I was running late. Like a joke from the gods things were working against me at a time I was really desperate. My car booking app kept crashing, and when I finally made it work no one would book me, and when I finally got a ride, it was traffic that welcomed me on the road. Needless to say, I was terribly stressed. I was a mess. It had been a while since I last laid out my mat, silenced the mind, and just be, so I guess aside from the big joke being imposed on me that day, I was also receiving a blessing. For I was on my way to a yoga class.
Image: Primer Group of Companies
I have prAna to thank for that, and yes, though that means breath and life to yogis which makes the perfect sense, I also mean it in a literal way. prAna, a sustainable apparel brand, was hosting a two-part yoga class together with Regetta Canoe, another brand that has environmental consciousness at the core of its principles.
The event was held at One Life Studio in San Juan. When I finally made it, the class had already started, but they let me slip in and was still welcomed warmly.
My classmates welcomed me with a smile, and my teacher greeted with a very cheerful hello. I arrived with the class doing the tree pose, and I took that as a sign of a good session to come—the tree pose has always been a favorite.
One Life Studio
What I love about yoga, as most who do yoga would agree, is the mindfulness that inevitably comes with the practice. You become aware, with every breath, every pose, every thought that flows in and flows out. In turn, this mindfulness that stems from a simple yoga practice blossoms into mindfulness of being. Which is a wonderful thing.
And with prAna and Regetta Canoe, this mindfulness translates into the creation of their products.
prAna
prAna was created by Beaver Theodosakis and his wife, Pam, in 1992 in the hopes of encouraging more people to engage in activities that promote peace and harmony, like yoga and surfing. The brand creates apparel that support this lifestyle, creating authentic athleisure-casual wear like tank tops, bra tops, sweaters and hoodies, skirts, dresses, swimwear, and pants. For the men they offer casual performance shirts and shorts, all of which are exclusively available at Aura Athletica.
Image: Primer Group of Companies
I love the fit of my new prAna yoga top. It feels comfortable yet secure, like I could move through the yoga poses and not worry about exposure. I’m quite excited to use it at the gym, too. But what’s so special about prAna does not only lie in the quality of their products, but what they are made of. All products of prAna are made of natural fibers, organic cotton, and recycled materials. This is what prAna is all about. Avoiding, whenever possible, processes that can cause harm to people and the environment. The first ever prAna pieces were all sewn by the founders themselves, using homemade recycled paper as labels and fruit boxes for shipping.
Regetta Canoe
Yasuo Takamoto dreamed of re-inventing the geta, the traditional Japanese clog. And he did, using modern shoemaking techniques. With “Re” meaning again, and “Getta” being a stylized take on geta, as well as adding the characteristics of a “Canoe” into the mix which represents spirit and well-thought planning, Regetta Canoe was born.
Regetta Canoe is made up of a handful of impressive qualities. Not only is it meant to provide balance and comfort to who wears it, I am also very happy to share that Regetta Canoe is vegan. Yes, vegan. Each footwear produced by the brand is dedicated to the vegan brand spirit. Regetta Canoe’s production and design is cruelty-free and animal-free, which contributes to the reduction of animal suffering and environmental pollution. This is a brand that cares. This is a brand that’s mindful.
But of course, for its wearers, there is another thing that’s just as important as all these sustainable qualities of the shoes: comfort. And I can tell you, Regetta Canoe is the most comfortable footwear I have ever worn. It’s like a comfy mattress for your feet. Perfect for long walks, and reportedly designed to be good for posture and blood circulation, too.
The afternoon was rounded up with healthy snacks. Fruits in cute little packaging, and these super healthy juices also from prAna. I got the watermelon and kale, both of which really refreshing and perfect as a post-yoga drink.
Ultimately, at the end of the event, I realized I had forgotten all about my somewhat stressful morning. Whether it was the yoga, the pleasant gathering, or the good company, I had experienced a moment of calm, and that was everything.
Special thanks to Primer Group of Companies, the exclusive distributor of prAna and Regetta Canoe, for having WhenInManila.com. Read more: The Surf, The Travel, and The Agta Tribe: On Discovering What It Means to Change Everything.
prAna
Available at Aura Athletica and select GRIND and R.O.X. stores
www.prana.com
www.facebook.com/prAnaPH
Instagram: @prana.ph
#pranaph #prAnaXregettacanoe
Regetta Canoe
Available at select Res Toe Run stores nationwide
www.regettacanoe.com/en/
www.facebook.com/RegettaCanoePH
Instagram: @RegettaCanoePH
#RegettaCanoePH #BalanceWalkBalanceTalk #prAnaXregettacanoe
