It’s always an exciting time at Barefoot Yoga when a new season of OMgirl arrives – for us it means a variety of stunning new fashions, colors, and styles that we can’t help but fall in love with!

Below are some of our new favorite pairings fresh out of the box:

1. Half Moon Bra in Horizon Dye paired with Practice Pants in Horizon Dye

The Horizon Dye style is a long-loved classic when it comes to OMgirl designs, but the new Dawn color simply took our breath away! In a stunning pink and blue color combination, this new color is perfect for the transition from hot summer days into cool nights that have just a hint of fall in them. We love the combination of the matching Half Moon Bra with the Practice Pant – it creates a stunning silhouette while providing optimum comfort. And, if you find yourself needing a little extra coverage during a cool evening, try out the Practice Cardi! It’s the perfect design and weight to simply throw on after class or while relaxing on the porch.

2. Enlighten Legging paired with Hot Short

A new legging on the scene is OMgirl’s sheer and satiny Enlighten Legging. These are perfect for wearing for a little extra warmth and coverage under a skirt, shorts, or dress! Pair them with the comfy and flattering Hot Short for a sporty look that gives off a laidback yogi vibe.

3. Combo Legging paired with Infinity Tank Namaste

This unique legging is versatile and eye catching for wearing out and about, at the studio, or at the gym! With the stretchy, long length of the leggings, you can easily wrap them under your foot for a bump of extra style on the mat, and for an eye catching look that will surely turn heads, pair it with the relaxed Infinity Tank Namaste.

4. Lineup Capri paired with Concept Cami

Another couple of newcomers! The Concept Cami offers a relaxed but flattering style with a lightweight, flowy bottom and fitted bra top design that has a super cute yet subtle striped pattern. Pair it with the similarly striped Lineup Capri for a supremely comfortable outfit that you can take from casual wear to workout wear with no effort needed!

Want to see all the awesome brand new OMgirl clothing just in? (Who doesn’t?)

Come visit us at Barefoot Yoga today and simply click here to see all that’s just arrived!

Posted under Barefoot Yoga News, Health and Fitness, Yoga Clothing, Yoga News, Yoga Supplies

On International Yoga Day (June 21st) – while taking a free outdoor yoga class here in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle – which is adjacent to Barefoot Yoga Headquarters – I made a commitment to do yoga for at least a half hour, 6 days a week. Today is day 6.

I’m happy to report I have stuck to my commitment. Not sure I would have if not for announcing this. Life has been extra busy.

I had envisioned waking up early and getting my yoga in, but the snooze button won all week. Here at work, I rolled my yoga mat out in my office. The first day it was completely flat, making it hard not to step on when walking from my desk to anywhere. I got in 5 minutes of yoga. I have since folded it in half, and then I folded it again. I have not returned to it since “day 3″.

So, each evening I have found myself hungry for dinner, home with my freshly-out-of-school-for-the-year almost 8 year-old daughter, and with the prospect of not doing yoga at all. That first night I decided my yoga would happen after eating, but it would be in the form of sitting meditation. There was a time I would have said, “Well, that doesn’t really count.” That was before I tried sitting upright and silent for 30 minutes years ago. In my experience, it ain’t no walk in the park.

The other night, as I drove home from the grocery store at 11 PM, I considered making that day my day of rest for the week. But then it occurred to me I had already inadvertently taken a day of rest on day 2. I went home and did my 30 minutes. This time I played some meditative music (which seems to make it easier – but I wonder if it takes away some of the purity).

The last three nights – between 10 and 11 PM, I have done 30 minutes of sitting meditation. All were different, but had things in common. In each case, I felt more comfortable than I anticipated – with my daughter’s zafu (pictured above) supporting my seat, and my legs bent underneath me (Virasana-hero pose). In each case, I felt proud of myself when the clock started, and I settled in. In all 3 meditations, my mind floated in and out of thoughts, and occasionally stopped thinking altogether, my closed-eyed gaze a deeper black, and just the sound of my breath. In each meditation, my mind wondered impatiently whether I had 15 minutes left, or 3, or 20? In each meditation my skin crawled, and I stirred uncomfortably – wondering if I could keep going. It got intense, and I thought about the folks who do Vipasana meditations for hours and hours. This helped.

Last night I stuck a Barefoot Yoga zabuton (pictured above) underneath my daughter’s zafu. Sometimes to motivate ourselves for a disciplined action, we need help. The zabuton definitely improved my comfort, and will be used as often as possible from here on in. Also, this new meditation throne which resides conveniently under my bed is beckoning me to sit on it. Reminds me of the phrase from Field of Dreams – “build it, and they will come.”

I will have to return that zafu to my daughter, and grab another one for myself.  In the meanwhile – meditation definitely counts, although I’m looking forward to yoga movement too in my near future. For now, it’s all about “getting it in.”  I believe this flow will grow.

Posted under Health and Fitness, Meditation, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga Supplies

Coronado, California based writer Stephanie Spence has worked in TV, films and radio and is currently in the Advanced UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting. This mother of two spends her time writing, traveling, teaching yoga and volunteering with an equine therapy group for challenged youth.

Her philosophy and approach to yoga are unique and powerful, drawing on her vast life experiences. Practicing yoga for over thirty-five years has given her the great gift of balance  and creative freedom and her focus is on guiding her students in a meaningful way for the sacred exploration of authenticity, truth, wellness and love.

Stephanie practicing on her Bengal Blue Practice Rug with OM embroidery

BY: What originally brought you to Yoga?

SS: Pain. I was 19 years old, living in Houston, TX and would water ski until I could not walk. Sadly, my family of origin did not believe in spending money to take me or my brothers to the doctor, so my scoliosis in my back had not been “discovered”. The GREAT news is I’m grateful. I’m grateful because without this “bad back” I would not have found yoga. It has given me THE greatest life. Pain (physical and emotional), I’ve identified, has been one of my greatest “teachers”. I’ve practiced yoga now for 35+ years.

The day I walked into the small studio in Houston, I was taking pain pills. A friend asked what my plan was for that. “Plan”, I said…. “What do you mean?”. He kindly explained that the pills were just masking the pain. What does a 19 year old know, right? All I knew is when I took the pills, I could function. Without them, I was ALWAYS in pain. Wow….

So I went to yoga, and I left feeling “better”. I went back. Now it’s 35+ years later and I can tell you that yoga has been the greatest gift. It has given me the tools and the balance to manifest a life of my dreams – in fact, a life beyond my wildest dreams. A life I thrive in.

BY: What was your first class experience like?

SS: Back then the mainstream perception of yoga was very different. People thought I was so weird, that I was going to be joining some kind of cult. I was nervous. The teacher only spoke in Sanskrit. He had on a “turban and diaper” – HA. It was Ashtanga, a very physical flowing class. Besides the teacher giving us cues on the sequence of posturers he never, ever said a word to us outside of the classroom. He was a tiny man. The studio was in an old house in the cool part of town so I felt very exotic. I remember the room being lit with soft, yellow light flowing in from the windows. Of course there was no mirrors and music. It just wasn’t how it was back then. I actually still love those kinds of classes.  I love it that he explained “yoga etiquette” – Take your shoes off at the door, no talking in class and no leaving the room. I put my mat down and waited. I looked around the room and thought the people were very interesting looking. I found out after class that they were professional athletes, doctors, scientists, artists – a very cool mix of people, which was also very intoxicating. The BEST and most important part of that first experience was all I knew was when I left my back was NOT in pain. I was hooked.

BY: What do you like to wear for Yoga practice?

SS: It depends on the style of yoga, time of year and whether or not I am inside or outside. I joke that I need a whole closet for all my yoga clothes because it’s what I live in. For outside it’s all about layering or making the elements my friend. My favorite outside practice is on the beach. I bring the longer rug from this site because I don’t like all the sand on my feet. Once I’m on my mat I’m there for the rest of the class. I wear tight leggings so that I don’t slip on my skin when it’s hot out and I know I’ll be sweaty. Same holds true for Bikram or Bikram-inspired classes and/or heated classes. I’ve found that I can be more present and grounded when I’m wearing the right clothes. It’s critical that I be comfortable. There is an elusive perfect top that I’m still searching for. Companies have come close, but I haven’t found the right yoga top for every practice. Although I love to get dressed up, yoga clothing for me is more about function. It’s a bonus when I think it is attractive, but since yoga is more about “all the other stuff than the poses” I appreciate things that have technical fabric but is buttery soft.

BY: Have you ever gone on any Yoga retreats? If so, where and what stood out to you about that experience?

SS: Yes, one of my favorite things to do. I’ve done solo and group retreats, all around the world. When I travel I create my day like my life at home. Nothing thrills me more than finding a class and experiencing yoga in a different language. People all around the world are so friendly and help you get to classes. It’s a great adventure all on its own. I’ve done combination retreats where you also hike or surf. Those are a blast. I’ve done retreats with teachers I knew. What stands out for me is the connection with the other people. When you walk into a studio and/or place where the yoga community is gathered I’ve found that I am “home” – my tribe. I try and help others when I know they are visiting. I recently drove a student to the airport because it was asked at the beginning of class that he had worked hard to get to the class. I know if I need help (anywhere in the world) I could find a yoga teacher that would help me. It’s a huge blessing. I find there are Yoga “towns” like Sayulita, Mexico and Tulum, Mexico. I think LA and New York have an amazing yoga community and opportunities. Of course in both of those places it’s all about getting there around all the other traffic and people. I’ve been to every destination spa in the US, and some have better yoga programs and teachers than others. Miraval, in Tucson, AZ stands out.

I consider the festivals to be a retreat. I’ve been to many – some big, some small. I was just at Wanderlust in Hawaii and it was very special because of the other offerings (at a discount) that you could do. We went horseback riding. The diving in Hawaii was amazing (who doesn’t want to swim with turtles?), The diving was not a part of the yoga festival, but a great way to involve my life-partner that was with me. It was amazing to have him leave and say he would come back next year. I volunteer at the Sedona Yoga Festival and Yoga Journal LIVE in San Diego each year. Sedona Yoga Festival is unique because there are venues all over town. I love that they work with Give Back Yoga and give certifications in Trauma to veterans. The Give Back Yoga Foundation is a national non profit yoga organization that helps certified teachers to share yoga therapy with underserved populations.

When I went to my first retreat/workshop a zillion years ago, Yoga Journal LIVE seemed big and corporate in New York City, but the big name leaders kept if memorable and real. Once you have been with a “real deal” teacher, you know the difference between that and someone who is a newbie. It’s just about time on the mat and experience. I’ve also been around some “old souls” who lead just the right balance of alignment-based instruction with spirituality or simply silence. At all the Yoga Journal LIVE events, like the one I was at in NYC being in a big town gives you things to do besides yoga all day. I also like retreats where yoga is the ONLY thing you’ll be doing so it’s a total immersion. I like it all. The first Yoga Journal LIVE I went to in New York I got to practice with B. K. S. Iyengar. That was memorable. He would push down “bottoms” with his foot while people were in Plank Pose and holler “bad lady, bad lady”. He was hilarious. Yoga Journal did an amazing job of getting the “real deal” to beginners like me who were starving for that level of professionalism, but unable to afford a trip to India. Now I’ve got tons of yoga teacher friends who lead retreats all over the world. They’ll be in my upcoming book.

BhaktiFest has a great vibe. It’s like a cross between Coachella and Sedona Yoga Festival but with feeling a little like Burning Man… Beautiful outdoor setting with numerous things going on a once, but in a “festival village” atmosphere. They get amazing vendors, have fantastic food and the stage always has music or something happening.

BY: Do you have a favorite style of yoga?

SS: Ashtanga will always be my first love. Any kind of Vinyasa (flow) yoga is my favorite. I do all forms of yoga, almost like a doctor. I know what I need and will practice (either by myself or in a class) the style or sequence that will give me balance. I am a very active person, so I like that Ashtanga, Hatha, Jivamukti and Power yoga work with my body system. I have tried to meditate, but it still isn’t something I’m “good” at, so any movement-based practice is best so that I can meditate in savasana. I love Yin Yoga when I’m searching for something restorative or I’m injured. I have not tried Kripalu. They’re on “the list”. I lived in New York city for a month and loved going to the classes where I would see the professional ballet people. It’s the only time I did not just keep my eyes on my mat. It was so beautiful to watch it was captivating. I’m normally klutzy, but I feel like a dancer when I’m in yoga.

You can connect with Stephanie on her blog at http://one-with-life.com/

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Meditation, Mysore Practice Rugs, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Clothing, Yoga Conferences, Yoga Events, Yoga Mats, Yoga News, Yoga Studios, Yoga Supplies, Yoga Teacher Interview, Yoga Teachers