Exploring the world of raw food. Day 15:

Fifteen days ago, I decided that I would eat raw vegan food for one day; and if I felt like it, I would do it again the next day, and the next, etc. Each day I would decide how I feel and move on from there; and each day it has been, strangely and unexpectedly, liberating! Part of my agreement with myself is that if I want something cooked I will eat it and enjoy it - no guilt, no self-recriminating judgment, just pleasure as a result of making a mindful decision. I have put no limitations on food quantity, number of meals, etc., other than anything I eat will be vegan. So, I am fifteen days in, feeling satisfied and healthy, and oddly, as though I have always eaten this way.

Over the past 5 years or so of eating a vegan diet, I have explored, experimented with, and eaten many amazingly delicious cruelty-free meals. Many of these have been raw as I like to take in as much nutrient-rich food as possible and have enjoyed creating raw vegan treats and meals as a novelty and as a way to experience a variety of tastes and textures. I have always enjoyed the raw foods I have created and felt good adding them to my cooked vegan meals. However, lately I have felt myself moving into a new space- I have developed a strong desire for raw vegan food - fresh, living, highly nourishing food that is not cooked and still delicious. And though I have for some time been aware of the benefits of eating food that hasn’t had most of the nutrition cooked away, I haven’t always understood the reasons that one would choose to do such an “odd thing” as a total way of eating. Adding fresh vegetables, fruits, and seeds to your meals should be enough, right?

Throughout this experiment I have continued reading about food, learning more about enzymes (we cook them away and they're really important!), phytonutrients (yep, need them too!)and my confusion as to why we cook so much of our food has increased. Our taste preference for cooked food has led to the depletion of nourishment in the food, which leaves us unsatisfied; this leads to food cravings, then to overeating, and finally to health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases among others (read more here). Hence my experiment to see how I would feel while eating a diet of 100% living, whole, vegan food, one day at a time; and I have been enjoying every minute of it! I feel as though I am rediscovering something that I already knew, but until now, I wasn’t ready to really know it.

So: Does eating all raw make a difference? Will I feel better? - I don't feel bad right now. Will I feel different at all? These are some of the questions I have been asking myself throughout this experiment. And so far, results are good.  

Some things I have noticed:

·       Mindfulness
I am so much more mindful of what I am doing as I prepare food. Raw vegan food preparation necessitates mindfulness – lots of sharp tools - knives, food processor blade, etc. one has to be aware of hand placement whether slicing, dicing, chopping etc. or reaching into a sink full of soapy water! I have found that spreading cracker “dough” onto dehydrator sheets, or layering nut crust with carob cream filling and then cashew cream requires steadiness and awareness.

It feels good to know that the preparation of food is something for which I have set aside time. I can focus on what I am doing, think loving thoughts and infuse this living food with nurturing healing energy : )

·     Energy level & Emotions
Throughout the past 15 days my energy level and emotions have stayed consistent; even on days that are usually low energy for me (prior to and beginning of menstrual cycle). And this is while living out of town, with 3 or 4 other people depending on the day, teaching a different schedule than usual, etc. – I feel contentedly grounded, centered, and balanced : )

·    Love
I feel that I am offering love to myself and others through this nourishment; by offering food with high levels of prana (vital life force) I am offering love energy as food. Seeing the little sprouts on cashews and almonds softens my heart and makes me smile – I know it sounds weird but it’s the truth! This is how I want my life to be/feel – love centered, inside, outside and all around. There is tenderness and joy tingling within me and it feels really good.  Namaste ♥

You will find peace deep within you and it will rise to the surface.

There is blessedness in all things. But the past two days were filled with experiences of grace that require a new definition of blessedness. Eternal Health Yoga, our sacred space of love and spirit, was the setting for a remarkable event; Wah! was here. She presented us with her gifts of healing and devotion through sacred sound and yoga; and we will be ever changed by her teaching. Thank you, Wah!, for your guidance through this part of our journey. Those of us, who were present for the Sound Workshop on Wednesday, experienced one of those rare and precious moments of joy and connection; a room of spiritual beings, singing to and with one another; holding one another, loving one another. So wonderful; we are truly blessed.

When you are in need of assurance, of healing, of a sense of wholeness – watch this short video, wrap your arms around one another, and sing from your heart. You will find peace deep within you and it will rise to the surface. Smooth out your edges and open to the love that is you. Namaste ♥

If you are looking for a place in which you can be yourself, where people are laid-back, and fun, and nice ...

A few years ago, Donna, a yoga student said to me, “Shelli, we should have a Book Club; there are a lot of us who like to read and it would be fun to have it here.” My answer, “I agree!” We scheduled a meeting. A group of students, I think there were 8 or 9, showed up and we discussed the format, how often we would meet, what kinds of books we would discuss, how we would decide on the books, etc.  Four and a half years later here we are, having read a huge variety of books, enjoyed one another’s company, and shared delicious food and beverage. Our Book Club had become an integral part of the Eternal Health Yoga community.

What is Eternal Health Yoga? You know that wonderful, homey, comfy, feeling you get when you enter certain special spaces? That’s what we have here - we all get that sweet, “ah …” feeling, as soon we walk through the doors of either studio – we are a community of like-minded, but very unique individuals, who are open to the ideas of others. We care about each other; we are interested in one another’s thoughts and opinions. It feels good to be part of something that is so nurturing and healing. This is a place where there is openness to growth and change; while at the same time, there is a consistency that offers a sense of safety and serenity. It feels good to be part of something through which people can share their ideas, make requests, be heard, respected, and loved. 
Dear reader, If you are looking for a place in which you can be yourself, where people are laid-back, and fun, and nice, please join us at Eternal Health Yoga for yoga classes, potlucks, movie nights, book club, art openings, parties, and anything else we can come up with that helps us feel validated, connected, and joyful. I love Eternal Health Yoga; I love the people here, I love the energy, the smell, the feel. We are incredibly blessed to have created this special place of serenity – thank you, thank you, thank you, all of you ; and welcome always! Namaste ♥ 

Building Community

Yesterday afternoon   - so much fun bowling with the awesome teachers of Eternal Health Yoga! I am so grateful and filled with joy that I have these beautiful, smart, funny, incredible women in my life! We brought yummy food, bowled a few games, laughed at and with the kids, and shared time with one another and our families as the love-filled community that we are. It is a challenge to find those wonderful people who uplift you and always bring a smile to your face!  I have nine: D’Arci, Marie, Liz, Jodie, Carrie, Amy, Jen, Tiffany, and Anna! Nine women, who work together, hang out together, enjoy one another’s company, and respect one another as equals. I am so fortunate; I am aware of how fortunate I am. Thank you, amazing EHY women! You make my heart sing!

What are you waiting for? Step into the next part of your journey!

Every time I watch this video I remember the tranquility, expansiveness and density of the rainforest, the kindness of everyone at Luna Lodge, and the community of participants that made up an awesome retreat. I remember how exotic and tropical and beckoning I found this beautiful place and the wonder that each of us felt as we landed in the Osa Peninsula! I remember the fear that many had prior to making the decision to go on retreat, the hesitancy that nearly kept some from buying that plane ticket. But they did it, we all did it together, and it was a life-changing experience! If you have ever considered a retreat and want to know what it feels like to overcome your fear, to get out of your normal everyday life, to be with like-minded individuals, and to immerse yourself in the wonder of nature - this is the time and the place. You deserve this experience – take it!

We often feel fear, resistance, and hesitancy when making a decision to do something for ourselves, especially something that is so out of the ordinary.  But it is through overcoming challenges that growth, learning, and ansformation happen. There are many reasons and excuses for not doing things for ourselves, not doing the things that will bring about change; mostly it is fear, under many different labels ( I don’t have time, money, anyone to go with me … ) that keeps us from stepping outside of our comfort zone and into a place of learning and growth. We feel that we don’t deserve it, we think that someone else should be out there on adventure, traveling to exotic places, deepening their self-awareness, and building their self-confidence; someone else should be taking the break that they worked so hard for! But when you are able to find it in yourself to say, “I am doing this and I deserve it!” you will find that the fear begins to diminish, and a whole new you begins to emerge. Give yourself permission to take a step into the unknown; amazing things will happen!

I am so excited to be going on retreat; I am so looking forward to sharing this experience with others. I know how it feels to be afraid to do something so different from the norm. But the joy that comes from doing it anyway is indescribable! The growth and exhilaration from knowing that you did something really special for yourself is truly a gift. So, if you feel that something is calling you to take this step, that it is time to do something really wonderful for you – listen! That voice you are hearing is you. And when you take the cue and experience that wonderful feeling of, “Wow! I did this, I really did this!” you will be forever changed. Do this for you. Reconnect with your aliveness, with your vibrancy, with that smile that comes for no apparent reason – it is amazing what retreat can do for us as human beings, as spiritual beings, as friends, lovers, parents, siblings, etc. The process is rigorous, and a whole lot of fun! And the results from the work, the relaxation, the time you take for YOU, linger for quite some time. What are you waiting for? Step into the next part of your journey; we will do it together and it will be awesome! Namaste ♥

I feel devoted, rather than committed to this practice.

Kirtan … bhakti yoga … kirtan … bhakti yoga … kirtan … bhakti yoga …

My intention is to write what I feel following a kirtan session – I feel light, airy , uplifted, softened … I feel a desire to begin singing again and again, and I am hearing the mantras in my head, as though they are surrounding me with love and drawing me in.

I hear Jai’s voice, beckoning … Jaya Jaya Ram, Bolo Jaya Jaya Ram … Sri Ram Jaya Ram, Jai, Jai, Jaya Ram!Kirtan is so unlike any other yoga practice, yet it is familiar, as all yoga practice. It creates a feeling of desire to experience it again, and again, and again.  

I feel devoted rather than committed, to this practice. Kirtan is joy. I cannot think of a better definition.

I feel joy, love, and intense gratitude for all that is yoga - living it, learning it, breathing it, and for Eternal Health Yoga, our special sacred place in which to practice; I am grateful for the devoted students who have created this loving community, and for the amazing teachers who share so much of their time and energy and support, without whom there could never be Eternal Health Yoga! I feel love, joy, and gratitude for the continuous flow of growth and healing that takes place here. I am grateful and filled with joy for my health and that of my family members and friends. I am grateful for my teachers from whom I have learned so much! For Jai Uttal and Nubia, Doug and Anna, Wah!, Sharon and David – I am grateful for Kirtan! I am grateful for having found Bhakti Yoga!

I am grateful for being filled with love, and for the opportunities to share Yoga, Kirtan, and Bhakti with others. I am humbled and so grateful to be here at this time in this place with these beings; and for the awareness that there is something special about being human, with all of our flaws and imperfections,

I am grateful for the wonder that I still feel each day when I step into the world.

Community, transformation, and connection were found in unexpected places ...

Earlier today, I was looking at pictures from the various Eternal Health Yoga retreats that I have led over the past 6 years. Wow, those were some amazing times! The out-of-the-ordinary specialness of being on retreat is deeply sacred; because we are outside of our normal space it feels as though all of time and space has been changed and created to accommodate our individual needs. As I recall the different retreat groups, I remember that sweet feeling of arriving as individuals, from different places with lots of different life experiences, and from this, forming a spiritual community. Within the sacred space of your spiritual community, you can safely process whatever it is you need to process, learn what you need to learn and transform into the next awesome phase of your life! 

Over the past six years I have led a variety of retreats, some for just a weekend, and others longer (seven to ten days). Regardless of the length of the retreat, we created community. Individuals, who arrive with their own expectations, come to a deep realization of their connection with one another. It happens every time; it is quite beautiful! I remember the first retreat I led; it was in Maya Tulum, Mexico. There was a small group of yoga students with me who did not all know each other and didn’t quite know what to expect. But the ocean, the sand, the amazing moon, and the beautiful yoga space all worked together to allow us to be extremely present with ourselves and one another. We snorkeled, sunbathed, meditated, and enjoyed amazing meals together. It was a fantastic trip for everyone :  )
The Yoga Holiday to England was also quite incredible! We travelled the country, stopping at various places to explore, practice, and connect. We found sacred space even amidst the bustle of city happenings in London, Canterbury, Edinburgh, York, and others. Yoga practice outside on the green of Canterbury Cathedral, at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, Stonehenge, and Edinburgh; mmmm … yoga really is for everyone everywhere! Practicing among ruins and ancient sacred spaces added an element of serenity. I remember feeling very humbled as we chanted outside the Cathedral and walked around sacred stones. Again, community, transformation, and connection were found in unexpected places.

Each retreat is different from the one before and the one after; each has its own unique flavor that is reflective of the group that creates it. By getting away from day to day living you have an opportunity to focus on your practice and on your experiences while they are happening. Sharing those experiences brings an intensity of joy and delight.  We have rock climbed at Red River Gorge, walked the labyrinth in New Harmony Indiana, dripped in the sweat lodge, and chanted Kirtan around a campfire. All retreats are infused with life-affirming rituals, deepening asana practice, pranayama and meditation. But it is the nuanced setting, the temporary community, and the safety that it represents that allows positive change to occur.  For those who dare to retreat, you will be changed; the community allows you a safe space in which to work, learn, and grow with and alongside other who are as fearless, (and fearful), as you.

I am feeling the urge to create “retreat” again; many students have been asking lately and I look forward to the manifestation of my hope to share this experience with some of you this year. I know it is true that yoga is yoga no matter when or where you practice, but based on my experience, the powerful process of being away from your everyday life, allows a deepening that is difficult to achieve in so little time while still at home. I look forward to sharing this experience soon. Namaste