I remember the first time I traveled outside the US like it was yesterday. I had just graduated with a fashion design degree and wanted to attend a summer program at a fashion school in Florence, Italy. The weekends would be spent traveling up and down the country in exploration. In Rome, my camera was stolen out of my backpack in a hostel and I lost all the photos I had taken (back then there was film cameras!). Even though I had no physical proof that I had visited the Colosseum and the Pantheon, the memories were etched in my brain.

I remember traveling down the Amalfi Coast with my mouth agape at the beauty. These weekend getaways led me to say goodbye to fashion school and continue traveling. I was bit by the bug! I continued up to Switzerland, where my purse was snatched and caused so much frustration and pain trying to replace my passport.

In every country I’ve visited since I can tell you similar stories of trials and tribulations. It took me 10 years of traveling to 15 countries to learn how to be a better traveler, the ins and outs of transportation, how to travel safely between countries, and the most important, how to survive as a vegan. Going on a retreat saves you so much stress because someone like me who has been through everything plans it all out for you. So if you don’t want to miss out on seeing the world, but aren’t sure you are ready for all the planning, or are afraid of traveling solo then a yoga retreat is right for you!

Here are my top 4 reasons why you should go on a yoga retreat.

1. Less planning, less stress
It takes hours and hours of research to find the perfect hotel, make sure you’ll have vegan food nearby, decide what part of town you should stay in, figure out transportation and customs of that country, and plan a budget for the trip. When you go on a yoga retreat everything is planned for you. You just show up and enjoy a vacation of a lifetime. That right there is priceless.

2. Connect with like-minded individuals
Retreats are perfect for solo travelers or those who don’t want to spend their whole vacation alone. It’s not often possible to travel with friends or family, but that shouldn’t stop you from going to a magical place. If you go on a retreat you instantly have 10+ friends and you aren’t left all alone with no one to share your experiences with. A selfie stick can only get you so far in capturing a beautiful landscape. Even the most introverted will feel more secure on a yoga retreat because all the activities are optional and you get plenty of free time to do you own thing. And who knows, these people may become life-long friends.

3. Come home better than when you left
Going on an organized retreat that includes things like yoga, mind/body connection, and vegan food lets you come back home better off than when you left. Remember that last vacation where you drank too much, ate crappy food and came home drained and felt like you needed a vacation from your vacation? Going on a healthy yoga retreat will leave you feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on the world.

4. Say yes to you
Many put travel to the side because they are slammed with work, kids, projects, family, community, etc. Women inparticular spend less time on themselves than they do on the people around them. I truly believe that happiness (and health!) develops from self-care and giving yourself time away from your busy life. When you step back you can devote some time to your needs. And in the long run this makes you more helpful to others in your life.

You deserve a yoga retreat! We are offering a wonderful discount for Chic Vegan readers until February 5th. All you have to do is pay your deposit and you’ll save $300 off the already low price of our Bali retreat in April. We hope you can join us! More details here: bit.ly/1MfGOmh

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For The Love Of Food And Yoga: A Celebration Of Mindful Eating And Being

When I got this book, I was excited to get right it and start making some of the recipes.  But as I started to look through the book, I found myself drawn into the “YogiBites” that were intertwined with the recipes.  These little bites were words of wisdom, yoga teachings, different poses, and beautiful photographs that tied in beautifully to the recipes.

This book includes 100 “YogiBites” along with 100 real bites, and all of the them are unique and delicious.  There was not one recipe that didn’t look tasty.  From Twisted Tacos to So Hum…mus to Delightfully Silly Snow Cones, there is something to satisfy any craving.  You can find plenty of appetizers, sides, soups, salads, dressings and marinades, sandwiches, main dishes, drinks, and desserts.  All of it is nourishing, full of good for you nutrients, and helps you focus on mindful eating.

I really enjoyed trying the different poses, reading the words of wisdom, as well as creating and eating the tasty food that Liz and Kristen created.  If you are looking for a way to help connect your practice to the rest of your life, then you should really try For The Love Of Food And Yoga.  Each page will teach you something, whether that’s how to better your practice or your plate.

While I tried a lot of recipes, one of my favorites was the elevated eggplant.  It was a fun and healthy twist on traditional eggplant parmesan and just as satisfying.  Lucky for you, Liz and Kristen were more than happy to let me share the recipe with you!  Once you try this one out, make sure you go and pick up your own copy of For The Love Of Food And Yoga!  You can also check out more about Liz and Kristen and their company Live Yum at www.liveyum.com

Elevated Eggplant

The awareness we develop through our yoga practices encourages us to live more mindfully and spiritually elevated lives. There are not many better teachings than that! This isn’t your traditional eggplant recipe (fried and drenched in mozzarella and tomato sauce). Though we love Eggplant Parmesan, we think we’ve taken our eggplant to the next level. We hope you find it elevated and very enjoyable!

Ingredients

• 3 large eggplants (peeled and cut into 1-inch squares)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 6 medium garlic cloves (pressed)
• ½ teaspoon ground toasted coriander
• Dash of cayenne pepper
• Himalayan salt coarsely ground (to taste)
• Pepper coarsely ground (to taste)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (quartered or halved)
• ¼ cup red onion (chopped)
• ¼ cup scallions (chopped)
• ¼ cup flat parsley leaves (chopped)
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 2 tablespoon tamari
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup pepitas

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Sprinkle salt on cubed eggplant and let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
3. Prepare roasting marinade by combining olive oil, maple syrup, garlic, coriander, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
4. Rinse and pat eggplant dry and mix with marinade.
5. Place eggplant mixture on baking sheet in single layer. Roast for 30–40 minutes (tossing halfway through) or until eggplant is fork tender and golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes.
6. Combine tomatoes, onion, scallions, parsley, and cilantro in a large bowl.
7. Make dressing by stirring together orange juice, lime juice, agave, tamari, and olive oil.
8. Toast pepitas in a skillet over low-medium heat until fragrant and golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
9. Combine cooled eggplant, tomato mixture, dressing, and toasted pepitas.
10. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Excerpted with permission from For the Love of Food and Yoga: A Celebration of Mindful Eating and Being by Lix Price-Kellogg & Kristen Taylor. Copyright 2015, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

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I had heard of BuddhiBoxes through a few other blogs that I follow and I had been wanting to try it for awhile, so when I got the chance to try it out I was super excited.  Each month you receive 4 to 6 full-size items that are meant to help your yoga practice plus a few cards that show a yoga pose of the month and a healthy recipe.

The first box that I received was the July 2015 box.  It had a lot of awesome products that I was really excited to try.  The first thing that grabbed my attention was the matcha green tea.  I have always wanted to try matcha, but it can be a little pricey and I didn’t know if I would like it.  I didn’t want to buy a whole bag and then have it go to waste.  Lucky me, I got to try it through BuddhiBox!  It was awesome and will be something that I will be incorporating more.  There was also a nag champa soy candle and organic vegan lip balm from October Fields.  The candle smells amazing and I like that it has no GMO’s, dyes, or phthalates.  There was Bear’s Beauty Zinc Sun Lover’s cream which is an organic sunscreen that protects you and the environment.  I don’t like the way conventional sunscreen feels on my skin, but this stuff is great and smells wonderful.  I also got Erin’s Faces firming eye gel and Gypsy Soul Organics aromatherapy spray which I love.  Just a little spritz and I feel calmer and more focused.

My second box was the August 2015 box and might have been even better than the first box.  My favorite product from this box would have to be a tie between the Jesse & Co lotus necklace and the Marley Coffee.  The necklace is simple enough to wear everyday but still pretty enough to dress up an outfit.  The coffee was founded by Bob Marley’s son Rohan and is sustainably grown and farmed.  It has a really nice smooth flavor and the recipe that was included in this box was for a delicious iced coconut coffee. I also got some blackberry sage shea butter from Wellsmith, a magnet from My Mat Mantra and three free meditation downloads and sandalwood incense from the Chopra Center.

Both of my boxes were great and I liked that I got the chance to try some things that I have seen and heard about before but never taken the plunge and bought.  I really enjoyed the recipe and yoga pose cards that came with each box as well as the discounts for the companies that were included in the box.  Maxine does a great job selecting products that are ethically sourced, cruelty-free, and created with intention.  Plus each month she chooses a charity and part of the proceeds from the boxes go to support that charity.

The boxes are also pretty decently priced and you can choose which type of subscription you would like.  You can get a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription or you can pay one month at a time.  There is also the option to get a monthly sample box that includes 2 to 3 sample size products for only $11.95 per month.  It’s nice that you can choose a box that will fit your budget.

There are a lot of subscription boxes out there and it is nice that there is one that enhances the yoga experience for all of us who practice.  If you want to learn more about BuddhiBoxes or want to sign up for one, head over to www.buddhiboxes.com.  Thanks BuddhiBox for some awesome products!

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What is really neat about these DVDs is that they are broken down by pose. You stretch your body to hold the pose in each segment. It makes yoga more accessible and easy. Personally, I found the rhythm refreshing. I panicked a little at first because the camera switches focus a little too much and it is unclear who the teacher really is, but, by the same token, this is refreshing and different from traditional workout DVDs. I understand where they are coming from; after all, there are three yogis on the screen who were moving in perfect sync, so it did not matter who is teaching. You could identify with any of them; they all had the poses perfected.

It is still a nice collection to have. The poses are not that difficult, just fast, and so if you can’t hold a pose, simply skip it. I like that the DVDs are organized into little mini sessions, and not long tedious and intimidating ones.

Overall, this collection of DVDs is challenging enough without being too difficult to attempt. I passed them on to my mom who has joint pains; that is how powerful they are. I felt refreshed after each segment, even if I just watched without doing the poses along with the yogis. I think you’ll really like them.

Namaste.

We have a copy of the Season One, Part One Namaste TV dvd for one lucky winner. Follow the instructions below to enter. U.S. residents only, please. Contest ends at midnight eastern time on September 2, 2015. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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There is something magical about reading the story of someone who was on a very dark path, with drugs and alcohol, and then finding their way back to health and happiness. Such is the case for Rachel. In this book, she shares her story from being a very angry girl to a happy yogi. Of course, as she says, we have highs and lows. I love her for saying that; yoga does not give you happiness. We go through tough times regardless. Yoga just gives you a way to handle it.

So, how do you handle it? Meditation. In this book, Rachel talks about breathing techniques, meditation tips, and ways to stay positive. She shares yoga sequences (some difficult, and some easy), recipes for healthy food and smoothies.

Honestly, though, the book is eye candy. It is very short (I read it in one sitting). It has amazing photography, but it is only an introduction to yoga. Rachel is self-taught, and she is incredible. She tells you the story of her early classes and the joy she had teaching them. The book is mostly a memoir.

If you are up for some inspiration, some beautiful photography, and interesting hopeful stories to make your day brighter, this book is for you. Rachel has a huge following and a wonderful energy to her. Happy reading.

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Ah. It is fall season and lovely weather is approaching; however, coming up are what seems to be a series of health-unfortunate-dates: Halloween candy, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years’ celebrations. There are also the beautiful cookies that we can be baking as we cozy up with a nice cup of warm of hot chocolate. It is all awesome, but there is also the pressure of being healthy and staying fit, especially as we try to fit in school, work, and deadlines for either one (or both for the students who are currently working). How does one stay fit and fabulous, especially in challenging times like this season where temptation is all over the place?

Here is a secret about me: I was raised by a yogi. Yoga was part of my upbringing and I sucked. I hated it so much because it was introduced as “exercise.” For someone who struggled with eating disorders throughout most of her teen years, I want to share how yoga differed from other “exercise routines” and how it helped, and continues to help, me in terms of staying healthy.

Interconnectedness

When I started practicing yoga regularly, I was an adult. At that point, I was in recovery from my eating disorders. It was recommended to me by doctors and I was following orders. I encountered many yoga instructors as I acquired DVDs, watched videos online, read magazines, and so I want to follow up this article with a list of my favorite yogis to guide you through this process. Here’s what the strongest teachers taught me: there is no such thing as spot targeting. There is no such thing as “yoga for your gluteus.” Yoga shows you the interconnectedness of your body parts. Especially as a beginner, I would feel that my back was connected to the gluteus. In turn, your gluteus is connected to the thighs and hamstrings. Sure, some exercises may feel like they are targeting one area more than the rest, but that does not mean that this is the only area working. You cannot focus on one part of your body because your body is on entity. Yoga shows you this with every pose.

Mindfulness

Do not panic when you see the word “mindful.” Not all yogis agree on the meditative quality of yoga, but I think many would agree that it is an activity fostering mindfulness. Yoga made me appreciate the way bodies are able to bend, to move, even in the simplest poses. I can draw a human body better than a beginning self-taught artist like me would because I know more about how the body moves and contorts. The central aim of every yoga move is to breathe and to stay focused on holding the pose. You have to make decisions while you practice yoga: is a pose too much for you right now? Can you breathe your way through a pose or do you need to modify it. You can use blocks, chairs, towels, pillows, to adjust the difficulty of a pose and in that sense, you are being mindful. It is not about bending yourself into a pretzel; it’s more about mindfully holding a pose and transitioning into other ones.

No Competition

A lot of yogis, especially recently, have been incorporating yoga with other exercises and so numbers became involved— repetitions and sets. It is sometimes presented as an exercise routine. However, traditional yoga has nothing to do with reps. It has everything to do with being present and meditating. There is no competition in yoga. I have seen yoga teachers say things like, “I feel like I need a modification today.” It’s not about what you can do; it’s more about what you do with what you are capable of doing on a given day.

Applicable to Daily Life

Yoga taught me to see fitness as a part of our daily lives. I have never set foot in a gym and yet I have muscle tone and definition just by practicing yoga. The reason behind this is that yoga is meditative, mindful, and can be done anywhere. You do not need a gym membership to practice it and you don’t need to contort like a pretzel to be “good” at it. There is no such thing as “good” in yoga; you are simply practicing and slowly watching your body become leaner, more flexible. The coolest thing is that yoga poses teach you about life. Dancer pose is all about grace and focus. Archer pose is about putting your best foot forward and focusing on defending yourself.

The lessons behind each pose become personal to you and they teach you about life. The more you practice yoga, the calmer, more mindful you become in general. This is what fitness should be: it should be applicable to daily life. We treat fitness as though it is a chore and it really should not be like that. It shouldn’t be something painful or some sort of punishment.

Play

Yoga is one of the very few physical activities that allow you to play and be creative while you are practicing. In some ways, yoga is much like dance. I found that I was able to create my own routines and freestyle my way through poses. See, you can use blocks, chairs, towels, or pillows to help you through the poses. You can ease off if a pose feels too stressful. In essence, yoga is fun.  The more you know in terms of poses, the more you can create in terms of sequences.

As adults, we need to play and be creative; it is what helps us release stress and become aware of our place in the Universe. We are capable of more than we often think. Put the weights down and give yoga a shot. It may change your life like it did to mine.

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Image courtesy of Flickr’s The Commons

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1. Stand, quiet your mind, take 3-4 deep breaths in and out. As you breathe, inhale for 4 full seconds and exhale for 6 full seconds on each breath. Try to maintain this breathing pattern as you continue. If you like, set your intention for the day, such as “I am going to maintain a positive attitude throughout every facet of my day.”

2. As you reach for the carafe, think to yourself, “I am reaching for the carafe.”

3. Next, think, “I am filling the carafe with water. I am grateful to have running water.”

4. “I am pouring the water in the coffee maker. “

5. “I am putting the coffee grounds in the coffee maker. I am happy to have coffee to make this morning.”

6. “I am turning the coffee pot on. I am blessed to have electricity.”

7. “I am pulling my favorite coffee mug out of the cupboard.”

8. “I am pouring my coffee.”

9. “I am drinking my coffee. I am going to have a great day.”

You can apply this technique to virtually any activity. If you do so and you maintain a regular, deep breathing pattern, you give your lungs and vital organs a wonderful and much needed massage and allow your body to release toxins that clog up when you get stuck in a shallow breathing pattern.  Ready, Set, Breathe!  Stay tuned for more meditation blogs, including easy daily mantras and cleansing breaths.

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