I don’t usually use a company’s tagline as the title of a review but this one was too intriguing not to put it front and center. Beckons is a line of organic yoga clothing that is comfortable, flattering, colorful, comfortable, eco-friendly, stylish and comfortable. Did I mention Beckons clothing is comfortable? Here are some things I loved most about the company when I read more about them:

We maintain a strong commitment to the triple bottom line, where profit is equally as important as our impact on the planet and it’s people. ... From the very beginning, Beckons has embraced the yogic philosophy of kindness to the planet. We use only organic cotton and sustainable fibers in our clothing. ... We believe the little things we do, to ensure that women feel special while wearing our clothing, differentiate our brand. For example, we discretely sew into each Beckons® garment an empowering intention tag with words such as wisdom, courage, love, grace, integrity, and strength.

I’d love for you to go through your closet right now and see if any of current clothing has an empowering intention tag—and I’m not talking about something purchased from Anthropologie. Beckons sent me the strength cami in deep purple, strength t-shirt in black and wisdom roll-up capris in charcoal so my yoga wear now includes three “empowering” items. Oh, and they’re extremely comfortable empowering items as well.

I do enjoy yoga though I don’t do it as often as I should, so the strength tee and wisdom capris have become more of a lounge wear outfit than a fitness one, and I am so okay with that. Becky, one of the owners, told me those capris would become my new favorite pants, and I am 110% serious when I tell you they have. I wear those things at least three times a week if not more. They are my go-to pair of pants when I get home from a long day of errands or if it’s one of those days where I’m not planning to go anywhere. (Yes, I do take them off long enough to wash them!) They are stretchy, soft, comfy and flattering and guess what? They’re great for yoga too. I wore them on a recent visit to Bodhi Yoga with my SassyScoops.com group; you can catch them in action in this video:
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The tee and cami are comfy too, though I have yet to see the cami in action. It’s not that it isn’t comfortable but rather I don’t fill it out as much as I’d like for it to give me the support I need. (Was that TMI? Sorry!) But the tee is going to be my go-to shirt for our long drive to California and you know those capris will be in my suitcase. I can’t imagine a week going by without my wearing them at least a half dozen times!

I also love Beckons’ Grace Hemp Skirt and Grace Hemp Dress, plus they even have a a few men’s items and some fabulous lavender eye pillows. But my Beckons Wisdom capris are what beckon me; what “beckons” you?—Emily

Do you remember those questions on tests that went something like “Puppy is to dog as _ is to cat?” Today’s question is “Stretching is to yoga as skin care is to _?” Unless you’re well versed in Ayurvedic skin care, you won’t have a clue. Let me fill you in: the answer is DoshaCare. DoshaCare is customized Ayurvedic skin care, but it is more than just skin care; it is a philosophy for life.

DoshaCare combines the knowledge from the Ayurvedic tradition of India with the best of western science to for a lifestyle approach that focuses on “authentic radiance.” Their skin care line helps radiate your inner beauty and actually evolves with you. With a series of questions under “Ayurveda & Dosha Types” you can find out your primary and secondary Dosha (the page also goes into more detail about Ayurveda and Dosha) and then from there you can tailor your skin care to match. As your skin changes throughout the year (and we all know it does) you can change your regimen along with it.

I answered those questions and found out I was pretty much Pitta all the way, so DoshaCare sent me their Pitta Cleansing Bath to review. Designed to protect and soothe normal and sensitive skin, this cleanser is 98% botanical and organic. It contains turmeric for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, hyperpigmentation correction and softening properties; neem to promote skin elasticity; and aloe vera for hydration and soothing. It was a good thing the information sheet I received with it had directions, for I could not find any on the box or bottle. I know, I know—lather, rinse and hopefully not repeat but I am one of those that thrive on written instructions. But I did lather and rinse…and if I was wearing makeup, I had to repeat. Plus, I’ve kind of gotten accustomed to “less is more” with most cleansers I’ve reviewed, and this one took a full pump and then a second full pump to get my face completely makeup free.

It did leave my skin feeling soft and hydrated, though not as hydrated as I would’ve liked. Though the scent was rather strong (albeit natural), I found it very earthy and somewhat relaxing. My husband walked in once while I was using it and even noticed the scent-not in a bad way, but how often is a cleanser that strong? I would have loved to have tried out the full line to see if I felt more “balanced” and if I felt it really were tailored to me and my primary Dosha.

As much as I should embrace the DoshaCare approach to life I’m not sure I’m in a place to do so just yet. (That statement probably shows I definitely should take the time to become more centered!) The Pitta Cleanser (4.2 fl oz) costs $34—a bit on the high end if you’re using twice as much as the next cleanser. But it is customized skin care, and I can’t say that Avon or Oil of Olay or any other skin care lines have ever asked me how well I sleep, what my appetite is like or how I react to stress. There just might be something to this DoshaCare thing!—Emily

** Giveaway! We are giving away a gift set to one lucky reader! (Note: The gift set may not include DoshaCare products but will include something equivalent if not better!) Visit the DoshaCare website and click on “Ayurveda & Dosha Types,” then take the test to find out your primary Dosha. Leave a comment letting us know what that is and include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 17, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Ann H., the winner of the DoshaCare giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

We first reviewed Fleurville back in January for our “let’s go green” week. We featured their Re-Run Messenger bag and MicroPod. I love Fleurville’s Re-Run fabric, which is made from recycled plastic bottles and keeps thousands of bottles out of landfill—nothing like going green when on the go! So I was super excited to receive Fleurville’s Re-Run Yoga Bag and Re-Run Zafu Meditation Pillow for a review on the Daily Dish.

I don’t do yoga as often as I should, and when I do it, it’s in the “comfort” of my basement toy room. If I had my choice I’d be “om-ing” it up at the gum, and if I had my choice of yoga bag it would be the Re-Run Yoga Bag from Fleurville. It may not have all the bells and whistles of other yoga bags (do yoga bags have bells and whistles?) but it does fit my yoga mat, strap and reusable watter bottle (of course!) nicely. I love the Ogo print with its crisp blues and greens and I love knowing I’m keeping 3 plastic bottles out of landfill. It has an adjustable strap, zippered compartment for car keys, gym membership and hand towel (a necessity if you’re into the Bikram thing), and is PVC free. I do wish it had a little more room so I could fit my yoga block but I’m hoping someday I won’t need the extra help with my headstands! Fleurville’s Re-Run Yoga Bag gets a thumbs up—or strong upward facing dog—from me!

The Re-Run Zafu Meditation Pillow was a big hit with everyone, though I can’t say we ever actually used it for meditating. I don’t even think it’s possible to meditate with four kids in the house! My 3-year-old’s “is this for me?” won me over and he claimed it as his own. He used it as his special seat to watch his favorite TV shows and movies. My girls had to wait to use it until he was in bed…at least until the newness wore off, which took a good month or so. I’ve used it as a seat for my toddler as I put on his shoes, as a seat for myself when there are none to be found on the couch, and as the perfect spot next to the toddler bed for reading bedtime stories. It has yet to be used to meditate but it has gotten plenty of good use, that’s for sure! Apparently it was even a great resting spot for Fleurville employees at one of their tradeshows. Now that’s using your resources wisely!

Like the yoga bag, the meditation pillow keeps 3 plastic bottles out of landfill. It is filled with certified organic buckwheat filling with a fill volume that is adjustable for customized comfort. No worrying about buckwheat spills; the Zafu has a Velcro guard. It is also PVC free.

I also received the ModPod, but I don’t see it listed on Fleurville’s site. Either it’s brand-spankin’ new or it’s been discontinued. I was able to find it for sale elsewhere, and this is a fabulous changing kit. It’s a step above a diapers and wipes clutch and a couple steps before diaper bag. Though it is generously sized I still make room for it in my diaper bag because it has a nicely padded changing pad and PVC-free lamination. The adjustable shoulder strap is great for when I pop it out of the bag to take to the changing room at church. When open, my favorite feature is the slightly padded head rest and the three storage pockets. I have about 3 diapers, a wipes case and an extra onesie, and even when folded it is still fairly compact. I have it, my wallet, small cosmetic bag, change of clothes for my toddler, and a multitude of snacks in my diaper bag with room to spare. Plus I love the ModPod’s sleek design. It’s my favorite changing kit so far, though it would be awesome if it was made from Re-Run fabric as well.

Whether you’re standing tree poser, meditation guru or frazzled mom trying to keep diaper changing gear in one place, Fleurville’s looking out for you—and the environment. Sometimes Re-Runs are just as great as the original, if not better. Go for style, go for function, go for environmentally friendly. Go Fleurville.—Emily

P.S. Check out their new Getaway Weekend bag—LOVE IT and the Botanical Azure print!

*** Giveaway! We are giving away one of Fleurville’s fabulous Re-Run Messenger Bags in red—a hard-to-find color! Visit Fleurville.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite product besides the ones mentioned in this review. Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: December 12, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Rebecca S., the winner of the Fleurville giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Just when I thought yoga practice was restricted to the local gym or yoga studio (or in my case the basement) I was introduce to Yoga in the Car, a CD that teaches you to “stop beeping and start breathing.” Check out these scary statistics:

• The average American spends 443 hours a year behind the wheel of a car


• Most of that time is spent commuting to work (where you end up sitting behind a desk all day)


• Over 45 of those 443 hours are spent stuck in traffic


• In Los Angeles 1.5 million commuters have a 35-minute plus commute; 60% of these commuters have a drive time between 45 and 90 minutes. Much of this time is spent in bumper-to-bumper traffic moving at less than 1 mile an hour for 10 minutes at a time.

I don’t know about you, but sitting in traffic is not my favorite way to destress after a long day at work. Fortunately I don’t often have to sit in traffic, but I know quite a few people who do, especially when we lived in Sunnyvale, CA (Silicon Valley). If I’d known about Yoga in the Car back then I’d have given every one of them a copy for Christmas!

Yoga in the Car, which starts off with a track introducing the listener to the concept behind the CD, has 13 tracks. The first, like I just mentioned, serves as an introduction. Jen Swain, the woman behind the CD, has an extremely upbeat yet soothing voice. Tracks 2 through 9 are a series of guided exercises while tracks 10-13 are enjoyable instrumentals that help the time spent behind the wheel go by quickly. The exercises help relax the shoulders, neck, back and hips, which I knew were areas affected by stress but didn’t even think about them also being affected by a long commute!

I listened to the CD while working away at my computer (my ‘95 Odyssey has yet to play CDs) and found that it worked its soothing wonders even when sitting behind a desk rather than a wheel. Though my husband often rides the bus to and from work he still can come home stressed from a long day (and lots of bodies crammed together in a bus whose AC doesn’t work that well). I’m thinking Yoga in the Car definitely has multiple uses. Perhaps it should be titled Yoga Whenever and Wherever You Feel Stressed. Okay, maybe that title’s too long, but you get the point.

If you commute or know someone who does, help them fight the signs of commuting (stress, tension, anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure) with Yoga in the Car. It’s about time you took back your commute!—Emily

** Giveaway Om the Road is giving away one copy of Yoga in the Car! Please leave a comment with a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: August 22, 2008 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

** Congratulations to Elizabeth Y., the winner of the Yoga in the Car CD! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

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