Monthly Archives: January 2014

Organic sports bra by Pure Karma and shorts by Capezio

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In my continued search to find the perfect yoga shorts and top I shopped around again and came up with a couple of decent options. I decided to try Pure Karma’s organic sports bra, and some yoga shorts by Capezio.

Cotton please!

First and foremost, I want my yoga wear to be made from cotton. It’s okay if it’s a few percent Lycra or Spandex to keep its shape, but for me the fabric has to be mostly cotton. I prefer cotton because it breathes, it’s natural, and it feels good against my skin.

organic sports bra tag

Pure Karma’s organic sports bra

Not only is Pure Karma’s organic sports bra made of 88% cotton, but  Continue reading →

Inexpensive yoga mats compared

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The cost of yoga mats can vary quite a bit. The price is usually related to the materials, the quality of craftsmanship, and country of manufacture. But there are a number of inexpensive yoga mats out there that just might suit your needs.

Our guide below allows you to compare the features of some of the most popular affordable mats out there. Beneath the guide you’ll find in-depth descriptions and additional photos of the best sellers. Click on any column header to sort the table, for example by cost, thickness, or material:

MatSizeCostWeightColorsMaterialScore
Sivan NBR Yoga Mat1/2" thick
72"x24"		$19.991.8 pounds7 optionsFoam.4.5
ProSource Premium 1/2-Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat With Carrying Straps1/2" thick
71"x24"		$18.992.5 pounds8 optionsFoam.4.3
ProSource Premium 1/4-Inch Yoga Mat With Carrying Straps1/4" thick
68"x24"		$16.993.0 pounds7 optionsFoam.4.2
Spoga High Density Yoga Mat with Carrying Straps1/2" thick
71"x24"		$19.992.1 pounds6 optionsFoam.4.4
YogaAccessories 1/4" Yoga Mat1/4" thick
74"x24"
$17.993.3 pounds26 optionsUnknown material. Phthalate free inks and dyes. Free of latex and heavy metals.
4.2
Yes4All 1/2-Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat w/ Carry Strap1/2" thick
68"x24"
$20.052.2 pounds
Black, blue, green or purpleFoam.
4.2
Yoga Monster Mat by Bean Products1/4" thick
72"x24"
$24.953.5 pounds18 optionsPER. Free of toxic phthalates, dioxins and furans, phenal, or heavy metals. SGS approved.3.8
Gaiam Solid Yoga Mats (3mm)1/8" thick
68"x24"		$19.992.0 pounds8 optionsPVC. Free of phthalates and other toxins.4.0
Bixle 1/2" Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap1/2" thick
72"x24"		$22.952.3 pounds7 optionsFoam.4.3
YogaHola Super Soft Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat w/ Carry Cord1/8" thick
70"x24"		$13.952.5 pounds5 optionsFoam.3.6
Da Vinci Yoga Mat with Carry Strap, 1/4" Inch1/4" thick
72"x24"		$18.992.8 pounds12 optionsPVC. Free of phthalates.4.0
Da Vinci 2-Tone Yoga Mat with Carry Strap1/4" thick
72"x24"		$16.993.0 pounds8 different 2-tone optionsPVC. Free of phthalates.4.0
Milliard 1/4" Yoga Mat1/4" thick
72"x24"		$17.21NA10 optionsUnknown material. 4.3
Valeo Yoga Mat Blueless than
1/4" thick
68"x24"		$12.501.9 poundsBlueUnknown3.0
YogaDirect 1/4" Sticky Yoga Mat1/4" thick
72"x24"		$23.27NA12 optionsPVC4.2
BalanceFrom GoYoga Mat with Carrying Strap1/4" thick
72"x24"		$24.952.5 pounds9 optionsUnknown. PVC free, phthalates free, latex free.4.1

The 7 columns in the guide are:

  • Mat name & picture (click to view more details or to purchase).
  • Mat size dimensions in inches
  • Mat price – These are current prices on Amazon.com in U.S. dollars. Outside the U.S., click the price in dollars to see the price in your local currency. In some cases price will change depending on mat color and/or style.
  • Mat weight in pounds.
  • Color and/or style options.
  • Mat material (more on mat materials below). SGS is a private, independent laboratory that tests many types of products and makes recommendations regarding consumer safety.
  • Rating – This is the average user rating on Amazon.com, where 5 is the best possible rating. It can be very helpful in deciding whether people were satisfied with their purchase.

Shopping for inexpensive yoga mats

One popular brand of inexpensive yoga mats is YogaAccessories. The average price for a YogaAccessories mat is about $20, depending upon color. They have over 20 colors to choose from.

Inexpensive Yoga Mats YogaAccessories label

Even though they’re inexpensive yoga mats, they boast some appealing Continue reading →

Yoga mat spray wash comparison

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For obvious reasons, it’s really important to keep your yoga mat clean. Different mats have different washing instructions. Some you can throw right in the wash, and some you need to wash thoroughly by hand in a large sink or tub. Either way, if you do yoga frequently, you’re going to need to wash your mat frequently.

There’s no way I can feasibly wash my mat in the washer or tub every time I use it. It’s just not practical. But I am extremely fussy about keeping my mat clean and fresh. So, what I use is a yoga mat spray wash.

Aurorae Yoga Mat Spray Wash - 4 oz

There are a couple on the market that I really like. My go to one is the Aurorae yoga mat spray wash. I like it because it’s super easy to use and Continue reading →

The Richard Hittleman yoga 28 day plan – part 2

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***BIG NEWS: Richard Hittleman’s classic TV series “Yoga For Health” Has been released on DVD! Check it out at www.richardhittleman.com ***

In part one of my review of Richard Hittleman’s Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan, I covered the first two weeks of the plan. I gave an overview of how the book’s daily routines are presented. For part two, I’ll go over how Hittleman ramps it up a notch. I’ll also sum up a few of his “thoughts for the day”, which are his daily discussions on the many ways Hatha Yoga can benefit the mind and body.

Richard Hittleman yoga 28 day plan - lotus position

Regarding the exercise portion of the plan, Hittleman takes it up a level for the remaining two weeks. Day 15 starts off with these words, “Today marks the beginning Continue reading →