Today is Be a Yogi day in AOL’s New Year’s fitness awareness-raising program, “30 Days, 30 ways.” Part of “America Takes it Off” month, in conjunction with Good Morning America, 30 Days invites readers to do something new each day of the month. Kicking off with the article and suggestion Retrain Your Brain––a basic fitness foundation with tips like “set goals,” “make a plan, “and “reward yourself”––the month includes everything from Just Breathe to The Gym 101 to Tone With Tai Chi to Be the Outdoorsy Type.

It’s interesting to me how holistic such a mainstream source is––it’s very telling about the new proliferation of mind-body fitness. Just Breathe day is all about meditating your way to a fit, whole self. “Start each meal with five deep breaths and a mindful meditation about what you hope to achieve––nourishment, wellness and a thinner you,” they suggest. Okay, it’s not exactly the stuff of mystics, but it’s a start. But the article on Tai Chi is a bit more true to its roots: “Tai Chi is a journey of the self, and if you treat it as such you’ll reap the benefits more wholly.” And apparently devotee Lou Reed likes to enhance and align his qi, or energy: “…if you practice the form, the form will change you. It’s amazing. You can do this for the rest of your life,” he told AOL. He practices with Master Ren Guang Yi in New York. And Be a Yogi Day breaks down the “hottest yoga styles for melting away tension and fat,” Ashtanga, Bikram, Power Yoga and “Yoga Blends.” There’s also days dedicated to Pilates, getting enough sleep, and dancing your way to fitness goals. To play along for the rest of the month (or start over on February 1st––New Year’s is a state of mind): diets.aol.com/americatakesitoff

Photo: AOL.com