sweat equity magazine special edition

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livin’ la vida green Celebrating our Commuity

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in every issue

6 Publishers Note / coNtributors

8 commuNity sweat

10 eco swag

18 sweat scieNce

13 om News

28 sweat etiquette

14 oPPosites attractHot Yoga Wellness & Qigong

17 liviNg your moksha Keepin’ it Green

Features

19 gurus iN our midstA Celebration of Our Community

22 thai massage toroNto schoolModern Day Masters

24 sPriNg cleaNiNgAn Inside Job

26 the truth aiN’t always PrettyThe Ugly Side of Beauty Products

27 sugar ridgeHow Sweet It Is!

27 iNbalaNce NutritioN Making Healthy Choices

Contentsspecial edition 2012

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4 WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | special edition 2012

Special Edition

PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fred Antwi [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mairead Walsh [email protected]

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/PROMOTION MANAGER Debra Antwi [email protected]

ART DIRECTION Erik Mohr/Bungalow (creativebungalow.com)

PRODUCTION MANAGER/STAFF WRITER Sarah Lichtman [email protected]

COPY EDITOR Eryn Kirkwood

CONTRIBUTORS Colin De France, Stephanie Dickison, Jen Kirsch, Liana Louzon, Kristen Ma, Joy McCarthy, Erin Moraghan, Nestor Ponce, Dina Rich, Mairead Walsh

SALES ACCOUNT MANAGERS Leslie Best, Beryl Wong [email protected]

COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT David Good [email protected] CIRCULATION [email protected]

While every effort has been made to ensure that advertisements and articles appear correctly, Sweat Equity Lifestyle Media Group cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. All material is intended for information purposes only. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editors.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.

Owned and published by Sweat Equity Lifestyle Media Group 6-1500 Upper Middle Road West, #118 Oakville, Ontario L6M 0C2 [email protected]

Sweat Equity Magazine is published 4 times a year (February, May, August, November) For advertising/sales inquiries please contact: [email protected]

Printed in Canada on paper from a sustainable source using vegetable-based inks.

CONTACT US Readers are invited to contribute comments, views and photos.Article submission and photography should be emailed to: [email protected]

MODEL/PROFILE SUBMISSION If you are interested in being considered for a model/ trainer/instructor profile please submit photos to: [email protected]

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publisher’s note

A Celebration ThIS SpECIAl ISSUE Of SWEAT EQUITY IS A CElEbrATION! Upon

reflection, we realize that we have learned so much from the short

time that we’ve been publishing this magazine. Our personal experi-

ences with each of the teachers and mentors has been beyond

valuable. We hope that we have been able to positively impact you

by sharing some of that inspiration and wisdom.. There is a strong

sense of community within yoga and we certainly felt that while each

teacher and mentor we connected with had their own unique contri-

bution, it is all still very much connected.

This spring is an exciting time for us. For the first time, we have

created a yoga pavilion at the Green Living Show. For three days, you

can come and join in North America’s largest green consumer show

dedicated to educating people about easy solutions for leading a

sustainable lifestyle. New features at the show include an expanded

eco-fashion marketplace and the Sweat Equity Yoga Pavilion. Here

you can watch various yoga demonstrations including some classes in

Qigong, workshops on wellness and demonstrations of Thai Massage.

You can even try your hand at some BollyFit created by Reshmi

Chetram, a Toronto-based Indian classical dancer. She will take you

through some Bollywood dance moves to experience the excitement,

exoticism and exuberance of traditional Indian dance. It’s a total body

workout and a whole lot of fun!

This issue we also highlight many of the eco-conscious companies

that we are working with at the show. Find out more about their start-

ing places, their stories and specialities and what they are doing to

help the environment. We have lots of free passes and other swag to

giveaway so be sure to follow us on twitter and visit us on facebook to

stay informed.

Fred Antwi, Publisher

Experience the power of yoga at the Green Living Show. The Sweat Equity Yoga Pavilion will feature an interactive stage and participation area where you can join us

for free classes, workshops, demos and even some stretching in style with our catwalk flaunting the latest trends in eco-active fashion. In partnership with a select group of businesses, we look forward to offering you a space where you can engage, connect,

gather information and most importantly... do yoga! Visit us in the centre of the Green Living Show for an event that will move you. Stay tuned for a schedule!

@sweatequitymag sweatequitymagazine.com greenlivingonline.com


community sweat

community

SweatUpcoming special events

Saturday April 28, 2012AMNESTY INTErNATIONAl’S YOGA DAY fOr HUMAN rIGHTS OTTAWA AND SElECT CITIES ACrOSS CANADA

stretch yourself for human rights!on saturday april 28, studios, schools, workplaces, and community centres across canada will roll out yoga mats with one common goal: to raise money and awareness for amnesty international’s work on women’s human rights. this year, yoga day is raising awareness on courageous women’s human rights activists in iran, who face harassment and imprisonment as a direct result of demanding equality for women. Join one of the events taking place in ottawa, edmonton, Barrie or toronto, or organise your own by registering at yogaday.ca.

lOlë MEET-UpS on a mission to keep women healthy and passionate about life, lolë created a program that encourages women to keep moving and stay active: meet-ups. lolë’s commitment to a healthy lifestyle inspired them to create a program where women can enjoy a variety of activities, including yoga, pilates, zumba and even ballet — all free, all year long. local lolë ateliers also organize workshops on nutrition, health and other topics of interest to the community in an effort to bring together women for the purpose of well-being. Visit the online event calendar for more information. lolewomen.com

April 13 – 15th, 2012SWEAT EQUITY YOGA pAvIlIONMIND | BODY | SWEAT

Sweat Equity brings yoga to life this year at North America’s largest green consumer show: The Green living Show! Here, at the Direct Energy Centre, you’ll find a diverse selection of food, home décor, automo-tive, fashion and now - yoga! Our pavilion will be hosting demos, mini-workshops, and yoga classes from top teachers in the GTA. Experience various yoga styles, from Ashtanga and Acro Yoga to vinyasa, as well as Qigong and Tai Chi. participate in some wellness workshops, bring your kids for yoga and see a cat walk of some eco active fashion. You can also get a workout in by taking a class with reshmi Chetram, creator of Bollyfit! visit our partners, Moksha Yoga, JadeYoga, Hot Yoga Wellness, Thai Massage Toronto, Sugar ridge retreat Centre, Inbalance Nutrition, Oneka, and The Brand New One with some of their feature programming. Come and stretch with us and celebrate our great ‘green’ community and living la vida yoga!sweatequitymagazine.com greenlivingshow.ca

Spirit is the life, mind is the builder, physical is the result

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Buy a Mat, We Plant a Tree | Trees for the Future since 1989, trees for the Future has been help-ing communities around the world plant trees. through seed distribution, agro forestry training and our country programs, we have empowered rural groups to restore tree cover to their lands. planting trees protects the environment and helps to preserve traditional livelihoods and cultures for generations.treesftf.org

Buy a Towel, Provide Fresh Water | The Water Project Inc.the Water project, inc. is a non-profit organiza-tion that’s bringing relief to communities around the world who suffer needlessly from lack of access to clean water.thewaterproject.org/

Buy a Block, Preserve Rainforest | Tropical Rainforest Coalitionthe tropical Rainforest coalition’s mission is to preserve tropical rainforest ecosystems, their indigenous people, and cultures at the local level by enabling volunteerism, through com-munity education and at the international level via technical and financial support for recog-nized organizations involved in the conservation of tropical rain forests.rainforest.org

JadeYoga Wants Your Yoga to Be GreatJust because JadeYoga has thought about the environment and world causes, don’t think for a moment they’ve neglected their products. You’ll find the same dedication and high-quality commitment with these as with everything else they do.

take their Jade Harmony™ Yoga Mats, for instance. they’re made of open cell rubber, which keeps you from slipping, even if you perspire while downward dogging. so you can focus on your breath and not on the mat! it’s there to support, not disturb, you. and it’s cushi-ony, so whether you’re in a high-end studio or a church basement, you’ll be comfortable. in fact, you can customize your own mat. Jade mats offer four options for thickness, three different lengths and widths, and ten beautiful colours.jadeyogamats.ca

YOGA MATS MAdE OF ECO MATERIAlSenvironmentally friendly products are a big part of what JadeYoga is about. they’re leaders in creating ways to make use of undervalued, renewable and sustainable resources like natu-ral rubber, which is what their mats are made of. How about their inventive use of naturally growing non-engineered balsa wood for their Jade Balsa Blocks? Balsa wood is a rapidly renewable resource that reaches maturity in just a few years. even their yoga towels are made of certified Us-grown organic cotton, an eco-friendly fibre containing no genetically modified seeds, toxic or persistent pesticides/herbicides, bleach, heavy metals, or synthetic fertilizers. it seems they’ve gone out of their way to source not only what’s en vogue, but what’s truly best.

GIvE TO JAdE, JAdE GIvES BACkJadeYoga supports many causes worldwide, and through partnerships with trees for the Future, the Water project, and tropical Rainforest coalition, they give back to Mother earth with every product sold. But they take the spirit of giving one step further by allow-ing customers to give back too, when they purchase certain products:

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Eating by the Book

ThE hISTOrY Of QIGONG (pronounced chee-gung) goes back more than 4000 years. in 2400 B.c. Qigong emerged in china and contributed to the writing of Yi Jin or i ching. during the shang dynasty, everyone from lay people to royals practiced Qigong. today it’s practiced worldwide. peter Meech, author of Mysteries of the life Force: My apprenticeship with a chi Kung Master, describes it as “an internal art devoted to the cultivation of chi, or the life force.”

Qigong at Hot Yoga Wellnesssujun chen opened Hot Yoga Wellness four years ago and offers Qigong as part of their programming. Here they focus on Health Qigong, a form of chinese yoga that aligns breath work, movement, awareness and meditation. it is believed that you can improve your overall health by increasing your Qi circulation. sujun says “Health Qigong will help balance mental and physical energy by stilling the mind and creating awareness. it nourishes and tones your internal organs, and allowing chi to flow freely leads to better function of the organs. Reducing anxiety; lowering high blood pressure; strengthening and toning the body; increasing muscle, tendon, and joint flexibility, [Qigong] is a great way to reduce stress and with regular practice will slow the hands of time.”

Blending Qigong WitH Hot Yogathere are two kinds of exercise: passive (i.e., massage and acupunc-ture) and active (i.e., hot yoga, breathing and meditation). Hot yoga is a typical type of Yang exercise: it induces sweating and builds strength and endurance; that is, it’s an “energy-out” exercise. Your body needs

Yin exercise to manage your internal energy and to receive energy from the universe. that’s why sujun offers Health Qigong: “When you cleanse your body you need two kinds of energy: one from nutritious food and the other from the universe (chi). Your body becomes open when practicing hot yoga, making it easy to absorb good energy from food and the universe.”

Yoga Qigong tHerapYWith the guidance of a yoga instructor, Yoga Qigong therapy teaches students how to manage and maintain their own energy. a therapeutic yoga session is designed according to individual need. it isn’t just physical exercise. although a posture sequence might be created to enhance a student’s overall wellbeing, yoga therapy delves into the psychology of yoga as well to combine both physical and meditative elements, bringing balance into one’s daily life.

Hot Yoga Wellness also offers Yoga Qigong therapist training. this unique program gives yoga teachers an opportunity to explore a deeper means in which to help people.

OppOSITES ATTrACTQigong and Hot Yoga Unite at Hot Yoga WellnessBy Stephanie Dickison

Hot Yoga Wellness offers yoga programs for people

of all ages, in addition to a kids’ summer camp, Health

Qigong, meditation, heated and non-heated yoga,

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your age or level of ability, there’s something for

everyone in this non-competitive and community-

oriented environment. hotyogawellness.com

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living Your Moksha

Keepin’ it GreenMoksha’s Green InitiativesBy Erin Moraghan

Moksha Yoga is a flourishing community of independent hot yoga studios that began with the vision of ted Grand and Jess Robertson. their commit-

ment to the environment has remained at the forefront of their expansion with each of the over 60 hot yoga studios worldwide, dedicated to ethical,

compassionate and environmentally conscious living. the growth of this family is a result of the support of each Moksha Yoga studio owner, Moksha

teacher and a community of devoted students, all working towards bettering the world. their mission is nurtured by Grand and Robertson’s belief in

the limitless benefits of yoga, keeping it accessible to all and their efforts in keeping it ‘green’.

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Ted Grand on Living Green

“We recognize that we don’t exist without the stability and strength of

the planet’s ecosystems. the earth plays a vital part in our practice,

as yoga teaches us that this interconnectedness creates a necessity to

protect and preserve what gives us life and vitality. We are the water we

drink, the trees that provide oxygen, the animals that create diversity,

and the soil that provides food. When mindless consumerism and poor

political decision-making threaten that life and vitality, it is a deeply

yogic response to protect and preserve that source of what we are.”

Jess Robertson on Accessibility

“the word ‘yoga’ comes from the verb ‘to yoke’ or ‘unite’. one of the

most fundamental ways that the Moksha community creates this unity

is through ensuring that all classes are open to everyone! With a block,

a strap, a well educated teacher, and a sense of humour... any yoga

posture and idea can be of benefit. Yoga postures have an alchemical

effect, like magic. they turn stress into relaxation, fear into courage,

sadness into peace, loneliness into joy. We bring this magic yoga stuff to

everyone - athletes, couch potatoes, patchouli wearing hippies like my

mom, or a suit wearing business man like my uncle Bob. there are no

pre requisites to being a Moksha student. Just come!”

Go-Green Quick Tips!1. Clean Green: Unsafe products are wreaking havoc on the

planet...and if that’s not enough motivation, 15% of asthma are

due to yucky fumes from toxic household cleaners! choose

earth-friendly options or make your own from water, vinegar and

lemon.

2. Eat Local: Most fruits and veggies travel 2500-4000 km to our

plates. choose local, and organic when possible.

3. Go Veggie: 7 football fields worth of land are bulldozed every

minute to support factory farming. that’s a darn good reason to

choose chickpeas over chicken.

4. Morning Pick Me Up: over 58 million beverage cups are

thrown away annually. save cash and the planet - brew your

own java and take it to go in your own mug.

5. Cold vs Hot: Using a cold wash and rinse saves up to 93% of

energy compared to hot.


Contact Info: [email protected] | 416.703.8805 BEACH: 1977 Queen Street East | DOWNTOWN: 735 Queen Street West, 2nd Floor

: [email protected] | 416.703.8805 : 1977 Queen Street East | DOWNTOWN: 735 Queen Street West, 2nd Floor

250HR Teacher Training Certification with Ron Reid, Diane Bruni, Marla Joy & David BruniIntensive Format: May 14 - June 8

This program is Yoga Alliance Certified and students will be provided with an official Tuition ReceiptFor more details about this program and our Teacher Training programs in Toronto go to: www.downwarddog.com

PLEASE SEND IN THIS SUBSCRIPTION CARD ALONG WITH YOUR CHEQUE TO: Sweat Equity Media Group, 6-1500 Upper Middle Road W. Suite #118 Oakville ON L6M 0C2or sign up online at www.sweatequitymagazine.com and click on SUBSCRIBE. Payments may also be made via PayPal to [email protected]

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RUSSELL SIMMONS ON THE SPOILS OF SPIRITUALITY

WINTER 2011 // VOL. 2 ISSUE 1 // $4.95WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

A Montreal manifestation

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Yoga · Fitness · Lifestyle

MOST

CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN YOGA

5

Eating by the Book

To borrow from a well-known adage, there’s no such thing as a

self-made yogi. When we pause to consider who inspires us to be

our best, we realize that over the past few years, we’ve had the

pleasure of standing on the shoulders of some remarkable yoga

giants. Our pages, our practices and our lives have been graced by

the legendary likes of Seane Corn, Baron Baptiste, Russell Simmons,

Diane Bruni, Ted Grand, Trish Stratus, Simon Park and Cynthia Funk.

Gurus in our Midst

Homage to the present-day pillars of yoga

By Debra Antwi



these yogis are as different as chalk and cheese, as diverse as lady Gaga and Gandhi. stratus began her career in professional wrestling, loves fish and chips, and plays a bounty hunter on t.V. Baptiste studied at the feet of yogi parents as well as mentors like desikachar and swami Rama and has served on the coaching staff of a U.s. professional football team. corn’s a new Jersey native, while park was born in rural Korea. Funk’s toronto studios are the result of two sisters’ simple dream to start a family business, and simmons’ hip-hop-infused persona guides a multimillion dollar, multi-industry enterprise. Yet, for all their outward differences, they share some qualities that inspire, motivate and captivate that part of ourselves that has nothing to do with precise placement of our limbs in space or the specific brand of practices we call yoga.

First and foremost, they embody a sense of humility and compassion that can feel so rare in a world that glorifies celebrity and all its trappings, showing that notoriety and narcissism don’t have to be inseparable

bedfellows. they freely admit that they’re not just teachers, but students of yoga as well; they never lose touch with the beginner’s mind that allows them to make beginners feel welcome. Bruni’s fond of saying, “You have to teach with kindness, because that’s what people will remember.” Given her long history in the toronto yoga community, she’s not only “remembered,” but respected by devotees who now number in the thousands. Funk reminds us that “the more i learn, the more i can bring” to enrich others. last summer, corn bared her humble heart to our readers when she recounted her story of a misguided attempt to share her love of yoga with a group of disadvantaged girls; and park, who tours the world teaching on a schedule that would rival any rock star’s, admits that even if he never brought one original idea to his students but only shared what he has learned from his teachers, it would be enough to fill a lifetime.

these yoga stars also share a sense of open-mindedness and acceptance when it comes to defining yoga, preferring to err on the side of inclusion rather than exclusion. they recognize that there are

In some ways,

Seane Corn

Trish Stratus


many possible entry points to a practice (simmons admits he was first drawn by the beautiful yoginis he saw in classes), and they demonstrate a willingness to meet people wherever they are in their yogic journey. so when Bruni guides her advanced students through a challenging ashtanga flow on the beach, Funk provides a 3-minute sequence that yogis can do at their desks, park gets on another plane to bring prana Flow to Germany or spain, and stratus demonstrates using beanbag-weighted gloves to enhance muscle work in asana practice, they never seem to forget that the yoga in each case—although outwardly very different—has the same spirit and purpose: to use the body as a means to access and understand our inner selves. By the very diversity of their teaching styles and perspectives, they unlock the beauty of yoga for a much wider variety of practitioners, bringing the practice to fruition in the 23 hours a day that we aren’t on the mat. as Grand so eloquently puts it, “How i am as a parent to my three beautiful girls is my yoga. How i am when i vote is my yoga. How i am when i spend every single dollar that i

spend in my life is my yoga. contained within yoga practice is how we are every moment.”

our yoga mentors are all passionate about what they do, and their enthusiasm is contagious! Yet they model the equanimity that keeps passion from morphing into mania and imbalance. Baptiste makes time to share his gifts with african children through a non-profit yoga project in nairobi. corn’s off the Mat and into the World program trains yogis to design and lead social activism projects. stratus leverages her television celebrity status to contribute to a long list of charities. Grand’s environmental initiatives are extensive as he looks for cutting-edge ways to reduce the carbon footprint. and by inventing ways to share his wealth with those in need, simmons shows us that the phrase “millionaire yogi” doesn’t have to be a contradiction in terms.

swami sivananda counseled that we should “convert every work into yoga with the magic wand of right attitude.” Mentors like these prove that the magic is possible and that it has the power to change the world.

Diane Bruni

Baron Baptiste

“convert every work into yoga with the magic

wand of right attitude.”


Eating by the Bookprofile

C. PierCe Salguero writeS in the encyclopedia of thai Massage

that thai massage is “based on ayurvedic medicine and yoga,” and

“has been handed down through an unbroken chain of masters for

centuries.” this art form “incorporates a traditional combination

of acupressure, energy, meridian work and yoga-like stretching,”

according to salguero.

toronto innovatorS

deanna Villa founded thai Massage toronto in 1998. it was the first

thai Massage school and Massage centre in operation in toronto and

among the first few in north america. deanna, a master practitioner,

began her practice in 1998 and started teaching in 2002. Her lineage of

teachers includes Master pichet Boonthume of old Medicine Hospital;

Kam thye chow of lotus palm, school of thai Yoga Massage; and dr.

anthony James from the international thai therapists association.

Modifying her teaching to “focus on techniques that avoid injury

and discomfort for the practitioner, known as the tMt method,”

students obtain skills in stability and alignment as well as focused

attention to prevent injury, strain and fatigue. deanna teaches the

physical application of metta (loving kindness), so you can be sure

that her students come away with far more than just techniques and

terminology.

always in motion, deanna has authored ten thai Massage manuals,

recorded six instructional dVds (including the dVd series the art of

sensing) and an audio meditation cd to accompany the thai Massage

toronto certification training.

Juan Villa (deanna’s husband) became a thai Massage practitioner

ten years ago and has since extended his expertise to include Reiki

Master and craniosacral therapist. He trained for both of these in

thailand. Juan takes a very hands-on approach, such that each is able

to offer their individual clients unique care and attention. students of

Juan enjoy massage treatments, so they can personally experience

how thai Massage from a master practitioner should feel!

the SChool

With locations in port credit and downtown toronto, individual

classes and certifications (available in beginner, intermediate and

advanced levels) are convenient. Registrants can chose between

group, semi-private or private classes, both on- and off-site. Weekend

and weekday schedules enable students to navigate attendance with

their work and family life. if money is a concern, all tuition fees are tax

deductible, and there are flexible pay-as-you-go plans as well (You

can contact the school to arrange an information session and tour).

With deanna and Juan at the helm, you can rest assured that you’re

in good hands, good healing hands.

Thai Massage Toronto

664 Bloor st. West, 2nd floor, toronto

(416) 234-0011

thaimassagetoronto.com

Thai Massage Toronto School

Modern masters advance an age-old tradition By Stephanie Dickison

Pho

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The mainsTream beauTy care indusTry endorses vanity, excess and the use of environmentally

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Why should you choose natural beauty products whenever you can?

They Don’t Contain Nonrenewable IngredientsMost commercial skincare products contain petroleum-derived ingredients. these go by names such

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skincare and make-up comprised only of vegetable oils, plant waxes and flower waters, we reduce our

petroleum consumption and support more sustainable beauty regimens.

They Promote Wildlife Safety and Soil Quality Many cosmetic ingredients are detrimental to wildlife and our overall ecosystem. For example,

petroleum and petroleum-derived cosmetic ingredients such as phlalates are also found to be harmful

and toxic. petroleum contains hydrocarbon molecules along with trace amounts of nitrogen and sulfur

that are deadly to living organisms, and phlalates have been found to be carcinogenic when in contact

with the bodily fluids of animals and humans. the cultivation of organic, natural skincare ingredients

is less damaging to the environment, because organic agriculture avoids the use of nitrogen-based

fertilizers, such as calcium nitrate, which causes high concentrations of nitrogen in the water table and

creates aquatic “dead zones.” organic skincare also promotes soil fertility as these agricultural practices

help slow soil erosion. this along with the fact that organic farming locks carbon into the ground, thus

reducing carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere, makes buying organic skincare

products the right thing to do.

Kristen is an ayurvedic practitioner and co-owner of pure + simple inc., an independent chain of holistic spas in

toronto. she’s the author of Beauty: pure + simple and writes the popular blog, holisticvanity.ca. there she shares

her thoughts and knowledge on ayurveda and its beauty benefits. Find out more about Kristen at pureandsimple.ca

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Beauty


insight

inbalance nutrition was founded on the principle that eating

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the purest organic, all natural, and non-GMo ingredients.

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products, inbalance also considers the implication of their choices

on the health and well being of others and the environment. in 2011

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bottles and scoops and relaunched inbalance (new Zealand) Whey

protein isolate in resealable pouches, effectively reducing their total

packaging by more than 85%. additionally, all of their beverage

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inbalance nutrition also supports the growing movement towards

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Inbalancenutrition.ca

inbalance nutritionAn eco-friendly approach to living

sugar ridgeHow Sweet it is!

coincidentally situated on Forgets Road, sugar Ridge offers the

perfect get-away where you will sleep better, eat better and

indeed forget at least some of your stress. liz Frost, a former

chartered accountant, had a passion to create a place where

people could go to reconnect to themselves. she was able to

make that dream come to life with sugar Ridge.

this intentionally simple yet comfortable retreat offers

guests unique spa treatments, customized yoga classes, even

belly dancing if you prefer - and fully operates keeping the envi-

ronment in mind. the kitchen is vegetarian catering to all of its

visitors needs (gluten free, dairy free, vegan etc.) and all meals

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For more information on this magnificent retreat, be sure to

visit sugarridge.ca.


sweat etiquette

And so it is, Another to-do list ridden, on-the-go, non-stop,

anxiety-inducing kind of day. not only do you have to balance your

itinerary, and your relationship, but you also want to sit back, Baddha

Konasana style, and get your sweat on. in an ideal world, you can have

it all.

Between coaching clients, writing relationship columns, making

tV appearances and dating, one thing i decided to maintain was my

yoga practice. in fact, the days i hit the mat were the days i felt more

confident in front of the camera, at a dinner date and even behind the

screen as i wrote my heart out.

i hate to break it to you, but those who say they’re “too busy” aren’t

too busy. What it comes down to is priority. We choose what we have

time for. We analyze what’s more important. i’ve gone through phases

of planning get-togethers around my yoga schedule. i’ve woken up at

6:00 a.m. to get a practice in on a day i knew would put me six feet

under if i skipped this necessary time for myself.

if you’re having issues with your significant other, do yoga. if you’re

getting frustrated with a project at work, do yoga. if you’re so busy you

don’t have time to breathe, do yoga. and when you don’t have time to

do yoga, do yoga; in fact, do it twice that day.

the practice itself is both physically and mentally medicinal. We

become better partners and better co-workers when we practice;

we become better at being in our own skin, at being physically and

emotionally strong.

Whether it takes getting honked at on your leisurely drive home from

the studio, (due to that inner peace that no one else on the road seems

to have), or maybe you find yourself ignoring an aggressive email,

knowing that the sender was just “worked up over nothing,” yoga

provides an inexplicable sense of calm. doing yoga every day keeps

the crazy at bay.

You may not convince your other half to hit a class with you, nor can

you prescribe a months’ worth to your boss (wouldn’t that be subtle?!),

but you can maintain your own daily practice. connect with yourself

in a way that enables you to see clearly. connect in a way that reveals

how precious and easy life can be, so long as you take it in, one breath

at a time.

MENTAl MEdICINEYoga every day keeps the crazy at bayBy Jen Kirsch

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