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Usually we spend our free time doing various things; reading, watching movies, using the computer, playing the guitar, meditating, cooking… The empty spaces in a day are soon filled with small activities, amusements, things that pass the time more often than enrich it. The mind is engaged, all the time. Always there is a focal point for the mind, something for attention to flicker towards. Always there are things to distract us, to keep us moving.

Meditation is prescribed as a countermeasure to this constant activity. There, the mind is allowed to relax. Thoughts can make their own way out, and, when one spends a lot of time meditating, over a long period, there can be strong positive effects. But even when meditating, sitting on a cushion for the sole purpose of calming the mind, there can be a purpose. The mind is engaged there, too. There is a direction to this meditation, just as there is to every other activity.

But think of this: Who first discovered meditation? Who was the first person to meditate? And this person, was she doing it for the purpose of attaining enlightenment? Of course not. There was no one to tell her about enlightenment, no one to tell her about God or spirituality. Maybe she did not have a reason to meditate. Maybe she just did it, spontaneously and innocently. And think of this: Did it have the same effect on her that it has on one of us today?

When we sit down to meditate, we do not do it spontaneously. We do it because we have been told it is good for us, because we have been told it will lead us to enlightenment.

Maybe it will. But of what importance is the spontaneity of meditation? Of what importance is our motivation to meditate?

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The impending arrival of your new family member is an exciting and busy time with all the planning and preparing. Aside from all the baby gear you need to think about, planning the baby nursery is usually tops on the list. You’ll probably be converting a guest bedroom or spare room and wondering how it will miraculously change into your baby’s haven. Coming up with a baby nursery idea can either be fun or stressful. Hopefully, this article will help make the process of planning your baby nursery theme fun!

There are hundreds of baby nursery themes out there to consider. Knowing the sex of your child may make this process a little easier; however there are great neutral nursery themes out there, as well. Your best place to get ideas is from, yup, you guessed it - the Internet! All you need to do it get to your favorite search engine and type in baby nursery and see all the great ideas pop up in front of your eyes.

If you haven’t purchased any magazines yet, run out to the nearest bookstore and browse through the multitude of pregnancy and baby periodicals that are available. You are sure to come across volumes of great baby nursery themes. Once you narrow down your theme, it’s important to take a good look at the baby nursery bedding that is the focus of your theme ideas. You’ll want to make sure that the theme is something you can live with for a couple of years. Even though something may be all the rage right now, you may look at it next year and wonder what you were thinking.

A good suggestion is to go with a baby nursery theme that is simple or evokes a calming feeling. There are some really fun prints out there, but the last thing you want to do is over stimulate your baby. Take it from me; the last thing you want is a baby who won’t fall asleep! I would personally veto any vibrant reds or really loud color schemes; go for the pastels or calming colors such as blues and greens. Any little bit will help to be sure your baby is sleeping peacefully!

If this isn’t your first child, you may wish to consult with the baby’s sibling(s). You’d be surprised at the great baby nursery idea you may get from a child’s point of view. This process will also help to have big brother or big sis feel a part of the new baby’s arrival. They will feel they contributed something important and I’m sure they will love to share their accomplishments with the extended family! Children’s imaginations are so wonderful, I’m sure they would think of something you never would! That being said, you may want to think twice about asking them their opinion on a baby name; my niece wanted to name my baby Cougar.

This is a great time in your life, so have fun planning for you new addition, and try not to stress about it. Whatever the baby nursery bedding or theme you decide upon, your new addition will be happy with your decision.

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Yoga clothes should be comfortable and functional. They should allow you to move freely and not distract you from your practice. They should feel good against your skin so they don’t cause any irritation.

Ideally, the clothing should be absorbent so that it wicks sweat away from your body. There are few things that feel as uncomfortable as a sticky, clammy body that is moist from perspiration.

I also think they should be attractive and fun to wear. When I do yoga alone in my home, I am willing to wear an old tee shirt and sweats or baggy shorts. When I practice in a class, I am more discriminating in what I choose to wear.

I admit it. I work very hard to keep my body in shape, and when I am with others, I want to show off the efforts of my hard work. I usually choose form fitting pants and a fitted tee shirt. This allows me to see the outline of my body in the mirror so I can maintain good form, and it lets me move without having to fuss with my clothes. They are also flattering to my body, so when I wear them I feel good.

Here are some of the things that you should look for in yoga clothing so that they work well for you and make you feel good about yourself and your practice.

Yoga Pants
There are many types of yoga pants. Some are long and go down to your ankles; others stop just below your knees. Often they are relatively form fitting. These types of pants have the benefit of allowing your instructor to see your alignment so she can make any necessary adjustments to your form.

If you aren’t comfortable in pants that are so revealing, you might enjoy wearing loose, cotton trousers. They offer freedom of movement without being too tight.

Whatever pants you choose, make sure that you can bend and move freely in them. Also be sure that there are no bulky ties at the waist that might be uncomfortable when you are lying in a prone position.

Yoga Shorts
Yoga shorts are a very good choice if you practice Bikram or hot yoga, because the room is heated to such a high temperature. They are a good bet in the warm summer months when long pants might be too warm. They also help you more easily check the proper alignment of your lower body because you can see your knees and ankles.

The yoga shorts should be long enough to cover your derriere and they should not ride up. Form fitting shorts usually don’t move too much, so they may be just right for you.

Yoga Tops
Yoga tops should allow you to move freely without having them fall in your face. Tee shirts should be short enough so that your lower body is not hidden, so you can more easily check your alignment. Some women like to wear sports bras (especially those who practice Bikram yoga). If you choose to wear one, make sure that it holds you securely and that nothing falls out when you are bending or stretching. You don’t want to wear something that is going to cause you to worry about what you might be showing to the rest of the class.

Yoga tops come in many bright and attractive colors. You might also have fun wearing shirts with characters such as Yoga girl on them.

Yoga Shoes
Most people do not wear shoes during their practice. However, they might be useful if you practice outside in a park, on a beach, or some place where you would not want to take off your shoes and socks. Yoga shoes look very similar to other athletic footwear, except that the soles allow for considerable flexibility in your foot and the tops of the shoes are very lightweight. Some popular brands include Puma yoga shoes and Adidas shoes for yoga.

Jacket
Many people might not think that a jacket is an important part of yoga clothing, but I beg to disagree. I think it is absolutely critical to take a jacket with you to your yoga class. I have been in many classes where the temperature has been quite cool (some are downright freezing). While the temperature often doesn’t matter too much while I am moving during the poses, it becomes quite a different story when the time comes to meditate.

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult if not impossible, to relax when I am cold. Bringing a jacket with you gives you an option of covering up during the relaxation period if you are feeling chilly. Feeling warm and comfortable allows you the pleasure of letting your body relax fully.

So yoga clothes should be functional, comfortable, and give you the freedom to totally enjoy your practice. Have fun with them and enjoy wearing the ones that make you feel good!

Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Her website http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life. Visit the site and get your free meditation e-book.

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