Look Your Best on the Mat

By Amanda Junker

You feel good on the mat. Look good too

Whether it’s that hip-squaring Warrior, a stand-up-straight Mountain pose or just your serene state of mind, yoga has a way of making you feel skinny, strong, and beautiful, no matter how many extra helpings of fettucini alfredo you had the night before. But in the middle of class, as your teacher heads over to adjust your shoulder stand, you cringe as he reaches for (the horror!) your dry, flaky, unpedicured feet. Sure, he barely flinches, and has probably seen much worse, but to help you avoid beauty buzzkills like this, here are some maintenance tips to leave you looking and feeling great.

Feet
When you are doubled over in a forward bend, you should be saluting the sun, not your gnarly toenails and dry skin. When you don’t have the luxury of a pre-class mani-pedi, slather on some of Pangea Organics Hand and Body Lotion ($16.99). It’s not greasy, so it won’t leave you slip sliding all over your mat, and aromatherapeutic, with long-lasting scents like French Chamomile with Sweet Orange and Lavender or Egyptian Basil and Mint that stick through even the longest Vinyasa class. Also, to give your toes a splash of color, try Chi Ceramic Nail Lacquer ($7.95) (yes, that’s Chi of hair straightener fame). Their Nano Silver formula kills over 650 forms of bacteria and fungus, and their 56 shades, available at salon retailers, are long-lasting and non-toxic. (Check your labels, some brands of nail polish still include DBP, formaldehyde, and tolune, which have all been linked to cancer and birth defects.)

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