Yogi Gift Guide 2010 - Part 1

I am completely done with my Christmas shopping. I am usually finished by mid-November. I'm one of THOSE people... I start Christmas shopping in September. I also pride myself on being able to buy great gifts for anyone. Today's post is for those of you that aren't quite as "on top" of gift giving.

I know yogis aren't supposed to be into "stuff", but I fully support gift-giving anyway. It's December 2nd; if you're still wondering what to get your favorite yogi for Christmas - or whatever holiday/occasion might be coming up for you - then I have some great ideas here. I have so many ideas in fact, that this list will be split up into at least 3 posts. Come back tomorrow for Part 2.

More of my equally awesome gift guides:

2011 Yogi Gift Guides: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
2012 Yogi Gift Guides: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

The Newbie:
If someone you know is just getting into yoga - these gifts will be perfect. Handy, but inexpensive ('cause they totally might turn out to be a yoga dropout).

An Anusara Yoga DVD $20 - lots of options for all levels

Leg Warmers are great $10 - if they're into that (I am!)

A Fancy Yoga Strap $20 for toting their mat around with ease

Sleeveless T's for the Dudes $32 - it's moisture wicking, antibacterial, and not the least bit douchey

An Eye Pillow $8+ - Unscented, soft, multi-purpose, and great for Savasana.

The Hot Yogi:
For the yogis that love to sweat it out.

Shakti Activewear Shorts $40+ - the best yoga shorts in the world.

Yogitoes Skidless Towel $64+  - It actually gets more sticky as you sweat on it more.

A Klean Kanteen about $20 - Keep them hydrated, healthy, and stylish with a variety of colors and stainless steel construction.

Yoga Mat Cleaning Spray $9 - Actually a necessity for everyone, but heavy sweaters need it more often.

Be Present Baja Shorts $67 - For men that want a little more coverage, they're roomy, stretchy, and dry super fast.

The Free Spirit:

For the hippie dippie wild child you love and adore.

Shining Shakti Pants $69 - Always colorful and comfy in hand dyed, organic cotton. I have 2 - need more.

Spiritual Gangster LOVE Tank $39 - 'nuff said

Satya Jewelry Fancy Jasper Japa Mala $185 - beautiful and functional. Lots of gorgeous yoga jewelry here - for a wide range of prices.

Unisex Indian Wrap Pants $38+ - "exclusively designed and produced in India with traditional South Indian trims." Free Spirits can be men too - my husband loves his GirlSkirtMission pants.

Prayer Flags $20 - Made in Tibet, they're colorful, meaningful, and great decorative fun

Peace Offering - (Video)

I found this great video over the weekend and knew immediately that I'd have to share it with you guys - because it's just lovely. Very inspring! If this video doesn't make you want to gather with friends and do some yoga - I don't know what will.

To quote the video's description:
"Yogis gather together in NYC with the collective intention of creating more peace and happiness in the world. May it inspire everyone to try yoga. Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu."

Choreography and creative vision by Molly Lehman: MollyLehman.com

Produced with Revery Media New York City:  ReveryMedia.com
Music by Trevor Hall “Where’s the Love” : TrevorHallMusic.com

Readers Via Email -
Click Here to watch the video.

All Good Things

"Every time you appreciate something; every time you praise something; every time you feel good about something, you are telling the Universe: "MORE OF THIS, PLEASE!" You need never make another verbal statement of this intent and, if you are mostly in a state of appreciation, all good things will flow to you."

- Esther Abraham-Hicks

Pie Binge Detox

If you over-indulged for Thanksgiving (or like me spent 2 days eating nothing but pie) - than you'll really benefit from a detoxifying yoga sequence today. How do you make your practice into a detox? Twists!

Just sprinkle a few here and there to feel the benefits. The organs are compressed during a twist, pushing out blood filled with metabolic by-products and toxins. When we release the twist, fresh blood flows in, carrying oxygen and the building blocks for tissue healing. So from the physiological standpoint, twists stimulate circulation and have a cleansing and refreshing effect on the torso organs and associated glands.

There are tons of different twists in standing poses, seated poses, supine positions, inversions - every level of practitioner should be doing twists. Just remember when twisting to Lengthen the spine as you Inhale... and move deeper into your twist on the Exhale. Take it easy and slow - and you will find freedom in your twists.

Giving Thanks

It doesn't feel at all like tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Hrmph. Maybe if I was gathering with family or friends that would be different. Instead, I'm spending the holiday with my husband here at home. (He is currently at work doing a series of meetings and presentations today - blech).  I started cooking yesterday and I have great plans for the rest of my cooking today and tomorrow. In case you weren't aware, my husband and I are very nutritionally minded and love to cook. The holidays are just one huge fabulous excuse to cook and bake and give. ('cause I don't generally eat much of what I bake)

My schedule this week has been a little different than usual because of all the cooking, and today is no different. I've posted before about my usual schedule, but today I'm doing the internet stuff first. Get it out of the way... and as soon as I've got that done - I'll be off to do 2.5 hours of yoga - otherwise I might not get a real practice done at all for the next 5 days. I get really lax around the holidays. That's a little tip for my beginner yogis - do a full practice just before you launch your holiday festivities because you likely won't be doing any (or much) while you're off being sociable.

Everyone enjoy your Thanksgiving (or your regular old weekend if you're not in the US) and practice your yoga and be thankful for something. It's currently 5 degrees outside, so I'm thankful I'm not homeless and that I'll get to spend the next 4 days cooking and eating and watching movies with my Adam. If I'm really lucky, maybe we'll squeeze in a partner yoga practice - that's always fun.

I'm taking a 4 day weekend - will return on Monday!

What's Happening? - You Are

People of accomplishment rarely sat back & let things happen to them. They went out & happened to things. - Leonardo Da Vinci



John Friend’s 5 Principles (to create a new paradigm) - Video

John Friend spoke recently at LEADERShift 2010 - here is a video of some of his speech, but if you want to skip that and get right to the point - a short summary is below - and below that - an even shorter summary of the summary! Yay for concision!

John Friend Leaders Causing Leaders from davekennedy on Vimeo.

Every word below this point comes via Lia Aprile at Leaders Causing Leaders:

John Friend’s 5 Principles (to create a new paradigm)...

1. Be like the sky. Be open, have a beginner’s mind.

2. Be like the Earth. Embody your deep talents. (Like blogging. Um…wait…).

3. Be like water. Feel. Be fluid, be sensitive, be compassionate. (Yes, yes, and double yes)

4. Be like fire. Have a burning for the highest. Aspire to serve. Dare to be courageous no matter the darkness.

5. Be like air. Like the wind, that can move around any problem. Be imaginative and innovative.

In a nutshell: start fresh, be steady, feel deeply, burn with the desire to evolve, and let your mind and your heart be flexible and inventive.

(He also gets the Best Line of the Evening Award for: “All the opposites come together as contrary compliments.” (Love that.))