I am not a Black Friday fan.  I have refrained from the massive spending and deal seeking frenzy that occurs annually.  However, I do make some discreet eco-friendly purchases that are treats for my family and me. The following are some eco-friendly deals for Black Friday:

http://www.arenaturals.com - Save 20% off using code GREENBABY20

Eco Plums - 20% Off Eco Friendly Products using code NYEVE2012

GoodHomeStore - 30% off Eco Friendly Products using code BTS30

Lavish and Lime - 20% off using code TAKE20

Mighty Leaf - http://www.mightyleaf.com is offering up to 40% off their regularly priced eco-friendly teas!

Plum Organics - 15% off Plum Organics site wide through 12/1. Enter code CYBER15 

RealPurity.com - From now through Cyber Monday (12/1/14) at midnight, when you use the code BLOGGERS40, you will receive 40% off any purchase from realpurity.com  This great company offers many eco-friendly cruelty free organic cosmetic and skincare products.

Yes to Carrots - http://www.yestocarrots.com  Save 40% off site wide on Friday using code BRIGHT at checkout. Save 35% site wide 11/29-11/30 using code HOLIDAY35 at checkout.

Yogaaccessories.com - You will receive 25% off any purchase using promo code BLACK25  at http://www.yogaaccessories.com

Yoga Direct - Save 30% off using code ECO30

There will always be peaks and valleys in life.  Practicing yoga helps me remain calm during these highs and lows in life.  Having a broader perspective and accepting that regardless of the circumstance, each moment will pass, gives me inner peace.  I look forward to the upcoming holidays knowing that the anticipated chaos and drama that often come with holidays will soon (like the holiday season) pass.

During yoga teacher training, we learned that it is important to reach the edge (physically and mentally) so that we can experience growth.  If we do not push ourselves to our personal edge and remain in our comfort zone, we will not experience growth.  If we go beyond the edge, we will experience pain and possibly injury.  Once we reach the edge, we need to observe what we feel and how we are reacting.  How we react on the mat helps us cope with life challenges off the mat.  

Congrats to John H. for winning the random LifeStaw Water Bottle filter product giveaway.  Please confirm your mailing address (and respond to the winning email announcement sent to you).  You will receive the product giveaway within 3-5 business days.

Additional free product giveaways will be posted next week!  Feel free to visit this blog again soon!

Congratulations!  You are interested in completing a yoga teacher training program because you would like to teach yoga and/or deepen your yoga practice.  Before you select and enroll in a program read the following tips/advice.  

1) Know if the program is Certified:  First, visit the following website https://www.yogaalliance.org and determine the location of the program in which you would like to enroll. Although not required, you would want to attend a Yoga Alliance certified program because most health/fitness facilities would want you to have participated in a Yoga Alliance certified program.  In most cases, you will have a large number of programs to choose from.

2) Know the Reputation:  Read the previous yoga participants review regarding the program listed on https://www.yogaalliance.org 

3) Know the Location:  Visit the program location and ask to speaker with the yoga instructor.  Confirm that the program is taught in the facility in which you are visiting (make sure that the program location is in writing and in the training program contract that you sign).  This is very important because some programs may change their teaching locations and you might wind up driving any extra hour to participate in a remote location.

4) Know the Instructor(s): Take at least three or four classes that the yoga instructor currently teaches (this will help you determine if you like his/her style).  If you are not impressed with his/her teaching style, you will be disappointed in taking his/her training program.  Also, find out all of the instructors who will be teaching the program so that you understand whether you are under the tutelage of 1 or more instructors.  Ask to meet all of them.  

5) Know the Customers' Perception: After you take the class, make sure you stick around and speak with some regular participants and learn the teacher's reputation.  If the feedback is overall positive, then you are on the right track.

6) Know the Teaching Philosophy:  Ask to review the course syllabus or curriculum and ask the potential instructor how much time will be dedicated for you to teach "mock" classes during training.  There are some programs that only cover yoga philosophy and do not provide any time for you to teach classes.  Ask them for their yoga teaching philosophy and ask them to contrast their philosophy to their competitors.


7) Know the Alumni:  Ask for a list of previous graduates from the program so that you can reach out to them and find out what their experience has been to date and whether they have been able to secure teaching opportunities.

8) Know the non-Yoga Obligations: Ask what amount of time is based on instruction and how much volunteer or "karma" work is expected or required.  There are some facilities/programs that may take advantage of their yoga teachers in training and require that they volunteer and work in the yoga studio doing administrative work or other non-yoga teaching activities.  Most reputable programs do NOT required such non-yoga activities and if there is a karma project, these reputable programs let you decided which not for profit organization you would want to volunteer to work with.  Make sure you have them include this in the program contract/agreement so that you are not blindsided by this requirement.

9) Know who else is participating:  Ask to find out if you can speak with the list of anticipated yoga participants before you sign up so that you can determine if this is the right group of colleagues you would like to spend time with.  You will spend more than the minimum 200 hours with these colleagues and hopefully become lifelong friends.  It is important to get to know at least some of them in advance before you commit to the program.

10) Know the graduation/completion rate:  Find out if anyone ever "fails" or are denied the program completion certificate and if so, find out why.  I have a friend that spent thousands of dollars and time enrolled in a program just to have the instructor tell her at the end that "she is not the right fit for teaching yoga."  She has since complained to the Yoga Alliance organization (which does not have any jurisdiction over any yoga programs) and have filed a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau (however, the yoga program has since been rebranded to another name so her claims remain outstanding).

11) Get as much as you can in writing:  Most of us enter a yoga program because we are attracted by the practice of yoga and want to leave worldly paranoias and nuisances behind.  However, it is just being a smart shopper to get everything you expect in writing.  If the instructor or potential school is hesitate in providing this in writing, then walk away.

12)  Know the refund policy:  Enroll in a program that provides a refund policy so that for whatever reason within the first 1-3 classes you do not feel it is the right program for you, you are given an opportunity to back out and receive your money back.  Again, most reputable program offers a refund policy (and might just charge a cancellation fee) so that you are protected if you decide it is just not the right environment or program for you.

Once you have completed the above, you will have peace of mind as you start down the exciting road of becoming a yoga teacher.  If you have any additional experience/feedback you would like to share with other prospective yoga teachers, please feel free to post your comment in the comment below.  Thank you!

I brought my LifeStraw water bottle filter with me on a recent hike.  The weather was cool with a slight overcast.  The LifeStraw water bottle was convenient and easy to use.  It comes with a built-in replaceable water filter.  To use, you just need to add water and place the filter (attached to the cap) into the bottle.  To drink, you sip the water (like a straw) from the top and the water is filtered.  Simple!  There is also a hook to the top of the cap so you can easily hook it to a hiking backpack.  For each LifeStraw® product you purchase, one school child in a developing community is provided wih safe drinking water for an entire school year.  Drinking filtered water and helping others with access to safe drinking water!  For more information about this product, please visit http://www.buylifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-go.

A free LifeStraw water bottle filter will be randomly given away to any reader of this blog who submits a comment below before November 12th, noon EST (giveaway opened to U.S. residents only).  An email message will be sent to the winner requesting your mailing address so be sure to submit your email address (which will not be published on the blog).  Best of luck!  Keep hiking!

(Lifestraw Go, information, and additional product have all been provided by Vestergaard).