Coming Up in the Letting Out the Domestic Series: Products You Don't Want to Miss

Hey readers, are you getting tired of reading about products that are popping up in my life?


Like the fact that I'm super pumped about CSN Stores, where you can shop online in over 200 stores and discover awesome kitchen ware or a chic bar stool? (Frying pan, anyone?)


Well, too bad :)

I wouldn't post about anything I wouldn't recommend to my very own nephew, Zeke. What a cutie, eh? Miss you, Big Z!

Ha, but seriously: I hope you're not feeling spammed here on the blog lately. I post reviews, but I post them from the heart. I'm very careful about what I discuss on Alive in the Fire and I approach product and service review with a skeptic's eye.


Bottom line is this: if it's not a product I love, use, and would buy for a friend, you won't be reading about it here. Other key factor: the blog will never be overtaken by posts which are not focused on the yoga. Ever.


Lately I'm pretty passionate when I find a blog that sticks to the topic it promises to be about. If you have a yoga blog, it should be about THE YOGA. If you post about culinary arts, I want to see food pictures. If you're a writer writing about your craft, I don't want to read about your dog. 


Unless your dog is the topic of your latest novel, or somehow managed to stand on his head, or something ridiculously cool like that. And in that case, you should post some pictures too!


I'll admit: occasionally I stray from the yoga and bring you my insights on cooking, biking, art, pumpkins, relationships, living by sustainable and green methods, or the music that's playing in my speakers. Or my awesome family members, local events, or chillin' with Seth Godin.


I hope you don't mind me mixing it up, but I often find that these areas of my life do inform my yoga practice, and vice versa. And that's a great thing! I would highly encourage you to do some serious thinking about how you are living the life of a yogi, not just practicing yoga.

Are you putting what you learn in the Hot Room into practice outside those walls?

And if not, what's stopping you?

If you haven't started practicing the yoga in your everyday life, you haven't started your Bikram journey quite yet. As we say in Standing Head to Knee: start by locking the knee. That doesn't mean jamming the leg back without pulling up and tightening all of your muscles in your leg and hip. That doesn't mean kicking your heel out before you have a solid foundation. That doesn't mean moving beyond Step #1 until you've got it down and you're ready for Step #2. Period. 

"If your knee is bending, posture hasn't even started yet." Bikram's words.

So get your foundation. Rock solid, concrete, one piece, lamppost. (Whoa, I just typed that from memory! Sweet.... Yoga teacher in the making, what what!)


Anyway, philosophical ramblings aside, I hope you're enjoying what you read here at Alive in the Fire. And I also hope that you know I'd love to hear your feedback if you have any ideas about what should change! I love getting messages from you guys, and I trust in your opinions, I'm curious about your ideas, and I'm so, so grateful for your support. I love hearing from you!


Alright, so down to business. We've got some ridiculously cool stuff lined up. I literally have a list of about 20 posts that are in the works! So stay tuned.

Fiery Posts to Look Forward To

• CSN Stores is generously gifting another few items to Alive in the Fire as part of the Letting Out the Domestic series. Very soon I will be reviewing their hilarious and awesome "Enter" welcome mat and these beautiful tea strainers. Both can be found at AllModern.com, a sweet site with hip style. I really love their wall art selection, too. Those sticky wallpaper cutouts are so popular now, it seems! The Hubs and I keep oogling over pretty things to hang up in our place. We're also desperately seeking a unique and sleek coat rack. We located this gorgeous calligraphy-inspired one, but it's a little pricey. Might have to wait for Christmas!
• Hammer Nutrition carries some ridiculously awesome fuels & supplements for endurance athletes. That's right, Bikram yogis, you qualify! Their line is great not only for long-distance bikers and runners but also people looking to sweat a bunch, keep hydrated, and stay strong throughout a workout. Highly recommended especially if you're considering a double class. So far I've tried the electrolyte pills as well as several drink mixes. I will do these tasty products justice in a full post within the week! I may also feature a contest on the site coming up, so keep an eye out.
• Another electrolyte drink mix provider, Cera, shipped a box out my way to share some of their juice boxes and dry powder mixes with me. Can I say, amazing?! Their flavors are so delicious and fancy, including my favorite: pomegranate acai berry! These mix so well with coconut water (I recommend pineapple VitaCoco) and are even tastier than EmergenC, which I am a big fan of. Although I did also recently discover EmergenC's Berry Blue flavor, which provides vitamins and electrolytes. I'm pretty much becoming an expert on this stuff :) I feel like by the time Teacher Training rolls around I'll have too many to choose from! Hoping some of these companies will consider sponsoring me during those nine weeks, actually. I'll be postin' up a storm about how much their products are saving me in Bikram's Torture Chamber!
• Spa time: say aaaaaaaah. So I've been spoiled lately -- well, sort of. I've had several massages in the last month, but in part because my neck and back have been giving me a bit of trouble. (Get away from the computer when you can, yogis! Get to class!) Anyway, I hit up Egea Spa as well as Flow Body and Mind Connection recently and had SUCH a lovely time at each. Easily the most talented massage therapists I've ever visited, and some of the most relaxing and comforting treatment you can find locally in Evanston. And both are in walking distance! Love, love, love. I'll post more about the treatments I had, my recommendations, and pricing. Also coming up: a post on these awesome eucalyptus sea salts donated by Walsh Natural Health on Central Street. A beautiful shop!
• Yoga mat cleaner and a reusable compact shopping bag I bought from Healthy Green Goods on Dempster Street. Knowledgeable and helpful store owner (she's a pediatrician too!), great products, inspiring philosophy behind the shop. Highly recommended. I'll also be writing about the dangers of neoprene and ways to find safe, stylish, modern adult lunchboxes soon. And water/ water bottle safety!

Is your head swimming yet?

Me too. 

Here, another wedding picture to break up the long post. Thanks for reading!

But I promise these will be worth a read, especially if you're interested in shopping in a way that's green, healthy and affordable. It takes a lot of patience to be all three, but it can be done!

Another shameless plug, before I head out to class. If you're in Evanston this weekend, please visit the Green Living Festival (Saturday) and Bike the Ridge (Sunday)! I will be attending each, and would love to meet up. I'll even have my nifty business cards for Alive in the Fire along :) I would love to chat with you, learn more about your yoga story, and spread the word to other Evanstonians!

Hope to see you there. Namaste and Happy Friday, peeps!