So cute in Bold Blue/Lagoon.

I’ve recently started the process of using cloth diapers for the little one and in my quest for information on all things cloth diapers I discovered some laundering information that translates to washing Lulu clothes, technical fabrics and towels.

Country Save HE Laundry Detergent, Powder, 160-Load, 10-lb Boxes (Case of 4)Conventional laundry detergent as well as environmentally friendly brands usually have additives that coat your clothes with a residue. Things like optical whiteners (over time it dulls colors and whites), softeners, fragrance, enzymes etc. etc. Over time the residue damages fabrics wicking capability, dulls colors, the enzymes fade colors and your clothes feel stiff and scratchy (particularly if you hang to dry). I thought I was doing really well by using the Seventh Gen laundry detergent but unfortunately it has a high enzyme content and also leaves a lot of residue. Smells lovely though.

All of my towels over time have developed a really gross mouldy body odour smell that just will not go away. I wash them with tide and they smell fine (masked by fragrance) and then one day later in the washroom they stink and they stink up the washroom too. I discovered that the reason for this although pretty complicated has a simple solution. First of all bacteria grows in your towels from normal use as well as from leaving them damp in the washing machine (common, were all guilty of that). It so happens that bacteria LOVE the residue from detergent which it feeds of off as well as body sweat. Gym clothes get this problem too. To strip your clothes of the residue you can do a very hot wash using vinegar but you don’t want to do this often with your gym clothes because vinegar and hot water can damage Lycra over time.

High residue also clogs up the pores in your technical fabrics so that they no longer wick away moisture and it can create a coating on your washing machine that can cause overflow of suds and major water damage. I had this problem with my HE machine and the technician that came to repair the washing machine kept telling me that it was the soap I was using. I though he was crazy and figured they were faulty machines that he was conspiring to cover up. Ha, now I know what the heck he was talking about. Even when you use a low residue soap, if you use too much of it you will get a residue eventually so make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions.

The brands I have found that are low residue (locally in Vancouver) are Nelly’s and Country Save, both sold at London Drugs. Country Save was about $5 for a load of 80-160 (160-HE). Washing with the Country Save I’ve noticed right away that clothes come out softer and looking like they did when they were at the store. They smell like nothing. No fragrance other than the smell of clean clothes and no gross moldy BO smell either. I wonder how my Luon pants will do over time and if this will help prevent piling. Don’t forget to not use fabric softener as well, if you really need to use something get some dryer balls.

I’m really glad I’ve made this discovery and that I can save my towels instead of throwing them out and purchasing new ones only to have that happen again. I can probably avoid fluffing up hung dry clothes in the dryer too

I think she’s using the satin headbands as a belt. I’ve also heard of the yoga mat straps and Luon headbands being used as belts, not quite sure how there getting them over the shoulders or hips to use it as a belt. Hardly seems worth the effort.

This double back tank looks really cute in black with what looks like the 50 rep bra under it.

I love the cuff at the bottom of these pants. It doesn’t actually poof out very much at all but just nicely shows off your calf muscles sort of like the flashback crop does. It’s just a little highlight feature. I tried on The Potion Purple and Black which was really pretty but I ended up with just the black ones because I’m not a really matchy-matchy person and I want this to go with all my tops and also because I love the detail so much in these that I want that to be the highlight.

Seek The Peek: Potion Purple

Define Jacket in Denim White

Run: With it Crop (can’t wait to try these on, I’ve been waiting very patiently for them to come to Canada)

Double Back Tank: Black

Classy Classic Gym Bag

Last year when I was done with breastfeeding and ready to really tackle baby weight I joined Bikrams Yoga with my sister in law and I also joined The Running Room Learn to Run group at the same time. I had a pregnancy that required bed rest and a year of total baby focus with zero time away from baby so I was eager to get physical again and get some me time.

My first few classes of Bikrams was pure hell. It was Bikrams torture chamber for sure. I felt panicky after the 3rd asanas and like I was either going to bolt from the room or my lungs were going to collapse. It was so humid and hot I felt like I was drowning. But I’m a determined person and I guess part of me also likes getting beaten into submission by my exercise so I told my sister in law (who is a team Canada ellite athlete) that I was in for more if she was.

Sometime after about the 3rd class I became addicted. It was such a cardiovascular workout to stay in a room that hot and move through the asanas and maintain my breathing that I found it so much more difficult than running. Plus I loved the dialogue the teachers used. “mama give me money” and “fold yourself into a Japanese Ham Sandwich” and “welcome to the torture chamber”. The instructors all warned us to drink at least 1 lt. of water prior to class and then 1lt. after class. I probably got in half a litre before and half after and spent that first week feeling totally hungover, drowsy, freezing cold and very headachy. My running room instructor told me I was very dehydrated and that when you stop sweating it means you have no fluids left to give and cannot cool yourself down. So it seems the Bikrams instructors knew what they were talking about. I not only started drinking the amount of water they recommended, I added Vita coco water (the most complete electrolite drink) and emergen-c. what a huge difference that made. I was now able to complete every single pose (except for one, continue reading) and feel great after class.  2 weeks of Bikrams and I had a flat washboard stomach again. wow, this Mr. Bikram was on to something.

Two memorable poses from Bikrams are Camel pose which I could not for the life of me do. Physically I was flexible enough to do it but for some reason that pose made me feel vulnerable like I was going to fall or rip my muscles apart. It always made me feel very sick to even attempt it and had to do child’s pose until the next asanas. I was told this is common and that some poses sometimes make you have a very emotional reaction. The second pose was Eagle pose. The instructor always said this pose was the fertility pose. Boy was she ever right. Three weeks post stopping breastfeeding and Bikrams I found myself feeling “off” again. I waited a few days and thought…hmmm..I should take a test. What a waist of my money that’s going to be. Ha! Ha Ha! Pregnancy happens for me usually with very calculated effort so this was a huge surprise. And that was the end of my  very short but sweet Bikrams career….One day after I purchased a two month unlimited pass. Dr. said no go for sweating your entire weight of body fluids while pregnant but Yes to running…although I lasted until my 12th week when I got very lax joints and had to quite.

And that was the beginning of my little baby girl #2’s existence.  Perfect little baby at the Ideal (so says everyone but me) age gap with my first daughter (21 months apart) yet inconvenient timing. And it’s so almost comical that she was a breech baby from week 20 until the end and because she was cross legged all of that time was born with a dislocated hip requiring an annoying harness for her first 3 months. My little yogini.

So I have a few tips for anyone wanting to try Bikrams:

1. hydrate. coconut water is awesome! Coconut water is balanced much the same way blood plasma is so a little of it goes a long way.
2. first class I wore cotton lulu crops, before the second class I went to lululemon and pleasantly        discovered they made hot yoga specific clothes. I wore a very short luxtreme tank and shorts to the next class. I couldn’t handle having any fabric over my belly so I just wore a top over my short tank into class and took it of right as class started.
3. Move slowly and with intention. If you move too fast into and out of poses you feel sick.
4. Take a good microfibre yoga towel with you. I got a cheap one at London drugs and it absorbed Everything. Lulu now has the Maduka towel meant for hot yoga and It has some really good reviews.
5. Take a spot nearest the door. Sometimes the teacher is nice and will open the door during class and you will get the best draft possible there.
4. only start sipping your water when the teacher tells you you can. After the second pose. The first two poses are meant as a warm up so it’s best not to cool down at that point.
5. Enjoy the dialogue. it’s hysterical and if anything lets you forget your self for a microsecond the dialogue will.
6. Watch out for eagle pose!

Look at this color, so pretty on her. On me it just washes me out and makes me look sickly, but on her I love. Also, she’s pretty tiny in the hips and she’s pulled it off well balanced with a slightly wider at the calf bottom.