Healthy Hollywood (me, Terri MacLeod) met up with New York City yoga teacher (and new wife of Alec Baldwin) Hilaria over the weekend. I got invited to take an outdoor yoga class with her in Central Park as part of FITNESS magazine’s annual Mind, Body, Spirit Games.
So, there I am on the mat very early Saturday morning doing a series of yoga poses outside in the fresh air. Not a bad way to wake-up!
As my teacher, Hilaria (like most of my yoga teachers) is an inspiration. First off, she’s gorgeous and has that enviable yoga body, but above all, she’s super sweet with a grounded spiritual vibe. It now makes sense how this mellow-minded yoga teacher was able to tame and marry the sometimes hot-headed Alec Baldwin. Hey, she’s even got “The 30 Rock” star to practice yoga.
Hilaria, who is part-owner and teaches at NYC’s Yoga Vida studio, says everyone can benefit from yoga.
“One of the most common things I hear is ‘I’m going to be tightest person’ or ‘I’m going to be the most un-flexible.’ But, the purpose of yoga is to teach flexibility. So, don’t be intimidated if you can’t touch your toes, there are lots of folks out there practicing who started in a similar condition,” she explains.
Plus, as Hilaria points out and as I try to tell my guy friends; the hottest gals on the planet practice yoga.
“It is actually the smartest place for a single guy to come because there are a lot of women in spandex. Plus, the yoga body and the yoga butt are not bad to look at,” jokes Hilaria.
In celebration of September being National Yoga Month, there is a lot of attention on the health benefits of yoga and how it inspires a healthier lifestyle.
“It’s the one thing I do every day,” reveals Hilaria, who adds, “It makes you more centered. It teaches you how to relax your shoulders. It teaches you how to breathe. It changes your body. It’s a whole body workout, so you’re going to get a lot more fit and cut and you’re not going to be so tight.”
For more fitness/yoga tips, check out www.fitnessmagazine.com.
— Terri MacLeod
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