Photo: ThinkstockBy Kelly DiNardo

Yet another reason to say "namaste": A small 2010 study found that regular yoga practice may reduce inflammation in the body. "Inflammation, which can be triggered by stress, can worsen allergy attacks," says immunologist Gailen D. Marshall Jr., MD, PhD, who recommends yoga to his stressed-out patients.


We asked yoga instructor Sara Gottfried, MD, for the three best moves to help you feel better.

Alternate-Nostril Breathing

A 2008 study found that alternate nostril breathing-one of the most common breathing exercises in yoga-can increase your body's relaxation response.

Try it: Cover your right nostril and inhale through your left for a count of ten. Hold your breath for five seconds. Then cover your left nostril and exhale through your right for a count of ten. Inhale through your right nostril and hold for five seconds. Cover your right nostril again and exhale through your left. Do three more rounds.

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By Michelene Cleary, for SparkPeople

I've often watched the young female gymnasts in competition in a state of awe and wonder. How do they do all those jumps and twirls on the balance beam without falling off and make it look so easy in the process? The precision, the focus, the leap in the face of fear mentality - how do I get some of that?

Maybe that routine on the balance beam is like the healthy lifestyle to you. Some days there seems to be no balance and you can't get all the things in order to make it work. You're juggling the job, the family, the pets, the bills, the laundry, the housework, the yard work, or some combination of all those things and more. How are you supposed to fit in exercise, healthy grocery shopping, time to prep and
cook meals, plan meals for the next day or week? It's daunting, frustrating, and frankly you might just want to give up. Well don't.

The thing about those gymnasts on TV is they didn't show up at the training facility yesterday and jump into

.We interrupt your regularly scheduled exercise program for this important message: Repeatedly doing the same workout sets you up for fitness failure. Cross-training, or mixing up types of activity, is a smart way to speed results. "Fitness is a three-piece equation: flexibility, strength training, and cardio. Ignoring one component leaves you more prone to injury," says Geralyn Coopersmith, an exercise physiologist and national director of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute. Find the best match for your current workout below. Aim to switch up your routine 2 or 3 times a week. (Is it time to revamp your fitness routine altogether? See these 10 Signs Your Workout Needs a Makeover to find out.)






Primary Workout Yoga
Mix it up With This + Swimming

Here's Why Most forms of yoga aren't rigorous enough to meet your cardiovascular needs. Supercharge your slim-down with this low-impact workout that burns major calories.

Try Now: 20 Ways to Swim Yourself Slim!

Primary Workout Walking or

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute Engineering Lab put 26 six- to 12-sheet cross-cut shredders through their paces. We spent 40 hours feeding 'em paper (sometimes stapled or paper-clipped) and CDs to assess speed, safety, and noise levels. We also noted how easily they jammed or overheated and how much mess they left in their wake around the recycling bin.

Protect your identity with one of the five document-demolishing devices that aced our tests.

Black and Decker Studio Shredder1. Black & Decker Studio Shredder
6 sheets at a time ($48, amazon.com)

At 16" x 13" x 4", this stylish, lightweight device is ideal for small spaces and rolls easily to where you need it. Its pullout bin makes cleanup a snap - and we love the brilliant color.

2. Fellowes Powershred 73CI
16" x 21" x 11"; 12 sheets ($200, amazon.com)

A top choice for any office prone to pop-ins from pets or kids, it shuts off automatically if the paper slot is touched. Plus, it won't allow "overfeeding," so essentially,