I have found the best yoga shoes around and I simply had to share it!  I have just added Privo Shoes and more fabulous yoga products from the Y Catalog to Yoga-Being.com and it has taken yogi's by storm!  Privo shoes are by far the most stylish and comfortable yoga shoes anywhere.  Made from 100% biodegradable materials, Privo shoes are also healing and helping our environment.  These shoes are a product we can all feel good about purchasing.

Wake at 6...

I wash my face...brush my teeth...loosely tie my hair back...grab my favorite yoga pants...and sneek away to my back bedroom...my secret sanctuary...while my 2 kids and husband sleep soundly.  Turn on my favorite yoga music...lay out my favorite yoga mat...and start my cleansing breath.  Some simple cat stretches and seated twisting postures later...I start with a slow moving sun salutation variation.  From here I move to warm my lower half with warrior series and triangle pose...then slowly move into my favorite balancing posture...tree pose.  From tree pose I ease myself back to the floor for some ab roll ups and hip stretches before allowing myself to open up to relaxation pose.  For 10 minutes I float along my mat and sink into the floor, being aware of every limb and every inch of my body.  I ease myself up and meditate for a few minutes before emerging from my sanctuary to face the day...with a renewed energy and spirit.

Well, I was blessed with my second daughter on Halloween evening and all is well.  I return home today and it's time to begin the steady post partum slim down.  Where to begin??  Exercise is off limits for at least 4-6 weeks depending on how labor and delivery went so...it's time to really focus on diet.  As a breastfeeding Mom, I already have a head start as breastfeeding speeds up the weight loss significantly.  My meals will most likely be

Breakfast

Oatmeal w/ tablespoon walnuts & tablespoon blueberries + 1 hard boiled egg

Lunch

4OZ of lean meat or fish + brown rice, salad, and green veggies + serving of fruit

Snack

Celery w/ Laughing cow cheese

Dinner

Very similar to lunch including a lean protein, good whole grain carb, and green veggies + serving of fruit

It is difficult to stay on track after you have the baby so I have made the decision to try the 3 hour diet from Pur Foods which delivers good, healthy meals to my door.  This option is great because although I have plenty of people offerring to make meals for me...I don't want to be so pushy as to request what they bring and not everyone is a healthy chef.  I highly recommend this option for new Moms...or anyone ready to jump start their weight loss and get back in shape...especially with the holidays approaching.  Click on the link below for more information and good luck.  P.S. - Don't forget to start a post partum yoga practice!  See below.

Like any true yoga lover, practicing yoga outside is the best way to really connect mind body & spirit.  The question is, how can one recapture that feeling when it's freezing outside?  First things first, dress the part.  When you leave the house to head to practice, layer up.  I have found the most fabulous yoga ensembles made out of 100% cashmere!  Yes...cashmere!  It is fabulous and it gets me warm, cozy, and keeps my body warmed so that I am not cold and stiff when I finally make it inside to practice.  Check it out...

In addition to dressing warm, I sought out a yoga studio with a great view of the outside so I could at least see nature while practicing.  If you really look, you should be able to find one in your area.  Just call and ask.  If you cab't find a view of the outside at a yoga studio...create a space in your home.  Yoga practice doesn't require much room and it is well worth it!  There is also a great DVD by Suzanne Deason that is set in the mountains that is great...Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss - Deluxe DVD Edition.

In light and love...

For all my loyal friends and customers...click any of the links below for huge discounts on select clearance items from Gaiam!  These are great gift ideas so get a jump on the holidays!!

 20% off Organic Cotton Ribbed Sweaters at Gaiam.com! Now only $39 each offer expires 1115.

 20% off Yoga Sandals. Was $30 Now only $24 at Gaiam.

Smart Power Strip now only $39. This revolutionary power strip prevents electricity waste from inactive electronics by over 72% and offers state-of-the-art surge protection too.

Save $100 off The StressEraser - now only $199. As seen on Good Morning America and MSN NBC The StressEraser is a small portable high-tech gadget designed to take calm the body and reduce stress.

70% off Homespun Christmas Stockings now only $8.99 each.

$20 off BalanceBall® Chair: The Original Balance Ball Chair, now only $80. offer expires 1115.

20% off Gaiam's top selling Organic Cotton Boot Cut Pant - perfect activewear for fall. Was $52 Now only $41.

60% off Paisley Printed Yoga Mat. Now only $7.99 

50% off the Athena Cardigan at Gaiam, Was $169 now only $79.99. This hand-loomed cardigan goes from the yoga studio to dinner and looks perfect over a unitard or jeans.

50% off Gaiam's Organic Cotton Yoga Top. Was $32 Now only $14.99

Enjoy the savings!  I have personally purchased at least 5 of these items for gifts and I'll probably get more!

OK...if you are truly a yoga lover and you give each practice your all...then you sweat!  I don't have                                            to be taking a Bikram (Hot) Yoga class to be dripping by the end of practice.  I have tried several different "non-slip" yoga mats, the "gripper gloves", and other alternatives and have finally found the best yoga mat to keep me grounded...even in side stretch and down dog poses. 

The Manduka Yoga Mat is awesome.  The only complaint I have is that is it expensive, $70.  Although, mine has lasted me 3 years and it still looks brand new, & I practice a lot.  I have done some searching for a better deal on Manduka and the only alternative is to check ebay listings and see if you can find one.  Otherwise, check amazon.com and see if you can find a better deal.  Love your weekends, breathe easy, and cheish your body.  In light and love...namaste.

OK...the weekend is here...time to take a break kick back and relax.  Now...when I start talking about drinking alcohol I am also referring to the drink or two after a meal or after work.  I was amazed and the affect having a drink has on my metabolism and how high in calories many alcoholic drinks are.  Did you know...

Drinking only 1 ounce of distilled alcohol (rum whickey, vodka, gin), had as much as 75 calories!!!  Ouch!  What's worse...you add those calories to whatever mixer you are using and you are in for a high calorie drink!  While that may not sound too bad to some, (worse to others), rarely is one drink the norm when drinking socially; plus, after one drink, you tend to lose your concern over calories including what you eat.  Enjoying one evening of overindulgence in the drinking department will seriously affect your efforts to lose weight and/or get yourself into shape.  Even beyond the actual evening of overindulgence, your next day workout routine and healthy eating tend to go by the wayside as well.  It is just is never worth it!

Tip:  Go out with your friends/family and enjoy a glass, or even two, of a great bottle of wine at only 20 calories an ounce.  A good wine always goes best with good food and keeps you on track with your diet/exercise goals. 

As a wife and mother, I know how tempting it is to fall into the couch on a Sunday afternoon for Football and eat, eat, eat!  Don't do it.  Weekends allow most of us more time to cook healthy meals so don't waste it!  As a stay at home Mom, I love weekends because Dad gets to share the load with the kids.  I take full advantage.  On both Saturday and Sunday morning, do something active with the family before starting the day.  For me, Saturday mornings are the perfect time to pull out the jogging stroller and get the family out early for a morning jaunt.  It doesn't have to be a long walk, but get out there.  This will get your body warmed up and help to burn more calories throughout the day.  By the time you get back to the house, you'll be amazed at how much better everyone feels. 

Now for food...what to eat and not to eat.  Starting your weekend with a fruit, a whole grain english muffin, and an egg white omelette will taste great and be very filling.  Don't waste that morning walk by wolfing down bacon or a sugary cereal.  Most importantly, enjoy your family and friends on the weekends and keep moving...it makes all the difference in how you tackle the week ahead!  If you can sneak in a yoga practice outside, weather permitting, it will really reenergize you. Save 20% off Gaiam's Nature Inspired Yoga Mat and Embroidered Bag. Now only $34.     As we all know, our families can only benefit from our good habits of healthy diet and exercise, so if not for yourself...do it for your family!

OK...like all pregnant women, I have sought out a stylish pair of yoga maternity pants and it hasn't been easy.  Finally though, GAP Maternity has come out with a cute, flattering pair of  Gap Yoga capris - black .  These fit really well and they last well after delivery...even though we don't really want them to!  I was able to wear a lot of my exercise pants up until my 7th month and then, no way.  I was squeezing myself into my most stretchy cotton pants and they were so tight around my waist it hurt.  These Gap Maternity Yoga Pants are great and very easy to move in.  My other big complaint is maternity underwear.  Again, Gap Maternity actually has very flattering, very comfortable maternity underwear. Gap Medela� bikinis (3-pack) - 3 color multi pack . 

As for maternity yoga tops, Gap Maternity is still the best way to go.  The prices are great and the quality lasts.  I have tried Old Navy but the clothes just don't seem to hold up to my ever growing body.  You can check out the Maternity line by clicking the link below.  Hopefully this helps all of you beautiful expecting Moms who don't want to look like a chubby girl!!  Good luck!

Find all your fall fashions at GapMaternity

     OK...I am a certified yoga instructor and a very pregnant mother of a 2 1/2 year old.  So, I set out to try to find the time to truly center myself and do something good for my body.  Obviously, prenatal yoga was my natural companion.  I love yoga and have been practicing for years.  I didn't really practice very much with my first pregnancy so learning the safety of certain poses while pregnant was relatively new to me this time around.  I started doing research and came up with 2 great products for understanding the safety of prenatal yoga.  Shiva Rea has a great DVD...Prenatal Yoga (Shiva Rea) .  She is fully pregnant and the video is extremely easy to follow.  The big trick for me was...ok...where does my 2 year go during my "peaceful prenatal practice?"  I have been practicing prenatal yoga about 30 minutes during her nap time or after she goes to bed.  Shiva Rea's video is very calming so it really does just enough to help me to relax and either sleep...or feel energized to get through the rest of my day.  Any pregnant ladies out there with back pain???  What a joke right?  Triangle Pose has literally saved my lower back.  I have been getting terrible lower back pain on my right side and when I am in Triangle Pose, I can feel those muscles releasing.  It has proven even better than a massage. 

     Another great product I found is a Hatha Yoga Illustrated Guidebook for Prenatal Yoga by Sandra Jordan, Yoga for Pregnancy: Ninety-Two Safe, Gentle Stretches Appropriate for Pregnant Women & New Mothers .  This Guidebook has great illustrations and you can change up your practice every day.  Each pose also shows which trimester it is most appropriate for, variations, and the exact benefit of that pose for a pregnant woman.  LOVE THIS BOOK!  I carry this book with me so if I have 45 minutes during my daughters dance class, I can sneak away and just do one or two poses.  If you are pregnant and struggling to get motivated to practice yoga or workout at all, I highly recommend this book.  Just try a prenatal yoga practice a couple times and it will make all the difference in how you feel throughout your pregnancy and truly ease the labor and delivery struggles.  Well..I have only 5 weeks to go until baby #2 so I think I will sneak in a 30 minute session and a 30 minute nap (2 year old is taking a nap).  Namaste to all the beautiful expecting mothers out there!  I hope you find these products to be as helpful as I have.