Monday, October 29, 2007

Raw Food, Ayurveda, and Kris Carr's Blog


I've been feeling pretty blah lately and I have a hunch that it has to do with my diet. I've been going a little overboard with candy, cupcakes, cookies, and any other form of processed sugar or baked good imaginable. This weekend was the worst sugar crash I've ever had. I needed a clean slate, so I decided to start a raw food diet (for at least a week).

Of course this diet started with a trip to Whole Foods to pick up some veggies, dried and fresh fruit, raw food bars, and hummus (which is already cheating because the chick peas are cooked, but I had to make this exception). There are a lot of resources on the web for raw food eating. Here are a few I've been checking out:

Raw Food Life
Living and Raw Foods
We Like It Raw
The Sunny Raw Kitchen

Its been a little over 24 hours raw and so far, so good. No sugar crashing today. I'll keep you posted.

On another note, I've become quite interested in Ayurveda (the sister science of Yoga). Since arriving home from the ashram, Ayurveda is everywhere I turn. If you are curious about your dosha (, Deepak Chopra's website has a helpful and quick dosha quiz. I have spoken with individuals who follow Aruyvedic practices and found it life-changing. I'm also very insterested in Panchakarma, which according to the Ayurvedic Institute is "...a cleansing and rejuvenating program for the body, mind and consciousness. It is known for its beneficial effects on overall health, wellness and self-healing." There are five daily Panchakarma treatments, practiced for five to seven days. If you would like to learn more about Panchakarma, click here.

Lastly, I can't get the documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer out of my head! Since watching the movie, I've felt more inspired to ditch harmful products and foods that most people don't think twice about eating or using for personal care (I know I didn't!). Kris Carr's blog is packed with insights that will challenge your everyday habits. Its easy not to notice the harmful chemicals in the lotion, soap, and mascara a lot of us use everyday. Carr makes a thought-provoking point about these habits when she notes in her blog, "
Check this out, the largest organ in our body is our skin. What you put on your body, you literally absorb. So if you wouldn’t drink a bottle of Jergens, then don’t put it on your body because your skin literally drinks it in." The website is filled with inspirational and helpful information too!


Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Crazy, Sexy Cancer on TLC


I just caught Crazy, Sexy, Cancer on TLC and it was an incredible documentary. Totally inspiring and mind-boggling. Here is a small blurb about the film:

"With experimental treatment as her only option, Kris searched for answers where there were none. She traveled throughout the U.S., interviewing experts in alternative medicine as she tenaciously dove head-first into a fascinating and often humorous world of holistic medicine.

Along the way, she met other vivacious young women determined to become survivors. She also met cameraman/editor Brian Fassett; they soon began a romance that finally culminated in a September 2006 wedding. As Kris' amazing journey unfolds, she realizes that healing is about truly living rather than fighting."

Her journey repeatedly touches upon the philosophy of mind, body, and spirit found at the Sivananda ashram. I was a crying mess at the end, not out of sadness, but from pure admiration and naked truth. Just watch it! Click here to learn more.

The trailer is fantastic too! Click here to watch.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Smart Woman Articles

I have scanned and uploaded my Smart Woman articles to a web album here. There will be a new issue on stands very soon!

Friday, October 12, 2007

I'm Home!

It was an amazing month at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch. I will be updating the blog soon with some of my journal entries. I've been home for a couple weeks and I finally feel clear-headed enough to write. And I miss writing! My goal is to eventually divide my time between writing and teaching yoga. This means that I am going to be more proactive about finding new writing opportunities and working consistently on my novel. The past couple months have provided a lot of writing material. I'll end this entry with a picture of me on my head in the Catskills. It sums up my experience pretty well...


PS- I teach at Baltimore Yoga Village on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday 7am, Wednesday 9:30am, Thursday 6:15pm, and Friday 12pm.