Illumine Fall 2016

VOL. 4 NO. 1

FALL 2016

ELEVATING COMMUNITY

Book Review:

“The Universe Has Your Back”

by Gabrielle Bernstein

MC YOGI Inhaling inspiration, exhaling love

Third

Anniversary Issue

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FALL 2016 2:04 PM Chicago Stores: Old Orchard // Woodfield // Northbrook // Southport Showroom2016-09-21

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Chicago Stores: Old Orchard // Woodfield // Northbrook // Southport Showroom2016-09-21

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quality shows up in our people, our conversations and of course, our product lululemon | fall collection

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contents 20

Book Review

35

#shinesobright

42

Features Where’s My Tribe?

22

Community Works!

26

Stand Together

28

Elevating Our Communities

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Digital Divide

34

Collisions, Co-Learning and Connectedness

36

Community Sutra in the City

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Artist Profile: MC YOGI

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Illuminating the Spirit

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Musings from the Mat

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Studio Feature: November Project

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Traditions Ayurveda

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Vaastu

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Sanskrit

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Escapes Illumined Life

Be You!

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From Vata to Vivacious

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Raw Carrot Cake with Orange Cashew Icing

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Contact Us submissions@illuminemagazine.net subscriptions@illuminemagazine.net advertise@illuminemagazine.net

Cover photo credits: PHOTO: Mary Carol Fitzgerald MAKEUP: Patricia Fardon (Stylisted) HAIR: Meghan Piironen Clockwise from top left: Kevin Wasielewski, Andrew Watt, Laura Kelly, Dobri Danchev, Erin O’Neill, Brendan Scully, Becca Menke, Rebecca Greenberg.

The November Project’s Chicago tribe works hard, sweats hard and hugs hard.

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FALL 2016

with love “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world,” sings Barbra Streisand in “Funny Girl.”

As we worked on this Fall issue of ILLUMINE, themed COMMUNITY, I am reminded how lucky I have been to experience two communities that set a high bar for what I know to be the power of needing and connecting with people.

In my early 20s, I was part of one of these communities at St. Francis Xavier Church in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. Because the message spoke to my evolving faith journey, I felt the relevance of my tradition, the feeling of connection when we sang a song together, and what I would call “food for my soul.” I came to know a lot of individuals, but even just gathering together for Mass felt healing.

In my late 20s through early 30s, I met with an on-going group of women every other week. We called ourselves a “book group,” and we usually chose to read books with spiritual or feminist themes. What kept us coming together so consistently, however, was the time we took to share what was going on in our lives. We had the opportunity to listen and support each other through changes, crises and life questions.

Reflect on the inner space and regain balance.

Affiliates in Counseling

While I haven’t found replacements for these two communities, I am very grateful for these experiences that taught me to trust the need to need people.

When discussing and developing the ideas we share with you in this issue, we were curious about how community so obviously works and why so many people agree that it takes a village.

Our writers explored the human need for connection even in this age of technology. While devices can keep us plugged in with our heads down, some of the most popular apps connect us to others, allowing us to post news or find needed services. We record videos documenting momentous experiences and everyday occurrences that encourage us to mindfully stop, notice and then share.

The balance between the advancement of technology and the need for personal accountability is profound. Blogs and vlogs connect strangers all over the world to bond over shared stories of vulnerability, loss and learning. At the same time, nothing can replace the in-person warmth of a hug, the relief of a shoulder rub or quietly holding the hands of a long-time friend.

Please enjoy stories of the communities that inspired our Fall issue and share with us your reflections on your favorite experiences of #illuminecommunity!

Lucky us, we need people!

Psychotherapy Children, Adults and Couples and

Psychoanalysis

Gavin Mullen, Psy.D. Chet Mirman, Ph.D. John Gobby, Psy.D. Jason Price, LFMC

910 Skokie Blvd. Northbrook

847.480.0300 Lourdes Paredes, Founder / Publisher / Producer

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contributors

Volume 4, Issue 1 Fall 2016 Founder and Publisher Lourdes Paredes

How did you find your tribe?

Editorial Consultants Abby Hart Heidi Schlumpf Editorial Board Abby Hart Jim Kulackoski Katie O’Shaughnessy Lourdes Paredes Heidi Schlumpf Siddhartha Shah

I found my tribe by being mindfully present, which has, in turn, led to serendipitous encounters. My soul brothers and sisters have appeared connecting after class in yoga studios, next to me while crossing crowded city streets, and online, finding each other in the digital age. No matter the physical locations, near or far, our souls are forever connected through the energy of Source existence.

-Mary Carol Fitzgerald, photographer

Managing Editor Katie O’Shaughnessy

Photo by Kasia Jarosz

Print Design Jason Campbell Tina Paredes Web Design Laura Fairman

I still have yet to find my “tribe.” How does one choose when there’s so much to learn in the beauty and diversity of others? I find I’m at my best, truest self when I’m open to others and smiling from the countless opportunities that unfold before me. There is no “best” or “only” way to do things. And I find solace in that.

Social Media Maya Henderson Artwork Jillian Schiavi

-Lee Goldenstein, stylist

My tribe has just naturally evolved as I meet friends of friends, so I always keep an open mind with everyone I meet. I tend to find myself gravitating to those who enjoy the same bon vivant lifestyle as I do, who love blending food and wine and art into social outings. And I find the more authentic and open I am, the easier it is for my tribe to find me.

-Tina Paredes, print designer

Photo by Rachael Lee Stroud

If you keep your head up and your eyes open, there are wonderful people everywhere. I think the best way to find your tribe is to just smile and be kind. If I meet someone nice and I can have a good laugh with them, they’re pretty much in the club.

-Kelsey O’Shaughnessy Podgorski, contributor 6

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Photo by Native Weddings

Writers/Contributors Ania Arsenowicz Tracy Bleier Debi Buzil Katrina Calihan Lee Goldenstein MC Yogi Anna Harouvis Jim Kulackoski Ruth Diab Lederer Steffani LeFevour Mark Anthony Lord Rebecca Niziol Katie O’Shaughnessy Kelsey O’Shaughnessy Podgorski Katie Wilkes Wendy Wollenberg Monica Yearwood Distribution Saba Haider Jim Kulackoski (Milwaukee) Amy Multack Callie Munson Meggie Smith Claire Stillman (Milwaukee) FALL 2016

Randi Lattimore, Mind Body Director

With beautifully designed yoga studios, instructors who take your experience personally, and a philosophy that nurtures a feeling of community, it’s our way of making sure you never go to the gym again. Upgrade from gym to club in Bannockburn, Chicago, Palatine, and Willowbrook.

Learn more at midtown.com FALL 2016

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Community

SUTRA IN THE CITY

Division Street

An exercise in non-judgment and compassion

by Debi Buzil

Illustration by Graham Ebetsch

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am sitting at a cafe on Division Street in Wicker Park, watching the world go by.

It’s morning, and the servers are blasting Black Sabbath while serving fancy coffee drinks. Things look different from when I lived here in the 90s. I see a lot of hipsters identified by their tattoos, vintage clothing and modern hairstyles. I don’t recognize anyone or see many of the working-class neighborhood people who used to live here. I am feeling out of place, shut down and anxious. I remember my 20s, when I had an impossible curiosity about life, an impassioned vitality fed by the energy of the city.

During its 1940s heyday, Division Street in Wicker Park was called the “Polish Broadway.”

Home of writer Nelson Algren, the street saw a decline in the 1960s and became dilapidated, leaving empty storefronts and little commerce.

The neighborhood supported a diverse community of Polish and working-class families with the Puerto Rican community stronghold of Humboldt Park just blocks west. In just the last decade, many artists and young people flocked to the neighborhood for affordable rents, mixing with families who had lived on the street for generations.

Since then, Division Street has been identified by affluent businesses, yoga centers, boutiques, clubs and restaurants. The neighborhood isn’t as economically or racially diverse, with many of the long-time residents leaving due to rising costs. Only a couple of the old Polish bars and a restaurant or two remain.

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Once neighborhoods begin gentrifying, the original residents feel the pinch. “Cultural diversity” is an attraction for bohemian and upper middle-class residents, but this doesn’t translate into equality for everyone in the neighborhood. Yet change is always happening, in our cities and in ourselves.

How out of place I now feel on Division! The strange anxiety of being somewhere I used to know, yet out of my element, throws me for a loop. These were once my streets, but now I don’t know the people, the shopkeepers, the young’uns. How do I preserve the openness of my heart, the calmness of my being? Can I regain a sense of belonging?

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his hardness surrounds me too often, and not just on Division. I harden when I am around those less fortunate than me, and I also feel it around those who appear to have it “all together.” I harden when I’m feeling not quite enough. And yes, I find myself judging people and situations that I am not familiar with.

Once again, yoga wisdom helps me out.

Maitrī-karuṇa-muditopekṣāṇāṃ sukhaduḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṃ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam Pandit Rajmani Tigunait of the Himalayan Institute translates this sutra as, “Transparency of mind comes by embracing an attitude of friendliness, compassion, happiness and non-judgment toward those who are happy, miserable, virtuous and non-virtuous.” In

other words, we benefit ourselves through the cultivation of kindness, honor and compassion for all people.

By following the example of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, I can respond to my sense of isolation.

The cultivation of kindness creates community, wherever you may find yourself. We may seem to be very different at the outset through the divisions of class, race, sex and age, but by the actions of kindness, compassion and nonjudgment, we begin to see a commonality. This creates community.

Division Street? I am finding that the “division” of myself from the world is a construct of the mind. I want to be friendly to those around me and have compassion and empathy for those who are struggling. Yoga Sutra 1:33 gives me the knowledge I need to put the highest level of spiritual values in an easy-to-manage form. I can settle my mind by radiating good things to the world around me.

The cafe’s coffee barista, who seems a bit pouty and totally uninterested in me, brightens when I ask about the cold brew. I am opening, letting my guard down, and his response is appropriate and sweet. I smile at those around me. Division Street becomes a street of fellowship and good tidings. One street, undivided, that can belong to us all.

Debi Buzil is the leader of Chicago-based Kirtan group Devi 2000. She is a longtime teacher and student, and a mother of two.

FALL 2016

A R T I S T P R O F I L E Community

MC YOGI

Inhaling inspiration, exhaling love Being an artist:

I

think the most important thing about being an authentic artist is the practice of listening.

One of the greatest things you can do in this lifetime is to really slow down and listen to your own breath because it puts you in touch with the creator, with the creative energy.

We’re not consciously breathing all the time, but the breath is still moving, so there is a power and an energy that’s breathing for us when we are not paying attention.

When I start to actively engage with that power, it brings me in closer proximity with the creator and creative power. That allows me to create from a deeper place than just from my head – from my soul, with

my body – creating something that really feels true for me.

Oftentimes when I write songs, I freestyle, so it’s all about being in the flow, breathing and connecting and allowing it to move through me. I find that the breath is one of the greatest sources of inspiration. Just sitting and watching your breath can really unlock a lot of dormant energy inside that wants to be expressed.

There was a great teacher who recently passed away named B.K.S. Iyengar.

He recommended his students begin and finish yoga practice with the exhale. I love the idea of using the inhale to receive more inspiration and energy and the exhale to express gratitude, your truth and love.

-Interview with Lourdes Paredes

MC YOGI uses his hip-hop music as a way to bring yoga to mainstream audiences. In 2011, MC YOGI and his wife Amanda were named as ambassadors for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative and have taught yoga at the White House.

FALL 2016

Photo by Estevan Oriel 9 illuminechicago.com

Community

I L L U M I N AT I N G T H E S P I R I T

The Healing Power of Community

by Mark Anthony Lord

H

aving served thousands of people as the founder and minister of Bodhi Spiritual Center, a spiritual community in Chicago, I have seen what I would call “ailments of the soul” – far too many people walking around feeling depressed, struggling with addictions and suffering from a pervasive feeling of disconnection and loneliness.

They work hard and have given much to their education and career success, but they feel empty inside.

I have simultaneously watched people become healed from these ailments by coming together to practice meditation and pray, to be inspired and uplifted. I’ve witnessed strangers quickly become lifelong friends, and I’ve watched romances blossom and turn into marriages.

I’ve observed people growing through the changes of life – becoming parents, facing illness, overcoming financial challenges and healing family relationships – and they did all of this together in community.

Community heals! Community causes connections that create happiness, peace and the experience of being loved.

One memory that’s forever imprinted on my heart was watching community members gather around a fellow member, Richard, who was dying from a brain tumor. He was a young man in his mid-40s, and he was dearly loved by so many in the community.

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Richard was a member of a “home group,” a group of people who meet monthly in one another’s homes to deepen intimacy and spiritual practice. This circle of eight was devastated to receive the news about Richard’s terminal illness.

Being in a community can forever change your life, but you have to show up.

You have to put in the time.

It would have been easy to feign being too busy to help, especially in our society where having too much to do is the number one reason people don’t take time to care and connect. But the small group of community members didn’t do that.

These community members put aside their lives, stopped being too busy and turned toward Richard to help him in his final months.

They took turns bringing food to him and his partner. They prayed with him, played games with him and gave Richard’s family relief whenever and however they could.

This circle of people, who were once strangers, used their community to heal, forever bonding them. They became Richard’s spiritual family, and they rose to the occasion, allowing love to use them. They were transformed by the experience. Five years later, this circle of people will tell you the most blessed gift they’ve been given was the chance to help another.

Being in a community can forever change your life, but you have to show up. You have to put in the time. You have to allow yourself to be known, to be loved and to give love. You will stretch beyond your comfort zone. You will think, more than once, “It’s much easier to just stay home, sit on the couch and watch TV.” And I can’t argue with you on that. It would be easier. But it would also be far, far less fulfilling.

Mark Anthony Lord is a spiritual teacher, transformational coach and the author of two books.

His newest adventure, malaproject.com, is an online spiritual community dedicated to praying, meditating and having fun waking up together.

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M U S I N G S F R O M T H E M AT Community

We Are for Each Other

by Tracy Bleier

O

ne year ago, I unearthed myself from my roots and moved to a city I barely knew. People warned me, “Moving is the most stressful thing in a person’s life.” I smiled politely and brushed off this bit of truth as if it didn’t apply to me. I had yoga. I had tools. I would be fine. I was excited to step into the wide open space of not knowing how my role in this brand new place would make itself known to me.

The truth is that moving here kicked my ass. I thought I was equipped to handle the challenge of starting my life anew, but it rattled every cell in me. For twenty-plus years, I had been supported and lifted by a circle of stellar people whom I came to refer to as my yoga family, my kula.

I was now the new girl who carried with her the awkwardness and estrangement I hadn’t felt since grade school. Finding community was paramount to me finding my way around the block. It would be the uplifting antidote to my pity party.

I craved the conversation, the cushion and the circle of people with whom I had spent the past two decades sharing a daily life.

I missed the camaraderie, the energy, the way these beings knew me, and the effortlessness comfort of belonging.

Photo by Chris Bartlett

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My yoga practice has taught me that I should have all I need within. I can close my eyes, take a breath and find inside what I’m looking for to make hard things easier. I have my body, my heart, my breath, my awareness, and these things combined form their own kind

of perfect community. Our body cheers us on, tells us truth, holds our innermost secrets and moves us along in our lives. But something magical happens when we take this body, heart and aliveness and place it among other bodies.

I

t reminds me of what Chris McCandless, the tragic hero of Jon Krakauer’s book, “Into the Wild,” discovered at the end of his pilgrimage. His dream was to walk into the wilderness and away from family and community, resolute that he needed nothing to be whole and happy. He learned his truth too late, but he etched the words into a tree beside the bus in which he starved to death: “Happiness only real when shared.”

Being among others illuminates. The greatest realities we seek – contentment, peace and love – these blessings of life amplify in numbers. As Rumi said: “You are not a drop in the ocean.

You are the entire ocean in a drop.” When we share our individuality, our uniqueness, we gain universality, connection – yoga.

The truth of the matter is that we humans are pack animals. To participate in community is to recognize our inevitable oneness. Togetherness is our destiny. As the Buddha himself acknowledged and taught, “May we seek refuge in the saṃgha.”

As a teacher in the academic classroom and in the alternative spaces of yoga schools, Tracy Bleier values the quality of education and the importance of learning and evolving throughout our lives. She has been a successful studio owner and masterful teacher for two decades and is working on completing her first memoir.

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Community

S T U D I O F E AT U R E

Sleep Shaming:

November Project’s system of accountability will make you sweat

by Katie O’Shaughnessy

B

rogan Graham and Bojan Mandaric wanted to stay in shape during Boston’s cold New England winters, so they made a pact to keep each other working out every day for a month. What they called the “November Project” has since grown to feature “tribes” in nearly 30 cities across the United States and Canada. In a world that pushes the snooze button to its limits, November Project aims to inspire people out of their beds and into a workout using peer-topeer accountability.

“It took off so fast because kindness and community are a need right now,” says Graham, who has co-authored with Mandaric a book appropriately titled, “November Project: The Book: Inside the Free, Grassroots Fitness Movement That’s Taking Over the World,” released earlier this year.

Since November Project requires no financial commitment, Graham and Mandaric had to get creative in holding members accountable for their health.

The solution? They created an uplifting community in which each member becomes part of a local “tribe.” “We are not as responsible for keeping people accountable as the rest of the tribe is,” says Graham. According to November Project’s website, hugs are part of the culture, making each person feel connected and part of the whole, and as part of the whole, they feel they need to be at the workout meetup point week after week.

But just for good measure, their website, november-project.com, offers a friendly shaming section where members can write a post to those who chose to stay in bed.

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Week after week, loyal tribe members wake up before the crack of dawn, kick off their bunny slippers and lace up their running shoes. “When people are new to the tribe, we do a group or partner workout,” says Andrew Watt, co-leader of November Project Chicago, which started in May 2014. “As you’re getting to know these strangers, you create accountability.”

November Project uses a system of “verbals” to make sure tribe members show up for their community and self. Whether spoken, texted or emailed, a verbal is a commitment on steroids. According to the website, “Giving a verbal is like swearing on all graves covered in holy scriptures and future loved children and grandchildren that you’ll attend. Do the right thing, don’t break a verbal. Ever.”

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ith a nationwide network of tribes, November Project members can find a workout and, more importantly, a community even on the road. Members often look up a local tribe when they’re traveling, which offers them a fresh perspective with the sweaty comforts of home.

Building these relationships is the magic of a November Project workout, giving everyone a sense of true accomplishment and meaning you don’t get from a gym.

As the volunteer co-leaders of November Project Chicago, Watt and Kevin Wasielewski need to embody the organization’s motivational, judgment-free spirit – even at brutally early 6 a.m. workouts.

Each workout begins with a silly ice-breaker and hugs. “It breaks down personal boundar-

ies so you’re not afraid to interact,” says Watt.

“We want people to connect with each other and push them. We’re all here to support each other in the long run.”

Each November Project workout is much more personal than a get-in-get-out session at the gym. “It’s a pretty simple thing,” says Watt. “You have people in a safe environment, and they can put themselves out there where they’re not going to be judged. We’re going to have fun, be weird, laugh and sweat. It’s going to be hard, but you’ll feel like you actually accomplished something.”

Watt and Wasielewski commit themselves to getting everyone to the end of the session, even if that means getting down on the ground and joining as a member sweats through the last few push-ups. Their brand of encouragement inspires and uplifts, often with a tinge of goofiness.

Each workout is challenging, but the tribe leader respects everyone’s individual abilities, offering modifications and a safe, comfortable place for people of all shapes, sizes and experience levels to show up, break a sweat and be part of the tribe.

“I can say on a weekly basis, ‘I love you,’ to everyone who comes out – without any reservations,” says Watt. “A lot of positive things come through our interactions. We get to see our communities grow, and we do nothing but look after and support each other.”

Katie O’Shaughnessy is a yoga teacher, health coach specializing in autoimmune disorders, writer and editor. Visit katieoyoga.com for more information.

FALL 2016

Community

Photo by Mitchell Duggins

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Community

❝

“In the late 1990s, I moved to Chicago for a new job and knew just a handful of people. I fell in love with this city in a short amount of time and hoped to set down some roots.

I

put this

manifesto on my refrigerator , and it inspired me to visualize finding my own community here.

The idea

made sense to me

–

that building my community is comprised of small steps taken daily with the right intention

ww

toward making this big city my home.

Almost 20 years later, I happily call Chicago my smalltown home.”

-Lourdes Paredes

❞ Courtesy of Syracuse Cultural Workers, syracuseculturalworkers.com

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FALL 2016

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Traditions

AY U R V E D A

The Ayurvedic Atlas of Community

by Monica Yearwood

M

us to our purpose as well. A healthy diet, for example, inhibits illness so the physical body never becomes an impediment on the path to discovering svadharma.

Ayurveda’s more expansive concept of community is found by realizing our individual purpose, adopting an ecologically focused diet and obeying the calls and cues of nature.

Eating to Heal Ayurveda’s dietary system provides an ecologically founded framework that considers the well-being of the earth and all its inhabitants.

The ayurvedic saying, “The earth provides the antidote,” illuminates that food is medicine and that nature provides the cure to what ails us.

ost people think of community as being limited to human relationships like friends and family. However, ayurveda, an ancient Indian lifestyle and medical system, expands the traditional concept of community by seeing people in a broader relationship with nature and the cosmos.

Realizing Our Purpose All of us have a unique purpose, or svadharma, to be realized in this lifetime. Through the awakening of our svadharma, we see beyond ourselves and our immediate family, friends and neighborhoods.

Our community extends beyond the entire atlas of time and includes the world’s population, animal kingdom and planetary system.

This maintains the universal order, or dharma, of the entire planet.

Several practices in ayurveda, such as daily meditation, nurture the svadharma. But even practices that seem unassociated can guide

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Shop at a local farmer’s market to support your community’s farmers and economy, and choose seasonal foods to build your immune system. Locally grown organic food also yields higher antioxidant content, leaves a smaller carbon footprint and maintains the health of the land and soil.

Listening to Nature Those newly following the path of ayurveda often want to know their unique mind and body type, or dosha. They often believe their dosha defines them as an individual by prescribing dietary rules, herbal recommendations and daily activities. However, approaching ayurveda this way often causes them to miss

out on the foundations that unify practitioners into a community.

Ayurveda offers daily, monthly and seasonal lifestyle practices to incorporate all of nature’s constituents and members into our perception of community. Every day, practitioners align with each other as they rise with the sun, eat a large midday meal when the sun is strongest and eat a small dinner when the sun is weakest. Monthly, they become more externally directed during the full moon and seek more interaction with their community. They align seasonally as they perform self massage in the fall and cleansing in the spring.

The lifestyle practices, collectively called sādhanas, provide the foundation for ayurveda. By arousing inner awareness, they intuitively empower people to make the best choices in all life experiences, including diet, relationships and vocation. Sharing the sādhanas brings practitioners together with each other, the planet and the universe.

Monica Yearwood is an Ayurvedic practitioner, author and founder of Hamsa Ayurveda Lifestyle Center in Chicago.

FALL 2016

ARCHITECTURE

Traditions

Photo by Tom Leparskas

Good Vibrations Harnessing the power of Vaastu for the good of the community

by Ruth Lederer

R

esonance is a sound or vibration produced in an object caused by the sound or vibration produced in another.

Musical instruments are good examples of how this happens. When a guitar string is plucked, the one next to it also begins to vibrate.

Vaastu is an ancient system of architecture that creates a specific vibration within a structure. That specific vibration then brings the occupants and the surrounding environment into resonance.

Vaastu structures are designed to bestow positive effects to the inhabitants. It is powerful when this happens in a single building and even more so in a community where Vaastu structures abound.

In the small rural community of Patagonia, Arizona, many new structures are being built in accordance with the rules of Vaastu.

The earliest of them were meditation spaces built in 2010 and 2011, followed by two residential projects complete with garages and FALL 2016

outbuildings in 2013. Construction on other projects continues today.

The addition of Vaastu structures has outpaced all other new building activities.

There are slightly more than 500 houses in Patagonia with only two conventional houses built between 2013 and 2016, as confirmed

by Isabel Van Nest, deputy town clerk of Patagonia. Yet since 2013, seven more Vaastu units have been added, creating significant change in the housing stock of the community.

A

s these meditation and residential spaces have taken form in the area, there has been a marked increase in the number of social events as advertised in the local paper, the Patagonia Regional Times. These events include yoga classes, music concerts, lectures, bingo, meditation practice and art classes.

In 2013, there was an average of 25 events per month. Three years and seven Vaastu buildings later, 2016 has so far seen an average of 34 events per month.

Vaastu structures are created to have a positive, uplifting effect. When people feel uplifted and more energetic, they generally want to socialize. The significant rise in social events in this small town could be seen as a result of the recently constructed Vaastu buildings.

Donna Lee, owner of Patagonia Bikram Yoga, commented that “positive energy attracts positive energy� and has found Patagonia to be a happy, healthy place to live.

Communities of Vaastu structures are very rare. However, Vaastu Partners in the Chicago area is developing small Vaastu models for use within an existing home. Their sizes range from 10 to 23 feet square, making them perfect for placement in a home or office.

Precisely engineered using the same design and technology as the full-scale structures in Patagonia, these pieces can bring an energetic lift to the occupants of the space and their surrounding community.

The power of Vaastu is subtly uplifting. In today’s world where many of us are seeking connection, Vaastu structures can bring our community into resonance as a perfect universal orchestra.

Ruth Diab Lederer is the principal of Vaastu Partners, LLC. Contact her at ruth@vaastupartners.com for more information. illuminechicago.com

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Traditions

SANSKRIT

Artwork and photo by Jillian Schiavi

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FALL 2016

Saṃgha

S A N S K R I T Traditions

Discovering a place within community

by Jim Kulackoski

G

rowing up in an Eastern European immigrant family in predominantly Scandinavian North Dakota, I often felt on the fringe of the community. As an “outsider,” I resigned myself to doing things on my own, trying my hardest to avoid contact with those around me. In my mind, community was only good if you belonged, and I didn’t.

The very idea of community felt exclusive and limiting to my own sense of self expression.

Two other concepts from Karma Yoga, uttaradāyitva and yogadāna, have the potential to elevate a community.

Despite this history, my richest experiences have resulted from the connection I experienced as part of a community.

Practicing uttaradāyitva means really knowing who and what someone is, including his or her personal strengths and drives. Being aware of fundamental intentions, or the saṃkalpa, leads to fully conscious, powerful action.

In yoga philosophy, the nature of life is to evolve and grow, and community allows for that. Living beings naturally gravitate toward community to further their survival, provide ease to their lives, and foster their evolution as individuals and as a collective.

The human body could be likened to a community. It’s composed of trillions of individual cells, most of which could survive on their own in the right conditions, but together they have the potential to thrive.

These individual cells band together, each contributing a specialized function in the creation of a complex organism.

Saṃgha is composed of the Sanskrit roots “gha,” meaning “to act,” and “saṃ,” meaning “together.” Saṃgha describes a collective effort

by a group of people based on a shared idea or agreement. Whether based on geographic location, family bloodlines, religious beliefs or political and social alignment, each community has a collective or shared agreement.

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Uttaradāyitva is personal power or agency, a way of being responsible for behavior and action. It considers a person’s surroundings as well as the consequences of one’s actions. The more responsibility a person takes for one’s actions, the more personal power they gain.

Although this idea may seem simple, it directly contrasts with how people normally behave.

We tend to react to situations with little conscious choice, citing someone or something else as the cause of our actions. We blame anyone but ourselves for what happens to us, rather than looking inward for our own role.

This creates separation and isolation between ourselves and others.

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n practicing uttaradāyitva, however, we become the key player in what happens to us, which connects us to our surroundings and encourages us to share responsibility for them. This concept of personal power results in yogadāna, or contribution.

Yogadāna literally means “a gift which unites.”

It says our actions are potentially a gift to ourselves as well as everyone and everything around us, contributing to the evolution of the universe as a whole.

This is at the heart of Karma Yoga, in which the universe itself is seen as a singular entity, an aggregate of individual “things” performing actions or Karma. It is a community, an infinitely rich tapestry woven from the individual threads of its constituents. Who one is and what one does become very important.

Uttaradāyitva teaches us that everyone is an important part of the whole, which is greater than the sum of its parts.

My own struggles with community were based on a misconception of who I was and my potential contribution to the whole. When my sense of validity came from someone else’s ideas or beliefs, I found myself resenting the world rather than realizing my potential.

Understanding the importance of my own individual contribution was key to understanding how I could relate to my community and the world around me. Seeing myself in this light offered me the gifts of connectedness and purpose in life.

Mastering these concepts requires discovering and knowing yourself, your strengths and your potential contributions. It requires practice and diligence and, most of all, the willingness to be inwardly focused and responsible. It is perhaps one of the deepest paths of yoga.

Jim Kulackoski has developed programs and taught at Loyola University Chicago and Rush Medical College. He is the founder of Darshan Center, where he leads and develops programs such as teacher trainings, workshops and a healing clinic.

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2016 Photo by FALL Chloe Crespi

Book Review

Gabby Bernstein reminds us to always choose love over fear

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abby Bernstein is just like us. Sure, she’s a New York Times best-selling author, was named one of the “20 Best Branded Women” by Forbes and co-hosted the world’s largest group meditation with Deepak Chopra. But she also experiences debilitating anxiety when dealing with deadlines, quarrels with her husband over mundane matters, and dreams about getting a snack when she should be in a state of transcendental bliss. She’s real, she’s relatable and she’s millennial America’s poster child for enlightenment. Call her a New(er) Age guru.

Bernstein’s latest book, “The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith,” builds upon her already-impressive slate of self-help titles, including the mega-popular “May Cause Miracles,” “Add More ~ing to Your Life” and “Spirit Junkie.” The peppy thirty-something has made a name for herself by stripping away the veil from murky, sometimes even hokey New Age spiritual quests, moving her type of spirituality firmly into the mainstream.

In “The Universe Has Your Back,” Bernstein extols the virtues of non-denominational prayer, meditation and, most of all, choosing love over fear every second of every day.

If that sounds daunting, it is. But she arms her readers with user-friendly lessons and tools that empower even the most novice practitioner to incorporate meditation and other moves throughout their day to enjoy high-vibe living.

In the first chapter, Bernstein offers the first of many simple mini-meditations to call upon when negativity seeps in: “Whenever you notice yourself disconnect from the presence of love, FALL 2016

simply say this prayer to come back to peace, ‘I witness that I’m out of alignment with my power. I choose to see peace instead of this.’”

Bernstein lays out her objective early and clearly: We resist being happy; that is human nature. Fear takes over when we’re not trusting in the Universe (or God or the Divine or a Higher Power, whatever your word choice).

“The Universe Has Your Back” assures us that we are always supported.

So how do we access this 24/7 Zen state of love and security? Bernstein tells us that meditation and prayer are the best ways to reconnect to the Universe.

Through personal anecdotes – both her own and friends’ – as well as quotes from her spiritual guides, Bernstein makes these most ancient spiritual practices as easy and available as ordering your favorite Starbucks drink.

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ach chapter offers universal lessons and steps, meditation exercises and intentionsetting practices to reunite with the Universe, creating a toolkit of ways to better trust in our intuition and surrender to the support all around us.

By doing so, we can realize that miracles are natural and everywhere. We should expect them like we expect the Chicago Avenue bus.

The only difference is that we’re looking for one and not the other.

“The Universe Has Your Back” explains that thoughts and words affect us physically, emotionally and energetically. It teaches us that the stories we tell ourselves are the movies we play repeatedly on our internal movie screen. What if we were to change the projection reel?

Courtesy of Hay House

by Wendy Wollenberg

What if, when placed in an uncomfortable situation, we just chose for it to be fun? Bernstein calls this the Holy Instant (from “A Course in Miracles” by Dr. Helen Schucman).

“The Holy Instant is the moment that you surrender your fear to the care of the Universe and accept the perspective of love,” Bernstein writes. “The shift in perception enables us to understand that the world outside is a projection of the world we created in our mind; that the problem is not outside, but within. We’re reminded that there’s a loving spiritual presence that can restore us to sanity.”

Unlike many spiritual leaders, Bernstein doesn’t shy away from current events and the tumultuous times we live in. She’s not one to bury her head in the sand – and suggests we don’t, either. This is why her books are best-sellers: because she’s saving the world by encouraging people like you and me to vote for love, be love and spread love.

“We change the world when we shift spiritually – when our attitudes become more loving, when we forgive, when we heal our wounds from the past and when we embrace the present moment,” writes Bernstein. “One person’s shift toward love shines light onto all.”

Gabby Bernstein is here to show us that it all comes down to this: Choose love over fear.

“The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith” by Gabrielle Bernstein, 200 pages, Hay House, Inc. 2016. $24.99 Wendy Wollenberg is a writer, editor and public relations pro. She’s also a dedicated yogi and passionate believer in the power of yoga to change the world one practice at a time. illuminechicago.com

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by Steffani LeFevour

remember the day I realized I needed to find my tribe. Five years ago, I heard about the Harvard Grant Study at a personal development experience called Lifebook. The study spanned more than 75 years observing the physical and emotional habits and experiences of 268 Harvard college men.

fine, even somewhat fulfilling, but they weren’t taking me everywhere I wanted to go in life. I wanted to travel, to explore the world and different cultures. I wanted to start a business, be an entrepreneur.

Take more risks. Be more spontaneous. I wanted to improve my parenting and go deeper in my relationship.

The study was well worth the wait as the results showed an astonishing correlation. It found that the connections each of these men had with the people closest to them determined not only how happy they were but also their levels of wealth and success, the longevity of their marriages and their levels of health and wellness. And it all came down to the quality of their relationships.

Most of us don’t need more friends or more people in our community who just happen to live nearby. We need a tribe, people who move our lives forward. They light us up, and when we’re tapped into them, we can live, speak and be our highest selves.

I looked around at my closest relationships and realized most were not chosen – they were simply convenient. They consisted of co-workers, neighbors, teammates, gym friends and family members. They were

A tribe is more than just a geographically convenient community.

When you feel a sense of purpose around people who all have your back, you know you’ve found it. Here’s how to find your own tribe.

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So I set out to find my tribe.

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Step 1: Set the right intention.

No one finds what they want by focusing on what they don’t want.

Too much negative information is being shared in our communities, including complaints about work, problems with neighbors or dissatisfaction in our relationships.

When we focus on those things and allow them to be acceptable as casual conversation, we’re actually attracting more negativity into our daily experience.

Later that year, I attended my first A-Fest. I’ve now been to five A-Fest conferences in beautiful, tropical locations all over the world. What keeps me going back, however, is the tribe. I’ve created accountability groups with some of these amazing people, resulting in two new businesses. I’ve had epic experiences and raised my quality of life more than I ever thought possible. And most importantly, no matter where I am in the world, I can find an A-Fester who’s got my back.

Step 2: Look near and far.

Thoughts are like rockets of desire that launch out to the universe and pull us along for the ride. Set out into the world with the intention of meeting transformational leaders. Surround yourself with people moving humanity forward in some significant way, people dreaming and living big.

We tend to look for like-minded people in our own backyard, settling for those closest to us because we feel trapped by where we live or grew up. But thanks to social media and the internet, we can reach out and find our tribe anywhere on the planet. You never know where your tribe might show up.

If you set an intention to meet nice people, you’ll meet nice people.

Be specific. If you want to meet other parents who love hockey and are into philanthropy, set that intention. Get clear on exactly who you want to surround yourself with, and the Universe will conspire to make it happen.

Don’t be surprised if you meet a tribe member on the beach in Mykonos or at your local grocery store. To find your perfect tribe, stay open and search near and far.

When I set an intention to find my tribe in 2012, I almost immediately heard about a conference called A-Fest. This tribe was made up of dream-big entrepreneurs, transformational leaders, game-changers and badass visionaries. These people were living extraordinary lives in all areas. I wanted in, and the Universe responded.

Consider joining a Facebook group focused on your interests, or look at your local bookstore, church or library for events that light you up.

Grouponlive.com, dabble.com and meetup.com are great resources for local events covering a variety of interests.

I recently attended a documentary film event about different school systems at my local movie theater. It was very moving and really spoke

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”

-Jane Howard, author of “Families”

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is key to living your highest self. When we dare greatly and share more of ourselves, we attract others who do the same, others who are a vibrational match to us, tribe members in the making.

Photos: Courtesy of A-Fest / All Is Amazing

to me. When it ended, I stood up and applauded. As the lights came on, I saw 60 other parents standing and clapping, too. I looked around with a big smile and realized I’d found my local tribe – in a dark movie theater at 4 p.m. on a Saturday.

Step 3: Put yourself out there.

How is anyone supposed to know you’re into healing with essential oils if you never tell anyone? If you keep your passions hidden, you won’t find other people with that passion.

Vulnerability is key to living your highest self. When we dare greatly and share more of ourselves, we attract others who do the same, others who are a vibrational match to us, tribe members in the making.

We don’t create from our interests; we create from our beliefs. “I believe” can be a very powerful statement in a negative or positive sense. I know plenty of people who have similar interests to me, but my tribe and I share very similar beliefs. That deeper connection makes all the difference.

If you look for people who have similar beliefs, you’ll find an even deeper connection than if you look for those with similar interests.

You’ll find multiple ways to move your lives forward together.

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My husband and I went on a cruise down the Rhine River with his work and didn’t know anyone else on the trip. Instead of just keeping to ourselves, I set an intention to meet some like-minded people.

I found myself sitting next to the same woman a few times, sharing polite small talk. Then something whispered to me to push the conversation deeper, so I asked her what she was passionate about. That simple question opened the floodgates.

We started talking about life, love and happiness. Connecting with each other on a deeper level immeasurably enhanced our trip, and thanks to social media, we’re still in touch.

If you’re ready to tackle these steps and meet your tribe, then buckle your seat belt. With a solid tribe on your side, you’ll make a lot of powerful positive changes in your life, and you’ll leave what no longer serves you behind. You’ll see what the Harvard Grant Study proves, that life is better with a tribe.

Steffani LeFevour is a happiness expert. When she’s not chasing after her two kids, you can find her traveling, exercising, coaching and sipping tea with her friends at Soho House in Chicago. Learn more about Steff at myhappilife.com.

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Community Works!

by Kelsey O’Shaughnessy Podgorski

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ommunity is what makes a good job great. Close coworkers can help celebrate achievements or complete tough projects. They serve as a think tank and offer constructive criticism. To encourage stronger workplace communities, many companies are changing the way they do business to facilitate teams, make management less hierarchal, strengthen customer connections and even alter the physical space where employees work.

The Right Environment Giving employees the tools they need to succeed in their position is vital. For a small business, or even just teams looking to branch out of their cubicles, shared workspaces offer flexibility. When looking for a location to grow his Seattle-based design start-up Haystack Studios, owner and founder Mitch Tennison turned to WeWork. This nation-wide company offers shared workspaces for small businesses and startups, providing varied options that include spaces that feel more like an outdoor cafe than an office.

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Tennison explains that companies can choose the style of office that works best for their needs. Those looking for interaction can select a “hot desk,” or a single desk space shared by many different companies. The “hot desk” puts people in direct contact with other startup-savvy business people.

Though each location houses several companies, WeWork strives to create a cohesive community. Members connect to each other online through a shared digital calendar and a highly collaborative work app that mimics a social media platform. This app offers ways to get in touch and develops working relationships with other tenants in WeWork buildings.

But when it comes to building a network, Tennison suggests doing it without the help of technology. “I just wander the hallways and introduce myself,” he says, adding that bringing his pup Bella to the office has also served as a great ice-breaker.

“From the ground up, the space does everything it can to put people in contact with one another,” says Tennison.

But people still need to be proactive. “Naturally, you’re putting yourself out there. I went in knowing I wanted to grow my network and meet other creatives, and that is what I walked away with,” he says.

The Right Team When Mindvalley, a progressive digital education company, was first setting up its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the business was fighting the “brain drain” of an astonishing one percent of the country’s population leaving each year to find work in the “developed world.” Since Malaysia was losing so much of its top talent, Mindvalley founder Vishen Lakhiani had to create a new method of recruiting top-notch candidates to keep people from leaving.

To find the right team and create an even more successful business, Lakhiani decided to create what he calls the “World’s Greatest Workplace.” To achieve this goal, the company constantly works to promote employee “happiness, a noble mission, quests, personal growth and tribal dynamics,” Lakhiani said in a TEDx Talk at TEDxAjman.

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Photo by Bridget Connelly

Mindvalley now draws its employees from around the world, and with such diversity comes a unique tribe of workers who foster a community of growth and development.

Because of Lakhiani’s dedication to creating the “World’s Greatest Workplace,” his team developed a democratic style of management in which employees drive projects and lead their own independent work. The WorldBlu List of Freedom-Centered Workplaces recognized Mindvalley in 2015.

The Right Management In a traditional corporate structure, if an employee has an innovative idea, he asks his boss. If the boss likes the idea, she might ask the next boss on the food chain and so on. It can take weeks to get approval or a rejection.

To fight the slow trickle up the managerial ladder, some companies are looking for ways to empower their employees to take ownership of their own projects.

Punchkick Interactive, a Chicago-based mobile app and site development business, features a horizontal model of self-managed FALL 2016

teams, entrusting employees to “get it done” on their own terms. Punchkick hosts a short, daily meeting to celebrate achievements and ask questions, ensuring the team works as a unified body and an active community.

The Right Customer Connections Fitness apparel powerhouse lululemon athletica has worked to develop a strong community among employees and customers since its inception. To achieve that goal, the company encourages employees to sample a variety of local fitness classes to learn how to best serve their clientele.

“If someone comes in and says they’ve never tried yoga, a team member can recommend a local class for beginners,” says Brooke Johnson, lululemon’s mid-Atlantic area director.

“Or, if a client is just beginning to train for their first 5K, employees can recommend the right products at the right level and a great running group,” says Johnson.

With these simple yet powerful acts, lululemon’s staff is able to facilitate a strong, lasting

connection between the customer, who may be new to the fitness scene or the area, and a local tribe of health-oriented people with similar interests and lifestyles.

The employees go beyond the typical sales tactics to get to know each customer and their specific needs. And because of their first-hand knowledge of the fitness culture in their community, staff are able to provide personalized, hyper-local advice that’s just right for that particular client.

When it comes to finding spokespeople, lululemon finds the best way to engage the community is to include them. “It’s not about seeing a famous athlete,” says Johnson. “It’s about seeing your local yoga teacher or juice bar owner. It’s about finding out what each community needs and creating an experience that fills that need.”

Kelsey O’Shaughnessy Podgorski writes, edits and generally slays her way through the event industry. She enjoys snuggling her kittens and binge-watching bad TV with her husband. illuminechicago.com 27

The Girls Yoga series gives pre-teen and teenage girls a supportive community and keeps their confidence high.

Meredith Walker co-founded Smart Girls to help girls find their voices.

Photo by Kelly Hinnen

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Acroyoga revs up the trust factor.

Yoga class photos by Kira Maar

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Stand Together

Giving girls a community to back them up

by Katie O’Shaughnessy

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or many women, a good chunk of the adult struggle is self acceptance, whether regarding body image, workplace confidence or a healthy relationship. Two entities are trying to conquer these problems earlier in life by introducing girls to empowering communities.

Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, an online community of teenage girls supporting one another, is a force for solidarity. “Our intention is to be a safe place where those who make up our community can be heard and offered a response,” says Meredith Walker, co-founder and executive director of Smart Girls. “We emphasize intelligence and imagination over fitting in. We celebrate curiosity and encourage everyone to volunteer and be more curious about the world in which they live.”

Walker co-founded Smart Girls with Poehler in 2007 to help girls find their voices. “Everyone needs to see good examples of what it looks like to change the world by being yourself. They need tools and guidance and resources. We offer all of these things and continue to develop more,” Walker says.

In an article on the website, Walker explains the psychological theory of the adolescent fantasy: “It is the belief that nobody knows how you feel and that you are all alone in that feeling. It is sometimes a fantasy, and many times true. At Smart Girls we simply try to let girls know that even though they feel alone, their feelings are shared by others.”

Between the Facebook page and website, girls actively communicate with each other to create a strong community. “We see civil discourse, friendliness and support,” says Walker.

Content ranges from technological DIYs to FALL 2016

interviews with powerful female celebrities to personal stories about the pain of cancer and the joy of love, lifting the veil on the adolescent fantasy.

Walker is aware of the dangers to young people’s emotional health when it comes to social media, so when she created the Smart Girls Facebook page in 2009, safety was one of her main objectives. “Careful curating and diligent moderating kept it a friendly and trollfree space, and I believe that gave us a firm foundation from which to grow,” says Walker.

The Smart Girls staff is part of the reason the community has such a strong bond. “We are genuine, we participate right along with our community and they know that we listen to them and respect them,” says Walker.

With experienced leadership, dedicated online followers and a cadre of active and fierce contributors, Smart Girls has grown quickly.

“Now we have millions of Smarties out there,” says Walker.

For support off-line, Walker has some advice for girls: “Engage with your community, listen to them, answer them, protect them from trolls.”

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hicago-area yoga teacher Kira Maar, ERYT 200, also aims to give girls a head start in terms of confidence. Her Girls Yoga series’ at Lighthouse Yoga & Acupuncture in Evanston and Evolution Yoga in Glenview give pre-teen and teenage girls a supportive community that raises their confidence level, keeps them at school and helps them deal with the pressures of growing up.

One of the largest emphases in the course is self empowerment and empowering others. “The

girls do things they may never have dreamt they could actually do, like handstands and arm balances,” says Maar. “When they do a challenging pose, they get a sense of achievement, or when they help somebody else, they feel empowered.”

Mindfulness also plays its role in this group of girls. “We talk about bullying and being strong enough to say no, trusting in yourself and in others in order to create a healthy community,” says Maar.

To rev up the trust factor, the course explores partner yoga and acroyoga. These practices keep the students engaged with one another, teaching them to ask for help when needed and to offer it freely when they see an opportunity. Each girl’s success becomes her partner’s success, fostering stronger relationships and building a community of support both on the mat and off.

Kaia Otwell, 11, has felt off-the-mat benefits from the Girls Yoga class. “It helps to make schoolwork easier because it helps me concentrate better,” she says. “If something goes wrong, I try to stay calm and not make a big deal out of it.”

This is the kind of progress that makes Maar love teaching these classes. “When they tell me they use what we do in class in their lives, when I see in their eyes a sense of accomplishment – it’s all about setting them up to be awesome and whole humans with a sense of self-worth,” she says.

More information on the Girls Yoga courses is available at evolutionyogaglenview.com and lighthouseyoga.com. illuminechicago.com 29

Elevating Our Communities Our shared social responsibility

by Katrina Calihan

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ther people matter,” as the late positive psychologist Chris Peterson used to say. How much of the richness in our lives comes from shared experiences and union with others?

Are joyful moments as sweet without sharing them with someone we love? Do we accomplish more with the help of others’ hands and minds? Our search for answers reminds us of the importance in our relationships.

In fact, participating in positive relationships is a key pillar of our well-being. This extends beyond our one-on-one relationships; groups and communities contribute to well-being, too. Throughout history, people have relied on community for survival, and it turns out that group dynamics matter.

Through their research, biologists E. O. Wilson and David Sloan Wilson theorize that groups demonstrating cooperation and altruism out-competed more selfish groups, leading to a natural selection of altruistic groups. In modern society, people with strong social ties report less stress and higher well-being.

Social support enables them to cope better with life’s struggles by way of the advice, affirmation, empathy and caring received from others, explains Peterson in his book, “A Primer in Positive Psychology.”

same phenomenon exists with unhappiness.

Both are contagious. In this way, the wellbeing of one person may affect the well-being of the broader community.

We can’t control what happens to us in life, but we do have a choice in how we respond.

How we show up for others and the energy we put out to the world matters; it is a social responsibility we all share. What do you want to radiate?

The bottom line is that your happiness is affected by the people with whom you surround yourself and vice versa. If you surround yourself with happy people, it’s more likely you, too, will be happy.

How relationships affect our well-being is not just about individual happiness. Active involvement in communities helps us thrive by connecting us to others through our passions and interests, as well as through giving back.

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n “Well-Being: The Five Essential Elements,” authors Tom Rath and Jim Harter explain that people who report a sense of well-being share something in common – they make meaningful contributions to their communities that connect them to something larger than themselves. Giving back encourages us to be others-focused rather than preoccupied with ourselves.

Social scientists James H. Fowler and Nicholas The book highlights a survey of 23,000 parA. Christakis found that happiness in geoticipants, in which 90 percent reported feeling graphically close communities extends out for an emotional boost after doing kind acts for up to three degrees of separation. If one happy person shares his or her positivity with a friend, others. Donating money, offering time and sharing talents elevate well-being and make a that friend is likely to radiate happiness to the generative contribution to the community. next person and so on. On the flip side, the 30 illuminechicago.com

The health of thriving communities is our shared responsibility. Imagine a world where every person’s actions aligned with the truth that “other people matter.” Together, we can change the world one person and one community at a time. Put your best energy into the world. Give back in a meaningful way. Watch what happens.

Katrina Calihan is a positive psychology expert, yogi and the founder of Point of Arrival, a well-being and leadership coaching and training company. Learn more at point-of-arrival.com.

Join the conversation with

#illuminecommunity • What will you do this week to demonstrate how much other people matter to you?

• This week, lift someone up with a random act of kindness and tell us about it!

•Spread your light! How have you illuminated positivity for others recently?

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Escapes

STYLE

Be You! Being ILLUMINED means feeling comfortable in your own skin and letting your layers add warmth, comfort and style to reflect your most radiant self. ILLUMINE Stylist Lee Goldenstein offers inspiration for the cooler days as you spend time with your community.

She chose items from companies who make a difference in their community, like Kit and Ace, who works with imagine1day to build a new generation of leaders in Ethiopia, and Warby Parker, who partners with VisionSpring to train low-income men and women to administer eye care in their communities. Everlane builds a trusting customer relationship through “Radical Transparency,� while J. Crew and Madewell reduce their environmental impact by incentivizing denim recycling.

Be Iconic With classic leggings and a T-shirt as your base, choose a color like this brilliant blue, which pops against a simple canvas of black and grey.

Lee Goldenstein is an art loving, outdoor adventuring, new wave dancing Chicagoan with an avid appreciation of the convergence of aesthetics and functionality.

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TOP TO BOTTOM: Everlane chunky wool beanie, $28, everlane.com; Warby Parker Eastman sunglasses, $95, warbyparker.com; Kit and Ace Ash turtleneck, $348, kitandace.com; Everlane dipped zip tote, $60, everlane.com; Everlane modern ankle boot, $195, everlane.com.

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S T Y L E Escapes

Be Strong

Be Unique

After a class that has you feeling powerful and radiant, simply add one stand-out accessory, like these strappy shoes that offer unexpected texture. Finish the look with a strong lip color, and you’re off to #makeithappen!

Pair a luxe item, like this leopard print calf hair purse, with your everyday look to get the most out of your splurge. You’ll look and feel great using something that is so uniquely you.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Kit and Ace Borrowed from the Boys blazer, $248, kitandace.com; NARS Red Lizard semi-matte lipstick, $28, narscosmetics.com; Everlane silk tank, $58, everlane.com; Kit and Ace Shay scarf, $148, kitandace.com; J. Crew pumps in snakeskin-printed leather, $378, jcrew.com.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Madewell Classic Ex-Boyfriend shirt, $79.50, madewell.com; Everlane ribbed wool turtleneck, $85, everlane.com; Madewell Denver jean jacket, $138, madewell.com; J. Crew Signet bag in leopard, $298, jcrew.com; New Balance for J. Crew 696 sneaker, $85, jcrew.com.

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Escapes

Digital Divide

Creating community with social media

by Katie Wilkes

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’ve had conversations lately that go something like, “I’m on a Facebook break right now. I had to go cold turkey,” or, “I just couldn’t handle all the noise and opinions.

It was too much.” Others swear that social media is the best invention of our time and that we’re more informed because of it.

Is social media a divider, or is it a new unifier?

To me, the answer is both. It comes down to how and why we use it.

To be clear, I think social media is a brilliant development. If we could show our ancestors Snapchat, their heads would spin. Your grandmother may not believe that YouTube celebs can reach as many people as movie stars.

And don’t get her started on that Instagram account run entirely by a corgi.

But just as it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, social channels deserve to be used with more thoughtful intention.

Twenty-four hours a day, people around the world share their stories through these free tools that allow many of us to speak our minds, chart pathways and create open, supportive communities.

We can reconnect with long lost friends by simply typing in a series of letters. We can track down family members and relatives across oceans to learn about our heritage. We can rally together to sign virtual petitions that lead to societal breakthroughs.

We can even use it to help us find cures for diseases. The popular Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014 raised $220 million for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The funds directly led researchers to discover a new gene linked to the disease, getting them closer to finding a cure.

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Social media has also helped shift perceptions of our broader community and world. The Humans of New York project, founded and photographed by Brandon Stanton, helps Facebooker users see themselves in others.

We struggle to identify with the world’s population of 7 billion, but when that number is broken down to individual lives all wanting the same things – love, connection and the best for our families – we can suddenly relate.

I have even seen how social media can help save lives. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, I helped the Chicago Red Cross monitor and organize digital information via social media channels. One tweet was quickly traced to where a woman lay trapped under rubble. It was seen by the right aid workers at the right time and rapidly funneled to those who could help her.

B

ut there’s a fine line between providing a supportive community and creating a destructive one. It has taken many of our ancestors (women especially) decades to win the right to be heard, and social media has given us a platform to use and share our voices for connection. We can’t abuse it. Having a voice is one thing. Having one that’s truly worth listening to is another. How can we avoid becoming just noise on a screen?

Call it what you want – filtering, masking, editing, selecting. We’ve come down to often trading our authenticity, courage and kindness for likes, shares and endorphin rushes. We post carefully cropped selections of our lives that will give us higher praise and good feedback.

But that’s not real life.

In posting only the highly edited information and filtered photos, we show the “best” versions of our lives to make us feel better in comparison to others. I’ve felt that comparison. I log off after seeing Jane Doe’s curated photos – her best angles, fabulous

friends and harmonious life of cocktails – and feel like my life is a few shades duller as I turn in my dress covered in dog hair back to a sink full of dishes.

This careful curation covers up our best parts – the quirky weirdness, the struggles and challenges. It’s no small feat to admit our struggles, but that’s the very thing that creates the connection we so desperately crave in between the beautiful vacation pictures and selfies. It’s the memories and the longevity tied to our Instagram photos that bring purpose, not their filters.

Something amazing happens when we post about our most vulnerable moments.

There’s a “Hey! Me too!” factor that turns off the lonely feeling of isolation.

Our bodies are hardwired for connection.

That’s why we crave it. Social media can help satisfy that craving but only when it’s used intentionally. And while it can become a jump-starter for new friendships, it can’t entirely replace the need for in-person connection.

Katie Wilkes is the co-founder of Freeheart Creative, dedicated to connecting hearts around the world one story at a time. She lives in Chicago’s West Loop.

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#shinesobright Mark Anthony Lord: Spiritual maverick, founder, leader, speaker and writer. He founded Bodhi Spiritual Community in 2003 and now ignites souls through coaching and teaching.

He is energized: His energy is unmistakable and infectious. He powers up his day with a smart start: coffee and Ezekiel sprouted grain bread with peanut butter and banana.

He’s not alone: Whether it’s the “Big Guy” or prayer partners on speed dial, he has someone to call on at any time and say, “Hey man, I really need some prayer. My mind’s going crazy. Can you pray me off the ledge?”

He shares: His generosity with his experience and knowledge leads him to speak nationwide. He does not hide his light under a bushel.

He stands tall: Even at 5 foot 10 inches, his favorite shoes are motorcycle boots with a heel, helping him stand taller and shine brighter.

He loves a good story: FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

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He loves listening to audiobooks while walking his dog Bigsby, and he couldn’t help but tell a few of his own during our photoshoot.

Know someone who shines bright in their community? Share a photo or tweet using #shinesobright and we’ll share it on our social media.

PHOTO: Mary Carol Fitzgerald FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

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MAKEUP: Patricia Fardon (Stylisted) HAIR: Meghan Piironen LOCATION: Nicholas Robison residence Jewelry provided by IA+

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Collisions, Co-Learning and Connectedness Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project offers an oasis of community in Las Vegas

K

by Katie O’Shaughnessy nown as a gambling mecca and adult playground, Las Vegas hardly seems like a bastion of community. But amid the casinos, gaudy hotels and ostentatious shows, one man is trying to change the perception of Sin City.

As the CEO of Zappos, an online shoe and clothing shop, and the author of “Delivering Happiness,” Tony Hsieh has made company culture his priority. “Our whole belief is that if we get the culture right, then most of the other stuff, like delivering great customer service or building a long-term enduring brand or business, will just be a natural by-product,” he says in his presentation at the Wisdom 2.0 technology conference.

When Zappos was looking to move their headquarters, Hsieh knew he didn’t want to follow the example of large companies with insular campuses. Instead, he wanted interaction between his employees and the surrounding community. “What if instead of focusing just on ourselves, we really thought about the ‘ecosystem,’” says Hsieh.

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Hsieh wandered into a non-touristy area of Las Vegas with a thriving community atmosphere. It also happened to be very close to where Zappos would soon move its headquarters, allowing employees easy interaction with the residents. In January of 2012, Hsieh and his partners created the Las Vegas Downtown Project in and around the Fremont East and East Village areas. The organization invested in small businesses, tech startups, education, arts, culture and real estate, bringing in the basic building blocks of a community.

But more goes into creating community than building blocks alone, so Hsieh focused on what he calls the 3 C’s: collisions, co-learning and connectedness – with an end goal of turning downtown Las Vegas into “a place of Inspiration, Entrepreneurial Energy, Creativity, Innovation, Upward Mobility and Discovery,” according to Downtown Project’s website.

The Project invests in or co-owns over 300 businesses, helping prospective entrepreneurs start immediately.

“There’s a lot of pride for everyone on the team in seeing FALL 2016

the small businesses succeed and follow their dreams,” says Maria Phelan, director of public relations for Downtown Project. One requirement of these small companies is that they increase “collisions” within the community to encourage collaboration.

Instead of focusing on ROI, Hsieh uses ROC, or “return on community,” as a metric of success, and these businesses are doing their part. “There are pieces of the ROC that are coming to life. You walk around and see groups that are co-working or parents with children where you wouldn’t have seen children previously,” says Phelan. “You can tell these things are really having the impact we wanted them to have.”

The setup of the Downtown Project itself encourages these collisions by “tricking” people into coming out and interacting with each other. “The idea is, every block or so, have some sort of fire element, some sort of large-scale art to kind of trick people to walk one more block,” says Hsieh.

Styled as a startup community, the Downtown Project has been attracting startup tech companies. Co-working lounges and small business incubators give rise to the second C of “co-learning,” furthering the goals of innovation and discovery through a community that shares knowledge.

The Downtown Project also includes a park made from shipping containers. “The idea behind the container park is to make it such a fun place for kids that they’re

begging their parents to go back every weekend,” says Hsieh. Live music makes it a hangout space for adults, too, offering a place for families to bond with each other and with their community.

Held in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, the Life Is Beautiful Festival is a culmination of everything the Downtown Project stands for. First held in 2013, the festival is run by the organization and features live music, food, art and learning. It continues today as an annual event, drawing over 108,000 attendees in 2015. With an upbeat atmosphere and activities built to increase collisions and co-learning, the festival demonstrates the third C, “connectedness.”

While it attracts nearby residents and travelers, one thing has been missing from Downtown Project.

“Residential density needs to be increased in the area, and that would really help the businesses we fund,” says Phelan. “Tony has said if he could go back in a time machine, he’d put residency further up on the list.” To combat this hitch, a mid-market residential complex called Fremont9 will open in 2017 with a long list of alluring amenities.

Five years since its creation, Downtown Project has created over 900 jobs, revitalized the city and fostered a lush atmosphere of community. “We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to do. There have been a lot of surprises because we’re not following a road map,” says Phelan. “We’re seeing a strong community building here, and it’s only getting stronger and stronger.”

Photos: Courtesy of Downtown Project / Emily Wilson

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Escapes

B E AUT Y

From Vata to

Vivacious

Nourishment for thirsty skin

by Ania Arsenowicz

Changing leaves and fewer greens means your self-care ritual needs to adapt. These gentle, rich products bolster your skin against the breeze, keeping you resilient through the dry vata months.

ACURE Aromatherapeutic Citrus Ginger Argan Oil Rich in argan oil, essential fatty acids and vitamin E, this rich oil tones your skin and keeps it hydrated throughout the colder months. A true two-inone product, this lightweight oil also smooths those annoying flyaway hairs. While keeping your skin and hair smooth, the enthralling citrus and ginger blend soothes your senses to put you in a state of pure bliss.

Trader Joe’s Honey Mango Moisturizing Cream Shave This little gem sits quietly on the shelf until you grab it and begin a love affair. Enriched with Vitamin E, this cream shave leaves your skin feeling silky smooth without emptying your wallet.

Made for both men and women, 100 percent vegetarian and conveniently located at a grocery store – What’s not to love?

Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner with Aloe Vera This all-natural toner leaves your skin refreshed and squeaky clean without that overly dry feel. Formulated with organic witch hazel and aloe vera, it keeps your skin moisturized and supple. The soft rose fragrance makes you want to reapply all day.

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado With colder weather comes drier skin, and many of us tend to forget about moisturizing the under-eye area. This treatment is formulated with avocado oil and boosts hydration in this sensitive area. It’s a must-have for harsh days of autumn.

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer

Ania Arsenowicz is a makeup artist, skin care expert, marketing coordinator, yogi and avid photo taker. She spends her free time cooking, drinking wine with friends and planning her next adventure.

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Perfect for those fall mornings where you struggle to get out of bed, this energy-boosting moisturizer will help awaken your skin. Fortified with natural ingredients like ginseng, this cream will make you feel revitalized.

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Escapes

Upcoming Teacher Trainings • Spring 2017 (200 hour) yogaview Wilmette Thursday’s, March 2 - June 8, 2017

• Summer 2017 (200 hour)

yogaview Chicago Month Intensive, July 5 - July 28, 2017

Upcoming Workshops • Tim Miller October 7-9

• Tim Feldmann November 4-6

• Jason Crandall

November 18-20 2211 N. Elston, Chicago 1231 Green Bay Road, Wilmette 773.342.YOGA www.yogaview.com

Please visit www.yogaview.com for teacher training r details, retreats, workshops, class schedules and upcoming events.

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Escapes

F L AV O R

Anna in the Raw’s

Raw Carrot Cake with Orange Cashew Icing Raw, Vegan and Gluten Free

Photo by Tom J. Noe

his mouthwatering autumnal raw cake is made with a dehydrator to maintain the integrity of the food. Since cooking food kills many of the valuable nutrients, incorporating raw foods is a great way to fuel the body.

This recipe is not heated above 115 degrees in order to keep all the nutrients alive.

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look this way illumineChicago.com Ingredients Cake: 3 cups grated carrots 2 cups pecans 1-½ cups dates (soaked overnight) ½ cup shredded, unsweetened coconut ½ cup raisins ¼ cup water 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional) ¼ teaspoon allspice (optional) ¼ teaspoon cloves (optional)

Icing: 2 cups raw cashews (soaked overnight) ⅔ cup melted coconut oil ½ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice ⅓ cup honey 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 tablespoon lemon juice Pinch of salt

Directions 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Cake: Grate carrots into a bowl and set aside.

Use a food processor to turn pecans into a fine meal.

Add dates and process until well mixed.

Add coconut and process again.

Add contents of food processor to the bowl of carrots.

Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix with love until well blended.

Line dehydrator tray with parchment paper.

Use your hands to shape individual cake slices into round patties about ¾-inch thick, 3-inches wide and 5-inches long.

Place rounds on parchment and dehydrate for 10 hours at 115 degrees.

Icing: 1. Blend all ingredients until it reaches a frosting consistency.

2. Spread on cake and garnish with coconut and pecans.

As the owner of Anna in the Raw, Chef Anna Harouvis knows a thing or two about health and taste. The entrepreneur offers juice cleanses as well as live and raw food options and catering in her hometown of Cleveland, OH, where she serves high-profile customers like the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers.

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make a difference Bring your super powers & passion as writers, editors, social media editors, designers and multimedia contributors to help illuminate and elevate our community!

For more information, contact lourdes@illuminechicago.com illuminechicago.com

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An illumined life manifesto

Rebecca Niziol In my life and work, I’m aiming to create integrity – a wholeness of self. The most challenging and rewarding soul work is in being and loving all of who we are, the light and the darkness.

Each choice we make either moves us toward more connection and integrity or away from it. By embodying wholeness and embracing the aspects of ourselves we previously shunned or shamed, we come back home inside ourselves.

Every day, together, we take the steps to remember who we are and come back home. This is how I work with soul.

Rebecca Niziol is the creator of Work with Soul, an ever-expanding community of support that connects who we are and what we do in soulful ways. She is a certified professional coach with over a thousand hours of experience, has taught yoga to the men’s national soccer team, guided a group of two thousand people in meditation and is a retired professional dancer.

PHOTO: Mary Carol Fitzgerald MAKEUP: Patricia Fardon (Stylisted) HAIR: Meghan Piironen LOCATION: Nicholas Robison residence Jewelry provided by IA+ 42 illuminechicago.com

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LIVE OUT LOUD EVERY DAY Activewear inspired by well-being

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LOLË ATELIER CHICAGO 3434 N. SOUTHPORT AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60657 +17738809642

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