Yogi/ni's Across Canada- Happy Canada Yoga Day!

Yes- it is Canada Yoga Day today. Happy Yoga Day all you fellow Canucks out there! Although I haven't spent my yoga day doing asanas, I have taken some time to reconnect with my beliefs and feelings of interconnectedness with our Earth and Her beauty. Living in the city, although fantastic as Halifax may be, can insiduously cause a sense of disconnect. Not only does our food, clothing and basic necessities come from 'away' but our physical homes are completely artificial.

Growing up in a tiny village on the ocean with summers spent at our cottage that my father built himself imbued a sense of dynamism with my environment. Although we didn't have a garden, I grew up seeing deer, ducks and rabbit skinned and ready to be eaten. There were no illusions where my chicken or beef came from. With our prepackaged society it's so easy to ignore any evidence of the role we play in our world and how everything we do to our environment has an immediate affect on our lives and health. As much as we like to try, we are a part of the Earth's ecology, not separate.

The word 'eco' comes from the Greek word 'home'. Today I honour Yoga Day by increasing my awareness of my home- Earth.

Namaste :)

Manduka- Waste vs Composition? Eco-mat Saga Continues...

Yoga mats- the bane of my yogic existence really. The search to find the best "eco" option mat really has been quite un-eco and wasteful. Now that the fiancé wants his own mat (since his mat is technically my old TPE Lulu mat that's happily shedding little purple flakes wherever it may be) I've been back in the search full force for the best environmental+performance option. Tricky.

I thought I'd share my research and findings on Manduka with all you wonderful eco-yogi/ni's so far! That and a rather concerned commenter had some questions as to why I was even considering Manduka as an eco option at all. Ready for the muddy, murkyness that is eco-mats? I am!

First let's just outline the main issues with current "eco" mat options out there:

- TPE is actually a synthetic material and does not appear to be made for a lifetime of use

- premature "biodegrading" seems to occur in these TPE mats

- natural rubber has a strong smell

- When these "biodegradable" mats are inevitably thrown out from wear, they may release toxins while they burn/break down in the landfill.

So- I need a mat that won't wear out in a year or two, that is sticky and will perform well AND that is made with the environment and my health in mind. Check.

The Manduka mat company is probably best known for it's "Black Mat" which is endorsed by high profile yogi/ni's such as Shiva Rea. 

The Black Mat (85$, Lulu totally upped the price):

This mat comes with a lifetime guarantee and I have read and spoken with yoga teachers who have had their mats for years without a tiny bit of wear. According to the company- this specific mat is made with PVC and polyester and they claim that it has a low percentage of PVC (with no specifics). The idea is that the mat will be the last mat you'll ever have to buy; therefore limiting your yogamat waste. However, as per my little blurb in the post just before this one- polymers are forever so eventually this mat will enhance the toxic mush with it's own special ingredients. Finally, all Manduka mats are OEKO-TEX certified (third party) meaning that the actual production of the mat is zero-emissions.

I have to say, I have used a black mat before and it is fabulous! PVC is a little sketchy though...

The EKo Mat (70.00$):

The EKo mat is basically a natural rubber mat and I would have to agree with Om Shanti probably a result of a) Manduka mat yogi/ni's only have to buy one mat once so they aren't making more money and b) many yogi/ni's avoid the black mat because of the PVC.

These more environmentally friendly versions of the original Manduka mats are closed cell- meaning they don't absorb particles (i.e. sweat) which sometimes can result in a slippier mat. However, these mats also are less likely to create a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. Like most rubber mats, the Eko mat definitely has a smell (although not nearly as strong as most) and needs to be aired out. It's also made with non-amazon harvested rubber trees! Yay!

I have briefly tried the Eko mat during a few yoga classes and found them to be super sticky, more so than the black mat actually. However, just like all the random mats I've tried these past few years, I've read that it can initially be quite slippery. I've found that a few wipes with lemon juice and water (avoid tea tree oil and subsequently scary swollen fingers!) and regular use really helps up the sticky factor. Also- just as a heads up, the instructor at Breathing Space told me that she's noticed that the red Eko mats seem to have discolourations from use... From Om Shanti's review it also seems to stand up to regular wear and tear very very well.

Natural rubber mats typically are made spongy with toxic foaming agents which are released into the environment when they begin to biodegrade. The Eko mat claims to be made with non-toxic foaming agents (doesn't say exactly how) and a special dual-coating system to increase durability and longevity compared to typical natural rubber mats (again doesn't say how).

Finally- all Manduka mats come with prepaid "Recycle Your Mat" kits where you can send your used old mat to an organization that finds new uses for them, diverting thousands of mats from the landfill!!! Such a beautiful and fantastic idea- I will definitely be investigating their company further.

Wow- not so straight forward hey? The more I delve into environmental processes, the more the questions become complicated. After going through THREE yoga mats in four years (and reading here that this is actually typical for most regular mats!! GASP) I really feel a little ill buying another mat I know will just begin to fall apart and I'll be contributing to the mass consumerism that is North America.

Any extra info or input that my fellow eco-yogi/ni's know of to help weigh in on the "new mat" decision would be extremely welcome!

Blessings!!

Decreasing Nurdles- No More Plastic!

This post is part of Fight Back Friday's hosted by Food Renegade! Check it out for more awesome Food Rebel posts!

For two years my fiancé and I lived in Vernon BC, nestled between three gorgeous lakes in the Okanagan Valley. We were like platypi surrounded by King Penguins... we didn't ski, hike, canoe or camp. At all. (Hence moving back to the maritimes!). While living in Vernon I did acquire a taste for good local wine, yoga outside and anything "eco". One day, while in the local tiny health food store I picked up these little cloth cotton bags called "pog-sacs". Weirdest name EVER. The reason why I bought them, the tag had the coolest colours EVER. 

These little produce-or-grain bags (pog-sacs) are made from unbleached cotton and purchased with fair wage-fair labour. At this point in my eco-career we had already become expert bring-our-own-bag people but I was still using those annoying little plastic dealeys for my veggies and fruits. These little cotton bags were something new- I no longer had to buy those silly plastic "sacs" that make my green pepper mushy and get thrown out! 

It only took a few shopping trips to realize that, well what do ya know, these little bags with the beautiful coloured tag are Kick Bum!! I could fit 5-6 apples in one mesh bag, or carrots, or even a medium sized green leaf lettuce! They breathed better in the fridge so my produce stayed fresh for longer. The kicker- they are SUPER easy to wash/dry (no special anything! WOOT). 

These little pog-sacs made the wondrous journey with us across the country and started their new life here in Halifax. I quickly realized that I needed more than just two. I wanted a whole bunch with a few solid ones for rice or nuts! I searched the city and all I have found are silly nylon mesh bags. Nylon is derived from petroleum, it is a synthetic polymer or: plastic. Nice.

Side note: Did you know that since their creation approximately 50 years ago, each and every single piece of plastic EVER made still exists (The World Without Us- awesome book). That equals about 1 billion tons of plastic. Also, us humans in the world use about 1 trillion plastic bags a year. A million bags a minute. Every minute. As far as science can tell synthetic polymers may take a thousand years to break down, even an order of magnitude (10 times=10 000 years) in the ocean. When plastic is said to "degrade" what marine biologists are finding is that they break down into tiny plastic particles (nurdles) that are being ingested by all sea animals, either killing them or passing the plastic-disease to the next predator to come along- ending with humans. 

SO- back to my pog-sacs. Very important to stop using plastic bags. 

Nylon just doesn't cut it. Finally I sucked it up and googled them. Wonders of wonders- they are actually run by a Vernonite that lived about two streets over from our first apartment overlooking Kalamalka Lake. LOL. I ordered a sampler from her even though I HATE ordering from the internet and am usually cursed. My beautiful new Lioli (love it or lose it!) pog-sacs came about a week later! YAY. They are perfect, large enough for lots of bulk rice or nuts/oats and large AND small mesh bags for potatoes, or apples or bananas. I Heart them a lot. They are different, eco and practical!

Update: Our local health-organic food store allows us to fill our grain bags with rice-granola etc, no question. Also, another Canadian company- Credo, creates mesh grain bags **IN Canada** and according to a comment left by Judy- the owner- have certified organic options. Read my post to find out more about Credo. Despite the pros, the owner of Lioli is super sweet, friendly and I prefer their solid bag options... :)

Blessings!

Someday...

Let me just preface this by saying that I love Flat Bags. LOVE. I love that they are made by these fun hippies in Nelson BC (THE mecca for hippies in the interior). I love that they are made from old flat bike tires and rediscovered fabrics. Most of all, I think they are beautiful. 

On their website they have a link that says: "Why Flat?" It brings you to this picture:

One day, as I was gazing at their wonderful selection, I came across- GASP- YOGA BAGS. Well, of course they would make yoga bags, they DO live in Nelson BC. Unfortunately I already have a non-eco friendly yoga bag, and so does my fiancé, so no passing along my old bag to him. Sigh. 

I do own a beautiful cute little flat bag: it's blue and only one of TWO purses

 that I own. I do feel fantastic about only owning two purses. I am the minority in my circle of friends. YAY low consumption! My flat bag has been fantastic, I can fit quite a bit in the little bag and the little magnetic clasps are sturdy and work wonderfully.

Here in the city, LoveMe Boutique carries a bunch of different types!

Since my sewing skills are nil (I don't even own a needle and thread) and I probably won't try to make my own yoga bag, I'm thinking this yoga bag would make a fantastic GIFT someday...

Snowed In and Hangin' out with the VOC's

There is a ridiculous winter storm happening here in Halifax and our yoga Karma class was cancelled. Boo, and I was so ready to sweat! In any case, since my early arrival home from work we have been holed up in our apartment, sealed up like little hibernating animals. I actually love hearing the crazy gusts of 70km/hr winds whipping through our leaky windows and trying to get through the plastic wrapping we put up.

We think of our homes as a safe, clean haven that shouldn't have any of the pollution or smog that you can inhale walking down a busy city street. Indoor air pollution can be anywhere from two to 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution (Adria Vasil, Ecoholic 2007). Really?? Take a look around; the furniture, the rugs, your MDF bookcase and the ridiculous amount of cleaning products you have stashed in the kitchen and bathroom. They all contribute to a myriad of toxic chemicals that leak into the air, mingle, have a party, make some babies and stroll into your body. Off-gassing, a term I crudely giggled at when I first read it, which quickly turned to a bunch of "Holy Crap!"s the more I read. Guess that "new furniture/rug/car" smell is actually Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) that are making their Magic School Bus way into our lungs and blood streams. Great.

Well- I for one am a neat freak. Yes I will gladly admit it publicly- I have a cleaning problem. I just like to have my space sparkly and smelling nice. Re: not like vinegar. I tried the water and vinegar/essential oil deal and it just didn't cut it for me. Really, I have a problem! I also practice yoga a LOT at home, due to having past horrible studio experiences and budget issues. I would prefer that my Ujjayi did not simultaneously suck in VOC's while keeping my focus.

So it was an easy thing for us to slowly switch over our cleaning products to companies that won't contribute to the pollution in our waterways or my lungs. For example: some surfactants (what makes the product sudsy and spread well) used in degreasers, disinfectants and general cleaners break down into hormone-disrupting agents and nearly 70% of American waterways tested positive. Finally, toilet bowl cleaners have corrosive ingredients that can burn your eyes, lungs and skin along with chlorine which is considered a hazardous air pollutant. Wearing a mask while cleaning the bathroom really isn't a joke when you think of all the nasty chemicals were breathing in just to clean the pooper (Adria Vasil, Ecoholic 2007). 

We (ok, ok, I the cleaning MACHINE) have spent the past two years trying out different companies that are more environmentally friendly and would like to share with you my favourites- cuz some definitely did NOT actually clean as well as the bad non-eco stuff.

1. Seventh Generation products: Their cleaning agents smell nice, they list all their ingredients on their products and have question/answer boards on their site. This honesty goes a long way in the hoards of "greenwashing" (i.e. Clorox's "Green Works"). I have found that their toilet bowl cleaners and dishwashing fluids work really well. I'm not really a fan of their tub scrubbing cleaner and trying baking soda to help scrub didn't really seem to help. Hah, after reading that it looks like maybe I hadn't cleaned my tub in a while and it was UBER dirty... LOL. No worries, I clean the bathroom every other day... like I said- I'm anal.

2. Attitude: Now THIS product actually cleaned my tub to the sparkling blindness that I like (I know I am strange). The company is Canadian-based (WOOT) and they list their ingredients right on the product as well. They also have a certified "eco-logo" which is a Federal Government Program. They use essential oils to scent their products and no SLS's or petroleum based products. Their hand soaps smell delicious! These companies are typically more pricey than the regular cleaners, and as much as I hate to plug them on this blog- but as a recovering student I must say... ahem... you can get it for cheap at wal-mart.  (shhh! I didn't say that!)

There were some stumbles along the cleaner-mission way. Ecover being one of them. Now this company has some pretty strong cleaner type smelling products, which strikes me as weird for a green product. They do list all their ingredients right on their labels and websites but a quick look and we find ingredients like: perfume, SLS and phenoxyethanol. Hmm. The other products didn't have those and can still be effective so why can't they?

There are some other companies that seem great but that I haven't tried yet- Soleado being one of them. A few tips to remember while trying to sift through all the "green" claims for cleaning agents: 

-Check for a complete ingredient list- any company that claims special ownership of ingredients or requires "special" requests for you to receive them doesn't deserve your time. If it can affect your health you deserve to know. 

- Look for third party certification of biodegradability (even though that can mean a zillion different things, it's a step).

- Look for not tested on animals.

- Check to see if you can recycle the bottle.

Hope my need for clean has been informative for some other yogi/ni's out there. I know I have felt better taking some small steps in supporting greener and environmentally safer products in order to have a clean and healthy home.

Being an Eco-Yogi/ni in the Studio

As my practice deepens and becomes more spiritual (mostly as a result of actually considering Downward Dog as a restorative posture- YAY strength!) it continues to boggle my mind how so many mindful and committed yogi/ni's seem disinterested in my Eco-Mission. It is of note that an entire spiritual life path based upon increasing interconnectedness through yoga could have bifurcated to a level of complete separateness. We get into our cars and drive to the studio, practice yoga near but not interacting with others in a space that is insulated from the earth and our source of grounding, roll up our mats and drive back home. What's missing here?

As a student, yoga studios and yoga teachers are held aloft in this hazy glow of yoga-ness. I have heard from a friend who is taking her teacher training that this "teacher worship" is discussed in class. The teacher almost takes on the aura of "guru" and often students may experience spiritual or emotional release during practice and burst into tears (happened to me once!). So of course I just expected the teachers to have the same awareness and passion for the environment that just feels so naturally entrenched in that which is Yoga. A part of my personal practice is to let go of these expectations and the resulting disapointment.

BUT- wouldn't it be fantastic if we could practice in a studio that valued our earth? The Green Yoga Association is an awesome website to check out for more involvement. 

Here are some ideas that are easy to incorporate in a studio that is already up and running:

- replace paper towel with cotton (organic would be great) towels that can be washed. We use towels to dry our hands at home, so it shouldn't be a big change :)

- buy toilet paper made from recycled paper: many companies actually sell affordable TP made from recycled paper. My bum definitely does NOT need to have chemicals from all the bleached, brand spankin' new paper.

- have eco-soap like "attitude" or a locally made bar of soap (like Birchbark!)

- use eco-cleaning products like "Ecover" or "Seventh Generation"

- replace lights with CFL's

- offer water and lemon juice in a spray bottle with washable cloths to wipe down mats

- have soy or beeswax candles to decrease petroleum in the air we breathe.

Extra Ideas that involve a bit more change but are SO forward thinking:

- compost/recycle. This one should be EASY for Haligonian studios to do- composting and recycling programs are already in place and regulated by law. People are used to seeing separate bins labeled compost, plastic, paper with little pictures demonstrating examples for each.

- Offer carpooling or bicycling incentives: perhaps a discount card earning a free class.

- Advertise ride-shares or bus schedules on a community bulletin so students can carpool or take public transit.

- only sell environmentally friendly yoga-mats/accessories: cork blocks or manduka/jade mats.

- DON'T throw out old mats, find ways to reuse them or donate them!

Fantastical Ideas that I can only wish for:

- have the studio painted in low or zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint.

- have flooring made from sustainable (bamboo, cork) or even better; reclaimed wood

- stock the studio with cork or bamboo blocks and eco-mats

- Limit paper schedules and advertisements, most people have the internet now anyways. Those that you do print- print on recycled paper.

- have water efficient toilets and sinks.

- use renewable energy for heating and lights- solar, wind or water generated.

In a perfect world... 

Blessings!

Soap Makers- How do they DO IT?

As per my previous post here I have been only moderately successful trying to DIY my own beauty products. At one point I even bought some real shea butter and hardened coconut oil to try to make my own moisturizer. Um, that didn't quite turn out so well! Let's just say the monstronsity that was supposed to go on my skin was composted... hah! So I have had to accept that my creative abilities end with guitar playing and once in a while painting something. 

Giving up my moisturizing making enterprise did not mean, however, that I have to depend on large corporations (no matter how Canadian and eco). Browsing through the granola stores I've seen these tiny little displays of handmade bath bombs, soaps and even lotions! GASP- people can MAKE these in their HOMES? OMG. It is the next best thing- local and chemical-free (usually) without the disaster of my attempts! These displays are usually extremely small, inconspicuous and without hoopla. I haven't quite figured out if this is on purpose by the soap-making goddesses, or if the granola stores have only grudgingly permitted them to sell their soapy goodness. These little displays rarely have any announcement that they were crafted with care by a local person- you have to ask. 

My favourite soap-creatrice in the Nova Scotia area is Birch Bark Soap made by Sherry in Yarmouth. She sells her smelly products of goodness on Etsy and in the granola store in Yarmouth- which is where I first discovered her predictably TINY display. Her website is honest and fun- filled with DIY tips and what's new in the soap world. If you check out her Etsy website she explains how her soaps haven't sacrificed the environment for their beautiful lathers and smells, made without parabens, SLS or phtalates AND a portion of her profits go to an entrepreneur via Kiva.org! Extremely open-hearted and giving, something I can feel wonderful about supporting.

I heart homemade soaps that someone else lovingly created! :)

LOVE DAY: Prioritizing Groceries while Loving your Body!

It is LOVE DAY and the snow is gently falling here in Halifax. After spending a beautiful few days with my parents visiting I am ready to get back into the groove of life. One way that I love my body is to treat it with fantastical fruits and veggies that are local and pesticide free. These treats are SO expensive, and although I wish I could just buy all organic and local- my recovering student budget just doesn't allow it. Instead of spending my money on random organic groceries, I try to purchase organic versions of those fruits and veggies that are typically pesticide enriched. This has been a huge help on my budget and ease of mind. I thought I'd share the list with you! :)

Top Pesticide Enriched Fruits: (PRIORITIZE)

1. Peaches (highest chance of having multiple pesticide types)

2. Apples (most amount of pesticides on any sample)

3. Nectarines 

4. Strawberries

5. Cherries

6. Imported Grapes

7. Pears

8. Sweet Bell Peppers

9. Celery

10. Lettuce

11. Spinach

12. Potatoes

Consistently Chemical Free (YES! Cheaper!!)

1. Onions (multiple pesticide residue was extremely rare on all)

2. Asparagus

3. Sweet Corn

4. Sweet Peas

5. Cabbage

6. Broccoli

7. Eggplant

8. Avocado

9. Pineapples

10. Kiwi

11. Mangoes

12. Bananas

Now those last few on the fruit end: I would normally purchase Organically simply because of the shipping carbon footprint added by their exotic fruit status, if I buy them at all. 

In any case- this little list has helped me make the most of my organic purchases while keeping to a smaller budget! :) 

Happy LOVE DAY!

Supporting Local: Love Me Boutique!

With our economy mirroring that of the US, I always feel better supporting local or Canadian artists. One of the first things I did before moving back to the Maritimes was to research some local boutiques to find out where I can get handmade soap, sustainable clothing or just pretty sparkly jewellery.

In Halifax that place is "LoveMe Boutique". 

A little red sign (which is currently broken due to the ridiculously high winds) points the way up a random off street in downtown Halifax. It actually took me a few tries to find the shop, and then figure out when it was open. When I did it was well worth the wait! Filled with funky finds (alliteration!!) from across the country and a TON of local Nova Scotian artists, the owner Chara is sweet and welcoming. She carries eco products ranging from chemical free handmade soaps, to reclaimed wooden earings. Beautiful woven scarfs and handmade sea glass jewellery grace her displays. She also carries Astrosatchels and Flat Bags which I am in LOVE with. Chara also frequently hosts many "handmade workshops" like how to make a sock monkey or how to felt. I love walking in and feeling like part of a funky, indie community that cares.

Although also eco-minded, I visit LoveMe Boutique WAY more often than P'lovers, which is a more mainstreamed company. After speaking with Chara for a few minutes you know that she carefully chooses which artist and what products she has in her store, as opposed to the silly, snobby girls who work at P'lovers (really I haven't had the greatest service there).

My fiancé has been extremely successful with gift giving from LoveMe and although I don't quite have the budget to spend spend, I feel good about buying gifts for family and friends that I know are unique, handmade and Canadian.

My next purchase that I'm waiting for: Handmade guitar straps for my beautiful guitar.

So search out your local boutiques, stores or Etsy (type in the name of your province/community) and support local and handmade products :) You're much more likely to find sustainable clothing (with companies that carry eco-fabrics like organic cotton), beautifully handcrafted jewellery, art or pottery!

The Diva Cup- An Eco-Yogini's Friend!

I was reminded of this post idea by Down2Earth, who commented on my Bamboo post. :) This is actually a bit out of my comfort zone when it comes to sharing via blogger, but I am thinking of this as part of my personal practice of giving.

Moon-time, the rag, that time of the month; however you'd like to phrase it menstruating is a reality for the majority of women between puberty and the wondrous phase of menopause. Whether you choose to view menstruation as a beautiful monthly cleansing or as something to dread, women use a ridiculous amount of ways to contain this monthly flow. An estimated 12 billion disposable sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons are dumped into American landfills each year. Billions??? OMG. 

I first heard of the Diva Cup about four years ago during my grad studies in Montreal. I had a friend who made her own menstral pads (another popular eco-option!) and yet another who used the Diva Cup. I'm the type of person who only thinks to buy Toilet Paper when we actually run out. So the real reason that I decided to give the Diva Cup a try had more to do with my annoyance with constantly having to run out to Shoppers in a panic to buy tampons than for the environment. That and I thought it was ridiculous that I was spending around 15.00$ a month on these things. 

After a few interesting episodes regarding perfecting the "mode d'emploie" (while remembering the "DO NOT PANIC" instruction in the booklet LOL) I marveled at what I had been missing all these years of horrible tampon use! Eco-benefits aside (although 7 BILLION tampons a year is disgusting), the Diva Cup was five hundred times better at being a feminine hygiene product than any tampon ever invented. You can leave it in for 12 hours straight- no matter HOW flowing your cycle can be. Really. You never have to worry about carrying an extra with you discreetly hidden in your purse. Actually, you never have to excuse yourself to the bathroom WITH your purse. And my favourite: you never have to rush out and buy tampons again. Ever. 

As a non-active person, yoga being my only physical activity really, I was surprised with the Yoga benefit. The Diva Cup was by far the most comfortable monthly product I had ever used. I can forget it's there- even while I'm doing shoulderstand or Triangle- you name the pose! No worries about any sort of surprises. 

The Diva Cup comes in two sizes for those yet to experience the beauty of childbirth, and those who have. It's made with silicone which has been tested and FDA approved as safe. Most tampons and pads have chemical additives that are there to improve absorbtion and are bleached... Bleach on my vagina???? hah- right. The Diva Cup is made from medical grade silicone (not what is in breast implants) and does not contain latex, phtalates or BPA.

I am a fan and thought I'd share this with other Eco minded Yogini's out there. Seriously, it has been one of my favourite eco-transitions... 

Namaste!

Local and Handmade; Upcycling!

Upcycle: a totally new word for me. When I first read it in the infinity-sphere of the internet I thought someone was trying to be clever. It's REcycle silly!! hah, I guess I'm a little behind in the HIP new vocab these days. 

Nevertheless, with our consumer culture whispering insidious suggestions to buy buy buy, it's so easy to delude ourselves into believing that simply changing our endless purchases to "green" choices means we are doing the best for the environment and our earth. Really, the best idea is to stop buying so much STUFF. Really who needs all the random things that we buy?

Upcycle is the next step after reducing. Upcycling speaks to those creative peeps out there that take something used, old and destined for the black hole of landfills and magically create a beautiful, changed and useful product. Although at first I thought the word was a little corny- I mean it IS essential recycling... but with a TWIST. Upcycling as a term really speaks to the work and creativity that goes into these new and beautified products and imply a sense of ART with thought and love.

For example: so far this winter I have not had mittens. When it was -27 celcius my hands were quite cold. I just didn't want to buy ANOTHER pair of GAP/etc mittens that were mass produced, chemically dyed and shipped to Canada from China. Today I finally found a pair of mittens that I could buy at Love Me Boutique (a post on this fantastic boutique to come!). These mittens are Upcycled: created by a student out of previously worn sweaters by hand to raise money for this student to volunteer overseas next year. Now THAT speaks of mittens made with love. 

Karma Yoga Class! Yay Donation Yoga in Halifax!

It seems that shortly after I wrote my "rant" on there not being enough by donation yoga, my favourite studio- Breathing Space- began offering a weekly donation yoga class! Hmmm- does my blog have power?? lol

In any case- this is fantastic news! This means that my fiancé and I can actually afford weekly yoga classes! WOOT. At 5$ minimum a class it is completely affordable, and all proceeds are being donated to a charity. So it truly is a Karma class. This month's donations will go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and we began with a heart chakra meditation. 

I've been looking forward to going to this class all week and unfortunately became sick- again. (no worries, I finally made an appointment with my doctor, two and a half months of bruised ribs and sickness off and on is not normal!). We went even though I was sniffling and had just taken an hour nap before yoga to try to save up some energy. I had my kleenex right next to my mat, warned the lady next to me about my sniffles (she was very gracious about it) and was ready. I was counting on this Karma/community class to be more general and easy going.

And it wasn't. Actually it was super duper intense and heated. I barely made it through. I was dripping little tiny beads of sweat droplets onto my toes in forward bends and my mat. The drops were actually surprising- I kept expecting to look up at the ceiling and see a leak! lol. It was an interesting way to lead a community based class, but I do usually love her teaching style and I tried to move beyond my body's physical fatigue and limitations. I didn't quite suceeded- but I tried!

Another aspect of the class that impeded my ability to let go of my expectations of my asana practice was the fact that my mat was so slippery I couldn't even hold a Warrior I. As per my post regarding the catastrophic Tea Tree Oil experience, I washed my mat in the bathtub (and the water turned BROWN... EWW!!!). My at home practices I noticed the mat was slightly more slippery than usual and tonight it was ridiculous which is weird since my mat has been phenomenal so far regarding grip and stick. I guess my next step is to wash it again in the tub and hope the stickyness returns.

Despite sweating and feeling quite ill and catastrophic throughout this Karma class, since I've returned to our apartment I feel better than I have all day. Energized. I'm hoping this yoga class kicked my cold's "bum"! Next week though, if I'm still feeling under the weather we'll definitely be avoiding a heated class. My body just says "NO" to heated yoga.

Bamboo- Eco Grass?

Bamboo fabric has been uber popular these days as a green alternative. Designers all over are using it and it's super soft texture and weird anti-microbial claims are also upping it's "cool" factor. Yoga clothing companies (such as Oqoqo bought-out by Lulu; you might see their symbol-left- on some of their "eco" line) are using bamboo fibers and touting it as being the environmentally friendly alternative to cotton.

A little bit of searching and a couple of conversations with BC organic store owner reveal that it's really not that straightforward. Organic Clothing has an indepth look here but I'll try to summarize.

Bamboo has become so popular because of it's luxurious feel, affordability, ability to breathe and rate of moisture absorption. Bamboo is a fast growing grass that is (if done right) sustainable. It doesn't require barely any water or any pesticides at all! So what's the deal??

The process of changing bamboo grass fibers into clothing fibers can be, in short, extremely toxic. A TON of chemicals are typically used to process the poor grass and are causing health problems for Chinese factory workers (whom also have little fair trade or sustainable production protection from the Chinese government). These chemicals include caustic soda (one of the main ingredients in Drano) and lye.

Even though I said I'd summarize- I just thought I'd post the typical chemical steps for processing bamboo fibers using the hydrolysis alkalization with multi-phase bleaching technology:

1. Bamboo leaves and the soft, inner pith from the hard bamboo trunk are extracted and crushed;
2. The crushed bamboo cellulose is soaked in a solution of 15% to 20% sodium hydroxide at a temperature between 20 degrees C to 25 degrees C for one to three hours to form alkali cellulose;
3. The bamboo alkali cellulose is then pressed to remove any excess sodium hydroxide solution. The alkali cellulose is crashed by a grinder and left to dry for 24 hours;
4. Roughly a third as much carbon disulfide is added to the bamboo alkali cellulose to sulfurize the compound causing it to jell;
5. Any remaining carbon disulfide is removed by evaporation due to decompression and cellulose sodium xanthogenate is the result;
6. A diluted solution of sodium hydroxide is added to the cellulose sodium xanthogenate dissolving it to create a viscose solution consisting of about 5% sodium hydroxide and 7% to 15% bamboo fiber cellulose.
7. The viscose bamboo cellulose is forced through spinneret nozzles into a large container of a diluted sulfuric acid solution which hardens the viscose bamboo cellulose sodium xanthogenate and reconverts it to cellulose bamboo fiber threads which are spun into bamboo fiber yarns to be woven into reconstructed and regenerated bamboo fabric. (http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2007/09/bamboo-facts-be.html)

This I guess is basically the process to form rayon as well, just with a different base. Did you skim through that after the first bit of chemically stuff like I did? Yup. And I sweat in THAT?

The increase in popularity in bamboo has also spurred rainforests and farmlands to be cleared away for bamboo growth. Bamboo is also a monoculture (kinda like a weed) and not so keen on biodiversity and as a result not the most sustainable choice.

So what to do? How do you know that a company "farmed" bamboo sustainably? The article from Organic Clothing gives info on what each certification means and what to look for. Here is a snippet:

- ISO standardization is not credible and is more of a "greenwashing"- more on that in her article.

- Lyocell is a process that is much more environmentally friendly and has a 99.9% closed loop so all chemicals are processed and recycled. Lulu and Oqoqo have clothing 

made from lyocell technology.

- Green Yarn is making "eco-fabric" with nano technology. Still iffy on how the bamboo is processed but lots of heat is involved and as a result- carbon. Also- these bamboo nano particles are woven into existing fabric- so their entire claim on sustainability would depend on the cotton/nylon etc's.

- the anti-bacterial properties of bamboo have been disputed quite a bit recently.

- look for third party certification while purchasing like Oeko-Tex

Wow- being environmentally friendly can get ridiculously complicated. But then, ignorance is not the answer. I'd much rather be aware of how clothing is made and who is suffering so I can wear my beautiful shirt than claim it's too complex to mentally process. I love the feel of bamboo fabrics but if I am to make a concious choice to buy a product based on sustainability than I need to be aware of the entire picture:

Global- it's the point of being Eco.