OmYogaMagazineFebruary2019

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YOGA &

SOMATICS

EDUCATION

ENRICHMENT

OUTREACH

TEACHER TRAINING

200h Sep 19 – Jul 20

300h Jan – Jun 2020

(core modules)

YOGA NIDRA FACILITATOR

Mar 2019, Sep 2019

EMBODIED YOGA

BIRTH & BEYOND

Apr/May/Jun 2019

EMBODIED SANSKRIT

& PHILOSOPHY

May 2019

RESTORATIVE YOGA

Jun/Jul 2019

TRAUMA INFORMED YOGA

FACILITATOR

October 2019

GUESTS

Sophia Ansari Feb 2019

Matthew Remski Apr 2019

om actions

Perplexed, how about
a little yogi guidance?
The set of ethical principles that comprise
the first and second of the eight limbs of
yoga are the Yamas and Niyamas. These
are the foundations of yoga. The Yamas
and Niyamas are yoga’s ethical guidelines
laid out in the first two limbs of Patanjali’s
eightfold path. Simply put, the Yamas are

things not to do, or restraints, while the
Niyamas are things to do, or observances.
Together, they form a moral code of
conduct. When you apply this moral code
to the choices you make, it becomes ‘right
behaviour’ or an ethical way of living in the
world. I view this right action with how you’re
aligning your choices with your values. It’s
a tangible way to practice living your yoga
and being a change agent in the world. If all
of us committed to practice these healthy
observances by the choices we make in
products, goods and services the world
would be a better place. Each of us can
make a difference.
That being said, remember that we vote
with our wallets every day. As a global yoga
community, we have the power to create and
influence change by carefully selecting where
we spend our hard-earned money.
As yogis, we can effect change by
consciously choosing brands and products
that are eco-friendly and help protect – as
opposed to further harming – our planet.
Using this as your guide, choose yoga
suppliers that use ethical manufacturing
and sustainable materials to produce
and package their products. There are a
number of companies that follow this eco-
friendly ethos from which you can purchase
sustainable products that do not sacrifice
performance. You’re just a google search
away from companies that manufacture their
products from sustainable materials. From
yoga pants made from recycled plastics to
wood pulp; yoga mats from recycled wet
suits to mats made from 100% reclaimed
plastic from our ocean waters.

However, this is where it gets a bit tricky.

Currently, there are hundreds of green

product certification labels in the US alone

that have been branded on everything under

the sun. Even more perplexing is the fact that

many of these eco labels are stamped with a

who is who in the zoo: fish, frogs, rabbits and

so on. Sure, each of the eco labels profess

to protect our Earth and its resources along

with safeguarding all its habitants, but where

do you begin? Which critter do you choose?

Well, that all depends. The labels and

their meanings keep changing with new ones

being added all the time. So, if you want to

go down the label path, by all means do.

However, my yogi advice for purchasing

yoga products is straightforward:

n Check where a product is made and

remember that local is best.

n Consider what the product is made from

and whether the materials are reusable.

Will this product end up in a landfill when

I’m through with it?

n Buy higher quality, longer lasting

products.

n Ask yourself if you really need the

product and how long you will keep it.

n Consider if a product is pre- or post-

recycled. Pre-recycled is scrap that

is generated during the normal

manufacturing process that is recycled

back into its raw material state. Post-

recycled is an item that was used after

production of the product, and then

re-cycled such as plastic water bottles or

wet suits into yoga mats.

Conscious choices we all make every

day can directly contribute to restoring

the Earth’s natural balance. By choosing

environmentally friendly yoga products,

you can do your part to support a healthier

planet. And as we move into 2019, make

a commitment to conscious choices for

all your products and services – yoga

or otherwise.

“Remember that we vote with our wallets every day.

As a global yoga community, we have the power to

create and influence change by carefully selecting

where we spend our hard-earned money.”