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Smile!
Renowned Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh recently published the illustrated book Mindful Movements: 10 Exercises for Well-Being, offering simple activities designed to help anyone reduce stress and achieve more physical and emotional calm. The movement descriptions (and illustrations) encourage readers to smile, relax, and enjoy the experience. The 65-page book, which comes with a 35-minute DVD, costs $13.95, but Beliefnet is featuring a free excerpt from the book with seven of the exercises, to give readers one movement to perform each day for a week.
Do you think yoga is too expensive and/or obnoxiously elitist?
If so, stop hating and get your asana to Meridian Hill Park! Just twice more this summer, there will be free Sunday evening yoga class, from 5-6:30 … all you need is a mat! The classes are taught by area yoga teachers, and offer a little something for everyone; plus you can meet new people, practice yoga outside, get a nice little workout, and wind down your weekend with relaxation. The class meets in the Northeast corner of the park – at 15th and Chapin St. (unless it’s raining, and then it meets across the street in the Art and Living Center).
When yoga is over, you will find yourself amidst one of the most vibrant and eclectic gatherings in D.C. (in my opinion) … the drum circle. Each Sunday for the past 40 years, Meridian Hill has been home to this ritualistic gathering, which lures musicians, dancers, artists, mystics, frisbee players, onlookers, and everyone in between to the beat of the drum, the scent of Naag Champa and the spirited, communal energy of it all. It’s an overwhelmingly un-D.C. gathering … and one I highly recommend. (You don’t need a drum to take part.) Some photos from this evening …
After polishing off the huge cookie I got for free from Java Green as part of my membership to Live Green, a new membership organization providing support to green businesses, I find myself thinking how far our city has come in the three years I’ve lived here.
Whereas in ‘05, examples of “green” D.C. commerce were few and far between, now the “scene” seems almost widespread. Whereas green living used to be exorbitant and elitist, it is, more than ever, accessible and – dare I say – mainstream. Whereas many may have once scoffed at the idea of a green economy, businesses – acknowledging that we are consumers – are feeding the demand with a steady supply of green goods. Small, simple opportunities to “green” our lives and choices abound.
Live Green, launched on June 18 at Local 16, aims to make eco-friendly living in D.C. more affordable, accessible, and easy. For a $13 annual membership, members get discounts at participating businesses, called “Live Green spots.” These include: Organic food, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, green health and wellness products and services and renewable energy. You’ll also get an informative newsletter keeping you up-to-date on green D.C. happenings/news.
Among the participating businesses: Java Green, Derma Hair Care (which, by the way, just introduced a full moon facial, which is … yes … exactly what it sounds like!!!!), Pangea, ZipCar, City Living Source, MOM’s and more!
A very special and amazing green business that is dear to my heart, Flow Yoga Center (also voted Best Yoga Studio by City Paper), is a Live Green spot … members can take any class for $5 and get 7% of a class pass! Watch this video (from NBC 4!) to learn more about how Flow is green. You may also spot someone you know practicing yoga — or saying something silly on the news 
While I certainly frequent green businesses and prefer to put my money toward green products and services, I’m curious to know people’s views on “consuming green” — are green businesses and products just feeding our addiction to stuff and to buying? Or is consumption inevitable and at the core of our being?
Namaste!
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