Archive for December, 2010

Posted: December 22nd, 2010

Give Love.

I love the holiday season. The festive decorations, the celebrations, the coming together of the community. It brings to mind one of the Yamas of Yoga: Aparigraha. This Yama has many translations and interpretations. One of these is “not hoarding”. Meaning that life should not be about all for me and none for you, life should be lived by keeping what we need and sharing the rest. This spirit of giving is particularly apparent during the holidays and it is always a joy to see the generosity that emerges. We somehow find the time to give in ways that would seem almost impossible during the rest of the year. We do it because it is Christmas or Hanukah or Kwanza. We do it in the spirit of the holiday that we celebrate and the traditions we have come to embrace. It is a beautiful thing to watch and be a part of. My wish is that we continue to carry this spirit of generosity with us throughout the year. Finding those moments to give when it would be so much easier not to. Giving financially is not always possible, but a giving of your time and spirit is always accessible. We all have so little time anymore. Our plates are full and we are seemingly always rushing on to the next thing. Giving of your time is one of the most generous ways to share the holiday spirit throughout the year. It might just be 5 minutes as you pass someone on the bike path who is obviously lost and offering directions. It might be volunteering for one hour a month delivering meals to the elderly. It might be watching your friends children so that she can have some much needed time for herself. Maybe one night a month you do the cooking for a group of friends. We can also give of the spirit. Maybe it is speaking a kind word instead of a harsh one. Maybe it is letting go of your next silly argument and being the first to say you are sorry. Maybe it is just taking the time to truly listen.

Find your way, and create a new tradition of giving year round.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a Blissful New Year!

A Holiday Gift Guide for the Yogi to Live By.

Posted: December 16th, 2010

Part 3 : Gifts to give for Eating.

Books:

1. Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow
by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis

2. Sweet Gratitude: A New World of Raw Desserts
byMatthew Rogers and Tiziana Alipo Tamborra

3. How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food
by Mark Bittman

Other Fun Gifts:

1. Bring a basket of fresh vegetables and herbs to your next Christmas soiree. Bartlett’s Farm has a wonderful selection of delicious organic greens and herbs. Add in a few pomegranates and you have a living gift that any chef would love!

2. This is the big splurge of all 3 lists, but it is an appliance that you will use everyday. It is great for smoothies and soups, sauces and ice creams. It guarantees that you will start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and what could be a better gift than that?
Available at: http://www.vitamix.com/index.asp or amazon.com

3. Hamilton Beach 67650 Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor. This is another appliance that I use everyday. Starting the day with a fresh juice is a habit I strongly encourage. This juicer is durable and afordable.
Available at: amazon.com

4. The best gifts are those that are gifts of our time and attention. Surprise the honey on your list with a romantic candlelight dinner prepared by you. Hire a babysitter and clear the calendar. Even if you are not a great cook, give it a whirl, The love in the preparation will be readily apparent.
After all, that is what this Christmas celebration is all about, giving of ourselves and sharing our love.

A Holiday Gift Guide for
the Yogi To Practice By.

Posted: December 9th, 2010

Part 2 : Gifts to give for PRACTICE.

Books:

1. Asanas: 608 Yoga Poses by Dharma Mittra

2. Yoga: The Iyengar Way by Silva Mehta, Mira Mehta, and Shyam Mehta

3. Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing by Yoga Journal and Timothy McCall

all books available at: amazon.com

1. No Yogi should be without their own personal mat. It is the one thing you need to practice. If you want to spluge, the Jade Yoga Harmony Professional mat is the way to go. It is durable, super non slip and environmentally conscious. It has a bit of a rubbery smell at first but that will disappear after a few classes. I have had mine for over two years and am still loving it.

available at: http://www.jadeyoga.com/store/home.php or amazon.com

2. I am a huge fan of the Unitard. No fussing with your clothes when it is time to go upside down. It stays put so you can keep your mind on the practice and off of whether or not your belly is showing. This unitard is my favorite. It is affordable and made of cotton with 10% lycra to keep everyting nicely in place.

available at: http://www.5stardiscountdancewear.com/prod_Women-s-Camisole-Unitard_253_76.htm

3. If you prefer Yoga Pants to a unitard, these are a great option:

Danskin Women’s Supplex Capri

available at: amazon.com

4. Zobha makes yoga clothes that are pretty and functional. I love everything on their site. I am especially fond of their tops. They have a shelf bra and inserts to keep everything covered and supported. This is one of the splurges on the list, but well worth it.

Zobha Scarlett Tank

Zobha Marilyn Tank

available at: http://www.zobha.com/

5. A great stocking stuffer is a pair of ToeSox. When the studio is a little chilly grab a pair of these for non slip warmth. They come in fun colors and either with or without toes.

6. This cotton cashmere wrap is so soft and cozy that you will want one in several colors. It is perfect for keeping the body warm before and after class and can be worn half a dozen different ways.

available at: http://www.victoriassecret.com/

6. The best gift is a gift certificate for a series of classes at your local studio. YogaFarm gift certificates are available by emailing: joburnham@live.com with your request. A 5 class card is $6o.

HAPPY SHOPPING! MORE HOLIDAY PICKS NEXT WEEK.

A Holiday Gift Guide
for the Yogi To Live By.

Posted: December 2nd, 2010

The holiday season is officially here! For the next few weeks I will be sharing with you gifts that no yogi should have to LIVE without. There are so many choices out there for all kinds of yoga gear it can be overwhelming. Enclosed is the first of 3 lists of must haves.

The LIVE list:

Books:

1. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda

2. Mediatations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison

3. A Life Worth Breathing: A Yoga Master’s Handbook of Strength, Grace, and Healing by Max Strom

all books available at: amazon.com

Pampering:

1. Who doesn’t love a bath? With all the holiday rushing about, there is something entirely indulgent and soothing about a good long soak. EO Bath salts are a wonderful treat.

available at: amazon.com

2. In the blustery cold of winter taking care of our skin is a top priority. The best way to retain the moisture is with an all natural sesame oil. Used on its own or mixed in with some rejuvenation oil it will keep you soft and supple until spring.

available at: http://www.mapi.com/maharishi_ayurveda/products/bath_and_body/massage_oils.html
3. The Yogi in your life might be more inclined to start using a neti pot if you gifted them with a really pretty one; this one just might do the trick.