Melina Meza has been inspiring students through her Hatha style yoga teaching for over 16 years now. She is also the co-director of the 8-Limbs Yoga Teacher Training in Seattle, assisting aspiring instructors in their practice and delivery. If you ever have the chance to attend a class or retreat by Melina, we highly suggest doing so! Her style has been beautifully influenced by well-known yogis (Sarah Powers, for starters), as well as her nutritional studies at Bastyr University. She has truly refined the “Art of Sequencing“, which is the title of her first book. A sequel to this book is in the works.

Coincidentally, Melina appears in this month’s edition of Yoga Journal magazine. In addition to her book, she is also the creator of the DVD series, “Yoga for the Seasons”. The first DVD in this series is titled, “Yoga for the Seasons: Fall Vinyasa” and is now available and received an honorable review by Richard Rosen in Yoga Journal:

“Melina Meza has what I consider to be the three important “I” qualities: She is intelligent, insightful, and inspiring. The premise behind her DVD series, Yoga for the Seasons, is that the content and pacing of our daily yoga practice should be tailored to the energetic quality of the time of year. This DVD presents her full practice: an 8-minute instruction on engaging the bandhas; a 4-minute tutorial that shows the basics of foot placement, pose form and self adjustments; a 45-minute vinyasa sequence; and a 9-minute agni (sacred fire) practice, which is essentially and abdominal-strengthening sequence. Well conceived and well executed as this sequence is, I’m not convinced it would be any less beneficial if practiced in winter, spring, or summer. Except for the agni practice, which will give many students a run for their money, this sequence is recommended for all moderately experienced students…no matter what the season.”

To learn more about Melina and her workshops, teaching schedule, and offerings, visit her website. We recommend signing up for her e-newsletter, which is always full of wonderful teachings and recipes!

Do you have a yoga instructor who inspires you? Write us! Emails can be sent to info@barefootyoga.com.

Namasté!

Posted under Barefoot Yoga News, Yoga Supplies

It’s just starting to look like summer, here in the Pacific Northwest. The sun is shining, the rain clouds are mostly in hiding, and we’re finally pulling out our hot weather yoga gear! To celebrate the changing season, we thought we would pass along a few of our picks for these warmer days…

The OMgirl Practice Shorts are a long-time favorite of yogis practicing Bikram, Ashtanga, and Hot Yoga. They’re also perfect for those hot and humid days when you just don’t feel like pulling on capris or pants. They have a gusseted crotch for comfort and a roll-top waist for style. Plus, they’re embellished with an OM symbol on the hip. They do run a tad small, so we recommend ordering a size up, if you’re between sizes.

In the photo above, the Practice Shorts are paired with one of our best-selling camisoles. This organic cotton Practice Cami is available in a wide array of solid colors, as well as this Aura Wash version. It has criss-cross straps, a beautiful neckline (not too high or too low), and a built-in shelf bra. It is so cute and comfortable, Barefoot Yoga staff are often found wearing it to work as a base layer (and to yoga class after work, of course!).

If you’re not into the short shorts, OMgirl has produced a longer OM Short that’s ideal for yoga class. They hit around the mid-to-lower thigh and feature a super soft cotton mesh around the side of the knee for breathability and style. So far, we’ve gotten rave reviews!

In addition to yoga practice clothing, we also carry several yoga lifestyle pieces that are perfect for summer. A new one this season is OMgirl’s Resort Dress – a sexy and extremely comfortable piece that can be dressed up or down in a number of ways (it can also be used as a swimsuit cover up for beach time!). It’s made from a mix of modal and the amazingly soft and high-quality pima cotton.

We’re also liking some of the recent Prana skirts, including the Louisa and the Sugar Mini Skirt. The Louisa is made from 100% organic cotton and features really sweet embroidered flowers and pick stitching. The Sugar Mini can be worn casually, but also acts as a jogging skirt (a wonderful phenomenon that’s quickly gaining popularity). The Mini has a gusseted crotch and built-in short for total comfort.

Finally, though we too adore easy beach reads, why not complement your yoga practice by mixing in a couple of yoga-oriented books? Here are a few of our picks for this summer:

• A Path with Heart
• Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul
• Bhagavad Gita
• Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life

For those of you in the northern hemisphere – Happy Summer 2010! As always, let us know if you have any questions. Email us at info@barefootyoga.com or call 1-877-227-3366.

Namaste!

Posted under Yoga Clothing, Yoga Supplies

We recently came across a great posting on the Consumer Reports Health Blog about choosing eco-friendly mats for your yoga practice. The article may be from 2008, but it’s certainly still relevant and worth sharing!

The posting makes a good point about how eco-friendliness can range from mat to mat, as can the price, due to the cost of materials used. Some mats are certainly more eco-friendly than others, though all are considered better for the environment and your body than mats made from PVC.

At Barefoot Yoga Co., we strive to offer a wide array of possibilities, from the extremely environmentally friendly “Original Eco Yoga Mat” to mats made from TPE and PER. We also offer other alternatives, such as our Mysore Practice Rugs.

We encourage our customers to buy “green” whenever possible and to find a yoga mat that works for your practice. Feel free to contact us at info@barefootyoga.com or by calling 877-227-3366. We are happy to answer any questions about our products.

Namaste!

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Mysore Practice Rugs, Yoga Supplies

It’s not always easy finding the right yoga mat for your particular body and practice; everyone is truly unique! However, one thing we highly recommend is having patience with your new mat, before giving it the boot.

Nearly all mats on the market today, including the eco-friendly yoga mats, have a breaking in period. This period can vary, depending on the mat, usage, exposure to certain elements (think sun or salty, ocean air), and extra steps the owner can take to speed up the process. New mats nearly always have a factory layer on them that needs to be wiped off, prior to usage. The factory layer is there so that when the mat is unrolled for the first time, it doesn’t pull itself apart. The layer can be easily wiped off with a wet towel.

Here are a few other options for removing the factory layer and speeding up the breaking process:

1. Wipe the mat down with a heavily diluted vinegar/water mix or biodegradable soap/water mix. This will help remove the factory layer, as well as eliminate common mat odor. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly, as to not create a new slippery residue on the surface.
2. Salt Scrub – wipe your mat down with a mixture of salt and warm water, using a cotton cloth. Then rub again with just warm water to remove any excess salt.
3. Leave the mat unrolled in a very warm room for a few days to help the surface become stickier.
4. Use your mat! Working the material via your practice and wiping it down after each use will help break in the mat.

Normally, mats will get better and better the more you use them. If you’re having trouble finding a new mat that provides enough stickiness, even after the breaking in period, you may want to consider an alternative. We suggest using a Mysore Practice Rug or Skidless Yoga Towel, both of which can be used in conjunction with a mat. Another option would be the Yoga Grips, which are also great for traveling.

Please always feel free to contact us via email or phone for yoga mat advice.

Namaste!

Posted under Mysore Practice Rugs, Yoga Supplies