We are excited to announce two special guests to our retail store this month.  These wonderful women are running small businesses and will be showcasing their products in our stores, making themselves available to answer your questions.

Saturday, December 8th :  Lisa Marder from Sequana Naturals will be here to explain how her Muscle and Joint Oil can help YOU!  Have an ache or pain?  Try her oil to see if it will help reduce or remove that problem from your life helping you to return to (or continue with) an active lifestyle.  Made of the finest organically-grown essential oils, this topical blend has been reported to help with muscle aches, joint pain and stiffness, plantar fasciatis, fibromyalgia, headaches, migraines, and more.

Saturday, December 15th :  Lisa Griffin-Seidel, RYT will be here to show everyone her newest designs and patterns in her zafus and eyepillows.  We have been carrying Catspaw Cushions since we've opened our retail store, but now you'll have the opportunity to meet the creator in person.  Catspaw Cushions can even be custom-made if you need a higher height for your zafu.  Come by the store and chat with her and to see her new rectangular zafu - the Zen Cushion.  The re-design on her eyepillow includes a removable cover.  The new eyepillows are in-store now, and we plan to carry her Zen Cushions as well.

Both Trunk Shows will begin at 10am and run til 3pm.  Please stop by visit with these women, pepper them with all the questions you have, browse the store, and quench your thirst with some free hot apple cider as you do!  We look forward to seeing you.

Rolling Sands Harmony
A Small-Business supporting other Small-Businesses

7506 Grandview Avenue
Arvada, CO  80005
(303)422-1452

(Located in Olde Town, across the street from Penzey's Spices and Silver Vines Winery)

With the largest selection of yoga mats, you are sure to find the yoga mat that is right for you and your practice.  You can find economical PVC mats or eco-friendly natural yoga mats.  You can find thick yoga mats or extra long yoga mats.  Visit their retail location on Grandview Avenue to touch and feel the variety of yoga mats made of different materials, or shop online at their website and read detailed product descriptions and see pictures of the selection of colors offered.

In addition to yoga mats and yoga mat bags, Rolling Sands Harmony also offers a large variety of yoga supplies, or yoga props.  Choose from a huge selection of mexican yoga blankets, yoga blocks, yoga straps, yoga balls, yoga towels, and they even offer a variety of yoga bolsters.  You can find a rectangular yoga bolster or a round yoga bolster in an assortment of colors and by different brands. 

At Rolling Sands you will recognize popular brands such as Jade Yoga, Manduka, Yogitoes, Bean Products and Hugger Mugger to name a few.  Fitness products are by J/Fit, FitBall, and for environmentally friendly products, Natural Fitness.  Additionally, you can find unique one-of-a-kind meditation cushions, malas, and yoga mat wraps that are made by local artisans.

Yoga equipment isn't the only thing that you'll find at Rolling Sands Harmony.  Discover the different shapes and styles of Zafu and Zabuton meditation cushions and meditation benches to make your meditation practice more comfortable.  Pick out a beautiful handmade Mala to count your meditation mantras.  Learn about the various fitness products to help build your core strength and improve your balance.  Many of these items can be incorporated into your yoga practice or Pilates fitness routines or general exercises to provide a full-body workout.  Add weights, exercise balls or balance training products, such as Balance Pods or a Yoga Ball (aka Stabiltiy Ball), to add a challenge and variety to your workout.

A unique stand-alone yoga supply store offers the convenience of finding everything for your practice in one place.  Competitive wholesale pricing is also available for yoga and pilates studios or fitness centers.  Setting up a wholesale account is easy and can be done online or over the phone.  Once an account is established, wholesale pricing is visible online making it comfortable and easy to purchase in bulk for your studio or facility.

Whether you live in the Denver area or are visiting, tour Olde Town Arvada's historic shopping district and stop by Rolling Sands Harmony for your yoga equipment and meditation supplies.

As today's modern culture brings health and wellness to the forefront - it's only natural for the practice of yoga to become more popular. As a newcomer to the world of yoga, one should be familiar with the many types of props or yoga supplies that the beginning yoga practitioner would need. Yoga supplies are not just mere accessories to accent the experience of yoga - some are even essential to the techniques of relaxation and wellness that yoga is known for.

The Yoga Mat

The yoga mat is one essential yoga supply that one should not be without. Among all yoga supplies this is one that's commonly required in typical types of yoga classes. The mat serves as your own space in practicing the different poses and also provides padding for support and protection in kneeling poses and inverted poses.

The Yoga Blanket

Not commonly required in terms of beginner yoga supplies, the yoga blanket is a great yoga prop to have. In addition to the mat which is among the yoga supplies that you may be familiar to, this can enhance your yoga experience by providing more comfort when doing poses that require you to bring more pressure to certain parts of the body, such as the spine and shoulders. As a plus, it also serves as a body warmer, when nearing the end of your yoga session in restorative poses.

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks come in many different types and sizes. Blocks are commonly used to provide support and stability and are especially useful for people with less flexibility - allowing them to do yoga poses without the strain. Some exercises even require the use of yoga blocks, and in terms of yoga supplies to have, this is highly recommended in enabling you to maximize the yoga exercise experience.

The Yoga Ball

One of the more interesting looking yoga supplies is the yoga ball. The yoga ball looks like an oversized beach ball that one can sit on or lay their back upon. Along with other yoga supplies, the yoga ball is often used to provide support and better alignment as well as add challenge to yoga poses.

Yoga Bolsters

Although tied up or folded yoga blankets can be used, there are actual round and rectangular yoga bolsters that you can find among the yoga supplies in your favorite exercise equipment store. Bolsters also work the same as your yoga blanket - in this case, this is made easier as bolsters can be used right away as opposed to prepping the yoga blanket by either rolling or folding it.

These are just a few yoga supplies that can help enhance your experience in practicing yoga. Depending on what type of yoga you are engaging in, or your needs - varying yoga supplies will be able to help you in your path to health and well-being.

To find out how these different yoga supplies or props can be most beneficial, the Rolling Sands Harmony blog discusses some exercises and poses using some of the more popular yoga supplies mentioned in this article. Their shop also offers a wide array of products perfect for the yoga enthusiast and showcases many choice of yoga props that will fit any yoga enthusiast's needs. To know more, visit their site at http://www.rollingsandsharmony.com/categories/more-yoga-props/

The yoga mat is one essential yoga prop that a regular yoga enthusiast typically owns. Not only does the no-slip rubber mat give offer safety in doing yoga poses, but it also provides an extra padded comfort, which protects the body from the cold hard floor. It may not be easy to lug around, as a rolled yoga mat can be bulky and big - this is why most yoga enthusiasts carry this ever-so important yoga accessory - the yoga mat bag.

Yoga Mat Bags are great for the easy transport of yoga mats and other yoga props. They come in different designs and sizes, and depending on one's needs there is a wide variety to choose from.

The most common yoga mat bags are the ones that fit your yoga mat snugly, with straps that go along the width of the yoga mat bag to sling around your back. Typically, zippered openings are found along the length of the bag but some designs also offer openings at top, tied with a drawstring - which lets you easily slip in a rolled yoga mat.

Although most yoga mat bags are designed to fit in one yoga mat - there are also ones that are the duffel bag type, which can carry more yoga props needed.

Yoga mat bags also come in different materials which range from cotton, nylon, silk, suede and canvas. For the ecologically conscious, hemp yoga mat bags are also offered. At the Rolling Sands Harmony site for example, there are these stylish Over-sized Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat Bags that are made from natural hemp fibre. Not only are they environment friendly, they're also stylish too - and sized to be roomier than the usual yoga mat bag to fit in more yoga props and essentials.

For the professional yoga teachers, there are also yoga mat bags that are not just your typical yoga mat bags - but more for carrying their full gear from one location to another. The Yoga Pro Duffel is one such, which is not only a duffel bag that can be carried by hand, it also doubles as a backpack for the yoga teacher on the go. This is ideal for those who want more luggage room for yoga props such as blocks, blankets and bolsters. Another unique thing about this pro yoga mat bag is the waist strap feature which provides added stability when being used as a backpack.

In contrast, for the minimalist types, there's the yoga mat bag that's not a yoga mat bag. The Tapas Harness is a harness that goes around your rolled up yoga mat for easy transportation. It's designed with two adjustable loops to easily fit any size of mat. This versatile yoga mat carrier can also be used to bring your blanket or bolster. Simple roll it around the yoga mat and fasten the straps - and you're good to go.

Which ever way you wish to carry your yoga mats or accessories - there is a yoga mat bag that will be right for you. If you're looking for great choices in yoga accessories, and the different types of yoga mat bags to carry these along with, Rolling Sands Harmony definitely has the right one in store for you. To check out their wide range of yoga supplies, you can visit their store online at www.rollingsandsharmony.com or call them toll free at 1-800-899-6851.

To beginning yoga students, the yoga kit serves as a welcome package to the new and exciting world of health and well-being that awaits them. Your basic yoga kit often consists of the essential supplies and equipment that you need in beginning your practice of yoga. Yoga kits differ from one supplier to another, but they do provide a great way for the yoga enthusiast to have an all-in-one solution when they don't know where to start in purchasing the needed yoga props.

Usually, yoga students will be instructed before the start of class which on yoga prop is needed. For those starting the practice on their own - starter yoga kits can provide them with the needed essentials. Starter yoga kits usually contain your basic non-slip sticky mat, two foam yoga blocks and a yoga strap.

With a non-slip sticky mat from the starter yoga kit, practitioners are given the safety and stability to perfectly execute their yoga poses. Foam yoga blocks are provided for those who lack the range and flexibility, allowing them to do the poses without any strain. Yoga straps assist in maintaining alignment, especially when flexibility is also limited.

Some yoga kits come with a matching yoga mat bag to easily store rolled up yoga mats. This provides a practical solution for individuals on the go, or for those travelling. If purchasing a yoga mat bag along with a yoga kit, you may have some limited options - so for the design conscious, or the avid yoga practitioners, you can purchase a yoga mat bag separately. Yoga mat bags come in different styles and sizes which includes oversized yoga mat bags for those wanting to fit other items in.

Starter yoga kits may also contain yoga blankets such in leiu of yoga blocks which serve as a versatile yoga prop for the yoga practitioner. Rolling Sands Harmony (http://www.rollingsandsharmony.com/) provides such yoga kits with Mexican yoga blankets - an ideal yoga blanket that has a firm and tightly woven quality that most yoga practitioners prefer.

For the environment conscious, the Rolling Sands Harmony store also offers eco-friendly yoga kits which includes the yoga mat, yoga blocks, straps along with a handy yoga mat bag. What makes this different from the usual items from your basic yoga kit is that, eco-friendly kits are made from sustainable materials.

Rolling Sands Harmony's Ultimate Eco Friendly Yoga Kit includes a yoga mat that is made from latex free, open cell, natural dry rubber that was sustainably harvested from rubber trees. The yoga blocks found in the yoga kit are made from a renewable source which is cork. Cork is an eco-friendly alternative to the foam that regular yoga blocks are made from. The yoga strap is made from woven natural hemp which is a popular eco-friendly, biodegradable resource.

Some starter yoga kits also offer a yoga poses posters for easy reference to beginning yoga students. The Rolling Sands Harmony store offers such in their Deluxe Yoga Starter Kit, which contains your yoga essentials (mat, blocks and straps) as well as a handy yoga mat bag and yoga posture poster.

Whatever your choice may be, there are different options of yoga kits that you can select from. From simple to environment friendly - what's important is that you've got the essentials down, and you're on your way to the healthy and harmonious lifestyle that yoga offers.

One of the props used in yoga is the yoga blanket. The most basic and most versatile of yoga props, a beginning yoga student can use any blanket or beach towel when practicing yoga. It is recommended however, to use blankets that are specifically used for yoga. Blankets can be used as protective padding from a cold, hard floor but is most used folded, as a support for the head and neck in lying poses, and the hips in sitting poses.

When choosing a yoga blanket, it is advised to find tightly woven blankets such as a Mexican blanket. Yoga blankets must be firm and flat and should not be of any fabric that might sink and collapse such as a comforter or a padded blanket, since the yoga blanket is primarily used to support the body. An example of the yoga blanket's use is in support for the shoulders for inverted postures such as the Sarvangasana or shoulder stand.

When doing inverted postures, there is a risk of spine and joint injury as the body puts increased pressure with mat and the floor. The yoga blanket serves as a pad to protect the spine and joints, easing the strain off the body. This also adds comfort which aids in better concentration in getting the pose correctly done.

The yoga blanket can also be used as a cushion for handstand poses. When rolled into a bolster shape and tied, one can place it between the head and the wall, to protect the head and serve as padding against the wall. Another yoga blanket can also be used underneath the hands, so as to relieve the pressure on the body's full weight during a handstand.

One other benefit of the yoga blanket is when doing breathing exercises. The use of a yoga blanket helps expand the rib cage and open the lungs. Rolled up and placed behind the back while lying down, it gives greater freedom to the lungs when breathing, which helps it fully expand.

Last but not the least yoga blankets can also be used to keep the body warm during the final relaxation or Savasana. During Savasana or other restorative poses, the yoga blanket can also be folded to be used for comfort as a cushion under the head.

Essentially, the two main purposes of the yoga blanket is for: 1) support and 2) safety and comfort when practicing yoga poses. This is why it is very important for everyone to know how to choose the right yoga blanket to fit their needs.

Rolling Sands Harmony has a wide variety of yoga blankets that you can choose from. Their selection of Mexican Yoga Blankets would be perfect for any person's yoga needs - from mat sized blankets that a beginning yoga student can use to cover a cold, hard floor doing seated poses, or regular sized blankets that can serve as a cushion for support in lying poses. Not only do they offer high quality, hand-woven Mexican Yoga Blankets, but for the aesthetically conscious, there's also a wonderful range of color choices. These lovely yoga blankets are available on their site at http://www.rollingsandsharmony.com/ or you can order via phone at 1-800-899-6851.

For starting yoga practitioners, as soon as they purchase their starter yoga kit they're presented with the essential yoga props used in the art of practicing yoga: a yoga mat, yoga straps and yoga blocks.

Although some might think that using yoga props such as yoga blocks might be cheating since expert yogis seldom use props in their practice of yoga, this is far from the truth. Props such as the yoga block help individuals to easily execute a pose, which brings them the benefits of what a properly executed pose can do without the hassle and strain.

Expert yogis have had many years of practice. Beginning yoga practitioners shouldn't have to be pressured if they aren't able to do a pose perfectly on their own. With the aid of props such as the yoga block, this eases them through. And with enough practice, the hard poses can then be done easily without an aid.

Yoga blocks are used primarily in standing and seated poses which adds extra length to the lower arm. Yoga blocks are also used for support during lying poses. The blocks provide extra flexibility to those who have a limited range, which in turn maximizes their ability to perform different types of yoga poses.

One of the commonly asked questions when choosing a yoga block is what size should be used. As yoga blocks come in different sizes, when choosing a size, it depends how one will be utilizing it as well as their own flexibility. Since yoga blocks are used to give more range to those with limited flexibility - people should consider their current flexibility capability when choosing the height of their yoga block. The Rolling Sands Harmony site provides an excellent guideline on their site on what size to use when purchasing a yoga block.

Yoga blocks usually come in the form of wood or foam and more recently, the environment friendly cork and bamboo. When choosing what type of material to get, for a yoga block, it is up to the individual. Wood is more firm, while foam gives a bit more cushion.

For those that don't like the chemically made foam, cork has become one of the more popular choices for the environment conscious. The cork yoga block is made out of renewable and sustainable cork which is also a biodegradable material. Similar to foam blocks they are have a soft texture and slip resistant.

For those looking for a more environment friendly alternative to wood blocks, the eco-friendly yoga block choice is bamboo. Bamboo is another sustainable material. Unlike trees (where wood yoga blocks are made from), bamboo is a fast growing plant. Similar to wood yoga blocks, bamboo blocks have less give and are less slip resistant than foam and cork - so they'll need to be properly placed to avoid any slips.

As always, it is a matter of the individual's needs and preference that governs the choice of what type and what size of yoga blocks to use. To find out which one fits your own needs when practicing yoga - you can visit the Rolling Sands Harmony site (http://www.rollingsandsharmony.com ) which as a wide array of yoga blocks to choose from, as well as helpful tips that will help you find the perfect yoga block choice for you.