Your yoga mat puts up with a lot. Between the sweating and stretching and balancing, it will eventually shows signs of wear and tear that will impact your yoga practice. The general rule of thumb is you should replace your mat every six to 12 months, but with everyone’s yoga practice being different, it’s important to be aware of the warning signs.
Here are 7 clear warning signs it’s time to invest in a new yoga mat:
Check the edges of your mat and make sure it’s the same thickness all the way around. If there are sections where it looks squished down—particularly, where your hands and feet go—this is a clear sign it’s time for a new mat. Soon there won’t be enough support for your joints and you’ll end your yoga practice feeling like the Robaxacet puppet.
If after moving your mat you find small pieces of it on the floor, it’s likely time to invest in a new one. Especially if you love the yoga class circuit, you should always leave your spot as clean as you found it.
If you find your feet and hands constantly slip during poses like Triangle pose and Downward Dog, it could be a sign your mat is wearing out. Traction is especially important when you’re trying to nail those uber-challenging poses during your yoga practice.
As the cushion in your mat starts to wear out, it becomes uneven and makes it difficult to hold balance poses. As it starts to wear, the changes are subtle at first, so if you find your poses are starting to suffer, it’s time to consider seeing other mats.
Some poses will put strain on joints like your wrists, knees and ankles. If you find yourself skipping poses during your yoga practice because your mat doesn’t support your bod in certain areas and it’s leading to joint pain, it’s most certainly time for a new mat.
One of the most obvious ways to tell it’s time for a new mat is when it starts developing bald spots and holes. Regardless of how attached you are to your mat, you won’t be doing your yoga practice any favors.
Like, worse than you do. If there are smells coming from it that cleaning it isn’t getting rid of, it’s time to do your yoga practice a favor and invest in a new mat.
How often do you replace your mat for your yoga practice?
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Image: Yoga mat photo via Shutterstock
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We’re all guilty of using plastic when we know we shouldn’t. Using plastic is a nasty habit and it’s fueled by convenience. But if we know anything about our readers, we know they are: 1. Smart!, and 2. Resourceful – none of us need plastic. So, to help you purge plastic from your life for good, we’ve rounded up 5 ways for you to ditch this material (plus plastic alternatives) and kick it to the curb (in your recycling container, of course) for good.
1. Use glass jars for packing lunch, carrying homemade beverages
If you’re anything like me, you probably buy a few items that are contained in glass jars when you go to the store. After you empty the jars, just wash ‘em out and save them. Then, come lunch or smoothie prep time, pull out your clean jars and pack them with edible goodies. Glass jars are great for transporting food and are reusable.
2. Use a canvas shopping bag
Duh. It should be a no-brainer to use these bags, but sometimes we forget them. Make sure you never forget these reusable bags again by packing a few spare bags in you car, in your purse, or on your bike.
3. Don’t use straws
I know, I love straws, too. But they are a total waste! Resist the urge to use plastic straws at restaurants. And if you’re really a die-hard straw lover, bring your own! Some companies are now making glass and biodegradable straws.
4. Buy a reusable razor
Let’s face it – plastic razors are crap. It’s better for the environment (and your skin) to invest in a nice razor with a replaceable blade.
5. Use cloth diapers
I have this running route I take almost every day. For about six months, I’ve seen the same plastic diaper just chillin’ in a ditch. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon and it’s gross. Cloth diapers? They aren’t really going anywhere either and that’s good because they are totally reusable.
For more awesome ideas on how to get plastic out of your life, read this article at Treehugger.
Do you have any favorite plastic alternatives?
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The post Ditch Plastic For Good: 5 Plastic Alternatives For Everyday Life appeared first on Organic Authority.
Happy spring, all! I hope today is beautiful and you get to enjoy some outdoor fun. To kick off the season of rebirth, we’ve rounded up a fresh crop of links to articles from our friends and partners around the web.
This week’s post contains a link to a piece about a crafty egg coloring technique for your Easter eggs, tips for sprucing up your house and growing lettuce, a post about how great succulents are, some items to own once you’ve reached lady-boss level, and an interesting chard recipe. Also: We had to include this cute post picturing furry animals getting into the Easter spirit.
1. Get ready to start growing your own lettuce right now. Via Mother Earth News.
2. Want to dye your Easter eggs differently this year? Crafting a Green World has some suggestions.
3. HooplaHa recently posted a video of hamsters dressed as bunnies – what more do you need to know – go click it now.
4. I’m kind of in love with succulents right now. You should be, too. Via The Chalkboard.
5. Is your house beginning to look drab? No worries – you can easily spruce it up in three easy steps. From At Home In Love.
6. EcoSalon has some great tips to help you act like an eco-minded lady boss.
7. If you’re looking for a unique way to prepare Swiss chard, Glow Kitchen has you covered.
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It’s easy to grab another coffee or sugary snack to see you through when fatigue strikes, but it’s never worth the post-binge crash. There are much healthier ways to soldier on and get your to-do list done like the boss lady you are. All you have to do is stock up on quick energy boosters you can bust out at a moment’s notice.
Here are 10 natural energy boosters you should always keep up your sleeve—you know, just in case:
No matter where you live, there’s a naturey part of town you can turn to for relief from all the craziness. Find your nearest trail or park and go for a stroll: A study from the University of Rochester found spending time outdoors makes people feel more alive.
A study from Louisiana State University found workers who take briefer, more frequent breaks, not only did better with fighting sleepiness, but were more productive overall. Anytime you find yourself feeling restless throughout the day, take a short break to stretch, grab a snack or watch a cat video (since you can never go wrong with cat videos).
Your fatigue might be a sign of mild dehydration, so always make sure a glass of water’s handy as one of your convenient energy boosters.
If you keep gapping out and really, really need to focus, pop a piece of gum in your mouth. One study found doing so may improve your mood and enhance concentration. (Sign. Me. Up.)
Listen to some chill music to take your body out of overdrive. According to Dr. Frank Lipman, integrative medicine expert, doing so will calm your body and mind, slowing your heart rate and breathing to healthier levels, which helps prevent your body from being so sapped when stress strikes.
When you’re burning the midnight oil and find yourself nodding off, throw on a few lights. Word is no matter the time of day, turning on the lights may help you feel more alert.
Researchers found the scent of peppermint enhances your mood, which boosts both your motivation and concentration levels (and may explain why I’m so obsessed with candy canes). Just don’t become the crazy lady at the grocery store who sniffs the peppermint without buying anything.
Eating smaller meals and snacks throughout the day—instead of the whole “three square meals” thing—helps keep your blood sugar stable, which is a key component in getting through the entire day sans coma, according to the American Council on Exercise.
“Full of vitamin C, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, an apple can deliver a boost of energy and stabilize blood sugar,” registered holistic nutritionist Peggy Kotsopoulos said to Shape—so ditch the afternoon sugar buzz and bite into an apple instead.
This is one of those energy boosters that requires a bit of scheduling, but it really does make a huge difference: If you tend to hit a slump at a certain time of the day, schedule the aspect of your work you enjoy most at that time. When you love what you’re doing at your most tired, not only do you stay productive, but it helps lift you out of the slump.
What are your fave go-to energy boosters?
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Image: Busy woman photo via Shutterstock
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