It's that time of year again, only this year has been a year unlike any other. Normally at this time of the year I’m giving advice on how to stay centered when you travel to you in laws over the holidays. They say that if you think you are enlightened, calm and unflappable, just spend a week with your family, and then you’ll know….

But this year we are yearning for a chance to become irritated by them. Instead we are keeping our distance and zooming …

So how can we create bonds, and gifts, and stay connected and shop locally, be eco friendly  and all the other ‘good’ things we aspire to be?

I have been giving it a little bit of thought and here’s what I have come up with …. 

I’ve attached links where possible to make it as easy as possible

1. Yoga (obviously)

2. Yoga Stuff

3. Books

4. The fun stuff - the gifts from the hart rather then the shop :)

First the yoga & meditation ones

1. Share a yoga class

   It could be a private class, in person or online, depending on the situation. But for example a group of friends / sisters / mum & daughters can be all over the world, and yet be pampered together.

2. A one to one yoga or meditation class

   Your loved one will get pampered and supported to take care of themselves. Depending on the person, super athlete through to super granny, the class would be tailored to your loved one.

3. A gift voucher

   That way they can use on whatever they want.

Then there is all the ‘yoga stuff’

Here is a list of my favourite props and links for where I got them (amazon links to the supplier I used)

1. Yoga Blankets

   Fantastically firm and heavy (the comfort of a weighted blanket) yoga blankets are big (for when you’re rolling), warm and firm when folded or rolled, can double as a bolster.

2. Bolster

   Probably an absolute treat. If you like restorative or supported yoga, go for it. Be careful what you like v’s what you get.  Do you like the firm ones (more traditional & more expensive)? Or the softer ones? There is also a choice in shape, round or rectangular. The ones in the studio are actually filled with the bean bag stuff (out of my sons bean bag)… It’s what I had when I was making them. 

   The soft ones sold are generally filled with a grain, so much heavier and have a different feel. 

   Is one better than the other? Like all of yoga … you guessed it …. It depends. Sorry, I know that is not very helpful.

3. The blue balls - Gertie Balls

   These are fab. I'd suggest getting a pair, so you can prop knees etc. You can roll with them, sit on them, or use them for support. Their use is only limited by our imagination. The link above is not exactly the same as the ones in the studio. The supplier I used is out of stock. I think they may be a little bigger.

4. Blocks

   These come in 2 sizes generally, the ‘block’ and the ‘brick’. Nowadays there are also wedges and half blocks. In Fact there is no limit to how you can spend your money. Remember ‘yoga’ is now a ‘growth industry’ . Goodness helps us, which of course means there are lots of [people ready to take your money. 

   The cork ones are more environmentally friendly, and I think look nicer, however I find them hard and they are heavier (student teachers - get them for yourself but if you're traveling from site to site - weight matters!!!!)

   There is also the original type, which is made from recycled foam. They are soft, heavy and to my eye ugly. But they were absolutely perfect for my first 30 years of practice. (I switched because of thor weight when I was dragging bags and bags of props to teach restorative yoga in Clane on a friday night … ‘Ah the good old days’)

5.  The strap

   A great idea for your kids to get you, however be specific with them, how long and how wide? I have a very long one for personal practice, but it's too long for general use. Bar that exceptionally long belt, I'd say get the longest version.

6. Eye masks

   A beautiful gift idea. And can be easily home made. If you are making one, be careful if you choe ot add seant. Lots of people don't like seant, and remember how close to your nose it goes, so very very little goes a long way. For filling there are lots of options. I’ve used lentils, rice, even flower (won't last as long as it's not dried, but felt lovely). Ask mr google for more details and dimension.

7. Sand bag

   Lovely to use, also easy to be home made, but I haven't yet found a design that dissent loeak :)

8. The Mat

   I’ve left this to last, because I just don't know what to say about this. I don't have any specific models to recommend. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING TOO CHEAPER OR TOO DEAR. Cheap yoga mats are too thin, too narrow, too short, too slippy, feel plasticy under your hand. Do not buy a fitness mat for yoga, no matter how expensive, as they are generally too soft, so are not good for any standing pose. Good mats are generally 4.5mm, 6mm (in the studio) or 8mm thickness. Travel ones will be thinner so they can fold. I use 6mm so I can double mat when necessary without losing too much stability.

   More expensive however is not always better. TK Max is an option for getting a good mat at a reasonable cost until you find what you know you like.

Me… I’ve given up. I use the same as the studio, and supplement it with a sheepskin fleece for warmth and comfort, which I threw aside for standing poses. There is a full sheepskin mat on my wish list, It would be wonderful for restorative, and they claim work for standing poses (but I don't know yet). I put it on my wish list because I do a lot of somatices now. 

Books -Hurray :)

Here are some of my favorite books - some yoga and some not yoga related ( and some are for those doing teacher training or like me - an absolute yoga and anatomy nerd)

For kids

For Adults

For Parents

For Yoga Nerds or Trainee Teachers

For lovers of Philosophy

For lovers of Anatomy - Getting ‘Nerder’ as you go across (the last one is only for the serious Anatomy Nerds)

Then there is the Time and Effort ones, which I love the most:

I can not claim credit for thinking of this, I got this from my daughter a few years ago,

A box of love, with 52 gifts (or if you’ve lots of time to make it 365 gifts) & a list of rules

• Each ‘gift’ is a piece of paper with a your ‘gift’ written on it.

  Sample gifts (depending on who its for)

  • Make you breakfast in bed

  • Go for a walk

  • Make you a cup of tea

  • Give you a foot rub

  • Do the grocery shopping

  • Put the bins out 

• You get the idea, really simple everyday things, that show you care

• The Rules:

  • Make them up as you like. My daughter said -

    • no swapping for a different gift

    • no reusing gifts

    • all expired after a year

    • She also promised to do the job with no moaning

The gift of your time and attention

Of course there are the other types of gifts, which are more difficult today, like offering babysitting or committing to making the time to go for a walk every week.

The gift you made with love

The third set of ‘from the heart’ gifts are something homemade

• a cake, biscuits, chicken liver pate (it’s what I do for my sister every year - easier than it sounds, but don’t tell her)

• a picture

• a framed  photo collage of the year (lots of photos of the inside of your house 😂 ), or the decade.

But most of all, have fun. Giving is a joy (lets not allow it become the opposite)