Yoga Brands that Give Back

Like many of you, I have a constant and ever-growing wishlist of leggings and fitness gear -especially yoga -that I have my eye on. But I always feel concerned, indeed, guilty, over the effect that my legging obsession may be having on the wider world. Can I really justify a purchase if I know that it has likely been made by under paid workers, in factories that churn out harmful dyes and take in large amounts of energy? Since I'm already willing to invest a bit more of my student budget on fitness gear than my peers, it seems like I can hardly use price as an excuse as I sometimes do for other products. Luckily for me, yoga has one of the best choice for eco-friendly and ethical clothing of almost any fitness brand. It suits the compassionate, ahimsa nature of yoga philosophy and me. To help you get started, I've shared some of my top picks, with a little background behind each of the brands.

1. Bamboo vest top, Braintree, £22. Braintree creates clothing designed to have a minimum ecological footprint, throughout the whole process of designing, making and delivery, with clothes designed to last.
2. Prana bra, Dharma Bums, £34.95. Dharma Bums -a favourite of mine -uses low-impact fabrics and  processes, as well as working with family-based and small-scale suppliers.
3. Hot yoga shorts, Dharma Bums, £29.95
4. Alfredo leggings, Choclo Project, approx. £61.00. The Choclo project directly works with Peruvian orphanages to improve the lives of young children. My favourite touch is that the prints are inspired by drawings from some of the children!
5. Paraqeet leggings, No Balls, £59.00. Bamboo is used almost exclusively in No Balls products, making the products pretty low impact, as well as skin friendly.
6. Tarot Magic leggings, £49.95, Teeki. 25 plastic bottles go into making each pair of leggings by Teeki. Go to Teeki for an array of bold prints made in waste-free dying methods.
7. Moroccan Coral leggings, Inner Fire, £57.00. Like Teeki, Inner Fire use plastic bottles (BPA free) in making their ultra-pretty leggings. 10% of profits go into The School Fund, and Leah, the founder, claims to have coined the phrase "just here for the shavasana". Sound stuff.

VIDEO | March Favourites 2016

Who can believe that we are already in the fourth month of 2016?! I know it is such a cliche to comment on the speed that the year is travelling at, but yikes! Still, I am trying to get into good habits and post videos on YouTube more regularly. I'm starting with a favourites video, but if there are any videos you would like to see, give me a shout!

Leather saddle bag ~ Zatchels

Original Skin Face Mask ~ Origins
7/8 Kinetic Leggings ~ Sweaty Betty 
Shoes ~ Blink
Candle and home fragrance kit ~ Sanctuary
China Cup ~ Orla Kiely

For further details and disclaimer, please see the description on the video's YouTube link. Please like, comment and subscribe -it would mean the world to me!

Fitness Update: Balancing Workouts, Weights and Yoga

Hello! I thought I would do a fitness update you all. When I first started going to the gym I managed to avoid the trap of slogging it out on the treadmill and headed to the weight section, deadlifts and all. However, I probably didn't get enough coaching to protect my form. Last autumn, I started to up my weights game, splitting my upper body days into different sections, saving my cardio for the odd gym class or run. However, after starting my #100daysofyoga challenge, I realised that my increased gym time was conflicting with my yoga practice -both in terms of actual time, and in how I felt in my body and flexibility. I also found that leg day and I weren't getting on -I'm naturally pear shaped anyway, so want to get my upper body to balance out my lower half, plus my strongly arched back (I have an over-emphasised lumbar lordosis) is prone to strains from deadlifts and lunges. That being said, the last thing I wanted was to become a cardio bunny -I like feeling strong!

I was quite inspired by the online fitness community -Kayla is obviously a very famous example of this, and over summer I signed up to the 12 week Way of Grey program. Inspired by these and a few other trainers on Instagram, I decided to shake up my routine to hopefully achieve a better balance to my fitness.

Health and fitness is, of course, a journey and not a destination and I will continue to make changes, some of which I'll mention at the end of this post. My key aim was to make my gym time more effective, without risking injury. I have started to increase the amount of HIIT and interval training that I do, supplementing with boxing, spin and pole classes.

Because core and upper body strength are things that I still want to build (hello forearm and handstands!), I am still doing a fair bit of arm training, and have upped my ab work into full sessions rather than a quick ten minutes after another workout. As my ab days are shorter than legs and arms, I like to pair them with a quick interval training session for a full body burn! I have refocused my leg days to train use bodyweight and plyometrics whilst still using some weighted exercises. This has given me more time for my yoga practice, which has been lovely!

I have been surprised to have started to noticed some results in my stomach, my yoga has improved and I still feel strong. I know I'll never be the fastest runner, the strongest lifter or the bendiest yogi, but I'm really happy with the balance I have building. I feel my healthiest yet, and in a maintainable, enjoyable way. And ultimately, that is the most important thing -because it doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do to be healthy. Whatever makes you feel good is your brand of healthy, and that's perfect.

Would you like to hear more about my fitness routines? Comment below if you'd like to see more regular features, workouts and updates!

Outfit:
Jumper - Zara, Top - H&M, 7/8 Tights - Sweaty Betty, Shoes - Nike

Thanks to Miriam of  The English Mademoiselle Diaries for the photographs!

Spring Fever Activewear Picks

As all the new season's collections have rolled in to activewear shops, and spring is slowly starting to make itself felt, my hypothetical wishlist has been growing again! Today I am sharing my top eight picks to get you feeling motivated to work out for the coming season with light and bright colours and kick-ass prints. I realise that there is a bit of a bias towards Lorna Jane bra's here, but they are so pretty, surprisingly supportive and super flattering! I'm also loving Gap's fitness ranges at the moment, and they are offering high-quality styles at a great mid-range price.

1. Eclipse sports bra, Lorna Jane £46.00
2. Saint Tropez sports bra, Lorna Jane £45.00
3. Coolmax layer shelf tank, Gap £30.00
4. Monorose sports bra, Ted Baker £64.00
5. Bamboo capri pant, Onzie £40.00
6. Splits capri, Sweaty Betty £75.00
7. Yoga flow top, No Balls £45.00
8. gFast mini stripe leggings, Gap £39.95

I hope you like these styles as much as I do, and that this post doesn't damage your bank balance too much! Let me know if you have purchased any of these or have any spring favourites yourself.

Wellbeing Gift Guides

It is the first week of December, which means it can only be time for the gift guides! This year I have split my guides into budgets for wellness gifts. So, if you are shopping for a yogi or a runner, spa lover or eco shopper, you should find lots to choose from. Or (ahem), share this post to drop hints for yourself. I know that there are more than a few things from here that I wouldn't mind receiving under the Christmas tree... ;)

Clockwise, from top centre: Lorna Jane, The Perfect Gift Set (£50 voucher + towel, socks and water bottle to make gift card giving much prettier!), £80; Daisy Jewellery Om and Lotus rose gold bracelets, £65 each; Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm, £38; Sweaty Betty Salutation Travel Mat, £65; Neal's Yard sustainable bamboo oil diffuser, £50; Varley at Hip & Healthy Skyscrape leggings, £75; Sweaty Betty Limited Edition Spin Leggings, £110.

Clockwise, from top left: Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Gift, £22.50; True Grace Christmas Village candle, £25; Deliciously Ella Sweatshirt, £35; Lakeland spiralizer, £29.99; H&M running jacket, £29.99; Neom/Sweaty Betty Personal Best collection, £30.

Clockwise, from top left: Om Bar chocolate, £1.99; No Balls bamboo bra, £21 (£9 in sale); Etsy yoga mat bag, £7.99; Alchemy Superblends Elixirs, from £6 for sample packs; Madeline Shaw Ready Steady Glow! book, £20 preorder; Lovaine Store turquoise pendant, from £9.

I hope these guides make Christmas shopping a little less stressful, and much more fun! What other Christmas posts would you like to see? Men's gift guides, DIYs, recipes or something new?

Fitkit: The Bestseller's Edit

Sometimes the lure of shopping gets stronger than usual and I start making hypothetical wish lists to get spending off my mind! After receiving a few restock emails recently, I started thinking about bestselling items, and what makes an item become a must-have, hero product. A combination of design and functionality comes together in a sports bra or pair of leggings and, perhaps with a little endorsement from a popular blogger, something of a sell-out frenzy starts! Today I am sharing some of the items that I think have become exceptionally popular, which may perhaps inspire you to build your luxe workout wardrobe... or alternatively, to strive towards uniqueness!

1. Rockall compression tights, £85, Vie Active, at Active in Style. The 7/8th length version are at the top of my list! With a top-quality compression fit, fierce pattern and flattering dark colours, it is easy to see why these leggings have become a sell-out.
2. Hey Girl water bottle, £22, Lorna Jane at Active in Style. This huge (1 litre!) bottle won't spill, is BPA-free and motivating. Pricy, yes. But worth it? It seems so.
3. Hair ties, £7.50, Hey! Hola at Hip and Healthy. These knotted hair ties are a must have from the United States for both in the gym, and out.
4. Existence run shorts, £42, Lorna Jane at Active in Style. As the weather (hopefully) heats up, or we get our sweat on on holiday, shorts are a must-have. The print on this pair is just too pretty to pass up.
5. Pacesetter running tunic, £32 (sale price), Sweaty Betty. The pacesetter top features every season at Sweaty Betty, made popular by it's quick-drying properties, headphone port and mesh detailing. At full price, this vest retails at £65.
6. Vimsa yoga leggings, £80, Sweaty Betty. Another staple design, this particular colouration will be available for the up coming season. These leggings are reversible, 100% opaque and ultra-comfy. It is worth keeping an eye out when the sales come around for a bargain, if you don't mind missing out on the latest colour variation.
7. Spectra bra, £38, Alo Yoga at Hip and Healthy. Cult brand Alo Yoga have produced one of the prettiest yoga bras ever. With a simple and dainty cut, this bra won't impede deep stretches and binds, but is best suited to small to medium chests. With mesh details, this bra can keep up with fast yoga flows and spin classes.

Does an item being listed as a bestseller give you the confidence to buy, or encourage you to seek more unusual options in order to stand out? Comment below, and give me a shout if you have tried any of these items! 

Adidas and Recycled Ocean Plastic Trainer

Today I am sharing one of my favourite collaborations... ever. It isn't often that my passion for the oceans and protecting the planet gets to go hand in hand with fitness, but then a pair of prototype Adidas trainers were presented at a UN and Parley conference. And with that, my dreams came true.

Sea Shepherd, a marine conservation organisation, collected ocean plastic whilst on a 110 day expedition that tracked illegal poaching ships that Adidas then crafted into beautiful trainers. I truly love the aquamarine netting finish on the shows; the design is so fluid and sleek.The prototype is part the range of Ultra Boost shoes, an energy-returning running shoe that is Adidas' answer to Nike's Free Runs. You can get your hands on the rest of the Ultra Boosts now, but there is no confirmed release date for the prototype, or if they will be released. However, from early next year, Adidas will begin incorporating recoiled plastics into their shoes.

The trainers mark the beginning of Adidas and Parley's partnership to create more sustainable fitness wear. One of the aims of Parley is to make positive differences to the plethora of issues that face our oceans today, by utilising art and creativity.

“We need to defend diversity on land and in the sea and we need solutions, and these solutions can only be realized by harnessing the imaginative side of human culture – the arts.”

I cannot even begin to highlight the importance of preserving our oceans. The nature of currents mean that much of our plastic waste ends up in one of five vortexes or "islands" of plastic, just floating in the middle of the ocean. On top of that, plastics are broken down into tiny mircoplastics, which get eaten by small animals, move up the food chain until we end up consuming them. Plastic for lunch? That is a scary thought.

Whilst these shoes are by no means an ultimate solution to plastic waste, turning plastic from waste into a resource completely turns traditional thoughts on their heads. To my mind, it is exactly what we should be doing.

I would really urge you to take a look at Parley's website. It is a real eye-opener of what issues we face, but also hope for the future. Between warming and acidification, overfishing, shark finning, plastic pollution and coral damage, the seas have a lot to deal with. My greatest interests and concerns is ocean plastics; it is what I would like contribute research to and raise awareness of. So for respected, iconic brands to be getting on board is the most exciting thing. For fitness wear that is not only fashion-forward, but sustainable and revolutionary as well is so exciting.

I really hope that Adidas and Parley are paving the way for intelligent and sustainable fitness fashion and kit, and that we will get to see more brands taking up the mantle.

Free People: Movement Collection

If there is a brand that sums the sun-soaked, US boho-style, it has to be Free People. Think tassels and crochet and floaty florals and you are about there. A while ago, Free People launched their Movement activewear collection, and I've been lusting over it ever since. The line is divided into four categories; yoga, dance, surf, and run, all of which are gorgeous. Some, if not all, of the buyers for the collection are also fitness instructor, so the pieces are designed to work with you in your movement.

Key features of the movement collection include cut-out and knotted detailing, bold prints and a variety of colours.  I love the muted colour, stirrups and high waist of these leggings:

Free People is a little bit on the expensive style, especially some of the surf collection. However, if you are looking to treat yourself, the collection is a great alternative to other premium activewear brands, with pieces that will really make you stand out.

Free People are currently sharing a few tips for summer fitness over on their blog, and are also interviewing some of their in-house experts. How will you be keeping fit over summer?

Fit Kit: Alo Yoga Review

Alo Yoga seems to be the go-to yoga brand at the moment, at least as far as Instagram is concerned! I have been seriously coveting this brand since I first started to notice it, but have been holding back from spending on myself. I caved in last week (treat yo'self!) and got on to Yoga Rebel to order a couple of pieces. I was really torn by all the awesome colours to choose from (see the Neon Azalea leggings that I was tempted by in this post). In the end, I chose the Ice/Stormy Heather Goddess leggings and the Trace bra in a similar colour way. Now, I really want to stock up on more colours and designs!

Firstly, apologies for the photography here. The weather has been awful this last week and the only other place I have to take photographs is my tiny university room. I'll post up some better photos when I can!

I find with most fitness brands I am bang-smack between sizes, and so ordering online always holds a certain risk factor. Based on reviews that suggested that Alo Yoga tends to run small, I hopped up a size. For the Trace bra, this was definitely the right choice as it is a low coverage bra! For the leggings, I think I could have gone with either size -the material is really stretchy so would accommodate a certain variability in size. As it is, I'm really happy with the fit.

The nylon-spandex fabric is thick, but not restricting at all, or see-through.  The leggings also feature a triangle gusset, making lunges and splits comfortable, and a hidden pocket within the waistband. I love the ribbed lower leg part of the tights that the Goddess leggings are famous for. In theory, you choose between a leg warmer scrunch-effect or having the leggings over your heels, but for a shortie like me, I get the scrunch and the over the heels! It's great for keeping feet warm and sliding into splits.

The Trace bra is so pretty -I love the detailing on the back. As I said, it is low coverage, so probably best for girls with smaller-proportioned assets. One advantage with my somewhat disappointing shrinking in that department is that I can just get away with a bra like this! However, Alo Yoga do offer lots of higher coverage options, which I would also like to stock up on. The thin straps of the Trace bra don't restrict movement, nor do they dig in when practicing shoulder stands -something I have had trouble with before. Because I went up a size, the straps are a fraction loose, and there isn't an option to adjust this.

My verdict? I love these! I can see why they are such a popular brand, and I would love to get much more of my yoga kit from them, including their beach-friendly pieces. In the UK, you can buy Alo Yoga from Yoga Rebel and Hip and Healthy, or if you are in the US, head straight to Alo Yoga's website.

Sweaty Betty: BarreASANA

I have previously talked about Sweaty Betty's Get Fit 4 Free campaigns, and I find myself posting about them again, because I really do think they are fantastic. This month's campaign is BarreASANA, a blend of barrecore workout and vinyasa-style yoga flow. Lead by ambassador Emily, with Maria and Chiara demonstrating modifications, the online class is easy to follow, whatever your experience level or ability. I'm fairly new to barre-workouts, having tried just a few online classes since my days of ballet-conditioning at gymnastics. However, I was pleased to find that, whilst challenged, my strength training and yoga practice meant that I was able to follow Chiara's more challenging modifications throughout.

BarreASANA is described as a fusion fitness, and I love the way that the stretching yoga flow sequence and warriors works with the isometric barre moves. The two exercises both strengthen using body weight, and facilitate flexibility so fit together very well. Although the class flowed together very well, I found that having it organised into sections helpful, particularly as it minimised me having to adjust my laptop as I moved from standing to floor work. There was some nice hip and shoulder opening sections, as well as ab work so I felt like my whole body benefitted from the session.

I was surprised to find myself working up a sweat, as well as feeling the fabled "barre burn!" Unlike when I do my weight-based workouts, I didn't feel like my muscles were getting shortened after, which was great. Don't get me wrong though; I love weight work too! I do feel inspired to try more barre-style workouts though, to target smaller muscle groups that I haven't necessarily worked before.  Emily, Chiara and Maria also shared their top picks for a Sweaty Betty Barre workout:

I think I will be repeating this workout as an alternative to some of my usual yoga practice over the next month -perfect for a short break from revision in the exam period! If you live near London, Sweaty Betty are running these Barre classes in Selfridges at 6:30-7:30 pm on Mondays until June 1st, so book yourself a place! Not in London? No problem -the BarreASANA class can be found online here.

Have you tried Barre before, or been to any Sweaty Betty events? Comment below, and tell me about your experiences!

Featured Brand: PRISM Sport.

I have just come across US yoga and fitness brand PRISMSPORT, and fell in love with their style, and bright patterns. Carolyn from the team kindly answered some questions from me, which I thought I'd share with you all today:

Firstly, do you sell, or do you have plans to sell PRISMSPORT in the UK?

- Currently, we are not selling in the UK. We are open to expanding our retail base in other countries, so stay tuned! 

Bra and shorts in Reef from the Splash Collection

You say you put life into fitness clothing, with lots of beautiful patterns and styles available to us. What inspires you when designing?
- We draw our passion from the kaleidoscopic energy of our lively city, the magnetic buzz of our dynamic followers, and the fast pace beat of the fashion industry. We look to our streets, studios, and favorite sports for inspiration and use our active lives a guiding point. All of these elements help us breathe life into high performance premium active wear that has captured the attention of a global audience.

Do you have a model customer in mind? If so, who is she/they?
- A health conscious, stylish, affluent woman who maintains a balanced life of work, fun, exercise, and family.

I was delighted to see that you use sustainable printing methods to reduce waste. What is your environmental ethos?

- We believe in doing whatever we can to make this world we live in, a better and healthier place. 

Finally, if you could sum up PRISMSPORT in a sentence, what would it be?

- PRISMSPORT is a sophisticated athletic wear collection designed for women with a sharp sense of fashion and an insatiable thirst for fitness.

Bra and capri's in Kaleidoscope from the Splash Collection

I love PRISMSPORT's bold prints, and colourful details, like the sun-coloured straps on the bra above. Do any of my American readers have any of PRISMSPORT's kit? I'd love to know what you think!

Five Ways: Plank-based Ab Exercises

Planking is a common feature in many an ab workout. It is such a good core move as your upper and lower abdominals, and obliques, as well as your chest, arms and legs. Modifications on the plank can work out even more muscles, so I am sharing five of the moves that I think are most effective for strengthening your core.

Classic Plank

Always make sure that you have got the basics sorted. Incorrect form can, like many abdominal exercises, strain your lower back. Resist the temptation to either sag or stick your hips up in the air -you want to keep your body straight, from your head to your ankles. Stack your shoulders above your elbows with forearms resting out in front of you or touching together. Step your feet back behind onto your toes, lightly engaging your abdominal muscles. If this is too difficult, drop to balance on your knees. Build up how long you can hold the plank -30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes and beyond!

Side Plank Twists

I have to admit, I often struggle with side planks. My ankles just always seem to get in the way! Like the classic plank, you want to form a straight line. Lying on your side, rest on your lower forearm and push your hips up. Either stack your ankles, or bend the top leg behind you. Raise your upper arm straight up so that your body is facing forwards. Swing your upper arm down beneath your body so that your body twists down. This targets your obliques and stretches the upper back. Aim for 10 reps on each side.

Mountain Climbers

My favourite! Depending on how fast to choose to go, this move can get your heart rate right up, so is great for circuits. Hold a press up plank position, with hands directly below shoulders. Bend your right leg forwards so that the knee touches the right elbow, or comes just outside. Straighten, and repeat with your left side. Once you've got the hang of it, start to speed up. I like to do 20 reps at a fairly fast pace as part of a set of ab exercises. To also target your obliques, bend the knee towards your opposite elbow.

Walking Plank

This is as tough on your arms as your core! Start in the classic plank position. Place your right hand on the ground where your forearm was, and push to straighten the arm. Repeat with the left arm so that you are in a press up plank, making sure that your hands are still below your shoulders. Come back down, right arm first. Repeat with the left hand, keeping proper form. Try one minute on and one minute off for ten minutes, or do a single set until failure.

The Crawl

Start standing, legs shoulder width apart. Bend forward as if to touch your toes (don't worry, you don't have to reach all the way!). Now reach forward with your hands and walk them forwards. Keep going until you are in a plank press up position, or slightly beyond. Then, walk back up to standing. Try five sets of five reps.

Here I am wearing a Nike Pro Tights (£28.00) and a Nike Pro bra (usually £22.00, see similar)

Sweaty Betty SS15 Collection

The January sales are finally being cleared up, which can only mean that it is time for the spring collections to be launched. I was very excited to receive an email from Sweaty Betty with a preview of the new collection earlier this week. Heralded by the arrival of new catalogues landing on doormats this weekend, the full collection is now online and in store. And I am drooling.

In contrast to last season's edgy, urban prints, Sweaty Betty has turned to softer patterns and colour palette this season. Transformation has been the key word in inspiring the collection, with butterfly patterns featuring in many of the pieces. Side panel details and soft mesh fabrics build on the theme to create a soft, yet powerful look. Some transformations can be seen on the website itself, with the popular Inspiration section becoming more detailed and interactive for shoppers.

Sweaty Betty has teamed up with the English National Ballet for it's Dance Statement collection. Layering pieces and crops have been added for adaptable workout clothing, with slogan tops and jumpers adding a relaxed slant.

The Yoga Statement is my personal favourite collection of the season, with aubergine colours and beautifully detailed tops. Many of the Sweaty Betty leggings, such as the Urdhva Yoga Leggings (which are also reversible!) are 100% opaque and undergo rigorous testing in order to ensure this. So no oops moments this spring!

The best-selling Zero Gravity running tights have also been updated with an eye-catching new pattern and is now available in three leg lengths -a relief for petite runners like me and longer legged girls alike. The Heart Rate Merino Run top from the Run Pro collection takes the changeable British weather into consideration and is also reflective to keep you safe on dull mornings and dark evenings.

There looks like there is going to be lots in the collection to treat yourself to, or to start adding to wish lists. You can see the full collection here.

Om Yoga Magazine: January/February

I find something very refreshing about the New Year's issues in magazine. They're often full of new ideas, delicious recipes and a fresh approach. This edition of Om Yoga magazine was no exception, featuring motivational articles and new intentions for 2015.

Bethany Plantanella wrote a particularly inspiring piece, Love Your Body, about daily yoga practice. Plantanella talks through her morning routine, starting with hot lemon water before moving onto sun salutations and full yoga practice. It brought forwards an idea of a calm, appreciative morning that struck a cord with me. She has made her practice part of her daily routine, which is really inspiring.

I also loved seeing Balini Sports being featured. Balini sports is a premium yoga brand that uses lightweight, eco friendly fabrics. Some eco friendly brands have a fairly limited stock, whereas Balini  has an impressive range of beautiful yoga wear. The brand originally started when the founder, Ada Hung, wanted to create high quality yoga clothing, including sports bras for the bigger busted yogini. Balini works with the same teams as Lululemon and Adidas, putting it in very good company.

The attention to detail in the clothes, especially the leggings is beautiful and would definitely inspire me to get on my mat. I'm going to be restarting gymnastic next semester after many years since training properly and these pieces look perfect for the movements required as I learn how to tumble again! The diva leggings ($89.99, see above) would also work for dance and barre classes with their stay-put stirrups, while the vests and sports bras are made for layering. I'm sold.

Disclaimer: I am an Affiliated Blogger with Om Yoga Magazine. Each issue I will write a post on an article from the magazine and share it with you. Have a look here to find about the other lovely affiliated bloggers. All photos in this post taken from the Om Yoga magazine.