I am very picky about what I wear for yoga and exercise. If I feel comfortable and sexy in my workout clothes, I’m a lot more likely to get myself to class or even roll out the mat at home. So my choice this week is Bhakti Wear yoga clothes. Here’s what I love about them:

1. They fit beautifully and  are extremely flattering. You don’t get that baggy bottom thing happening after a few hours of wear. If I want a snug streamlined fit, I often have to go for a nylon/spandex fabric and I hate the feel of it against my skin. Bhakti Wear is made from 100% organic cotton and a little lycra, and feels beautiful on your skin. The tops come with a hidden bra, which is fabulous.

2. Their designs are gorgeous. Beauty is so often in the detail and I appreciate the work that’s gone into making these pieces extra special.

3. I love the spiritual aspect of the company and their products. They even sell meditation beads (malas) in healing stones. You can learn how to use them on their website.

4. They manufacture in the U.S.

Here is the company’s  back story. I’m all about the back story of the small companies that I promote – it’s one of the first things I ask, as so many of the lovely green products that we can buy today, have been created by people with extraordinary stories.

Back Story of Bhakti Wear
I guess it all first started with the music of Krishna Das and Jai Uttal coupled with the teachings of Ram Dass – a deep resonance of Truth as if something lost had been found again. My husband, Kevin, and I were yoga instructors at the time and we found ourselves drawn to the traditions of yoga, especially bhakti yoga. The seeds for Bhakti Ware grew out of our first visit to India in 2004. We had done a lot of reading, but nothing really prepares you for the real thing. It’s a country of extremes; a mixture of magic and heart-breaking hardship. We were high up in the foothills of the Himalayas and were taken aback by how fearlessly open the average person on the street was. We began to see how daily puja acted as a reminder that everything is sacred. People would be attracted to those attributes of the Divine Personality that best suited their temperament; many forms, one Love.

When we returned to LA we made a couple of t-shirts with the image of Hanuman on them. Before we knew it we were making more for our friends. I remember we went to see Ammachi and Kevin was wearing his Hanuman shirt. A woman with a young boy came up and asked where she could get one. Long story short, we made one for her son and in the process of the exchange we recommended reading the Ramayana. A month or so later the boy’s mother wrote us to say how grateful she was and how the Ramayana, with its ageless wisdom and wealth of spiritual guidance, had been so meaningful for her and her son. It was then that we realized what a wonderful way to spread a positive message clothing could actually be.

From the onset, we began making our women’s yoga wear out of organic cotton mixed with lycra and setting a portion of every sale aside for seva. The Bhakti Ware website was set up so that people could learn about the various deities, the Ramayana, how to use mala beads for meditation,…  We focus on making the best clothing possible, constantly raising the bar for quality and art. The clothes have been more or less advertising themselves, word of mouth has spread and here we are. We feel very blessed.

The Nada Chair is my favorite new office chair accessory. Made out of organic cotton, my Nada Chair is a total slouch buster. Being a yogi, when standing I have pretty good posture, but when I’m on the computer all day long, my whole back begins to round into my office chair, causing my upper back and shoulders to become really tense and often painful. The photograph here shows the Nada Chair in a cross-legged/meditation position, which is fantastic for those of you who need some back support while meditating. I primarily use mine for sitting in my office and when I remember, take it to yoga class too. So if you can pocket your pride, you may want to try one at the office  – my husband said he wouldn’t be seen Read the rest of this entry »

As part of your plan in the Gorgeously Green Diet, I recommend that you walk, and I mean really walk, for an absolute minimum of 10 mins a day. I suggest doing your exercise in increments of time – 10 mins here and 10 mins there is doable for just about everyone. If you are now commited to walking, you’ll need to find a really good pair of shoes. There is nothing worse for your joints and posture to wear a worn-out/ill-fitting pair of tennis shoes. The best walking shoe (not hiking up hills, but street walking) are in my humble opinion, MBT shoes. Also known as the “anti-shoe” they provide exceptional support, help you to find and maintain your perfect posture and by way of the rolling action built into the soles, work your leg muscles 40% harder than regular shoes. They are manufactured in a socially responsible manner and all in all, are a fantastic company. Read the rest of this entry »

Having taught yoga for more than fifteen years now, I really understand the importance of a great yoga mat. It needs to have exactly the right amount of traction and also be able to stand up to the sweat test, because many mats get annoyingly slippery as soon as you start to sweat. The Eco Travel Yoga Mat (pictured) is perfect. It is slightly longer than most mats – so works for you tall girls too. It’s made from open cell natural rubber (many yoga mats have all kinds of chemical nasties in them), and it’s biodegradable. As if all this wasn’t enough, they will plant a tree with every purchase and they ship with zero carbon emissions. It comes in 4 different colors and each is reversible and it rolls up into a nice thin/tight roll for travel. If you’re new to yoga or want a really simple and great routine, you’ll find it in the fitness chapter of The Gorgeously Green Diet. Learning a short yoga practice is invaluable – it can turn a bad day around completely – trust me!

One of the things I LOVE about green living is that it’s a win/win all the way around and can be more convenient than many people think! For example this weekend, I decided to wash 2 cars with a fantastic waterless car washing product called Lucky Earth. Not only did the product leave 2 cars gleaming in my driveway, but I also got an incredible workout! My other workout (and by workout, I mean heart-rate raising exercise,) was hanging out and bringing in 3 huge loads of laundry. So both these earth-friendly activities saved a ton of water and energy and saved me from having to schlepp to the gym. Now that the sun is beginning to shine, we can all make just one change this week toward conserving water and energy – how cool is that! Check out my new book, The Gorgeously Green Diet for more tips and tricks on how your diet and your lifestyle can change radically for the better, by following my simple, customized plans. Loads of amazing giveaways this month -so stay tuned.

With Valentine’s just around the corner, I invite you to spend some time thinking about the things that you really love about Green living. What are some of the changes that you’ve made that you really actually love to do? I am quite convinced that living a Gorgeously Green life, not only feels great, but encourages us to create a more fulfilling life. What are some of the green changes that I love? First and foremost is my beautiful bicycle. In attempt to be more eco-conscious I bought a shiny green bicycle intending to replace at least one of my short trips a day, while getting super-fit at the same time. Cycling has turned into an activity that I now look forward to immensely. Even living in an urban sprawl, I manage to find tree-lined streets and boulevards to zoom down. This precious time with no iPod, computer, blackberry or whining child is something I absolutely love. Leave me a comment here about what you love and on Monday 16th we’ll choose a comment at random to win the Aphrodisiac Chocolate Confection Collection (pictured above) from my very favorite Theo Chocolates.

I can’t believe that someone has invented something I have been dreaming about for years: a device that creates energy as you walk! Researchers at Simon Fraser University have developed a wearable aluminum brace (that is worn around the knee), which generates power as you walk. It is called a “Biomechanical Energy Harvesting Device” and a prototype may even be ready in eighteen months time. One minute of walking provides (if you wear one brace on each knee), enough energy to sustain 30 minutes of talking on your iPhone.

This is the most common yoga pose that you will see in every spa/yoga magazine. It looks easy but there’s a lot more to it than you think.

The benefits are fantastic: If you hold the pose for ten slow breaths (pretty challenging), you will seriously strenghten you thigh and calf muscles. This pose is also considered to be a hip-opener. You will also tone and strenghen your triceps (if held up for the full 10 breaths.)
You will need a sticky mat for the pose as you don’t want your back foot slipping.

How do I do it?
Stand with your feet about 4 feet apart. When your arms are fully outstretched (as in the picture), you feet should be below your wrists.
Turn your right foot out 90 degrees and your left foot in 45 degrees.
Bend your right knee, making sure that the knee lines us with your middle toes. Try to bend the knee to a right angle. Take five slow breaths and then change sides.

While in the pose:
The most important thing is to breathe slowly and observe your breath, especially when the pose becomes harder. Press down your right heel to engage the thigh muscles.
Very important to have a lot of weight on your back foot. Press the outer edge of the left foot into the earth for stability. Lift your hip bones up and gently draw your low belly in and up towards your heart.

Warrior Two Pose gives us a sense of connectness to the earth and a feeling of strength and power. Practice every day, especially when feeling in need of a boost.

This is the most delicious pose as it provides a deep overall stretch and leaves one feeling invigorated and ready for the day.
You must practice this pose on a sticky mat as foot-slipping could lead to injury.
I suggest you print out this page and keep it in your hand, reading the directions out loud as you first perform the pose SLOWLY.
If you are new to the pose, keep your feel closer together and instead of trying to put your hand on the ground (as in the photograph), place the lower hand just below your knee or wherever you can comfortably reach on your shin.
Begin with your feet approx 4 ft apart. Turn your right foot out to a 90 degree angle and your left foof in to a 45 degree angle.
Spread your arms out to the sides, sending the energy through your finger-tips. Take a deep inhale and on the exhale, extend your right hand all the way to the right – lengthening your waist and then place your hand either on your shin or the floor behind the leg.
Extend your left finger tips up towards the sky.
Look up towards your extended left hand.
Soften your face and breathe easily.
While in the pose: lift your right knee-cap up and press the outside edge of your left foot into the earth.
Stay for 5 slow breaths and then repeat on the other side.