25 ways to reuse your YOGA MAT!!

Just stumbled upon this on Jade Yoga site. SO awesome! I bet I could add a few. :)

From the site:

Thanks Jolene Bennis Dimitroff of Yoga Tree in San Francisco for the following list of "25 Ways to Reuse Your 'Old' Yoga Mat"

1. Donate to homeless shelters as sleeping pads.

2. Use as a seat liner for the back seat in the car while taking your dog to the vet or groomer.

3. Place under an area rug for no-slip gripping.

4. Drop off your old mat at an animal rescue group. Most of these places need soft, durable mats, rugs, towels, & blankets to line crates.

5. Use an old mat in the garage or shop to keep from slipping on the workbench while using power tools on them.

6. Line kitchen shelves to prevent glasses from slipping and scratching.

7. Cut the mat into squares and use them as "bases" while playing baseball with the kids. Easy to carry and easy to clean!

8. Use to kneel on in the garden to protect your knees!

9. Use as kitchen drawer liners.

10. Cut it up to make a mouse pad.

11. Use it on the beach instead of a towel.

12. Use as grip pads to open jars.

13. Cut to size and use as foot pads for the bottom of furniture that is on a wood or ceramic floor. Glue on pieces with a non-toxic adhesive.

14. Place it under your sleeping bag as a sleeping pad while camping.

15. Make covers for sharp corners like in a parking garage or school.

16. No more messy packing peanuts! Old yoga mats get a new life as a protector of valuables while moving or shipping.

17. Make children's toys: cut holes and create masks, hats, costumes and props; cut into shapes and letters for tub and pool toys.

18. Cut and put down in front of the kitty litter box to stop the litter.

19. Plug up drafty places, windows, doors, & under window air conditioners, and save energy!

20. Great for those hard bleachers when watching sporting events.

21. Makes a great liner under house plants, you can even cut it to fit each plant!

22. Donate to nursing homes so that residents do not slip while getting in and out of bed.

23. Place between your surfboard & car to protect both from abrasion.

24. Lay it over the dashboard and steering wheel to keep the sun out!

25. Keep in the car for those spur of the moment picnics, keeping groceries from sliding around in the trunk, or for a myriad of other uses limited only to your imagination!

On your hands and upside down!

Tonight at Golds we had our themed Thursday class. And tonight was Arm Balances & Inversions! I want to thank all of you that came out!

We had newer yogis and some long term yogis too. The stories you shared before class were inspiring, funny, and sweet too. Thanks again.

I was truly amazed at your willingness to try something NEW!

Sometimes you don't realize what you can do until you try. And heck, sometimes you don't realize how you can hold handstand...unti it just happens.

Much love,
Marianne

Self-Esteem Videos...

Check these.

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/dsef07/t5.aspx?id=7373&filmno=1

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/dsef07/t5.aspx?id=7373&filmno=0

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/dsef07/t5.aspx?id=7373&filmno=2

Bloom

Lately I've been thinking about blooming, like my teacher Erich, encourages. I mention this to my students too...to help them blossom their poses and reach higher. But it's not so much a struggling...it's an easing into your Self, and expanding.


Here's a quote I have in my bedroom to remind me to bloom. I hope you enjoy.

"It's not arrogant to bloom.

It's not egotistical to bloom.

If anything, it's egotistical to feel crummy about yourself,

and then...

shrink."


May you bloom.

Home sweet home or Om sweet Om?

Here's a sweet story from this morning's yoga class. In class today was a fairly new yogini. I believe she said it was her second class. New to some asanas and brand new to my class, she did great the whole class keeping up with the flow and moving with everyone else.

We chanted 'Om' at the beginning and the end of class this morning. The one at the end had a nice, smooth, deep quality to it. The energy was great!!

After class, our new yogini friend came up to inquire about what we were chanting. She wasn't sure and hadn't done it before and wanted to learn. She asked, "Were we chanting 'home'?"

Although she seemed to miss the fact we were chanting another mantra, in many ways, she was spot on. Om brings us home. And in a sweet way, she helped us realize that indeed it is our practice that brings us home.

Yoga helps bring us to center. It helps us become more grounded, more still even in the midst of our crazy, hectic lives. And if you're like me...you spend lots of time going from place to place. Sometimes it seems I'm only home to sleep, especially in weeks like this last one. However, our practice travels with us. It's a way of bringing us home no matter where we are.

Just this past week, as soon as I got to my hotel room while I was traveling with business, one of the first things I did was put my yoga mat out...facing the window. It's one way I can bring home with me where I go.

As sweet as Om is...
It sure seems that home may be even sweeter some days.

Many thanks to the dear student that helped remind me how close Om is to home.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thanks to all the wonderful couples that came out to do Partner Yoga with me last night! And thanks to those that even stayed for a second class!

 

Don't you just love your new massage tables?

--
www.yogawithmarianne.com

Partner Yoga

This week, join me for a partner yoga class on Wed at 5:45pm. We'll explore the yoga of connection together, with guided meditations and partner yoga poses.

:)