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
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
I do a yoga program on my iPhone every morning to get a clearer frame of mind before I begin the day. I used to just frantically run around trying to make sure I ate, got ready, grabbed everything I needed, but this is a much better way to start my day out. I miss it a lot if I oversleep or don’t have time. I try to make it fit!
I’ve been practicing yoga over a year now and I can’t describe how much benefits I got from it. It’s so versatile, somedays I just want to stretch out and relax, others I want a great workout and I go to those arm balancing poses and fast flows series! I love it because it provides me energy, relaxation, connection to my mind and physical strength!
i’d love to win that package!
I love yoga as it is so relaxing, and yet energizing at the same time. Other ways I reduce stress are talking with my husband, prayer, reading, and cleaning! Fun giveaway!!
To be honest (I’m sure you’ve heard me complain via blog) I am not a fan of my for-credit yoga class so far, but I think I would like vinyasa or hot yoga or something EXICTING like that
So, even though I am not a yoga lover, I have found that laying in corpse pose at night totally helps me de-stress and fall asleep!
Thanks for sharing your story, Allie! Yoga has helped my leg/back pain tremendously by teaching me various stretches and strengthening my muscles. I know it’s a lot better for me than other strenuous (running, ellipticalling) exercises, but it takes so much more energy (both mental and physical), that it’s hard for me to do sometimes. Hopefully I’ll get better at doing it more than once a week!
Hi Allie! First time commenting on your blog- I just found out this week and have already bookmarked it to my faves- love it!
I was wondering how you found out about this giveaway? I’m dying to enter… I was just reading about the Kripalu Center Yoga Retreats this morning, and really want to go to one- what a small world it is! And then I read your blog entry and couldn’t believe it! I’d love to enter the contest and win a weekend there!!!!
I took a yoga class in college and loved it. The semester I took it was super stressful and the yoga class was always such a release for me. I think I chose to take that class at exactly the right time for me.
I haven’t practiced yoga for very long but I really think it helps to “quiet my mind” and allow me to de-stress. I love the way I feel even after I just complete 5 minutes.
I can’t say enough good things about yoga! I have been practicing for close to 8 years now and I still look forward to each and every class. Yoga helps me to calm my mind when nothing else will. It is on my mat where I feel I can let everything out. In addition to helping me spiritually and emotionally, yoga has helped to give me a strong core, back, arms and legs. Plus, the lessons and words of wisdom that are taught in class have helped me to become more aware of my body, mind and surroundings. I am more aware because of my yoga practice and for that, my health has improved.
I love bikram yoga so much its such an intense cleanse and workout. Odd enough I have never tried regular yoga. Yes I am weird =)
Yoga helped me realize that it’s actually pretty damn hard and I will never underestimate it again. I’ve taken the class once and it was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, besting a half-marathon. How the hell do you get in some of those ridiculous positions?!
I find chopping and prepping stuff in my kitchen very therapeutic. I actually like chopping onions, peeling carrots, etc. Probably because I get to eat them later…
I am a recent yoga convert for about 2 months and it helps me not go bat sh!! crazy on exam days, busy work days and more. It has also helped me with an awful back pain from slouching. The link is on my blog!
i love the toga yoga photo! so cute. i have actually NEVER done yoga, believe it or not, but i like to relax by laying with my dogs.. they are just so calming
thanks for the giveaway mamacita!
yoga has helped me to slow down and reflect on myself.
I haven’t gotten into yoga yet, but I’m planning to VERY VERY soon. I am so inflexible that even the beginners dvds don’t help, so I’m looking into getting a “Yoga for inflexible people” dvd. It sounds silly but to destress, I usually watch episodes of my favorite sitcoms. The healing power of laughter.
I am still quite new to yoga and only go once a week. I am pretty bad about stretching and yoga has really helped me with that. I now find myself doing pigeon pose after my runs and taking more time to stretch!
I loved your yoga story! For some reason I just cannot get into yoga. I much prefer Pilate’s. Good luck to all who enter the contest!
PS….What a cute picture!
Yoga has been so essential for me after I started running. It’s one of the best ways to relax the body and offers excellent recovery streaching after a long run. I love it!
It’s so freeing for the mind and body.
What a fantastic giveaway darling. Oikos has changed my life! I am a life fan of this company!
AH! I would love to win that swag. So fun and relaxing!
I just started doing yoga when I moved to Japan. Because I have no access to a gym I was having trouble getting motivated to Strength Train, but I had heard that Yoga was a good way to get stronger. So I downloaded a few 20 minute workouts from YogaDownload.com (The best, right?) and tried to see if I could even do them. I COULD! I’ve been practicing for a few weeks now and I love it. It makes me feel strong and centered, but it’s also an awesome way to clear your mind.
P.S. linking to your giveaway in my post in a few hours!
sometimes i bust into a downward dog, or PIGEON! as i stretch out my sore sore legs from treadmill/and running outside. other De-stress methods include watching my favorite tv show or moving some steel in the gym. =D
yay for big ass cereal serving sizes!
hahah yoga in a toga- love it
Yoga REALLY helps relieve my muscles after long runs. I did it after my last race and plan to make it a tradition now
I haven’t been doing yoga as much as I’d like. I go through phases with yoga – sometimes I do it a lot, other times, I find it time consuming and unnecessary. But when I DO do it, I always feel more centered.
I also find that really long hot showers taken after really long runs tends to destress me =P
PS- love your yoga in a toga! haha!
Yoga helped me get more flexible…I never thought i’d ever consider myself flexible!
I started doing yoga at home few months ago, when my life was hectic from all the exams, and I was stressed out. This month, I started to go to yoga studio on power yoga. I love it! I am usually worried about my workouts, if I burned enough calories, I always think that only aerobic exercises are good. But yoga. Yoga really helps me, mentally and physically. It helps me relax so much. After the practice,I feel like I am born again, like I don’t have any worries and that everything will be fine. And, it helps my back problem. I have kyphosis, which was diagnosed in my power yoga class by the teacher
I find it really relaxing to practice yoga in my room after a long day of work. I usually download podcast from Yogamazing. A short 20 minutes can do wonders. When I have more time, I take a class at the gym.
Link back here:
http://theskinnyplate.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/wildwoods-organics-shiitake-tofu-veggie-burger/
I love that picture of yoga in a toga, it made me smile: perfect start of my day:) And I really like the way you use yoga in your life, have a great weekend!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
i love doing yoga! it helps me relax when im having one of those days. it has also helped with my flexibility!
I’m in grad school and with so little time to relax and so much stress, yoga gives me “me” time to just clear my mind and get it touch with what’s going on inside of me and my body, that sounds cheesy, but its true! I’d be a stressed out mess without yoga!
i love yoga for the relaxation and rejuvination it brings me! also, follow a yoga session with a mini spa-night, im in relaxation heaven!
I am going to get back into yoga. I used to love it and then life got in the way and I haven’t done it in forever. I am going to look into David Farmar’s podcasts.
I love hot yoga. It warms me from the inside out relaxing my mind and body at once. Stretching out tired muscles is just delicious
Hi just found your blog, too cute!
Yoga has helped me become flexible and especially to repair myself after my long runs. Doing some yoga while listening Enya also helps me to focus on the present and not stress about the class I have in a few hours or the homework due next week. I would probably be much more tightly wound both physically and mentally if it weren’t for yoga!
I wish I had the chance to do yoga these days, I really should look into it again. But I did some yoga in the past and it made me feel so relaxed and great!
For now, one of my best stress relievers is riding my bike- I mostly ride to and from class, and the way home is all downhill- it’s such an amazing and rewarding feeling!
Ive only done yoga a few times, but its helped me with my running by stretching me out and relaxing my whole body. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have done yoga only a few times, but with great results. I did it with a group of girls at a gym, and it was really nice to just stretch and breath deeply and find a greater “me”.
I do cardio kickboxing as my main stress reliever. I think the intensity is great for high stress days!
i linked ur post on my blog =]
Yoga clams me down sooooooo much. Whenever I am stressed and upset, doing just 20 minutes of yoga ALWAYS makes me feel so so much better.
I love how calming yoga is, and how it is such a great stretch after running. My goal is to do yoga 2x a weeek, but I right now it’s more like 2x a month!
Hey! I love Oikos Yogurt!
Yoga has helped me tremendously destress and has wonderfully complemented my running! I love yoga.
How did I miss this?? I’m totally reposting it too, once I get myself organized here
Yoga has helped me push the boundaries of what I “think” I can or can’t do. If anyone had ever told me I’d be able to do a wall supported headstand, I would have called them a dirty, rotten liar. While I love the physical benefits of yoga, I think it’s the mental/emotional side of it that has really changed my idea of my physical abilities.
Heck yes for yogurt too! Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi! This is my first time commenting on your blog…but i LOVE it!!! I look forward to it everyday, you just seem to write the best posts! As a college student, I share some of the same issues you deal with, so maybe thats why I love the blog so much!
anyway, yoga is amazing! I started it this past summer, and am now continuing my practice by taking a class at my college. I love how it makes me feel after, so energized, yet relaxed!! I also can’t complain about how it makes me SO much more flexable!! love it!
I LOVEEEEE OIKOS! I would LOVE to win this..it would make my year!!
i use pilates to relieve stress!
Nice contest ;p
pick me and you don’t have any shipping costs!!! hahaha.
Yoga helps me streeetch. I never stretch enough.
what a fabulous giveaway!!!
Yoga absolutely helps me relax and feel less stress. I love the way you can go into the room with a million things on your mind and being in the ‘now’ and just concentrating on your practice just lets all those worries go away for the time being!
linked back
http://onefitfoodie.blogspot.com/2009/10/beautiful-harley-day.html
I love doing yoga on the days that I don’t run. I started running a couple of months ago, and yoga has helped my muscles a lot–it feels great to stretch them out! I also feel very happy and relaxed after I do yoga.
I emailed this contest to my friend Sarah–she loves yoga and Oikos!
great giveaway! i love yoga just because you can get away from anything and everything that is stressing you out. it’s my “me” time, and always makes you feel great!
Yoga helps me stretch and destress!! It is so relaxing.
I try and keep the “yoga breathing” in my mind when I want to flip out. For some reason, channeling back to calmer mat moments tends to help. Then again, there are times I say “screw it” and yoga flies out the window, but for the most part, it is a big help in my every day life…
I took a yoga class my first year of college and loved it. I had an insanely heavy course load and I don’t think I would have survived that year without yoga to de-stress.
Linked back!! Eep! i hope I get lucky!!
I do yoga and listen to my back go crackity crack crack. It is for sure where I store my tension! Oh man I hope I win this one.
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