Parvati – July 2018.pdf

Dedicated to MAPS

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Parvati Magazine

Dedicated to MAPS

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In This Issue 14

POSIT IVE P O S S I B I LI T I ES LI V I N G WHY COMPASSION IS MORE POWERFUL THAN PITY

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YO G A LEARN THIS 99-YEAR-OLD YOGI’S SECRETS FOR VITALITY

interview with Tao Porchon-Lynch

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YE M : YO G A AS EN ERGY MED I CI N E HOW TO GET CENTERED WHEN YOU’RE FEELING AGITATED

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MED I TAT I O N HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR NATURAL COMPASSION

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WE LLN ES S TO BE HEALTHY, CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

interview with Mark Nepo

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FITN ES S FIND OUT WHY SELF-LOVE IS THE GREATEST SUPPORT FOR YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY

interview with Jennipher Walters and Kristen Seymour

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N UTR ITION HOW TO UNDO THE BIGGEST MYTH ABOUT GLUTEN-FREE EATING

interview with Emma Galloway

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TH E TR UST FR EQUE N CY HOW TO DIRECT YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS TO SHAPE YOUR REALITY

Connie Baxter Marlow and Andrew Cameron Bailey

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B OOKS WHY YOU NEED TO READ “FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD” NOW

as reviewed by Amy Kellestine

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FILM FIND OUT WHAT MAKES “INCREDIBLES 2” NOT JUST FUNNY BUT TIMELY

as reviewed by Amy Kellestine

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M US IC HOW KOOLULAM UPLIFTS THE WORLD - ONE VIRAL SONG AT A TIME

interview with Michal Shahaf Shneiderman

Dedicated to MAPS

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B EAUT Y HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NAILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT THIS SUMMER

interview with Kartika Luyet

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FASHI O N LOOK GORGEOUS AND LOVE THE PLANET AT THE SAME TIME

as reviewed by Joy Elkayam

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CO MMUN I T Y THE TRUTH ABOUT FREE WILLY, WHALES AND DOLPHINS

interview with Mark Palmer

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BUSIN ES S HOW TO ACCESS THE FLOW STATE (IT’S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!)

interview with Jamie Wheal

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MA P S THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY SUMMIT IS HELPING TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Parvati.org

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Parvati Magazine

About Parvati Magazine is dedicated to the realization of MAPS, the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary, to keep our planet cool. Parvati Magazine showcases global new thought leaders in arts, wellness, business and ecology. Our readers are passionate changemakers, hungry for clarity and substance in their lives. They believe in a better world and inspire others for the same. Parvati Magazine is free and 100% volunteerrun, as it has been since it was founded in 2011 to give voice to the awakened Earth, or Parvati in Sanskrit. Every month, we publish new, original content at parvatimagazine.com. Subscribe and ask your favorite digital newsstand to carry Parvati Magazine to help spread the word.

At this time, Parvati Magazine has openings for volunteer editors in the Books, Film and Music columns. For further information about editorial guidelines: [email protected] Parvati Magazine is pleased to run advertisements for our contributors. Other potential advertisers should contact [email protected] for ad specification and pricing. Advertisement revenue at this time supports the ongoing work and quality of the magazine through stock photos, platform upgrades, hosting costs, etc. A percentage of all proceeds is donated to the work of Parvati.org to establish the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary.

Dedicated to MAPS

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PARVAT I / positive possibilities / yem / meditation Editor In Chief / tw @ParvatiOfficial ig @ParvatiOfficial

Parvati is an award-winning musician (“I Am Light”, “Electro Yog”, “Yoga In The Nightclub”), yogini (YEM: Yoga as Energy Medicine), author (“Aonani of Avalon”, “The Three Supreme Secrets for Lasting Happiness”) and founder of the not-for-profit Parvati.org. All her work is dedicated to protecting all life on Earth by establishing the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS). More info: Parvati.tv; Parvati.org. JOY E LKAYAM / be au ty / fa s h i o n Executive Director / tw @JoyGabrielle4

Joy Elkayam is the Executive Director of Parvati Magazine. She is also a volunteer at Parvati.org, dedicated to realizing the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary. Before a pivot to teaching in a kindergarten, her career started out in health care as a coordinator in research and cancer screening.

PRAN ADA M C BURNI E

Managing Editor / tw @pranada ig @pranada783

Pranada McBurnie is a communications professional living in Toronto, Canada. She is the Managing Editor of Parvati Magazine, and the Communications Manager for Parvati.org. In addition, she is the editor for Parvati’s forthcoming books “The Three Supreme Secrets for Lasting Happiness”, "YEM: Yoga as Energy Medicine" and the “Aonani of Avalon” nine-part young adult fiction series. AM Y KE LLEST I N E / bo o ks / fi lm Circulation Manager / tw @AmyKellestine ig @miss.amy.lynne

Amy is an educator, engineer, Arati life coach and entrepreneur living in Edmonton, Alberta. She spends her free time camping, gardening, and volunteering for causes such as Cystic Fibrosis and nature conservation. She is a devoted mother, who is passionate about helping others and writing.

DR. KARE N HO / we lln e s s Wellness Editor

Karen Ho, MD, received a medical degree and completed her neurology residency training at Queen’s University Medical School in Kingston. She is currently in private practice in Ottawa, Ontario and also takes part in teaching and mentorship. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, dance and visual arts.

E LLA ISAKOV / yo g a

Yoga Editor / tw @Yogini_Ella ig @ellaisakovyoga

Ella Isakov is a student of life, yoga teacher and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. She is in love with breath, movement, stillness, and the written word. She vows to live each day with a conscious intention to inspire, and to share her passion for yoga and healing with the little beings and those young at heart.

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E R IC BE N C H IM OL / m us ic Music Editor

Eric Benchimol is a wedding and event photographer based in Toronto, Canada. Eric is also an avid music fan and has photographed concerts by U2, Dave Matthews Band and others.

PA IG E TH OM S ON / c o m m unit y Contributing Editor / ig @rustandbark

Paige received a Bachelor in Environmental Studies along with a Diploma of Creative Photography. She is a wedding, engagement, and elopement photographer, and she enjoys photographing the details of natural landscapes. Paige wants to make a positive change for the natural environment, and volunteers her time to environmental restoration and conservation initiatives. S H AWN A M C LEOD / bo o ks / fil m Book & Film Editor

Shawna, whom a shaman once called "Earth Heart Woman", is a nature lover who enjoys the arts, animals and exploring the wonders of life. She also teaches English, and volunteers with Parvati.org in support of the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary.

JE LLY FUN K

Design Editor / Art Direction / ig @jellyfunk_creative

Jellyfunk is a borderless creative studio that creates identities, album artwork, music, videos and has designed, produced, and collaborated with brands such as Virgin Mobile, MTV, Space Channel, Muchmusic and, of course, Parvati. More info: jellyfunk.com

PA M BRYA N / bus ines s

Business Editor / tw @pambryan

Pam Bryan is a business professional and career coach working with newcomers to Canada. She volunteers with Parvati.org and served on the Board of Directors for the Tour of Alberta professional cycling race from 2016 to 2018.

C H IA R A C OZ Z I / nut rit io n

Contributing Editor / ig @theyogikikiteacher

Chiara Cozzi is a yoga teacher, legal assistant, and health food enthusiast living in Toronto, Ontario. She is a passionate environmentalist dedicated to the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary and the overall health of our planet.

Dedicated to MAPS

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C ON N IE BAXT E R M A RLOW & A N D REW CA MERO N BA I LEY t he t ru st freq u ency / tw @TrustFrequency Connie Baxter Marlow and Andrew Cameron Bailey are visionaries and filmmakers whose explorations into the essence of Reality have led to a unique articulation of the nature of the Universe and humanity’s place in it. They are authors of "The Trust Frequency: Ten Assumptions for a New Paradigm". Learn more at The Trust Frequency.

Z AAKIRA KATHRA DA / fi tn e s s Contributing Editortt / ig @zaakira.k Zaakira is a recent graduate with a Master’s degree in Political Science. She wrote her thesis on environmentally-induced migration, focusing on the impacts of climate change on developing countries. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and is an amateur photographer.

TAO PORC HON - LYN CH / yo g a

tw @Taoporchonlynch ig @taoporchonlynch

Born in 1918, Tao Porchon-Lynch shows us what a century of mindful, optimistic living looks like. She discovered yoga when she was eight years old in India, and still leads yoga programs across the globe today. Her latest book is “Shining Bright: Quotes and Images to Inspire Optimism, Gratitude & Belief in Your Limitless Potential”.

M ARK N E PO / we lln e s s tw @marknepo

Mark Nepo inspired audiences worldwide with his #1 New York Times bestseller “The Book of Awakening”. Mark devotes his writing and teaching to the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. His latest book is “More Together Than Alone: Discovering the Power and Spirit of Community in Our Lives and in the World”. For more information: ThreeIntentions.com.

E M M A GALLOWAY / n u tr i ti o n

tw @mydarlingLT ig @mydarlinglemonthyme

Emma Galloway is a New Zealander and trained chef with a strong background of vegetarian and gluten-free cuisine. Growing up vegetarian, she learned early on the benefits of eating in-season, wholesome and organically grown food.

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JE N N IP H E R WA LTE R S & KR ISTE N S E Y M OU R / fi t n e ss tw @fitbottomedgirl ig @fitbottomedgirl

Beginning as a blog with a Queen pun, Fit Bottomed Girls has become an online body positive phenomenon. Jennipher Walters and Kristen Seymour promote a world where fitness comes in all shapes and sizes. These influencers can be found promoting body positivity, coaching clients, and being frank about healthy living.

M IC H A L S H A H A F S H N E ID E R M A N / m us ic ig @koolulam

Koolulam is a social-musical initiative aimed at bringing together people from all corners of the diverse, multicultural Israeli society. Our idea is to stop everything for a few hours and just sing together, enabling its participants to enjoy the feeling of togetherness through a deep communal experience.

KA RTIKA LUY E T / beaut y

tw @KureBazaar ig @kurebazaar

Kartika Luyet was discovered as a model at the age of 17 in Paris and went on to cohost several TV shows. She is the co-founder of the award-winning Kure Bazaar nail polish line consisting of 85% natural ingredients. Kure features in concept stores worldwide and is praised by celebrities and trendsetters.

M A R K PA LM E R / c o m m unit y tw @MarineMammalOrg

Mark J. Palmer is Associate Director of Earth Island Institute’s International Marine Mammal Project, focusing on protecting whales and dolphins, with emphasis on strategic planning, legislative advocacy, legal research, grassroots organizing, and media relations.

JA M IE WH E A L / bus ines s

tw @flowgenome ig @flowgenome

Jamie Wheal, Executive Director of Flow Genome Project and co-author of “Stealing Fire”, is a leading expert on the neurophysiology of peak performance. He leads a team of the world’s top scientists, athletes, and artists dedicated to mapping the genome of the peak-performance state known as Flow.

Dedicated to MAPS

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Letter from the Editor

“The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy. We can all sense a mysterious connection to each other.” - Meryl Streep Welcome to the August 2018 issue of Parvati Magazine. Everywhere around the world, there is fear, anger, even hatred, as well as kindness and compassion. In the face of the intensity of current events, how do we keep our inner light shining and be of service to others, without becoming exhausted or overwhelmed? How can we take action, while remaining centred in compassion and remembering our connection? We will explore this question in this month’s articles on the theme of Empathy, including an interview with 99-year-old yogi Tao Porchon-Lynch and our reviews of the eye-opening and timely “Formerly Known as Food” and “Incredibles 2”. Enjoy! Parvati

Submissions: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] Inquiries: [email protected] 12

Parvati Magazine

Parvati Magazine is your monthly source for awakened living. The name of the magazine is not about a person but a celebration of the goddess Parvati in Her incarnation as the awakened Earth.

Dedicated to MAPS

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POSITIVE POSSIBILITIES LIVING

WHY COMPASSION IS MORE POWERFUL THAN PITY BY PARVATI

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s we evolve spiritually, we cannot help but feel moved by the suffering we see in the world. The impulse to help alleviate it is a natural reflection of our inherent humanity. Our spiritual practice often gives rise to a greater sense of how connected we are, and as such, that our compassionate actions can serve the world. We must remember, however, that compassion is a sophisticated state of being. It has what the Buddhists term a “near enemy” in pity, which is very different from compassion. When we feel pity, we are positioning ourselves as separate from another, usually somehow above them. In compassion, we are humbly no better than or worse than others, but feel connected to all through love. Along the road to compassion, we learn to empathize. We can open our hearts to others’ suffering. Compassion is not just a state of empathetic open-heartedness, but of no-self, that is, when all sense of divisiveness disappears. This is a beautiful and profound state, something we can aspire to, but most of us experience less frequently than we may think. It does not mean we should not strive for it! We need to. Our world is desperately hungry for more love and true compassion. We simply must not mistake our good intentions with true compassion. The ego is a tricky thing and will find any window to slip through and express itself. We have all heard the popular aphorism, “The road 14

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to hell is paved with good intentions.” Some of our “good deeds” may come from an aspect of our ego, our human shadow, feeling a self-righteous, self-inflated sense of “me”. Perhaps we perceive ourselves as “right” or “better than” others. No love can come from such divided thinking. The transformation or healing we wish to bring to the world will be of limited benefit. But when the ego is out of the way and compassion can flow, something greater than the small self is expressed. I leave you with two quotes from a living master whose tireless, unconditional love and compassion are a miracle in their own right. The guidance of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) from South India is an inspiration for us all to learn to live in compassion: “For me, compassion is the most important factor in our lives. It is the first step. If we take this first step courageously, without fear, then all of our decisions and subsequent actions and their results will have a special beauty, spontaneity and power. Human calculations may be wrong, but actions born of true compassion can never be wrong because compassion is the law of nature, the power of God, the heart of creation. If we tune the individual mind with compassion, then we, as individuals, are no longer really performing actions, but are merely allowing creation to act through us. And this is the power of compassion. In truth, the spiritual path both begins and ends with compassion.” “Compassion does not see the faults of others. It does not see the weaknesses of people. It makes no distinction between good and bad people. Compassion cannot draw a line between two countries, two faiths or two religions. Compassion has no ego; thus there is no fear, lust or passion. Compassion simply forgives and forgets. Compassion is like a passage. Everything passes through it. Nothing can stay there. Compassion is love expressed in all its fullness.” To cultivate more compassion in your life, practice How to Connect with Your Natural Compassion, the Meditation article that I offer, from my heart to yours, in this issue. Wishing you deep joy. Dedicated to MAPS

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YOGA

Learn this 99-Year-Old Yogi’s Secrets for Vitality Interview with

TAO PORCHON LYNCH

Tao Porchon-Lynch, at 99, is vibrant, bright, and officially the oldest yoga teacher in the world. Her autobiography, “Dancing Light”, was previously reviewed by Parvati Magazine. She continues to lead by example in all she does. Yoga Editor Ella Isakov spoke to Tao this month about life, yoga, vitality and peace. Parvati Magazine: You discovered yoga when you were eight years old in India and studied with some of the most notable yoga teachers. What drew you to yoga and how has it influenced you in your life? Tao Porchon Lynch: Yoga has always been a part of my life. I was brought up believing in the Oneness behind everything. I had many teachers—Sri Aurobindo, Swami Prabhavananda, Dr. Roman Ostoja, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois—who added layers of wisdom. Now my life is my meditation. 16

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PMAG: You were recognized in the Guinness World Records as the oldest yoga instructor at the age of 93, and you are now 99 years old. How has the practice of yoga helped you cultivate peace over the course of your life? TPL: Your breath doesn’t know how old you are. The practices of yoga and meditation help you live each moment and get in touch with the Life Force. When you feel it within yourself, you’ll feel alive and know peace, which is your true nature. PMAG: You once said, “I am going to teach yoga till I can’t breathe anymore.” You have been teaching yoga full-time since 1967. What is it about sharing yoga that brings you fulfillment? TPL: I love seeing students realize what is possible. I want them to feel that there is nothing they cannot do. The power is right there inside.

PMAG: Along with influencing others with yoga, you were also an activist for freedom and world peace. You marched with Mahatma Gandhi, helped people escape the Nazis in World War II, partook in demonstrations with Martin Luther King and worked with Deepak Chopra. How has this given back to you? How does helping greater causes contribute to inner well-being and peace? How does it relate to your understanding of yoga? TPL: If we can breathe together, we can be together. This is the essence of peace. It’s the recognition that we are One. Vedanta teaches, “Truth is One, sages call it by many names.” That’s what I believe. There is so much negativity in the world but we must not let it get us down. We must keep focusing on what is good. PMAG: You have led an incredibly rich life as a model, actress, yoga teacher, ballroom dancer and activist. What three pieces of advice do you have

for others on how to move with the flow of life and do what brings them joy, vitality and fulfilment? TPL: Tune into yourself and you will find the secret of life. It will open the door to that which is within in. Look for the good. What you put in your mind materializes. If you put decay in your mind, you will find decay in your body. Focus your mind on positive thoughts and you will experience the beauty of life. Stay curious and live each moment. PMAG: Is there a phrase or mantra that guides you? TPL: Wake up every morning and know that this is the BEST day of your life. There is nothing you cannot do for you’re not the doer, you’re the instrument! Dedicated to MAPS

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YEM: YOGA AS ENERGY MEDICINE

HOW TO GET CENTERED WHEN YOU’RE FEELING A BY PARVATI

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oga’s gift to us is the way we can embody, here and now, an experience of bliss and unity. It reminds us that our way to joy happens within the body, a magnificent and multidimensional vehicle that connects us with all things. In our busy days and agitated world, it can be easy to lose our sense of ground. Agitation can tend to draw us up and out of our bodies, out of the present moment. So this month’s YEM: Yoga as Energy Medicine practice offers a simple way to reconnect with your body and the Earth, so that you can enjoy the grace of being here, alive, breathing and connected in this moment. One day I was sitting at a meditation retreat just behind a friend of mine who would be the first to admit she tends to get agitated and space out, especially when tired or overwhelmed. But this time, I saw her ground so deeply that I had to whisper to her in amazement, “What are you doing?!” Having already learned the centering practice I share below, she told me that she was just trying to do the same energy movement while sitting still. The effect was very noticeable, and I was delighted to discover that it was my friend’s practice of YEM that had guided her to center herself so effectively. So once you learn this centering practice and experience it as a physical process, see how you can begin to apply it on a subtle level at any time— riding the subway, sitting in a challenging meeting with your boss, watching your child scream in a temper tantrum—and see if you start to feel more peace, ease and clarity in the moment. 18

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energy up and bring it in towards the crown of your head, so that you bathe your body in Earth energy.

AGITATED • Stand with your feet about a meter apart, bending your knees in a horse rider stance, so that you tilt your tailbone slightly forward, opening up your root energy center to the Earth. • Sense your breath in your belly. Inhale, belly rises, and exhale, belly rests back. • Allow the sense of the crown of your head to float towards the ceiling, as the feet root into the ground. As you inhale, visualize or sense that you draw life-force energy down your spine, through the central channel. As you exhale, allow that lifeforce to rise back up through your spine, to the crown of your head. Inhale, down. Exhale, up. • Keep your mind focused on the breath, the sense of your spine being like a tube. Allow yourself to feel rooted, open, receptive and inspired. • Now, sense or visualize that you are gathering earth energy up towards the perineum, between the genitals and the anus, at the very base of the spine.

• Turn the palms of your hands downward and bring them down, in front of your face, as though you are pressing the energy down the central channel in your spine towards your center of gravity just below the navel. • When your hands reach the level of your navel, stop. • Let your hips move out behind you, as though you were going to sit down. Your hands move forward, turning your palms towards your belly, holding that ball of energy and beaming it into your center of gravity. • Bring your hands towards the belly as your hips move forward again, so that you seal the energy into your center. Your hands move up slightly, around the waist, fingertips forward. • Then, with your hands alongside your body, straighten out your arms and legs, sealing the energy in towards the feet. • Take a few moments here, standing, to integrate the experience before you conclude your practice.

• Draw it up through the spinal column, your central channel of energy. • Sense or visualize that this energy is travelling up your spine, towards a point between the shoulderblades, at which point the energy splits in two, and travels down each arm to activate your palms. Let your palms turn open. • Now, as though you are holding a big beach ball of energy, scoop that ball of

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Dedicated to MAPS

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MEDITATITON

How to Connect withYour Natural Compassion BY PARVATI

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he great teachers through the ages have emphasized the importance of compassion on the spiritual path. It is not just a sweet sentiment, but a deep awareness that takes us beyond our small self and connects us with infinite love. Compassion is born in our being when we rest in the knowing of our inherent oneness with all that is. It flowers as our ego dies and we are born into the reality of our eternal Self. It is a divine nectar that flows effortlessly when we are willing to let go of the stories that keep us feeling separate, important and ultimately alone. As your heart continues to bloom and you release the grip of your ego, here are some powerful thoughts I ask you to consider. Find a quiet place and allow yourself to go deeper with these: Say to yourself with conviction and power: “Everyone wants to be loved.” Repeat this a few times and let it sink in. Let yourself rest into the truth of these words. 20

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Then state: “Everyone wants to be loved. And everyone fears they will not be loved.” Contemplate this for a bit, and then contemplate it some more. Breathe it in. Let it resonate. “Everyone wants to be loved and everyone fears they will not be.” Apply that thought to someone who pushes your buttons, perhaps your boss. Think of him or her that way, just wanting love, fearing he or she will not be. Then think of how you want to feel loved. Perhaps, you two are not that different. Think of your mother or father that way, just wanting love, fearing they will not be. Try to feel the fear your parents have, and know that you too feel the same. Perhaps you are not so different. The love you seek is also the love they want. Your fear that you won’t find love is the very same fear they have.

Think of your friends and other family members in the same way. See the way they hope for love, the way they feel disconnected from love, the way they do love. Where is the love in all these relationships? In which way do you love? What if it is not so much about how much love you get, but about what you give? When you recognize yourself in others—the fears, the hopes, the desires for love— and you can see you are not that different, then love can blossom, like a flower from the mud. You are left full, feeling connected and loved, even in the face of adversity. Now think of yourself. Touch that place of “I just want to be loved, and I fear I will not be.” It is deep. It has likely been there for a very long time. Perhaps it was exacerbated by your mother, or your father, or someone else. But it is a belief you carry. No one made it. It is yours. If it is yours, then you can heal it. Since you are the one holding on to it, you can let it go. In my experience, we all have a deep place

within where we fear that we will not be loved. Sometimes, around that raw and fragile feeling, is the feeling of vacant hopelessness. But this will not last. Beyond all these painful, dry, and desolate places is a fountain of unending love. The goodness of life is within even the most desolate times if we allow ourselves to settle in and open, patiently, to the flowering spring. The force of life emerges again and again, without compromise. It simply is. Beyond our fear of not being loved, is love. In our fear of not being loved, is love. Around our fear of not being loved, is love. The fear itself is love, as it shows us our very humanity, our potential for openness, receptivity to that which I would simply call grace, the force that is beyond our ego’s grasp and comprehension. When we are willing to rest, in stillness, quietly, without fighting, with this fear of not being loved, we find tremendous creativity. It is in some ways the linchpin of the psyche that moves us from the grip of the ego into a place of oneness and compassion. Rest there, and you will find love, and all will change.

Dedicated to MAPS

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WELLNESS

TO BE HEALTHY, CONNECT Interview with

MARK NEPO

We are becoming increasingly aware that in our busy, agitated world, disconnection from the people around us is an epidemic that hurts our well-being on all levels. Social isolation is now linked with chronic disease. Wellness Editor Dr. Karen Ho spoke with celebrated poet, writer and philosopher Mark Nepo about the critical need for communitybuilding, and its deeper roots and significance in our world today. Parvati Magazine: What is community, and why is it so important? Mark Nepo: The word community derives from the Latin, commun, meaning “common.” The same root informs the word communicate (to share our understanding, to have understanding in common) and communion (to share our experience, to have experience in common). It’s also not by chance that the word community contains unity. So, community is the history of how we help each other live. All things are connected. The art of community is discovering how. In this way, community becomes the art and science of understanding and engaging the lifeforce that moves through everything. 22

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Our capacity to join and complete each other is literally in our DNA. In studying people as well as animals, scientists have found that intimacy promotes health while isolation fosters stress, disease, and early death. Led by University of Michigan sociologist James S. House, researchers concluded that social isolation is statistically just as dangerous as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or lack of exercise. A strong, respectful social network fosters a healthy sense of belonging. A community with a close-knit web of connections has a lower rate of heart disease. This is called the Roseto effect. Carl Jung believed that the inner work of individuation informs healthy community building. When individuated and transformed, we’re more capable of true relationship. The more congruent we are individually, the healthier our connections with others. The aspen grove is a great metaphor for the life of community. Though each aspen appears as an individual tree aboveground, they all share the same root system. In this way, aspens are one of the largest living organisms on Earth. And what happens to one tree happens to all the trees, for underground they are all connected. Their health depends on each other. Thus, on many levels, community is crucial for health and societal wellbeing.

T WITH YOUR COMMUNITY PMAG: You have spent fourteen years researching and putting together your book “More Together than Alone”. What was the impetus? MN: Thirty-one years ago, I almost died from cancer. That raw and vulnerable journey tossed me into an urgent community of loved ones and kind strangers. Without their care, I wouldn’t be here. I experienced the power and spirit of community then in a felt way. It was ten years later that I began to wonder about the lineage of human beings working well together. And so, I began to collect stories, both contemporary and historical, searching for the lessons in them that we can rely on today. One of the profound, recurring themes from all cultures throughout history is that while fear makes us think that self-interest will protect us, love and suffering affirm that we are more together than alone. PMAG: Crisis often pushes us towards a more acute sense of, or at least the need for community. Why do you think we forget this in times of relative peace? MN: The developmental psychologist, Robert Kegan, has defined centrism as our capacity to take what is familiar as true. The problem with this is that we then assume that what is not familiar is false. And so, we grow fearful and reject anything

new. From this stance, we can’t grow. Often, crisis breaks up our assumptions and conclusions and we can learn again. So, we must guard against mistaking what is familiar as true, and accept that we need more than what we know to survive. PMAG: I come away with a sense that this book is calling for reflection on how we individually and collectively, choose to foster love, togetherness, interconnection, rather than division. MN: We live in a time, globally, when people have stopped listening to each other, when fear keeps escalating into violence. It’s easy to perpetuate this violence and isolation, and to believe that life is disjointed and that people are cold and barbaric. We as a nation have moved between periods of isolationism and inclusion as people shift between the two tribes. Today, our nation has retreated into these primary camps and we seem to be heading into another period of isolationism and fear of those who are different. But I remain convinced that there is a living lineage of human kindness and cooperation, which needs to remembered and uplifted. Each story in this book models courage and care. Each story holds lessons for us to use today. My hope is that the stories of community in this book will help us accept and inhabit the spiritual fact that we need each other more than ever. Dedicated to MAPS

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FITNESS

Fit Bottomed Girls Know You Can’t Hate Yourself Healthy Interview with

JENNIPHER WALTERS & KRISTEN SEYMOUR

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Fit Bottomed Girls is fitness with a difference— that begins with the tagline “You can’t hate yourself healthy.” Co-founder Jennipher Walters is an ACE-certified personal trainer and health coach, who writes and edits content for the Fit Bottomed Girls site. She has been joined by Kristen Seymour who became co-owner of the brand and Editor-in-Chief of Fit Bottomed Eats. Now, the two have expanded the body-positive brand with Fit Bottomed Mamas, Fit Bottomed Eats, Fit Bottomed Zen, a book, a podcast, and more potential live events in the future. Parvati Magazine: You originally started out working in marketing and journalism. What made you jump into creating fitness content? Jennipher Walters: I got bit by the fitness bug in college when I started going to group exercise classes and fell in love with the high-energy atmosphere. From there I got certified to teach classes, got my personal training certification, and started taking on clients. I loved working out so much that writing about it was just a natural fit! PMAG: Fit Bottomed Girls prioritizes body positivity over weight loss. Where did that idea begin? What made you decide this was what you wanted to do? JW: I struggled with weight and body image, and did a LOT of unhealthy dieting in college—yes, even while I was teaching classes and training people! I felt like in order to give health advice I had to look a certain way, and I got wrapped up in the number on the scale. It took years and time with a professional for me to overcome that, but it was that journey that led to the creation of FBG and what we stand for: that you can’t hate yourself healthy, that you’re more than a number on the scale, and that diets never work. You can read about my story here. PMAG: Fit Bottomed Girls has grown since you first started, with the inclusion of FB Mamas, FB Eats, FB Zen, “The Fit Bottomed Girls AntiDiet” book, and a podcast. Are you planning on expanding the Fit Bottomed brand?

JW: Funny you ask! We’re launching a redesigned site later this month that puts everything into one master. We’ve done what we can to make getting content easier for people to access. Plus, being healthy isn’t just about fitness, or relationships, or food, or mindfulness—it’s about all of that together. Our new site represents that. Kristen Seymour: We’ve also looked into doing more in-person events. As amazing as it is to connect online, we’ve seen that meeting readers in person can take that to a whole new level. So we’ll be hosting a fitness workshop this June in New York during the 109 World Women Empowerment retreat. There’s not much I would rule out! We’re passionate about all aspects of healthy living and always open to new ways to deliver that message. PMAG: You were named on the 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness list by Greatist. How did it feel when you heard that? What does it mean about body positivity and the future of fitness? JW: Dude, it was awesome! We were so grateful, humbled, and proud. We’re honored to have been one of the voices championing sane healthy living and positive body image for our generation and future generations. KS: I’ll co-sign everything Jenn said, and add that it feels great to know that the idea of approaching healthy living from a place of selflove is becoming more mainstream. PMAG: What is your advice for maintaining a healthy attitude while pursuing personal fitness goals? KS: Be mindful of the “why” behind that goal—there are many great reasons to aim for a goal, but there are a number that aren’t so healthy. Bottom line is that you need a reason that truly speaks to you, and I can promise you that it has nothing to do with fitting into a certain dress size. Get deep, be curious, and embrace the true reason for wanting to hit that goal—then go for it!

Dedicated to MAPS

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NUTRITION

Do You Know the Biggest Misconception Around a Gluten-free Diet? Interview with

EMMA GALLOWAY

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New Zealander chef, mom and food blogger Emma Galloway was raised on the values of local and seasonal food by a family that grew much of its own vegetables with organic permaculture methods. Discovering that her children had food allergies prompted her to become creative in developing and sharing gluten-free vegetarian recipes, which was the kernel for her site “My Darling Lemon Thyme”. Parvati Magazine interviews her about her unique perspective on healthy eating. Parvati Magazine: How did growing up vegetarian and eating from your own garden influence your relationship with food? Emma Galloway: As vegetarians, we paid a lot of attention to what we ate, ensuring the right combinations of foods were eaten together to maximise the nutritional benefits. Eating seasonally was a way of life, especially as so much of what we ate came from my parents’ organic garden. Dried kelp and nutritional yeast were sprinkled on everything, we ate peanut butter and alfalfa sprouts on wholemeal bread at school, and banana cake was always made using wholemeal flour and topped off with icing flavoured with carob. My childhood shaped so much of who I am as a person, but nothing more so than the food I cook and eat now. Making food from scratch, with love, is something that I learned watching my mother in the kitchen all those years ago, where she’d spend hours preparing the most beautiful meals from our homegrown produce, cooked in our wood-fired coal-range. The simple beauty of my childhood, without modern “necessities” such as the microwave oven (something my parents, siblings and I have never owned), gave special meaning to the food that we prepared. And it’s this love for real food that I’m doing my best to pass on to my children. PMAG: What are the benefits of incorporating organic gardening in your diet and lifestyle? EG: Taking ownership of what you place into your body is the most powerful choice we have as humans. By growing vegetables organically we know exactly what’s going into our bodies, limiting the amount of chemicals we ingest while also protecting the environment from unnecessary synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

The current popularity of growing your own vegetables and eating mindfully is a definite sign that we’re all keen to take the power back. For far too long us humans have put our health in the hands of big corporations whose sole aim is to make as much money as possible, but slowly things are changing. PMAG: What would you say is the biggest misconception around a gluten-free diet? EG: That gluten-free food is expensive and not as delicious as gluten-filled foods. It can be pricey if you buy everything pre-prepared. I encourage people to instead start making their food from scratch as much as possible. Not only will their bodies be happier, but their wallets too. As far as gluten-free food not being as delicious as wheat-based, we've come so far in the gluten-free world these past ten years that I don't believe this to be true one bit anymore. Often glutenfree baked goods are even more delicious! I know tons of people who swear by my gluten-free pizza base recipe who don't even need to eat gluten-free, simply because it tastes better! PMAG: What is the biggest challenge(s) you’ve found with maintaining a gluten-free diet for both you and your children? EG: We've eaten gluten-free since my kids were tiny, over ten years now. At the start I found it totally overwhelming, as gluten finds its way into everything in our modern diet, from toothpastes to ice cream. But once I'd got my head around it all (which admittedly took about two years!) and had developed a bunch of dependable go-to recipes, it all became much easier. Now that my kids are older it's not something I have to worry about quite so much, but when they were little I'd never leave the house without safe nutritious snacks. It's not always easy to find gluten-free options when out or when visiting friends/family, so being prepared took the stress out of things. PMAG: As a chef and food photographer, what tips can you give us on cooking wholesome, healthy recipes that look as good as they taste? EG: Base your dishes around in-season fruits and vegetables, Mother Nature is the best at creating beautiful colourful foods which taste as good as they look. Dedicated to MAPS

27

THE TRUST FREQUENCY

THE THIRD ASSUMPTION WE CREATE REALITY BY THE POWER OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS

BY CONNIE BAXTER MARLOW & ANDREW CAMERON BAILEY Current Assumption Consciousness has nothing to do with reality. Reality is something external, something that happens to us. It was fixed in place long ago by forces beyond our control.

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he First and Second Assumptions proposed that the only thing that exists is Love. We live in a conscious loving Universe. We explained the unconditional nature of the Love that drives all things and gives us everything we ask for. This month we reveal the mechanics, the physics, behind the creation of the reality each of us experiences. What exactly is consciousness? That question has challenged scientists and philosophers from time immemorial. There are two fundamental types of consciousness that concern us here: universal consciousness and human consciousness. The former is the invisible, all-pervading primordial life-energy of the Universe. Human consciousness is the individual spark of the Universe which each of us experiences through our bodies, brains and minds. At the highest level there is only one undifferentiated consciousness, but we humans experience our individual realities through the filters of our minds and the contents thereof—namely our assumptions, beliefs, opinions and subsequent actions. The boundless diversity of existence is the everunfolding Universe coming to understand and experience itself and its unlimited potential for creative expression. The Universe explores its expressive capability by creating powerful, visionary creatures such as ourselves, each with a gift and a purpose on our soul’s journey to wholeness, and then setting us free. We are the roving sensory organs of this consciousness. The Universe manifests as an unlimited number of possible vibratory realities, each with its own distinct laws, each vibrating within its own distinct frequency spectrum. The inhabitants of one reality may be quite unaware of the inhabitants of another. The appearance that all of us share a pretty consistent world is because the “human reality show” is attuned to a particular set of frequencies. At some level, we, or the subatomic information/ Love we are composed of, have made an agreement to appear in this form, at least for the time being. As we said last month, the loving Universe is completely neutral as it fulfills our requests. Its Love is unconditional. The Universe reads the emotional or vibratory message we send it, and responds accordingly, just as the printer attached to our laptop

prints out precisely what we tell it to, once we hit the “print” button. The printer makes no judgment as to content. It simply follows our instructions. Consciously or not, we choose our frequency each moment of each day. We radiate the vibratory message, act accordingly, and BAM! Here we are in the reality of our choosing. We just don’t understand the complex nature of our “requests,” from the overarching choice to incarnate on our soul’s journey, to our minute-by-minute decisions as to where we direct our consciousness. If the various aspects of our consciousness are enmeshed in scarcity, fear and separation, we create precisely those things in our lives. Once our deepest assumptions about ourselves, about the world, about our bodies, about our species, about the Universe, come from a higher vibratory frequency, once we accept the fact that we are fundamentally good, that we are Love, that we are loved, and that the Universe is a supportive, abundant place, we effortlessly enter a higher frequency where peace, prosperity, serenity, generosity and joy are givens - beyond anything we can fathom in the current frequency. We contribute to the creation of a peaceful, joyful, abundant world for those around us, as our frequency influences their consciousness and the collective. Put another way, it is our state of consciousness (as manifested through our thoughts and actions) that does the creating, by determining our frequency, and by delivering our creative requests to a receptive and unconditionally loving Universe. When we understand that our consciousness has multiple aspects, and that our soul gave permission to the conscious loving Universe to take us on our journey to wholeness, our alignment with our divine nature, we enter a state of acceptance, of knowing “it’s all good.” A positive mind-set sees positive outcomes because it understands how the Universe works. Everything happens for us, not to us. That is the way it works. It’s the law. The loving Universe simply responds to the hidden contents of our minds, our consciousness. We’ll be back next month with the Seven “A’s,” an evolutionary toolbox that points out the seven aspects of our consciousness which determine our frequency and thereby our reality.

Dedicated to MAPS

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BOOKS

FORMERLY KNOWN

HOW THE INDUSTRIAL FOOD SYSTEM IS CHA BODIES AND CULTURE BY KRISTIN LAWLESS

As Reviewed By

AMY KELLESTINE

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n “Formerly Known As Food: How the Industrial Food System Is Changing Our Minds, Bodies and Culture”, Kristen Lawless provides an eye-opening look at just how much trouble our health and our environment is in as a result of our current approach to food. This book is designed to educate readers based on current science and facts and inspire you to take action— and it meets both of those goals exceptionally well. Lawless starts by detailing just how processed our food really is. Just about everything we buy in a package has been mechanically separated. 30

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The key components have been stripped of their nutritious bits (being less shelf-stable) and then a myriad of chemicals including artificial flavors, preservatives, fats, sugars, sodium, and synthetic vitamins are added in their place. These food-like substances are then wrapped in materials that leach chemicals which are known, independently, to interfere with our hormonal, metabolic, and neurodevelopment systems. No one knows yet what happens when these chemicals work together, but my guess is that it’s not good. Additionally, there are trace amounts of all the chemicals used to produce the “food” in the resulting products, including pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, growth hormones and antibiotics. One scientist quoted claimed that he “wouldn’t be surprised if the average American is consuming more than one hundred different additives a day.”

AS FOOD:

ANGING OUR MINDS,

The moral of the story is that the majority of us are not eating real food. She even explains how slippery and unreliable words like “organic”, “cage free”, “grass-fed”, and “heart healthy” can be as product descriptors. The barriers to getting real food are legitimate, even for those with ample financial resources. Such barriers include proximity to stores and fresh food markets, the amount of processing (even in organic products) and the length of time it takes to get the food to the shelf. The agri-food industry powerfully influences what we eat. I don’t know about you, but as someone who considered herself reasonably well informed about nutrition and makes a number of conscious buying decisions while at the grocery store and farmers markets, I’m glad to know the truth because it will now influence how I select and spend my money on food. Lawless shows how we get hooked on processed foods early, even before we are born; when our mothers eat processed foods while pregnant, we develop cravings for these foods. She also outlines the ways our diet is inextricably linked with issues of poverty, public health, nutrition, work, housework, gender roles, and ultimately the environment. She brings a rigorous investigation to recent research and studies about food to show how many of our current beliefs around food and nutrition were a result of either bad studies or information taken out of context to support marketing. All of this would be rather depressing, except for the fact that she concludes with a New Food Movement Manifesto, including wholistic suggestions for real, sustainable change.

In this highly accessible book, Lawless effectively connects the dots for the reader. Even a chapter on fats, a subject in which I usually get bogged down in the lingo of “saturated”, “trans”, “polyunsaturated”, and “monounsaturated”, was easy to follow with a handy legend and clear connections to health impacts. I was surprised to read Lawless’s strong opinions about gender roles. She explains that the invention of home appliances took away the traditional skills of running a house, and therefore the value of “women’s work” in the home. Lawless says the trend in society today is for women to work outside of the home, which has many spending long hours away from the family and leaves less time and energy for grocery shopping or planning healthy meals. Lawless states, “The deterioration of our national health is a reflection of what has happened in the home, and particularly our kitchens, over the past several generations.” Even though our survival literally depends on our nourishment, most of us consistently choose convenience over quality. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the various “nutrition facts” in mainstream media, believe that “calories in equal calories out”, are curious to know just how insidious food marketing is, or are concerned about the environmental impacts of our current food landscape, then this book is for you!

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Dedicated to MAPS

31

FILM

INCREDIBLES 32

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INCREDIBLES 2 IS INCREDIBLE, TOO As Reviewed By

AMY KELLESTINE

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he “Incredibles 2” is this year’s summer offering from the illustrious Pixar studios. Released fourteen years after its predecessor, it’s been a long time coming for eager fans.

This installment picks up after the original “Incredibles” ends, following the Parr family as they fight evil villains and navigate life. Most of the original cast returns, with Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter voicing the lead couple of Bob/Mr. Incredible and Helen/Elastigirl, and Sarah Vowell reprising her role as Violet. New to the cast is Huck Milner, who wasn’t even born when the first instalment was released, as Dash. Eli Fucile embraces his inner child as he returns to voice the baby Jack-Jack. Each family member has different powers, and works together along with family friend Lucius/Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) to help bring peace to the city. The plot, in and of itself, isn’t going to win any awards for creativity. It follows the essential superhero movie formula. The key characters are introduced, the villain appears on the scene, and the heroes overcome challenges to eventual victory. But what made this animated feature stand out to me were the hidden and not-sohidden messages throughout. First and foremost was the villain, “Screen Slaver”, who controls the population by hypnotizing them through television and other screens. The take-away for me was don’t make yourself a slave to the screens in your life. This summer, where kids are undoubtedly begging for screen time on any number of devices, I can’t think of a better message to send to a captive audience!

Another message was revealed when Elastigirl (Helen) was chosen over Mr. Incredible (Bob) as the superhero of choice in a superhero rebranding initiative. It was refreshing to see traits other than big muscles and a smash and crash attitude being valued. Additionally, the movie addressed the complexity of balancing the needs of family with working parents, with the added dynamic of Bob staying home while Helen works. Unfortunately, the movie uses the typical “dad is useless with the kids at home” and “mom doesn’t trust dad to do a good enough job with the kids” tropes at first. But Bob and Helen (and the movie) redeem themselves; he digs in to prove he can make things work on the homefront, and Helen chooses to trust him and focus on her career. There were other winning aspects of this animated offering as well, including the laugh factor and kid-friendly fight scenes. Aside from two pottylevel-humor jokes, the laughs are all clean and I heard the kids and parents laughing with equal gusto throughout. The fight scenes are engaging, but not too violent or drawn out and I particularly enjoyed the creativity of how each superhero used their powers to outwit and outmatch each other. The “Incredibles 2” really is fun for the whole family and is sure to warm your heart as much as it entertains you, so grab a loved one and some popcorn—and maybe think about what superpowers you have that could help save the world.

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Dedicated to MAPS

33

MUSIC

KOOLULAM: the power of a thousand voices sharing a song Interview with

MICHAL SHAHAF SHNEIDERMAN

When Or Taicher encountered a Facebook video of a mass prayer at the wailing wall, he was inspired to act. Joining with musical conductor Ben Yaffet and entrepreneur Michal Shahaf Shneiderman, the three set out to establish Koolulam, a social musical initiative that creates mass-singing events, for everybody and anybody. The result—including covers of Imagine Dragons’ “Believer”, Sia’s “Titanium”, and Matisyahu’s “One Day” that became viral videos—is truly remarkable. 34

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Parvati Magazine: How would you describe Koolulam to our readers? Who are the core members? How did it get started? Michal Shahaf Shneiderman: Koolulam is a social-musical initiative that was established out of a communal sense of a mission to connect people in a positive, hopeful and empowering manner. It all started somewhere in 2016, when we felt that Israel was experiencing growing social ruptures. For a long period of time, there had been a feeling of a certain parting of ways within the Israeli society.

PMAG: Do you bring the same musicians to each event or does it constantly change? MSS: While we have our own steady, and beloved, musical producer and keyboard player Yaron Eigenstein, other musicians vary from event to event. We always look to come up with an original and unique rendition for every song we choose to perform. Therefore, the instruments we will use may change from one song to the other, and with them the musicians. In addition, as part of its agenda, Koolulam aims to give a stage (in this case, very literally) to as many people as possible. PMAG: People have such a strong visceral and emotional reaction to the videos of your events. Why do you think that is? MSS: Part of the “magic” that happens at Koolulam is well understood by us. Yet part of it, we admit, remains quite elusive… as magic goes. On one hand, we can see how, when thousands of people sing one song, in three-part harmony, led by a conductor, one may feel elated. The sense of belonging is the first and foremost feeling that people report. When you sing at Koolulam, you are a part of something, even if it’s for an evening. The sheer magnitude of the event (usually in the thousands), is in itself a very powerful experience. There is something humbling in being part of a group of that size, not to mention the intense feeling of the reverberations of thousands of voices on your body. In addition, we feel that in a world of technology where each person is mostly in their own individual world, the possibility of coming together with strangers [in] a Koolulam event gives participants the hope and the feeling of togetherness.

willing to create something together, just for the sake of creativity and joy. A Koolulam participant cannot help but feel more trusting of their fellow human after such an experience. This not only leads to people being kinder to one another, but to people being more hopeful, which leads to people being courageous. And our world needs kinder, hopeful and courageous people. PMAG: You have a slogan “singing is believing”… what does that mean for you? MSS: It takes courage to sing. When someone sings, it means they are passionate about something. Too few people nowadays allow themselves to be passionate about something. At Koolulam, we want to rekindle that passion in everyone. We want everyone to stand tall and make their voices heard, with belief in themselves, and even better—do so together.

PMAG: What do you hope will happen by bringing people together like this? MSS: We believe that musical harmony has a chance to create human harmony. We see it in every event we have, time and time again—people come in, perhaps a bit timid and doubtful, and go out beaming and energetic, laughing with their fellow neighboring singers. We, as well as every person who participates in a Koolulam event, are amazed by the fact that absolute strangers are

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Dedicated to MAPS

35

BEAUTY

Love Your Nails This Summer with Kure Bazaar’s Award-Winning Naturals Interview with

KARTIKA LUYET

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to adorn your fingers and toes with an array of colours. If you love nail polish, you might know that the availability of top-notch natural nail polish lines does not compare to the wide range of natural skincare and makeup companies. Given that, it was a treat to speak to Kartika Luyet, the co-founder of Kure Bazaar— an award-winning natural-based nail polish line with over 60 colours. Parvati Magazine spoke with Kartika about the beginnings of Kure Bazaar, and how their no-compromise standards led to success. Parvati Magazine: What inspired you to start Kure Bazaar? Did you have a background in cosmetics before this? Kartika Luyet: It all began when I was pregnant with my son. I had this awakening and I started to be more and more conscious of what I was putting in my body. I chose as much as possible to eat organic and then it also drifted to my cosmetic choices. As much as I love nail polishes, during the first months after the birth of my baby I had naturally stopped wearing them. 36

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PMAG: Other polishes use formaldehyde and toluene. What are the ingredients you rely on? KL: The most incredible result for us is to be able to create a nail polish without compromise (long lasting, resistant, fast drying) by formulating “10 Free”, without [the] addition of toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, synthetic camphor, TPHP, paraben, xylene, styrene, benzophenone-1 or benzophenone-3. This is our secret, and people say that we have the most beautiful colors in the world. Perhaps because of the French fashion touch. PMAG: You have an extensive lines of colours to fit different looks, seasons and styles. What are your favourite collections and colours for the summer?

Since then, cosmetics have come a long way and today we can find a variety of natural options, but it’s unbelievable that no alternative of a classic nail polish—which would guarantee longevity and have a range of great shiny colors too—is available to find. That’s when I got together with one of my closest friends (who happened to be in the cosmetic industry for over twenty years) and seriously started to look into this matter. The most amazing thing is that we were then fortunate to work together with one of the best laboratories today, who accepted this challenge with us.

KL: This summer will be Nude, Nude and definitely Nude for the day, so I really love our Summer Collection with three delicate colors: Nomade, Sable and Kimono. They are all so chic and the perfect color touch for feet this summer! Of course, at night red is always a good idea. I love our “Lipstick”; [it is] not too orange, and [it is] very, very feminine! PMAG: What are you working on now at Kure Bazaar? KL: An amazing 100% organic oil for nails and cuticles, the most precious and effective product in this category.

PMAG: What surprised you the most about creating a natural line? KL: I have to admit, we were quite surprised ourselves with the results as the whole journey wasn’t always promising. I can tell you that it didn’t even seem possible at the beginning of our research, two years ago. Yes, we wanted a naturalbased formula, but on the other hand we were not willing to make any compromise whatsoever; it needed to be resistant, long-lasting, fast drying, with super shine and great colours. In other words, quite a challenge! And 85% natural-based ingredients is the highest percentage possible today to achieve these results. The outcome was then miraculous. Nature is capable of amazing things!

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Dedicated to MAPS

37

FASHION

Look Gorgeous

and Love the Planet at the Same Time Canada’s Sustainable

Fashion Awards

As Reviewed By

JOY ELKAYAM

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ach month, Parvati Magazine features designers who lead the frontier of fashion—created sustainably and consciously throughout the production cycle. This month, that work led me to Canada’s Sustainable Fashion Awards. This annual event is organized by Fashion Takes Action (FTA), a Canadian not-for-profit founded in 2007 to support the sustainable fashion industry on an international scale. FTA members who applied for consideration in this year’s awards were evaluated by a jury based on their sustainability practices, design, and business prowess. The jury chose three finalists, the winner of whom would be revealed by Canada's fashion maven, Jeanne Beker herself. Since I grew up watching FashionTelevision, which Jeanne hosted for 27 years, this was a high point of the event for me. 38

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When I arrived at the venue, Berkeley Church in downtown Toronto, there was a familial vibe among the industry colleagues. I spotted Jeanne in the crowd and eagerly waited until she had a free moment. Then, with my inner teenager full of nerves at the prospect of meeting this icon, I went over and introduced myself. She graciously shared her long-time insight on the fashion industry. On the current state of eco-fashion, she told me, “Anyone with a brain knows that it’s all we can hope to do. But it’s going to take a long time because it’s an attitude towards consumerism that really has to change... This is definitely a step in the right direction. It’s exciting to see what might happen.” On sustainable clothes, she added, “I think the progress that’s being made in developing new fabrications and not just creating more garbage on the planet— obviously that’s what the crux of it really is all about—is the most exciting thing for most designers that I talk to.”

Left: Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker. Right: Joy Elkayam.

After speaking with Jeanne, I was approached by Catherine Chong of Humber College, and was delighted to learn that two of her students, Lauren Desouza and Sandra Morose, had personally created the award to be given that night, from repurposed materials. Then we all made our way downstairs for the panel with the top three finalists: the outdoor clothing brand ANIÁN, the women’s clothing line Obakki, and the denim company Triarchy. Jeanne spoke with each designer individually, and then a thoughtful and passionate group discussion touched on the need for eco-fashion education to change the mainstream consumer behaviour, a commitment to environmental protection, and the responsibility to create clothing with social and humanitarian integrity. After the discussion, Jeanne revealed the winner to be Obakki and presented the award to their marketing director, Sola Desgagne. When I caught up with Sola afterwards to congratulate her, she said, “There’s no other way... in the past it has been ‘We want to do something, we should do something.’ And now, we simply must do something. This industry is just on the cusp. It used to be that there were sustainable brands and then fashion brands, two different things. It was actually to the point where Obakki didn’t always talk about our sustainable efforts. It was either a deterrent or it wasn’t a huge motivator for purchase. And now, people are starting to recognize that those two things can live together, and that there’s just as much fashion in the sustainable landscape.”

Left: Sola Desgagne of Obakki, winner of 2018 Sustainable Fashion Awards

Adam Taubenfligel of Triarchy, who had been engaging during the panel, shared with me that he had had a sobering moment years ago after he and his team watched the film “The True Cost”. “We said, ‘We’re done. We don’t want to be part of this problem… [so] are we quitting? Or doing something better?’” On the horizon for Triarchy, he says, are greater sustainable production practices. “I’m working on some LA-made, sustainably produced denim—using 98% less water than traditional.” One of ANIÁN’s new products also stood out. Paul Long, designer and co-owner, told me, “Our biggest excitement right now is releasing a completely natural hard shell. It’s 100% waterproof, 100% breathable, and 100% cotton. It’s the first of its kind in the world to be a full natural-fibered hard shell ... it’s woven so tightly together that you’re using the natural properties of cotton. When it gets wet, it expands and it becomes an impenetrable membrane. So I’m pretty stoked on that.” It was also refreshing to hear Paul’s desire to see “a lot more people switching to natural fibers. That’s a big one for me. I think it’s going to be the smaller companies that really spearhead that movement.” This was my first eco-fashion event, but it won’t be my last. FTA set the bar high with warmth and camaraderie among the finalists and community at large. I walked back to my car afterwards feeling uplifted by the chance to speak with people striving to not only make fashion, but to create in harmony with their social and physical environment. Dedicated to MAPS

39

COMMUNITY

International Marin Makes Waves for O Interview with

MARK PALMER

In 2002 the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) made waves when they rescued Keiko, the orca, seen in the movie Free Willy. This month Parvati Magazine spoke with Mark Palmer, Associate Director of IMMP, about their accomplishments and how to make a difference in marine protection. Parvati Magazine: Tell us about International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP). Mark Palmer: IMMP is one of the oldest projects under the banner of Earth Island Institute (EII). It works to protect whales and dolphins around the world and their ocean habitats. IMMP actively opposes whaling, supports restrictions on fishing to protect marine mammals, and opposes captivity for whales and dolphins. IMMP [also] established the Dolphin Safe label for canned tuna in 1990, which saves the lives of 80,000 to 100,000 dolphins annually. 40

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PMAG: When you rescued and released Keiko the orca whale from “Free Willy”, how did everyone at IMMP feel? MP: I think all of us felt very good about the entire process as it went forward, with hitches— but nothing that could not be fixed. His death, of course, was a sad shock to us. Likely, his years in captivity lowered his immunity enough that he caught pneumonia and died very quickly, despite administration of antibiotics. Keiko was one of the sickest whales in captivity when we got him — we rehabilitated him to be able to swim across the Atlantic Ocean by himself from Iceland to Norway! It was a great achievement. PMAG: What do you feel are some of the best ways to advocate for marine mammals and ocean health? What do people respond well to? MP: One of the strengths of IMMP is that we have a lot of experience in lobbying, legal action, and in using media and social media to address our aims. We recently produced our own short video “The Lives of Dolphins” to show

ne Mammal Project Orcas and Dolphins how captivity harms both dolphins and whales, not just orcas. We hope it will help educate the public to consider their support of aquariums like SeaWorld. PMAG: You are campaigning to stop the trade of dolphins and whales in circus performances. Businesses that host these performances are often geared toward a younger audience. How do you educate younger audiences to understand why it’s not great to see a dolphin doing tricks? MP: It is not easy, as the excitement and razzledazzle of these circus tricks certainly encourage young people to want to become dolphin trainers themselves. But many young people can connect with the size and sterility of the orca and dolphin tanks, and wonder why so big an animal is in such a small area with so little of interest. Captive dolphins have been removed from their families and their homes to live forever in small tanks with strangers, doing tricks for dead fish — not because they want to, but because they are hungry — and children understand all that and why it is wrong. Our task is to figure out ways

to get to these children with the truth about captivity. Social media and the documentaries help, but more needs to be done. PMAG: What are you seeing today in ocean conservation and species protection that has improved over the last 30 years? MP: There has been a lot more concern in the US for the health of the oceans and the protection of endangered species. Environmentalists need to do a better job of supporting candidates and getting out the vote. The commercial fishing industry, by and large, understands there are serious problems in overfishing and so often we can work with that industry to fix problems, as we have done successfully with the tuna/dolphin issue. Still, the threats to wildlife seem overwhelming at times. We did not have to face the problems of global warming, the myriad toxic pollutants, plastics, and other threats to the world’s oceans that are now consuming us. But I think we are making progress in many areas. Dedicated to MAPS

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BUSINESS

HOW TO AC THE FLO

(IT’S CLOS

Interview with

JAMIE WHEAL

Jamie Wheal, Executive Director of Flow Genome Project, is a leading expert on the neuro-physiology of human performance and a man on a mission to make the “genome of flow” available to everyone by 2020. Parvati Magazine spoke with Jamie to learn what that means and why it matters now more than ever. Parvati Magazine: Let’s start with the basics. What is flow to you? Jamie Wheal: It’s a peak state of awareness in motion, or awareness in action, where you feel and perform at your best. PMAG: Your book on flow, “Stealing Fire”, was a 2017 top business book. Why are organizations investing in flow training for their teams? JW: In the sense that twentieth century business was about solving problems such as how you build a fleet of airplanes and get them to come and go on time, the twenty-first century is about solving complex problems: everything from global refugees to the food supply. We’re managing many more facts that intersect with each other in complex relationships. 42

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The premium is not on information, but on insight, and synthesis. A lot of research shows that peak experiences are a more powerful place from which to gain key insights. But [to put it] simply, businesses are interested in learning to harness flow for sustainable high performance and heightened innovation and collaboration. PMAG: You and Steven Kotler have declared your mission to reverse-engineer the genome of flow and open-source it to everyone by 2020. What does that mean and why are you doing this? JW: The genome of flow is [about] the core building blocks at the level of neurobiology and psychology that put people into interesting nonordinary states. Once we know them, we can actually tune our bodies and our nervous systems and just put ourselves there. This in some respects upends the entire twentieth- century projects of psychology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry. Now we can just say, don’t worry about clawing your way into happier places, just take the steps to get there. There are a number of critical areas of society that can benefit from understanding these

CCESS OW STATE

SER THAN YOU THINK!) things. Specifically education, healthcare, senior care. It feels like the interior world in general, at least in the developed West, is in crisis. Suicides now outpace war and natural disasters combined as the number one killer of people. So the ability to feel our best and perform our best feels to be essential, both for our own interior well-being and also to be able to tackle the global problems we have. And we were not going to try to patent or trademark that which we feel belongs to everybody in the first place. It feels like it’s a human birthright. PMAG: Who are you partnering with to take flow to the masses? JW: We have lots of interesting research projects. We’re partnering with Deloitte on business and innovation research. We’re partnering with one of Canada’s top neuroscientists, Ryan Darcy, and doing a program with flow and trauma relief for first responders. We’re also rolling out projects for seniors, one in North America and now in one of China’s largest senior living centers. We have another great project happening in Minnesota using the flow profile with middle

schoolers to help orient them to pursue the things they are most passionate about. Our goal is always to provide pro bono help and support for anybody in the civil sector—on the condition that when they’ve done their project they write it up in a way that is useful and shareable for other people in their sector. PMAG: Why will the world be a better place when more of us learn how to be in flow? JW: Flow states and generally non-ordinary states tend to provide two things to us. One is the sense of our highest and best selves, which is often both healing and inspiring. The other is a very clear insight into the work we still need to do. What we call it is a combination of exostosis, the peak experience, plus catharsis, the healing. This gives us both the inspiration and the mending we need to go back into our lives and shoulder our burdens and continue marching up the mountain, with a bit more spring in our step and a bit more confidence in the direction we’re heading.

Dedicated to MAPS

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MAPS

THIS RENEWABLE E HELPING TO CHA

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n the astonishingly picturesque mountain village of Snowmass, Colorado, a five-day summit takes place every year that’s been called the “Davos of Clean and Renewable Energy”. The AREDAY summit is a program of the American Renewable Energy Institute (AREI). It provides a platform for high level cross-sector networking that results in investments, collaborations, strategic alliances and new initiatives. AREDAY brings together over 100 cross-sector speakers and includes a film festival, concert, electric vehicle show and environmental expo.

the environmental arena. Ranney has worked with three U.S. Presidents, including President Reagan who appointed her to his Commission on American Outdoors. In addition, she is CEO of Stillwater Preservation, LLC, a wetlands mitigation banking company, and is a Patron of Nature for the IUCN. This trailblazer for conservation has been recognized with the Horace Albright Award, the International Conservation Award, Earth Guardians’ Earth Stewardship Award, and the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) Lifetime Achievement Award.

And in June 2018, Parvati.org was a part of it.

Of MAPS, Ranney says, “This is a bold and courageous vision. It can be realized. Global momentum will build as more and more people learn of the tangible, potential benefits of MAPS – to protect the magnificent, fragile, and besieged Arctic and its vast biodiversity of underwater life. Thank you. This is a potential game changer, and we are with you 100%.”

On the summer solstice at the AREDAY Summit, Parvati.org’s founder the Canadian musician, yogini and activist Parvati gave a keynote address about the importance of protecting the Arctic polar ice with the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary (MAPS).

Fittingly, Parvati’s presentation took place on International Day of Yoga. The true meaning of yoga as union is the founding principle for Parvati’s all-volunteer not-for-profit Parvati.org. Inspired by its founder, everyone at Parvati.org performs selfless service, or karma yoga, to create MAPS. “The karma yogi knows that to serve another is to serve oneself, as there is no real separation between us,” says Parvati. “The summer solstice reminds us that Nature interconnects us all. The Arctic Ocean may seem far away, but what happens in the Arctic affects all life on Earth. With the ice melting quickly, it’s now our turn to give back to Nature and safeguard the Arctic Ocean.”

ENERGY SUMMIT IS ANGE THE WORLD Parvati explained to an audience of motivated and knowledgeable industry leaders how MAPS boldly addresses multiple issues facing our world today in one simple and immediate solution. Other AREDAY speakers included Dr. Sylvia Earle (Mission Blue), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Ocean Futures Society), Captain Paul Watson (Sea Shepherd) and Claes Nobel (United Earth). The AREI’s mission is to “advance the rapid implementation of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the speed and scale necessary to provide solutions of both the environmental and economic crises currently facing humankind and the planet.” As such, it’s a natural fit with Parvati.org. The Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary compels a global shift to renewable energy. AREI’s co-founder and president is Sally Ranney, who brings forty years’ experience in

Tragically, as this issue of Parvati Magazine goes to print, the beautiful forests near Snowmass are ravaged by wildfire after a lack of rain. Hundreds of homes in the area have been lost. In the past three decades, as the Arctic ice disappears, wildfire frequency has quadrupled. The thoughts of everyone at Parvati Magazine and Parvati.org are with those affected by such fires. We urge all readers to support the immediate realization of MAPS, the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary, to stabilize our world climate and reduce wildfires globally.

Dedicated to MAPS

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Thank you for reading the August issue of Parvati Magazine. We are all connected in vast ways, far beyond the limitations of our individual understanding. What I do affects you, and vice versa. We breathe the same air. At the heart of it all, we share the same heartbeat. The more we all stay aware of our interconnection and cultivate love for all beings, including ourselves, the more we strengthen the light of love in ourselves and them. Today and every day, may you be an instrument of compassion in the world. Love yourself. Love others. Love our world. We are one Earth family. Parvati

Parvati Magazine is a trademark published monthly by Positive Possibilities Incorporated. All rights are reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editors or the publishers. 46

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Dedicated to MAPS

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