Today was one of those days that had a less than auspicious start. In all honesty, I started the day passionately and all-encompassingly angry. Before yoga, this would have set the tone for my day and it would have been “downhill” from the start. Now that my life is imbued with yoga bliss, things like this don’t last that long. The first thing I did this morning (after taking a dance break to let the anger move through my body) was call upon my yogic breathing. By the time I sat on my mat for my final pranayama/meditation (after a delicious yoga practice), I was feeling calm and happy. What a difference yoga makes! That’s why I rant so enthusiastically about yoga on this blog — because it transforms! The next time you’re challenged, use your breath to your advantage. Here’s a fun yoga breathing primer to get you started.

Now on the mixed bag that is today’s post…

Yoga Philosophy — Speak Up

One of the things I love about my current yoga training in the Krishnamacharya lineage is the focus on yoga philosophy. I’ve always enjoyed the nuts and bolts of asana and pranayama and stayed on the fringes of yoga philosphy. I didn’t quite understand what I was missing. So much of the yoga out there today is so far removed from its roots that it’s nice to go back to old yoga texts and learn more about yoga from this perspective.

One blogger — Bob Weisenberg — has taken on the subject of yoga philosophy and is looking for a dialogue regarding this expansive subject. That’s another thing I’ve learned in training — yoga philosophy comes alive when analyzed, debated, and discussed. Eventually, the posts and commentary will be compiled into a book. If you’d like to get in on the discussion of this fascinating topic and help Bob write his book, check out Bob’s blog.

Sustainable Seafood

I am a vegetarian that eats seafood and I was fascinated by a book by Taras Grescoe called Bottomfeeder. Grescoe tells all about the seafood that ends up on our plate and has some startling research to back it all up. Utne Reader wrote up an excellent guide to seafood based on Grescoe’s book. I wouldn’t order up seafood without it.

ConcentratiOM Yoga Game

Gaiam just launched a new online game that harkens back to a simpler time — a time when kids played memory rather than X-Box. SIGH — those were the days. Seriously, the ConcentratiOM yoga game challenges your memory by matching up a picture of a yoga pose to its written name. Once a correct match is made, a screen with information about the pose comes up. Yes, kiddies, it’s an educational game — for the yogi folk. I must admit that I spent some time procrastinating with this game over the past few days. While it’s not good for your productivity, it’s a lot of fun. And you can win prizes if you register. I don’t seem to remember prizes when I played a kiddie version of this game when I was little. Who says growing up isn’t fun? After a game or two of the ConcentratiOM yoga game, you might want to check out Gaiam’s info-packed blog.

Showing Your Inner Goddess

In one of those funny quirks of timing, I found an amazing new line of yoga clothes. You see, I’ve been very interested in goddesses lately. I’ve been enchanted by the stories that I’ve been reading about goddesses throughout history. So imagine my delight when I heard about a new clothing line called Fertile Goddess.

And as you can see by my fascination by the ConcentratiOM game, I’m a kid at heart. I think that’s why the phrase “each garment contains a secret message hidden inside” caught my attention and filled me with delight. Of course hidden messages don’t great clothes make. But these clothes ARE great! The colors, the fit, and the goddess theme turn these clothes from ordinary to extraordinary. The hidden messages in each garment are just an added bonus. Of course I’d be lying if I didn’t say that finding my hidden messages was like finding the prize in the Cracker Jack box.

But the clothes really fill me with delight. The pants fit to flatter (the Long and Lean Pant is divine!). The material looks and feels great and the colors are fun and bright. And don’t even get me started on the goddesses — I love that they play a prominant role in the line. Choose from Benzaiten, Sri Laksmi, Ceres, Hathor, Oya, Ix Chel, Athena, and Kuan Shin Yin. If you’re looking for yoga clothes that celebrate the feminine, check out Fertile Goddess.

Namaste!