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We have just received a shipment from Hard Tail. We just love their products! We are one of only a hanful of retailers selling the line in Canada! They have been making yoga/active wear since the early 90's. Each piece is manufactured in their Santa Monica factory down in California. They use mostly cotton but also supplex. I have a few of their pieces and love them, they are comfortable, breatheable, and look great on the body. Their signature look is probably their funky tie dye pieces which bring out the hippy chick in all of us! If you are looking for a more stylish and ethical alternative to Lululemon & are 'dying' to look unique and different, give Hard Tail a try, you won't be disappointed! ;)
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http://www.karmawear.com is another well known Vancouver based company who reinvented themselves last year & created a unique look that distinguished them from the rest. Their inspiration comes from "fashion & movement" & their collections are designed to honour & empower women both on & off the mat.
"Manufacturing jobs in the apparel industry have dwindled with the rise of overseas production. This is no more apparent than in our backyard of Vancouver. Karma is a Canadian apparel company that manufactures in Canada and the United States. We are committed to using local factories, investing in our community, and keeping local women employed.
We hope to inspire other local companies, in more than just apparel, to rethink their own practices and bring production back home. It is our core belief that if we practice good karma, others will follow"
I have been selling Karma for three years now & have built up a very loyal clientele. Customers are delighted with the quality & fit of the product & come back each season to see what exciting pieces are new. Wear their pieces for all activities, dance, Bikram hot yoga, Moksha yoga, yoga, pilates or for going from street to studio for a unique look.
http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/karma-jacket-san-suu is a favourite of mine, a stylish approach to a sports jacket, adding lines & ruffles for a more tailored look.
http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/karma-pullover-milla is made from eucalyptus jersey fabric, eco & very soft to the skin, the perfect layering piece.
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Lots of people are discovering us because they are looking for "an alternative to Lululemon" - something unique & individual that is still "made in Canada". We definitely have that alternative!
One of our main lines is based in Vancouver, & have maintained their manufacturing process in Canada, despite a global recession. Here's the scoop on a couple of my favourite pieces.
http://mytonic.ca produce a range of products that look great & fit beautifully. Their fabric has a reputation for 'not pilling' & the durability of it is second to none. They design several collections each year that include brand new pieces as well as some classic pieces. A favourite of mine is the Gather Short http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/tonicshortelemgather our best selling hot yoga/pole dance short. It appears 'skimpy' but offers ample coverage in a minimal unrestrictive way. The small gathers at the sides add style & comfort & the discreet embroidered logo is visible yet tasteful. We always carry an array of seasonal colours.
The Balance Tank http://www.breatheathletic.com/products/tonictank-balance is another favourite of mine. I get lots of requests for tanks that are not tight around the middle & this tank has the answer. It has a built in bra with removeable pads. The waistband sits on the hip and the body of the tank has a very loose relaxed fit, camouflaging any 'problem areas' around the middle.
I'll chat about another Vancouver based company http://www.karmawear.com in my next blog. I'm going to yoga now :)
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Until setting out on this blogging adventure I had never done hot yoga. I had avoided it simply because the idea of anything in a hot room did not sound like fun to me. But part of me felt that I should try it in order to give a more educated response to anyone who asks me about my thoughts on hot yoga. I'm glad I did. I started with Moksha Yoga Victoria.
I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive; a bit nervous and a very self-conscious. But when I took a look at the classes offered I was a bit shocked. There was quite the variety; Moksha in 60, 75 and 90 minute classes, Moksha Flow, Moksha Music, Yin, Yin Yang, Hot Flow, Hot Moksha Flow and my favourite - Boarders (I love surfing and snowboarding). So where do you start?
Well, I am a big fan of yin yoga, so that’s where I started - something familiar. I also figured that since Yin is predominantly seated postures this could be a good way of testing the waters of yoga in a warmer room. While Yin is taught in a warm not hot class the temperature is still higher than traditional yoga studios. The temperature reminded me of doing yoga on the beach on a warm summer day.
Still a bit nervous I mustered up my courage and tried a 60 minute Moksha class. I gave myself permission to take Child’s pose or Savasana at any point necessary. Part of my nervousness was due to not knowing what the 40 postures practiced in Moksha. It didn’t really seem to matter. The instructor, Heather, gave easy to follow instructions on how to get in and out of postures and walked around helping people get the most of the posture. Most of the postures are similar to postures taught in Hatha yoga, the oldest form of yoga.
Apart for the need to wipe sweat off my face and being grateful I had a towel, the heat did not increase the difficulty of the class. I struggled with the same aspects of postures I usually do (I have weak arms that tire easily and a not so strong core).I also began to understand the addiction people have to hot yoga. I had the same exhilaration and endorphin high that I got from running. My lungs felt clearer; my spirit uplifted and an overall sense of accomplishment of doing good for my body swept over me. Not to mention the benefit of sweating assists the body in ridding itself from toxins.
For those new to Moksha yoga I highly recommend starting with the 60 minute Moksha class and work up to the 90 minute. Once comfortable with the 90 minute Moksha classes test the waters of the hot Moksha Flow or other classes offered.
What to Wear
I will admit that part of my aversion to hot yoga was the clothing; or lack of clothing to be more accurate. I normally practice yoga in a tank top and yoga tights or pants. Wearing nothing but short shorts and a sports bra was not appealing to me but I did it anyway. However other people did not. I was shocked that some women wore capris and tank tops. In my first three classes I tried a variety of clothing options Teeki leggings, Karma bras, and shorts. What I discovered was the less clothing that could stick to my sweaty body the better.
Some of my favourite options are:
Karma Charlotte Bra Karma Kelly Bandeau Tonic Moon Ray Tank 
Teeki Mickey June Sun Short
K. Deere Bum Bum Short Tonic Pursuit Capri
For more suggestions on what to wear check out the Hot Yoga section of the online catalog
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In March 2004 the Canadian designed and manufactured yoga/active wear company Tonic opened. Inspired by west coast life, Tonic provides today’s women with a lifestyle line that supports a healthy and active life.
Tonic clothing is fashionable and functional for all workouts; not just yoga. Simple and clean, Tonic’s style is for both urban living and athletics. It’s fit, function and fashion celebrates the union of inward and outward beauty. -
Teeki sells fast. Not only does Teeki have a unique style it is ethically manufactured and environmentally friendly. The durable, quick dry polyester is made from recycled water bottles.
From the recycling centre bottles are sorted by colour. Labels are stripped. Bottles and lids crushed and chopped into pieces. Pieces are made into pellets. Pellets are melted and extruded into fibres. Fibres are then crimped cut drawn, stretched and baled. The baled fibres are then turned into fabric for a variety of products and uses.
Another great feature is the price! It’s lower than competitors who outsource labour to factories on other continents. Why pay more when we can buy products made close to home? Shop ethical. Shop local.
