All across America, the demand for yoga is growing exponentially. In addition to yoga’s popularity, the commercial side of the business is also booming. Yoga pants, a mat, and other essentials can cost the consumer hundreds of dollars before he or she ever steps foot on the studio floor.
While it is true that the only thing you need to practice yoga is your mind and your body, the American public still enthusiastically pursues the latest and greatest yoga accouterments.
Yes, we love to keep up with the trends in the yoga industry. But, while we’re honored to serve your shopping needs, careful consideration of the merchandise featured in the yoga boutique ensures your benevolent, sustainable, and Earth-friendly purchase.
The following is a brief look at a few of the companies we retail, and an explanation of why they’ve earned a spot on our hangers and shelves.
Chewylou Designs
Named after the creator’s two dogs “Chewy,” and “Lexi Lou,” this company actively supports several non-profit organizations and charities such as The Lupus Foundation of America, Komen for the Cure, Planting Peace, Best Friends Animal Rescue, Faces of Hope Fund, and Chemo Companions. Printed by Arizona’s ‘greenest’ screen printer, Chewylou Designs inspire with words of peace and heart-centered acronyms such as HOPE, BREATHE, and LEAP.
Be Love Apparel
In care of the Alexandria House, a Los Angeles transitional shelter that rehabilitates victims of domestic abuse, sex trafficking, and homelessness, Be Love serves at-risk women and children. With a recent goal of giving $25,000 from the sales of their merchandise, Be Love is funding childcare and quality after-school programs to help educate and keep young girls out of harms way.
Yoga to the Rescue Books by Rescue Girl
Encouraging women to embrace their individual beauty with her fabulous instruction and one-of-a-kind illustrations, author Amy Luwis also cares for our favorite four-pawed furry friends. She is the co-founder of the nation’s largest nonprofit adoption website, AdoptAPet.com, and dedicates her time and resources to help stray pets find loving, ‘fur-ever’ homes.
I Love Yoga
Creating environments where the synergy of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, I Love Yoga teaches and practices sustainability by building gardens in their local community and showing people how to grow their own food. Their company’s logo features a heart that is open to remind people to keep an open heart and see the big picture in life. They are soon to manufacture Heart and Core Yoga studio’s signature brand!
Synergy Organic Clothing
The organic cotton of Synergy Organic Clothing is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Growing organically takes more time, requires more knowledge and skill, and is more expensive than conventional growing. Purchasing organically grown products is safer for individuals and the planet as a whole.
Be Present
To this day, the majority of this company’s manufacturing is done within a twenty-mile radius of their headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Be Present uses sustainable and organic fabrics and employ environmentally friendly practices whenever possible. They don’t put their products in plastic bags for shipping, and shipping from Denver to Cortez equals less fuel and emissions.
Cozy Orange
Sustainability teams ensure continuous improvement and the installation of new standards of eco-friendly production in the evaluation of this company’s facilities. They feature tops and bottoms made from recycled plastic and poly fibers. Their hang tags are also made from recycled paper, and are shaped and designed as coasters for reuse after purchase.
Little Moon Essentials
Made in Colorado, this company’s environmental standards are high. They never test on animals or create products with known poisons. They also never include unnecessary chemicals just to save money. Using all natural ingredients, Little Moon Essentials values quality over quantity.
O Loves M
Did you notice the hip and stylish purses and bags made from yoga mats? Crafted in Colorado using over produced and/or up cycled materials made in the USA, O Loves M adheres to Earth-friendly procedures in creating fun and unique merchandise. Even the straps for these bags come from the webbing left over when a sandal company no longer has use for them. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. It is the right thing to do.
myInsens
The materials use to make these special all-natural incense sticks by myInsens are hand crafted by a well-supported workforce of local villagers in the Indian state of Gujarat. The company believes in social responsibility and fair trade and has partnered with Yoga Gives Back, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and money to alleviate poverty in India.
Manduka
It is essential that Manduka conducts business in toxic-free emission facilities. Using natural, recyclable, sustainable and/or biodegradable materials, this eco-friendly yoga mat and accessory company constantly searches for newer, greener, technologies. For example, they manufacture yoga mat bags from recycled polyester fabrics and make zippers made from recycled plastic bottles.
Designed to last a lifetime, the PRO Series mats we carry in the boutique minimize impact on the environment by ensuring years of superior practice. The Manduka blocks and bolsters we use in the studio are made from sustainable cork, and natural, unbleached cotton.
Heart and Core Yoga studio not only values doing business with companies who care for the environment and assist those in need around the world, we gratefully contribute to our regional atmosphere by supporting local organizations via selfless service and monetary donations.
We want to thank you too, in taking care of your mind and body through yoga, but also in doing your part to support a sustainable, eco-friendly, and life-loving existence for all beings on Earth.
sign me up
maybe a future reference to good pots for soothing tea moments
tea pots, tea bowls, mugs,
i love what you are doing !!!!
j
Oh yes! Tea pots, and bowls, and mugs, oh my! Love it!
a good sunday read…..
janet