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 :-)