Get Bent!

September is National Yoga Month so I'm encouraging everyone out there to fall into a celebratory downward dog.

If you've never tried it before, Yoga is an amazing way to burn calories while lengthening and strengthening. Don't listen to the naysayers who criticize the lack of cardio-depending on your level of exertion, you can burn between 150-300 calories per hour.

Los Angeles is a fantastic spot to get familiar with this ancient form of athleticism. And with the weather getting cooler but the sun staying strong, we have amazing opportunities here to "om" in the outdoors.

Here are some of my favorite spots:

Runyon Canyon Sunrise/Sunset Yoga

Every morning at 10:30 a.m and evening at 6 p.m. friendly local yogis hold a free yoga class in the grassy area at the entrance of Runyon Canyon.

With the cool breeze and charming surroundings this is by far my favorite place to practice. Weekend mornings with Steve are usually more rigorous then the weekday evening class and the prime time to catch an upward facing gopher.

Head there 30 to 45 minutes early to get in a quick hike and get your blood flowing before class. Bring a yoga mat or go au natural in the grass. Donations are encouraged and don't forget your sunscreen.

Liberation Yoga

This adorable studio on La Brea south of Beverly has a variety of classes in their garden studio including beginners Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa Flow. Center yourelf while surrounded by the garden's tall trees, bubbling fountain, and ancient Chinese wood carvings. Classes are $15 each.

Beach Yoga with Brad Keimach

Every Saturday and Sunday morning at 10:30 film, music, and yoga guru Brad Keimach teaches an hour and a half donation based class on the Santa Monica Beach. Walk up Marine Street, all the way to the water's edge, by lifeguard station #29. The sand and smell of the ocean is a perfect compliment to the serenity of stretch and just two weeks ago dolphins joined the session!

Vytas at Bryan Kest's Power Yoga

Although this is not an outdoor class, I must mention this guy, as he teaches the best burn in all of L.A. Vytas teaches an hour and a half long sweat session everyday at the SMPY East studio in Santa Monica. It is by far the most hard-core, calorie-torching yoga class I have ever taken. If the sweat soaked floor surrounding patrons isn't testament to its effectiveness, your sore muscles the next day will be. Bring your own mat and a donation.

And for everyone out there who isn't in the City of Angels, don't fret. I have another option for you to balance your chi for free...

YogaMonth.org is offering A FREE WEEK OF YOGA to first timers at over 1,200 studios across the county. Enter your info and zip to get a pass for one near you.

FYI: Yogaworks on Larchmont is one of the participants!

For more infomation about Yoga and a description of the variety of styles check out this article at ABC-of-Yoga.com