Posted by Christy Pastore

Seems like yoga has been a craze for the last few years, but what exactly is the deal with yoga? Celebrities swear by it, your neighbor does it and you see yoga classes in session at the gym all the time. If you are looking for a way to calm and soothe your soul while toning your body then yoga just might be the workout for you! Here are a few things you might want to know about yoga and the benefits of this 3,000 year old practice.

The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, and it means to "yoke," or bring together the mind, body, and spirit. (Ha ha all I can think of is Jeremy Piven in PCU saying "You're majoring in Sanskrit?" That is a 3,000 year old dead language- seriously?" Ahhh fun times but I digress - back to Yoga). Although yoga includes exercise, it is also a lifestyle for which exercise is just one component. Disciplining your mind and body as well as connecting with your spirituality are the main goals of the yoga lifestyle. Yoga has tons of benefits. It can improve flexibility, strength, balance, and stamina. In addition to the physical benefits, many people who practice yoga say that it reduces anxiety and stress and improves mental clarity.

Spring is right around the corner, so that means everything will be renewed once again--including your skin! Here are a few facial cleansers that will help to bring out your skin's natural glow that has been hiding under the dull and flaky winter skin you've been sporting these past chilly months. Depending on the type of skin you have, one of these cleansers could be just right for you.

When I think of Aveda I generally think of hair care, however they have some amazing skincare products too. Aveda's Tourmaline Charged Exfoliating Cleanser is a daily cleanser containing tiny exfoliating jojoba beads that help to increase cell turnover and remove impurities. It also contains mango butter that helps to condition the skin, while it cleanses. The product is available at www.aveda.com for $28.00.

Okay, so spring is just around the corner and that means tank tops and spring dresses that show off the arms! Do you feel that your arms might need a little bit of toning up for the spring season? If your answer is yes, here are a few moves that will help keep your arms from flapping in the warm spring breeze.

In order to see results you need to switch up your routine every few months. Do this workout two non-consecutive days a week for eight weeks

Incline Dumbbell Bench Press -
Lie on your back on an incline bench, with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward (see picture). Push the dumbbells straight up until your arms are fully extended. Lower fully to the start position. Try 2 sets of 12 reps and rest your arms for 60 seconds in between sets. For more of a challenge try 3 sets if you feel 2 sets are not enough.

(WENN)

If you can't get enough of Jennifer Hudson, then you're in luck because Jennifer recently signed with cosmetics powerhouse Avon to star in the global campaign for their new perfume. The "Dreamgirls" star, who won an Oscar for her accomplishment as Best Supporting Actress, will represent the brand and its new perfume, Imari Seduction.

Jennifer has stated that it is quite an honor for her and she is flattered that Avon asked her to be the spokesmodel for the company. According to reports, Avon's Executive Vice President Liz Smith is overjoyed that Jennifer will be representing Avon in the new campaign. Liz Smith mentioned Hudson's extraordinary journey from "American Idol" hopeful to Oscar-winning actress as a significant factor in attracting the Avon target audience. She adds, "We believe that our Avon representatives and their customers will be truly inspired by Jennifer's dream-come-true success story." No details on when the campaign will start or the launch date for Imari Seduction are known at this time.

Hopefully Avon will give this woman a makeover and for the love of fashion, will someone please hire this girl a stylist that knows what he or she is doing?

More photos of Jennifer Hudson from the Soul Train Awards red carpet after the jump...

It doesn't matter if you work out in the morning or evening. Chances are, you probably grab a little snack before you go sweat it out. A snack before you work out helps give you energy so that you can give it all you've got. However, studies have shown that eating a snack AFTER you exercise is even more important. There is a 30-minute window of opportunity after you finish your routine during which you burn more calories. Additionally, eating a healthy snack after a sweaty session at the gym helps your body to repair muscle tissue and replenishes glycogen stores.

Here are a few healthy snack recommendations that Kristin Reisinger, MS, RD, a sports nutritionist and competitive figure athlete based in New Jersey, recommends to fuels your body, post-workout. (Reisinger recommends chasing each of these snacks with 8-12 ounces of water).

Check out the snack recommendations after the jump...

Bar soap can get pretty dirty, if it's being passed around from one body to the next, and shoved into crevices on which I choose not to elaborate and always seeming to attract hair. The company Valsey and Me is hoping to help end the insanity one individual bar at a time.

For $65.00, you can order 40 of these single-use soaps that are handmade from olive and natural essential oils in a beautiful, colored, papier-mâché treasure chest! The single use soaps each measuring 2" x 1" by 1/8 " thick, come in five scents; cinnamon orange, mango butter, white grapefruit, milk, almond , honey and lavender oatmeal. Each of the soap chips comes wrapped in tissue paper and can be customized with a name or saying up to fifteen characters long.

You can choose from a black and white box or a rich earthy warm toned box. They make great housewarming gifts and are perfect for bridal showers and wedding gifts as well. You can display the treasure box in your bathroom or the guest bathroom or store it conveniently in your bathroom linen closet. Your guests will appreciate their own personal bar of soap and it's totally cute!

To get on your soap box visit www.valseyandme.com!

I hate running! It's not fun for me personally, but I know several people who enjoy the sport. Running is one of the best and fastest ways to burn calories and lose weight. Here is a workout that Robert Pennino, a certified USA triathlon coach suggests. Be sure to keep the incline of your treadmill at 1 percent throughout the workout. If the pace seems too fast, modify to suit your fitness level.

For the first ten minutes warm up with a light job at 5.0 mph - (0:00 - 10:00)
10:00 - 10:20 - Sprint at 7.5 mph
10:20 - 11:20 - Jog at 5.0 mph
11:20 - 11:40 - Sprint at 7.5 mph
11:40 - 12:40 - Jog at 5.0 mph
12:40 - 13:00 - Sprint at 7.5 mph
13:00 - 14:00 - Jog at 5.0 mph
14:00 - 17:00 - Continue to Jog at 5.0 mph
17:00 - 27:00 - Run at 6.5 mph
27:00 - 31:00 - Jog at 5.0 mph
31:00 - 35:00 - Run at 6.5 mph
35:00 - 39:00 - Jog at 5.0 mph
39:00 - 55:00 - Repeat minutes 31- 39:00 twice
55:00 - 60:00 - Cool down at a slow pace jog/walk

I know what you are thinking - YIKES treadmill running for an hour. I am going to give it a try myself, I can't say I will be very good the first time, but I will let you all know!

(Source: Fitness.com)

Jessica Simpson, Cameron Diaz and Ashley Olsen have all done it. That is, they've turned their blonde tresses into brunette brilliance. Blondes, there's no need to get sensitive or be offended. Sometimes change is a good thing! What made these Hollywood ladies give their blonde locks the boot and embrace the bold and beautiful espresso? Going brunette is not just a fashionable trend at the moment it's also affordable. It requires less upkeep than highlights, saving both time and money.

Tempted by the dark side? Here are a few products that will help you turn your hair color to bold and beautiful brunette after the jump...

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Ever felt like you just need to get away? Of course, everyone would enjoy a break from the daily grind, the husband or wife, or as much as we love them, even the children! And with today's technology making a person easily accessible with cell phones, instant message, and e-mail, there seems to be nowhere to escape from the rest of the world completely. Sometimes, daily life and finances just won't allow us to squeeze in a date night once a week, much less take a vacation each year.

So, how can you escape to relieve stress and just get away from it all with the limited resources available to you? Here are a few ideas that might help you to recharge, and spend some personal time with the one you love the most--yourself!

As vain or cliché as it might sound, you really do have to love yourself before you can love others. Taking time out each day for yourself helps to relieve stress, making you will become less likely to feel overwhelmed. Otherwise, these frustrations from your daily life could potentially develop into anger, leaving a path of destruction everywhere you go. Each day for, at least 30 minutes, take some time for yourself to unwind and de-stress. Trust me, your friends and family will appreciate the new, improved you!

Take a walk and breathe some fresh air
Listen to your iPod or MP3 player
Read a magazine or a book
Working out
Take a bubble bath
Play fetch with your dog or play a game with your cat
Blow bubbles
Watch an episode of your favorite show--and laugh!

How do you spend your "me" time? Leave some suggestions!

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John Galliano will soon be joining the ranks of Chanel, Chloe and Christian Dior by launching his very own fragrance. Women's Wear Daily is reporting that John Galliano is set to create his first fragrance. 23 years after the he burst onto the scene. The fragrance will have a very exclusive distribution strategy and will be sold at price points that are described as being "beyond the average selective market."

You can expect this fragrance to be a very high quality product just like his clothing. The designer who is known for his romantic feminine style designs, couture skills and theatrical imagination displayed by his runway shows is rumored to have the fragrance ready to launch later this year. Can we expect this fragrance to have the same kind of qualities that Mr. Galliano displays in his couture? A little romantic, possibly a bold fragrance, I guess we will have to wait and see. Galliano is known for dressing stars from Madonna, Mischa Barton, Drew Barrymore and Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeno.