RIP Jack LaLanne

I always liked this guy and his attitude! He was way before my time but a guru to many. He was way "ahead" of his time. He just passed away this evening, and lived to the ripe old age of 96! He enjoyed wonderful health his whole life long.

Born Francois Henri LaLanne in San Francisco (his parents were French immigrants), he felt the effects of sugar and bleached flour in his diet. After hearing a health lecture, he devoted his life to following a diet of raw, unprocessed foods. His staples: two meals a day and no snacks.

He opened up a chain of gyms and worked out releltlessley his entire life. Fitness and nutrition were his life, and for him it certainly paid off.

At age 60 he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf while pulling a 1,000-pound boat – and while handcuffed. At 70, shackled again, he pulled 70 people in 70 boats 1½ miles through Long Beach Harbor.

The quote I most remember is "Exercise is King: Nutrition is Queen, put 'em together and you've got a

Kingdom. The guy was always happy and full of energy. He was sure doing something right.

He often said, "I cannot afford to die, it will ruin my image."

Rest in peace Jack LaLanne. You were a wonderful role model.

Despite advanced age, LaLanne continued to work out every morning for two hours. He spent 1½ hours in the weight room and half an hour swimming or walking.

Dusk. nightfall. walking in our city.

"The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, 
or the luster of it will never appear"
Daniel Defoe

Everywhere I go people comment on my jewelry. And with good reason, it's stunning.

And its all lovingly made by hand as an income generating project by the loveliest of women. The mothers and grandmothers Shanti Uganda supports. Did you know that you can host your own Shanti Party? Let's face it, tupperware parties couldn't be more out. Plastics? Blech. (we won't even get into that haha). I'm often asked "How can I help"? You can now have a rockin' Shanti Party at your place! (Well, it doesn't have to be rockin' haha..but it could be!) Its a great way to support the inspiring work we do in Uganda without a big commitment. You will feel so good. And you will be making a HUGE difference in the lives of some of the sweetest women ever. These are mothers and grandmothers with HIV/AIDS and teen girls. And you will be sharing the love and sporting some of the coolest, most stylish, one of a kind jewelry there is! P.S. And you know where your money is going. All of it. Every dime. 100% of the proceeds go towards helping infant and maternal health, teen girls programs...and the list literally goes on. Feel good, look great, and be amazed at just how inexpensive this stuff is as well. I still can’t get over it..Personally I’d pay way more for this jewelry. Anyhow, wanted to share the news!

Click this link and find out how! Oh, and feel free to invite me!

If you come to my classes you know all about the beloved relaxation response...

There is no educational requirement or aptitude necessary to experience the Relaxation Response. Just as each of us experiences anger, contentment, and excitement, each has the capacity to experience the Relaxation Response.

-Herbert Benson

I can't believe The Briefing is just 5 days away!!

Heres the trailer for The 2011 Briefing at UBC.

Are you going? Can you go? I am so sad I can't go but I'll be there in spirit. I've got my yoga classes to teach that night, and I've never been one to miss those!

It takes place Tuesday January 25 from 5-8pm at UBC Woodward 2 and you can register here for a toonie, and make your voice heard!

It's called The UBC Dollar Project (click here for more info).

You can hear about 8 different community projects and vote for your favourite one! And YES Shanti Uganda is one of them! **click here for Shanti's site**

I love the whole concept so much. The fact that you can pay a dollar and make a HUGE impact in the world. Thats so beautiful to me.

And to me, just listening to the speakers and hearing their passion, while learning about the world around me and the various causes being discussed would be so fascinating to me. If you can go, go!

I can't wait to hear all about it! And being an Ambassador for the organization and feeling so passionately about it, I am rooting for The Shanti Uganda Society all the way! We need that fence asap, and every single bit helps! For more info on Shanti's Fence Project click here

To keep up with Shanti Uganda and all the good they do, and their various projects etc, you should sign up for their newsletter. Its lovely and will make you feel really, really good inside. much like yoga. Namaste.

Yoga will make you sensitive to...

Do no underestimate the value of being balanced, centered, and coordinated, of being strong and light, of being more flexible, without pain, experiencing the subsequent feelings of invisibility or transparency, and being more sensitive…Yoga will make you sensitive to the stillness, the presence, the hush. -Erich Schiffmann