National Yoga Month - Get Your Om On
This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. Opinions are my own.
September is National Yoga Month. Whether you already get your om on, are interested in learning more about how yoga has physical and mental health benefits or are just inspired to start a healthy lifestyle, we've rounded up some products to help you on your journey.
The beauty of yoga is that you can do it anywhere. It can be done synchronistically with others at your favorite yoga center, privately in your own home, down the beach, or... lakeside. Wherever you find beauty and inspiration, set down your mat. Longtime readers know I live in the Pocono Mountains, so nature and the beauty of this area inspires me.
This particular spot on the lake in front of my house is beyond beautiful year-round (wait until I start posting pictures of the fall landscape!) It's easy to close your eyes and just breathe here. From the water lapping on the shore, to the rocking of the dock, to the sounds of the frogs hiding around the rocks, to the ducks, birds, and gentle breeze... there is no better place to re-focus.
You need to fuel your body while gaining strength through each yoga session. Ascent Protein has what you need to deliver native whey protein into your diet. This isn't for weight loss, but is meant as a food supplement. You simply add one scoop to your beverage of choice. I add it to my homemade smoothies that I make for lunch everyday (Greek yogurt, frozen berries and spinach.) I've tried Lemon Sorbet, Vanilla Bean and Chocolate. As a chocolate addict, it's my favorite, but their other flavors are just as delicious.
One scoop of Ascent Protein is equivalent to 4 large eggs, 3/4 cup of almonds or 3 full cups of whole milk. Adding this to your post-yoga smoothie is definitely the way to go. This month you can get 10% off your Ascent Protein order buy using the promo code YOGA at check out.
Love Warrior, an Oprah's Book Club selection, is a great read when you want to put aside some time for mindfulness. Glennon Doyle's bold honesty, rawness and most of all, realness, will make you reflect on your own life and relationships. It'll break you down and build you up. It'll make you view strength and bravery from a new perspective. Make time to get inspired - read this book.
I'm a big proponent of probiotics for digestive health but I'll be honest, I had never tried kombucha until I received KeVita Master Brew Kombucha. The reason why is because I had heard many people describe the flavor of kombucha as "an acquired taste." That was enough to keep me away thinking I wouldn't like it. How wrong was I? (Sidenote: My 2 year old had no hesitation unlike his mom. My boy drank both along with me saying "Mmm" the whole time.)
KeVita is fermented with a kombucha tea culture, has live probiotics, organic acids, organic caffeine, and is Verified Non-Alcoholic. I had the opportunity to try the Blueberry Basil and Ginger.
Blueberry Basil is refreshing - the flavor that came through first was the effervescence of the sparkling water, next you taste the basil and the blueberry comes through last. It's interesting because I would've never thought to pair basil and blueberry together since I use basil for cooking savory items, but it offset's the blueberry's tartness. The Ginger kombucha tastes a bit spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. I deal with acid reflux a few times a week and typically only take a probiotic tablet to quell it. Drinking the Ginger kombucha helped with this as well.
Another item to help make healthier choices is, Organic Stevia in the Raw. I don't know about you, but I LOVE all things sweet. Of course, that comes with a ton of downsides. Switching to an artificial sweetner has never been an option for me because the taste is not true to real sugar. Not to mention, when I'm drinking my iced coffee, I like the crunchiness of the sugar granules. (It's a texture thing.)
Organic Stevia in the Raw gives me the best of both worlds without the cons. It's a blend of organic stevia extra and organic cane sugar, so there's the crunchiness of the granules, sweetness that doesn't taste artificial in any way, but it's also a natural sweetner and non-GMO. But the best part? It's lower in calories compared to regular sugar - 3 calories vs 32. (Trust me, it all adds up.)
With yoga or any workout, there's sweat and odors to contend with. So when you're packing your facial cloths in your bag to refresh after a session, Summer's Eve makes portable Cleansing Cloths to help with personal care for your business down there. While they help to maintain a healthy pH so that there's no embarassing odors, they're also free from harsh chemicals and infused with botanical extracts. The Mandarin Blossom literally smells like a very light, sweet mandarin orange. Don't worry, you won't be walking around smelling like fruit, the scent stays on the cloths while freshening you up.
I am a HUGE snacker, so reaching for something healthy and satisfying is key. These raw, paleo bars from B.O.S.S. Bar are packed with superfoods, and although tiny, they are mighty in taste. I honestly can't pick a favorite flavor, because they all tasted so good. I love that absolutely every ingredient benefits your health in some way. As I mentioned, they are small (about the size of my palm) but they are packed with so many fruits, nuts and seeds that you will feel surprisingly full.
Right now they are offering free shipping on any 5-pack and/or case of 12 on BOSSFoodCo.com through October 15, 2017 with code BABBLEBOSS. Otherwise, if you are an Amazon Prime shopper like I am, they are available on Amazon, too.
I'd love to hear from you if any of the items mentioned are something you are a fan of. Leave a comment!
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