Pardon me while I brag on my mat...

I have never taken the time to write about my mat nor why I have landed on it, ha, literally!  No, with this post, I'm not going all into the philosophical reasons why I came to the yoga mat, but the more practical and factual reasons of why I chose the mat that I use.

The quick facts:
Mat maker: Jade
Mat model: Harmony
Mat color: Blue
Mat length: 71 inches
Mat cushion: 3/16 inch
To be a little more specific, my Jade is two-toned, with one side Slate and the other Midnight Blue.

Why do yogis often talk about their mats, and in particular the color of their mat?  Because choosing a yoga mat is a very, very personal decision.  It's a decision that is based on different senses...how the colors make you feel, how the mat grips when you are in a pose, how it cushions your body in Savasana, how heavy or light it is when you carry it, and how it smells after you have sat every inch of your sweaty body on it.  All these sensations could very easily be metaphors for so many things, but, for now, remember, we are really just talking about the mat.

Mat selection has a lot to do with personal preference, coupled with the type of yoga you practice, and even sometimes the location.

I practice mostly hot yoga...I mean really H-O-T yoga and you know what comes with hot yoga...lots of sweat.  I had tried using a yoga towel and it just didn't work for me, so I was determined to find a mat that would hold its grip on its own.  I went through almost every "popular" maker you can imagine and still wound up on a virtual slip & slide each class.  Until I saw someone's Jade in class.  I could immediately tell that it had a different texture than any mat I had used.  Once I stepped foot on my instructor's Jade, I knew I had found my mat.

Full disclosure: I am NOT associated with Jade, nor do I receive any products from them in return for posting this.  (But I will let you know if that changes, hint, hint Jade).

But I have looked around in so many classes and just haven't seen enough of these great mats.  It is so hard to have an opportunity to TRY a yoga mat before you have to buy it.  But you can at least look around in class, look for different colors, textures, lengths, cushions, that speak to you.  Ask your fellow yoga to feel their mat, and if you feel close enough to them, ask them to use it.  My fellow RYT-200 classmates would die laughing at that latest suggestion since I was the last one in our class who wanted someone else's stinky body on my mat.  But cleaners, essential oils, breathing techniques, and, of course, yoga, have gotten me over that little issue.

I have used this mat now for over two years, straight (averaging 5-6 yoga classes a week).  I honestly don't think I have cleaned it once and STILL can't smell anything offensive on it.  It's not beginning to break down or show it's age at all.  It has far exceeded my expectations compared to other brands that I used for 6 months or so before they smelled or showed wear.

Bottom line....I use a Jade Harmony, two-toned, 71x3/16" mat.  It spoke to me, it is my yoga home, it is always there under my feet, supporting my body, and reminding me that it is the one place that I can always return to refresh, renew, and just do yoga.

Unique yoga poses - great inspiration!

I honor the tradition of original yoga poses, but I have to say that I am enamored when I have a teacher do something completely new or innovative. I haven't run across a teacher doing this one, but I worked it into a class myself and it was well received. A challenging one to cue though when different levels are in class...so I'm still working on that. The true source of the pic is quietearthyoga.com, but you can also get their from my Pinterest > Yoga-Poses board!  

https://www.pinterest.com/yogawritegirl/yoga-poses/

Thank you for the inspiration QuietEarthYoga...whoever you are!  

QuietEarthYoga.com

How Do You Cue: Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-limbed staff pose)

At times, it could be almost impossible to count how many times you would Chaturanga Dandasana in a one hour yoga class.  It is a part of both Sun Salutation A and B as well as included in any full or half vinyasa.  Bottom line, you will do it A LOT!  This is one of the RARE poses that you will almost always hear referred to by its Sanskrit name during a practice, although it is usually truncated to simply "Chaturanga".  The full Sanskrit term is Chaturanga Dandasana which translates as "catur" (four), "anga" (limb), "danda" (staff), "asana" (pose) or four-limb staff pose. 

So, how do you cue, Chaturanga Dandasana?

Chaturanga Dandasana (Four limbed staff)
Cue type	Cue
Short & sweet	Low plank
Meet in the middle	Step or jump back to the top of a pushup and lower down (halfway)
All in the details	From plank on balls of feet with hands directly under shoulders, lower down, hugging elbows to sides, until arms are at a 90 degree angle and hover

 

Image source: http://downdogboutique.com/image/data/Chakras%20by%20Didi/CC007_pose.jpg