There`s an asana for everyone - from weight-loss yoga for the overweight ones to couch yoga for the lazy ones, and even hangover yoga for party lovers! Named the `Yoga Rebel` by New York Times, Tara Stiles` Strala Yoga is known for its unpretentious approach. It allows people to move with a sense of calm through easy and challenging postures alike.

She isn`t your Aum-chanting, deep-breathing yogini. Stiles designed hangover-curing workouts and couch-potato-friendly yoga asanas to help people deal with lifestyle disorders. Stiles says, "Yoga isn`t a spiritual thing for me, it`s a practical everyday routine. The benefits of yoga are simple: less stress, more energy and confidence. It helps improve the skin and the nervous system, and makes insecurities and bad feelings disappear, which is great for relationships."

15 minutes to happiness

Yoga isn`t about rigid, inflexible rules. Just taking five minutes to stretch before getting out of bed or going into a meeting can help you feel more relaxed. Says Stiles, "In Strala yoga, there is no correct pose. Safety is the first priority as I don`t want anyone to get injured. I tell people that everything in my class is optional. Just breathe. Yoga changed my life and helped me become strong and capable. Just 15 minutes of practice a day can make a huge impact on your life. You can do 10 minutes in the morning and five minutes at night. The mantra is: just keep practising. Movement is essential."

Taking it easy

Feeling great comes from having a good body. Bringing awareness to our habits, useful and non-useful, is the first step towards real transformation. For instance, being alert will help avoid any physical injury during yoga.

Stiles says people get injured because they try too hard to perfect their pose. "Move slowly. Don`t bend too hard to get into a perfect pose. Being fit isn`t just physical fitness but a mind-soul connection. Adds Stiles, "Indulging in non-productive thinking is harmful. Meditation is a lifestyle, not just something you do on the mat."

Getting real about weight loss

Overeating is caused by stress, emotions and greed. And that`s the reason for gaining weight. We can always choose how much and what to eat. Says Stiles, "One basic rule that works for me is finding great, fresh ingredients and produce. I try to discover exciting combinations with fruits, veggies and grains.

Yoga aids weight loss by controlling our cravings and helping us make healthier eating choices. Start your day with a green smoothie with bananas, spinach and almond milk. Munch on organic dark greens, fresh fruit juices, and nuts. Don`t drink too much champagne. Foods like chocolate and fried junk trigger a negative thought pattern. Eat better to feel better. If I eat right, have pleasant interactions with people, I look good too at the end of the day."

YOGA TO CURE A HANGOVER

Try the seated easy twist to cure a hangover. The twisting nature of this pose stimulates the liver and the kidneys and pushes the alcohol on its way out of your body. It energises the spine.

BDST: 1545 HRS, JAN-08, 2014
Edited by: Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor