Filed under: Fitness, Health, Lifestyle/ Health
From The Root:
From headstands to "Namaste," these yogis have taken the ancient discipline and made it an integral part of their lives.
Russell Simmons:
Co-founder of the legendary hip-hop label Def Jam and the clothing line Phat Farm, and producer of many movies and TV series, Simmons is the archetypal multiformat black entertainment mogul. Since 2000 he's also added "devout yogi" to his résumé. Simmons meditates each day and has a vigorous, 90-minute daily yoga regimen. His studies at the famous Jivamukti Yoga Center inspired him to adopt a vegan diet. He is eager to spread the word via DVDs and a yoga scholarship through his endeavor Global Grind.
Kerry Washington
For many, yoga means a series of arduous, if not grueling, poses. For Washington -- the star of movies such as Night Catches Us and The Last King of Scotland, as well as the acclaimed Broadway play Race -- yoga is most important when taken off the mat. A core tenet of her activism is the Buddhist prayer "May all beings everywhere be happy and free. And may my practice of yoga contribute to that happiness and that freedom."
LeBron James:
NBA legends from Kareem Abdul Jabbar to Shaquille O'Neal have practiced yoga, but few as enthusiastically as two-time MVP James. He began practicing two years ago to counter the imbalances in his body resulting from a pro ball career: strong in certain areas and weaker in others. Yoga gave him flexibility and calm. In 2009 James took a vicious fall in which he rolled head over heels. He credited his yoga practice -- especially the shoulder-stand pose -- with enabling him to avoid serious injury.
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