multi-tasking wardrobe pieces for yoga in the summer

although naked yoga is an option, it's not for everyone, even when the hot days of summer tempt us to strip down to our skivvies.

before you open your wallet, open your wardrobe, you may be surprised to find that you are already equipped for summer (yoga) school.

multi-tasking (already in your) wardrobe pieces for yoga in the summer:

1. survey your swimsuits - look for your more modest pieces that might not scream sexy, but do provide ample coverage to avoid the nip-slip & private peek-a-boos (you never know where the yogarazzi will be lurking). one pieces tend to keep all of your bits in place, better than than itsy bitsy bikinis.
   
   
   
   
2. bike your way to bakasana bottoms - form-fitting bike shorts can also double as yoga shorts. if you tend to get sweaty limbs during your practice, opt for longer (think: capri or bermuda length) shorts to provide some grip when you are working on arm balancing poses.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. cover up for savasana - get more life out of your beach cover up by toting it with you to practice for light coverage during savasana to help regulate your body temperature (which tends to drop when in this resting pose).

lastly, remember that although enjoying the sunshine is a wonderful part of summer, it can be strong, so always slather on the sunscreen before you suit up for the day - & then bring some with you to reapply during the day. (hint: the spf # indicates how many minutes you have of sun protection before you need to reapply - so if you are planning on a 60-minute asana - opt for 70 instead of the 15.)

how-to be a gangsta on the mat - a splurge worthy find

although a little spendier than the usual yoga deal, spiritual gangster is bad ass(ana) & in my book - worthy of the splurge. they offer a variety of shirts (many of which are already sold out). this burnt-out, unisexy baseball long-sleeve tee really caught my eye as i love the message & the look (read: win-win!). so if there are any secret admirers wanting to send me a last minute valentine my address is...

the yogadeal: for $44, it's a comfy shirt that is so much fun, is likely to catch others off guard & will definitely remain in your wardrobe for years to come. (even though it looks like they are all sold out on their site, you can still get the tees here!)

push-up leggings

yoga butt, a coveted side effect of a regular asana practice, is alluring to new yoginis & apparently is a great-selling point for activewear pants (*ahem* old navy).

butt it seems to be a growing trend (all puns intended here). now the girdle is moving beyond the usual suspects of undergarments & is venturing into leggings (read: yoga class apparel).

enter shapeFX, who is capitalizing on this idea of instant gratification with a variety of length & width options - capri ($15), slim ($19), high-waisted ($24), boot cut ($24) & wide-leg ($29).

the yogadeal: for less than the price of some of the fancier yoga-branded booty pants out there, shapeFX's line of leggings appear to cover more than the basics & add an extra emphasis on the rear without a spendy price tag ($15-$29).

no word yet on see-throughness of the material - a deal breaker for (or at least for me) sporting them to a public class...

anyone have a pair already? i am personally considering a pair of the high-waisted to keep all of my bits covered during inversions - there i said it, they got me...

pretty tee for $10

a new fave site for t-shirts, including those yoga-inspired as well as a variety of organic fiber options too, is soul-flower.com.

this 'namaste!' tee is on sale for $10, check out their sale section for more.

victoria keen store closing sale 50-80% off

much like one's yoga practice, life is all about living in the present moment & so after 6 years of nuturing her nolita boutique, victoria keen, has chosen a new path. but not to worry the victoria's yoga line will not disappear, you'll be able to find it at trunk shows, working on her blog & creating a cyber-site for some vk-therapy. while the future looks shiny & sparkly for victoria keen fans, you can now enjoy 50-90% off never before seen samples & some phenom tie-dyed sheet sets that have never been put out & much more, but hurry the store is closing around december 1st so get your asana over to victoria keen, 357 lafayette, nyc.

the yoga deal: items now on sale, starting as low as $5. there is also a rumor of a closing sample sale - so stay tuned!

skip the antiperspirant & just let it be known - i love sweat

ok, i'm actually not a huge sweater (read: one who perspires, not an article of clothing), but i do like building heat in my yoga practice & i secretly love when i help my students break a sweat.

nonetheless, some great yoga-beater (read: tank top) designs are to be found at ilovesweat.com. the bikram-loving founder even created an ingenious way to fund a friend for yoga teacher training by charging $5 more per shirt - because school is expensive!

the yogadeal: tanks start at just $15 a piece!

how do you spell budget-friendly lululemon?

O-U-T-L-E-T!

that's right thrifty yogis, lululemon opened the doors of its newest discount location on november 6th at orlando premium outlets. yet another reason to escape to the sunshine state as winter encroaches upon us in the northern parts.

location, location, location:

8200 vineland avenue, suite 1035
orlando, fl 32021
407-238-1076

the yogadeal: check out events here or follow them on twitter!

students learn yoga in layers... so bundle up!

warming up & cooling down in your asana practice are important & so is dressing in layers so that you can take them off as you build heat & add some heat when your body is done working for the time being. also, it's cold out, so layering is practically a daily requirement.!

alternative apparel (think: american apparrel without the 70's porno sales pitch) has some great thin layers in a variety of styles. the long & the short of it is that their sleeved items (read: shirts) are 25% off until 11.14.09, just enter CELN92 at checkout.

we'ar something special & sustainable

when you find yourself in yoga classes monopolized by lululemon, a certain excitement ignites within when you find yoga threads that combine accountability, creativity, practicality & imagination (ok, maybe it's just me...).

escaping her 'yoga bubble,' jyoti morningstar entered the real world & truly found the yoga of her life, uniting her yogic lifestyle & her design skill set to birth we'ar, new zealand's eco-conscious active clothing line. in addition to great designs, jyoti stresses traceability, ensuring a karmic life for each garment from cradle to savasana (read: grave).

the pieces may be a bit spendier than what you may be used to on yogadeals, but when it comes down to it, if you are looking to be a day-n-night yogi (yes, just like barbie only anatomically correct of course), the we'ar line's versatile style really pays off - or rather for itself over time. instead of five cheaply made hoodies (probably from sweat shops & we're not talking bikram class), i think my closet & my laundry bin would really appreciate my investment in the very unisexy ultimate hoodie from we'ar.

however, if your piggybank is still on a recessionary diet, there is still a good deal to be had at we'ar!




yoga deal: 2 for 1 scoop neck tees (2 for $60), they come in a variety of colors, with a comfy, loose fit & hand-rolled edges.

also, a HUMONGO THANK YOU to we'ar for donating to boomerang yoga's fundraiser for bent on learning!

prance into fall with a teacher discount

prancing leopard, a new eco-conscious line of creative active wear, that debuted on the fitness catwalk this summer, now offers an amazing opportunity for yoga teachers!

here are the deets on their program, straight from the cat's meow:

prancing leopard believes yoga, dance, pilates, & other mind-body fitness instructors are the unsung heros of a broad awakening around the world.

if you are an active certified instructor, teaching at least three times a week, you are eligible to purchase one set of our clothes at 30% off.

as a thank you for your efforts as a teacher, we will make a contribution to you for each sale where an online customer designates you their favorite teacher. as a registered leopard teacher, you can be sure these contributions will reach you.

interested? then fill out our instructor form & tell us something about yourself!

after reviewing your info, we will inform you how to get your clothes!

organically affordable & comfy

as most would agree, organic is ideal when it comes to food & fabric, but it often comes with a spendy price tag that even the most eco-minded yogis may shy away from in hopes of stretching dollars these days. so, i was elated to find this glorious sale going on at under the canopy, a cyber boutique specializing in style conscious apparel using sustainable and organic fibers while focusing on "human first" working conditions.


deal: [refer to outfit in picture] although i am not likely to wear this 3-piece set altogether, which is equipped with a tunic-length jersey knit top, roll waist pant & a eco-velvet eyemask, the trio is a steal at just $23.99 (orig. $78.00) & shipping is reasonable (about $7 to nyc)!

$500 of good vibes for one dear lil' fan

dear lil' devas & their 'good vibes policy,' may help you feel better about accumlulating more yoga stuff. this toronto-based company offers customizable, uber comfy bamboo & organic cotton yoga gear. one of it's most unique pieces is the multi-tasking blanket/wrap - yup, a blanket (amazing for svasana or snuggling) AND a long wrap skirt (great for covering up that yoga booty before/after practice) in one. this just screams yes for the traveling yogini in me!

dld is kind to the earth & community, makes beautiful things with them both.


deal: if that wasn't enough to make you a fan, now dear lil' devas is hosting a drawing for $500 (a credit for their conscious yoga life for a conscious lifestyle), simply become their fb fan by march 13th, 2009 & you'll be entered!

goga - old navy does yoga (nice & cheap)

i do love my more spendy yoga attire from lululemon and victoria keen, but sometimes i am just looking for some basics to get me through a dirty laundry week.

[enter oldnavy.com]

today i was pleasantly surprised to find these comfy items, although oddly categorized in the 'yoga & umbrellas' section:



yoga wrap hoodie $20.00 (but you can get 30% for the next 4 days by using code NEW30 - so it's only $14.00!!!)







canvas yoga bag $14.50 (yes, those black stripes are elastic to tote your mat)










active cross-front tank $12.50 (now you can wear 4 clean ones for the price of one designer yoga tank! no need to recycle a sweaty top)






wide-leg yoga capris $16.50 (with pockets! i always find it easier in poses like crow when there is a little fabric between my sweaty parts - otherwise naked knee on arm action can sometimes get a little slippery if you are going the shorts route.)






they also have some great headbands for $4.50, the only quam i have is with the mats, they are synthetic - good start old navy!

4 day deal: 30% off new arrivals; use code NEW30 at checkout.

*Offer valid on Old Navy merchandise only from February 23, 2009 at 12:01 am ET through February 26, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET in the US (including Puerto Rico) at gap.com, bananarepublic.com, oldnavy.com and piperlime.com only. Not valid at Old Navy stores. 30% discount offer applies to merchandise only, not value of gift cards purchased, packaging, applicable taxes or shipping & handling charges. Online code limited to one time use only.

merry mats and more!

what's better than free delivery of greasy diner food? well a lot of things, but today lotuspad is offering free shipping for all orders that are $20 or more! the offer is valid through 11.24.2008.
(for more deets on lotuspad, read my previous post)




i've always enjoyed convertible clothing, i attribute it to the more bang for your buck theory which was instilled in me as a child... regardless of where my appreciation for this came from, girlskirtmission is having a sale, although the convertible harem pant is not part of it($68/$78), they are still bargain worthy since you can rock them as a pant, skirt or onesie (translation 3 outfits or as low as $23/oufit)!