Vegan Challenge

A little while ago I wrote a blog about a documentary called Vegucated, I liked it so much I decided to screen it at the studio. It's a "feature-length documentary that follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks". To follow up the movie, Frances (one of our lovely Jivamukti teachers) suggested we host a vegan challenge of our own. I thought it was an amazing idea... We invited as many vegan/vegetarian friendly businesses to get involved and created a fun filled Vegan Challenge for the month of June, 2012.

As part of my duties I will be posting vegan recipes daily on my blog throughout the month of June. Most will be tried and tested by myself & family, with a couple recipes submitted by our generous sponsors.

Good luck to all those who are taking the challenge! 

Vegan Challenge
June 1st-30th, 2012
In honor of the Vegucated screening, we will be holding a vegan challenge throughout the month of June. If you’ve ever considered being vegan, here’s your chance to be part of a group exploring the realities of veganism, and debunking the myths.
The month will include:
- Unlimited yoga for the month of June at Luna Yoga
- A Screening of Vegucated
- Get it Ripe vegan cookbook
- A guided trip to the grocery store
- Discounts on local vegan restaurants and shops,
- Daily recipes (posted on Jennifer’s blog)
- A vegan cooking course
- Weekly gatherings 
June 1st-30th
Cost: $100
Take the challenge

Vegan Challenge participants will also receive discounts from Crudessence, Green Panther & lole, samples from Tonic, Rise Kombucha & Cocos Pure, 2 week gift membership from My Yoga Online, and 25% off at the Yoga Festival Montreal 

Thanks to all our sponsors for their generosity! 
Please feel free to add your comments, feedback and questions

108 salutations for charity

I've been a part of the Yoga Mala event for the past couple of years and always enjoy it. It brings together 9 teachers from 9 different styles of yoga. We each teach 12 salutations, adding up to a total of 108! All funds raised go to charity. This year the Yoga Mala has founded its own charity The Yoga Mala Foundation: A Montreal non-profit organization founded by Dawn Mauricio that acts as a fund for yoga teachers who would like to lead long-term yoga programs in areas of need (e.g. shelters, low income areas, etc.)

I will be teaching part of the 108 sun salutations, and hope to become one of their teachers to teach in an area of need (if you know of any shelters, etc. that would like a yoga program, let me know).

Healthy Girl

So excited to have just discovered the Healthy Girl community, and... I've just become one of their newest collaborators! Health, wellness and entrepreneurship... love it! Plus they're just launching their french web site, so I'll be attempting to write a bit more in french (or, I'll be writing in English and then getting Jason to help me translate to french...) Here goes...

Je suis tellement excité d'avoir découvert la communauté Healthy Girl, et je suis récemment devenu un nouveaux collaborateurs! Santé, bien-être et l'esprit d'entreprise, j'adore! En plus, ils viennent tout juste de lancer leur site en français, donc j'essaierais d'écrire un peu plus en français (ou, j'écrirai en anglais et ensuite Jason m'aidera avec la traduction.) Voilà...

 Healthy Girl Mission We promote healthy & wealthy entrepreneurship (wellpreneurship). HealthyGirl’s mandate is to bridge the gap between building wealth as an entrepreneur and maintaining personal health & wellness. We are passionate about health, entrepreneurship and wealth-building. Our reason for being is to share and educate on the ideas, events and tools that we believe to be critical to one’s success as a healthy & wealthy entrepreneur!

Retraite de Yoga, Nature, Spa...

Une retraite locale avec cuisine biologique en légumes frais, yoga, natation, des promenades en nature, la détente… située dans les merveilleux Cantons-de-l'Est au Spa Eastman…

Gâtez-vous avec un weekend de paix et de sérénité dans le décor féérique des Cantons de l'Est en vous joignant à nous pour un weekend de yoga au Spa Eastman. Vous y aurez l'opportunité d'approfondir votre technique grâce au professeurs Jennifer Maagendans et Frances Vicente, certifiées en enseignement de Jivamukti Yoga. Le programme comprend des cours de yoga fortifiant et envivifiant matinale, et une pratique plus douce le soir. Le reste de la journée, vous pourrez profiter de l'accès aux piscines, aux bains turcs, aux 15km de pistes de randonnée, au gymnase, etc. Vous pourrez aussi vous offrir un massage ou autre traitement spa offert à la carte si le cour vous en dit.
  
Située à 110km de Montréal, ses 15 kilomètres de sentiers parcourent un domaine de 326 acres de forêts et de rivières, vous invitant à succomber à la tentation de la randonnée pédestre à travers des paysages de cartes postales. Les programmes du Spa Eastman sont proposés dans un contexte de vacances, de détente et de plaisir. Avec sept pavillons grandioses, Il abrite également les salles de soins, une magnifique piscine intérieure et un centre d’entraînement moderne. Sa salle à manger accueillante et raffinée offre un panorama unique sur le fameux étang du Spa Eastman avec toute la splendeur du mont Orford en arrière-plan. La fine cuisine santé du Spa Eastman privilégie les produits de qualité les plus simples et les plus naturels qui soient –produits biologiques.

Le Spa Eastman a reçu le Phénix de l’environnement 2008 et bien qu’il ait reçu ce prix en raison de son bilan environnemental exceptionnel, c’est sa contribution au « développement de la santé durable » qui a été soulignée au moment de la remise du prix à l’Assemblée nationale.
27-29 juillet, 2012
Coût : 395$ + taxes
- 2 nuits inclus, 6 repas (option végétarian), access aux installations (piscines, hammam, 15 km de sentiers, gym, etc.) et cours de yoga

Inscrivez-vous avec la représentative du Spa Eastman Véronique Marchand tel : 450-297-3009.
Courriel : Véronique Marchand ou contactez nous 
www.centrelunayoga.com 

Click here for English version

Local Yoga Retreat, Nature, Spa...

 A local retreat with lots of organic food fresh from the garden, nature, yoga, swimming, walking, and relaxing...  set in the beautiful countryside of the Eastern Townships at the eco-friendly Spa Eastman...

Weekend Yoga Retreat at Spa Eastman
July 27-29th, 2012
Treat yourself to our weekend Yoga retreat at the Spa Eastman and tap into peace and serenity in the beautiful countryside of the Eastern Townships. Deepen your practice with classes led by Jivamukti teachers Jennifer Maagendans and Frances Vicente: one invigorating and inspiring morning class and a softer evening practice exploring meditation and pranayama. The rest of the day will be free to explore the pools, hammam, outdoor baths, 15 km of walking trails, gym, etc… or treat yourself to any of the myriad of spa treatments, massages, and other services offered on an à la carte basis.

Located on 315 acres with an incredible view of Mont Orford, the Spa Eastman is a bona fide vacation spa. With its seven pavilions for accommodation, its 15 kilometers of nature hiking trails, its gardens and picture-perfect scenery, you'll feel instantly at home. The local flora and fauna are the perfect environment for the Centre's activities, and the air, water and land come together to create a memorable setting. Enjoy local, organic food made mostly fresh from their garden. Approximately one hour from Montreal, two hours from Quebec City and a few hours from several American states, this is a destination that is certainly worth the trip.

Spa Eastman has won the prestigious Phénix 2008 in the Sustainable Development category. They are also one of the pionneers in the Réser-Vert certification process and were recently given the highest level of performance in Recyc-Québec's "Ici on recycle!" program. These honours reward our actions and our environmental consciousness: but most of all, they celebrate our fundamental values.
July 27-29th, 2012
Price: 395$ + taxes
-Includes 2 nights stay, 6 meals* (vegetarian optional), access to the installations (pools, hammam bath, 15 km of walking trails, gym, etc.) and yoga classes
* Please notify Spa Eastman if you have any food allergies.*
Registration:
Contact Spa Eastman Representative Véronique Marchand tel : 450-297-3009.
Courriel : Veronique Marchand to register, and once registered, please contact us.
http://centrelunayoga.com/events.htm#eastman

Unplugged in the Bahamas

We just came back from one week on a small island in the Bahamas. Most of the time we had no Internet and no phone. It was so liberating. We had so much more time to read, walk, talk, play games, etc. Emails, texts and the iPhone are all so handy, but also so distracting. When we're away from it, we realize how attached we are, and how much time it takes up. So I'll keep this short and sweet... Close your computer, shut off your iPhone and take the time to unplug and enjoy life! xo

 

Join me this weekend for Lighten Up Your Inversions: A dynamic asana practice infused with pranayama on Friday evening and a Jivamukti class on Sunday afternoon at Centre Luna Yoga.

Golden Days

I just got back from a trip out west to Golden, B.C. for a visit with my sister and her family. I didn't get to take any yoga classes while I was out there, but I did get to teach a workshop at Golden Lotus Ayurveda. This is an adorable little studio run by warm hosts Dalia and Scott, both Ayurvedic practitioners and yoga teachers. There is a variety of styles offered, but mostly a softer approach. After my Jivamukti Workshop the general consenuses was that it was a lot more active than they were used to, but everyone was happy, and felt good getting out of their comfort zone and trying something new. I felt the same... so good to travel, see a different landscape and step away from routines...
and then so nice to come home.

Levi's first swim

Enjoying the mountains in Golden

Lapping up luxury

Kicking Horse Mountain

Lots of love from cousin Devon and Oma

Hanging in Banff

If you're looking for something different to do, check out Dechen Thurman's workshops this weekend at Centre Luna Yoga. Or come to our Yoga Retreat in France in May, 2012 and breathe fresh mountainous air, practice yoga, and step away from your routines!