As you may well know if you follow me on my Instagram, I love Yoga but I have never been to a Yoga Class before. For me, being able to practice whenever I want and in the comfort of my own home works for me. Others like to be in an environment with others but I'm perfectly happy with how things work for me at home.

If you're like me and would prefer to practice in the comfort of your own home, or maybe you don't have time to get to a class or can't afford a class, then home yoga is a great alternative and you don't need a lot in order to do it. 

I wrote a post a while back on Home Yoga Classes which I think might be helpful to some that are looking to practice more from home, it goes through some online resources on where to find yoga content as well as talking through some of the basics needed for practicing in your own home! So check that out if you're interested.

Since all of my practice is done from home, I always try to look for more ways to spice things up a bit. The internet is a wonderful thing for this.  There are so many amazing websites online with Yoga Classes, you can see the article I wrote on this above. Youtube also offers a plethora of online yoga videos for people to follow along with. 

I've also become a massive fan of online yoga challenges. BeachYogaGirl and KinoYoga host a lot of monthly Instagram challenges which are a fantastic way to get in yoga practice and also a way of communicating with others. I've been doing challenges for the last couple of months and I've been enjoying it a lot. These challenges are available for everyone as there are modifications and instructions on how to perform the poses for each day. I highly recommend trying out one of the challenges if you're interested in getting into yoga!

Om Yoga Magazine has also been a place I can go to look for new Yoga Sequences and new poses to try out. There are so many different sections for this. In this months magazine, they have an article on Hip Opening Sequences. Did you know that hip-opening exercises can be an effective form of stress management? I didn't until I read this article.

The 'Hip Hop' article has 6 hip-opening poses for people to try out and a detailed explanation of each pose and how to get into them.

There's also sections on 'Yoga At Home' where a pose is chosen each month for the magazine with beginner, intermediate and advanced poses to try out and it's great to try each one and build your way up to the advanced level.

and there is also a 'How To Do Yoga' section in the magazine which takes you through step by step instructions and preparatory instructions to build/ get into a more advanced pose.

This months magazine also has a lot of other very interesting articles that may benefit a lot of people. There's a section all about Yoga for Children in May's issue as well as a whole section on Yoga Festivals!

Yoga Festivals is not something I was familiar of prior to reading the magazine but they definitely sound interesting! There are lots all over the country and abroad for that matter! If you love yoga, this is a great way to meet like minded people doing something you enjoy!

If you're interested in the magazine and the articles that I've mentioned and you want to subscribe, you can subscribe HERE or click the ad below. Each magazine is £1.99 or you can get a 6 or 12 month subscription(£8.99/£16.99). The Magazine is also available to people in the US too, WooHoo!.

Disclosure: I am part of the OM Yoga Blogger Programme. I have been provided me with a free subscription to the magazine in exchange for writing a blog post for each month. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Links/Ads for OM Yoga are affiliated referral links. See my policy page HERE for more detail.

If you're interested in the magazine and the articles that I've mentioned and you want to subscribe, you can subscribe HERE or click the ad below. Each magazine is £1.99 or you can get a 6 or 12 month subscription(£8.99/£16.99). The Magazine is also available to people in the US too, WooHoo!

The Om Yoga Magazine is something that I look forward to every month, this month was no different. This months article is jam packed as usual with lots of different articles on different subjects, there's something for every Yogi! This month, the special report was on Ethical Yoga Clothing! Now.. Fitness clothing is something I own more of that regular clothing, so this months magazine was a joy for me to read. Although I wont be able to own all of the pieces, I can lust over them and they're fantastic prints and designs! The article talks about how yoga is not just about your time on the mat, but also about your everyday decisions and moments. Yoga is just as much about your mind as it is your body. I've definitely noticed a difference in my presence and my decisions since starting yoga and it has made me more mindful and aware of how I express myself. This concept extends to other things, such as our food choices and clothing choices. A lot of people who do yoga(or any sport/activity for that matter) make a decision to change their eating habits and take on a healthier approach to eating. This to some is going vegan/vegetarian, to others it might be buying organic produce. It may just be a simple decision to cut out their junk food.

The same extends to yoga clothing, I know a lot of people that wear clothing for yoga that has been made by a company with the environment in mind such as those that support poor communities, charitable concerns or source the purest materials.

We all have to wear something when we do yoga(unless you're a naked yoga convert) and more and more people and companies are buying/making Ethical Yoga Clothing. So, since most have to wear clothing for yoga, why not buy something that makes a difference in the world? More and more people are becoming aware or how products are being made and are consciously choosing whether or not it fits their values and standards.

Ethical Clothing can come with a hefty price tag, however, higher priced items/clothing are usually also MUCH better quality, made with care and attention rather than mass produced and cheap that fall apart rather quickly and do you really know how/what the product was made with?

Here are some of the Ethical Yoga Clothing brands that were featured in the magazine this month, some I own personally, some I've heard of, others I've never heard of.. but all that are making a difference and that's awesome!

Buddha Pants
I had to mention these first purely because I have several of their pants already and I freaking LOVE them. I first discovered Buddha Pants at the Om Yoga Show last year and I've been in love ever since. They're my favorite yoga pants to wear!
Their Mission: "to create organic, fun, comfy, multi-functional garments just for you!"

Buddha Pants is a clothing company dedicated to creating multi-functional travel ready apparel, focusing on comfort & encouraging an active lifestyle. The only harem pant that packs into its pocket!

Click Photos for Bigger Scale

I can vouch for these guys, their pants are amazing quality, made from organic cotton and they're SUPER soft and comfy with some pretty awesome prints. PLUS they're pretty awesome people too!

I have a code for Buddha Pants which is: laura_fat2fit_10 if you're interested in getting 10% off your order!

Teeki
Teeki Activewear is actually made from recycled Plastic Bottles! Something that a majority of us use and recycle on a daily basis! Each pair of leggings uses around 25 bottles.

Their printing process produces ZERO waste compared to screen printing where mass amounts of water are used to to dye the products. There is no polluted water waste or ground contamination here!
All their designs and prints are beautiful and I wouldn't mind owning a pair of them! They also make shorts, crops, bell bottomed trousers and tops too!

Fit Clothing
I'd never heard or come across this company before I read the magazine this month and I was pleasantly surprised! Fit Clothing's focus is on creating fully functional, versatile and affordable fashionable wear. They have some really cute pieces and some great printed leggings and all of their clothing pieces are at affordable prices that everyone can afford.
No Balls
This is another company that I've had my eye on for a while now a they have some beautiful, simplistic pieces. No Balls use eco-friendly bamboo to produce their clothing which makes them natural, breathable and anti-bacterial. They have everything from bras and vests, to harem pants and jumpsuits
I own a couple of t-shirts that are made from Bamboo and they're the softest things I own and so stretchy and comfortable, so I imagine that these would be much the same! No balls don't just cater for yoga either, they have different clothing for a variety of sports and activities.

Yoga Emporium
Another brand I've never heard of but their clothing is beautiful. Yoga Emporium is committed to bringing high quality, unique yoga wear. They source the highest performing materials and ensure their manufacturers are committed to sustainable and ethical production.
I LOVE the prints on their Dharmabums Leggings!

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There were so many other great Ethical Yoga Clothing brands mentioned that I've been checking out.. my list of yoga clothing 'wants' just seems to be getting bigger and bigger!

If you love Yoga.. or maybe even if you're just starting to get into yoga, I HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy of  Om Yoga Magazine. There were articles this month on relieving stress, articles for yoga teachers and of course the usual yoga sequences and How To's that I enjoy a lot! There's also a recipe section which is always great and the magazine also has stories about people from all walks of life that do yoga and how it has changed their life. There's definitely a lot to keep people occupied!

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Disclosure: I am part of the OM Yoga Blogger Programme. I have been provided me with a free subscription to the magazine in exchange for writing a blog post for each month. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Links/Ads for OM Yoga are affiliated referral links. See my policy page HERE for more detail.

This months issue of OM Yoga Magazine got my pretty excited to read it. This months magazine contains a whole section about Iyengar Yoga(I've never heard of Iyengar Yoga so this was really good!) as well as articles about Anxiety and some articles about coping in the winter months leading up to Christmas.

I love the magazine and the sheer variety of articles that are included each month and the areas that are covered.

One of the articles in the magazine is 'Set Your Intention'. December 21st is the Winter Solstice. It is regarded as the heart of winter and is the longest night and shortest day in our yearly calendar. It marks the return of the longer daylight hours.

In the past, people would gather 'round the fire, or set out candles to call back the Sun. The sun is associated with the element of fire for action and the article talks about how this is the perfect time to 'shed some light on your own shady aspects, a chance to clear out your mental closet and refresh your style, ready for the year ahead.

So, that's what I did! and here's how I set my Intentions.

Consider the goals that you had for 2014. 

In all honesty, I couldn't remember a majority of my goals that I set at the beginning of the year and I had to go back to check what they were. I wanted to: 

Start ppracticingYoga and try to do: a handstand, headstand  and crows pose.

 Try to gain muscle and lose some body fat.

Drink at least 2 lts of water per day.

Eat Healthier. Reduce Sweet Treats.

Be more organised at home and at work.

Be Happy and Positive. Stress Less.

Plan More.

What happened with each? What could you have done differently?

Out of this list, I think I've only really achieved the last 3 of my goals which I suppose is better than nothing. I've been able to work on the organisation and planning in my life and I'm a lot happier and less stressed as well.

However, my health and fitness goals I've really slacked on. I mean, at the beginning of the year, I never intended on having some major surgery, that was very spur of the moment and quickly planned and therefore I never expected or planned for quite a bit set back with my goals.

You'll know if you've been reading my blog recently that I have been struggling with my weight and haven't been eating the best. I'm definitely working on that and even more so after knowing about Winter Solstice and wanting to make a positive change before the new year!

What are your top lessons that you've learnt this year? 

The number on the scale does not determine my self worth.

Just because the number on the scale does not determine my self worth, does not mean that its a reason to slack off.

Its OK not to be perfect, every goal does not need to be completed as long as I've made the effort and tried to do it.

I don't give myself enough credit for the hard work I've put in.

How have these helped you know yourself more? How have they transformed you?

So, the main one for me has been to stop fretting so much about the scale and the number and instead focus on myself and how I feel. I spent too long thinking that the number on the scale was the be all and end all. It really isn't.

Following on from that, since I stopped focusing on the scale as much, I seem to have become a little too relaxed and dare I say a little lazy. Especially in the winter months and its a habit I am presently trying to break as it's a sh*tty habit to have. I wasn't focusing on what I was eating properly and wasn't exercising much, only when I felt like it. This has gotten better but I'd like to have this habit kicked before the new year for a new start.

As I mentioned earlier, I haven't met some of my goals this year and probably wont be able to achieve them by the end of the year. When I thought about it, I was pretty annoyed with myself when instead I should be working on making positive changes that I can sustain into the new year. It should be enough to know that I have worked to try and achieve the goals, regardless of whether I succeeded.

Following from that, I realised that I am someone that tends to beat themselves up a lot more than I give praise to myself. It was only when I had my own sort of meditation session and sat down to really think about everything that I actually realised that I'm freakin' awesome and I need to give myself more credit!

Losing 120 lbs is no mean feat.. but yet I hardly gave myself credit for it. It was hard work and instead of praising myself, all I've done is set myself goals to make myself better rather than taking the time to congratulate myself.

For the rest of this year and the coming year ahead, I think I need to work more on balance. I need to have a balance between my goals and the things I want to achieve but also work a little more on self love, giving myself praise when I have achieved something and being less harsh when I don't.

I'm looking forward to what next year brings. Here's to an amazing 2015!

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