Revel in what is here in the season of the sun with sweet sunsets, backyard BBQs and playful sundress wearing weather. If you live in San Francisco proper, perhaps a jaunt over one of the bridges for a taste of summer will help you feel the season more fully. And, here is a little summer sun poem for you, by Mary Oliver called THE SUN…

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful
than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon
and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone—
and how it slides again
out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower
streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance—
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love—
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure
that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you
as you stand there,
empty-handed—
or have you too
turned from this world—
or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?

Receive the sun,
Amy

When she tearfully told me what she had to have done, we both cried. I love her so much. She is scared, to say the least, scared of the risks and scared of the loss and scared of it not being the same, the familiar, and the body she’s called home and grown attached to for 30-some years.

So we talked about it. She told me that she knows her lesson now is to learn that she is not her body and her love of self as well as others love of her is not about her beautiful body, it’s about something so much more vast that it cannot be contained in a skin-suit. I have never seen my friend so brave and so vulnerable and so beautiful as that night when she unveiled this news to me.

Exposed, disoriented from shock and deeply frightened, my friend is embarking on the biggest lesson she’s had in this lifetime about body identification. Only a powerful woman like she could see through this trauma to find her lesson in it, already, and what a blessing and inspiration that is.

Bless her,
Amy

Limited edition IO MANTRA apparel, yoga utility totes, and Saipua handmade soaps and candles are among the latest specialty additions.

The limited edition IO MANTRA t-shirt series is a tribute to wearing your wellness. Locally printed, the tees feature IO signature mantras of “PRACTICE SILENCE” and “STRETCH YOUR MIND. MOVE YOUR BODY. FEEL YOUR SKIN.” The tees, created under the direction of my good friend and creative visionary, Matt Dick, come in natural vintage white, heather linen and black. Good fit and very soft.

The IO Yoga Tote redefines yoga bag standards – on and off the mat. Made from a natural heavy canvas, the yoga tote is a completely posture-conscious bag and for the first time, shifts the weight from the shoulder to the hand. The hand-carried yoga utility tote brings simplicity and transformation to the wellness practice.

Saipua, derived from the Finnish word for soap, is now available at IO with its handmade soaps and candles. The soaps, carefully crafted in small batches, use food-grade vegetable oils, butters, herbs and extracts. Each bar is hand cut, dried and cured in the Saipua family-owned workshop. The 100% soy candles are beautifully packaged and each scent has a limited edition of 250.

Also available are very special local products from Juniper Ridge, fine purveyor of incenses, smudge sticks and sachet. These items are favorites of mine for scenting your space and for energetic room clearings. Yes, you can do it just like the shamans do!

That’s all for now from consumer headquarters.

Good stuff,
Amy

IO Foot Reflexology, a 30-minute soothing pressure point treatment is a worthy add-on to any IO Massage. Often misunderstood, reflexology is an ancient art that is more than a fancy foot rub. Each IO Foot Reflexology treatment begins with hot towels to soothe and cleanse. Luxurious In Fiore Pedicure balms in peppermint, chamomile or ginger are used to help heal depending on the client’s needs and constitution:

1. Peppermint is cooling and a classic choice for relieving overburdened feet.
2. Chamomile is calming and subtle and promotes grounding for body and mind.
3. Ginger is warming and stimulates circulation for those who need a chi boost.

Happy feet could mean a very happy whole entire body!

Be good to your feet,
Amy

And when the sunlight hits just right, in that Golden Hour, I feel him entering my skin, diving deep into my flesh, through my organs, touching every neuron, electron and quark, and zooming through to the other side of me, the side that never has an end or an incubation because it is always there. Unending.

It is the real me that he touches.

In that place of Sunlight Fingerprints, I unfurl and grow. I begin and end in that place.
There is nothing like the sun and his light.
Egging me on to INFINITY.

Sun-kissed,
Amy

The quiet can be downright intoxicating or whatever the opposite of intoxicating is. When I’ve gotten really quiet, as quiet and still as I have ever been, on silent meditation retreats, I have sunk deep into love with the silence and it has perhaps been my very best teacher.

For some 8 years and counting as I write this, the phrase, “Practice Silence” has been one of our IO mantras and one that has held me so well through these last years of personal discovery and nudged me to try to find out who the heck I really am.

My quiet time has taught me about having mercy for myself, and others, and about patience, of which I am not naturally endowed. Ha! Boy, has that one challenged me. And the silence has taught me to hear better what is really going on for me and what’s going on around me in my worldly experience. It’s taught me slowness. And pause.

I have such gratitude for the quiet moments, for silence, an unshakable awe and respect. Oh how beautiful it is. Subtle. Echoing. Poignant, if you open up to really listen to the quiet and go deep.

Try some silence,

Amy

Have you ever had a facial? Okay, have you ever had an IO Facial? Okay, so have you ever had the IO Organic Detox Facelift facial? Let’s just say, you might want to check it out. This one is as good as it gets in the land of organic facials. Period.

The IO Organic Detox Facelift is artfully crafted for those seeking purely organic anti-aging remedies. This supreme facial combines skin cleansing and enzymatic exfoliation and uncovers plumped, dewy, revitalized skin. Invigorating facial massage serves to pamper the skin, increase elasticity and stimulate the lymph for toxin and fluid release. Utilizing only pure organic ingredients, the facial draws upon the power of able hands to elevate both skin and spirit.

A pristine product selection of the best of the best includes organic luxury skincare lines such as Kahina, Dr. Alkaitis, Dr. Hauschka and In Fiore. Based on skin type and needs, our experienced IO estheticians create exact formulations for each client. To top off the skin-pampering experience, local organic edible products such as raw honey are added to seal in the curative benefits.

Love your face.

Try an Organic Facelifter,
Amy

Recently I got talking about dance to one of my teachers, a great healer named Doctor Linda who is a master level Naturopath, Homeopath, Acupuncturist, and a trailblazer in the study of Energy Medicine and Radionics. And she just so happens to love to dance. I love to dance too, although like most people, I am often shy about it. Linda told me that when she went through some very tough times more than a decade ago, dance saved her. She said she literally danced her way out of depression.

Now I can think of a lot of ways people try to undo depression. I can think of a lot of medicines and pills and counseling and recommendations and remedies that doctors and laypeople try in order to get un-depressed, and many of them work, but I really love the idea of this way back to balance. It is so empowering, body-healthy and just plain fun.

Okay, I’m not suggesting a person jump off Prozac or lithium in every case without a plan besides “dancing yourself well”, but hey I’m not claiming to be your doctor. I do, however, feel inclined to make a case for dancing as a joyful healing practice. There’s something about the rhythm of moving your body in whatever way feels liberating to you, at a given moment. And some people would even call it art.

When dancing to music, your body begins to re-rhythm itself. Re-alignment begins. I can report firsthand that dancing helps immensely to unwind me on a mental, emotional, and physical level. Following a drumbeat in movement initiated in the hips can actually help re-balance the second chakra where our will resides.

If you want some guidance on the road to letting it out on the dance floor and feeling really good doing it, here are two superior suggestions that have helped me dance along the path:

1. Dance Your Bliss
2. Five Rhythms

Keep on dancing,
Amy

Lately I have been noticing just how regularly this happens to me. The constant isn’t what happens, it’s actually how I experience what happens that matters more. It’s how I feel about something that flavors the experience, not so much what it is. I am seeing quite clearly that under certain circumstances, the mundane really feels joyful, the painful can feel pretty tolerable and the pleasurable can actually feel downright boring. It all depends on the space I’m in.

Experiences we come to know one way aren’t often what we expected. Everything is changeable really, and shifting constantly, so learning to balance with whatever comes seems the wisest, most joyful path. It’s the Middle Path, as the Buddhists call it, and it’s the recipe of being grounded in awareness itself that brings the clearest, most unshakable quality of peace.

Now that’s awesome, if you ask me.

So I am taking another step toward uncovering ways of teaching myself how to experience moments more fully and without expectation, and be more childlike again in my moving through the world. And what helps? Anything that engages me in the present moment.

1. Meditation teaches a concentrated focus on my experience of the here and now.

2. Creative outlets connect me to playfulness and self-expression which activates my focus on the present.

3. Physical activity helps me feel my body and grounds me in the moment.

Basically, anything that gets us out of our thoughts about the past or future and into our current experience widens our ability to interface with what is happening now, in this very nanosecond.

Try at least one of these practices daily. See what you think. Notice how you feel. And remember…

It’s all changeable,
Amy

Now I don’t have a history of going to church much, even though I went to a Jesuit university. And I didn’t go regularly to church growing up, even though my family was technically Christian. But then again, Glide’s not your average church.

Although Glide is a Methodist church it has a policy of inclusion of all creeds, colors, sexual orientations and socioeconomic situations. There’s a little sermonizing and there’s A LOT of clapping and standing and singing.

I recommend it highly as an uplifting, fun and expressive way to spend a Sunday morning. There are two sessions, one at 9AM and another at 11AM. It’s a full house so come early if you want a great seat; otherwise take what you can get.

Inspire yourself and sing. Feel a sense of connection and community. Check out Glide sometime when looking for something empowering to do on Sunday in San Francisco. It left a golden glow in my heart the whole day. It seems to have that effect on people.

Sing out,
Amy

My girlfriends tell me massage helps a lot.

I’m not a mom yet so I clearly can’t speak first hand about this, BUT just about all my close girlfriends have a baby or two on their hip these days and they ALL coveted some time on the massage table and took up the offer if they got the chance, especially in the third trimester.

Of course post-natal massage is a godsend for moms too but starting out the journey before baby with a little help from our massage friends, seems to be the desired path, and for good reason.

Although “eating for two” may be a bit of a misconception (with a baby on board the female body only needs an average of 350 more calories per day), the reality of making a baby is a tall order, and the body of the mama IS really “working for two”. And it does a body good, when it’s working so hard to have a lot of extra TLC.

For my friends and IO clients who are making babies, here’s a special treat for you…

IO PEACEFUL PREGNANCY PACKAGES
Soothe your soon-to-be-here bundle of joy and breathe your way to relaxation. Opt for 5 or 9 60-minute IO Mom-to-Be massages customized to accommodate expecting needs and schedules. Suggested full program: 2 during 8th month, 4 during 9th month and rest as you see fit.

Essential Package (5 massages) for $445 (save 15 percent)
Pamper Package (9 massages) for $775 (save 18 percent)

Thank you mamas. You work hard for the kiddos.

Your sister,
Amy

Listen up, if this sounds familiar…

So you’re getting married? You’re just about as excited as you can be about the man and the BIG DAY! You have already started planning (ever since you could talk?) and… guess what? Here comes the S.T.R.E.S.S. All of a sudden the term “bridezilla” that you thought could never apply to you is beginning to sound a wee bit close to home. Uh-oh.

Since I’m still part of the single crowd (which in my friend group is not much of a “crowd” anymore), I can’t tell you what it was like for me, but what I can say is that IF I was getting married I’d want to have regular back rubs from my hubby-to-be (yes, that is a prerequisite to partnership with me!) but I wouldn’t want to miss out on professional help either, professional massage that is.

Massage does a body good. Time at the spa helps. It’s good medicine for a busy body and mind to sit in the steam room, have a hot shower, lounge on the deck, quiet the beehive mind and forget (for a moment at least) the worries of planning and finances and list making and pesky relatives and do I look fat in this dress? and…

Erase the word “bridezilla” from your vocabulary. It’s been overused anyway. Relax and enjoy your special day.

And here, this might help…

IO BLISSFUL BRIDE PACKAGE
Perfect your glow for the big day. Slip into a series of 3 Custom Enzyme Facials and radiate all the way down the aisle. Extend your final facial to seal in ultimate perfection with 1 Decollete Love and 1 Bright Eyes facial add-ons. One step closer towards pure marital bliss. $379 (save 15 percent).

Congrats lovely lady,
Amy

Sound familiar?

It’s helpful to remember that it’s just a brain and it’s doing its job. In fact, when the mind is generating a lot of thoughts it’s actually doing it’s job really well. Kudos, mind, even though you are a pain in my brain a lot of the time. When the mind is at work it’s often trying to protect me as the operating system for my body. After all it’s with thought that this operating system works better than any other animal on the planet.

But we humans are well served to remember that we are so much more than a brain and the mind that is our constant companion. And it’s been providing me with relief lately when my mind is heavy and busy and feeling too full of thoughts, to use that very brain to remember…

It’s only a mind,
Amy

Over New Years I did a Kirtan Camp, of sorts, with Gaura Vani in Costa Rica. It was the cleanest and clearest celebrating of a new year maybe ever for me as we joined another kirtan group with Jai Uttal to sing in and ring in 2010. Connecting one voice with the voices of others, makes one singular powerful, uplifting, freeing common voice. The feeling attached can be rapturous even though it may sound hard to believe.

I encourage anyone looking to feel inspired to try singing a little (or a lot) but not in the interest of performance. Try a kirtan sometime and let loose to the power that is evoked when sacred mantra is sung. Kirtan is popping up more and more all over the Bay Area and in many cities around the globe. Gaura Vani and Jai Uttal and David Stringer are all great fun to sing with.

This weekend I will be singing kirtan with Sean Johnson from New Orleans at Laughing Lotus. Join me if you are interested. And you don’t have to ever have tried sometime like this to enjoy it. There’s a certain mysterious resonance to it all, especially if you suspend your disbelief.

And if nothing else, it sure feels good to use your voice and SING YOUR HEART OUT.

Get together and sing,
Amy

To put it plainly, hot mineral water is a great way to soothe and relax both body and mind. Sulfur, one of the main components in hot springs, smells like hard boiled eggs but is actually great for your skin, hair and nails. (It’s actually a prominent component of the keratin in your body.)

Mineral water is detoxifying and cleansing and draws out impurities. It’s kind of like immersing yourself in a whole-body facial, and having fun while you do it.

Indian Springs, in historic Calistoga, is a great resort if you want to incorporate an entire spa experience into your trip. They’ve converted their hot springs into an Olympic-sized swimming pool replete with lounge chairs and umbrellas. Growing up, it was a place a journeyed yearly with my family for a little hot water and mud baths getaway.

Esalen’s hot springs, located on the side of a stunning cliff halfway down Highway 1 in Big Sur, offer hot springs infinity pools with a panoramic view of the plummeting cliffs and the Pacific ocean. You should see the view from the baths. It’s world class. They only offer public access to the springs in the middle of the night, which sounds kind of strange, but can actually be a great twist on a camping trip in one of the nearby state parks or sign up for a workshop (they offer almost everything under the sun) and stay on sight.

My personal favorite is Wilbur. My friend and rocking yoga teacher, Sarana Miller was born on the property itself and her father still owns it. On a recent getaway to Wilbur, I quickly remembered how to relax and forget my stresses (or perhaps boiled them away in hot water!?). The special sauce was the combination of country sun and warm, healing water. Their motto, “In all the World, No Waters Like These,” holds true for me. Not only does that environment relax my body nearly immediately, but it relaxes my knotted mind.

Other folks say they really like Orr Hot Springs (in Ukiah) which is a lot like Wilbur, I’ve heard. Harbin is another well-known favorite near San Francisco although I’ve heard it’s more of a scene so I’ve tended to shy away.

Click here for a directory of hot springs across California!

Take the waters,
Amy

The woods, on the other hand, inspires me to bliss. Just like it did Thoreau.

Even though my heart tells me I could fall into full-time country living with joy, I am still tethered to city life. Some portion of urban life for me will be a reality in the foreseeable future. And I like the balance of both.

So the question becomes, how can I bring more country into my city life? How can I begin to bridge the gap that exists when I cross the GG Bridge from San Francisco into Marin County?

Some people enjoy strategically-placed houseplants or even a white-noise maker. For me, aromatherapy is a great way to inspire calm and remind me of the essence of nature. Evergreen-scented candles and rich woody incense are some of my favorite reminders of the wild.

Most importantly, I aim to spend time in the fresh air every single day – usually in the morning before the hubbub really starts – by going on a solitary walk around the quieter streets of my city neighborhood. Even a short walk counts for me. It’s a priceless way to reconnect with the glimpses of nature we’re lucky to have in San Francisco – the fog rolling in, trees wet with raindrops or dew, cherry blossom buds beginning to open, or a sweeping, majestic view of the bay and the ocean beyond.

Find your urban-country balance,
Amy

In Buddhism, the word “sangha” traditionally means “community of monks”, and it comes originally from the Sanskrit or Pali for “coming together”. Although traditionally in Buddhism it denoted a gathering of spiritually attained, ordained Buddhist monks, in contemporary speak, it means more loosely any gathering of community.

The basic principle of the sangha is that coming together in a community with a like-minded group of spiritual practitioners will facilitate each member’s path to enlightenment.

Even in Western cities like San Francisco, there are Buddhist sanghas everywhere. I sometimes drop in on one in the Richmond called Urban Dharma. (It was founded by renowned meditation preacher Noah Levine after the publication of his seminal book Dharma Punx. More info here.) Or, when I’m in Marin I frequent my favorite sangha at Spirit Rock.

With these two Buddhist sanghas, when we gather it generally involves a brief seated meditation, followed by a themed talk on aspects on the path to spiritual awakening in real life.

After my recent retreat and adventures in Costa Rica, I am reminded of a looser definition of sangha that I’d like to share. To me, sangha is any positive-minded community that you consciously create or join with the goal of creating a bridge to your better side.

For instance, a consistent yoga practice at a studio (like IO) can start to take on the aura of a sangha. It’s a place, after all, where like-minded practitioners come together with the goal of clearing their heads, breathing deeply, and finding more peace in their lives.

Another type of sangha might be a book club. Or a women’s group. Or singing in a choir like the one at Glide Memorial here in San Francisco. In other words, any regular gathering where we meet to reclaim our better, more balanced selves.

After all, truth is one, paths are many.

This month at IO we are starting our very own Tuesday morning sangha (called IO Renewal Tuesdays) for our staff members which soon will probably open up to anyone who would like to attend for the IO Sitting Circle, special yoga classes, and fostering community. Stay tuned.

Finding sangha,
Amy

Warm soup on a chilly, damp, foggy day… is there really anything better?

My M.O. is to spend an hour at the farmers market (my favorite urban market is at the Ferry Building in SF) and talk to the farmers about what’s in season and perhaps how they recommend preparing it if I’m needing guidance or inspiration.

On a recent visit, I learned all about heirloom varietals of beans that are only available fresh for a short period every year-like cranberry beans, which shell like English peas, but taste more like a hearty white bean. (Incidentally, they are so beautiful that it’s difficult to get yourself to throw them in the pot.)

I worship all of the aspects of cooking soup, from picking out the ingredients, talking to the farmers, washing the wonderful, mineral-rich, healthy dirt off the vegetables, shelling the beans, chopping and dicing and peeling, sautéing garlic in olive oil, and patiently watching the big pot of soup simmer on my stovetop for an hour, filling my entire home with its warm, rich goodness.

Homemade soup is not just a psychologically comforting phenomenon; it’s truly brilliant for your health, especially when made from farm-fresh organic ingredients. It’s also easy to reheat, lasts for days, and can be frozen for another night when you aren’t so much in the mood to cook which makes it the perfect healthy food for singles and families alike.

Make wonderful soup,
Amy

Equanimity is a calm abiding in a state of unemotional, compassionate and peaceful mind and it’s one of the core principles of Buddhist practice. Of course, it’s impossible for any of us only-partly-awakened folks to be equanimous all the time. This is a practice like any other. So we keep trying.

The point is to keep on keepin’ on. We aim for it, sometimes we fail, we forget, we lose our temper, sometimes we overreact and embarrass the heck out of ourselves… and then we remind ourselves gently and without judgment (on a good day) to come back. We practice this in ‘real time’ and in our ‘real life’, just like we do in meditation, with awareness as the goal.

Aside from our own state of peace and calm, there is an aspect of equanimity that concerns how we deal with other people’s “stuff”. It’s that place where we find an equal balance between being too involved (or even co-dependent) and being too detached.

I’ve found a few trick or treats on the path to equanimity:

1. When a friend comes to me with a problem, I invite my compassion and empathy to the party.
2. I focus on listening instead of giving advice. This one can be hard. But, less is more, here.
3. As Alanis Morissette screamed in her 1990s anthem, “I am NOT the doctor.” So when I am being most skillful, I help my friend talk through their own options. That’s far more empowering for them (although this way I don’t get to hear myself talk. Ha!).

From a yogic perspective, we all have to deal with our own karma. If we try to “fix” someone’s problem for them, we hijack their opportunity to work through their personal karma. Or to put it another way, if we step in to save the day then we know how to solve their issue, but do they? Often not.

And here’s yet another nuance of equanimity, and perhaps the hardest one of all to master: not letting the people who really bug us, bug us. They will likely still trigger us. We all have people who bother us. These preciously annoying creatures and moments are where powerful lessons are learned, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. And even if the lesson is to walk away from that relationship or experience.

If we learn to bring compassion to those extremely challenging (or just slightly annoying) situations and even to those people that trigger us the most, then folks, we’ve made some major progress on our path to equanimity.

Keep practicing,
Amy

That’s a quote I love, by James Michener. Pretty much covers it, right?

In a nutshell, this message captures how I aspire to treat my own life. Rather than compartmentalizing work versus personal time, I treat the two as extensions of one other. And while it hasn’t always been as clear as that for me, and it continues to be a work in progress, I love to integrate. When I practice taking my yoga “off the mat” and into the world, this integration brings more connection, balance, and breath to my experience.

I know it may be easier for me to set out on this goal of integrated work and play since I co-own a business and intentionally created an environment with more freedom to connect my life. And I know that for many of my friends who choose instead to work a “job” job, it can be a tougher project to stay connected to themselves at their 9-5.

Wise folks say that the key to success in a career (or even a job) is to find a way to get paid for what you already love to do. For myself, founding International Orange, fostering a wellness community, and developing a line of organic skin and hair care products that I truly believe in, has been very energizing and rewarding (although not always a breeze). And the adventure continues.

When we have the guts to seek out our own blessings, the world begins to morph for us and it can actually happen quickly. In the way that the choices we make open up certain doors for us, what we choose, becomes who we are. And we always have choices, as frightening as they may sometimes seem.

But if we still feel we can’t make a shift now, then what do we do? Make one anyway. Okay, but if we still aren’t ready to do that, then what? Then we find the part(s) of our job or situation that do feed us, and focus there. A calm, joyful attitude will open a window in the mind to let the breeze in.

Integrating,
Amy

A local sangha (or community) group called Urban Dharma that I drop into on some Friday nights in SF’s Richmond District, was started by Noah Levine and a group of folks who discovered Buddhism and meditation through their paths in recovery from substance abuse.

Meditation – and particularly in a sangha format – is such a powerful tool for helping us to get past our addictions, whatever they are. Insight meditation, in particular, helps us to connect to the emotions behind our cravings and learn to sit with our feelings, no matter how painful and difficult they may be.

A regular meditation practice helps me to stay grounded and real with myself. Because I sit every day, I am more inclined to pause and notice my behavior ‘off the cushion’, as we say. When I find myself mindlessly reaching for that cup of coffee or that second glass of wine I don’t even want, my witness voice pauses. Even that pause itself is helpful in affirming my personal awareness, regardless of if I choose to have the drink.

Certain friends of mine who really struggle with their addictions have found concrete relief through their participation in sanghas and their exploration of Buddhism. Although I myself have not attended, I’ve heard of a group that meets at the Zen Center every Monday night at 7:30. It’s an alternative to AA if that format or the traditional ‘higher power’ verbiage and philosophy doesn’t compute.

One of the most empowering aspects of meditation, in my mind, is that it encourages us to find the higher power within, or, to put it another way, to surrender to the fact that even if we believe in a higher power, it’s not going to make our decisions for us or walk our path for us. That’s our own job, task or privilege, depending on our perspective.

And cultivating faith within this landscape is wise work. It helps us walk on our own, without the crutches.

Have faith,
Amy

If you take a workshop on dreamboarding, they’ll often kick it off with a visualization meditation to help get you “in the mood” which I have yet to try, but sounds like a helpful idea.

Think of that special something you are seeking. It might be tangible, like a home or a car or a new dress. Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a pet but haven’t known how to find the right one. Or for a lot of us, it’s a partnership that we envision. Perhaps your dream is more esoteric. World peace? Inner bliss?

Whatever it is (and it can really be anything), you can construct it on paper. All you need is a piece of cardboard backing (the side of a box works fine), some old magazines or catalogs, glue and scissors.

What I love about dreamboarding is that it brings out creativity (the inner artist), and as you may know from past blogs, I’m a firm believer that we all have one. At the same time, it’s a powerful manifestation tool. While the process of making a dreamboard is in itself so empowering, the art that you create through the process can be a tangible visual reminder to yourself to stay on track with your dream-goals, your deepest desires.

I like to hang my dreamboard in a place where I see it each day. Sometimes I feel private about it so I keep it in my bedroom. But sometimes I want to share it and expand the power of it by allowing other people to see it, which I like to imagine might make the manifestation power of the dreamboard exponentially stronger!

Dare to dreamboard,
Amy

Conceptually, the practice of Slow Food has been around since humans first became a civilized people: eating food made with consciousness and care, from only local and seasonal sources. (In essence, it’s the opposite of fast food.) The phrase “Slow Food”, however, is a relatively new one.

In California, we are lucky to have a large variety of local and seasonal fruits and veggies year round. Not to mention the plethora of local organic farmers and vendors who raise their animals ethically for meat and dairy. So it’s not much of a hardship to eat according to the Slow Food rules.

Buddhists call it “Right Eating”.

Unfortunately, unless you have a lot of time on your hands to research what’s in season and organic, it can be intimidating to devote yourself to Right Eating. When was the last time you were at the grocery store and bought okra? Or persimmons?

There are several Bay Area organic vegetable delivery companies that make Right Eating incredibly easy. Getting your groceries delivered to your house sounds pretty lazy and decadent. But it’s actually a great deal.

They literally drop a box of amazing, seasonal, local, organic and actually quite diverse veggies and fruits at your doorstep once a week. You don’t have to do any of the work to figure out what’s in season, and sometimes they even include recipes and suggestions on how to use your produce.

There’s a freedom in not having to decide what to buy, although with some delivery companies, you can manage your orders to detail. Two of the biggest box delivery companies are Planet Organics and Farm Fresh to You. It’s easy to sign up and requires virtually no effort on your part once you get it going.

If you’re interested, there are a lot of great books on the subject, favorites being “Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan and his new one, “In Defense of Food“.

Slow down and enjoy,
Amy

Recently I blogged about the chakra system and how it can be used as a metaphor for healing the various aspects of ourselves that make us whole, happy human beings.

I also respond learning about the animal totem system employed by native peoples of the world and namely the Native American traditions. Animal totems are an aspect of paganism that ground us in our connection to the natural world.

In the shamanic traditions, animal spirits are considered our “allies” and are aligned with us to guide and lead us through our lives with their intrinsic, intuitive wisdom. One resource I found calls animal totems “imaginary guides on your life journey”.

For instance, if you are going through a phase in your life of feeling overly dependant on others, the cat might be your animal totem for channeling feelings of independence and solitude. The frog is a totem of personal transformation and metamorphosis.

For me, an animal totem that shows up lately is the skunk. Don’t laugh! Shamanic belief is that skunks teach us to assert ourselves and garner the respect that we are due. Skunks are fearless, yet peaceful…. two qualities I strive to attain in harmony with each other.

Not surprisingly, those with a skunk totem are also strong advocates and users of scent in their lives. Being that aromatherapy is a huge part of my business and one of my personal passions, that makes sense.

When I see a skunk, instead of freaking out, I have a much more friendly and inquisitive response. Of course I’m still not going to let her spray me.

The most powerful aspect of the belief in animal totems, in my mind, is the reminder that we are a part of nature. Being more aware of our interactions with the animals in our lives -whether they are house pets, urban pests, or country wildlife – helps to bring us back into harmony with our true nature as natural creatures.

Not every healing system works for everyone. The trick is to find ones that speak to you, that jive, and then use it as a doorway to learn more about yourself. Let these doorways be your Bridge to Your Better Side.

Listening to the animals,
Amy

The chakra system is a perfect example of this.

A lot of us are into yoga. We love the physical practice, the calming effect, and even some of the more exotic rituals like chanting and breathing practices. But when teachers start talking about chakras, many of us glaze over.

As Western thinkers, it’s easy to write off the idea of chakras as a hocus-pocus new age idea with no tangible link to our physical beings. But within this ancient Sanskrit belief system, I believe there is a lot to be learned about our present-day relationship to physical, mental and spiritual balance.

In the most basic terms, chakras are energy centers in the body. We have seven of them:

1. Muladhara (the root chakra)
   
2. Swadhisthana (the sacral chakra)
   
3. Manipura (the solar plexus chakra)
   
4. Anahata (the heart chakra)
   
5. Vishuddha (the throat chakra)
   
6. Ajna (the third eye chakra)
   
7. Sahasrara (the crown chakra)
   

Working with our chakras – even as symbols of how we treat ourselves – gives us an opportunity to create real transformation within us. Visualize the connection between your chakras, and you take a step toward Building a Bridge between what may seem like disconnected parts of yourself, but are actually intrinsically linked.

For instance, when the link between your heart and throat chakras is blocked, you will have trouble communicating your feelings and intentions clearly. Yoga asanas or breathing exercises that serve to open up the chakras and connect them together can help you bring attention and awareness to your lines of communication.

The fact that this energy system is typically illustrated with beautiful drawings and vivid colors and symbols shows how the chakras are integral to your own creative nature (and you do have one).

Chakra-love,
Amy

I try to get away whenever I can. Extensive travel has always been a part of my life. From the time we were infants, my folks used to strap me and my brother Garrett into backpacks and set off on adventures. By now traveling is in my blood.

My parents now live on and work their own ranch-style organic farm in New Mexico, and I recently returned from a visit down there, where I took part in the annual “crush”.

The crush is a time to gather with family and friends, work the land, and help harvest the year’s crop of grapes for the making of traditional balsamic vinegar – like they’ve done for some 1000+ years in Modena, Italy. Years back, my family ventured to those parts to explore, and we brought back this beautiful tradition.

This year I went straight from the isolated desert of New Mexico to the frenetic pace of New York City. The transition was humbling. But having the flexibility to land on my feet and acclimate to the present moment, wherever I am, is an empowering feeling.

From my earliest memories of traveling in Mexico as a toddler with my parents, travel has always taught me loads about exploration and self-sufficiency, exposed me to the exotic variety of the world, and showed me that we can alter our reality quite easily albeit uncomfortable in moments. Sometimes a location change can speed up our self-growth in a way that’s, dare I say it, enlightening.

And every time I escape from the so-called bubble of the Bay Area, I am always amazed at how many variations there are on happy, satisfied lives.

I think of travel as an educational opportunity one could never get from a book (although I do love my books). To paraphrase a quote I love: a thousand words cannot describe an apple in the same way as one single bite.

May we bite into life, vigorously and often.

Exploring,
Amy

The Organic Detox Facelift is our brand new facial on the menu at IO. To call it a facial is underselling its magnificence, as it’s really a holistic combination of a whole body skin-invigorator, blissful head and neck massage, and skin savior.

The Organic Detox Facelift employs a pristine selection of my favorite skincare products, some of which we sell in our boutique, and some of which we reserve for back-of-house treatments. For this skin-pampering experience, we use the best of the best.

An exact formula is always tailored to your particular skin type and needs, but we’ll customize a combination of all-organic luxury products by Kahina, In Fiore, Dr. Alkaitis and Dr. Hauschka… all personal favorites of mine.

Oh, and some raw, local, organic honey for your face. Yum.

Getting a facial is a sensory experience that always reminds me to treat my skin a little better. And spending 75 minutes in the loving hands of our one of our experienced estheticians is a gift I give myself whenever I can.

Beyond caring for your skin, it’s about caring for your whole self – body mind and soul. ‘Cause ain’t that what it’s all about?

Happy face,
Amy

I was flipping through a book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (great autobiographical chronicle by Barbara Kingsolver, incidentally, about an experiment with growing all her own food for a year) and I learned about a progressive seed company called Seeds of Change.

Seeds of Change is a New Mexico-based seed company that takes it one step further than organic. Their seeds promise to be untouched by the hands of genetic-modification and other sorts of scientific meddling.

As a company, Seeds of Change is committed to bringing back nature’s finest in the form of heirloom vegetables and flowers.

(I’m so enamored with the mission of this company that I want to repeat their a splice from their web site:
“Our organic seeds represent a starting point for change. They epitomize the best of our genetic heritage…”)

I was already intrigued by Seeds of Change when I just happened to see a display case of their products at Pharmaca. I loitered there for quite a while, salivating over the lavender bergamot, the cinnamon basil, and the medicinal borage.

Now, I am not exactly set up for gardening in my urban apartment, but I want to do my part to support this company by spreading the word.

Because growing your own heirloom vegetables and herbs – even just for fun and one at a time – isn’t that another lovely way to build a bridge to your better side?

Seeds of Change,
Amy

I cherish the dialogue these conversations can foster, and hope to incite and inspire a sense of community. In my own community, I have a ground rule I try to stick to.

Spend most of my time with people who like me for who I am (not what I might be able to do for them or what I might become someday, but who I am as is). Easier said than done?

Now you are thinking, “obviously that would be nice but is that even possible?” Yes, I know it’s possible and I think it’s incredibly important. On the flip side, it’s important to recognize that not everyone will like you for who you are, and that’s just the way it is. I love this saying: “It’s none of my business what you think of me.” It seems to help. And yes, sometimes it’s important to learn from those who don’t like us or vice versa because of the mirror they put up for us, but that’s a blog entry for another day.

Through the years, I’ve learned to cultivate a group of friends and business cohorts who appreciate me as I am most of the time… and vice versa. Unconditional love is the best medicine, and friends, family and community members who support me as is make me feel accepted and beautiful in the here and now. It’s that simple although living in the simple may feel very complicate at times, especially if you are in a phase of waking up and shedding the Negative Nelly’s from your inner circle.

Somehow, unconditional support builds a landscape for authentic change and growth to bubble up more naturally. Being unconditional is a practice and a tough one for the human brain (in fact conditionality is a necessary albeit overused defense mechanism), but when it comes to healing the human heart, unconditional love is the special sauce. With it, we can relax into becoming our truest selves, when given the space and freedom to discover it without pressure. This work is worth it.

And no, you can’t always love everyone, no matter how “spiritual” you try to be (unless we’ve reached enlightenment). Clearly, people are complex, and personalities don’t always jibe. But if you do your best to surround yourself with people who like you (the REAL you) there’s a good chance you’ll be a lot happier.

Allow room for your true, authentic self to flower. It’s that part of you that is the most lovable and unique side of you anyway. Let ‘er rip.

Love,
Amy

This time, though, I was inspired by some reading I’ve been doing on growing vegetables. Living in a city apartment, I’ve never really considered growing my own food, although my parents are gifted farmers / gardeners and I was raised around fresh, homegrown fruits and veggies.

I decided to see what would happen if I set these baby peas aside in a dish of water.

A few days later, they turned into fledgling pea plants. They thrived in the water and the sun, and started reaching their brave little shoots up to the sky.

I transplanted them into some leftover soil I had lying around from a less hardy houseplant, cracked my kitchen window, and watched them grow, enthusiastically and almost visibly. Every day, they added a few inches of tendrils and fresh leaves.

I don’t know if I lucked out, or if the non-GMO, organic peas I culled these seedlings from were just naturally inclined toward vibrant life, but watching them grow up has been an empowering, metaphoric experience for me these last few weeks.

If an unassuming little pea can turn into a beautiful, shiny plant in a matter of weeks, surely our existence on this planet is not as doomed as some seem to think it is these days.

Thank you, pea plants, for reminding me of the miracle of life. And thank you for reminding me to appreciate a few of the most divine yet simple things I have available to me every day: water, sunshine and fresh air.

Plant miracles,
Amy

The basic premise of reflexology is that areas of the feet correspond to other areas of the body, and that by massaging, pressing, rubbing and otherwise probing these areas, stimulation of the body’s qi will create healing and decrease pain. How cool of an idea is this?

I love the metaphor of the feet being a bridge to the entire body. I also love to have my feet rubbed. Feels so good, especially when those dogs are barking.

At IO we supplement our reflexology treatments with the luxury of In Fiore Pedicurie balms in peppermint, chamomile or ginger. Depending on your constitution and your particular needs that day, each aromatherapeutic balm carries with it a specific healing capacity:

• Peppermint is cooling and a classic choice for relieving overburdened feet that are stuffed into hot shoes all day.
• Chamomile is one of the more calming herbs and its subtle, earthy scent conjures up a grounding low vibration for your body and mind.
• Ginger is warming and stimulates circulation for those of us that tend to need a little qi boost.

Whether or not you believe that areas of the feet literally map to other systems of the body, the basic truth is this: a foot rub sure does feel divine, and we all deserve to pamper our piggies once in a while.

Be your own foot bridge to health,
Amy

In particular, supporting local farmers is one of the most proactive choices you can make as a consumer. Buying local, in-season food not only boosts our local economy, cuts out the agro-industry middle men, and cuts down on fossil fuel waste; it’s also better for you.

And here’s a not-so-secret fact: local organic food that goes from farm to plate in a matter of days (sometimes even same day) tastes way better too. That’s because it contains more nutrients, less chemicals and modified genes, tends to be picked when ripe, and doesn’t spend half its life sitting on a truck.

I like to think it’s also because fruit and veggies that are grown and picked by a local farmer are raised with love. The same might be said for buying local beef, pork and chicken that were allowed to lead stress-free, normal lives before their time came.

(If you really want to horrify yourself sometime, try googling the word “CAFO”, or simply click here to read the EPA definition.)

If you need some inspiration to take it local, read Barbara Kingsolver’s marvelous memoir Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.

Or check out your local farmer’s market. You have one. Here is a list of Bay Area Farmer’s Markets.

Last tip, and my favorite new web resource: The Local Food Wheel.

Eating seasonally and supporting local farming bridges the gap between your cash and the hand that feeds you.

Bridge the food gap,
Amy

I talk to friends and relatives on many corners of the planet on a regular basis and at all times of day. And almost unanimously people say that the most practical invention of this era, and my lifetime, is the internet.

I guess I am lucky, because I like to write and taking care of things via email is a natural tactic. But often, something is lost in translation. When it comes down to it, there’s nothing like body language, or a nuanced word, or even just good old eye contact. Be careful. Internet communication can become yet another TO DO list that has the potential of pulling us away from our individual path and priorities.

Because of our ability to communicate with multiple people at a time, work from home and transact deals so efficiently with the touch of our fingers, we may lose sight of our actual physical communities. I think about about ways to keep the face-to-face in my life.

It might start with putting down the cell phone and getting out there. Or it might begin with shutting off the computer and being quietly with myself for a few minutes or even an hour or two. Maybe it’s taking the time to make eye contact with a neighbor. Stopping to chat. Asking them what’s up. And then really listening.

Community has long been considered a personal support system that can keep us afloat in hard times. (Thus the success of institutions like AA and so many religious organizations and groups.)

In today’s world in flux, community can serve as your bridge over troubled water, which just happens to be IO’s working mission for this current climate of change and turmoil. Last week we closed down business for our yearly IO Renewal Day to refresh the spirits of our team, build community, and renew the space we work and play in.

And provoking that sort of community by making more of an effort to interact with people in person, and with yourself in person, well, that’s what I call building a bridge to your better side.

With your eyes, your ears and your heart. It makes a difference.

Create community,
Amy

The fact that we tend to sleep poorly, eat badly and exercise less when we are going through hard times only exacerbates the spiral effect of stress.

Even when the rest of your life seems hard to manage, even if it doesn’t seem like it, you always have some degree of control over how you treat your body’s largest organ, and getting a grip on your skin is just the first step (and a great bridge) to feeling in control of your body and your life.

AGUA
It starts with drinking lots of water.

The whole eight-glasses-a-day thing can be tedious, but I’ve found that spiking my Hetch Hetchy with herbal tea or citrus and then drinking out of an old-fashioned Ball Jar can make it more enjoyable. (Plus, the Ball Jar has ounce markings so I know I’m getting my measurable eight-per-glass. In fact as I write this, I have an 8 ouncer half full of agua con ginger y lemon. I’ve got a ways to go on my daily in-take, but I’m well on my enjoyable way.)

KEEP IT CLEAN
Keeping “cooties” off your skin is also important. We tend to touch our face when we’re nervous or bored. Consciously avoiding the spread of bacteria from your hands to your face helps prevent those unsightly eruptions (yes, pimples).

MOVE THAT BOD
Yoga is great for circulation, and therefore great for your skin. So is a brisk morning walk, or any outdoor time / fresh air you can squeeze into your schedule.

TREAT YOUR SKIN
And when some time frees up in your schedule, consider rewarding your skin. She works hard for you, quietly holding it all in, and she is your biggest organ. I’m partial to rewarding my skin at IO. It sounds like C Magazine agrees by the recent rating in their Best of Summer issue that names our fabulous Custom Enzyme Facial “Best of State Top Five”. But, then again, I don’t need to be convinced.

Keep it simple.

And reward your skin,
Amy

The other is this insightful Ani DiFranco quote I stumbled upon:

“I find it metaphorically resonant that a pregnant woman looks like she’s just sitting on a couch, but she’s actually exhausting herself constructing a human being. The laborious process of growing a human is analogous to how a woman’s work is seen. It’s hard to recognize, because a man’s work has such extravagant evidence – skyscrapers, for instance – while a woman’s work just makes the world quietly turn.”

Our western culture was founded on and highly validates masculine qualities like ambition, stoicism and action. This is how a capitalist culture thrives, at least on the outside. In my own past, I’ve excelled at tasks and have been very driven, whether it be in school or with starting my own business early on. And I have earned benefit and burden from this hard work and effort.

But the beautiful truth is that there is a yin to every yang, and while we plow ahead relentlessly with our careers and goals and drives, the feminine energy all around us yearns quietly to keep us balanced. The pertinent question is, are we listening to the feminine voice? Are we listening to her soft call? For a long while, I can say that I wasn’t listening.

I observe so many of my female friends starting families and having babies. It’s amazing to witness them retreat into the knowledge of their own bodies, to trust in the harmony of nature and learn to just relax into it. So without that happening for me, I am self-imposing these feminine skills.

To me, the positive attributes that define the feminine in our culture are things like: being more fluid and flexible, honoring collaboration, downplaying hierarchy, and cultivating creativity. I strive now more than ever in my own life to invite these qualities into my world, into my personal life and into IO. We look for teammates that can share these same aspirations and invite both precision and accountability as well as fluidity and creativity. That is balance. And balance is what we all seek on a soul level.

Embracing the feminine within isn’t just a requirement for women finding balance. For men, integrating the concept of the feminine and all her ways of being in the world can actually take the pressure off “fixing” everything. That can really liberate the dudes in our lives.

I know this can be a hard sell to the manly-man, but it could be the golden ticket to wholeness and joy for both sexes. What part of you, are you leaving out?

And, by the way, if by writing this post I am accused of being a Goddess worshipper, then so be it. It’s about time.

Circling life,
Amy

In the yoga world especially, there’s a lot of talk about being “on the path”. In other words, heading in the direction of being in a “better way” with yourself and your world. Plodding ever closer to enlightenment and freedom where there is no suffering for body, mind or spirit. Sounds like a worthy cause, right?

I do believe that it’s important to teach kids, and adults alike, that our potential is limitless and that we should dream big. This is an empowering, democratic attitude. And it’s the language of hope and of the visionary and the believer that is available in all of us.

But there’s definitely room for more than one philosophy. It’s not a one size fits all thingy. Try this one on for size: accept yourself just the way you are. That’s quite a slippery spiritual endeavor actually and could take a lifetime or ten to master. And it’s as good a pathway into transformation as any.

Pick a door, any door. The key is to pick one. And open it. Pandora might jump out, but then again she probably looks freakier than she really is. It’s a Wizard of Oz sort of situation, more smoke and mirrors than reality, more of a mirage than material. Fear always looks bigger than it is.

So why not love ourselves as is? I see a lot of friends working their hearts out to achieve career success, the perfect weight, a balanced social life, and some degree of spiritual peace. And of course, I am not immune to the ambition trap myself. In fact, I am a self-proclaimed seeker with a background in consumerism.

But I like to take a step back and tell myself, in the dorky and insightful words of Mark Darcy of Bridget Jones’ Diary fame, “Amy, I like you just the way you are.” And, yes, I did just quote a chic-flick.

Anyway, it has a nice ring to it. Who has ever heard enough of that in their life? Try it on yourself. Or try something more creative and paint yourself a love-mandala, like this one shown above. I don’t care if it sounds silly. Let’s get beyond that for a minute. Do something, anything, out of the ordinary that’s about loving who you are in this moment.

While I’m at it, let me remind you of another message we hear a lot in the “spiritual-sector”. It’s the simple and liberating message of being present, living in the here and now. Being present and loving yourself go hand in hand. Allowing what is true now to be as it is, honors it and, in a way, loves it just the way it is. And oh what a relief it is.

What are you waiting for? Be your own bridge to your better side.

Love yourself now,
Amy

One recent Saturday, I woke up to the dreariness of a socked-in June day in the city. I easily could have stayed in my toasty bed for hours. But, due to a hiking date with a friend who doesn’t take flaking lightly, I nudged myself into gear and over the GGB to Mill Valley.

As usual, I’m glad I did.

There’s something so invigorating about fresh air. High on Mt. Tam, the air takes on an energizing, healthy quality that makes me feel like I am inundating every single cell with nourishing oxygen and, dare I say, longer life.

It’s like being in an anti-pollution oxygen chamber, replete with the background symphony of happy birds and the intoxicating smell of sun-warmed sagebrush and manzanita. It’s a sensory experience that I wish I could wrap up and gift to all my friends.

And the best thing about fresh air is that it’s so democratic. (At least, if you have access to a place where you can be out-of-doors with no smog, and I realize that I am privileged in this world to be able to take that sort of thing for granted.)

Fresh air is, more or less, available to everyone; it’s free; and there’s no limit to the amount you can have.

I can’t encourage you enough to get over that bridge and treat yourself to a dose of nature’s finest.

Fresh air enthusiast,
Amy

Truly, taking care of yourself is your first line of defense against the health-degrading effects of anxiety and tension. What that means for you is open to interpretation, but taking a little time out for yourself every single day is so important to maintaining the equilibrium of mental, physical and spiritual health – three things that are integrally linked.

Maybe it means you opt to take a yoga class instead of unwinding with a glass of wine after work. International Orange has some great classes designed specifically to dissipate tension, such as our Friday night Mellow Flow and our Sunday evening Restorative Yoga.

Or immerse yourself in the sanctuary of an IO spa massage. Even better, treat yourself to any two IO spa treatments in the same day, and we’ll invite you to take a yoga class for free.

One of my personal favorite ways to unwind these days is with a Dayna Decker botanical candle (a recent addition to the Shop at IO). And I swear, it transcends any candle experience you’ve ever had. For real, taking one of these beautiful candles home will exponentially enhance the calming effects of your bath, meditation session or chill-time.

Here’s another worthy splurge I recommend for stress therapy: REN rose bath oil. I’ve given this to a few friends who aren’t huge “rose flavor” fans, and they’ve come back begging for more. It smells exactly like a rose bush. In your bath.

These are just a few ideas, courtesy of IO. In truth, any steps you take to nurture your own sense of peace and trust in the universe are bound to pay off, more than any economic stimulus plan possibly could.

Your personal wellness is a bridge to your better side.

So treat yourself well,
Amy

And for those of us who live in the city, they are an instant reminder of our inherent connection to nature. I love picking up a bundle of flowers at the farmers’ market, because I know they are fresh, local and handpicked. It’s always a lovely treat to see what’s in season at each particular time of year. Sometimes, the farmers will only have lilies. Other times, just anemones. Recently, lilac season peek-a-booed her brief and pretty head.

At IO, we always make sure there are fresh flowers in a glass bowl below each massage table, so that if you happen to open your eyes during a treatment, you zone in on their simple loveliness.

We borrowed this idea from the tenets of Indonesian ceremonies. Indonesians revere flowers and make a place for them in all of their abundant rituals. The art of honoring flowers as a symbol of love and devotion is second nature to their culture, and it’s one of many foreign traditions we could all do well to co-opt.

I believe in flowers as a simple and wholesome way to reconnect to the natural beauty inherent in all of us. Tying back to a recent blog I wrote about the power of yin energy and our life-giving, feminine side.

Try it… buy yourself a bouquet of your favorite flowers (splurge a little even), put them somewhere in your house where you will see (and smell) them every day, and let me know if it isn’t a lovely reminder to admire yourself a little more.

Flower power,
Amy

Not everyone in this world has access to rolling hills, fresh air, gangs of wildflowers, not to mention maintained hiking and biking trails accessible from convenient trailhead parking lots. But that’s a bigger issue. I know that my rights to use this land to begin with is a luxury these days. How messed up is that? And now that’s in jeopardy too?

When I cross the Golden Gate Bridge to invest in some me-time outside in Marin, I am also investing in building a bridge to happier, healthier, more centered Amy, and surely that impacts those around me in an infectious way. I like to think so anyway!

And if you are a budgetary pragmatist, consider this: closing the state parks won’t actually save the state any money at all, when you consider the inevitable spike in crime, littering, and forest fire that will have to be dealt with as the result of an unsupervised, unmaintained park system.

Even those of you living outside California still have a vested interest in the fate of its parks. Every year, tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors go to there enjoy its scenic beauty and spend our tourist dollars. California isn’t a prime travel destination because of its governmental structure, let’s put it that way.

Check out this smart LA times op-ed piece about how the closing of our state parks will create calamity. And another good one from SF Gate.

We go to state parks with friends and family to inexpensively escape the craziness of modern life. Especially in these lean times, our state parks are a benefit we shouldn’t have to live without. To me, they are the very foundation of health and happiness, and without them, well, we wouldn’t be living in the same California.

If you are a believer that parks should be protected then take a minute right now, and add your name to this petition to Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Help keep California’s parks open.

Open-space advocate,
Amy

In this progressive area we’re blessed to live in, there are so many great sustainable resources that narrowing it down to five was a challenge. I wanted to take this opportunity to expand my list, and I invite you to share your eco-friendly picks with me as well.

1. Green Apple Books – You’ve probably heard me say before that I support the energy of sharing books instead of killing more trees. This is the biggest and most charming used bookstore in the city.

2. Boulettes Larder – This sweet, cozy little restaurant in the Ferry Building is a fundamental player in the global Slow Food Movement. The food is amazing, local and fresh.

3. MUNI – It’s true; I’ve started taking the bus. Currently, I don’t own a car, and the bus is one of the most overlooked and under appreciated remedies of the gas and global warming crises. The people-watching is priceless, and you never have to deal with parking.

4. Sunset Scavenger – The trash company that the city has contracted to deal with our everyday garbage and recycling has made it incredibly easy for city residents to take it one step farther and compost.

5. Ideal Bite – It’s like Daily Candy for the conscious set, with regular and doable tips for living in accordance with environmental ethics. My roommate from college, Heather, is co-founder, but this isn’t favoritism, I got into Ideal Bite before I realized it was my old roomie’s endeavor. Small world, eh?

Love to hear your suggestions and ideas for living more sustainably in San Francisco and around the planet. Do tell.

Earth-friendly,
Amy

Self-helpers say, “the first step is admitting the problem.” I’ve slipped a little lately. Unfortunately, recognizing the need for change doesn’t automatically make change happen. Like cleaning up a really messy house, cleaning up our bad eating habits can seem overwhelming. Where to start?

With housecleaning, it’s sometimes easiest just to pick one random area and home in. Clear out the junk drawer, and the motivation and momentum gets a kick start. All of sudden, you’re in the housecleaning zone.

So if your body is your temple then your sugar consumption (or coffee habit, or carb ODing) is the junk drawer of your corporeal and spiritual house, if you will.

Break one bad habit, and you might find that it’s a lot easier to get on a healthy roll.

For me, it’s often about drinking more water. I know I should be drinking eight full glasses of the good stuff a day, but sometimes I get lazy or forgetful. My skin starts to look dry, I’m constantly thirsty, and my energy level plunges.

So I write myself a friendly little reminder note. I post it somewhere that I will see it regularly (on my computer, for instance) like this:

“Amy, drink water NOW.”

I find that once I incorporate the healthy water drinking back into my daily rituals, I’m less inclined to reach for caffeinated beverages or sugary drinks. Plus, drinking a healthy amount of water smooths out my digestion and I get more “regular” which most of us find helpful. My skin looks more dewy and my organs must be thanking me too as water plumps up there cells up and helps to flush out waste.

When the positive effects of water drinking kick in, I’m usually inspired to make other changes to my eating habits. One realistic step at a time or “one day at a time” as the 12 steppers say.

Off to drink my water,
Amy

Scientific studies are showing that longtime meditators have thicker frontal lobes – the parts of the brain that control focus and concentration. That sounds good to me. Especially since meditation practice is one of my most consistent and balancing daily practices.

Still, I’m not so concerned with developing a bigger frontal lobe this lifetime, but the added concentration is certainly one reason I dug into meditation in the first place. It helps to balance out brain state and how I handle my emotional body. But apart from the brain changes, scientists are also on their way to proving a connection between devoted spiritual beliefs and physical health.

I read a Time Magazine article that spouted about a trillion statistics and scientific justifications for how regular prayer or meditation can positively impact our biological functioning. Out of all this convincing data, one simple statement rang especially true for me:

“…people who maintain a sense of gratitude for what’s going right in their lives have a reduced incidence of depression.”

This is a good reminder for me to get back to practicing gratitude: taking time every day to be thankful for something in my life. It can be anything. It can be tiny or grand. Being thankful for my health, a friend that reached out to me, a smile from a stranger, or a sweet morning walk I took to enjoy the wildflowers springtime offers up.

Being grateful for the little things reminds me of how precious life really is. I try to take a moment after yoga, meditation or before bed, and make a simple list in my mind. A sort of prayer, if you will. Science is also showing that prayer and meditation have a similar impact on both mental and bodily health.

These practices have served me especially well when I’m going through a hard time. Like lately. And I have to say I do think they make me a happier and healthier person.

A bigger brain or not, I’m a believer.

Be your own temple,
Amy

A part of me thinks that we’re all just looking for a justification for our bad habits. But then again, how can something that makes me so happy be all that bad for me?

How can a tasty little substance known as “the champagne of the Mayans” be wrong? So let’s talk about chocolate.

The facts: chocolate contains a certain amount of sugar, fat and caffeine. But chocolate also contains a powerful antioxidant in the form of flavonoids.

Sure, vegetables also contain flavonoids. They just don’t happen to present the flavonoids with quite as much aplomb, in my opinion.

(Actually, the reason that chocolate contains flavonoids is that it’s made from plants. No mystery there.)

It’s actually the cacao plant, the cacao bean in particular, that contains the healthy goodies.

Antioxidants improve blood flow (especially to the skin, which helps makes us healthy AND beautiful), positively impact heart health, and lower cholesterol.

Other chemicals in cacao are thought to improve memory and reaction time by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Some claim that cacao can balance out certain hormones in the body and provide a rush of euphoria for a matter of hours. I think I’ve felt this one first hand.

Bottom line: chocolate makes me feel good. In moderation, dear ones.

I choose to believe that a well-deserved hot cocoa from Bittersweet on Fillmore Street in San Francisco (my ‘hood and right up the street from IO) makes my day a little sweeter.

It might not add ten years to my life. But then again, who knows? It might.

Chocolate lover,
Amy

Yet, amidst the gloom and doom, when I continue to wait in line for a seat at a restaurant on an average Tuesday night in my neighborhood and see smiling faces and hear laughing, I can’t help but think; wow, people are still having fun.

Many San Franciscans are finding ways to keep joy in their lives. And it’s encouraging. People are simplifying, because they have to, and many seem to be keeping some fun in the mix. Fun and laughter is my light in the dark. Having fun seems to carves out a space deep enough for hope to live in. A fun-well of sorts that I can dip in for a sip of hope when I’m thirsty for it.

At IO, our mission is to be A Bridge to Your Better Side. A subtitle to our mission statement is this: to be A Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Everyday our team at IO attempts this mission by consistently offering exceptional wellness care knowing full well that it’s always important to take care of your body and mind but even more so in stressful times.

Our hope at IO is that we make that a little easier for our community. We have always offered wallet-friendly options for our wellness rituals during weekdays, but we’ve dialed it up to answer the call.

7×7 Magazine listed us in April’s “The Seven: Best Spring Spa Deals”, citing our Massage Stimulus Package (our 60-minute IO Signature Massage for only $89 – a 15 percent savings).

We’ve always got a healthy handful of other spa offers that combine our consistently excellent treatment quality with wallet-friendly rates during off-peak hours. Check out our Spa Specials page for the nitty-gritty.

And remember, no matter what’s goes on in our crazy world, the stability of your own health and well-being depends upon treating yourself with care first. It starts with you and radiates outward.

We live in a world in flux. In our own hearts may we be steady, strong, rich in spirit, and as relaxed as humanly possible.

TLC time,
Amy

Wise words, and zen advice. In addition to my daily morning walks, I’ve often found myself trying to get from point A to point B in the city, too impatient to stand on a corner and try to flag a cab or wait for the bus. So I start walking, with the thought in mind that eventually I’ll end up hopping a ride on some sort of transport. More often than not, I get so caught up in the reverie of simply walking, that before I know it I’ve reached my destination, sometimes even great distances.

Walking – or “urban hiking”, as it could be called – is not just good exercise and an awesome way to save cash. It’s also a fantastic method to clear the head and shift your energy. It’s earth, body and mind-friendly. Do be careful of potholes and road-ragers however.

Beyond all of those things, there’s something about seeing the city on foot that transcends our daily view. I liken it to a cross-country road trip. Until you’ve had that eye-level, real-time experience of cities merging into farmland merging into plains merging into mountains, and back into cities, you can’t really fathom the great expanse and true soul of the country.

On a micro level, it’s the same way walking through San Francisco (or any other city). To get where you’re going on foot is one of the most empowering, enlightening experiences you can have. There’s a freedom in it. And a beautiful feeling when you are a tourist in your home city.

Here’s one more simple way to slow down, be mindful and experience more joy in the process. Try it. You might like it.

Urban hikers unite,
Amy

Walker’s message touched me so much that at the beginning of our recent IO All Team meeting, I read allowed her borrowed message from the Elders of the Hopi Nation. I share it with you now:

We have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour
Now we must go back and tell the people this is the Hour

“We are the ones we have been waiting for … “

—The Elders, Hopi Nation, Oraibi, Arizona

All of us humans, now more than ever have an opportunity, a calling really, to take honest inventory in our lives for ourselves and for our home… planet earth, mother earth. It’s a time of great change. We can feel it, sense it, see it, hear it.

But what will we do about it?

As Walker and the Hopi Elders remind us, we must know our own landscape (internal and external). We must have the guts to let go of things that aren’t serving us. We must find the power to change.

Where has our personal responsibility for ourselves, our lives and our planet gone? What things can be left behind that aren’t in service of your life purpose and your personal path? If you haven’t identified your purpose or path. Then start there.

Michael Ray’s book called The Highest Goal, helped me sort that question out.

That’s what I am trying to do in my own life and that’s what I recently posed to our IO Team and now pose to you, our IO community. Sometimes that’s relatively easy work, joywork even, and sometimes it just plain hurts. In either case, now is the time.

Who are you waiting for? We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

It rings so true for me that real transformation starts from within. Even if forced upon us, change only transforms us if we let it. And your chosen community will support your transformation. If IO is part of your chosen community, then we can support your process of waking up to yourself and your wellness transformation.

Trust that the river knows its destination.

And let go of the shore,
Amy

May Anne Wright, known to her East Bay community as Mother Wright, was just an ordinary woman who was inspired by a lucid dream in 1980 to help the world’s hungry.

She started small, using her $236 social security check to buy weekly meals for the homeless at a local Oakland park. They called her “The Mother Theresa of Oakland”.

Mother Wright’s own life had been a difficult one. She grew up poor in the South and lost her mother at a young age. She was forced to escape an abusive husband as a young adult and fled cross country.

Where she ended up was far from “home” and among strangers, making ends meet as a low-paid manual laborer.

But Mother Wright had a knack for creating community wherever she went. Besides her own twelve children, the poor people of the East Bay soon started to look at her as a sort of mom.

Not just interested in providing food and shelter, Mother Wright thought it equally important to provide the homeless with dignity, and insisted on serving meals in style, with tablecloths and proper place settings. She didn’t just take pity on her subjects; she offered them respect. And that made all the difference.

Mother Wright considered feeding the hungry her calling and made it her life’s work. Hers is an inspiring story of vision, tenacity and self-sacrifice.

By the end of her life, Mother Wright’s benevolent reach had extended to all corners of the world. Through the last three decades of her life that she performed this miraculous work, she consistently refused to accept any pay for her efforts.

Mother Wright passed away recently at the age of 87 and left a legacy behind. If you’re as moved by her story as I am, consider contributing to The Mary Wright Foundation, which will continue to help the homeless long after she is gone.

Her devotion to the people of Oakland is her lasting legacy, and she won’t quickly be forgotten.

I believe heroes like Mother Wright exist as examples to us all. Like Gandhi and all great peaceful leaders, her life’s work was not just about making a difference as an individual, but showing the world that absolutely anyone can make a difference.

That includes you and me.

What’s your cause?
Amy

One of my favorite things to do is make up my own herbal teas, or, as they are technically called, tisanes. Tea being the dried leaf of the camellia sinensis plant. This is what we think of as black, green or oolong tea.

Herbal “teas” are really just infusions of dried or fresh plants. Tea geeks and foodies like me call these tisanes.

Anyway…

In South American countries like Peru, it’s common to be served fresh mint leaves straight from the garden, steeped in hot water and called “tea”.

These medicinal (and yummy) concoctions have been an integral part of South American cultures presumably for thousands of years.

I take a page from that belief system and on occasion brew myself a nice steamy cup of hot water infused with somethin’ special.

Fresh ginger root (for belly aches), mint leaves (for cooling down the belly), or licorice stick (for throat soreness).

A spritz of lemon here, a dash of local honey there, and I swear, it’s better than coffee. (Well, maybe not for everyone but its worth a try.)

Find a source book like “Healing with Whole Foods” by Paul Pitchford if you’re interested in the medicinal properties of various herbs, or wing it and use the imagination of your taste buds.

All you need is a cup but I recommend a beautiful teapot (you can get a cheap one in Japantown), some hot water, and the flavorful substance of your choosing.

Really, you can make tea out of almost anything edible, and it’s a great way to use up neglected herbs and roots that are lying around your kitchen in danger of withering.

Tea partying,
Amy

Bill, one of our blog readers, commented on it and pointed me to another great blog posting called “Discover Why Multitasking Damages Your Business and How to Fix It.”

This article introduced me to the fact that human mind is a “sequential processor” – meaning that we are actually not designed to do more than one thing at a time.

According to Jonathan Jordan, author of the blog, multitasking is not only impractical and counter-intuitive, but it’s actually not efficient because it tends to result in so many more mistakes.

I bought into this theory, and I take it to heart whenever I can. But it’s a fact that the evil monster of multitasking is not completely avoidable unless we are hermits in a cave or some such thing.

Sometimes, we just have to do more than one thing at a time. Especially if we have jobs… or friends… or children… or partners… or…

So anyway, recently I stumbled upon this zen parable:

Seung Sahn would say, “When you eat, just eat. When you read the newspaper, just read the newspaper. Don’t do anything other than what you are doing.”

Seung Sahn said, “When you eat and read the newspaper, just eat and read the newspaper.”

I love this, and I’m not exactly sure why. I think what Seung Sahn is implying is that it’s okay to do more than one thing at a time, as long as you are present with both things, and those things work in harmony together.

This doesn’t mean than I give myself permission to simultaneously email/facebook/write/talk on the phone/ad nauseam… although I admit I have caught myself in this scenario once. but as long as I can find two tasks that compliment each other, that’s a good start.

If you’re gonna mutlitask at least be mindful. Catch yourself. Notice what you’re doing when you are doing it. Perhaps you’ll enjoy the experience more or create some space to do less of something that’s not really serving you.

Peace,
Amy

Getting into a good book, in that sense, can be like a mini-retreat. It’s reading meditation. It’s a vacation from the regular rattle and hum of the brain. And in my book (pun intended), it’s healthy escapism.

There is a relaxing effect that happens when we allow our brain waves to sync with our eye movements in the act of reading. It’s as if creating a lulling rhythm of left to right, page to page, has a positive physical effect on the nervous system.

I’m willing to bet there have been studies on this very matter, but I can only testify to my own experience with my nose in the books. Time flies.

Reading is almost the opposite of meditation or other practices that encourage us to “be present”. I am a big believer in meditation, and practice it daily. My more disciplined practices are vital to fostering balance in my life.

And I also revel in the richness of habits that often feel more indulgent, in the sense that I get joyfully lost in them, disappear into them. It’s my lazy-woman’s meditation practice.

And I love that you can pretty much read anywhere. Try keeping a paperback in your bag. A good book can make an interminable bus ride fly by, or a tedious wait in a doctor’s office feel like a treat.

I know the gossip mags are a hideously effective temptation and easy to get lost in them too, but perhaps a sweet little book could make a healthy replacement from time to time? Plant better seeds.

As most of my friends know, I usually have several books going at once although I’m not the fastest reader. And by several books, I mean a stack of 7 or so next to my bed at any given time.

I’ve read some good ones lately, among them:

We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For by Alice Walker. Her message of light in a time of darkness is poignant.

The Seductress by Betsy Prioleau is about historic women who bucked the matronly M.O. and ravished the world with their lost art of love.

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (also a very well-acted film).

And The Pearl by John Steinbeck (when I was kayaking on the Sea of Cortez).

I get a lot of my books secondhand from friends. And I love the energy of passing books along. It’s a generous gesture and a commitment to learning and sharing.

Read a book. Pass it on.
Amy

Just as I suspected. When you’re new to yoga, it’s tempting to go to class every day, if not more. Our type-A culture has us convinced that if something is good for us, we should do it all the time, even if it’s difficult.

“Wow,” I said, “How do you find the time to go to class that often?”

“Well,” he confided, “Sometimes I go to a yoga class. Sometimes I go surfing. And sometimes I just hang out at home and meditate. It’s all yoga to me.”

Meaning, I suppose, that it’s not the activity that makes it “ahimsa yoga”, but the intention and the sense of presence while you are doing it.

This was an early and profound yogic lesson that has slowly shaped and shifted my attitude toward how I practice yoga. In the beginning, I did find that going to a regimented asana class was helpful in that it gave me a sense of focus and self-discipline. It instilled a strong foundation for a physical and breath practice that I have never abandoned.

As the years have passed, I’ve learned for myself that sometimes foregoing the “workout” to stay home and read a book in bed does indeed feel more yogic and definitely more ahimsa. The concept of ahimsa, which is a concept often brought up in yoga classes, means the avoidance of violence or non-harming. I practice ahimsa starting with myself. In my personal life it often means, for instance, not forcing myself to do something that doesn’t feel right.

There is a compassion that accompanies truly “listening to your body” or your mind or emotions. Sure, sometimes I still push too hard and do things that don’t serve my body and mind, but I am getting better, more aware and skilled at bringing myself back to center and practicing ahimsa, starting with myself.

That said, it’s important for me to recognize the different between ahimsa and sheer laziness. Not engaging in the world can also be a concern. So I try to participate in at least one or two group yoga classes a week.

The other days, my ahimsa yoga practice consists of meditation in the morning, a little bit of asana practice at home, a brisk morning city hike, and yes, the delicious peace and coziness of reading in bed in the evening.

Practice ahimsa,
Amy

We hear so much in our culture about how skinny is “better”. I’m not sure I am buying in. I have girlfriends who are utterly gorgeous (staggeringly so, in fact) though they might also be called “heavy” or “healthy” girls (a term which is often quite accurate). They don’t seem to have any trouble finding fabulous partners and certainly not any more trouble than our thinner sisters. Their husbands/boyfriends/partners seem to think they are goddesses.

So where does all this push for skinny come from? Is it from the fashion industry? The media? Consumerism? Perfectionism? Control? Our parents? Ourselves?

It would be fun to see Michael Moore direct an expose on this subject called “The Skinny on Body Image—An American Obsession”. In the meantime, I try to resist buying in. Sure, I like to look fit, but the key is to feel fit which is never fully reflected in our mirror image nor in a number on a scale. So I exercise to feel invigorated and healthy, not to feel skinny. Striving for skinny makes me struggle more and feel less powerful.

I eat what I want but try to remember to stop eating when I’m full, or when I recognize that I’m eating for reasons other than hunger. And I’m so not perfect. When I “fall off the bike”, I dust myself off and get back on. If I gain a few pounds in winter, like I usually do, so be it. It’s natural, after all, for our bodies to store up a little bit when it’s colder, and as we age.

When I see a movie or read a magazine, I am barraged with images of impossibly thin, fashionable women who I am pretty confident diet themselves into misery to maintain their size. But when I look around me at my friends and family, I see a lot of beautiful, healthy, realistically-shaped women. And thank goodness their aren’t on perpetual starvation diets because going out to eat with them is one of my true pleasures in life.

The funny thing is, for hundreds of years, rounder, more voluptuous women were the “in” body type. Check out any painting of a Raphaelite goddess for confirmation of this truth. Even up through the 50’s and 60’s, women with a little extra padding were considered the paradigm of beauty. The current TV show Mad Men hearkens back to a few decades ago when bigger, curvier women were considered more attractive. Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow were no size 2s.

When I catch myself “feeling fat” I try to remember to pause and grab a little perspective on the subject. It’s my body image ideal not to succumb to the unrealistic expectation that western culture tries to put on us to match up to some sort of notion of thin = beautiful. The more I look around, the more I realize that happy = beautiful. And much of the time that happiness has to do more with enjoyment of life than restriction of it.

Let’s revel in life’s pleasures, riches, and the truth that those things aren’t exclusively bestowed upon skinny magazine waifs anyway.

Love your hips,
Amy

Baja’s raw beauty and starkness made me yearn to write. But for me it called for poetry before prose.

I was on a wilderness meditation retreat with a great teacher of mine, Mark Coleman. As a group of 12 plus 4 superstar support staff, we kayaked, meditated and lived as part of nature for just shy of a week.

While there I also celebrated my most life-affirming birthday yet.

On the way down to Baja by plane, I read Steinbeck’s little book called The Pearl. One quote was particularly fitting as I entered the inner terrain of meditation and the outer terrain of the desert islands of Sea of Cortez:

An accident could happen to these oysters, a grain of sand could lie in the folds of muscle and irritate the flesh until in self-protection the flesh coated the grain with a layer of smooth cement. But once started, the flesh continued to coat the foreign body until it fell free…

This happy accident of oyster self-care yields something precious, a pearl. It reminds us that beauty can come out of suffering. Like a lotus flower growing out of mud. A dandelion sprouting from a pavement crack.

With this message echoing in my head I was ushered into the silence of the retreat. And with that I entered my inner world that yields ‘pearls’ from the often rugged container of my personal ‘oyster shell’.

Since my vow of silence on retreat included a vow not even to write, listening to poetry was as close as I got. Those poignantly spoken words often made my heart soar and wet my eyes with tears.

On our first night sleeping under the stars, Mark read us one of my favorite poems reminding me I was in the right place. I heard it first several years back from a consoling friend as I was diving into my own “Sweet Darkness”.

Here’s a passage from that poem by David Whyte:

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

is too small for you.

Cultivate pearls,
Amy

For one thing, plastic, as we all well know by now, is barely recyclable and basically never decomposes. Turn over any plastic container and you’ll see a number in a little triangle on the bottom. That number denotes what kind of plastic it is and whether it can be recycled. For the record, only numbers 1, 2 and 3 can currently be recycled in the state of California (and we’re a pretty progressive state when it comes to environmental standards.) That means that all of the other numbers simply get thrown away. And by “away”, I mean that they actually never go away.

I found this nasty little fact on the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s web site: “… plastic film, packaging containers, durable goods, and other plastic items make up 9.5 percent, or 3.8 million tons, of the disposed waste stream in California. However, plastic is only recycled at about a 5 percent rate statewide.”

Even closer to home, recent studies have found that one of the key ingredients in many plastics, BPA (bisphenol A), leaches into our body and at even small doses may play a key role in high rates of breast and other cancers, as well as instigating early onset puberty and triggering immune system disorders. The scariest part of all is that a lot of this plastic toxicity comes from sources you would least expect…. the lining of canned foods, water coolers, Nalgene bottles, and even baby bottles.

What can we do about it? It’s not realistic to cut plastic out of our lives completely. Plastic is in everything, mostly because it’s incredibly versatile as well as inexpensive to manufacture. We live in a world conditioned to believe that disposable is better. Watch a few TV commercials and you’ll quickly see: products that can be used once and then thrown away are all the rage. Don’t even get me started on the over-packaging of almost every product out there.

I’ve made small steps to cut down on plastic in my own life. I avoid buying food or drinks in disposable plastic containers whenever I can. I buy certain foods in bulk and re-use my own containers when I shop. I never, ever microwave anything in plastic (and for that matter, I try to avoid microwaving in general… but that’s another story.) I don’t run plastic through the dishwasher. And I avoid any plastics with a 7 in the little triangle on the bottom, because those tend to be the worst BPA culprits.

I’d love to hear more proactive ideas from you. What else can we do to cut out plastic?

Trying,
Amy

That’s Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron, speaking.

It’s true that we are always looking for that one miracle product that is going to reverse the effects of aging, zap our wrinkles, perfect our skin and disappear our sags. The marketing lingo of most beauty products feeds right into our fears around aging.

But what if it wasn’t about being younger? What if we could be happy right where we are on our precious life path? I can keep dreaming can’t I?

What I love about REN products (new to us at IO) is that it’s not about performing a miracle. It’s about letting your skin be the best skin it can be at its given age. That doesn’t mean you are going to go to bed with REN Vita-Mineral Radiant Day Cream on your face and wake up twenty years younger. But it means that you’re going to wake up with skin that’s more hydrated, less stressed, and thus inherently more radiant and youthful in demeanor.

Chodron reminds us:

“According to Buddha, the lives of all beings are marked by three characteristics: impermanence, egolessness, and suffering… Recognizing these qualities to be real and true in our own experience helps us to relax with things as they are.”

Let’s face it. No beauty product is going to make us younger. But by treating ourselves to high-quality skincare products designed specifically for our skin, right now, at our age, maybe we can alleviate a little bit of our suffering around attachment to youth.

Convert to REN Buddhism?
Amy

Recently back from a year traveling the world exploring yoga, Ayurveda and one another, Caro and Vinnie will bring the intimate act of eating into alignment with the beloved practice of yoga through these beautiful, age-old wellness tools:

1. Asana & self-acupressure for digestion
2. Ayurvedic theory of food combining & doshas
3. Sanskrit food blessings & meditations

Yoga and her sister science, Ayurveda, offer a great deal of wisdom regarding our relationship to food. What, when, how, and most importantly, why we eat are all valuable questions. In this mini-retreat, these two offer up their seasoned expertise in the realms of vegetarian cooking, yoga and Eastern holistic medicine to infuse your meals with yogic ritual and creativity.

All levels welcome. Workshop cost is $40 per individual.
Please call (415) 563-5000 ×1 or see the front desk to pre-register for IO Workshops.

Need I say more?

A happy belly is a happy being,
Amy

I live near IO in Pacific Heights, which is conveniently close to one of my favorite neighborhoods on the planet: Japantown. This little hidden gem of a ‘hood has some of the most exotic shops in the city. Where else can you find tiny little fish for sale in tiny little aquariums that fit in your pocket? Not that I would ever buy one, but still, it’s weirdly cool. And on the bridge in the Japantown mall, there is an entire shop devoted to incense. It’s the most amazing-smelling place I’ve ever been. I like to browse around the shops for a while, then settle in for some noodles and genmaicha tea. Just thinking about it makes me feel all cozy.

Another great way to pass time is at any one of the countless farmers’ markets in the city. Although the Ferry Building Farmers’ Market (on Tuesdays and Saturdays) is the most glamorous of the bunch, sometimes I like the smaller neighborhood markets, like the one that takes place every Saturday morning where Fillmore Street intersects O’Farrell. Here, you get the real local farmers who are just trying to make a living selling what they’ve just harvested. It’s not always organic so know that going in (ask them if you have questions), but it’s all home grown and local. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, and you’ll feel good about supporting local farmers. The fresh air is nice too. (Bay Area farmers’ markets).

Another cool and absolutely-free activity is hanging out at the library. So few people go to the library now that it’s actually a special experience. Isn’t that funny? There are branches in almost every neighborhood in the city (and in most cities, for that matter), and for the price of flashing your ID, you are welcome to spend as much time there as you want, curled up with a book, with the perfect excuse to turn off your cell phone and tune out your life. If you’re ever craving alone time, I guarantee that no one will ever find you at the library! (San Francisco library branch locations).

I’ll leave you with these me-date ideas for now although there’s more where that came from. If you have other free or inexpensive ways to pass time in San Francisco, or your home city, do tell.

Enjoy your free, me-time,
Amy

Upon returning home from Mexico, I followed my urge to revisit Virginia Woolf’s famous women’s lib essay, A Room of One’s Own, where she instructs that every woman with creative and intellectual potential, in order to give her genius a fighting chance to shine, needs 1) a room of her own and 2) a stable passive income. Sure, sounds nice and tough to come by. Some disagree that those things aren’t necessary to expressing genius, but what I can say for sure is that we all need a little time and space to reconnect to our true selves, our heart’s deepest desires, and our uniquely beautiful talents.

The time spent on our own with no particular goal other than to explore ourselves can be spent almost anywhere, in a candlelit bedroom, in a bathtub with music lulling us, on a mountainside trail, or (and I’m currently partial to this option) in a tropical hut with a modest but comfy bed, mosquito net, outdoor shower, and old-fashioned oil lamp to read and write by. (Okay, 4 hours of yoga a day on retreat helps too, but I’m not going to suggest that’s possible for everyone.)

Whatever you do, find some time and space for yourself. At all costs. I promise that the most amazing things will happen.

Time to retreat,
Amy

I chose lunchtime. For an hour, I simply ate lunch. I didn’t eat lunch and read. I didn’t eat lunch and talk on the phone. I didn’t eat lunch and work. I even tried not to daydream.

At first, I felt anxious about the lost time. There are so many things we can accomplish by eating while we do something else. Growing up, my parents were never keen on the idea of eating in front of the TV, which of course made it practically irresistible whenever I could get away with it. But now that I am older, I understand why they didn’t want me to develop that mindless habit of shoving food into my mouth while my attention lay elsewhere.

There is a ritual in enjoying food. To actually be present to the taste, the sensations of swallowing, the change in your body chemistry as you integrate the nutrition, and to notice the moment when you are no longer hungry. This, to me, is a way to develop a healthy relationship with food.

These days, I try to integrate the non-multi-tasking concept into cooking. When I cook dinner for myself, I relish the time spent alone in the kitchen. I don’t succumb to the ringing phone. I don’t play music. I enjoy the silent reverie that allows me to appreciate the rhythmic chopping, rinsing, sorting, frying, and even the cleaning. I think it makes for a more delicious and appreciated meal. And at the very least, is a peaceful respite from my cluttered urban life.

So now I challenge you. For one week, or even one evening, can you prepare yourself a lovely meal, without doing anything else? Let me know if it tastes a little different.

For once, resist the urge to multi-task. Sit back and enjoy the present moment.

Bon appetite,
Amy

There’s the whole wisdom-of-experience thing. And as I enter my mid-30s (okay, I know I’m not that old), I’ve realized that thankfully I’m just not as hung up on how I look anymore. And what a relief. There’s a magical and freeing equation that operates like this: the older I get, the less I care about the superficial stuff.

Feeling good matters much more than looking good to me. Making a positive impact on the world matters way more than looking hot in a bikini (and, yes, I still care about how I look in a bathing suit, but thank the lord I don’t panic like I used to, weeks before I knew I’d be seen in one).

That said, I still do my best to look good since that helps me feel good too. Fortunately, I’ve found ways to look good that don’t involve plastic surgery or other terrifying medical procedures. Okay, I admit it helps to work in a spa, where I have immediate access to all sort of age-defying treatments like invigorating facials, relaxing massage, and toning yoga, not to mention fabulous organic products.

Of course by now we know the import of staying in shape, eating right (greens and veggies, healthy oils, minerals, vitamins, and plenty of water) and taking care of ourselves to stay vibrant and healthy. In addition, in my travels and research, I’ve stumbled on more obscure graceful aging techniques like acupuncture face-lifts. Tiny little needles (really, almost imperceptible) are inserted at key points in the face to tone it up. It’s absolutely not invasive, and over time, it actually works to strengthen elasticity in the muscles and settle down fine lines and facial tension. We tested these out briefly at IO, but it didn’t stick (wink. wink). Perhaps someday we’ll offer them again.

So when doubt starts to creep in about aging, I remind myself of this simple and powerful fact: it’s just natural. It’s natural to be concerned about aging. And it’s natural to age. Let’s face it, nobody is getting out of here alive. And if I’m lucky, one day I’ll end up looking like Helen Mirren, who is pretty much a babe, at any age. She’s an elder-hottie with more wisdom and poise than a whole gaggle of cheerleaders.

Don’t be shy, share your age-defying tricks with me for my arsenal. We’re in this together. And you know what they say, “the clock is ticking”…

Ha! Just kidding. Don’t buy into that junk. Throw away the clock. And vow to try, at least, to love yourself as you age. Grace is beautiful, in and of itself. It’s the struggle, the resistance that can make a face and body harsh and more wrinkled than they need to be.

So relax more, and find ways to lighten up in the process.

Aspiring elder-vixen,
Amy

Okay so maybe it doesn’t mean deep down you’re a brilliant painter like my dear friend Josephine Taylor-Tobin, an impeccable designer like IO Creative Director, Matt Dick, or a super skilled coiffeur like my pal Alex Sandor. I’m certainly none of these. What it does mean is that we all have the capacity to insert more creative ways of thinking and being into our daily lives…even if that life is mostly spent in front of a computer or serving others.

And in becoming more creative, we boost our ability to do our jobs better, live our lives more fully. Plus it’s just a heck of a lot more fun.

This book still inspires me. Periodically I revisit it and remind myself to make space for the inner artist in my day-to-day life. Sometimes this looks like a daily journaling practice. Painting silly watercolor artwork for my eyes only. Singing along loudly to my iPod in my room, while driving, and yes, there’s always the shower option. These days, I am channeling my creativity through beginning a teaching practice. I am stepping up to lead workshops as part of our IO Wellness Workshops series. My first workshop of the sort will be in March (stay tuned on our workshop page for details). It’s an Urban Renew YOU Retreat that I am pleased to be co-leading with Dr. Brenda Wade. Think spa treatments, yoga, a little friendly meditation and lots of tips and tools to be the most inspired version of beautiful YOU.

The Artist’s Way also taught me the value of the “artist’s date”. It’s a non-negotiable, regularly scheduled date I make with myself, and only myself. Sometimes I go to the movies. Sometimes I visit a museum. Sometimes I just curl up with a book. How the time is spent is not nearly as important as the priority commitment to spending time with number one. It’s kind of like a soul Sabbath, if you will.

In my favorite quote from the book, Julie Cameron puts it beautifully: “In a sense, as we are creative beings, our lives become our works of art.”

Think about it. Don’t you want your own life to be a work of art? And what would that look like for you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Be creative,
Amy

In my own life, inspiration often comes from the most unsuspecting places.

You won’t usually find me lauding a coming-of-age baseball story since I’m not much of a sports buff, but here’s a great exception. It’s the story of my friends, the Miller twins, who made an autobiographical first film called “Touching Home” and what’s more, just got a major book deal. They did it against the odds, with unrivaled tenacity and in honor of their deceased dad who was always their biggest fan.

Noah and Logan Miller grew up in rural West Marin in a working-class family, a few towns away from where I grew up in a county where money is pouring out of most pockets. Their passion was baseball, and they climbed their way out of a poor childhood and became rising sports stars. In the end, their baseball dreams didn’t work out and they eventually found themselves back at home working in a quarry alongside their often drunk, sometimes-homeless and ever troubled dad. (It’s a little weird sharing such personal details about guys I know, but there’s a film about it and soon a book release so I figure I’m allowed.)

This could have easily been the end of their ambitions, but the Miller twins made “lemonade” out of their lemons and released a notable indie movie as a paean to their father, who died of a heart attack, penniless in jail in 2006. With 17 credit cards and a boat load of gumption but absolutely zero experience making movies, they managed to convince elite actor, Ed Harris, to play the role of their dad and in the process told a cathartic story about family that helped them, in their own words, “memorialize our father”. Did I mention that they are also the stars of the film, wrote and directed it themselves and it’s actually really good?

Aside from the pathos of the story portrayed in this movie, the story behind the movie and the determination of the Miller twins to get it made is so inspiring, it’s also a testament to how losing sight of one dream can actually kick-start another.

The struggle against adversity is a classic movie formula because it echoes real life. In one way or other, we all come up against great challenge and struggle in our lives. Buddhist philosophy says that confronting our suffering and transforming it into learning is the heart of life. Or in Western words: what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.

Thanks to the Miller twins for their inspiration.

What inspires you?

Gratefully,
Amy

Over the next few days (or even on New Year’s Eve – why not?) take time out to meditate on where you’d like to see yourself by the end of 2009. Envision changes you’re eager to make in all of the different areas of your life – career, relationships, finances, your health and personal goals. Be realistic and compassionate, but don’t be afraid to dream big.

Then, write yourself a letter. Now here’s the key – write it in the present tense, as if these things have already happened. I know it’s a little hokey, but who cares.

Dear Amy,

Love,
Amy

Seal and address the letter to yourself, give it to your most organized and reliable friend, and ask them to mail it to you in early December of 2009. Then, forget all about it. Give it up to the gods, as they say.

It might sound like a contrived visualization technique à la “The Secret”, but it’s actually a profound experience. You might amaze yourself when, a year from now, you read the letter and find that you are actually in a much different place then when you started your year. It’s all about setting an intention in motion. Here’s what it’s not about: pressure, guilt or perfectionism.

So often, New Year’s resolutions seem designed to submit us to failure. We throw our hearts into them for a month or so and then we give up and forget all about them. This year, I invite you to try a different path.

Wishing you health, love and happiness in 2009,
Amy

Are you feeling obligated to attend every last get-together while simultaneously crunching in work deadlines, shopping for gifts amidst the retail mayhem, hosting family, hanging decorations and trying to do it with a tighter budget and a smile on your face?

Well, that’s just crazy, isn’t it? Things can quickly become very overwhelming. Overwhelming and stressful.

I find it useful to remind myself that it’s normal to feel a little sluggish as the days get shorter and chillier. There was frost on the ground this morning as I took my morning walk. It even looked like there was snow in San Francisco on Monday morning since all the hail that fell the night before had piled up on street corners. It was a rare site and proof that winter is mere days away. Here she comes, the season of hibernation. We either choose to invite her in with a warm welcome or she comes blowing the door down anyway.

Biologically, in fact, our bodies are designed to go into a semi-state of hibernation this time of year. Of course, that’s not what ends up happening in our modern Western world. Still, there are ways to slow down even during the frenzied month of December. Here are some effective tips I’ve cultivated in my own life to help ease the pandemonium of the holidays.

Just Say No…To Evites
Ask yourself, if I say no to this party, will I really be missed? Okay, so you’ll be missed. But will you be missed to the extent that it’s worth stretching yourself thin to make this happen? Pick and choose your social outings based on what will make YOU happy, not what you feel obligated to attend.

One for Me, One for You
While you’re opting out of mad socializing, take the extra time to do something nice for yourself. Indulge in a restorative yoga class, treat yourself to a relaxing massage, or maybe just a nice hot bath.

You at the Top of the List
Put yourself at the top of your holiday shopping list. Even if it’s just a candle or some bath salts, give yourself a token of appreciation. Truly, I believe that we best serve others and the world by taking care of ourselves first so we are better equipped to give wholeheartedly and generously to others. I’m still working on this one myself, but I’ve made a lot of progress that shows me this lesson is a good one. Give it a try with me.

Wallow in Sleep
Get in bed a little earlier, at least once a week. Light a candle. Sip a warm cup of tea, hot milk with honey or hot apple cider. Crack open the book that you’ve been wanting to read, but have been too tired and too busy to pause for. Read a few well-deserved pages. Drift off into a sweet slumber. (Remember to blow out your candle first. A house fire would not be relaxing.)

Revel in Food
‘Tis the season. This time of year a little more food is called for. Go ahead, have some comfort food. Satisfying a yearning for comforting food can help prevent over snacking on sweets or junk. If you go easy on the alcohol then having a little more comfort food won’t result in weight gain. Enjoy the warmth of stews and soups. Remember to eat foods in season like root veggies and dark leafy greens with fortifying vitamins and minerals. Opt for cooked foods instead of raw for easier digestion during cold winter months. Keep your internal system warm and well fed. You’ll be healthier and more satisfied.

Don’t Worry Your Pretty Head
Go easy on yourself. Worrying less results in a sparkling glow from the inside out and fewer wrinkles. It’s proven. Don’t worry too much about the consequences of these simple suggestions above. None of these things are harmful to your health. Any lingering guilt you may have, toss it away. Plus, that’s what New Year’s Resolutions are for.

Have a little fun with taking care of yourself, as well as others, this season. Give yourself permission to hibernate a little too and send yourself into the New Year feeling healthy, balanced and recharged.

Take time for number one,
Amy

The better care you take of your “vessel”, as the ancient eastern traditions called it, the richer you will ultimately be in spirit and soul. This time of year, it’s so easy to focus our energy outward – squeezing in all those holiday parties, finding the time to buy gifts for everyone, helping out those in need – and we often forget to take care of ourselves with the love and care that we deserve. It’s vital to take time out for yourself during hectic times.

This is a great reason to indulge in massage therapy. IO offers a blissful gamut of bodywork alternatives in our sanctuary of a spa: from deep-tissue massage to reflexology to acupuncture to our favorite, the IO Organic Fusion Massage, which combines Swedish massage techniques with Shiatsu and Thai Yoga in order to melt tension and awaken energy pathways (while hydrating and softening the skin with our very own IO Anoint Oil.) This combination of aromatherapy and the power of touch is beyond relaxing. And relaxing, as any stressed out soul knows, is healing.

My favorite quality-control responsibility as co-owner of IO is that I am “obligated” to sample our massage therapists regularly in order to ensure that we are really offering the best. Although it’s a requirement of my job, I secretly cherish this opportunity to indulge in regular bodywork with our amazing team of professionals. From the moment I slip off my shoes, ditch my Blackberry, and wrap myself in a comfy IO robe, I feel pampered and taken care of. I try to arrive a little early so that I can lounge in the peace of the waiting area and hydrate with sips of cucumber water before my treatment. And after my session, I make time for a dip in the steam room to evaporate any last toxins before I step out into the world again.

The best thing about a great treatment session is that it relaxes the mind and spirit as well as the physical body. If you can enter this physical and mental sanctuary often enough, I think you’ll find a global shift in your day-to-day experience. I know this has been true for me.

When considered from this point of view, massage is not a luxury at all. In fact, regular massage is such a bargain for your body, mind and soul that you might say you can’t afford not to do it.

Take care of your best possession, YOU,
Amy

You know what I’m talking about…

THE ECONOMY. Downturn. Darkness. Fear.
OBAMA. Change. Inspiration. Hope.

Hope matched with excellence and effort will lead us to the good, the sweet, again.

We have the dichotomy of light and dark playing out in our everyday lives, always, and now perhaps more than at any time in our lives, we see this crystal-clear in the world around us. Acknowledging both the light and dark is honest, but which direction we choose to travel in is still ours to decide. We have a choice about where to focus, where to put our energy.

May we move toward the light. May we seek greatness and positive change. May we make the tough calls to strengthen ourselves. And, that includes the place we work, the family we’re in, the friends we have and the community we build daily by simply being present in it.

Since we opened the doors of IO, named after the vibrant color of the Golden Gate Bridge, our founding Mission has always been this: IO is a Bridge to Your Better Side

In these times, I offer this modified Mission for these trying times:
IO is a Bridge Over Troubled Water

We are here to help you feel calm, beautiful inside and to heal. We are here to help our community remain in good health and continue to touch and heal lives. Put your best foot forward with me. Commit to yourself. Commit to your own health and wellness. Be a beacon of light to others. Now.

We can be a bridge over troubled water.

Yes we can,
Amy

The Zen masters say, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” Even the little moments provide an opportunity to come back to mindfulness.

Instead of hurrying through my morning shower, I pause and make the effort to be present with the daily ritual of washing my hair. Albeit simple, it’s actually a particularly gratifying moment in my day because I’ve had the luxury of designing my own hair care products, just the way I like ‘em. Here’s what what makes my morning shower that much more delightful…

Our IO Restore hair wash is a harmonious blend of invigorating bergamot, stimulating nettle, hydrating geranium flower and healing seaweed. These ingredients work in harmony to bring my locks back into balance and the aromatherapeutic element is a sensory reminder to slow down and be present. I try to take at least a few minutes to lather and rinse my hair. The stimulating action of massaging my scalp with my fingers gives me a kinesthetic connection to the moment.

Our conditioning hair cream, IO Nourish, hydrates, protects and infuses my hair with the lovely scents of jasmine blossom and tuberose petals. We didn’t cut corners with the moisturizing base of golden jojoba and macadamia oil. Jojoba is well known as a natural replacement for human sebum, the oil that our bodies create to keep hair shiny and healthy. Macadamia oil is a high-quality botanical emollient.

And while I’m bragging, 24/7 Style had this to say about Restore and Nourish:

“Not fru-fru, they’re also not over-powering but a perfect blend of flowers, citrus, and healing herbs. The aromatherapy is relaxing to your body and mind, and that alone could be a spa day for some of us!”

Every component of our hair products was well thought out, and using them is, for me, a reminder to stay grounded in the little moments and to appreciate the simple luxuries in each day.

Every moment counts,
Amy

Here’s the kicker: what makes us better in the face of challenge is the ability to stay calm, keep perspective and lighten up.

When our battery is well charged, we’re far better problem-solvers. We can give more fully to life, to family, friends and work. It’s not selfish to take care of ourselves, especially when the going gets tough. It’s actually wise. It just takes some prioritizing.

The best news is that you are the best person on the planet to clarify and meet your needs. So go ahead. Rise to the occasion. Below are some of my tools for doing just that.

Relaxed Under Pressure
In her recent New York Times article about what makes the best Olympic athletes, Gina Kolata points out that staying relaxed is crucial to peak performance under pressure. She puts it like this:

“Relaxation. It is a trait that is often underappreciated, coaches and athletic trainers say. Yet it can make the difference between doing your best and not doing well, between feeling dragged down or soaring…An ability to relax while pushing hard, exercise researchers say, is one reason why winners win.”

Lighten Up & Have Fun
Give yourself permission to have fun. Joy breeds more joy, just like negativity breeds negativity. During stressful periods there’s usually not as much time to blow off steam, but try to keep at least a thing or two that you love in your daily ritual.

Simplify
What’s weighing you down? Look at your To Do list. If it’s not helping you feel balanced, make real progress or bringing you joy then take it off the to do list for now.

Be Efficient
All of us have to do things we don’t love (pay bills, put away laundry, clean up messes). With those items make sure you are efficient. Find a schedule or system that allows you to do these tasks with maximum ease. Ask for help. Delegate. Most importantly, realize that no matter what, you can’t do it all. Shrink your To Do list to the critical items. You’ll have more time to do each item well and more free time to do what you love.

Move Your Body
Exercise = stress relief. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that Americans should get about 150 minutes of moderately intense activity per week. That doesn’t sound so difficult if we loosen our modern definition of what “exercise” is. A brisk walk, push ups, raking leaves or doing household chores, anything that activates the body works. It doesn’t require a gym. Although I do recommend a good yoga studio. And yes, I am biased.

Quiet Your Mind
In this performance driven country of ours, the mind get a lot of “exercise”. Have you noticed that we have a tendency to stress out? Allow fear and worry to dominate our mental hum? Me too. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, a bath or a nap. These practices help quiet the mind. When the mind is quiet, creative solutions bubble up without effort. Calm replaces stress. Ease replaces burden.

These wellness tips are simple, low or no cost, effective, healthy ways do well in the face of challenge. I hope they help you. They work for me. It is an art to be well in hard times, but I believe we can do it.

Be well,
Amy

I close the bathroom door behind me and submerge myself in a warm bath.

I love to use our Bathe Bath Soak. Sea Salt, Epsom Salt, and Baking Soda draw out toxins and encourage circulation. Orange Blossom helps put the nervous system at peace. Vetiver Root aids in the release of muscle pain and tension. White Lotus is ethereal and softly sweet. If I don’t have Bathe on hand, a few drops of essential oil and/or just plain Epsom Salts work nicely.

When I am sufficiently cooked to a tender and relaxed state, I wash and hydrate my hair with Restore and Nourish. Essential oil aromas of Bergamot, Lavender, Jasmine and Tuberose help me drift into a semi-sleep. My stresses fade to black. I just wish I could always feel that good.

That’s a work in progress.

Tonight I’ll be soaking my bones again after my workday is done. Now more than ever, give yourself permission to relax. Nobody else can do it for you.

Peace,
Amy

As we begin to focus our energies inward again to reap the innate benefits of the fall season, it is a good time to help the process along by internally cleansing the body, letting go of unneeded waste and allowing the new phase to transition smoothly.

Here’s a healthy green drink that helps me move from summer to fall and cleanse my digestive system and skin. This drink has diuretic qualities so it helps release excess water weight that may have stored itself in bodily tissues. I say goodbye to lackluster skin and slow digestion as I welcome the fall.

I drink this smoothie first thing in the morning for a week or so before, or instead of, coffee. It’s an incredibly energizing drink that’s nice and tart, just slightly sweet, and very energizing.

Ingredients
3-4 Celery stalks, cleaned very well
1 Lemon, remove skin but leave the white pith (if in a hurry, juice it instead)
1 handful of Parsley, washed and stalks removed
1 Granny Smith green Apple, cored

Directions
Coarsely chop all the ingredients. Place ingredients in a blender and add water to about an inch above the contents. Blend until smooth. Serves one or two people.

Blending is preferred to juicing for this recipe so that all the helpful fiber is left in the green drink. Ideally, this drink is best when consumed within the first few hours of making it, when it’s still the most vibrant and full of nutrients.

Clean, green and ready for fall,
Amy

Even though I own a spa and yoga studio, have a daily meditation practice and take pretty darned good care of my body, I haven’t renounced alcohol or a good party night from time to time. Thankfully, I still know how to celebrate.

My Chinese Medicine doctor once advised me, “Amy, sometimes you gotta let the pig out.” Sometimes letting your hair down and having a little fun is just what the doctor ordered, literally.

So, last weekend I “let the pig out” to play. It was the bachelorette weekend of a very close friend of mine. We went south, past Half Moon Bay to Costanoa, a luxury nature retreat with tent cabins and a beautiful lodge (and soundproof party room) that we made the most of with our gaggle of girls. Our night was outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed plenty of sushi and sake at Sushi Main Street and more champagne afterward in our dance party suite. All this had us smiling, laughing, toasting and preparing our girl, Lisa, for her upcoming nuptials and her brave and beautiful step into marriage.

Now what would life be like without a little debauchery now and again? Answer: life would be boring and out of balance. The key is to choose the debauchery wisely and to know how to recover after a late night out.

Coconut water is my secret. It rehydrates like the dickens. Sayonara Gatorade. Nature’s got a quick-fix hydration tool that is low in sugar and high in potassium and other minerals that work wonders on a dehydrated body. Yes, it’s also fat-free unlike coconut milk. I like the Young Coconut Juice with Pulp from Amy & Brian or 100% Coconut Water from O.N.E.

Yes, coconut water does a body good.

The bride-to-be knows my secret too. I saw her first thing the morning after with a coconut water in hand, looking a little ragged around the edges, but on her way to recovery with memories to last a lifetime.

Go on…let the pig out (if you have coconut water handy),
Amy

Every year in the transition from summer to fall, I return to our organic farm to help my folks with the year’s biggest harvest. We pick all sorts of fruits like grapes, figs, apples, peaches, heirloom vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and medicinal, healing herbs like flowering mint and lavender.

My business partner and friend, Melissa, as well as IO Creative Director, Matt and IO Retail Director, Julie, have in years past also shared in the harvest experience and helped lend able hands to IO’s very own family farm, Old Monticello Organic Farms, New Mexico, otherwise know by the fitting acronym of OM OF NM.

After the harvest my parents, Jane and Steve, send me back from the farm to San Francisco with my healthy supply of freshly picked fruits and vegetables, my mom’s homemade stone-fruit granola, dad’s wood-aged balsamic vinegar, and lavender products to use at the spa and in my home bathroom.

Lavender Hydrosol is one of my favorite wellness products from the farm. In small batches, my parents slowly distill fresh, hand-cut herbs in their pure well water, producing the highest quality hydrosols and essential oils.

Nearly everyone knows what essential oils are, but hydrosols may be new to people outside of Europe. It is being learned that this “milky water” contains all key plant constituents, often even more than the essential oil itself, and can deliver the fullest medicinal value of the plant via inhalation or skin contact, both pleasingly and effectively.

Lavender is a healing herb known for its balancing, antiseptic and calming qualities.

Hydrosols are the pure water-based solutions created when essential oils are steam-distilled. They help maintain skin pH balance and absorption of product ingredients.

I love to mist Lavender Hydrosol generously on my face and body as a refresher and light fragrance. I always travel with a bottle to hydrate, calm and refresh. Since lavender has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties it’s also good for the germ exposure we encounter when traveling. Try it yourself.

A special thank you to my parents, Jane and Steve, and the fall harvest at OM OF NM for reminding me about the beautiful organic yields of nature and what delightful creations can be made with our own hands. What a combination.

Straight from the farm,

Amy

Once a year we close down to the public and officially turn the renewal attention on our team and the space we work in. We clean and refresh the Spa and Yoga Studio giving it a fresh coat of paint, fixing things and reorganizing. We also renew the spirits of our team with a relaxing, bonding activity.

We do our best to practice what we preach and this day helps support that commitment.

While there’s no revenue earned on IO Renewal Day, there’s much progress made. Renewal Day serves as a reset button for us. With a day to regroup and refresh, we offer even better service to our clients afterward. And, we enjoy what we do as wellness experts and healers all the more as we remember what we have set out to do.

For the individual, I recommend Personal Renewal Days where instead of renewing your work environment and community, you turn the focus on yourself. Spring-cleaning can be done anytime of year. I highly encourage taking at least one day a year to do so. The act of shedding unneeded clutter and upgrading your most favorite and highly utilized spaces will allow you to enjoy your environment even more and will also make room for new things you love.

Make your Personal Renewal Day that much more restorative by doing something rejuvenating for yourself at the end of it, whether it’s a spa treatment, yoga class, warm bath or delicious meal. Adding some pleasure and relaxation in, after all that hard work, is a good idea. Why not make it enjoyable?

As the saying goes, a clean house is a clean mind. To me that concept refers to any place you may call “home”, whether it’s your actual house or your very own body. So, on at least one day a year, make it all about the renewal of your own spirits and your own abode.

We’ll keep doing the same at IO.

Happy Renewal Day,

Amy

Born in India, Mother Meera is thought to be an incarnation of the Divine Mother (the mother of the universe in Hinduism). It is said she can tap into the “Light”, a healing, loving energy that makes spiritual progress easier on earth.

Thousands of seekers from all religions flock to Mother Meera to receive darshan. She holds the person’s head in her hands, then stares into their eyes for several seconds. During this process she is said to “untie knots” in the person’s karmic/subtle body and infuses them with Light.

Last night when I arrived at the Presbyterian Church a few minutes early for my 7:00 PM reservation (you are required to signed up online to secure your spot), the hall was already full of seekers. It was an interesting social experiment to watch all these people coming to receive darshan. Many people acted very serious and pious; some were smiling blissfully and seemed a little ‘checked out’, others appeared unfazed as they waited quietly for something in silent expectation or perhaps true openness.

I enjoyed my first darshan experience for its intrigue and calming result. I did indeed feel more relaxed, receptive and happier after receiving darshan. I wasn’t sure what to expect when Mother Meera was looking into my eyes, but her gaze felt comfortable and loving even as she did it in silence and with a straight face.

Afterward, I sat in meditation for 15 minutes and felt what I would call an electric quality of heat in my body, especially in my chest and midsection. I rested very well last night and had sweet dreams. A sense of deeper calm is still with me today.

And, it sure would be nice if some of my other ‘knots’ were untied for me. I could handle that.

Mother Meera now lives in Germany and was on a short visit to the Bay Area, but if you’re interested you can track her visits in the U.S. and perhaps experience darshan with her sometime.

Namaste (the divine in me honors the divine in you),

Amy

1. REFRESH-MINT: A Delicious Mint Cooler
This refreshing and healthy drink is one of my favorites for summertime.
It’s a cold version of fresh mint tea. It’s healthy (no refined sugar and better for you than a can of soda), invigorating and stomach settling.

Ingredients
Teapot full of hot water
One bunch of Mint (either Peppermint or Spearmint)
Honey to taste
Ice to chill

Directions
Clean the mint and put aside a mint sprig or two to add at the end.
Boil water then pour it over the mint in a heat resistant container.
Steep for about 5 minutes or until the water is light green.
Strain the mint from the liquid.
Refrigerate the liquid or let it sit out until room temperature or cooler.
Add honey to taste for sweetness. At least a tablespoon per cup, generally.
Add the fresh sprigs of mint and ice into individual glasses and pour.
Refresh and enjoy!

Alternative Recipes
Add the juice of several lemons for Mint Lemonade. This one is very cleansing.
Add vodka to the Mint Cooler for a cocktail version of this summer refresher.

2. SPRITZ YOURSELF: Organic Lavender Hydrosol
This “plant water” from my family’s organic farm in New Mexico is a by-product of the distillation of essential oils.

OM OF NM Organic Mountain Lavender Hydrosol makes a cooling, antibacterial refresher that can be sprayed copiously on face and body. Trust me, I am generous with the stuff. I practically bathe in it during the summer and when traveling. It fits easily into a purse or carry on bag. Keep one in the car or next to the bed for quick refreshment, hydration and a sense of ‘ahhhh’.

3. CHILL OUT HOT & TIRED FEET: Yogurt and Cucumber Foot Bath
Nothing chills the feet out more than a refreshing foot bath with cool water, one cup of yogurt and a cucumber (slice half and dice the other half). Yogurt adds extra hydration and lactic acids for light exfoliation. Cucumber calms and gently draws out heat in the feet as well as impurities. In their native hot climates, Greeks and Indians love to eat a cooling salad/side dish of the same ingredients. The combo is soothing on the inside and out.

4. CALM YOUR PUFFY EYES: Pack Your Bags They’re Leaving
Watermelon and cucumber sooth, relieve and refresh the under-eye area naturally and like none other. Farewell to puffy, tired, over-partied, overworked eyes. Treat them with Pack Your Bags They’re Leaving, a fabulous eye product from Simply Divine Botanicals, infused with the healing power of Reiki. And, this product even smells like summer! Available at International Orange.

5. COOL & SOOTH SORE MUSCLES: Sombra, Natural Pain Relieving Gel
Camphor, Menthol, Aloe Vera and Green Tea extracts, Rose water and Witch Hazel make for cooling and tingly relief from sore muscles, arthritis, strains, sprains and bruises. I love to put Sombra on my neck, shoulders and low back before yoga, while working at my desk or before bed to sooth my muscles into a refreshing sleep. Available at International Orange.

Chill out this summer,

Amy

In the past year, my life has altered for the better with a focus on personal time in the morning and it’s changed the way I feel when I wake up. Some call it a morning “routine”, but I like to call them rituals since the language is more ceremonial and in line with the intention of the honoring of self.

Each morning I make time for rituals that get my day started in a way that feels good to me. These rituals serve as a powerful centering practice and a time of self-connection.

I encourage you to explore your own rituals, as you are your own best guide. But, as food for thought in creating your morning practices, I will share mine with you:

MY MORNING RITUALS

Centering Myself
Meditate for 30 minutes.

Hydrate and Energize
Drink a glass of water and eat a piece of fruit or granola bar.

Exercise, Music and Nature
Put on my ipod and walk for an hour or so in my neighborhood through parks and as close to trees and wildlife as possible.

Cleanse and Suit Up
Return home to shower and dress for the day.
This is a common morning routine, of course, but I look at it as a cleansing and self-care ritual that refreshes and prepares me for the day. This step is a transition from the morning of personal time to an outward focus on the world, and the people and events in it.

More Energy
Eat another snack with protein if possible (eggs or yogurt usually).

Affirmations & To Dos
I make my list:
1. On one side of the paper I write what I need to do today and prioritize the list.
2. On the other side of the paper I write what I want the universe to help me manifest.
This method works well for me as it combines the power of affirmation with personal action items to focus me on what I want to accomplish everyday. I don’t get it all done, but I give myself a break about that. There’s always more to do.

Yes, I wake up early and make 2 hours for myself on most days, but if you have less time that’s okay. Focus on doing at least one thing that you love as a morning ritual. Enjoyment is very helpful in starting your day right and so is time for self-connection.

Rise and shine,
Amy

Honey, the sweet nectar of flowers, the bi-product of honey bees, has long been used in healing and beauty products and, of course, as a syrupy sweetener of food and drink.

Egyptians used honey for healing wounds as well as for beauty treatments. The legendary Cleopatra, who was known for her beauty and gorgeous complexion, had a few tricks up her sleeve, like bathing in milk and honey to soften and purify her skin.

As it turns out, Western physicians are now starting to use honey, the manuka variety especially, to treat burns and infections because of its antibacterial and antibiotic properties. For these same reasons we use honey in our facials at IO and it’s also the same reason that one of the main ingredients in Arcona’s Toner Tea Bar is manuka honey (a special kind of honey made by New Zealand honey bees).

In our curative IO Facials, we draw from select products made of fresh herbal and plant extracts, essential oils, naturally active enzymes, alpha-hydroxy acids and antioxidant vitamins. No generic facial products are used in any of our facials and, in fact, we mix many of our treatment masks with honey for its added healing and purifying qualities.

Arcona’s Toner Tea Bar is an antioxidant facial cleanser that heals and strengthens the skin as it tones and minimizes pores. It neutralizes free radicals, calms and protects skin with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory green and black teas. It nourishes and clarifies with antibacterial enzyme-rich manuka honey and vitamin E.

Toner Tea Bar is good for all skin types and guarantees great results without any fillers, chemical stabilizers, artificial colors, emulsifiers, petro-chemicals, animal bi-products or drying alcohols.

Product Usage Tip
Cut the cleansing bar into halves or quarters so it lasts longer and for easy to use travel sizes.

Thanks, honey!

Amy

It was remarkable to get quiet and go inward to meet my mental demons and angels. It was especially remarkable for me to do so on a weekend when I knew my loved ones and friends were celebrating and spending time together. I knew this Independence Day would be a worthy challenge for me.

Rules for the weekend: no eye contact with other retreat goers, no talking except in a meeting with a teacher, only vegetarian meals, no harming of any animals, even insects, during the stay.

Our schedule: wake up at 6:00 AM, sitting meditation at 6:30 AM, eating meditation over breakfast at 7:00 AM, 7:45 AM sitting meditation, 8:30 AM walking mediation and so on until 9:30 PM.

I had a beautiful albeit challenging experience of silence and focus with smatterings of elation and joy mixed in with wanting to run for the hills, doing mental back flips and dealing with achy hips.

In the spirit of the celebration weekend and to connect to those outside of the retreat center, I spent a full hour in meditation doing Metta (loving kindness) practice. I was sending our IO community of staff and clients, as well as my family and friends, wishes for success, happiness, peace, safety and freedom from suffering. It felt fitting to offer up my own mental ‘fireworks’ of loving kindness.

On Sunday morning after a day and a half of silent meditation, something noteworthy happened. During one of my seated meditations, I was overcome by a wave of sadness that was quickly met by abundant compassion. Then, two tears welled up in my closed-eyes and rolled down my cheeks. The emotion passed like a wave and I felt extremely open and spacious. It was a testament to the power of letting go and of the openness and inner peace that meditation practice fosters.

I highly recommend trying a silent retreat sometime. I’m not sure it’s something you feel extremely ‘ready’ for since it’s challenging. But, as our teacher Eugene Cash reminded us this weekend, we meditate because it is the kind of suffering that leads to LESS suffering instead of the kind that leads to more suffering.

Happy Independence Day.

May all beings be free,

Amy

There is a Chinese saying, “good things come in pairs.”

As a child growing up in a Chinese home, this adage was one of those “parental phrases” where the meaning was lost in translation (and / or by virtue of age).

But, as I continue along the journey of life, I have begun to understand and realize the power of 2. In fact, life brings us many pairings. Night and day, yin and yang, cheese and wine, and heart and head. Sometimes it is the contrast or the combination of the 2 (ideals, people, things) that creates life’s most fulfilling and illuminating experiences.

Just this past week, I experienced a healing yet powerful pairing at IO: acupuncture and massage with Ilya Jacobson. As a deep tissue massage junkie and a committed client of IO’s massage practice, I always thought of massage as simply a solo treatment. It wasn’t until I arrived at the spa on Friday with an insurmountable headache (which ungodly amounts of water and acetaminophen could not cure), that I woke up to the beauty of the acupuncture and massage combo.

Acupuncture, an ancient healing practice of treating pain and medical, emotional or mental issues, is a powerful method of healing and aligning body and mind. The origins of the practice can be traced as far back as the Stone Age, when the Mongolians used sharpened stones to treat ailments. Today, thanks to its demonstrated history and powerful effects, acupuncture is not to be dismissed. Naysayers are converts once they experience the relaxing and healing effects of acupuncture.

After entering the circular treatment room, Ilya, with his kind, warm and “just be” nature, suggested with ease that we address my headache through acupuncture added to the session. “Yes,” I said, and the rest followed. We began with a gentle acupuncture treatment tailored to my specific needs, which Ilya seamless integrated with a full body deep tissue massage. Ilya’s work unarmed my mind and body issues. After the 90 Minute session, I felt supremely restored.

What I carried into the room – my headache, cumulative emotional stress, and personal inhibitions – was released. Light and free, I became.

Thanks, Ilya, and the team at IO for bringing this dynamic combination, acupuncture and massage, to us. You’ve coupled a beautiful pairing. Now, I can rightly say that good things DO come in pairs.

Reiki means universal life force energy and it’s a balancing and healing art with a broad range of happy benefits to both giver and receiver. This healing technique was developed in Japan by Mikao Usui (1865-1926).

Reiki works on the energy flow in the body, otherwise know as Chi in Chinese Medicine or Prana in the Yogic tradition. It has a healing, balancing and extremely relaxing effect on the mental, emotional and physical body. Reiki empowers the body’s innate self-healing ability.

Reiki is usually performed fully clothed and utilizes the light touch of the practitioner’s hands on specific energy centers of the body often channeling heat and sensation from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. This kind of bodywork is, in one way, the opposite of deep tissue massage in that it is very gentle and calming.

But, I must say, as someone who L-O-V-E-S deep tissue massage, Reiki works beautifully for me. Deep tissue work addresses the musculoskeletal system in the Western medical tradition of treating a specific symptom as opposed to Reiki’s more holistic and Eastern approach of treating the cause of a symptom or the root of the problem, in this case the places where bodily energy gets stagnant or blocked.

Similarly to deep tissue massage, Reiki can help with tension or old holding patterns “stuck” in the tissues of the body. Reiki can also center us with such power that it effects our connection to self and spirit. My business partner and friend, Melissa and I often talk about Reiki being a way to plug into something larger than ourselves, a way to press the reset button on whatever junk or stress might be caught in the mind and body at a given time.

Reiki is powerful stuff and without getting too woo-woo about it, it’s something I believe everyone should experience. Reiki is healing and enlightening. Plus, afterwards I always feel happy as a clam and buoyant as a butterfly. Truly.

Our very own IO Massage Therapist, Carrie Stone, is a Reiki Master. She’s genius. Even though we don’t list Reiki on our spa menu, book a regular massage with her and ask her to do Reiki for either the entire session or to work it in to your regular IO 60 or 90 Minute Massage. You will be thankful.

Namaste,

Amy

Staycation is the new buzzword for Americans looking to enjoy time-off without leaving their local area. It’s an eco-friendly and economical replacement for a vacation that would otherwise require costly and carbon-emitting travel.

In an effort to simplify, I recently donated my car to Spirit Rock and became a member of CityCarShare so the staycation concept is looking even sweeter to me these days.

Mount Tamalpais is my favorite backyard haven for a close-to-home, healthy dose of nature. Many hiking trails meander through towering redwoods, birds soar overhead and there’s usually prettier weather on Mt. Tam than San Francisco summers yield. Mill Valley can be foggy, but on Mt. Tam it’s often a clear view to the whitewashed San Francisco cityscape and out to the blue ocean expanse of the Pacific. Peace of mind is easy to find just over the Golden Gate.

If you want to make it a sleepover, choose between the spartan West Point Inn nestled on the west peak of Mt. Tam (hiking in is the only option) or for more luxury and car access try the Mountain Home Inn not far from the trail heads.

If your legs are weary from all that hiking, melt into some spa treatments and yoga at International Orange. This week, Style.com and Victoria Traina gave our very own spa and yoga services the thumbs up as a staycation spot for “all things health and beauty… ‘amazing massages’ and Vinyasa yoga classes”.

Read what Style.com had to say.

Staycationing in San Francisco,

Amy

I’ve been going out to Spirit Rock in Marin County for Monday night Dharma Talks with Jack Kornfield and friends for almost a decade, but it wasn’t until last November that I began my own daily meditation practice. It started with a commitment to meditate for 15 minutes every morning for one month. Then 15 minutes turned into half an hour and a month turned into six months. And here I am, still meditating everyday.

In combination with yoga, meditation is one of my most important balancing practices. It helps make living in the turbo pace of Western society more elegant. It slows me down to look inside, check in with what my own needs are day to day so that I can be present with myself in order to be my best for the rest of the world.

When it comes to meditation, a me-first attitude actually proves to be a good thing. Amazingly, it took me less that a week to see why. Even in that first week as I made space in my life to meditate for a few minutes every morning, the rest of my life began to feel easier. I am able to be better at my job by solving problems more creatively and openly. I am now able to be more present in my relationships. Decision making is also easier since I am clearer on my own stance and still flexible to new perspectives. When I make meditation a priority, my whole universe benefits from it.

In my life in the Bay Area with cell phone buzzing, emails pinging, a business to run with a team of 60 and the mounting pressure to keep up with the Jones, I am happy to have found a life-saver in meditation. It’s now a permanent resident in my own bag of tricks.

Tips on learning to meditate:

• Set aside 5 to 15 minutes daily (mornings work best for me) to sit upright on a pillow on the floor or in a chair with your feet planted on the earth.
• Focus on your breath. It’s your home in meditation. Keep coming back to the breath as a way to focus.
• Perhaps commit to meditating every morning for a week. After a week access how you are doing/feeling. If it’s helping then set another goal for yourself.
• Empower yourself by telling those that you live with what you are trying out and why. If they know about it then they will support your process. If they make fun of you then consider finding someone else to live with. ;)
• Go easy on yourself. Even people who are very seasoned in meditation have thoughts come up when they are practicing, as well as bodily aches and pains. It’s all part of it. That’s why it’s a practice. Keep trying.

This type of meditation practice is over 2,500 years old, but it’s making more sense than ever today. The pressure we put on ourselves, as Americans to live the dream, be the best and have more, more, more makes meditation some of the best medicine money CAN’T buy. I know… it’s so simple that it actually seems hard to do. You don’t need to pay for this ‘medicine’; you just need to make a little time for it in your life.

While on my recent travels in Southern Asia, meditation every morning continued and deepened as I had the opportunity to practice in amazing places like on the edge of the holy lake at the Gandhi Ghat in Pushkar, India and my two days spent with the Buddhist nuns at Dong Thien Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam.

Of course, now I want to dig deeper so I am taking a six week Intro to Insight Meditation & Buddhism class at the First Unitarian Universalist Church that’s nearby the spa.

Why not give meditation a try? Create a little more space for YOU.

Peace,

Amy

In February, when daylight is in short supply, when it’s chilly and wet, when cold and flu bugs are percolating, I find ways to “break on through to the other side.” My methods might not be as psychedelic as Jim Morrison’s were, but I find the one I am going to share with you can almost be intoxicating.

During winter, nature’s time for stillness and hibernation, exotic flowers provide mood lifting and mental transport to sunny locales where turquoise water laps on sandy beaches.

Jasmine, Tuberose and Gardenia are a few of my favorite exotic flowers with vitalizing scents that are physiologically uplifting to the spirits. In many warm-weathered cultures where they grow natively, these flowers are used ceremonially for a more religious type of ‘uplifting’ in marriage and coming of age rituals, etc.

Wearing and smelling these exotic scents helps me remember that it’s not always so cold and dreary outside. The scent is a fragrant reminder that flowers will bloom again. I enjoy winter more when I remember the value of it as a season for pause and introspection and, I must admit, when I get a little “flower power” boost.

One last benefit, or warning depending on your relationship status, the scent of exotic flowers like Gardenia, Tuberose and Jasmine certainly seems to draw suitors effortlessly.

Personally, I love wearing exotic floral scents, such as Kai’s Perfume Oil. One whiff and heads tend to turn.

Stay warm and well scented,

Amy