Premium Yoga Mat with Strap from Yoga Design Lab

I've tried a few yoga mats in my short time being a yogi & I have to say that I'm pretty impressed by this Premium Yoga Mat from Yoga Design Lab. Not to mention that I'm in love with the no fuss strap! 

From looks alone, this looks like your standard sleek Jet Black yoga mat (72x24), with a simple Yoga Design Lab logo. But I assure you, it's not. 

Made with 5mm of premium memory foam, this mat provides an insane amount of cushion compared to other mats. Usually I can only hold Bitilasana & Marjaryasana for a few minutes each before I start to feel it in my knees. But with this mat, I can hold them for well over five minutes with no problems. 

The only issue I have with this mat, is when my palms start getting sweaty, I have a hard time holding my grip. But I'm not balancing on just my hands very often, so it's nothing that would deter me from using it often. 

Always remember to wash your yoga mat prior to using it. Use a gentle soap & a wet hand towel, rinse & hang dry. (Or you can use your favorite yoga mat spray & allow it to air dry.) At first you'll notice some small dents in your mat after practicing, but it's just from the memory foam & they'll appear less often over time. 

Yoga Design Lab provides eco-friendly products & this mat just so happens to be free of phthalates, latex, metals & harmful toxins. Even better, $1 from every purchase goes to support Urban Youth Yoga Programs in need, because "giving back is awesome".

The Premium Yoga Mat with Strap is available on Amazon ($35 with PRIME shipping) & has a money back guarantee.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The #1 Yoga Mat Cleaner Spray Cleanse with Organic Lavender Essential Oil & Citrus

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 

My yoga mat is actually a yoga mat/towel combo. I love it since I have sweaty feet & hands (TMI, sorry) & it helps me keep my grip better during poses. So, as you can imagine, it tends to smell a bit funky in less time than the traditional yoga mat. But here's the problem...I mean to wash my mat, then I get sidetracked for a few more hours, then I do more yoga (it's my afternoon stress relief) & get sidetracked again until I completely forget about it. Of course I remember in the morning on that first downward dog! 

This Cleansing Yoga Mat Spray from Yoginiology smells amazing with its blend of orange infused with lavender oil! But it also disinfects my mat, removing dirt & sweat.

I'll admit that I was a bit hesitant to use this on my mat at first for the simple fact that it is a mat/towel combo. But not only was this spray super simple to use, it lets me clean my mat every day. (Hooray for no stinky downward dog in the morning!) All I did was spritz a bit onto a damp microfiber cloth, wipe my mat down & let it air dry. There's no sticky residue left & it doesn't effect my grip. 

I can't say enough how much I adore this Cleansing Yoga Mat Spray. I love having a clean mat every day, without having to go through the hassle of cleaning it in my bathtub & then waiting for what seems like forever to let it dry. Actually, it helps me look forward to my morning yoga. After all, there's nothing worse than a good morning whiff of a sweaty yoga mat when you're doing downward dog! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Work It Wednesday: Perfecting a Forearm Stand

Let me say that gravity is not my BFF. We're more like casual acquaintances now. Which is a step up from not getting along at all. 

Let me explain a bit more. I have been dead set on perfecting my forearm stands lately. And well, let's just say that lots of practice will eventually get me there. Eventually. 

Luckily for me, I came across this YouTube video that was a tremendous help. Now I know exactly how far to place my hands away from the wall (I use the wall for support until gravity becomes my BFF) & how to properly align my hips.

Namaste.

Think It Thursday: Why I Want to be a Yogi

It all began with a hollow back handstand. Not by me of course, but that picture was what started me on my journey to becoming a yogi. I still consider myself a beginner, but the benefits I've reaped is what keeps me motivated. 

So, why do I want to be a yogi?

See my Pin!

 The Workout - Most don't consider yoga as a form of exercise, but my clothes fit much better & that speaks volumes to me!

Stress Less - In times of high stress, I've learned to breathe. To take a step back & genuinely breathe. Of course I still stress here & there, but nowhere near as much as I used to. 

Lower Blood Pressure - I am almost out of my blood pressure medication. Almost as in I've been taking my last 1 month supply for the last 3 months. But the good news, is that my blood pressure is still in the range that my doctor wants it to be. 

Better Performance - Yoga helps with flexibility, or "being bendy" in yogi speak. Add that to the better breathing & my other workouts seem like a piece of cake! Well, not really since I've increased my reps, but I get much farther before it gets difficult.

Healthy Lifestyle - One thing I've noticed is that I've been making healthier decisions. Of course I still indulge or eat the occasional fattening food, but if I don't get fresh fruits or veggies at just about every meal...

Be Happy - Being happy is just synonymous with being a yogi.