your source for the reliable information and support you
need to reclaim your health and energy, naturally.
In this edition you will
find:
Events & Announcements
Hot Raw Deals for Local Folks
Feature Article: Living Vibrantly with
Social Poise
Cool Summer Recipes to Beat the Heat
Dear Readers,
This is my favorite time of
the year in Michigan. The
weather is beautiful, and my garden is really taking off:
so far we've enjoyed strawberries, red currants, black
raspberries, several "wild" greens, edible nasturtiums &
marigolds, mint, cilantro, parsley, basil, spinach,
lettuce, and cucumbers. The tomatoes, zucchinis, bell
peppers, tomatoes, and melons are coming.
We've had a few lazy days at
our favorite Pickerel Lake,
and this weekend we're going camping. I'll be bringing
along a couple of big watermelons, since they travel well
and feed the crowd. I'll also pack a big chest-cooler full
of other fruits and greens, and bring along my flexible
cutting boards & a good knife. That's truly all we'll
need, and in my opinion is much easier than packing all
those pots & pans and cooked food recipe ingredients!
With just two more meetings
of my current Living Vibrantly,
Level 1 class, we're looking forward to Level 2 starting in
August, and the next Level 1 in late September. It's not
too late to join the fun and learning! And in case you
haven't already heard, the other big excitement is the
upcoming visit from health leader extraordinaire, Don
Bennett, professional speaker and author of, How to have
the BEST odds of Avoiding Degenerative Disease. I heartily
encourage you attend one (or more!) of his free talks in
August, and to find out all about the very special health
retreat I will co-facilitate with Don September 6 and 7:
www.health101.org/
Be well!
******************************
Events & Announcements
New Vibrant
Living Weekend: September 6th - 7th, 2008
in Chelsea, MI. Mark your calendars!
Natural health leaders Don Bennett and Ellen Livingston
will offer a two day retreat at beautiful Friends' Lake
outside of Chelsea, MI. Expect plenty of raw food and
natural health teachings and discussion, yoga, delicious
raw meals, and more. Click this link for all the details:
www.health101.org/
Save $$ if you register by July 31st!
To see an updated schedule of over a dozen free public talks
Don Bennett will give in the Ann Arbor area in August, visit
NEW! Kids Love Yoga & Fresh Foods!
5-Day Camp engages kids
in the fun and power of creating true health for themselves
through yoga and fresh foods. Hands-on learning will
inspire and educate kids how to treat their bodies with
respect and loving care, for vibrant and lasting health and
well-being.
One Fun Week! Aug 4-8, 2008, 9am-2pm For all kids aged
8-12
Click on www.livingyoganow.com/kidscamp for all the
details! Space is limited.
NEW! Vibrant
Living, Level I The next 8-week session
begins Saturday, Sept. 27.
This is my Living & Learning the 80-10-10 Diet & Lifestyle
course, with a brand new name!
Empower yourself with the information that can set you
free, and enable you to create true health.
We will meet 8 consecutive (almost!) Saturdays from 10 am -
12:30 pm, beginning Sept. 27.
Click on www.livingyoganow.com/
all the details, and what graduates are saying about this
course!
Fun Summer Yoga Classes:
Wednesday mornings, 9:30 - 11
in my home studio, followed by a raw snack treat. See
www.LivingYogaNow.com for details.
Join at any time, your first class is free! $15 drop-ins,
or save with a 10-class pass.
Monthly Thursdays at Arbor
Farms Market: My next talk is
July 24th, 7-8:30 p.m. "Simply Delicious Summer
Soups"
Please pre-register by calling the store, 996-8111. $10.
NOTE: This month it's a 3rd Thursday instead of 4th
Thursday!
Next Raw Food Potluck July 27th (note this is the FOURTH
Sunday instead of the usual third!)
1 - 3 pm at 1801 Avondale Ave. Call 995-0875 for details
or visit www.LivingYogaNow.com under "Services".
******************************
Hot Raw Deals for Local
Folks
Meijer: check out the organic
section! Good deals on
organic berries, cantaloupes(2 for $5), grapes, peaches &
nectarines, two types of cherries ($4.99#). Arbor Farms
has very tasty, juicy organic peaches and nectarines - buy
a case and save!
******************************
Living
Vibrantly With Social Poise
Ellen Livingston
There are two aspects of social
poise that I would like to
discuss. The first revolves around how you feel in social
situations, when what you are doing is noticeably different
from the majority of people around you. The second aspect
revolves around your desire and ability to influence other
people toward your way of thinking.
The biggest single factor that
influences your social
success when making changes in your diet and lifestyle, is
your own well-being. And it's not just your physical
well-being I'm talking about here - something that matters
perhaps even more is your attitude. If you radiate a sense
of happiness and contentment with what you are doing, you
will be likely to raise people's natural curiosity. People
will be interested in learning what you have discovered!
Even if you still have some physical ailments that have not
yet healed, your positive, happy attitude about the changes
you are making, and your sense of confidence about your
health improvements, will go a long way toward helping both
you and the people around you to feel comfortable with what
you are doing differently.
A positive attitude and a sense
of contentment begin with
your words (and even before that, with the thoughts that
become those words). How do you speak about yourself, your
health, and your raw diet? Do you choose words that evoke
a sense of self-respect, commitment, confidence,
capability, and satisfaction? Or do you perhaps
unwittingly undermine your chance for success by using
words that are self-denigrating, or words that make your
new diet and lifestyle choices sound difficult, or even
punitive?
There is a wonderful little
book by Don Miguel Ruiz called,
The Four Agreements (1997). The very first agreement the
author presents as the most important one of all, is: "Be
Impeccable with Your Word". Mr. Ruiz goes on to say, "What
you dream, what you feel, and what you really are, will all
be manifested through the word . . . The word is a force;
it is the power you have to express and communicate, to
think, and thereby to create the events in your life . . .
Depending upon how it is used, the word can set you free,
or it can enslave you even more than you know. All the
magic you possess is based on your word." (pp. 26-27)
What does it mean to be impeccable
with your word? It
means that you do not use the word against yourself - this
happens whether you speak poorly about yourself or about
somebody else, because as the saying goes, "What goes
around comes around". You can choose to use your word "in
the direction of truth and love for yourself . . . just
with that intention, the truth will manifest through you."
(Ruiz, pp. 32-33) "When you are impeccable with your word,
you feel good; you feel happy and at peace . . . use the
word to share your love." (pp. 44-45)
I cannot overstate the importance
of this concept! Just
through your choice (and timing) of words, you have the
power to encourage yourself and others, and bring a sense
of joy and wonder to the creation of health! You also have
the power to bring about discouragement, resistance, and a
sense of inadequacy or failure, for both yourself and
others. As other sayings go, "What you say is what you
get" and, "You become the person you pretend to be."
If
you find that friends and family are giving you a hard
time, or responding negatively to your lifestyle changes,
it may be enlightening to take a good look at what messages
you are sending out. While some people may respond with
negativity simply because of their own issues about taking
responsibility for health, if with your words you make
other people feel that they are wrong, you will invite
resistance and negativity.
What are some ways to increase
the likelihood that you will
be impeccable with your word, and create situations in
which everyone is lifted up? One, make sure that your
actions are congruent with your beliefs and philosophy.
Two, be the best model you can be. Three, be happy with
what you are doing! Four, speak to others with the same
respect you would like from them, and always speak lovingly
about yourself. It is especially helpful to say things in
a way that allows the other person to "save face". Even if
you are sure your information is right, it is usually a
wise approach to let the other person hold onto their
power. They will then be able to open up to your
information when they are ready.
If you do these things, you
can greatly increase your sense
of self-confidence, inner peace, and happiness. These
qualities are especially important when you are attempting
to make big changes in your diet and lifestyle. If you're
like most people, you will experience doubt and resistance
while making these changes, both within yourself and from
other people - it's all part of the same circle, really.
By practicing being impeccable with your word, you will
create a much better likelihood of success in your own
program, and you will also be able to influence others
positively.
When we discover natural hygiene
and a raw food diet, many
of us want to share this powerful information with our
friends and family - and everyone else! Unfortunately, our
good intentions are not enough to bring about our desired
result of winning them over to our new ways of thinking.
People adopt new ways of thinking (and behaving) only when
they are ready, and in many cases only when they believe it
is their own idea. Give people the opportunity to think
for themselves! For example, you could give a friend or
family member a book about natural hygiene, and tell them
you're learning these new ideas and you're really
interested in their knowledgeable opinion about the
information.
Respect peoples' intelligence,
and
demonstrate genuine interest in other people. If, instead,
you hand someone a book and say, "You should really read
this - you need this information", or if you simply tell
them what you "know" is right, you risk alienating
yourself, and you invite resistance in the other person.
Ask yourself this: "Would I rather be right, or be
friends?"
Another effective tactic for
influencing others is to set
someone else up as the authority, rather than yourself.
When you set yourself up as the authority, and make
statements to others about what is "right" or "true",
it is
likely you will quickly find yourself entangled in a
debate. When a conversation devolves into argument, no one
wins, and a friendship can be lost. You can defer to
another authority by saying something like, "I read an
article where Dr. so-and-so said that we don't need to eat
a lot of protein, and it really made sense to me. I could
show it to you sometime, if you like."
Timing is important, too. During
a meal is not the best
time to discuss the very controversial topic of what is
healthy food, and what is not! Digestion will be best when
mealtime feels peaceful and nurturing. If the subject
comes up at mealtime (as it so often does!), and you are
questioned about what you are eating, you are free to
gracefully change the subject, and divert attention away
from your plate. Or, you can simply respond, "I eat this
way because I like it, and it makes me feel good. My
doctor says I'm doing great. Some other time I'd be happy
to tell you more about it if you're interested."
Some special situations you
may encounter include meals at
home with family, including children, having dinner guests,
being dinner guests, eating at restaurants, and travelling.
You can use the same tactics outlined above in most of
these situations - use the same social graces you would in
any situation. Model commitment and contentment with your
program, and inspire curiosity. If you try to force your
program on others, or make them feel your disapproval of
their choices, you will likely invite resistance. Invite
others to share your fresh foods by making extra, or simply
including big beautiful salad or fruit plates along with
the other foods they choose to eat.
With children, serve
an attractive fruit platter or fruit smoothie as a first
course, and they will tend to fill their bellies with this
good food and have less room for the rest. Include
children in raw food preparations. Teach them how to use
the blender, food processor, and knives. Encourage their
creativity in the raw kitchen - it's fun to create "art"
with colorful, interesting raw fruits and vegetables.
It's also important to give
consideration to the aura you
create around mealtimes. Strive to create an atmosphere of
nurturance, tranquility, and graceful reverence. Set the
table with care, add flowers and decorative garnishes.
Bring love and beauty to the table. Take a moment together
to say grace, and express thanks before partaking of the
food. Remember that even the healthiest food does not
nourish us if we ingest it in a state of unhappiness. When
inviting guests to a meal in your home, you can inquire
ahead of time about their favorite fruits and vegetables,
then make dishes that feature these.
When you are a guest in someone
else's home, you can offer
to bring your own food, or offer to bring a big salad to
share, and make one that you will enjoy. At a restaurant
you'll want to befriend the waitstaff by focusing on what
you do want, rather than what you can't have. You can
simply write on an index card the fruits and vegetables you
like, and request a large green salad with any of these
ingredients, but no others. This is usually more effective
than saying "Please hold the croutons, the garlic, the
onion, the mushrooms, the oil, the roasted peppers, the
bacon bits, the cheese . . ." - you get the idea! Either
bring you own homemade raw dressing, or ask for a side of
lemon or orange to squeeze over your salad. Many
restaurants can bring you a plain avocado as well.
When travelling, plan ahead
by bringing some staples that
pack and travel well. Some possibilities are dates and
dried fruits, nuts and seeds, citrus fruits, melons,
mangoes, grapes, apples, cucumbers, and celery. Unless you
will be in the wilderness, there will be grocery stores
along the way with plenty of decent produce. Most larger
towns and cities have natural food stores. Bring along a
flexible cutting board, a good knife with a protective
sheath, and a big bowl with a lid for eating and storing
any leftovers, and some dish towels. A small lidded bucket
is also great to have along for containing skins and pits,
etc, until you find a place to compost or otherwise dispose
of them. In this way you can happily avoid restaurants for
most of your travels.
The journey to health is what
you make of it. It can be
hard and frustrating, and leave you feeling isolated and
deprived - or it can be a feel-good journey of wondrous
adventure, creativity, generous sharing, new and deepening
friendships. It's up to you.
******************************
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent
people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of
honest critics and endure the betrayal
of false friends; to appreciate
beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better;
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed
social
condition, to know even one life has breathed easier because you
have lived. This is to have succeeded."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Happiness radiates
like the fragrance from a flower and
draws all good things towards you."
-Marharishi Mahesh Yogi
******************************
Summer Recipes to beat the
heat
Pina Colada
Blend the milk and meat of one young Thai coconut (find
them at Whole Foods Market)
with fresh pineapple chunks, to taste.
This drink is especially refreshing on a hot summer day
when the coconut has been chilled in the fridge!
Cool Cucumber Dressing
Blend until smooth and creamy, 4 oz. cucumbers with 1 oz.
of pistachios or cashews
Toss with a green salad with plenty of chopped or sliced
cucumbers and tomatoes
Peach-mint smoothie
Blend equal amounts of fresh bananas with frozen peaches
(or fresh peaches with frozen bananas), adding water as
needed, and then blend in a few sprigs of fresh mint.
This is very cool and refreshing!
******************************
Stay cool, and enjoy the summer's
bounty of
fresh raw fruits and vegetables!
To your radiant health and energy,
Home | About Ellen | Services | Products | Articles | Newsletters | Contact
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Purchase Agreement
Copyright © 2007 Ellen Livingston