ndnlifestylist-blog

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Mindfulness Matters Workshop

 Have you ever wondered what your life could be like if you were more present, more embodied and more self-expressed through movement?

This workshop is designed for you to explore mindfulness and discover practical ways to implement mindfulness in the everyday life for self-expression and embodiment.

Combining light stretching, authentic movement and intentional moving meditation, the workshop will explore fluid and grounded movements while focusing on breath, posture alignment, creativity and embodiment. This class will combine the calming aspects of mindfulness and meditation with the freedom of movement to achieve consciousness, self-expression, increased energy and overall balance of mind and body.

This class is intended for yogis, dancers and non-dancers. All levels of experience are welcome. Come and learn how to implement mindfulness in your everyday life and truly embody WHY mindfulness matters.

Sat, Aug 15, 2015 | 2:00pm – 4:00pm | $45 | Limit 10 yogis.

Register at: http://union.yoga/workshops/

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new year: new website + new offerings!

Our own life has to be our message--Thích Nhất Hạnh

      I am always searching for access to greater self-expression. I feel like that is the purpose of my life—or anyone’s life. And part of my work as founder of NDN is giving that access to my clients. 

In my work as a lifestylist, I spend a lot of time thinking of the process to creatively design one’s life or a brand story. My method is clarity, connection, and creativity. 

I always had a creative and quiet practice but I officially started practicing mindfulness in 2009. I was a clinical neuroscientist and it was my job. I trained clinical populations how to manage their stress and anxiety and as a result, gave them access to the possibility of living a very different life than they had previously known. It was beautiful and life changing.

  Mindfulness is our access to authentic creativity and full self-expression. As we gain creative identity, we lose the false sense of self that we were sustaining. 

     The intention of NDN is to create a space to curate meaningful content for lifestyle brands and inquiring individuals. Additionally, NDN aims to inspire others to mindfully create healthier lives for personal + global development, wellbeing and preventative health.

  T H E    S T O R Y

  NDN exists because there is a need for individuals and lifestyle brands to be both mindfully and beautifully self expressed through meaningful content. Content can be defined rather broadly: a conversation, photos, words, video, art, fashion, music, events--anything of substance that leaves a lasting impression for those on the other side of the experience. Content is anything that can touch, move, and inspire. NDN facilitates powerful story telling through curated expression. 

    If you feel spoken to, I am speaking to YOU. Honestly, there is so much that we can co-create together. Reach out and schedule a complimentary session with me!

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

winter solstice: rest reset renew + recreate

  dream dream dreamscapes

escaping what was

what does not 

and never needs to be

rest yin 

and find traces 

of the future within 

renew rest reset shed

in the darkest

longest sleep

inner wisdom speaks

beggs creation

seeps into existence

look listen seek

awake to what will and has to be

e v e n t u a l l y.

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

i can't breathe: we can't breath

When I picked up the phone to call my mother last night, her first question was "Are you out protesting?" I smiled to myself feeling a sense of connection to what had been top of mind and soul. And YES I am protesting in my heart but physically I did not feel like it was safe for me to go anywhere and express my grievances. My mother understood and we talked about how were dealing with the news of the Eric Garner case.

My heart is broken over the state of our country and the current events. Innocent black and brown men are being murdered by law enforcement and there are no consequences. No justice. And therefore, no peace. When something like this happens-- something so unspeakably atrocious and utterly inhumane-- we ALL suffer. Every single one of us. If one person can't breathe, we all can't breathe. This whole situation reveals that we, as a collective, do not see ourselves as one. And THAT feels like some sort of spiritual warfare.  As a result, I am deeply concerned about the spiritual impact that these series of events and decisions (and subsequent reaction by the people) will have on moving towards oneness.

I spent an hour sobbing in my apartment alone trying to understand exactly what it was that I was feeling. Grief. Disbelief. A strong sense of injustice. A sickening knot in my stomach. Helplessness. Anger. Fear. Profound sadness. Heartache. Frustration. Confusion. Unsafe. Those are the ones I can easily identify. The others just left me wondering what can be done, what can we do, how can we make this stop???

[Photo]

And then I thought about the future, my future as a parent and my future children. How I will protect any brown child (or any human being for that matter) from having to experience what we are experiencing right now? Shouldn't we be done with this? Perhaps it is naive to think that we can somehow escape this sort of suffering. I'm not even sure I have answers for how we move forward....and then I think of namaste.  

N A M A S T E: I honor the place within you where the entire Universe resides; I honor the place within you of love, of light, of truth, of peace; I honor the place within you, where, when you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

When I think of what I am committed to do as my life's work-- creating the space and tools for every individual to be self expressed and live a life they desire through mindfulness-- I am really confronted with how that may not be enough. OR fast enough. I feel an overwhelming sense of urgency to have more of a conscious impact. Like, right NOW.

[Photo]

Since I don't actually know what that is right now, I will sit with this unrest and continue to meditate, pray, cry, write. In the mean time, I encourage you focus internally on what stirs in you during this time. And not to be afraid of what you feel. Then ask yourself how you can be an agent for change? One of us will have the answer. Maybe all of us.

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

Pare down to the essence, but don't remove the poetry.

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eating for my dosha: a pumpkin quinoa chili-inspired soup

As the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder, I thought I would share this amazing recipe that I made with my friend the other night! We made enough to share with our other friend, which created serious conversation around soup-making. It became clear that the whole world needed the recipe.

I first want to preface that I have been super into soups lately (thanks to GGG) and have been really mindful of eating for my ayurveda dosha. I've been experimenting, creating my own recipes, sharing and perfecting soups for several weeks now and sharing them with friends. Then last week my friend suggested we roast a pumpkin! And I thought that it would be so fun to turn it into soup!

This chili-inspired pumpkin soup with black beans and quinoa was created out of my cravings for roasted root vegetables and grains and warmth. It makes for a hearty and filling meal full of nutritional value and is DELICIOUS. This is also a gluten-free and vegan recipe for those with dietary restrictions. And it's perfect for vatas like myself!  I also like this recipe because it's seasonally appropriate and most all of the plant ingredients came from the farm I go to each Sunday.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 onion, diced

5 cloves garlic, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 cup of diced tomatoes

½ cup of kale

2 cups cubes of (roasted or canned) pumpkin

1 tablespoon ground cumin (start with ½ this amount and add more to taste)

1 tablespoon of chili powder (start with ½ this amount and add more to taste)

½ cup of (cooked) quinoa

20 ounce can black beans (rinsed and drained)

5 cups vegetable broth

For garnish:

1 avocado, cubed

1 handful of cilantro, diced

1 lime, cut into wedges

1 cup of salsa (either store bought or homemade)

1/4 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds

Just a couple things to note-- this recipe assumes that you will have the pumpkin, quinoa, black beans and salsa all ready to eat. I'm not going to lie-- roasting the pumpkin took about 3 hours. The salsa is pretty easy to prepare (just dice tomatoes, purple onions, yellow bell pepper, cilantro and lime together). I had some left over from a black bean salad I made earlier. You have the choice to buy those items prepared or feel free to prepare at home before making the soup!

(If you look closely, you'll notice roasted pumpkin seeds. I intentionally left those out of the recipe because while I adore pumpkin seeds, I didn't really like them in the soup. As a snack? Obsessed. Soup garnish? Imperfect.)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat and cook onion for a few minutes. Add garlic and red pepper and cook until aromatic. Then add kale, followed by tomatoes.

Add pumpkin and spices and cook for a couple minutes.

Add 2 cups of the vegetable broth. Bring a boil and cook for 5 minutes before adding the remaining vegetable broth. Bring to a boil.

Add beans and quinoa. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Served garnished with cilantro, avocado, salsa and lime juice.

 BEST. SOUP. EVER.

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

wrap me up in merino wool

I can hardly contain my excitement. Autumn is one of my absolute favorite times of year-- it means layering and eating soups and root vegetables! 

I just purchased this amazing fall essential-- lululemon's Wrap It Up Sweater. What I absolutely LOVE is that it is Merino Wool-- a natural and technical fabric. It's naturally moisture wicking (for all that free form interpretive dance) and antimicrobial (no smelly armpits!). It's a super cozy piece with ENORMOUS pockets (for my future puppy and/or baby) and it has amazing elbow pads. Love, love, LOVE. 

|Photography: Erica Wallingford|

Wrap it Up Sweater | Twisted Bliss Toque| Camo Wunder Unders

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yoga for a cause: yoga for hope

There is something pretty magical about dedicating your practice to someone who is suffering. There is also something magical about practicing outdoors in the middle of a large city center. Last Saturday I did both.

I, along with several hundred other yogis in SF participated in Yoga For Hope, a City of Hope Yoga event. Local Bay Area teachers (Adesina Dowers, Stephanie Snyder, Howard Cohen) lead us through an inspiring vinyasa and all for an amazing cause. 

City of Hope  is a progressive model for chronic illness treatment. The center is focused on rapidly transforming scientific discoveries into better treatments and better prevention strategies for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. It's incredible, especially since cancer and diabetes are among the top causes of death, according to the World Health Organization.

This event was a fundraiser and there is another event that I will attend at the end of October. The efforts of all of us yogis? Besides dedicating, thinking, meditating and prayer for all our loved ones, those in our community who suffer with a chronic illness and who have lost their lives to one, we raised over $50,000. Again, incredible. Magical.

Post class, we had the opportunity to workshop and visit various vendors. I chose to stick around to learn more about ayurveda, since I've in the practice of eating more in accordance with my dosha. I definitely will share more about that in another post!

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

White. Brown. Black. Gold. 

Love this.

Visual Inspiration • @seedproject #senegal #westafrica

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ggg: a necessary revolution

No more diets, no more drama. Natasha Uspensky, CHHC, founder of NU Health and Wellness promised that she is able to transform my life in 12 weeks. And you know what? I believe she can.

I've known Natasha forever, and we've been best friends for now over half of our lives. She has always had a particular interest in the food I was eating and it wasn't until five years ago I started listening. There was definitely a relationship between what I put in my body and how it made me feel. 

I consider myself relatively healthy. I work in the health and wellness space and I am incredibly active. I’m not a person who has ever dieted--I have a fast metabolism and I don’t gain weight easily. As a vegetarian, gluten-sensitive, lactose intolerant female living in San Francisco, I am spoiled when it comes to my options for dining. There is an abundance of amazing restaurants and specialized grocery stores if I feel ambitious enough to prepare my own meal.  And depending on which street I happen to be walking on, there is no shortage of yoga, indoor cycling, pilates, studios or gyms. I basically have no reason to be unhealthy.

But despite my ‘relative healthiness,’ I do experience health-related drama from time to time: Monthly addictions to fat (like cheese) or strange sugar impulses at night (where I find myself climbing out of bed for one more chocolate square…until the whole bar has vanished). Sometimes I get yeast infections (gross) or feel muscle tightness/ joint pain. Occasionally I feel tired although my sleep is regular. I also have phases where I am so bloated I look and feel 5 months pregnant or my face breaks out for no apparent reason.  The fact is, I experience health related drama and I don’t have to.

So, I could be healthier. Couldn’t we all?

In learning more about Natasha’s approach, there’s way more to ‘being healthy’ than  weight loss goals, how many times I hit the gym, dietary restrictions, dining options, food consumption or places to work out.  It’s not a complicated equation of calorie intake, portion control, fat-burning cardio workouts combined with herbal laxatives. It is not about a diet that’ll finally work, a special month-long juice cleanse,  a magical supplement or superfood that will somehow change my life and keep me thin. 

I’m excited to experience what what ‘well being’ is really about. Some of it’s food and I’m excited that in GGG, I’ll discover the foods that’ll make me feel fabulously energized, foods that will make my skin glow radiantly, foods that’ll support my ideal weight. Part of being healthy is life-management with regards to emotions and stress and the lifestyle choices that’ll keep me grounded and calm. Another part of it is about the right physical activity where I will feel incredible afterwards. And finally, being healthy is about holistically detoxifying my entire life-- a mind-blowing concept. From the harmful cosmetics I put on my skin and the foods I put in my pantry to my relationships, my cluttered closet, and my cleaning products, clearing out what is harmful is another part of being healthy. 

It’s a necessary revolution. Which is why I enrolled early. Scheduled to begin August 25th, 2014 Greens. Grains. Gorgeous. is a 12-week interactive holistic health and nutrition curriculum designed to equip and empower women to live their best life. What's funny is that these are things Natasha has been passionately sharing with me for years. But I thought in my 'relative healthiness' that I didn't need to fully commit. I've changed my mind. GGG is the catalyst and I am ready for a transformation.

If you are interested in learning more about Natasha Uspensky, you can find her programs online. She is a certified holistic nutrition counselor and transformational coach.  She works with women all over the world to heal their health, and start living the life they crave, in a body they love.  She is the founder of NU Health & Wellness, and the creator of Greens. Grains. Gorgeous., a revolutionary, 12-week online program starting August 25th!  She has been featured in Marie Claire, Livestrong, All-Parenting, and Mind Body Green, as well as on her own blog, The Organic Beauty.  

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work in progress: a metaphor in expression

Creativity is always a leap of faith. You're faced with a blank page, blank easel, or an empty stage.

                                                                 ---Julia Cameron

  I have to say that I am reluctant to share. I am and have been creating a solo work for some time now. Maybe a year or longer? It’s been and continues to be a work in progress.  How often do we share (with the world, our peers, our colleagues, our loved ones, an audience) a work in PROGRESS?

I know, for me, never. I’m too much of a perfectionist.

[Photo Credit] 

Often, it’s that perfectionism that keeps me from even starting. I’m sure you can relate. What is keeping you from expressing yourself in some way, big or small? The art you want to hang, the song you want to learn on the guitar, the interior decorating project that you’ve been dreaming of, the calligraphy class you keep meaning to sign up for, that new recipe you want to try?

And so we have a metaphor....

The things is, we are our own work in progress. Always. Where ever we are in our dreams and our goals, we are continually on our way there.

I have the opportunity to present my current work in progress this weekend at OMpower. Please come. I’m not sure how it’s going to go, or how I’m going to feel afterwards but there is something there for me to share. Something that is a work in progress, and something that is an expression of myself. 

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wanderlust packing: my six must-haves

It's happening! Wanderlust Squaw Valley 2014!! As I leave for the mountains, I’m excited to remind myself of the experience I had last year and what this year might be like. For those of you unfamiliar, Wanderlust Festival is a 4 day yoga experience in the mountains and I am going to attend the one in Squaw Valley, Tahoe. Some of the best yoga instructors in the world come from all over to teach. Additionally, there is a huge meditation and wellness component where thought leaders are invited to speak and teach as well.  There is also a plethora of beautiful yogis from all over and friends that I know from the SF community that I get to play and practice with. It's literally the Best Yogi Vacay Ever.

This year I am traveling with good friends and industry friends, and will be meeting several others up on the mountain. There are amazing parties and concerts that I am excited to attend as well as really great instructors I am looking forward to learning from. I really can’t think of a better vacation! In order to enjoy EVERYTHING while I am there, I must stay hydrated, fueled and skin-protected.

Here are my 6 must-haves:

PROBAR | Intelligent Nutrients Hand Sanitizer|Harmless Harvest Coconut Water| Elemental Herbs | The Mat

  Why these guys?

PROBAR is rich in raw ingredients and nutrient-dense calories for lasting energy and nourishment. Great for a post work out snack or something to grab in between means. I love that it is non-GMO product, gluten free and vegan. Happy for all dietary restrictions. They also happen to be DELICIOUS.

Intelligent Nutrients Hand Sanitizer 99.9% of bacteria eradicated while being Chemical-free. It is a safe, effective alternative to preventing the spread of germs and impurities. #notoxicshit

Harmless Harvest Coconut Water Nothing is added, nothing is ever heated. They source unique coconuts from small organic agroforestry farms. Super hydrating, outstanding flavor and the nutrition of raw and organic without the need for unnatural and harmful additives. Shweeeet!

Elemental Herbs includes a host of rich, skin-saving certified organic oils–including jojoba, coconut and avocado. Amazingly tested and approved by people like us, the sunscreen is chemical-free and coral reef safe. Beautiful!

The Mat is hands down the best mat to practice yoga on. It doesn’t slip or stick, it provides a ton of padding for those difficult poses and it is easy to clean.

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my seva adventure: connecting mind, body, spirit to philanthropy

I spend a lot of time thinking of the process to creatively design my life. For me, it is clarity, connection, and creativity. Then it repeats itself. I get clear in awareness, my values, finding what really feeds me. I get connected in meditation, yoga, dance, running or some other practice that reels me back into my body and in the present moment. This gives me permission to explore new ideas or sit and see what’s already there speaking. Amazing things happen. Repeat. And this is how I choose to live my life. And how I chose my Seva Adventure to Nicaragua.

In exactly 14 days, I will be joining the Surf for Life team in Nicaragua to build a preschool. I first learned of Surf for Life and the Costal Karma project through a great friend of mine who is an avid surfer/ yogi/ philanthropist. She very passionately shared with me her involvement and I quickly became very inspired by the mission of the organization. This idea of supporting educational and community driven development projects in coastal communities is so beautiful to me. Through the engagement of motivated individuals and groups who fully participate in the construction of these projects is how everything happens. And these projects need to happen! The service retreat will be a combination of practicing yoga together, surfing and engaging with the children and the community. Children, their education, the ocean and yoga are among the things that I value most in life. The more I learned about how I could be of use, the more passionate I became about the Coastal Karma Project, which will support the building of a preschool in Las Salinas.

  Las Salinas de Nahualapa is an indigenous coastal community located along the south Pacific coast of Nicaragua. The town of Las Salinas boasts a population of over 4,000 people. Over the last 7 years tourism has grown about 70% nationwide, and specifically the Las Salinas coast has experienced an increasing amount of tourism fueled by the amazing surf the area has to offer. There currently is only one school that accommodates the children and the teachers of Las Salinas have identified the preschool classroom as a top priority. We are going to build a pre-school and repair the damaged roof.

More than the yoga, and even more than the opportunity to finally learn how to surf, I am compelled to be of service.

It is a beautiful opportunity for me to be in the practice of yoga, through serving others through my knowledge and experience as well as through the practice of yoga. I am looking forward to building and creating something that will have an impact and that will change the lives of many who live in Las Salinas, Popoyo, Nicaragua. I am committing to this service retreat and the fundraising goal of $3,000.00 to make that possible.

This weekend, I have partnered with Basic Training for a beach-inspired Adventure Class this Saturday. Come sweat for a cause with us! Class is $25 and we are meeting at 9am at Ocean and Fulton. Register online and to learn more about my trip, visit my page. 

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

fashion + lifestyling + mindfulness : upcoming events this week

Friends, I apologize for the lack of connection! I must admit that I have been busy, which is no excuse. We are all busy and even when that is true, we need to create the space to connect and communicate.

So here it is! What I want to share is that I have some really cool events and workshops coming up. Like reeeeeaaaaaaaly cool, epic, shit.

First up is Tuesday. I am completely honored that SweatGuru has asked me to speak on wellness and mindfulness this Tuesday, April 22nd. Move/Nourish/Believe is a discussion on holistic living and living a completely fabulous life. I am so stoked. Make sure to RSVP!

The other is a workshop on personal branding and self representation through style. Seriously, I was ASKED to speak about this. I am totally excited, and a little terrified. Everyday I think about style (with regards to myself and my work but never in a way that might impact others. I know that I have a lot to share on the topic, and with anything that has to do with self, it can go pretty deep.  If you are interested, definitely come! RSVP.

The last is a seva adventure that I will be doing with Surf for Life. I have created my philanthropy page and am collecting donations to support the preschool that I will be building in Nicaragua this summer. I will share more in depth on how you can support the project in a later post (I'll be hosting events), but these are all things that I wanted to put on your radar because I am just so. effing. excited.

Have a beautiful weekend, and hope to see you at some of these events!

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

ndn lifestylings: posing with some favorite pieces

Who said that rain had to compete with style?

It's been rainy in SF. So what do I do? Simply throw on the Yogi Anorak Jacket over some high rise Shine Tights to stay dry and oh-so-fly! 

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

guest experting: greens, grains, gorgeous!

Something that I am SUPER excited to share is my involvement with Greens. Grains. Gorgeous! Natasha Uspensky of NU Health and Wellness is launching an amazing interactive online program to help women transform their health and their bodies. It's so, so exciting.

I am simply THRILLED that Natasha has asked me to lead the Stress and Personal Branding Modules. Both are topics that I have so much to share on and places where I feel are my areas of expertise. I don't want to give away too much, but I will be speaking to simple, effective ways to eliminate and eradicate stress from your life. As well, I will be leading a meditation.

For the personal branding and self representation section, I will be answering questions on personal style, dressing powerfully and the inner beauty/outer beauty conversation that we all have with ourselves from time to time.

The program starts March 15th so there is still time to register! 

[ndnlifestylist-blog]

a change of heart and health: for a love-cynic

What’s your initial response to “Happy Valentine’s Day”? Are you over-the-moon and loving love? Or do you feel anti-romantic, ambivalent or disinterested in participating a holiday that celebrates love?

The latter used to describe me. I used to resent celebrating love.  Even though I was in a serious relationship, I spent each February avoiding the 14th, going out of my way to have anti-plans that involved either staying in, dateless outings that were casual and functional or non-romantic gifts. Incidentally, those were also years that I spent depressed, unhealthy, stressed and anxious. As I have invested more in my personal and familial relationships, I have a newfound awareness of what even the most vocal Valentine’s Day cynic knows deep down: love and happiness are inextricably linked.

Scientists have long been working to prove that love gives us health benefits beyond the obvious security of always having a date for Valentine’s Day. Numerous research studies  have found that sex, partnership, intimacy and caring for others all help make us healthier human beings. While researchers are not yet able to determine if romantic relationships trump close friendships or an adoring family when it comes to health and wellness, the evidence shows that love is a key component of a happy life. When relationships with family, friends or partners are stable, we are stronger, more resilient and less likely to suffer from depression. The health benefits of love can range from improved immunity and lower blood pressure to management over chronic illnesses. In short, building loving relationships in our lives contributes to longer lives.

So what does all this mean for your Valentine’s Day? Embrace it. Love it. Most importantly, show those around you that you love them.  I now can appreciate how important and valuable all loving relationships are to my health and well-being just in the very fact that I am happier and healthier than I have ever been. One could say that I have experienced a change of heart! Even if celebrating Valentine’s Day is merely a reminder to value love, it is worth celebrating this year.