This year, my husband and I will be celebrating our fifteenth wedding anniversary. Has it really been that long already? It seems just like yesterday, although my husband may beg to differ!

Anyway, we’ve decided to go all out and celebrate by going on a Mediterranean cruise – whoopee!

We’ve booked the flights and cruise and, being totally obsessive by nature, I’ve also been doing research on the various ports that we’ll be visiting. Not only that, but I’m also doing research on the cruise ship since we’ll have a couple of days at sea and I want to know what kind of activities are offered on board.

Well, guess what? They have daily yoga classes – every morning from 7 to 8 am. I’m definitely going to have to check this out. Of course, I don’t intend to go to yoga class every day. After all, I’m going to be on a cruise, which means lots of fun, frivolity, sightseeing, and relaxation – not to mention eating!

But in most cases, we won’t get into port until 8 am, which will hopefully give me time to get in a yoga practice before charging back to my room for a quick shower and heading off to whichever exotic location we’ll be visiting that day.

Of course, this yoga on board idea sounds great right now, but I wonder if I’ll have the willpower to carry it through. I just might be distracted by visits to our various ports of call – Dubrovnik, Corfu, Santorini…I can hardly wait!

I’ll let you know how I did when I get back – tanned, relaxed, and – if I don’t get to those yoga classes – probably overweight from stuffing my face with all that delicious food!

Tags: cruise, yoga on board, at sea, vacation, cruise activities

While some of us may be fortunate enough not to be too badly hit by the economic situation, stress and fear are still all around us wherever we go, so we really do need to take time to clear it from our space within and around us.

How generous the owners of these yoga studios are – to recognize our needs and do their part to help us find a balance.

But have we ever considered whether some of the smaller studios are managing to survive during this time? It takes so much passion and commitment to start a business that when times are turbulent it must be difficult for some studios to get by.

So, for those who can afford it, why not return that gift of generosity by supporting the smaller studios as much as possible so that they can find the balance and survive these uncertain times.

Because when we reflect on what’s really important in life, it’s all about helping each other along the way, isn’t it?

Tags: yoga studio, lower fees for yoga class, special package of yoga class, business of yoga, support smaller yoga studios, yoga and community

The organizers of OneYoga, in partnership with ChristmasFuture, are asking local and national yoga studios to encourage their yoga communities to get together in their local studios for a one-day fundraising event.

Leif Baradoy, the event planner for the OneYoga fundraiser, explains that “OneYoga is bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to live their yoga and make a positive impact on the world.” He confirms that several yoga studios throughout Canada are participating and is anticipating that the event will be a great success.

ChristmasFuture, a non-profit organization and OneYoga’s partner for this event, will host the online pledges. 100% of the funds raised at this event will support the development of sustainable projects in impoverished communities, such as ending child labor in the mines of Potosi, Bolivia, or aiming to educate children in Sierra Leone.

For more information on how you can participate in this important fundraising effort, check out the following websites: www.marketwatch.com.

Tags: oneyoga, fundraising, world poverty and yoga, ChristmasFuture

But what else can you do to show that you care?

Well, we all know that the Pink Ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness, and as a yoga practitioner you could always show your continued support by having the emblem on your mat, your yoga clothing, or your favorite accessory.

The Breast Cancer Site Store offers lots of fun, wearable items with the embossed Pink Ribbon logo. This symbol will clearly and immediately identify you as a supporter who promotes the necessity of bringing awareness of breast cancer to all communities.

Here are just a few items that you may want to include in your yoga supplies.

If you’re looking for something simple and inexpensive that will show your support, you could wear the Pink Ribbon of Hope pin on your yoga clothing. Or you may want to consider the Pink Ribbon Yoga Mat bag, a fair-trade item handmade in Sri Lanka by a women’s cooperative working in conjunction with the organization Suba Ude, whose mission is “to organize long term sustainable and participatory creative programs for tsunami affected people.”

For the upcoming winter, the lightweight Pink Ribbon Fleece Vest, which comes in black and various shades of pink, will keep you warm. And those who go to their yoga classes early in the mornings may want to take along a stainless steel and plastic pink travel mug.

These are just some of the many items to choose from the Breast Cancer site. You will also be able to select purses, jewelry, t-shirts, and lunch bags. And when you purchase any item from their site, a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go towards funding a mammogram.

To show your support of breast cancer awareness and promote a message of hope, click on to the following websites: www.thebreastcancersite.com.

Tags: Breast Cancer Awareness, pink ribbon, breast cancer organizations, Pink Ribbon Yoga Supplies

If you’re in the market for a mat, you might want to check out Yogamatic, a company that custom designs yoga mats to suit every individual’s inspirational needs. Yogamatic’s Image Gallery will enable you to choose a yoga mat from a variety of designs that include photography, spirituality, typography, fine art, and even charity focused images.

According to the company, “We believe that one’s 12 square feet of floor space for their yoga, pilates, strength training, or stretching routine should truly reflect one’s individual spirit and interests.”

If you want to truly personalize your mat, you can also upload your favorite image to be printed on their eco-friendly mats. For each purchase made, a percentage of the cost will be donated to the charity Global Green, which works toward bringing awareness of “climate change and global accountability for the environment.”

So if you’re on the lookout for an unusual and unique yoga mat, be sure to check out www.yogamatic.com.

Tags: unique yoga mat, eco-friendly yoga mat, personalized yoga mat

3D Yogis and Yoginis Box of Poses is a new kind of “action toy” that consists of 16 statuettes in various yoga poses. Each piece is 2-3” in size and is made of recycled plastic, paper and cardboard, using non-toxic paint. The entire set comes with an instructional guide that takes you through each yoga pose step-by-step. The guide also provides English and Sanskrit translations of the yoga poses, as well as a basic understanding of the precepts of yoga.

According to Raymond D. Fogleman, “Creating a product that encourages the curious beginner or child to try yoga is the true goal of this project. The product is playful, fun, non intimidating and a positive way to have fun for children and adults.”

Tags: :3D figures, 3D yoga pose figures, recycled, non-toxin, yoga toy, yoga for kids