diy yoga mat spray

Last week I tried Bikram yoga for the first time. I had previously done hot yoga, which was just a Vinyasa flow in 95° heat. I had only heard rave reviews from my sister and friends who have taken Bikram, so I was excited to finally try it.

Here's how I like my yoga. The instructor is a little on the hippie dippy side. We listen to calming music. Hell yeah I wanna hear Bon Iver while I'm doing sun salutations, so what? The instructor makes corrections so you know you are doing the postures without fear of injury.

Here's Bikram yoga. There's no music. The instructors yell into microphones to push harder into poses. You are in the personal space of a very sweaty old man, who is only wearing tiny shorts and is better than you at Bikram. You feel like you are going to vomit, faint, or both. The instructor stands at the front of the room and does not make any corrections.

Yikes!

I had to leave my third class because I was pale, cold, and seeing stars. I want to give it another chance, but perhaps Bikram and I are not made for each other.
 
When you're sweating all over your yoga mat, it needs a serious cleaning after class. In lieu of buying expensive mat cleaner, I decided to try making my own. I was pleased with the results.

DIY Yoga Mat Spray 

1 cup water
1/4 cup vinegar
10 drops tea tree oil
20 drops essential oil of your choice (I used a pine wild scotch oil)

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle. To use, spray your yoga mat liberally and allow to sit for a moment. Wipe down your mat with a damp cloth. It will take 5-10 minutes to dry completely.

my home gym

Funemployment has meant giving up certain things I once took for granted. I had a membership at a gym walking distance from my apartment in Chicago. Here, I have to make do with running and exercise videos. I bought a Biggest Loser DVD over the holidays. I've never seen the television series, but the workout kicks my ass every time. Also, the helpers are all people who have actually appeared on the show. So even though they are certainly thinner than they once were, I am still thinner than them, which is uplifting.

Otherwise, I do a lot of yoga.

I've been doing yoga with my mother nearly every other day. Often, her dogs try to join us by crawling all over her and her mat. Who says they can't do yoga too? Downward Dog had to get it's name from something.

In my quest for meaningful employment, I briefly considered moving to a yoga retreat in northern Michigan in exchange for room and board for a few months. It included vegetarian meals, deep discussions of a spiritual nature, and daily yoga and meditation practice. Unfortunately, they do not allow pets and I can't bear to be separated from my cat.