Did you know you can sneak in yoga at work with some simple office yoga poses? I was at my Mom’s place the other day and I found this smart little book she had lying around called “Office Yoga, Simple Stretches for Busy People”. This is a book I wish I’d thought of writing myself!
“Office Yoga” is almost pocket size. It’s 4 3/4 inches by 6 1/4 inches, and 96 pages. It’s small enough to keep on your desk or in your bag, yet big enough to Continue reading
Say you want to start practicing yoga but you’re concerned that you might not be able to keep up or perform the poses correctly. Well, there’s a pretty easy solution to that. Get yourself a beginner’s guide to yoga.
It can be a little intimidating trying a new yoga class, especially if you think everyone but you knows what they are doing. For the record, that’s not always Continue reading
UPDATE: Aurorae just announced that this yoga mat backpack is now available in three additional new colors; gold, taupe, and grey. I like them A LOT! Nice!
I’m super excited to review this yoga mat backpack. It’s Aurorae’s Crossbody Sling Backpack, and I continue to be impressed with their products. It’s obviously designed by people who understand how to lighten the load when traveling to and from yoga class.
Since it’s a yoga mat backpack, it’s more than just a simple tote for your mat. It’s smaller than a standard backpack, but you can still fit Continue reading
An article in today’s Harvard Gazette discusses new research which gives scientific evidence of meditation’s positive impact. It may even slow the aging of your brain! 
As I mentioned in part 1 of my review of Mandy Ingber’s “Yogalosophy 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover”, not only is this book a complete workout guide, it also encourages a positive way of thinking and being.
In part 2 of my review, I’ll focus more on the philosophical perspectives of Ingber’s Yogalosophy. I feel that the mindfulness aspects Continue reading
After having recently completed Richard Hittleman’s Yoga 28 day plan, I thought it would be good to compliment it with a more contemporary program. So I’m giving Mandy Ingber’s Yogalosophy 28 Day Mind-Body Makeover a try.
Like the Hittleman plan, Ingber’s program is more than just a 28 day exercise guide. It’s a way of Continue reading
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.
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.
Not only is Pure Karma’s organic sports bra made of 88% cotton, but Continue reading
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:
| Mat | Size | Cost | Weight | Colors | Material | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sivan NBR Yoga Mat | 1/2" thick 72"x24" | $19.99 | 1.8 pounds | 7 options | Foam. | 4.5 |
ProSource Premium 1/2-Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat With Carrying Straps | 1/2" thick 71"x24" | $18.99 | 2.5 pounds | 8 options | Foam. | 4.3 |
ProSource Premium 1/4-Inch Yoga Mat With Carrying Straps | 1/4" thick 68"x24" | $16.99 | 3.0 pounds | 7 options | Foam. | 4.2 |
Spoga High Density Yoga Mat with Carrying Straps | 1/2" thick 71"x24" | $19.99 | 2.1 pounds | 6 options | Foam. | 4.4 |
YogaAccessories 1/4" Yoga Mat | 1/4" thick 74"x24" | $17.99 | 3.3 pounds | 26 options | Unknown material. Phthalate free inks and dyes. Free of latex and heavy metals. | 4.2 |
Yes4All 1/2-Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat w/ Carry Strap | 1/2" thick 68"x24" | $20.05 | 2.2 pounds | Black, blue, green or purple | Foam. | 4.2 |
Yoga Monster Mat by Bean Products | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $24.95 | 3.5 pounds | 18 options | PER. 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" | $19.99 | 2.0 pounds | 8 options | PVC. Free of phthalates and other toxins. | 4.0 |
Bixle 1/2" Inch Extra Thick Yoga Mat with Carrying Strap | 1/2" thick 72"x24" | $22.95 | 2.3 pounds | 7 options | Foam. | 4.3 |
YogaHola Super Soft Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat w/ Carry Cord | 1/8" thick 70"x24" | $13.95 | 2.5 pounds | 5 options | Foam. | 3.6 |
Da Vinci Yoga Mat with Carry Strap, 1/4" Inch | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $18.99 | 2.8 pounds | 12 options | PVC. Free of phthalates. | 4.0 |
Da Vinci 2-Tone Yoga Mat with Carry Strap | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $16.99 | 3.0 pounds | 8 different 2-tone options | PVC. Free of phthalates. | 4.0 |
Milliard 1/4" Yoga Mat | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $17.21 | NA | 10 options | Unknown material. | 4.3 |
Valeo Yoga Mat Blue | less than 1/4" thick 68"x24" | $12.50 | 1.9 pounds | Blue | Unknown | 3.0 |
YogaDirect 1/4" Sticky Yoga Mat | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $23.27 | NA | 12 options | PVC | 4.2 |
BalanceFrom GoYoga Mat with Carrying Strap | 1/4" thick 72"x24" | $24.95 | 2.5 pounds | 9 options | Unknown. PVC free, phthalates free, latex free. | 4.1 |
The 7 columns in the guide are:
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.
Even though they’re inexpensive yoga mats, they boast some appealing Continue reading
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.
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
***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.
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