Yoga – The Bouncy Kitty

How to Set up a Home Yoga Studio — Simple Tips from Amy Ippoliti – YogaOutlet.com

Rewind to two New Years Eves ago as I was dreaming up resolutions for 2020; I was getting into my groove of living in Seattle and was aiming pretty high. I wanted to go back to school to further my education, I was eager to make new friends in this new neighborhood in a new city, and get a gym membership and get back into some kind of athletic shape. Going back to school was easy, or at least on the easier side; sign up, show up to a digital learning environment, digest, regurgitate knowledge, repeat. Making friends was a bit more difficult, but I made do – forming closer bonds with the few friends I had that were local, and making friends with my new neighbors. So, last but not least – it was time to tackle my workout routine. Well, wouldn’t you know it but by the time I was ready to right my workout wrongs – COVID hit. Well, life hack: if you didn’t have a gym membership, you didn’t have to spend time cancelling it!

It did pose a new problem; when the gyms closed, I was left to my own devices. Good news – those devices included healthy limbs, running shoes, a yoga mat, and a few dumbbells. Fast forward to now, and my house has a punching bag, resistance straps, fitness bands, a balance board and so much more. For whatever I would have spent on a fitness membership, I transferred into having equipment of my own – and now I have a ‘no excuses’ gym in my own living room; and I’m here to tell you, you can have one, too!

As we inch towards vacations and social activity amongst the vaccinated, we’re all craving a Hot Girl Summer a la Megan Thee Stallion, and what better way than by leveling up your home gym game. For a full list of my favorite home gym products to level up your work out, check out my personal shopping list on Amazon. But for now, I’ve got five on it and have a good feeling these little home gym additives will get you to your six pack Summer without breaking the bank.

Yoga Mat

Ewedoos Eco Friendly Yoga Mat – $28.95

Living in Los Angeles, it was only time before I fell in love with a local yoga studio. But once I moved to the Pacific North West, I stopped looking for one. Why? I found a great amount of resolve with Gaia and their vast array of yoga instructors, each with their own twists on poses and positioning.

Regardless of what style of yoga, how long you commit to your practice or what level you’ve reached – having a good yoga mat makes all the difference, especially on your joints. From headstands to meditation, and all the nuanced poses in between – having a good mat is the difference from a dedicated practice and not practicing at all.

The Ewedoos Eco Friendly Yoga mat is waterproof and easy to clean. Featuring sturdy gri and multiple guide lines for better posture as well as balance, Ewedoos mats are crafted from flexible Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE for short) which makes for durable, long lasting equipment.

Yoga Block Bundle

Heathyoga Yoga Blocks 2 Pack with Strap – $19.99

Once you’ve got a good yoga mat, it’s only right that you get a few goodies to go with it to elevate your practice! Whether you’re a novice or dedicated to your practice, you’ll benefit so much from using blocks and straps for healthy stretching – and this set from Heathyoga is perfection.

Crafted with EVA foam, the pair of yoga blocks is moisture proof and non slip in addition to providing a bit of a cushion, even under heavy weight.

Coming in a bevvy of different colors, the yoga blocks are durable and flexible while providing the utmost support for perfect posture and your range of flexibility. Not to mention, having a strap in your arsenal makes even the most difficult poses feel doable!

Amazon.com : Mdikawe 53In-62In Adjustable Height Boxing Bag, Adult/Child Training Boxing Suit, Quick Recovery Speed Ball, Standing Air Pump with Base, Suitable for Fitness and Decompression. : Sports & Outdoors

Punching Bag

Mdikawe Punching Bag with Stand – $49.99

After the last year, I doubt I’m the only person who just wishes they could hit something.

From the anti-vaxxers and the anti-maskers to the racists and the internet trolls, from fake news to terrible presidents and politicians spewing contemptuous levels of false vitriol, I can count on so many fingers the times I just wanted to punch a wall; I wanted to get my energy out in a fit of rage.

Now, thanks to having a punching bag in the house – I can get those feelings out whenever I want to in an incredibly constructive fashion.

This punching bag from the team at Mdikawe is adjustable, making it perfect for any age and any body height, featuring a durable speed bag that moves at lightning speeds.

The unit is highly responsive and quick as hell to install – perfect for improving overall fitness, in addition to your hand eye coordination.

Balance Ball

EveryMile Wobble Balance Board – $29.99

If I close my eyes and think about balance, I’m immediately transported back to my favorite yoga studio in Los Angeles, One Down Dog.

One morning as I was struggling through a practice, the instructor offered this bit of wisdom and it hits me all the time: our yoga practices mirror our relationship with the outside world; a flexible practice means exceptional your life – conversely, someone that finds balance easier in practice engages in better balance in their life as well. I am flexible, in my modes of communication and ways I choose to engage with the world. Unfortunately, I have terrible balance even standing on two feet! So, meet my newest best friend – the wobble balance board from EveryMile.

With a nearly 16″ no-skid surface, this portable balance board has a full 360° of rotation and a 15° tilting incline – paving the way for skillful stretches and improved dexterity. Target your core strength by playing around with one legged balance, or rehabilitate and recover from injury with improved muscle strength.

Resistance Bands

Kootek 18 Pack – $28

For your well rounded workout needs, snag this diverse set of equipment from Kootek and instantly step up your home gym with just one click. Whether you’re gunning for strength training, or want something to keep you on your toes during the work day – this package has you covered.

Last, but most certainly not least – this has been one of my favorite fitness purchases in the last year. Featuring ten different levels of strength training between the tube resistance bands and loop bands, you’ll also get ankle straps, handles, core sliders and a door anchor to ensure wherever you are, you can dive right into the workout your body needs.

Are you keen on heading back to the gym, or have you started to get your home gym into gear?
Am I missing something you love?

Let me know in the comments below!

When I was younger, I thought the idea of ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’ was a silly notion; but thanks to 2020, I now know that one can wake up on the wrong side of an entire year. Not to say last year was pure chaos, dissonance and struggle – but, between COVID and quarantine, racial injustice, protests, the dissolution of the office of the 45th President, and three surgeries to recover from – I’d be remiss to think that I was in any way grounded in the present moment, nor efficient at using my time wisely.

Waking up and taking charge of your day is a powerful feeling; when the world feels out of control, doubly so. The fact of the matter is, the only thing we can personally control is ourselves; our mental space and mental dexterity, our boundaries and desires, our emotions and how we react. This year, I’ve recommitted myself to some necessary changes and have noticed my mindset shift by leaps and bounds, simply by implementing a solid, consistent and fulfilling morning routine.

Let’s start with something basic, but vital to this conversation: why should you create a dedicated morning routine? Besides being able to set the tone for your day, it let’s you control the clock and gives you some personal power back in your pockets. By choosing where we place our focus from the start of the day, we can both harness our potential energy and turn it kinetic, in addition to being able to attack the tasks at hand, schedule our time better and raise our productivity levels. I’ve honed in on some fantastic methods that have my mind, body and soul set right over these last few months and can’t wait to share them with you – so let’s jump into my morning routine!

Notoriously not a morning person, creating my morning routine literally took me 36 years. And it actually starts the night before; call me silly but I set the autodrip on our coffee pot and have it go off at the same time as my morning alarm – that way, the second I get up and at the day, there’s a fresh cup ready for me (because let’s face it, we all need caffeinated reinforcements!).

Then I head to the living room, get my essential oil diffuser kickin’ with an invigorating fragrance (more on aromatherapy later!), roll out the yoga mat and get down to business with Gaia. I’ve tried a few different yoga and workout apps for AppleTV, Gaia is hands down my favorite – probably because it’s so much more than just yoga; they really have things for the mind, body and spirit. Whether it’s an illuminating video on a variety of transcendental topics, diving into one’s meditation practice or browsing through their immense catalog of instructors and classes. Classes range from 10 minutes to an hour, at a variety of levels with instructors from every walk of life I’ve become quite fond of everything they offer, and even have a favorite yoga instructor (Tiffany Bush, you give me LIFE!).

Once I’m limbered up and a sweaty, happy mess of a human – I bust out a gratitude journal and my Animal Oracle Cards and take my metaphysical temperature for the day. I tackle ideas like what am I going to work on for the day, where in my spirit do I place my personal focus, and what tools do I need to become the best version of myself. One thing I’ve learned about gratitude journals, is that there is one for literally every personality – do you want one without dates, or with them? Do you want a full year of journaling or to jump in on a whim?

Keen on my personal evolution, I decided to splurge at the end of last year and am currently juggling between three different gratitude journals and three planners, that each offer something different and unique. To be fair, some I think are better for work life, like the Passion Planner, while others like the Writual Planner with daily, monthly and weekly Tarot spreads for self discovery are keen for those of us who have committed to the spiritual side of life.

Now, for the morning – I love setting my mind right by working with the Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal. The prompts are thoughtful and poignant, and if you’re like me and love a good doodle sesh – there’s plenty of space to both color, draw and explore. and jump in there a few times a week. Once I’ve given grace to the day, I’ll set up my Spirit Animal Oracle Cards, get into my Moonology Diary, and write a bit about how the card I’ve pulled relates to the moment.

The Spirit Animal Oracle: A 68-Card Deck and Guidebook: Baron Reid, Colette: 9781401952792: Amazon.com: Books — Animal Spirit Oracle Deck

The Wild Unknown on Instagram: “Holy 🌈🌈🌈! The archetypes deck has obviously landed at @solar_return 👽👽👽” | Wild unknown tarot, Wild unknown, Tarot decks — Wild Unknown’s Archetype Deck

Just like there’s a vast variety of journals and diaries, there’s no one right oracle, deck, Tarot Deck or runes stones. These things aren’t one size fits all souls; we each have a preference for what calls to us innately, and how the world resonates with us. Personally, Colette Baron-Reid’s deck is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever owned. Each card is embellished with impeccable, incredible detail.

If you’re looking for something a bit edgier, Kim Krans’ The Wild Unknown has an incredible set decks – whether you want Animal Cards, Tarot Cards, or my personal favorite from their assortment – the Archetype Cards; plus, their journal is super fun and open form. Some people still have a preference for old school tarot decks, and I’ll use those some mornings as well. I have several different tarot decks of my own, from a Thoth Tarot deck (technically, two of them) to the Rider-Waite Deck, my Cat Oracle Tarot cards and the circular Tarot of the Cloisters. Just like the animal cards, there are also tarot decks for every person. Don’t worry if you found this paragraph confusing, I’ll dive more into Tarot (a true art and love of mine) at another time.

Last but most certainly not least, after set my intentions and tone for the morning; I give myself a few minutes locked in Meditation. When your brain more closely resembles a web browser with dozens of tabs open (a la, mine), meditation becomes a great way to settle into your breath and the present moment. Some days, I’ll take it to the shower or bath – others, I’ll go back to my Savasana and marinate in the moment. Meditation has been proven to lower blood pressure, increase circulation, and boost mood and mental health. Gaia has been a fantastic resource for guided meditations, as well as applications from Calm to Headspace.

What tips and tricks do you have for settling into your morning and manifesting what you need for the day?

Let me know in the comments below!