July, Simply Raw, and Change

My daughter-in-law recommended the documentary, SIMPLY RAW: REVERSING DIABETES IN 30 DAYS. It is the story of 5 people with diabetes 2 and 1 person with diabetes 1 who head to the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona and switch to a vegan, raw food diet. Most of them had symptom turn around within a week. The real story for me was their resistance to change. Even when we know what is the best for us---what is going to make us the healthiest---we choose against it.

In my own life, I've noticed that I have to build an enormous amount of evidence that a change will benefit me before I can make and commit to it. How do you change? When have you made a positive change in your life and stuck with it? What did it take to get you there?

I'm trying to eat more raw foods and am mostly resisting it because I'm not that into food preparation and it seems like every raw dish is pretty labor intensive. Although last night, for dessert, I juiced some apricots and the results were so good. The thick texture and mixture of sweet and tart flavors were the essence of July for me. Good evidence.

I'm back in the Studio at the WRAC and due to popular demand, the Saturday classes are back! I'm teaching both this Saturday the 23d and next Saturday July 30th at 9 am. Please join me.

Namaste,

Dean

Vegetables!

Vegetables and lots of them. I watched Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead last night. If you have Charter-On-Demand it is there. It is an incredibly inspiring documentary on the extraordinary---and for these people quick---transformation through eating, juicing, and drinking plants. It is funny and touching and never boring. It isn't preachy at all and extremely practical. There are a couple of spots where it looks like they are doing some yoga poses!

Website here: http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/

Watch it!

Its a rainy day. I've got my yoga toes on. I just finished my morning practice including 50 Chauttaranguas! Time to throw some fruit in the Vitamix!

I'm on the schedule to teach next Saturday, the 21st at 9 am at the WRAC. New, earlier time---come join me.

Breathe deep and eat your veggies!

Namaste,


Dean

Vegan Dinner and Movie

Hey, there were two great vegan articles last week. A cheese conspiracy and now Power Vegans! Yes, I guess you can put the word power in front of anything.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07fat.html?_r=2&emc=eta1
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_46/b4203103862097.htm

I also saw Hereafter---Clint Eastwood's new movie. I liked it a lot. I think he dealt with the after life seriously but didn't hit his audience over the head. I almost bought some Dots to eat (I'm told they are vegan) but thought better of it. Nothing worse than a junk food vegan spouting off about the after life?

Tonight's class is about hips! We'll for sure spend some time in Banarasana after the Sun Salutations. Then do some Standing Pigeon and on the floor do what I call the Big Three---Gomukhasana, Ardha Matsyandrasana, and Agnistambhasana.

Blue skies and sunshine today! I'm going to get out and salute the sun!

Namaste,


Dean

Eat Your Vegetables!

Okay---I'm still at it. Vegan for about three weeks now. I feel good with lots of energy. Here is a list of books I've been reading for you to take a look at.

THE ENGINE 2 DIET by Rip Esseltyne--- The faux meat loaf recipe was incredible!
EAT TO LIVE by Joel Fuhrman--- Eat a pound of raw veggies and a pound cooked a day.
SKINNY BASTARD by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin---eat your veggies and laugh.
THE CHINA STUDY by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell---all the research you'll need or want to change your diet

Grab a bag of spinach, pick a nice restorative asana, and do some reading.


Namaste,

Dean

Clinton goes Vegan

Check it out! Bill Clinton has gone vegan and dropped 20 pounds! I'm vegetarian but getting closer to vegan everyday---I'm now working at cutting out dairy products.

If you haven't read the book BLUE ZONES by Dan Buettner you should give it a look.

The new skinny Bill might think about doing a few Surya Namaskaras and chaturangas!

You can read the story about Bill at http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/09/17/president-bill-clinton-confirms-hes-experimenting-with-vegan-diet/.

Namaste,

Dean