Lavender eye pillows comfort and soothe

I collect eye pillows, mostly ones that I make myself on my grandmother’s 40-year-old Sears Kenmore sewing machine. I have a whole basket of different eye pillows–cotton, silk brocade, flannel– you name it, I have one. I learned how to sew myself, and it was no easy feat, given that I didn’t grow up with many domestic skills. My mother died when I was five years old, and I grew up under the careful guidance of my father and brother. Sewing just wasn’t something I learned as a child. At age 47, however, I wanted to try to start making and selling a unique product that my fellow yogis would love just as much as I do.

My lavender eye pillows are made with soft pre-washed cotton fabric and filled with flax seed, rice and organic dried lavender. They’re 9 x 4 inches and weigh about 8 ounces. I wrap each eye pillow individually in a hygienic poly bag. They can be placed in the freezer to create a cold compress, or microwaved for 30 seconds to warm them. Great for yoga practice, headaches, or for insomnia.

Compliment your yoga practice with a luscious lavender eye pillow, to comfort, soothe, and guide you further into yourself for a totally relaxing experience. Affordably priced at $10 each, plus shipping and handling. Buy one today!

Lavender Eye Pillow

Cost: $10, plus shipping

See my other eye pillow selections by clicking here!

No Slip Yoga Toe Socks

Are you uncomfortable showing your bare feet in yoga class? Do your feet get cold? Are you looking for a better grip than what your mat can offer? Do you not want to use a mat at all? Do you need an alternative for doing yoga while traveling? Get a pair of No Slip Yoga Socks by Gaiam.

I received two pairs of No Slip Yoga Socks for Christmas and I love them! Mine are size small/medium, to fit a women’s shoe size 5-10 (even though I doubt you’ll wear shoes with these). At 81% cotton, 11% nylon, 5% polyester, 2% rubber and 1% spandex (boy, that’s a lot to know!), they’ll keep you from slipping when doing those balance poses. They grip well, too, and if you’re in a hotel room without a yoga mat, these’ll work just as well.

One problem I found about No Slip Yoga Socks is that it takes a while to get all my toes in the right slots. If you’re in a hurry, these won’t speed you up. And as far as I can tell, they only come in black.

If you buy a pair of No Slip Yoga Socks, give them a try and let me know what you think.

The Secret Universal Mind Meditation

After I read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, I became hooked on how I could use the Law of Attraction to create a life filled with purpose and abundance. It’s not that I don’t have a good life already, but I have my desires and doubts just like anyone else. Who wouldn’t want a bigger bank account, better health, a luxurious car or house, loving relationships, or purposeful and meaningful work.

Sure, I’m grateful for everything I have, especially in the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Haiti. When I made my husband an omelet this morning and it fell apart, I got mad at myself. He told me to be grateful that we have this omelet. We could be living in Haiti and have nothing. He brought home the fact that I shouldn’t let the little stuff bug me because there are people who are much worse off.

I don’t doubt that I have everything I need, but do I have everything that I desire? No.  Underneath the polished exterior of my life, I have a desire to abandon legal secretarial work and become a yoga teacher. Plain and simple. And that desire becomes more profound as I near age 50. I’ve been a legal secretary for almost 30 years and I feel like I’m wasting away in a cubicle pushing paper, something I do more out of habit and force than out of love. I dream of a different work life and I know it’s possible. I just have to believe in the Law of Attraction to get me where I need to go.

So I decided that I needed to do something about working toward my calling, to see if the Law of Attraction could work for me. Reading The Secret wasn’t enough, but it got my curiosity peaking. I needed to study more, to put those teachings to work for me. So . . . I started with guided meditations.

Kelly Howell’s The Secret Universal Mind Meditation is one meditation CD that has had a profound impact on my life. This 60-minute CD is meant to listen to while falling asleep at night, and imparts the teachings of The Secret using soothing and effective brain wave therapy. Kelly starts out by saying “Close your eyes . . . and begin to breathe.” Her soothing words reverberate into your conscious and subconscious mind and subtly change your belief system so that you can make positive changes in your life.  Over time (she recommends listening to the CD every night for 6 weeks) you’ll begin to understand and accept The Secret as true, and everything you desire and want will begin to take shape in your life. And the good news is — you don’t have to stay awake to get the benefits of this powerful CD.

Don’t get me wrong. Your life won’t change miraculously just by listening to this CD, but it’ll help more than you know. You can read reviews from people on Amazon.com and find a disparate array of pros and cons. One thing I found with this CD is that I wake up more refreshed and more positive about my life. I’ve even woken up in the middle of the night with new ideas flowing through my brain. It’ll get you thinking about the power of the subconscious mind and that anything is possible if you just believe.

I listened to this CD for 6 weeks and became addicted to it. So much that I’ve also bought and listen to Kelly Howell’s The Secret to Attracting Wealth regularly. I’ll talk about that CD in another post, so stay tuned.

I highly recommend Kelly Howell’s The Secret Universal Mind Meditation CD to anyone who wants to change their life, but who isn’t afraid to work a little to realize their dreams.

Buy your copy of Kelly Howell’s The Secret Universal Mind Meditation by clicking here. Enjoy your new CD and make positive changes in your life, starting today!

Let me know what you thought by leaving your comments. I’d love to hear from you!

How to Use a Neti Pot

Photo credit: Ikuah.fotografias:flickr.com

Are you curious about how to use a neti pot? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Although I’m a new neti pot user, I can vouch for its safety and cleansing benefits, and now that I’ve tried it I’ll never go back to my old ways. Taking its roots from a very old cleansing technique embraced in India, Jala Neti is the sanskrit word for “water cleansing.”

What are the benefits from using a neti pot? Well, for one, you can use it as part of your nasal hygiene ritual, just like brushing your teeth. Using a neti pot can also help you to recover after  nose surgery, and relieve nasal congestion, infection or irritation. Irrigating your nose with a neti pot can also help relieve cold and allergy symptoms, as well as post nasal drip and a dry nose.

A neti pot treatment will flush out your nasal passages using gently salted — or saline — water that streams naturally in and out of your nostrils, ridding your nose of mucus, allergens and other irritants.

How do I use a neti pot? First, you need to buy one. There are many types on the market today, including stainless steel or ceramic. Below is a stainless steel neti pot available for purchase from HealthandYoga.com for a very affordable price.

Next, get yourself a natural salt, such as sea salt without added iodine. Some neti pot kits will include a spoon in which to measure your salt accurately, and some even come with salt packets. How much salt you use will be up to you. Next, fill your neti pot with warm water. You can test the temperature of the water by pouring a couple of drops on the inside of your wrist.

Stand in front of your sink or a special bowl that you’ll use just this purpose. Bend over and breathe naturally through your mouth. Be sure that no air enters your nose. Place the cone of the neti pot into the right nostril and make sure that no water can escape. Gently bend your head forward and roll it to the left side. Your forehead and chin should be at about the same level.

Start by pouring a half pot of water into the right nostril, saving the other half for the left nostril. Keep experimenting with the angle of your head so that you can feel the water coming out the opposite nostril smoothly and effortlessly. Then, tilt your head up a bit toward center and remove the neti pot. Gently blow your nose. Repeat the process in the left nostril, tilting your head this time to the right. Bring your head back to center and blow your nose gently, letting all water flow out naturally.

Want to learn more about how to use a neti pot? Purchase a kit with instruction DVD included. Click below for your own personal neti pot kit!

On becoming a yoga teacher

Students in child's pose

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you already know that I’m still an aspiring yoga teacher, but most importantly, I’m still a student and always will be. There’s so much to learn that every journey I take is one step closer to my dream.  I’m always learning, always growing, and my Wednesday evening students teach me more than I teach them.  I like to tell my students, “yoga is a journey, not a destination.” I’ll be saying that when I’m 80 years old, I’m sure.

Becoming a yoga teacher takes strength and courage and also an inner wisdom.  I still have so much to learn, and I’ve planned some pretty amazing trainings in the next several months. On October 16th I’m flying to Scottsdale Arizona to attend a Gentle Yoga & Modification Training being taught by Lanita Varshell, a leading expert in yoga for the plus size and health challenged populations. She is the founder of A Gentle Way Yoga & Joyful Movement Center in San Diego, California, and I’m overjoyed to have the opportunity to train with her, even if it is only for a weekend. I want so much to be able to help my students who have health or weight issues to become more comfortable in their yoga practice and I believe Lanita will show me how.

In February 2010 I’m going to train right in my home town of Salt Lake City with Judith Lasater and Charlotte Bell to become a Relax and Renew Restorative Yoga Teacher. I’m overjoyed and excited for this opportunity, as becoming a restorative yoga teacher is one of my dreams. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t rest and relax in one restorative pose or another. I believe wholeheartedly in the power of restorative yoga and learning with Judith Lasater and Charlotte Bell is going to be the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to lug armfuls of blankets and a big bolster to the training to have the time of my life becoming the yoga teacher I’ve always wanted to be.

If you’d like to become a yoga teacher but don’t have the financial means to travel to an extensive teacher training, train at home in your spare time with a home study yoga teacher training course.  Learn more about Yoga Teacher Training at home.

Choosing a good yoga mat

Are you looking for a good yoga mat but don’t know what kind to buy? It can be a daunting decision, especially because there are so many types of mats and so many places in which to buy one that your head can spin out of control and you’ll break down and buy the first one you see at Wal Mart or Target and not think about its quality or whether it’ll really serve your purpose in the long run. All you know is that you’re starting a yoga practice TODAY and you need a mat.  There are thin mats, there are thick mats, there are extra thick, extra long, ones made from rubber, natural rubber, and even ones made from jute.  There are solid colors and ones with print, and even ones sporting designer labels. Which one should you choose?

Some of my newer students have asked me, “Where can I buy a mat?”  I often refer them to one of the online yoga sites that are high on my list, such as YogaAccessories.com — Click here to visit YogaAccessories.com — or YogaDirect.com, for example, because the prices are discounted and the quality of their yoga products is top notch. You can also get a more expensive mat from Manduka.com, which don’t come any better, in my opinion, and for really serious yoga practitioners, their mats may be the first choice for quality and long-lasting wear. Click here to visit Manduka Yoga Gear.  But if you’re just starting out, you really don’t need a mat of Manduka’s caliber, so buying one at one of the other online supply stores would be the better option for beginners. I bought a really nice, semi-thick basic black mat at YogaAccessories.com and it goes with me to all of my yoga classes.

Be aware that most inexpensive mats are made from materials that are not very friendly to the environment, such as PVC.  You’ll find that after using this type of mat there’ll be a “chemical smell.” I wouldn’t buy one of these mats and neither should you.

The best type of mat is made from rubber because they will be the stickiest and your feet won’t slip when getting into poses that test your balance.  However, they can give off a slight odor the first day or two of use but after that the smell should go away. If you have allergies to latex, however, you also may want to stay away from a rubber mat, but getting one made from natural materials can be another option. Wai Lana’s Yoga & Pilates Mat, for example, is “latex-free” and would be a good choice for a mat with a little extra cushioning, especially beneficial if you have knee problems or other injuries in which you need a little more support against a hard studio floor. Be aware, however, that mats made for pilates are a little thicker and may not be good for balancing or standing poses, but are very comfy for supine or “lying down” poses, such as savasana. You just have to weigh your needs and buy one that’s appropriate for your practice.

Once you find a favorite mat that you’ll carry around from class to class, you’ll definitely want to keep it clean and odor-free. You best bet is to use diluted soapy water and wipe it down gently with a soft cloth and then let it dry. You may also want to get yourself a nice mat bag to keep the dust and light away from it so that it lasts for a long time.

You can Buy Quality Yoga Mats at Yoga Direct.com.

Yoga & Pilates Mat – $ 29.95 The Yoga & Pilates mat has twice the thickness of our Yogi Mat, providing extra cushioning and comfort for jump-backs and kneeling postures. Available in Caribbean blue, gold, orange, and hot pink. Lightweight, durable, washable, and completely latex-free (tested by an independent laboratory). (1/4″H x 24″W x 68″L)

Yoga for the Rest of Us

Yoga for the Rest of Us

As I write this post I have Peggy Cappy’s Yoga for the Rest of Us playing in my DVD player.  I like to  listen to yoga DVD’s while I’m typing or cooking, because as a yoga teacher myself I like to listen and learn, even if I’m not practicing along, because there’s always room for growth.  Listening to Peggy Cappy is like accepting advice from a trusted mentor. She knows how to ease anyone into their own yoga program and invites you into her world, where yoga exercise is possible, despite age, ability or medical conditions.

Peggy Cappy’s Yoga for the Rest of Us 60-minute DVD is a must for beginners and seasoned yoga practitioners alike.  Peggy leads with knowledge and guides with gentleness while her students ease themselves into gentle yet effective poses.  She also suggests modifications where needed, and offers the use of a chair for extra stability.

“You don’t need to be thin, young, and a contortionist to do this program, ” says Peggy Cappy.  It’s a gentle yet effective chair yoga practice for people who are inflexible, out of shape, or who are suffering from aches and pains to do in the comfort of their own home.  The DVD presents three 20-minute segments:

• Part 1 – warm-up seated stretches
• Part 2:  standing poses that can be used with a chair, if necessary
• Part 3:  flowing Sun Salutations, followed by relaxation poses.

If you follow along with this DVD in the morning or in the evening at least three days a week you’ll not only experience a greater sense of ease and relaxation in your body, but you’ll experience a new sense of calm and spaciousness in your mind as well.

If you’d like to get a copy of Peggy Cappy’s Yoga for the Rest of us, click here.

Namaste.

Neti pot a good remedy for sinus trouble

What does “neti” mean, anyway?  Well, its the practice of nasal cleansing, and it’s more than just using a tissue to blow away congestion. Recommended by alternative health practitioners, it’s been widely used by people everyday along with a saline solution to keep their nasal passages clean and their sinuses in tip top shape.  Once tried, a neti pot can be a soothing and pleasant experience that will prove invaluable. Using warm water with a little salt, a neti pot will gently irrigate the nasal passages, washing away the offended irritants. Used mostly for allergies, sinustitis, and upper respiratory infections, such as hay fever, a neti pot will become your best friend and to a whole new way of breathing.

If you’d like to try a neti pot, may I recommend Oprah’s favorite from Mother Nature.com. Click below for more details and to order your very own neti pot today!