Yoga Consumerism - where I tell you about stuff that I like and/or wish I could own

After prowling the Yoga Journal Marketplace many times last weekend I have finally decided to sit down and sent out some positive vibe on products that I either bought or wanted to buy (but didn't have the budget) or just though were really cool and wanted to get the word out.

The complete list of vendors is here: http://www.yjevents.com/sd/marketplace.php

Companies I would be remiss to not mention first and foremost:

• Green Yoga
• UCSD Center for Mindfulness
• Yoga Gives Back
• yogaHOPE
• Yoga For Hope San Diego

Things I purchased and want to proudly tout:

• BackJoy - ergonomic seats to help restore your lumbar curve, take pressure off your spine and assist healthy posture. I bought TWO - one for me and one for my dad! 
• Aura Cacia - I bought a bevvy of essential oil blends AND some pure cocoa butter (amazing - amazing - amazing) from this group and have been using them daily on myself and Eli ! Will be using grapefruit oil in my kids spritzer bottle next week in class - they should LOVE it! Oh, they did give me a mat spray and a box of aromatherapy recipe cards...so generous! 
• Sustain Community Acupuncture
• Got my first formal ayurvedic analysis and am going back for the full monty (so to speak) next week. Am so curious about which dosha is dominant (can you say Vata Pitta) and which ones are out of whack (can you say Vatta Pitta). 
• BAL YOGA FOR KIDS - their DVD with sing-along CD and book is a wonderful addition to my personal and professional library! Going to break it out for Eli this weekend when I need to clean the house. It can also serve as a great last minute yoga class when the teacher is out, or before rest time at preschool. Features REAL KIDS. Sylvia and Glenda are women with extensive teaching experience and truly believe, as I do, in the power of yoga for children. 

Samples I received, LOVED and wanted to pimp:

• YogaPaws LLC - I received a sample set of the hand and foot 'paws' about 2 years ago at an NGY/Chopra Center family class. They are a terrific replacement for a travel mat. And now they are IMPROVED so that they fit better, the sticky material on the palms and feet allows better traction and the finger and toe dividers are more comfy. Check them out! 
• Organic Valley - who now has 100% grass fed milk. I am usually quite lactose intolerant (that darn lactose!) but a few samples of this delicious, creamy, sweet, delicious (yes, used that adjective twice!) elixir had my taste buds singing and NO ill effects on my belly! The 2% even had little bits of cream still in it - HEAVEN! 
• NRGmatrix - a great nutritive drink mix that I would love to use daily - had a vanilla/orange flavor, sweetened with stevia (yay) and vitamin rich! Will be bringing this to the attention of the MS society to see if we can get a sponsorhip or gift-in-kind arrangement! 
• Pure Inventions - This was pure tea heaven for my mouth - and their product poster were gorgeous! I almost spent the farm on these little bottles of delish elixir but held back - I have to use all the potions I already have before i indulge in new ones! Concentrates with antioxidants, no caffeine, pure fruit flavors and all the good stuff you want in a water additive without the sugar, cloying flavors or artificial chemicals. 
• Manduka - awesome mats (though pricey)...received a free sample of mat spray and it's so yummy - just about finished off the bottle from last year!  I also somehow landed a manduka/lululemon PRO mat last year at the Midwest Conference and it is a coveting and prized practice possession. i was suppose to go online and give my feedback but I wasn't able to find the right link then -so I'll tell you here: two sided mat, one slippery-er but absorbent and the other quite sticky...very heavy (like 7 lbs) but super well padded and a great feel on your hands and feet...makes you feel like a yoga PRO! Funky smell when first unpacking that dissipated within weeks. Not sure I'd pay the 60-80 bucks retail for it but it was a really really really really nice gift (and appreciated because i only had one of those cheap flimsy easily torn foam ones with me at the time).

And now, things I thought were totally cool, but didn't (couldn't afford to) buy, but promised vendors I'd promote:

• Infinity Strap - unique strap design to eliminate fumbling with clasps, D-rings or the dreaded - too long/too short syndrome. Figure 8 design comes in a couple of different materials and size to assist in strengthening and aligning your poses. Great idea, IMHO. 
• Kosha - totally cool mat covers that are like little sleeping bags with detachable carrying bags. Keeps your mat clean (you wash the COVER not the mat). Lovely woman named Ashley was charming and upbeat and talked about how she and her twin sister Alysha put their heart and soul into creating this cool yoga 'gadget.' And the graphic design work is adorable (she did give me a spiffy carry bag made from leftover cover materials that is my new favorite for farmer's markets...so in all truth it's not a TOTALLY unpaid product endorsement) 
• High Chi - Energy infused jewelry - okay I was skeptical but i did try their electromagnetic energized plate gadget and it totally made my badly sprained toe feel a HEAP better. And their stuff is GORGEOUS. And I really did feel a weird radiant warmth emanating from the stones - I kid you not. A bit pricey for my wallet but I coveted with my eyes! 
• sukhasana - the coolest looking chair for your 'office' ever - one day...one day... 
• KiraGrace - yoga clothes that were truly stylish and different, without being overboard frilly, skimpy, homogeneous or "there is no way i can do a handstand in that sensationalized training bra." The fabrics were substantial, and styles were well crafted. The selection showed a variety of fits that would work for the well endowed (yay) as well as the leaner of frame. I've run into issues trying to find yoga clothes that fit, support, move, breath, wash well, and last... Everyone has their own favorite brands but I find some companies WAY to expensive, or  other products too cheaply  made. Or if I love a particular style of top or bottom, the next season it's GONE. The conference was lululemon infused (don't get me wrong, their stuff is nice and the company is community supportive), but it was nice to see a smaller company coming out of the gate - I hope they do well. 

In other local news:
From YogaKids, who was (were?) not at the conference but from whom I receive emails regularly AND have from whom I have taken a number of workshops: Ms. Carolyn Clarke has just published her first kid's relaxation book. Carolyn has a sweet style that translates to her book - check it out: http://www.imaginationsforkids.com/book/