Good Karma for a Yoga Mat

If you have a used yoga mat you need to get rid of, don’t trash it -- recycle it! The Bolder Mat Company in Colorado will refurbish it and donate to a yoga-inspired charity. The mat will be used to teach at-risk populations about the benefits of yoga. Not only will you make someone else’s life better, you will receive a $5 coupon for a new yoga mat or accessory from The Bolder Mat Company. The process is simple:
1. Pack your mat including your personal information so they can send you a coupon.
2. Ship your mat to The Bolder Mat Company.
3. Donate and receive your coupon!
There is no limit to how many mats you can donate. Yoga studios can contact them to receive a bulk discount if they are recycling more than five mats.
www.theboldermatcompany.com
photo credit:adria.richards

Coffee Alternatives

Most people drink coffee for the morning pick-me-up, but if you are wanting to cut down on your jitters or just your caffeine intake, you have choices.
• Herbal coffees are an option, such as Teeccino. It contains no caffeine, but it may provide a natural alertness. Its main ingredient is chicory root. People who are trying to give up coffee for health reasons often turn to Teeccino. It tastes a lot like coffee, but a little sweet and smoky. It contains heart-healthy potassium and inulin that helps aid digestion. Teeccino is safe for even kids to drink and comes in a variety of flavors.
• Yerba Mate is made of South American holly tree leaves. You can find it in brands such as Guayaki, which a very environmentally friendly company that is focused on restoring the rain forests. Guayaki has less than half the caffeine of coffee. Its flavor is very herbal. It has high levels of antioxidants and heart-healthy potassium.
• Morning Matcha is made of green-tea leaves ground into powder. It also contains about half the amount of caffeine of coffee. It tastes similar to steeped green tea, but has more of a kick. It has about three times the antioxidants of bagged tea, giving you extra protection from heart disease and cancer. It is pricey, though. One jar, which contains 15-20 servings, costs $33.
photo credit: Chris Owens

Bumming a Cigarette Bums out Your Heart

If you think you’re beating the bad effects of cigarettes because you don’t smoke regularly, but still bum one now and then on a night out—you’re kidding yourself! Every puff you take increases your potential for arterial damage. A University of Georgia study found that sporadic smokers who smoked two cigarettes after two days of not smoking were 36 percent less responsive to blood flow changes than nonsmokers. After four cigarettes the arterial response was even worse. Impaired arterial response is the first step to heart disease. Cigarette smokers also have more build up of fatty deposits in their arteries. In fact, the Surgeon General has declared smoking “the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the United States.” Secondhand smoke will cause these same effects, so try to avoid it if possible. Smoking also decreases you HDL (good) cholesterol. And don’t forget—it’s bad for your lungs, too!

photo credit: vramak

Product Review: Yowza

Several weeks ago I reviewed the Adidas Megabounce. I liked them so much that I decided to buy another pair. They are not cheap at $99, so I did some digging and found an iphone app call "Yowza", it is co-develop by Greg Grunberg. I went to sports authority, they had the Megabounce $20 off on sale, with the Yowza $15 coupon, I end up paying $64 plus tax! How cool is that? Yowza is free and can be downloaded on itunes.