The hottest yoga-inspired companies to watch

The commodification of yoga is nothing new.  Companies across the planet are popping up to cash in on the trendiness of yoga and the "yoga image".  What I admire about the following companies is that they have stayed true to the spirit of yoga.  They encourage people to recognize that yoga is not just a physical practice; it is so much more!  Here are my top 3 favourite companies that have encouraged the modern yoga student/consumer to dive deeper into their practice off the mat.

Tiny Devotions

1. Tiny Devotions.  The mala-making Canadian company has not just kept the practice of mantra (affirmations) and mala (108 bead sacred necklaces with powerful crystals) alive.  It has made it hot and trendy!  Tiny Devotions' necklaces and jewelry can be found on celebrities and common folk alike.  
2. Yoga Download.  Not only does this website allow you to subscribe to stream hundreds of yoga classes from the comfort of your home, you can also purchase the classes individually, purchase music, view free classes, and stream or purchase pilates and barre classes too.  I love the diversity of this site.
3. Inner Fire.  I first wandered across this Vancouver-based apparel company 2 years ago at Wanderlust in Whistler.  I was struck by the cheeky and inspirational quotes that adorned their uber soft tank tops.  The Inner Fire clothing line is functional both on and off the mat, and the products are guaranteed to make you smile:)

Remember: be conscious of where you spend your dollar.  Making a purchase is liking placing a vote; that's why it is important to buy local, natural, and organic whenever possible!

Rock On,

l.e. martini

Neumovement: A new era for yoga in Kelowna

Neumovement is opening February 11, 2014 on Kane Rd across from Cooper's.

Last spring my fantastic RMT, Vanessa Rejc, recommended I work on strengthening my core to help with injury prevention in my body.  I took her words to heart and signed up for pilates classes at a wee studio in Glenmore called Neumovement.  Now, 9 months later, Neumovement is re-locating to a larger space on Kane Rd to incorporate a 24-person nature-inspired yoga (and Barre!) studio which I am delighted to announce that I will have the pleasure of teaching in:)  Here is why I fell in love with Neumovement and why I chose to make the transition from student (I will always be a student...) to teacher.

• The owners and staff are all enthusiastic, passionate, incredibly well-educated, and uber friendly.  Their approach to health and fitness is holistic which is something I feel is often missing from our culture.
• They have now officially hired a powerhouse of experienced local yoga instructors.  Joining me are Katlyn Fuhrman, Chelsea Ray, Steph Wall, and Biannca D'errico.
• They require their instructors to take free weekly anatomy and physiology seminars taught by a registered physiotherapist.  This is unheard of in our industry and has already improved my teaching skills immensely.
• When you take a yoga class at Neu, you have options.  You can either drop-in to a regular class, sign up for a 10-week progression session, or take an Integration (a private 30 min physiotherapy session followed by a customized 30 min yoga or pilates class…and the Integrations are covered by most Benefits providers…boom!).  I am especially excited by the registered progression sessions as it guarantees I will be able to work with the same students on a weekly basis. 
• Classes at Neumovement are all strongly focussed on encouraging correct anatomical alignment; this is where the word "Neu" comes from as it is short for "neutral" and German for "new".  So clever.

Neumovement owners Kate Watson and Lara Yanik

Beginning in March, I will be teaching 4 classes at Neumovement as well as several integrations a week.  If you have any questions about the studio, do not hesitate to ask me as I am very excited about this new opportunity and the future of yoga in our culture!

rock on,

l.e. martini

Yogi Secrets Revealed: How To Use A Mala Necklace For Mantra Meditation

Salutations!  This week I'd like to teach you how to give your New Year's Resolutions lasting power!  It's called Mala Meditation and it is a powerful practice for manifesting your desires.

Mala Bead Necklace

Mala Necklaces traditionally have 108 beads usually made out of a natural substance such as bone.  The necklace pictured here has beads made out of Rudraksha seeds (my personal favourite) which are found in India and Indonesia.  There is always a tassel or "Guru Bead" which represents the beginning and end of your mantra practice.  

Once you've found a male necklace that resonates with you (I like the simplicity of the malas created by Okanagan based company Ahimsa Om), pick a mantra that represents what you are working on.  Historically, mantras are powerful Sanskrit phrases invoking an ancient deity however there are no rules that state you can not pick an English affirmation or word of your choice if it holds meaning for you.

“Om Sri Rama Jai Rama Jaya Jaya Rama”

Some sample Sanskrit mantras that hold power:

“Om Namah Shivaya”

Mantra to Combat Negativity

“Sat Nam”

Mantra to help during times of change- removes all that is no longer useful.

“Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu”

Truth is my identity.

“Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha”

May the whole world attain peace and harmony.  And finally, the mantra I am currently using in my own mala practice:

Mantra to remove obstacles and bestow wisdom.  

On my last yoga retreat to Bali, we bought all the supplies to make and personalize mala necklaces for every yogi!  It was an afternoon of Arts and Crafts Yoga Style!

Now that you've found the mantra that is most appropriate for your current situation, find a comfortable seated position, take a  couple of deep breaths to clear the energy, and place the guru bead of your mala necklace over the middle finger of your right hand.  Place your thumb on the bead, chant your mantra, then push the bead away with your thumb to find the following bead.  Continue in this manner through all 108 beads until your thumb comes back to your guru bead,  Repeat this process every day for 40 days.  Once complete, your mantra will have manifested.  Please keep in mind that if you accidentally miss a day, you must start again on day 1!  Also ensure that you are wearing your necklace for the greater part of your day during your 40 day practice.

Good luck yogis!  And don't hesitate to contact me if you need any advice or help!!

rock on,

l.e. martini

Source: Everything I have learned about mala and mantra practice comes from my travels in Bali, my yoga training with Sonya Thomlinson from Trinity Yoga Center, and my SOYA yoga training with Kamala Wilkie from Purple Lotus Yoga.

Free the Three: A Holiday Mindfulness Challenge

Sparkling Hill Serenity Room

Hi friends!  I recently returned from a brief but refreshing stay at our local luxury boutique hotel, Sparkling Hill.  Shortly after arrival for our 1 night stay, my hubby challenged me to put down the phone.  He had already forced me to leave my beloved Mac at home so the idea of surrendering my phone to the desolate loneliness of our hotel room left me both anxious and twitchy.  I recovered from the initial withdrawals which included but are not limited to cold sweats, the constant feeling of having lost something, the inability to focus on objects that do not illuminate when poked, finger tremors, and the constant worry that there is an emergency that is not being immediately addressed (emergencies in my life include questions about the organic fish at the Treetops Yoga and Nature Retreat, SI joint pain in Natarajasana, back foot alignment in Trikonasana, etc).  

It took a few hours, but I soon found myself in a state of present bliss.  I could actually focus on the conversation, I marvelled at the taste of the wine, I allowed the heat of the saunas to envelop me in sweet warmth (a bit dramatic, I know lol), and time moved slowly as I appreciated every moment as it unfolded perfectly.  When was the last time I pulled myself away from the screens for this long?  I hadn't felt this happy in a long time and I realize now it was because I wasn't scrolling through images of Sally's Christmas cookies, Karen's sloppy holiday party, or Sophie's new engagement ring.  I have thus come to the conclusion that life happens happiest when we are in real time (an age old piece of yoga wisdom that needs to be force-fed to our culture).  Fact: the over-stimulation caused by social media activities reduces our creativity.  Brutal.

Thus, this Christmas, I challenge you to join me and FREE THE THREE.  On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, do not look at any social media feeds.  Free the 3 holiday days from your addiction to media.  You are allowed to pick up your phone/computer to call/facetime friends or family however this is the only exception allowed.  No phone.  No computer.  No tablet.  No posting.  No viewing.  This is an experiment and I do not propose to tell you what will happen.  Nevertheless, the results for me doing this for 1 night were incredibly rewarding and eye-opening.  I hope the experience for you is similar.

That is all.

rock on and merry ho ho,

l.e. martini