A lot of celebrities pay their respects to the fine art of yoga. They like how it sculpts their bodies, how it relaxes their souls, how it brings them face to face with, well, beautiful women. Not all stars sing this specific yoga praise. But Maroon 5 rocker Adam Levine does.

"Let's face it," joked Levine to Women's Health magazine. "I only practice yoga because the classes are always packed with beautiful women."

Beautiful women are not the only reason Levine loves yoga. He's a fan because it's the most convenient way for him to exercise on the road. All he needs is a few feet of space, a mat, and the right state of mind.

Right off the bat, the 29-year-old was a bit caught up in the clichés associated with yoga. But now, he just plain likes how it makes him feel. At first, he embraced the fitness practice to help with tightness in his lower back, hips, and hamstrings. After his first class though, he felt both challenged and physically satisfied. It's so much better than lifting weights, he says, which he'd been doing for years.

Want to embrace yoga yourself? Levine says to start simple and put it down on your calendar as a social priority. Beautiful women, remember? Maybe some beautiful men too.

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It once was called the "Freshman 15." Now it's the "Freshmen 5" -- 15 was apparently an inflated number -- and even though the tendency for young women to gain five pounds after embarking on a new college experience doesn't seem so devastating, it's still quite alarming, say Canadian researchers.

It's alarming because the weight is typically gained over six or seven months. Putting on weight at this rate can be very problematic.

While there are limitations to the study of this phenomenon -- women who took part in weight-gain research reported only what they ate during the prior 24 hours, for example -- it's clear that colleges need to do more to incorporate physical activity into the lives of female students. And girls entering college should be advised to eat right and exercise well.

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My top five veggies are broccoli, peas, corn, squash, and spinach salad leaves. These aren't the five eaten by the majority of Americans, though. The overall top five in this country, according to Canyon Ranch's Connection magazine, are:

• Iceberg lettuce

• French fries

• Potatoes

• Potato chips

• Canned tomato

This is alarming, says the Ranch experts, because these foods have far fewer vitamins than other vegetables. Don't be part of the statistic, they say. Instead, make an effort to eat one new veggie per week so you'll get a wider variety of nutrients.

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I frequently speak about the mind-body or mind-muscle association here on That's Fit, pointing to the importance such interconnectivity plays in your total health. More or less, what this relationship requires is a connection between your emotional/mental health and your physical well-being.

That's all well and good, but in today's busy world it may not always be a realizable goal. Oddly enough, the side of that relationship that most times gets neglected is our state of mind. We rush around all day long, only to then spend an hour or so hammering away at our bodies in the gym. When do we make time for our mental health?

To that end, here are five easy ways to help both your body AND mind stay as healthy as possible.

5. Be Positive - I've mentioned this poem before; two men looked out from behind the prison bars, one saw stars and the other saw mud. A positive outlook can protect and improve your health in both the short and long term.

4. Be Calm - If yoga does it for you, great. Meditation works? Great. Exercise let's it all out? Awesome. Whatever you need to do to release stress, do it. High levels of stress can be extremely debilitating, leading to free radical damage and an increase in the muscle-ruining hormone cortisol.

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All you need to remember for this diet plan is the number 5, says Harley Pasternak, trainer to the stars and author of The 5 Factor Diet.

Eat five meals per day, advises the most sought-after trainer among celebrities. Besides three main meals, have two substantial snacks so you never get hungry. Also, try to include these five components in every meal.

• A lean protein, such as chicken, fish, or egg whites.

• Filling carbs, like sweet potatoes, beans, brown rice, or oatmeal.

• Healthy fats. Try olive oil or nuts.

• Five grams of fiber, best obtained through fruit, vegetables, or whole grains.

• A sugar-free beverage. Water, tea, coffee, an unsweetened energy drink, or diet soda all count.
  

And finally, exercise five days per week. Strive for 25 minutes on a treadmill, take a Pilates class, or power walk with a friend.

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Food labels are confusing. I know this. Even though I understand how to understand them, it's hard to balance the good and bad I find listed on food products. I might find a certain something to be low in sugar and then learn the same item is high in fat. How do I know if something is a good bet with so much competing information?

Here's some direction, thanks to the American Dietetic Association. Call it the rule of 5 and 20.

An item is considered a poor source of a nutrient if it contains five percent daily value or less of that nutrient -- based on a 2,000-calorie diet. It's an excellent source if it contains 20 percent daily value or more. Depending on whether these figures refer to sugar or say, fiber, you'll want to adjust your intake accordingly.

That helps. Doesn't it?

For more on food labels and how to interpret them, stop by this site. Click on Get Smart -- Get the Facts on Food Labels and you'll land at an enlightening PDF nutrition fact sheet.

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It's no secret that aerobic exercise is good for you. It lowers the possibility of heart disease, lowers blood pressure and elevates your mood, among other benefits. For those just starting out though, it may be tough to know what kind of exercise will be of the most benefit. If you're unsure of what type of cardio to try, here's a list of 5 great workouts:

• Walking/Running - Walking is fantastic because nearly everyone can do it and it can be done pretty much anywhere. Plus it's cheap and it's easy on your body. As the article mentions, running burns more calories but is tough on your joints so make sure to invest in a really good pair of shoes.
• Swimming - Depending on the stroke, swimming engages a number of muscles at a time. Legs and arms work together and it's usually necessary to tighten up your core as well. This exercise is easy on joints so is better for those who have trouble with running or even walking. And based on my experience, swimming is great because you stay cool while burning calories.
• Jumping Rope - Have you tried jumping rope lately? It's darn tough! I don't remember getting so out of breath when I was younger, but a jump rope will have your heart rate up fast. Plus they're cheap and easy to use. But again, this activity can be tough on joints.
• Biking/Spinning - I admit that cycling on an indoor stationary bike is one of my least favorite activities. But it does burn calories, so if you can work hard (which is tough while reading a book, for those of you out there who I've seen diving into a novel while on the bike) and imagine away the monotony, it'll do you a lot of good. Biking outdoors, when the weather permits, is fantastic though and is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise.
• Cross-country skiing - From what I remember of cross-country skiing, it doesn't look hard to glide across the snow, but this is one activity that will literally get your butt into shape. You'll work both legs and arms (they'll be shaky when you're done, trust me) and if you don't start to feel short of breath right away, you're probably sliding down a hill. Plus it's a great way to enjoy the great outdoors in the winter.

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The Ballast Ball is the new and improved version of the stability ball. In fact, you can do absolutely everything you can do on a stability ball with the Ballast Ball....except for consistently fall on your head.

Created by BOSU, I tested out the new product last week at a fitness conference. Ar first glance, I thought "no way am I dropping another sixty bucks on a ball with some sort beads in it, I already have too many!" But then I tried it. I squatted down on the ball, and when I stood up it didn't roll away. Then I put both feet on the ball and my hands on the floor to do push-ups.....and I didn't roll away! Then I lifted it up for a while and my arms got tired, my core remained engaged and my glutes never unflexed themselves. Hmmmmmm I though. Maybe it is worth the sixty bucks.

The Ballast Ball is genuinely cool, and I simply wish I'd thought of it myself. You can do all of your regular stability ball exercises better, because the ball is more stable. It weighs five pounds, which offers a whole slew of other productive things you can do with it as well. I did end up buying one. My beginner clients love it, because they can do what I ask them to do without constantly falling and readjusting. My high level fitness clients love it cause they can do the really advanced exercises without losing the ball.

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