Well over a year ago, I was excited to be introduced to the world of WARM yoga feet when I tried and reviewed my first pair of ToeSox.  As a long limbed thin person…I’ve always had an issue with cold feet and cold hands, and in a non-heated yoga studio, freezing tootsies made for a really unpleasant Savasana!

Thank goodness for ToeSox which warmed my toes AND kept them stuck to my mat!  As a yoga instructor, the toesox became my staple when I started teaching off the mat.  I teach in a YMCA…and my class is often held right after Zumba.  Although the Zumbites are courteous about cleaning up their sweat…I would still step in the occasional puddle.  Ew.  ToeSox give me the freedom to move about my class with protection from floor sweat and grime.  And because they are grippy, I can drop into a pose demonstration anywhere on the floor without a mat.  In the summer, I also wear my ToeSox out on the pavement for outside yoga.  They are that sturdy!

As my previous review noted, I tried other brands of sticky yoga socks, but none compared to the quality and fit of ToeSox.  So recently, when (after OVER A YEAR OF CONSTANT USE) one of my ToeSox wore a hole, I ordered a new pair, and asked the company if I could review their product.  Obviously, I love ToeSox and give the company and the product 5 stars, but for added non-biased evaluation, I sent ToeSox to some instructor friends of mine.

Mary Margaret Anderson of YogaStudio was a recent guest instructor to my YMCA and offered a Yoga Booty Ballet class.  This class was a super fun fusion of hip-hop dance and yoga, so we were encouraged to do the class sans shoes and socks.  To protect my feet and keep warmer, I wore my pink ToeSox.  How perfect are ToeSox for this format of fitness?  Mary agreed, and I sent her a pair that she deemed “SAH WEET!”  She wrote me later, “The sox are really fun.  And, I really like them for around my house, but I am a big barefooter for yoga.  Just my preference.  Ex-pecially because we are a very hot and sweaty studio.”  I agree…hot yoga would be far too sweaty for sox.  But for the dance style classes, even barefoot Zumba, the ToeSox are a great idea! 

That would be yours truly in the pink tutu and matching ToeSox.  (Trying not to look like Elaine.  PS OMG Michael Jackson!)

Another friend and fitness instructor, JeriLyn, enjoyed the sox for a few of her formats that are “bare feet encouraged.”  Like me, she liked the idea of the protection from the studio floors but the stability of the stick. 

One of my regular students recently ordered a pair of ToeSox because she suffered pain issues on the top part of her feet.  Upward dog or any posture that press the tops of the feet into the mat were frustrating for her, so she now wears ToeSox stuffed with padding on top to ease her discomfort.  She has noted that the sox are really solid and don’t slip around on her foot or press between her toes.  That’s a biggie, compared to the other brands I’ve tried.  The ToeSox really fit well, however I prefer the full ToeSox rather than the halfsies, as the half ToeSox tend to cut into the toe crack.  (Toe crack?  I just made that up.)  However, if you are wanting to show off a cute pedicure AND have the benefits of ToeSox protection…the halfsies are the way to go! 

The half-sox are also a favorite of yoga teacher and beautiful ToeSox model Kathryn Budig.  Kathryn has teamed up with ToeSox to promote her foundation Poses for Paws, an organization dedicated to raising money for animal shelters through yoga. Poses for Paws and ToeSox will donate a portion of product sales of the Kathryn Budig Hot Pink Half-ToeSox to several shelters and organizations throughout the year. 

ToeSox come in tons of fun colors and a wide range of sizes.  They cost $15 a pair, and if you order 3 pairs shipping is free!  My first pair of ToeSox that I wore for all my classes lasted well over a year.  Solid investment for foot protection, warmth, and cuteness!  I love that the ToeSox can slip right into my flip-flops too.  (Looking for a talking point?  Everyone will ask about your crazy-fun socks!) 

With that said, ToeSox has generously offered to give a free pair to a reader!  Here’s how to enter the giveaway (each worth one entry, please use separate comments for each entry): 

• Visit the ToeSox website and comment below about something you learned.
• Become a ToeSox Facebook fan!  Comment below that you did.
• Blog about this giveaway, comment below that you did, with your link.
• Subscribe to my blog and comment below that you did. (Enter email to the right.)
• Share this giveaway on Facebook and comment below that you did.

Giveaway runs until midnight on Monday, August 2^nd, 2010!