Where do you go when you’re looking for yoga equipment or clothing? Do you search for hard to find yoga books or unique meditation music? And, if you’re like me, wouldn’t you rather purchase from an organization that cares about the planet, and offers exceptional quality too?

The Y Catalog is a prime example of just that: an environmentally and globally responsible online store with gorgeous and unique products. They are inspiring: in addition to offering an unusual and beautiful variety, they donate 10% of all their sales to heart-opening worthy causes. Whenever I look for nice yoga clothes, I stop first at The Y Catalog because they have unique styles (for men and women), and because of their support of worthwhile charities.

Each catalog is dedicated to projects chosen by one of The Y Catalog Ambassadors. For example, their recent Ambassador Saul David Raye, a respected yoga teacher, wrote about the reality of living in a connected world in which “we share the same earth, breath and future.” He spoke of the transformation of our planet, that there is a “new vision and evolution [that] is of one world, one people living in peace with justice, compassion with the knowledge that all life is sacred.”

Raye chose to work with two projects to which 10% of the sales from their Fall/Winter catalog were dedicated. One is The Global Water Trust, whose mission is to “Save lives by providing clean, safe water to school children in water-impoverished countries.” I believe we can all agree with Raye, who reminds us that “the reality and impact of this crisis is devastating.”

The other project Raye worked with in that issue is Shanti House, “a nonprofit whose mission is to support those in our community in need with food, clothing, yoga, meditation and wellness.”

Raye ended his article with a blessing that spoke to my heart, and speaks to the heart of why we are here, why we do what we do, from the most simple of kindnesses, to gestures of generosity and, perhaps most importantly, our powerful intentions to unite from the fire core of being to bless and heal ourselves, the people of the world and our planet:

“Know that now, all around the planet, people are joining together in healing/spiritual practices and this is affecting the collective field of consciousness. We can truly only transform ourselves, and in so doing, we transform the world. In your heart, hold the Sacred Vision that All is One and All is Healed and Well. And let us do our work with bravery and joy. I wish you great energy, courage and clarity as your path unfolds.”

The Y Catalog is truly an example of their own vision of how a store can be a “vehicle of conscious consumerism that can help to inspire great healing and connectivity for our planet”. And if you are environmentally conscious and prefer to spend your money (which in reality is where your energy flows) at shops that donate to such worthy causes, then check them out. The Y Catalog current issue features CARE spokesperson and Spring/Summer 2008 Ambassador, Christy Turlington Burns, who writes

“Through CARE’s work and their innumerable success stories, I have seen triumphs of courage and spirit that I have only dreamed about, confirming the notion that as a global community, just a little support can go quite a distance. There is no greater feeling than when you can see your own soul in another human being, for the world then becomes an intimate place where one’s own significance in it becomes clear again.”

Now you know why I recommend The Y Catalog; it has many of the yoga and meditation items you may need, plus more.