THERESA: Feeling achy after exercise? There are alternatives to popping an aspirin or an Advil. Laurie suggests seeking relief with the herb Arnica, which reportedly increases circulation and reduces inflammation and swelling. It's available in tablet, pellet, gel, cream or ointment form, available at Whole Foods or health food stores. Here's some info on Arnica from Yahoo Health.

The current issue of Yoga Journal offers other suggested remedies for muscle aches, including warm, moist heat. Michele Khalef, a yoga therapist in New Mexico, "likes to add two-thirds of a cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of ginger powder... to a tubful of hot water for a leisurely soak. The heating properties of ginger boost blood flow to the muscles, while baking soda helps coax toxins from the skin's pores," according to the journal.

What suggestions do you all have for easing muscle pain after yoga or other intense exercise?

JILL: I really worry about nutritional supplements. They aren't regulated and I worry about what's in them. I don't take anything for muscle aches. I savor them, actually, as evidence that I'm really working my body. One time, when I got a muscle pull that was really painful, I took an Aleve. Otherwise, I soak in a hot tub and feel self-righteous.

KIMBERLY: Personally when I feel sore and achy I use good ol' fashioned Epson Salt. Epson Salt is chemically known as Magnesium Chloride (MgC12) and it is a salt traditionally used as a relaxing healing soak for sprained or sore muscles.

DIANE: I also like to use arnica gel on my achy muscles. If you have muscle pain after exercise, a regime of hydrotherapy also works well. I keep small paper cups in the freezer. Then I rip off the top and use a circular motion to ice down whatever feels uncomfortable. Also, cardio exercise on the day after a hard strength routine helps to break down the lactic acid and promote healthy blood flow to those strong muscles!