Browse Month by July 2014
Yoga supplies

I don’t have a Yoga mat

Can you believe that I have no yoga mat?! I’m squatting in a house in that he is working on. All my worldly possessions are still in storage. We thought we would be settled by now, but the months keep ticking by. And from the looks of it, it will probably be another 3-4 months from now. Sigh…

It’s times like these that I think of my mat. Cheap, pink mat from Gaiam, that it is. Ground in dirt (from what garden patch, who knows) that can’t be washed out. Clawed by my yoga kitties repeatedly performing down-cat.

I’ve enjoyed my home practice on the bare hardwood floor, using only a towel to brace my knees and shoulders. But it’s also a hassle. And it can break the flow. I should probably invest in a new mat…

The choices now seem endless. I remember when there were only a few obscure places where you could purchase a mat. Now you can get one with your cafe latte at Whole Foods. Times have changed.

Do I get a travel mat to go afar? Do I get one that will never break apart? Do I get one red or blue? Do I get one that biodegrades too?

Oh, I’ll probably procrastinate on this for awhile.

Yoga practice

The Cobra Pose and the difference between upward facing dog pose

I thought these poses were essentially the same, but they are completely different. This led me to the fact that I’ve been incorrectly doing Up Dog in Sun Salutation C (or the traditional surya namaskar) for years now. Which means I come out of the Eight-Point Bow pose all wrong as well. Hmmm, quite a revelation!

As you can see, the main difference in the poses is the hand placement. In Cobra, the hands are in front of the body and there is a downward push in the pelvis while the hands are pushing upward, producing a stretch in the lower back.

Cobra Pose – Bhujangasana

In Up Dog, the hands are directly under the shoulders and there is a lifting up where the power is in the upper back and shoulders.

Upward Facing Dog Pose – Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

Yoga supplies

Found the Yoga pants I wanted

I went to the Lululemon store today to look at the all the yoga pants I wasn’t go to buy, and then went and bought a hoodie that I’m so unutterably in love with. So, yes I spent $108 + tax but I make no apologies! It’s well-stitched, soft in all the right places, and has these cool little thumb holes that will keep the sleeve down and the nip out when I’m going to all those Oregonian yoga classes this Fall.

If I’ve learned one thing in life it’s that you should always spoil yourself on things you truly love. Non-attachment be damned. I’m by no means a big consumer. I skimp on things I care little about. I’m the type to smuggle in a soda to the movie theater to avoid being extorted $5 for a fountain drink. I buy things I need and things I really, really love and little else.

It also helps that I don’t have a lot of champagne wishes and caviar dreams (except that I secretly covet this watch, shhh don’t tell anyone) but I don’t truly resonate with very many physical items. So when I see something that sends my heart aflutter for some unknown reason, I don’t question the serendipity and instead whip out my ATM debit card.

The universe revels in coming-togetherness. The finding again of a matched pair (in all things except socks), the mysterious attraction of polarities. You can’t deny this intrinsic force. Some things were just meant to be together: soul mates, peanut butter and jelly, starsky and hutch and now me and my cool new hoodie. We’ve found each other! Hurray!

Yoga practice

Paving the path

…and, no it’s not the belly-roll monster.

At some point in this last week, as I’ve posted on other blogs and link exchanges trying desperately to promote my fledgling blog, I’ve reswizzled my tagline. I mean it does sound catchy, right? Is this the way all new goals somehow morph into ridiculously arrogant challenges? Maybe next I’ll want to rule the world.

Today I’m going to scrutinize the asanas poster and determine exactly how many of the poses I really know. There are actually not totally unique poses. Some are preparatory for final poses, some are variations on the same pose. I’m feeling pretty confident I currently practice about half of the poster, which will go in my practice stats on the right column under “learned”.

I’m not quite sure how I will determine when I’ve mastered a pose. I suppose it’s when the alignment is correct and I can comfortably hold it for at least a minute. I know its (sanskrit and english) name, its contraindications, and its physiology. I’m not going to try to “master” any poses for a long while (perhaps, years?) and focus on simply learning.

So, is this quest even possible? I’m pretty sure there are a few asanas I may never learn, in days or days. Like this one,…um, yea.

…and this one. Gross.

Yoga supplies

My Total Yoga review

By | On July 10,14 | 0 Comment

One of my favorite Yoga DVD’s of all time is Total Yoga: The Flow Series – Fire. It is a fantastic Intermediate practice and the DVD is only $9.99!

The pacing is fast but not furious, over an hour in length. The beginning is a series of sun salutations to warm you up: three salutation A, three salutation B, and three salutation C. Then you do salutation A between seven standing poses before you go to the floor. You can definitely work up a nice sweat.

Tracey Rich narrates and gives good cues and pose adjustments, in addition to a focus on Ujjayi breathing which I find lacking in a lot of trendy Yoga workouts these days. You hit all the major poses including headstand and shoulderstand and a good dose of savasana at the end. Overall, I give it 5 of 5 stars.

You can also get the entire Total Yoga Flow series box set for a steal at just over $20 which consists of four dvds: Earth, Water, Fire, and Total Yoga Original. Earth is a very gentle beginning yoga introduction. Water picks up the pace, but is still nicely geared for the beginner.

Yoga supplies

Finding the perfect yoga pants

I’m on a mission for the perfect yoga pant – one that can go into heavy rotation, feels good, and won’t pill. I don’t mind spending a pretty penny, but they gotta last and continue to look good.

Everyone I see wearing $98 lululemon’s look like yoga slobs. They’re all pilled up and look like they took a nap in the lint tray. So anyone know about Lucy, Athleta, Hard Tail, Prana, or VS?

I need some pants, people. Or soon, I’ll be a half-dressed yogini, a bit too chilly from the drafts, and slightly irritable to boot.

Self care

Non-toxic nail polish?

Yes, there is actually such a thing! Nail Polish is water-based, non-toxic, non-smelly, and safe. It’s listed as a low safety hazard (1/10) in the Cosmetics Safety Database. It’s a dream come true for consciousness fashionistas.

Now the only catch is the polish is a bit pricey at $18 a bottle. But consider your health, and the environment, and the fact that there is likely toulene and formaldehyde in those 99 cent versions (and most of the expensive versions too, like OPI, essie, Sally Hansen, Maybelliene) Isn’t formaldehyde what they embalm science class frogs in? You don’t want that on your hands!

You will need to purchase the Conditioner to specially prepare your nails. This can dramatically improve the health of your nails. It will reduce splitting and cracking in weak nails, and reverse the horribly yellowing effect of frequent use of regular polishes.

Also, because it’s a water-based product you will need the Remover, a special remover only for polish. But that shouldn’t matter, because soon you be tossing out all of your toxic polish for anyway!