Archive for March, 2010

Gaiam Embroidered Yoga Mat Bag Dragon Fly

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Gaiam Embroidered Yoga Mat Bag Dragon Fly




A chic, functional spin on a classic essential, our mat bag is roomy enough for your yoga, Pilates or fitness mat. This 100% cotton mat bag also sports a zippered front pocket to hold essentials.

Buy/More Info

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

Gaiam Yoga Mat Wash

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Gaiam Yoga Mat Wash




Keep your yoga mat clean and fully hygienic with the Gaiam yoga mat wash. Made of tea-tree extract and natural essential oil blends, the USDA-certified organic mat cleaner is 100-percent all natural and nontoxic. More significantly, it lets you easily remove sweat, dirt, and other impurities after an energizing yoga routine, so you needn’t practice the next day on a soiled mat.

About Gaiam
Gaiam was created as a lifestyle company with the vision that, given a choice, people would choose a lifestyle that is healthy and life enhancing, for themselves, their families and the Earth. The Gaiam lifestyle is a vote for individual health as well as the future sustainability of the Earth’s resources. Gaiam strives to provide customers with alternatives to traditional products by offering natural, eco-friendly or healthy versions that compare with the style, quality and price of conventional products.

Gaiam’s goal is to become the trusted source and unifying brand for Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) participants. They understand that the opportunity to affect people’s lives with information and products is both a privilege and a responsibility. Gaiam believes in the concept of Conscious Commerce, the practice of making purchasing decisions based on personal values and beliefs. It takes into consideration all the aspects of our lives and the impact we have upon the planet. Research indicates this concept appeals to approximately 50 million people in the U.S. alone. Gaiam’s strategy in delivering the distinctive quality for which they are known is to partner with experts in health/wellness, eco-living and personal development to develop proprietary products that meet our customers’ needs with meaningful solutions.

The name GAIAM is a fusion of the words Gaia (the name of Mother Earth from the Minoan civilization in ancient Crete), and I am reminds us that we are all interconnected with the Earth, the air and water, and very much a part of this living system that sustains us all.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars smells nice and cleans well!
While cleaning it gives pleasant odor and cleans well (didn’t let my mat get too dirty though!)

2 Stars Slippery!
Being a huge clean-freak, I found it necessary to have something to sanitize my yoga mat after sweaty sessions. Unfortunately, however, after using this product, my mat was VERY slippery, even after rinsing it with water numerous times. I do agree with previous reviews and think the cleaner smells nice, and did seem to do a good job cleaning the mat, but it is not worth the feeling that I am going to face-plant and break my nose when I start to slip during a downward dog.

5 Stars Gaiam Yoga Mat Wash
I use the mat wash after every yoga session. It cleans my yoga mats very well; better than soap and water and it leaves my mat sticky for the next yoga session. It’s also good after hot yoga sessions. I also enjoy the clean, herbal scent and that it’s more natural than soap.

5 Stars Great Product!
I love this mat wash! It works amazing and smells good too! Highly Recommend!!!

Buy/More Info

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

New Search Results, from Technorati and Ingboo

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Technorati and Ingboo have partnered together to provide an all new kind of subscription experience for Technorati content, including search results. Look for a blue Ingboo icon for a full range of subscription options.

Feeds are also available for:

Hottest Blogosphere Posts

Latest Original Articles from Technorati

The Technorati Blog

We also have channel feeds, writer feeds, and tag feeds, which can be found on their respective pages.

Polar WearLink Coded Transmitter and Belt Set Medium XX Large

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Polar WearLink Coded Transmitter and Belt Set Medium XX Large




The Polar WearLink transmitter combines superior Polar technology with a new fabric design. The electrodes, which pick up the heart’s signals, are engineered right into the fabric strap. The result is a superior fit for any individual body shape, providing revolutionary comfort and full freedom of movement. The transmitter’s textile strap is removable and machine washable. Its clip-on mechanism ensures quick and easy wear, and the belt is easy to put on and take off.

Polar’s coded technology ensures that the user picks up only their heart signal, and not the signal of another heart rate monitor nearby. With millions of HRMs in use today, there’s a good chance that someone working out next to you may also have one on. Interference from any other HRM is now eliminated and an accurate signal is ensured.

About Polar
The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of “intensity training” by heart rate swept the athletic world in the eighties. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart rate based exercise.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Improvement over previous model
The belt that came with my Polar watch often failed (no heart rate picked up). This one works differently in that the transmitter is snapped onto the belt instead of being what connected the ends of the belt together. This seems to work much better with the exception that the transmitter can be knocked off if you chest happens to skim something (which is rare). Be sure to follow the directions and clean the belt after each use and put in the washer after five uses. Should have done that with my first one.

4 Stars Great Replacement to the Hard Rubber
I bought this to replace the hard rubber one that came with my Polar RS100 a few years ago. So much for the 2000 hours or whatever the web site claims for the old non-replaceable battery. This strap has several advantages and a couple of things I didn’t like.

Likes:

Very comfortable

Very responsive to the watch

0 interuptions or loss of signal

Easy to wash

Dislikes:

The clip they use to attach around chest could be better

The signal pod is bigger than the T-31

The likes by far outweight the dislikes, but couldn’t give a 5 star.

5 Stars great replacement for original
much more functional/comfortable, especially for larger chests (52)… the connection’s not going to break like the snap on the original strap.

bravo.

5 Stars Much improved vs the previous model
The picture on this product indicates the strap is the old model, where the band’s ends clip into the transmitter module. I’d had problems with the old design due to sweat corroding the contacts and giving me intermittent pickup – I used to have to buy a new band every 6 months or so.

When I got the new set, I found that they had improved the design – the band now fastens at the side, with the transmitter still in the center but with rubber cups around the contacts to help prevent corrosion. Not had any issue so far, just reliable operation. Very happy with the new design.

3 Stars Mixed bag
I bought this as a replacement for an older non-replaceable battery strap. This strap is thinner and more comfortable than my previous model but the battery compartment is thicker, bulkier and not as user friendly. It tends to stick when I do prone Yoga positions. Other than that, it sure beats having to buy an entire new system. Let’s see how long this one lasts before the battery needs to be replaced. I have read other reviews on this product and the big criticism is that after the initial battery needs replacement they don’t last as long as the original.

Buy/More Info

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch Grey Pepper New Design

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch Grey Pepper New Design




The F11M is a revolutionary heart rate monitor watch that creates a workout program that tells you how much, how hard and how long to exercise in order to reach your goals. The Keeps U Fit – Workout Program guides you to your personal goals. OwnIndex will determine your fitness level, track your improvements, and provide motivation. The OwnCal feature counts the calories and fat that you burn and the OwnZone feature will automatically determine each day’s target zone. The F11 also features the WearLink Coded transmitter made from a soft, fabric material. The electrodes, which pick up the heart signals, are integrated right into the strap for added flexibility and comfort. The Coded feature eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors. The F11 is the closest thing to having your own personal trainer. It has special features to optimize walking, running, and biking workouts so you’ll get the most performance. Did we mention that it is also a full-feature watch? Polar Keeps U FitT – Own Workout Program Target zones with visual and audible alarm Fitness Bullets (for every ten minutes in target zone) SonicLink, exercise data download from wrist unit to Polar web service or SW UpLink, settings upload from Polar web site or software to wrist unit SonicLink, transfer of OwnIndex results and Keeps U Fit – Own Workout Program to Polar web service Exercise file info page with date and time Exercise Time (total) Time in target zone Target zone limits Average heart rate of total exercise Last OwnIndex Calorie expenditure (Exercise/Total/Fat%) Fitness Exercise Diary with personal targets Heart rate (displayed as bpm and % of maximum heart rate) Visual and audible alarm in target zones Heart touch, button-free operation of wrist unit Heart rate sets – pre-program favorite exercise settings Manual target zone (% / bpm) Automatic age-based target zone (% / bpm) Time of day (12/24h)

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Second time around with Polar F11
New PolarF11 is first rate, in particular, i like the new chest strap…the old one needed to be wet down on the sensor cloth areas, and sometimes, i had to put a little salt on it. New chest strap does not have the cloth covered sensors, much better chest strap.

The first Polar F11 watch failed after three years.

4 Stars Love it!
I bought this watch to help track calories burned during my workouts. It has a soniclink to send the workouts and data to the polor web site. Making it easy for me to track the calories burned, amount of time exercising and the min/max for my heart rate.

I give this a four star and not a five because the back light does not display the information very well in low light. But I other than that, I love this watch!!!

2 Stars Reliably Unreliable
I’ve used my Polar F11 for 3 1/2 years, and after watching the heart monitor read “00″ for most of my long run today, I’ve decided it’s time to try Garmin 305.

There’s a lot of computing power in this little machine – but not enough engineering and quality control behind it. You can generate a training program based on your goals, determining the number of workouts and times in each of 3 heart rate zones – that’s good – but if you adjust the settings the watch inexplicably renames the exercises. It’s confusing and a sign that they skipped some quality testing steps.

Over the years I’ve suffered with the unpredictable failures in the heart monitor – sometimes it’s fine for weeks and months at a time, and then it just goes erratic. To have have the unit serviced, you get so shell out $59-79 and have to wait 2-3 weeks for the authorized dealer to return it to you.

If you like to synch your workouts with a computer, Polar has a very nice web-based fitness toolset – IF you are a PC user.

My wife has an F5 unit and finds similar issues as well – so while Polar was the leader in creating this market, they’ve failed to keep the quality and features up to date. If you’re in doubt, go look at the ratings on a competing Garmin 305 (same price point on Amazaon) and you’ll see 500 5 star ratings and 300 4 star ratings.

5 Stars Great Weight for loss.
I bought this hrm a month ago and have lost 9lbs. I purchased just to see how many calories I was burning during my work outs. I found with the calorie counter it motivates me to work harder and longer than before. The only thing I would change is I wish it would be able to track distance. At first I couldn’t get the watch to upload to the website. After a few days I realized that if you were signed in to the website the upload works. Otherwise I got nothing. Awesome HRM! The chest strap is adjustable and fairly comfortable too!

5 Stars Best HRM I’ve ever used
I’ve had alot of crappy HRMs before, but this one has been consistent, and the contacts don’t tend to dry out or stop picking up your heartbeat regardless of what you’re doing.

The features are great; I specifically bought this one to monitor my calories burned during exercise, and it does that well. The diary is useful, and will even give you a little trophy if you did well with your exercising during the week.

Buy/More Info

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace