Olives are another of the ancient fruits that have been used throughout the centuries as food and healing aids. Some olive groves are the oldest living plants in the world. The tree originated in Asia Minor and Assyria as a bush, where it was cultivated by using the root or branches (not the seed) and developed into trees.

If you practice yoga, you’ve probably noticed that yoga twists feel very rejuvenating. If you haven’t tried a yoga twist, you may want to check out Yoga Journal’s overview of twisting poses. Much like the motion of wringing out a towel, they compress and then release the muscles and organs of our body and leave us feeling cleansed and looser. Twists can be completed standing, seated or even while lying down.

On a daily basis I see the invisible power of relationship. I love being in relationship, it is the juice of the human experience. Our discovery and willingness to be in connection is a flicker of magic in the mundane of life. Intimacy makes me feel alive, and requires my utmost attention and presence. I can be intimate with nature, food, water, my ukulele, my lover, my body and breath. Recently my greatest teachings come from being Intimate with others. (*Note I do not mean Intimate solely as a sexual or sensual exploration).

Good quality salt can do more than flavor food. Salt is naturally antibacterial and has a plethora of uses. It has long been used for medicinal purposes, and has proved to be helpful with chores around the house. From sore throats to cleaning your silver, the uses for salt are practically endless. For all those anti-salt users out there, you may want to start reconsidering.

So what is it that salt can do for you? Here are 10 ways to get the most out of your salt.

Much of society (and the world at large) has been struggling through first and second chakra issues for what seems like all of time. These are the “most difficult” passages for the kundalini shakti to work through in the consciousness of “lower” man, as these chakras deal with basic, primal, sexual and ancestral issues. The previous article in this series discussed the first chakra and what both an asleep and an awakened root chakra look like/act like.

Now that the holidays are long gone, I’m gettin’ a little tired of this whole winter thing. I’m more than ready for springtime to warm up the frozen tundra that lies right outside my front door. Okay, I live in California. So, that may or may not have been a bit of an exaggeration. However, in all seriousness, I truly cannot comprehend how people even survive the subzero winters outside of California; I salute y’all.

I don’t want to “adult” right now. By that I mean I don’t want to be responsible, I don’t want to run any errands, I don’t want to show up and engage in life. What’s interesting is I don’t want to go somewhere else; I don’t want to swim with dolphins in Maui, for instance. I want to withdraw completely. In yoga, the term for withdrawal is pratyáhára.

Stinging Nettle Leaf sounds a little scary, but never fear — all it wants to do is take care of you. Here is why you need this all-purpose herb in your life.

In this New Year, a lot of people plan to become a healthier bunch, and the best way to do that is through the food they eat. Exercise is incredibly important, but diet may play an even larger role in determining how healthy you are and can be. With a little help from some inspirational tips, you can easily trick yourself into becoming accustomed to leading and loving a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle.

If you’re like me and generally need to round out a meal with a naturally sweet treat that does not leave you craving more, this is the recipe for you! Chia seeds, when mixed with liquids, become gelatinous – meaning that a little go a long way to fill you up. There are many health benefits to eating chia seeds, which are gluten-free and contain lots of protein, fiber, and healthy omega 3 fats.