Butterfly

To loosen tight hips or an achy lower back, try this relaxing pose, perfect for after a run.

This is the first pose I do right after a run. It feels utterly amazingly to stretch out my tight hips and low back. Here's what to do:

• Sit on the ground, bending both knees and bringing your feet together.
• Using your hands, open your feet up like a book. Use your muscles to press your knees down towards the floor. This will help to open your hips up even more.
• Lengthen your spine, drawing your belly button towards your spine. Relax your shoulders and gaze either in front of you or towards your feet.
• Stay here for 5 breaths, and then slowly begin to fold forward, drawing your torso towards your legs. Remember to try and keep your spine straight.
• You can keep your hands on your feet, pressing your knees down with your arms, or if you want more of a stretch, extend your arms out in front of you. Stay here for 5 breaths or as long as you want.

Your hips will love you for this. Plus your lower back gets a little stretch, and I found doing this pose before and after a run or bike ride prevents me from having tightness in my lower back later.

Butterflies are naturally synonymous with Spring. After sitting cocooned in sweaters and blankets all winter long, we get out the colorful cosmetics and flutter out at the first signs of sunshine. So it's fitting that the creatures are showing up in Spring makeup with butterfly imagery stamped right onto eye shadows. Here are two ways to get your butterfly fix.

A few days ago, I introduced you to Luscious Cosmetics, which makes a line of finely milled eye shadows called Social Butterfly Eye Velvets ($19). These delicate, shimmery shades work more like cream shadows, so they won't crease or feather throughout the day. The eye velvets come in three gorgeous colors: Venice, Malibu, and Hermosa.

For one more butterfly-embossed product, read more