Do You Really Lose Weight With Yoga?

If you want a simple answer, yes you do.  But if you’re looking for a long winded but more truthful answer, then no. One doesn’t lose weight by consecutively striking social media-worthy poses that you see professionals do quite effortlessly. The root of the problem here is that yoga is widely misunderstood for just one aspect that it represents: The poses or asanas, as we know them.

You Say Vanilla, I Say Vanillin

Wow! You went to Mexico on vacation and snagged a gigantic bottle of vanilla. Since vanilla originated in Mexico, it makes sense to you that you could get a deal like this.

Staying Sensitive In A Not So Sensitive World: Mantra Practice

Growing up I felt more at home in nature then in the classroom. I felt overwhelmed and anxious in groups, like there was just too much going on at once and I couldn’t keep up. Being an emotional creature, I could cry at the slightest sadness or shudder at a hint of fear. I felt raw to a world where every one else seemed numb. Then I discovered that I was not alone.

4 Reasons You Want A Succulent By Your Bedside

In the past three years, I have moved several times. And as I settle in to each new space, I always end up adopting various plants to scatter around my place. I have always tended toward ivy or spider plants, since I can’t kill them easily, and most recently I have taken some new succulents under wing. For me, having plants is partially for the aesthetic; a little green in my living space is refreshing and reminds me of being in nature, a place I enjoy very much. However, keeping indoor plants has just as many physical benefits as it does psychological.

Vegan Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Try this healthier version of French fries! By baking the fries instead of frying them and using sweet potatoes instead of the classic white Russet potato, you can keep more of the nutrients and leave behind some of the extra calories and fats. The seasonings can be used as moderately or as generously as you like and feel free to try out your own flavors! 

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes

Olive Oil

Salt

Black Pepper

Garlic Powder

Paprika

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Living Off The Grid: Straw Bale Cold Frames 101

The end of the growing season for passionate gardeners can be a bummer. But, to anyone who wants to grow food longer and start it out earlier, this is the article for you.

Being self-sustainable in every way possible is great, so growing your food – and as much of it as you can – is important. Cold frames are a great addition to any garden because you can use them to lengthen your growing season, both by giving plants longer to grow before it gets cold and also by allowing you to start some seedlings early.

The Beauty of Rose Water

In Ayurveda, the Science of Life, rose water is essential and used as both a medicine and a beauty treatment to balance the doshas and maintain youth. The beauty of the rose has long been appreciated and utilized as a symbol of love and healing. There are few women who do not adore receiving gifts of the rose and rose water is a gorgeous method by which to reap the benefits of the glorious rose, year round.

Spinach & Tomato Panini Recipe (Vegan)

Craving a cheesy sandwich? Try this simple and delicious panini! With just a few ingredients you can create a complex meal in minutes. The cool tomato, gooey cheese and slightly bitter spinach melt together with the balsamic vinegar and form a perfect balance of textures and flavors. I suggest using mozzarella-style cheese, but feel free to experiment with any of your favorite vegan slices. 

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread

3 leaves of spinach

2 slices tomato

4 slices of vegan cheese

Vegan butter

What's Better: Cooked or Raw Veggies?

Vegetables are certainly better for you raw. Or at least that's what we've been told. There has been an ongoing debate between raw and cooked vegetables. It is believed that cooking can deplete vegetables of their nutrients. While for some vegetables this may be true, it is not always the case.

While some vegetables lose nutrients as they are cooked, others gain them. How can that be, you ask? Let's take a look at these vegetables to see why some are better with a little bit of heat and some are better left alone.