Suddenly, it’s that time of year again – back to school ads are everywhere, you realize the reading list is only half-done, and you could swear you saw a leaf fall just the other day.

While for some, school is just beginning and for others there are still a few precious weeks left of summer, it’s not too early to start preparing so that the transition back to school –  as well as the responsibilities and time commitments that come with it – are as easy as possible and don’t throw your world off kilter.

We’ve gathered some of our favorite tried-and-true pieces of advice on how to mentally and physically take steps to ensure that (whether you’re the parent or the student!) your school year gets off to a zen start.

• First off – prioritize and organize. There’s no need to do away with your yoga practice or prioritize everything (and everyone) over yourself. Schedule a time to go food shopping to plan meals for the week, and set aside time to review what you or your child needs to do to be prepared for the first day. Then, even on a busy day, schedule at least a brief time for a practice or meditation – and make that time just as important as the time scheduled for all other tasks. The old saying (hard as it can be to remember) is so true: you need to put on your oxygen mask before you put on anyone else’s.

Yogi’s Tip for Calm and Centered Focus: Try out this 10 minute guided meditation for       clearing your mind and relaxing.

• Secondly, stay grounded and keep breathing! Something doesn’t go as planned? Try not to sweat it! Life happens, and with it comes unexpected twists and turns. Try to go with the flow, and remember that everything will be ok!

Yogi’s Tip to Relieve Stress and Stay Grounded: Take a moment for Child’s Pose. This pose is a wonderful way to aide in relieving stress and anxiety, and the angle your body is positioned in allows for deep torso breathing (also a stress reliever).

• Lastly, have fun! Remember that school is supposed to be fun. Learning is a valuable and wonderful experience, so enjoy it – whether it’s you or your little one who’s going! Celebrate the start of the new school year with a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy, such as a day of family yoga at the local park, a yummy meal cooked together, or a trip to the local bookstore!

Yogi’s Tip for Fun: C’mon now, this one should be a no brainer! Simply have fun. Or, if you do need a suggestion, maybe a spontaneous dance party or a visit to your local Glowga class?

For all of your yoga needs, come check us out today at BarefootYoga.com!

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Food and Cooking, Health and Fitness, Meditation, Styles of Yoga

I kicked off week 6 of my Yoga Revival with an outdoor yoga session. I have a slight nagging pull in my right upper hamstring from when I “came out of waterskiing retirement early in July.” I feel its presence when bending forward, and so I brought a tennis ball to my yoga mat to massage it along with all the muscles in that lower back and buttocks region. It is a meditative challenge to breathe through such deep massage, and I followed this with gentle hamstring stretches – laying on my back, using a strap while extending each individual leg straight up, then about 45 degrees to the side.

I was happy to feel extra flexibility when I began my standing asana practice. Along with the sound of birds and breeze in the trees, my warm up helped create a grounded feeling that only deepened through my whole 50 minute practice. I have used the tennis ball to knead out sore muscles in a couple of practices since Sunday, along with a brief warm-up using a strap – with similar positive results. I find keeping it brief is helpful, because when I get too comfortable, it becomes harder for me to get going on my sun salutations – which require fortitude, tenacity, and sweat.

Since getting back into a regular yoga practice at the beginning of the summer, I have spent more time doing the “in between” poses that sometimes have been neglected in my yoga practice. I do have some of that type A inclination to jump into things quickly – that fervor over Pattabhi Jois’s call to action – “99% practice, 1% theory.” But I find an extra breath with a lift here, and a pressing down there – is always beneficial. And so in between my first forward bend, and jumping or stepping back to “Chattarunga,” I am conscious to take a moment to lift my knee caps, press down with my heels, and lift my toes and my sternum, while looking up – before going into a deeper forward bend. Sometimes I go up and down like this 5 times before continuing.

And there’s no question – my asana practice is a good warm up for sitting meditation. I try to end all of my asana sessions with at least a 5 minute sitting meditation, followed by sivasana. So my well-used 15 year-old sari zafu was with me, and I ended my practice with a sitting meditation, followed by sivasana.

I’m still trying to work out my life schedule in a way where yoga fits in more naturally and automatically. These days I generally cram it into my very busy life with some difficulty. But even crammed in, I always feel better from yoga practice, and a little warm up goes a long way.

In this picture sits my 15 year-old sari zafu on top of my 1/8” hybrid eco-mat, which sits on top of my Jammu rug.

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Meditation, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga Supplies

As summer starts to wind down, you may want to squeeze in one more yoga festival in the sun, to experience the joy of stretching your yoga muscles and meeting new friends in a fun and communal setting. Here are some of our top picks for yoga festivals to attend in August:

Santa Fe Yoga Festival – August 6-9

Featuring the music of festival favorites Michael Franti and Spearhead, this gathering shouldn’t be missed if you’re in the southwest! The festival includes classes by over 35 yoga instructors, as well as inspiring music, daily meditations and dharma talks.

ARISE Music Festival – August 7-9

The scope of this event in Colorado encompasses not just yoga and music, but exciting visual performances and thought-provoking workshops! Whether you want to practice Jivamukti, Kundalini or Laughter yoga, there’s a class for you. On top of that, you can attend concerts by a variety of musicians, shows by talented aerial performers, and insightful discussions about culture, art and spirituality.

LoveYogaFest – August 14-16

Cape Cod’s yoga festival includes two classes that you just can’t miss: beach yoga and paddleboard yoga! You can experience the natural and fragile beauty of the New England coast at the best time of the year, and get your yoga at the same time. In addition to beach yoga, there are aerial, restorative, and Vinyasa classes, and a whole lot more.

Big Bear Yoga Festival – August 21-23

In beautiful Big Bear, California, you can enjoy a festival filled with yoga, music, meditation and lectures, surrounded by the picturesque San Bernadino Mountains. And on top of all that, the event is located at a YMCA camp that offers canoeing and swimming to cool off in the heat.

Iowa Yoga Fest – August 28-30

For those in America’s heartland, there’s this three-day festival that kicks off with a yogi party in downtown Des Moines! During the rest of the weekend, you’ll enjoy workshops and classes with a variety of teachers from around the world. Whether you’re interested in mandalas, mantra meditation, or gong baths, you’ll find something to excite your interest at this eclectic event.

For ultra-portable yoga supplies including Hybrid Eco Mats, Eco-Foam Blocks and Yoga Mat Bags, visit www.barefootyoga.com!

Posted under Health and Fitness, Meditation, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Events