Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin has "never felt better" since he added yoga to his off-season training regime. His goal? To stay limber and healthy in the 2009 season, reports the Canadian Press. Martin hopes that taking better care of himself during his off time will help his stats toward the end of the season.
What do you think? Is he on to something?
Image from New York Times
It's hard enough being out-numbered in yoga classes, but men also have the additional challenge of finding suitable yoga gear in a female-driven market. According to a New York Times article published today on the slim pickings of yoga clothes available for men, even when clothing companies sell and market to men they don't sell much of the merchandise. Men, said one retail buyer, just aren't likely to buy clothes specifically for yoga practice.
The good news is that some yoga retailers do offer lines of well-designed, flattering styles for men. Be Present, Lululemon, and prAna all have popular lines. And what about props? Manduka offers its BlackMatPro in both 71- and 85-inch lengths—perfect for men with longer limbs.
Do you have any recommendations for manly yoga gear? Do you think more men would buy yoga-specific clothes if there were more on the market?
Do you always remember to bring reusable shopping bags with you when you bicycle to the store to buy organic produce? Nowadays green is a popular lifestyle choice, and one company hopes you'll make it a public statement, too. Greensender.com recently unveiled a symbol designed to help you show your "green pride." You can buy flags, Tshirts, bumper stickers, and even a gas tank magnet for your Prius, donning the symbol.
"Green Pride is not a certification that proves adherence to a set of strict guidelines," explains a Greensender.com press release. "It's a self-selecting movement and participation is open to any person or organization that is working to make environmental progress."
Even if it doesn't yet scream "environmentally responsible" to unknowing passersby, it could be really festive for St. Patrick's Day. Do you think this will catch on? Would you ever consider buying a green pride product?
Two months after Malaysian Muslim authorities banned yoga, Indonesian Muslims have followed suit, banning yoga that includes Hindu practices such as chanting. According to an Associated Press report, the country's top Islamic body issued its ruling after investigators visited yoga classes across the nation and determined that the practice could affect their faith.
Is this an alarming trend? Do you think yoga could pose a threat to one's religious beliefs?
Finally, the day we've all been waiting for is here. Yoga classes are FREE on Saturday, January 24th!
In an effort to raise awareness and make yoga accessible to all, more than 300 yoga classes across the country will be free (or nearly free) in honor of the Yoga Alliance-sponsored Yoga Day USA. To find a free class or workshop near you visit yogadayusa.org.
Are any of you planning to participate?
It's part of the job description for celebrities to enjoy being in the spotlight, but it surprised a lot of people when actress Uma Thurman got up during her flight from JFK to Salt Lake City to do yoga and ballet exercises in the aisle, reports the New York Post. It might have been a powerful statement on the importance of exercise (and another shining endorsement of yoga) if, after landing, she hadn't begun chain smoking as soon as she found the airport exit.
What do you get when Shiva Rea, six kirtan chanters, and their bands get together on the eve of an historic presidential inauguration in the nation's capital? Chant4Change. Think praise band meets dance club/mosh pit in a church.
Last night I braved the crowds and the cold to raise my voice in support of change with some of the foremost kirtan chanters in the country. When I arrived at Church of the Holy City within site of the White House and the Washington Monument, Jai Uttal, Dave Stringer, Saul David Raye, and more were wrapped in scarves and beanies preparing for the evening. The sanctuary was full of local yogis, several of whom were actively involved in the Obama campaign.
For many yogis, including myself and Jai Uttal, this is the first time we've been involved in politics. I asked Jai Uttal what convinced him to leave the California coast and come to DC in the heart of winter to participate in this inaugural kirtan festival.
"I'm chanting in support of the change that seems to be coming," he said. "It's the first time that there's a symmetry, a synchronicity, between the heart and the external world."
Shiva Rea kicked off the evening by reminding us that we're sending out sound waves that have a profound impact on the inner and outer world. As the music started, I felt the vibrations in my chest and smiled as the crowd began moving to the rhythm of the night.
David Saul Raye leading crowd in the Gayatri Mantra.
Instruments accompanying Gaura Vani and his band, As Kindred Spirits.
I found myself especially vibing with Daphne Tse's gorgeous voice, Gaura Vani's contagious energy, and Shiva Rea's dance moves. Writer and filmmaker Joshua Greene gave a grounding speech that put the event into perspective. We aren't expecting Obama to be our avatar, he said. The yoga community is here to show our support for the change we wish to see in the world—peace, a healthy environment, and a healthy economy.
So, can we make a difference? We're about to find out. In the words of Jai Uttal, "every stone we throw into the water causes ripples."
 Melissa Garvey is a writer and yoga teacher trainee that lives and practices in Washington, DC. To read more of her thoughts on yoga and daily life, visit YogaPulse.
Image from Chant4Change.com
Shiva Rea, Jai Uttal, Saul David Raye, and other leaders in the yoga community will celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama on Monday, January 19th with an event in Washington, D.C. Chant4Change will feature kirtan, dancing, and teaching in an attempt to "revitalize the spiritual energy of D.C., the United States, and the entire world through sacred sound vibration," according to the event's website.
Is this something you'd be interested in attending? Do you believe a night of kirtan can have a positive impact on the world?
(Stay tuned, there will be a YJ blogger reporting live from the event!)
Photo from USA TODAY
Figure skater Sasha Cohen practices yoga five days a week and even uses it to warm up when she skates, she told USA Today. The skater, who began practicing yoga soon after she earned a silver metal in the 2006 Olympic Games, says she feels stronger than ever.
Click here for the full story and to watch of video of Cohen practice. Do you think this endorsement will encourage people to start a consistent yoga practice?
Authorities in Aspen, Colorado recently arrested a yoga teacher on a felony sexual assault charge, which could result in up to 10 years in prison. The incident allegedly took place during an adjustment in yoga class, according to the Aspen Times. The teacher also faces several misdemeanor charges of unlawful sexual conduct, which date back as far as 2005.
A recent study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who practiced yoga reported improvements in arousal and better orgasms. Mindfulness played a key role in the study, which also cited research that found yoga to be beneficial in the sex lives of men, too. Sounds like a win-win to me. Have you noticed any added oomph in the bedroom since you began practicing yoga?
To read more, visit www.msnbc.msn.com.
Mangalore's proposal to include yoga in its physical education curriculum has ruffled a few feathers in India, according to this article from The Times of India. In response to the proposal, a group of unnamed experts have called for a long-term study of yoga's effect.on children. Short-term studies, they say, aren't enough to prove yoga is beneficial—or even safe.
What do you think? Do they have a point?
If you're a Yoga Journal subscriber, you've probably noticed Lululemon's new ad campaign, featuring a cartoon President Elect Barack Obama in full Lotus Pose. (Check out the back cover of January 2009 issue of the magazine.)
This is Lululemon's statement about the ad: "Yoga has been known for ages as a proven stress reliever and a source of serenity and focus. In this day and age, we think everyone could benefit from a little yoga—especially the incoming US President. It's our hope that he will lead us all to a better place full of Oms and Sun Salutations."
The ad might inspire Obama-supporters in the yoga community, but could it send the wrong message about yoga to people on the other side of the political spectrum?
 "How you begin something is of great significance," writes New York yoga teacher Dharma Mittra in an email newsletter to his students. "Begin 2009 committed to the attainment of Self-Knowledge."
In a list of recommendations for 2009, Dharma suggests students meditate for 15 minutes every morning, drink lots of green juices, and read Swami Sivananda's Self-Knowledge. (For a PDF of the text click here.) Read Dharma's full list of recommendations by visiting his website, http://www.dharmayogacenter.com.
Do you have any yogic resolutions for 2009?
Erica Rodefer is Associate Online Editor for YogaJournal.com. When she's not writing and blogging for YJ, she loves knitting, sewing, hiking, and, of course, practicing and teaching yoga. Since she was first introduced to yoga in a college course, she's been motivated to spread the joy—especially to stressed-out teenagers. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband and a little, white kitty that rarely lets her sleep past 6 a.m.
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