Origin Magazine Issue15 by THRIVE. ORIGIN + MANTRA Magazines

ORIGIN.

Elephant extinction Global Fund Eliminating AIDS: Charlize Theron Bono Bill Gates

The Conscious Culture Magazine

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Oprah + Wisdom: Kerry Washington Maya Angelou John Legend BrenĂŠ Brown

Mindfulness: Eckhart tolle woody harrelson Jewel Christina Applegate

Organic Living

YOGA: 150 Yoga Teachers Around the Nation Vegan Athletes + Recipes Hilaria Baldwin: PreNatal Yoga. Favorite Animal nonprofits.

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ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 1

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music

jEWEL interview: Maranda Pleasant

6 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

Maranda Pleasant: Tell us about yourself.

music

Jewel: Jewel is my real name. These are my real teeth. I look like my grandmother Ruth. I have a two-year-old boy. Being his mom feels like I have a present I get to spend the rest of my life opening. I make a living with a song, and I feel honored to do something I love and believe in. MP: What makes you come alive?

Jewel: Being engaged with life. One has to develop a poet’s eye for perfect moments, moments that most people pass by. Life is seductive, yet so few allow themselves to be seduced. I love to be alone with life. I love to study simple things: the light as it filters in a window; the music of a room full of people chatting; a horizon. I am most alive when I let myself be touched by the fingers of life. MP: What makes you feel vulnerable?

Jewel: I love vulnerability. It’s what keeps me soft and from becoming emotionally calcified. My life has been full of struggles—coming from a troubled home, moving out when I was fifteen, ending up homeless by eighteen. The one thing I always knew was being jaded and bitter was equal to letting life win. The best antidote for loneliness, hopelessness, and fear is vulnerability: sharing your secrets and talking about what shames you, what you fear. I personally feel the most vulnerable when I write. That’s where I learned to tell the truth when I was young. Telling the truth to yourself and someone you can trust are great ways to help elevate your whole emotional quality. Sharing lets us feel less isolated and puts us on a path of being connected. At the end of the day, that’s what we all want. MP: If you could say something to everyone on the planet, what would it be?

Jewel: I guess I wrote it in a song, so forgive me, but I’d like to use an excerpt and paraphrase my song, “Hands”: If I could tell the world just one thing, it would be that we are all ok. And not to worry because worry is wasteful and useless in times like these. Don’t be made useless or idle with despair. Gather yourself around your strength for light does the darkness most fear. Our hands are small but they are our own and are never broken. In the end, only kindness matters. MP: How do you handle emotional pain?

Jewel: I try not to avoid it. I grew up barsinging and saw all kinds of ways people tried to outrun their emotional pain. It doesn’t work. You end up with the original pain, as well as new pain added on top of it from the tactics you used trying to avoid it in the first

place. It’s best to take a deep breath, bolster yourself, and walk through it. I have a process I have learned works for me. First, practice being gentle with yourself. You have to be an ally in a difficult time and not turn on yourself with self-shaming thoughts, which makes facing pain intolerable. I cut myself some slack and make sure I am in a kind space to experience a feeling. Then I write about it. Writing with privacy is paramount. You must feel free to admit to yourself your deepest, darkest secrets and true feelings. Seeing it in black and white and getting it out feels better, and you gain clarity. Third, I find a loved one I can share it with. They have to be genuinely unconditionally

best to feel them. To shut down the ability to feel pain means you shut down all emotions, joy included. It makes our hearts feel small, it robs us of our joy, and really keeps us no safer. MP: Tell us about your latest project.

Jewel: I just released my second children’s book, Sweet Dreams, which I wrote for my son, Kase. I think it’s a sentiment every parent will enjoy sharing with their child before bedtime. I also have my second Christmas album, Let It Snow, coming out in November. Folks can find out about my charity, Project Cleanwater, on my website, jeweljk.com. MP: How do you keep your center in the middle of chaos?

If I could tell the world just one thing, it would be that we are all ok. loving, and I have to know they will hold what I am saying in sacred regard. If you don’t have someone in your life to do that for you (as I did not for many years and trials) you can do it for yourself. Lastly, I give it time. I say to myself, sometimes the tide is just out. But it always comes back in again. In times of severe distress, we tend to get tunnel vision and think this feeling will last forever. It will not. It’s important to cultivate a tolerance and patience with uncomfortable feelings. It’s

Jewel: My intention for my life is to stay centered, and from that intention come my priorities: my son, my family, my job, my self. That then informs what kind of work I can take on. It’s a balancing act, but a fun one. It’s a work-in-progress that I am continually tinkering with. I try to give myself permission to be a work-in-progress and not have everything figured out at once. It’s more manageable and takes some of the pressure off of feeling like I have to have everything right all the time. MP: What’s been one of the biggest lessons in your life so far?

Jewel: There are so many. Self love is a great recurring theme, the headwaters that feed my ability to be the best version of myself in every other aspect of my life. Self worth sets the standard that life meets. MP: What truth do you know for sure?

Jewel: All things change. Cultivate flexibility rather than perfection.

Jeweljk.com

@jeweljk

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 7

You get up on stage and effectively take your clothes off in front of thousands of people.

music

Interview: Maranda Pleasant

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James Blunt: Great, how are you doing?

I’m great! I’m out in a field in Aspen at q MP: the moment. JB: It must be amazing to be there. It’s beautiful. I’ve listened to your work q MP: for years. It’s deeply emotional and moving, and I just wanted to say thank you.

JB: Thanks very much! It’s nice to share it with someone.

only best when they’re shared with people. To get up on stage with a band is fantastic. To play songs to an audience is mindblowing. To come home and share life experiences with friends is the key to what makes me feel really alive. What are the things that make you feel q MP: vulnerable? JB: I suppose getting up on stage and singing in the way that I do. What I’m trying to do is be vulnerable in that space. There’s a lot of music nowadays with people singing about how amazing their clothes are and how incredible their shoes are and how much

This album is the album I would’ve recorded if Back to Bedlam hadn’t sold anything, if it hadn’t gone mainstream. When an album hits big, suddenly you are aware of this audience. Being aware of them, it’s a kind of wall. I don’t know how to write without thinking what people would want. You don’t know whether they want you to be black or white, so you kind of get a gray, something in the middle. It’s nice, it sounds good, but it’s for someone else. That’s why this one has been a real pleasure to do. I’m really dragging it from myself. The consequence of that is that an audience goes, Hey, f*ck, this sounds really honest! We love it. When I listen to your q MP: songs, there seems to be this internal world of awareness that you have. What is love to you, at this point in your life?

JB: I have a really, really close family. My parents are still together. I have two sisters. I travel the world and they are the people I speak to. I have friends who were friends of mine before I did music and they are my friends now, and we share life experiences. It’s no fun unless you’re sharing with people, looking out for them as they are looking out for you. If you could say something and have q MP: it be heard by everyone on the planet, what would that be?

on songwriting:

“It’s about being as honest as you can and as brave as you can, about acknowledging weaknesses...” is it that inspires you? Where q doMP:youWhat pull from when you create this super

emotional music? It’s my favorite breakup music. JB: A lot of my songs sound quite earnest. I’m trying as best as I can, especially with this album to not second guess an audience. I write songs about my own experiences. You can’t lie to yourself. You can’t pose to yourself. It’s about being as honest as you can and as brave as you can, about acknowledging weaknesses, failings, fears, and then the celebration of hopes, as well. I write songs about my own experiences but I hope other humans connect with them. No matter whether you are black or white, man or woman, gay or straight, Christian, Muslim, or Jew, we all share the same emotions, the same human condition.

What is it that makes you feel fully q MP: alive? JB: I’m really lucky in what I do. I love music. I think the things that make me excited are

jewelry they might be wearing or how much jewelry they want, how much money they have and the club that they’re in and the alcohol that they’re drinking. I think that’s showing off. I don’t think it’s necessarily all that honest or all that interesting. As a singersongwriter who gets up on stage and sings about those things that make me vulnerable is an amazing experience. You get up on stage and effectively take your clothes off in front of thousands of people. If you get up on stage and brag, I don’t think that’s very brave. It’s braver to get up and take your clothes off. And I do that every night.

JB: I suppose it goes back to what I was saying, which is, we see differences in people and seem to be afraid of people. The black or white or gay or straight—I don’t necessarily look for differences but for similarities. We need to be looking out for each other. When are you coming to the U.S. to q MP: tour with this new album? JB: As soon as you invite me, I’m coming down.

I’m going to need to come to a show! q MP: [laughing] JB: It’s not impressive. [laughing] What makes your new album different q MP: from the others? JB: With this album, it’s a more personal journey. We recorded in a sparse, rough way.

JAMES BLUNT’S NEW ALBUM MOON LANDING AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 5th

jamesblunt.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 9

music

q Maranda Pleasant: Hey James, how are you?

Brendon Urie music

Panic! at the Disco Interview: Maranda Pleasant

10 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

music Maranda Pleasant: What are the things in your life that make you feel alive?

Brendon Urie: Oh god. Anytime I get to perform, honestly, are the craziest moments for me. I have a lot of nervous energy. When I was a kid—I don’t take any medication anymore—they diagnosed me with ADHD and anxiety disorder nervosa. But I use that to the best of my ability now. I get up onstage and I use all that nervous energy to try to put on the best show I can. That’s when I feel alive. It’s this mess in my brain and I can’t really comprehend what’s going on. I just go with it. Whatever comes naturally is going to be the show. That’s an exciting moment. You can’t have too much control over it, which is scary. But I love it. MP: What are some of the things in your life that make you feel vulnerable?

BU: Oh jeez. Being honest, honestly. As redundant as that is. MP: That’s the most honest thing I’ve ever heard a man say. I need that in neon.

BU: I speak for all men! It’s very scary to be honest. It is. Especially being an artist— writing songs, something that’s going to be out there way after I die, that people have on record—that’s a scary thing. For me, it’s this invigorating feeling that makes me feel much better, puts my mind at ease. I don’t like to lie. Even when I was “f*cking up” with my family and just doing things I shouldn’t have done, being rebellious, I was still always honest. After a month or two I would come to them and say, “Hey, this is what I’ve been doing,” and apologize for lying to them. It always made me feel better to be honest. But it’s a scary thing. It’s not an easy thing. MP: What is love to you?

BU: Oh, what is love? This is great. Love to me is accepting someone for who they are. That’s a really tough thing to do. In past relationships, I was trying to change somebody to make it easier for me to deal with them. Now that I think about it, that’s a

Whatever comes naturally is going to be the show. That’s an exciting moment. You can’t have too much control over it, which is scary. But I love it. horrible thing to ask of someone. To change who they are? That goes against everything that makes you a human being, that makes you feel alive. For a lot of people, that’s a lot tougher than it sounds, but that is true love. MP: That is so beautiful. Tell me what has been one of your greatest struggles in this life.

BU: That’s a tough one. I instantly revert back to when I was a little younger and starting this band. The hardest thing to do was be completely honest with my parents and tell them, “I don’t want to be part of your church. I believe in something else. I believe in what I’m doing now—music. I’m not going to go to college. I’m going to scare the shit out of you and tell you that I’m going to be touring in a band!” Which is the worst thing you could tell your parents! I can’t imagine how they must have felt hearing that from their youngest kid. I was my mom’s baby! She was like, “Where are you going? You’re going to go off into the world and get worldly? That’s scary!” That was a really hard thing to do, a big struggle for a long time—trying to get them to see that I was going to be okay. It was a little bit of time before they came around. That was a pretty tough struggle, for sure. MP: I love how raw and honest you are. As an artist, it’s the most moving. I’m really loving it. Tell me about your latest project and why you are so excited about it.

BU: This latest album, I put everything I had into it. Lyrically, it’s more confessional, more honest, almost pages right out of my journal. With the songwriting, lyrics aside, I was having a lot of fun coming into my own. But I

did have more of a direction from song to song. When it all came together, I sat back and had to smile—I am so shocked that I’m at this point now. I didn’t think about it during the process, but that paid off, not worrying about what was going to happen. Just working, working, working, always showing up. I had all the support of all my friends around me being like, “You can do this, man! it’s freaking awesome!” This record, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, is so different. Sonically, it’s so different. All the influences that I’ve used in the past— some are the same, some are different. It’s a really eclectic record. I think other people will be pleasantly surprised, too. MP: I’m loving you more and more. I’m excited to hear your new work. Are there particular causes or organizations that are near and dear to your heart?

BU: I’m always a fan of trying to help out. No one can control but everyone can help. That’s a big thing to realize. Personally, breast cancer is a big thing. About seven years ago, my sister called me and said, “Hey, Mom is dealing with breast cancer.”. I remember just bawling. Instantly crying. Having to accept that knowledge, having to hold that. Even now I’m tearing up. It made me realize, Wow, I never thought about—living this rock star lifestyle—how much I take moments for granted. That was a huge eye-opener for me, to be able to face that and be a part of that cause. I’m glad to say that my mom got through it and she’s much, much better now. When something like that happens, you can never know where it’s going. But to face it head-on and accept it will help to make the person stronger. panicatthedisco.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 11

music

p i con a p The Swedish Duo :

Their Hit Single, Love, Silence, and Trusting Your Gut.

Interview: Maranda Pleasant

“To be able to make music and travel and meet the people who listen to our music—that’s a dream come true.”

Maranda Pleasant: What makes you come alive?

us that people will get to know. We love our album. It’s our baby.

Icona Pop: Doing what we’re doing right now. To be able to make music and travel and meet the people who listen to our music— that’s a dream come true.

MP: How do you keep your center in the middle of chaos? Do you have a daily routine?

MP: What makes you feel vulnerable? IP: Love. MP: If you could say something to everyone on the planet, what would it be? IP: Make love, not war. MP: Tell us about your latest project. IP: We are releasing the album very soon. We have been working on it for four-and-a-half years and it’s finally coming out. You will hear the journey from where we started to where we are now and where we’ve been in between. It’s not going to be fifteen tracks sounding like “I Love It.” It’s going to be a new side of

IP: We try to meditate sometimes. We try to have some silence and not think about anything. We also try to exercise. That’s a way to just be you and not everything else around you. MP: What’s been your biggest lesson so far? IP: Trust your gut. Your body tells you all the time what to do—you just have to listen to it. When we don’t do that, it’s chaos. Trust your body, trust your instinct. MP: What truth do you know for sure? IP: We will make music until we are one hundred years old.

Icona Pop’s debut album This Is... is now available for purchase.

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WANTED Gifts that deliver real reward

This season, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just give the usual suspects. Put a vegetable garden on your most-wanted list and help a family living in poverty put food on the table.

See the full lineup at oxfamgifts.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 13

musician, incubus frontman,

v i s i ua l a r t i s t, w r i t e r ,

a c t i v i s t, a n d av i d s u r f e r

music

incubus frontman

brandon boyd I nte rvi ew: Maran da Pleasant

14 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

music

I ’ d s m i l e g e n u i n e ly , then do a wormy dance to H e r b i e H a n c o c k ’ s “ R o c k i t.”

randon Boyd is the frontman of Incubus, an internationally loved, multi-platinum rock band. His latest project, Sons of the Sea, is a collaboration with producer Brendan O’Brien. Brendan and Brandon saw the release of their self-titled debut album this September.

BB: The week leading up to a new music or art release. This time I’m putting both a book and an album out at the same time. I’m feeling pretty exposed right now.

In addition to his sustained and ever-evolving career as a musician, Brandon is a visual artist, writer, activist, and avid surfer. He is the cofounder of The Make Yourself Foundation, which raises awareness about ocean environmentalism and funds a wide range of local and global charities.

BB: I wouldn’t say anything. I’d smile genuinely, then do a wormy dance to Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit.”

M a r a n d a P l e a s a n t : W h at m a k e s yo u c o m e a li v e ?

Brandon Boyd: That first plunge under the shore break on a chilly fall morning. It forces a sound out of one’s body that is kind of a whoo-ahhh!—shocking and refreshing all at once. You become acutely aware of your body and your surroundings, which is helpful when you’re about to paddle out to sea. M P : W h at m a k e s y o u f e e l vu ln e rab le?

M P : I f y o u c o u l d s ay s o m e t h i n g to e v e ryo n e o n t h e p l a n e t, w h at w o u l d i t b e ?

M P : H ow d o yo u h a n d le e m o t i o n a l pa i n ?

BB: First allow, then write, then share. Repeat. M P: Te ll m e about Sons of th e Sea an d th e n ew alb u m.

M P : H ow d o yo u k e e p yo u r ce nte r i n th e m i ddle of c h a o s ? D o y o u h a v e a d a i ly routine?

BB: I meditate daily. M P : W h at ’ s b e e n o n e o f y o u r b igg est li fe lessons?

BB: To get out of my own way. M P : W h at t r u t h d o y o u k n o w for sure?

BB: That nothing is indeed “true.” A paradoxical way to answer your question, but it’s the closest I can come to an honest answer. On a more human level, the closest things to truths that I have been able to access are Love, Art, and Play.

BB: Sons of the Sea was born of the same loving intention and creative drive as most of my endeavors, but was decidedly different in that my writing partner was someone I’d never written a song with before. Brendan O’Brien and I have worked together for about ten years through Incubus but hadn’t tried writing together until late last year. The results were fun, challenging, and surprisingly accessible! Did I mention fun? Brandon Boyd’s Sons of the Sea LP is now available for purchase.

brandonboyd.me ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 15

music

NEKO CASE Interview: Maranda Pleasant

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I’m too small for the universe to revolve around me. How d o y o u k e e p y o u r c e n t e r q MP: in the m i d d l e o f c h a o s ? D o y o u have a d a i l y r o u t i n e ?

Neko Case: The farm! : Wh at makes you feel q Mv uPl nerable? NC: Making music makes me feel vulnerable in the best possible way. It gives me a feeling of balance.

M P : If yo u could say something t o everyone on the planet, what w o u ld it be? NC: You are so worth it.

: Ho w do you handle emotional q Mp aPi n? NC: Over-talking, acting out, bawling, exercising, making stuff, moping, and cracking up at myself for being a baby. Te ll me about your latest q Mp rPo:ject. NC: My new record has taken forever to make. I’m proud of it. It took some time and I feel good about it. It’s at the exciting taking-it-on-the-road stage—a huge physical release with all your best pals in many locations. It’s the funnest.

music

nda Pleasant: What makes q My oauracome alive?

NC: I get outside a lot. I am a huge champion of physical activity. It’s so important. W h a t ’s o n e o f t h e b i g g e s t l i f e q MP: lessons y o u ’ v e l e a r n e d s o f a r ?

NC: That we shouldn’t censor ourselves based on the weak idea of “looking cool.” It’s such a waste of potential awesomeness. MP: W h a t t r u t h d o y o u k n o w f o r sure? NC: I’m too small for the universe to revolve around me. It is a huge relief!

If y o u c o u l d w a v e a m a g i c q MP: wand an d c h a n g e a n y t h i n g i n t h e world, w h a t w o u l d i t b e ?

NC: The relationship of humans to nature. We are sadly divorced from it. Where do your values come q MP: from? NC: Books and music.

N e k o C a s e ’ s n e w L P, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, T h e M o r e I L o v e Yo u (ANTI Records), is now available for purchase.

closest to your heart? Why? NC: I have a hard time choosing—I care about so many things! I try to help as many causes as I can. I’ve had the privilege of working with the likes of Best Friends, 826 National, Catamount Arts, several food banks, a few greyhound rescues, and many animal shelters.

q MP: Who is your hero or heroine? Why?

NC: My grandma. No good reason other than we loved each other unconditionally. Knowing what that means has made me a better person than I might have been, and I am so grateful.

q MP: W h a t i s s u e s o r c a u s e s a r e

nekocase.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 17

HUMANITARIAN

Amber

Valletta

Interview: Maranda Pleasant

18 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

HUMANITARIAN

Maranda Pleasant: What makes you come alive?

Amber Valletta: Doing something new and

challenging. It can be anything from starting a business to playing a sport. Seeing a great concert, looking at extraordinary art, or being in nature. More than anything, it’s my son’s smile and love that makes me light up!

I reconnect with

MP: What makes you feel vulnerable?

daily meditation

AV: My son, on a regular basis. In order for me to parent well I have to empathize and stay open with my son. I am also vulnerable when it comes to trying new things, when I don’t feel like I completely know what I am doing. Lack of control.

and prayer. Most

MP: If you could say something to

my spiritual practice, which is

importantly, I reconnect with my family and friends.

everyone on the planet, what would it be?

AV: Can’t we all just play nicely and leave the playground the way we found it, clean and safe?

If all else fails, a

MP: Tell us about your latest project and why you are so passionate about it.

few deep breaths.

AV: My latest project is my new business, an

online store called Master & Muse. I am excited to have a collaborative partner in yoox.com for the launch of this new one-stop shop for high fashion that is made ethically and thoughtfully. We have found amazing designers that are sourcing sustainable or non-toxic materials and pay fair wages to artisans and employees. Most of the designers are eco-friendly, even by default, through their use of up-cycled materials and organic fabrics, and by producing in small photos: Craig McDean

quantities. Ultimately, the design has to be great—no one will buy it if it looks like a hemp sack! I am super passionate about my new business because it has the potential to disrupt the fashion industry in a positive way. Master & Muse is providing a place to buy better. There are many big issues in producing fashion today, and the consumer doesn’t fully understand the problems at hand. That is where we come in. We are providing awareness, information, and great fashion.

MP: How do you keep your center in the middle of chaos? Do you have a daily routine? AV: Right now I am running on fumes, so it’s time to get centered again. I start with eating healthier and cutting out caffeine—at least cutting back on caffeine. I exercise and get outside to play. I reconnect with my spiritual practice, which is daily meditation and prayer. Most importantly, I reconnect with my family and friends. If all else fails, a few deep breaths. MP: What’s been one of the biggest lessons in your life so far?

AV: I realized that being present for loved ones who are dying or aging is one of the greatest honors and gifts in my life. MP: What truth do you know for sure? AV: That we are quite small in the big scheme of things. masterandmuse.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 19

the global fun HUMANITARIAN

We Can Be The Generation That Defeats AIDS, TB & Malaria Mark Dybul

Rarely does an opportunity present itself to be part of a movement that could change the course of history. One of those moments is in front of us right now. With scientific advances, we now have the ability to defeat highly dangerous infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The recent progress is amazing. If we can pull together the funds, we can essentially end the burden of these diseases as threats to global development. We have a historic opportunity to end the global burden of these three diseases, which will change the fortunes of millions of lives and improve the development of entire countries. Ten years ago, almost no one thought we could make the kinds of advances that have been

achieved. I know these are difficult times financially, but diseases donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay attention to budget planning. We must not miss this chance by shying away from the challenge. We should not minimize the challenge of what lies ahead. We know from experience that by working together with shared responsibility and clear mission focus, with passion and compassion as global citizens, these three diseases can be completely controlled and, with further scientific advancements, can actually be eliminated. This is an incredible opportunity for our generation to be proud of our collective work.

theglobalfund.org Follow the Global Fund on Twitter: @GlobalFund or Facebook: Facebook.com/theglobalfund To contribute to the fight, please buy (RED) joinred.org

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Shaquille O’Neal. NBA legend. Malaria champion.

We have made great progress in the fight against malaria. From 2000 to 2010, the global mortality rate went down 26%, and this is thanks to organizations like the Global Fund, which contributes 50% of all international funding for malaria. Malaria is a disease that is not on the top of mind of the general public, and it’s important that we change this. The more people know about it, the better chance we have to make it a disease of the past. The fact that a mosquito bite can take millions of lives—and something as simple as sleeping under an insecticide-treated net can prevent this from happening—is incredible. I felt compelled to do join in and spread this message.

shaq.com

Charlize Theron.

Founder. Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Program.

When you come this close to something you can’t falter in the determination to stop this. This is the time when you have to put the accelerator to the floor. It’s such a pivotal moment. We’re in a place right now that if we take advantage of it—and there are so many people who are doing great work—but if we push that extra bit, we can stop this. This is the best, the most incredible moment. This is the moment that we can maybe turn back and look at our children and say, “There was a time, there was a moment that came along where we all got together as countries, we all got together as people from different walks of life, and we joined together, and we changed the course of history.”. That moment is not next week or next year or in five years. That moment is right now.

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the global fu

Nogzi Okonjo-Iweala.

Nigeria. Renowned Nigerian economist. Minister of Finance.

I remember vividly when I was five years old and living with my grandmother in the village. I had a bout of malaria so severe. This is not a disease that any child or anybody should have to go through. That is why the work of the Global Fund is fundamentally important. We must find ways to fight malaria.

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Bono.

Co-founder. (RED). ONE.

It was $10,000 a year to keep a person with HIV/AIDS alive. Now we’re at a point where it’s about $150 a year. That’s because a lot of people worked very hard on this.

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und We would wish for an AIDS vaccine. That would stop this disease for once and for all. We’re working hard on that but it’s going to take some time. In the meantime, we’ve got to do all the prevention that we possibly can.

Bill Gates.

Co-chair. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Michael

Elliott

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President. Ceo. ONE Campaign. Interview: Maranda Pleasant

HUMANITARIAN

My wish and hope, every year, is that people’s life chances—their chances of having a happy, prosperous, healthy life for themselves and their family and friends—should not depend on accident of birth. Maranda Pleasant: Why is this your passion? Why are you doing what you’re doing?

MP: What is one of the most important parts of what you’re doing right now?

Michael Elliott: This is stuff I’ve been interested in since I was a kid, since I was a student. I was lucky enough to have a long and pretty successful career. Two and a half years ago, I had the opportunity to do this full-time, sort of out of the blue. I was at that age and at that stage of my career where I thought, There’s never going to be a better moment to wake up every morning and think that you are going out with a fabulous team and wonderful people, trying to make the world a better place, particularly for those who haven’t been as fortunate as we have. It came out of the blue and it’s been great.

ME: We’re an advocacy organization. We go out and find the money that governments spend to support programs that fight extreme poverty and preventable disease. There are three things uppermost on my mind right now. First thing is to make sure that in this three or four month period, we really get a fantastic replenishment for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and malaria, which is such an incredibly vital institution in fighting the three pandemic diseases. There will be a replenishment conference sometime over the winter. We have to raise $15 billion from governments all over the world.

MP: If you could say something to everybody on the planet, what would it be?

MP: $15 billion?

ME: My wish and hope, every year, is that people’s life chances— their chances of having a happy, prosperous, healthy life for themselves and their family and friends—should not depend on accident of birth. It shouldn’t depend on where you’re born. It should depend on who you are and what you do. But it shouldn’t depend on the chance and the luck of being born in the U.S. or in a poor village in Sub-Saharan Africa or India or wherever it may be.

ME: $15 billion. Not going to be easy. A really successful replenishment of the Global Fund is something we’re going to be banging on about. It’s absolutely top of mind for us. Secondly, we and many others are working very hard on getting energy poverty up much, much higher on the political agenda. The Obama Administration has been great on that. They did the Power Africa initiative, while working very closely with friends in Congress www.one.org/us ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 25

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Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really, really had a tough time. And there they are setting up a brilliant agricultural program, training kids, bringing kids off the streets of Monrovia, training them in how to do farming. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just amazing.

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on an act to electrify Africa. Thirdly, we are deeply and passionately committed to increasing transparency and accountability to make sure that oil, gas, and mineral companies publish what they pay. There’s a transparency revolution sweeping the world. The more you can have transparency of payments, the more you’ll be able to follow the money and the more you’ll be able to see that payments for mineral rights in poor countries actually go to the people who need it, and don’t get put into a kleptocrat’s pocket. Transparency is terribly important for us. MP: I can’t imagine you don’t get some pushback. ME: Yeah, we do. We do. MP: Why is this emotional for you? We hear stats and bullet points, but what’s the most emotional part of it? ME: It always gets back to the people, doesn’t it? When you go to Africa and you see people who are just like you and me—this is always my starting point. These are people who are just like you and me. The same synapses, same things are firing off in their heads, same dreams for their children, same hopes and aspirations that we

all have. What can one do to reduce the possibility that their chances of a happy and healthy and prosperous life are not solely determined by the accident of where they were born? MP: Are there parts of it that break your heart? ME: There are always things that you see that are pretty tough, sure. But what keeps you going is when you see people rise above toughness and rise above really hard conditions, and make something of it. I was in Liberia this summer, the third consecutive summer I’ve been there. I like going there a lot. I saw for the third year running an agricultural program just outside Monrovia, run by a group of former child soldiers. Young men and women who have had the most appalling experiences in their life. They’ve been in war. They’ve seen their friends murdered. They’ve been sexually abused. One young woman spoke very graphically about being sexually abused. They’ve really, really had a tough time. And there they are setting up a brilliant agricultural program, training kids, bringing kids off the streets of Monrovia, training them in how to do farming. That’s just amazing.

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These are people who are just like you and me. The same synapses, same things are firing off in their heads, same dreams for their children, same hopes and aspirations that we all have.

HUMANITARIAN President Clinton & Chelsea Clinton in Rwanda 28 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

Solving the Water Crisis

A Partnership with Clinton Global Initiative and Procter and Gamble.

ater is something that a billion people still need. A billion people are still without clean, safe drinking water. That’s one of the reasons why P&G invented the purifying water packets, and then made that our central philanthropy and social sustainability project. Since we’ve begun this program, we’ve already donated or distributed 6 billion liters worth of clean, safe drinking water, which has saved 33,000 lives. We made a commitment in 2010 to save one life every hour by the year 2020, which is 2 billion liters of clean, safe drinking water that we need to distribute every year. That’s why we join great programs and causes like Flash Flood for Good. Mark Pritchard, CMO, Proctor & Gamble

his is something we have right here, right now. It’s a bridge. Until we can solve much bigger problems, we have a very simple bridge. And that’s amazing to me. Let’s see how much we can do in seventy-two hours. Alysia Reiner, Philanthropist & Actress

he most basic thing is clean water. The most important thing is it’s user-friendly. Anybody could figure out how to put a packet in this water, stir it, filter it, let it sit. It’s really an astonishing thing to see how much stuff is in this water that this little packet extracted from the water just by stirring. Bill Clinton on the P&G water purifying packets, in Rwanda

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Flash Flood for Good:

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Alysia Reiner.

Philanthropist. Actress. Star of Orange is the New Black: Passion, Yoga, and the Clean Water Crisis

Interview: Maranda Pleasant

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Water has always been something that I care deeply about, and I’m very aware of its limits on this planet. If we don’t change our behavior around water, water will become as valuable as oil.

Maranda Pleasant: Why is your work with clean drinking water a personal passion? Why did you get involved in this cause? Alysia Reiner: I have been asked so many times why I live a green life, why water conservation, why getting wells in places, why work with water organizations, why conserve water at home with double-flush toilets, why I tell my daughters, “Turn off the tap” so much. Sometimes I want to say, “I wish I knew the answer.” My answer really is: I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t feel this way. It is not something I was brought up with. Both my families will admit that I teach them more about living a green, conscientious life, a conservationist life, than they taught me. I can’t tell you I had a moment of awakening at a certain point. I remember Earth Day in school, when I was maybe ten or eleven—there was a bit of an awakening then. Ever since, I’m a girl who always looks at toilets and thinks Wow, how do we waste that much water when there are people who don’t even have water?

When Bill Gates did the initiative around toilets and sanitation, that was one of the most exciting things. Finally! I was never called to be a toilet inventor, but a dream of mine has always been to have waterless toilets in some magical way. Water has always been something that I care deeply about, and I’m very aware of its limits on this planet. If we

don’t change our behavior around water, water will become as valuable as oil. That is a given. When people don’t understand that, I’m surprised. I was approached by Flash Flood For Good, and I was taught what they do—providing these packets that are a really important bridge for areas that don’t have wells yet. I think building wells and infrastructure is changing. There are so many amazing organizations that are helping create incredible change in that way. But today more children die from lack of clean drinking water than malaria and HIV combined. Today, if there is not a well in a particular area, these packets save lives. That is why when I was approached to do this, I said, “Of course.” I am happy to be the face of this thing that can save lives. I am honored. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a scientist or an actress. My daughter really wants to be a scientist. I really want her to be a scientist, not an actress! It’s very cool when you see these packets, these amazing crystals that pull the dirt out of the water and sanitize the water—it’s a pretty incredible thing. It didn’t hurt that people like Chelsea and Bill were behind it. When I looked at it I was like, Okay, some cool folk are into this—I think I can lend my name. MP: We don’t have a lot of time on these pressing issues. There’s a sense of

immediacy. If you could say something to everybody on the planet, what would that look like? What would it sound like? AR: Do you know who Gurmukh is? MP: She’s a really good friend of mine. AR: Oh, she’s a really good friend of mine too, and she’s the godmother of my daughter. I only bring her up because the thought that went into my head when you asked that question were some words to a song that we do yoga to, which are: “Everything runs in a circular motion/Life is like a little boat upon the sea/You can do anything if you set yourself free.” My truth is, it’s all a circle. The answer to that question for me is, it’s a big circle. When we love the planet, we love ourselves, and when we love ourselves, we love the planet. The more I give, the more I get. The more I have deep love and compassion for my earth and my fellows, the more love and compassion I have for myself, and vice versa. The more I am able to deeply love and accept my flaws and imperfections, the more I am able to do that with my fellows. Sometimes we don’t face what’s going on in our world, be it a water crisis or an earth crisis, because it’s a little too scary and painful. Just like we don’t want to face the parts of ourselves that are a little too uncomfortable or painful. We’ve gotta face both and love both so that we can heal both.

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The Marriage of Love & Power: HUMANITARIAN

A Conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz founder and ceo: acumen fund interview: gina murdock

Gina Murdock: What is it about your approach to philanthropy that is different? Jacqueline Novogratz: At Acumen, we start with the

supposition that dignity is more important to the human spirit than wealth. If indeed we can create systems that allow individuals to access goods and services like health and housing and energy and water, in a way that they can afford, they’ll all have greater choice, greater opportunity, greater dignity. We believe that entrepreneurs are the seekers of solutions, and that they will go into these places where both market and traditional aid has failed or traditional charity has failed. We take philanthropy and rather than give it away as handouts, we invest it using what we call “patient capital” in those entrepreneurs—allow them to experiment, fail, fight bureaucracy and the status quo and corruption, and build real solutions. Any money that comes back to Acumen, we reinvest in innovation for the poor. We’ve been able to invest about $90 million in seventyfive companies in India and East and West Africa. In turn, those companies have been able to raise additional funds and bring 100 million people services and create 60,000 jobs. It’s this kind of business approach to social problems that differentiates us. It’s a very powerful way to create real change in the world. GM: You started out in the traditional banking world. Why did you decide to move from a relatively cushy job into this type of work that

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hadn’t really been done before in this way? JN: On the one hand, I loved being a banker. I loved how numbers could tell a story and how you can invest in ideas and see them translate into products and services and create jobs. What I didn’t like, particularly where I was working in Brazil during the debt crisis of the early ‘80s, was how the poor were excluded from the banking system. I made the decision to try and experiment with whether we could use the tools of banking to extend the benefits of the economy to the poor. That really set me off on this trajectory to Africa, which not a lot of people thought was a good idea. Certainly not my parents or my friends or my boss. But it opened up this whole world and reinforced this notion that to whom much is given, much is expected. We have all these tools at our disposal; if only we would take the opportunity to experiment with them and use them. GM: Was there a model that you used to work with before you started Acumen? JN: I apprenticed for fifteen years, including in commercial banking. I moved to Rwanda and I created the country’s first microfinance bank with a number of Rwandan women. I worked in more traditional development, at the World Bank at the Rockefeller Foundation. While there were no specific models that we were copying, Acumen stands on the shoulders of all those innovators,

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the banks of the world and the social venture network people. I was encouraged to break all the rules but to take the best of philanthropy, the best of investing, and the best of development finance, and experiment with new ways to create this venture capital model of using philanthropy to back patient capital investments, and then build solutions that were measured in terms of the kind of impact and change they were making on people’s lives and in the world, not just on the financial return. GM: What has changed, in your mind, about this idea of saving the world? JN: When I first went to Africa, I thought that I was personally going to save the continent, if not the world. The only way we really create change is to enter any situation with the humility to listen and to recognize the world as it is, and then the audacity to dream what it could be, to have the patience to start and let the work teach you, to be willing to lead when you need to lead, and to listen. To have a sense of generosity and empathy, but not over-empathy, because accountability is so critical to building solutions that work. If there’s one value that is immutable, it’s integrity or respect, for others and for yourself. The best change that comes to the world is when all parties are seeing each other as equal, and all parties have the opportunity to be transformed. That really goes back to the idea of dignity. GM: What has surprised you the most since you started the Fund? JN: Oh, everything surprises me, Gina. One of the first things that

surprised me in a positive, wonderfully positive way, is that this works—patient capital works. When we first made an investment in a malaria bed net factory in Tanzania, there was one factory and one line of bed net spinners. These machines created threads out of polyethylene-based plastic, but it was impregnated with insecticide, and then it would weave it into the fabric that the women would cut and turn into bed nets. I remember seeing one machine and then four machines. Before you knew it, there were 8,000 women working in a 75,000 square-foot factory, producing 15% of the world’s bed nets. The final thing I would say that was really surprising to me, which is more of a negative, is that by going from the bottom-up again, we see where successes work, and you can also see where the status quo can be the biggest obstacle or roadblock to success. The kind of entrepreneurs in whom we need to invest are the kind who are willing to fight that status quo, bureaucracy, complacency, and corruption. If you’re looking at distributing alternative energy in Nigeria, for instance, what gets in your way is not people’s ability to pay, not people’s desire for a clean solar lamps or biomass opportunities. But there is a strong status quo that really depends on selling diesel. There are 60 million generators in Nigeria. The generator owners and distributors have a strong incentive to not encourage the distribution of solar and other alternative energies, even though it’s better for the country, it’s better for people. As a world, we’ve got to get more serious about confronting those obstacles. This knows no culture, no race, no ethnicity. This is about fear of change and vested interest, not wanting innovation. How do we finance innovation, research, and development for those communities that have the least resources? That’s why philanthropy is so critical. GM: Are you still getting out quite a bit to visit these customers? JN: I think I would die if I wasn’t connecting to the customers in the field. Now that we’re in eleven countries, I have more opportunity to not only visit the companies, but spend time with our team. I can run Acumen whether I am in New York or Karachi. I still feel that photo: Acumen

the kind of leader I want to be is one that spends time understanding our work in a way that allows me to translate it for policymakers and people who have real access to resources. GM: Would you characterize yourself as a warrior? JN: No one’s ever asked me that question before. I feel like I’m a relentless, pragmatic, determined optimist. I’m relentless in that I deeply believe in people. My whole life has been spent with people who have taken every knock in the world. No advantages. Yet they greet you with a big smile, they give you what they have, and they keep coming back. They are the fighters. The more I see them, the more I feel that we can do better. We actually know how to build larger systems that would enable them to fly. The older I get, the more determined I feel to do whatever I can to help release that human potential somehow. Not in a fluffy way nor in a hardcore way. But in that middle ground, that marriage of love and power. I’m not afraid of either.

Probably the biggest change is that the only way we really create change is to enter any situation with the humility to listen and to recognize the world as it is, and then the audacity to dream what it could be, to have the patience to start and let the work teach you, to be willing to lead when you need to lead, and to listen.

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ca Christina Applegate Interview: Maranda Pleasant

Maranda Pleasant: What makes you come alive?

something I love to do.

Christina Applegate: Hearing my daughter laugh is the best way to lift my spirit.

In 2008, I created Right Action for Women, a foundation that works to educate women about what it means to be at high-risk for breast cancer and encourage them to get the appropriate screenings. We have been able to assist so many women with the high cost of MRI screening. We partnered with ASICS, who created a special edition pink product line, ASICS Right Action for Women Collection. Proceeds go toward assisting women who are fighting the disease.

MP: You are vegetarian and gluten-free. Is it challenging to prepare meals? Care to share any favorite recipes?

CA: I’ve always tried to be pretty healthy, eating well and exercising regularly. I definitely give myself treats. When Sadie was born, my priorities shifted a bit. Instead of hitting the treadmill six days a week, I try to spend as much time with my daughter and fit in a bit of cardio during the week. Although, running and playing around with my three-year-old keeps me pretty active as it is. I’ve been vegetarian for so long now that I don’t remember anything different, so it’s easy for me to put meals together and make sure my family is eating healthy, too. I love a good cookbook like Candle Cafe’s. I like making quinoa pasta with tons of veggies and feta. Jennifer’s Way makes great pancake mix.

I am also a creative partner at Fabkids, a website that offers monthly outfits styled just for your kids. I joined Fabkids because it encapsulates everything I believe in for kids and want as a mom— celebrating kids and empowering them to express their individuality through their own personal style in a way that builds confidence and lets them shine. I am also the spokeswoman for Fruitwater. I love the brand. I like how fun and fresh they are.

MP: If you could say something to everyone on the planet, what would it be?

MP: How do you keep your center in the middle of chaos? Do you have a daily routine?

CA: If you’re too in your head and you’re not in the moment, life passes you by.

CA: It’s hard. Sometimes I find myself not breathing, so breathing helps. We are teaching Sadie this since she’s just starting to have tantrums. We say, “Breathe it out, girl,” and she calms down.

MP: Why is incorporating humor into one’s life so important? How do you manage to do so? CA: Comedy can be very freeing. Laughter truly is the best medicine. There is something about laughter that can take away all the darkness. MP: Tell us about your latest projects. CA: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues comes out December 20. I am so happy they asked me back for the sequel. The entire cast and crew is such an incredible group. I am lucky to have been able to work and hang out with this group of dudes and keep making people laugh—

MP: What’s been one of the biggest lessons in your life so far? CA: Take no moment for granted. MP: What truth do you know for sure? CA: Thought is creative. Be mindful of where your attention is, because the universe doesn’t know the difference. It only knows where your focus is. Life will surely manifest where you put that attention.

Life will surely manifest where you put that attention. anchormanmovie.com

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woody harrelson “ ” Interview: Susan O’Brien Founder. Hail Merry Snacks.

After climbing the Golden Gate Bridge and protesting the destruction of the ancient redwoods in Northern California, I

came to realize that protesting does no good. If you stop them here, they cut over there.

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farm. How do these circumstances shape his life? Woody Harrelson: Jake realizes how horrible factory farming is. This gives his character the drive to liberate turkeys by going back in a time machine to visit the first Thanksgiving.

the second film in the Hunger Games series. Francis Lawrence takes the helm from Gary Ross. I haven’t see it yet, but I hear it’s great. True Detective, an HBO series with Matthew McConaughey, premieres in January. I’ve heard it’s looking pretty good. Then again, I heard that from the writer, Nick, and Cary, the director. It’s HBO—gotta be good, right? I do know Matthew delivers the best performance of his life.

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O’Brien: Jake, your character in Q Susan Free Birds, is a turkey born on a factory

What food traditions did you grow up Tell us about your treeless paper Q SO: Q SO: with? project. WH: Ironically, the only tradition we had was turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I certainly wasn’t raised vegan. For some reason, I most liked the breaded chicken

“

WH: As a forest lover, it’s very exciting for me. After climbing the Golden Gate Bridge and protesting the destruction of the ancient redwoods in Northern California, I came to

We have a dehydrator, and my wife is a maestro chef (a coincidence, not the reason I married her).

livers my mom used to make. Jake also likes to work out a lot. How Q SO: do you stay in shape? WH: I’m not much of a gym-workout person. I generally like sports—soccer, basketball, swimming, kite surfing, yoga, biking. But lately my knee has other ideas about running. You are well-loved in the raw food/ Q SO: vegan community. What is your favorite

raw food meal? Do you personally like to prepare meals for your friends and family? WH: We have a dehydrator, and my wife is a maestro chef (a coincidence, not the reason I married her). She does the cheffing and I help with dishes. My favorite raw food meal is something my wife makes that we call “painted fruit.”

”

realize that protesting does no good. If you stop them here, they cut over there.

A Recipe from Woody & Laura

Raw almond butter, 1 heaping tbsp Raw tahini, 1 heaping tbsp Agave nectar, 1 tsp Fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 tbsp Hemp seed oil, 1 tbsp Spirulina powder, 3 tbsp Ground cinnamon, ½ tsp Celtic sea salt, ¼ tsp Fresh squeezed orange juice, ½ cup.

Since half of all trees cut go to making paper, the only meaningful way to address destruction of our forest is to change the way paper is made. We now have a company called Prairie Pulp and Paper. We are making a brand of paper called Step Forward, which is eighty percent non-wood, is made from wheat, and costs the same as recycled paper. We’re planning to have a mill within three years, at which time we will be able to make tree-free paper that will cost less than heavilysubsidized tree-based paper. Exciting times! I’m hoping that Origin will one day do a run using Step Forward.

Coconut water is a great alternative if available. 1. In a small bowl, blend almond butter, tahini, agave, lemon juice, cinnamon, and hemp seed oil until creamy. 2. Slowly stir in spirulina powder. 3. If the mixture starts to get too thick, begin stirring in the juice. 4. Add remaining spirulina. Mix to desired consistency, using some or all of the juice. 5. Pour or spoon over freshly cut fruit (banana, mango, papaya, berries) and/ or granola.

Q SO: Are you working on any other films?

6. Garnish with more cinnamon and hemp seeds.

WH: I have three movies coming out in November, which seems like overkill, but there it is. Along with Free Birds, I did a movie called Out of the Furnace with Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Willem Dafoe, Zoe Saldana, and Sam Shepard. Scott Cooper (who did Crazy Heart and is a real talent) directed. I play a really reprehensible character. The movie’s great. All the actors deliver amazing performances. Also coming out in November is Catching Fire,

PAINTED FRUIT

The paint doesn’t last very long! Consume immediately, share with friends, and/or store properly in the refrigerator. Free Birds is out in theaters this Novemeber

voiceyourself.com

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rob bourdon + dave farrell

+ music

for relief

Interview: Maranda Pleasant, Ocean Pleasant 38 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

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I feel like the next generation has a lot of the wisdom and probably can teach us. To connect with each other is the most important thing— to become aware of the issues and then talk to each other about it. [rob bourdon]

Maranda Pleasant: Why are you passionate?

Dave Farrell: We started Music For Relief ten years ago after touring and starting to see natural disasters happening in places that we visited in the world. We wanted to do something to help out. We knew that we had access to our fan base in the music community. We started getting involved in natural disaster relief. Seeing the connection with the environment, it was a natural step for us to start doing work there, as well. When it comes to energy poverty, we had been doing some work in Haiti and were approached by the United Nation Foundation. Through them, we spoke with the Secretary General. We got on board with their sustainable energy initiative and started Power the World, which is our attempt to bring the message of what’s going on to music fans around the world and get their participation moving forward. Rob Bourdon: I’ve got three young girls. I’m definitely concerned with what’s going to happen with the planet on a large scale. Not only for their sake, but for entire generations coming up behind us. It’s our responsibility to, at the very least, leave them a world that’s as good as we got it, if not better. That’s more of the personal drive. DF: I think a lot of people don’t realize that

the energy crisis has a tremendous effect on people’s health and well-being. A lot of people are dying from the fumes that are being inhaled to light fires. They are burning carcinogenic, toxic chemicals. Everyone should have the right to a healthy and happy life. You have to have the basics covered. We’re very fortunate to have the basics and to never really know what it’s like to not have that. That’s something I personally connect to: the health and safety of people in the world, and bringing clean energy to them. Ocean Pleasant: What words of wisdom would you pass on to this n e x t g e n e r a t i o n t h a t ’s g o i n g t o b e responsible for taking care of the planet?

RB: I feel like the next generation has a lot of the wisdom and probably can teach us. To connect with each other is the most

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important thing—to become aware of the issues and then talk to each other about it. Communicate what you think the solutions are. The power is in numbers of people signing pledges and getting attention, so that policymakers and government step up and make some changes. This problem is moving very quickly. Without having large corporations and government supporting the cause, it’s looking grim. DF: I was talking with somebody from the United Nations when we were down in Brazil, and they said something that stuck with me. The people that are in charge of a lot of the higher decisions, even if they don’t necessarily care about something, they care about what their constituents care about. Sometimes it’s difficult for them to connect and understand what the youth care about. The more vocal that youth is, especially in getting involved and being passionate, the people who are

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making decisions at the higher level are going to have to hear that voice. As that younger generation grows up, I tend to think, who’s going to be at what position in 2030? A thirteen-year-old now who is passionate about the environment and sustainable energy is going to be thirty years old, potentially a policy-maker, a decisionmaker. The more the generation that’s coming behind us is involved, informed, and communicating with their friends, the better. They are going to be in a position to make things happen in a short amount of time. MP: How can we actively and immediately support you?

RB: The current thing is the video game, Recharge. That’s our effort to engage people, especially youth. We know that our fans are gamers. We know that a lot of them are on Facebook. This is a fun way to get involved, to learn more information. At certain points in the game itself, you have options to donate. Any level of involvement is a huge win. DF: Powertheworld.org is where people can go and make donations. There are four different products that you can send to different places in the world to help a family or a person in need of clean, efficient energy.

The more the generation that’s coming behind us is involved, informed, and communicating with their friends, the better. [dave farrell]

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c o l i n w a lk e r

Interview: Maranda Pleasant

Laughing with my wife. Playing with my kids. Being on stage. Finding and fully inhabiting a character. Surfing. Swimming, biking, and running until there’s nothing left—and then finding that there’s a little bit more. Pleasant: What makes Q Maranda you come most alive? Colin Walker: Laughing with my wife. Playing with my kids. Being on stage. Finding and fully inhabiting a character. Surfing. Swimming, biking, and running until there’s nothing left—and then finding that there’s a little bit more.

MP: If you could say something to everyone on the planet, what would it be?

CW: Help someone. MP: What’s your biggest

Q passion or project right now? CW: My passion: my family. Professionally, Pluto’s Gate, a sci-fi feature in pre-production. I star with Dutch actor Philippe Brenninkmeyer. The project is helmed by Jon Felson. Also, “Denial,” a web series about an alcoholic at his bottom, which I’m writing with a friend.

Q MP: What is love to you?

Waking up early and making everyone’s favorite breakfast. How do you keep your center in Q MP: the middle of chaos? CW: Deep breaths. I think of an unimaginably still, clear mountain lake I once visited.

Q MP: What makes you vulnerable? CW: Thinking about the people in my life whom I’ve lost. What are some issues that you are Q MP: passionate about? CW: Education—don’t just give a man a fish, teach him how to fish. Cancer eradication. I’ve lost someone important, and I think everyone has. In my lifetime, I’d love to see cancer become as outdated as polio.

Colin Walker was last seen in Lee Daniels’s The Butler. Catch Colin in the fourth and final season of HBO’s Treme, premiering December 1, 2013.

CW: My wife touching my hand. My daughter’s hug. My son’s laugh. The sacrifice my mom and dad made for me.

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Blake Mycoskie. Founder. TOMS Shoes.

Interview: Maranda Pleasant Maranda Pleasant: What makes this work personal for you?

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That’s why I’m a member of Clinton Global Initiative. We just made a commitment with President Clinton towards creating a factory in Haiti.

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Blake Mycoskie: My initial experience seven years ago—when I met some children in Argentina that literally couldn’t go to school because they didn’t have the proper shoes—seemed not right, at the most visceral level. It was more a feeling of justice in the early days. Now, a huge part of my motivation is the kids we’re inspiring here in the United States or Korea or the UK, who are wearing our shoes. We have proven that you can build a business with a conscience, you can be profitable and help people at the same time. We get thousands and thousands of emails and letters. People come up to me and say they believe in business because of TOMS. They actually don’t want to go to the Peace Corps—they want to start a business like TOMS. It’s incredibly inspiring for me to hear that, and it’s also a responsibility that I take seriously. We’re not only doing this work to give children shoes, to give elderly people cataract surgery through the sale of our sunglasses, or to give

We’ve started to see that. Procter & Gamble now has their diaper program, where they give a diaper for every diaper that they sell. I just read that the CEO of Walgreens, after being inspired by us, decided that every flu shot that they sell, they donate a shot. It’s happening. It’s really exciting for me to see that major corporations are changing the way they do business. They are seeing that the way we’re doing it is actually working.

MP: And it’s good business. It’s profitable. BM: That’s one of the things I’m most proud

of. From day one, we always said we want to be a profitable business. It took us several years to get there. We were giving shoes away while we were losing money. I could talk for hours about all the challenges and

then my executive team is not getting it either. That makes it more approachable for everyone. We probably have 600 employees worldwide now, and that’s not even including factory workers. We have tens of thousands of factory workers on five continents, but just staff, marketing, sales—you have to bring in really talented executive staff, people who have worked at big companies. We have people from Dell, people from Patagonia. We need their expertise to grow and manage this global supply chain and business, but we have to make sure that they adopt the TOMS way. A lot of that starts with me being very upfront and clear with people in their interview process. This is a different place. There is a

“

I think it does start with the founder. If I’m really approachable, if I’m really chill, if I don’t need fancy perks, then my executive team is not getting it either. That makes it more approachable for everyone.

do manufacturing in Haiti and make it work financially—it’s not charity, it’s business— then maybe larger shoe companies will come to Haiti. Maybe software companies will come to Haiti. If that happens, the change in Haiti can be really dramatic and really rapid. I’m looking at two main motivations and I’m emotionally connected to two things: helping the people, getting Haitians jobs, giving children in Kenya the shoes that they need for school. I’m also thinking, I’m inspiring the twelve-year-old in Connecticut who wears her shoes to private school every single day. That’s an important part of it, if I can be this beacon of light to bigger companies and they say, “Man, that’s actually working. That guy is making money, he’s growing a business, he’s helping people. We want to do that, too.”

the number of times we almost went out of business. We never had investors. I own one hundred percent of the company. It has been a challenge, there’s no doubt. We have a very long-term vision, and we can do that because we don’t have the pressure of the financial markets.

MP: What do you want this company to be? It’s living and breathing, it’s a maker environment, a thriving, pulsing thing. What makes you different, even in the way you set up your office and your business?

”

certain amount of controlled chaos. There isn’t going to be every system and process that you are used to having, and you have to be comfortable with that. If you get in the flow of that, we are actually more efficient and more competitive than the larger companies that they were at, and many of the larger companies that we are frankly competing with and beating in the market place. That’s where that flow comes in, and it’s really important to keep that. There have been times at TOMS where that flow has been disrupted, and it is always my job to get that back on track.

BM: This is one of the rare times that I will point back to myself. I think it does start with the founder. If I’m really approachable, if I’m really chill, if I don’t need fancy perks, toms.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 43

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children prescription glasses through the onefor-one model. We’re actually creating even more impact on the businesses we’re inspiring. That’s why I’m a member of Clinton Global Initiative. We just made a commitment with President Clinton towards creating a factory in Haiti. The reason we’re doing that is twofold. We believe that if Haiti is going to continue to progress, they’ve got to have jobs. In poverty alleviation, you look at education and jobs. If we can create jobs in Haiti, it’s going to go further than the shoes that we’ve given to Haiti after the earthquake to protect people’s feet from tetanus and the rubble. We do it to help the people of Haiti, but I’m also doing it because I want to challenge other businesses to think. If TOMS, one of the fastest growing companies in the world, can

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AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION interviews with Veronica Varekova. African Wildlife Foundation. Patrick Bergin. CEO. African Wildlife Foundation. interview: maranda pleasant

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I think we all have

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a piece of wild in us that we want to protect. It was a very organic choice for me to support this organization.

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Veronica Varekova. African Wildlife Foundation.

Maranda Pleasant: Why is this cause personal for you? Veronica Varekova: The continent is

incredibly exciting. When I first went there, it consumed me, and I instantly felt like I wanted to be engaged one way or the other, whether on a philanthropic level or business. I’m lucky to say today that I do both. In terms of African Wildlife Foundation, I started working with them roughly around 2009, on the ambassador level. Then I joined the board and was exposed to deeper issues that the Foundation was combating on the continent. What’s there not to be passionate about when it comes to wildlife? I think we all have a piece of wild in us that we want to protect. It was a very organic choice for me to support this organization. It’s been a wonderful fours years. Some challenging situations, but they’re such a smart, innovative organization.

MP: What is the part of this work that breaks your heart? VV: My grandmother said it very simply: “If you don’t like dogs, you don’t like humans, and vice versa.” I really believe that. If you have appreciation for life, whether it is a planet or any wild species, if it’s a human or an elephant, death is really bad for all of us to adjust to. We are all going to die. When

it happens in such a drastic, inhuman way, which we’ve been seeing in Africa, this is crime on its highest level. It is affecting not only the security of the national parks, it is affecting the people in communities that live around the national parks. In terms of security for wildlife and our society, it’s an incredibly alarming situation, and we need to address that. MP: How can we get involved? VV: I think there is a scientific approach to it and there is a political approach to it and an economical approach to it. All of this combined, we might find a solution. But each of those pieces of this puzzle are incredibly difficult on the continent of Africa specifically, and in America, when you talk about corporations, business, profits, and should we save this little piece of land for wildlife? There’s politics. When you talk about Asia—no one really wants to approach that full-force because it’s very thin ice. No one wants to harm the relations with Asia, where most of those products are going to and being exported to. Many of the local institutions and politicians and veterinarians are involved in illegal trade. To crack that down, it’s a big crime and big names to reveal.

In terms of economical aspects, reinforcing those national parks with sophisticated

Photos: African Wildlife Foundation/Craig R. Sholley, Noor Khamis

anti-poaching patrols—these poachers are beefed up like the army. In the case of Cameroon, that’s a perfect example of the lack of finance. The government could not provide the national park with more guards. Therefore, they lost the majority of the elephant population. I don’t want to see that anywhere else. South Africa is not Cameroon. It’s a strong economy. I think they should be the first ones setting an example—improving the legal punishments for those that are involved, reinforcing the borders from every angle, meaning that even the diplomatic plane that lands in South Africa should not have the green light to leave without having the plane inspected. Obviously, those guys are often involved. If I get killed for saying that, so be it. That is the fact. There’s way too many important people that are involved that don’t want to change. There’s too much money in it. It is a question of security, not only for the wildlife but also for the people. That’s incredibly alarming and concerning. MP: If you could say one thing and have everyone hear you, what would it be? VV: There’s so much beauty in Africa, but it’s not endless. We have to prevent these crimes and these awful, awful killings. I just hope people pay attention to it.

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Patrick Bergin. CEO. African Wildlife Foundation.

Maranda Pleasant: What is the main part of your work? Patrick Bergin: When economic modernizations come in, say goodbye to wildlife. They are inversely related. In most of the world, we have only small remnants of the wildlife that once existed. Africa has the most astonishing wildlife still. Now Africa is modernizing. It is very clear. In the next twenty years, Africa is modernizing economically, and one of two things is going to happen. Either Africa will be just like the rest of the world and it’s say goodbye to wildlife. Or, we can learn from the mistakes made in the rest of the world, work with the people in governments in Africa, work with vision and foresight and plan, and have it both ways: allow economic modernization to happen with a really large and wonderful wildlife resource still intact. That’s what it’s all about to us. Helping Africans navigate the transition to modernity with a huge, wonderful wildlife resource still intact. MP: How are you making that happen? PB: A lot of African wildlife is very big. If you’re protecting the big stuff, you’re usually protecting the small stuff, too. One of the main things we advocate for is for countries to set aside, even if it’s fewer

places, really big places, so that you can have viable populations. A pride of lions needs a huge home range. There’s a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember, the United States would fit in Africa three times over and there would still be space. That’s how big Africa is. With good planning, Africa can have cities, farms, factories, export processing zones. But if the political will is there, the huge areas—the Serengeti, the Okavango, the Kalahari, Kruger—these wonderful, huge places for wildlife could still be set aside and protected, and be treasures for humanity for many generations to come. MP: What can we do to support you in protecting wildlife? PB: For the last twenty years, our biggest concern has been the loss of habitat. There’s no space for wildlife; the humans are crowding them out. In the last four or five years, poaching has exploded again. In the West, we got the message that it’s not cool to wear ivory. It’s not cool to utilize products from these wonderful species. They are not commodities. We need the whole world to join hands in getting this

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message now, particularly countries in Asia and certain communities that have not been educated about this. They have not had the campaigns that we had. Twenty years ago, we had a campaign with Saatchi & Saatchi: “Only elephants wear ivory.” We did a campaign here with New York Times. We had a great ad: “Today in America, someone will kill an elephant for a bracelet.” We became sensitized in our society. Now there are four or five billion people in Asia who need to get this message. We need to use social media, print magazines, celebrities— anything we can to share this message. It’s not cool, it’s not okay. You are destroying beautiful animals. You are robbing a continent of its wealth. And you are hurting a lot of innocent people. MP: You are so eloquent and passionate. Thank you so much. Can we donate to your website? PB: Please do. awf.org. These magnificent species of Africa—elephants, rhino, lions, leopards, cheetah, the great apes (Africa has four of the world’s five great apes)—this is a treasure for all humanity, and they are not for sale. They are not for trade. They need to be valued and preserved by humanity. We all need a global commitment to that.

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f r e e t h e a r t i c 3 0

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f r e e t h e a r t i c 3 0 In the early hours of September 19th, Greenpeace activists scaled a hulking Russian oil platform to hang a banner warning the world about runaway climate change and devastating oil spills that would be caused by Arctic drilling. The Russian military responded with force, firing eleven warning shots and taking two activists into custody. Night fell. The next day, fifteen masked Russian troops rappelled from a helicopter onto the Greenpeace support ship, the Arctic Sunrise. President Putin said the activists and journalists were “obviously not pirates,” but Russian authorities detained and charged the thirty aboard with piracy anyway, a crime that carries a fifteen-year jail sentence. The illegal arrests on international waters and charges were condemned by governments, Amnesty International, and others around the world. People marched in 220 cities. From Jakarta to Hong Kong to Los Angeles, protesters called for the release of the Arctic 30. Phil Radford, Executive Director of Greenpeace in the U.S., stated: “Greenpeace respects the law, and we accept the legal consequences when our consciences compel us to act, but these charges have no basis whatsoever in Russian or international law. They are a clear act of intimidation. World governments must protect everyone’s rights to protest, and we all must honor their courage by acting together to truly address global warming.”

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The charges and the illegal arrests on international waters were condemned by governments, Amnesty International, and others around the world.

photos ÂŠ Will Rose/Greenpeace

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Crawford Allen. Senior Director. Traffic. World Wildlife Fund. Interview: Maranda Pleasant

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I t i s g e t t i n g b e y o n d c o n t r o l i n s o m e p l a c e s i n t e r ms o f t h e r a t e o f poaching and the volume and scale of the trafficking.

Maranda Pleasant: Tell us about the biggest thing that you see happening right now in wildlife trafficking.

Crawford Allen: The elephant ivory issue and the devastating rate of poaching that is linked to some serious security concerns. Militias and even terror groups are being linked to poaching elephants and using the money made from trafficking in elephant ivory for funding terrorist activities, including buying weapons and arms. We don’t have completely solid evidence on that, but there are so many figures indicating that this is the case. We haven’t got access to top secret information, but we have Hillary Clinton and senior leaders in the UN saying this is a serious security threat, that financing is going to terrorist groups, and we have to believe it. It is getting beyond control in some places in terms of the rate of poaching and the volume and scale of the trafficking. MP: What are some of the best solutions that we can actively, immediately, and effectively implement?

CA: We are having to pull money into sitelevel protection for elephants just to keep them alive. But there isn’t enough money to go around. The people involved in protecting those elephants, like rangers on the ground, are so under-resourced. They have very few vehicles, they have very poor weapons (if any weapons at all), and they are treated as the bottom of the tree when it comes to law

enforcement priority. They are risking their lives for virtually no pay, no thanks, and in very harsh, difficult conditions. We need more investment there. The thing that concerns me most is that this issue has become the realm of transnational criminal networks. In my view, nobody is really effective in tackling those organized crime networks that are making connections from Africa to Asia to fund and facilitate the poaching of massive volumes of ivory, and then selling it on the Asian market. Very few people have tried globally to tackle that serious organized crime threat that is also linked to militia groups. That needs to change. You need to bring the full weight of government attention to dealing with that. There’s not enough intelligence analysis, there’s not enough intelligence gathering, and there’s not enough enforcement being done in the courts and airports to really tackle it. MP: Are there groups that we can get behind that are fighting to get the governments to respond?

CA: When you are dealing with serious organized crime, armed militias, and poaching gangs, you really are only talking about supporting governments or international agencies like INTERPOL, in terms of the very frontline work. There is a whole network of organizations like World Wildlife Fund that are trying to

Photos: (l) bas huijbregts, (top) martin harvey

push technical expertise and new tools, and advocating and lobbying for action and for governments to take it seriously. Those organizations, some of them local and very small grassroots (who are still doing a great job on the frontline), are taking risks. For larger organizations that have a much better capacity and ability to bring larger scale change across the globe, like the World Wildlife Fund—when they ask you to advocate for change, cast your voice, add your name. We are all consumers of wildlife. We may not realize it but there’s probably something in your home or something you own that came from wildlife. Probably the majority of those things that people possess may be legal or sourced sustainably, but there are other things that people just don’t realize. You have to really watch out for this, particularly when you are traveling or buying things off the internet. There’s a good deal of ivory being sold that claims to be antique ivory. In fact, we’ve seen evidence that there are fake antiques being carved in countries like China. Several months ago, that ivory was literally living on the face of an elephant walking across Africa, which was then slaughtered. This ivory was shipped across to Asia, where people are copying designs from antiques and selling them to online websites in the U.S. People are buying it thinking it’s a nice antique piece, when in fact it is not. The blood is on traffic.org

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W e ’ v e g o t s o m e v e ry s t r o n g v o i c e s f r o m A f r i c a n o w s ay i n g t o t h e w o r l d , “ W e ’ r e n o t g o i n g t o t a k e t h i s a n y m o r e a n d w e n e e d y o u r h e l p. ” T h e o n ly w ay f o r w a r d i s a u n i f i e d g lo b a l p u s h by c o u n t r i e s a n d o r g a n i z at i o n s l i k e o u r s t o s a v e A f r i c a’ s e l e p h a n t s .

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We also feel that people can do remarkable things when they put their voices together. We saw that recently. A key problem in Thailand is a massive illegal market for ivory. We worked with the Thai government for about ten years to try to persuade them to change their laws and enforce their laws, because they had huge loopholes that allowed elephant ivory to be sold locally and legally. There was no way they could stop it with the loopholes in their laws. We worked hard with AVAAZ [avaaz.org] and people like Leonardo DiCaprio to do a massive campaign. 1.7 million signatures for this petition. MP: I signed it!

CA: Well, thank you so much! At the conference in Thailand, we saw the Thai Prime Minister stand up and say they were going to close down that black market. We followed up and followed up, and they

are still saying the same thing. We believe that legislative change takes time, but it is such a very hard thing. We’ve got that push now. That’s a really strong example of what people can do when they come together and feel very strongly about something, that something is just so obviously wrong. That’s what’s happening with the Clinton Global Initiative. We’ve got some very strong voices from Africa now saying to the world, “We’re not going to take this anymore and we need your help.” The only way forward is a unified global push by countries and organizations like ours to save Africa’s elephants. That’s the only way there’s going to be change—when you start getting to high-level agreements and initiatives, where civil society and ordinary people are backing it, pushing it, and holding everyone accountable. You can stand on a stage in New York City and make very strong statements, but now everyone has to be held accountable equally. MP: Can you recap the announcement that Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton made at the Clinton Global Initiative?

CA: At the Clinton Global Initiative, they announced a commitment made by African leaders (we believe there are about eleven countries now signed up) and by a number of organizations, including World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, the African Wildlife Foundation, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. They all made commitments that they will contribute $80 million to help save elephants in Africa. We are calling upon people to implement solutions to stop the killing, stop the trade, and stop the demand. What the Clintons have done is bring together African nations to stand behind a commitment to protection for elephants. That includes trying to prevent illegal trade from flourishing and closing down the markets, with a target of 2016 to bring about certain levels of reduction in the killing, trade, and demand. The CGI is holding people accountable to those commitments. MP: Thank you so much.

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their hands then, too, and they just don’t realize it. People ought to shop smart and really think about what they are buying. There is lots of information about that on our website.

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Photographer: Shawn Heinrichs Model: Hannah Fraser BlueSphereFoundation.org

is an innovative project by photographer Shawn Heinrichs, underwater performer Hannah Fraser, and a talented team of collaborators. Our aim is to redefine how the world views threatened marine species. People only protect what they love. Recognizing this, we have set out on a mission to bring the beauty and vulnerability of marine life to mainstream audiences across the globe. We are creating a series of exclusive images that combine graceful human subjects with surreal ocean settings and charismatic marine life. These images will be used to fuel a new wave of curiosity and appreciation for the oceans and alert the global community of the immediate need to conserve them. Furthering our goal, we have just created a new foundation to support art and media as an essential tool in conservation.

The Wild Exposure

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Glenn O’Brien

Interview: Paul D. Miller // dj spooky //

Glenn O’Brien has been an elemental force in downtown New York City for decades. He served as editor of Interview under Andy Warhol and hosted the zany afterhours DIY TV Party, which featured the likes of Debbie Harry, David Byrne, and Jean Michel Basquiat. He combined the prototype for Saturday Night Live with reality TV in a way that still has people combing YouTube for gems. Origin caught up with O’Brien to talk about some of his current ideas.

Paul D. Miller: You, David Byrne, Brian Eno, bands like ESG, Liquid Liquid, and Basquiat’s band Grey, all come from a time when the East Village scene was in its formative stages. What inspires you now? Glenn O’Brien: I’m still inspired by music,

but my real love is jazz, R&B, and reggae. I listen to Bill Evans, Miles, Monk, Coltrane, Pearl Bailey (just discovered “A Five Pound Box of Money”), Sinatra, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, the Wailers, and Lee Perry. Songs you can dance to, particularly if they have a dance name attached, like “Hitchhike”, “Mashed Potatoes,” “Pony Time,” “Cool Jerk,” “Wah Watusi,” “Atomic Dog,” or “O.P.P.” Just discovered a great dead jazz singer named Beverly Kenney. Been deep into Gainsbourg. Rachid Taha’s been creeping back into the CD player. As far as the scene goes, I find the kids now much more interesting than ten years ago or twenty years ago. They seem more alive and game. I hate nostalgia. I’m more interested in making trouble now than revisiting old glories. For the last twenty years, I kept thinking

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I ought to move to Paris or Palermo or someplace else, but I like New York now. The only thing I prefer about Paris is that girls love older men there.

PDM: Would you move to Brooklyn? Do you think that Manhattan real estate has a relationship to what kids are doing these days? GOB: I love Brooklyn. I would move there.

I may move there if I found the right space. My kid needs room to skateboard and my wife needs a really, really big closet. I think it’s great that there are all these neighborhoods where creative people are doing innovative things. I still live in Manhattan cause I have a free parking spot.

PDM: What are some of your favorite vintage clothing and record stores? GOB: There are a few great vintage record

stores in the East Village. I hesitate to mention them for selfish reasons, but Fifth Street is cool.

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I hate nostalgia. I’m more interested in

making trouble now than revisiting old glories. PDM: You have had a nimble relationship with the currents of culture for over thirty years. What do you think about the way fashion is going these days? Do you think that things have become too standardized? GOB: Fashion is too industrial. It’s better as craft and cottage industry, and it seems that’s the way it’s going. Mass produced cars are great. Mass produced clothes turn you into a car. PDM: What are some of your favorite bands

these days, and why?

GOB: I like the karaoke band that André

Saraiva uses. They’re cool, good, and they like me to sing with ‘em. The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, Gangstagrass, Pulp, LCD, Bjork, Heartless Bastards, Sizzla, and Capleton. The XX are the best Velvet Underground tribute band since Luna.

PDM: The art world is one of the last bastions

of what I like to think of as apartheid-era America. I travel a lot, and when I come back to New York, I’m stunned at how “white bread” it is—including the “black art scene”

and the “Asian art scene”. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

what kind of conversation would you have with him?

GOB: Street art is very integrated. Retail art is very market-driven, very curated and critiqued. I don’t think we should confuse ignorance with hatred, which is what apartheid is. We’ve seen a huge boom in Asian art. China really broke out and there’s a huge India art scene that will happen internationally. I think part of it can be blamed on the lack of a more functional community of artists. That’s what always opened things up. The dealers and the museums and critics aren’t going to do it. Put down the smartphone, go to a café, drink absinthe, and dance naked.

GOB: The same kind we used to have. Info, gossip, art, where to go. Andy was great on the phone, funny and provocative.

PDM: What inspired you to do TV Party? GOB: I learned that people actually watched

cable TV. I loved Jack Paar, Steve Allen, Carson, and Hef’s forays into TV. I wanted to explode the format and expand the medium. I’m preparing to try it again.

PDM: If Andy Warhol was around today,

PDM: What role do you think art and poetry have in cultural change? GOB: Poetry turned into a sort of Freudian

stand-up comedy or tragicomedy. It got too self-promotional and introspective and lost the muse. Poetry needs formality and craft. The complete collapse of the New York poetry scene, which was amazing when I got here, is one of the great disappointments of my life. There is a ridiculously small amount of good writing going on. The people who get all the awards and academic attention are really not good. Bad imitations of Vonnegut, who was goofy, and Donald Barthelme, who was brilliant. I almost finished The Lost Books of the Odyssey. Can’t even read the first page of a Dave Eggers book. David Foster Wallace, can’t blame him for killing himself.

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 59

impact

eric lange Interview: Maranda Pleasant

60 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

At the end of the day, right now, right here, wherever you are, you can make a choice to be

Eric Lange stars on FX’s hit show The Bridge, opposite Demian Bichir and Diane Kruger. He plays former FBI agent and serial killer David Tate/Kenneth Hastings. He will next be seen in the films Imagine with Al Pacino and Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal. Eric is known for his roles on the hit television shows Weeds, Lost, and Victorious.

Maranda Pleasant: What makes you come alive?

Eric Lange: Creating things. I love the idea of creation and creativity. Whether it’s a character, a short film, a piece of music, a painting, or a bookcase—to watch something go from an idea to a creation is pretty much where it’s at for me.

q. a.

MP: What makes you feel vulnerable?

EL: Silence. There are times it’s the only thing I want and I wonder how I’ll ever go back to the world of noise and distraction. Other times, silence allows me to hear what’s really going on in my head. Part of the reason we’re on our phones or watching television or reading magazines is to give our heads something else to listen to other than our own thoughts. It’s in the silence that I’m most able to hear the tiny voices that tell me I’m not good enough, smart enough, or cool enough. I try to hear them for what they are: my own creations. Sitting with them, letting them speak, hearing them out, and giving them back the silence that I’m now sitting in has shown me that, quite often, they shut up.

MP: If you could say something to everyone on the planet, what would it be?

a. q. a.

EL: Be kind.

MP: How do you handle emotional pain?

EL: I was lucky to grow up with phenomenal parents who were into talking about things. When something hit me hard as a kid, we’d just talk about it. I’m usually pretty open about what’s going on with me. I’m not a great actor in the sense that I can’t fake it if I’m going through something difficult.

impact

present and happy and fulfilled.

q. a.

MP: Tell us about your latest project.

EL: I’m getting married in November. I’ve been trying to give as much attention and focus to my life as well as my career. It’s hard because the career is money, but putting that before day-today needs isn’t something that can last indefinitely. I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my life with an amazing woman.

MP: How do you keep your center in the middle of chaos?

EL: As someone who makes his living as an actor, my routine varies almost every day. There are weeks I’m working and weeks I’m not. People think it must be great to have all that time off, but you’d be surprised how quickly that grass would become greener. The idle brain is the devil’s playground. I try and keep busy with something, but I also give myself permission to be busy with something that is creative and rewarding, not just the errands to the dry cleaner.

MP: What’s been one of life’s biggest lessons for you so far?

EL: That the destination you think is going to make you happy, doesn’t. I always find myself thinking, “I’m getting ready right now, but when I get to the party it’s going to be great!” Once at the party, I find myself going, “Man, can’t wait to get in bed tonight. I’m pooped.” It’s like that with my career, too. You reach peaks only to see there’s another greater peak beyond it. Suddenly that one looks like it’d have a much better view. It’s an endless cycle of going toward things that you think will provide you happiness. At the end of the day, right now, right here, wherever you are, you can make a choice to be present and happy and fulfilled.

q. a.

MP: What truth do you know for sure?

EL: Change is a constant. Anything you get attached to will one day be gone. Love the things you love as best as you can love them in the time you have in their presence. And that change, though I’m often fearful of it, has presented me with some of the greatest surprises I’ve ever received. I’m learning to become friends with it.

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 61

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ART + CULTURE

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HUMANITARIAN yoga

Tiffany Cruikshank

“

To me, yoga is a way of life. It’s about cleaning off the lens we see the world through by looking deeply at ourselves. tiffanyyoga.com Photo: Bmac Photography

8 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

DAACTIVE.COM

CHOOSE WELL, GO FORWARD, PUT POSITIVE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.

DO I T AG AIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY KADRI KURGUN

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 9

HUMANITARIAN yoga

seane corn

“

intuition

Intuition is not something that is a gift. I believe everyone is intuitive. It’s just a natural state of being. What blocks our ability to embrace or to trust our intuitive flow is our lack of self esteem. Every single day, I have to work on my self confidence. When I say self confidence, I don’t mean it like, “Oh, I’m pretty today.” That comes from an ego place. It’s that Self with a capital S. It’s knowing who I am, being in a relationship with that essence, and not having to be fed from the outside in. The way that I look, the money that I make, the relationship that I’m in, none of that defines who I am or actually gives me any value. It adds to my experience, but as we know, everything flows and ebbs and changes. We can’t get attached to these things. Otherwise, we’re OffTheMatIntoTheWorld.org photo: Dahlphotog.com 10 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

SeaneCorn.com

going to be constantly trying to fill a void. Too often, events happen in our lives (deception, betrayal, breakups, relationships, abuse, trauma) that mess with our ego and our sense of self. When we have that diminished sense of self, how can we trust our intuitive knowing? Sometimes our intuition is going to ask us to go into some really uncomfortable places. It’s going to ask us to confront our fears and our beliefs. But we can’t trust that there’s a bigger picture; we get too caught in our powerlessness. For me, if I want to be able to connect with my intuition and take the risk of following where it asks me to go, I have to work on my self esteem and call my power back from all the places that I left it because of my own fear or shame or guilt or grief.

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 11

Sianna Sherman

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

International yoga teacher

yoga

Yoga appeared in my life at the darkest hour. Yoga arrived as a warrior of truth. Yoga captured my whole being like a thief in the night. Yoga put me on my own funeral pyre and then lit it up. I have been burning ever since as a yogini on fire. siannasherman.com Photo: Bill Tipper

12 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 13

mindfulness

oprah’s s u p e r s o u l s u n d ay

best advice

Super Soul Sunday airs “Soul to Soul 2: Asking Life’s Big Questions” on December 22, 2013 at 11 a.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

Oprah Winfrey pictured with John Legend © Harpo Inc. / Chuck Hodes

INDIA.ARIE

NATE BERKUS

INDIA: I had a chance to have a conversation with Dr. Angelou. At the end of our conversation I said, “If there’s one thing that you just want me to know, what would it be?” And she said, “I have risked everything to just tell the truth. India, just tell the truth.” That’s when it started to really resonate. Telling the truth is not just what you say. It’s how you show up. It’s making honest decisions.

NATE BERKUS: Okay, so you need to settle something with me with this because I quote you as saying this, but you quote somebody else. I don’t know where this came from.

OPRAH: Mm-hmm. INDIA: It’s being your truth. It’s being your truth.

14 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

OPRAH: Okay. NATE: “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” OPRAH: Maya Angelou. NATE: Thank you.

mindfulness active Oprah Winfrey pictured with Maya Angelou © Harpo Inc. / George Burns

I guess the greatest advice is to forgive. I don’t anoint it with anything. I just forgive it. maya angelou

MAYA ANGELOU

DR. ROBIN SMITH

OPRAH: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?

OPRAH: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?

DR. ANGELOU: So many good things.

DR. ROBIN SMITH: Be quiet enough to hear God’s voice so that you can find your own.

OPRAH: I know. DR. ANGELOU: Yeah. I guess the greatest advice is to forgive. I don’t anoint it with anything. I just forgive it.

HOWARD SCHULTZ HOWARD SCHULTZ: Do not let anyone, no matter who it is, tell you your dreams cannot come true.

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 15

mindfulness active

o Oprah Winfrey pictured with Kerry Washington (top) and Brené Brown (below) © Harpo Inc. / George Burns

16 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

mindfulness Oprah Winfrey pictured with Phil Jackson © Harpo Inc. / George Burns

what does prayer mean to you? KERRY WASHINGTON

MARIEL HEMINGWAY

DR. BRENÉ BROWN

KERRY WASHINGTON: I really believe that if I want something, that God has three answers. It’s either “Yes,” “Yes, but not right now,” or “No, because I have something better in store for you.”

MARIEL HEMINGWAY: Prayer is an honoring. It’s a voicing of your intention.

OPRAH: What does prayer mean to you?

ANNE LAMOTT ANNE LAMOTT: Silence can be prayer. Rage can be prayer. It’s truth. It’s all prayer. When we are talking to something that the rest of the world may not be seeing right that minute and we’re talking from the deepest part of our heart, we’re trying to tell the truth. That’s prayer.

OPRAH: Mm-hmm. MARIEL: For me, it’s about laying out the groundwork for my gratitude.

PHIL JACKSON PHIL JACKSON: I have a simple prayer that I use. “Oh, thou sustainer of our bodies, hearts, and souls, bless all that we thankfully receive.” It’s a Sufi thing.

DR. BROWN: Everything. OPRAH: Do you have a personal prayer? DR. BROWN: I do. It’s the quote from Martin Luther King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” My prayer is for love and light.

Silence can be prayer. Rage can be prayer. It’s truth. It’s all prayer. ANNE LAMOTT

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 17

mindfulness

Dr. Brene Brown on soul:

The sacred space where my head and heart meet where God lives.

Oprah Winfrey pictured with Anne Lamott © Harpo Inc.

what is the soul? dr. brene brown

john legend

OPRAH: What is the soul?

JOHN LEGEND: Your innermost feelings. The truth that’s inside you. The art that’s inside you waiting to come out. I think that’s your soul.

DR. BROWN: The sacred space where my head and heart meet where God lives.

The truth that’s inside you. The art that’s inside you waiting to come out. I think that’s your soul. john legend

18 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

mantra yoga + health prem i issueere

Hitting stands Nationally December 2013 mantramag.com

100 yogis making a difference 15 vegetarian recipes. 15 natural beauty products we love.

yoga for every age and body

mind. body. eco.

Living an Inspired Fearless Life Pema Chรถdrรถn: How to Meditate top female athletes. Organic Living ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 19

HUMANITARIAN yoga

janet stone

“

The cycles of the natural world beautifully demonstrate one undeniable truth: everything changes. In Sanskrit, this is called parinamavada, the sacred principle that nothing stays the same. Yoga reminds me that the path to contentment flows with this natural cycle, not against it. One of the oldest men alive was asked the secret to longevity. His reply: “When it rains, I let it.” janetstoneyoga.com photo: MARIO COVIC PHOTOGRAPHY

20 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

CHOPRA CENTER EVENTS TO IGNITE YOUR

PURPOSE & PASSION Yoga • Meditation • Mind-Body Wellness

Join Deepak Chopra and featured guests Andrew Weil

OUR GIFT TO YOU Perfect Health DVD Visit chopra.com/2014gift to order your free copy today! *Shipping and handling fees will apply.

Caroline Myss Byron Katie Marianne Williamson Martha Beck Jean Houston Brent BecVar Claire Diab Danielle Mika Nagel

Are you ready to experience physical healing, emotional freedom, and higher states of consciousness? Join us today. Find the event that’s right for you at chopra.com/programs or call 888.736.6895 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 21

robert thurman I n t e r v i e w :

M a r a n d a

P l e a s a n t

mindfulness

M a r a n d a P l ea sa n t: Ho w a r e y o u doing? Robert Thurman: I’m doing okay. I’m in New York at Tibet House, and things are very busy. M P : W h a t i s i t th a t m a kes y o u f e e l f u l l y a l i ve? RT: People in Tibet have an expression. When you reach a certain degree of venerableness and age, and people ask, “How are you?,” there is an expression that people use that means, “Just barely not dead.” Some people might be frightened by it but I think it’s quite funny. In that light, what makes me fully alive is anything. Really just being alive is enough. M P : W h a t m a kes y o u f eel vu l ne ra b l e ? RT: When I think about the trends at the moment in the planet and how it looks for my grandchildren. I don’t panic over it, even though rationally maybe I should. I have faith that these terrible trends will change, and they will not go to their logical conclusions of climate change, militarism, pollution, overpopulation. In the case of Tibet, it will not be a total genocide, as the Chinese government’s current policy aims. M P : Yo u m et Hi s Ho l i n ess the D a l a i L a m a a s a y o u n g l ea d er a n d w a t che d h i m g r o w. Ha s th e r el a ti o n s hi p sh i f ted ? Ho w h a ve y o u i m p a ct e d e a ch o th er o ver th e l a st f i f ty y ears ? RT: In a way, nothing has changed, in the sense that I love the guy, and I think he actually really likes me. We were first hanging out in our twenties. He recommended that I study with his teachers, who he was studying with. I was really the only Westerner there in Dharamsala at that time. We would talk about everything in the universe under the sun like two fellow classmates. We had the buddy relationship, let’s say. His teachers and my teachers began to pass away. He became the L o v i n g j u s t

y o u r

m e a n

e n e m y.

I t

l i b e r a t i n g

22 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

e n e m y

c a v i n g m e a n s

d o e s n ’ t

i n t o f i r s t

y o u r s e l f .

y o u r o f

a l l

On the Dalai Lama: i n

w o u l d t h e

t w o

u n i v e r s e

f e l l o w

b u d d y

t a l k

a b o u t

e v e r y t h i n g

u n d e r

c l a s s m a t e s .

r e l a t i o n s h i p ,

t h e We

l e t ’s

s u n h a d

l i k e t h e

s a y.

they are obstructing your happiness. Therefore, loving your enemies is very practical. If your enemy is happy, they will stop being your enemy on their own. Take the example of people who are being most unrealistic—people who are beating monks to death and torturing them. Why shouldn’t you be angry or hate that person? Well, the person who is doing that is very unhappy. They are being ordered by a higher-up. The person who creates the policy is afraid of Tibetans or afraid of religion, or they are afraid that Tibetans are going to demand their country back and China is going to lose their territory.The person who is tormenting the Tibetans feels they have to get rid of the Tibetans in order to be happy. biggest guru on the scene. I also adopted him as a spiritual mentor, a lama or guru. He’s not one of those pompous gurus. He completely stepped aside from that role, but in fact he does have that role. He just doesn’t belabor it. He became a model for me, as well as friend, around the 1980s. We became colleagues in the work to try to save his people. We have to continue until the Chinese government decides to adopt a rational policy in relation to its neighbors and dependents, and they start giving the Tibetans a break, restoring the friendship of the Tibetans, not oppressing them and killing them (which I fully expect them to do). I think humans will find their humanity sometime, somehow. M P : Te ll m e about y our latest book with Shar on S a l z be rg, L ovin g Yo ur Enemies. Is ther e a way to l o ve y our e n e mie s s o th at you can dissolve the idea o f a n e ne my? RT: This question, Is loving your enemy a life practice?, I like that question. It is a life practice, certainly, for everyone. It relates to the idea of, Is this a householder practice or is it a monk practice? I think it’s both. Everyone has that practice. Everyone has the same life purpose, which is the quest of happiness for oneself and for others. Human beings are such social animals. We’re very connected with the feelings of those we’re close to, so we can’t really be happy when the ones we are close to are unhappy. The most important enemy for everyone is their own illusion that makes them unrealistic or exaggerates their sense of self-importance in the world. Ironically, you’re the super secret enemy. Whether lay or householder, everyone has that internal enemy.

If you love that person and say, I can just be like them, do it my way, I want to get rid of them, then there’s the endless, vicious circle back and forth between you and the enemy. Or you say, Well, is what these people really want ownership of Tibet? Is that what is going to make them happy? If someone gets a bigger house, does that automatically make them happy? Maybe for a second. But then they worry about the bigger house and how to take care of it. A possession can’t make you happy. Therefore, what is it that they really want? They want love in their life. They want to be respected. They want to have wealth. How can there be a method of them getting that without destroying Tibet? That love, in the sense of wishing their happiness, will cause your actions to be effective in relation to that person. Loving your enemy doesn’t just mean caving into your enemy. It means first of all liberating yourself. Martin Luther King said famously that he was not going to hate the oppressing white people of the South, because the burden of hate was too much to bear for the hater. Hate poisons your life. He was going to love them no matter what they did. Because that made him happier. That’s the kind of practical understanding of the “love your enemy” teaching of Jesus and Buddha and other great spiritual teachers in history. The problem in our society is the ego psychology and conventional wisdom about “look out for #1.” That conventional wisdom thinks that “love your enemy” is to some a principle no one can ever live by, and we don’t think that’s correct. M P : I f eel ver y b l essed to h a ve y o u r wi sd o m o n t ha t .

What Sharon Salzberg and I are really hoping to do in this book, Loving Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier, we’re using the word “love” in the Buddhist meaning of “love,” which means “the wish for the happiness of the beloved.” It isn’t the meaning of love where you somehow desire that one or you want them or want them to love you. If you love your enemy, that means you want your enemy to be happy. If your enemy is happy, then why would they be bothered to be your enemy? Being someone’s enemy is no fun. It does not add to happiness. You take up energy towards someone because you think

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 23

mindfulness

Deepak Chopra. Co-founder. Chopra Center for Wellbeing.

Living in the Flow:

Restoring Balance in Your Daily Rhythms Nature has set up the flow of life in your body, and the best way to live is to join the flow. This means finding your own rhythm. Most people have lost this ability, however, because they let outside forces dictate how the day will go. You can’t be in the flow if you are reacting to every demand around you, from the herky-jerky of commuting to work to the distractions that keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. The tendency is to pack too much into your day. You set an agenda, and internally you tick off each item, rushing to keep up.

Imbalance Isn’t Natural Even though balance is always the key in Nature’s plan, people force themselves into imbalance. They lose the effortless flow of life. This happens in many ways. How many people do you know who never play? Who bring their work home every day? Who don’t have any down time unless they’re so exhausted that there’s no other choice? Any kind of force has the effect of drilling neural pathways into the brain, making it harder to escape the groove. This is why so many people go on vacation but feel restless and frustrated away from work. They have trained their brains to focus on work in a way that has become unhealthy and unbalanced. Those pathways are deeply imprinted, while the ones for down time and play time are almost nonexistent. The good news is that no matter how long you’ve been engaging in a pattern of behavior, your brain is capable of change. You can create new neural pathways by making different choices about how you use your time, attention, and other resources. It all begins with planning your day to include a balance of activity, rest, and reflection.

Try a Healthy Mind Platter In planning your day, the “healthy mind platter,” devised by psychiatrist and brain specialist Daniel Siegel and colleague David Rock, is extremely useful. They place seven “dishes” on the daily platter:

1. Sleep time 2. Play time 3. Physical exercise time 4. Meditation time 5. Focus/work time 6. Relationship time 7. Down time

A healthy day follows a natural cycle. There is enough sleep to be adequately rested. There is intense focus, which is like exercising a muscle. There is down time for doing no mental work, letting the mind and brain simply be. A period is also set aside for what many Westerners neglect: time to go inward through meditation or selfreflection. In fact, this is the most precious time, since it opens the way for your own personal evolution. When you are fully engaged “in here” and “out there,” you will experience greater harmony, creativity, and well-being in your life.

Deepak Chopra, M.D. is a bestselling author, physician, and the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California. The Chopra Center offers a variety of signature programs, online teachings, and events, including the Seduction of Spirit meditation and yoga retreat, Journey into Healing (offering continuing education credits for health care practitioners), and the Perfect Health wellness program. To learn more, visit chopra.com or call 888.736.6895.

24 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

CMY

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mindfulness

Eckhart Tolle & Barnet Bain o n B r i ngi ng M i n d f u l n e s s t o t h e Mov i e s

“Movies really have replaced what traditionally were mythologies, that every culture had their mythological beliefs and their collective ‘stories.’ There is now the possibility for movies to embody that arising new state of consciousness.” -Eckhart Tolle

26 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

Milton’s Secret is a live-action film for the whole family currently in production. Based on a book by Eckhart Tolle (author of The Power of Now and A New Earth) and Robert Friedman (publisher of Conversations with God), the film will bring the wisdom of one of the most important spiritual teachers of our time to a mainstream, family audience. Here, director Barnet Bain and Eckhart Tolle discuss the power of movies to transform us.

Q: How do you define transformational entertainment or “mindful” movies?

Barnet Bain: Transformational

entertainment is a story that both entertains and uplifts you, not simply because you are inspired, but because it reveals the mechanics that allow people to have more effective, loving lives, lives of more connection, community, and communion.

Eckhart Tolle: The power of

movies lies in the fact that it enables the viewer to enter the reality, to some extent, of the characters. The characters get challenged. Through getting challenged, the character arrives at insights or discovers potentials that he or she didn’t know they had. As the character changes in the movie, it rubs off on the viewer, so the viewer also goes through that change. When the movie comes to an end, you are not totally the same person you are when you started the movie.

How did the two of you become interested in transformational entertainment?

ET: I love watching movies. My main life

interest and purpose is to bring spiritual awakening into this world, to be a vehicle for the flowering of consciousness, to help people to live more consciously with less unnecessary suffering and self-generated unhappiness. I

became interested in movies that have the power to transform consciousness.

BB: I’ve been making spiritually-themed

movies for a very long time. At the beginning of my career I made a movie as a screenwriter, The Jesus Movie. That was the first job I ever had after film school. I was hired to write the screenplay for Warner Brothers. Jesus has gone on to be the most widely seen movie in the world. It’s pretty unbelievable. I thought it was a great opportunity to make my way through a career. Looking back, I can see that film as a piece in an ongoing puzzle that all fits together in a way that is so perfect that it never could have been planned. Long before I realized I was exploring something, that I was looking to develop something in myself, I was just naturally drawn to movies and entertainment and stories that had a core element of spiritual discovery. Since then, I have produced What Dreams May Come. I was a writer and producer for The Celestine Prophecy and Homeless to Harvard, which was nominated for three Emmys, including Best Movie.

What is mindfulness to you? Why is mindfulness so important today?

BB:

Mindfulness is developing an

mindfulness

“Mindfulness allows us to watch these thoughts and choices and decisions without being triggered and having to take action and give meaning. Suddenly we are able to see beyond the waterline to the iceberg.” -barnet bain

awareness of the thoughts and feelings that we move through without getting drawn into the meanings or taking action or getting sucked into the story. Like house guests, eventually they all leave. We become more attuned to being a container for those things and less identified with them. Now we begin to have a relationship with all our structured imaginings. In doing so, life begins to take on, from my perspective, a more enchanted, dreamy experience. What is possible for us begins to expand because we are not so rigidly contained by the way our thoughts and imagination have been structured. Mindfulness has never been more important considering how the events of the world move in such an accelerated, frantic time. Our attention goes from here to the next thing to the next thing, and we’re triggered from one response of fear to one of connection to the threat of loss. And so it is more critical than ever, if you believe as we do, that our experience of reality is the result of the magical alchemy of the creation of our thoughts, our beliefs, our decisions, our attitudes, our feelings. All of these are, for the most part, unconscious. Mindfulness allows us to watch these thoughts and choices and decisions without being triggered and having to take action and give meaning. Suddenly we are able to see beyond the waterline to the

iceberg. We are seeing with x-ray glasses what is below the surface of the way we do life.

How did you begin this journey of working together?

ET: People had been writing to me and saying, “Can you write something for children?” I felt I couldn’t quite do it myself because I never had children. It’s harder for me, never having brought up a child, to enter the universe of the child. That’s where my co-author, Robert Friedman, came in and helped. When the suggestion came to me that I could co-author the book, I remembered all the letters and emails that I had received in the last few years from parents asking for that kind of thing, but I never really felt up to it myself. Now I’m glad it happened that way. I never went out and said, “I want to do this.” I never do that. I wait for things to come to me, either within or without, and I go along with it. More and more teachers are also bringing that state of presence. I’ve received more and more emails from teachers saying that they are beginning to teach presence in their classroom without necessarily calling it that or calling it anything, not as part of the official curriculum. It’s like an underground movement not yet officially recognized by the educational authorities—at least not as far as I know! miltonssecretmovie.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 27

HUMANITARIAN Humanitarian

Do It For The Love Bringing the Gift of Live Music to People Who Need It Most

In my life as an emergency room nurse, I have taken care of people in their most vulnerable moments. I’ve held the hands of kids with broken bones; I’ve comforted a man through the night after a traumatic amputation; I’ve moved bodies to the morgue. I have also seen the toll terminal illness can take on families, as the illness of one family member often becomes the full-time duty of the rest. I’ve seen some families crumble under the strain, couples divorce, and loved ones abandoned, but I have also seen families unite, grow stronger, fight disease, and—no matter the outcome—love each other through it all. One of my life’s missions is to support those families the best that I can. Through many of these experiences, I have seen the power of music deliver light to patients and their families in their darkest moments. It is for this reason that I have partnered with musician Michael Franti to create the Do It For The Love Foundation, a nonprofit network of musicians, health workers, concert promoters, and music venues dedicated to giving the gift of live concerts to wounded

veterans, children with severe disabilities, and people in the advanced stages of lifethreatening illnesses. Our goal is simple: to bring the gift of live music to those who need it most. Through concerts and one-on-one meet and greets with their favorite artists, Do It For The Love offers fans and their caregivers an opportunity to laugh and dance, sing and celebrate, break away from everyday hardships, and create vivid memories. At a recent concert in Paso Robles, California, I met one of our Do It For The Love families, Debi and T.J. Baker. Their daughter, Azaria, was born with Aicardi syndrome, which left her missing the center part of her brain, the corpus callosum. “She has about ten seizures every day, is visually impaired, and is unable to walk, talk, or feed herself,” says her mother Debil. “Azaria has lots of struggles, lots of close calls, but most importantly, lots of love.” I listened carefully as Debi described how when they play Michael Franti’s music in their house, Azaria kicks her legs and smiles, and the whole family dances around their kitchen. During the Paso Robles concert, I watched the Baker’s eight-year-old, Aiden, as he ran to

Azaria’s wheelchair and held her hand warmly while dancing ecstatically to the music. After the concert, I spoke to Debi as she talked about their hope to go on the Rombello Cruise, a floating festival at sea where they could easily bring the whole family on a much needed mini-musical vacation. The Do It For The Love Foundation contacted Sixth Man, the Rombello promoters, who promptly granted the Baker’s wish by inviting the entire family on board. Nursing has taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. I have learned the most meaningful lessons from my patients. I no longer see a terminal diagnosis as “the end,” and I don’t see people as “disabled.” I see people experiencing the same world as me, though in a different way. When a loved one is ill, the entire family experiences that illness. These families need the support of all of us. Sara Agah is an emergency room nurse and the owner of Sara Lua, a sustainably-made jewelry line. For more information on how you can support Do It For The Love, please visit doitforthelove.org.

SaraLua.com 28 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

doitforthelove.org

San Francisco January 16-20, 2014 | Hyatt Regency

EXPERIENCE YOGA JOURNAL

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relationships

T h e S e c r e ts o f S t i c k i n g T o g e t h e r 4 C o m m i tt e d C o u p l e s o n M a i n t a i n i n g a H e a lt h y R e l at i o n s h i p

By Global Glue Project

T OMMY ROSEN & K IA MILLER 13 years

Tommy: “I married Kia because nothing else in the world made sense to me but to do that. I truly felt that I would have more joy and more opportunity in my life as a result of being with Kia than without her—that was just the bottom line.” Kia: “We had our whole community pledge to support us as a couple. If one of us goes to a community member with a struggle in the relationship, we want the community to see us together and encourage us to look at our side of it.” Tommy: “The idea in relationship is to hold the pose, stay in the challenge, and watch the cycles, rather than leave when it feels uncomfortable.” Kia: “There’s something so sacred about the covenant of marriage and supporting one another through all the challenges in life. In committed relationship, there’s opportunity for growth—for me, that is spiritual growth.”

T o v i e w t h e c o m p l e t e i n t e r v i e w s , v i s i t g l o b a l g l u e p r o j e c t. c o M 30 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

MC YOGI & AMANDA GIACOMO 13 years

relationships

MC Yogi: “We’re both artists. We fell in love with each other and we fell in love with each other’s art. We came together so we could support each other in living the path of an artist.” Amanda: “Whenever I feel like we’re being pulled apart and we’re losing synchronization with each other, it always helps to go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time, and practice yoga side by side. That space of being students and practicing together always brings me back to that initial reason why we’re together.” MC Yogi: “Amanda is my absolute best friend in the world. She knows me. We’ve been through so much together—hard times, ups and downs, deaths, sickness, pain, healing. To have a friend on the path is one of the most precious gifts.”

DAVID BROWN & JANE K IN Z LER 30 years Jane: “Happiness is key. Each of us is individually interested in having a meaningful, happy life. Happiness is wanting what you have, so even when you think, Oh, I could’ve had another life—well, this is the one we got, and we’re so lucky.” David: “We do enjoy our life. We love each other. We’re each other’s best friend. We value playfulness and joy in life, and we have a lot of shared interests that give us joy.” Jane: “We have our stuff and sometimes think, Oh my god, I can’t put up with him another minute. But you do. You get through it and it always comes back. Sooner or later, if you’re just patient, it comes back to a really nice place of calm and peace, even when there’s tumult.” David: “Humor in our relationship is vital.” Jane: “We let out the inner goof ball.” David: “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”

HELEN & SYDNEY RUBIN 70 years Helen: “Sydney’s devotion to me is a phenomenal thing. He always says nice things about me, about my appearance, or my involvement with different friends. He always makes me feel special. I think he’s just a great guy. This is what has kept us together all these years.” Sydney:“The point is, when we got married and they said ‘for better or worse, ‘til death do you part,’ I took that very seriously. If there was happiness or tragedy, whatever it was, we coped together. We worked as partners. To this day, we are partners.” Helen: “Before we go to sleep every night, he holds my hand very tight.” Sydney: “Right. I say, ‘Helen, I just want to hold your hand forever, I don’t ever want to let go.’ The days seem to fly by somehow. I’m very happy.” photo: dj pierce ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 31

yoga

You Take Control Live free of phobias, panic attacks, a heightened sense of fear, or feelings of sadness

By Ana Forrest

The first chapter of my book, Fierce Medicine, tackles the subject of fear. I wanted to give everyone who reads my book tools to work with fear. I teach my students how to stalk fear, which is an evolving quantum-leap way to work. You re-pattern your behaviors and the way your brain works, and you change your chemistry. Stalking your fear helps you re-pattern your neural connections and neural chemistry—and that’s where it gets really sexy! Stalking your fear helps you shift from moments where you’re slimed in shame to using powerful tools to take actions that make you proud of yourself. Fear—whether it shows up as a panic attack, anxiety, phobias, anger—is a signal. Fear needs you to respond. Forrest Yoga teaches you new skills in these moments of fear, and that changes everything! There are some simple first steps to stalking fear. When you hit fear, choose to feel. This is an essential step to walking free of fear. Feel the affects of the next actions:

Get your feet active. Spread across the balls of your feet and whole heel. Pick your toes up and feel the earth through your awakening feet.

Breathe deeply. Place your hands on your ribs. Inhale. Expand your ribs sideways into your hands. Exhale. Pull your belly muscles in to empty out all of the used air.

Crotch breathing (did you just hit your fear?!). Inhale. Balloon breath down into genitals. Exhale. Contract genitals, perineum, and anus up three times. Do this a few times to dispel the numbness in your pelvis. Make a feeling connection to first chakra territory.

Relax your neck, eyes and brain.

Now snuggle up to your fear, anxiety, or sadness. How? Connect to where you feel it. Put your hand on the area holding fear. Breathe into it. Get friendly. Stop making decisions based on fear or what your fear says to do. Begin to disobey the dictates of fear—that’s really fun!

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Here are some ways to use yoga to free yourself up from fear: Set your intent at the beginning of your practice for freeing the fear from your cell tissue. Breath deeply into your core (crotch to crown), feeling for where fear lives in your body. Choose one area where you feel fear the strongest. Breathe deeply into this spot through your whole practice. Feel for the shimmers of emotional and physical change that happen as you bring your strong focus into studying and transforming your fear.

PRANAYAMA 1 2 asana 1 2

Buzz it up! Do bhramari (bee breath/humming) into your fear spot for about twenty breaths. Use lion breath into uddiyana for four breaths to discharge the layers of fear you’re accessing.

Side bends with neck release. Ease fear out of neck, eyes, and brain. Forrest Yoga abdominals! Elbow-to-knee and straddle-lifting through or frog-lifting through. Strengthen connection and ownership of this part of your body by clearing fear from belly and crotch.

3 4

Lunges, chest openers, and backbends are wonderful for cleansing fear spots.

Savasana is a great fear-releasing pose. Learn to utterly relax and be supported by the Earth. Feeling your power and your connection to the Earth will assist you in changing your relationship to fear.

Standing pose series is terrific for accessing your strengths and gathering your courage to move your fear out.

You can find many of these poses in Fierce Medicine and Ana’s instructional DVDs. To work with Ana in person, visit forrestyoga.com/events.

At Kripalu, we invite you to breathe—to intentionally pause the ongoing demands of life, bring your attention inward, and rediscover your authentic nature. Conscious engagement with the breath connects you with the intelligence and power of the life force within and around you. Whenever you are faced with a challenge—on the yoga mat, in a relationship, at work, or with your health—you can draw on a deep sense of ease, purpose, and mastery to create positive change. We call it the yoga of life.

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ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 33

yoga

motherhood. prenatal yoga. her new dvd.

Interview: Maranda Pleasant 34 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

MP: Wonderful. What are some of the things that make you feel vulnerable?

MP: Are there any other unexpected ways that your pregnancy shifted you?

HB: I live life where I feel pretty secure. I’m a very happy person. But there are some things that make you feel nervous. When you feel misunderstand, that’s one of them. Anytime people misunderstand you. People project. We live in a world where everybody is online. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. So much is about the outward appearance. They don’t really see your humanity. What

HB: Yes, absolutely. My life has shifted, priorities change. It’s a love that I didn’t know before. It’s a very different kind of love. I love my husband deeply, I love my family deeply. It’s a very different love that you have with your child. That’s something that did surprise me. People would say, “You’re going to love this little girl like you can’t even imagine.” And I’d say, “Oh yeah,

really the best way in terms of the medical system right now. I figured that it would be frustrating. I started teaching yoga when I was in college, and it clicked with me. I realized I could help people. Even though I was making peanuts, at least I helped people. At least I made the world a little bit better person-by-person. To be able to share my experience in this DVD and say, “This is what made my pregnancy go so smoothly,” that’s a gift to other people that I hope they’ll accept. MP: That is really beautiful. I’m so happy to hear how real you are. Is there any advice that you would give to women who are expecting?

HB: Keep active, keep moving! Even when you’re tired. Take care of yourself and take

“

We live in a world where everybody is online. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. So much is about the outward appearance. They don’t really see your humanity.

makes me feel vulnerable is when people are not seeing my humanity and who I am. MP: I’ve been doing these interviews with some of the most amazing people on the planet for more than two years, and I think you just summed it up. I’ve never actually gotten that answer before. But when I think about what makes me vulnerable, being misunderstand and people not getting my motivation—it doesn’t matter how pure you are, how much you want to love and change the planet— people saying and projecting the meanest things, that’s the thing that will bring me to tears the fastest.

HB: I’ve spent quite a few nights in tears because of that. The good thing is that, every day is a new day. News becomes old fast. And you just move on. One of the things that I’ve loved about becoming a

I’m sure I’m going to love her!” But it’s a love that hurts. It’s a love that pulls at your heart. That was a surprise to me, to feel it and experience, to cross over to a group of people that also understand that. MP: Why did it feel important for you to make Fit Mommy-to-be Prenatal Yoga?

HB: I started dancing when I was two years old. I’ve been moving and exercising my entire life. I’m not very good at math, I’m so-so at science, I’m pretty good at history. But I’m very, very good at fitness. Taking care of myself has been a lifelong journey, with a lot of hard lessons, a lot of wonderful lessons. When I decided to make this DVD, I knew that I could help people. When I went to college, I initially wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help people. Then I decided that that wasn’t

”

breaks if you need to. Don’t overexert yourself. Try to do something active once a day. Even at the end, I just walked and walked and walked. Then I would take a rest. Then I would go out and walk and walk and walk. I knew I was getting my baby into the right place. I never had swelling in my feet or in my legs. I gained twenty-eight pounds while being pregnant. That’s a healthy weight. It’s enough, it’s not too much. I didn’t watch what I ate but I ate healthy things. I was eating a good amount of food but not chocolate chips and cupcakes. I wanted to feed my baby well. I figured, I am what I eat and she is what I eat while she’s inside of me, so it is my responsibility to eat well. Eat well, exercise, rest when you need to, and do your Kegel exercises.

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 35

HUMANITARIAN yoga

Hilaria Baldwin: I’m somebody who likes to get up early in the morning and go work out. Yoga has become my very favorite of all activities. If I can go and work out or move during the day, then I am a pretty happy camper.

mother is it puts things into perspective. To have that deep of a love, it’s like Christmas every day. You wake up and there’s this little thing for you every single day. She makes the world brighter. All of these silly little problems don’t matter because she doesn’t get it. You can almost live in her world when things get tough.

Maranda Pleasant: What is it that makes you feel most alive?

yoga

rod stryker

“

Visionary of ParaYoga Self-knowledge is the ultimate treasure, the key to freedom, and the bearer of all that your heart truly seeks. Yoga practice in the pursuit of anything other than prajna—the light of wisdom—is little more than distraction. parayoga.com Photo: Michael Cowen

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Simon Park

www.bepresent.com 1.877.747.7202 info@bepresent.com

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 37

AUSTIN YOGIS what makes you crazy

& how do you deal?

Meredith Blanks Paterson. Director. Yoga trainings. Children’s yoga instructor. Yogiños: Yoga for Youth®.

No art, recess, creative writing, PE, music. I don’t worry about the born artists. I worry about the others. The ones like me. The ones who need a teacher’s nudge or the blank canvas of a playground to dance wildly, sculpt a face, or write down a dream. My fight: reinstating those words above and bringing the arts and movement back to all children. yoginos.com austinkulayoga.com

Heather Olson.

Manager. Black Swan Yoga. Ego. My ego says it’s okay to flee from owning my truth and integrity. Yoga helps me to see my boundaries by connecting with the present, to be okay with messy, and to test limitations. My time on my mat allows facetime with what I’m avoiding, to practice meeting those barriers against my authenticity. My aim is to be fearless. blackswanyoga.tv Photo: Giesel Widmer, mycreativedrug.com

38 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

KK Ledford. Cosmology teacher. Yoga teacher. Astrologer. Wildmoonwisdom.

It makes me crazy when people insist on interacting and living life in a superficial, surface level way, and place expectations on others to be unexceptional, then malign those that live deeply and outrageously because they do not understand them. I focus on my sadhana, do not concern myself with what others think, and remain authentic and true to myself. wildmoonwisdom.com kapalikatantra.com practiceyogaaustin.com Photo: Ricky Calcao

Lauren Browder.

Yoga teacher. Being stuck in traffic drives me crazy. I can react with anger to something I cannot control or I can take a deep breath and allow people into my lane. It’s a small act of kindness. I visualize the recipients passing along the kindness. I also dealt with the traffic by moving to a neighborhood only minutes away.

PHOTO: Erin Trieb, BFree Yoga

Lauren Zinn Buck.

5 Teacher.

Traffic. I can slip into road rage faster than I’d like to admit. When it happens, I do three things: slow my breathing to long, rhythmic sama vritti (even breath); tap into gratitude that I am traveling at amazing speeds in my climate-controlled bubble; and turn on some Deva Premal or Jennifer Berezan. Does the trick every time.

yogathroughlauren.com Photo: Gabrielle Matlock

Chrispy Bhagat Singh. Operator. Star. Servant. RockStarYoga. RaSaYana teacher training.

I go to the root of it, the energetic mula. In the late 1500s, “craze” meant “diseased, sickly, full of cracks or flaws.” Life itself, being alive, living: that makes me human. What makes me crazy is accepting this, not striving to improve, whether that is others or my Self. I work to create something better, whole, and healthy. rockstaryoga.us

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yoga

Shiva Rea

Yogadventurer, Founder Samudra Global School for Living Yoga and Yoga Energy Activism

“

The waves are our teachers in the ocean of life Feel your true rhythm Watch the horizon with patience Be ready to act without hesitation without fear of falling Feel your balls drop Paddle like you want to live This is your wave This is our evolutionary wave We must rise to catch it. SHIVAREA.COM

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Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa Lives: Los Angeles Director: Golden Bridge Yoga, Los Angeles and New York City Author: The Eight Human Talents and Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful Videos: Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga with Gurmukh Passions: Amrit Davaa World Health Organization; Parmarth Niketan Ashram, India; Manjushree Vidyapith, Tibet; Home of Hope, South Africa; Ramana’s Garden, India; Miri Piri Academy, India.

photo: Sat Puran/Fran Gealer

Mat: Jade

Nature’s Best Yoga Mat Great grip. Earth friendly. www.jadeyoga.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 41

Gina Caputo. 1 / Yogini on the loose.

BOULDER YOGIS WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN NATURE?

Austin Rodwin. 3 / Marsha Owner. Radiance Power Yoga. Storm Pass, West Elk Wilderness, Colorado. A few miles in through wildflower-filled meadows dotted with beaver ponds, the trail to Storm Pass climbs in steep switchbacks, past most of the day-hikers, eventually cresting above treeline to reveal natural rock formations reminiscent of Scottish Highland castles, framed against emerald green vegetation. Here, in solitude, between earth and sky, I truly am a Queen.

The mountains have an unparalleled majesty and incomparable presence in which my perspective shifts and the small stuff becomes inconsequential. They are a salve to my overactive mind. They evoke steadiness and ease, calm and patience, inspiration and insight. Nowhere else do I feel such oneness with nature. They are my meditation cushion, my refuge, my home. ginacaputo.com

Raj Seymour. 2 / Yoga teacher. I love Mt Sanitas in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. Just a short bike ride from my house, it is a place where I hike, contemplate, and meditate. I have been hiking there since I first arrived here in 1992. I am inspired every time I walk the trails. Although the recent floods will forever change the area, the beauty will always remain. rajseymour.com Photo: Robert Frost

Photo: Robert Frost

Loud. 4 / Rob Yoga instructor. Living in Boulder, I am blessed that my favorite places in nature are right in my backyard. I frequent all the trails along the foothills of Boulder: the Anne White Trail, Mt Sanitas, and Betasso Preserve, to name a few. I can get to any trailhead on my mountain bike in a matter of minutes. They are all still just far enough away from town to unplug and feel the magnificence of the Rocky Mountains.

Deva. 5 / Amy Energy guide. Visionary coach. Yogini. Yesterday I wrote about how my favorite place in nature is by the water because of the nurturing support and connection. Today, water is powering through the streets and homes of Boulder. This flood reminds me that there is no place on this Earth that is not “in nature.” Even our cities are still ruled by the forces of nature. I’m humbled and in awe of the power of water as I watch my community come together in support and love.

robloudyoga.com radiancepoweryoga.com

AmyDeva.com Photo: Rick Cummings

Photo: Robert Frost

Courtney Love Tisch. 6 / Yoga instructor. Director. Sales and Marketing. Hanuman Festival.

Nature is dynamic, therapeutic, and stimulating, yet it balances me and gives me exactly what I need. The Colorado Rocky Mountains provide a powerful and inspiring backdrop to my active lifestyle in Boulder, while the shores of the San Francisco Bay, my home for nearly eight years, instill peace and radiates love in me. Embrace and immerse in it daily!

Photo: ShineBranding.com

Nichole Golden. Off the Mat, Into the Wild. 7 / Mountain Yoga. In the wild world of nature, my heart is at home. As a child of the Earth, my spirit is called alive amongst the pines, deep in the heart of the woods. My soul has an endless hunger to be in the secret nooks of the mountains’ long spine. The forest is my holy ground and ultimate sacred place. nicholegolden.com Photo: Rick Cummings

Yuki Tsuji-Hoening. 8 / Yoga teacher. Eldorado Canyon is one of my favorite places to rock climb in Colorado. It is a bittersweet place for me. One day, Eldo can be full of inspiration with amazing rock and beautiful views. Another day, notoriously challenging routes teach me hard lessons of patience and humility. Through joy or struggle, it never fails to ignite my passion. yogayuki.com earthplayretreats.com Photo: John Lloyd Photo

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6. 5.

2. 4.

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yoga

Baron Baptiste

“

Being of Power

Your greatest test will come in the dark moments when your soul is being squeezed. That’s when you want to be grounded in your bigger purpose, your North Star. When your heart is truly lit up about something, you don’t do it, it does you. Perseverance becomes the only choice. Being resilient allows you to break through to what’s next when you’re challenged with obstacles in your path. Aligned to the power of love in your heart, you will be a gift to yourself and others. baronbaptiste.com

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The Anatomy of The Self with Ray Long, MD March 14 – 24, 2014 Join master teachers Ray Long, M.D. and Indira Kate Kalmbach for an in-depth study of physical and metaphysical anatomy.

January 5 - 31, 2014 Merge the physical and contemplative practices of yoga while deepening your connection with the earth.

The Heart of Practice Fall 2014 Common to most contemplative traditions is the understanding that the gems of inner wisdom shine through periods of inner and outer stillness, silence, and meditation. Study the research being done in the field of mindfulness and learn to teach meditation across populations.

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Kathryn Budig

“

Yoga teacher

Setting intention is crucial but following through is pivotal. A strong woman sticks to her guns regardless of what others think or say. They can take a tomato straight to the head, gracefully wipe it off and say, “Too bad we don’t agree but I need to follow what I believe in. This is me through thick and thin.” kathrynbudig.com Photo: Andrew Cebulka

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Yoga & Veganism: Family Pressure

Ask Sharon

Q: No one else in my family is a vegan, and I feel alienated when I go home for the holidays. They all criticize me; I’m put on the defensive and it’s hard to cope. I love my family and don’t want to appear to them as a “Debbie downer.” What can I do?

SHARON: Be a joyful vegan. Focus on the love and gratitude you feel for your family, don’t focus on finding fault with them. At the same time, remember that you don’t have to compromise your principles. Ultimately, most people come to respect someone who lives by their principles. Give your family time to accept you. Usually when we feel insecure it is because we haven’t had the time to become fully established in something. Your family may have known you for many years as someone who enjoyed eating meat just like them, and now you have changed. They may assume it is a passing fad like other things you have tried for a time and then outgrown. Be patient with them as well as with yourself. See your family as providing you with an

opportunity to test the steadfastness of your commitment to nonviolence and to persevere. The most important thing to remember when confronted with criticism is to be joyful, kind, and loving. Let go of any tendencies you may have to judge others. Be tolerant. Derive the strength necessary to do this by taking refuge in the fact that, as philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self evident.”

Q: My grandmother is a great cook

and always lovingly prepares a big turkey for Thanksgiving. I don’t want to hurt her feelings by not eating it. What can I do?

SHARON: You can decline the helping of turkey and still be kind and gracious to your grandmother and to the rest of the family. Often people who are meat eaters view

veganism as a dietary preference, similar to liking chocolate better than vanilla. It is difficult for many to understand that there is much more at stake than an appetite preference. Eating meat means being cruel as it involves abuse and killing, although it is sanctioned in our society. We must be brave and bring up the question of whether one’s right to kill another is a legitimate choice. At the same time, we must be compassionate towards others who may not have had the opportunity to receive the education we have. It can be helpful to bring a vegan dish like a “tofu turkey,” as well as educational DVDs or books to share with your family. Once someone watches a film like Earthlings, it is difficult to defend eating meat. Being exposed to the truth can be a wake-up call. The most important advice is to be kind and compassionate—to the animals as well as to your family—without comprising truth. Sharon Gannon is the co-founder of the Jivamukti Yoga method and the author of Yoga & Vegetarianism: the Diet of Enlightenment. jivamuktiyoga.com

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DENVER YOGIS: WHAT DOES SELF LOVE MEAN TO YOU? Jennifer Lux. Event Director. Yoga Rocks the Park. Friday Night Yoga Club. Self love, like all love, is a practice, and involves a conscious and daily commitment to acceptance and forgiveness. In my life, the simple belief of “no regrets, only lessons” has been pivotal in making peace with life’s imperfections, and shifting my inner dialogue to create an environment of self love. yogarocksthepark.com fridaynightyogaclub.com Photo: Rachel Kemble Photography

Patrick Harrington. Vision Holder. Owner. Kindness Yoga. Thrive Integrated Health. Exhale. Noticing the tension in my belly subside, I take another big inhale. Feeling the bottom corners of my lungs expand down deeper, I know the release is coming again. I let the breath out. Bringing me present to my hard edges, I surrender into breath, in love again, and willing. Loving myself, I let go. indnesscollective.com thriveintegratedhealth.com

Self love is showing the same kindness to myself as I would to others and putting myself first in order to replenish my personal well of resources. -Lisa Richards

Dakini Ma Jaeger. Founder. Denver Chant Fest, LLC. Owner. Blue World Sound, LLC. Franchise owner. CorePower Yoga Stapleton. Self love has been elusive at times. I have struggled with an inner critic that has taken me down dark paths. By taking the journey, I have been able to pick up the symbolic torch and experience the light within. I have learned that to love myself, I first had to understand myself. True compassion and love come from this understanding. denverchantfest.com blueworldyoga.com blueworldsound.com

Erik Vienneau. Founder. CEO. Open Sky Event Marketing, Inc. Self love is having the courage to slow down when I am going too fast; to pull myself out of bed when I’m going to slow; to not add a layer of suffering on top of everyday pain by being hard on myself; to notice sensations in my body and mind, breathe deep, and not react. Having equanimity and peace.

Tina Porter. Yoga instructor. Sacred i Yoga Studio. The River Yoga Center. Self love is reaching a state of deep appreciation. When I practice yoga and not just do it, I experience a dynamic sense of power and feel more beautiful in my rawest and most vulnerable form. My yoga is a constant practice for me to ground, connect, touch, feel, flush, rejuvenate, and appreciate every aspect of myself and this incredible life! tina-yoga.com Photo: Cortney Kerr Photography

Chanda Hinton Leichtle. Executive Director. The Chanda Plan Foundation. Self love is taking every chance I have to honor my body and mind, despite the distractions, disabilities, and disbeliefs I will endlessly encounter. I was given specific challenges in both body and mind, yet find peace when I embrace those challenges and give them compassion.

yogarocksthepark.com Photo: Bryan Lopez, Visual Voice Photography

iamtheplan.org Photo: Peggy Dyer

Christen Bakken. Founder. Young Warriors. Rockin’ Bhakti Yoga.

Lisa Richards. Mother. Yogini. Yoga teacher.

Much like yoga, self love does not happen overnight, nor is it ever finished. For me, the practice of self love is not seeking out personal perfection. It is honoring each bit of myself, the dark as well as the light. It is so easy for me to trip out over my own shadow. Yoga reminds me that my darkness is the birthplace of my light, and that is worth celebrating and loving.

It has taken many years and a lot of continuous practice to recognize that unapologetic self love is imperative to loving others and loving life. Being able to understand and commit to who I am, love myself and my combination of faults, gifts, quirks, and talents, is so freeing and empowering! As women we play so many roles—partner, mother, wife, friend, caretaker, teacher—that it’s easy to put our needs last. Self love is showing the same kindness to myself as I would to others and putting myself first in order to replenish my personal well of resources.

yogaforyoungwarriors.com Photo: Liz B Photography

lisarichardsyoga.com Photo: Souders Studios

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Ayurv e da :

Four Paths To Harmony During The Holidays Indira Kate Kalmbach Sattvic Vata: Gifts of Balanced Vata

the way wind swirls erratically, whisking everything in its path. Now ride the steady waves of your breath toward inner peace.

Creative Open-minded Inspired Enthusiastic

Let go. Supported adho mukha virasana (child’s pose, pictured) and modified viparita karani (legs on a chair) soothe erratic vata energy. Settle in for ten to twenty minutes at the end of the day.

Deranged Vata: Symptoms of Imbalance Erratic Inconsistent Restless Distracted When the leaves turn and rustle brightly to the ground and windy afternoons carry hints of winter briskly on their breath, the season of vata has arrived. Vata, the Ayurvedic dosha associated with air, dominates in the transitional period of late fall to early winter. Regardless of your predominant dosha, you may find yourself floating off your center when this capricious energy takes charge. If you are susceptible to vata imbalances, you’ll find it especially challenging to stick to routines, and you’ll tell yourself you don’t have time to slow down: tell-tale vata lingo. Get cozy. Take warm baths. Drink hot tea. Eat steamed and sautéed greens. Snuggle up with your beloved. Being warm in body and soul balances our response to the cooling temps outside. Breathe. Make use of the charmed delicacy of early morning air. Conscious breathing upon waking up counters the restlessness of vata while the longer exhalations of this pranayama calm the mind. Breathe in on four count, hold for two, and exhale eight. Picture

Nurture nature. Walk outdoors barefoot. Touching the Earth with our bare feet reminds us viscerally of our ancient ancestral connection, the soul’s raison d’être. In bare feet, we synchronize with nature’s slower rhythms. It’s like kissing the planet.

Supported adho mukha virasana: 1. Place a cushion between your feet for extra support. 2. Two or three pillows can be used in place of the bolster. 3. Turn your head to the opposite side midway through the hold. Benefits: Gentle traction to lumbar spine; calms nervous system; relaxes body and mind.

Modified viparita karani: 1. Placing the soles of your feet against a cushion or wall encourages grounding. 2. A strap around your ankles or thighs aligns the bones allowing the muscles to release all effort. 3. Prop yourself with pillows and cushions, but avoid a feeling of collapse anywhere along the spine. Benefits: Brings blood effortlessly to the heart; soothes nervous system; calms the mind.

Indira Kate Kalmbach is a writer, yogi, and international teacher living in Costa Rica. She is the director of yoga teacher trainings and founder of Pavones Yoga Center on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Her mission is to promote peace on the planet.

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UNIFIED YOGA TEACHER TRAININGS

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UNIFY your practice. UNIFY your teaching. UNIFY your self.

JOIN US IN JANUARY, JULY, OR NOVEMBER 2014 Visit the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii for one of our 200 Hour Unified Yoga Teacher Trainings in January, July and November of 2014. All trainings are 25 Day Immersion Trainings and are Yoga Alliance Registered.

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DALLAS YOGIS:

what is one of the biggest life lessons you’ve learned so far?

Jenny Parum. Owner. The Yoga Movement.

“Release judgment and expectations,” my teacher would say. Before each practice I would release judgment I held of myself and others, and release expectations I had of the practice that day. As I matured in my practice, I realized I must also release judgments and expectations from others that I had allowed to affect me and my choices. Then I was free to live in my authentic self! jennyparum.com yogamovementdallas.com Photo: Margie Woods Brown Photography

Julie Wright. Yoga instructor. Life Development Team: Innovation 360.

Brooke Hamblet. Teacher. Director. Activist.

Recently, I was assisting a Baptiste teacher training in Hawaii. Some of the team expressed concern about feeling good enough to be there. After listening, I said, “And you are here. You are right in the middle of the goal you once had.” In that moment, I discovered an invaluable lesson: every experience of every day—even the most seemingly ordinary—is a goal achieved. I catch myself often and say, “At one point in time, Brooke, this was a goal. So love it.”

Kendall A. Inman. Founder. Living Yoga Dallas. In my study of Ayurveda, I came to a valuable conclusion on the importance of self care: practicing daily rituals that nurture and support me. In doing so, I would say my biggest life lesson recently was realizing how important it is for me to be in the company of people that inspire me, people that live in a world that is bigger than mine. livingyogadallas.com

brookehamblet.com indigoyoga.net Photo: Peter Robbins Photography

Laura King. Owner. Director of Training. North Texas Yoga.

Christina Collazo Cathey. Co-creator. Teacher. Imagine Yoga.

Several years ago I hit a very low point and just about gave up. Actually, I did give up. By God’s grace and my family’s love, I found the strength and courage to work through and rise above it. My lowest point was a blessing in disguise. Every day I am grateful for this beautiful life and the opportunity to share this amazing love. Never give up.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that I am more than a title or name. When I learned to stop identifying myself by my job or other people’s expectations, I opened myself up to what the universe wanted for me. We are each an infinite possibility; we just have to be quiet and listen to the divine.

I was taught stillness and meditation by a teacher in grade school. This great lesson has lifted me during life’s trials: miscarriages, divorce, single motherhood. It has also led me back to life’s joys: re-learning self care, falling in love, living my life with intention. I come home to the mantra “be love” time and again. Stillness brings clarity. Love heals.

Photo: Stevan Koye Photography

northtexasyoga.com Photo: Sandy Foster, Yoga Bliss Photo

ImagineYogaDallas.com Photo: Sandy Foster, Yoga Bliss Photo

Ricky Tran. BBA. E-RYT. CBA.

“Practice without judgments and expectations and AUM-azing things will begin to happen on and off the mat.” Practice means show up, physically and mentally. Do my best and leave the rest. Don’t judge or pre-judge myself and others. Don’t be attached to the fruits of my efforts. Make it an offering to something greater than me. RickyTranYoga.com KramaYogaCenter.com CastleHillsYoga.com BreakfastYogaClub.com TranBand.com Photo: Joy Neville Photography

Rebecca Butler. Karmany Yoga. In 2012, I lost my mom to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). In her journey to the grave, she taught me: Life is meant to be cherished, not squandered. Movement, health, and breath are righteous gifts to be celebrated, never neglected. Kindness, love, and grace are the only admirable ways of being. In her honor, I walk this earth spreading this message. rebeccabutleryoga.com Photo: Sheryl Braun of Soulshine Photography

I discovered an invaluable lesson: every experience of every day—even the most seemingly ordinary—is a goal achieved. -Brooke Hamblet.

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W HAT M A K E S Y O U F EEL P A S S I O N ATE O R I N S P I R E D ? Susan Pierce Freeman. Laguna 1 Beach. Founder. Qicoach.

My mom died when I was young, so I had little modeling. With my first child, I knew only to be present. This informed my mothering and my life’s work. I am passionate about calling people forth into their fullness and encouraging them to consciously engage with their lives. Conscious mothering is a direct path toward cultivating trust in your innate wisdom. Radiate fierce love. Photo: Leslie Bohm Photography

Chris Gullett Ritenour. 2 Kashia Austin.

I’m passionate about actively living and participating in life. Two of my personal philosophies are: “In Lak’ech Ala K’in”— Mayan wisdom meaning “I am another you”—and “Love life and live happy” (my words). My highest joy in life is being a mother. Also fulfilling is having a loving, supportive spouse as my best friend! Photo: Ed Schulz

Weeter. Johnston. 3 Bradie Owner. The Suites of 800 Locust Hotel & Spa. Yoga instructor.

I am inspired to live life to the fullest and brightest. This inspiration was learned from my brother. His blindness allowed him to see brightness in the soul and the bold color of life without distraction. I’ve tried to live the same and teach his vision: to see the bright, bold, and colorful light within. Namaste! Photo: Maharry Photography

Lesley Clark. Austin. Spiritual 4 life coach. Reinvention coach. Yoga instructor. As the mother of two teenage sons and a ﬁve-year-old daughter, I ﬁnd it inspirational when parents recognize and respect that their children bring into this world their own path. I am passionate about teaching women and children to know that they are seen, heard, and valued.

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M O M S

Photo: Wyoming Suiter

German. Danville. Yoga 5 Bliss teacher. Acts of kindness and compassion, large or small. Displays of love that demonstrate our connection to one another. Our world is filled with inequalities and injustice. Expressions of human spirit, combined with strength and perseverance, reunite us and provide hope, inspiring me to teach my children (Max, Kai, and Siena) the necessity of acceptance, compassion, and love—for themselves and all others. Photo: Sia MacDonald Photography

Durivage-Kerridge. 6 Jessica Founder. Where is My Guru. The woman on the left is Laura Tiffany. The middle beauty is my daughter, LeeAnn Tiffany. Laura is her adoptive mother. I gave up my daughter for adoption when I was nineteen years old, fifteen years ago. One year ago, we reconnected. The reunion journey has been the most incredible of all our lives. Laura is an amazing mother who has welcomed me into their family as if I was always there. Her love and acceptance has been one of the greatest blessings I have ever received. I will be forever grateful. whereismyguru.com Berry, ND. Portland. 7 Melissa Naturopathic Physician. Owner. Chocolatier. Missionary Chocolates. Health care and chocolates are my passions, as I’m a naturopathic physician, mom, and chocolatier. I began my vegan truffle business so that my lactose-intolerant mother and others could eat chocolates they love. I intend to build an integrative healing center to bridge the gaps in access to healthcare, via proceeds from my chocolate company. missionarychocolates.com Photo: Choose Local Media

a u s t i n

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P H I L L Y WHAT ARE THE PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL MOST ALIVE?

1/Joe

Longo. Photographer. Yoga instructor. Warrior of Light.

3/Brittany

5/Jake

I feel most alive when my camera is in hand, walking through nature, recognizing the beauty all around us, following my bliss, being inspired, standing in a ray of sun, photographing a memory that will last a lifetime, and, most importantly, capturing the light within you.

There’s a special tree (the one tattooed on my arm) in a hiking spot called Valley Green. This tree has shown me a deeper kind of love. Going there taps me into the pulse of life. I also love dancing with my partner on Sundays at this open air spot right on the river. For me, dancing is a wild meditation.

I feel fully alive when I am truly savoring life, all of the different experiences and feelings. I thrive when I’m surrounded by people who inspire my best: family, friends, yoga students, and teachers. It is a blessing to be in the presence of those who are continually evolving, thriving, and living more vibrantly and healthy.

joelongophotography.com Photo: Joe Longo

beyondasana.org Photo: Nick Antony

yogawithjake.com Photo: Joe Longo

2/Hadji

4/Alexandra

6/David

Handstands give me a thrill that ignites my inner fire. Beaches—from the softness of the wind to the rolling waves to the endless coastline, I am alive and flowing with nature’s vibe when I’m there. Being around my friends brings me a crazy glow. These things make me feel fully alive and connected, not only to myself but to everything around me.

Sunny days, inversions and backbends, mangoes, the beach, oysters, green smoothies, coffee, laughing with my girlfriends, watching my dog chase a tennis ball, accidentally farting in front of someone and knowing they still think I’m hot, reading a good book, snuggling with my man, the occasional martini, traveling, seeing art, bubbles, and dancing.

Jones. Yoga instructor.

theblackyogi.com Photo: Joe Longo

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Policastro. Teacher. Writer. Creative force. Soul stirrer.

Holmes. Yoga

teacher.

alexholmesyoga.com

Panasevich. Motivator. Yoga Mentor for Men.

Garrigues. Ashtanga Yoga School of Philadelphia.

Uddiyana Bandha Kriya, making flowing surf turns on my longboard, a serious student making a breakthrough, driving a motorcycle in India wearing shorts during a monsoon rain, shoulderstand variations; being with my girl, swimming in a super cold, crystal clear mountain river, teaching at Ashtanga Yoga School of Philadelphia. aysphiladelphia.com Photo: Joe Longo

Y O G I S : 7/Maura

Manzo. Yoga teacher. Instigator.

9/Corina

Of course my practice makes my feel alive—or at least serves as a reminder that I’m not dead, no matter how bad things may seem. So does my parent’s home, Tulum, Mexico, and anytime I am on a plane. These places remind me of my connection to myself, my dreams, my purpose, and to something much bigger, much older, that is always alive in me.

I feel fully, unabashedly, vibrantly alive when I am moving my body, either on the yoga mat, on a bicycle, or dancing barefoot in my kitchen. Alive is not a concept, it is a visceral experience— my heart beating quicker, my breath flowing deeper, my mind rhythmically soothed, my body enjoying the physical challenge or the simple, silly fun.

mauramanzo.com Photo: Joe Longo

wakeupyoga.com Photo: Steve Langdon

8/Nicole

10/Diana

Cucinotta. Yoga

teacher.

Community, collaboration, Camden, family, travel, summer sun, backbends, and bass lines. The Broad Street Run. Watching others shine, igniting passion, being of service, and creating my life fully from the heart. This is how I live out loud. This is where I am alive. yogarockslive.com Photo: Joe Longo

Benner. Founder. Wake

Up Yoga.

Vitarelli. John Vitarelli. Owners. Dhyana Yoga.

11/Sati

Rose. Yoga instructor.

I experience my aliveness most fully when I am engaged completely in heart-opening service to humanity; when communing with nature or walking barefoot on the Mother Earth and swimming in her waters; while sitting at the lotus feet of my guru Ammachi and serving her; while circling with sisters in the new paradigm of sisterhood; whenever I am opening my energy centers with Kundalini yoga or shamanic ritual ceremony; and when I am eating and preparing living, highvibrational foods. I am most alive while being held in the eyes of my loving family, my husband, and beloved son, Bodhi Satya. Photo: Joe Longo

We love so many places in Philadelphia. There’s a lively yoga community, an abundance of amazing restaurants, great sports teams, and many renowned museums. When it came time for John to propose, he did it at the iconic Academy of Music. We had our baby, Lorraine, soon after. We continue to nurture strong roots in the city we love so much. dhyana-yoga.com Photo: Joe Longo

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yoga essentials JADE YOGA MATS

Jade is everything you want in a yoga mat: incredible grip, true comfort, and eco-friendly. And for every mat sold, Jade plants a tree! Made in the United States with natural rubber. jadeyoga.com

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YOGIIZA Performance Yoga Pants

Built tough with 100% Organic Cotton. This holiday season, the performance pants are the enlightened choice. YOGiiZA.com

KD 03 Yoga Top, $56

The KD 03 knit yoga top is light and supple enough for all your flowing, twisting, bending, balancing, and downwarddogging. Made in New York. KDdance.com

SIVANI Tibetan Healing Bracelet

The Tibetan Healing Bracelet is worn to help the body balance its essential energy. Handcrafted from yak bone, inlaid with coral and turquoise, and composed of copper, nickel, and brass, these properties promote healthy circulation and healing. Give it as a gift to a loved one or yourself. See our ad on the opposite page to get 30% off all orders. sivanaspirit.com

be present Versatility Pant, $71

A great go-to for the colder months. With side vents that allow for easy movement during yoga class, simply snap them shut for a full-length pant, functional anywhere. bepresent.com

4 6 HOTDOG rollpack

“As a teacher who is constantly traveling, I love the Hotdog Rollpack because it actually makes all my moving around faster and easier. Super-light, quick, and organize—it’s just awesome. A must-have for yogis on the go.” — Kristin McGee hotdogyoga.com meSheeky TRIXIE Pant, $88

With a flattering cut, ruched front and back, and a simple hem for no-fuss tailoring, these TRIXIE pants are luxurious enough to lounge around in long after you roll up your mat. mesheeky.com

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CHICAGO YOGIS: HOW DO YOU HANDLE STRESS? 1. Elizabeth Gallo. Yoga teacher.

3. Alyson D’Souza. Owner. Instructor. Village Yoga.

5. Talya Ring. Co-founder. Turbodog Yoga.

I’m fortunate to live close to a beach where stress evaporates, where I can exhale stress away and inhale fresh energy, inspiration, and peace to replace it. My best advice for handling stress is to find some yoga: attention to the breath, asana to make the body soft and spacious, and meditation to align with the divine.

Remedies I follow when stress attacks: serving others; don’t take myself or everything too seriously; gratitude for all the small (and big) things; and most important, complete faith that something out there is in charge and taking care of me and everyone else.

Since stress comes from fear and self-judgment, I use the many tools of my practice to address these roots. Whether it’s breathwork, asana, shamanic journeying, or meditation, I dig up what’s really bothering me, process it fully, and then release it.

villageyogachicago.com

turbodogyoga.com

4. Brooks Hall. Yoga teacher.

6. Tom Quinn. Yoga instructor. Owner. Yogaview.

For a quick release from stress, I like to breathe deeply into my body and into my pelvis. When I can feel movement down there from my deep, full, and relaxed breathing, I know I am in a safe space. Then I am ready to focus on the task at hand without the unnecessary tension and insecurity. I am calm.

My advice for anyone dealing with a lot of stress would be to engage in a strong physical asana class, followed by a nice long pranayama session with an extended, supported savasana. Remember: yoga works. Do your practice! Of course, a nice hot bath and a deep massage would also be great help.

elizabethgalloyoga.com Photo: Megan Magill

2. Steve Emmerman. Co-founder. Turbodog Yoga. Stress? That’s so 2004! I don’t tend to get stressed. I don’t spin catastrophic stories in my head or fixate on things beyond my control. If I am emotional about something, I allow myself to feel it completely so I can then release it. As a result, I’m able to make clearer decisions from a more grounded place. turbodogyoga.com

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rootwisdomyoga.com Photo: Mars

yogaview.com

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7. Paul Weitz. Yoga teacher. Thai bodywork therapist.

9. Leslie Sisomboune. Yoga teacher. Ambassador. Turbodog Yoga.

11. Rachel Zargo. Assistant Director. Moksha Yoga.

I lie down on my back in relaxation pose with arms and legs comfortably apart. I scan each body part, starting at the toes and finishing with the face. If I haven’t fallen asleep yet, I inhale into my abdomen, counting om one, om two, om three, and exhale: om one, om two, om three, om four. I do this for a couple minutes, and then relax completely, letting my weight sink into the floor, staying ten minutes or more.

Yoga is the best stress reliever for me. It’s a way to get out of my head and into my body. I am able to honor my feelings and move stuck energy out while breathing consciously. Being mindful of what I eat also helps with my stress level. When I eat clean, I have more energy and feel more vibrant.

The one thing that is guaranteed to stress me is being late, so I plan ahead and confirm. On Saturday mornings, I will confirm and reconfirm with my husband about our plans to go to the farmers’ market three times—he loves this. It’s what I do. And working barefoot with friendly yogis all day always puts me at ease!

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theurbanyogini.tumblr.com turbodogyoga.com Photo: Christine Ciszczon

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8. Dianna Oles. Yoga teacher.

10. Jim Kulackoski. Vedic, Sanskrit, and yoga teacher. Darshan Center.

12. Channing Rollo. Marketing executive. Vegan yogi.

I practice a radical editing of my calendar: anything not truly necessary, I delete the night before. I begin each day not overwhelmed by the day ahead. We choose to be overbooked. Maybe it makes us feel less boring and alone, but it’s only a distraction. Whenever I add to my calendar, I delete something else. Not running endlessly equals freedom.

I contemplate the meaning I attribute to situations which occur to me as stressful. Doing so gives me an understanding of the beliefs underlying my thoughts, emotions, and actions that cause the experience of stress. Through deep examination of my own viewpoints, I am free to alter them in favor of ones which feel peaceful, making life an indescribably conscious meditation.

My recipe for simplified, low-stress living begins with clean, conscious eating, regular exercise, deep breathing, and ample rest. This daily self care fortifies my body and mind, empowering me to give my best to others. Heartfelt acts of service and sincere expressions of love, compassion, and gratitude help me maintain perspective, release tension, and cultivate peace. Also indulging in a little chocolate never hurts!

subhaashita.com dmoongdess.wordpress.com Photo: Elizabeth Sattelberger

DarshanCenter.com Photo: Todd Rosenberg

channingrollo.com Photo: Jessica Tognetti

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5. YUZEN Yuzen offers quarterly subscription and gift boxes of natural and organic lifestyle products. We send a little Zen every season. Winter, spring, summer, and fall— four boxes in all! Treat yourself or someone else! yuzenbox.com

2. Nourish Organic Argan Oil, $19.99 Nourish Organic specializes in offering the most scrumptious, rejuvenating hair and body products on the market, and the Argan Oil is no exception. nourishorganic.com

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Skechers Flex Appeal, $70 These sporty kicks are super cushy, cool, and flexible. We love that they’re equipped with high-tech Skechers Memory Foam and an adaptable sole, in addition to being made entirely of vegan/vegetarian-friendly materials. skechers.com.

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los angeles yogis:

how do you embody health?

Jay Co.

Yogi. The Hub.

Healthy means balanced. It means you run your body mostly on fresh greens but you slip your soul some chocolate every now and again. It means working hard and laughing hard in equal parts. It means go-gogo and letting go in equal measure. Healthy means family time, party time, game time, nap time, and play time. It means quiet time alone, reflecting. jaycoyoga.com thehub-la.com photo: Joshua B. Freeman, freemangallery.com

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Ted McDonald.

Julie Rader.

Founder. Adventure Yoga Retreats. Owner. 5 Point Yoga.

Yoga teacher. Founder. Mukti Yoga School.

What does healthy mean to me? Healthy means peace of mind, an inner smile, physical strength and endurance. It means a sense of adventure, curiosity, and exploration. I will continue to make the most out of my amazing life and share the good with others. Healthy means getting outside and enjoying all the amazing things, people, and moments life have to offer, and remembering life really is grand!

I believe perfect health is much more than eating organically, sleeping eight hours each night, and exercising five days a week. I believe these things are important and essential for our health. However, to me healthy is a state of mind. It includes finding happiness in the simple things and remaining peaceful through adversity. Perfect health is mental freedom.

5pointyoga.com adventureyogaretreats.com Photo: Scott Nydam

muktiyogaschool.com photo: Joel Silva

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Andrea Marcum.

Founder. U Studio Yoga.

Mia Togo.

Yoga teacher. Professional life coach.

Healthy for me is about being well nourished in all respects. It’s sweaty flow and subtle body, strong coffee and silent bliss—singing my unique song and lending my voice to the choir, loving language, laughing loudly, learning lots, and letting go.

Yoga teacher. Healthy is catching my own rhythm. Getting good, consistent rest—with space to relax and receive—is when well-being seems easiest. Along with fresh, organic, made-with-love food, this brings me even closer to center. Giving energy to people and projects I love nourishes a part of me that can only be fed by connecting. Eat, sleep, work, love.

Some of life’s experiences have shattered me into pieces, but I’ve put myself back together in a way that reflects who I am today. Healthy is the strength to bust open areas of my life that are rooted in fear, loving my shadow as much as my light! To be myself is to be whole, and that’s healthy.

ustudioyoga.com Photo: Cecily Breeding

clioyoga.com photo: Nicholas Reid

miatogo.com Photo: Laura Doss

Clio Manuelian.

Matthew Reyes.

Rachel Jackson.

Mary Beth LaRue.

Co-founder. Head teacher. Music director. YogaHop.

Yoga teacher. Lululemon ambassador.

Yoga teacher. Co-founder. Rock Your Bliss.

Healthy is voraciously evolving and expanding in this astounding lifetime that’s been given. Evolving with kindness, joy, and disciplined work. My muses? Every week I do YogaHop (pop music-soundtracked, strong yoga classes), so my muscles can thunder, my mind can persevere through all turbulences, and my spirit can shine like sunlight in a kaleidoscope of achievements that give my life velocity.

Healthy living is about choosing well, from the food I eat to the people I love. Everyone’s recipe for being healthy is unique. My recipe is: laughter, equal amounts of kale and pizza, a generous serving of yoga, dogs, plays, listening to Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers, watching movies with my husband, reading inspiring stories, and a bit of good tequila.

Healthy living means balance. Filling your life with things that make you want to jump up and down and say, “Yes!” Long hikes with your dog, margaritas with your girlfriends, hitting up the farmers’ market every Sunday, practicing sweaty hip hop yoga, or meditating on a mountaintop. Being radiantly happy is healthy in my book. Say yes to whatever makes you come alive.

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everyheartyoga.com Photo: Ashley Streff

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AGENTS OF CHANGE: WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S JOURNEY? John W. Roulac. Richmond. Founder. CEO. Nutiva. My life’s journey has been to uncover practical solutions to pressing environmental issues. Nutiva was born of this passion as a way to revolutionize the way the world eats by providing healthy, nutritious foods made without pesticides or GMOs. Every day I hear about how superfoods such as organic chia, coconut, hemp, and red palm are reconnecting people to a healthier lifestyle. I dream of a world that places people above profits, a world in which people everywhere have access to wholesome, organic foods. nutiva.com

Rob Robillard. Beaver Falls. CEO. Nourish Organic.

CREATIVES: WHAT DO YOU CREATE & WHY?

I run all operations behind Nourish Organic. We were the first beauty company to obtain organic certification for our production process from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which means our products contain no chemicals and are composed of all food- and plantbased materials that are 95 to 100 percent organic. This is a big deal in the beauty industry! It’s a passion of mine to pave the way. I believe in the power of giving back as the company grows, and am focused on continued advocacy in the ecobeauty space and public education to raise awareness about the health benefits of USDA certified organic products. nourishorganic.com

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WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Linda O’Connor. Danville. Yoga instructor. Life coach. People who allow me to connect more deeply to my own authentic power and spirit inspire me: my sweet husband, my loving children, my clients, and my yoga teachers. Friends, nature, healthy and fresh farmers’ market food, yoga, and meditation are all catalysts that allow me to enjoy this amazing life! hccoach.com Photo: Lisa Wood, lisawoodphotography.com

BREAST CANCER THRIVERS

At fifty, battered by divorce, I found my purpose. Traveling the planet with children and giving them a voice in a nuclear world became the joy of my life. Being a force of nature instead of an egocentric clod of ailments and grievances brought me a reason to keep breathing and to laugh out loud at life’s idiosyncrasies.

Leaders We Admire

TRUE BEAUTY

Pat Montandon. Beverly Hills. Author. Peeing On Hot Coals. Peace activist.

Marcy E. Kurtz. Houston. Early stage breast cancer treated with lumpectomy. Seven weeks of daily radiation. Late stage endometrial /uterine cancer treated with surgery. Seven weeks of daily radiation. Weekly chemotherapy. Six rounds of chemotherapy every twenty-one days. The hardest part of my diagnoses was facing the fact that no matter how healthy and fit I was, I still got cancer. Twice. I was mad, initially, but quickly went into action, seeking and obtaining excellent medical care and support from family and close friends. I exercised and/or did yoga daily, regardless of how I felt. Today, I am grateful to wake up. Having hair on my head is an added bonus! peachoutreach.com Photo: talleyphotography.com

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POWERFUL WOMEN WE ADMIRE:

HOW DO YOU DRAW POWER FROM YOUR PASSION? Elana Maggal. Conference Director. Yoga Journal.

Cynthia Sass. Los Angeles. New York City. Bestselling author. Owner. Sass Consulting Services, Inc.

I am passionate about my work at Yoga Journal because I bring the vision of our magazine to life through a national tour of live events. Five or more times a year, I create events where yogis immerse themselves in all things yoga, from asana to meditation to music. Bringing like-minded people together creates an incredible kind of energy. In my own way, I feel I am helping change the world for the better—one person at a time.

To me, power is all about perspective. I feel powerful when I experience equanimity, which largely comes from understanding who I am—my strengths, my limitations, what I value, what makes me feel fulfilled, and what helps me grow. Using this knowledge as my “life filter” allows me to feel a sense of clarity that guides me both personally and professionally, and offers a freedom I equate with power.

yjevents.com Photo: Alden Conant

Julie Thorne Engels. Santa Monica. Founder. CEO. Bettyvision.

Nothing is more beautiful to me than watching a woman connect with her inner visionary and begin the process of discovering how her unique gifts can genuinely make a difference in the world. True power lies at the cross section where passion, purpose, and intent meet. It is from this position of grace and conviction that a woman’s humanity can part seas, move mountains, and bridge divides.

bettyvision.com

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CynthiaSass.com Photo: Lisa Hancock

Wendy De Rosa. Boulder. Intuitive Energy Healer. Held in Light.

Being a powerful woman, to me, is about being in tune with myself. I experience power as a sense of Self, and the Self is Divine. When my actions are out of alignment with my true Self, I have contracted my light or my power. When I come back to my center and get really clear, I feel powerful. Power is a delicate balance between vulnerability, which strengthens intuition, and the confidence to drive a mission forward.

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HOW DO YOU PROCESS LOSING SOMEONE?

Ana Tiger Forrest. Creatrix. Forrest Yoga.

James Higgins. Yoga teacher. Meditation teacher.

I put my hands on my heart and give vent to my stew of feelings. I comfort my heart by running energy from hands into heart. Ceremony helps: I create a sacred circle, call in my Beloved Dead’s Spirit. I talk to it and listen for anything Spirit says back. This technique helps me digest, then eliminate anguish. I don’t hold death against my Beloved. I remain connected to them, honoring what I love about them.

I lost my mother while getting ready for high school one morning, due to a sudden heart attack. I take time now to honor and grieve every loss by accepting all the hurt, deep pain, and sadness that comes from letting go. It’s a rite of passage. Following the grieving and eventual healing, I get very clear on what has meaning to me. I head in that direction and I keep going. jameshigginsyoga.com

forrestyoga.com Photo: Sophia Van Der Dys

Deb Burkman. San Francisco. Yoga instructor.

Giselle Mari. Yoga teacher.

I find it helpful to go on long walks to give myself the time and space to feel the deep feelings that surface. I rely on my network of friends and family. They help me put my loss in perspective. Keeping up my yoga practice, eating well, and getting a good night’s sleep are challenging when I am going through loss, but they help me ground myself in my new reality.

I was eight years old when my younger sister passed away. Her death taught me how to process physical death and relationship loss. The most valuable lesson I learned was how to be more present, grateful, kind, and loving to those who are living. The more I practice this process of living, the less I feel a sense of loss, as they are always with me and I with them.

burkmanyoga.com Photo: David Burkman

Photo: Marla Aufmuth gisellemariyoga.com

Gary Kraftsow. Oakland. Director. Senior Teacher. American Viniyoga Institute. I have experienced many losses in my life: of self-concepts, ideas, illusions, relationships, health, and even death of loved ones. All these losses were different, yet all have served to remind me of my own impermanence, and helped bring my attention into the present. They have shown me the importance of breaking attachment and identification, helped me refocus on what is truly important, and deeply treasure what has remained. viniyoga.com Photo: Jennifer Szymaszek

David Swenson. Yoga teacher. I lost both of my parents and, in recent years, dear friends. Loss is one of the greatest difficulties in life yet also one of the most certain things we will encounter. The temporal nature of the world in which we reside and the fragile nature of all it’s inhabitants should not be viewed in a negative light or under a cloud of sadness. If we lived forever then a moment would hold little value. When things are finite and the length of existence is unknown then the greatest of value should be placed on each and every breath. Within each moment exists simultaneously an eternity and a spark in time. ashtanga.net

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Y O G A J O U R N AL S A N F R A N C I S C O january 16-20.

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Jasmine Tarkeshi. Co-founder. Laughing Lotus Yoga Center. My process of dealing with loss and letting go has changed a lot over the years. I used to do everything to avoid the intense pain of grief, as when my partner drowned, only to have it resurface again and again with the same bone-crushing intensity, not wanting to let it go. With time and the aid of yogic wisdom and practice, I have learned that facing the painful emotions of loss is the greatest aid to the healing process: to sit, dance, sing, scream, and cry with it, to seek support and let people in, and to even allow moments of joy in again until I am ready to let go.

Lisa Jeck. New Boston. Ayurvedic lifestyle practitioner. There is within me a certainty, a calm knowing that despite distance, death, or the end of a relationship, something remains. This is what I hold onto while feeling the inevitable sadness of loss. I am forever imprinted by the spirit of those I have loved. I treasure the memories. I stay with the blessings and surrender the difficulties. I pray without words, knowing they hear. samatalayurveda.com

Photo: Becca Henry

Stephanie Snyder. Yogini. Yoga teacher. Like all of us, I have known loss. I have grieved and processed each loss in the sacred and unique way that has been called for at that moment in time. When grieving, I offer mantra, prayer, and all merit from my practice toward the person who has passed. Any positive action that may have benefited me is dedicated toward supporting their passage and re-entry into the next life.

Roger Cole. Del Mar. Psychobiologist. Yoga teacher. They say it’s time, which is true in a way, but more than that it’s dreams. When my loss felt so sudden, so final, dreams made it gradual again. My loved one was back, night after night, then once every few nights, then every few weeks, months, and so on. It’s never final. My loved one is never gone from my dreams. rogercoleyoga.com Photo: Mario Covic

stephaniesnyder.com Photo: Faern Works

Nicki Doane. Maui. Founder. Director. Maya Yoga Studio.

Tias Little. Co-founder. Co-director. Prajna Yoga.

When I lose someone, I am overwhelmed with sadness, and I cry until I can’t anymore. I never hold back on the tears. I let them flow until they stop on their own. Then I start to think of all the good times I had with that person and I try to keep my mind there. I pray for their soul to be free and if they were suffering, that they are now at peace. I mostly let myself feel everything that washes over me. Slowly, with time, it really does become a little easier to process the grief. If they were very special, I put a picture of them on my altar and include them in my daily prayers.

When I experience the loss of a loved one, I look into the night sky and reflect on the mystery of how the particles of that friend’s spirit now commingle with the dust and stars high above. I listen to the wind the morning after and remember how everything, like the Tao, changes and keeps flowing on. I listen to the chatter of crickets and the crackle of the crows and remember that everything is alive for a time, and yet always changing. I think of my friend’s spirit swept in the running river and suspended on the breeze. I think of his/her spirit as everywhere, no longer confined by the body/mind.

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LEADERSHIP Morgan Langan. Puma St. Angel.

Sedona. President & Vice President. Rejuvenation & Performance Institute at Grace Grove.

As founders of the Rejuvenation & Performance Institute, it has been our mission to transform the lives of 10,000 CEOs and individuals by leading the shift from a disease management paradigm to a wellness paradigm. Our organization guides people through retreats and private coaching in rejuvenation medicine and peak performance. Through the cleansing and rejuvenation process, we have found that individuals—especially those who are leaders in their organizations— can create enormous positive shifts in their businesses, communities, and personal lives. rpinstitute.com ceoaccelerationsystems.com

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Jonathan Schoenberg.

Boulder. Co-founder. Board member. Sir Richard’s Condom Company.

Sir Richard’s was founded three years ago in Boulder, Colorado by eight Boulder investors who believed there was a business as well as an altruistic opportunity to create a better condom company. The category was devoid of an engaging brand. If we were successful, we could help meet the global need for free condoms. sirrichards.com

Audrey James. Boulder. Executive Director. Paradigm Nouveau Foundation.

My vision and mission for Paradigm Nouveau Foundation is to herald a synergy of unprecedented performance and productivity for the 21st century, using art, science, business, and humanitarian efforts. For the stewardship of the planet and the refinement of its people, we develop successful models that can be replicated around the world. Our flagship project is SB2020: Sustainable Boulder by 2020, my registered Clinton Global Initiative Commitment. paradigmnouveau.org sb2020.org

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German holistic therapist Hubertus Trouillé developed Almased to help improve his patients’ metabolism. It did that and more—burned fat, decreased hunger, improved kidney function, and promoted healthy levels of the human growth hormone (HGH), which has anti-aging effects. A host of studies by German scientists and 25 years of research have confirmed the claims: Almased’s potent blend of fermented soy, probiotic yogurt, and enzyme-rich honey safely speeds up metabolism, zaps weight, and boosts energy levels. In fact, just one serving of Almased daily may promote beneficial effects on metabolic health. What might this look like for you? You’ll lose weight while retaining muscle mass. Eat less but feel full. Increase your quality of life while supporting overall well-being. Sounds like a win-win.

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w a n d e r l u s t what does freedom mean to you?

2. 1. Karlie Lemos. Yoga teacher.

3. Brendan Bell. Yoga instructor.

Freedom is the invincibility of flying down the street with the wind in my face on my bicycle. It’s the seamless connection of my body to my breath and the elusive experience of timelessness in my asana practice. It’s the warm embrace of being held in a loved one’s arms. Freedom is the boundlessness of nature: the vast and never ending sky above us and the abyss of the ocean that appears to have no end. Freedom is the courage to speak my mind and the motivation to express what’s in my heart with unabashed restraint.

My ability to choose my response to a given situation, that is what freedom is to me. I exercise my freedom to look on the bright side, to see the best in people, to be hopeful, to love this life, and to love who I am. Each time that I exercise my freedom in this way, I grow stronger. If I do not, my freedom is lost. Choose freedom! corepoweryoga.com

3. 5. Janet Stone. Global yoga warrior. My hands soften, my eyes focus, and my heart opens to whatever is unfolding. This to me is freedom. These are the moments I can see the lila (divine play) at work; it’s when the maya (illusion) is lifted to clearly reveal my deepest nature. Now, I can see the consciousness that resides in all beings. Freedom: not an external condition, but a way of experiencing my current reality with complete abandon. janetstoneyoga.com Photo: Rob Kunkle

karlieyoga.com

2. Gioconda Parker. Yoga instructor. MTP.

4. Erinn Lewis. Yoga teacher. Mother. Writer. Love of freedom.

6. Mateo J. Daniel. Jedi monkey. Simian Arts.

Through practice—asana, meditation, mantra—I let go of the stories that hold me in past patterns and the limitations I create for myself in the present. Freedom to me is freedom to choose; freedom to step out of the boxes I put myself in; freedom to stretch into new life and to expand; freedom to allow myself to become who I am, one moment at a time.

Because I am free, today I choose to clean up my messes, rather than drown in them. Honor my body, celebrate abundance, and embody courage. Ask for help and show gratitude. Heal, forgive, cry, pray, love, and awaken. Freedom is willingness. Freedom is expansion. Freedom is living truth every day, every moment, every breath, even if I’m not perfect, even if no one else gets it.

Freedom is roaming my home planet. Freedom is relaxation sans shame or hesitation. Freedom is choosing whom or what I’ll serve. Sometimes my master is music or movement or the wind through the hills of Central Texas. Sometimes I serve the needs of another, sometimes simply my own vanity. At all times, though, I know I serve the perfect mess of the Mystery, and in that I feel free.

giocondayoga.com Photo: Andrea Turner

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playfulwarrioryoga.com simianarts.org photo : Ed Lehman

a u s t i n

4. 7. Shiva Rea. Founder. Global Mala Project. Prana Flow. Yoga teacher. Freedom is svatantrya—our essential inner nature. My greatest teacher of inner freedom was a young man, Raja, whom I befriended as a student in Old Delhi. Raja was without legs or shelter, and didn’t know where his next meal would come from. His gaze, smile, and wisdom was of a being who was completely free, radiating an extraordinary peace and love unbound by any external circumstance. May we realize and act from this essential freedom.

shivarea.com Photo: Demetri Veliskakis

wanderlust festival: austin teachers november 8-10 wanderlustfestival.com

Freedom is roaming my home planet. Freedom is relaxation sans shame or hesitation. Freedom is choosing whom or what I’ll serve. Mateo J. Daniel. ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 85

Garden of Life Holiday Recipes food

Gwen Marzano

Chai Bombs Raw, vegan, gluten and soy free. Nutritious and delicious! Raw, unsalted pecans, 3 c. Medjool dates, 10 Garden of Life Vanilla Chai protein powder, 1 scoop Garden of Life chia seeds or flax/chia blend, 1 tbsp. Garden of Life coconut oil, 1 tbsp. Dried cranberries, ½ c. Cinnamon, 1 tsp. Orange zest, 1 tsp. Nutmeg, ¼ tsp.

Preparation:

Remove pits from dates. Soak dates in a bowl of water for ten minutes. Place pecans in food processor. Use the “S” blade and process until pecans are finely chopped. Remove dates from water but do not pat dry—you need dates to be moist in order to get the batter to stick. Add all ingredients into the food processor on top of the pecans. Pulse until everything is well mixed and begins to stick. Roll approximately one tablespoon of batter into a cookie ball. Refrigerate these perfectly healthy, sweet treats for up to one week or freeze for up to one month. Makes: 26-30 chai bombs Serves: 12

Don’t Be Shy With That Pumpkin Pie

Preparation:

Free of gluten, dairy, and grain. No processed ingredients. Full of scrumptious holiday flavors to warm your soul and nourish your body.

Place cashews in a food processor. Use the “S” blade and process into a flour-like consistency (takes about 45 seconds). Add salt, honey, and coconut oil. Process until well mixed. Add water. Process for another 10-15 seconds until batter begins to stick. Remove and press into a pie pan or springform pan. Refrigerate while you make the filling.

Crust: Raw, unsalted cashews, 2 c. Garden of Life coconut oil, 1 tbsp. Water, 1 tbsp. Honey, ½ tbsp. Sea salt, 1 dash Filling: Sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled, 3 c. Garden of Life coconut oil, melted, ½ c. Honey, ½ c. Pumpkin pie spice, 3 tbsp. Garden of Life chia seed powder, 2 ½ tbsp. Vanilla extract, ½ tsp. Avocado, mashed, ¼ c.

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Preparation:

Boil potatoes whole and remove skin after the potatoes have cooled. To create chia seed powder, place chia seeds into a high speed blender or coffee grinder. Blend into a powder. Place all ingredients into either a high speed blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture over the crust into the pie pan and refrigerate for at least three hours before serving. Pie can be refrigerated for up to one week or frozen for up to one month.

Yoga + Chocolate awakens your sensory perception

By David Romanelli

why yoga needs chocolate

chocolate needs yoga

For the past decade, I have led workshops fusing yoga with exotic chocolate, fine wine, and gourmet food. These workshops are about celebration and recognition. When we slow down, everything is richer, sweeter, more delicious. In 2003, I brought the fusion of yoga and food on an inspired journey with Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat. A yogi herself, Katrina realized her exotic chocolate creations tasted different after yoga. We led a unique type of retreat to Oaxaca, Mexico, the birthplace of chocolate. The retreat coincided with Day of the Dead ceremonies, and so this was a sacred time for a sacred practice and a sacred experiment.

YOGA IS A JOURNEY PACK WELL FOR IT.

Yoga + Chocolate is a flowing vinyasa class followed by a guided tasting of exotic chocolate. A favorite is the Vosges Barcelona Bar: deep milk chocolate, hickory smoked almonds, and Fleur de Sel sea salt—an addicting and intoxicating combination. Yoga + Chocolate awakens your sensory perception and serves as a valuable reminder: next time you are in the midst of a special moment, experience it through your senses. Smell it, touch it, taste it. Make it a part of your soul before you make it a part of your social media feed. Of course, nothing goes better with chocolate than a little red wine, or so was the belief of sommelier and yoga studio owner Angela Gargano. She contacted me about collaborating on a Yoga + Wine experience. A few months later, I was leading yoga classes in the Sonoma vineyards. Afterward, Angela would guide us through a tasting of the best cabernets, pinots, and sauvignon blancs that Northern California had to offer. As it goes, wine is one of the few things that ages well. Yoga teaches similar lessons about aging with grace and perceiving true beauty as a function of wisdom and depth, not youth and style. There was wine and chocolate, but something was missing: the main course. In 2010, I started reaching out to chefs with the idea of uniting mind, body, and palette in a state of sensory ecstasy. Along came Yoga for Foodies, an apres-yoga, locally-sourced feast. The message: it is impossible to pick up on the nuances and subtleties of great food unless you enjoy it mindfully. If there is one thing I have learned in ten years of mixing chocolate with chakras and vino with vinyasa, it is this: we are all moving too fast. As Slow Food founder Carlos Petrini said, “Some things which are crucial to our maturity cannot be sped up, and are only possible if they occur slowly.” Ain’t that the truth—for yoga, food, love, and life!

yeahdave.com Photo: Barcelona Bar by Vosges Haut-Chocolat

Hotdog Yoga Rollpack® The only bag that carries your mat, hanging clothing, and all of your personal accessories—in less space than any traditional mat bag. Promo Code: ORIGIN25 hotdogyoga.com · facebook.com/hotdogyoga ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 87

Join two of this generation’s most important teachers of nondual wisdom Richard Miller and Joan Ruvinsky.

Debra Silverman, M.A., is an astrologer and psychotherapist. Her passions: telling the truth, making you laugh, and helping you to fall in love with yourself. Watch Debra’s astrology videos on her website, debrasilvermanastrology. com or on YouTube.

Astrology:

Scorpio’s dark Sag is not. It’s fall. The dark sky swallows summer. School is on: sharpened pencils and carpools. Our little angels dress as ghosts and demons. We gobble up turkeys and drink plenty of wine. What is the forecast for Scorpio’s mind? And what does our philosophical Sag have to say? Scorpio wrestles with two sides of the brain. 2013 is your time of change with Saturn standing by your side. The rise of discipline: you could work your buns off, stay on task, get lost in your work, and walk right past the street called Complaint. But if you don’t change your mask, your dark Scorpio mind will have your ass. The sky may be dark, but you know the law: stay positive at all costs. If you do your spiritual work, are nice to your body, stop eating and drinking the same old way, and exercise kindly, the future is good and change is upon you. Demons resist fate. They do short-stops at happy but are addicted to hate. Scorpios don’t trust easily because they can’t stand fake. But light and healthy isn’t always fake! Why fight with demons? No one ever wins that race. Sagittarians win. They are so positive they don’t even know when they fail, and everything works out for them because they drink so much ale. The truth may hurt, yet the truth sets us free; from time immemorial Sag has been able to see. Sagittarian philosophy says face the big truths. The government is dated, our school system sucks, the American car (thank God) had some luck. Our national debt’s gone past hope, and most of us ignore this—it’s how we cope. In 2014, Sag is in action. Here’s the good news: the leadership seems tired. Women are gearing up to carry the fire. The founding mothers are answering a call, bringing together men, women, and all. To rewrite the constitution, a humanitarian voice is finally bringing together a diverse vote. Sag dreams of a governing force, a true leadership, a global voice working together based on hope. It has always made sense that Sag follows Scorp. The fall for some begins with sad, then holidays arrive and fun is had. This time in history may seem bad, but her-story is arriving and so is Sag. Look at the bright side: a brand new scene, peace on Earth—it’s not just a dream. We must stand together inside the night. Here comes winter—we’re gonna need your light!

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2014 IRI RetReat CalendaR The SimpliciTy of JuST liSTening January 10 through January 13, 2014 Redeptorist Renewal Center, Tucson, Arizona

The eaSe of Being - JuST Say yeS February 27 through March 2, 2014 IONS-EarthRise, Petaluma, California

living preSence coming home To your True Self April 17 through April 27, 2014 IONS-EarthRise, Petaluma, California

coming home To our True naTure May 2 through May 5, 2014 Nazareth Retreat Center, Boise, Idaho

living True, living love happineSS WiThouT cauSe June 29 through July 5, 2014 Blacktail Ranch, Wolf Creek, Montana

aBSorBed in The eSSenTial July 17, 2014 through July 20, 2014 St. Lawrence Retreat Center, Beacon, New York

The noBle advenTure living peace, Joy & equanimiTy in every momenT October 23 through October 29, 2014 FJC Retreat Center, Calgary, AB Canada All retreats listed fulfill one of the requirements for the iRest Level III Certification. Please visit www.irest.us for more information and to register.

Heart of the Matter

THE VINIYOGA DIFFERENCE

Transformation Retreat

Viniyoga practice is designed for each person’s unique body & mind.

VINIYOGA FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM for

TEACHING & YOGA THERAPY The foundational program for the highly acclaimed Viniyoga Therapist Training welcomes current yoga teachers pursuing a career as a Viniyoga Therapist, aspiring teachers, or anyone interested in deepening their personal practice.

January 22-27, 2014 St John, US Virgin Islands Have an Undeniable Experience of Your True Self In this pivotal life-changing retreat, you will ﬁnd: ✺ The passion, joy and conﬁdence of your true self.

The program is taught by master Yoga Therapist and pioneer in the transmission of Viniyoga for health, healing and transformation, Gary Kraftsow. LEARN MORE Dona Robinson, AVI student advisor | donar@viniyoga.com 808-572-1414 | www.viniyoga.com/VFP

✺ Energy to take inspired action for your life’s purpose. ✺ A quality of love that everyone longs for. ✺ Tools and a meditation to sustain a calm mind, open heart, relaxed body and your personal connection to spirit. CALL

954-815-7555 or VISIT HeartOfTheMatterRetreat.com

Live passionately. Love fully. Give joyfully.

ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 89

animals

Celebrating the Holidays with Care & Compassion

Barbi Twins, Animal editors

My sister and I accidentally

fell into fame as Playboy celebrities, but our whole lives have been a search for a goal with purpose, a way to give back with gratitude for our seven-and-a-half minutes of fame. We want to motivate people to experience that contagious feeling of giving back and being charitable, and join us in a movement for compassion.

in other pet disasters we’ve helped with. Division occurs when people attempt to profit off the disasters or try to pit political agendas against each other. The holiday season is the best time to kick off this movement of compassion. What is compassion? When you look at our lives, so full of things we don’t need, real compassion

We want to motivate people to experience that contagious feeling of giving back and being charitable, and join us in a movement for compassion.

We believe in the basic goodness of people. People naturally come to the aid of others who are in the greatest need. This sense of oneness is seen in the wake of tragedies. We witnessed it in the Katrina animal rescue, as animal rescuers in the Malibu fires, and photos: morgan eagle 90 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

is giving that up, living simply, and sharing with others. Real compassion is having true empathy towards those who have not only less than us but those that are voiceless: neglected children, abused animals, and Earth itself.

Unfortunately, the holiday season has become so commercialized that we’ve lost the essential spiritual meaning that giving back is the true purpose of life. Giving is receiving. We take for granted the opportunities that have been given to us, and we live in a world where we measure our worth by those who may have more. Instead, we should look to those who have less to learn how we can give. This is how we will add genuine worth to our lives. Let’s prove to the world that we are naturally charitable. This holiday season, we challenge everyone to pick one charity (the smaller the better) and give the gift that keeps on giving. Give a charity donation as a gift (instead of buying packaged junk that ends up cluttering and polluting our poor planet) or do charitable work. The key to happiness is not having everything you want, but wanting everything you have. Happy Holidays to you, the animals, and our planet!

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10 ANIMAL WELFARE NONPROFITS WE LOVE animals

HOLIDAY GIVING: Launching ORIGINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $25 for 25 Holiday Campaign Curated by Leigh Bantivoglio, Uncaged Network UncagedNetwork.com

Uncaged Network focuses on providing funding to innovative start-up organizations that help animals. Leigh Bantivoglio wants to bring animal welfare awareness to the mainstream, and believes this can be done best through conscious capitalism and supporting social entrepreneurs from both for-profits and nonprofits alike. Her Uncaged Network will serve as a tool for animal welfare-related start-ups to seek early-stage funding and expertise in order to move their mission along faster to help more animals.

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Animals United Movement Films is releasing a film entitled Cowspiracy, a poignant take on how nature organizations and environmental supporters often ignore the animal welfare issues that impact the environment the most. I really believe that this film is going to push through the hypocrisy of the people who say they care about the planet and then eat meat from factory farming. Cowspiracy reveals the truth that raising animals for food is the leading cause of environmental catastrophes.

FiXiT FiXiT has a special place in my heart, and inspires me by how they use social media and the digital space to teach a new generation about the dangers of pet overpopulation. Just like Match.com, FiXiT allows animal lovers to search and connect in an experiential way and creates friendly connections, and a worthwhile “fix” through small donations. FiXiT has generated a system to help lowincome pet owners who cannot afford spay or neuter surgery for their rescued, stray, or abused animals. The Get Your Fix program enables families to create a profile, tell their story, and connect with donors who can help.

HEART (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers)

The Nonhuman Rights Project

HEART is an influential organization that targets its mission to kids through compassionate education. HEART’s teachers empower youth to make informed and compassionate choices in order to create a better world for people, animals, and the environment. Once kids learn about issues like puppy mills, factory farming, companion animal overpopulation, and endangered species, they feel inspired and driven to take positive steps toward ending cruelty. 95% of HEART’s programs are offered at no cost.

The Nonhuman Rights Project engages the legal system to prove that animals should have rights. Working with our laws—which currently provide almost zero protection for animals—is one of the best things we can do. Right now even the most cognitively advanced animals—chimpanzees, elephants, and dolphins—are viewed by the law as nothing more than pieces of property. The Nonhuman Rights Project is filing the first-ever suit in state court on behalf of a nonhuman animal, seeking her release to the Save the Chimps sanctuary.

teachhumane.org/heart/donate/

nonhumanrights.org Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary

Jungle Friends was one of the first organizations to explain the plight of primates to me when I first started looking at the animal rights movement. The Sanctuary creates a home for rescued primates that were once discarded pets or used in research and the entertainment industry. All beings should be included in our moral universe. JungleFriends.org Photo: Allen Torres

Tiny Tim Rescue Fund Tiny Tim incorporates fashion with animal welfare issues. It is the perfect illustration of conscious capitalism— they will design and sell, and donate proceeds back to shelters. Cute clothes and helping animals—is there anything better? Tiny Time Rescue Fund’s John Bartlett: I founded the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund to help finance these incredible people who are doing the heavy lifting of rescue every day. johnbartlettny.com

GetYourFix.org

The Ghosts in Our Machine I firmly believe animals are not property and that they are feeling beings just like we are. The issue of animal rights is a growing movement right now, and it’s gaining momentum. The release of The Ghosts in Our Machine, an award-winning documentary, is going to shine a light on this issue even further. The film provides a window into global animal industries—food, fashion, entertainment, and research—with heartbreaking and empathic vividness. Make a taxdeductible donation through U.S. fiscal sponsor Women Make Movies. theghostsinourmachine.com/donations Photo: ©2013 The Ghosts In Our Machine/ We Animals

Leaping Bunny Most people on the planet don’t realize that almost all beauty and household products are tested on animals. Alternative methods and new technology make animal testing completely irrelevant. The Leaping Bunny Program is led by the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS). Their mission is to end the use of animals in science, specifically in the testing of cosmetics, and to expose this “dirty business” by pressing legislation against it. Cruelty-free is the only way to go! leapingbunny.org

White Coat Waste Project The White Coat Waste Project is a group of whistleblowers (think Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich). They aim to show how tax dollars are being misused to test on animals. Taxpayers have a right to know who’s paying the bill for animal abuse and who’s cashing the checks. The White Coat Waste Project needs your contribution to fund hard-hitting ads that expose the waste and hold the animal abusers accountable. White Coast Waste Project’s Anthony Belotti: “In the mid-1990s, I worked for seven weeks as an intern in an animal laboratory, witnessing painful and wasteful animal experiments that changed my life forever. I later discovered a dirty secret: government wastes over $12 billion tax dollars annually for such cruelty. As government wrestles with spending priorities, ask yourself: Is this how I want my money spent?” WhiteCoatWaste.com ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM 93

animals

Cowspiracy

Fit at

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40: How a Mom of 2 Found Her Best Body Yet

I truly found my best body. That is what it is about. Not being a specific size, not starving oneself.

Okay, what?! I just hit the big 4-0? When did that happen? I swear, yesterday I was putting on my electric blue eyeliner and hair-spraying my bangs sky-high. BAM! Now I stare at frown lines and wonder if strong tape at bedtime would make them disappear. However, I feel incredibly strong—powerful even. Tight, taut, and terrifically toned. More ready now at forty to take on the challenges (both mental and physical) that are thrust at me each day, as I wrangle my pre-schooler into her car seat and chase after my kindergartener. Yes, forty really does feel fabulous. Who knew?! It wasn’t until my late twenties that I really began to find what my best body could be. Hiding under my Minnesota butterand-red-meat-fed softness, I discovered muscle tone: What? I have abs under there? Upon this unearthing came an awakening. For the first time in my life, I began searching for ways to get fit, and started to make simple swaps for healthier foods. By thirty, I had it figured out. Sort of. My muscles were more defined, I had finally shed the “baby fat,” and I was onto something. I started to schedule my workouts in my calendar like appointments. I regularly ate egg whites, no butter (shocking!), and integrated whole grains into my daily diet. photo: Darren Tieste 94 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM

Halfway into this new decade, I had my first daughter. Pregnancy and breastfeeding made me hyper-aware of what I put into my body. After my second daughter, I was in the rhythm of things. At forty years old, I am still learning about the best and newest finds for a healthy lifestyle—omega-3 via chia seeds and flaxseeds, kale, spinach, and Greek yogurt. At forty, I am leaner and keener than I have ever been. I truly found my best body. That is what it is about. Not being a specific size, not starving oneself, but aiming for 150 minutes of exercise a week or more; making good meal choices and still having dessert every day; eating and living healthfully; and enjoying life. Here’s to your health!

Samantha Harris is an Emmy-nominated TV host who is best known for her eight seasons on Dancing With the Stars and Entertainment Tonight. Due to her passion for health and fitness, she recently became a Certified Personal Trainer. She is best known to her two little girls as “Mommy.” For more about Samantha, visit Samantha-Harris.com.

eky. l . o ft e n c h e fu d in m s y a alw you sheeky?

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What Gets You Through Tough Challenges?

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Jason Schlarb. Ultra marathon mountain runner. flora ambassador My passion is for the mountains. Exploring trails through the wilderness, I find peace and I find all of who I am. Adventuring through new or familiar, I thrive on the thrill of going further and exploring. My game is pushing the limits, both with my body and my mind. Running is pure: just my body climbing and descending as fast and efficiently as possible. No teams, no complex machines or equipment, no man-made distractions. Just me and all of the raw wilderness.

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Dave Mackey. Ultra mountain running. flora ambassador I am passionate about being outdoors as much as possible, being active, and enjoying my surroundings. I am passionate about having a balanced life with my family and sharing the outdoors with them. I recently graduated from physician assistant school. I love the application of medicine to helping people to stay healthy. davemackey.blogspot.com

Jen Segger. Ultra endurance athlete. flora ambassador Finding new trails, mountains, and places to explore turns me on! My heart remains in having adventures. Multi-day epics and personal challenges will always be there. I still have a lifetime to fit them all in. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m even more excited to be raising my new little one in a world of outdoor play and exploration! jensegger.com

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Olu A rchi e A u kai

Kalepa.

Wailuku. Director. Maui County Ocean Safety Division. K o n o h i k i ( c a r e t a k e r, a u t h o r i t y, a d v i s o r o f H a w a i i a n c u l t u r e ) . O l u K a i . My passion is community, the ocean, and canoe surfing. We have a saying in Hawaii: Malama Pono, which means take care, do right. Canoe surfing, or “Sport of Kings,” is an old Hawaiian sport that once was a way of life. Canoe surfing enabled Hawaiians to provide food for their families and travel, but was also practiced for entertainment and play. Part of what makes canoe surfing so special is that the athlete is taught to sharpen his or her awareness—the canoe is so big you need to know the reef and all parts of the break when you catch the wave. Once the wave is caught, steering is one thing, and actually surfing a wave on a canoe is a lost art that few people understand. If you can put all of the necessary elements together, canoe surfing can make you a better waterman or waterwoman.

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PHOTO: ErikAeder.com

Kai C hant e l l e

Pama l ia N ani

K e kai

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T wo H awaiian ath l e t e s ta l k to u s abo u t p assion

B rown .

M a u i . TA S o u t h D i s t r i c t C a p t a i n . C o u n t y o f M a u i . P a r k s a n d Recreation Department. Aquatics Division. Ocean Safety Section.

My passion is helping and educating people, whether it’s our tourists who visit Maui or the locals who live here. During my career as a lifeguard, I have taught, educated, and saved so many people from the age of two to eighty. It’s an amazing feeling to have when you have saved someone’s life and know how grateful those victims are that you were there when they needed help.

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Top Athletes: How Does a Plant-Based Diet Effect your Performance?

Chadd Konig. Pro surfer. Every body and mind has different needs. I personally perform at my highest and clearest level when maintaining a vegan diet. Lately I have been feeling the most benefit within my mind. I feel a fierce sense of clarity and focus which then allows my body to exist at its full potential.

VEGA Ambassadors thriveforward.com myvega.com

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I am turning fifty this year. I feel better today than I did in my twenties. My body fat is low, my energy is high, my cholesterol levels are fantastic. I wake up early, ready to train. I feel great throughout the day. I raced a twelvemile ocean swim last year, and folks asked me how I could get enough protein for the intense training. If an elephant can get enough protein through plants, then I can too! Having a diet aligned with my values has also opened up my heart. I look at everything with more compassion, and I prioritize kindness. Being a vegan transforms inside and out.

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Alexandra Paul. Triathlete. Actor. Activist.

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Top Athletes: How Does a Plant-Based Diet Effect your Performance?

Kara Lang. Canadian Olympic/World Cup soccer player. Yoga teacher.

VEGA Ambassadors thriveforward.com myvega.com

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I decided to switch to a vegan, plant-based diet at the age of seventeen. I was competing at the international level for Canada at the the time, and demanding a lot from my body. The biggest difference I noticed was in my ability to recovery quickly. My body felt more efficient, muscle soreness after intense training sessions and games decreased, and my stamina improved. karalang.ca

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Dwayne “DeRo” De Rosario. All-star Major League soccer player. DC United.

Fresh fruits and veggies are staples in my house! I believe a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to eat clean and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I can’t say enough about the importance of eating your fruits and vegetables and taking your diet seriously. I don’t think I would have been able to have the career that I do, and recover from the injuries I had, if I didn’t maintain a clean diet. Plantbased nutrition has been key to my overall performance and longevity at the professional level. You only get one body, so take care of it from the inside out!

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Top Athletes: How Does a PlantBased Diet Effect your Performance?

Kara Lawson. All-star WNBA player. Olympic Gold Medalist.

VEGA Ambassadors thriveforward.com myvega.com

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Since adopting a vegan plant-based diet in 2011, I have noticed a number of changes in my body and in my performance. First and foremost, a plant-based diet naturally reduces inflammation. When your body has the ability to reduce inflammation, it has the ability to recover faster. When your body recovers faster, your performance improves. Not just from practice to practice or from training session to training session, but from game to game. Having the ability to play a lot of minutes at a very high level late in games and late in the season gives me an edge over my competitors. I know my vegan diet is directly responsible for that. karalawson.com

As a professional athlete, I have to compete at a high level on a consistent basis. Talent in NFL is close; a slight edge is the difference between winning and losing. My advantage was found in an ongoing, nutrient-rich lifestyle. Years ago, I considered taking my diet to an elite level. Plant-based nutrition rose to the top as the best means of ingesting a truly well-rounded diet. What I know is simple: the better I eat, the better I feel, and the better I perform on and off the field.

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Montell Owens. NFL Jacksonville Jaguars. Running back. Special teamer.

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Top Athletes: How Does a Plant-Based Diet Effect your Performance?

John Joseph. Triathlete. Cro-Mag singer. Author. I’ve been eating a plant-based diet for thirtythree years. At fifty-one, I feel stronger than ever. Matter of fact, I did my first Ironman at forty-nine. My ability to perform and then recover comes from a diet consisting of organic, plant-based foods. I wrote a book called Meat is for Pussies. In the book I state, “If you continue to eat poisonous foods (meat, dairy, eggs, fish), you’ll become a pussy dependent on the drug companies to keep you alive.” Me, I’ve taken control of my health. You can, too. Rock on!

meatisforpussies.org

Thad Beaty. Guitarist. Sugarland. Ironman triathlete. When it comes to diet and nutrition for athletic performance, most people think about the front-end of eating: calories in versus calories out, and the immediate effects of your food intake on your athletic performance. For me, a vegan diet accommodates all of my upfront needs for a stellar performance (check out beans, legumes, and quinoa for sustained energy and serious protein), but the real benefits show up by way of recovery and injury prevention. Being vegan puts me at the top of my game, whether it’s race time or show time.

VEGA Ambassadors thriveforward.com myvega.com

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our editor’s altar to olukai crazy about these boots

Pa’ia Leather

The tactile beauty of these shoes is what gets us, and the convenient pull-on style doesn’t hurt.

Makawao

Whether we’re trekking through rugged pastoral terrain or the concrete jungle, the Makawao is always a good fit.

Haleakala Canvas

A fine pair of laid-back, ready-for-anything boots

Holo Lio II

Ranch life, city life—we can’t choose, and in these supple numbers, we don’t have to.

Heleuma Leather

Wali Wedge

Nohea Nubuck

Lace-up and get out into the sun and snow with these super versatile, comfy kicks.

Drawing on classic and modern inspirations, the Wali Wedge keeps our feet stylishly at ease.

The kind of shoes you can throw on without a second thought. So simple and classic.

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Kelly Potts // Professional surfer

active prana Ambassadors

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Surfing has brought the meaning of value to my life. My life is a treasury of positive energy reflecting the essence of my true being. It shows me what I have forgotten and teaches me what I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. It rolls me in humility, making me laugh at myself. It makes me smile, it makes me feel giddy, and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to put on any makeup to make me feel pretty. kellypotts.org

Mixing cement, I guess? I don’t train or crosstrain, but like I said, I work on my house. I do a lot of work. I’m always building on my house. For me, it’s always been that climbing has been my training for climbing. Sometimes I’ll go for a run. Stretching, some yoga. But in general, climbing is this lifestyle activity that really works every muscle in your body. I don’t really do that much cross-training.

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Chris Sharma // Legendary climber

How do you train for your extreme climbing/first ascents?

Jimmy Webb // Top climber

active

I climb with fierce aggression in competitions. I know that if I want to do well I have to let go of all fear and doubt. Turn your brain off and just go. Don’t think about the fall or the worse case scenario. Things like this sneak into your head and the next thing you know you’re getting pumped, doubting your ability, and falling. You have to be consistent and confident. That is the key.

Steph Davis // World renowned climber. BASE jumper. Wingsuit pilot. Author.

prana Ambassadors

I’m vegan. At first, it was in a quest for sports nutrition. Once you know, you can’t unknow. So I became vegan. I learned about factory farming, what they do to the animals. I was like, Even if I climb worse through this diet— which I don’t, I climb better—I would still be vegan! Because it’s not okay. I can’t support that. highinfatuation.com

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Talia Gangini // Professional paddleboarder active

We stand for the same thing: doing the right thing and making a difference in the world.

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Fred Nicole // Professional Swiss climber

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Bouldering at the leading edge of pure difficulty for over twenty-five years, continuing to redefine human possibility. My prolific tick list spans decades and the world, ranging from V13 to the almost supernatural grade of V16. Climbing opens you up to a whole new dimension. Climbing should be deeper than performance. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about the difficulty of a climb, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about the entire experience.

favorite boots for the season

sorel

1. Slimpack Riding Boot, $210

We love the timeless equestrian flair of these boots. Sophisticated without any sacrifice of functionality or comfort.

2. Cate the Great Deco, $210

6. Winter Fancy, $160

Designed with strong weather and strong women in mind, these boots make an elegant yet pragmatic style statement under any conditions. 4. Glacy Lace, $125 3. Tivoli Nylon, $120

A superpowered boot that manages to be convenient, versatile, and playful all at once, without leaving you out in the cold. Super insulated to keep the heat in and the moisture out.

These boots bring to mind sporty afternoons followed by a leisurely wind-down by the ski lodge fire. Edgy and fresh but with all the classic components of tried-andtrue footwear.

5. Tofino Herringbone, $150

The classic herringbone and faux fur add a little oomph to these super duper warm yet breathable boots.

Short and sweet, just the way we like it. These boots will do you right on the town or in the tundra with their storm-defying insulation (spruced up with a subtle flower imprint). 7. Conquest Carly, $220

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be hard pressed to find cozier, warmer, better equipped footwear this winter season. These little numbers keep you standing tall, confident, and protected.

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What are the keys to your training leading up to the Olympics?

Heather McPhie. Freestyle Moguls Skier. USSA. COLUMBIA AMBASSADOR Heading into the Sochi 2014 Olympics, one of the main things is to stay focused on what I am doing in each moment, on each training run, one competition at a time. I want to do everything I can to qualify for the Olympics. Continuing to work with my mental-strength coach and surrounding myself with the people who support and inspire me are key. I’ve had the privilege of working with Matt Christensen (Air Awareness Coach with Red Bull) for the last couple years, and he has helped tremendously. I continue to train six days a week in the gym and work with my strength coach, Alex Moore, to make sure we are staying on track. I’ve worked with my on-hill coach, Lasse Fahlen, for several years now, and we will continue to review our plan moving forward. I’m confident I will be ready to have the best competition runs of my life at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games! freestyle.usskiteam.com/athletes/ heather-mcphie heathermcphie.com

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winterwear: our favs 1. Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket, $300

The world’s lightest full-featured down jacket. Cozy, light, and equipped with the latest in moisture-resistant technology. mountainhardwear.com 2. Snowburst Trifecta Redux, $350

This jacket is so sleek and adaptable, we can’t help but rock it on and off the mountain. For added flair in the right conditions, we like to pair the herringbone-patterned hard shell with the distressed plaid zip-in liner. mountainhardwear.com 3. NAU Treble Jacket, $400

A nod to the classic pea coat, the water-repellent Treble is pared down and updated with modern details. Sustainable wool and recycled polyester fabric create an all-in-one jacket that’s warm, lightweight, and easy to pack down for winter travel. nau.com

4. Miss Snow It All II Jacket, $250

Must-have attire for winter fun in the sun and snow. The hood is roomy enough to fit a helmet, allowing for both safety and comfort. Super warm, waterproof, and breathable, with a cute herringbone pattern to boot. mountainhardwear.com.

5. COLUMBIA Carson Pass Jacket, $179

Protect yourself from the elements in style. Fully equipped with warming Omni-Heat reflective, breathable and waterproof OmniTech, and a cozy faux fur and sherpa-lined hood. columbia.com 6. COLUMBIA Zenith Vista Trench, $229

This classic trench transitions perfectly from work to dinner. Featuring Omni-Heat reflective to keep you warm and regulated, with an adjustable storm hood for added versatility. columbia.com

Stretchstone Flannel Hooded Shirt, $85

Snowburst Insulated Cargo Pant, $220

Whether we’re at work or play, we love to move. That’s why the Stretchstone suits us: it’s got the classic appeal of button-up flannel but with the added benefit of special polyester-Lycra® fabric. mountainhardwear.com.

We don’t know about you, but we want to feel free to sweat and look good doing it. Lucky for us, these nifty Snowburst pants boast the latest in waterproof/breathable Dry.Q™ technology. mountainhardwear.com.

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What keeps you strong?

Gwen Jorgenson. Olympian. Triathlete.

Eating with a purpose keeps my body and mind strong. I eat quality proteins and healthy fats (nuts and coconut oil) to aid in recovery after grueling workouts. I consume raw and gluten-free foods with a high glycemic index to replenish energy expended. I love the food I eatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it has balance and variety, and keeps me resilient, robust, and ready to perform. Healthy foods keep my mind fresh. With encouragement from coaches, friends, and family, I have both intent and purpose during meals and workouts. Thanks to my diet and support system, I stay strong mentally and physically.

Aspen Spora. Skier. Snowboarder. What I do to keep strong and healthy is to eat well. Being healthy plays a huge role in my life. Without it, quite frankly, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how I would function. It takes a lot of focus to be a pro skier, especially when trying to land tricks. When I feel great, I can ski great, and that makes me strong.

garden of life Ambassadors

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What keeps me strong is my faith in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is one of my favorite verses. During training or competition, there are times when I am burdened by worry, doubt, and fear. Then I remember this verse and my heart is instantly set free. Instead of drowning in the negativity, my heart is injected with power from this amazing promise. I can have victory over worry, I can overcome my struggles, and I can conquer fear! I can do absolutely anything by drawing strength in Christ.

Daniel Randall. Freestyle paraglider.

Friends, faith, and flying are three of the things that keep me balanced and strong. Without them my will to wake up and get my body moving would be weak. These things empower me and others to live to the full potential as they contribute to ultimate health in mind, body, and spirit. Other lessons that have helped me build a strong foundation: Be who you are, not what others want you to be. Worry is waste, rest your mind! Give it to God and know He will never fail you. Lastly, every day of life is a gift that you get to open, treat it as so and don’t take any moment for granted.

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Ginger “Gigi” Marvin. Olympian. Professional hockey player.

active

Q What keeps you strong?

Kate Deines. Olympian. Professional soccer player. What keeps me strong is always going the extra mile on and off the soccer field. I feel my best physically and mentally when I know I am preparing myself for success and out working my competition on a daily basis. The quality of my nutrition and the intensity of my strength conditioning, and soccer-specific workouts are all vital components in helping me feel my strongest as a professional athlete.

Marc-Andre Bourdon. Professional hockey player.

I’ve overcome a lot of different obstacles to reach my goals of playing in the NHL. At twenty-three, I am facing adversity from injuries. I stay strong because I love adversity! There’s nothing that motivates me more than trying to overcome those who are doubting me. I know I am doing the right things on and off the ice to come back even stronger than I was before. I am fueling my body and working out hard every day. Whenever I hit the ice or the gym, I always keep in mind the feeling of skating back with my teammates. I use this as a motivational moment to stay focused and strong.

A garden of life Ambassadors

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Ingo Rademacher. YOLO paddleboard racer. Actor.

Living in Hawaii with my family keeps me healthy, happy, and strong. I neglected my health and fitness for many years due to my acting career. Working on films and TV shows, my schedule was always different. I could never get into any sort of routine. Now that I’m at home, I feel so much better. It’s easier to concentrate on living a healthy lifestyle.

badass

athletes WHAT’S YOUR PASSION?

Michellie Jones. Carlsbad. Sponsorship Commander. ISM Bicycle Saddles. Coach. Professional Athlete. Equestrian Enthusiast. I have been racing as a professional triathlete for twenty-five years. Friends ask me how have I been able to train and race for so long. My answer: You have to love what you do. I am passionate about enjoying life and helping other athletes fulfill their dreams. It’s always satisfying when an athlete I coach sets a personal best or achieves something they didn’t think was truly possible. I encourage others to never set limitations or boundaries, because I believe effort equals reward.

gomichellie.com

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What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Angie Payne. Climber. Bouldering.

I am a typical Midwesterner who fell in love with climbing at a young age. This love affair lead me to Colorado, where I now reside when I am not traveling to wonderful places to climb.

best advice.

I’ve received some great advice over the years from those closest to me, but one of the most useful pieces of advice came while talking to an acquaintance. As I was musing on possible plans for my future, this friend explained her simple philosophy: “Define your priorities and everything else will fall into place.” It really clicked for me. Since then, I have been working hard to use this wise suggestion as a guide when making decisions about everything, from climbing to relationships to how to spend my free time.

mountain hardwear Ambassadors

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I’m a forty-year-old California native and now live in Utah. When I’m not in the far reaches of the world, I’m a full-time dad—I won Father of the Year Award from my daughter’s school! I was nominated for National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2013, and just completed my fiftieth expedition. My goal is to complete one hundred expeditions by the time I am one hundred years old.

best advice.

That’s an easy one. My grandmother, Bertha: “The time is now dammit! Go and live your life.” My grandmother was a huge inspiration in pursuing the lifestyle of a climber and explorer.

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Mike Libecki. Climber. Explorer. Pursuer of passion.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? active

Ethan Pringle. Rock Climbing.

I am a native San Franciscan who is lucky enough to travel the world and climb the most stunning and difficult rock faces.

best advice.

“Ethan, you should milk this professional climbing thing as long as you can while you’re psyched to do it! You can always go back to school, get a boring desk-job, and wither away in front of a computer later in life when you can’t climb 5.14 anymore. But for now, you should ride it out and see where it takes you! I know it seems like the grass is always greener on the other side, but believe me, the side you’re on has the greenest grass there is!”

mountain hardwear Ambassadors

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Dakota Jones. Mountain running.

I am a mountain runner and climber from Colorado. I compete primarily in ultra marathon and distance mountain races, and spend lots of time climbing.

best advice.

Choose my battles. I get lots of opportunities, but if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t choose a select few good ones to focus on, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get burned out trying to do them all.

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What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? active

Max King. Running.

People like to label me with trail runner and road runner, but I like to think I’m just a runner. I enjoy all aspects of moving across the earth over any surface provided and as quickly as possible, with my own two feet. From time to time I’ve been known to slow down to absorb the environment around me.

best advice.

The best advice I’ve ever received was from my grandfather, who taught me to always be aware, specifically of what’s going on in the moment of your current situation. You can learn a lot about a person by how aware of their surroundings they are. You can learn a lot by just using your senses to be fully committed to what’s going on. It’s a key tool in day-to-day survival and making the most of the situations you find yourself in. mountain hardwear Ambassadors

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I am an all-around climber, but my specialty is ice and mixed climbing. I enjoy climbing with ice tools and crampons on both rock and frozen waterfalls.

best advice.

The best advice I ever got was from a climbing partner. He would always remind me to “Keep Moving,” when the going got tough. The expression is simple and genius—it applies not only to climbing but to life as well. If there is a goal that you are going for, the only way to reach it is to keep moving toward it. The momentum you gain can help break through the mental or physical barrier that is holding you back. I apply these simple two words very often in life. I believe it has helped me achieve many of my own personal, professional, and climbing goals.

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Dawn Glanc. Ice and mixed climber.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? active

Tim Emmett. Alpinist. Wingsuit BASE jumper.

I love life and testing the limits of possibility. Positive, effervescent, and always looking for new adventure. Sharing good times with amigos in some of the coolest places on earth—this is my dream.

best advice.

mountain hardwear Ambassadors

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Live in the moment, not in the past or future. Use your skills to prepare you for challenges ahead. Be positive, have courage, and never be afraid of failure. Treat others like you want to be treated yourself. Have an open mind to what might be possible, not what you think is possible. Share feelings and love with those that are close to you. Be honest and say it how it is. Life moves pretty fast–if you don’t stop to look round once in awhile, you might miss it. L-I-F-E not W-O-R-K.

Rossland, BC is my home town. I first hit the slopes of Red Mountain Resort at the age of three. Ten years ago I moved to Whistler to pursue a career as a professional skier, and now call skiing my job.

best advice.

The best advice I have received came from an older co-worker and great skier after watching me ski and jump off everything around the resort: “Your body only has so many flat landings.” If I wanted to ski forever, I better make sure I didn’t take my body for granted, which is really easy at sixteen years old. I highly respected him and these words have stuck with me ever since.

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James Heim. Backcountry skier. Big mountain skier.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? active

Noah Howell. Skier.

When it snows, I’m there. My winters are spent chasing storms, exploring new ranges, skiing powder, and capturing it all for Powderwhore Productions.

best advice.

mountain hardwear Ambassadors

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The best piece of advice I’ve ever received was from Alaskan big mountain pioneer and TGR star, Jeremy Nobis. I ended up next to him on a bar stool on locals’ night. He was in proper form and I was trying to play it cool. With the conviction and passion of a religious zealot and true believer, he told me to “Do whatever it takes, but go ski Alaska.” This was over ten years ago. I’ve been to Alaska almost every year since. There is no other place on the planet with relatively easy access to the biggest, steepest, snowplastered skiable peaks. Thank you, Jeremy!

I am a twenty-six-year-old professional freeskier living in Lake Tahoe, California. Skiing is my biggest passion in life. It’s what fuels me.

best advice.

The best advice that I have ever received has come to me from my parents. It’s not necessarily something that they have said to me, though they have. But I’ve learned it more from how they live their lives and how I have always interacted with them. That advice is to stay positive, to be positive. It’s hard for me to remember times when my mom or dad has ever been anything but positive. It is something that I constantly am conscious of. Having a positive outlook on life is really the only way to go about living.

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Michelle Parker. Skier.

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What is Your Idea of an Epic Day?

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Jeff Shapiro.

TEAM KAVU Athlete.

U.S. representative in the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. A pioneer of exploring high-altitude hang gliding in central Nepal, Jeff is known as a world-class skydiver, BASE jumper, wingsuit pilot, and passionate climber. Jeff also runs ultra trail marathons and trains falcons, hawks, and raptors.

Jeff’S

EPIC DAY

Wake up and leave the house just before light, while the world is still asleep. Beat the summer heat by running into the high mountains on single track. I’d be back home after a few hours of deep thought and introspection, just in time for hot coffee and a relaxed, fresh morning with my family. I’d drive up the hill and take a tandem for the ride of their lives before heading back up. I would climb a route to the top of a large cliff and take the fast way down in my wingsuit, then head to the crag for some hard climbing and big lobs before getting home to BBQ with friends and family. We’d enjoy the late summer evening warmth while walking the slack line and sharing a fine bottle of whiskey. It’s only Monday.

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Nick Greece.

TEAM KAVU Athlete.

Nick Greece is one of the most elite paraglider pilots in the U.S. He is on the USA paragliding team and travels around the world racing his KAVU glider. Nick recently had a record-breaking USA foot launch distance with a flight of 204.6 miles from Jackson, Wyoming to Rawlings, Wyoming. He is pushing the limits with “vol bivouac,” or “fly and camp”—multi-day, cross-country, peakto-peak flying. Nick and team flew the entire length of the Sierra Mountains in a two week period.

nick’S

EPIC DAY

Amazing coffee as the sun comes up. Checking snow report and avalanche conditions, checking in with ski partners. Warming up the car, driving while blasting tunes and finishing second cup of coffee. A day of hiking around in backcountry with light snow falling in old growth forest. Celebrating at the pub later with friends, discussing the world and future projects and adventures.

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tyler bradt.

TEAM KAVU Athlete.

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Tyler Bradt is one of the world’s most renowned expedition whitewater kayakers. Tyler holds two world-record waterfall descents, and his name is on numerous first ascents in Canada, Norway, Mexico, United States, Africa, and South America. Tyler is currently circumnavigating the globe on his new sailboat, “The Wizard’s Eye.” He uses the boat as a base for staging kayaking, kiting, BASE jumping, speed flying, and surfing expeditions. kavu.com/wizardseye.html

tyler’S

EPIC DAY

The rose colored light on snow-capped mountain peaks at the break of dawn. Licking the frost off the branch of a pine tree in fresh winter air skinning up to the top of a mountain. The sound of a cold Tecate can being cracked on the beach after a surf session with good friends. A day when I feel I have lived life to its fullest.

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Marshal miller. TEAM KAVU Athlete.

Marshal’S

EPIC DAY

Action-packed, all smiles. I try to have many of these days. Flying is what I’m most stoked on, so if I can wake up early to fly paragliders at the local hill, then fly my wingsuit from an airy BASE exit, or ski off a cliff with a parachute, it puts a huge, genuine smile on my face. I love to hang out with good friends after the action, grab a drink, and tell each other how cool we are.

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Marshall Miller picked up a paraglider for the first time in 1999 and discovered his life’s purpose: flying. He is a world-class paragliding pilot, ski BASE jumper, and PRO-rated skydiver, traveling the world in search of new and unique places to take to the skies.

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jesse hall.

TEAM KAVU Athlete.

Jesse Hall has enjoyed a decade-long skydiving career. He has logged more than 1400 BASE jumps, was named the 2005 extreme freeskiing champion, and nabbed 1st place for the international 2011 ProBASE tracking race. Jesse has merged his unrivaled talent on skis with his BASE skills, establishing himself as one of the world’s best ski BASE jumpers. He is also an aspiring paraglider and speed flier.

jesse’S

EPIC DAY KAVU AMBASSADORS

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Full of sun and BASE jumping with my friends!

neil amonson.

TEAM KAVU Athlete.

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Neil Amonson took to the skies as soon as he left home, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force right out of high school. Neil’s first taste of flight was a military freefall course, and he now has a decade of parachuting experience spanning the entire range of air sports—skydiving, BASE jumping, wingsuiting, paragliding, and speed flying. Neil took third place in the 2009 World BASE Race, third place in the 2011 ProBASE tracking race, second place in the Voss Extreme Sports Week accuracy competition, and third in the 2011 World BASE Race.

neil’S

EPIC DAY

It’s all about doing the things you dream about. Of course, you have to bring some of your peeps with you, so I’d be rolling with a crew. My day might start in the mountains with a morning speedride session. After landing, we would head to the local airport for wingsuit skydiving, stopping for a BASE jump from a local cliff along the way. Following three or four wingsuits jumps, we’d grab the paragliders to catch the “glass off.” After the sun sets, it’s time to fire up the grill and crack a beer with your buddies. Exhausted yet content, buzzing with the satisfaction of a day enjoyed to the fullest and shared with the people you care about.

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