April 2, 2014

Now there aren’t just yoga classes, but doga (dog yoga) classes for our furry friends as well! Contrary to what you might think, doga classes aren’t a new phenomenon, they’ve been around for a while and are now catching on in a big way.

Doga class attendees feel it helps their dog, as well as themselves, to experience the benefits of yoga together. Heck, if yoga is such an amazingly valuable practice for humans, why not for our fellow canines as well?

Doga classes incorporate everything from meditation and massage to gentle poses involving both you and your pooch, which can include anything from camel pose (shown above) to a quite literal downward-facing dog (shown below)!

Whatever the pose, one thing is for sure: doga is an amazing way to bond with both your pooch and your practice, so why not give it a try? It’s sure to bring a new level of harmony and perspective to any yogi with a canine companion!

Want to know more? Check out the links below and don’t forget to visit us at www.barefootyoga.com for you or your furry friend’s yoga needs!

• Downward-facing human? Yoga has gone to the dogs
• Bonding With Their Downward-Facing Humans
• Yoga – with dogs

March 27, 2014

My pick of the week is OMgirl’s Bhakti Tank. This practice top, made of soft organic cotton, offers a wonderfully snug and supportive fit, and comes in a stunning array of colors. The tank’s sweetheart neckline and racerback are flattering for many body types, and offer great coverage and comfort while you flow from pose to pose.

Check out our selection of other fun and functional OMgirl practice tops at www.barefootyoga.com, to bring color and style to your yoga practice!

March 24, 2014

The first blooms of spring are already in sight. Everything dormant is now growing and so for the month of March, let’s set our intention for growth. What does it mean to grow? Yes, there are yoga poses to strengthen, lengthen and possibly ‘grow’ your spine. But growth also means stepping out of our comfort zone, challenging ourselves, testing and knowing our limits, and learning from our experiences, good or bad.

We all have our favorite poses that we tend to incorporate into our practice again and again. We have our favorite teachers who we think are more suited to our needs. We have our favorite style of yoga that we practice daily. If we kept to our favorites, we deprive ourselves from potential growth and learning. Can we attempt that challenging pose and be alright with the outcome, physically, mentally and emotionally? Can we push ourselves not to give up on it and attempt it again next time?

Can we be open to another teacher’s style  and take whatever he or she has to offer and incorporate into our own practice? If you like Vinyasa, why not try Restorative or Yin Yoga for a change? If you usually take a 5 count breath, try stretching it to 8 and vice versa. Expand yourself and attend that Kirtan concert or meditation workshop you’ve been curious about. Use positive re-enforcement and imagery to help you in your quest. Start your exercise with no expectations of success or failure and let the end result guide you to your next step.

Find yoga supplies for your own spring growth at www.barefootyoga.com!