Light on Yoga, but definitely not on content ~ Book Review

"Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga" by BKS Iyengar is widely recognized as "the bible" for any yoga practitioner. The one thing that is great about this book is the detailed instructions for tons of yoga poses, especially the more popular ones, and photos of almost every pose. Additionally, each pose follows up with details on the effects of the pose, in other words which muscle(s) the asana (pose) focuses on. I will mention though that over half of the poses in this pose I could not do, and probably 25% of the them, I most likely will not reach in this lifetime, but it certainly is inspiring to see the potentials. Another thing I like about this book is that all the asanas are referred to by their sanskrit names rather than the english names which we hear in yoga classes all too often.

If you have suggestions for any yoga-related books you have come across, please do share with us...

Yoga On Demand!

I have had numerous inquiries about practicing yoga at home with DVDs. Although I was first introduced to yoga at a gym and continue my practice either at a studio or through my own practice, I have come across some fantastic yoga DVDs. One of which is "Yoga Shakti" by Shiva Rea. This DVD is truly inspiring, rhythmic, energetic, and Shiva's just downright cool! The best thing about this is that you can create your own practice by selecting different sequences from the matrix to form a class of your own, depending on what you feel like that day.

Do you have a yoga DVD that you practice with? If so, please do share!

Om shanti, shanti, shanti!

On another note, I am taking a 200-hr training certification through Shiva Rea in April. I am working towards becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance, but won't achieve that goal until some time next year. Let's face it - 200 hours of training on top of my hectic schedule is not going to fly!

Go Organic?

Are you for or indifferent about organic foods and products?
I tend to find that organic foods have more flavor than those that aren't. The colors of organic produces are more vibrant and appealing, because after all, we do eat with our eyes first, right?

Here is a great website that offers information including recipes, articles, etc.

The Organic Report

Say bye-bye to pesticides!

Lululemon ~ Yoga/Fitness Wear

I've always been a huge fan of lululemon, and only until recently, they opened a store in Boston (finally!). Lululemon is yoga-inspired athletic-wear for men and women based out of Vancouver, Canada (one of the healthiest and cleanest cities in the world, of course), and has recently expanded their line to other activities such as running, rock-climbing, and biking.

Although I do work for them on the side as a community educator/marketer, I am not biased! Really, I've tried every athletic-wear out there being the active person that I am, and finally came across one that is not only functional, but also fashionable. You shouldn't believe me, but rather you should try them out for yourself!

They have two locations in Massachusetts -- Boston and Hingham. The Boston location is a mini showroom and the Hingham location is larger with more color varieties. If you stop by any of their locations, let them know you heard from me! I don't get any commission, but do this on the side because yoga is my passion and lululemon really does live up to the yoga philosophy and lifestyle.

If you have any questions about lululemon, please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail. We're looking to give the brand some exposure, so be on the look-out for upcoming events!

What's your style of yoga?

Have you always wondered what the different styles of yoga are? You hear Astanga, Power, Hatha, Vinyasa, etc., but do you ever wonder what distinguishes them apart?

As some of you may already be familiar of my style, at the moment, I enjoy practicing power yoga, or astanga and vinyasa. I like to continuously challenge myself mentally and physically, because the feeling of accomplishment is rewarding and overwhelming. This practice helps me carry that philosophy off the mat and into the real world.

In order find what your style is (which will constantly evolve), you must try them, or at the very least understand what they are. Here is a link to a guide by Yoga Journal that offers some insights into the different styles of yoga. Choose one that interests you, and if you have not tried it, I encourage you to find a teacher of that style and give it a shot. If you end up discovering that it is not the one for you, at least you have broadened your knowledge for yoga. If you need help finding a local yoga instructor for a particular style, let me know - I can assist.

Yoga Journal: Guide to Yoga Styles

SDY shirts

Stop drop and yoga shirts are now available for purchase! Above is a sample of a woman's tank
top with the SDY logo on the front and OM logo on the back. The t-shirts come in various sizes and costs $14.99 + S&H. This shirt would be great to yoga class, or even lounging around. I made sure to make it stylish enough to wear outside of the yoga class. Let me know if you have any questions about the item.

To purchase, visit: http://www.cafepress.com/stopdropandyoga

Also, men's T-shirts are available too and in 100% organic cotton. These are $16.99 + S&H. The design on the front have these interesting path of our yoga practice (designed by yours truly). The back has the OM logo as shown above. Please don't hesitate to send me any inquiries.

(btw - I don't make any profit out of this - it's done through a third party company)

Yoga Music

There are people who enjoy practicing yoga with music, and others may find it distracting. I have yet to hear any complaints about music during class, and I actually find it more distracting without it. It's probably due to the studio being inside a loud and noisy gym.

I find that music during my yoga practice not only allows me relax and truly focus/meditate, but it will inspire the flowing nature of my practice as well. With that said, let me introduce you to one of my favorite artists. I have played some of her songs during our class and have received some inquiries on her. Her name is Donna De Lory, and this is her latest album. The entire album is sung in sanskrit, which makes it all the more interesting and melodic.

Take a listen here: .: donna de lory :.

Do you enjoy class with or without music? If so, what kind of music - more upbeat or slow, meditative tempo? Let me know!!!