Dalai Lama explains why we should meditate.

**Click Here To Learn More About Meditation**

This is sure to make you smile!

“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” Lao Tzu 

Just Say No to GMO Foods and Products!

What are GMO's?

GMO is the acronym for Genetically Modified Organism. The official definition given on Wikipedia is: An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. 

Currently about 80% of all packaged foods in the U.S. contain GMO's. Although many other countries have significant restrictions or complete bans on the production of GMO's, the U.S. continues to allow these frankenfoods to overtake our food supply.

So What's the Big Deal?

Rather than share with you our findings and opinions we've decided to share pertinent videos and links to websites on the subject so you can do your own research and develop your own opinion. Trust that this is not something to be overlooked!

Jeffrey M. Smith, bestselling author of  "Seeds of Deception" on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Robyn O'Brien author of "The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It." and former Wall Street food industry analyst brings insight, compassion and detailed analysis to her research into the impact that the global food system is having on the health of our children.

 



Must-see documentary about GMO's

Check out these links...lot's of pertinent info!

http://www.bangmfood.org/

http://gmo-awareness.com/2011/06/03/why-we-need-gmo-labeling-and-how-to-get-it/#more-439

http://justlabelit.org/

http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/what-is-gmo/

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm

http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/what-are-gmos-how-many-us-foods-contain-them-infographic.html

http://www.labelgmos.org/

Living a Balanced Life

Here, former Taoist monk and accomplished physician of Chinese medicine Pedram Shojai gives us some insight on what it means to live a balanced life. The principles of his teaching are based on ancient Taoist philosophy. Pedram is the author of the book Rise and Shine: Awaken Your Energy Body with Taoist Alchemy and Qi Gong and has also put together a 3 DVD series titled "The Alchemy of Qi Gong" .

Visit taoistpath.com

Top 10 Ways to Conquer Stress!

The Master Cleanse! Recipe & How to

The Master Cleanse is a popular 10 day juice fast using (1) a special lemonade recipe made with water, lemons, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, (2) a salt water flush and (3) a laxative tea. First developed by Stanley Burroughs in the 1940's, The Master Cleanse has helped many cleanse their system and lose excess weight. The simplicity and easy availability of the ingredients attribute to it's popularity. Although many have reported amazing results, there has been both positive and negative points of view associated with this cleanse. In the end it's up to the individual to determine if this is right for them.

In this video tutorial Julia (JuliaHeaven on YouTube) demonstrates how to put together the recipe. You can tune into her YouTube channel where she has documented each day of her 10 day cleanse.

   

Lemonade Recipe: 
(Drink between 6 and 12 10oz glasses a day)

For every 8 oz. of water

2 tbsp. Grade B Maple Syrup 

2 tbsp. Fresh squeezed Lemon Juice

1/10 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (Or as much as you can stand)

Every morning Salt Water Flush:

2 tsp. Sea Salt in 1 liter of water

Every Evening:

1 cup herbal laxative tea

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Family Workout: A Healthy Family is a Happy Family

Instilling healthy habits in our children is one of the best gifts we could ever give them. Family workouts not only help keep kids and adults healthy and fit, it helps to bring the family closer together while aiding in the reduction of bad behaviors by releasing pent up energy. Keeping the kids engaged will also help motivate us parents to get more active. A real win win situation. 

 Check out this great clip of Lulu, Drew & Nona getting a great workout using Rob Orlando's family fitness routine at Hybrid Athletics.

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Water: The Great Mystery Free Full Length Documentary

Amazing! Does our consciousnesses change waters molecular structure?

Here is a excerpt from the film "Water:The Great Mystery". Water is the only substance known to man that has the ability to take various forms and return to its original state. From the gaseous, steam; to the liquid, water; to the solids, ice and snow, water remains unexplainable in many ways. 
Does human consciousness have an effect on the molecular structure of water? In this thought provoking documentary, Japanese author and entrepreneur Masaru Emoto along with other researchers, scientists, philosophers and theologians set out to prove just that.

Quick Facts:

The human body is made up of at least 70% water. 

The Planet earth is made up of 75% water.

**Click Here to watch the entire documentary (Free)**

Amazing Weight Loss Life Transformation!

Here's an amazing story of how Bill Barlow of RawFoodForMyLife.com went from being sick, overweight and knocking on deaths door to becoming enlightened about the power of raw foods, water fasting and exercise. Bill credits Dan McDonald aka 'The Liferegenerator' for providing him with the information that literally saved his life. After losing an astonishing 200 lbs in just one year Bill has dedicated himself to sharing his new found knowledge of health and healing with all who could possibly benefit from his experiences. If you or someone you know is suffering with obesity, illness or chronic pain and suffering your not going to want to miss this!


The details of Bills journey can be heard in this wonderful interview by Arttemis Keszainn of NewEarthCenter.com.

How to eat healthy on a budget!

Many people struggle to eat healthy because of the common misconception that it going to cost more money, when in fact it can cost less money, and because your eating well and taking care of your health you may be able to avoid future illness that can end up costing a fortune. In this video Dara Dubinet from http://liveloveraw.daradubinet.com/ demonstrates just how easy it is to prepare healthy foods without breaking the bank.

 

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Healthy Raw Food Tacos...Delicious!

This is a great recipe that can be made in minutes. The filling really does taste and have the texture of taco meat. Feel free to get creative with this recipe.


Filling: Raw Walnuts (pre-soak 8 hours to neutralize enzyme inhibitors). 1/2 tsp Cumin, 1 tsp Lemon Juice, 1 Garlic Clove and 1 tsp Nama Shoyu (unpasteurized, organic soy sauce). Combine ingredients with a food processor using the 'S' blade attachment until consistently of taco meat (about 30 seconds).


Toppings: Sprouted Mung Beans, Avocado and diced Tomatoes. 


Shell: Any large green leaf vegetable will work well...Collard Green (as shown above), Kale, Swiss Chard, etc.

Chillout Music Playlist

Eckhart Tolle - Live in the Present!

Master Eckhart Tolle is one of the most influential teachers to ever grace this planet. After experiencing a profound transformation at the age of 29 Eckhart devoted his life to better understanding human consciousness and enlightenment. Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller 'The Power of Now' and more recently 'A New Earth', Eckhart continues to inspire and teach the masses the fundamentals behind his work.

Do We Know How to End Cancer, Heart Disease and Diabetes?

Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of the China Study and Forks over Knives gives a presentation on 'Resolving the Health Care Crisis'. With over 50 years of nutritional study, Dr. Campbell's research has lead to many discoveries on diet and disease. With the cost of Health Care crippling our country and Obesity, Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Disease affecting so many of our loved ones I think it's time we listen to what the man has to say.



Do you know somebody who this video might help? Please share this information.

Watch Forks Over Knives. Free Full Length Movie!

 http://www.livingahealthyandhappylife.com/2012/06/forks-over-knives-documentary-free-full.html

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Why eating more 'Living Foods' is so Powerful!

Dan McDonald aka "Dan The Man" aka "The Liferegenerator" has been teaching people about the healing and regenerative effects of eating a whole natural vegan diet high in raw living fruits and vegetables for many years. Having been awarded 'Best Raw Vegan Educator of the Year' multiple times at 'The Best of Raw Awards', it appears his message is spreading fast. Dan doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. With over 1,100 inspirational videos now available for viewing through his YouTube channel and his ever growing list of instructional dvd's now available through his website you're sure to find a topic that interest you.

In this video Dan gives a consultation to a gentlemen who's looking to lose weight, reverse diabetes and get off medications.

 

If you have a question or would like to request a consultation with Dan you can submit your request here: 'Ask Dan'

Buddha on a train

'Merci!' is a short film by Christine Rabette. Winner of the 2003 Golden Wave for best Short Film (Court-Métrage). ‘Bodhisattva in Metro’ as it's also known, has struck a cord with many who have had the privilege to view it. Everybody who see's this film is likely to have a slightly different interpretation of what it represents. The woman with the book in her hand is the director Christine Rabette. This film was based on an actual event Christine experienced will riding the metro in Paris during rush hour.


 

5 Great Quotes on Laughter...

"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin


"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." ~Mark Twain


"Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors." ~Norman Cousins


"All you need in the world is love and laughter. That's all anybody needs. To have love in one hand and laughter in the other." ~August Wilson


"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities." ~Jean Houston

Need more reasons to laugh? Watch this:

Laughter Is Some Of The Best Medicine! -Funny Talking Animals-

Dogs and cats love real homemade pet food!

Is that 50 lb bag of kibble you bought from the big box store really providing your beloved pet with the nutrition and protection that it says it does? With pet food recalls happening all the time, and the high frequency of pets falling ill or even dying from food related diseases it may be worth taking a closer look.

One things for sure, by making homemade dog or cat  food, you can rest easy knowing that you're providing all the proper nutrition your pet needs to live a full, healthy and happy life. 

In this video John from JohnSifferman.com gives us a quick demonstration of just how easy it is to get started.




I believe that if you invest in the health of your pet, your pet will become an investment in your health!

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Is Venus Williams a Raw Vegan?

After being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease causing her feelings of fatigue and pain, Venus Williams embarked on a journey to regain her health. 

 Venus: "For me, it gave me a lot of answers"... "I became a raw vegan... I'm not perfect, so I have to forgive myself when I make mistakes... I do a lot of juicing as well, a lot of wheat-grass shots." 

 Venus Williams is a  professional tennis player who's been World Ranked No. 1 and is the current Wimbledon Womens Doubles Champion along with her sister Serena Williams.

 


                                              Shop For These Related Products At Amazon
     

Vacuum Sealed Salad in a Jar that Lasts a Week!

Here's a great idea that can save you time, money and keep you healthy. With just a little prep time you can preserve serving size portions of salad to take with you to work, school, the gym or on a road trip. All you're going to need to get started is some quart size wide mouth jars and a FoodSaver vacuum food sealer with the jar sealer attachment. I've also seen this method done by putting the dressing and salad toppings in the bottom of the jar and the salad on top. When it comes time to eat, simply pour into a bowl and enjoy. 

Here, Paula from www.Salad-in-a-Jar.com gives us a quick demonstration of  how it's done.

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Health benefits of stretching 10-15 minutes a day

There are many health benefits to developing a regular stretching routine. Just 10 to 15 minutes of stretching a day is all it takes to greatly improve your flexibility and range of motion. By staying limber, daily tasks like reaching for a book on the top shelf will remain effortless into your golden years. Stretching also helps to circulate the blood throughout the entire body helping to increase energy levels and speed up muscle recovery post workout. Whether you're an athlete, a weekend runner or live a sedentary lifestyle, regular stretching is one of the best things you can do to prevent muscle related injuries. Back pain, leg pain, stiffness of the neck etc. can all be greatly reduced if not totally eliminated with the inclusion of  a proper stretching regimen. In the following video, Yogi Matt from CafeHolistic.com  demonstrates a great 10-15 minute stretching routine that can greatly enhance your day. 

 

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Full 10 Part Series: Oprah interviews Eckhart Tolle "A New Earth" all 10 chapters

Click either the word playlist in the lower left corner of the video or (during playback) the small play button near the lower right corner of the video to view the entire playlist!!!


Five Great Quotes from  Eckhart Tolle's Book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose


“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose


“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.”― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose


“Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.”― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose


“Anything that you resent and strongly react to in another is also in you.”― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose


“Living up to an image that you have of yourself or that other people have of you is inauthentic living.”― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Release your mind from the past, worry and anxiety

Oprah interviews author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle about his best selling book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. This was an excerpt of what was originally a 10 part series covering each chapter of the book. Click link below to watch the entire series (over 15 hours of video)!  http://www.livingahealthyandhappylife.com/2012/07/full-10-part-series-oprah-interviews.html

Guided Meditation: Relax away stress in just 10 minutes

Melt away your stress and relax with this short 10 minute guided meditation. Allow yourself some time away from it all and clear your mind. There are many benefits that come with quieting our thoughts. Increased focus, better sleep, self control and better health are all common results after using this type of technique.


Video by Diana Parkinson. http://www.dianaparkinson.co.uk

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Fall Asleep Fast! Incredibly Relaxing Sleep Tone Music

If you've ever had trouble falling asleep then you know how life disrupting it can be. Insomnia is a common problem affecting an estimated 30%-50% of the general population. Not getting enough sleep can take a serious toll on your health, energy, mood and ability to safely function during the day. When you're not fully rested you're not at your best, meaning a higher likelihood of missed opportunities. Do yourself a favor and make getting an adequate amount of natural sleep a priority in life. Eat healthy, exersise,  always try to look on the bright side of things and be aware of how your daily lifestyle choices are affecting you. 

Here's five great tips to help you fall asleep fast!

1. Quiet your mind (envision a stop sign in your head to quiet your thoughts)
2. Take a few deep breaths (breathe in for 8 seconds, hold for 8 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds, repeat)
3. Turn off distractions (television, facebook, cell phone, lights, etc.)
4. Listen to relaxing music at low volume (Zen, Meditation, New Age, Audio-book)
5. Fall asleep inch by inch (focused relaxation starting with your toes and slowly working your way up to your head) 

 

Forks Over Knives Documentary (Free Full Length Movie)

Forks Over Knives is a thought provoking documentary about health and nutrition. The information presented within is the result of many years of research in many different countries around the world. Dr. T.Colin Cambell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn lead the film along with other experts in the health and wellness field.

 Their findings as presented, that a Whole Foods Plant Based Diet can control or even reverse many of the degenerative diseases that plague current day man are easily understood in this clearly presented and entertaining film. 

Roger Ebert calls it “a movie that could save your life.”

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The Beatles - All You Need is Love

Lyrics:

(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game It's easy

There's nothing you can make that can't me made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)
(Love, love, love)

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

All you need is love, all together now
All you need is love, everybody
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Love is all you need
Love is all you need
Love is all you need...

How to build a small home gym on a budget

If you're considering putting together your own home gym but are worried about the cost or the space that's required, I have some great news for you. You really don't need much equipment, space, or money to put together a great gym that produces outstanding results! In this post I will give you a glimpse of my home gym along with a detailed list of what you'll need to get started.

About 5 years ago I started putting together a home gym with a very limited budget. After doing some research online I put together a list of equipment I needed and started to purchase each piece individually as money became available.

1) The first item I purchased was a set of adjustable dumbbells. I love these things. Each dumbbell is easily adjustable from 10 to 50 lbs. They have a very sturdy feel to them and take up very little space. You can expect to spend somewhere between $100-$350 for a high quality set with a stand.

2) The second item I purchased was a foldaway adjustable weight bench. It's great because it can be used flat or can be adjusted to both incline and decline positions in a matter of seconds. There are a ton of exercises that can be preformed using this style bench and it folds up quickly for super compact storage. You can expect to spend somewhere between $50-$100 for a high quality bench.

3) The third item I purchased was a stationary bike. This especially comes in handy during the winter months when it's not as convenient to get in your cardio workout outdoors, or if you live in a high traffic area where riding a bike can be dangerous. Most come with a built in heart rate monitor / calorie counter for easy tracking and a nice cushy seat for a painless ride. You can expect to spend somewhere between $200-$300 for a high quality bike.

4) The fourth item I purchased was a exercise mat for stretching and doing crunches. Most models either fold up or roll up for easy storage. You can expect to spend somewhere between $25-$50 for a high quality mat.

5) The fifth item I purchased was the perfect pushup. It's unique design allows you to vary the type of push up you do day to day for added results. They put less strain on the wrists and can easily be taken with you while traveling. You can expect to spend somewhere between $20-$35 for a set.

6) The sixth item I purchased was the Iron Gym pull up bar. Even if you can't do any full body weight pull up's, you can easily assist yourself with the use of a chair. It can also be used as a dip station for developing your triceps and a foot holder for doing sit-ups and crunches as demonstrated in the users manual. It takes just a second to set up or take down and is compact enough be stored under the bed. You can expect to spend somewhere between $20-$35 for a high quality bar.

7) In addition to the equipment, I purchased a few bodybuilding dvd's for added inspiration as well as a book by Men's Health titled The Men's Health Hard Body Plan which includes a great beginner, intermediate, and advanced workout instruction that utilizes all the equipment listed above. Don't fret ladies, you too can get a lot out of this book if your looking to include some weight lifting into your workout routine. You can expect to spend somewhere between $25-$50 for a few dvd's and a workout book.


So as you can see, if you purchase your equipment on the lower end of the price spectrum you can put together your home gym for under $450 and with very little space required. Even if you currently have a gym membership it might be a good idea to start putting together your own gym just in case. It's also great having total access to getting your sweat on whenever you feel like it.

How To Make A Green Smoothie

Russell Simmons: Happiness and Transcendental Meditation

Here Russell Simmons talks about his experiences using transcendental meditation and the positive affects everyone can receive through this technique. Transcendental meditation is a simple, natural, effortless procedure practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It’s not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. It’s the most widely practiced, most researched, and most effective method of self-development.

Dulse, Avocado, and Tomato Sandwich.

The D.A.T. is the healthy spin-off version of the famous B.L.T. sandwich. Instead of bacon, crispy dulse adds a nice saltiness to each bite of this sandwich. Try this!

Guided Meditation for Health, Happiness & Healing

Meditation is one of the most powerful life lifting modalities known to man benefiting every aspect of our being including mental, physical, emotional and spiritual.

Incredible Inspirational Speech by Al Pacino

"Life's a game of inches just like football. Cause in either game the margin for error is so small, I mean... one half a step too soon or too early and you don't quite make it, one second too slow or too fast and you don't quite catch it...the inches we need in life are everywhere around us! There in every break of the game...every minute, every second! On this team we fight for that inch!"

WARNING EXPLICIT LANGUAGE 


"So go out and get those inches...cause that's what livin is, the six inches in front of your face!"

Now... What are you gonna do?


The background music is "Peace", by Paul Kelly, on "Soundings in Film".

Blogging and Social Networking for your Health and Happiness

Sometimes it can be difficult to make major life changes such as changing your diet, exercising, quitting smoking, etc. without having a good support system in place. It's very common to feel like you're alone in your journey when most people in your immediate life have different priorities and goals. Fortunately, technology has now enabled us to connect with like-minded individuals virtually. Surrounding yourself with daily sources of inspiration will make your journey towards health and happiness a lot easier and much more fun. Everyday I connect with others that are on the same path as me through social networking sites such as Blogger, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.  Even if you're not a tech savvy person it's very easy to understand how to navigate each of these websites, but just in case let me give you a quick run down of how to get started.

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Blogger is like a free magazine customized  just for you. Although you don't need an account to view most blogs, creating an account allows you to have your own dashboard. Through your dashboard you can compile a list of blogs you'd like to follow, this is also where you can write your own blog if you'd like. When you follow a blog you automatically receive it's most recent posts in your dashboard (see picture on right). It's a great resource for anyone looking to stay motivated and connect with new interesting people. First you need to sign up by going to bloggers homepage (this only takes a second). I suggest you start by following this blog. Just click the follow button located in the upper right hand corner. I'll be happy to assist you with any questions you may have about getting started.

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Facebook can be much more than just a way to connect with friends and family. Do a quick search for anything that interests you and you're sure to find a fan page for it. Although many of the fan pages out there can be a little ridiculous, there are just as many that are dedicated to their cause and contain a lot of relevant information and pertinent links.

Some of the fan pages I follow are:

Living A Healthy &  Happy Life
Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Lance Armstrong

Growing Organic, Eating Organic

REI

Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.

FORKS OVER KNIVES
Engine 2 Diet
John McDougall MD
The Secret

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YouTube has something for everyone.Whether it's weight loss, motivation , recipes, or just information your looking for, you'll find it here. I suggest creating an account if you haven't already. With an account you can subscribe to different channels. When you subscribe to a channel you'll get all it's latest videos uploads right there on your home page (see picture above).

Some of the YouTube Channels I follow are:



liferegenerator 
growingyourgreens
rskurow
DaveWilsonTrees
mytrainerbob
RawFoodMuscle
roundlady
robertmorsend
yogayak
durianriders
daradubinet
RawFoodForMyLife
bengreenfieldfitness
BoutenkoFilms
drgabrielcousensmd
TheCoolVegetarian
xmantidx



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Twitter is very easy to use. Once you create an account you can search for people by name, or search for keywords related to your interests. Simply click follow when you find someone that you'd like to connect with. Many people post links to videos and articles on their twitter making it a great resource for new information. Follow Living A Happy & Healthy Life on Twitter.