How You Can Enhance Circulation and Blood Oxygen Levels with Electromagnetic Therapy

While yoga is an ancient practice that can be performed with no special tools or equipment, new technology is offering benefits to the yoga practitioner who is looking to supercharge their practice.

Technology is changing the way we think about our health, challenging our understanding of the human body, and empowering us to reach optimal physical condition. Fitness and recovery tools like Fitbits, cryotherapy, and dynamic air compression are making massive waves in the health and wellness world. But recently, a relatively new yet proven technology has exploded onto the scene and won the love of professional athletes, extreme sports competitors, and fitness influencers from all over the world.

A safe, user-friendly device that anyone can use in the comfort of their own home to optimize their health, performance, and recovery in minutes. A device that sends a low-intensity pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) into the body to safely stimulate healthy muscles, which temporarily enhances local blood flow, resulting in better disbursement of oxygen within the target tissues while supporting the elimination of carbon dioxide.

A Revolution of Recovery

There’s a revolution happening in the world of injury prevention, recovery, and performance right now that has important applications for yoga. The revolution is centered around a heavy focus on optimizing the body to prevent injury, maximize performance, and encourage mindfulness, and there’s one driving factor that can make all the difference: improved circulation.

During a yoga session, the body works hard to supply the muscles with oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to fuel your practice. Afterward, it sends vital resources to the exhausted muscle tissue to repair and help it grow stronger. Electromagnetic therapy plays a big role in this process by stimulating muscles, helping to increase blood flow, and therefore oxygen, to the target tissues. With an increased supply of oxygen and nutrients, your muscles can recover faster, perform better, and help you take your yoga practice to the next level.

Speaking of elevating your practice, the ability to do increasingly-complicated yoga poses requires optimal flexibility, and optimal flexibility relies on enhanced circulation. Stimulating healthy muscles with an electromagnetic pulse temporarily improves local blood flow and facilitates muscle performance, resulting in an amplified yoga practice.

Besides optimal flexibility, enhanced circulation means oxygenated red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients through the arteries and capillaries to all the organs of the body more efficiently. An advanced yogi benefits from enhanced blood oxygen and nutrient delivery to the cells because this also translates to a faster turnover of carbon dioxide and waste products to the red blood cells, and an efficient elimination and detox process through the venous system and out of the body.

Reducing Stress Through Electromagnetic Therapy

Yoga isn’t just about the time you spend on the mat. The core principles of yoga serve as a guide to living a balanced, healthy life, and interacting with the world around you in an honorable and peaceful way. That being said, both your mental and physical health have a huge impact on how you show up in the world. If you’re weighed down by stress, health issues, or low energy, you may find it difficult to follow the yogic path. But with daily use, this recovery technology can help improve your energy levels, vitality, relaxation, and overall well-being. When you’re feeling (and performing) your best, you can better embody the core values that fuel your practice as a yoga practitioner.

With all the other warm-up and recovery methods yogis might try — hot and cold therapy, stretching, foam rolling, sports massages, et cetera — what makes electromagnetic therapy special? Think of it like a wireless phone charger for your body. A pulsed electromagnetic field stimulates electrical activity within the cells and increases muscle blood circulation, temporarily boosting nutrient and oxygen delivery.

When you add this therapy to your yoga practice, you may notice significant improvements in your physical strength and conditioning, recovery, strength, flexibility, and a heightened sense of relaxation. Not to mention, it’s refreshingly easy to use at home or on the go, allowing you to access these benefits wherever your journey takes you.

Yoga Practice as part of a Wellness-Based Lifestyle

What’s your idea of a great yoga practice? For many, it’s practicing mindfully, enjoying movement, and developing a healthy body and spirit. With electro-magnetic therapy, you can empower your body to recover faster, free your mind from stress, and re-energize your spirit. That way, you can be present and enjoy each moment of your yoga practice to the fullest.

Bryce Wylde

Bryce Wylde graduated with a B.Sc. Hons. (BioPsyc) from York University in Toronto. He went on to pursue a career in complementary alternative medicine and nutrition. He graduated with a Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (DHMHS) from the Ontario College of Homeopathic Medicine. Known as one of Canada’s leading alternative health experts, Bryce is a highly knowledgeable and respected natural healthcare practitioner whose specialty is homeopathy, clinical nutrition, supplementation, and botanical medicine and whose focus is routed within functional medicine.In a clinical setting, he blends the latest in human biological and genomic screening, science and technology, and uses new, traditional, and ancient remedies. Along with a team of allied health professionals he works closely with his patients, informed by the genetic make-up of that patient in order to customize care, lifestyle and functional therapeutic interventions for health promotion, disease prevention and longevity.

wyldeonhealth.com/

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When you have to BYOM, carry it with ease!

How do we find the most efficient way to BYOM: Bring Your Own Mat?

This is a question many of us have been trying to answer. It’s become something of a familiar story, a contemporary conundrum for the modern-day yoga practitioner.

These days, we’re bringing our own mat to yoga classes outdoors or even to the studio to comply with the latest health and safety recommendations while trying to stay dedicated to our yoga practice.

Yoga student and architect Emi Shiga is one of those people, but she’s done more than simply ask the question. She’s found an answer that is elegant, affordable, and actually works! The solution is the Roll Up and Carry Yoga Mat Carrier. She sells it through her creative online store: Archi-Select. It is rapidly becoming a go-to solution for yogis on the go! Her story illustrates just how necessity inspires invention and how our skillset in one area of our live can apply to both our profession and our passion.

The Inspiration for the Roll Up and Carry Yoga Mat Carrier

From Drawings to Downward Facing Dog

Emi’s professional life as an architect provided some of the inspiration and the solution for finding the tools to carry a yoga mat without fumbling and stumbling. In order to showcase their work, architects have to regularly carry large drawings to meetings. While some people go the route of securing their drawings with big rubber bands, brown paper and tape, this can definitely be clumsy, especially for those who want to multi-task while in transit and pick up a latte on the way to a meeting. According to Emi, “It’s not easy to hold drawings and ride the subway….And I really want to use my hands. Before I go back to the office, I want to stop by a coffee shop.” So she created the Roll Up and Carry to be able to be able to easily carry her drawings over her shoulder….and have both hands free to carry a cup of coffee, reach for subway fare, or just feel more mobile.

In the product development phase, Emi put her architectural skills to use through developing technical drawings and making prototypes and researching manufactures willing to cultivate a relationship with a small business.

Emi realized that her yoga mat is similar in size and shape to her architectural drawings so she decided to try the Roll Up and Carry solution she developed for drawings for her yoga mat. As a busy working mom, Emi finds that she wants her transit from home to yoga class to the rest of her day to be as simple as possible. When she considered her criteria for what she needed in terms of yoga mat transportation and performance, her design of the Roll Up and Carry made an obvious choice to serve as the Roll Up and Carry Yoga Mat Carrier.

Criteria & Solutions for an Effective Yoga Mat Carrier

There are a number of factors Emi needs to account for in her life many of us may find that we also relate to in the whirlwind of scheduling our own lives—and yoga practices. First, she doesn’t want to keep shifting items from purse to yoga mat bag…so she really doesn’t want to have to carry a bulky yoga mat bag. This means she wants a solution that allows her to easily carry her everyday bag along with her yoga mat. As a busy mom, she needs to be able to run errands, shop after class, and maybe even pick up that cup of coffee or bottle of juice. Emi wants something that is comfortable to carry (even to the park), a strap that fits securely without pinching, binding, or slipping. She also wants it to be easy to use, self-contained, and convenient.

The Roll Up and Carry Yoga Mat Carrier fulfills all of this. As a busy entrepreneur, Emi is not only the creator of this innovative product, she’s also the model customer. She’s been using it for yoga, showing friends, and gaining a following. If you try it out, you may just join the converted!

Archi-Select Online

In addition to her creativity with the Roll Up and Carry Yoga Mat Carrier, Emi’s online store features other items she has created that combine fun and functionality from bags to clothes to mugs. Visit https://archi-select.com.

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Roll Up and Carry Yoga Mat Carrier: The BYOM Solution appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Considerations for Picking the Right Yoga Mat

When it comes to picking the right yoga mat, we all want to make sure that we chose one that is the best fit. Not all yoga mats are created equal. Each one will have different design features depending on what you want to use it for and how you use it. Yoga requires next to no gear to get started. All you need is yourself and a good mat. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one to go for? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

Thickness

If you are first starting out on your yoga journey, you’ll come to quickly realize that there are many different types. Whether you are into hatha or yin, there is a mat to suit your style. If you enjoy slower-paced yoga that focuses on long stretches and holding positions, than a thicker mat can help you remain comfortable throughout the practice. If you enjoy a more dynamic yoga practice, then a thinner mat will move with you throughout the practice and will help you hold those positions.

Material

You can buy yoga mats in a variety of material, from PVC to cotton. One of the latest developments in yoga mat technology is a cork yoga mat. Not only are these good for the environment, they are excellent for yin practices as they comfortable and have a good amount of give in them, making sure you don’t hurt yourself from sitting in one position for too long.

Weight

Some yoga mats can be very heavy and difficult to roll up, whereas others are so light that the corners can curl up during practice. You want to make sure that you strike a happy medium with this. You don’t want a mat that is so light that it will roll up during your practice, or won’t lay flat. And you also don’t want a mat that is almost impossible to roll up once you are finished.

Features

As yoga has become increasingly popular, companies have come up with inventive ways of differentiating their products. One method is by adding features to their yoga mats. One of the best features we have seen is the addition of foot markings on the mat. These will tell you if you are holding the right position to maximize the stretch you feel. This is ideal if you practice at home and don’t have anyone there to correct you.

Cleaning

Cheaper yoga mats are made from porous material. Not only will this yoga mat not last as long as a sturdier one, it also makes them more difficult to clean. You want to make sure that you can clean your yoga mat. The more porous it is, the harder it will be to clean and rid it of sweat.

Length

Most yoga mats are around 5ft8 in length which is more than enough to accommodate most people. However, if you are on the taller side, you will want to look for a mat that will be comfortable for you to use throughout the practice. You don’t want to be holding a plank on a mat that is too short for you. Not only will this hurt your elbows, it may even put you off practicing yoga entirely. Make sure you check the size of the yoga mat before you purchase it!

Grip

One of the most important factors of any yoga mat is how well it grips. Whether you are practicing at home in your living room or at a studio, you need to make sure that both the top and the bottom of your yoga mat have good grip. You don’t want to be sliding around everywhere on the mat and you don’t want it not to stick to the floor while practicing. Look for a medium to heavy thickness mat that is constructed of anti-slip and extra stick material.

Final Thoughts

Thankfully, you don’t need a lot of equipment to start yoga. But a good mat will help you settle into the practice and make it far easier to hold the pose. Before you rush out and buy one, make sure you have thought about where you are going to be practicing, how you are going to be practicing and if there are any features that could help. Yoga can be as relaxing or as hard work as you want to make it. Having the right yoga mat for you will help you enjoy your practice.

Staff Writer

The post 7 Pro Tips to Pick the Right Yoga Mat appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Summer Essentials: Yoga Gear for All Practitioners

As we move into the summer season, we can bring a greater sense of play into our practice. Our Yoga Gear can support our practice through a number of useful and uplifting items. We can select music that supports our ability to relax, we can wear sandals that allow our feet to feel comfortable, and socks that allow us to practice anywhere. From subscription boxes to organic food delivered to your door, you can choose practical solutions for daily life. Our suggestions for this round of Summer Essentials include hand-crafted mala beads, skin care that nourishes as well as hydrates, and clothing made by ethical artisans. Discover your new favorite yoga gear and supplies for a conscious life.

Love & Asana™

LoveandAsana.com
Love & Asana™ shirts help fund yoga programs that enrich lives. You know the power of yoga. Share it by rockin’ our unique designs paired with lovingly curated styles. Free USA shipping/returns/exchanges. Sport our gear knowing your purchase made an impact!

Yoga Pray Love

yogapraylove.com
Yoga Pray Love is a brand that reflects the eclectic, sensual spirit of Californian style, known for its inspired designs, vibrant color palettes, unique embellishments, and flattering silhouettes. We are a boutique providing inspiration for life on and off the mat, taking spirituality as its foundation.

Ultima Replenisher

ultimareplenisher.com
Ultima Replenisher contains a perfect balance of all 6 electrolytes plus support minerals that work together to provide complete hydration without stomach upset so you can feel and perform your best. Ultima is sweetened with stevia leaf, made with real fruit flavors and is Sugar-Free, Zero Calorie, Gluten-Free, Keto-Friendly, Vegan, and Non-GMO.

Blessing Box by Yves Wanderlust

yveswanderlust.com
The Blessing Box is created with intention to help all who want to manifest boundless abundance into their lives through enhancement of sacred ritual. Each box comes with single edition art, sacred jewelry and spiritual tools crafted by local artisans! Every piece is gathered with your sacred space in mind.

Repose Yoga Mats

ecoreposeyoga.com
We craft our yoga mats to be toxin free and environmentally friendly, putting great care in the material selection. Our Repose Yoga Mats are made from cork and natural rubber, and are 100% biodegradable. Choose a toxin-free mat because taking an active role in preserving the environment should go hand in hand with your practice.

Yoga Sandals, Inc.

YogaSandals.com
Help improve balance and body alignment! Yoga Sandals® help you to take a proactive step towards looking after one of the most neglected parts of your body! Also great for pedicures on the go! Put them on, Paint those nails & Walk away! 10% Off Coupon: “LAYoga418”

August Son Productions: Chants for Meditation

ChantsForMeditation.com/conscious-shop
A travel must have for yogis/yoginis. Listen to blissful Chants for Meditation in Kamini Natarajan‘s angelic voice to take the stress away from your travel. These 14 chants are from ancient traditions sung in Indian Ragas. Ken’s ambient music provides soothing melody to keep your calm and drive on.

Earth to Ethers Lotus Wrap

earthtoethers.com
The Lotus Wrap is a natural fabric yoga & mediation accessory for both the beginner and seasoned yogi. This comforting, woven strap cocoons your body in yoga, during meditation or simply hanging with your Om-ies. And it’s perfect for the beach and concerts too! Use promo code LAYOGA and save 15%

Farm Fresh to You

farmfreshtoyou.com
Farm Fresh To You delivers fresh, seasonal, organic produce from local farms to your home or office. With Farm Fresh To You, you choose a box type, size and delivery frequency. You can customize your box from our seasonal produce list. You can order farm products and holiday gift sets!

YogaJellies

yogajellies.com
YogaJellies allow you to minimize the setback from sore or injured joints so you can focus without pain on the challenge of growing, stretching, and exercising. YogaJellies can help you continue to challenge your muscles while protecting your joints. From yoga to the weight room, they are the perfect companions to your fitness routine.

ROOT to RISE

roottoriseofficial.com
Mindfully made eco-conscious yoga wear that is ROOTED in community and conscience. Mindfully made in North America. Each month Root to Rise creates a print that 100% benefits different charities. By supporting ROOT you in turn wear your values. Find us on Instagram @root_yoga.
Use code LAYOGA for 15% off your first order.
Photo by Debby. YoGoGirls @debby_yogogirls wears Down

Mad Hippie

madhippie.com
Mad Hippie’s harmoniously hydrating blend works to minimize the appearance of photodamage. This effervescent blend of antioxidants and hydrating essentials leaves your skin feeling soft & supple, and ready to take on the daily stresses of modern day life.

SHASHI Cool Feet Socks

shashionline.com • 561.447.8800
Life is an adventure. Dress appropriately.
New SHASHI Open Toes! Featuring COOLMAX® fabric and stylish mesh tops for a fashion-forward look, while full-sole grips provide maximum traction. From studio to street, SHASHI socks perform beautifully all day long. Discover your perfect companion for whatever comes next.

Keep Your Ink; Tattoo Aftercare

keepyourink.com
Protect and revive your tattoos with KeepYourInk tattoo aftercare. Our skin nourishing formula softens and strengthens skin, while Zinc Oxide offers protection from UVA/UVB rays. LIFTONIN®-XPERT is an intelligent collagen booster that keeps your tattoos looking bright and defined. Use code LA20 for 20% off your online order.

Some Essentials

someessentials.com
Want the perfect all-natural line up for your skin? We have it at Some Essentials. Simply everything you need and nothing you don’t. We offer free shipping and even a sample pack, so there is no excuse not to try. Cruelty free, handmade, and excellent customer service – what more could you want?

Salt Spring Malas & Yoga Jewelry

saltspringmalas.com
Elegant designer mala beads. Timeless styles. Modern luxury. Fine A grade gemstones for healing, grounding, peace and love. 925 sterling. Symbolic malas and bracelets. Salt Spring Malas are handmade with intention and energetic integrity. Guaranteed to last a lifetime. Quality you can count on.
IG @saltspringmalas. Save 20%, code: LASUMMER

Mindfulness Box

mindfulnessbox.com
Mindfulness Box is a monthly subscription box promoting mindfulness, inner peace and balance by giving YOU the tools to live with more intention and in the present moment. Each month, you will receive 4-5 thoughtfully curated items accompanied with a guided dialog to enrich YOUR journey to balance and inner peace.

Meddy Teddy

meddyteddy.com
Meddy Teddy is the 100% bendable teddy bear who loves yoga and meditation. Meddy helps teach kids to love yoga and want to practice meditation. This unique bear Meddy Teddy is in over 50 countries around the world and is helping parents bring these practices to kids all over the world. Meddy has a unique internal frame that allows him to get into all your favorite yoga poses.

Mellisa B Naturally

mellisabnaturally.com
Combat visible signs of aging, while moisturizing with our award winning Signature Series Premium Moisturizing Cream with Peptides (Argireline, Progeline, Syncoll). Grounded in science, nourishing by nature, and esthetician approved – Mellisa B Naturally ingredients are responsibly sourced and formulas are free of harmful ingredients. Use code LA20 for 20% off your online order.

Lovepray Jewelry

LoveprayJewelry.com
Aromatherapy wrist mala bracelets, made with genuine gemstones and lava rock. Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oils on the lava beads and it will diffuse for days! 27 bead malas, perfect for meditation, aromatherapy and everyday wear! Lovepray Jewelry is handmade in California. Follow us on IG @LovePrayJewelry

HUmineral

humineral.com | 888-765-0087
WATER/MINERAL’s – essential for HUman life. HUmineral’s anti-aging, free-radical fighting, antioxidant boosting, plantfood-based line. Chemicals, viruses, pollution, stress break down body at cellular level – put the HUMAN back in your being – experience cellular “networking” w/HUmineral. Vegan, gluten, soy, dairy, sugar free, nutrient dense line.

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Summer Essentials: Yoga Gear and Supplies for Everyone appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Photo by David Young-Wolff. Yoga Block by Yoga Hustle. Clothing by Iron Lily. Bracelet by Love Pray Jewelry

Yoga blocks can be an essential prop for making practice both comfortable and challenging.
Here are 7 reasons to use yoga blocks and some suggestions for blocks you can buy.

Accessibility

Yoga blocks serve to ‘lift the floor’ to the student; poses assisted with this prop are more accessible for everyone from beginner to experienced yogis.

Maintaining Integrity

Often, when we are intent on touching the floor in poses like pyramid, we end up sacrificing safety and alignment to get there, which means we lose the integrity of the posture. Placing a block to lift the floor changes this dynamic so we can maintain our internal and external focus.

Creating Space

Using a block reduces unhealthy compression and helps us generate the space we need to move in a pose such as twisted triangle. Using more than one block can also reduce the collapse in poses like seated forward folds.

Traction

In a pose such as supported bridge with a block, the prop provides gentle traction for areas of the body that can feel collapsed or congested. Exploring placement of the block or blocks allows us the freedom to find the sweet spot.

Providing Support

Restorative or restorative-inspired practices give us opportunity to use props to literally support the body, so we feel nurtured by the pose as we surrender into the release.

Sensory Feedback

Since a block can be used at different heights, it allows us to receive sensory feedback. This is especially important when we work with different versions of a pose, as we progress or deepen into a pose, or when we practice with a changing or healing body. The sensory message helps us to connect to our body in the moment, and even helps us learn to make appropriate adjustments.

In Conclusion: Blocks are for Everyone

No matter what our range of motion, flexibilities, or challenges, a block can make a pose more accessible, powerful and enjoyable, as well as provide opportunities to cultivate joint stabilization and muscle memory.

Photo Courtesy of Yoga Bloc

Yoga Block Recommendations

As a utilitarian prop, the ubiquitous yoga block has taken on a variety of new forms over the past few decades. It is useful for practices that range from active to restorative. Companies have produced options in a number of shapes and sizes made from a wide range of materials. These include wood, cork, and foam. They are thin or thick, with different widths, hollow or solid, and are increasingly made from recycled materials. Here is a selection of innovative and modern yoga blocks.

Yoga Outlet

Everyday Yoga Blocks 3” and 4” thick Foam Yoga Blocks in many colors. $11-12.
Currently on sale for $5.98-8.98.
For more information visit: Yogaoutlet.com

Jade Yoga

Jade Cork Blocks
The material for Jade Cork Yoga Blocks is made from sustainably harvested cork from Portugal. $14.95. Learn more at: Jadeyoga.com

OPTP

OPTP Performance Block
The dip in the center design of this foam brick offers multiple options for use in functional fitness, yoga, Pilates, and more. $35.95
OPTP Posture Brick
Three sizes of a foam brick have a slight contour around the edges for grip. $14.65-26.20

OPTP Performance Wedges
An ergonomic shape allows for use in a variety of poses. $32.95
Learn more at: Optp.com

Manduka

Cork Yoga Block $20
Recycled Foam Yoga Block in 5 different solid and three-color blends $16-18 (3 colors vs 1 color)

Manduka Unblock Recycled Foam Yoga Block
The rounded curve of one of the edges offers a surface area with an alternative grip. $24
Learn more at: manduka.com

Yoga Rat

Foam Yoga Blocks
These lightweight props are priced in 2-block sets for easy shopping. $25
Learn more at: Yogarat.com

Hugger Mugger Yoga Products

The variety of weights and materials meet the needs of different practices.
Eco Wood Block
The 3.5” thickness is made of Baltic Birch with a hollow core. $34.95
Eco Bamboo Block
Fast-growing bamboo provides the outer core for this hollow 4” block. $24.95
Cork Yoga Block $19.95
Recycled Foam Yoga Block $16.95
Foam Yoga Block in Sizes from 3-5” $11.95-21.95
Learn more at: Huggermugger.com

Half Moon

Chip Foam Yoga Block
The dense foam blocks are fabricated from offcuts and chips. Their ability to stack and arrange in different configurations makes them versatile. $16

Chip Foam Block Cover
Choose a cover specifically made to fit and extend the life of the foam block. $22
Foam and Block Together $34

Foam Yoga Blocks 3” and 4” thicknesses available in a variety of colors. $10.50-18
Learn more at: shophalfmoon.com

Photo by David Young-Wolff. Yoga Block by Yoga Hustle. Clothing by Iron Lily

Yoga Hustle

Printed Foam Yoga Blocks
The special feature of these high density blocks is their playful prints and patterns. $24
Learn more at: Yogahustle.com

Infinity Strap BRIK

Cork BRIK: The multiple surfaces and edges of this uniquely shaped block offer many height and grip options. $29
Learn more at: Infinitystrap.com

Three Minute Egg

Designed to conform to the shape of the body, the Three Minute Egg is not a block. Available in a range of colors, sizes, and foam densities for every body. Range of prices. Learn more at: Threeminuteegg.com

Cover Your Block!

BlocSoc

Keep Your Block Clean! BlocSoc offers a fully-washable, portable yoga block cover. $20
Learn more at: Blocsoc.com

Tiffany Caronia

Tiffany Caronia was initially lured to the mat by yoga’s physical benefits, but she soon discovered the profound impact the practice of yoga had on her overall well-being. Working as a publicist for over 10 years, Tiffany immediately noticed the practice’s invaluable effects- reduced anxiety, relief from depression, improved focus, more contentment and acceptance for what is. The practice of yoga quickly became a way of life for Tiffany and she was inspired to share its benefits with others.

Tiffany has studied extensively with Annie Carpenter, holding an advanced certification in Carpenter’s SmartFLOW Yoga methodology. She has also studied yoga therapy at Loyola Marymount University and continues to practice and study with teacher Alexandria Crow. Tiffany’s alignment and anatomically driven classes teach students to move slowly and mindfully. By instructing students how to move into the poses, she teaches them to move with intention and focus their attention so that they can make wise decisions based on the present moment. It’s this skill of concentration — cultivated on the yoga mat — that students can take into their daily lives so they can live with more clarity, awareness and maybe even a little more ease.

www.tiffanycaronia.com

The post Prop Up Your Practice: 7 Reasons to Use Yoga Blocks appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Photo by David Young-Wolff. Clothing by Tantris. Shoes by Skechers.

A number of sustainably-minded and innovative companies are currently creating meaningful tools for practice. We’ve curated a selection of products, props, clothing, subscription and streaming services, supplements, food and drinks, and more. These are items that support our self-care, our practice, and our resilience. Please scroll through and look for your new favorite tools for practice!

Innovative Trends and Tools for Practice

Eco Vine Wine Club

All Organic Since 1998, Eco Vine Wine Club is North America’s oldest and most respected purveyor of exclusively Organic Wines. We specialize in carefully selected wines from all over the U.S. and around the world. At Eco Vine Wine Club, we look for wines grown in unique organic terroir, with each vineyard producing clean, fresh superior grapes that are both good for the earth and tantalizing for the palate. Learn more at: ecovinewineclub.com

Ultima Replenisher

Ultima Replenisher contains a perfect balance of all six essential electrolytes plus support minerals that work together to provide complete hydration without stomach upset so you can feel and perform your best. Ultima is sweetened with stevia leaf, made with real fruit flavors and is Sugar-Free, Zero Calorie, Gluten-Free, Keto-Friendly, Vegan, and Non-GMO. Learn more at: Ultimareplenisher.com

Yoga boss babe

The first and only subscription box + online community designed to support and empower yoga entrepreneurs. Every Yoga boss babe box contains a business workshop; a motivational book + book club; inspirational pieces to inspire the hustle; personal care items; accessories for your classroom; and a private online community. Get $5 off w/ code LAYOGA when you sign up at: yogabossbabe.com.

Humineral

WATER and MINERALS are essential for HUman life. HUmineral is an anti-aging, free-radical fighting, antioxidant boosting, plantfood-based line. Chemicals, viruses, pollution, and stress break down the body at cellular level. Put the HUMAN back in your being and experience cellular “networking” with HUmineral. This is a vegan, gluten-, soy-, dairy-, and sugar-free, nutrient-dense line of products. For more information, call us at 888-765-0087 or visit: humineral.com.

TouJours

TouJours Style for Action/Apparel Designed to Inspire women to always look good and feel good.
Every TouJours style offers: Superior Fit, Highest Quality Performance, Natural Fabrics and Elevated Versatile Styles that coordinate with your wardrobe. Made in the USA. For more information, visit: toujourssfa.com

Humble Brands

Humble deodorant contains four to five organic and all-natural ingredients that you can pronounce (and might, in fact, have in your own kitchen). With restoring scents like Texas Cedarwood & Grapefruit and Lavender & Holy Basil, Humble deodorant will keep you dry and smelling fresh. Certified cruelty-free. For more information, visit our website at: humblebrands.com

sticky be socks

How do you #sticktobeingyou? Sticky Be Socks are intentional lifestyle and fitness socks. Our “be” mantras will inspire you to arrive to your yoga mat and leave with intention—the perfect accessory before and after class. What will you be? Learn more at stickybesocks.com and follow us on social media
@stickybesocks

YogaJellies

YogaJellies allow you to minimize the setback from sore or injured joints so you can focus without pain on the challenge of growing, stretching, and exercising. YogaJellies can help you continue to challenge your muscles while protecting your joints. From yoga to the weight room, they are the perfect companions to your fitness routine. Learn more at YogaJellies.com.

some essentials

Do you want the perfect all-natural line up for your skin? We have it at some essentials! Simply everything you need and nothing you don’t. We offer free shipping and even a sample pack, so no excuse not to try. Everything at some essentials is cruelty free and handmade, and we have excellent customer service – what more could you want? Learn more at someessientials.com.

Down Dog

Enjoy Great Yoga Anywhere and Welcome the New Year with a practice you can sustain with the Dog Dog App: Beginners will love our new Intro sequence, and seasoned yogis can customize a new practice every time! Enjoy your next flow in the comfort of your own home, office, or anywhere life takes you. Learn more at: downdogapp.com/layoga

Purequosa

Inspired by healthy living, Purequosa offers a natural way to stay fresh during life’s busy moments. PQ‘s active ingredient colloidal silver stops odor-causing bacteria on the skin. Organic plant hydrosols and essential oils promote freshness and recovery. Free shipping – loveyoga. Learn more online at purequosa.com and on social media at @purequosa.

DERMA E

Infused with pure plant extracts and essential oils that include organic Pumpkin Seed Oils, antioxidant-rich DERMA E Illuminating Rosehip & Cranberry Face Oil adds radiance for a healthy and glowing
appearance, naturally. Use for amazing skin on both face and body to reveal a luminous brilliance. Learn more at DERMA E online.

Halfmoon

The buckwheat-filled Halfmoon Mod cushion is designed to help you meditate comfortably for longer with enough height to allow your hips to soften and relax. With sleek lines and a modern shape, this beautiful zafu also doubles as a sitting cushion for your living room. Handmade at Halfmoon.

barre’letixx

Introducing Element 14 by barre’letixx!
Element 14 is an ultra comfortable shoe that gives you Extreme Grip & allows you to perform your Best in Barre/Yoga/Pilates class. Hold your hardest poses with NO MORE SLIPPING!  Also try our new patent pending Leggings, reinforced at the knees with light padding for added comfort. Learn more at: barreletixx.com.

Libre tea

Enjoy a tea moment, with our new, clean, white Pearl style. Libre infusers are thermal hot or cold, feature a glass interior, durable poly exterior, and removable filter. Perfect for all infusions or a shaker.
FEB. 10% off with the code LA10%2018 online at libretea.com or visit us at the LA Conscious Life Expo  Feb 9-11.

Yummy & Trendy®

Our high-performance activewear makes it easy to pump it up in style! You will not only look trendy with the breathable eco-friendly gear; you’ll feel comfortable too when you wear Yummy & Trendy®. The Eco-friendly line boasts fun, lightweight funky pattern leggings made from recycled plastic bottles. #WearitFeelitLoveit

Loopy Cases

“I love my Loopy! I mostly wear dresses/skirts/yoga pants, so I rarely have a pocket to put my phone in. With the Loopy, I can just carry it around by holding on to the loop. Such a simple invention that is so handy.” – Joanne H
#StoptheDrop with Loopy! Take $5 off with code: LAYOGA on the website loopycases.com.

Lotus Wrap

The Lotus Wrap is a natural fabric yoga & mediation accessory for both the beginner and seasoned yogi. This comforting, woven strap cocoons your body in yoga, during meditation or simply hanging with your Om-ies. The Lotus Wrap is perfect for the beach and concerts too! Use promo code LAYOGA and save 15% on the website earthtoethers.com.

Liquido Active

OmStars by Liquido Collection
Our renewed partnership with fearless International Yoga Teacher Kino MacGregor is back by popular demand. New limited-edition patterns released every month by Liquido Collection inspire you to be bold, be beautiful and be anything but boring! Learn more at Liquido Collection.

toe talk

It’s time to step up your yoga game with new gear!  Hit the studio in style with motivational grip socks from Toe Talk. Fun sayings like Reach Beyond, This Moment, and Live Your Happy are woven into the fabric of Toe Talk Socks. Choose from soft rayon from bamboo and cushy cotton blends. Learn more and order yours at Toe Talk Mindful.

Golden Ratio Products

Golden Ratio Products produces glassware that revitalizes & restructures water, essential for cellular hydration (macro-molecular hexagonal clusters.) 100% natural materials – no plastics. Sustainably sourced & completely recyclable. No other water bottle does what these do. Any processed water, even bottled spring water, is energetically dead. With Golden Ratio Products, make your water really ALIVE & truly “natural.” Learn more at: Goldenratioproducts.com.

STRETCH WASH by FOREVER NEW

Love your yoga pants? How do you keep them looking and feeling new? STRETCH is specially designed for yoga, swimwear, and all athleisure clothing. This eco-friendly laundry care line removes sweat, odor, and chlorine, all while maintaining the STRETCH of your clothes. Wash it right, wear it forever with STRETCH wash: stretchwash.com

Bo Yoga® Balance Bar

Meet your new favorite prop! The Bo Yoga® Balance Bar makes challenging yoga postures instantly accessible and offers stability and ease to dozens of poses. Students over 50 especially love the padded, flexible support and say the Bo Yoga® Balance Bar has transformed their practice. Free shipping in February: use code LAYOGA for bars and packages when you visit us online at BoYoga.com.

RAD

RAD stands for taking better care and treating our bodies right. We craft muscle-mastering massage, mobility and recovery tools for everybody and every body. Try our newest tool, the RAD Centre (AKA our Belly Ball), for mobilizing your organs and activating critical bodily systems. Visit us online at: RADRoller.com.

David Oreck Candles

Light a candle. Relax. David Oreck Candles are made with 100% natural high grade soy wax with a 100% natural cotton weave wide wick for a clean, even burn. We don’t use paraffin wax which means there is no black sooty smoke. So relax, breathe easy…and light a David Oreck Candle! Visit us online at: davidoreckcandles.com.

RAVI Heavy Yoga Blanket

Deepen your practice with the RAVI heavy yoga blanket. RAVI is a new, patent pending yoga prop that is unlike traditional props. With the RAVI you will experience the heavy blanket therapeutic effects in restorative postures, additional depth and torque in YIN stretches and maximize strengthening in your movement practices. Learn more at: MyRavi.com

Flexi Lexi

Bangkok-based yoga and activewear that focuses on comfort, fun designs, flexibility and functionality. Flexi Lexi will inspire you to get fit and give you that extra special power to help you work towards your goals – on and off the mat! Learn more at: flexilexi-fitness.com and don’t forget to follow us on instagram @flexilexi_fitness

NIYAMA

Perfect for sunset yoga sessions, traveling the world, or local coffee shop meetups.
Niyama leggings suit all people from yogis and gym junkies to dancers and surfers. Their innovative “No-Slip waist” prevents your leggings from slipping and sliding down. Life is too short to not have beautiful, versatile, high-performance leggings. Learn more at: us.niyama-sports.com

Shaman Sisters

Unique gemstone jewelry that protects, heals, and radiates positive energy! Shaman Sisters™ brings you the finest quality Bracelets and Malas. Handcrafted with love using rare and exquisite gemstones. Visit our website at ShamanSisters.com or check us out on instagram @shamansisters Save 20% with code: LAYOGA20

The Shakti yoga wheel®

Are you ready to get rocking and rolling? The Shakti Yoga Wheel is designed to assist you as you strike all of those yoga posture – perfecting poses never before imaginable, the Shakti Yoga Wheel is an essential for any geared-up yogi! Get your free “Boost Your Yoga Wheel” Practice Guide with your Purchase! Learn more at shaktiyogawheel.com

Ayur Yoga Organics

Crafted by hand. Inspired by nature. Born of tradition. The original Yoga mat. Ayur Yoga Organics uses 100% organic cotton, and jute. No synthetic chemicals. Ayurvedic plant dyes, Turmeric, Tulsi, Neem, Red Sandalwood. Four unique designs. Non-slip natural rubber grip. Consciously made. Bringing together Yoga and Ayurveda. Learn more at: ayuryogaorganics.com.

SHASHI Cool Feet Socks

Life is an adventure. Dress appropriately.
New SHASHI Open Toes! Featuring COOLMAX® fabric and stylish mesh tops for a fashion-forward look, while full-sole grips provide maximum traction. From studio to street, SHASHI socks perform beautifully all day long. Discover your perfect companion for whatever comes next. Call 561-447-8800 or learn more at: shashionline.com.

ROOT to RISE

Mindfully made, eco-conscious yoga wear. Mama boss, family-owned and based in Calistoga, California. My own art. Printed, cut, and sewn in North America. At Root to Rise, we give back. Wear your values. Learn more at: roottoriseofficial.com and Follow us on IG: Instagram @root_to_rise_official

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post New Year New Gear: Innovative and Practical Tools for Practice appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Fitness Fashion Trend: Halter Bra

Since I’m a ballet dancer, I include cross training routines that give me power in my legs.
Some of my favorite workouts are spinning, walking, elliptical, Pilates, and core strengthening exercises.
 

Madison is wearing:

• Brushed Mosaic Halter Sports Bra and Legging by Tantris
• Shoes: Women’s YOU by Skechers
• Ballast Ball by Bosu
• Bracelet by Love Pray Jewelry

Fitness Fashion Trend: Geometric Prints

Yoga is always good after a long day of ballet rehearsals to stretch and repair my body.
 

Madison is wearing:

• EOS sports bra and leggings in mauve by Iron Lily
• Bracelet by Love Pray Jewelry
• Printed block by Yoga Hustle

Fitness Fashion Trend: Jumpsuits

My yoga practice is one of the most important ways that I can clear my mind.
 

 

Madison is wearing

• Lattice jumpsuit by Jala Clothing
• Socks by Toe Talk
• Jewelry by Gogh Jewelry

Fitness Fashion Trend: Neon

The end result of my workout is always the ballet performance. I’m motivated by my commitment to being a dancer.
 

Madison is wearing:

• Shirt by Jala
• Shorts and bra by Yummy & Trendy
• Socks by Toe Talk
• Strap by Yoga Hustle

Fitness Fashion Trend: Tracksuits

Cardio is moving meditation for me.
 

Madison is wearing:

• Boat neck zip back crew neck by Hollie Watman
• Fleece bottom zip pant in Heather by Hollie Watman
• Necklace by Gogh Jewelry Design
• Shoes by Skechers

Fitness Fashion Trend: Warrior Goddess

Everything in my workout is in service to the ballet performance. My role models are some professional ballerinas. They’re some of the physically strongest people.
 

Madison is wearing:

• Mesh tank and yoga shorts from the warrior collection by Nuyu
• Necklace by Gogh Jewelry
• YogaPaws elite gloves by YogaPaws

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Ballet Dancer Madison McDonough Showcases Fall Fitness Fashion appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Imuri Palcheo stretching in front of a Peloton bike. Photo by David Young-Wolff. Styling by Dagmarette Yen

Trend: Racerback Tank

Yoga has helped me so much in my fitness goals, but also my mental goals. I’m an endurance junkie, and my go to workout involved some form of cardio like running, cycling, or swimming. I love triathlon training, and when I am on training mode, I workout with at least two of those disciplines each day.
 

Imuri is wearing:

• tanoluxe racerback cutout sports tank by Tantris
• sneaker length leggings in jody stripe by K-Deer
• bike and shoes by Peloton
• water bottle by Hydro Flask

Imuri Pacheo photographed by David Young-Wolff. Styling by Dagmarette Yen

Trend: Crop Tops

After my triathlon workouts, I like doing yoga for stretching, balance, and strength  and also for meditative purposes. My breathing and heart rate are intense during my training, and yoga helps regulate my breathing and heart rate. I feel very calm and at peace after a yoga session.
 

Imuri is wearing

• anyday crisscross crop top by Tantris
  
• cherry blossom leggings with no-slip waist by Niyama
  
• Shashi star regular toe socks in purple by Shashi
  
• bracelet by Gogh Jewelry Design
  
• Harmony natural rubber yoga mat in black by Jade Yoga

Triathlete Imuri Pacheo photographed by David Young-Wolff

Trend: One Pieces

My sport as a triathlete is based on cross-training: swimming, cycling, and running. I like to incorporate strength and core training at least twice a week after a swim or cycle workout.When I am not training for a race, I really enjoy outdoors or adventurous activities like kayaking and rock climbing.
 

Imuri is wearing:

• retro one piece and bomber jacket, both in floral vines by Hollie Watman
• necklace by Gogh Jewelry
  
• sunglasses by Toms

Triathlete Imuri Pacheo photographed by David Young-Wolff

Trend: Infinity Leggings

I’ve been an athlete my whole life, so I can’t imagine life without fitness! However, as every athlete can understand, I have those days where I rather not do anything. When that happens, I always tell myself, “Just get out there. Do what you can. If you don’t finish, at least you got out there and tried.” When I know I will be out busy all day, I carry my gym bag with clothes and shoes to motivate me to workout before I head home.
 

Imuri is wearing

• signature racer bra by Yummy & Trendy
• infinity legging by Yummy & Trendy
• necklace and bracelet by Gogh Jewelry
• walk this way bag by Sol and Selene courtesy of Yoga Outlet
• sari top in mint by Jala Clothing

Triathlete Imuri Pacheo photographed by David Young-Wolff

Trend: Harem Pants

Meditation is essential in my day. Whether it is while I’m stretching, doing vinyasa sequences, or simply laying down, I find peace, energy, and positivity in my breath. I also have a mindful meditation phone app that I use to help me relax right before bed.
 

Imuri is wearing

• Tanostretch halter sports bra in gunmetal by Tantris
• black peacock harem pants by Bohemian Island
• beach noosa toe post sandals with arch support by Vionic Beach
• necklace by Love Pray Jewelry
• bracelets by Gogh Jewelry
• Bracelets by Shaman Sisters

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Trend Alert! Fitness and Fashion Tips appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

by Linda Sparrowe

Almost anything can support your yoga practice, from the make-shift—tables, walls, doorknobs, kitchen counters, couch cushions, neckties, or a friend’s outstretched hand—to the store-bought. With so many props to choose from, you may want to start by gathering the essentials like mats, blocks, bolsters, straps and blankets, and then later branch out to the exotics like backbenders, headstanders, and yoga slings, depending on space and need. Here are descriptions of the more common ones and some suggestions on how to use them.

• Mat. No one wants to press her face into a yoga mat made of PVC, a plastic softened by phthalates, which are well-known carcinogens. Instead, choose one made from natural rubber, recycled tires, or jute (which you can compost in the garden). Slippery? Wash it first and hang it out to dry.

• Blocks. Wood, foam, or cork are all good choices. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, blocks provide the stability you need to lift, lengthen, and open a little deeper in standing and restorative poses.

• Bolsters. Truth be told, you don’t absolutely need to invest in a bolster—rolling or folding a couple of blankets together could suffice—but it’s sure nice to have when you’re ready to settle in to a sweet restorative pose and stay awhile.

• Straps. Sure you can use a cloth belt or a necktie, but an official yoga strap, which comes in 6-, 8-, or 12-inch lengths, is sturdier and has a buckle. (There are a variety of speciality straps on the market that allow you to customize your practice, such as the Hasta Pada Yoga Strap and the Infinity Strap.)

• Blankets. A yogi can’t have too many blankets to sit, kneel, and lie on, roll up, fold, and spread out. Blankets should be a dense weave (for best support) and easy to fold.

• Chair. A collapsible one works best for seated twists, modified backbends, and inversions. Make sure when you sit on it that your feet can touch the floor.

• Walls. Find at least one unadorned wall space, because every practice needs a legs-up-the-wall moment.

• Eyebag.  Slightly weighted—and sometimes scented—eyebags are essential for a distraction-free savasana (final relaxation).

• Household items. After a while, you’ll view your whole house as one big yoga prop, as Richard Freeman says. Stretch your hamstrings using the kitchen counter as your tea brews; settle into a supported shoulderstand with your buttocks resting on your couch, backbend over a banister—use your imagination!

Linda Sparrowe is the author of the just released book Yoga At Home: Inspiration for Creating Your Own Home Practice for Yoga Journal (Universe, an imprint of Rizzoli International).

Linda Sparrowe

The post My go-to props for home yoga practice appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Don’t let your down dog get stinky.

The yoga mat — it’s the prized possession of the modern practitioner.

Dedicated yogis know from experience that as a deep commitment to the practice develops, the mat can begin to transform into a sacred space — one where increasing amounts of quality time are spent. Lives can be greatly impacted by the learning that comes from new realms of awareness and perception within the practice.

However, just as our devotion to yoga starts to grow, something else may be growing on the mat beneath our feet: bacteria, fungus, germs, and everyday odor. Fed by a dedicated (and frequently sweaty) asana practice, these creatures thrive in what might be considered the ultimate yogi petri dish: the yoga mat.

With the variety and quality of yoga mats on the market today, buying a new mat can be a major investment. Protecting this investment by maintaining cleanliness without breaking down the mat can save both money and resources. However, many students who are new to yoga choose to borrow or rent their mats, unsure if they want to commit to a regular down dog, let alone invest in their own yoga mat. Understandably, these students may also be unaware of some basic studio courtesies such as using a towel to absorb their sweat or washing their feet if they have just come from a hike or from the beach.

Overlooking these cleanliness practices is not a phenomenon limited to beginners. After sweating on a mat or yoga towel, one is more than likely to just roll it up and toss it into a dark, stuffy car trunk, creating the perfect environment for bacterial growth and odor build-up. This is something we may fail to notice until a teacher clues us in with a subtle hint. “These are the moments,” says Studio Surya Yoga owner Yonnus Becker, “when I might lovingly spray my Schulze’s Air Detox or use some essential oil to send the message.”

Beyond keeping your mat clean as a courtesy to those around you, concerns about bacteria, fungus, and germs on our mat are real, especially for those of us who may rent or borrow mats at studios and gyms. A 2006 New York Times article interviewed leading dermatologists who found a high correlation between ailments such as athlete’s foot, staph infection, and viral warts on the feet and skin of practitioners who borrowed mats rather than used their own. Although most yoga studios and gyms clean their mats after each use, there are a variety of methods for cleaning mats, which yield varying results. This begs the question: how should we best clean our mats to discourage fungal and bacterial growth while also preventing unwanted odor?

In general, experts recommend choosing products that are harsh on viral, fungal and bacterial elements, but gentle on both the mat material and your skin. Many natural products have been formulated with essential oils, such as tea tree oil, and natural surfactants in order to break down infectious agents without breaking down natural rubber or drying out your mat.

Most of these products are sprayed or wiped on your mat, left to sit for a few minutes to sanitize, and then wiped off with a cloth or sponge and left out to dry. For a deep clean, most mats can be placed in a front-loading washing machine with a small amount of mat cleansing product. Before attempting this, however, make sure you check with your mat manufacturer to see if this could cause breakdown in your specific mat material. Some mats can also be dried on low in a standard dryer, but again, be sure to double-check with the manufacturer.

New technologies are also coming to the forefront. Matsana — a new machine currently employed in several local L.A. studios — uses UV light to disinfect yoga mats. In independent laboratory tests, the UV light used in this technology destroyed 99.9% of all viral and bacterial elements, including staph and e-coli. Studios such as YogaWorks on Montana Avenue use this machine to keep their mats clean for students needing to borrow a mat; it is also available for those who wish to disinfect their own mats. As an added bonus, Matsana is an eco-friendly choice as it disinfects without the use of chemicals or water waste.

As we care for the tools of our practice, such as our yoga mat, and practice courteous class etiquette, we ensure a healthy practice for ourselves and for our fellow yogis. Ally Hamilton, teacher at Yogis Anonymous in Santa Monica, calls this knowledge Sweat Etiquette or “Sweatiquette.” She reminds her students, “The practice of saucha, or cleanliness, has as much to do with personal hygiene as with spiritual purity.”

We can utilize many tools in our practice-kit to help maintain mind-body-spirit health. Practicing saucha on our mat can provide us with a clean and clear understanding of ourselves and the way we affect our environment. With this knowledge, we can continue to tend steadily to our practice, blossoming up from the clean, fertile ground of our yoga mat toward the sunlight of our Higher Self.

Beth Prandini has found both youthful joy and radiant health through the practice of yoga. Diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with a Rheumatoid Arthritis crossover at the age of 19, Beth used yoga to help regulate the effects of her diagnosis. More than a decade of remission has passed for Beth and she graduated with both a B.A. in English/Theater and an M.A. in Education from Pepperdine University. Beth is currently a writer and a YogaWorks Certified Yoga Teacher: bethprandiniyoga.com.

Beth Dian Prandini

www.bethprandiniyoga.com

The post Clean Mat. Clean Mind. appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

For more information kharmakhare.com

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post Kharma Khare appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Those of us on a spiritual path have an even greater responsibility to be honest with ourselves about the violence we cause when we eat and wear animals. If we envision a nonviolent world, we can participate in the one that already exists by going vegan and practicing true ahimsa. There is no such thing as a nonviolent slaughterhouse. As we liberate the animals from their suffering, we liberate ourselves

Libra Max

Gift List: For giving a gift to anyone interested in bringing more peace and loving kindness into their own lives and into our world, check out some of the suggestions below:

Yoga and Vegetarianism, by Sharon Gannon. One of the first root precepts of Yoga is abstention from animal products. We have abandoned this most basic tenet in the West and this book beautifully explains its vital importance to our practice: jivamuktiyoga.com

The Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone. A joyful book for anyone wishing to tread more lightly on our planet. Filled with beautiful photos, recipes and interesting information, Alicia Silverstone sweetly guides us to start from where we are to make big or little changes towards a more plant-based diet. A wonderful gift for everyone: thekindlife.com

The Conscious Cook, by Tal Ronnen. This is a stunning book with innovative and delicious recipes. An absolute must-have for anyone who likes to cook, vegan or not:talronnen.com

That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals, by Ruby Roth. An enchanting, intelligent and stunningly illustrated book for children ages four through ten. By getting to know a cast of animal friends and their families, this beautiful book lovingly and candidly explains what happens on farms and validates a child’s instinct to be respectful and compassionate towards all beings, not just towards some. This is a gift that could be given to children or parents as it is an essential addition to every family’s library, vegan or not: wedonteatanimals.com

We can’t glow as truly beautiful and handsome when wearing products derived from pain, such as clothing made of leather and wool. LA vegan boutiques Humanitaire in Santa Monica, Eko Zone in Venice and Alternative Outfitters in Pasadena have fabulous gifts for all the women and men on your list: shoes, clothing, accessories, cosmetics, books, plus gift certificates and on-line shopping: shophumanitaire.com or ekozone.net or alternativeoutfitters.com

A candlelit dinner at the incomparable and elegant vegan restaurant Madeleine Bistro in the Valley or a cooking class with visionary Master Chef and Bistro founder David Anderson. Not-to-be-missed culinary experiences for both vegans and non-vegans: madeleinebistro.com

Sponsor a turkey, cow or other rescued farm animal in your friend’s name from Farm Sanctuary: farmsanctuary.org

Let your friends know you care by pledging to explore veganism for thirty days. Sign up for this life-affirming month and you will be sent helpful information, tips and support via email. A fun and healthy challenge guaranteed to bring you unexpected joy and energy: goveg.com

Give the gift of friendship to yourself by adopting a cat, dog, rabbit or other furry family member from one of LA’s six high-kill shelters. The angels in these shelters are highly adoptable, sweet and loving beings who just need a hero to help them get out alive: laanimalservices.com

A Scent of Scandal candles are 100% soy wax, vegan, highly fragranced with delicious scents and racy names. The LA-based company actively advocates for the rights of humans and animals: ascentofscandal.com

Most make-up brushes are made of real fur. No thanks! A set of professional, animal-free make-up brushes from LA-based cruelty-free cosmetics company Branded J Collections. Their make-up is excellent too: brandedjcollections.com

The most beautiful swimwear I’ve ever seen comes from cruelty-free LA fashion designer Ashley Paige. She creates sustainable, animal-free knitwear bikinis and cover-ups suitable for a tropical Yoga vacation: ashleypaige.com

And finally, # 1 on my list: The greatest gift you could give your vegan friends this holiday would be your willingness to learn what happens to the animals we use for food and clothing. One of the best ways is to see the film Earthlings. It will be the most profound present you could give your friends, yourself, the animals and our planet: earthlings.com

By Libra Max

Brian Chance

The post Libra Max: Sustainable Ideas For Seasonal Gifts appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.