My evolution~

Hi everyone,
Things are so different in my life since I was last here. Now I have a new love and best friend.  I live in a different state; more of a city life and I have a job at a bakery! lol!  I am still true to my vegetarian roots and constantly try to spread that message to others that come across my path. Depsite the "where do you get your protein from" and "Aren't you hungry with just salad" people are actually wanting to know about my mysterious life as a vegetarian. I am now almost fluent in spanish which I learned both from my job and my new boyfriend and his family.  I love latin dancing now too. Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue!
I promise to keep you posted more about my journey and life from now on.
PS...how did I ever live before without Whole Foods Market!?
Love you,
Rawkn Yogini~

Yay for a fantastic Week!

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Hey everyone,
Here is a little poem, updates, and raw food inspirations for the day!

Falling for you...by Rawkn Yogini
Falling for you was easy
Seeing those eyes shining and lit up was a gift for my heart
Your smile is a beacon of light on my stormiest days
Hard times and frustrations are my soul mourning for complete joy and ease
It gets easier each day with you by my side
My love gets stronger each moment
I can see a glimpse of our life together...speechless


So...this week work and yoga have been the majority of my time.  However, the job search continues.  Raw food is at the forefront of my life right now with Green smoothies for breakfast and very little craving for cooked foods.  Friday i'm getting my hair done then going to portsmouth with my love <3 Saturday is spring water collecting and family visits and Sunday is double date to the movies :-)  This means that I have two days to be productive and get my work done so that I can enjoy my fabulous weekend to come.

If you want to stay raw and not be hungry...eat breakfast. If you eat breakfast you jump start the metabolism and have less of a chance for overeating or being Staarving later in the day! A green smoothie is perfect!! Try it for a few days ...what do you have to lose?


Much love,
Rawkn yogini

PS...day 6 of my yoga challenge.  Tomorrow I will chat about Plateauing and how to jump start your metabolism as suggested by a friend!

Shining Bright and Being the Light!

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Hey there everyone,
Today is a very special day.  A day of pure awakening.  Every once and a while I read something or experience something that reminds me of my true path.  Raw Sangha community at rawsangha.com has been a pure inspiration to me.  Watching videos and reading Brother Echo's articles is fantastic.  Watching his journey to raw foods makes me smile and remember my first experiences with Raw foods.  I forget a little bit what that honeymoon phase is like.  Today is the first of the month of October.  Soooo many things to celebrate in my life.  A one month anniversary with an incredible boyfriend and passionate man named Jesse.  Thank you for all your love and support!  It is also the kick start of a 30 day Bikram yoga challenge.  And in nearly 2 weeks I will be celebrating a birthday~  I have a fabulous education in nutritional sciences, a fun job at Hannaford working with fruits and veggies all day and terrific family and friends who are always there for me! 
This month is about cleansing and cleaning my mind, body and spirit.  With 30 days of yoga, 100% raw food diet and with green smoothies every day!  Not to mention more sleep and water!

Please feel free to join me at my "21 Day Raw Food Challenge" group on facebook to receive free recipes, nutrition advice and inspiration on your journey. I would love to answer any questions you may have!

Much Love,
Rawkn Yogini

At the Heart of it All

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Hey there yogis, foodies, and friends!
Today I'm feeling a bit poetic and lyrical so I'm going to share a piece that I have written to express my current feelings and emotions.

At the Heart of it All
You provoke these feelings, feelings that are even hard for me to subdue
Even in the chaos of the day, the pulse and beat of your heart finds mine
I smile for no other reason but to see you smile back at me
It's hard to sleep when I feel as though my reality is better than any fantasy or dream
My chakras open up to your energy
No person or thing is perfect and I'm at peace with that
My positive powerful soul has been truly awakened

The Green Juice is back and so is my best friend!

Yay,

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So excited because my best friend came home from South Carolina on Tuesday and I seriously felt like my other half was back!  I picked her up from the airport and came home to a scrumptious dinner by her mom.  She made me a great salad with a ginger sesame viniagerette while everyone else had potato salad and cheeseburgers!  Seeee how sweet and receptive other people can be toward your lifestyle.  Yesterday, I watched Eat, Pray, Love.  The movie was very inspiring and made me realize that we are all searching our whole lives for our ultimate purpose and that purpose may even change and evolve just like relationships, our cars, our homes and our clothes!  Don't take life toooo seriously because just when you think things are "on track" we get sidetracked or go onto another path that we never could have planned for!  Be spontaneous.  The only true reality is love and family!
And!  To top off all of those great ah ha moments, I'm sitting here-finally with a green juice.  I've only been thinking about it for weeks.  Don't know why I didn't make it.  It literally took me less than 5 minutes! It's super delicious.  It makes me feel more alive!

Have a fantastic Day,
Rawkn Yogini

Being outside makes all your worries disappear

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Hi there,
Today I'm talking about being outdoors and how it makes me feel.  When I step outside onto my deck or to take a walk with my dogs I immediately feel a tingle, a rush of energy and love.  The sun and the smell of nature really do fuel my mind, body and spirit.  Add a best friend to that experience whether it be sitting on a beach, taking a nature walk or hike or just sitting outside chatting over iced tea and your heart will be filled with so much love and excitement.  Once I go outside on a beautiful day I feel like a little kid that doesn't want to be dragged inside to do anything else.  Even now, typing on my laptop, I'm sitting outside on my deck enjoying the sound of my dogs walking around, smelling and exploring every acorn, leaf, squirrel scurrying away.  Their tails are wagging for me to give them a treat or give them a rub behind the ears!  My best friend is on a much needed vacation in the Carolinas visiting her grandparents and I can't stop thinking about how much fun she must be having but how I can't wait for her to come home so we can go to the beach or have a  fiesta outside on my deck!!  Enjoy nature and enjoy the love in your life.  We all have happiness within us.  Love is the spark that ignites happiness!!!

Namaste~
Rawkn Yogini~

Little Sprouts!

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Hey there!
I'm ecstatic to share my recent plans for the future.  I've decided to go back to school to become an elementary school teacher and Bikram yoga instructor.  I really look forward to making a difference in children's lives.  I want to help shape their little minds and bodies to become healthy and happy and vibrant adults.  I look forward to becoming a yoga instructor as well, which not be for another year while I work and go to school to make some money to afford the tuition which is over 10,000 dollars!  Doing what I love it priceless however and I'm very excited about these new adventures.



Now for more information on sprouting and how to do it.  It is sooooo easy.
1. Take beans such as mung beans or buckwheat to start with since they are in my opinion the easiest to sprout.
2.  Place beans (one type) in a bowl of water and cover with a napkin or wax paper just to keep out the bugs.
3.  Soak them overnight.
4.  In the morning when you wake up, pour entire bowl into a mesh colander or strainer.
5.  Rinse off the beans and shake till they are somewhat dry with a little moisture.
6.  Place beans back into bowl without adding water and let sit covered for two days.
7.  Rinse and strain and place back into bowl about twice a day.  Sprouts will have tails that are about 1 inch long.
8.  Store them in the fridge for about a week.

Eat sprouted mung beans on top salads or use to make hummus.  Sprouted buckwheat you can use as a base for granolas or raw breads!
Let me know if you have any other questions...

Seeing Step Up 3D tonight...woohoo
Peace~

Concentrated Nutrition!

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Hey y'all!
Today I'm going to talk about concentrated nutrition such as sprouts and juices.  Other concentrated forms of nutrition could also be dehydrated and dried foods such as raisins and even herbs. 
Concentrated nutrition is basically just getting as many nutrients as you can in a small package/quantity. 
When we eat concentrated foods our body doesn't have to work as hard at processing lots of food. 
Don't get me wrong, eating a huge salad with lots of water and fiber is good for our digestive system BUT our bodies won't be able to absorb all the nutrients because all that fiber actually pulls some of the vitamins and minerals with it.
When we drink *JUICE* with no pulp in it our bodies are able to take in ALL the nutrients and energy without almost any energy being put in by our digestive systems therefore our bodies will run faster, more efficiently, and will have time to clean our bodies and heal from diseases.  You will notice that after just a single day on juice that you will have brighter eyes and clearer skin!  You can easily incorporate juice into your current lifestyle.  Having FRESH unpasteurized juice as a snack or meal is an amazing thing!
*SPROUTS* are also packed with nutrients.  They are a living food!  A seed that could grow an entire plant is being sprouted so that the seed wakes up and starts to grow.  You are eating a new plant with just one single sprout.  Make yourself a sprout salad with different sprouts and you are eating sooo much nutrition in such a tiny amount. 

When we eat the energy of plants we feel alive!

Start living!
Rawkn Yogini~
Not sure what fruits or veggies to juice or you don't know how to sprout?  Stay tuned...

I want some Energy!

Are you in need of some energy?
Do you constantly suffer from fatigue throughout the day?
Are you unable to complete simple tasks without feeling like you need to relax or sit down?

Well...
You may be suffering from a nutrient/vitamin/mineral deficiency.
Believe it or not if your body isn't getting all the vitamins and minerals that it needs you may feel tired and lackluster
The solution is to get more greens and Fruit.  Greens are amazing because they are extremely high in many minerals and vitamins and protein that your body needs to rebuild cells and tissues and to keep your electrolytes balanced
Add dark leafy greens to smoothies by creating the following combination:

Image by benchristen via Flickr

1-2 cups of spinach

1-2 cups of water/coconut water as needed to blend

1 ripe banana
1 cup of berries or other fruits
Voila you have a yummy green smoothie.

Another way to get more greens is on pizza, soups, cassaroles, and of course salads.

You could also be lacking in energy because you actually don't have enough energy or fuel (calories) coming in.  EAT MORE!

But don't eat junk...eat juicy sweet fruits with natural sugars that will provide sugar to your cells and your brain!
Make yourself a fruit salad before work or school or just pack a few pieces of fruit to enjoy throughout the day.  Eating three meals is not the way to go if you want continuous energy.  Eat small frequent meals to keep your metabolism up and your energy soaring

Pumped!
Rawkn Yogini

PS...A post about juice and sprouts for concentrated nutrition coming tomorrow...stay tuned!

Does Yelling get another person's attention?

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I often wonder why people yell at one another when they are having a discussion or argument.  I feel that when someone yells at me or yells something they want to convey to me I completely stop listening or respecting what they have to say.  I simply say, "This person isn't in a calm enough state to even have a worth it conversation and I certainly can't handle all of this forced energy upon me".  Maybe some people enjoy yelling at another person and even like being yelled at but if you don't like being yelled at but you enjoy dishing out to others maybe you should rethink your behavior and approach.  Are you also saying things like "This is the way it has to be done!" or "I want things done my way, and you don't have a say in it" or are you even giving out threats and ultimatums like "If you don't do it like this then you can't do _____ or you will lose my respect or you will tear apart/poison ___" 
The very moment someone starts uttering things like this to me, I lose all respect for them.  Add a raised voice and voilent expression and maybe even violent body language and you are dealing with full on abuse.

You don't  need to stoop to their level.  Calmly and without hesitiation walk away.  They don't want to listen to you anyway!

Protect yourself especially your strong and positive heart and soul,
Rawkn Yogini~

A Release From Reality~

Hi there,

We all want some sort of release from reality.  After seeing the movie inception and the Matrix several years ago, I'm starting to question what reality really is.  As we dream, we create ideas and situations that sometimes confuse us when we wake up to the point that we say "Was that real or was that just a dream?" I once heard the quote "Love is the only reality" and I think  I now completely agree.  Feeling love really awakens you and brings you back and holds you in tight to the world you live in.  When I do yoga, I quiet my mind and let my body and soul listen to the cues and escape from reality.  For 90 minutes, I have no other responsiblity besides listening and moving.  When people take drugs and alcohol they do them to escape from reality.  I wonder why we can't always be in a state of enjoyment with no reality...

Maybe it's all a dream...

Rawkn Yogini

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The Universe: Can you control your fate?

Hey there everyone!
Today is Thursday and it's another fabulous week for me. Yoga every day so far and Loving the challenge of it! Coconut water, cold shower and a fabulous walk with my dogs is a routine that is sticking like glue after yoga...wouldn't change a thing! If you haven't tried coconut water...get some, soooo yummy!

Today I wanted to chat about whether or not we can control our fate and how I feel about that.
Ever since I was young I have always contemplated my destiny or my fate. It has been my on going faith in a higher power that is guiding me along my journey that has helped me to accept the not so fun moments that I may stumble upon. So I may have dislocated my knee in high school while dancing 2 hours a day during the week but guess what...I was pushed toward a different passion...yoga! During physical therapy I was given exercises that were "yoga inspired" that I was told to do after every session. After a while I thought to myself, why don't I try some yoga classes? It's lower impact and I can still enjoy graceful and strong moves that remind me of dance. It was love at first sight!
You see...life has road blocks, I believe, so that you take a detour to get back to what you really were meant to do!

Another story of mine is that...My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was in college. Originally my dream was to be a psychologist or a physical therapist because I really wanted to reach out and help others going through mental or physical ailments. When my mom got sick I made a 180 turn toward Nutritional sciences, something deep deep down inside of me said...this is where you will find the answers, take a chance! So I did, I switched my major and decided that Nutrition was the key to longterm health...even before I knew much about it!
Now, my mom is cancer free and I have achieved the health and life I never dreamt of. During a yoga class I learned about raw foods from one of the other students (an accident?..I think not!). This changed my life. Eating vegan changed my perspective and raised my conciousness about our environment and the treatment of animals and eating raw helped me realize that foods are best when they are pure and unchanged.

May your journey continue and remember that even the saddest times are a gateway to your true destiny of pure bliss and contentment~

With Faith,
Rawkn Yogini~

Unleash the Real You!

Hey there everyone!
I want you all to know that I love you all for exactly who you are! We are all works in progress physically and emotionally but our souls are genuine, free and pure.

Don't be afraid to be different because being different means that you are not altering yourself. By spending all your time and energy trying be someone else, how can you fully learn who YOU are and how to better YOUR life?!

This is a short post...but I just wanted to say it...

I love you,
Rawkn Yogini~

Why do Humans dominate over other living things?

People may think I'm strange for giving up all meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, and eggs but today I was fully reminded why I made that choice after seeing an interview with Ellen Degeneris about why she became a vegan nearly 2 years ago. I may care deeply about my health and spirituality but this decision that I've made to become a vegan goes far deeper than that. I put a V next to my name on facebook not to be cool or be part of a cult of crazy extremists but because I can not be selfish and ignore the cruelty and pain that animals must endure so that I can eat. With movies like Earthlings and Food Inc. out there and books like Fast Food Nation and the China Study we can not ignore the implications of eating animal products. The Earth is made up of three things Nature, Animals and Humankind. Why is it that Humankind feels that they are entitled to dominate and use all other parts of the Earth as if they were their own? I cherish even the bounty of nature to supply me with vegetables and fruit. With each bite I think about when and where that fruit or vegetable was picked and how much work went into growing and harvesting that food. I myself, own a garden and know how difficult but yet how rewarding that time and energy is when in the palm of your hand you have the most magnificent gift that nature has provided for you. When you glance down at a steak, you most certainly make a disconnect from where it came from, how that animal was treated and how it was killed. Because how else would you be able to fully enjoy eating it. If you aren't aware of how animals are being treated you need to open your eyes. Animals are not given proper space, food, water, and treatment. They aren't born to live, they are born to die. When you eat something with a heart, a pulse, a brain, you are eating their thoughts, pain, anxiety, and fear. Many animals in factory farms never see the light of day, they never experience love, they don't know what peace and the absence of fear is. I pray every single day that someone out there awakens to this reality because with one less person eating meat and animal products that means numerous animals are saved.


Praying for a better tomorrow,
Rawkn Yogini~<3

Best Friends~

OK...so food, exercise and spirituality are all amazing aspects to superb health but...Love and friendship are also what can make or break a life that otherwise seems so perfect. You can have the perfect body, be connected to G-d and eat all whole foods but what does all that mean if you don't have a single soul to share it with? There is something so amazing about having a friend, a true friend. Someone to share your experiences with. Someone to laugh and cry with. Someone that tells you that you are beautiful and perfect just the way you are. Passion and love are also very important to feel complete. Sharing your heart with someone means fillling your soul with warmth. You don't NEED to have someone else to feel loved because you are a positive and powerful soul but doesn't it feel nice to have someone to share life's challenges with? And not just anyone...not just the idea of love or friendship but an actual person, a face and a soul that you deeply care for. Their name brings you joy when you say it. Their smile lights up your darkest days. Their voice invokes calm and peace. Best friends are soul mates...lovers will come and go but best friends are forever. Thank you to my best friends Elle and Mark for always being the loves of my life; you will never know how much you mean to me.

Hugs~
Rawkn Yogini~
PS...for all of those wondering how I'm doing with yoga this week...5 days so far and I'm still going strong.
The raw food of the day is KALE...to find out more about it, visit the "21 Day Raw Food Challenge" group on facebook.com!

Fragrant and Delicious

Hey there,
Do you know how to pick 'em? Fruit I mean. Do you know how to pick fully ripe fruit when you go to the grocery store or farmer's market? Here are some tips for picking the best fruit you can that is high in water content, sweetness and nutrients. More bang for your buck.

1. Pick a fruit that is heavy for its size.
2. Choose a fruit or vegetable that is the color you think of it as. Pineapple should be yellow, tomato should be red, etc.
3. Smell the fruit or vegetable. Does is smell sweet? Does is smell like it's going bad or fermented?
4. Make sure that fruits and vegetable that are supposed to be soft are soft and fruits or vegetables that are supposed to be firm are firm. Cucumbers are firm whereas peaches are soft.
5. The true test will be when you take a bite and the juice runs down your face or it is crisp and delicious. Everytime you hit a home run you will remember exactly how that fruit felt, smelled and looked and you will be sure you pick another good one next time around too.
Enjoy,
Rawkn Yogini~~~

Animal Instincts

Roarrrr,
Powerful, strong, and fearless. That is a true animal. You envision a swift gazelle, a courageous lion and a grizzly bear when I say that but...Do you think of a yoga lady or a graceful ballerina?! probably not.

However, we are all animals with animal instincts. Even emotional and sensitive women have the instincts to power through a difficult situation or stand up for themselves. How else would a simple house wife lift up a 1,000lb car to save her children? Women are sensual and sexual beings just like men, they just aren't allowed to express that unless they want to appear "slutty". Take charge of what you want ladies! It's ok to be sexual, powerful and strong! Watch out men, a new generation of women are emerging. To win us over you better step up your game because we love the chase just as much as you!
And ladies...you are all the love you need. You don't need a man to have love in your life. I guarantee you that your best friend will support you through almost anything and love you for who and what you are. Cherish those friendships and have fun! Go out, dance and sing the night away while the men watch and wish you would stop loving you and start loving them!

Shake that yoga booty and enjoy that yummy smoothie.

Enjoy femininity which doesn't have to mean weak, submissive, and naive,
Rawkn Yogini~

New Week and New Adventures!

Hey there everyone!
Rawkn Yogini is back back back! Another fabulous day of yoga and raw food! I went to hot yoga this morning then came home to work in my veggie garden and farm stand hop just in time to come in for a big salad for lunch! Fresh cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, string beans, arugala, bib lettuce, avocado and some apple cider vinegar and hemp oil=YUMMO!

My challengers at the 21 Day Raw Food Challenge on facebook are spending this week drinking smoothies every morning. Super hydrating and mineral and nutrient packed breakfast to start your day off right. Make it green by adding some lettuce, kale or spinach to your fruit smoothie and Enjoy the extra kick of protein and chlorophyl. And...each day on the group wall I post a raw food of the DAY! Join Today!

Stay tuned as I share my yoga journey and job ideas with you....
<3 Love,
Rakwn Yogini~

I did 5 Days of yoga this week!

Wow,
I have so much to share with you all this week.
The rawknyogini is back in action! Raw goodness and yoga are a staple in my life again and it feels soooo good.
Bikram oh how I missed you. The sweat, the heat, the pain, the deep breathing, the cold shower after class, the feeling of euphoria the minute I step out of the room! If you haven't done yoga or Bikram yoga you need to get yourself to a studio as soon as possible. Your life will never be the same.
And...as far as love and friendship goes, I'm a rich woman. I spent this week doing yoga with a friend all week, went to Boston a couple times with one of my girl friends and hung out with one of my guy friends too!

I realized the other night while talking to one of my guy friends that we are all so hung up on finding someone to love us or to love back. So much so, that we completely neglect ourselves and tell ourselves that we will be miserable if we don't get the affection and acceptance of someone else. A girl had broken his heart into little pieces. Worst of all she created a string of lies that led him into believing that she felt more for him than she did. HONESTY. We need to be honest with ourselves and ask first, "Is the feeling in this relationship 100% mutual?" then if you aren't sure you need to ask the other person. If they say "I don't know" that is an indication that they don't feel the same way. Wouldn't it be great if we could all love ourselves? I think once you love yourself you are able to open your heart for another soul to inhabit because I really believe they can feel the fullness and warmth of your soul and want to be apart of that.

Mission pour moi (for me) this week is to LOVE myself and I think eating raw and doing yoga is a great step in the right direction.

Come join me~
Rawkn Yogini*

The Yoga Addiction Continues

Hi there everyone,
I hope you all are doing very well. Eating raw, spending time with friends, planting in my garden and exercising are a few of the really fun things that I have had the priveledge of doing everyday!

Today I am going to Bikram yoga after about 2 months of not going. I'm a bit nervous. My ego knows that I'm not as good as I once was by any means! I know it will be very challenging. The heat is something that I'm no longer used to and so are the postures. Having to focus my wandering and spacey mind for 90 minutes is making me feel crazy! LOL!

Why Bikram yoga?!
It calms my mind
I feel strong and powerful
Detoxifies my body
lengthens my joints, muscles and ligaments so I stand up a bit taller
I feel graceful
It gives me a sense of community
Glowing skin
Toned muscles
Mental Focus

Never before have I done exercise where I acheived all of these in a 90 minute class.

So yeah I'm nervous...let's just put it this way i'm wearing capris and a tank top instead of my usual bootie shorts and bikini top. I need some security blanket!

Wish me luck
Rawkn Yogini~