Inspired Wellbeing

What's In Season for July?

2008-07-03T22:17:00.000-05:00

July brings many seasonal delights and each region of the US has their own delights, but the following are some stables that are sure to be growing this month across the US.

Cherries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Kale
Swiss Chard
Cabbage
Summer Squash
Potatoes
Spinach
Peas
Salad Mixes

Yoga Library

2008-07-03T21:13:00.004-05:00

I am in the midst of creating a Yoga Library and having it up, with handouts being added as i create them, in the near future. My first handout is Poses for PMS! The focus will be having handout's showing researchd poses and/or other Yogic tools proven to help with specific issues, everything from colds, PMS, to Scatica. Each handout will focus on approximatly 5 poses or tools that students can us on their own. Watch for this soon @ Ease into Green under the wellness section. :0)

What's in Season for June?

2008-06-10T12:57:00.004-05:00

June brings many seasonal delights and each region of the US has their own delights, but the following are some stables that are sure to be growing this month across the US.

Radishes
Mushrooms
Scallions
Herbs
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Broccoli
Asparagus
Mixed Salad Greens
Lettuce
Spinach
Raspberries*

* Mid- to late-June for colder regions

Highlights for June
The Radish is a root vegetable. The taproot (bulb) is the part most eaten and can be red, pink, white or grey in color. The entire plant is edible and the tops can be eaten as a leaf vegetable. They are categorized into four main types (summer, fall, winter, and spring) and vary in size, color, and shape. Some radishes are grown for seed oil production as a fuel source. Mustard and turnip’s are relatives of the radish. A popular radish from South Eastern Asia is the Daikon.

HISTORY
Radish’s are believed to date back to pre-Roman times in Europe and Asia. Today they are grown and consumed across the world.

NUTRITION
A 1/2 cup serving provides a good amount of potassium, vitamin C, folate acid and fiber. They also have smaller amounts of other B vitamins, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc as well as the enzyme myrosinase and sulfurous compounds, believed to protect against cancer.

SELECTION & STORAGE
The radish’s skin should be bright in color with firm roots and crisp white flesh inside. Tops should be bright green and fresh. Avoid dry, wilted, spongy, or rough-skinned radishes. Remove and use radish leaves within 2-3 days as they cause moisture and nutrient loss if left on. Refrigerate radishes wrapped in plastic bags for up to 14 days.

PREPARATION
Radish Recipes: The bulb can be eaten raw, steamed or sautéed in oil. The greens can be eaten raw as a salad green, sautéed in oil or used for stir fries.

Pure Foods

2008-05-19T16:48:00.011-05:00

My passion for wellness stems from my own spiritual path. Throughout my journey, I have identified cornerstones to health, which I believe to be fundamental. I have started with the 3 most simplistic, yet they are essential roots to the path of wellbeing. Finding happiness, balance, joy, good health and essentially awakening to our fullest potential is a desire for most of us; however, getting there often seems to be complicated. There are many paths to optimum wellbeing, none better than others, as each person has a path that resonates and works for them personally. I found that establishing pure rest, pure foods, and pure movement into my life has enabled me to find balance and has opened an inner state allowing continuous spiritual growth, which has inevitably created a more fulfilling life. By uniting body-mind-spirit-emotions 1 through these first cornerstones, I have been able to go deeper and further on my path. This path makes the body pure and strong, since the body is deeply connected to our mind, spirit and emotions, the body then becomes a vehicle for ending suffering. We awaken to our true self; essentially this is also the path of Yoga, which uses Pranayama & meditation (pure rest), yogic diet (pure foods), and asana (pure movement). These cornerstones are not a means to an end, but only a beautiful beginning, that will open doors of opportunity. To clarify, cornerstones are what hold up a structure. For example, I have referred to these cornerstones as being roots, similar to the roots of a tree. They are what give life and structure to the tree, if they are not nourished, the tree will die, but if nourished the tree will flourish and at the right moment the tree will go beyond these cornerstones, or roots, and will bloom or blossom.

You are what you eat!

One of my greatest passions is food; I admit that I am one of those people who ‘Lives to Eat’, rather than ‘Eats to Live’. It is not only the act of eating that I have grown to be so fond of, it is also the preparation, the knowledge, the display, the sensory output, the benefits, and essentially everything about food. As my knowledge around food and nutrition has evolved, I have found a deep appreciation for what I term ‘pure foods’. I define pure foods as:

Food sources that have a living essence, originating from a living source, plant or animal, and are provided with natural habitat, are replenished with an adequate and appropriate diet that is suited for the plant or animal and is unaltered. Food that is in its natural state (or as close to it as possible) and that is organic are the purest foods you can obtain or purchase. Food that is unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives and has been minimally refined or processed is the best tasting and most nutritious food available.

· Produce (Fruits & Vegetables)
· Grains
· Herbs & Spices
· Beans & Legumes
· Meat & poultry
· Seafood & Fish
· Oils, Nuts & Seeds
· Seaweeds
· Eggs
· Dairy (cow, sheep & goat)
· Tea leafs & edible flowers
· Natural sweeteners
· Coffee& cocoa beans
· Fermented foods

My mission is to provide simple solutions to finding greater wellbeing and to do so in a way that provides realistic, simple, and affordable solutions for everybody. I whole heartily believe that eating mostly pure foods is a stepping stone for optimal health. I do not however recommend what eating lifestyle and traditions you should or should not follow. That is personal and it is my belief that any eating lifestyle, whether vegetarian, omnivore, vegan, raw, or other, can be as healthy as the other. The most essential part is that your eating lifestyle resonates with who you are as a person; meeting your own personal physical, emotional, and social needs. That it also includes plenty of pure foods, provides you with balanced nutrition, and deeply satisfies you. I also find that upholding traditions, whatever they are, can be part of a person’s joy and eating satisfaction, bringing fond memories and social happiness. Eating rituals and traditions, such as those around ceremonies, parties, holidays, etc., that may be part of your tradition, culture, family, and community, can be a healthy part of your lifestyle, even if they do not fit entirely into the ideal. As for cooking versus eating raw foods, they both have valid arguments, both positives and negatives, and the most nourishing option is what works for you. The most important factor is eating pure foods you enjoy and using high quality preparation and presentation. Additionally, we often lean towards perfection or avoidance. Mindfulness is an important key to eating healthily and part of being mindful is having the awareness that perfection is not a healthy goal. If you are generally a pretty healthy person, following an 80/20 rule, can be helpful. Try to opt for pure foods choices approximately 80% of the time and know that the other 20% will allow room for social and personal deviations that will only enrich your overall health and happiness.

Tips for selecting and finding Pure Foods
· The purest food will likely come from a locally owned food co-op, farmer's market, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or independently-owned natural food store
· If above options are limited, try Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or other similar grocer carrying more choices of unrefined, unaltered and organic food choices
· Shop the parameter of your local grocer, where most pure foods are located
· Try the gourmet food stores. Gourmet cooks, chefs, foodies and restaurateurs know the secret to good eats: high quality ingredients and pure foods are the best tasting
· Purchase freshly baked breads, bakery items, salads and meal options from your local grocers, bakeries and cafes. Remember to ask questions, read labels as well as seek out, request and check for the following (as applicable and whenever possible) when buying food:

All foods
§ contains pure foods (foods in their whole state or closest to it)
§ limited processing
§ unrefined ingredients
§ organic 2
§ high quality oils
§ no trans fatty acids 3
§ no preservatives
§ no additives
§ high quality sea salts, rather than refined salt
§ non Genetically Engineered (GMO) food 4

Specific Foods:
Grains
whole grains, unrefined grains
everything above
Fats & oils
Unrefined oils
cold expeller pressed oils
Extra virgin
Organic
Animal products
Organic
Grass-fed, free range, pasture raised 5 6 7
no added hormones, antibiotics or altering drugs
no nitrates
no homogenization (unnecessary processing)
Sweeteners
No refined sweetener 8
Organic

· Find restaurants that focus on high quality and wholesome choices. Seek out those offering fresh high quality ingredients, and whenever possible look for and support those offering local fare, organic, grass-fed, free-range, and non GMO choices.
· Seek quality over quantity!

Benefit’s to Pure Foods
Here are just a few inspirational, yet simple benefits’ you will gain from eating more pure foods.
§ Feel livelier and have more stamina from gaining the extra nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, healthy fats and other health producing natural substances in pure foods
§ Ingest less harming additives, chemicals, drugs and pesticides that affect your emotional, physiological, psychological and physical health
§ Produce and fresh food will be more flavorful needing less additives, salts, and sugars
§ Animal products will naturally be leaner and will contain more vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats
§ Aid the environment saving on production, energy and chemicals that are affecting us globally
§ You will inevitably eat more healthy produce that will enhance your overall wellbeing as well as your heart’s health

Pure Foods Resources
· Go to Shareit Liveit’s community site under eating for health http://www.shareitliveit.org/?page=SubPageEatingForHeal.
· Rebecca Wood, who wrote the Whole Foods Encyclopedia, a great resource, and has a website at http://www.rwood.com/.
· Go to the Organic Consumer’s Association’s Local Buying Guide.
· For a useful list of common western pure foods look at http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php
· Whole Foods publishes a comprehensive list of what is not considered pure and should be avoided in your food on their website at (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/unacceptablefoodingredients.html).

Article Definitions
1. Uniting body-mind-spirit-emotions is essentially the meaning of Yoga. Yoga is ‘to Yoke’ or unite the body-mind-spirit.
2. Organic - See full definition and useful information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food
3. Trans Fatty Acid (Tran Fat) - See full description at http://www.rwood.com/Articles/Avoid_Genetically_Engineered_Foods.htm
4. Genetically Modified (GMO) – Genetic engineering is the transferring of genes between species and can be taken from any plant, animal, insect, bacterium or virus. The gene is then inserted into a plant grown for food. Many European countries refuse the commerce of genetically modified (GM) food. Today over 60 percent of all processed foods contain manipulated corn, canola or soy. Additionally, there are 43 other approved GM grains, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits in our markets, and many more foods pend approval. Unless that jar of salsa or the deli sandwich clearly states that it is GM free, you may assume that some of its ingredients are altered.
5. Grass-fed - Animals are fed grasses, which is their natural diet. They should not be supplemented with grain, animal by-products, synthetic hormones, or be given antibiotics to promote growth or prevent disease (though they might be given antibiotics to treat disease). Note that 'grass-fed' does not guarantee that the animal was pasture-raised. While most grass-fed animals are pasture-raised, some may still be confined and fed a steady diet of grasses.
6. Pasture raised - The animal was raised outdoors on a pasture and it eats grasses and food found in a pasture, rather than being fattened on grain in a feedlot or barn. Pasturing livestock and poultry is a traditional farming technique that allows animals to be raised in a humane, ecologically sustainable manner. This is basically the same as grass-fed, though the term "pasture raised" indicates more clearly that the animal was raised outdoors on pasture.
7. Free Range - The animal has access to the outdoors each day. However, this doesn't always guarantee the animal actually went outside. As long as a door to the outdoors is left open for some period of time, the animal can be considered Free Range. Although the USDA has defined this term for chicken raised for consumption, no standards have been set for egg-laying chickens or for other animals. If you are looking to buy eggs, poultry or meat that was raised outdoors, look for a label that says 'Pastured' or 'Pasture-raised.'
8. Unrefined Sweeteners: see Wikipedia for comprehensive list of unrefined sweeteners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unrefined_sweeteners)

Taste of Summer

2008-05-18T14:18:00.002-05:00

Read this article, http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2621, printed by the Yoga Journal on Taste for the summer. Seasonal adventure with pure foods!!!!!!

Green Tip

2008-05-15T20:01:00.002-05:00

Green Tip

Buying local organic grass-fed milk that is not homogenized (minimally processed) and is in a glass container (environmentally friendly), is undoubtedly the healthiest and best tasting milk, but it does cost a little more. So to offset the cost and to increase the quality of the milk, buy whole milk and water ti down to save money and make it last longer. The richness will still serve your taste buds and will end up equating or even saving cost!!!!!!!

To find go to your local coop, health food store, farmers market, gourmet store, or the health section of your grocer. If you can't find it, request it!

Pure Food's Recipe

2008-05-15T15:00:00.002-05:00

Here is a Pure Food recipe favorite. You will love this scrumptious, yet healthy treat!!!!

Stacy’s Chewy Unrefined Oatmeal Cookies
Use organic products whenever possible:1 1/2 cups old-fashioned regular or thick cut rolled oats

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup unrefined coconut oil 3/4 cup dark muscovado, demerara, or sucuant sugar 2 eggs (free range if possible)
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract 1/4 cup whole or lowfat milk (grass fed if possible)
1 to 1 ½ cup raisins 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together rolled oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in large bowl. Using an electric mixer, cream the coconut oil with sucuant sugar until smooth, add eggs and vanilla and blend. With the mixer on low speed, add oat mixture and milk, beating until well combined dough forms. Stir in raisins and nuts. (If not using immediately, refrigerate for up to 12 hours.) Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Press tops to slightly flatten. Bake until the edges are brown and the centers are still soft and puffy, about 11 to 14 minutes. Cool and store in a covered container for up to 3 days or freeze.

Be creative with variations:
· Use brown rice flour instead of whole wheat pastry for wheat free
· Use dried dates, cranberries, blueberries or cherries in place of raisins
· Use butter instead of coconut oil
· Use maple Syrup or turbinado sugar instead of sucuant
· Use ¼ cup peanut butter or almond butter in place of walnuts
· Use pecans, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds or other in place of walnuts
· Use soy or rice milk instead of milk
· Use all spice in place of nutmeg
· Add dried raw coconut (1/3 cup)

Cornerstones to Optimal Wellbeing: True Rest

2008-05-01T17:58:00.001-05:00

There are several fundamental cornerstones to wellbeing. Our spiritual goal, as Eckhart Tolle tells us in A New Earth, is to awaken or to become conscious and as the Yogi’s believe is to become enlightened. These abstract concepts of awakening and enlightenment are strangely foreign and believed to be unobtainable to many of us, but broken down in recognizable western concepts the path is not only obtainable but necessary for our overall health and wellbeing. Essentially these concepts are showing us how to become more balanced, to not let our thoughts, our emotions and our egos get in the way of being happy and centered in everyday life, including difficult times, as well as how to feel alive from the inside out. There are cornerstones or pillars that will enable us to better reach these states within ourselves. These pillars are:

True Rest
Pure Foods
Movement

All of these are important pieces to the puzzle and can be broken down into further concepts around health, spirituality and science. I have learned personally as well as seen with those around me that rest is absolutely essential to health, regardless of what else you may be doing. Rest is our internal stress management tool and it is accessible to everyone, although we may need help in finding it, as I have. The beautiful and promising part of rest, as I have defined, is that once you start to tap into your internal rest mechanism, you start to instinctively access it in your daily life, as needed, even just for fleeting moments which in turn revitalize you in your busy life bringing more balance and joy. Without rest, even if you are eating pure foods, exercising, volunteering or helping others, and even meditating, you may still feel unhappy, unhealthy and un- whatever. I want to clarify what I mean by rest:

Rest is having enough time in the following states to truly revitalize your body, mind and spirit in order to manage and handle life optimally. Your own individual needs for how much and what kind of rest you need will vary from day to day and person to person. When in balance you feel healthy, alive, and vital, and will recognize when to give yourself rest to revitalize; thus, not going into chronic states of stress and fatigue. True restful states include:

Inner calm (awakened state), where thoughts & emotions are not taking over
Complete muscle relaxation
Sound uninterrupted sleep

I also want to clarify what true rest is not. For example, there have been many times in my life that I have been lying there in bed or sitting comfortably in a chair, perceiving to be resting, but my muscles were tense and my mind was incessantly thinking, and possibly stirring up emotions too, therefore I was not truly resting. Additionally, when we watch TV, play video games, and even listen to lively music, we may believe we are relaxing, and in a sense we are, but this is NOT a state of true rest. These circumstances create thoughts, emotions and reactions on their own. It is important to understand that just because are bodies are not moving, does not mean we are in a state of true rest.

All of these cornerstones are imperative for optimal health, and whatever order you address these cornerstones, whether one at a time or all at once, you will be moving in a positive direction.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu

Resources for finding True Rest. Here are some effective, yet easy and affordable resources.

§ Learn to take 1 – 3 deep breathes throughout the day, whenever you think about it.
§ Read A New Earth by Eckahrt Tolle
§ Go to Share it Live it and use their free guided relaxation techniques http://www.shareitliveit.org/?page=IndexRelaxation
§ Follow the free streaming New Earth Classes on Oprah.com or follow her upcoming Soul Series for streaming interviews with top spiritual teachers @ www.oprah.com.
§ Take a free Yoga class online @ www.yogatoday.com.
§ Watch Yoga Journal TV at http://www.yogajournal.com/video/.
§ Find other books and resources in spiritual and mindfulness topics @ www.soundstrue.com.
§ Try Wild Divine’s biofeedback and mindfulness software training products. Learn more @ www.wilddivine.com or see products on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s.html?ie=UTF8&node=3760931&brand=Wild%20Divine%20Project.

If interested, please follow future articles pertaining to these cornerstones, including pure foods and movement.

Namaste, Stacy Ruse

What's in Season Now? May 2008

2008-05-01T14:32:00.001-05:00

Seasonal foods, especially if they are also regional, are more nutritious and more sustainable for the environment. You may be wondering what foods are in season near you. Here is a guide of seasonal foods by each region for the month of May.

MIDWESTERN STATES
Arugula
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Bok Choy
Bunching Greens
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chard
Chives
Cilantro
Collard Greens
Cress
Dandelion Greens
Dill
Flowers (late May)
Garlic Greens
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard
Oregano
Oriental Greens
Parsley
Parsnips
Peas
Radishes
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Sage
Scallions
Sorrel
Spinach
Sprouts
Strawberries
Turnips

EASTERN STATES
Apples
Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Broccoli
Chives
Collards
Cranberries
Ginger
Gourds
Herbs
Kale
Lavender
Leeks
Lemon Verbena
Lettuce
Onions
Radishes
Rhubarb
Spinach
Mushrooms
Parsley
Peas
Strawberries
Salad Greens
Scallions
Shallots
Tomatoes

SOUTHEAST STATES
Asparagus
Blueberries (late may)
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards
Cucumbers
Gourds
Greens
Herbs
Honey
Indian Corn
Kale
Leafy greens
Lettuce
Melons
Mixed Greens
Mushrooms
Mustard
Onions
Peaches
Peanuts
Rhubarb
Scallions
Snow Peas
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer Squash (late May)
Summer squash
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potato

SOUTHERN STATES

Asparagus
Bananas
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chinese Cabbage
Collards
Cucumber
Eggplant
Endive
Escarole
Grapefruit
Greens
Guava
Honeydew Melon
Kumquat
Lettuce
Limes
Melons
Mushrooms
Nectarines
Okra
Onions
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches
Peas
Pecans
Peppers
Pole Beans
Potatoes
Radishes
Scallions
Snap Beans
Squash
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Snap Beans
Sweet Potatoes
Vidalia Onions
Yellow Squash
Zucchini

CENTRAL STATES
Apples
Apricots
Arugula
Asparagus
Beets
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cantaloupes
Cauliflower
Carrots
Cucumber
Garlic
Grapefruit
Green Beans
Greens
Herbs
Honeydew Melon
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Nectarines
Onions
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Peppers
Peas
Pinto Beans
Plums
Popcorn
Potatoes
Radishes
Rhubarb
Salad Greens
Spinach
Strawberries
Swiss Chard
Summer squash
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Watermelon

WESTERN STATES
Almonds
Apples
Apricots
Apriums
Artichokes
Arugula
Asian Greens
Asian Pears
Asparagus
Avocado
Basil
Beans
Beets
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Black-eyed Peas
Blueberries
Bok Choy
Boysenberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cactus Pads
Cardoons
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cherimoyas
Collards
Corn
Cucumber
Dandelion/Chicory Greens
Dates
Eggplant
Endive
Fava Beans
Fennel
Figs
Garlic
Grapefruit
Green Garlic
Green Beans
Green Onion
Green Peas
Herbs
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Kumquats
Leeks
Lemons
Lettuces
Loquats
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Navel Orange
Nectarines
Nettles
Okra
Olives
Onions
Passion Fruit
Peaches
Peas
Peppers
Pistachios
Plums
Pluots
Potatoes
Purslane
Radicchio
Radish
Rapini
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Scallions
Shallots
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer squash
Tomatoes
Turnips
Valencia Oranges
Walnuts

NORTHWESTERN STATES
Apples
Almonds
Apricots
Apriums
Artichokes
Arugula
Asian Greens
Asparagus
Avocado
Bamboo Shoots
Basil
Beans
Beets
Bell Pepper
Blackberries
Blueberries
Bok Choy
Boysenberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Cactus Pads
Cactus Pears
Cardoons
Carrots
Celery
Chard
Cherimoyas
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dandelion/Chicory Greens
Dates
Eggplant
Endive
Fava Beans
Fennel
Garlic
Green Garlic
Green Onions
Herbs
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lemons
Lettuces
Loquats
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Nectarines
Nettles
Olives
Onions
Oranges
Peaches
Peas
Peppers
Pistachios
Plums
Pluots
Potatoes
Purslane
Radicchio
Radish
Rapini
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Scallions
Shallots
Spinach
Strawberries
Summer squash
Tomatoes
Walnuts

Find Out More
Local Harvest; find a CSA near you: www.localharvest.org/csa
Sustainable Table’s Eat Seasonally: http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal/
Go to the Eat Well Guide to find sustainable and seasonal foods near you: http://www.eatwellguide.org/search/advanced
This is the most comprehensive through the Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/health/foodmiles/

Written by Stacy Ruse
Find more by Stacy at www.EaseintoGreen.com, www.ShareitLiveit.org, and on her personal Blog http://inspiredwellbeing.blogspot.com.

A simple, yet powerful, reminder for all of us

2008-04-19T09:01:00.002-05:00

Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Slow Food

2008-04-09T11:14:00.003-05:00

Check out Slow Food international to find grocers and restaurants who serve seasonal whole foods in you area: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/contact/index.html!

Harvest Sharing

2008-04-04T15:08:00.003-05:00

One of the best ways to eat healthier is to include more whole foods into your diet, especially those that are fresh from the local farms. In my last article, Simple Solutions to Eating Seasonally, there are tips on how to do this. One of them, and probably the simplest and most effective way to do this is to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), otherwise known as a crop share.
CSA’s originated around the 1860 in Germany, Switzerland and Japan and are now meeting a new demand in the US, that of consumers desiring to eat more fresh and unprocessed foods. The premise is that consumers support the budget of the whole farm and receive what is seasonally ripe weekly, biweekly or monthly. This approach eliminates marketing risks and costs, saves time and manpower, and allows the farmers to focus on quality foods using ecological, organic or biodynamic farming methods. There is little to no loss by knowing in advance how much to grow.
CSA’s are becoming more flexible to accommodate all interested consumers. For example, the share I purchased for the 2008 season is from Harmony Valley Farm in WI, and they offer flexible payment options including monthly electronic payment, as well as full and half shares options to accommodate single, small and large families. They offer a variety of shares to interest all, including organic vegetables, fruits, cheese, and coffee. Others offer, milk, flowers, nuts, eggs, and other items as well. Purchasing a share or a half share makes you a shareholder of the farm. A typical season is late spring to early-mid fall.

CSA’s have become an innovative way to resourcefully bring together farmers and consumers and there popularity continues to grow. And why not...sharing crops offers significant advantages to both parties.

Improves your health
Local foods are more nutritious
Food does not travel far
Food is picked the day of delivery
Food is seasonal w/ highest quality weather, soil, & farming conditions
Diversifies your diet
Helps our environment by:
Reducing the energy required to get food
Eliminates waste production of harmful chemicals
Lowers transportation costs
Commercial fertilizers & pesticides are rarely used
Strengthens the local economy
Consumers get more nutritious food at a lower cost
Convenient, no hassle and searching for local, seasonal, healthy foods
Provides capital to local farmers
Eliminates the middle man

To find a CSA near you check out http://www.localharvest.org/csa/.
.

5 Steps to Eating Local!

2008-04-01T19:59:00.002-05:00

As a follow-up to my last post, check out Experience Magazine's article 5 Steps to Eating Local!

Simple Solutions to Eating Seasonally

2008-03-29T20:59:00.003-05:00

Simple Solutions to Eating Seasonally
Local…Sustainable…Seasonal…Organic….Grass fed…Whole foods…these are just some of the buzz words that are making their way into our daily lives. Anytime change embraces us, as it has recently with better knowledge on how food and the food industry affect us, we may feel a bit overwhelmed. Many of us may even feel negative emotions such as guilt, confusion, and even doubt. My objective then becomes to provide everyday people with simple solutions to eating healthier and more sustainable choices. If change is too radical or forced, it can cause mayhem, but if there are easy affordable options for people to take part in sustaining our natural resources, moving towards greener solutions, and don’t forget in bettering our health, 8 out of 10 of us will participate and will feel great about making a difference.

It can be quite simple to make an immediate impact both for the environment and for your health. One of the easiest ways to start is by purchasing regionally seasonal foods. This does not mean you need to have intense knowledge or partake in time consuming practices; in fact, our team at Ease into Green are working hard to do that part for you. With globalization we are able to buy foods grown virtually anywhere in the world all year round, and I am not going to dispute that there are positive aspects to this, but to control any negative impact to our environments and to our own personal health, we can try to, whenever possible, eat more sustainable options. It also does not mean that if your local store has strawberries, and you really love strawberries, but they were not grown locally or in season, that you can not purchase them; rather, it just simply means to be aware and take small steps to include more seasonally local foods into your diet. Maybe you start incorporating a seasonal meal a week into your diet, or you join a CSA (food share) during the months it is available. Whatever you can do without strain, but with enjoyment, is enough. If we all start with baby steps we will be leaping forward in no time.

Why Eat Seasonal Foods?
More nutrient rich & tastes better, due to ideal soil and climate as well as less travel
Seasonal foods are more likely to be local
May take less care, using less chemicals, processing, and alteration
US regulations are stricter than many foreign areas
Food handling is better regulated
Eliminates environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles
Your dollar goes directly to the farmer
You will eat less processed and more nutritious foods
Reduces energy and CO2 emissions needed to grow and transport food
Avoid paying more for food that is scarcer or has traveled far
Support and strengthen local economy
Gain health benefit’s by following nature's cycles

Our tips:
Shop @ farmer markets and/or co-ops whenever possible
Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Watch for displays and signs that say local/seasonal items
Look at labels to see where food came from
Seek out restaurants that use seasonal and local ingredients
Find seasonal recipes and cookbooks for your region
Continue to follow Ease into Green as we offer tools and resources through our site and future newsletters
Use provided Find out More (resources and websites) at end of article to learn more

What’s in Season Now?
You may be wondering what foods are in season near you. Crop seasons vary by state so just because strawberries, for example, may be in season in one area of the country, they may not be in another.

Go to Ease into Green to see my full article with detailed lists on what is in season in yoru region!

Partnership with Ease into Green

2008-03-20T14:21:00.003-05:00

My dear friend's, Kori and Dan Bowers, proposed that I be a contributor to their site Ease into Green and I couldn't resist. With their vision to show others how going green can be simple and easy, I jumped on board to help contribute myself. With my passion, expertise and experience being in wellness, most specifically within holistic nutrition and Yoga, it is a good fit for many interesting possiblities. My first objective: exploring the link of sustainability and nutritional health and to show others how to easily create personal and environmental health simutaenously.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution we ate what was available to us, seasonal local organic whole foods, majority of foods were grown, rasied and harvested within the community and even personally. A shift occured after industrialization and by the mid 1900’s we bought majority of our food from a local grocer rather than directly from the farmer or growing it ourselves.
At that time people still didn’t concern themselves, at least not to the extend we do today, with what they were eating or buying, they simply bought and prepared the majority of their food from the local grocer and bought what was on sale. This is about the time when packaged food made it into our daily lives, although we still had a much higher percentage of wholesome local and seasonal foods in our diet. Somewhere along the way, since these times, we lost connection with what we should be eating. We obsess about what, how much, when, how, and where to eat, causing us to tire and give in to whatever convenient food is available. Only driving up sales and contributing to more and more processed and packaged foods. Making the most available foods processed and packaged goods, rather than fresh local food.

With a little help you can start to drive simple and easy changes that will incorporate healthier choices into your diet and also sustain our environment. My personal mission is to provide convenient and relevant tips that will help to make choices that are healthier for you, for your family, for the community and for the world. Choices that empower you to actually make a difference in your health by nourishing your body-mind-spirit and making a difference in the world by contributing to a greener way of living.

Namaste,

Stacy Ruse
See Ease into Green for more upcoming resources and articles
Go to the wellness section (coming soon) for more on sustainability and personal health

A Story of Spirtual Growth

2008-03-20T09:19:00.000-05:00

It has been six years since my first exposure to Yoga and four years since earning my Yoga Teaching certificate and I have come to a place of deep gratitude for my practice, both on and off the mat, as well as for my many spiritual teachings along the way. Much of my gratitude is for the realization that Yoga has brought me to a better place in life, albeit the process has been slow. Honestly, it has been slower than I had ever hoped for. As much as I do not want to admit it, I must say there have been times that I was very disappointed with what Yoga was doing for me spiritually. At times I wondered, is this helping, and even more often I put myself down for not living up to my perceived Yogic standards. Looking back, I have come to realize that the transformation has been slow, but nevertheless it is there and it is truly marvelous. My journey has evolved and I am physically, emotionally and spiritually stronger than I have ever been. My first progression came in receiving the physical benefits of power, grace and stamina, and along the way it ultimately lead to consistent rhythmatic breathing, less stress and a feeling of being healthier from the inside out. As my physiological and psychological health strengthened, my spiritual health started to blossom and my own divine nature started to appear. I cycled through different forms of Yoga throughout these periods, all of which I benefited from. Yoga and everything that it entails; a path to finding your true self and simply living a healthier and more complete life comes through consistent practice. The key elements to success are ‘practice’ and ‘patience’; as with all things in life, it takes practice and patience to achieve our goals. There are limbs or branches of Yoga that lead to spiritual transformation, essentially they break down to living fully and ethically and practicing asana (poses), meditation, deep contemplation, and breathe work. Yoga has been a vessel that has enabled me, and so may others, to follow my heart, to open my mind and to blossom into my true self; this is how it has Saved my Life.

The journey
Anxiety, unadulterated grief, and depression brought me to Yoga. I admit it was selfish; I wanted Yoga to heal me. Of course I desired the healing to be sooner than later. My strong ambition, ultimately my ego, drove me to teacher training in the first place, rather than a much needed retreat or healing center. I felt that I needed an acceptable way to heal and strive forward and having a goal, or an outcome, that included a new path was acceptable. I had not learned to ‘Just Be’ in any sense of the word. Not exactly the poetic entrance coming from the world of dance or from a deep spiritual path. In fact, I humbly struggled through every pose; with a tight and tense body and mind, making meditation almost impossible for my over-charged mind. Admittedly, anger, frustration and embarrassment welled up inside of me often, but I stayed the course. Upon completion, not having anywhere to go, I dove head first into teaching. Disappointment that first year was everywhere as my anxiety did not seem to abate and furthermore I lacked a sense of comfort as well as confidence in my teaching. Over time, and through many life transitions, going through cycles in my practice and teaching, with at times a lack of true faith, but something stronger than myself kept me coming back for more. Eventually, my deeper issues started to unfold before my eyes and I started to have deep gratitude for the joy than I was receiving from my practice. This is essentially what sets Yoga apart from other modalities of fitness and health. Yoga is a path that not only gets you into great physical shape, but that is only the beginning of this awakening path; even when your physical body is strong your mind and spirit may not be. True harmony occurs as your body learns to connect back with your mind and your spirit and they all start working with each other, rather than separate or against each other, as they do for many of us. The very issues that we learn to suppress and repress start unfolding, and we learn to deal with them and release their negative impact on our lives. Yoga enables us to have the courage and the tools to break down the beliefs and negative emotions that cause us pain, suffering and illness. It gives us a systematic approach that allows the transformation to occur at our own pace relative to our current awareness or state of consciousness. Each person’s path is different, yet we use the same tools to get there. My journey has been slower than I anticipated, and it is still unfolding, but it has progressed at a pace that I can handle. At times there has been little mobility and at other times I have taken huge strides forward where I was able to work deeper, and low and behold, during those times my practice flourished. My body started to open as emotions, unnecessary belief patterns and tensions released.

I am learning to have faith that my path will continue to unfold systematically, when I am ready emotional, spiritually and physically for the next step, it literally unfolds for me. My healing journey illustrates this beautifully and it is my hope that it will bring light to others, not only to find their path, but to be patient and stay the course in order for Yoga to be a vessel for this unfolding. Too often we are not unconsciously ready for the next step even though consciously we are begging for it. When something negative presents it self in our lives, we immediately desire and even obsess on how to fix it, how to get rid of the negative to the point of causing more negative emotions and thoughts. I have learned this concept the hard way, by living it. My anxiety only got worse as I pushed and pulled to relieve it. These are the deepest benefits of Yoga. Our egos push us harder making us want transformation right now and for some it comes easily and for others it takes precious time. Regardless of the path or timing, the end result is worth it.

Namaste,

Stacy Ruse