Relative to many of its tech giant peers, Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL)research and development spending is actually quite conservative, both in absolute dollars as well as when measured as a percentage of revenue. This is one of the key benefits of focusing on product depth over breadth. Microsoft in particular has a bad reputation about frivolously investing in R&D projects that have remote prospects of commercialization, as cool as the projects may be.

The Mac maker has been ramping up R&D spending in recent years, and just hit a new high of 6.5% of sales last quarter.

Data source: SEC filings. Chart by author. Calendar quarters shown.

Here's R&D expenses in absolute dollars.

Data source: SEC filings. Chart by author. Calendar quarters shown.

To be clear, this is not a new trend, and CFO Luca Maestri has previously laid out four specific reasons why R&D expenses continue to rise: the product portfolio is growing, Apple is investing heavily in services to grow the services business, it is increasingly in-sourcing development of core technologies, and the company's building stuff it won't talk about yet. Still, it's a line item on the income statement that investors should monitor on a regular basis.

Image source: Getty Images.

If I had to guess as to which projects were priorities for Apple, the top two would be an augmented reality (AR) headset and autonomous driving systems.

CEO Tim Cook is already having trouble containing his excitement over AR. "One of the most exciting and most promising announcements from WWDC was the introduction of ARKit, a new set of tools for developers to create augmented reality apps," Cook said in his prepared remarks during yesterday's earnings call. "It's still early in the beta period, but it's clear that ARKit has captured the imagination of our developer community."

When asked about possible "near-term applications" that third-party developers might come up with, Cook said:

Mike, that is a great question. Since we -- and I could not be more excited about AR and what we're seeing with ARKit and the early going. And to answer your question about what category it starts in, just take a look at what's already on the web in terms of what people are doing and it is all over the place. From entertainment to gaming, I've seen what I would call more small business solutions. I've seen consumer solutions. I've seen enterprise solutions.

I think AR is big and profound. And this is one of those huge things that we'll look back at and marvel on the start of it. So I think that customers are going to see it in a variety of ways. Enterprise, it takes a little longer sometimes to get going, but I can already tell you, there's lots of excitement in there, and I think we'll start to see some applications there as well. And it feels great to get this thing going at a level that can sort of get all of the developers behind it. So I couldn't be more excited about it.

There are some pretty great demos already out there, as developers have already started tinkering with ARKit.

Apple is cleverly using the iPhone as the bridge to an inevitable AR headset. By starting now, it can build a repository full of AR content and apps that can quickly be repurposed to an AR headset at a later time. Given Cook's overt enthusiasm, there should be little doubt that a fair amount of R&D spending is being allocated here.

Only recently did Cook confirm that Apple is investing heavily in autonomous driving systems, even going as far as referring to it as a "core technology." In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year, Apple also said, "The company is investing heavily in the study of machine learning and automation, and is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation." When asked about autonomous systems, Cook made some cryptic remarks, hinting at use cases beyond transportation (emphasis added):

In terms of autonomous systems, what we've said is that we are very focused on autonomous systems from a core technology point of view. We do have a large project going and are making a big investment in this. From our point of view, autonomy is sort of the mother of all AI projects. And the autonomous systems can be used in a variety of ways, and a vehicle is only one, but there are many different areas of it. And I don't want to go any further with that. But thank you for the question.

Autonomous driving systems require massive R&D investments, both in terms of hardware and software. Prototypes have already been spotted, sporting the familiar LIDAR systems that characterize (non-Tesla) autonomous cars.

Don't expect that R&D spending to come down anytime soon.

Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. Evan Niu, CFA owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Continued here:
Apple's R&D Investment Hits New High as Percentage of Sales - Motley Fool

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's finance ministry has issued guidelines on overseas investment of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), amid a campaign to tighten controls on outbound investment and financial risks.

China's giant SOEs making products from trains to chemicals have been leading the country's "go out" drive with growing overseas investments, but they have encountered low returns on investment and weak profitability, the ministry said.

The guidelines will help "strengthen financial management of overseas investment of state-owned enterprises, prevent financial risks and improve investment efficiency," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

China is increasingly scrutinizing overseas spending by both private and state-owned firms, amid growing concerns about rising debt levels and potential systemic financial risk.

The guidelines, which come into effect from August, covered the areas of investment decisions, financial management, cost control, dividend distribution and foreign exchange business.

"Greater outbound investment by SOEs is going to take place and many of them lack the ability to properly manage risks," Xu Baoli, director of the research center at China's state-owned assets regulator told the official China Daily newspaper.

"The lack of accountability of senior executives for poor or failed investment is one of the reasons that lead to radical decision-making and loss-making deals."

China's SOE's are spearheading investment in infrastructure projects overseas along the ancient Silk Road land and sea trade routes, part of Beijing's signature 'Belt and Road' initiative.

In January, China issued regulatory rules on outbound investments by centrally controlled state firms, in a bid to tighten controls on money moving out of the country and stabilize a faltering yuan.

Beijing's crackdown on showy overseas deals has drawn in corporate giants including property developer Dalian Wanda, HNA Group, Anbang Insurance [ANBANG.UL], Fosun and Zhejiang Luosen, which was behind the purchase of A.C. Milan football club.

Reporting by Kevin Yao; Additional reporting by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Richard Pullin

See original here:
China issues rules to curb state firms' overseas investment risks - Reuters

Consumer goods giant Unilever (ul) has announced an investment into Helpling, the Berlin-headquartered home-cleaning platform.

Helpling, which was founded by the German internet firm Rocket Internet, operates across much of western Europe, as well as Australia, Singapore and Dubai. For Unilever, the service provides a new way to sell its home care products.

The investment reportedly totals "several million euros" and comes from Unilever Ventures, an arm that the company is using to capture fast-growing opportunities while its core staples such as Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream eke out more modest gains. The venture wing's previous investments this year include meal-kit outfit Sun Basket, skincare brand True Botanicals, customer care platform Limitless and digital ad platform Celtra.

Get Data Sheet, Fortunes technology newsletter.

Helpling previously announced 10 million in new funding in March of this year, from backers including Rocket Internet and Asia Pacific Internet Group (APACIG), a joint venture of Qatar-based telecoms giant Ooredoo. However, Helpling CEO Benedikt Franke said this was an entirely separate investment.

"We are both after a similar target group," Franke said, suggesting that Unilever is moving from a "make and buy" model to one that embraces the trend towards services. He compared the deal to auto-makers' investments in ride-hailing and sharing services, saying: "Big car manufacturers invest in those companies because their ultimate goal is to provide transport."

Indeed, Helpling and Unilever have been working together for some time, for example promoting the home-cleaning service on stickers attached to Unilever's products in the Netherlands.

It's not yet entirely clear how the closer relationship will work in practice. Helpling's cleaners use the products that customers already have at home, and Franke suggested this still "makes sense." However, he said ideas that will be tested include offering cleaning packages to new Helpling customers, and offering cleaning products as part of the Helpling subscription 90 percent of the service's customers use its services on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Unilever's biggest brands in cleaning are Domestos bleach and the washing powders Persil and Omo.

"We have a three-hour delivery window every week or every two weeks," Franke said. "Thats the moment which is super-suited to not only cleaning products but having things delivered. While you're at work, the cleaner can also open the door for the handyman. It's about getting the right products for your apartment to your door and make sure you don't run out of products."

Excerpt from:
Unilever's Latest Investment Targets New Route into Homes - Fortune

Dubai-based development firm DP World will pump $442 million into transforming the country's Berbera Port on the Gulf of Aden, with the ambition of creating a regional trade hub.

DP World has committed to managing the port for 30 years. The company plans to develop an ambitious new shipyard, quay, and free trade zone on the site.

The Somaliland government hopes the development will enable it to rival neighboring Djibouti as a point of entry for East African trade, and the project could also prove a much-needed economic boost.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991, breaking away from war-torn Somalia.

But despite maintaining relative stability and holding free elections, not a single country has recognized its statehood. The international community has prioritized the development of Somalia as a united country.

The deal with DP World represents a major coup for Somaliland as it demonstrates the country's clout on the world stage.

The investment is timely. Somaliland is blighted by youth unemployment of over 60%, and its worst drought in years has affected 1.5 million people - over 30% of the population.

The development divides opinion among the local population.

"Berbera Port is extremely fundamental for Somaliland," he told CNN. "(This investment) will boost the connection with the rest of Africa, especially Ethiopia. It's too early to say it's all positive, but I am confident it's a step forward."

But there are fears that land around the site will be bought up by wealthy businessmen at the expense of the wider population.

Strategic location

DP World's interest in this little-known fishing town is largely explained by its location, sitting conveniently at the apex of trade routes in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and East Africa.

"The Horn of Africa is a fast growing region with some of the fastest growing economies in the world," says DP World CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. "DP World Berbera builds on growth in the region where we are enabling trade."

The location also offers opportunities to landlocked Ethiopia, which is heavily reliant on neighboring Djibouti, with 90% of trade passing through the tiny state.

Ethiopia currently imports limited quantities of food through Berbera, but the imminent development will allow it to vastly scale up traffic through the port.

The Somaliland government claims it has an agreement for Ethiopia to take a 19% share of the port, which should deliver mutual benefits.

"Ethiopia having access to the sea is a major deal for Somaliland, and Ethiopia," says Laura Hammond, an East Africa specialist at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.

"Ethiopia has already built a road up to the border with Somaliland basically advertizing the fact that they're waiting to do business."

For its part, Somaliland will gain a powerful partner and ally. Ethiopia is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa, the host nation of the African Union, and a key driver of international diplomacy.

After two decades in the economic and political wilderness, the unrecognized state may finally be establishing itself on the world stage.

Follow this link:
Somaliland secures record $442m foreign investment deal - CNN

Zhang Peng | LightRocket | Getty Images

Wanda Plaza in Yantai, Shandong Province, China. Foreign acquisitions made by property developer Dalian Wanda include cinema chain AMC and Legendary Entertainment.

Just last month, media reports said domestic banks had been asked by regulators to review their exposure to foreign debt incurred by some of China's most prolific buyers of foreign assets, including property developer Dalian Wanda, conglomerate Fosun International and insurance company Anbang.

Acquisitions made by those companies include Anbang's 2014 purchase of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, as well as Dalian Wanda's purchase of U.S. cinema chain AMC Theatres and Legendary Entertainment as part of its push into the entertainment business.

As recently as July 28, Fosun announced its intentions, together with Beijing Sanyuan Foods, to buy St Hubert, a French margarine manufacturer. The acquisition was "aligned" with government policy in China to drive innovation, Reuters quoted Fosun Chairman Guo Guangchang as saying.

Despite the additional scrutiny, Cao said he was not worried about a scale back in overseas Chinese investment.

"I still believe that a lot of countries see China currently as one of the biggest investors investing abroad," Cao said.

"To put it in layman's terms, if a man gets rich, it's easier for him to squander his wealth. So from the perspective of the Chinese government and our internal think tank, we should tighten the belts of companies and remind them that their investments need to be wiser."

Follow this link:
China isn't discouraging overseas investment, only regulating it, Beijing-backed think tanker says - CNBC

(Reuters Health) - - People should opt for face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy if they're looking for the fastest way to address their binge eating disorder, suggests a new study from Germany.

Researchers found that while an internet-based self-help program did help people binge eat less often, face-to-face therapy led to a larger and faster reduction in binge eating episodes.

"Although there is evidence that structured self-help treatments based on cognitive-behavioral therapy may be effective for patients, it was unclear how the effects of an Internet-based application are in comparison with cognitive-behavioral therapy," said senior author Anja Hilbert, of the University of Leipzig Medical Center.

People with binge eating disorder repeatedly eat very large quantities of food in a short period of time, Hilbert and colleagues write in JAMA Psychiatry.

About 1.9 percent of people around the world will have binge eating disorder during their lives, they add.

"Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most well-established treatment for adultswith binge-eating disorder," Hilbert told Reuters Health in an email.

Self-help programs also showed promise in some research, however.

For the new study, the researchers randomly assigned 178 overweight or obese patients with binge eating disorder to participate in 20 50-minute face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy sessions or 11 internet-based self-help sessions. The treatments took four months.

Hilbert said the face-to-face therapy was delivered during individual sessions and focused on nutrition, body image and stress. The self-help program on the internet covered similar topics and patients could move through the program at their own pace. Those in the self-help group met with a specialist before starting the program and also received weekly emails.

At the start of the study, the participants reported an average of 14 days with binge eating episodes during the past 28 days. By the end of treatment, that fell to about 4 days among those in the self-help group and about 2 days among the cognitive-behavioral therapy group.

After six months, those in the self-help group reported an average of about 5 binge eating days during the past 28 days, compared to about 3 among the cognitive-behavioral therapy group.

The proportion of patients who were no longer binge eating was also higher among those in the cognitive-behavioral therapy group than among those in the self-help group at both points.

In an analysis of 116 of the patients followed for a year and a half, there was no difference between the two groups.

Hilbert said the better results among the cognitive-behavioral therapy group are likely due to it being more intense than self-help and being paired with therapist support.

She said the results showing cognitive-behavioral therapy worked faster than self-help should be considered during treatment decisions since patients usually need their problems resolved as early as possible.

"However, (self-help) was confirmed as a viable alternativeto (cognitive-behavioral therapy), and may be offered to patients with reduced access to (cognitive-behavioral therapy) or who do not wish to participate in an individual psychotherapy," she said.

Dr. Evelyn Attia, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, said it's important to explore other treatments for binge eating disorder since cognitive-behavioral therapy may not always be available.

"If somebody with binge eating disorder walked into a doctor's office, there are a range of treatments that are shown to be helpful," said Attia, who was not involved with the new study.

For example, she said, some people may be prescribed medications found to help people with binge eating disorder, including antidepressants and the stimulant marketed by Shire as Vyvanse, which was approved in 2015 for use in people with moderate to severe binge eating disorder.

Attia also echoed the author's statement that self-help programs should not be discounted. This study also showed a significant reduction in the self-help group - and electronic programs have improved since this study was conducted, she said.

SOURCE: bit.ly/2viWskg JAMA Psychiatry, online August 2, 2017.

Read more from the original source:
Face-to-face therapy best to treat binge eating disorder - Reuters

3rd Aug 17 | Entertainment News

Pamela Anderson wants to help young fans embrace the skin they're in by writing a new self-help guide.

The Baywatch actress and model, 50, admits she is concerned about how much youths rely on social media 'likes' for validation, and while she used to think sites like Twitter and Instagram were "crap", she has now decided to use the popularity of her accounts for a real purpose, like her protests against fur and animal abuse, instead of self-promotion.

"It's not for personal reasons, but all the things I believe in," she tells W magazine. "That's the difference."

And she is eager to teach youngsters all about building up their self-confidence by urging them to put their phones down.

"I worry about young people whose self-worth is based on how many followers they have or how many likes they have," she says. "That's why I'm writing a book right now called The Sensual Revolution which is about desensitisation.

"It's just amazing, the statistics and what people are going through right now, and how young people are experiencing fame in this bizarre way."

Pamela, a mother of two boys, reveals she has practised disconnecting from the Internet in her personal life, once going six months without using a computer or cell phone, while she once even turned down a film project because producers made reference to her social media following in her contract.

The Sensual Revolution won't be Pamela's first book venture - she previously penned fiction releases Star: A Novel and Star Struck, and co-wrote 2015's Raw, a collection of poetry and stories about sex and romance.

WENN Newsdesk 2017

Read the original post:
Pamela Anderson writing self-help book - TV3.ie

I love to read self-help magazines, blogs, and columns. I am always looking for a way to better myself, be more organized or efficient. I was reading how to make mornings flow more smoothly, and I found that out of the seven suggestions, I do five things wrong every morning. See how you score!

Stop Hitting Snooze This is like the best invention that anyone has created. I love my 10 or 20 minutes extra that I get to ease into waking up because of this miraculous button. My only problem is that I set the alarm for 10-20 minutes before I need to get up.

Stop Taking Long, Hot Showers Cant do it. I believe that a long, luxurious shower in the morning is the perfect way to start the day. I get enough shock value as my day progresses. A hot shower allows me to think about the day ahead, make my mental to-do list, and since I am the last one to get ready in the morning, why not?

Stop Drinking Coffee I am not a coffee drinker, but I grew up in the Pepsi generation, and to this day I have a caffeinated soda for breakfast. I have tried to behave and go for a normal breakfast beverage, but have never beaten the headache that comes from not having my caffeine.

Stop Making Breakfast This is one that I can live with thanks to protein drinks and the revolutionary invention of a meal in a bar. Just grab and go!

Stop Checking Emails I dont know why this cant wait, but it cant. I must check my emails first thing in the morning. I cannot live without knowing what I missed during the six hours that I have been asleep.

Stop Checking Social Media Just like my emails, I must see what exciting event I missed and wish all the beautiful people having a birthday a wonderful day. Basically, I am nosy and addicted. It is nothing that I havent admitted before.

Stop Stressing Over Your Outfit In my younger days, I would plan every outfit down to the jewelry the night before. Fast forward a few decades and I have figured out what works for me and I stick to it. It is such a relief to be comfortable with my style.

The way I look at it, if I make it to where I need to be when I need to be there, Im good.

Heres a look at the events and activities happening on the West Side of Fairmont.

Fairmont Senior High School

Aug. 14 Schedule changes for Seniors, 8 a.m. noon

Aug. 15 Schedule changes for Sophomores and Juniors, 8 a.m. noon

Aug. 16 Schedule changes for Freshman, 8 a.m. noon

Aug. 16 Freshmen Orientation time to be announced

Watson Elementary

Aug. 7, 8 and 9 New student registration, 9 a.m. 3 p.m.

West Fairmont Middle School

Aug. 15 and 16 New Student Enrollment, 8 a.m. 11 a.m. and noon 2 p.m.

Aug. 21 Open House, 6 p.m. 8 p.m.

Aug. 23 First Day for Students

NOTE: Students entering 7th grade will be required to show proof of the following prior to entry into school for the 2017-2018 year:

1. Dental examination

2. Health check examination

3. Immunizations Tdap and MCV4

If your child has already received their health and dental exam within the last 12 months, please ask your childs physician and dentist to complete the necessary form (can be picked up in the office) and return to the school.

W.Va. Derby Days

Video Racing fundraiser will be held at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles at 305 First St., Fairmont, on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dinner is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Racing begins at 7 p.m. The cost is $20 per person to name your horse. Call 304-363-4882 or 304-296-3300 for tickets. Ladies, please wear your prettiest hat for the contest for a chance to win a prize. Hosted by Connecting Link.

2nd Annual Backpack and School Supplies Pickup

You can also register for the giveaway for the last time on Saturday at Windmill Park from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Then come on Aug. 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Windmill Park, located at Ogden Avenue, for the distribution of the backpacks and supplies. There will be a cookout with free food and fun for the whole family. A DJ will be playing tunes, and updates about whats happening in the neighborhood will be available. Event hosted by Westside Action Coalition of Fairmont and Marion County Starts Smart Backpack and School Supplies. You may also pick up your school supply application at the Fairmont office of the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

Read the original here:
Toni Ricer - Self help magazines, columns, blogs are great way to better oneself - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration) (blog)

In the past 60 years, yoga has gone froma little-known, esoteric Indian practice to a central activity of the cultural mainstream. But while it is commonly available in cities throughout the world and almost everyone has heard of it, yoga still remains something of a mystery to people who have never tried it. That's because it resists an easy definition.

Yoga is a diverse and diffuse practice with numerous threads that can be interwoven in many ways.

Complicating matters further, the term yoga has been in use for several thousands of years and has shifted meanings many times. To start to unpack what contemporary yoga is, let's take a look at yoga's evolution and how it is practiced today.

The word yoga comes from Sanskritan ancient Indian language. It is a derivation of the word yuj, which means to yoke, as in harnessing togethera team of oxen.

Today, it is often interpreted to mean union. Yoga is said to be for the purpose of uniting the mind, body, and spirit.

Most modern yoga practices rely heavily on The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a series of aphorisms written c. 250 CE, as the basis for their philosophies. The Yoga Sutras specify eight "limbs" of yoga. The three most commonly practiced limbs are pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, and asana. Asana is what most of us have come to know simply as yoga, the physical poses.

So what should youexpect when you head to a yoga class? While meditation and breathing exercises may be included, asana has assumed a primary role in most types of contemporary practice.

Some classes may also include chanting or an inspirational reading, depending on the individual teacher and the yoga style.

Generally, yoga classes at a gym or health club will focus primarily on the physical aspects of the practice, while people who want a more spiritual approach are more likely to find it at specialized studios.

The origins of today's most popular types of yogacan be traced back to one man,T. Krishnamacharya. Through his three most prominent students, yoga, as we know it, was disseminated to the west:

With so many types of yoga, it can be daunting to pick the right one. Thischeat sheet covers 20 popular styles (including Bikram/hot yoga, power yoga, and Kundalini) to help you narrow down the field. But there is usually a bit of trial and error involved too. You may find the best yoga class on the first try, but you may also need to shop around and try different things until you find the one that feels right.

Many people think thatyoga is just stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of postures, each of which has specific physical benefits.

The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement (vinyasa-style yoga) or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of each pose. They can be done in a hot room, on a rooftop, in a gym, or even on a paddle board.

Also,poses area constantlinking together the disparate branches of the yoga family tree.

The amazing thing about yoga is that although the poses themselves do not change, your relationship to them will.Your practice is always evolving, so it never gets boring.

Poses fall under broad headings, although there is plenty of overlap:

Doing yoga is good for your health in innumerable ways. Many of them are connected to yoga's proven ability to reduce stress. So many ailments are caused or exacerbated by stress: heart disease, insomnia, headaches, depression, diabetes, IBS, infertilitythe list goes on.

And this is before we even consider the physical benefits of greater strength (core strength in particular), flexibility, and balance.

Yoga also fosters mental calmness, clarity, and self-acceptance, giving you the tools to combat anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. Is there anything yoga can't do? Well, it won't increase your height, but it can improve your posture so you stand taller.

Forget any stereotype you might have in your head of what a "yoga person" looks like because anyone can do yoga. That includes men, seniors, children, pregnant women, people with bigger bodies, people with arthritis, and so on. If you have a body, you can do yoga.

If you are not at all flexible that doesn't mean you can't do yoga. It means you can and you should.Yoga is not a sport that you need to have trained for since childhood. It's not a competition where the bendiest person gets a prize. It's not even something you can be "good at" or "bad at" because there is no final goal to achieve, nothing to accomplish.

The people on the covers of yoga magazines and the most famous teachers are not any better at yoga than the rest of us.One of the most difficult, but ultimately most liberating things about yoga is letting go of the ego and accepting that no one is better than anyone else. Everyone is just doing their best on any given day.

So now that we've taken the veil off a bit and convinced you that you can do yoga, how do you follow through and actually get started? The easiest thing you can do is find a class nearby and go to it. It needs to be convenient to your home or work so that getting there is not a chore. And it should be a class for beginners.

Once you get your butt on a mat in a classroom, the yoga becomes inevitable. Though it is possible to do yoga at home (and many people do) it's not an ideal way to start. Taking classes with an experienced teacher gets you going on the right foot so that you begin to understand the fundamentals of alignment and avoid injury.

Eventually, you may find thatyoga at home is more convenient and affordable. There are lots of great ways to practice at home once you feel ready.

If you're still nervous, remember that everyone who does yoga was once a beginner. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll discover its wonderful benefits, chief among which is that doing yoga makes you feel amazing. Yoga is a lifelong practice that will help you stay healthy for years to come.

Read more here:
Yoga - Articles, Advice, and More - Verywell - Know More ...

Breathe in, breathe out, hand to heart. Start your day focused on the goals ahead, all the while maintaining your inner spirit. Whether you practice Hatha, Ashtanga, or Bikram yoga, be prepared to bring your full self. Yoga is a way of life and the journey never ends. Seamlessly transition from the studio to brunch in sleek, sophisticated yoga apparel that looks good on and off the mat.

Onzie blends the best of traditional yoga wear with modern innovation and a touch of whimsy. Fashion meets function in printed tanks and colorful rashguards. Onzie yoga pants come in a range of silhouettes including capri, bell, and wide leg. Choose from sleek solids and eclectic prints while chic cutouts and mesh insets add sex appeal. Mix and match pieces for a range of stylish looks. Utilizing Free-Flow Fabric Technology that is durable and breathable, this fast-drying material keeps bodies cool, dry and comfortable. Onzie yoga gear will retain its shape after hot yoga, but can also be worn for pilates, swimming, surfing or running weekend errands. All Onzie apparel is made with love in Southern California.

Another active wear brand proudly made in the U.S.A is Hard Tail. Mixing fun and function in a collection that offers yoga pants, flowy tanks, bohemian maxi dresses, and wrap jackets for chilly days. Hard Tails tie dye collection is dyed individually by hand so that each piece is as unique as the person wearing it. So downward dog with reckless abandon knowing youll look good from every angle.

Stretch and pose without sacrificing comfort or style when you suit up with prAna. They carry supportive yoga tops and non-restrictive yoga pants and yoga capris to help you move into poses more easily. Hold your hair back and keep the sweat out of your eyes in a colorful Prana headband. Add a yoga tunic by Soybu for layering pieces that transition from the studio to trips around town. Fashionable options abound from lucy, Lole and ALO. Yoga hoodies and yoga jackets by Beyond Yoga conserve heat after a long Bikram session on a cold night, while colorful yoga tank tops mirror your personality

For lifelong practitioners, Manduka and Sherpani offer yoga blocks, yoga mats, and yoga towels to help you reach your nirvana. Soothe sore muscles and tackle tough knots with a foam roller or massage ball from Trigger Point.

Whether youre a serious yogi or just like to live your life in comfort, you cant go wrong with one of our many yoga brands. From sun salutations to that final savasana, breathe in, breath out. Reflect on the days events and know that you worked diligently on self-improvement. Give thanks. Hand to heart. Namaste.

Read this article:
Yoga Clothing | FREE Shipping, Zappos.com