“Bellyfit: Strong Women, Strong World.”  I love it!  I am sad to say that this fitness phenom is not available in the U.S. (girls, can you send it south?). 

According to the website, “Bellyfit is the fusion fitness experience for women that blends the power and wisdom of ancient cultures, with the research, technology and trends of the modern world.” 

During the first half hour of a Bellyfit class, instructors mix belly dance, Bollywood, Bhangra and African dance. The second half of class focuses on Pilates moves, yoga stretches and Mudra meditation.  How awesome is that?

Bellyfit is based on the principle of diversity, and was created by a woman who left an abusive, difficult life and developed this unique and inspiring program.   So jealous my Canadian friends can enjoy this, wish we had it in the states, too.

To learn more about this unique workout, click here.  I may have to drive across the border to get an
up-close look at what this is all about.  Anyone out there who has tried it, I’d love to hear more about it.

Sounds like a really fun, great idea.

Peace.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Bellyfit–I Want It!

Have you ever experienced a dream that seemed to occur at a time when you felt aware that you were sleeping or dreaming?  Did it feel as though you had some ability to control the outcome of your dream?

Lucid dreaming or dream yoga is a powerful tool, one that has been used for centuries by Taoists and 
Tibetan Buddhists.

Now that the practice is gaining popularity in western society, researchers are studying it more, and finding that dream yoga or lucid dreaming can potentially help spur creativity, fight phobias and improve your performance at work.  The belief is that lucid dreaming has a lot in common with the practice of creative visualization, and can be even more powerful, because dreams sometimes feel so real.

You can learn more about lucid dreaming by checking out lucidity.com, a website devoted to the practice.

It is a complex process, but as you learn more about it, here are some practical tips to help you get started:

-Write down your dreams

-Practice visualization.  If you want to learn how to do something specific, visualize yourself performing this act during your waking hours

-Have you ever experienced something during the day that seems to be like a dream? Ask yourself if you are dreaming.  If you do this while you are awake and fully conscious, it can help train you to do it when you are sleeping

-Take a nap during the day, especially not long after you’ve woken up.  This helps because you naturally will be sleeping less deeply during these hours of the day

It is a fascinating practice.  I have often had dreams that seemed almost real, but with a twist that lets me know I have been dreaming.  And they have sometimes addressed situations that I am either stressing over or searching for an answer to in my waking life. 

I love what yoga already does for me.  But I am really looking forward to learning what could be possible by tapping into the power of my dreams. 

Peace.

image: Newscom

Post from: Blisstree

Am I Awake or Am I Dreaming?

Is creating a sustainable, responsible lifestyle one of your goals?  For those who practice yoga and meditation, adhering to a “greener” way of living is an important part of embracing and loving nature and the universe.

Well, keeping yourself motivated and committed just got a little easier. The folks at Greensender.com have created a set of “Green Pride” products designed to help you show your devotion to keeping Mother Earth healthy.

Green Pride goods include t-shirts, bumper stickers, car magnets and gas tank stickers for your Prius.  None of the products are free, but 1% of the profits go to environmental organizations.

It’s all good, and it’s all green.  To some it might look as though you’ve decided to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day year ’round. But I expect–and hope–to see this logo popping up in lots of places pretty soon.

Peace.

Image: Greensender.com

Post from: Blisstree

Support Your Lifestyle Choice: Go Green

First of all, thanks to everyone who entered to win the Agility Pants!   

Congrats to…Cindi! It was a tough decision because you all provided such great responses, but Cindi’s commitment to developing her practice and using meditation and yoga to help her heal her depression and anxiety really shined through!

Cindi, if you’ll send me your mailing address to my email, I’ll get those right out to you.

Stay tuned, I’ll have another contest winner to announce Wednesday, December 17 for the Peacekeeper gift box.  Thanks everyone!

Peace.

Post from: Blisstree

And the Agility Pants Winner Is…

Looking for a little peace and beauty to brighten your day?  My friends at Peacekeeper Cause-Metics might have just what you’re looking for! A little bit of background about the company, Peacekeeper is the first cosmetics line to give all of its after-tax distributable profits to women’s health advocacy and human rights issues. 

And because they know you all work so hard to find peace through your own practices, they’re giving away a gift box filled with goodies like lipstick, nail polish and lip gloss, plus their lip balm to She Knows Yoga readers.  

Here’s how to enter:

-Go to iamapeacekeeper.com, and check out the nail polish colors.  Come back to She Knows Yoga, post a comment telling me which color is your favorite, and also share with me what you do to find peace

-If you want to increase your chances for winning, offer up a link to your blog, too!

The drawing for the gift box will take place December 17.

I’ll feature the winners “peace post” on She Knows Yoga, and send you your gift box!

Good luck, and of course, as always, Peace.

Post from: Blisstree

Win a Gift Box Filled with Peace and Good Karma :)

Hello everyone!

Just a quick reminder to all of you getting into a practice, or hoping to expand your yoga wardrobe a little!  Be sure to enter the contest currently running on She Knows Yoga to win a cozy pair of new yoga pants from bepresent.com.  Just follow the simple rules below, leave me a comment and let me know how yoga makes your life a little better and you are good to go!  I’ll be drawing the lucky winner’s name December 12. Good luck and have fun! 

A Comfy New Pair of Yoga Pants Could be Yours!

If you’ve checked out my Holiday Shopping Guide, then you know She Knows Yoga is raffling off a pair of Agility Pants (pictured above) from bepresent.com. These normally retail for $63.00, and would make a nice gift for someone you love who loves yoga, or a lovely treat for yourself.

The pants sit on the hips and feature back slits. an adjustable drawstring waist, darted knees and patch pockets.  Color and size will be based on availability.

Here’s how to enter:

Check out the yoga wear at www.bepresent.com.

Leave a comment for me at She Knows Yoga on how yoga and meditation have changed your life, and how you think the agility pant would help you enjoy your practice more.

Go ahead and offer up a link exchange between your blog and She Knows Yoga to increase your chances to win!

Don’t miss your chance! Contest ends December 12.

Peace. 

Post from: Blisstree

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win at She Knows Yoga!

One of the most important–and with my schedule, too often overlooked–things I have time to do when the year winds down, is catch up on my reading.

Because, yoga, meditation, Pilates and what I call the “lifestyle” are such deep and studied topics, I am going to begin a new tradition with this blog.  I’d like to share with all of you some of the books I have found helpful and instructive, and recommend them to you to check out and share.   

My first choice would be the The Heart of Meditation, Pathways to a Deeper Experience, by Sally Kempton.  This is an amazing book that explores Eastern Meditation, and one that will open your eyes and your heart.  Pick it up, and I promise it will deepen your understanding and your practice.

There’s an awful lot of discussion about the benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets.  There’s a school of thought that such a diet can even help reverse Type II diabetes.  Dr. Neal Barnard’s book by that name, The Reverse Diabetes Diet, proposes (and is supported by research) that the low-fat vegan diet controls blood sugar three times more effectively than the American Diabetes Association’s diet.  If you or someone you care about is afflicted with diabetes, it’s definitely worth taking a look at this book. 

If you’re looking for a book that will provide you with illustrations of yoga positions and details of breathing techniques, then The Light of Yoga by B.K.S. Ivengar, first penned back in 1966, is still a staple for your library and practice.  Whether it’s for you, or a gift for someone special, this is a wonderful addition to a yoga lover’s library.

Hope you’ll have some time to catch up on your reading and meditation this holiday season. Makes all the difference in the world.  That’s my wish for all of you.

Peace.

Post from: Blisstree

Recommended Reading for the Holidays at She Knows Yoga

Everyone wants to be beautiful this time of year.  Why not let some of our expert bloggers help with your holiday shopping for those on your list who love and live for cool new beauty products and gifts loaded with style? 

 All around b5media’s Beauty & Style Channel, the Splendicity bloggers have put together some amazing holiday gift guides. Everything from makeup and skincare products to little black dresses and accessories, we have it all.

Let’s go shopping!

Beth at Aging Fabulous offers a selection of terrific beauty gifts.

SP shows you some terrific handbags at Banging Bags, fabulous stocking stuffers at Shopaholics Daily, and even more holiday gifts at Style Her Hair.

Nikki shows us some wonderful little black dresses at Celeb Look.

Gayla features some adorable gifts for your pets at Couture Critters.

Aly offers beauty products for holidays at eBeautyDaily.

Star shows us a selection of fabulous gifts for him and her at Glamour Gift Guide.

Chloe features jewelry gifts for family and friends at Gleaming Things, and offers The Twelve Days of Shopping Christmas Guide at Her Accessories.

Tracy has a not so secret wish list and her holiday gift guide at Hot Mama Daily.

Dexie’s jewelry gift guide for her lights up She Knows Best. And don’t miss out on her Under $100 Holiday Looks at Style It Less.

Kori offers fabulous shoes for every woman in your life at ShoeBlitz.

Colleen features wonderful spa and beauty gifts at Spa Beautifully.

Ashley invites you to indulge in luxury at The Latest Luxe.

Lara provides 8 top 8 lists of holiday gifts for everyone at The List Maven.

Happy Shopping!!

Post from: Blisstree

Give the Gift of Beauty this Holiday Season