Save a Turkey

As we have been enjoying our de-feathered friend for our holiday meal, some of us might want to start a new tradition and save a turkey instead.

Adopt A Turkey Project, since 1986 has rescued more than 1,000 turkeys from commercial farms into its Farm Sanctuary. Anyone can sponsor turkeys residing at sanctuaries in California and New York, and some even choose to adopt turkeys into their homes through the annual Turkey Express adoption event.

The website also offers recipes for holiday meals.

So if you have a vegan or vegetarian friend and looking for alternative gift options, adopting the turkey might just be the right thing.

Exercise for the brain while you give rice away?

The snow has blanketed our streets and houses these past couple of weeks, turning to ice anything that it touches. Even Dorothy wouldn't be able to follow the yellow brick road home through the whiteness that's covered everything.

Ok, so you're wearing your neck cozies and mittens, and probably drinking more hot chocolate than anything else. Your fire place is happy to be the focus of your living room. And you're practicing yoga to increase blood circulation and warm up your muscles from the inside. But as you're keeping warm, are you ensuring your brain gets its exercise too?

Don't let the snow freeze your brain. Free Rice might just be what you need to sharpen your brain while contributing to end world hunger, and you might even outwit the Wizard of Oz in the process.

On Free Rice you can practice your vocabulary and with each answer that you get right, 20 grains of rice are donated to help end hunger.

So while sipping some chili hot chocolate, warm up your brain and see how many grains of rice you can donate.

A reality game you can star in

Akoha has created an on-line social game that you can play in your everyday life interactions. It's the world's first social reality game where you earn points by playing real-world missions with your friends based on the pay it forward concept.

The game is currently in its beta phase and you can get cards by requesting an account here. Once you receive your cards, you perform the actions on the cards and earn points. These actions include taking someone for coffee, or giving someone a book. The recipients in turn will do the same once they receive your gesture.

So if you were looking for a gift this holiday season that included playing a game with family and friends, perhaps you can give a box of Akoha cards as a present.

Where is the zen in video games?

As we play games on our phones, on the desktop, and through different consoles, we develop fast finger movements, hand eye coordination, and strategic thinking. But can this affinity to never have a quiet moment, never stand still, and never give our brains a break, actually help us relax?

Can there really be a marriage between yoga and video games?

A Japanese video game software firm thinks so. They have come up with a way to bring some zen into video game playing: yoga.

Konami Digital Entertainment showcased its digital yoga instructor at Asia's biggest video game expo in September of 2007 to cash in on the global popularity of what industry experts are calling "casual" games. Reuters describes this "casual gaming" as lifestyle-oriented software that is aimed at older gamers for whom slaying monsters holds little appeal.

Konami is not the only company focusing on fitness through video games. Nintendo's Wii Fit and PlayStation's Kinetic are two examples of games that claim to get you fit.

For me? Well, I would prefer to leave the game playing to games, and go to the studio to practice yoga. For those avid gamers though, perhaps playing a game of yoga and relaxing the mind would be exactly what they need to beat the challenges and move onto the next level of that difficult game!

If your yoga practice was a present, who would you give it to? The environment?

Once, during Hatha Yoga, Andrew asked us a question: if your practice was a present, who would you give it to? This got me thinking, what is yoga all about anyways? I think it's about being respectful -- respecting your body, respecting people, respecting our environment.

And I think I would give my practice to the environment.

In recent years the connectivity of our globe and the effects of our actions on the environment have become more evident, acting as a catalyst for green living. But how can yoga contribute to a better environment?

In collaboration with Ethical Consumer, we have devised some tips to help studios become more green in practice. Click here to view part one of this two part series.

As yogis, there are steps that we can take as well.

Yoga Duds

Use your yoga duds for as long as you can and know that everyone is looking at you saying, "Wow! This person really cares about the environment." Ok... so maybe you don't want to take it that far, but think about if you really need something before you buy it. Can the old one make it to one more month or two?

When you purchase yoga pants, go for quality that will last and if you can afford it, buy organic fibres.

Yoga Gear

There are lots of choices in yoga mats these days. So next time you need a new mat, find one that is made out of renewable and sustainable materials and can be recycles or re-purposed when you are done with it.

You can recycle your mats yourself. An idea would be to maybe make homemade flip flops! Click here to watch the how to video.

Water and Snacks

In the defense for tap water Ethical Consumer put forth arguments for using tap water. When it comes to our yoga practice we should be mindful and bring water in reusable water bottles.

Now, you know you are going to be hungry at the end of that power yoga class, so pack some fruit or veggies ahead of time and do without the single packaged item that you know isn't good for you (of course I'm not referencing good dark chocolate here).

Getting There

If you live close to Newport Yoga, why not bike or walk to the studio?

So think about it. If your practice was a gift, who would you give it to? Yourself? The environment?

Let us know.

Missed yoga? Drink coffee instead...

So you weren't able to make it to sunrise yoga this morning. And the line up to get into the freeway was just long enough to give you a couple of more white hairs. Of course, traffic lights were also in a conspiracy against you, dancing on a note of redness! Good thing you had your cup of warm silky coffee close by.

Drinking coffee can be like practicing yoga.

If you don't believe me, then the next time you are sipping your favourite cup of beans try to really be aware of all the high notes that coffee plays in your mouth, the smell, the texture, the feeling. Practicing yoga teaches us to be mindful, to take time, and as Chris mentions to observe and accept. So I say, if you were mindful while drinking coffee, observed and felt the multi-sensory effects, then is that not being mindful? We can apply the concepts of yoga to the many activities that we do during the day.

I first realized this when I was at a coffee lesson from Current Coffee. I had to really pay attention to the different tastes and textures that are created when you use beans of different consistency and amounts. Oh, did I mention that I also learnt how to pour latte art!! Of course my heart was warped and looked more like a balloon.

So next time you're stuck in traffic, drinking coffee, or eating chocolate, try and make it a yoga experience.

Fabulous Fridays - The trick is in the layers

Whether you are out for a run or doing pilates at Newport Yoga, how you dress can play a big role in how you feel and look while you are exercising. And when it comes to fabric technology ... well, we have come a long ways. I think the trick is in the layers.

Fabrics that are breathable and don't trap the sweat inside are amazing as you feel refreshed, don't have to count on products to mask the sweat, and who knows maybe you could even hug a friend as you leave the studio and not be worried about your sweat.

Aside from the type of fabric, the cut is also important. Something snug or something loose? This really depends on what type of activity you are performing.

Lastly, is where the layers come in. It's always a good idea to have a second layer to wear before you leave the studio and venture into the cold weather. If you are running, as your body temperature changes, you will be able to shed or add layers accordingly.

If you dress in layers you will always be comfortable no matter what type of activity or weather conditions you are in the midst of.

Newport Yoga provides a variety of layers from hoodies to bamboo t-shirts. So if you have no time for shopping, why not shop and exercise at the same time?

Because life isn't sunny all the time

Koodo mobile advertisements are anything but "exercise fashion", even though leg warmers are slowly creeping up in stores. And Jane Fonda might have exercised with hair spray, colourful outfits, and make-up, but we are not always exercising in a studio, and life isn't sunny all the time.

So what to do when you are running outside, sweating, and on top of it all, it rains! Bad hair days are horrible enough, but to have a frizz ball on your head... well, that will need a lot of chocolate to get over.

So can you really exercise and be fashionable at the same time?

I think it's doable. In fact, now that I have achieved my running goal, relieved the stress in my shoulders, and am somewhat on the way to slowing down, my new mission is cracking the mysteries of looking good while sweating to exercise!

I will introduce a new series called Fabulous Fridays where each week I will post a tip or product that I think will help. If you have any secrets you would like to share with us, please feel free to comment.

Now.... stay tuned for a Fabulous Friday post tomorrow.

An experience in a box

The Tofino venture was more than just a trip, it got me thinking about gift giving. Last year I got the gift of high tea. It was wonderful. Time slowed down, and I felt special as I sipped tea from my fancy tea cup and enjoyed the whimsical Alice in Wonderland decor.

This holiday season I have decided that I am also going to give the gift of an experience rather than a thing. Not only can this be a green and economical option, but it might also be a life changing gift. The high tea incident got me to find a passion: baking! It also got me to reconsider the direction my life was taking and slow down. And let's not forget my endless chocolate cravings which followed!

So why not give someone the gift of an outdoor adventure, a nice meal, or high tea. Luckily, if you can't decide Newport Yoga can help you. At Newport Yoga you can customize a holiday gift package or choose from a selection of gifts combining yoga with apparel. Come by the studio and ideate with us on your experience in a box!

Fresh air ideations

I haven't been writing lately and the reason being...

well the last two weeks I have been back to my old ways of being stuck in fast forward. In the midst of it all though I got the chance to go on the latest Mind Body Soul Xcapes (MBSX) excursion to Tofino, where ideations ensued.

When it comes to weekend hops, Tofino is really the best, as it has wonders all year round. We did some storm watching, beach walking, and hiking. But most importantly we got to breathe fresh air.

I spend more of my days indoors. And the cold weather means that the windows are closed shut. All this indoor living isn't doing much for my health. Now in Tofino where I spent most of my day outdoors, by the sea, amidst the magnificent trees that bordered around me, all I did was get fresh air. The fresh air made me sleep deeply, but also it made me think clearly. Since then I have decided to let the fresh air in.

The benefits:

According to SixWise.com "numerous studies show that spending time in nature leads to major health benefits. For instance:

1. Living in an area that gives you access to green spaces, such as trees and grass, may help you to live longer, according to a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

2. Children with access to nature are able to better cope with stress, while those with ADHD experience a reduction in symptoms when they can get outdoors, according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health.

3. Nature can ease stress and anxiety, help you recover from surgery and illness faster and even increase your mental 'flow.'"

So open up the windows and as much as possible spend time in the outdoors. All the fresh air might lead to ideations that will surpise you!