Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Time for a new mat?

I am one to be attached to things, especially things that are great! I love my manduka mat (besides the fact that it's purple - one of my least favorite colors). I love my manduka mat for many reason, including that it has lasted forever and ever and ever and... you get the point.

I needed some new inspiration, and maybe a change in color so while i was away at Kripalu, I noticed these mats which I've heard many positive things about. Jade Yoga Mats are made of 100% natural rubber and are non-slipper, sturdy, and just enough cushion. They also come a in a variety of colors, which was a bonus for me after having a selection of only two colors with manduka. I decided to go with black because it goes with everything right? :)

So far, the mat is great! It works very well with my vigorous practice and sweating. The only downside is it stinks like rubber, which I hope will disintegrate with more use.

Unfortunately, jadeyoga.com only sells these mats in bulk purchases, but it can be purchased at other retail outlets such as amazon.com or vickerey.com. Let me know if you have one and what you think of it!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Say Good-Bye to Sweaty Palms!

Hugger Mugger, a company that offers quality yoga-related products, came out with this brilliant idea -- a cork slope to put underneath the front or back of your mat. If placed under the front of your mat, it helps with slippery palms, which is a common tendency during challenging yoga practices. And best of all, it's only $16.95!!! At that price, you could probably get two - one for the front and back of the mat. I haven't tried this product yet, as I do not get sweaty palms during practice, but I am tempted....

If anyone gets this product, you MUST tell me about it!!!
Here's a link to the product as well as Hugger Muggers fabulous website!
Hugger Mugger Cork Wedge
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

TIME Magazine Article: "When Yoga Hurts"

As you can tell, it has been a while since I have updated my blog, specifically this page of it. I try as best as I can to update and include any yoga-related findings as I can, but due to time and schedule constraints, I am unable to update it as often as I'd like. But thanks for checking back often for updates. I hope that these posting are interesting to you, and if you come across something yoga-related and would like to share with others, feel free to send me an e-mail, and I will be more than happy to post it here...

Onto the purpose of this posting, I came across an article in TIME magazine a few weeks back and thought it was important that others see the other side of yoga that not many people recognize until they are in that situation. I know some of you really are dedicated to your practice, but sometimes, what's more important is to be dedicated to your body and your limitations, and respect those boundaries. Here is the article:

When Yoga Hurts
TIME Magazine Oct. 4, 2007
By Pamela Paul

Amy Toosley was standing in a split pose when her yoga instructor gave her leg a little prod. "I heard the loudest pop I've ever heard, and the instructor said, 'Ooh! Good release, huh?'" Toosley recalls. "Not really--I could hardly walk." With her hamstring muscle snapped, Toosley, 32, avoided yoga for the next three months, and almost a year later, she is still in pain.

Bad-mouthing yoga seems like begging for a hit of unfavorable karma. But with more than 14 million people practicing yoga or tai chi nationwide, up 136% since 2000, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and chiropractors across the country are dealing with the increasing fallout from yoga gone awry. Over the past three years, 13,000 Americans were treated in an emergency room or a doctor's office for yoga-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Often people get hurt because they assume that yoga is simple and that anybody can pretzel himself or herself on demand. Edward Toriello, an orthopedic surgeon and spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, says most of the injuries he sees are sustained by "weekend warrior" baby boomers who begin yoga without realizing that their bodies are no longer what they used to be. "They think that yoga is an easy way to start exercising, so they go to class once a week, not stretched out at all, and they get hurt."

At the same time, others see yoga--a practice originally conceived to help people achieve inner peace and tranquillity--as a way to get a vigorous workout. More than five times as many people take yoga classes at health clubs today as did a decade ago, and enthusiasts have devised all kinds of variations appalling to purists: hip-hop yoga, disco yoga, power yoga, not to mention controversial hot yoga, or Bikram, which incites people to push themselves to their limit in sweltering rooms in which temperatures are set at 105ºF (41ºC).

The truth is, yoga, regardless of the form, doesn't offer a comprehensive way to get fit. According to a study by the American Council on Exercise, a national nonprofit organization that certifies fitness instructors and promotes physical fitness, dedicated yoga practitioners show no improvement in cardiovascular health. It's not the best way to lose weight either. A typical 50-min. class of hatha yoga, one of the most popular styles of yoga in the U.S., burns off fewer calories than are in three Oreos--about the same as a slow, 50-min. walk. Even power yoga burns fewer calories than a comparable session of calisthenics. And while yoga has been shown to alleviate stress and osteoarthritis, it doesn't develop the muscle-bearing strength needed to help with osteoporosis.

Part of the problem is that increasingly, the people teaching yoga don't know enough about it. Yoga was traditionally taught one-on-one by a yogi over a period of years, but today instructors can lead a class after just a weekend course. Though the Yoga Alliance, formed in 1999 and now based in Clinton, Md., has set a minimum standard of 200 hours of training for certification, only 16,168 of the estimated 70,000 instructors in the U.S. have been certified. "Yoga means bringing together mind, body and spirit, but in Western yoga, we've distilled it down to body," says Shana Meyerson, an instructor in Los Angeles. "That's not even yoga anymore. If the goal is to look like Madonna, you're better off running or spinning." Namaste to that.

Link to article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668470,00.html

Monday, July 23, 2007

Donna De Lory Extended Savasana Performance @ Exhale Spa in Boston

Donna De Lory is artist and back-up singer for Madonna. Although not nearly as renown as Madonna, Donna De Lory has released several albums of her own with her recent one The Lover & The Beloved, which is sung sanskrit. I have played a few of her tracks during yoga practice in the past, so you may recognize some of her tunes. Her voice is melodic and has this very trance-like tone and beat. The lyrics are mainly in sanskrit, which is repeated over and over almost sounding like a beat of its own rather than words.

In any case, she will be performing this coming Sunday (7/29) at Exhale Spa in Boston from 430P-645P. The cost is yoga class ($18) + additionals $12 fee. This fee includes a 1.5 hour vinyasa practice and an extended savasana with Donna's performance. If interested, check out this link for their promotional flyer.

I haven't decided whether or not to go yet, but if anyone else is interested in joining me, it would definitely sway my decision. Let me know!!!

Friday, July 6, 2007

Spiritual Activism T-shirts

Yoga Tribe and Culture is a company that offers yoga-inspired clothing, accessories, and music. It is sponsored by several well-known yoga instructors mainly from the California region. This line produces 100% organic cotton shirts for men, women, and little gurus (as they call it) with inspiring quotes on every one of them.

This particular shirt (shown here) is the limited edition shirt for YouthAIDS, and organization that helps to educate and promote HIV/AIDS globally. $10 of each shirt goes to YouthAIDS and their efforts, so beautiful shirt for a wonderful cause!

Men's version is here
Women's version is here

Monday, June 25, 2007

Medford Farmer's Market

It's that season again where fresh produce can be purchased directly from the grower's themselves. The City of Medford now has a Farmer's Market which not only provides us locals with fresh veggies and fruits, but also helps supports local farmers. This year's Farmer's Market takes place every Thursday starting June 21st through October.

When: Every Thursday (June 21st through Oct. 18th) 2-7P
Where: River Street & adjacent cemetery space in Medford Square
Who: Farmers, Local Merchants, Craftspeople, and Performers

Additional information is on their blog: http://medfordsquaremarket.blogspot.com/

If you do make it out, let me know what you think. Also, if you have information about other farmer's markets nearby, let me know as well! I can post them on here to share with others.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

So Do YOU Think You Can Dance?

I am so inspired by the dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance" and really want to pick up dancing for fun.

So believe it or not, there is actually an evening, weekly dance program in Medford at SpringStep! They offer several different types of dance that meets once a week for a small fee. Upcoming courses for the summer are reaching its deadline on July 5th, so if you are interesting in taking dance classes in the summer, you should register soon.

I think I will be signing up for Monday's hip-hop class which meets 630P-730P from July 9th - Aug 13. If you are interested in joining me, I could definitely use the company and laughs, do let me know.

Check out their website for further details and registration. If you plan on registering for the hip-hop course, let me know. If you aren't sure, then I encourage you to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" on Wed. nights. Okay, it's cheesy reality show, but I love it!

SpringStep's official website for more details