Bend (verb): To take on a curved, angled shape or cause something to do this or a very accurate name for a town whose limits curve around the

if you happen to find yourself in bend (for 24 hours or less)…

eat
After our eight hour drive we were more than ready for some good grub, luckily we knew a local that could point us in the right direction (thanks, Emily!) Topping her long list of awesome places to eat was Kanpai Sushi. We Vancouverites consider ourselves to be sushi connoisseurs and Kanpai can definitely kick it. Innovative rolls, intricate nigiri and a cozy patio made for the perfect treat after our tri state trip!

sleep
If we were going to move to Bend, we’d simply move in to the Pine Ridge Inn. Perched on the hill above the Deschutes River, each of our rooms at the inn had a glorious four-poster king sized bed, cozy fireplace and furnished patio.  Add to that the complimentary beverage upon check in, the made to order continental breakfast and the fresh baked ginger cookies and you can understand why we were so sad to leave.

sweat
We weren’t kidding when we said we got bendy in Bend. We hit up Namaspa for Suzie Harris’s Baptiste Style Vinyasa Flow and got bent and stretched in all the right places. The next time you find yourself in a super sweaty yoga class remember what Suzie said, “no one ever drowned in their own sweat.”

Insider note: Keep an eye out for the Om Cycle smoothie cart, parked outside the studio for post perspiration rejuvenation!

sweet treat
Blacksmith’s S’mores Brownie dessert is the stuff dreams are made of. A crunchy graham cracker crust, dense chewy chocolate center, topped with a flame-toasted marshmallow and then drizzled in salted caramel sauce.  Is this real life?

Our timing in Bend couldn’t have been better as we managed to catch the Pole Pedal Paddle in action. Special shout out to our ecommerce manager’s dad who placed first in his age group - Go Jim! Now, onwards to Portland…

After checking many yoga studios' websites and taking an informal poll of local yogis, the general rule of thumb is to eat something light that is easily digested 2 hours before your yoga practice. The goal is to practice yoga on an empty stomach so that nothing tries to come back up during your downward facing dog!

Fruits (low acid) or veggies, yogurt, a bowl of cereal, or a granola bar are all good choices. The most important thing is to not eat anything heavy, such as meat, pasta, fried foods, or processed grains. The one exception to this is if you have low blood sugar, and then you should try to get a little bite to eat within 30 minutes of class.

What if you’re going to yoga after work and you’re starving? The best choice in this situation would be a bowl of cereal, a granola bar, or a sports bar. Still try to shoot for that 2 hour time frame, eating before you leave work if you can.

In a pinch, go with a handful of nuts or an apple on the way to class, which shouldn’t bother your stomach once your practice begins.

Ultimately, everyone is different, so try out different kinds of snacks and different time frames to see what works best for you!
Namaste!