ENJOY BUYING OR COLLECTING vintage jewelry, Swarovski Crystal, or unique collectibles of all kinds? I have an exclusively online shop which specializes in all of these - it is called "The Stone Ridge Emporium" - you can check it out by clicking on this link: http://www.rubylane.com/shops/tsr-emporium - a sale is always going on!

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOGA

Are you like me, always wanting to get into shape, eat healthier, be fit and ready for anything? May I suggest you consider yoga - now don't laugh (I was one of those who skeptics who did at first too)! My daughter, Keri-Ann, is a yoga teacher and has been after me to do yoga not only to get into shape but because of the other pluses as well: stress relief, relaxation and more. And so I signed up for a few classes and to tell you the truth I did not enjoy either of them.

When my daughter came back from Italy, where she taught at a yoga retreat for several weeks, she opened up her own yoga studio, Tha Yoga Room, and so I started to attend one class a week on Saturday mornings (mostly to see how well she taught). But after several weeks I started to really enjoy this class - I felt better both phyically and mentally, and so I then started to go to a second class on Tuesday mornings. The real proof of just how well I was doing was after I went for my six-month checkup and my blood pressure had dropped by over ten points! My doctor was impressed!

Now I was really motivated (that and the fact I could now button my pants so much easier)! I was becoming a real yogi person - except now I lost my yoga instructor - my daughter went back to Italy to teach for a few weeks, and here I am looking for a new yoga instructor! I knew exactly what I wanted but now to try and find someone who could continue to teach me so I could show off my stuff to my daughter when she came back home.

Well, I just found out this was not going to such an easy task. I knew just how much I enjoyed my daughter's classes (and not just because she is my daughter) - now every place I go, and every instructor I have, I will be comparing to her way of teaching and she will be a tough act to follow. Today I went to my first class since my daughter left and now I missed her and her classes more than I did before I went! Trust me - all yoga classes and instructors are not created equal.

A few of my first observations: check out the studio you are interested in taking a class at. Many of them can be found on line by searching for one in your area. Make sure they have hardwood floors (unless you prefer indoor/outdoor carpeting to put your mat on but remember some part of the class you will be standing or touching the floor. Me, I prefer hardwood to carpet.) If you can, go visit the studio first before you take a class so see if you would comfortable in there. One class I took had big windows with plexi glass over them - but in between the two there were hundreds of bugs, dead, alive and moving!! Now thats enough to make you pick up your mat and move to the other end of the room! Also check to see if the studio is on the ground floor or will you have to walk up stairs to get to it. For some of us, walking up those stairs knocks you out before you even start the class. Most places will supply a mat but you might want to consider getting one of your own. Then you can get a fancy case to carry it in. At least this way you look like you know what you are doing - even if you don't! Don't forget water and, if you are like me, bring some throat lozengers in case you have a coughing fit (my daughter threw me out of one class for that!). More on this subject next time.