the pulse
a spe n m a d r o n e
Bundle of Bounce
The ancient tradition of "baby wearing" returns with modern marvels of portable parenthood. It's never too early to share the joy of movement with your new arrival and stay connected with your community. Today's options are ergonomic, eco-friendly, and offer a fit for everyone. You can protect your baby's hearing, support baby's head, and enjoy your rhythm and motion too.
super snuggly > Moby Wrap Great for securing your baby, and for fitting different body types (shown above). This long, versatile piece of fabric allows your baby to go in five different positions. Worth the time to understand how to adjust. You can choose a variety of styles, such as the nifty UV protection wrap, to keep the sun from harming your cute and sensitive little one. (from $39.95) www.mobywrap.com
Photo: www.flickr.com/photos/madeline / Courtesy One Hundred Skies
cozy cruiser > New Native Organic Baby Carrier Made with 100% organic cotton, and is comfy, soft, and good for the environment. Sized to fit and works in different positions as the baby grows. Fun prints, colors, can match with your clothes and act as an accessory. Great for earth-conscious parents, and socially aware babies! (from $54) www.newnativeinc.com
Fitness favorite > ERGO Baby Carrier This is excellent for hands-free baby carrying. Adjustable straps allow for use as a backpack or front pack, with a great back strap to better support you. Provides great security for activities such as hiking, dancing, going to parties. Good for weight distribution, and “ergonomic” for different sizes. (from $105) www.ergobabycarriers.com
Fashionista's Delight > Rockin’ Baby Sling This is fashionable, fun, lightweight, and comfy. It is reversible, and features a variety of “diva” style fabrics that loop into two rings, with a handy pocket for keys/phone, baby toys etc. (from $65) www.rockinbabysling.com
precious cargo > Peltor Kids Ear Muffs These ear muffs provide excellent sound protection for your little one. Protects against harmful noises, and can be used with infants and toddlers. Easier than earplugs, as it is form fitting and stays on snug. It also eliminates the concern about choking associated with earplugs. (from $18.95) www.envirosafetyproducts.com
The music pulsates, my head folds to my knees, and swish, I am in Downward Dog as Janet Stone invites class members to move to their inner rhythm. At Yoga Tree in San Francisco, she leads a fluid yoga class, with moments of freeform dance taught to live music. This fusion gives me the freedom to express my creativity as a dancer, while the yoga provides comforting structure. For me, inversions symbolize the mind emptying and the release of the weight of being human by giving in to gravity. Yoga is a perfect balance to my dance practice and my work as an entrepreneur. During magazine production crunch time, I reach for Perelandra Essences to keep my energy grounded, and I drink Ola Loa vitamin packets to fortify my immune system. The best remedy is rest and relaxation, and Bella Luna Yoga is a wonderful choice. They offer facilitators an affordable vacation at resorts around the world in exchange for teaching. Or, teachers can create their own retreat with ease by allowing One Hundred Skies to deal with the logistics. Let’s share a bodily experience soon; perhaps at Rancho La Puerta for the perennial favorite Soul Motion or at an embodied festival like Wanderlust. It feels like six degrees of separation, as Conscious Dancer magazine rolls along the Cosmic Highway serendipitously arriving at ecstatic dances in Australia or with guests at Findhorn in Scotland. It’s gratifying to watch the movement gain momentum. Is this the tipping point? I am excited about the future of my dancing family and grateful for receiving external affirmations of sacred commerce and building a foundation of support. Each copy of the magazine gets passed hand-to-hand; how far will your copy fly? Dance, Share, Love! conscious dancer | spring 2010
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