Featured Studio: Namaste Yoga

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Namaste Yoga, with locations in Oakland and Berkeley, strives to live up to their name by honoring all those who walk through their doors. Their studios center around the enrichment of their students by helping them to live their lives joyfully and in the moment, resulting in a better balance of life, family, work, and wellness.

Classes at Namaste Yoga are available in a multitude of styles such as Vinyasa Flow, Power Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Yin Yoga. One particularly exciting and unique class is Nia Dance, which incorporates wisdom from martial arts, jazz, tai chi and modern dance into an exhilarating, yoga-based workout. In addition to their variety of yoga classes, they also offer wellness services including massage, acupuncture, Ayurveda and naturopathy.

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They also serve their community through their Namaste SEVA program, which focuses on a new cause or charitable organization each quarter. In the yogic tradition, Seva is the idea of selfless service, improving the lives of others without any expectation of reward. Recipients of Namaste SEVA’s support have included food banks, housing charities, and organizations helping at-risk children and teens.

Namaste Yoga has been a long-time customer of Barefoot Yoga, and offers a number of our products including yoga mats, mat bags and yoga blocks. If you’re in the Bay Area, stop by one of their three locations for a warm and welcoming experience!

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Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga News, Yoga Studios, Yoga Supplies, Yoga Teachers

This post was written by Lauren on October 6, 2015

Yoga Revival – Week 13: Yoga Elation and the Mysore Practice Rug

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I’ve discovered yoga practice can lead to feelings of elation. Endorphins are released, circulation palpably increases, and a peaceful synchronization occurs between mind and body. The cylinders are primed to fire at peak capacity.

I experienced some of this yoga elation the other day after finally dragging myself up and out for a morning hot Hatha Yoga class at YogaBliss on Mercer Island, lead by a seasoned instructor named Jonathan Bowra. His strength, lightheartedness, and insights helped push me through 90 minutes of mostly core movements, giving way to slippery sun salutations.

On the way out of my house, I grabbed my Manduka Pro yoga mat – considered by many the best of all mats. Its density provides a bouncing sensation that makes me feel like I have the strength of 10 Grinches when I practice on it. But in my hurry to get to class on time (nothing like a hurried yogi) I forgot to grab my rug – which is what I needed most – to lay on my mat and absorb all that sweat. And so I worked my core muscles hard to hold those sweat drenched downward dogs and triangles, but my feet did slip a few times, once in a way that felt dangerously close to causing a significant leg injury.

I’ve found the best surface for sweaty yoga is a thin or dense mat with a practice rug over it. So next time I won’t forget because the exhilaration of a hot yoga class is well worth it, and should be done in the safest way – on a non-slip surface.

For the rest of the day I felt heavily anchored to the ground, yet with energy surging upwards in kind of a perfect balance. Calmly elated simply to be!

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Posted under Barefoot Yoga News, Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Mysore Practice Rugs, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga Studios, Yoga Supplies, Yoga Teachers

This post was written by David on October 2, 2015

Featured Studio: Avalon Art & Yoga Center

 

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Transformed from its previous life as a Palo Alto art gallery, Avalon Art & Yoga has been dedicated to the traditional practice of yoga since its beginnings in 2002. Founder Paul Crowl says, “We really want to convey the mental and spiritual aspect of yoga, not just the physical.” The studio’s artistic roots have been preserved, too – mosaics and murals decorate the space, and they host rotating art exhibitions throughout the year.

In addition to the spiritual and artistic, Avalon Yoga also focuses strongly on the scientific study of yoga. They offer a popular university-level teacher training program with a science-based curriculum, and last year they added a human anatomy and dissection lab to their training program. Through their website and newsletter, they keep their teachers and students updated on new research involving yoga, biology and medicine.

 

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They also reach out to the community to help the underprivileged. In addition to their free Kid, Teen, and Cancer Support classes, Avalon Yoga donates a portion of their profits to organizations that bring yoga to those in need, such as San Quentin’s Prison Yoga Project.

Avalon Yoga has remained a valued Barefoot Yoga customer since 2002. Check out their boutique to find Barefoot Yoga silk eye pillows, yoga mat bags, practice straps and more!

 

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Yoga News, Yoga Studios, Yoga Supplies

This post was written by Lauren on September 2, 2015