Yoga - Trikonasana Triangle Pose

trikonasana - triangle pose

In this variation of triangle pose I am pushing my shin into my hand so I don't hyper-extend the knee. I made sure that the heel of my front foot was in line with my ankle on my back foot to execute heel to ankle alignment. Doing this pose against a wall can really help because you can push your back hip into the wall to make sure that the hips are aligned properly. Then I let my head hang in its own weight.

Yoga - Manduka Product Test

Manduka is an El Segundo based yoga equipment & accessory company that focuses on eco-friendly production. This particular mat is all-natural, biodegradable and does not contain any toxic glues, dyes or plasticizers.

eko lite natural yoga mat in santorini 

Manduka eKO yoga mats are made from natural tree rubber. For best performance, they suggest you wipe the surface with a damp cloth and store it out of direct sunlight. I would definitely recommend wiping the mat down as well as airing it out before you use it, especially the first time. I unwrapped my mat and unrolled it in yoga class today and everyone near me could smell it! One person had a bit of an allergic reaction. As it aired out, the scent seemed to lessen and the yogis got over it.

yoga instructor Natasha Morales wearing o.p.i. mellow yellow polish

You can practice on either side of this mat. Both have a super amount of grip to help you stick your down dog.. The top has the Manduka signature seagrass texture. The bottom side gripped so much that when I put my forehead down on it, I could hear the sound when I lifted my head back up! I was impressed with the cushion that the thin mat provided. It felt as good on my body as my previous mat which is their regular eKO mat . The eKO mat weighs 7 pounds and the eKO LITE weighs 3.5 pounds, so it was much easier to carry up the hills during my walk to class. The eKO LITE mat is about 11 inches shorter than the regular eKO mat, but I was still fine with the length and didn't really notice a difference although I am 5'9". I have put my eKO mat to rest and the eKO Lite is my latest choice for summer, I love it!

Shop - What to Wear in a Yoga Music Video with Bahamas

When Hollywood comes to your yoga studio it can seem a bit surreal. Then again, it's just another day in L.A! Linda Baffa taught a yoga class for a music video for the latest album from Bahamas called Bar Chords. Everyone in class including myself was filmed in real time. How does one prepare to select the perfect outfit for this occasion? Well, knowing that the rumor 'the camera adds 10 pounds' is true, Linda and I decided to go with a monochromatic color scheme which is both on trend and figure flattering. This can work with black of course, but it works with colors as well.

yoga instructor linda baffa is wearing lululemon wunder under crops in heathered charcoal, one me, lululemon wunder unders, lululemon rehearsal tank in paris pink and coal, virus intl. bioceramic bracelet, pura vida bracelet, mala beads by chelsea welch

The artist Bahamas is on the Brushfire Records label along with greats like Jack 

Johnson, Zee Ahvi and ALO

Afie Jurvanen of Bahamas

Recipe - American Flag Terrine

american flag terrine - fourth of july tradition courtesy of lauren dunfee

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 cup white grape juice
1 cup champagne (Or sparkling white grape juice)
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups berries (Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, golden raspberries, or grapes)

In a small bowl, pour gelatin over 1/4 cup grape juice and let sit 2-3 mins

Heat 1/4 cup of white grape juice and sugar over medium-high heat in a small saucepan until dissolved.

Remove from heat and stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Add the rest of the grape juice and all of the champagne.

In the bottom of a loaf pan, arrange the blueberries, raspberries and golden raspberries (Or grapes) in the shape of a flag (With the blueberries on the top right as you will be turning it out to serve). Dump the rest of the berries on top.

Gently pour the gelatin mixture over the berries. Do not overfill.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

To serve, dip the bottom of pan in hot water for 5 seconds and turn it out onto a serving platter.