My Holiday Wish List

Every year I get inundated with emails from marketers hawking yoga gear for consideration in my holiday gift guide. I'm not opposed to yoga gear. I have several quality, environmentally friendly yoga mats, practical bags that help me schlepp my mat to the studio, and a beautiful collection of yoga tops and yoga pants. I have blocks, straps, bolsters, and eye pillows. I have those socks with the sticky rubber on the bottom and a special yoga towel to absorb sweat in hot classes (it should be noted that I am not a fan of hot classes so I've only used this towel a couple of times). And, yes, I have more yoga books, magazines, and DVDs than I can count. While I love all of my yoga "things," I just don't need any more.

Photo via Flickr

Here are some things I'd really like for the holiday to help my yoga practice.

1. More hours in the day. That's right. I'd like to ask Santa for more time to practice. Maybe he could just arrange for my daughter to sleep in past 6 in the morning so I could squeeze in an hour or so of yoga before she wakes up, then I'd be set for the rest of the day. Santa is magical right? I believe he can make this happen...

2. Yoga clothes and a yoga mat that repels dog hair. I know I said I don't need more yoga "stuff," so if someone could just invent a non-toxic, organic, environmentally friendly spray I could douse everything I own with, that would be perfect. It drives me nuts that all of my yoga stuff seems to attract my animals' light-colored fur. I think I'd practice more if I didn't get fur up my nose every time I take a break in Child's Pose.

3. A personal chef. I feel great when I eat healthy foods, and the more I practice yoga the more I want fresh, natural whole foods. But, I'll be honest, I often have to make a choice between practicing asana and meditating or taking the time to grocery shop, chop fresh vegetables, soak beans, and prepare the best foods for myself and my family. I just haven't figured out how to do it all. Having a personal chef to take care of the food (I'm not a great cook, anyway) so I can focus on spending time with my family and practicing yoga would make me a very happy woman.

Of course, coming into a ton of money so I could work only when I feel inspired would take care of that too... but I'm trying not to be greedy (aparigraha is one of the yamas, you know).

4. More yoga experiences. I'd love to go on a yoga retreat some time. Who actually can afford to take these? Anyone? Well, someone must because it seems like tons of yoga teachers offer yearly retreats to places like Hawaii, Mexico, Bali, and India. I'd be content with more weekend workshops in my own town with my teachers. 2014 will be my year. I can feel it!

5. More yoga students. I'm putting this out there, not because I'd like to make more money as a yoga teacher to support my desires for yoga retreats and personal chefs (though that would be great!), but because as a yoga teacher, there's nothing in the world that inspires me more than watching students learn and grow. It's motivation to keep learning and growing myself. I'd like more of that, please.

What's on your list?