When you think of yoga, what comes to mind? I think of long, lean bodies performing controlled, flexible poses while wearing brightly colored yoga clothes. While a yoga class is a challenging yet relaxing experience for most people, it can be intimidating for overweight or obese people. Just think about it -- how would you feel if the whole class is going into revolved triangle pose and your body just simply doesn't bend that way.

Luckily, the active-at-any-size belief is moving into the yoga world. Yoga classes designed specifically for overweight and obese are popping up all over the country. From the New York-based Buddha Body Yoga classes to Yoga for Round Bodies in Seattle, modified moves are making yoga not only possible but enjoyable and beneficial for the overweight.

Instructors of plus-size classes maintain that the more comfortable atmosphere attracts more participants. But Kelly McGonigal, editor in chief of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, has a different opinion. McGonigal told the New York Times that she feels instructors should be able to make modifications for weight or any other issue. She would rather see traditional yoga classes be modifiable and attract a broader selection of participants. After all, yoga is about mind/body awareness, overall health and self acceptance. And even though lithe, flexible people come to mind when you think about yoga, most classes are a friendly mix of yoga enthusiasts of all shapes, sizes and abilities.

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Raise your hand if a nap sounds pretty darn good right now. Yeah, I'm with you. But really, even though we all know it's good for our health, it just never happens, does it? Unless, of course, you happen to belong to a gym that offers a napping class (which, by the way, our own Fitz was calling for two years ago).

I'm serious -- some gyms truly are implementing a napping class. But it might not be quite what you think. If you've ever taken a yoga class, you're probably familiar with the intense relaxation that comes at the end of class when you reach Savasana, or Corpse Pose. And sadly, that pose usually only lasts for a few minutes.

More and more yoga classes are beginning to incorporate longer periods of this deep relaxation. At select Equinox fitness clubs, for example, members can take part in a 45-minute PowerNap+ class, which starts with light yoga and cardio and ends with 15 minutes during which they can relax or even sleep. In fact, the instructor covers members with a blanket and rubs lavender on their foreheads to encourage a little shut-eye. It's not yet available in all locations, but I wouldn't be surprised to see more of them pick the class up.

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It's not just for the Moulin Rouge anymore ... Can-Can, the high-kicking, 19th century dance style, is making its way into fitness centers.

There's nothing slow-paced about the Can-Can. Dancers are constantly in motion -- holding up their frilly skirts, kicking in time, twirling, even doing cartwheels. And while showing a little leg certainly isn't as scandalous as it was in the 19th century, there's just something silly, sexy and daring about dancing the Can-Can.

If you happen to live on the other side of the pond, you can find Can-Can classes at Polestars locations. In North America, you might have to wait a while for this fitness fad to catch hold. In the meantime, try out another fitness dance class or -- if it's the daring part of Can-Can you find appealing -- consider taking a pole dancing class for fitness.

What dance classes have you taken for fitness?
[via Lemondrop]

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Rebounding can have a couple of different meanings. While my mind goes immediately to basketball, someone else might think about the date she had after her last break up. But, neither of those things are what this post is about.

Rebounding, or jumping on a mini trampoline (rebounder), is one of the hottest ways to get in great shape. It's super beneficial -- a NASA study found rebounding to be 68 percent more oxygen-efficient than other types of cardio exercise, including running. Plus, you know, bouncing around is fun.

Perhaps even more important is the fact that rebounding has zero impact, but gives you high-impact results. And, you can do it in a class (such as Urban Rebounding), or you can do it at home with your own Urban Rebounder Folding Trampoline Workout System.

We all have pet peeves -- even super mellow yoga instructors. They might seem like nothing bothers them, but rest assured, even they have buttons that can be pushed.

You might not have given it much thought, but they have. And, over at Whole Living, they've compiled a list of the Top 10 Yoga Teacher Pet Peeves. I'm willing to bet that, even if you're not guilty of one of them, you'll know someone in your class who is.

Check out some of the more surprising ones in the gallery, or go to the article for all 10. And now that you know, there's no excuse -- don't be the one your yoga teacher has to vent about!

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AntiGravity Yoga isn't your traditional yoga workout. It involves a hammock, which made me really excited, but no snoozing is allowed. Boo. Still, it sounds like an amazing way to practice yoga in a totally new way.

So, you're asking, what exactly is AntiGravity Yoga? Does it involve levitating? (At least, that's what I wondered.) No, there's no actual levitating, but you are held off the ground in an AntiGravity hammock, which, according to the website, allows you to:

• Decompress tight joints, relieving pressure while aligning the vertebrae of the spine without strain,
• Perform advanced yoga inversions without neck or back compression,
• Hold challenging yoga postures longer and in correct alignment,
• Stretch further with less strain,
• Add an entirely new dimension to your practice,
• Create better body awareness while increasing overall agility.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz! I've come across a couple articles recently that are dead-set against prolonged cardio multiple times a week. They suggest that High Intensity Interval Training or low intensity activity only a few times a week at most, alongside regular weight training, is the only way to lose fat and stay fit. I don't think I could live without long runs or my favorite aerobics class. What do you think? Thanks, Samantha

A. Hi Samantha! Thanks for the great question. I'm sure it's on the minds of many. Bottom line, the folks who said that are over-opinionated. Think about Lance Armstrong, the guy does massive amounts of cardio each week and is the picture of health. So do I ... and so do most runners, cyclists, boxers, kickboxers, soccer players and more.

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Looking for a new, fun way to shape up that booty? How about going Bollywood?

One of this year's biggest movies, Slumdog Millionaire, isn't just bringing attention to the stars of the film -- it's also shining a bit of light on a form of fitness that's actually been around for awhile, Masala Bhangra. New York-based fitness instructor Sarina Jain is celebrating her tenth year of teaching the Masala Bhangra dance workout, and has six Masala Bhangra fitness videos out (the most recent being Back to Bollywood, which I'll be reviewing soon right here at That's Fit).

Masala means "spicy" and Bhangra is a folk dance from the northern part of India -- you can definitely see where both come into play! The workout has a bunch of celeb fans, too -- Paulina Porizkova takes Sarina's class every week, and Deepak Chopra likes the workout so much that he's had Sarina speak at his retreats. Additionally, So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Nakul Mahajan loves it, and after seeing the dance he choreographed for the show last season, who wouldn't love it, too?

Check out the video above to see what this cultural dance workout is all about, and be sure to click on the America Takes It Off badge below for more ways to shape up and lose weight!

We all want our workouts to be fun, but in order to get a senior citizen without much of a fitness routine interested in fitness, you'd better have something really interesting. And, one group of senior citizens in Miami definitely got an interesting workout from the Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus clowns.

The clowns came to the YMCA's Silver Sneakers program and showed the group of grandparents how they could use circus tricks to stay fit. They balanced peacock feathers (for improved alignment) and juggled scarves (to improve hand/eye coordination and balance as well as mental fitness). They also used the hula hoop -- something "kids" of all ages can enjoy.

Smartly, it sounds like the gray-haired group avoided a few tricks, such as the unicycle, but they all went home with some great new views on staying fit as seniors. For other fitness tips (that don't involve creepy clowns), be sure to check out America Takes it Off!

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Feel a little tired of your same-old, same-old fitness routine? Revolution Health has a list of 10 fitness classes everyone should try at least once.

• Belly Dancing
• Cardio Striptease
• Circus Arts
• Dodgeball
• Fitness Boot Camp
• Nordic Walking
• Self Defense
• Tai Chi
• Urban Rebounding
• Yoqua.

While I don't know if I buy the "everyone should try them" line (goodness knows I'm far too shy for cardio striptease and there's no way you're going to get me on a trapeze), this is certainly a great list of fitness alternatives. When you need to shake up your fitness routine, what fun alternatives do you turn to?

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There are a number of mandatory classes in school -- math, science, English ... and yoga? Yoga might not be a part of the curriculum for students here in North America, but in India, it's set to become a requirement.

At the regional Diabetes summit in Chennai, Indian Minister Anbumani Ramadoss says, "There should be extensive scientific deliberations on yoga. And today I blatantly put that yoga reduces diabetes, yoga reduces hypertension, yoga reduces stress. I am going to make yoga mandatory for all school-going children in India (from) the coming year."

And why not? Yoga is good for the soul and the body -- it can teach patience, kindness, fitness and body awareness to students. Maybe we should make it a requirement here. What do you think?



(via Calorie Lab)

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Feeling stuck about what to buy your sweetie this holiday season? Believe it or not, a fitness gift can be romantic. There's a fine line, however. Guys, if you buy your girlfriend a weight-loss fitness DVD, you are going to have hell to pay. But buy her a romantic weekend away at a ski resort, and you'll get a whole different response.

Fitness can be fun, and it's a great way to spend time together. So think about the different activities you enjoy and find a way you can do them together. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

If you've been hanging around That's Fit for a while, you know that we're big fans of jumping rope. However, as much as I love it, I understand when other people don't feel the same way -- the reason it's effective is because it's not easy! Still, you used to jump rope for fun as a kid, and Punk Rope, a new grown-up fitness class, wants you to get back that feeling.

Described as a P.E. class for adults, Punk Rope mixes jump roping with other conditioning drills with funky names, like Charlie Brown and Wizard of Oz. Additionally, the class gets split into teams for interactive relay races and other competitive games that get everyone cheering and laughing. The founder of Punk Rope, Tim Haft, says, "It's like recess crossed with boot camp. It's intense, but you're laughing and having fun so you don't realize that you're working out."

To keep things interesting (because, you know, it's not quite cool enough already), each week has a different theme relating to a holiday or event, and the high-energy music is chosen to reflect the theme. Unfortunately, Punk Rope isn't offered where I live (yet), but it is available in 15 states. To see if a class is offered near you, check out the Punk Rope Website.

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My exercise of choice is following a fitness DVD in my living room. It's private, convenient, and I know just how long it's going to take. I also know that my instructor is one I'm going to like ... because she never changes. But if you're taking fitness classes at a gym, you may not always know who your instructor is going to be. To help you sort out the fit hits from fit flops, Divine Caroline shares eight traits of a bad aerobics instructor:

• Forgetful Freddy. An occasional lapse in memory is just human but if your instructor is consistently forgetting the routine or what you did last week, odds are his mind is on something else.
• Lopsided Lola. If your trainer doesn't work both sides of your body equally, it's setting you up for possible injury and/or uneven muscle development -- especially if it happens week after week.
• Offbeat Olga. If your class is set to music, the rhythm should help motivate you. If your instructor can't keep a beat, it's a sure way to throw off the whole class.
  

Check out the full article on Divine Caroline for more signs that your fitness leader isn't the best.

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Reese Witherspoon has been looking pretty fantastic lately and while she certainly can attribute some of that to her jogging sessions with boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal, she's also giving credit to a new workout invented by her personal trainer, Matthew Reyes, called YogaHop.

Reyes explains, "Most people think yoga is all granola and hippies, so I love to explain how YogaHop is not like that. Imagine all the benefits of Hatha Yoga, then add chart music that will have you bouncing into the poses." Reese obviously agrees, as she tries to attend the 90-minute class two or three times a week, occasionally taking Jake along with her.

It's hard for me to picture, but I can imagine how joining the flexibility of practicing yoga with a more upbeat, energetic workout would be fun. Have you ever tried YogaHop, or anything like it? Because, if it's good enough for Reese, I'm thinking it's good enough for me.

Flip through the gallery below for more celebrity fitness secrets.

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