Photos via Coffee and Yoga.

Ready for a spa day?

I don't know about you guys, but all that vacation has made me me ready for... another vacation :) This week's been a little tough getting back into the swing of things at work and at home. Back to cleaning the bathroom, late nights working, plans and goals galore. What about reading books on the couch by the fireplace? And long, hot baths?

In time, in time.

If you're ready for a little at-home spa treatment, this giveaway is for you!

Win this lovely spa package for a day of R&R from Alive in the Fire.

Enter below to win:

Emollience hair and body butter (from Spiral Solutions).
Handmade peppermint soap (from CindysSuds). Ingredients: Saponified coconut oil, organic palm oil, olive oil, peppermint essential oil and peppermint leaves.
An Om hand towel (from Nyemay Collectibles).
One "Lock the Knee" shirt (from Shavon at Teach Bikram or Bust).
Peace, happiness & relaxation for the day (your prerogative, which you so deserve!)

To win, please visit all of the above shops and leave a comment below about why you could use a little rest and relaxation after the holidays. Also, please include your shirt size (S, M, or L) for the Lock the Knee shirt!

Here's a little more info about Shavon at Teach Bikram or Bust. I love that she is selling these fun shirts as a way to raise money for Teacher Training! Please consider supporting her in her journey by purchasing a shirt. They make great gifts for yoga friends and studio owners!

I have one, too, and am loving it :)

From Shavon:
I started my Bikram yoga journey about seven years ago while I was living in Oakland, CA. A good friend of mine talked me into going and I'm so grateful she did. Originally, I went just to check it out, not really expecting to start a practice... but before I knew it, I was hooked. As Bikram says, "Tell them to come to class to firm up their asses. In six 6 months, their lives are changed!"

That was definitely true for me. I found, and continue to find, everything that I didn't expect to in my practice. Bikram yoga has helped me understand grief and loss, Bikram yoga has been there through drug addiction and getting sober, and Bikram yoga has helped me love myself and the path I am on.

I have cried in yoga, laughed in yoga, learned in yoga, been angry in yoga. I have been all of it in yoga. Yoga has taught me to let go of all of it, to love life for what it is, a moment.

The most unexpected path I have stumbled upon during my Bikram practice is Teacher Training. The thought has crossed my mind more than once over the years, but I didn't feel "good enough" to commit to it until now. I just can't ignore that voice anymore.

Yoga has given me so much and it is time to return the favor.

I want to hold that space for others. Whether you want to firm your ass or explore your heart, it's all part of the process. Teach Bikram or Bust is my blog where I explore the trials and tribulations of my Teacher Training journey. I'm going to attend the fall 2011 training and have started selling shirts to help raise funds for this endeavor. To purchase shirts you can visit my Etsy shop. Shirts sell for $15/shirt or 2 for $20.

Here are some tips from Cindy at CindysSuds for yogis who want to keep clean and small nice after yoga class:

After your yoga class, try to take a shower as soon as you are able. Not only will you want to wash off any bacteria created by sweat, but the warm water will help sooth your muscles and aid them in the "cool down" phase.
Prior to taking a shower or bath, dry brush your body with a natural bristle body brush to remove dead skin cells and encourage new cell growth.
Always wash your workout clothes after a class and wipe down your mat with warm soap and water regularly. It may be tempting to keep your workout clothes in your gym bag and re-wear them on another occasions, but bacterial growth runs rampant in a warm, dark gym bag that has dirty workout clothes tossed in.