Sun Salutation to the Lord's Prayer

Probably about 5 years ago, I got my hands on a book called "The New Christian Yoga." I'm not quite sure what I did with the book (someone gave it to me), and I wish I still had it! Nonetheless, I learned a simple rendition of the Sun Salutation to the Lord's Prayer that I still remember. It's a great way to combine Christian prayer and yoga stretched for optimal spiritual and physical benefit!

Sun Salutation to the Lord's Prayer

 "Our Father who art in heaven..."

 "Hollowed be thy name..."

"Thy Kingdom come..."

"Thy will be done..." (Put second leg back)

"On earth as it is in heaven..."
(lower down, face down, flat on mat, arms at sides)

"Give us this day, our daily bread..."

"And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

 

"And lead us not into temptation..."

"But deliver us from evil..." (Second leg)

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever..." (roll up)

"Amen."

Eating Vegan: What It Is and the Benefits

What does it mean to be vegan? No it's not some strange religion, and it's not to be confused with being a Vulcan, as Star Trek's signature character Spock was. (For a real-life sneak-peak at their spaceship check out the picture on my Facebook.)

Vegan is a way of eating that is devoid of any animal products or animal derivatives. Some vegans even refrain from eating honey! (A byproduct of bees.) Nonetheless, eating vegan has MANY benefits and those who chose a vegan lifestyle discover the following benefits:

• More energy
• Clear skin
• No B.O. (body odor)
• Need less sleep
• Feel more calm
• No more brain fog 

What do they eat?

So, what does one eat on a vegan diet? One might assume that a vegan would eat a diet akin to a bunny rabbit, (aka carrots, celery, and grass), but that is actually not the case. Eating vegan can actually be quite varied and it is very exciting to try new recipes!


Here are some things that vegans eat:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Nuts and seeds, nut butters
• Sprouts
• Whole grains & whole grain breads
• Juices
• Vegan meal replacement shakes
• Unrefined fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado (avocado is a fruit, too)

There are many recipe books out there now that support a vegan lifestyle. Eating out might pose a challenge while eating vegan, but here are some suggestions to help make it easier:

• At a fast food restaurant, order a salad (if they have it), with vinaigrette dressing
• At a yogurt shop, order sorbet (It's dairy-free!)
• At a coffee shop, order tea or a latte with soy, rice, or almond milk
• At a sit-down restaurant, beans, rice, a side of vegetables (sans butter), salads (no cheese or dairy dressing), baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and vegetarian sandwiches are your best friends

Sources of Protein

The #1 question I would get asked when I was vegan for 2 years was, "Where's the protein?!?"

I found my protein in a variety of sources:

• Beans
• Sprouted beans
• Nuts
• Sprouted grain bread (my favorite!)
• Nut butters and spreads
• Vegan protein bars
• The many vegan cheeses, Boca burgers, and other pre-prepared vegan cuisine

Although soy and edamame is also another option for vegan protein, it is not my favorite because of the phytoestrogen content and it's propensity to mess with your hormones. (For both girls and boys!) 


Conclusion:
It is a sacrifice to eat vegan. But, you will definitely experience the benefits!  Some people opt to do "vegan fasts" or "Daniel fasts" during certain times of the year to detoxify or for spiritual reasons. As you focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and monitor your bread, nut, and oil intake, you will experience weight loss and detox results.  Eating vegan even 80% of the time is beneficial.

Keep in mind though, a dietary choice like this one shouldn't be so all-encompassing that you lose your joy for other things. Food is a vehicle, not a destination. :)

10 Ways to Feel More Energized

We are a nation that is chronically tired. About 1/3 of us do not get enough sleep! (1) Every time I see those 4-Hour Energy commercials I think to myself, "Wow, we really do have an energy crisis - an individual one!" 

Well, there is a reason for that. 

As someone who spent two years drinking energy drinks AFTER having a complete health overhaul and becoming a vegan, I know the energy level we're all supposed to have is nowhere near where it should be. I was working full-time, going to school, and volunteering at church, in addition to trying to write and work on my dreams.

So why are we all so tired?  A lot of it is that we do not get enough sleep, but much of it has to do with the toxic load on the body. 

From processed foods, to sugar, to artificial sweeteners and prescription medication, to environmental toxins and foods devoid of their original vitamin and enzyme content, our bodies are in desperate need of REAL nutrition, and of getting rid of the toxins we carry with us.  

How do we get toxins? Here are several ways:

• Acidic foods
• Pollution, smog, pollen, pesticides
• Personal hygiene products, chemical cleaners
• Alcohol, cigarettes, second-hand smoke
• Chemicals found in food - additives, preservatives, artificial colors and sweeteners

When I was 19, I went on an all out juice fast.  I didn't know how long this fast would be, but it ended up being 40 days!  When the fast was done, I felt great. I almost didn't want to eat whole food anymore. But, I slowly integrated a vegan diet. I had never felt better.  The energy levels I experienced were extremely high, and I hardly needed 7 hours of sleep.  My recovery time in my workout was next to nothing, and I could run without being heavily winded. I had effectively and significantly reduced the toxic load on my body.

So, what are some simple ways we can feel more energized and relieve our bodies of the toxic loads we carry? Here are 10 ideas: 

1. Drink lots of water. We are also chronically dehydrated - and this is part of the problem!  Water helps filter our systems and remove toxins.
2. Eat more whole foods. Avoid foods with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. 
3. Try to get enough sleep. If you have a job or schedule that is very demanding, try to at least take 1 day of rest and take a nap during that day.
4. Try a colon, liver, kidney and/or gall bladder cleanse. I recommend The Ultimate Reset for a 21-day comprehensive, safe, gentle cleanse, but Milk Thistle, foot baths, charcoal, and apple cider vinegar/olive oil cleanses will help as well.
5. Drink lemon water in the morning. This is a great inexpensive way to rid your colon of excess toxins. Take 1 whole lemon and squeeze into 1 8 oz. glass of water, pulp and all! (Minus seeds)
6. Exercise. Even a 20-minute walk will revive you if you're feeling fatigued. Try this the next time 4pm hits and you feel like a zombie!
7. Eat more vegan foods. Unfortunately, with all the hormones that are being fed to our animals, eating more vegan is the way to go!
8. Eat more raw foods.  Every time we cook a fruit or vegetable we further break down it's vitamin and enzyme content.
9. Take your vitamins! A "raw" vitamin in capsule form is best.
10. Simplify your schedule. I know this may be difficult, but decide what things are in line with your purpose and which ones are not. This may mean taking out a piece of paper and writing things down in terms of priority.  We need to be aware with how much we can handle without hitting our emotional, mental, or physical ceiling.

Although not all of these ideas are feasible for some, incorporating even 1 or 2 will help you in your energy levels.

1.  http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1777837/many_americans_do_not_get_enough_sleep/

Alkalinity vs. Acidity

Definitions:

Alkaline: having a pH value greater than 7.

Acidic: being or containing an acid; of a solution having an excess of hydrogen atoms (having a pH of less than 7).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is the difference between alkalinity and acidity? I'm not just talking about oranges and grapefruits here - we're talking about when the state of our bodies is out of balance. 

When I worked at a pool as a lifeguard, I would measure the pH levels of the pool to make sure it was safe.  If the pool was too acidic or alkaline, I had to adjust the level of chlorine in the water. If it was out of balance, the pool wouldn't be able to kill the amount of bacteria needed for safety.  Conversely, if the pool was too acidic and the level of chlorine was too high, people could also be hurt. 

In our bodies, we have a natural pH balance of about 7.36.  An alkaline nutrition plan takes into account a healthy pH level and feeds the body nutrition that keeps the body at this healthy pH. 

Acidity is the primary cause of disease. From cancer, to obesity, to depression, to heart disease, all of these ailments can be significantly alleviated or eliminated by maintaining an alkaline nutrition plan - that is, a diet made up primarily of fresh fruits and vegetables, natural oils and fats, whole grains, yogurt (low sugar), and lean protein and fish.

So, this means that it is important to avoid foods and things that cause acidity.

What can raise the level of acidity in the body?

• Eating foods that are considered "acidic"
• Not drinking enough water
• Not getting enough sleep
• Environmental toxins 
• Caffeine and alcohol, even prescription drugs
• Too much stress 

Diet plays a HUGE part to play in whether our bodies are in a more alkaline or acidic state, but we cannot discount the part emotional and spiritual "acidity" has to play.  Gossip, depression, glass-half-empty thinking, and abusive or negative relationship are unhealthy for our overall well-being and success.

However, eating more alkaline foods can have an incredible reverse-effect on our health.

Here are my favorite alkaline foods and habits:

• Prayer
• Drinking chlorophyll
• Putting antioxidant drops in my water
• Forgiveness
• Stretching
• Greek yogurt
• Drinking Shakeology

CHALLENGE:

I want to challenge you to think in terms of "acidity" and "alkalinity", and choose things that bring your body and overall person into a state of alkalinity - that is, peace, health, and wholeness!