Super duper yoga mat

After practicing yoga for over 6 years now, I have used several different mats mainly because none have ever lived up to my daily practice. I try to be conscious by purchasing mats that are made of eco-friendly materials, but for some reason they never seem to last.

I think I may have found my mat now, and one that may last me for a while. These mats are made of super high-quality material and according to them, will last you a lifetime (or two). They are on the pricey side (ranging from $57-$90), but if they will last me a lifetime (or two), then it's all worth it.

To find out more about these mats made by Manduka, check out their website. The only downside (at least in my opinion) is the limited offering of colors for mats. I'm a big green person if you haven't noticed already, and unfortunately, no green Manduka mats -- only black or purple. If you practice yoga often, then I suggest you invest in a high-quality mat coming from someone who has gone through 6 mats already. If you have any questions about Manduka mats, let me know! So far, it seems to stand up to my practice, but only time will tell.

Manduka website

No more slipping and sliding

Have you ever noticed how your down dogs slowly transition to plank without your own control? Perhaps you're so focused in uttitha trikonasana (that's triangle pose) and didn't realize you're slowly coming into hanumanasana (monkey pose). That's probably due to a sweaty mat and a vigorous practice.

Yogitoes, which is quite well-known (especially within the yoga community), has created this skidless towel that goes over your yoga mat, which not only picks up the sweat, but give you an added support from slipping and sliding during practice, and is easily washable by tossing it in to the washer and dryer.

These towels can be purchased directly through Yogitoes' website or on amazon.com (my resource for anything and everything.

Oh and by the way, if you practice yoga on a regular basis, I highly encourage you to get a mat of your own! You don't want to know whose toes have been on those mats at the gym. In fact, you're better off not knowing - so get one! They're everywhere now - even in grocery stores, so you have no excuse! Oh and besides, you'll soon be needing one of your own once yoga outdoors kicks in.

Big Sweet Tooth?

Okay, so maybe food isn't yoga-related, but I certainly think so! After a rigorous vinyasa flow, what better way to reward yourself than sweets! If you are like me, my sweet tooth needs to be satisfied on a daily basis. I am a huge, HUGE fan of cookies (chocolate chip being my fave), and I came across these cookies by Dancing Deer - Tangerine Butterfly Cookies - and they are delicious! They are on the pricier side at $5.99 for one bag of 12 cookies, but for the quality and freshness of it, they are totally worth it. Plus, Dancing Deer is a philanthropic company based in Boston, donating a percentage of their profits to local charities, so you can enjoy sweets for a good cause.

In addition to these Tangerine cookies, they also make a variety of other cookies, cakes, and brownies. You can either order them online (but why pay for S&H), or get them at Whole Foods. I'm a big foodie, so if you have suggestions of your own, please do share.

Oh and another note, jam thumbprint cookies by Iggy's Bread is another to-die-for. I would say they are my favorite cookies. Absolutely worth the drive to Cambridge for them, perhaps before yoga! :)

Bon Appetit!

Yoga Music You can Groove to...

I am obsessed with Shiva's music compilation! If you enjoy the music I play during class, then this CD is a MUST! I purchased this CD months ago, have been listening to it at least once a day, and continue to enjoy it. There was obvious thought in the music selection and placement throughout the CD. It starts off slowly with some melodic, meditative tracks then gradually picks up to upbeat, dance-like tunes that really are quite addictive!

If you are an iTunes nut like I am, unfortunately, this album is not available on iTunes, so you'll just have to buy it. Music like this is generally quite difficult in regular music stores (if any still exist), but if you are patience, Amazon.com has them. If you are not patient, I have seen them in Whole Foods Market around town.

If you have this CD already, let me know what you think of it, or have suggestions of your own. I always try to keep my music fresh for every class, so recommendations are welcomed!

Balance on this...

Numerous studies have shown that back pains especially in the lower back have increased due to sitting at the computer desk all day long, whether it be at work or at home. At home, I have used a balacing ball as my office chair, but this idea by Gaiam is even more brilliant! Who needs some fancy executive chair that will ruin your back if sat in improperly when you can get this one that will not only relieve back pains, but also keep your core engaged the entire time!

It's sold on Gaiam's website and retails for $100, which isn't bad considering most executive office chairs are in that vicinity.

check it out!

Zen Awakening

In the mornings, I often find myself disturbingly awoken by some cheesy pop song from the radio. Upon several hits of the snooze button, I finally wake up all groggy and still half asleep.

Well, imagine waking up to the serene, sweet sound of a gentle gong. I have been in yoga classes where the instructor will bring us back to awareness from savasana using a Tibetan gong. It is one of the most beautiful, energizing sounds in the world. This alarm clock from Now and Zen (what a cool name!) will do just that.

As mentioned on their site: "In the morning, its exquisite sounds summon your consciousness into awakening with a series of subtle gongs that provide an elegant beginning to your day. When the alarm is triggered, the gong strikes just once … then automatically, it strikes again in 3-1/2 minutes … then in 2 minutes … then in 1 minute … As shown in the chart below, the gong strikes gradually increase over 10 minutes, eventually striking every 5 seconds until turned off."

The only downside is it's quite steep for an alarm clock ($149.95). Whether you feel waking up to serene bells justifies $150 is up to you - I'm still deciding if it is... but it is definitely a neat idea!