Sticking to Your Guns; Skyler's Fall from Sustainable

Believing in yourself. Every year that goes by I truly think I have established my Self, my Beliefs and my confidence in who I am... and then I realize that it never really ends. In my teens my mom told me once that you couldn't pay her enough to be in her teens, twenties or early thirties again. I never quite understood until recently- although my early twenties were fun and I *thought* I had a handle on myself, I realize now I took crap then I never would now.

Standing for what you believe in and making decisions based on your beliefs and values is a difficult thing... especially when it comes to business. Many of us make compromises in our work. This is a story about how one yoga store owner stood up for her beliefs.

I've mentioned Skyler Clothing before: an exciting yoga clothing company based in Vancouver that makes all their clothing in Canada and even provides work programs for stay at home mom's who can't afford childcare to work from home. I was extremely pleased to discover them at Bhavana Yoga Boutique here in Halifax and was very pleased to find something other than the "Consciously formulated in Vancouver, made in China" bull found in Lululemon. Krista, the owner of Bhavana was also wonderful at fully supporting Skyler's line, their sweat-shop free guarantee fitting in very nicely with Bhavana's "Eco Lifestyle" mission.

A few months ago I randomly happened to see my first episode of "Dragon's Den" (a Canadian tv show with big business gurus that audition people's business ideas for potential investments). Standing there was the owner of Skyler Clothing. The "Dragons" as they call them, ripped her business apart. Ridiculing her for having boutiques and sustainable practices, they told her she needed to go online, make a profit or get out.

It had been months since I'd checked out Skyler's website and a quick look revealed that a lot had changed. Their look was completely different, a new logo and new format. Instead of a community feel, the website now had a decidedly "buy online" look and the owner's blog post confirmed that the Dragon's Den show had actually been filmed over a year prior- and she proudly stated they had listened to the DD's advice. The "about" section no longer mentioned anything to do with sustainability being a priority... so I decided to put a hold on purchasing anything until I found out more.

This weekend I was visiting Bhavana and spoke with Krista who had unfortunate news. Skyler had phoned her and was very excited about their new line... and the fact that they were closing down all their boutique's and factories in Vancouver and moving all production to China. Skyler has now joined the "Consciously formulated in Vancouver, Made in China" club.

Krista was shocked. After some conversation, Krista requested that all future Bhavana orders be canceled. Apparently, Bhavana has been the only boutique to respond this way.

I was so impressed with Krista's sincerity and conviction. Bhavana truly is a reflection of what she believes yoga is about and it shows. She investigates where products come from, calling Matt&Nat (twice actually) inquiring about how their vegan samsara line is produced (ethically in China, as the bulk of all recycled plastic is shipped their for processing), calling the Libre tea mug company to assure they are responsibly produced and bringing in clothing that is only made Sweat Shop Free in North America.

Despite that decision being an obviously difficult one for Krista, it really was inspiring to be reminded of how staying true to who you are is essential. Thank you Krista!


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

The Yoga of My Toe

Although I'm not flexible or very strong, I've never had any real health issues inhibiting my yoga practice. Nevertheless, after every single practice I always thank the Goddess for my healthy body allowing me to practice, the fabulous sessions with the catastrophically disappointing.

Then... I opened the door over my toe. Yep, OVER my toe. A yelp and some pretty significant swear words combined with my collapsing face down on the bed clutching my toe brought Andrew running to my rescue. It wasn't long and the sobbing started and when Andrew asked to see my toe he got a big "touche poin!!" (don't touch!).

Yes, I am a big giant wimp.

It's a running joke in our home (and growing up with my family) that I really shouldn't have any appendages left, I stub everything so much. You'd think I would have grown callouses, but no the f-bombs spill out every single time.

This time though... something else happened. Andrew put on the bandaid while I looked away and hiccuped and I limped for the next three days. It was seriously painful and I soon realized that my fourth toe was swollen, bruised and felt weird (I left out that I actually came close to passing out and had to lie down for thirty minutes). It took a full week for me to be ok with actually changing the bandaid myself and I soon accepted the fact that I was (ICK) going to lose the nail (hence the passing out, nauseous feeling).

(I apologize for the foot-phobic readers- but behold the tiniest of injuries that completely halted all yoga practice for over a week!)

It became clear that yoga was out of the question. Most postures included some sort of pressure on the toes and when standing was painful, even a blanket touching my toe, asana took a break. How could such a tiny tiny little part of my body affect my yoga practice so significantly? I took my fourth toe for granted.

This tiny little thing that I thought useless since I can barely move my toes apart at all was effectively stopping my asana. Whaaa???

Over three weeks later and I still have that ridiculous bandaid on my toe and practice still feels a bit weird. Such a simple lesson.

No matter where you're at in your yoga, we are fortunate to just be practicing. Take a moment to thank either your Divine or just as importantly yourself for a body and mind capable of yoga in any form.

Blessings!

article and photograph copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Traveling while being sustainable- A Bag, A Tea Mug & Yoga

I'm in Ottawa on training until Friday, I flew in last night. I had plans... to go see the city, do yoga every single night, write blog posts. My second night and all I want to do is sleep... I should have known, Hanen workshops are always wonderful but completely and utterly exhausting. My goal tomorrow is to have enough of a snack around 3-4pm that I'll make it to a yoga class in a studio by 7:30pm. Hopefully.

 (me, being all tired and non-explore-y in my hotel room: Hi!. Cool light-head huh?)

 I've always had some difficulty sticking to my eco-guns while traveling. This time though, I've made a few adjustments and, I have to say, I'm very pleased with my tiny, miniscule steps. Even though I had to fly, which is a huge carbon-suck. Ah well... some things are beyond our control (and please don't suggest that I should have a) driven, b) taken a train or c) not gone- it was for work).

My first fun step was my carry-on/work bag. I finally ordered a new one since my previous bag broke (after two 1/2 years of fabulous service, the big strap broke and it no longer is appropriate from a professional stand point), and I LOVE it.

This is my "Aries Sport" Mariclaro bag. Made by hand in Toronto from car apholstery and other recycled material. It's sturdy, the seatbelt straps, although you might think would be ugly, are pretty, stylish and comfortable. I adore the sturdy zipper and easy to clean material. It's the perfect size for my lunch tin, shoes, agenda, books and whatever else. It was so fantastic on the flight. Love love love. Now if only they made yoga mat bags....

My second excellent piece of travel eco-genius was my tea mug. Andrew bought me a Libre tea mug for our Yulemas and all the yummy loose tea I've been drinking. It has a plastic out-part and glass interior and a very pretty top. I actually prefer it as a strainer on the go. While traveling I put the loose tea in the mug, heat water with the hotel coffee pot and steep the tea, straining it into a mug or cup after it's done. It's super easy to clean and use. I'm honestly not sold on using it as a mug of tea to go, as I would have to steep the tea in advance- I really don't like over-steeping my tea. But it's a great comfort.

The best though? Are my shampoo and conditioner "containers". I hate bringing my whole shampoo bottles with me. Mostly because I leave Andrew with only the crap shampoo and because it might break and squish all over my clothes. Luckily, we had these two small glass cheese and jelly samples gifted to us and had never eaten. Andrew washed them out for me and perfect for my shampoo and conditioner!

Although I didn't do so well on the remembering a plastic bag for my liquids part (I had chosen one of my cloth bags, forgetting the rule. Now I have another plastic bag for stuff), I'm glad for the adjustments I did make that didn't seem to add to my packing or travel-kit. Also, thank goodness for my DivaCup, best travel partner ever. Anyone else feel like it's time for another DivaCup post???

Now... time for some slow and nice late evening yoga in my hotel room. (Does anyone else choose their luggage bag to fit their yoga mat? Also, had to look up the prAna revolution mat weight to make adjustments and accommodations on how much I packed... can't sacrifice the mat!).

Blessings!

article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Hemp Shower Curtain- Fighting the Mold and Plastic Monsters

Living in Nova Scotia has lots of perks, but also comes with some pretty clear realities- dampness, wet, drizzle, rain and... mold in the bathrooms. Yep, unless you have a ridiculous fan in your bathroom and a wicked dehumidifier, mildew in the caulking around the tub is a part of life.

Although in writing it looks kinda bad, really it just means that you have to change the caulking around your tub about once a year... make sure to clean your tub and keep an eye on how it's doing. Not difficult and not that gross. I did realize, however, once we moved to Vernon- a semi-arid desert- that mold around the tub was reason to panic, run screaming out of your house and worry incessantly about cancer.

Needless to say, our apartment doesn't have awesome ventilation and it was only a matter of time before we were going to have to change the caulking. However, what I wasn't prepared for was the shower curtain.

I clean our bathroom at least every other day, which includes scrubbing the tub and lower part of the curtain. Do you know how difficult it is to scrub a hanging curtain? UGH. So difficult. After two and a half years of losing the battle of Lisa vs Mold on the shower curtain I was at my wits end. Our non-pvc plastic curtain was tossed in the washer, unhooked and scrubbed with a hard plastic brush, sprayed with my eco-cleaner every day... and Mold was proclaimed the winner. After our third non-pvc plastic shower curtain I was completely disgusted that I would have to buy yet *another* plastic curtain. Who cares if it's not pvc- it's still plastic, not-recyclable and totally wasteful.

So after three years of thinking about it, I caved and bought a hemp shower curtain. One reason why I waited so long was the price. Hemp shower curtains run from 70-100$- ack! So much money for a shower curtain. But no frigging way was I going to buy another plastic curtain. The lady at P'Lovers assured me she hasn't bought a curtain in three years and adores hers. Honestly, I think they are ugly and decided to keep our pretty cover part and put the hemp behind it.

Three weeks later and what do I think?


Hemp Shower curtain PROS:

• Made in Canada and from a natural renewable fibre
• Naturally anti-mold
• Dries really really fast
• No plastic smell... no plastic! :)
• SO easy to clean, just toss it in the wash with towels etc once a week.
• Not even a smidgeon of mold or dirt.

Hemp Shower curtain CONS:

• Gets pretty wet. My shower (first of the day) I keep the curtain outside of the tub to decrease curtain wetness... but it has to be moved to the inside to dry or it will drip all over the floor. Which isn't good since our tub isn't properly sealed and the floor is a bit spongy...
• Since it gets wet, we no longer can leave our bathmat on the tub, as it won't dry. It now has to hang on a towel rack, and our towels are now on the back of the door. Ah well.
• It's ugly... I wouldn't want to have it as my only shower curtain.
• It needs to be washed once a week, or at the very most every two weeks. Otherwise mold will grow and you'll have to cut and re-hem the curtain. 
• The price.... sigh.

Overall, I would never go back. Cleaning this shower curtain is so much easier, and doesn't require one whole load only for the curtain. Tuesdays have become our shower curtain wash day, and we usually toss in whatever rags, towels or facecloths that need to be washed as well. So far, our regular Bio-vert laundry detergent has been working wonderfully. No harsh chemicals required.


As for the price... it will eventually pay itself off when you consider that I would have to had continued buying plastic shower curtains. It's something you could put on your gift list, or 'save up for' list. Still, I am really enjoying putting an end to the plastic cycle, the fact that I no longer am breathing in the nasty chemicals released by heat and moisture from the plastic and the ease of keeping mold at bay.

Blessings!

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Why TPE Yoga Mats are Not an Eco-Choice: A Review

The fabulous Babs from Babsbabble contacted me a week ago with the wonderful news that she had received a yoga mat to review from Kulae. We thought it would be fun to do a double review- her yoga use review and my "eco" review. Go on over and check out her 'yoga review'!

Nowadays, choosing a yoga mat is pretty darn complicated. Once it was pointed out that practicing on a yoga mat that was damaging our planet and our health with every breath and every asana... well lets just say the yoga industry jumped on the green bandwagon. Which is great... except for Mr. Greenwashing in the passenger seat.

Kulae mats are labeled as "ECOmat"s and their mission statement is:

At kulae, we are on a twofold mission to provide the most stylish + eco-friendly yoga gear on the planet while truly living by our mantra "karma's real".

so it would appear that they are serious about the whole protecting the planet thing. Unfortunately, words and claims in the eco-world aren't enough...

A "tpECOmat" is made from TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) and as a result is PVC and latex free. Delve a bit further and they elaborate with a

"TPE is a resilient, highly elastic material that is composed primarily of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers" 

which of course clarifies what exactly TPE is made of for the regular yogi(ni) (ahem). Kulae state that the mats are: 100% biodegradable, 100% recyclable.

Lets take another look at what exactly is TPE (or thermoplastic elastomer): As I wrote in a previous post, TPE can mean pretty much anything from a type of plastic (ahem- thermoPLASTIC elastomer) to carbon to rubber (wiki). It's a ridiculously vague and lame term. One positive for Kulae, they're upfront about what type of polymers and copolymers make up their TPE: Styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers or SBS.... (um did your eyes just cross? cuz wow).

Now, trying to figure out what exactly SBS *is*... was almost impossible since I am not a chemist. Also, lay person google searches really turn up empty handed. Although not ideal, if we break up the chemical polymers we can get a better idea:

Styrene: Although named from the resin of the "styrax" tree, it is produced in industrial quantities from ethylbenzene... which is also usually created using chemical type properties (ugh chemistry). Styrene has also been described as a possible carcinogen by the US EPA (wiki).

Butadiene: is carbon and hydrogen and is produced in the USA by steam cracking which is a process that uses hugely high temperatures (often 900C) re: energy intensive. We also start to see "possible carcinogen" and health effects here (wiki).

Why do I care about SBS? Because if this stuff is actually going to "biodegrade" I want to know into what.

"Biodegradable" may appear like a nice pretty term, but in reality this term is not regulated at all and means virtually nothing in the "eco" world. Does it take 5 days or 20 years to break down? Can it break down in a airless, plastic wrapped bag in the landfill or in a compost bin? Or, does it need a high specialized, heat-processed municipal composting facility? What exactly will it break down into? DDT biodegrades into two compounds that are more toxic than DDT itself (Ecoholic Home 2009).

What about the pretty pretty mat colours? Do you think that the blue colour is a natural additive? Those colours are mostly like chemical dyes... and you can be sure they won't magically evaporate when they "biodegrade".

I did email Kulae over a week ago asking for specifics on the what, when and hows (and dye question) with no response to date.

Ok... so basically we still don't know what SBS really is, it's effect on the environment or our health and what it will break down into, how long would that take and exactly how are we supposed to compost this mat. I'm pretty sure you can't just toss this mat in your backyard compost pile, I *know* my municipal composting facility won't accept it and I happen to know that stuff rarely breaks down in airless landfills. So for practical reasons, this mat isn't biodegradable at all.

Finally, according to wiki, Thermoplastic elastomers generally "creep" and demonstrate: "poor chemical and heat resistance, high compression set and low thermal stability. TPEs soften or melt at elevated temperature above which they lose their rubbery behaviour. TPEs show creep behaviour on extended use".  

The definition of "creep" is

"the tendency of a solid material to slowly move or deform permanently under the influence of stresses. It occurs as a result of long term exposure to high levels of stress that are below the yield strength of the material. Creep is more severe in materials that are subjected to heat for long periods, and near melting point. Creep always increases with temperature." (wiki)

I would classify regular use of a yoga mat for asana as stresses... and hot yoga, or practicing outside (sun) most certainly would qualify as increase in temperature.

Ok. So my final eco-review verdict? Yes, Kulae yoga mats (and any other TPE mat) are a step above PVC. I highly doubt they would last the lifetime of a yoga practice and thus would need to be replaced eventually. They aren't practically biodegradable in the greenest terms and some of the constituents have been created using high energy.

Are they "eco"? Um... until I have more information on research indicating that SBS would be safe for us and our planet I have to say No.

Thank you Babs for this fun opportunity! :)


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

EYCC: Tips from the blogosphere and DIY Frozen Pizza

Week two of no box board food products bought and oh man were we ever tempted this week. I never realized just how much we depended on fast, processed food during the week. It's ridiculous really. I'm very happy to be taking the entire month in trying to complete this change. Habits formed over years really need more than a week or two to break.

Speaking of breaking habits, some pretty fabulous bloggy-peeps have been participating in EYCC!

1. Yancy over at Five Seed has committed to stop printing receipts for her customers. I've always just thrown the receipts away anyhow- and when you order online the employer has your info there anyway... so it's a perfect and easy step! Go Yancy :)
2. EcoGrrl has suggested keeping a spare junk towel for wiping your cast iron pans- definitely a great idea to delegate one (or two) specific rags for this job.
3. Alli over at Ocean Treasures has taken a huge step and I am SO excited for her... she's going CLOTH for TP. LOVE this! Read the first step of her journey- I am in love with her anatomically correct starfish. I can't wait to read more about her cloth TP adventure and be inspired!
4. Rachel from Suburban Yogini suggests using newspaper for mopping up bacon fat instead of paper towel (perfect!).
5. Brenda of Grounding Thru the Sit Bones suggests using old cloth diapers- super absorbent! It's also great that they will have a use post diaper stage.

How about it? Have any suggestions on how to decrease paper products in your life? How has the Challenge to increase our connection with the Earth been going so far for you?


As we committed, Andrew has managed to make delicious pizza dough from scratch... and freeze two of them! As a result, we'll be able to have frozen pizza sans boxboard or preservatives. And it actually wasn't that difficult (says the person who really just watched Andrew put it together lol). Sadly, we forgot to take pictures of the process, but lets just say they were perfect and tasty!

I will apologize in advance, since Andrew insists on weighing everything... and therefore the recipe is in grams... According to google, 230g is about a cup, depending on the density of what you're measuring.

Homemade Pizza Dough:

• First: combine water, yeast and honey:
• 230g of water
• 5g of yeast
• 2g of honey

Let yeast proof for 10 minutes in a bowl.

In another bowl add:

• 375g of flour (Andrew used whole wheat)
• 8g salt
• 9g oil
• 4g of sugar

Add yeast ingredients. (you can also add garlic and herbs here- yummy!)

Let rise for 1 or 1.5 hours (Andrew's answer to my shocked face was: "Hey, that's how you develop gluten").

Put in the mixer at 2nd speed for about 8 minutes (or kneed by hand forever... Andrew's words. He loves the stand mixer).

From here you can either portion out two pizzas, freeze both OR portion out three-freeze one, cooking the other two. Roll them on using a rolling pin. With pizza ingredients make sure you bake at 500F for 5 minutes (or less) OR if you have a pizza stone, less than 5 minutes.

To freeze: roll out and place on a cookie sheet and then in the freezer (you might need to make some room while it freezes). Once frozen, take out and put in an old bread bag... or pita bread bag. Voila- frozen pizza dough :)

Blessings!

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Finding your Journey: A Guest Post from Five Seed

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of the wonderful company "Five Seed" and their fabulously eco-conscious and well made herbal/beauty products. My current favourite: The infusion massage oil. I have been using it as perfume and it is the BEST natural scented product I have ever encountered. It lasts the longest and the dropper is perfect. Plus they smell divine!


I asked Yancy to write about what her experience in following her dream has been like over the past year... and what a beautiful answer. If you're considering a new Life Journey; this post is for you!

EcoYogini asked me to write this post at least two months ago – maybe three. I kept waiting for
inspiration to strike – to figure out what exactly I wanted to talk about. And then I realized that my
journey into following my dream has been so filled with different challenges and emotions that I would
never work out what I wanted to say until I sat down and just started writing. So here we go…

I have always been interested in herbal remedies and perfumes, and friends encouraged me to sell them for a long time. But ironically, I don’t think I was ready until after I buckled down at 30 and decided to get a “real degree” and a “real job.” I earned my MAT the same year our local schools started bi-annual rounds of layoffs. I subbed for about two years – a job I loathed. I kept it up because I needed to pay the bills, but my health and emotional state were suffering every month that went by. I started contemplating a way out: Could I make money on my own terms?

My first thought, of course, was to open an herbal remedy business. Yet I held on to subbing. One day,
after expressing my frustrations about it on my blog, one of my fellow bloggers, Mon at Holistic Mama,
said simply, “How long are you going to force yourself to do something you hate so much?” It was a real eye-opener to hear that and I realized it was time to do something and stop dreaming about it.

I admit, I did not exactly do things in the right order, or in a “correct” manner. Many people take
business classes through their community education programs – which I highly recommend. I did not do this and wish that I had. But I grew up with my parents owning several businesses, so I had their advice, and frankly, I just wanted to dive right in.

Although I had enormous support from the blogging community (special thanks to EcoYogini!- my pleasure!), the first six months were the hardest. I scrambled to learn things I probably should have learned before opening the shop. I only had a few orders a month, and things were looking bleak. I spent hundreds of dollars on supplies and packaging for items that never came together and wholesale requests from people who never followed through.

I started out with just four items in my shop in January 2010, and then built up the inventory bit by bit.
But if you had followed my store every month through July, you would have seen the inventory go up,
and then come right back down to about six items last summer. I have a tendency to try things intending to give it my all, but really only giving it 50% because I don’t want to end up wasting time or money when in the end, something might not work out. (This is an old pattern of mine.)

For an entire month, I struggled with thoughts of closing the store down. I made less money in July than in any other month I have been open. I did not make or add inventory – I gave my business very little energy. For a long time, I had very passive, destructive feelings about it. I felt that this was a sign that I was supposed to close the shop down and go back to subbing. Obviously, the universe was not going to support me.

But as the month went on, I realized that I was drowning in fears – fears of not knowing what I was
doing, of being in “over my head” (which is an easy thing to feel when you’re in business by yourself),
of losing money, of failing. And ultimately, after exploring those fears, I came to realize that I was not a
passive victim of the universe. Of course I wasn’t doing well – my store only offered six items, and I was largely ignoring it on every level.

That’s when I started focusing on what I wanted to sell. I started out with lip balms and moisturizers, but I realized I wanted to delve more deeply into perfumes and herbal remedies. When my inventory started reflecting my passion for herbs, I started receiving more energy from the universe. My store started doing better and better.

And now, a year and a month later, the journey is far from over. In fact, I feel as if I have just begun.
The mistakes I made last year were extremely costly – I ended up quite deep in the hole. But then, most businesses do not turn a real profit for 3-5 years. Plus, those mistakes taught me more than a book could have taught me. I find myself far more careful about what I spend and why I spend it. There are still many mistakes I fall into, but each one helps me improve myself and the business.

I have realized that the biggest obstacle I have faced and will continue to face with my business is fear. I am already a highly strung, overly-anxious person. I was already afraid to start a business and maintain it. Afraid of people not liking the products. Afraid of not doing the paperwork right and having the mayor charge in and shut me down (LOL). Afraid of losing more money. Afraid of having to go back to a job I hated. And when people find out you have started your own business – well, no one is stupid. We all know the odds for a small business in today’s economy. And people feel the need to remind you of the statistics. They feel the need to make sure you know (as if I don’t) and to make sure you have a “back-up plan” in the very likely scenario that you end up part of that 95% of entrepreneurs who don’t make it.

The lesson I have learned this year is that the world is full of well-intentioned naysayers. And the biggest naysayer of all is the one in our own mind. So maybe it’s not about making a profit, or having your business “succeed.” (What does that really mean, anyway?) Maybe it is just about trying for something that makes you happy. Maybe it is just about learning how to fuel yourself with courage and positivity instead of listening to the worries and anxieties (yours and others’).

It makes me think of that old adage about deciding to jump off the cliff and to expect that God(dess) will either catch you or give you wings. If you jumped, most people would think you a fool, but really – what other option do you have? Stand there on the edge of the cliff for the rest of your life?

Thank you so much Yancy for sharing your experiences with us! 

You can find her beautiful products at her etsy website: Five Seed
Her fun website: fiveseed.wordpress.com
Her personal website: agreenspell.wordpress.com
and of course Twitter @5seed

Putting your yoga money where your heart is

While suffering through a ridiculously tense and anger inducing yin practice (who knew those two things could go together?), I realized that part of my disappointment and frustration was focused on the utter failure of the current yoga studio I was investing my money into supporting.

I have watched this studio grow from tiny roots to a knew studio, ownership and expansion of a new studio space. I had hopes... some of my favourite yoga classes happen there. But. The studio is just so catastrophically environmentally BAD. And well... you know moi, I just kinda care about our Planet a little bit. It's sorta important to me.

So why would I put my (limited) money supply into a studio that simply doesn't appear to give a crap about how yoga can impact our planet? Seriously, in our consumer-driven society, one way we can send a clear message for change is to back it up with loonies and twonies (for you non-Canadians, that's one and two dollar coins lingo lol).

What is this studio doing that has irked my Eco-yoga-ness?

• Heated rooms using floor heat fans. Ridiculously wasteful and energy intensive. At least have an energy plan to offset the carbon used, or acquire the energy through Bullfrog... there are many options...
• Renos... using no environmentally available options. High VOC paints, fake laminate flooring (icky toxic glue and all) expanding and installing TWO extra bathrooms and showers (um energy?). Sigh, opportunity missed.
• Chemical laden cleaning supplies, including triclosan plastic enclosed hand wash and ridiculous "no sweat" mat cleaner (no ingredient list... sketchy. Email to company has been sent).
• Paper paper paper! Sign up sheets clutter the desk for every single class imaginable. Paper posters line the walls that will be replaced and taken down in a few weeks, ridiculously small mini schedules for taking, cards... There are a dozen more sustainable ways to sign up clients and display information.
• No reasonable recycling sorting or ANY composting... in a municipality where not composting and recycling is *Illegal*.... so lame.
• Not even a smidgeon of hint of plan to consider our planet in any business practice they have done or will do.

Hanging out in the torturous dragonfly yin posture I realized... complain complain complain- but why am I paying for this studio whose practices I strongly disagree with? With other business practices I have absolutely no qualms with complaining to management, voicing my concern with their business practices and taking my money elsewhere. Just because I was in a yoga studio didn't make this situation different. I shouldn't be more careful just because it's a yoga studio, as if they are more "sensitive, enlightened, inherently better and above reproach in some way".

There are many studios in HRM that are doing a much better job at protecting our planet through yoga.

(the way yoga should be... outside :) can't wait for Yoga in the Park again this year!)

We can all do this, yogi(ni)s. It's time to stop thinking of yoga studios as above criticism or beyond responsibility. Promoting and providing a spiritual practice does not excuse trashing our Planet.

Tomorrow will be my last class at this studio (Coffee and Yoga has already promised to flash mob a yin-yang class :) ), after this EcoYogini will be putting her yoga money where her heart is.

Blessings!


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

How to Create a Community Yoga Group...

Over a year into our Coffee and Yoga community yoga endeavour and here is the short form of our journey so far... with a few suggestions.

Realize your city yoga community is clique-ish, difficult to get into if you're a) not a yoga teacher or b) not "in" at a specific studio and wish deeply for an open all inclusive yoga community group.

Have a flash of genius lightening in your brain that *YOU*, the non-studio specific, kinda yoga jaded and decidedly not vying to be a yoga instructor yogini are the person to finally break through your city's long history of anti-yoga community.

Bravely (ok naively) march your little bum over to every single studio (especially after repeated emails and phone calls result in non-committal responses or even plain out ignoring) with a huge hopeful smile pasted to your face. 

Keep that smile on your face even after you realize studio owners really aren't interested after they realize it won't benefit their studio directly.

Lose all hope and deflate completely.

Find *ONE* amazing yoga instructor (Helen Fong!) who will support and triumph your idea to her utmost ability.

Create a twitter account with her prompting for that very purpose. Against all logic, become enamoured with twitter (coffeeandyoga !).

Make a website that you really have a hard time keeping up. One blog really is quite a bit of work, let alone two!

"Flash mob" smaller local studios as the "Coffee and Yoga Crew". (Upcoming studio hop coming up!)

Invite all who attend Coffee and Yoga to "Friend Yoga" sessions at your apartment... then worry that everyone won't fit... then worry about cats and clean like a crazy person before they arrive, then have an awesome Friend Yoga experience where everything just works out. Realize that you are anal and crazy.

After a few somewhat successful meets, have a renewed sense of gun-ho and attempt emailing studios again.

March over with new posters and beautiful speals and a huge yogic smile (yes it was yogic, as in epic-yoga style).

Keep that smile pasted to your face when it is apparent yet again that local studios just aren't into coffee, especially when combined with yoga.

Become absolutely and utterly amazed by what fantastic and supportive friends that you have and how they trudge through snow and rain to be there at each and every Coffee and Yoga meeting.

Make a few new friends who you value dearly through the group.

 
Let go of all expectations on "how many people will show up" and enjoy your hang out time with friends.

(Make sure you remember to book the space at the coffee shop though, or you'll end up stuck all squished downstairs annoying the poor baristas... Also, having a sign is a really good idea).

Look forward to the insightful, honest and non-fouffy yoga discussions that can take place with a group of non-yoga obsessed.

Decide that Coffee and Yoga has remained true to what you wanted it to be all along: A place for all and any yogi(ni)s to meet and chat in an open, honest and supportive environment. Without pretentiousness or studio-specific agenda. Just a bunch of Yogi(ni)s chatting about yoga, sipping coffee/tea and enjoying being Present.

Blessings!


Article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

EYCC: Paper towel tips and an update

 Andrew and I haven't bought/used paper towel in over three years. Not once. Not even for bacon fat, cleaning the bathroom, toast or cleaning mirrors and windows. You know what? I don't miss it at all. Why does your paper towel habit matter? I wrote a detailed post about it in December 2009, but I'll give you the main points:

• If every household in North America replaced just one roll of virgin-fibre paper towel for 100% post consumer recycled we'd save 550,000 trees
• 400,000 ha of Canada's Boreal Forests are harvested each year with most for paper mills
• Typical paper towels are bleached with chemicals, use virgin-fibre and extremely wasteful.

My steps involved switching to recycled paper towels, only to be used for emergencies and then one day I just didn't buy any more. Ya know, when you don't have any as an option in the house, you eventually forget why you'd ever need it in the first place.

My strategies and changes include:

• Using rags for everything cleaning related: including mirrors, toilets, bathtubs etc. I just have a system where I clean the toilet last, so that I'm not spreading toilet germs in the bathroom. Also, mirror and faucets get cleaned first to avoid streaks (vinegar and water seriously works the best).
• We use plates for all snacks, sandwiches, crackers etc. I figure the energy required to wash the plates is significantly less than the chemicals and processing required to make paper towel.
• Bacon fat: we just don't sop it up. I know- gross eh? But we rarely eat bacon... An option I have considered, however, is using a baking rack to allow the bacon to drip onto a plate underneath. Another option would be to dab the bacon with a cloth napkin to soak up some fat that way. We also pour the fat into a jar.
• Cat grossness: if the cats make some gross mess on the floor, we usually clean it up using a rag and the strongest eco-cleaner we have around (usually a 7th Generation spray). But if we have to pick something up (ew!) I usually grab some toilet paper and flush it....
• Napkins: we use cloth.

Seriously, I have no idea why I ever thought paper towel was necessary and that cloth alternatives and rags would be difficult to manage. 

UPDATE for: Decrease Paper Week 1
Well, our grocery shopping has been interesting. Instead of buying box board packaged mac and cheese, pizza and frozen goods, we've tried a few from scratch alternatives.

 

mmm Growler. The mug is so you can get a feel for the size...

1.  Andrew made pizza dough from scratch and actually even froze one! They turned out delicious. Now we just have to make MORE.
2. Mac and Cheese is our next step... maybe tonight?
3. I bought granola (from La fourmi bionique) with no box board packaging (I could make my own, very easy, but a bit time consuming... so didn't happen yet).
4. We bought yummy yummy beer from the market in Growler form (2 litres) from Granite Brewery at the market. No box board for the bottles (since it's one big jug) and the bestest yummiest beer- The Peculiar. It does mean that we have to drink the entire 2 Litres upon opening... Also we had a bit of a problem with the Irish Stout- was completely flat. This supposedly happens due to the nitrogen needed to keep it creamy in draught form, which doesn't translate to jug form.

How has your challenge been going?

article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

A walking reusable roadshow and Rockin' Bags

Living a non-disposable life means a lot of things. Once you make that decision to truly live *with* Attachment and Presence to your life and your surroundings there's really no going back. All of a sudden the blinders are off, you see all that is around you, you're connecting and it's no longer cool to just 'get that to go please'. Now you see where the waste doesn't go (away)...

It's wonderful, refreshing, fulfilling and... sometimes a colossal pain in the...asana (haha, yep I totally made that lame joke).

Trying to live a non-disposable life can get pretty tricky. I have a non-disposable, reusable option for almost everything and walking to work can be a total musical roadshow. Kinda like that puppet on Sesame Street (before they went PG) who sold letters. Remember him? Lefty the salesman. 'Do you want to buy a Klean Kanteen? How about a glass container? Yes?'

Walking to work I sound like a klinking, klonking traveling musician all bundled up with scarf, mittens and hat.

My reusable arsenal for work:

• small plate, fork and spoon (always left at work in my desk-cleaned)
• lunch in my stainless steel lunchbox and/or a few glass containers
• Klean Kanteen water bottle
• Klean Kanteen coffee carafe (yay Yulemas and delivering excellent gifts!)
• Loose tea options in mason jars (kept at work)
• coffee and tea mugs complete with attachable strainer (left at work)

Walking to the ferry with a stainless steel lunchbox, glass containers, water bottle and coffee mug PLUS my work bag gets to be a bit much. And such a colossal pain.

Part of my solution won't be switching to plastic... but a better carrying bag. Months ago I purchased this beautiful purse from LoveMe Boutique made by Toronto based Mariclaro. I heart my purse VERY much and was surprised at just how beautiful these bags truly are... the website really doesn't do them justice for some reason. Since my regular work bag (of two years) broke a few months ago, I've been searching for a sustainable and practical solution, other than another Lulu, made in China with petrochemical synthetic materials bag.

Mariclaro has ridiculously fabulous bags. They are all hand cut and sewn using recycled materials (car upholstery, seat belts, tarps) in Toronto. My purse is uber sturdy, comfy and beautifully made. I've been drooling over this Aries Sport Bag for months now and have finally just decided to just suck it up and buy it. (It's like this one, or more like these, but green, orange and mostly off-white- etsy takes the bags off once you order them). All are one of a kind, which is another little cool bit. This bag should fit my bottles, lunch tin AND my agenda and work stuffs, with an over the shoulder strap perfect for walking. It's really too bad they don't have any yoga mat bags...THAT would be cool. Maybe in the future? :)

I'm also hoping this bag will help out during my copious amounts of work-related travels that are happening soon. In January I made a few trips around the province and had to bring another slew of reusable containers, including my yoga mat. Travels to come:

Yarmouth and Clare Nova Scotia for a week
Ottawa for a week (training! any fabulous yoga studio suggestions while I'm there?)
Montreal for a week (WOOT! CASLPA conference here I come! Roseanne, we are so meeting up for coffee- right? Oui, Oui!)

How about you my yoga-eco-peeps? How are you managing the adjustment to a non-disposable, connected life?

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

The invisible barriers stopping men from practicing yoga

Often I drag Andrew to yoga classes, yoga clothing/accessory shopping, Coffee and Yoga meets and just assume that he will experience these events with the same comfort and ease that I do. Although both Andrew and I are firm feminists and the first to point out inequity in other situations (for example, buying tires for my car and having the dude *only* look and talk to Andrew...), I just don't recognize how there are barriers for men in yoga.

Yes, it's true that more men then ever are practicing yoga in western society, but barriers still exist and are very present in many ways we don't even consider. This post was actually inspired by a friend, K, who emailed me this week with an experience of his own.

He's recently discovered Moksha yoga and has become ecstatic with this style. K is a great advocate for yoga with his hockey team, with co-workers... with anyone really. While out at the gym, he decided it was time to check out some more official 'yoga' clothing that would wick away sweat and stretch well during a heated yoga class. Being a fantastic 'EcoYogi', he stepped into 'One Tooth', a yoga clothing company where their clothing is made in Canada. Unfortunately, the 'men' section for clothing is this tiny rack at the back of the store. I've seen it, looks like someone's discards. Plus, as he confirmed, the selection was a complete joke. Ugly pants, sweaters and a few shorts. He was completely discouraged and annoyed.

Barrier: lack of male yoga clothing selection, especially if you're looking for local and sustainably made.

Yoga clothing isn't just limited to lack of selection, but there are other subtleties that I had never thought of until Andrew pointed them out. Walking into a yoga store already has a ton of stigma if you're a man, top that off with almost no selection, foofy decorations and feminine staff... and you've got a few social barriers that pop up as a heterosexual male. Andrew: "Not only that, but it is much less acceptable for a man to pay over 60$ for a pair of yoga pants in our society".

Sure you could order online with more selection, but that's an unfair choice. If I'm going to pay that much money, I like to try on clothing to make sure it fits. Just because Andrew is a man doesn't mean he wouldn't prefer to try on his investments.

Since K was really referring to his attempts at purchasing responsibly made clothing, we are leaving Lululemon completely out of this (as we all know what "consciously formulated in Vancouver, Made in China" means).

Barrier: Stigma of a man attending a yoga class. 

Ok, this one really is one of the most often mentioned. Yoga in the western world really has been marketed to women and is associated as a more "female" activity. Even though this is changing- how many classes have you attended with 50-50 ratio? I'm impressed if there are more than 3 in a 30 person class. Both Andrew and K have mentioned how intimidating it is to enter a class filled with women with the potential of having no effing clue what they were doing.

Barrier: Yoga postures are taught to the women in the room, not the men.

Imagine having an instructor describe the asana while making reference to tighter hamstrings or hips... or assuming a specific shoulder width and upper body strength, or adjustments for delicate lower body parts.... Seriously though. How often do I hear a sequence or asana taught making the assumption that most women have a certain level of flexibility in their hips or lack of crushables during upward bow. Andrew: "It's pretty obvious that yoga was practiced by young men who's testicles haven't dropped... or women".  I'm not saying that classes should switch to being male-centric, avoid upward bow or locust... but do we really need to hear things like "lets all embrace our inner Goddess" or "Goddess pose- feel strong and beautiful everyone!"....

Andrew: "You know what I think would pull in more men? Yoga is really fucking hard. It's not easy. But you don't hear about it as being hard, you hear it as being liberating. People use flowers and foofy things to describe it, but really it just kicks you ass. Lots of guys who have done yoga that I know, have enjoyed it, but had no idea. You box, do karate and it's supposed to be hard, because the end result is you kicking someone's ass. But yoga's end result is to get in touch with yourself...."

I do believe yoga is changing and becoming more acceptable for men to practice. But I'm also extremely aware that there are invisible social barriers on how yoga as it is continues to deter more men from even trying. Sometimes these things are unconsciously done by the teachers, other students or companies. Acknowledging this is an important part of Change.

What do you think?

Blessings!

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

To finish: a fantastic video by "Radio Radio", an Acadian Hip Hop group, now based in Montreal (but from Nova Scotia) My current fav song- "Cargué dans ma chaise". 

This song below, though, is perfect, since it's truly all about how stereotypes of "metrosexual", judging someone or pigeonholing them because of what they like/dress/do is ridiculous. You could say Yoga is a part of that list. :)