the season of sun and warm breezes

Today I strung the clothesline; the season of sun-dried and wind-scented massage linens is upon us!  The sheets sway, graceful in the April wind, soaking up the energy of the sun.

I am committed as much to ecological sustainability as to maintaining a reasonable price for the massage therapy and yoga services offered at Embodied Health, and one beautiful intersection of those two convictions becomes apparent in line-dried massage linens.   

From the start, I have used low-power and as-green-as-possible methods to create, furnish, decorate, and clean the Seva Studio.  I continue to seek ways for the studio to be as non-toxic and preservationist as possible while providing a safe, comfortable, beautiful environment in which to provide healing services.  In addition, being green is smart and reduces my overhead, so I can provide these services at rates accessible to people at many different income levels.

Here are some of the fun ways I am doing this, in addition to line-drying the linens:

• low-VOC paint from Natural Built Home (the colors are Landscape and Celery)
• compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and use of natural light as much as possible
• high recycled-content paper and double sided printing as often as possible
• online content rather than printing (as often as possible)
• utilizing the paper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastic recycling services
• Energy Star rated appliances
• Secondhand, gently used furniture in combination with new furniture
• I purchased most of the yoga props gently used from a studio that was closing
• gradually making the switch to recycled-content yoga mats (more are on the way!)
• non-toxic, biodegradable, and phosphate-free cleaning products, such as vinegar and water, baking soda, Murphy's Oil Soap, and elbow grease
• encouraging clients to bring their own mug or bottle, and offering compostable paper cups
• plants in the studio to clear the air and provide connection with nature
• renting a studio in a refurbished warehouse building

Some things I have in the works to become even greener:

• Figuring out how to ensure the compostable paper cups are composted- I'm in contact with Eureka Recycling about this
• Arranging for yoga mat recycling through the Recycle Your Mat program, and hopefully becoming a Recycle Your Mat collection point!

Do you have other suggestions?  Please comment and let me know!