Do some yoga on your next trip ..

It is ironic that travelling – something that for the most part should be fun and relaxing – is the cause of stress. The airport itself is a big ball of stress – going thru security, hoping you make it to the gate in time, finding out the flight is delayed, etc. Maybe, you took it to the road – there is traffic, car issues, getting lost, etc.

Yoga is known for relieving stress. There is nothing better than that feeling you get after a great yoga practice. Even if you only have time for a few sun salutations, that is enough to get the body energized. However, a yoga mat is not on the priority list of things to pack for many. I personally don’t leave home without it, it has become my travel buddy. For everyone else, there is great news – Kimpton Hotels just came out with a new perk, which offers a complimentary yoga mat for its guests during their stay as part of their new health and wellness program. My past life as an interior designer, loves everything about Kimpton, entering their hotels and restaurants gets my design fix on, and now as a yoga instructor, this yoga mat perk just gives me another reason to add to the list of loves.

Check out the new video released by Kimpton Hotels. Some humor on a love story with a yoga mat ..

For more info about the yoga program at Kimpton Hotels, click the link. Plan your next stress-free trip now. I sure can’t wait for my next stay there!

http://www.kimptonhotels.com/promotions/yoga.aspx

‘misadventures of a garden state yogi’ book review

Reading books has never been on the top of my to-do list. Let’s just say Cliffs Notes were a good friend to me in school. So basically, it is rare for a book to attract my attention, even then to hold it and to read it in its entirety. ‘Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi’ has achieved both. It is about the yoga journey of Brian Leaf; how he first found yoga and from there discovered its healing powers. Even though, my own journey with yoga is somewhat less exciting as his, it made me reminisce to when I first started yoga. I only wish that mine had involved a cross-country road trip. How exciting it must of been to explore the country and yoga! I felt like I was on this adventure with Brian. I was fully invested in where the next leg of his yogic journey brought him. This is a great read for the yogi or non-yogi. Yogis can find some way to relate and incorporate their own journey in this novel, and non-yogis..well there is a yogi in everyone, maybe this will release it in you! …and with the holidays approaching this would make the perfect gift

more about brian and the book — http://www.misadventures-of-a-yogi.com/

check out the trailer on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcYFYjnU9Cw

my yoga essential…

Whether I am teaching a class or practicing, there are a few musts that I just need to have alongside my mat – a towel, block and the all important water bottle. I’m a creature of habit. The towel goes at the top of the mat, the block and bottle on the top left-hand side. The good thing is towels and blocks are provided for me at the studio, however water bottles are not. Instead of getting mad at myself on those days that I forget my bottle at home, I choose to reward myself and buy a new one. So yes, my collection of water bottles is extensive, which allows me the opportunity to try all these different kinds of bottles out. They all have their positive and negatives. The one bottle at the top of my list is the Bamboo Bottle Company (www.bamboobottleco.com). The overall look of the bottle stands out from the rest, with its simple bamboo outer shell design that insulates the glass bottle. The designer in me loves the assembly and design of it all. I love the simplicity of it. It is very easy to care for, unlike some other bottles where you have straws or mouthpieces to deal with. It is a little on the heavy side when it is filled but I look at it as another way to build muscles. Water is an essential part of life, and reusable water bottles are very beneficial for the environment – so if you are in need of or on the hunt for a new bottle, here is one to take into consideration.

I recently took my yoga to Flushing Meadows Park for a video shoot and was sure to have my Bamboo Bottle handy! Check out my video on YouTube — http://youtu.be/q19-BZPBwyo.

yoga got me thru and out of unemployment

It was a little over  year ago when I fell victim to unemployment. I was determined not to get depressed that I had no job or get lazy by having all this extra time in the day, so I turned to yoga. It was kind of nice being able to go to all those morning classes that I wasn’t able to attend due to work. On the other hand I had a feeling of guilt, as if I were cheating on my regularly scheduled yoga classes. So…I found myself going to class 2-3 times a day. Yoga was slowly becoming my life.

I continued to look for a job. However, all these thoughts kept running thru my head. Do I really want to be an interior designer? After all it is what I majored in at college, so isn’t it what I should be doing. BUT, do I really want to go back to the corporate world? That was a definite NO, my last job left me with such bitterness, it was the first time ever where work was work. I felt like I was punching in the hours. They took my passion for design away from me, but thru it all I found my true passion – yoga. It was then that I told myself, ‘yoga will become my life’.

I finally took the advice of my best friend, and went thru with yoga teacher training. It was the best thing I have ever done in my life. Yoga gives me an overwhelming sense of joy, and to be able to share it with others is bliss. I just love the endless possibilities of yoga, there is always more to learn, which in turn – more for me to teach. YOGA is now my LIFE!