According to Time Magazine, plastic is even more dangerous than you think.

In The Perils of Plastic, we learn about the lack of regulation for harmful chemicals such as BPA and Phthalates, and that science is determining how even low doses of such chemicals can cause reproductive problems and increase the risk of cancer.  

The Obama administration is working to increase government oversight and consumer education, but until the laws actually change, we each must be vigilant in protecting ourselves from contact with these dangerous chemicals.

Eliminating all contact may not be possible in this modern life, but we can minimize the accumulation of contacts by choosing alternative products.

Here are some suggestions:

— Use a Yoga mat free of PVC, Phthalates, and other potentially harmful plastics.  (Read Rethinking Yoga Mats)

— Check household items, such as shower curtains, children’s toys, and skin care products for the presence of estrogen mimickers such as BPA, Phthalates and Oxybenzone.

— Be sure to drink from stainless steel water bottles.  (Get one here, for a donation to Green Yoga)

GreenYoga Studios is a free resource for Yoga studios. We encourage studios to create the daily habit of thinking green thereby creating a green business culture. The by-products of thinking green may include a green space, eco programs, reduced travel. Each studio has it own shade of green and we will share their stories here.

Community (Sangha) is an important element of Yoga.
We encourage you to create or join a Green Yoga community in your area.

“One day the world will grow green with our Love.” - Rumi

We are expanding our practice of Yoga and the practice of environmental stewardship by planting fruit trees around the planet.

The Green Yoga Seva Groves will offer a place where communities can gather to practice asana, meditate, cultivate and care for the trees, and share the harvest.  They will do their part to lower carbon in the atmosphere and will educate the communities about sustainable agrigulture.

Bringing sweet success to a problem that was right under our feet.

Rampant environmental degradation has brought crisis in multiple areas. As humans, we can do something about it. Each of us alone, and all of us together. This is the time for action to deal with:

* Global Warming
* Species Extinction
* Deadly toxic chemicals in the air, water and products that we use
* Ecosystem collapse due to over-exploitation of resources

Yoga helps us recognize that we are made from the planet; we are sea-water and earth.  To take care of our planet is to take care of our selves.

Yoga practice creates a body-mind relationship which can bring energy and effectiveness to the way we address the ecological issues threatening our global life-support systems.

The health of our bodies depends on clean air, clean water, and clean food. Yoga is grounded in an understanding of this interconnection. Historically, Yoga developed in the context of a close relationship with the earth and cosmos and a profound reverence for animals, plants, soil, water, and air. This reverence towards life is the basis of the Yogic teaching of ahimsa, or non-violence, non-injury, and non-harming.