It was about 3 years ago when we had one of those beautiful evenings with good friends, where the conversations flowed and so did the wine. We talked about places we would love to explore and the Amazon Rainforest was on top of that list. Of course, we didn’t give this serious thought at the time, because who goes to the jungles besides trained explorers from National Geographic? So when the opportunity manifested a month later, we took it as a sign from the universe and found ourselves impulsively saying YES!
The Amazon Rainforest is enriched and bustling with life, providing 20% of the planet's fresh oxygen supply, which we could immediately feel in each breath. The murky brown water at first appears polluted due to the fine sediments, however, it has traveled thousands of miles through a network of plant roots that detoxifies it and is probably one of the cleanest fresh water supplies in the world.
The most noteworthy detail about the Amazon Rainforest is also the most intangible to measure and describe. As yogis through our practice, we open up our bodies as well as our minds. With each vinyasa, we become more hyperaware of the vibe and energy of our surroundings and how it affects us. In the Amazon, the best way to describe the energy is pure and full of life and it was magical.
Near the end of our trip during one of our hikes, we came across the sad reality that threatened this magical place: deforestation. The Amazon Rainforest functions like a giant air purifier by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide and in turn, produces oxygen. When cut or burned down it does the opposite and releases all those toxins back into the atmosphere. Deforestation also leaves many beautiful and endangered animal species homeless and their young vulnerable to illegal poaching, as well as destroying many undiscovered plants that could potentially be key to the next medical breakthrough.
Having the privilege of experiencing the energy in the Amazon enlightened us with simple solutions to complex world issues. It begins with the dedication and love to healing ourselves by healing the earth. Waking up each morning to the sunrise and hearing the animals celebrating the start of a new day, humbled us into realizing that we’ve been given another opportunity to make the world better.
Through the many moments under the bright starlit skies, watching macaws flying above the jungle canopy, or hearing the howler monkey mark their territory through deep guttural growls, the spirit of the Amazon asked us to protect it. In those moments YOGA FOR AIR was brought into being and where our story begins.
We wanted to create a brand that embodies the things that we LOVE most - yoga, nature, and modern design. Prints were photographed during a recent expedition up the Las Piedras river to one of the most pristine and biodiverse regions in the world. Our aim was to capture the raw essence of the Amazon jungle and express beauty that is natural and free-spirited.
Our yogi pants are made of a lightweight breathable high performance fabric designed for yoga. They offer the right amount of compression in order to fit perfectly like a second skin, allowing you to move freely. The yarns are spun from high-quality recycled PET to reduce plastic water bottles from being dumped into our earth and oceans, and printed using an eco-friendly process that does not use toxic chemicals or acids.
With each purchase you are supporting conservation of the Amazon Rainforests, as a portion of the proceeds goes towards Junglekeepers.
YOGA FOR AIR
Eco-friendly Apparel | Made in Canada
- Steven Phan