Yoga in a Toga, Yogi’s High, Plus a Giveaway!

Downward dog, Greek style!

A couple days ago, I received an email to participate in a Stonyfield Oikos Contest–the Na-Moo-Ste Giveaway!

Get it?! I thought it was just a quirky word from a foreign language at first, until I tried to say it out loud To enter, I had a choice between 3 different entries and I actually picked to do 2 of them just for fun. One randomly drawn entry will win a weekend yoga retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (so cool!!!!).

#1 is pictured above–yoga in a toga! That was actually 50 billion times harder than I anticipated between tying my bed sheet on, setting my camera in the right spot and posing within the self-timer alloted 10 seconds. I was NOT going to have my roommates witness this one

#2 is to share a story about why I need to say “Ohm”

Coincidentally, I received this email on THE day that I was going nuts-o from stress, anxiety, and worries galore. Even more ironic was the fact that I did yoga that day to relax and calm my mind.

I got into yoga for the physical benefits, as so many other aspects of my life have originated. I was over-running, over-ellipticalling, over-arc training–over exercising, period. My therapist suggested that I gave yoga a try because he understood my need to exercise to relieve stress and cope with my surroundings. He thought it would be beneficial for me to try an exercise that would be easier on my bones yet still provide me with a way to deal with my frenzied emotions. My stubborn self actually decided to give it a shot, but really only for the physical workout, nothing more.

I was skeptical at first because, well, how was holding poses going to give me the runner’s high I needed? With each class I went to, however, I started to realize the power of the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga has it’s own powerful effect on the mind and body–a yogi’s high, if you will. Yoga allowed me to calm my mind, focus on myself, and forget about my worries, if only for an hour. Let me tell you, at the time, one hour of focusing on any other task was next to impossible for me.

Since then, I’ve taken many on-campus yoga classes and explored online classes (yogadownload.com and Dave Farmar podcasts), however, I have only been to one real yoga studio class–hot yoga! I enjoy practicing yoga a lot but I still have a lot to learn. I would love to take my yoga practice to the next level as I think it would help me significantly with my stress, anxiety, and self-confidence.

I need to say “Ohm” because I’m a total worry wart, my days are hectic, high-paced, and jam-packed. As a result I need a way to just let go and be in the present. I need to de-worrify (I’m just making up words left and right) with some good ol’ yoga!

I hope you enjoyed my yoga story. If you haven’t tried yoga yet, a great way to start is by going to yogadownload.com for free 20 min. yoga classes (with audio and pose guides). Also, check out your local gym, community center, or even yoga studio for beginner classes. Now, here’s a giveaway prezzie for you:

An Oikos Giveaway!

Stonyfield also wants to give YOU a way to relax and renew at home. The giveaway package includes coupons for 4 free containers of Oikos organic Greek yogurt, a reusable Oikos tote bag, and the ‘Take-5′ Anti-Stress spa kit, from Earth Therapeutics, which includes a loofah massage sponge, Anti-Stress massage soap, a body brush, Anti-Stress massage lotion and a soothing gel eye mask.

To Enter:

1) Leave a comment on this post about how yoga has helped you personally and/or other methods you use to relax and relieve stress.

2) Link back to this post on your blog. If you do not have a blog, email a friend with a link to this giveaway and leave a separate comment saying that you did (No need to CC me on the email, I trust you!).

You have until Tuesday, October 13th at 12 midnight EST. I will randomly choose a winner and post the result on Wednesday!

Also be sure to check out the Oikos Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/oikos