Walking the walk of committing to eco-friendly living – not just talking the talk – is sometimes easier said then done. Below are some of our favorite simple but effective ways to help the environment this earth month, and all year long!

1. Save Water and Energy

We’re sure you’ve heard this time and again, but that’s because it’s true!

Don’t brush your teeth with the water running, and always turn off the lights and heating in a room before you leave to conserve energy. And, unless it has to be plugged in – unplug it! That goes for everything from phone chargers to curling irons.

2. Support Eco-friendly Businesses

As eco-friendly product options become more and more widespread, we say take advantage of them!

Taking the time to support local and earth-friendly businesses will pay off not only for your community, but for the environment as well.

And, if you’re looking for eco-friendly yoga props, clothing, mats, and more – Barefoot Yoga has got you covered. With our 20% off site wide earth day sale it’s a great time to save on all of your yoga needs!

3. Recycle and Compost Anytime You Can

Taking that extra moment to separate out your compostable and recyclable items so that they don’t end up in a landfill – and are instead able to be reused – is always worth it!

It’s also a great earth-friendly idea to invest in a reusable travel mug, as well as grocery bags, towels, and other reusable items to replace those that so many of us use and throw away every day.

4. Be Aware of How You Travel

If there’s a walking or biking option, go for it! Or, if travel by car is required, consolidate different errands and destinations to make your car trip as economical as possible.

5. Spread the Word

Educate others. Simply spreading knowledge on the benefits and easy ways of living an eco-friendly life can have a great impact on those around us, and in turn, the planet!

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness

We all have the tried and true health tips that work for our body and mind – whether it’s the amazing effects of setting aside time every morning to practice some poses (we bet you knew that would be at the top of our list!) to only eating clean, unprocessed foods.

Ever wondered what some of the go-to methods of the stars are? Look no further than our behind the scenes list below!

1. Madonna

The original material girl practices Ashtanga yoga every morning – an amazing way to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. Now that’s what we call en vogue!

2. Shailene Woodley

The Divergent star peruses farmer’s markets any chance she gets for all of her produce needs to find the freshest and most local foods available!

3. Maria Menounos

Menounos lives by measuring health with how she feels, not her dress size. That’s something we can work with! Focusing on a primarily healthy, strong body can make it easy to choose nutritious food options that don’t sound like a chore – while still letting yourself indulge in that piece of chocolate every once in a while. We think that whatever the Access Hollywood star’s method is it’s working for her!

4. Carrie Underwood

This singing sensation stays away from simple carbs and sugar in her breads to get the most nutrients possible with whole grains. Whole grain bread that fills you up, tastes great, and gives you a sustainable boost is ideal for both your physical and mental energy. It can’t hurt that she’s also a dedicated yogi herself!

5. Lena Dunham

The Girls star practices acro yoga (acrobatic yoga) to build a strong core and stay in shape. Acro yoga is a creative, active, and fun way to stay fit and keep your body feeling great!

To find all of the quality yoga props, gorgeous clothing, and beautifully original accessories designed to facilitate your healthy lifestyle, come visit us today BarefootYoga.com. We would love to see you!

Posted under Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga

Want to Brush up on Your Yoga Knowledge? 5 Questions & Answers about Yoga You Always Wanted to Know Below!

1. I’ve heard quite a few yogis identify as vegetarian or vegan, and I’m wondering if there’s a specific reason why?

While we can’t speak for everyone, the answer is generally that when it comes to yogis, there are a couple of yogi-specific reasons. One is a reason similar to why many vegetarians and vegans don’t eat meat, which is non-violence, referred to as “Ahimsa” in the yoga world. Another main reason is because meat doesn’t contain “Pranic Value”, otherwise known as life force. One goal of yoga is to increase your Prana (life force) in not only your practice, but in all aspects of your life, which for some yogis means they would rather pass on that roast chicken or hamburger.

2. I’m new to yoga, and in class I’ve heard the word “nadi” referred to a couple of times. I’m not sure what it means, and I’m interested to find out!

Nadi refers to an “energy channel”, of which there are (as recorded in many Tantric texts) 72,000 in the body. The main three utilized in yoga are: Susumna (the spinal column), as well as Ida and Pingala (both of which criss cross up the spine). The point they all converge is referred to as the “Ajna Chakra”, which is located between the eyebrows. Want to find out more about the Ajna Chakra? Check out Q&A number 5 below!

3. Sometimes when I’m in class my yoga teacher will adjust my posture during a position. While helpful, sometimes I feel like I was already doing the posture correctly and didn’t need any adjustment or help holding it. Are there really benefits to yoga teachers doing this?

While you may feel like you were doing the pose correctly, your teacher is able to accurately view how the posture is held while you’re doing it and knows the correct way to hold and practice it, which in turn is going to be the most beneficial for you.

When your teacher helps you through a pose the correct way, your muscles’ memory will adjust and help to create and keep that memory of an accurately done pose during future use, further increasing your abilities and skills in yoga.

4. Savasana is often a calming and positive way to end a class for me, but sometimes it’s difficult to just lie there and relax! I’d like to know if there’s a back story to Savasana, and how it came into being.

As many people and all yogis know, Savasana, also referred to as “Corpse Pose”, is done at the end of class as a way to relax and find your center. What some yogis are surprised by though is that it’s sometimes a very difficult pose for people to perform. It requires a high level of calmness and surrender (similar to mediation), which can be difficult to be comfortable in with the busy nature of our daily lives. It’s worth it to try and get comfortable though, because not only can Savasana be relaxing, it also creates an “anabolic state”, which is a physiological reaction that causes the body to heal and grow new tissue – perfect for the end of not only a yoga class, but also other forms of exercise such as a jog or bike ride.

5. I’m a bit familiar with the term “chakra”, but still somewhat unclear about what a chakra actually is and how many there are. Can you help me out?

click image to enlarge

In Hinduism and many yogic traditions, energy centers, or chakras, are points in our spiritual or subtle (i.e. non-physical) body that are energy points for the corresponding area. Our naddis (referred to earlier in this post) are thought of as the kind of “road” through which this energy travels by, with the chakras serving as a meeting point of that concentrated energy. To find out more specific information about each of the eight chakras, take a look at the information in the picture above!

Want the perfect props to go with your practice? Come visit us at BarefootYoga.com today!

Posted under Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga