CHOOSING THE RIGHT YOGA MAT

My most recent yoga mat was in a state of disrepair when I finally parted with it 3 weeks ago in Bali. By that time, it had been ravaged by humidity and leaf-cutter ants in the Amazon, journeyed to Buenos Aires, Toronto, Melbourne and, finally, Bali, where whatever was left of it was even further shredded apart during a 1 month long yoga course. So it was time to say good bye to a long-time travel companion. It was time to purchase a new mat!

It's been a while since I've purchased a new yoga mat. I stockpiled them years ago for some reason and have always had a supply on-hand. But I'm overseas at the moment and don't have access to my inventory so I'm faced with some decisions. I'm hoping that by taking you through the process with me, I can help shed some light on the topic for when you go out and buy your mat.

There are a lot of yoga mats out there. But how do you know which is the right yoga mat for you? Well, there are some things you should consider before making that purchase:

• How thick should my yoga mat be?
• Sticky mat or yoga rug? Or both?
• What about eco-friendliness?

And, of course, cost is always a factor.

All of these questions boil down to personal preference. No one can tell you which yoga mat is right for you. But I hope I can help narrow down the options.

Sticky Mat vs. Yoga Rug

Most people who practice yoga practice on a sticky mat either made of plastic, PVC, rubber (synthetic or natural), jute, or cork. The non-slip surface of the sticky mat is great for downward dog and standing poses. Grip is essential in these poses.

The yoga rug, which is often used by Astanga yoga practitioners, is another good option. Why? Because it absorbs sweat (great also for Bikram yoga) and it offers a smoother surface when you want to practice things like Astanga-style vinyasa (ie. jump through and jump back). Additionally, you can use it as a blanket in savasana and it is easier to wash than a sticky mat.

I often will use both - the sticky mat first during my warm up, sun salutations and standing postures. Then I lay the rug on top of my mat to continue the rest of my practice from seated postures right through to savasana.

Thickness

Sticky yoga mats come in a variety of thickness. They can be anywhere from .5 mm to 1/4 inch (approx. 6 mm). Many are of the opinion that the thicker the mat the better because of the cushioning that a thick mat provides. However, I prefer the thinner mats. The extra padding makes me feel unstable in positions like downward dog or balances. I like feeling the floor. Also, as a traveler, I need a mat that can easily go where I go. In the supine positions, a thick mat is great but you can always had towels or blankets on top of your mat for added padding.

Eco-Friendliness

When deciding whether to purchase an eco-friendly mat, consider that you will not only be helping the environment, you will also be helping yourself. Inhaling the chemicals released from a synthetic plastic or rubber mat is toxic to your health, so why do it? Yes, these mats are likely to be slightly cheaper than those made with the environment in mind. But at what other costs?

If you decide to go completely natural with something like a jute or cork mat, keep in mind that these mats are made from porous plant material, which absorbs sweat which will eventually break down the fibres of the mat. But it's all-natural and biodegradable, so it's not a bad option.

Your other option is a natural rubber mat. These are made from renewable material and are not processed in the same chemically-hazardous way that the synthetic kind are. If you do opt for this type of mat, then make sure it is latex- and phthalate-free to avoid having to breathe in these harmful chemicals.

I would suggest staying clear of mats made from plastic, PVC and synthetic rubber altogether. Why? They are not biodegradable and they are made from chemicals that are released into the air which we breathe.

So which yoga mat or rug should you buy? You'll have to go out to your local yoga studio, sporting goods or big box store. Or hop online.

Here's the one I want:
Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat

An Introduction to Yoga for My Parents - Staff Pose

During this short visit back home, I'm teaching my parents some yoga that they can do on their own when I leave. They both have some physical ailments, my father suffers from sciatica and my mother has a very mild case of rheumatoid arthritis in her ankles and knees, so they asked for my advice on some yoga postures that could help alleviate discomfort.

My first lesson with them was showing them how to sit. The yoga asana, or pose, that is the foundation for all sitting forward bends is called Staff Pose, or Dandasana in Sanskrit. Done properly, one can yield so many benefits from this seemingly simple pose like improving posture. It's great for rheumatism of the knees and ankles, which my mom has, because it strengthens and tones the leg muscles, and lengthens the ligaments of the legs. It's great for my dad's sciatica because it helps to relieve strain in the back by toning the spine, chest, and abdominal muscles.

Truth be told, it's not the most natural way of sitting and therefore, can be very uncomfortable at first. It feels a little strange the first time you do it. I know my father has some difficulty.

If you are starting and don't have the strength of spine to remain erect, then you can do this posture with your back against the wall.

How do you do it?

1. Sit on the floor with outstretched legs. Legs should be touching and toes should be pointing towards the ceiling.
2. Move the flesh of the buttocks out to the side so that you're sitting directly on your butt bones. This will help with stability and balance.
3. Place your palms on the floor beside your hips with your fingers pointing forward. Depending on the length of your arms, adjust your hands so that your arms are straight - ie. You might have to move your palms either a little more forward or a little more backward accordingly. - I have short arms so I really have to lengthen my arms to reach the floor.
4. Lift your waist and ribcage.
5. Lift your chest to open your heart.
6. Roll your shoulders back and down to release the tension.
7. Lengthen your neck and spine by imagining a cord attached to the top of your head and pulling you towards the ceiling.
8. At the same time, press the bottom of your thighs to the floor and activate your quadriceps (this should already be happening because your toes are slightly flexed pointing upward. Don't forget!)
9. Relax your face.
10. And breathe!
11. Hold for 30 seconds... and relax.

Your spine should be straight. Your legs should also be straight and exactly perpendicular to your torso. An old yoga teacher of mine would tell us to imagine we were Barbie dolls. Remember Barbie? She could only hinge from her hips. Otherwise her spine was completely straight and her legs (separate from her torso) were also completely straight. That's the idea.

That's a lot to remember, right? Hence the reason why I'm teaching one pose at a time to my parents.

One of my yoga teachers in India says, "If it's easy for you, you're not doing it right." He's right. For every "simple" posture, there are a myriad of things to focus on, while breathing and staying relaxed.

For my parents, it's a step by step process whereby I'll teach them a new pose everyday until I leave, which will give them a sequence to practice on their own. Staff Pose will likely be a pose in any yoga sequence that you do. But you can also do it on it's own. My mom says that she does something similar in the office when her legs are getting sore. She sits in her chair and lifts her legs into Staff Pose. She already intuitively does this pose. It just goes to show that yoga is everywhere and we all have the ability and intuition to practice. Doing it with mindfulness, awareness, and intention is the key.

Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world

Social philosopher and psychoanalyst Erich Fromm says this:
Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.

I've spent the last two years on a journey of self-discovery that has taken me to India with side trips to Australia and Sri Lanka, and occasional visits back to my hometown of Toronto, Canada. It's in India (primarily Mysore and Dharamsala) that I was really able to delve into an intense yoga and meditation practice. I also discovered a strong affinity for Buddhism and its ideologies.

My journey continues as I venture off to South America, specifically the Peruvian Amazon to meet my partner who has already been there for 3 months having his own spiritual awakenings through the guidance of the mystical shamans of the region. This should be interesting.

What was I doing before all this? Well, prior to this, I was on a very different journey which mainly consisted of career (I was a marketing and public relations manager for a fashion company for 6 years), partying (aka "networking"), and just general excess and accumulation. It was fun for a while but never really satisfying, and eventually I just got tired of the hamster wheel. I just could not figure out what I was doing this all for.

So a couple of years back, I took a huge leap of faith and quit my job, got rid of my apartment, packed my bags and made a break for India. Without any real expectation of the road ahead.

It's a little Elizabeth Gilbert, yes I know. My partner is an Australian who lived in Brazil (not a Brazilian who lived in Australia), and I've never been to Bali (perhaps Peru is my Bali ...I guess we'll see). And unfortunately, I don't have a bestselling book on the market that has made me a household name thanks to Oprah. But I guess what I've realized is that my choices in the recent past are much more common than I thought. People question their life choices all the time and make decisions to re-direct their journey on a course less traveled but more fulfilling for them.

This blog is about attempting to unravel -- learning to focus on the journey not the destination. It's an exercise in letting go .... of expectation, of fear. What I mean is this.... by providing an outlet to share my experiences, I allow myself to be exposed. This is a frightening thought to me but I do in some way feel that there may be benefit not only for myself, in freeing myself, but also for anyone who might venture to read this. Also, some of my friends have suggested that I start a blog so they can track me on my travels ;)

There's no real direction or objective for this blog. It's simply a journal of a journey.

And the journey continues...