle has a picture of SRK and Tiger on it.


For years, the name Lata has conjured ideas of beautiful melodies and a timeless voice. Now capture all the magic that is Lata with her signature fragrance that mixes 78 ingredients for a sweet yet musky scent, held by the finest imported glass. 'Lata' is a fresh and floral perfume that reflects the essence of the warm and modest person behind the enigmatic Living Legend 'Lata Mangeshkar'.


Supermodel Kate Moss launched an exclusive perfume brand to compete with fellow supermodels Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. Her scent is called simply 'Kate' and the fragrance is a mix of elegant and risque with smoky rose and black undertones with a vintage English feel.

STRAWBERRY BEAUTY TIPS

Strawberries come loaded with Vitamin C. They have anti-bacterial properties and also help improve the body's absorption of iron. Strawberries have a mild bleaching effect on the skin which help clear blemishes.

Strawberry beauty tips for you! Those pretty little berries do more than just please our palates: they clear up acne and oiliness, make skin younger and smoother, whiten teeth, reduce under-eye puffiness, leave hair glossy and beautifully conditioned, and so much more!

Take ½ cup ripe tSrawberries and ¼ cup cornstarch. Mix both things together to make a paste. As usual apply this mixture on the face and neck and let it be as it is for 20 minutes. Later rinse with cold water. Strawberries are best for oily skin.

Cut a Strawberry and rub it over your face. This will help lighten the skin.


Strawberry contain good amount of antioxidants that helps in removing dead cells from the body. It even gives rich texture to your skin. Crush three strawberries and mix it with milk. Use as cleanser on your skin, thus helps in removing dead cells from the skin. It also helps in tightening your skin.

Care for your NAILS

Clean and well-manicured nails often help to make a good impression and we often spend a lot of time and effort in trying to beautify them.

But nails are more indicative about a person than just the hygiene habits. They are also good health indicators and a sure-shot give-away for many diseases. These symptoms are different from the nail-related diseases and it’s important to be able to read the correct tell-tale signs, as they may warn you about a disease that you may be unaware of. Though the nail in itself is nothing but a dead tissue, the areas under the cuticle and the nail are alive and these areas make the nail vulnerable to damage or infection. Hence diseases can easily manifest themselves on nails.

“It is true that nails often give us clues to diseases occurring inside the body. Not only do they tell you about your present health, but also about your past trauma or illness. For instance, horizontal lines and depressions medically termed as Beau’s lines can tell you about about your past illness or white spots/white lines on a nail suggests a random injury to the nail bed,” says city-based health writer Dr Parul R Sheth.

Calling them windows to an individual’s overall health, head or dermatology Dr Nina Madnani explains, “When we examine a patient we always examine the nails too. Like the skin, nails are excellent indicators of what’s going on inside your body. If your nails are healthy — smooth and pink with a slightly curved surface — your body is probably healthy too.”

Talking about the possible reasons, she adds, “The discolouration or disfiguration could be due to several reasons and they may be systemic or a result of a local nail infection. For example, the yellowing of nails could be due to excessive use of nail polish or nail hardeners, but it could also indicate jaundice.”

Nails also tend to absorb various substances, so it isn’t uncommon to notice slight discolouration in the nails of a person who smokes regularly or a person who deals with certain chemicals having nails of a bluish tinge. “Any change in tone and texture should be looked into immediately,” says dermatologist Dr Sunil Tahiliani.

What nails indicate:
- If you have brittle nails, then you may be iron deficient. They are also indicators for biotin deficiency, kidney disorder, thyroid or circulation problems.

- Thickening of nails indicate circulation problems.

- Concave nails (bent inwards) are a symptom of iron deficiency and/or lack of Vitamin B12.

- The deficiency of Vitamn C makes the nails to split or become frayed.

They could also indicate psoriasis, or a lack of folic acid and proteins.
- Clubbing of nails could be because of oxygen deficiency in the body, due to lung, heart or liver problems.

- Nails with pits are usually a symptom of psoriasis.
- Lines and grooves on the nails are often associated with various diseases. The vertical ridges appear due to arthritis, while horizontal ridges are a result of too much stress.

- B12 deficiency is signified by dark nails.

- Pale nails could be due to anemia or problems with the kidneys/liver.

- Red nails are often due to heart disease.

- Blue nail beds are the result of lack of oxygen in the blood, most likely due to asthma, emphysema or other lung and heart diseases.

- Grey nail beds are a symptom of diseases like arthritis, glaucoma, cardio diseases or excessive malnutrition.

- Yellow nail beds indicate liver disorders, diabetes, lymphatic diseases or chronic bronchitis.

Taking care:
It is very important to take good care of nails and not ignore or avoid any symptom, but some of the symptoms can also appear in healthy individuals. So, don’t be alarmed at every slight looking change or if you happen to have some of these symptoms. “Though nails sometimes do tend to change the colour sometimes, it’s better not to ignore only if the change seems permanent. Often women tend to hide any discolouration or disfiguration by painting the nails. Ignoring such signs and viewing them as only an aesthetic problem could be dangerous to your health and may only worsen the condition. The wise thing to do is to visit your doctor to rule out all causes of the abnormality,” says Dr Madnani.

Symptoms of Premature Greying of Hair

Causes of Premature Greying of Hair

Faulty diet, Mental worries and lack of vitamins

A faulty diet and mental worries are the two primary causes of premature greying of hair. Lack of some of the B vitamins, iron, copper, and iodine in the daily diet is said to be a contributory factor. Mental worries produce extraordinary tension in the skin of the scalp; this interferes with the supply of vital nutrition necessary for the health of the hair.

Heredity, unclean condition of scalp etc

Other causes of premature greying of hair are an unclean condition of the scalp, washing the hair with hot water, drying it with an electric dryer, and use of hair dyes. Heredity is also a predisposing factor.