There is no better time to get into yoga. With numerous benefits for the mind and body, yoga is an excellent workout for people of all ages, body types, and fitness levels. So if you are looking to get your body moving and heal your mind, why not try taking a yoga class?

There is no need to be intimidated. Yoga is for everyone, and all levels, bodies, and abilities are accepted. To help you prepare for your first class, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you get comfortable on the mat and build some basic yoga skills.

Prepare for class

For your first yoga class, prepare by eating a light meal and dressing in comfortable clothing that you can move in. No need for fancy yoga duds—wearing shorts and a t-shirt or tank top is completely fine. You should also come prepared with your yoga mat, a water bottle, and a towel to wipe your sweat if desired.

Your instructor will provide directions for every pose throughout the class, but you may want to consider familiarizing yourself with some of the basic poses in advance to feel more prepared and confident. A quick YouTube search beforehand will tell you what you need to know.

Master your breathing

Much of the power of yoga comes from breathing. Focusing on your breath helps you stay present in the current moment, allowing your mind to relax and sharpen. Breathing also helps the physical aspect of yoga. When you sync your movements with your breath, it will enable you to deepen your stretch and increase the impact of each pose.

As a beginner, focus on mastering the basic yoga breath, called ujjayi pranayama. In ujjayi pranayama, you simply breathe in deeply through your nose and then back out, also through your nose. Seems easy enough, doesn’t it? 

Of course, the breathing gets a little trickier once you begin to breathe and move at the same time. So don’t worry if you periodically forget about your breath throughout your practice—just return to it when prompted. Once you get the hang of it, your breathing should begin to sound a bit like ocean waves crashing on the beach.

Let go of expectations

We often come into new workout routines with high expectations for ourselves. You may have decided to take up yoga to lose weight, tone your body, or master the impressive poses you’ve seen on social media.

However, you are much more likely to be successful in your practice when you let go of those expectations and simply embrace the experience as it comes. In your first yoga classes, try to avoid worrying about how you look or comparing yourself to others. You also should not be afraid to take breaks and adjust poses as needed to fit your body and abilities.

Focus on enjoying how the practice makes you feel and look forward to progressing on your journey in your own time and your own way.

It’s smoothie season! With summer in full swing, what better time to enjoy a refreshing blended drink?

Creating the perfect smoothie is both an art and a science. It must be tasty—of course—but a great smoothie should also be nutritious.

Our go-to smoothies combine nutrient-rich ingredients like peanut butter and fresh summer fruits with other smoothie staples.

And the secret ingredient? Kardish Better Vegan Protein.

It can be tough to find the right protein powder. There are so many factors to consider! Great taste is vital, but discerning athletes are also looking for limited added sugar, additional nutrients, and natural ingredients.

That’s where Kardish Better Vegan Protein comes in. Plant-based, GMO-free, and delicious, the organic formula also packs a punch, with 21g of protein per serving. It also happens to be Keto and Paleo friendly, and with vanilla and chocolate options, there is something for everyone.

The ideal summer smoothie starts with Kardish Better Vegan Protein and some of our favourite natural ingredients. Interested in tasting it for yourself? We’ve listed two of our go-to recipes below to try!

The Choco-Banana Nut Smoothie combines bananas, natural peanut butter, plant-based milk, and a touch of cinnamon, blending flawlessly with chocolate protein for a nutritious treat at any time of day. After all, who says you can’t enjoy chocolate for breakfast?

For those who prefer a more traditional smoothie experience, try the Strawberry Vanilla Swirl, which blends fruity flavour with the richness of thick Greek yogurt. And for our Keto friends, we’ve also included a modified version of the Choco-Nut Smoothie with less sugar and more good fats. Avocado, anyone?

Kardish Better Vegan Protein Choco-Banana Nut Smoothie

What you’ll need:

1 1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup unsweetened almond, soy, or oat milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp natural peanut butter

1 scoop Kardish Better Vegan Chocolate Protein

In a high-powered blender or food processor, combine frozen bananas and a milk of your choice. Blend until completely smooth. Add cinnamon, peanut butter, and protein, then blend on a lower setting to combine. Serve topped with drizzled peanut butter, chocolate sauce, sliced bananas, or a topping of your choice.

Kardish Better Vegan Protein Strawberry Vanilla Swirl Smoothie

What you’ll need:

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries

1/2 cup unsweetened almond, soy, or oat milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup vanilla, strawberry, or plain Greek yogurt

1 scoop Kardish Better Vegan Vanilla Protein

In a high-powered blender or food processor, combine frozen banana, strawberries, and a milk of your choice. Blend until completely smooth. Add cinnamon, protein, and yogurt, then blend on a lower setting to combine. Serve topped with sliced bananas and strawberries or a topping of your choice.

Kardish Better Vegan Protein Keto Chocolate Smoothie

What you’ll need:

1 sliced or frozen avocado

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp natural nut butter (consider macadamia nut or almond)

1 scoop Kardish Better Vegan Chocolate Protein

In a high-powered blender or food processor, combine avocado and almond milk. Blend until completely smooth. Add cinnamon, peanut butter, and protein, then blend on a lower setting to combine. Serve topped with drizzled nut butter or another topping of your choice!

Swerve is a rapidly growing manufacturer of the “Ultimate Sugar Replacement”. The central message behind swerve is to enjoy your life, treat your body well, and to be happy and healthy. Swerve was developed in 2001 to help people feel their absolute best while still enjoying their favorite desserts.

Swerve helps people understand blood sugar control and how balancing blood sugar can positively impact energy, weight management and so many other aspects of health. Swerve gives people the ability to indulge in sweet treats yet still maintain stabilized blood sugar.

Swerve is a true sugar replacement because it's sweet and delicious! Unlike other natural sweeteners like stevia, it has no bitter aftertaste and measures just like sugar. It's also the only sugar replacement of its kind that browns and caramelizes just like sugar, so all of your favorite recipes will be a breeze.

• With ZERO calories and ZERO glycemic index, Swerve is the ideal sweetener for cooking and baking.

• Swerve tastes and measures exactly like sugar. It is made with only natural ingredients that have been part of the human diet for thousands of years and are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Unlike many other sugar alcohols (polyols) Swerve does not have laxative side effects often encountered by other sugar alcohols such as maltitol, xylitol or sorbitol.

• Natural 

• No preservatives 

• No artificial ingredients

• Does not impact blood glucose levels