Web Site Make Over

The YogaDudes website www.yogadudes.com, just went through a little make-over. Last night we launched the brand new site. With all computer-related things . . . there will be bugs. Please be patient while we work them out. And if you find any issues and would like to report them, we would really appreciate it. You can email any comments or suggestions to info@yogadudes.com.

Please be sure to visit the YogaDudes shop to see all the newest product additions.

Yoga Radio

Did you know that Yogamates.com has a FREE Yoga Radio? Go to the home page and scroll down, on the left side you will see a Yogaradio button. Enjoy FREE spiritual/yoga music ALL DAY. You can even have the mini browser open while you are at work on other sites! Check it out.

New YogaDudes Bracelets

Brand new to the YogaDudes line up are these silver tone cuff bracelets. Because there is no clasp to fumble with, they are easy to get on and off. They are thin and very simply stated. Show off your strength everywhere you go. They cost only $11.99 and you can find them online here.

Buy Stuff Online, Earn Points, and Get Free Stuff

Who doesn't like free stuff? With the price of gas these days, shopping online makes more and more sense. If you are anything like me, you do it often and some time last year I discovered a web site called "My Points." It's a shopping portal that includes hundreds of big name online stores. Places that you probably shop at every month. If you become a member of My Points (and it's free to do so), every one of your purchases made to those merchants will earn you points. All you have to do is first go to the My Points web site, search for the merchant, or the item you are trying to buy, and use their links to get to the storefronts. Then your purchase will be tracked and you will earn your points. I already have 15,000 which scored me a $100 gift certificate to my choice of lots and lots of stores.

You will quickly get in the habit of always checking with My Points before you make an online purchase. First see if the merchant you are about to shop with is participating. Or maybe you are looking for a particular item and are not locked to a certain merchant. For every dollar you spend with My Points participating merchants you will be getting closer and closer to free stuff! You have nothing to lose and only some free gift certificates to gain, so what are you waiting for?

Click on the graphic below to find out more.

Free Yoga E-books

I recently found a couple of free yoga e-books online at YogaMiracles.com. The books and their descriptions are listed below. Just click on the title and you will be taken straight to the e-book. Thank you to Yoga Miracles for offering these.

Easy steps to yoga
In the United States the form of yoga most often practiced is Hatha yoga. Using yoga for health improvement is now a common practice in this country. The health benefits of yoga are generally well recognized.

Practice of karma yoga
While yoga itself may not be a specific cure for any one condition there are established links between yoga and health benefits of many kinds. The practice of yoga is routinely recommended as a component of treatment for a variety of conditions ranging from weight loss to the pain and stiffness of arthritis.

Mindful Meditation

A few minutes of alone time can save your sanity. Here is a simple meditation practice called "Mindfulness." Use it when your attention is scattered. It will bring you back to a calm state and allow your brain to function normally.

Step One: Start by sitting in a way that doesn't block anything: sit with your legs uncrossed and with your hands resting on your legs.

Step Two: Become aware of the feeling in your toes. Wiggle them and feel the texture of your socks.

Step Three: Now move that feeling up to your legs and calves.

Step Four: Close your eyes and breathe in. Visualize air going into your body and traveling down into your legs and feet. This air is going to clean away all of the tension.

Step Five: As you breathe out, visualize all of your tension as a dark cloud that that you just blow out into the air.

No Ordinary Moments

I just watched "The Peaceful Warrior" and loved it. Its an excellent movie disguised as a gymnastics story when, in fact, it's more about yoga and training the mind. My favorite line from the movie is "There are no ordinary moments." The whole story is about living in the moment — something that is very difficult to do.

Missing the Moment
Trying to live fully in the present—or being in the moment is a challenging proposition. We frequently get caught up in our routines, habits and thoughts, and find ourselves feeling disconnected from what is happening around us…or even within our own bodies. Instead, we spend our time and energy creating to-do lists and dwelling in the past. These thought patterns prevent us from truly being present and from completely engaging in what is happening in our lives right now…in the present moment.

Attending to the Moment with Mindfulness
Mindfulness means that we are paying attention to everything that happens within our bodies and around us in the present moment without judgment. However, when we are on autopilot, we often act unconsciously or habitually. We just react. Even our thoughts can occur without our conscious awareness. It is human nature to categorize and evaluate everything that we think, see, hear, etc., and these evaluations typically alter our experience and are usually at the root of our stress.

By using mindfulness techniques to pay attention to our minds and bodies, we can begin to take more control and switch off the autopilot. Learning to be fully aware of our bodily sensations, thoughts and emotions—no matter whether they are pleasant or unpleasant—can help us deal with our stress more effectively.

How to Practice Mindfulness
As with any skill, mindfulness can be learned. The practice is in the repetitive act of directing attention to only one thing in this moment. No one would suggest that just paying attention is the answer to all of life's problems. All of life's problems and stressors, however, can be seen more clearly when our mind is clear.

When we begin to see more clearly how we are thinking, feeling and reacting, we can begin to learn new ways of being and responding to the things going on in our lives.

Ease Headaches Before They Happen

Are you feeling stressed? If you are anything like me, your stress causes terrible headaches. We often express stress in our necks and jaws. Without even noticing, we tense in these areas, blocking our breath, decreasing our circulation, and sometimes provoking a headache.

Luckily, we can avoid these symptoms by taking a break to relax the neck. Here's how:

While seated, interlace your fingers and place your hands on the back of your head. Allow your head and arms to relax forward and your chin to travel toward your chest. The weight of your head and arms, combined with gravity, will begin to release your neck and reduce or eliminate your headache.

Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The Move is Over

Sorry that YogaDudes has been so low key over the past few months. We were suffering through a period of temporary partial shut-down as we moved our world headquarters (which is our home in CT). After four long months of being homeless and operating on very low inventory in a temporary office, we are finally getting settled in Eastford, CT. We found ourselves a blissfully peaceful spot with so many places to do yoga it's unreal. I think the photo above will be my favorite one.

We hope to get the business back on track real soon. This fall will begin our monthly newsletters, regular blog entries, and sales promotions. Please stay tuned and thank you for your patience.

YogaDudes Vacation Shut Down

We are taking some time off for some much needed OM. After a few months of laying low and running the business from a temporary location, with only half of our inventory, we are taking a break and shutting down for nearly two weeks. I'm sorry that this blog hasn't been updated more frequently. Once our big move is finally complete, YogaDudes will get back on track.

For now, we are off to Croatia for some sailing and bicycling - oh and lots of yoga on the ship too! Be back in mid July with more news.

Try Something New

What have you always wanted to do? Take a dance class, learn to sail, knit a sweater, sculpt—whatever you choose, your life will be enriched with fun, new friends and the pride of trying something new.

When you challenge yourself by trying a new pursuit, you affirm your belief that neither time nor fear should be an impediment to growth. You comprehend the value of learning—the interest it adds to your day-to-day experiences and the creativity it inspires within you. Being a beginner can be hard, and you may find yourself tempted to give up, but try not to let yourself become self-conscious. If you are revisiting an activity you enjoyed in childhood, you may take in information more slowly than you once did or you may pick it up again like it was yesterday. The simple fact that you are pursuing a path because you want to means that your determination will give you the strength to cope with any difficulties. Your ability to work toward an aim will be heightened by your sincere desire to grow as an individual.

Try learning something new this week. There must be something that always wanted to do . . .

I always wanted to ride an off-road motorcycle, but it always terrified me. I finally decided to ‘just do it.’ Bought myself a bike and took it off-road the first day out. Nothing feels better than accomplishing a long awaited dream. And even if success didn’t come right away, the thrill of the attempt is enough to give yourself a high.

Your Thoughts Become Your Destiny

I found this yoga-inspired poem/quote today and liked it so much, I wanted to share:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.

- Upanishads

Laughter Yoga

Has anybody tried this laughing yoga bit? It sure does look like fun and I have read studies on people curing themselves of sickness by watching funny videos over and over. This seems too good to be true, but I say it's worth a try. Nothing bad could come from adding more laughter into our lives.

Laughter helps us keep healthy by enriching the blood with ample supplies of oxygen, the lifeline of our system. According to the science of yoga, life energy (prana) flows through the breath. By controlled and deep breathing we can enhance our own well-being. With the 15-30 minute package offered by the Laughter Club, participant carry home the healthy habit of deep breathing at least 10-20 times a day. This helps to increase the lung capacity, thus enhancing oxygen supply to the body.

Laughter helps to remove the negative effects of stress, which is the number one killer today. More than 70% of illnesses like high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression, frequent coughs and colds, peptic ulcers, insomnia, allergies, asthma, menstrual difficulties, tension headaches, stomach upsets and even cancer, have some connection to stress. Laughter also helps to boost the Immune system, which is the master key for maintaining good health.

So to keep you all healthy, read these:

How Do You Get Holy Water?
You Boil The Hell Out Of It

What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?
Polaroid's

What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work?
A Stick

What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours?
Nacho Cheese.

What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?
Spoiled Milk.

What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?
Frostbite.

What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?
A Nervous Wreck.

Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?
Because It Scares The Dog.

What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?
Sanka.

Did You Celebrate Earth Day?

I might not have specifically celebrated Earth Day, but I am celebrating the fact that it's been 2 weeks since my husband and I have been to a gas station . . . And today we passed the 500 mile mark on our first tank of gas in our "almost" new VW Golf TDI. Last month we decided it was time to trade in our thirsty SUV to a much more fuel efficient solution. Convinced we needed a truck for all our hauling of 'stuff', carrying two large dogs, kayaks, bikes, etc. we got very used to having a big vehicle and a big gas bill. But upon closer examination, we realized that we could downsize and still keep our dogs, haul the 'stuff' that we need, and keep our sport hobbies.

I am positively thrilled with this solution of a small diesel car and I just can't figure out why they are so rare here in the USA. Just about all the cars in Europe run diesel. Why can't the Americans figure out that this makes a lot of sense? It’s too bad that our choices here are so slim, but I'm hoping that the idea will catch on.

Driving a fuel efficient car makes me feel good. Here are some other things that we can all do to help out our environment:

Shopping and Cleaning
Ecobags -Bringing your own bag when shopping saves plastic bags. Visit www.ecobags.com.
Method Home - Method offers some cleaners that are dye- and perfume-free, nontoxic, biodegradable, naturally derived and never tested on animals. For more information, visit www.methodhome.com.
Seventh Generation products - Seventh Generation is one of the leading brands of nontoxic household products. For more information, visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Energy
BITS Ltd. smart power strips - Even after turning off a computer, power continues to flow to computer peripherals like printers and scanners. This power strip ($32.99) stops the energy from being wasted. For more information visit www.bitsltd.net.
GE Energy Smart lightbulbs - GE Energy Smart bulbs use 70 to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lightbulbs and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. For example, by using a 26-watt compact fluorescent lightbulb—equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent lightbulb—users can save up to $59 on energy costs over the life of the bulb. Saving energy saves money and is better for the environment.

Dead Bug Pose

I just love that pose name! Who comes up with these things? I think I may start my own YogaDudes pose names . . . imagine how much fun that will be.

I recently found this pose and it's supposed to help combat the effects of slouching at a computer all day. I am very guilty of that. By the end of the day I'm practically laying in my chair. Here's a little clip that may help that problem . . .

Sitting at a desk all day, glaring at a computer screen causes you to slouch. That man-made curvature of the spine speeds up the natural degeneration of the discs. The species known as "office workers" have backs that are beginning to resemble our humble predecessors—Cro-Magnon man. To counter feeling (and acting) like a caveman after a brutal week, try a few stretches for the muscles and bones in your back. And while you work toward standing upright again try the poses that calm your nerves. This at-home triage will make you feel like you've really evolved.

Spine Soother

Dead bug pose feels a lot better than it sounds. Even if you have the flexibility of a steel rod, it's a universal spine pleaser. The benefit of this passive stretch: the pose works out the back, butt, and hip kinks while you lie there. Give in, it works its magic when you are in a completely relaxed state. Watch this video and try it yourself before hitting the sack.

A Great Recycling Solution

I recently discovered a very interesting website for those recycling conscious folks. Last month, my husband and I had the horrible task of packing up our house and moving. It is amazing how much stuff you realize that you own and don't need. We made several trips to Good Will and donated lots of other larger items to another local charity. That felt GREAT. I realized that I truly enjoy donating things. I HATE the thought of wasting things and I often hold on to things that I know I don't need, only because they are too nice to just throw away. Well, here's an organization that can help me and probably lots of other globally conscious yogis.

The Freecycle Network™ (http://www.freecycle.org/) is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on "Groups in your local area." You may then go directly to your local group by clicking on "Go To" or you may immediately joining by clicking on "Join." It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions). Have fun!

The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be another's treasure!

Desk Yoga

Have you been too busy lately to make it to yoga class? Or maybe even too busy to change your clothes and do yoga at home . . . That has been my crazy life for the past month. I'm sorry for the lapse in blog posts. I don't even know where to begin to explain . . .

I seem to be doing more desk yoga these days than real yoga, but every little bit helps. Today I actually made it to the gym to walk on the treadmill. The weather here in Connecticut is still dreary. I blame myself. I already packed all my winter clothes, and therefore, winter is dragging on endlessly. While on the treadmill I was reading an article about yoga. It talked about how yoga shouldn't just be about achieving a nice butt. It should be the process that rewards, not the result. I was thinking how that sounds lovely, but I wouldn't be too upset with the nice butt either!

Until my life settles down, I will be reduced to desk yoga. In case you can use it too:

Release the muscles in your back with this twist -- While seated, cross the right knee over the left knee. Place your left hand on the outside of the right knee, and brace your right palm against the right elbow rest. Twist to the right, keeping your left sitting bone firmly grounded. Look over your right shoulder. Switch sides.

There, now doesn't that feel better?

New YogaDudes Long Sleeve Tees Now Available

We are just squeaking in before the end of winter with the introduction of our brand new, colorful YogaDudes long sleeve tees. These 100% cotton fitted Ts feature a colorful YogaDudes display. The three different poses are labeled Balance, Harmony, Strength. Great for on or off the mat. You can view and purchase these new shirts online here.

Free Yoga MP3 Download

Have you checked out a web site called www.itrain.com? Seems to be pretty cool. They offer MP3 downloads for a variety of different workouts including: yoga, dance, cycling, running, etc. Want to try one yourself? Get a free download on iTrain.com when you enter the promo code YL2007 at checkout. Choose from their library of 45 and 60-minute multilevel yoga classes.

Where is Your Peaceful Place?

When you meditate, where do you go? Do you have your favorite peaceful place? Is it a real place . . . somewhere that you have been do . . . something that you already experienced? Or do you go to an imaginary place? Do you even have a special place?

My husband told me about his special meditation spot and it made me realize that I don't really have one. When I meditate, I try to clear my mind. I try to see nothing but a blank white canvas. This is very challenging for me, so I imagine that I'm surrounded by snow. Then to make it more interesting, I pretend that I'm sliding down a never ending hill on a white inner tube. There are no trees (of course) so there is no need to be concerned with obstacles. I just slide and slide down the hill of snow.

I was happy sliding down my snow covered hills until my husband explained his special spot. He told me that his feelings, when he goes there, are more powerful and peaceful than when he originally expereinced it. His special spot is 3,000 feet above the ground with his hang glider. He can perfectly describe, in detail, what this flight was like for him . . . what he saw, what he felt, what he was thinking about at the time. He explained the difference between the real thing and his meditation spot. During the real flight he still had to be concernded about the real dangers - where would he land, turbulent air, the commercial jet that was flying below him. But when he goes back there now, there is no stress. He just relives the longest and best flight of his life and he will never lose that.

So I'm jealous. I decided that I also need a peaceful spot. I don't have anything that compares to my husband's flight and now that I think about it . . . I have very few quiet and peaceful times to go back to. A favorite peaceful exerience that comes to mind is our lazy hours on the swing in our backyard. So many weekends we would go out and bike for 30 or 40 miles on our hill training rides and then come home to lounge in our swing and watch the sun go down. The feeling of complete exhaustion and complete relaxation (and relief to be off the bike), together with the warm sun on my face and the gentle glide of the swing. Ahhhhhh, that is about as relaxed as I have ever been. So this will be my new meditation spot. That is where I want to go when I need some tranquil time. So do you have yours all picked out?

Free Yoga E-cards

Brand new to the YogaDudes website . . . Free yoga e-cards to send to your friends. This is a brand new feature and all the kinks may not be worked out yet, but please give it a try. Send a yoga-inspired message to brighten your friend's day. There are 8 different cards to choose from and it's completely free. Just visit http://www.yogadudes.com/posty.htm and follow the instructions. Have fun!

Video Game or Workout Routine?

I was just flipping through an issue of YogaLife magazine and I ran across an ad that drew me in. It reference a web site called "Body by Playstation" and I just had to check it out. You should too!

On the web site you will see videos explaining this game. You not only need PS2, but also the Eye Toy camera. If you happen to have those two things (like I do) this looks too good to be true. It's a full work out system, including a 12 week training program that appears to be a blast to play with. I just researched it online and read as many customer reviews as I could find. Everybody says it's terrific. I was preparing myself for a big price tag, but I also found it as low as $40 at Walmart and even lower, used on Amazon. I'm gettin' one!!

Here's the site to check out. The product is called Kenetic. Go have yourself some fun while getting in shape.

20 Things To Do In a Lifetime

In my quest to be more organized this year I recently found my old Palm software. I have no idea where the actual PDA is, but the software lives on in my hard drive archives. I stumbled across some old memo notes that I wrote years ago and found them amusing. I thought I would share them, or at least one of them. I have three, and they are:

20 Things To Do In a Lifetime - This is a collection of some of the noteworthy and fun things that I have done in my life time. Things I would recommend to anyone.

Things That I Just HAD To Do - another list of silly things that I have done, just because I had to do them. Do you have things like that in your life? Things that you've done for no other good reason, but you always wanted to do it?

Wish List of Things I Still Want To Do - Well that is self explanatory. Everyone should always have a wish list.

So here is my list of things to do in a lifetime (in no particular order):

1. Bike a Century (100 miles in one day)
2. Ride a gondola in Venice
3. Dance or perform on stage
4. View Paris from the Eiffel Tower at sunset
5. Hang glide
6. Ride a tandem bike
7. Rescue a greyhound
8. Make something special with your own two hands and give it to someone you love
9. Hike Yosemite in the Spring
10. Eat sushi & drink sake in Tokyo sitting on the floor
11. Overlook the Hong Kong bay at night from Victoria Peak
12. Drive a motorcycle - not riding on the back - driving!
13. Find your soulmate and fall in love
14. Own a jeep and take it off-road
15. Go for walks in the pouring rain
16. Slow dance in the middle of a crowded city street
17. Walk through the Roman Forum and marvel at the history
18. Watch a meteor shower while laying on the beach at 4 AM
19. Experience the real meaning of "cold" on a dog sled ride in Canada
20. Get lost for the fun of it (but bring water)

Yoga and Toe Cramps

What is with yoga and toe cramps? Seems they go together like peanut butter and jelly and I can't figure out why. I thought it was just me . . . getting terrible toe cramps during yoga, making it nearly impossible to do the poses correctly. But last week, my friend reported having the same problem. OK, maybe it contagious since we take yoga classes together. Who knows?

I did a search online for toe cramps and learned that:

• The most common cause is ill-fitting shoes. Hmmmm, I'm not wearing any shoes during yogs.
• Another culprit is high heels . . . which I very rarely wear . . . especially in yoga class!
• Also to blame could be deficiencies in calcium or potassium - Now this is most likely my problem as my diet is pitiful.

I did find one tip to help prevent the terrible toe cramps, so I though I would pass it along:

To alleviate toe cramps, you can do special exercises designed to strengthen the muscles. Try standing on tiptoes and raising your body up and then down repeatedly, using your toes to support you. Hold each position for five seconds. Another good one is to pick up marbles with your toes and relocate them to another spot on the floor. Walking on sand strengthens toes, massages feet and exfoliates the skin … a great workout for feet!

Save a Greyhound

Click on cartoon above to read.

Ok, this has nothing to do with yoga, but it's just too cute to keep to myself. Since I have personally adopted two greyhounds that I love to pieces, I wanted to spread the word about how wonderful they are. If you are looking for a new pet, please consider adopting a greyhound. Not only will you be saving their lives, but you will also make a "Fast Friend." There are lots of greyhound rescue organization all over the US (and Europe too, I think). Check them out. You just might fall in love.

Fun New YogaDudes Product

Introducing a fun new YogaDudes product - a tin of yoga pose magnets. Not only are they cute, but they are useful too. This new product was inspired by my crafty friend Lisa. She gave me the idea and I just couldn't wait to make it a reality. I'm very excited to add these adorable yoga magnets to the YogaDudes line-up. Imagine all the places you can stick a small yoga pose magnet . . .

You can find these in the YogaDudes store online here.

Please check them out and drop me a line to let me know what you think.

What’s Your Yoga Personality?

Last night I discovered that my “on the mat” yoga personality completely matches my “off the mat” personality. In the middle of my class last night it occurred to me that I am just as uptight and neurotic in class as I am all the time. For instance, no matter what pose we are supposed to be in, I’m neurotically straining my neck to see the instructor. I need to see her to verify that I’m in the right pose. “Am I doing this right? Do I have the correct arm in the air? Do I look foolish? Is the instructor looking at me? Am I sure I’m doing his right?” Yes, that’s me. How many times should I need to LOOK at down dog before I’m confident that I know what I’m doing? I could ask the same question to myself about cooking pasta. How many times to I need to cook pasta before I STOP reading the instructions on the box and setting the timer to 10 minutes? It’s official. I’m sick.

When I caught myself peering across the room at the instructor last night to verify that my basic yoga pose was correct, I happened to glance over at my friend Lisa. That’s when it hit me. What a difference between me and Lisa. Lisa is a laid back, free spirited artist. While I’m worrying about if my knee is at a precise 90 degree bend, Lisa has her eyes closed and is fully immersed in the moment of yoga. She didn’t seem to have a care or worry in the world. She was completely confident in her poses and didn’t need any visual verification.

Now isn’t yoga supposed to be all about your own pace and whatever feels comfortable for you? Why am I so neurotic? I guess you can take a wild animal out of the wild. But they are still a wild animal and just because they are not in their normal habitat doesn’t mean they have changed their disposition. Once a wild animal, always a wild animal. Is there any hope for me?

YogaDudes Ad in New Yoga Magazine

Have you seen the new yoga magazine on the book stand shelves? I have a couple of issues and I do like it. As a matter of fact, I liked it so much that I decided to advertise in it. Only problem . . . I don't think there are many people out there that even know about this book, let alone subscribe to it. Although my advertising dollars got wasted, I do want to still promote the magazine. If you haven't already seen it, please check it out. It's called YogaLife and you can see them on the web here: http://www.iyogalife.com/index.shtml.

And if you DO happen to find the magazine and look for the YogaDudes ad, you will find a 20% off coupon code. Happy hunting!

Free Exercise Podcasts

Have you tried downloading podcasts to your iPod or other mp3 player yet? It's a pretty neat concept. Yes, we all have worked out to our favorite music, but what about combining the music with actual fitness instruction? I found a page where you can sign up for a FREE 30 day trial. Please note, that they take your credit card and will charge you $19.95 after your 30 day trial ends. You can cancel at any time.

Cyndi Lee is one of the participating instructors , and in addition to yoga, they have all different kids of cardio training. You can check it out at: www.podfitness.com/yogalife.

What Are We Saving For?

I read this article today on Daily Om and it really hit home. The person they descibed is ME. I am always saving things, rather than indulging myself and enjoying the things I own. For instance, my husband will buy me fancy chocolates and rather than just eating them and enjoying them, I have to savor them and only allow myself one every once in a blue moon. Well, it never fails, they either go stale or get eaten by my husband (or accidentally by the dog) before I ever get to enjoy them. So why do I insist on sacraficing and saving for a rainy day? The article below helped me realize that I need to stop this nonsense. Maybe it will help you too.

We all know someone who keeps plastic covers on his or her couch in order to protect it. The irony is that many of these people may live their lives without ever having actually made contact with their own furniture! This is a poignant and somewhat humorous example of the human tendency to try to save things for special occasions, as if everyday life weren’t special enough to warrant the use of nice things. Many of us have had the experience of never wearing a particular piece of clothing in order to keep it nice, only to have it go out of style in the meanwhile.

It’s interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it. There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest. We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, eating in the dining room, and taking the plastic off the sofa might be an invitation to be more conscious of the beauty and grace inherent in our everyday lives.

If there are things you’ve stashed away for a special occasion—a bottle of special wine, a gorgeous pair of shoes, an antique lace tablecloth—consider taking them out of their hiding places and putting them to use tonight, just because you are alive now to enjoy them, and that’s a great cause for a celebration.

Femail Creations

Have you ever heard of a wonderful catalog called "Femail Creations?" Well, if you haven't . . . let me introduce you. This is a catalog packed full of the most unique and inspiring creations, made FOR women, BY women. If you looking for something really special for a friend or you want to treat yourself to something that you probably won't find anywhere else, then you have to check it out. You can visit their website here, and request to be added to their catalog mailing list.

And the best part? . . . Femail Creations is featuring a pair of YogaDudes earrings! To see the Tree Pose earrings on their website, click here. Be sure to check out all the wonderful products in their catalog. It will be a catalog that you just can't throw away.

Merry Christmas

Me and My Sheltered Little Life

Last night I watched "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" . . . you know . . . the one with the Heat Miser and the Cold Miser. I have always loved this show since I was a kid. And ever since I was a kid, I thought it was completely fictional. I mean WHO would ever want to prevent Christmas from happening???

Well, last night was an eye opener. After 30 'something' years, it gets brought to my attention that the story is based on facts - not fiction. OK, I know there isn't really a Santa that comes down the chimney. And if there is . . . he has some explaining to do because he obviously has me confused with some 'bad' folks. Anyway, my husband laughed at me last night when I so innocently showed my complete ignorance to the evil ways of the world in the past.

You see, my husband grew up in Hungary - behind the Iron Curtain. Not that he lived through much of this himself, but his parents got a taste of what it's like to live with restricted freedoms. He explained to me that his parents lived through this period of time when Christmas was not "sanctioned by the government." In other words, they were not allowed to openly celebrate the holiday. Any Christmas spirit had to be kept under wraps in the privacy of their own homes. In fact, they felt like criminals for celebrating the holiday.

So as we watched my favorite little show, things kept dawning on me . . . the evil police man with the German accent (never thought twice about that). The whole tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace. I didn't know that people actually did this to DRY their socks!! My husband had a ball laughing at me. He asked me "Where have you been?" and my answer was "Right here in the sheltered USA, living my sheltered little life." Makes me realize how lucky we are -even without any presents under the tree. Sometimes it's hard to understand how good you have it until you see things from a whole different perspective.

By the way, one other thing I learned last night was that December 5th is the day that many Europeans celebrate "Father Christmas" or "St. Mikulas". On the night of the 4th kids would shine their shoes and leave them by the door. The good kids would get presents in their shoes. The bad ones would get coal. My husband knows all about the latter part! So I got up this morning and checked my shoes . . . nothing. But I guess that's better than coal.

I Found Some OMMMM

In my last depressing post I said I was on the hunt for some OMMM and I found some. As promised, I'm going to share . . .

Shopping is a sure fire way to brighten my day. I decided to search for some fun and unusual gifts and I hit the mother-load at Target.com. Oprah gets to make her list of favorite gift ideas, so I decided that I should have my own! And unlike Oprah's, mine don't all cost over $500.

If you are looking for some cute, inexpensive gifts for friends or maybe even yourself . . . (and you already bought some adorable YogaDudes gifts) . . . then take a look at the list I compliled. For sure you will find something to bring a smile to you face. They can all be found on Target.com.

Paula's Top 10 Unique Gifts


Things You Must Do To Make Me Happy Message Pad $6.99 - This is a MUST have. What a riot. Handy check-off list that clearly and simply expresses your mood and critical needs. Your husband will just love this :-)



Duh: It Will Make You Feel Smart Game $14.99 - Cute coffee table game that is fun to play with friends and family. And who doesn't want to feel smarter?


Emergency Martini Drink Set $10.49 - Might be needed before, during and after the holidays.


Dog "Oh Happy Day!" Latte Mug $13.99 - How could you not laugh when you see this?


Holy Chocolate Cocoa Mix Gift Can $12.99 - Anything named "Holy Chocolate" is a must have!


Stainless Steel Buddha Flask $29.99 - If the lotus position doesn't relax you, perhaps the liquid inside will.


Slang Flashcards $13.99 - Cultivates strong street-talk skills and natural-sounding slang use in mere days. Never know when this can come in handy.


Unauthorized Therapy Sessions Game $14.99 - After all the holiday stress, you may need this.


Decision Maker $11.99 - This is great for deciding if you should buy that silly present for your freind, if you should wear those silly shoes with your outfit, if you should go to that party that you dread, etc.


Work Farce Game $14.99 - A meaningless way to find meaningful work. Maybe a new career is in your future?

Holiday Stresses are Starting - In Need of Some OMMMMM

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a nice little break. A time to stop, reflect and be thankful for what you have. Perhaps a time to rest up before the rush of the holiday season. Well, this was not the case for me. The stress started before Thanksgiving and just got worse. The YogaDudes website had to be moved to a new server and that was no small task. It was nearly 3 weeks of technology hell. The site was down for awhile, our mail is still mysteriously entering the black hole of cyberspace, and the shopping cart wasn't working during the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Yes, that was great timing!

I just want to appologize to anyone that experienced any problems with the site. I know you are out there . . . I know that several orders failed. I got emails asking for our phone number to call in orders. And yes, it is also perfect timing that our phone line is dead. Is there a conspiracy against me? I'm beginning to wonder.

If this is what Thanksgiving was like, I'm almost afraid to face Christmas! I am on the hunt for some much needed OMMMM. When I find it, I'll pass it along . . .

Giving Thanks

It's Thanksgiving afternoon and most of us are about to have a huge meal with all the fixings. It's getting time to watch football and figure out what stores to hit tomorrow morning. But isn't there more to this holiday? Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down and take stock of what's really important in our lives. Gratitude can help us all stop taking our lives for granted. It can free us from petty annoyances and inspire us to think of other people. So why should we limit our gratitude to just Thanksgiving?? Here are some ways to keep the good thoughts flowing through all the holidays and into the new year.

Create a Thank You List - Instead of making a list of the things you want as gifts, jot down everything that you are thankful for. Keep the list handy and keep adding to it throughout the year. When you are feeling down, pull out the list for an immediate spirit booster. For sure it will be longer than your holiday wish list.

Say Thank You Often - Whether it's in person, over the phone, via email, or a hand-written note, say thank you often. People and their efforts simply aren't acknowledged enough. A simple thank you goes a long way in human relations, both personal and professional.

Accept, Acknowledge, Appreciate - Memorize the three "A's": Accept, Acknowledge and Appreciate. They should replace the three "C's": Complaining, Condemning and Criticizing. The three A's will get you much further in developing positive relationships with coworkers, friends and family members.

YogaDudes would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thankgiving!

Don't You Just Love a Sale?

I'm sure everyone loves a sale as much as I do! We just added a new sale module to the YogaDudes shopping cart that allows us to put items on sale. Yeah! So today I had fun picking out lots of products to mark down. Just in time for holiday shopping, you will find all kinds of yoga t-shirts, yoga jewelry, yoga ornaments on sale. Check it out and happy shopping :-)

Free Inspirational Wallpaper Background

Each month we will place a new inspirational Windows wallpaper background on this blog. These photos are directly from the YogaDudes website where you can download two different PDF collections of inspirational photos. Each photo has a nice yoga-inspired quote. Get one here every month to keep your inspirations fresh!

You can download the full size jpg here. Once you view the larger image, simply Right Click on the image and select "Set As Background" from the drop-down menu that will appear. Wel-la, you should have a new inspiration Windows desktop.

A Little Time for Rest and Relaxation

Just got back from some much needed R & R. Well, as close as my husband and I can come to rest and relaxation. Our idea of a vacation normally means several months of training leading up to the vacation and then several days of recovering after. But as far as our usual trips go, this one was pretty easy. We spent 3 days hiking, one day driving ATVs like nuts, and the last day was truly the relaxing one . . . rafting through the Black Canyon just after the Hoover Dam. Nevada sure does have a lot to offer. Unfortunately, most of what it offers in Las Vegas is nothing that we are interested in. I often wonder how people live there. So many people, so much traffic, so much pollution. Nevada is a place full of desolate spaces, with miles and miles of untouched land . . . yet over 2 million people are crammed into one city. Why?

It was interesting to see the glitz of The Strip (very briefly), but I'll take the mountains and the desolation over the city any day. Driving just one hour outside of the city brings you to what feels like another planet! The red sand dunes of the Valley of Fire or to the Alpine village in Kyle Canyon make you feel like you couldn't possibly be further from city life.

I found a nice spot on top of some rocks at The Valley of Fire and just sat still and took it all in. I practiced a little meditation - focusing on some important happenings in my life right now - and even got in a few yoga poses. These few minutes were among the highlights of my trip.

Are you in search of some daily inspiration? How would you like a little "OM" delivered right to your computer every day? You can either visit the Daily Om website daily . . . or you can sign up to receive their daily emails. They deliver all sorts of interesting inspirations on a variety of topics. On the site you will find daily horoscopes and an intersting marketplace. Check it out!

Grocery Store Meditation

Last week I was talking to a friend who happens to love to blog. She loves reading blogs, writing blogs, talking about blogs . . . I told her that I stuggle to find interesting things to say to fellow yogis and she suggested that I write about ME. I thought, "now who wants to hear about me?" . . . but today I realized that simple things happen in my every day life that do relate to yoga. I mean, I'm not going to share my yoga routine with you, but the aspects of yoga that happen off the mat are the ones I find interesting.

And that leads me to today's entry. I realized this evening that I need to practice meditation at the grocery store. I mean I need some DEEP breathing to keep me from choking some people. As if shopping for groceries isn't stressful enough for me, the checkout line usually puts me over the edge. Today I picked what I thought was the shortest line. After all, I have things to do and dogs waiting at home. So the person in front of me is writing out a check, slower than I thought possible. Who writes that slow? No, wait a minute . . . who doesn't have a bank debit card today? To all the people out there that still write checks in stores . . . . GET A DEBIT CARD for heaven's sake. So the cashier takes the check and looks at it very closely. Then she sighs and turns on her little blinky light. That's it, I'm gonna blow. I'm thinking that eating is over-rated and I should just walk away and fast for a few days.

So the manager comes over and explains some reason why they can't take the check. What happens next? The customer says, "oh, can I just use this?" and pulls out a debit card. HELLO!!!! If you had a debit card in the first place, WHY ARE YOU WRITING A CHECK? Am I the only one that feels this way? Can anyone tell me why people are still writing checks at stores? I just don't get it.

But the point of this whole story is to say that my reaction to this whole scene was just terrible. After all, it was only another 5 minutes of my life. Part of me thinks "Yes, 5 precious minutes wasted." But another part of me realizes that I could have used those 5 minutes to relax and meditate. I should have been breathing deeply and using the time to contemplate something larger than me. So I promise to have more patience in line at the store. I am going to take deep breathes and imagine myself somewhere else - a mini vacation of sorts. But if there's a price check, I just may have to break out into a down dog!

For the Love of Autumn

Last week I got an email from a photographer that was questioning why I give my photography away on www.yogadudes.com. He said that he was trying to sell similar stuff on his own site and was not happy that I just give it way. So, being nosy, I went to check out his work and I must say, I was honored that he compared his work to mine! He was a real photographer with great photos. I don't consider myself a real photographer. I just happen to love to take pictures and love to share them with anyone willing to look at them.

This made me realize that I should share more of my photography in this YogaDudes blog. I decided to turn one YogaDudes inspirational photo into a Windows desktop background every month. I will post these new desktops in this blog for anyone to enjoy.

But in the meantime, I want to share some great Fall photos that I took a couple of weekends ago in Old Wethersfield, CT.

Healthy Tip of the Day - Organic Produce Codes

Did you know that you can tell if fruit and veggies are organic just by looking at the little sticker on them? Well, you can! The numbered stickers on store-bought fruit and vegetables indicate whether the items were organically grown. Regular produce carries a four-digit code starting with a 3 or 4, while organic has five digits starting with a 9. For example, if a bunch of conventional carrots is tagged 4094, its organic counterpart would be labeled 94094.

One Way To Find Out

I read this today on Daily OM and I really liked it. Thought it might be good to share:

One Way To Find Out
You Never Know Until You Try

When contemplating whether to do something or not, a plucky voice in our heads may say, "You never know until you try." This is time-honored wisdom that encourages us to be game rather than to hold back. It reminds us that it is only through experience that we learn about this world and ourselves. Even if we regret the outcome, we have learned something, and the newfound knowledge is almost always worth it.

This wisdom can be applied to situations both large and small. From crossing the Atlantic on a boat to trying Ethiopian food, there's only one way to find out what it's like. We have all had experiences where we tried something we didn't think we'd like and fell in love. We may have found ourselves stuck with nothing to read but a "boring" book, only to kick-start a lifelong passion for Victorian literature. We may have decided that sailing was not for us until we fell in love with someone with a boat. On the other hand, we may try tofu only to learn that it is truly not for us. In this case, we gain greater self-knowledge from the experience. And yet, we might still remain open to trying it prepared in a different way. The right marinade might make you a convert-you'll never know if you don't try it.

It is often said that at the end of our lives we are more likely to regret the things we did not do than the things we did. As an exercise to test your own willingness to discover through doing, try making a list of things you regret not having done. You may begin to notice patterns such as a failure to say what you really think at key moments or closed-mindedness to certain types of activities. Just being aware of the opportunities you missed might encourage you not to miss them again. There's only one way to find out.

Mental Anguish

Yoga is supposed to help stress, right? And I'm a firm believer in yoga, but what do you do if you have so many things racing inside your head that you simply can not clear it? I once had a dream . . . that dream was to turn my little YogaDudes business into something that I could do full time. I even had fantasies about becoming a yoga instructor and maybe opening a studio with a dear friend. It's so much fun to dream . . . But I also shared a dream with my husband. And that dream was to own and live in a post & beam country retreat. Both of these dreams seemed like they would never really happen and it never occurred to me that one could cancel out the other. But it's happened. We finally found our dream home and yesterday we signed our lives away on the contract that commits us to buying it. And what does that mean for my YogaDudes business? Well, that means that I'll never be able to quit my 'day job.' Well, not unless an awful lot of yogis all buy lots of YogaDudes goodies :-) Tell all your yoga friends - quick!

But seriously, I'm struggling with clearing my mind. I know I should be happy and excited, but I'm feeling terrified. Scared of saying goodbye to the house that I built and poured so much of myself into. Scared of the whole moving process. Scared of moving further away from everything and everyone. Scared my dear friends at home will disown me (yes, Lisa I mean YOU!)

And what a coincendence that I just got an email from a yoga writer. You can go on her website and subscribe to daily yoga articles. Today's opening line read "Do you ever find it hard to concentrate or become easilydistracted?" YES, I do!! If you would like to check out what she had to say, click here. I only subscribed last week and already she has helped me!

Yogi Hi Energy Bars

I have to admit, I haven't tried these yet. With my autumn allergies kicking in, seems I'm always dragging. I guess that is a good reason to actually make and eat some energy bars. I could really use it right now.

But anyway, I found this recipe in the latest issue of FitYoga and I thought they looked really good. If anyone tries them, please let me know how they are. And most importantly, did you feel more energetic??

Ingredients:
canola oil cooking spray
2 cups organic rolled oats
2 tablespoons wheat germ
3 tablespoons organic light olive oil
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup mashed banana (about 1/2 banana)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup diced dried fruit (sich as raisins, dried apricots, dried cherries, dried cranberries)
1/4 cup 60-70% cocoa dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup coarsely chopped unsalted nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350%F. Coat an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Spread oats on a large baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionallly, until golden, about 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Combine remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the cooked oats.
4. Spread the mixture evenly into the baking dish pressing down with your fingers to pack together.
5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden browon. Cool completely and cut into squares. Wrap the squares in plastic wrap and freeze or refrigerate for up to one week.
   

Yummy Chips I Have to Share

I just bought a bag of the most delicious chips and I have to tell you all about them. First of all, and most importantly, they have no trans fats and no ingredients that I can't pronounce. I don't often shop for or buy unhealthy snacks like chips . . . but these were sitting at the end of an aisle and caught my eye. I picked up the bag and inspected the attractive packaging (yes, I'm a graphic designer and that's what I do!) When I read the ingredients and noticed that the chips are made right in my hometown of Hartford, CT I just had to give them a try. Well, all I can say is YUMMY. You have to give them a try. Their website (which is very sparse) says they are sold all over the US so perhaps you can find them. The website is: http://www.foodshouldtastegood.com/

I have a feeling they will be your new favorite snack.

Improve Your Cycling with Yoga

I recently read an article about yoga and cycling. Since I'm a long distance biker, this interested me. Perhaps there are other avid cyclist/yogis out there that might like this . . .

Doing 15 minutes of poses after every bike ride will make you a stronger, faster cyclist. Yoga gives you everything you want while you’re on your bike: Strength, flexibility, power, and stamina. Yoga also makes you less injury-prone, promotes speedier recovery, reduces stress, and lengthens muscles to give you a longer, more powerful stride.

Some interesting points:

Recover without Being Sore
When you finish a ride, doing at least five minutes of post-ride posture will open your hips, back, and shoulders release lactic acid from your muscles to reduce soreness. Stiff muscles are dry muscles, so stretching and lubricating them increases recovery speed. This will also increase your stamina during training and guard against saddle-soreness tomorrow.

Do Triangle Pose: Stand with your legs 4 feet apart. Raise your arms shoulder-height, parallel to the floor with your palms down. Turn your left foot in about 45 degrees, and your right foot out 90 degrees. Your front heel should bisect the back foot. Bending from your hips, extend your torso to the right directly over your right leg, placing your right arm on a block behind your right foot. Stretch your left arm toward the ceiling, keeping your shoulders stacked in a straight line. Stay in this pose for 30 seconds to one minute. Inhale to come up slowly. Reverse the feet and repeat to the left.

No Pain
The greater pain threshold you establish, the greater the cyclist you become. When done deeply and effectively, breathing delivers oxygen to muscles that are straining and cramping. Instead of traditional in-through-the-mouth-out-through-the-nose athletic breathing, pranayama or yoga-breathing increases your tolerance for torture by releasing toxins like lactic acid and carbon dioxide from your muscles. Use the following technique when you are on your bike and need to break the pain barrier.

Do Pranayama: Sit or lie in a comfortable position with your body completely relaxed. Breathe in through your nose. Place your hands around the bottom of your rib cage. This is where your diaphragm is located—the muscle that controls your breathing. Inhale and feel the breath expanding the bottom of your ribcage. You should feel your hands moving away from the center. As you exhale through your nose, gently contract your abdominals, squeeze around your diaphragm, and expel all of the air from your lungs. Again, inhale fully expanding the diaphragm, rib cage, and now take the breath further up and broaden the collarbone. Slowly exhale, gently contract the belly and squeeze the diaphragm as it contracts. Continue this exercise for 3 to 5 minutes until you feel comfortable with it.


Protect the Pedalhouse
Every pedal stroke counts toward accrued shortening and tightening in your legs muscles—a recipe for strains, pulls, and tears if you don’t attend to lower body imbalances. Riding creates shortened muscles that fatigue easily. Prevent overuse injuries by hitting the mat after every ride. Yoga will help you develop longer muscles, which puts less stress on your joints—especially those around your knees. You make sure your legs are lean, strong, and (sometimes) stretched, but your oft-neglected glutes deserve attention, too, as one of the largest muscle groups in your body. Thank them for generating the power behind “spinning.” However, your cycling will be ineffective if your major power center is too tight. Chill out while you loosen your legs and bum in Child’s Pose.

Do Child’s Pose: Kneel on the floor, sit on your heels, and separate your knees about hip-width apart. Exhale and lay your torso between your thighs, placing your forehead on the ground. Lengthen your tailbone away from your body. Lay your hands on the floor alongside your torso, palms up, and release the fronts of your shoulders toward the floor. Stay here for 3 to 5 minutes—or more.


Get Down on Your Knees
Tight hips come from time in the saddle, but they off-set your alignment inviting overuse injuries in your ligaments and tendons. Hip flexors are the main muscle controlling the movement when you pull the pedal up and bring your knee toward your torso. Stiff hips translate to a tight iliotibial band, a ligament that runs from the top of your hips to the outside of your knees keeping knees stable as you cycle. Iliotibial band friction syndrome, one of the most common causes of knee pain in cyclists, occurs when the ligament rubs against a projection at the end of your femur causing pain and swelling along the knee. Keep your hips open and knees healthy in Pigeon Pose.

Do Pigeon Pose: Start on your hands and knees with hands directly below your shoulders and knees directly under your hips. Slide your right knee forward, placing it between your hands. Lengthen your left leg straight back, and lower your hips toward the ground, keeping both hips facing forward. Press your shoulders back and down. Hold for one minute. Supporting your weight on your hands, return to starting position before repeating on the left.

Christmas In July

I know its hard to think about Christmas during a heat wave, but we just got our special edition YogaDudes Christmas ornaments. If you don't get one now, they may be gone before the holidays. These adorable ceramic ornaments are 3" in diameter and feature the Namaste "dude" wearing a santa hat. Check them out on www.yogadudes.com here.