Once thought of as a "New Age" activity, yoga is now considered a mainstream form of exercise. Yoga studios have popped up all over the country, especially on the coasts, and millions of people are discovering the benefits of practicing yoga. Even most gyms now offer a yoga class or two. The great thing about yoga is that it is good for both the mind and the body.

In today's world, families are often pulled in multiple directions. Being stressed has become the norm, since most people face demands from work, family, social activities, and more. To combat this, most people end up trying some form of stress reduction. Unfortunately, many common forms of stress reduction are just ways of masking the symptoms of stress. Watching television, taking prescription drugs, and drinking alcohol are just a few of the ways that people escape stress. Over indulgence in these stress reducers can lead to problems that jeopardize the health and safety of your children. However, activities like yoga can actually reduce stress in a safe and healthy way.

Finding A Yoga Studio

If you've ever been on a website with affiliate program reviews, you know how eager some people can be to promote their product or service. The Internet is a great way to find information on yoga studios in your area. You might also get word-of-mouth reviews from people you know. When looking for a yoga studio, ask around. Chances are that some of your friends have tried or heard about a good studio or yoga teacher. When you find a studio or gym you want to try, be sure to ask about the classes that are offered. Some yoga classes are advanced, and not all studios are family-friendly. If you live in a part of the country with a warm climate, you might even find outdoor yoga classes.

Most women would consider her handbag not only a functional necessity but also a sacred object that contains all the vital things required. More than simply toting around our cash and credit cards, our purse contains the truly essential items: lipstick, dental floss (for that errant piece of black pepper that we DO NOT want to walk around with in our teeth), business cards (network, network, network!), scrap paper and pen, a nail file, tampons, and of course the all-important cell phone. We may even carry our new iPad in our purse. Soon, we'll just empty out the contents of our brains into our bags and be done with it.

Then there's the fashion element; everyday handbags say more about the woman who carries it than her clothing — it may be a casual day or a gym day or a just-throw-something-on day, so clothing isn't always representative of style. But a nice bag . . . well that's something that looks good even without makeup or freshly washed hair. Also, we tend to carry the same handbag with every outfit, because let's face it: it's too much trouble to transfer the "kitchen sink" into another bag.

A handbag should match a woman's lifestyle. If you are on the go a lot, you need a purse that will go with you, one with plenty of room. If you have young children, you may need a handbag that doubles as a diaper bag. Women spend an amazing amount on their handbags, way more than they would consider spending on one item of clothing. A classic full size Chanel purse will easily run you over two thousand dollars. But it will last practically forever.

So it appears that a woman's handbag can be almost an extension of who she is — and is way more than merely a bag.