No, I’m not talking about sex. Although dolphins are very promiscuous animals. I’m talking about the dolphin pose, from yoga. It’s a great strengthener for your back, shoulders, and core. Plus, it’s quick, easy, and perfect for small spaces. Check out this dolphin series, including a stretch to do afterward.

1. Forearm plank to dolphin

Begin in a forearm plank, pulling your bellybutton toward your spine to support your back. Slowly begin to walk your feet in toward your arms, stopping when your feet are as close to your arms as you can get them. Imagine your shoulder blades gliding down your back, so that your shoulders don’t hunch up toward your ears. Hold at the top for 30 seconds, then slowly walk your feet back down. Repeat as many times as you want. Read More »

Don’t you wish there was an exercise that would help you build strength and flexibility, all while relaxing and warming your body up from the inside out? Oh wait, there is – yoga.

Yoga is a great total body workout, and because of its focus on breath, it has the added bonus of helping you feel calm and centered. Plus, it happens to be a great exercise for small spaces. But I’m no yoga expert, and there’s a yoga instructor certification process for a reason, so I’ve compiled a list of some great yoga videos made by real instructors, to help you bring a little zen into your dorm room, and look great while doing it. Read More »

In the last few years, collective buying sites like Groupon and Living Social have become increasingly popular. The concept is fairly simple: a daily deal is offered with a set minimum number that must be sold in order for the deal to become available. Examples of the types of deals offered through these sites include 50% (or more) off food at a restaurant, 2-For-1 tickets, and one-month unlimited gym passes. Read More »

College is stressful. We know it. That’s why we’re all about finding good (healthy) ways to destress and chill out…like yoga. And what better way to do yoga than with your very own custom CollegeCandy yoga mat?!

But before we tell you how to win this beauty of a mat, we wanted to give you the 411 on how to get your own custom gear.

CafePress is where the world shops for custom T shirts and other unique gifts that express people’s unique personalities. You’ll find millions of one-of-a-kind designs on every topic you can imagine (and some you can’t) – from political expressions, funny t shirts & stickers, to all sorts of merchandise with cool personalized designs. Plus find themed gear from major brands such as the Twilight Saga, American Idol, Star Trek, & more. You can also make your own personalized gifts with our easy design tool which allows you the ability to add photos, text, images, to even creating designs or logos from scratch.  Check out their full line of yoga mats right here.

And now…the part you’ve all been waiting for…how to enter to win.

1. Tell us your trick for destressing in the comments below. That’s it. You’re automatically entered to win this amazing prize.  Oh, and make sure to use your real e-mail address so we can contact you if you win.

2. Contest closes at 11:59 PM on May, 5 2011

3. Please note this giveaway is only open to US and Canadian residents. For official rules and more legal mumbo-jumbo, click here.

It’s already February and my life is in a routine. I should mention I hate routines. In fact, it’s okay to say I absolutely detest them. And the one that makes my skin crawl the most?

My gym routine.

The treadmill and bike just aren’t doing it for me anymore. Not even when I’m lucky enough to score one with a TV on it. It’s not like there’s anything good to watch at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, anyway. The truth is, spending an hour pedaling in place irritates me to no end, especially when I know there are many other things I could and should be doing (cleaning my room is on the top of the list – who knows where all my bras went?). And if you are anything like me, meaning you have about a second to sit down and breathe before something else happens, then you feel my pain.

So what’s a girl to do? Create a new playlist, join a hot yoga class, try new weight machines? It all just ends up the same: played out and boring.

What I need is a more efficient workout. Something that can whip my booty into shape without taking up my precious time. And if it didn’t require me to have to layer up to haul ass to the gym, well, even better.

And guess what? IT EXISTS. The fitness experts at AOL Health have a 15-minute full-body workout that is quick, challenging and can be done in the comforts of my dorm room (once I actually clean it, that is).

And here it is, in all its short, powerful glory.

Goodbye ‘Reba’ reruns (for real, how did that show ever exist!?), hello Gisele body with some extra free time on the side!

It’s hard to believe when you’ve got snow melting into your Uggs, but Spring Break is just around the corner. For me, a girl who has a countdown to the next Spring Break starting the day Spring Break ends, that news couldn’t be better. But for those of you who are having that “OMG I HAVE TO BE IN A SWIMSUIT IN 6 WEEKS?!” meltdown, this is less than a pleasant realization.

If you fall into the latter category, you’ve probably gone into workout/diet overload.

“I’m going to exercise every day and eat salad for breakfast/lunch/dinner so I can look like a Vicky Secret model in Cancun!!”

Optimistic? Yes.
Realistic? Uh, are you kidding?

Our society has always had this huge obsession with quick fix diets and weight loss plans. Unfortunately, they don’t work. The truth is, there’s no one thing to eat or one exercise to do in order to get your dream body. And all those plans that promise you to “lose 10 pounds in 10 days!” might work, but they’re not permanent and they’re definitely not healthy. So if you’re trying to get 6-pack abs and thighs that don’t touch by the time you’ve got to wiggle into that bikini in March, stop. It’s not gonna happen.

Instead, let’s work together to set some more realistic fitness goals that you can actually attain between now and the 24/7 happy hour we like to call Spring Break. Read More »

Sometimes, we may be really enthusiastic when we’re working out (i.e. hot guy at 9:00 and I know he’s watching me work this treadmill). This extra push on the body may cause strain to your muscles and no one wants leg cramps or excessive soreness the following morning!

Stretching is good for us pre-work out because it warms up our otherwise stiff muscles, which get especially stiff in this cold, cold weather. Post-work out, it reinforces your flexibility and rewards those hard worked muscles. Plus, it just feels good. (Tip: Be sure not to bounce when you stretch because it can cause tears in within your muscle fibers – instead, hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds and even it out on both sides.)

Here are a few of my favorites! Cool down with these easy moves in between classes or right after some crazy leg squats. Read More »

Not only have you not started your holiday shopping, but you haven’t started that 20-page paper that’s due in 12 hours. Welcome to finals week! It’s the most stressful time of the year, where you get to play catch up on all the reading assignments you skipped for the past 4 months while you simultaneously study for 5 exams that happen within two days.

While some colleges like to add to your stress (thank you Bridgewater State for losing power while I was on page 16 of my un-saved 27-page paper), other colleges have started looking for creative ways to help students de-stress. Tufts University, for example, has begun bringing in cute, furry, slobbery pups for students to pet and play with as a way to mellow out during their mid-finals week meltdown. Cuddling up with a poodle sounds all well and grand, but I’m just not sure that’s enough to combat the stress ulcer forming in my belly.

So what can colleges do to really curb our ulcer-inducing stress? Here are 12 de-stressers I can get behind. Ommmm. Read More »

She works out 6 days a week. She avoids the dessert buffet in the cafeteria. Her favorite hobbies on Facebook include running, yoga and lunges (and do not include brownies, TV marathons or couch time). She has magazine subscriptions to Shape and Self and her bookshelf looks like one you’d see in Jillian Michaels’ home library.

And you have no freaking clue what to get her for the holidays. I mean, carrots are a bad gift idea, right? And you know she needs a new sports bra, but that would be weird…

Worry not, young lass. Here are 9 gifts that are sure to tickle your health freaky friend’s fancy. Read More »

Stress has been my companion for as long as I can remember. I’m the kind of girl who likes having a million things to do because I love feeling productive. Unfortunately, I tend to take on more than I can handle. This leads to late nights, early mornings, constant worrying, tiredness, and, well…you know the routine.

So in an effort to stop overworking myself (you should really see my jam-packed planner) and to help my fellow busy bees (high five!) de-stress, here are a few reasons why we should take a breather and stop stressing out!

There are 50 Stress-Related Effects – none of which are attractive

The American Institute of Stress lists them here. Some of them are more common (headaches, impulse buying) while others are a bit extreme (ringing, buzzing or popping sounds). Wow, makes me want to call in sick…

Allow me to be more specific…

Ever look into a mirror during finals week and be shocked to see how unnaturally pale you are? Blame it on the stress! When you are stressed, your body responds by directing your blood flow to the heart, brain, and lungs since they are the most critical functions. Your skin does not get as much blood as when you are well rested, making you lose those rosy cheeks. Translation: you look like a zombie. Read More »