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Planning to spend some time frolicking in a chlorinated pool this summer? Here are some tips that may help you avoid green chlorine hair, dry skin & faded swimsuits.   Hair: Always use a good conditioner that has SPF. This will help prevent your hair from bleaching out from chlorine. While swimming, using a swim cap can help prevent damage. After swimming, rinse hair with shampoo and if possible a white vinegar and water or lemon juice solution.       ... READ MORE

In late 2011 I realized that I was in an unusual state of exhaustion. The last two years had not been easy. I had taken countless flights for work, walked miles through showrooms, malls and stores shopping for clients. And I had been devastated by the loss of some really special loved ones. Fashion has always been and will always be one of my greatest passions. I am eternally for grateful for all of my blessings, including my career. But when shoes, handbags and a fabulous dress didn’t make my ... READ MORE

  I’m so delighted to announce that the MegaYoga DVD is here and for sale on amazon.com! The DVD is the first yoga DVD ever to feature real life plus-size yoga students in a live class with a plus-size instructor. The four women from my NYC classes who star in the program are all shapes and sizes. They range in size from a 12 to a 26 and they are all graceful, proud and happy to be exercising in a way that is gentle on their joints but challenging for their muscles. They are the be ... READ MORE

I'm so delighted to announce that the MegaYoga DVD is here and for sale on amazon.com!   The DVD is the first yoga DVD ever to feature real life plus-size yoga students in a live class with a plus-size instructor.  The four women from my NYC classes who star in the program are all shapes and sizes.  They range in size from a 12 to a 26 and they are all graceful, proud and happy to be exercising in a way that is gentle on their joints but challenging for their muscles.  They are the best exa ... READ MORE

I recently watched a show about the Ironman Triathlon. The former Ironman winners who were interviewed all said some version of “This is a thing that the human body just isn’t supposed to do.” I also watched "Spirit of the Marathon," a documentary that follows runners - some elite (running every mile of the marathon faster than the treadmill at my gym goes), and some first timers - as they prepare and compete in a marathon. Many of them were dealing with serious injuries along the way, and ... READ MORE

So What IS YourStyle? It’s a place for women on Sonsi to showcase their real style. Each month Sonsi will feature one of YOU in our YourStyle article, highlighting some of your favorites in Fashion, Life and Home. This lucky lady will not only be featured on SonsiLiving but also get to showcase their very own, hand-picked clothing collection on Sonsi…Shop Ragen’s YourStyle Collection here!   Describe Ragen, in your own words: I'm a three-time National Champion dancer, writ ... READ MORE

I'm in the midst of final edits of the yoga DVD and wanted to give all of you a sneak peek at some screen shots!  The first four pictures are of the real students who are the stars of the video -Tanya, Traci, Chris and Michelle.  The screen shots of their faces were taken from the testimonial section of the DVD where they speak about the effect of regular yoga practice on their lives.  I really wanted to include this section because I think that a lot of us full figured ladies are i ... READ MORE

I’m very excited for this Saturday – I’m shooting my next yoga DVD for plus size women!  Way back in 2005 I created the Just My Size Yoga DVD working with JMS clothing.  It had a great critical and commercial response but has since gone out of print.  I’ve saved my pennies and hired a production company to shoot this next DVD here at a beautiful yoga studio in Midtown.  It has been a learning process being both the producer and the talent on this one. I have four of my students who w ... READ MORE

3 Stretches to Reboot Wakefulness... It’s 3 p.m. and that dreaded post-lunch weary feeling is dragging you down.  Carla Sottovia, Ph.D., Fitness Director at Cooper Fitness Center in Dallas, Texas, suggests dowsing this energy dip with three spine-engaging moves, two of which can be done right in your office, if that’s where you are when energy wanes.  What’s more, these energy stretch solutions come with triple savings.  They’re caffeine - and calorie-free and won’t cost you a penny ... READ MORE

Strengthen your knee muscles and you’ll be able to romp with the kids, garden all day and dance the night away for years to come. Your knee, which functions as your leg’s midpoint hinge, counts on the muscles crossing it for strength. “It's the surrounding muscles, such as the quadriceps and hamstrings, that help to stabilize the knee,” says Alysia Mastrangelo, Ph.D., P.T., associate professor of physical therapy at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Weak muscles surrounding the kne ... READ MORE