A Yogi With A Cause

Wellness during Pregnancy

2011-08-26T19:44:00.000-04:00

I know I whine a lot about being pregnant! I am tired, I have back pain and this ever growing belly is getting harder to lug around.

BUT....man it would be worse if I didn't exercise!

I have always been active and LOVE being fit. I didn't expect to stop that routine when I got pregnant! It has been difficult at times, but I go!

Naturally, your muscles soften to allow for the belly to grow and you are advised to take precautions when lifting, exercising, etc. But when done in a smart, safe way, exercise is a necessity during pregnancy. Just trust your body and do what feels good.

My cousin-in-law is a chiropractor in Atlanta, GA. She has been working with a lot of pregnant woman and works closely with a group called the Atlanta Birth Coalition. This is an amazing organization that helps educate and support pregnant woman on holistic birthing and pregnancies! It is a great resource where ever you live! Visit the site to see how you can help bring a birth center to Atlanta! Birthing centers are very important and allow babies to come in the world naturally and peacefully!

Chiropractic care is wonderful too! As I learned more from April about chiropractic care, my husband and I began seeing a doctor. I used to suffer from head aches often. I had them so much, I just got "used" to them. After seeing a chiropractor, my head aches have gone away. It is amazing to me as I have literally had them my whole life! I don't get sick either, not even a cold! Keeping proper alignment in my body helps my systems work as they should. Please check out April's website; Harmony Chiropractic for more information on chiropractic as a wellness necessity!

Check out April's most recent blog on Exercising while pregnant!!!

http://www.atlanta-birth.com/BirthBlog/?p=188

Just as a women’s heart knows how and when to pump, her lungs to inhale, and her hand to pull back from fire, so she knows when and how to give birth.

— Virginia Di Orio

May ALL Beings Be Happy and Free

2011-08-24T21:23:00.000-04:00

May ALL Beings be HAPPY and FREE

Baby Human

Baby Pig

Human Beings, Animal Beings, Insect Beings....

All living creatures want to live!

Don't discriminate. You shouldn't just love the animals you find cute, like your cat at home. You shouldn't limit your compassion to just humans in need. Your heart is big enough to love ALL beings!

The biggest impact you can have on ensuring the freedom and happiness for all is to stop eating them and harming them. That is an action we can take every day, 3 times a day!

Don't EAT Me

Don't HUNT Me

Don't CAGE Me

Don't HURT Me

Don't JUDGE Me

"When you cease to harm others, others will cease to harm you" Patanjali's Yoga Sutra II.35

Cloth Diapers= Priceless

2011-08-09T18:27:00.000-04:00

My Baby's Cloth Diaper Stash

Consisting of 5 newborn all in ones, 11 pocket diapers, 12 covers (two sizes) and lots of inserts, doublers, prefolds and hemp inserts. Also included in the stash is a wet bag for dirty diapers and diaper cream for the cloth diapers.

This stash should take us from newborn to potty training! I am sure I will purchase more, but I won't HAVE to and that is a great feeling!

This whole stash with accessories has cost about $350-$400.

If I were to buy disposables (chlorine free, Whole Foods Brand 36 ct. $9.99) $350 would get me 3-4 months worth of diapers.

3-4 months of diapers or 2+ years of diapers?? It's a no brainer. No running out in the middle of the night to buy diapers!

There are many reasons and benefits to cloth diaper! Check out my previous post here. It's Easy Being Green

After reading, you should see that cloth diapers are priceless!!

Do what's best for your baby and the world! We are all in it together. Gotta do your part!

A concious compassionate child

2011-07-24T15:07:00.000-04:00

A Compassionate child grows up to be a compassionate adult!

In our world, we need more people dedicated to taking care of the planet and the beings on the planet.

This is my goal for raising my child. Children are born innocent and open, it is our job to fill their lives with compassion and love and let them lead how they choose.

I wish my child to respect all creatures human and animal in her world.

When she sees a bug or insect, I want her to see it as a being and not harm it. She can learn from and respect the creature instead of squashing it!

I wish my child to see a chicken as an interesting and smart animal rather than a nugget!

I wish her to see a "moo moo" as a big, massive animal rather than a hamburger.

How will I work towards these choices? It's simple, live by example. Do not eat her animal friends, do not kill her animal friends and treat all humans with respect and kindness. Do not litter or disrespect Mother Earth. These are simple things we should do each day, especially if a child is watching and learning!

Be the Change you want to see in the world - Ghandi

Closed for Expansion

2011-07-24T14:49:00.000-04:00

Second Trimester

HELLO energy!! Glad to have you back! I feel great finally. For a while I was doubting this whole pregnancy gig a bit. But now I am feeling normal and getting used to the basketball in my abdomen!

The baby is growing and is right on track! I am so thankful for that and LOVE hearing her precious heartbeat every month!

We are six months down and three to go! I cannot wait to meet our baby. She could come today if it would be healthy, which it's not, so she can keep cooking!

My husband and I are preparing for some big changes in our lives and with that can bring on a little stress. When I get stressed, I picture us holding our little baby and things don't seem so complicated anymore!

ON THE OTHER HAND...now that I have reached 6 months pregnant, things are going wacky with my body!! aaah!!

Can we say "SPREADING" ?!?! Everything is beginning to spread! My booty is growing, my back looks different and don't even get me started on my legs!

But it's all OK, because apparently that is what my body is choosing to do during pregnancy! I am now going to yoga more often and having energy for walks. On the flip side, I am eating us out of house and home!

Third Trimester is coming up.... Can't wait to see what that holds! :)

Spread the Love

2011-07-19T14:32:00.000-04:00

I love blogging as well as reading other blogs. Once you get going with networking, it's hard to stop. There are A LOT of blogs out there.

Here is one local blog that loves to spread the love! Keep this button going. Follow my blog and leave me your blog so I can follow!

I surrender

2011-06-16T20:59:00.000-04:00

This is me waving the white cloth diaper!

I surrender to pregnancy!

Before I got pregnant, I always thought I would be super pregnant woman! I would practice yoga every day and go on walks and bask in the glory of being pregnant!

I tried to keep up my image of being pregnant and the first thing you have to do is realize that I was not in control anymore. My baby is in control of my body. He/She is the most important thing going on right now.

I can't help that I am exhausted after a walk on the beach. I can not control my never ending appetite. Most of all, I can not control my hormones.

I am not lame because I am too tired to go to yoga class. I am not boring because I get so tired when hanging out with friends. I am not lazy or emotional..I AM PREGNANT!

From here on out, I am taking it easy and truly basking in the glory of my pregnancy. I am going to take much needed rest and time with my husband.

I am going AWOL until the baby gets here. Pregnancy, you win. :)

Namaste Baby

2011-06-09T22:00:00.001-04:00

नमस्कार

"I Bow to You"

I have always heard that pregnant women find it odd when people touch their baby bumps. They tend to get aggravated. I had no idea how I would act towards it, but I received lots of warnings..."wait till someone touches your belly".. they'd say.

Sure enough, It happened right away and it happens often. I practice yoga at a very loving and open studio. So of course as soon as I said I was pregnant, the hands began to gravitate to the baby. Guess what...??

I LOVE IT!

I touch and rub my belly constantly and my husband will touch the baby a lot and will hold the bump at night. When people touch my baby belly it feels loving and intimate. I can feel their loving energy seeping all the way to the baby. It's like a bunch of baby hugs.

The belly I have accumulated so far is way more than just a bigger stomach or more skin. I see it as the baby. It's not my belly..it's the baby. It is the spot where the baby is growing and living. It is very much a part of me and everything I feel, think and do the baby does.

I am very fortunate to be around loving people who wish to extend that love to the growing person inside. This child is so loved and fortunate already.

After each yoga class, we bow to each other in a very humble way to say thank you for being there and sharing your practice. Since I have been pregnant, not only do I get a namaste and a thank you...MY BABY does too. It is an amazing experience. Tonight in shavasana (relaxation pose), I received a neck and head massage from my teacher. As she finished she placed her loving hand on my baby. It brought tears to my eyes. My baby is so fortunate already! I can't wait to meet him/her and bring her into the loving world that awaits.

Namaste Baby Holland!

It's Easy Being Green

2011-06-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

Why choose cloth diapers...

Our baby's diapers so far

We chose to use cloth diapers for many reasons. For our baby, the environment and our bank account. Modern cloth diapers are easier than you may think. We are using Thirsties diaper covers with hemp/cotton inserts and Indian prefolds. When the baby needs to be changed, most of the time you just replace the insert and wash the dirty one. This saves on laundry (water and energy) as well as money. Washing a bunch of liners and prefolds are not a big deal at all. What really bugs me is when you tell someone you are cloth diapering and they say "yeah right, that won't last". There is no doubt in my mind that we will make this work. For one reason, it's easy and for two, why would I ever want to contribute to the billions of diapers thrown in landfills every year?

Baby's health:

Disposable diapers contain many toxins and are bleached. This is not good for baby's brand new skin. They also promote more diaper rash than cloth and tend to leak or "blow out" more than cloth. Cloth diapers are made with cotton against the baby's skin. The liners have layers that soak better and wick away from the baby's skin.

Environment:

It is estimated that a disposable diaper takes 250-500 years to decompose! Billions of diapers are thrown in landfills every year. That is a lot of waste that isn't going anywhere on our precious Earth. 25 million trees are used to manufacture disposable diapers. If you want your baby's first carbon footstep to remain low, research cloth diapers. What a way to bring a life into the world with little impact on Mother Earth.

$$$$:

Babies go through about 6000 diapers until they are potty trained. That adds up to thousands of dollars (just to use and toss in the trash). Diapers are expensive and used so often. Once you invest in cloth diapers, you are done until potty training. The Thirsties we are using come in two sizes. Size one that lasts up to 18 pounds and size two that lasts up to 40 pounds. We need 5-6 covers in each size and then a bunch of inserts and prefolds. That is it! Maybe after a year or so, if the inserts seem to become worn, they can be replaced, but they typically work throughout the whole process. I look forward to never getting in a bind and having to send Chris out to buy diapers at the last minute or having to spend that extra money each week at the grocery store. With breastfeeding and cloth diapers, the baby will make a very small impact on our budget. After all, a new baby shouldn't be an expense, they are a new loved one in your family.

Conscious living! Be Green!

Why We Chose the Birth Center

2011-05-26T18:01:00.001-04:00

Having a baby is a big responsibility. It is such a gift to be able to grow a human being and nurture them as they grow. It is a job that should never be taken lightly. Along with becoming pregnant, comes a lot of choices. Now is the time to give your child the best advantages, even before he/she is born.

My husband and I make decisions based on how they affect others. Others meaning; people, animals, environment, Mother Earth, etc. We try to give back to others through the things we do. For instance, we eat organic foods. This nourishes our bodies as well as supports organic farmers and the environment. We use cloth napkins to save the trees in our beautiful land. I choose not to eat animals to save the animal's lives and the environment. We conserve water and electricity. There are many decisions to be made in life and making small changes can make big impacts. These are choices that our future should contain.

Natural Living equals Natural Child Birth.

I want to give our baby the best advantages from the start. I want it to be healthy and happy. I always knew I wanted a water birth and that is how I found The Charleston Birth Place! The birth center allows for a birthing experience that we want for our child. Birthing a baby should not be a procedure...it is a life changing experience. I want to feel it and cherish it. I want the baby to be born in a peaceful environment and to see and feel Mommy and Daddy first. I want his/her to be born into our arms with love.

I do not want unnecessary assistance or medicine. The birth center believes in holistic care and the mid wives only intervene when necessary. They allow the mother to birth their baby on their own and for the Mom and Dad to experience it together. Our baby will be born in water which is soothing for me and the baby (and eliminates 70% of the pain, so they say). Coming out into the world in a temperature controlled room and warm water is a great transition for the baby. The baby will then be scooped up by myself and my husband and immediately touched by it's new parents. The whole experience is centered around the baby and the parents. It is a loving and intimate time.

The Birthing Tub

The prenatal care I receive is excellent from the Mid wives. They spend one on one time with me and cherish the moments of being pregnant with me. They are like friends to me and my husband.

I have experience an OBGYN office and the Birth Center and there is no comparison. I am looking forward to birthing my child in this loving setting.

In a selfish world, I hope to raise a selfless child

All I Needed to Know, I Learned in my First Trimester

2011-05-10T21:49:00.000-04:00

Pack up your current pants and shorts now..there is no need to be uncomfortable. Bring out the elastic!!! Even when the books say at your 2nd month of pregnancy "You may not even look pregnant"!! Seriously, pregnancy bloat alone will make you look 2 months pregnant!! Give me a break..the week after I took the pregnancy test, I was in expandable pants!

Throw out everything you "thought" you would do pregnant. I am an avid yogi and always said that my routine wouldn't change a bit. Why would it? I LOVE yoga and I love being fit. Well...start growing a baby and see how much you want to sweat, bend and hold your ever increasing body weight up by your arms. I mean, I have not given up my practice by any means, but I am not going six days a week right now..... When I choose to stay home and eat rather than yoga, something major is happening!

Protein and Iron are my new favorite vocabulary words! I thought I read labels before..now I can stand in the cereal aisle for 20 minutes looking for the highest protein and iron ridden cereal. Oh and don't forget fiber. Fiber is a pregnant women's candy!

Beans are a great source of vitamins and minerals for any vegan pregnant woman. So, doubling up on beans + pregnancy = fun :)

Cravings: You can't hide from them. They are deep and they mean business.

Mood Swings: You can't hide from them. They are deep and they mean business. (haha..yes, cravings and mood swings go hand in hand in my book). What you have heard about them can not prepare you for what they are. Nothing can, you just have to experience them yourself and breathe through them.

Last but not least... See this chick right here....

Forget the idea of being a "skinny" pregnant woman. Those terms don't go together. There are woman like that out there, but they are freaks of nature! (or dieting while pregnant which is a huge no-no). I always wanted to be the tiny person with a ball in front as my bump. But the baby has other plans. First your waist line goes. (right away mind you) ..you wake up one morning and poof, it's gone. Secondly your back, sides and stomach become one. Next, your butt feels the need to join in and of course your thighs must get bigger to support the weight of your mid section. I am just seeing the beginning effects of this in my second trimester, but I am well on my way... So know ahead of time that your body will expand to meet the needs of the baby. That way you won't be shocked and have mini break downs about gaining weight (hehe) I have chosen not to track weight gain (in pounds), I am tracking inches around my belly only. I will continue to eat healthy and lots of it, exercise and ignore my forgotten waist and ever growing lower body. Hey, it's for the baby.

Oh and one more..that reminds me. IT'S ALL FOR THE BABY...already..it's not about you anymore, it's for the baby. What you eat, what you do, when you sleep, what you buy, how you save..It's all for the baby.

So enjoy it! I am! I am loving every day and can't wait to meet our precious baby in my belly! Second Trimester, here I come!

12 Weeks

One Day Without Shoes

2011-04-04T18:09:00.000-04:00

April 5, 2011- A Day Without Shoes

What is the last thing you do before walking out the door? Put on your shoes??

I put on shoes to go to work, the store, even to run outside to check the mail. It is very rare that we go without shoes.

Another question: How many pairs of shoes do you have? One pair or 50 pairs. Most likely closer to the latter right? We tend to have tennis shoes for running, hiking shoes for hiking, sandals, boots, shoes to go with every outfit, etc.

Now imagine, NEVER having shoes. As a baby, toddler and adult, you would do all your walking barefoot. You would walk in fields barefoot, on rocks, on roads, long distances. All without comfy and stylish shoes.

There are people in many other countries that do not have shoes and have never had shoes to use. The children walk miles to school and do their chores without shoes and adults work with no shoes.

If you do not think it's that big of a deal to go without shoes, try it!

Every year, TOMS sponsors a Day Without Shoes...

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/

They encourage you to go without shoes as much as you can for one day. If you have to wear shoes to school or work, you can, but walk to your car without shoes or check the mail barefoot. Try going for a walk without your comfy tennis shoes; see how far you make it.

The purpose isn't to hurt your feet, it is to bring awareness to the need of others. We will continue to wear shoes in our country and there is a way to give to those in need by buying shoes from a company that gives back.

Toms has a "ONE FOR ONE" program. For every pair of Toms you buy, they donate a pair to a child in need! Toms has given over a million pairs away!

Check out my previous blog on Toms here.

Try going without shoes tomorrow and let me know how you did! I can't wait to slip my Toms off for the day!

My Vegan Pregancy!

2011-04-04T17:45:00.000-04:00

I have not blogged in a while! I have been a little busy...growing a baby!

My husband and I found out I am pregnant about a month ago. I am now two months pregnant and so excited! I have never been more tired in my life though. This baby requires a lot of energy to grow and a lot of nutrients!!!

I am sure that I will blog about being pregnant a lot! The topics of nutrition and exercise are important when making a child. I am a vegan, yogi pregant mama! There is a lot to talk about....

So until then....

Ahimsa Yogini Dinner Party

2011-02-28T19:22:00.001-05:00

A beautiful yogi named Carolyn held an Ahimsa dinner party. It is such a wonderful thing when a bunch of compassionate, like minded people gather under one roof. The Sanskrit term for this is "Satsang". A satsang is the company of a higher truth, divine love. Ahimsa is one of the yamas of yoga, or guidelines to a yogi's lifestyle. Ahimsa is the first yama and it means Non Violence.

Ahimsa is a compassionate practice of creating the least amount of harm possible to every living thing. This includes not harming each other, animals, the Earth, etc. It is a loving practice and a practice of seeing all as one. One of the easiest ways to practice Ahimsa three times a day is through your diet. A meat and dairy diet causes great harm to many beings as well as our Earth. A vegan diet and lifestyle creates the least amount of harm for all beings including your own body.

Carolyn Gunn Strickler was the vegan chef at this satsang. She devoted so much of her time, effort, love and care to make this dinner great! Carolyn is an avid yogi and a loving being to all! She is also an AMAZING cook! She is creating a cookbook and I can not wait for it to come out! It will be amazing!

Chef Carolyn

Here is Carolyn's Ahimsa Yogini Dinner Party Menu:

The Monk’s Menu for Meditation:

Wheatgrass Shots

Seasoned Kale Chips

Supta Baddha Konasana Sweet Potato Curry

Virabhadrasana Indian Tamarind Lentils

Urdhva Dhanurasana Chana Masala

Green Guru’s Garudasana Vegetables

Natarajasana Buddhist Zen Flow of Mushrooms

Lotus, Boat and Tree Pose Namaste Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fresh Lavender Cake

Dinner

Dinner and Desert! Check out that lavender cake with edible flowers!!!!

Diggin the Vegan Food!

Good Company

The Lavender Cake again! How beautiful and yummy!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU CAROLYN!

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIKE YOU! KEEP SPREADING THAT LOVE!

SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI

PEACE PEACE PEACE

Dirty Dirty

2011-02-23T17:47:00.001-05:00

If you don't think that buying organic matters, then read on! My mom passed on a very important article talking about pesticides found on fruits and vegetables these days. I couldn't not talk about this. It is pretty shocking!

A lot of people do not think that buying organic is a necessary option. Some reasons that I heard is that the amount of pesticides are minute and it doesn't matter or that organics are so much more expensive.

First of all, organics are not that much more expensive, especially for fruits and veggies. Second of all, they are worth every penny. Supporting organic farmers helps you and the environment. Organic produce protects you from ingesting a lot of toxins and chemicals as well as protecting the land from the run offs of the chemicals.

These "little" toxins are increasing and becoming stronger. The diseases, molds and bugs that the pesticides are used to prevent are becoming immune to the stuff. Therefore, the chemicals are needing to be stronger and used more frequently. Pesticides are being linked to the increase in diseases in our society. If you care about what you put into your body and especially if you are feeding children, you need to consider organics!!

Here are the facts:

10 DIRTY FRUITS AND VEGGIES **
Source: The Environmental Working Group (EWG) studied 100,000 produce and reported to the US FDA to create a list of 49 of the dirtiest produce. Purchasing the following Organic or locally grown can reduce your pesticide intake by 80%

1. Celery- in a single celery stalk, there are 13 pesticides and on the whole celery bunch, there were 67 pesticides found.

2. Peaches- laced with 67 different chemicals due to their soft fuzzy skin.

3. Strawberries- these soft, seedy skins allow easy absorption for the 53 pesticides found on berries!

4. Apples- 47 pesticides found on apples. Even washing them isn't 100% of removing the chemicals.

5. Blueberries- 13 pesticides were found on a single sample of berries and they soak in easier due to the thin skin

6. Sweet Bell Peppers- 63 types of pesticides and again thin skinned, therefore absorption is good

7. Spinach, Kale and Collard Greens- 45-57 different pesticides found on these leafy greens

8. Grapes- with extremely thin skins, the pesticides are able to seep right in.

9. Potatoes- The skin is laced with 36 pesticides and the skin is supposed to be the healthiest part

10. Cherries- Another thin skinned fruit that allows pesticides to sink right in.

So, please consider buying organic produce. (OR GROWING YOUR OWN) Not only does it benefit you, it benefits the farmers and the environment. Pay now or pay later.

Go Outside!

2011-02-21T17:43:00.000-05:00

This weekend, we went camping! I LOOOVVE camping. I crave being outdoors...being indoors gets me jittery..I don't even like being in the car!

So being outdoors camping is the best. We hiked, canoed, sat by the fire, ate in the dark and slept in our tent.

When you camp, there is a motto to "leave no trace behind". You are not to leave trash, food or anything behind. You should leave the area as you found it! This rule should apply to everywhere in nature. It saddens me when I pass a pond or beautiful landscaped area and I see a plastic bottle floating or a piece of trash in a flower. If we don't take care of mother Earth, she won't take care of us!

RECYCLE BINS!!!

Watching the sunset

Morning coffee complete with Starbucks Via and soy creamer

The BEST veggie burgers in the world! Organic veggies and tofu

Be a tree, don't cut them down to use as napkins

Yoga Product Review

2011-02-21T12:02:00.000-05:00

Jade Yoga- Towels!!

If you love Jade Yoga Mats, then read on!!!

www.jadeyoga.com

I have had my Jade mat for almost 3 years and I use it 5-6 times a week. It is still in great shape. It is worn in in all the right places and it supports me when I need it. Jade mats are made from all natural rubber and do not contain any PVC or synthetic rubber. The best part about Jade is that for every mat sold, they plant a tree!! Way to give back Jade!

This past summer, I was chosen to try out the new Jade Yoga Towels. I used it in the heat of the summer and reported back on how well it worked for my sweating needs.

I tried out the Organic Cotton towel. This is a towel that drapes over your mat to aid in sweat absorption so that your mat doesn't turn into a slip and slide! During the hot months practicing Jivamukti Yoga, I am sweating after my first sun salutation, so a towel is a great item to have on your mat. This towel absorbed every bit of sweat as soon as it dropped off of my body. The organic cotton made it soft, yet strong enough to allow some grip to it. I never once slid on the towel (which tends to happen with other towels). The other fact that I loved about this towel is that it dried quickly and didn't need to be washed all the time. When I left yoga, it would be soaked. I could hang it on the shower and by morning it was dry and DIDN'T SMELL BAD! When you practice every day, your towel can still be damp the next class or worse, smell horrible. But the Jade towel did not do that!

With the summer months coming, make sure you check out Jade Yoga to get a great organic towel to go with your eco friendly Jade Mat!

Earth Balance's Made Just Right Blog

2011-02-11T11:39:00.000-05:00

I just guest blogged for Earth Balance's Made Just Right Blog! You can click here to visit the link.

It is a super great blog that features recipes from all over the globe! All recipes are plant based and use Earth Balance butter. Now if you are not familiar with EB, then you need to be!

My husband and I have been using EB for years (before going veg). The butter is dairy free, cholesterol free and very yummy. It comes in tubs and in sticks for baking. There is no reason a vegan should go without butter with Earth Balance in your stores. (non vegans should use it too for the health benefits).

I have noticed that EB can be expensive in traditional grocery stores, as it is an "oddity". So, go to your local organic grocery store and pick it up for under $4. Trust me, it's worth it!

If you are visiting from MADE JUST RIGHT, please stick around and read some posts! Welcome and I hope you enjoy! Also, check out Vegan in Charleston. Even if you live in another city, it can be helpful to allow you to think outside the box on restaurants.

A YOGI With a Cause

2011-02-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

I believe in Peace on Earth. I pray for it to happen. I have found peace in my heart and my life and I believe the world can find it too. My prayer is that people can see and feel the "Oneness" in all beings. Oneness is what I believe can lead to world peace!

I can't explain how it happened to me. It came very quick and natural. All of the sudden, I began to see and really feel a connection between myself and everything else. Their souls became real and life became more clear.

I began on my plate. I saw the chicken I was eating as my own flesh. I saw no difference in that chicken who gave it's life for my meal and my own life. The rubbery chicken flesh was just like eating my own arm. I couldn't do it anymore. No being's life was worth giving up for my dinner. So I became vegan. Done..just like that. But the connection didn't end there. It's not so cut and dry. Compassion isn't limited to one being, ie; animals, children, environment, etc. Compassion encompasses ALL beings.

I see other human beings as the same as me too. I try not to judge or get frustrated with others as they are just like me. Why would I want to hurt my fellow beings. I help out my neighbor if they are in need and I send warm wishes to those I can not be near. I have great compassion for those who suffer from hunger and who have nothing. I, in turn try to live a simple life and get rid of things I do not need. Why should I have so much when others have nothing?

I can even see a connection with the environment. I see a tree as a necessity on our Earth and not a paper towel. I see water as a life source and try to preserve it and cherish it. I see our crops as a food source and choose organics to support the farmers that care about our environment. The world is there for us, isn't it about time we are there for it?

huggin a tree!

Don't limit your compassion to one thing. You can extend your love, care and life towards all beings. Oneness is the key to peace. Make the connection between yourself and others. Once this happens, you will not see the difference between a starving kitten and a starving child. You will help both equally and there will be peace on Earth!

lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

may ALL beings be happy and free

and may the thoughts, words and actions of MY OWN LIFE contribute in some way

Yogic Love Handles

2011-01-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

Love handles are a cute little pet name for the flab that hangs over your jeans. The name doesn't fool me though, I do not LOVE them.

I used to not have them, but as I age they seem to appear. Some days they are gone, some days they are here. If I wear really tight fitting jeans, they will definitely come out to play. So how come I have them even though I am active and eat a healthy diet? How do I have yogic and vegan love handles?!

I may not have an answer to why they are on my body, but that is ok. I work to love my body no matter what it looks like on the outside. Yoga makes me strong inside and out. My lifestyle makes me compassionate enough to love myself. With that on my side, bring on the love handles...I can take it! I strive to be the heatlhiest I can be and strong and limber to allow me to live my fullest life. If that doesn't mean that I will be a size two and have a six pack, that is OK! I practice to let it go so that other things may come.

"Do your practice and all is coming" -Sri K Patthabi Jois

If we want to have true happiness, we need to know how to be contented with where we are, who we are, what we are and how we are at this present moment now

It is about accepting ourselves as we are at this present moment now

If we are not happy with ourselves, how can we be happy with everything else in life and in the world?

What do Yoga meditation and a vegan chocolate cake have in common?

They each bring you a piece of heaven.

What's in a Nugget??

2011-01-13T18:23:00.001-05:00

Most children can recognize the golden arches by the time they are 2 or think that a happy meal is a treat.

I wonder if people really knew what was in the "food" would they still feed it to their kids or even themselves??

Here are some fun facts about McDonald's chicken nuggets:

ONLY 50% of the nugget is actual meat
The other half is corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and synthetic ingredients
Dimethyl polysiloxane is in a nugget: this is a type of silicone used for anti foaming. (there are so many things wrong with that)
Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a petroleum based product!

Mc Donalds and all fast food should be eliminated. People turn to fast food because of the price and convenience, but they don't consider the consequences. Eating fast food TWICE a week doubles your risk of developing insulin resistance along with obesity and heart disease risks!! Why would you want to put yourself in that danger and why would you want to subject your children to that??

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU EAT! Where does it come from? What is in it? Just because it cost under $2, is it worth it? Do I want my child eating this?

The true healthy diet for children and adults is VEGETARIAN! Give your child the best health advantages.

Getting out of my own way

2011-01-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been very antsy with my life. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and my routine, however I feel like I could and SHOULD be doing more to help others and to spread joy. I have been feeling like I am wasting my time going to work everyday at a job that does benefit the world. I have a passport that is sitting in a drawer, screaming for me to use it and I am this close to getting my shots and leaving for a third world country.

So tonight, I met some yogi masters from India. They came to my yoga school to teach and sing. It was amazing. They discussed karma and living in the present. It hit me hard and it was exactly what I needed to hear.

I have not made the best career choices in the past and I tend to look at that and regret it. What if I had begun volunteering right out of college and traveled with the Peace Corp. I wonder what kind of amazing job I would have now!! BUT I didn't and I can not dwell on the past and regret my choices. They have been made. I did what I did and it was all for a reason. I also have no idea what I will be doing in a year and can not worry about that either. How can I stress about or feel bad about something that has not even happened? I can however, control what I am doing right now.

This is a huge weight off of my shoulders. The "what ifs" can really weigh you down. But with that weight gone, I can focus on what I can do NOW! Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now!

A Lululemon quote is "DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW"

I have reminded myself that by living a compassionate and peaceful life, I can spread joy from where I am. It may not be in the form that I think it should be in, but it is happening right now. I am working on my life right now and what I am doing now will help shape what my future can be.

The greatest peace comes from within. It doesn't matter where your physical body is; whether in your living room, in a yoga class or in Haiti, you can live in peace and spread it to others.

(although, with that said, I am working towards an amazing way to help others..time will tell..I am not meant to worry about it)

Om Shanti

Vegan Pot Pie

2011-01-02T18:38:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share a wonderful, easy and healthy recipe with you. My mother in law made me this pot pie for Christmas and it is so yummy! I love the warm, filling feeling when eating casseroles. They are a great way to get your veggies in and fill you up!!

VEGAN POT PIE

I use about 2 1/2 cups of veggie broth mixed with veggies (carrots, peas, corn, brocoli, potatoes). Heat that up nicely and then begin to add cornstarch or flour until the thickness you desire is achieved. I also used a little soy creamer (plain). Season the filling up with salt, pepper, sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary and nutmeg.

Pour the filling into a baking dish and top with a vegan pie crust. Brush the crust with vegan butter and bake for 30 minutes.

Let cool and then enjoy!!!!

Before

After

Sayonara 2010

2010-12-30T21:09:00.000-05:00

Wow! Where has the year gone?!?! How is tomorrow the last day of 2010 already?

Is it just me or is time flying by the seat of it's pants?

Time is actually going by at the same pace it always does (obviously) but our minds have sped up. Everything is moving at a ridiculous speed and our minds are having to keep up. This in turn makes time seem to fly by.

It is such a practice to train the mind to slow down. In a fast paced world, we must try to focus on each breath and each passing moment. Treat every day like it is the last and every moment like it is the last time you will be there.

If you are having a terrible day, turn your thoughts to wonder, what if this is your last day? Would you treat it differently? Is your day really that terrible?

When you are enjoying something so much, you wish it would never end...stop wishing and just enjoy it! Because it will end, but you can slow it down and savor every bit of it.

All things must past..good or bad..so enjoy both the good and the bad!

For 2011, I am compiling a "bucket list". I am not going to write it down, it will remain in my head, but I intend to complete what I can and to remember to savor each day and moment like it is the best day or moment. You don't have to "GO" on vacation to "BE" on vacation. Enjoy life!

Let's see what 2011 holds! Happy New Year!

Survive!

2010-12-18T23:39:00.001-05:00

We're Never Going to Survive Unless We Get a Little Crazy!!!

Let it go! Be Radical!

If something doesn't make sense to you, question it...

If you are asleep..WAKE UP!

If you find what works in your life, embrace it....

Believe and Be Passionate in life!

Show compassion to all beings and compassion will be shown to you!

Peace begins with you

Folly Beach, SC

Peace in many languages