Annie's Blog

How To Use The YogaForce A-Line Mat For YOGA, PILATES, TRX, etc.

This is a guide on how to use the YogaForce A-Line Mat for all floor exercise including yoga, Pilates and TRX.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y_1VY3S-17w

Kate Betts of TIME Magazine said it best:

What about a special mat that would help yoginis align themselves into perfect positions? "Because your shoulders are wider than your feet when you stand up straight, we created a shape that reflected that ergonomically," says Anne Appleby, founder of the California-based company YogaForce. For those who can't quite align their Warrior I pose, the mat also has a grid--a yoga cheat sheet of sorts--so that you can see how to line up your front foot with your back foot's middle arch. And there's a bonus for those who find themselves perpetually late for overcrowded classes: there's no need to fuss with a bag. A YogaForce mat comes with a Velcro carrying strap that detaches so you can grab a spot fast.  

 
You Are What You Eat

I have been going "Vegan" for three days now.  I NEVER thought I would ever try that; I am so not that type of Yogi!  However, I have a private client who is a Vegan.  She is also perfect, as you can see.  One day I asked her, "So, what CAN you eat?"  She gave me a long list of stuff I had never even heard of.  Leading the list was Quinoa.  It is a very healthy alternative to rice.  I am easing into this, so I make it with chicken broth, swiss chard, Rombauer chardonnay, kale and mushrooms.

Fantastic!  I use both kale and swiss chard because, frankly it is a bit hard to tell them apart.  They fall into the BIG LIST of 111 SUPER FOODS: http://www.healthfoodmadeeasy.com/superfoods-list/  

Experiment.  It takes three days to feel better.  You can replace water instead of the chicken broth* and chardonnay.  Good for you!  And add in pine nuts and lemon.  

It is amazing, just adding these super foods gradually in to your diet how much better you will feel.  Those Vegans might be on to something after all.

* Note: True Vegans can not eat animals, or anything with a face or a mother.  Some wines are Vegan.  NO Chickens! EVER!  As I said, I am easing in to this...

Cheers!

 

 
YogaForce For Cross Training on TRX

I have been taking and teaching yoga for years!  I was working at Paramount Pictures at the time and my friend dragged me to my first class on the Lot.  I did not like it.  I was a runner.  Our teacher said, I needed to try it three times per week for two weeks.  If I still did not like it, then yoga was not for me.  I gave it a chance, and it changed my life.  That was back in the 1990's.  I started YogaForce in 1995 and people thought I was nuts.  "What is YOGA?"  I said it was what Movie Stars do to stay in shape.

Now, yoga is mainstream and everywhere.  I use the YogaForce A-Line Mat for body alignment in Pilates, Yoga, Balletone and Weight Training.  I am brand new to TRX.  I LOVE it!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh6bJpmnpKo&feature=share

 

 

 
DOGA Ready for the Closeup

I have a two year old Pomeranian named Madison Avenue.  She got her name more than a decade ago when I was living in Los Angeles and working with stylists to place YogaForce on TV Shows.  One day we all went out to lunch and someone tagged along who had a crazy job matching pets up with actors.  I asked her what sort of pet she would match me up with and she immediately suggested a Pom. She did not charge me for this advice and although I really wanted a dog, I was traveling far too much at the time to get one.  I did however come up with the perfect name.

I reconnected with an old friend a few years ago on Face Book and she invited me over to a party at her house.  They had a wild puppy named Rainbow Bow.  At first sight, I accidentally blurted out "THAT'S MY DOG!"

A few weeks later, after the puppy basically ate their entire kitchen, she called to tell me to "QUICKLY, PLEASE COME AND PICK UP YOUR DOG!"  They subsequently acquired three mellow Pomeranians and I now have Rainbow Bow Madison Avenue.

Almost immediately, she started doing yoga with me.  So, I started teaching DOGA organically.  DOGA first became a real thing when it was profiled in the Style section of THE NEW YORK TIMES in 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/fashion/09fitness.html

She attributes all her focus and concentration to DOGA and now she is a fashion model.  Who knew? A former bad dog rehabilitated through DOGA.  Now doing fashion shots for Madison Avenue.

See more about the Class  http://www.yogaforce.com

 
The YogaForce A-Line Gets an A from The L A TIMES

Gear: A few new angles for yoga

The simple gear used in yoga has largely remained unchanged for 5,000 years. But after the ancient Indian exercise discipline caught on in America, its 20 million strong practitioners naturally started coming up with ideas to make it safer and more effective. Here are four innovative new takes on some rather ordinary stuff you'd have never thought could be improved but now is:

A-grade mat

YogaForce A-line mat: A-shaped mat (19.5 inches wide at the feet and 29.5 inches wide at the shoulders) that includes several alignment lines and built-in tie-up and shoulder straps for easy transport.

Likes: No more finding yourself cockeyed on the mat during downward-facing dog. Inventor Annie Appleby, knocked crooked in a car accident, added a center line and three horizontal lines to align herself, and it kept me straight every time. The ergonomic shape fits your body great and, for many poses, it helps keep your face out of where your feet just were. The carry straps, conveniently sewed onto the rear, never get misplaced and include a built-in key or money holder.

Dislikes: None.

Price: $79. (323) 309-8808; http:// www.yogaforce.com 

Roy M. Wallack is the co-author of "Barefoot Running Step by Step." 

To View the Full Article go to NEWS @ http://www.yogaforce.com/content/yogaforce-news or visit THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: HEALTH under FITNESS @ http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-gear-yoga-20110829,0,5252945.column

 
APPLE AND YOGAFORCE: SIMPLE

Here is a short clip all about APPLE Computer:  http://watchmojo.com/index.php?id=9343  My last name is APPLEby, I grew up in Cupertino, CA before I moved to Hillsborough, CA when I was about seven.  My primary investor started investing in APPLE in 1979 and in my company, YogaForce LLC, in 2009.  I Think Different.

My first computer took up half of my living room.  I blew it up. Accidentally.  Later, I got a black laptop with a white apple on top of it.  I thought it was so pretty.  It was right after I quit Paramount Pictures, where I had two assistants so I never had to type,  to start YogaForce in 1995.  I let that darling little computer sit on top of a dresser in West Hollywood, CA for a year before I dared to take it out of the box.  I learned how to use it when I saw SEX AND THE CITY for the first time.  I figured if Carrie Bradshaw could figure it out, so could I. 

The YogaForce A-Line Mat is much like the Mac as it is simple to use.  You do not have to stop and think about your body alignment.  Your mind should be on your breath and doing the poses correctly.  Otherwise, there is really no point in doing yoga, Pilates or any floor exercise if your hands and feet are not in the right place.  It is analogous to having a built in MOUSE for direction. SIMPLE!  How did we ever live without it!?

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AEA

 
Spinning Spam in YOGA

What a week, and it is only Tuesday!  I ordered Business Cards and somehow they came back, looking good; but, without my name or telephone number.  At least they are recyclable and there will be no extra charges when I get them back the way they were ordered in the first place.  Then, someone hacked into my e-mail account.   They sent out a mass e-mail to all my contacts, including people at Johnson & Johnson, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, ABC NEWS, my BOSS and a few EX boyfriends.  I was pitching Acai Berry.  WTH?  I do not understand?  My Blackberry started beeping uncontrollably at 7:00 AM with undeliverable mail messages.  Only one out of 7,000 sent me an e-mail to delete her from my contact list.  Gladly, I did not even know who she was, although unfortunately she did work at PEOPLE MAGAZINE...  Others, like my old friends whom I do really miss, let me know that I had been hacked and called to catch up. Then my dog threw up all over my semi new car.  I thought that Madison Avenue was over getting car sick. Guess not, poor thing.  I cleaned it up.  

The point is, it is all in how you Spin It.  Yoga really helps with that.  The answer is:  NEVER sweat the small stuff.  It will make you CRAZY!  Be thankful every minute for what you DO HAVE!  I started thinking,  "Gee, I am so HAPPY to have REAL friends.  I am so HAPPY to get Business Cards.  I am so HAPPY to have a computer.  I am so HAPPY to have a dog!"

Life is what you make it and always be THANKFUL FOR SOMETHING!   Thank you, YOGA!  Also, I really hope that Washington comes up with a BUDGET and that the economy fully recovers for everyone.  We are going to have to re-invent because things will never be the same; but, change can be exciting!  

 
Sneak Peek of YogaForce Ad in The YogaJournal HOME Edition

YOGA AT HOME:  POWER UP YOUR PRACTICE  http://www.yogaforce.com/yogaforce-yoga-journal-ad  

The first ever YogaForce Full Page Ad premiers in The Yoga Journal this summer.  I actually read these special targeted keepsake issues.  Yoga at Home is the third edition and it will be available on July 26th on Newsstands internationally.  By the way, the link above is essential, if your eyes are straining to read the photo.

Funny thing is when I bought the ad, I had no idea what I would do with the space!  We really had no time, I sketched it out by myself in less than an hour.  The good thing about having a Small Business is that you have  to be flexible.  However, I am no Graphic Artist.  I really needed one to execute, ASAP.  

So, I get by with a little help from my friends...  My ex boyfriend did our last ad under deadline.  It was a quarter page in the same publication in February, 2006 when YogaForce was in all The Sharper Image Stores in the United States.  He stayed up all night to get it done. Now YogaForce is in the leading Medical Centers and Sports Rehab Clinics in the world.  This time after a meeting in San Francisco with Scott and Elise of http://www.gocoffeego.com and Julian of http://www.aliensundesign.com  Michael and Jarred executed on the design for print. THANK YOU!  Thank you also to Karyn and Jeff for the golden edits.  Mostly I thank PS, RS, MC, DM, MF, PA and BA!  It takes a Village!  YogaForce may be small; But, it has GUTS!  And this Mat actually does WORK!  It is the only exercise mat that is now Doctor Recommended and Guru Approved! 

With the swimsuit season now at full tilt, the YogaForce A-Line Mat will put you right into shape. See more @ http://www.yogaforce.com

Happy SUMMER!  

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A Dog Eared Tale To Tell

I woke up this morning with a very bad feeling.  What could go wrong?  I just Feng Shuied my whole office?  My little dog was earthbathed and had avoided a Vet visit because she actually did NOT eat my earring as I had Tweeted last week:  YogaForce 

 
Oh, S*%@! I Think My Ear Ring is IN the Dog!
24 May
 
However, all those little bite marks in the earring did mean something. She was trying to tell me that her ears hurt.  Today I made a visit to meet Dr. Marty Becker as I was interested in his new book, YOUR DOG THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
( http://www.drmartybecker.com )  He is really nice.  I bought the book and we talked about DOGA.  Then I asked him if I could put cold cream on Madison Avenue's ears as she seemed to have dry ears.   He had a look and told me to get to the Vet ASAP!  I did and my Vet said we were v. lucky to catch the infection in time as she had no fever.
 
She has to get her ears flushed first thing in the morning.  She is not hungry and is sleeping, so not like her hyper happy little self.  Ironic, as this is the first day she has ever been sick. 
 
Pay attention to your intuition and when you give your dog a bath pay attention to inside his or her ears...  This could apply to kids and husbands as well!  The devil is in the DETAILS!
 
 
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http://www.yogaforce.com

Follow: DOGA By YogaForce on Face Book

 
TARGET PRACTICE FOR MUSCULAR INTUITION

I just read a very interesting article published in today's Tampa Tribune by Daniela Velazquez called SUBTLE SHIFTS CAN THROW BODY'S SENSE OFF BALANCE.  

Yoga and Pilates teachers are consistently telling you that everything is connected to everything else, just like in the Skeleton Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpvuqj5nv6U&feature=related

If something is off, your body will start to compensate for weakness without your knowledge.  I designed the YogaForce A-Line Mat because I was in a car accident and my hip bones were ripped off track.  If my yoga instructor, Bryan Kest in Santa Monica, had not repeatedly called out that my hands were out of alignment in Downward Facing Dog, I would have never have come up with the patented alignment guide lines.  The orange stripes are a constant reminder to line it up.  The mat completely worked to heal all of my injuries.

Stacy Renz, a St. Petersburg yoga therapist interviewed by Velazquez, had injuries and scoliosis which also caused her to be out of alignment.  "People with scoliosis typically have very poor proprioception.  What feels aligned for us is not aligned at all."

Proprioception is your body's intuition to its position to space.  It is a sensory feedback mechanism that tells your body how and where it is moving and if it is balanced.  Proprioception is what allows someone to learn to walk in complete darkness without losing balance.

So, how is your proprioception?  You could be off and not even know it.  To read the article from The Tampa Tribune  go to: https://www.facebook.com/YogaForce

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AEA

 
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