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How a Yoga Teacher Shops

November 8, 2011 in abundance, frugal living, recipes, Yoga | 2 comments

Free food from vitacost

We can live very-well, and also stretch our dollars far by making smart choices.

For years now, I’ve been buying much of my brand name food, teas, bars, superfoods, grains, soaps, toothpaste, cleaners, oils, and supplements online from Vitacost.

Their prices are *great*, their selection is vast, I get free shipping, and customer service is just the best.

Yes, companies like this still do exist. So, why do we deal with the ones that don’t treat us as nicely?

I wish they would teach Verizon a thing or two!

A few clicks, a couple times a month, and I get a big box from them. So simple. I would pay more for this kind of service…. but the kicker is, their prices are *much lower* than whole foods, and the shipping is free.

I also support the local health food store, and farmers market in season for my fresh veggies, a few stops a week and my shopping is complete.

Here’s just one instance: I pay under 5 dollars for 100 good quality organic green teabags. (yeah, I drink a lot of tea.)

A great deal: They just started this great referral program, for a limited time they are offering a no-strings attached ten-dollar coupon for your first purchase.

I hope you can pardon the commercial nature of this post, but I only endorse what I personally use, and I know you’ll love this company as much as I do. You’ll save time and money.

It’s gets better, (for me!) When you place your first order, they credit my account with a bonus as well. Win-Win-Win, I don’t expect this offer to last long.

To get ten-dollars off your first order (and keep a Yoga teacher flush with tea-bags) click on this link to signup:

—->  Vitacost Free Food New Customer Signup Promotion.

Like I said, no strings,  no hype, just good prices and service. Enjoy! and let us know how you make out.

Thanks Vitacost, Keep up the great work and low prices, I’ll be sure to send everyone your way.

Please Help us spread the word, encouraging more reasonable food prices. Please forward this post to a friend, and/or click the FB like button below.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

-john

P.S.  Bindy’s playing her singing bowls for our Monday 4pm class. Please come early so we can start right on time. Check the events page for more info, and the scoop on Thanksgiving weekend.

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When to buy organic

June 13, 2011 in abundance, frugal living, recipes | 9 comments

farmers markets massachusetts organic food guide

The second topic I'm asked about most frequently is food. Students know that I'm passionate about simple, good, clean, mostly-organic Vegan food. 

I don't like the idea of pesticides on my food, poison for us, for the bugs, and they make a mess of the environment. But, we can't always find or afford what we'd like in the organic section. I love the Environmental Working Group's annual list of The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15, which produce has the most and least pesticide residue.

By choosing more of the cleaner foods and less of the contaminated foods, we can reduce our pesticide intake by up to 92% before even springing for the organic veggies.

I'd still suggest buying organics when you can, it's just better for the land, it's a more sustainable choice, and often tastes and looks better than the conventional. But when you need to decide where to best-spend your organic dollars, this guide can really help you navigate the farmers markets this summer.

Here's the list, Let me know what you think, where you try and spend your food dollars. If you need some inspiring recipes to whip this amazing produce up with, check out Alicia Silverstone's lifestyle blog: The Kind Life.

The Dirty Dozen (wash really well)

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches 
5. Spinach 
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes 
10. Blueberries (domestic)
11. Lettuce 
12. Kale/collard greens
 

The Clean 15

1. Onions 
2. Corn 
3. Pineapples
5. Asparagus 
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes 
8. Eggplant 
9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
10. Kiwi 
11. Cabbage 
12. Watermelon 
13. Sweet potatoes 
14. Grapefruit 
15. Mushrooms
 
Please, share this important post with your friends, family and FB community. If we all buy less of the dirty foods, we send a clear message (sell cleaner food!) to the food companies.
 

Who can remember all of this? Click on The Dirty Dozen – Clean 15 for a nice printable, wallet-sized card form EWG.  

Om Shanti,

-j

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World Vegetarian Day

September 30, 2009 in abundance, ahimsa, Yoga | Add Your Comment

 Namaste.

I got some emails regarding the Fruit Fly Liberation blogpost.  Most were favorable, a few were fun, and a couple were hostile.  I’m used to the full-spectrum of reactions to my suggesting compassion.  For some reason, some people are threatened by the idea of caring for others.  

I wouldn’t say they are cold or heartless, just misinformed.  I bet they care for their dog or cat just fine.  All of us have a level of compassion, where we draw our line.  This is selective compassion.  The Practice of Ahimsa, or non-violence asks us to lower this line to include more beings. This is a foundational aspect of Yoga.

Myself, I don’t feel qualified to decide which beings to care for, it’s a matter of simplification to care for all beings, even the small ones, even the unpopular ones.  If the pigeons raid the feeder, I put more seed out. They are hungry too.  Ditto for the Squirrels.  Why not? 

As I was washing my greens for dinner tonight I noticed this tiny little bug in the basin of water.  He sure was small, and… he was swimming.  I held him a leaf, and he climbed on.  As I set him out in the garden, I could imagine his relief.  

Yes, I project a lot onto others… But this bug was trying to save himself, as you would if you were dumped in the middle of the ocean.  My dinner was nicer in knowing that he survived it.

This will to live is inherent in all beings.  We share the same Prana, (not the Yoga-pants, but the lifeforce) that animates him.

Okay, so John’s ranting about the bugs again.  

But It’s really not about the bugs, it’s about recognizing the gift of life in all beings.  

October first is World Vegetarian Day.  Please read:  The Startling Effects of Going Vegetarian for Just One Day  

Yoga asks us to examine our beliefs often, and hold our truths lightly, cause they change as we learn more about ourselves and our world.  We don’t have to be selective, we can care for all beings.  Om Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu.

 The further I walk along this path, the less I need to know.  

As we head off to our Fall Retreat at Spirit Fire this weekend, our group will live in peaceful practice and enjoy amazing Vegetarian food.  

We’ve got a full house this trip, but a couple spots may still be left for the Spring 2010 retreat.  Email me right away if you’re interested in joining us though.  

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

john

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The You Bar

April 18, 2009 in abundance, recipes, Yoga | 6 comments

Food is life, it becomes part of us. Literally.  I make the majority of my food at home, with quality ingredients, and tend to eat in restaurants where I know the owner,  I believe that food created with intention is better for us. 

Sometimes I resort to ‘food’ bars while on the road.  Not too often, cause most of them seem to have just too much sugar for me.  I feel better when I can pack something more substantial, simple, and real. 

I’ve just hooked up with this great company that makes custom nutritional bars!    there’s a great web interface, you choose your own tasty ingredients from a menu. They even print your chosen name on the wrappers!   and, I’ve arranged a 5% discount for us.

My new favorite thing:

You Bar, at You bar, you build your own nutritional bar

I’m really excited to send ‘make your own bar’ gift certificates to my friends and family, and make bars with their names on them.

I ‘made’ myself a nice vegan bar with no added sugar, and called it by my nickname.

Make your own bar, perhaps name it after your favorite Yoga pose, and! Yes, I called the chef.

Anthony over at YouBar hooked us up. Remember to type in  YogaJohn for a coupon code and get 5% off your order!

Check out youbars.com, and have a blast!  let me know what you end up making, we could trade and have a taste-test.

how about a SuryaNamaskarBar?

Om Shanti, see you in class.

-john

P.S.  Just A few spots still open in the special Restorative Yoga class next Sunday, and check out our Invoking Shiva  class the following Saturday of May 2′nd.  This will be the last workshop this season.  see the events page for more info!  

 

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Humane Myth

June 30, 2008 in recipes, Yoga | Add Your Comment

Everyone seems to be going green, or talking about it anyway.  Even yoga studios are trying to tread a little lighter on the planet.    As yogis who seek the truth, we need to sift through all these claims and find out whats really happening.  A new term “Greenwashing” has popped up.   When you are beign pitched by a company claiming that they are the ’green’ choice, dig a little deeper.  Often times, things are not what they seem.   

Another area where talk is extremely louder than the walk is the food industry.  My good friends and mentors James Laveck and Jenny Stein have launched a new website dedicated to the truth.   Take a few minutes to ponder the HumaneMyth website.   pass it along.

See you in class, om shanti

-john 

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What the world eats

June 1, 2008 in recipes | Add Your Comment

 

Food Nutrition Eating Health Diet [BOLD

Came across an interesting slideshow on what typical families around the world eat in one week.

Click here to see the slideshow:  What the World Eats

This expose comes from an amazing book: What the World Eats,  a rare glipse into 30 families in 24 diferent countries.  Families that spend from $2 to $500 a week on food.

What would your weeks food look like?   What counts is how we live when nobodys looking.  A good practice is to pretend there’s always someone watching.

Remember the simplicity Mantra?   Om I have enought ahum…

Take care, I’ll see you in class,

john

                                                  —————

Join us for a free class I’m teaching at Lulu Lemon in the Natick Collection Mall, June 22′nd, 10am !

 

 

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