Skyler Clothing- An Alternative for the Eco Yogini

As mentioned here I am getting fairly tired of Lulu's whole "consciously formulated in Vancouver made in China" BS. As a feminist, ecoholic AND yogini I really would love a company that merges all three. Just yesterday while I was at Bhavana Yoga Boutique here in Halifax I found one!

Skyler Clothing; a Vancouver company, has beautiful yoga and fashion wear that is consciously formulated AND made in Vancouver (no oppressed workers or children making MY clothing thank you very much!). Krista, the sweet owner of Bhavana Boutique informed me during my visit (and purchase of a beautiful new Halfmoon Cork Block!! YAY- haha but I digress) that Skyler Clothing employs stay at home mom's to create these beautiful pieces of clothing! This is fantastically forward thinking- supporting and recognizing the value of motherhood and woman as an individual with other dreams, skills and worth. Beautiful. THIS is the kind of forward thinking that should be encouraged in our society right now, with high prices of childcare and both women and men struggling to make ends meet.

Bhavana Boutique (located on Quinpool directly above HeartWood Cafe) is currently carrying their cute cute hoodies and zip jackets along with a couple of other fun and yogic inspired tops. Unfortunately you can't order their products online- but they do have some info on how to find a retailer close to you!

Yogic Fatty Fingers- how best to clean your mat

I have chubby fingers. I woke up this morning and GASP- where did my skinny, bony hands go??? This story begins with my new method of cleaning my yoga mat- so as my fingers stumble over the keyboard let's start there.

A quick search online reveals a ton of tips on how best to care for your yoga mat. 8/10 of the sites I searched recommended soap or dish detergent. Right- I'm not really going to put some soapy chemicals on my mat when just Wednesday night I was massaging my third eye on it during Pigeon pose: I'm sure my third eye would love an extra boost of chemicals. Even the proposed "eco" options need a bit of critical thinking. So here are some recommendations that are out there and a few thoughts to keep in mind:

1. Wipe with Water: Yup- Jade yoga mats recommend that you clean your natural rubber mat with just plain old water. They caution that natural rubber mats are especially porous and will absorb and hold water (and soap!). It's an important point: first step determine what kind of mat you have- if it's natural rubber then keep in mind that it will soak up any chemical, essential oil or soap you might use to clean it (more on this point later- I should have read this on Tuesday). Manduka's site doesn't give any insight on how to clean your mat other than to buy their cleaning products... uck. See next:

2. Pre-made, "natural" cleaning products: This includes Jo-sha wipes. Treehugger has an article that recommends these as an "eco" option. They are tiny, individually wrapped, supposedly biodegradable wipes (assuming the Yogini/Yogi has access to a compost system that will accept them) that have a ton of essential oils. According to their ingredient list they also contain parabens and other sketchy chemicals. Ok- disposable wipes are not environmentally friendly and my mat doesn't need to be blasted with essential oils before every practice. Also- I am too cheap to be buying cutesy little wipes when a spray of water and a towel would do the same. 

A LOT of studios sell pre-packaged cleaning solutions. Honestly I think it's an easy way to make some money. My mat does not need to be cleaned with certified organic ingredients manufactured and processed in a plant, shipped thousands of miles to the studio in a plastic bottle. I can make my own.

3. Tea Tree Oil: THIS is where my dermically-challenged hands come into play. A plethora of sites recommend using two or three drops of tea tree oil in an old water filled spray bottle to clean and de-bacteria-ize (lol must be the allergic reaction) your mat. I guess all that sweating and yoga can create bacterial and fungi growth. EWWWW. So- on Tuesday I did exactly that and even rinsed and toweled my mat afterwards. On Wednesday my fiancé and I went to an AWESOME power vinyasa flow class with Sarah Jane at Breathing Space and I sweat a LOT. It was fantastic (really the sweating is relevant). 

Thursday I noticed that my eyelid was swollen and by that night I had itchy hives all around the back of my neck and wherever I would have wiped my hands during practice (my cheeks, forehead etc). ACK!! My fingers were itchy too. And VOILA! Magically producing my beautiful chubby fingers this morning, clinching the deal: I am allergic to tea tree oil.

Is this common you might ask?? Well after some searching on the internet, there are several reported incidents of people having derma irritation from topical contact with tea tree oil, although not the norm. So- in other words: I am in the small percentage of people who are sensitive. Great. Also- my mat is made from natural rubber and obviously if I would have read the jade yoga blurb prior to the cleaning I may have thought twice before putting something like tea tree oil on it. Sigh. 

4. Lemon Juice and water:

I have not been able to find this on the internet, BUT it was suggested to me by a Lulu worker when I bought my first mat. For the past four years or so (until this silly allergic journey) I've been cleaning my mats (see here for the mat adventure) with lemon juice and water and it has worked out great. I will be returning to this procedure today. If you'd really like some anti-bacterial action without the soap, a few drops of tea tree oil WOULD help with that, just take my story into consideration.

-freshly squeezed half lemon into a bowl with water. 

- place mat in the bathtub (or on the floor if you're feeling lazy).

- take a wash cloth and periodically dip into the lemon bowl

- rinse and towel dry.

I hang my mat to dry on my clothes rack (out of the sun). 

I really hope my hands shrink by tonight- it's going to be awkward trying to do downward dog with my new monster hands!

Mmmm Chocolate That's Good for the Planet!

I am sick, working with preschool children tends to do that... so chocolate is my remedy. I LOVE chocolate-mmmmmm...

Sadly, supporting the regular chocolate industry is also like "death" for the planet and for so many thousands of abused workers and children. CHILDREN?? My beautiful chocolate was made by abused child slaves??? 

The six largest cocoa producers in the world are Ghana, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria and Cameroon. As of 2002 a study released by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture reported that an estimated 284,000 children are working on cocoa farms in hazardous tasks such as using machetes and applying insecticides and pesticides without appropriate protection. Also, a reported 12,500 children did not have relatives in the area- a warning sign for human trafficking... (http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/background.html) Wow. Although the free trade agreement in 2001 takes some measures to attempt to dissuade human rights violations, it does not assure that the farmers or their families receive a fair wage or price for their labour. 

For excellent resources and info check out: http://www.globalexchange.org/index.html

All this, and we haven't even begun to talk about how poor regulations and farming techniques can devastate fragile tropical ecologies (mmmm pesticide chocolate- adds that extra bounce to your step! ACK).

Ok- I am not giving up chocolate, I love it too much, nevermind the argument of economic dependancy these countries have on demand for cocoa production. No worries! There are 'conflict free' chocolate options to replace your "blood chocolate"! YAY. Now, because of the child trafficking and human rights violation stuff- Fair Trade is a must for me. Usually most chocolate is both fair trade and organic, and it's likely that if the farm is organic the workers are treated and paid "better".... Maybe. I also think of paying the extra dollars for Fair Trade and Organic as a way to dissuade my compulsive chocolate buying tendencies.

Here are a few of my favourites that I have found both of the West and East Coast of Canada :)

1. Endangered Species Chocolate

Not only do they have great wrappers with pictures of endangered animals on them- they donate 10% of their net profits to support species, habitat and humanity (Chimp Haven, The Ocean Conservancy

, scholarships in Nigeria to name a few)! They are centrally located in Indiana and have a LEED registration for environmental efficiency. Their cocoa is shade grown with options of organically grown (with certification). They do claim fair wages and price- but no third party certification is there. The chocolate tastes FANTASTIC and they usually put in a small bit of info on an endangered species (on recycled paper of course!).

2. Green & Black Organic

Mmmm- so tasty!! I LOVE their Organic Dark Chocolate with Mint- sooo yummy! Although on their website it has three options, Europe, USA and UK- my chocolate bar from here in Canada says it was made in Italy...  In any case- they have third party Organic certification and make everything from ice cream to chocolate bars. Yum! No Fair Trade certification- so all claims made by the company are essential just that: claims.

And the BEST OF THE BEST:

3. Cocoa Camino

This company is really my favourite! They produce 100% Fair Trade Certified AND Certified Organic chocolate that tastes FABULOUS. Also- they are a Canadian company- WOOT! Their cocoa beans are shade grown (of course!) and their internal wrappings are made from polypropylene which uses less energy than aluminum and is recyclable! They do sell in the States and even have a handy- find a local retailer option :) Their chocolate is amazing and I LOVE their cocoa powder- yummy addition to your fair trade organic coffee in the morning! :)

4. Just Us! (local coffee roaster)

Just Us! Coffee Roasters is one of our local fair trade organic coffee companies here in Nova Scotia. Their local cafés are sustainably run with compostable coffee cups to boot! (Provincial law imposes that all residents of Nova Scotia Compost all organic matter). Their chocolate is also fair trade and organic certified PLUS it's local, so the carbon footprint of shipping is less and I am supporting a local business as well as the farmers who grew my beautiful cocoa beans :) Ultimately, finding a local company that processes fair trade and organically certified chocolate is the best bet!

Chocolate loving Yogini- out!

Rubber Trees- Oh Frank Sinatra you were SO right!

Friends of mine want to buy new yoga mats and didn't want to spend 85$ on a manduka mat... their question: "what's the best eco-mat option?". Although I don't gnaw on my yoga mat, I'm really skeptical of PVC's alternative: TPE. (see previous post here) So right now that leaves natural rubber- it will last longer, perform better and can be sustainably harvested from rubber trees. The only downside- natural rubber mats aren't recomended to be used in the direct sunlight. Sigh- WHEN will I find the perfect eco-outside yoga mat??

Gaiam does offer a few different rubber alternatives: but they don't have third party, or any party for that matter, informing us how the rubber is harvested, how "natural" it really is and the percentage of latex to bind the rubber together. They have an "earth lovers mat" that's made from recycled materials and natural rubber- although I'm not sure about the stickiness, and exactly what the recycled materials are- call me a skeptic. Plus it's kinda poo coloured... eww.

Jade on the other hand- offers ONLY natural rubber mats. The Yoga Loft sells them and I got a chance to touch one and smell it (twice!!). It did smell slightly like rubber (compared to the strong smell my Lotus Wear mat!). A few washes and air dried should help with the smell. They explain how the rubber is "tapped" from the rubber tree like maple syrup (this Canadian girl totally gets THAT reference!), the percentage of rubber vs latex, where the mats are made (USA-they resisted the China trend) and they give 25 different ways to reuse your old mat!

The Kicker: you buy a mat- they PLANT A TREE! Enough said. Oh- and they are affordable too, from 59.95$ up! YAY. :)

Free Yoga- Another Interesting Experience

This week is the Yoga Loft's (Halifax) birthday week and all classes are offered free of charge- YES! Although our first experience at the Yoga Loft was catastrophic (perhaps a story for another day) and ended with very non-zen thoughts, we decided to give it another go: especially since it's GRATUIT! 

Due to my over traumatizing my Fiancé by bringing him to a ton of intense vinyasa flow classes (I guess being a Vata/Pitta kinda makes me a little wonkers that way lol) I conceded to a slower, intro flow class. We got at the studio 25 minutes early and there was already a line- studio people at the top of the stairs greeted us and directed us firmly to line up against the right wall to wait. It got extremely noisy in that hallway- and I really started to feel bad for those yoginis/yogis in the rooms trying to relax in savasana.

Anyhoo, we were surrounded by newbies to yoga and those more experienced, but the energy of this crowd and was markedly different than the other studios I've attended. All around us were discussions on what level Ashtanga class each person could achieve and how hard they pushed their bodies ("Oh ya, well I went to a class where the next day I couldn't even lift my ARMS"). It was so competitive and super weird.

Once in the class we were squished- but then it was a free class so I was cool with that. When we started the class- the lovely instructor was extremely kind, but it always surprises me when instructors don't modify postures to accomodate space issues (i.e. arms forward during forward bend as opposed to swan diving). I have to say, the most interesting part of the class were a few key individuals- a long haired guy without his shirt in front of me and a mousy woman behind me. I really have no idea how no-shirt was allowed to practice sans-shirt... that was a first for me in a studio class. This guy was totally in the moment and at one point he was swaying peacefully to the music.

The woman behind me on the other hand was definitely not in the moment of the class, but doing her own "moment" thing. If the class was seated- she was standing and swaying slightly. Casually taking downward dog at any point and generally doing her own poses. I seriously didn't see her do one pose that was suggested by the instructor. It kind of made me wonder why she had come to the class at all. 

In any rate, my previous traumatizing experience with the owner of the studio, the loud noises from the street outside, the atmosphere of non-zen and the disrespect of the employees talking loudly in the lobby while we were trying to meditate in savasana have made my decision. I'll stick with Breathing Space. Funny how we have particular ideas about what studio/atmosphere/environment we prefer to practice yoga! Has any other yoginis/yogis come to this self-realization as well?

As I end this blog- I do feel open hearted. Despite my decision, the instructor was wonderful in her guidance and the postures were filled with chakra meditions and exploration- loved it! Now if only she would start teaching at Breathing Space Yoga Studio...

Yoga for the Financially Challenged

Yoga in a studio- so calming, so quiet, so much room and space to breathe and most people know the social etiquette while attending a yoga class. In that space with the right teacher I learn so much about my body and my practice. I read about how once a week yoga is just not enough, but at 12-14$ a class there is no way that I can afford three classes a week, even one is pushing it! I'm trying to keep up with Yoga during these long winter months until I can finally do yoga outside, on the dock, in the park, wherever but it's been challenging to say the least on my budget.

Increasingly there is a trend for studios to offer community yoga classes. I truly think it's about time. There really is no wonder that yoga has fast become an activity for the "upper" class, with trendy expensive mats and yoga wear ruling the studio. At 60$ a month just for once a week classes who else could afford it? 

Which is why Lululemon is actually doing alright on this one. The Lululemon in Halifax offers yoga classes every Sunday morning as well as other classes throughout the week- and they are FREE! Of course, I get the marketing ploy here- buy our stuff while you're in the store but really it's a fantastic way to give everyone the opportunity to try yoga. It's also a fantastic way to "test" out different yoga instructors without the pressure of the studio or paying for a class.

It's fantastic to feel like you're part of a community of yogini/yogis getting together to celebrate yoga (kinda like the global mala). Plus these classes are usually more general and as a newbie you're not running the risk of getting yourself into a class that's too advanced.

A downside: these classes are always packed (although what does that say about the need for community yoga classes?). The instructor doesn't have time to adjust or help each student. Usually the mats are about two inches apart and certain asanas are tricky (no swan dive to uttanasana please!). 

However, these classes are free and the point is to encourage community. There's really nothing more beautiful than witnessing how an hour and a half of doing yoga together can bring unity and harmony to the ending Ohms. I've found that the only people who have no idea about yoga etiquette (i.e. stepping on other people's mats...) are the actual employees at Lululemon, at least at this specific store.

At these classes I tend to see such a huge range of yogis- it's so wonderful! My favourite was a class where we were trying "One Legged King Pigeon Pose II" (from a low lunge) and I was trying desperately to reach my arm and at least touch my raised back leg- it wasn't really working out all that well. I looked over and there was this older man, in his late fifties, gracefully completing the pose like it was nobody's business. It was ridiculous! Gave me hope really, that age doesn't have to equal stiffness or decreased mobility (cuz really I don't think I can get any less bendy than I am now!). 

So I say WOOT to community and free classes and I wish there were more "by donation" classes being done by studios out there! :)

Mmmmm Cinnamon and Cloves

Today it is COLD and so so dry. After my yoga class last night I actually had the pasties... YUCK. -27 Celcius really isn't the coldest I've ever experienced, but my skin has been spoiled with the beautiful coastal weather and is now screaming for moisture.

My favourite remedy for this post "Ecoholic" was Aveda's sugar body scrub. At a hefty price and filled with chemicals, it gave my skin a nice, smooth glow. I went through a phase of being determined to make all my own beauty products (with somewhat interesting results). The one thing that I was ridiculously successful at was a sugar body scrub!

The following "recipe" for my sugar body scrub is a wonderful, chemical free alternative that I guarantee will make your skin soft, smooth and feel beautiful! A quick trip to the health food section at the Superstore or an actual Health Foods Store to get a few supplies and you'll be good to go for months :)

"Gingersnap Body Scrub"

*before beginning you'll need something to store the body scrub in: I found these really cute glass containers at the Superstore by Anchor Hocking. I would suggest finding a glass container, as plastic may leach chemicals and glass looks better :)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of organic fair trade dark brown suger (or white- but dark brown adds a nice smell)

1/4 cup of epsom salts

2 tablespoons of local (and organic if you can!) honey

1/4 cup of sweet almond oil

1/4 cup of jojoba oil

5 drops of clove essential oil

3 drops of cinnamon essential oil

Mix: Sugar and Epsom salts together in a glass/ceramic bowl with a whisk

      then add the honey, almond and jojoba oil and mix

      carefully add the essential oils to your taste for scent (avoid cinnamon if you are pregnant)

     scoop into the container

Use: carefully massage all over body during your shower (avoid face). Careful! the shower may be slippery from the oils afterwards :) You can also put a couple of spoonfuls into your bath for a natural bath melt alternative!

Happy weekend!

This "Anti-Gumby" needs blocks!

As perhaps some may have noticed on my profile- although I LOVE yoga and practice several times a week I am definitely far from being "gumby" (or flexible for those non-eighties children out there). That's ok actually, since only one of the 8 limbs of Yoga as described in the Yoga Sutras comprises of the actual physical postures. And it actually took me two whole years of practice just to be able to touch my toes in standing forward bend!

Yoga blocks are truly a staple in my practice, allowing me to benefit from the postures instead of simply trying to keep my balance! (or hurting myself... and pulling my achilles tendon was not fun!). I bought my first yoga block about the same time I started to be able to touch my toes.

Typical yoga blocks are made with foam filled with phtalates, PVC and whatever else ridiculous toxic chemicals. These foam blocks are not eco-friendly, are difficult to recycle and will clog-up the landfills (think of all the yoga blocks at the yoga studio you attend! More on ecofied studios later though). 

During my research for this post I've found mention of some foam "eco" alternatives at "Barefoot Yoga Co." among others. Although they claim that the process is "green" it's only vaguely described and there are no third party eco-certifications to back their green production claims. 

The other two options that I think are fantastic are: Bamboo and Cork.

1. The Cork Yoga Block

You can find these blocks at Gaiam and Manduka to name two. Cork is harvested from the bark without any real harm to the tree. They have documented that the Cork tree's process of regrowing the bark actually consumes much more CO2, which is fantastic for the environment! Cork is also a very cushion-y and springy substance that has a lot of give. So for those Yogini/Yogis that love the softness of foam; Cork might be a nice alternative for you! The cons: I really couldn't find any info on how the cork was bound together to make the block- is there glue or a chemical process involved? Also, a cork block will not last as long as say... bamboo!

2. The Bamboo Yoga Block (my choice!) 

My block actually came from Lulu (shame!! I know... haha), but you can buy bamboo blocks from most yoga companies. Bamboo is a sustainable, extremely durable grass that also needs a lot more CO2 to grow than trees! It's strength and durability will assure a lifetime of use and it's super lightweight! The only negative aspect of bamboo is the current debate regarding harvesting methods. Due to the rise in demand for bamboo, less than palatable methods (including ridiculous amounts of pesticides, desecrating rain forests, taking over local crops and slave labour) are being used to make our props so we can achieve our "zen".  Sadly, how the block was harvested is still difficult to know.

I LOVE my block and have been considering getting another for friends and the Fiancé (I really don't want to share, but if I am the anti-gumby then he's.... um maybe like a strong branch...).

The Green Beaver- Such a Fantastic Name!

After Aveda and I broke-up, I was determined to find a "green" alternative. After many months of trying out countless different "eco" shampoos, conditionners, facial cleansers and moisturizers I soon realized that this was NOT as easy as I thought it would be. "Greenwashing" is the new black and I figured out that just because I was looking at products being sold in a "health" store didn't mean they were chemical-free. If I was giving up Aveda for a healthier, chemical free option, I was not going halfway (with products like Alba "Organics" or Giovanni). So sometimes I'd just ask the store clerk for their "cleanest" products and I spent a LOT of time reading ingredients. (Yes, I am THAT person LOL) After trying about a half dozen different companies (and suffering through the bad shampoos, can't be throwing them all out! Goes against being eco lol), I FINALLY found a great product- The Green Beaver Company.

The Green Beaver Company not only has a fantastic name, but it is a Canadian Company- WOOT! They use fruits and herbs farmed in Canada and even indicate the province some of their ingredients come from on the bottle! Their website also lists all their ingredients and their harvesting practices (i.e. avoiding pesticide ridden ingredients and supporting Canadian farmers). 

I LOVE their facial cleanser: Daily Facial Cleanser with purifying grapefruit and soothing aloe. It's been an excellent cleanser while remaining gentle on my skin. I have found though, that as the winter months have progressed with colder, dryer temps (-15 Celcius etc) that I have to use my "Druide" creamy cleanser more often for moisture.

Their Facial Moisturizer: "Green Tea Facial Moisturizer" has been phenomenal! Who knew how difficult it is to find a non-oily, non-chemical moisturizer??? It has been absolutely perfect for my skin and the green tea is also a natural blemish-fighting agent (adult pimples-ACK). It's also non-scented! 

The colder weather also meant I needed a more intense body moisturizer. The "Après Ski Body Lotion" is kick-bum. Keeps my skin moisturized all day. The only complaint- it smells a lot like rosemary when you first slather it on- so I kinda smell like gravy for a few minutes.... But the smell fades before I even leave the house. (And my fiancé thinks I smell yummy- lol men!)

The only product that I've tried that I haven't liked: "Facial Exfoliant with gentle bamboo micro-fibers, purifying grapefruit & soothing aloe". Although they claim that these bamboo micro-fibers are gentle, they did feel pretty abrasive on my skin. There's also a lot of controversy around bamboo right now- but more on that in a future post :)

So YAY eco-facial and body products and YAY Green Beaver! I am still on the search for a comparable shampoo and conditionner... 

My Aveda Saga... and why we had to break-up

My introduction to Ayurveda and the sister science to yoga was ultimately through the Salon Spa "Aveda". While waiting in the trendy spa I read their Ayurveda book and discovered my "Doshas. Aveda's ingredient philosophy taken from their website claims: what you put on your body should be as healthy and natural as what you put into it (http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/green_ingredients.asp on January 7th 2009). They were a healthy, eco-friendly choice and continue to claim to be so.

Until I read "Ecoholic" by Adria Vasil and with increasing horror read the ingredients on the plethora of Aveda products (ridiculously expensive I might add!) gracing my bathroom. ACK! 

This is the ingredient list taken from Drugstore.com (since the aveda website doesn't provide a complete ingredient list and I no longer have any Aveda products...):

Aqueous Purified Water Extracts: Camellia Sinensis Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Extract (Bitter Orange), Astragalus Root (Membranaceus) Extract (Milk Vetch), Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Pinus Tabulaeformis Bark Extract (Pine), Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract (Grape), Sedum Rosea Root Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Quaternium 80, PEG 7 Dimethicone C8-C18 Ester, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Amyl Salicylate, Amyl Cinnamate, Lycopene, Lecithin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Sucrose Palmitate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycol Stearate, Glycol Distearate, Polyglyceryl 10 Oleate, Polyquaternium 7, Fragrance, Cistus Ladaniferus Oil, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone

 

Ummm. I see some SKETCHY ingredients in there! WTF? The bolded black ingredients are just the biggies that I've come to look out for when checking ingredient lists. Every single bottle contained a version of these ingredients. This isn't healthy at all! Seriously I was so disgusted that the entire company that claims such spiritual and ethical superiority above other beauty products would be so misleading! sigh. What to do? Well after emailing Aveda and asking why they include ingredients such as parabens and Disodium EDTA in their products (with no response) and getting vague ambiguous answers from the Aveda Stylists- Aveda and I... we broke up.

I gotta say- Aveda does seem to be accomplishing some fantastic eco-endeavours above and beyond their run of the mill shampoos- they claim to be wind-powered, promoting sustainable plant and herb harvesting and supporting fair trade farming (they even have VIDEOS about this in their salons for you to watch while you wait for your... ahem... wax!).

But after the flagrant disregard for truthful marketing with their philosophy on ingredients and their obvious recalcitrance to be forthcoming- I'm now wary of all their claims... How do I truly know they aren't "greenwashing" their other eco-claims, just like with the ingredients in their products?

So- I went and found other amazing products that are cheaper, honest and forthcoming with the awesome green-nest :) 

Ayurveda (the actual science) on the other hand is still my friend :)

Beautiful Derma- What You Lather on your Skin Matters

Being the reading fiend that I am, I started visually inhaling all things "eco" (that I could afford of course). That started with the book "Ecoholic" by Adria Vasil, an info feast written by a Canadian with a mostly Canadian perspective. The first chapter on beauty made me gasp- then quickly run to read ALL the labels of my beauty products the bathroom.
Although skin care companies claim that their products all have safe levels of chemicals, that's with shoddy regulatory standards with no way of truly verifying their claims. Increasing scientific evidence indicates that ingredients found in cosmetic products are toxic- especially when combined with other products. That's the kicker- most of these claims of "safety" are backed up by research that's funded by the company themselves (so not that unbiased) or analyzing the chemical's reaction in Isolation....

Seriously- consider your routine every morning:
-shower: wash face with facial cleanser (maybe exfoliate too?), shampoo AND conditionner (my hair needs LOVE), body wash (and maybe that really fun new body scrub from aveda?)
- after shower: body lotion all over, face moisturizer (maybe toner?), brush teeth
- makeup and whatever other hair products before styling hair.

That's 9, potentially 12+ products on your body/skin before leaving the house every morning. And the recent evidence is saying that long term use (when did YOU start using moisturizer?) can be toxic.

Some top chemicals to avoid:
1. Nitrosamines:The UK Department of Trade and Industry (now the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) characterizes nitrosamines as more toxic in more animal species than any other category of chemical carcinogen (i). Nitrosamines are common in cosmetics, but because they are impurities, they are not listed on product labels. (http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=293 taken January 5th 2009). Wow- that sounds a little scary- ingredients such as DEA and TEA or dienthalonamine/triethanolamine were formed by Nitrosamines. What do they do? They are linked to cancer, birth defects, endocrine disruptions, reproductive and developmental toxicity... the list goes on.

2. 1,4-dioxane: considered a contaminent- the FDA does not require that companies list it as an ingredient- but estimates put it as high as 22% in all cosmetic products. Basically anything that creates suds- shampoo, liquid soap and bubble bath. Considered a probable human carcinogen and listed AS an animal carcinogen it's suspected to cause kidney defects, birth defects, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant. Research shows that repeated exposure to a single carcinogen will have synergistic effects (i.e. baby shampoo, baby bubble bath.... you get the idea).

3.Hydroquinone
Used mostly in skin lightners it has been targeted aggressively towards women of colour. It has also been linked as an inpurity in facial cleansers, skin cleansers and hair conditionners. Ingredients such as tocopheral acetate and any ingredient with a "toco" root.

4. Phthalates
This guy generally gets into the ingredient list as "fragrances" or "parfum" (as if the French spelling could really trick us!). Two decades of research suggests that they disrupt hormonal systems which can cause harm during critical periods of development. Also been linked to breast cancer.

5. Parabens
These guys have been found in biopsies of breast cancer tumours and were present in nearly all urine samples of U.S. adults from varied backgrounds. What to look for: ingredients that end in "paraben". Linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and skin irritation. They also quickly and easily dissolve into the skin- GREAT. They are known to disrupt hormonal function and for the same reason are being increasingly linked to breast cancer.

6. Heavy Metals
Use whitening toothpaste? I sure have! Nail polish? Mascara? Eye liner? they all could contain lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc and iron. there are a zillion health care risks- i would advise checking out the site for further details...
(Info taken from http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?list=type&type=29 January 5th 2009)

My challenge to myself and all you yogi/yogini's out there- when beauty/bath products are so easy to change (with affordable alternatives) why wouldn't you? They are our bodies and with education and knowledge we can make the right decisions that are healthy for us :)

So- now that I've said all that scary stuff- don't you worry! I'll be following up with some eco-friendly alternatives! (and nope- that does not include Aveda... sigh).

Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats!

Ahh Balasana, or child's pose- so wonderful after 10 sun salutations... resting your head and breathing in the wonderful smell of chemicals... Ok, so my first mission into the foray of ecofying my yoga practice was to find an eco-alternative to my PVC yoga mat (which was donated to a local woman's transition house).

Due to the recent yoga "craze" erupting across Canada and the States thousands of PVC yoga mats are finding their way to the landfills; off-gassing with a virtually turtle-paced decomposing schedule. So begins the eco-mat saga:

#1: Lululemon Eco-Comfort

I bought this mat with high expectations: it cost around 50-60$ Canadian and is made from TPE (Thermal Plastic Elastomer) and contains no latex, PVC or rubber. A quick Wiki search and we find that most TPE's are made with a type of plastic or rubber.... although there's no clarification on the website. The friendly lulu worker at the store informed me that my mat would eventually breakdown in the landfill-WOOT!

I started using it right away- no nasty smell but it was extremely slippery. I was willing to sacrifice grip for the environment- sure I was! After about two months of use the mat was flaking off all over my yoga pants, the floor and even my hair. Ugly wear marks were appearing where my feet moved from Down Dog to Warriors I and II. So I brought it back- I guess I wasn't supposed to use this mat in the sun (now they have warnings on the labels of the mats) and it had begun to break down prematurely. Great- so now I would be sacrificing practicing in the beautiful outdoors to be a true eco-yogini. OK. FINE. The lulu worker offered a 50% discount on their next eco-mat which I bought and gave my current eco-mat to my Fiancé to use. He could deal with the blue flakes.

#2 Lululemon Eco Align Ultra Mat

This mat was immediately better- more grip and thinner! Within a month of use (out of the sun- sadly) mat #2 was a flaker too. Matching wear marks graced this one as well! Sigh, at this point I was just a little less zen than ideal. From talking with other lulu eco mat users the "flaker" is a common occurrance. Also- Lululemon had just recently sold the majority of their shares to a U.S. company and was no longer technically "Canadian".

My Conclusion on TPE: it definitely breaks down- but the environmental impacts of cycling through several yoga mats over my lifetime outweighs the decomp. benefits. Also, the Lululemon mats have poor grip and durability with a high price tag. And call me a nerd- but I just didn't want to join the Lulu gaggle of yoginis taking over the planet.

Rubber Yoga Mats

My final desperate attempt at ecofying my yoga mat was a Lotus Wear rubber mat. Lotus Wear is a Vancouver based company that manufactors AND consciously formulates their products in Canada (hah two for two Lulu!). The mat was between 49$ Canadian, so a comparable price and was nice and thin. 

Rubber is a renewable resource and a nice alternative to man-made substances such as TPE or plastic. Rubber is also easily recyclable and will biodegrade over time. However, it is also much more durable than say, TPE and has a longer lifespan. This mat doesn't use glue to bind both sides of the rubber together and claims 100% non-polluting during manufacturing. The catch- it recommended I air it our for 48 hrs before use. Riiight. Like I could wait that long!

Um... I really should have- after doing yoga for about 45 minutes I felt nauseous from the smell and had to take a couple advils when I got home. Point taken- airing out it is!

This mat had fantastic grip- I had magically become a yoga Goddess!!! The only time my hands or feet were gonna move were when I was sweating buckets trying to accomplish some ridiculous Power Yoga Flow class (go me!). I gave eco-mat #1 to a beginner yogini and #2 was passed along to the Fiancé (poor guy was getting all my yoga seconds!). 

This mat has lasted 8 months so far with only minimal wear- WOOT! The only negative: it actually took several months for the rubber smell to fade away with regular use. I wouldn't recommend this mat for anyone with sensitivities to smell. 

However, an alternative for those wanting a rubber mat without the smell- Manduka's "The Black Mat" the QUEEN of all yoga mats. Made from natural rubber with all above eco-benefits without the smell (this mat has a lifetime guarantee with certification to back-up their zero-emissions claims). Of course, this mat comes with a price: 85$ Canadian. According to several yoga teachers, the eco versions of the manduka mats (Halfmoon) have dye issues after use.

Finally my mat is now ecofied!

Yoga and the Environment?

Practicing yoga for several years has broadened my knowledge of spirituality and health. Each class seemed full of extra teachings regarding how to live the "yogic" lifestyle. As my unbendy and wobbly body moved through the poses and increased it's range of flexibility (Yay I can touch my toes!!) other areas of interest also blossomed and soon I considered myself an "Ecoholic" in tandem to a Yogini. For a while these terms were kept separate... until it became increasingly evident that being "eco-friendly" should actually be a staple in my yogic life.
While practicing yoga we learn that "non-harming" or ahimsa is one of it's most important tenants. Non-harming and respect for all life includes Earth and our environment. Naturally our Western culture's newest obsession of molding yoga to suit our hectic, stressful life has resulted in a focus on being trendy (i.e. Lululemon) as opposed to healthy. It didn't make sense for me to be practicing yoga on a lululemon mat that is full of harmful chemicals and will join the landfill brigade bent on off-gassing for years to come. I also started to wonder why I was wearing yoga clothing that was "conciously formulated in Vancouver" but "made in China"... and created with fabrics that were either synthetic or grown with pesticides (replacing acres of rainforest) or processed using extremely toxic chemicals (i.e. bamboo or lyocell).

So this blog is for all those Yoginis and Yogis out there that are looking for eco-friendly alternatives to their yoga practice and to share ideas! I'll share my discoveries of new environmentally friendly yoga gear, studios, trends and clothing along with discussions on eco-topics and debates (i.e. bamboo vs organic cotton).

Namasté & Blessed Be!