Evaluating Your Mat

This Om Shanti blog is bliss for the yogi looking to buy a new mat. The blogger evaluates the latest eco-friendly mats from a number of companies and looks at such things at durability, cost, smell, thickness, stickiness, performance, and sweat absorption. He thoroughly comments on the ones he’s tried and offers speculation on a few he hasn’t. The advice he offers will help the occasional yogi as well as for the die-hard practitioner who puts her mat through a daily asana boot camp.

Releasing Emotions Through Yoga

The people at Bodylicious have created a new video, just shy of five minutes, that focuses on postures that help release emotions. This clip is easy to follow and concentrates on poses that are broad and open, such as the warrior poses and others that involve wide heart-opening stretches. They only show a few, but you can figure out from the examples which others would fit into this mode. The two teachers also offer discussion of the mind-body connection in yoga, and they explain that that emotions are really just energy that, when suppressed, can lead to physical discomfort, such as breathing problems, or disease. If you’re feeling stuck emotionally, this is a good place to start.

Yoga for Cancer Survivors

Based on eight years of extensive research linking the benefits of yoga to cancer survivors, a new program is being launched across the U.S. and Canada that will cater to the needs of this growing group of people. Registered yoga teachers will be able to take a four-day intensive training course to learn how to use yoga to help cancer survivors lessen their fatigue, and improve their sleep, strength, balance, and cardiovascular ability. Subjects such as anatomy, effects of chemotherapy and radiation, levels of fitness and pain, and customizing safe and effective poses will be included. The teacher is Susi Hately Aldous, a yoga teacher and kinesiologist with ten years of experience in rehabilitation, who will be heading the program in May 2009, with trainings in Canada and the U.S. For more information, see abc-of-yoga.com.