LifeMap | - SPRING COLORS...Yogi Bhajan. Yoga was changing, not only in the West, but in India, the homeland of yoga. THE YOGA BODY In 2010, Mark Singleton wrote a great book on the

FitnessIs Modern Yoga Really

What The AncientsWere Intending?Jessie Maguire

NutrientsWhy Glutathione

Is The Kingof Antioxidants

Liivi Hess

ComfortBACON:

Healthy OrHarmful?

Liivi Hess

S P R I N G COLORS

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Editor: Pedram Shojai — Production Manager: Adam Garfio — Creative Director: Adam Garfio

IN THIS ISSUE:

Is Modern Yoga ReallyWhat The AncientsWere Intending?by Jessie Maguire

Which Type of BarefootShoe Is Right For You?by Jessie Maguire

Why Glutathione Is TheKing of Antioxidantsby Liivi Hess

Organic Food ShoppingOn A Budgetby Liivi Hess

BACON: Healthy OrHarmful?by Liivi Hess

Best 5 Ayurvedic Herbs For Acne That ReallyWorkby Jessie Maguire

10 Ways To Quit The RatRace, And Live The LifeOf Your Dreams, Part IIby Jessie Maguire

The Health Bridge Show

Photo Of The Month

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BeMore! May 2016 © Vital Origins, LLC All Rights Reserved2

FITNESS

IS MODERN YOGAREALLYWHAT THE ANCIENTS WEREINTENDING?

WHAT IS YOGA?

Since yoga became popular in the West during the 19th Century, it’s changed dramatically. Some call it Not Yoga, in fact, because it’s so different from the traditional yoga of the ancient sages. Let’s call it modern yoga, here, for simplicity.

So what are the differences between this modern yoga and traditional yoga? There are many!

TRADITIONAL YOGA VS. MODERN YOGA

Traditional yoga is a complete system, according to the ancients. The yoga postures that we now understand as being yoga, were actually just a small part of this system. Yoga was actually a spiritual discipline, made up of several distinct yogas:

• Raya Yoga, which aimed to cultivate the mind through mental discipline and meditation

• Hatha Yoga, which included cleansing techniques, breath control methods, bandhas (locks), mudras (seals) and remaining in asanas (poses) for extended periods of time

• Ghatastha yoga, or purely physical yoga exercises

This gives you a rough idea of the added layers of yoga that seem to be missing from modern practice, or comprise just a few minutes of a typical class.

What yoga actually is is a subject of intense debate! But what it boils down to is this: the prominence of non-postural practices was significant in ancient yoga.

PRE-CLASSICAL YOGA

Look at pre-classical yoga scriptures like the Bhagavad-Gita, or Lord’s Song, and you’ll see that loving devotion, or Bhakti; knowledge or contemplation – Jnana, and Karma (selfless action) were super-important facets of yoga practice during this time.

by J e s s i e M a g u i r e

Are we kidding ourselves when it comes to doing yoga? Is modern yoga

ancient? Or has it morphed into something else,

which shouldn’t really be called yoga? Let’s have a look at yoga’s roots - and our modern take on it, to

discover the truth.

BeMore! May 2016 © Vital Origins, LLC All Rights Reserved4 NEXT >

CLASSICAL YOGA

Take a sneak peak at yoga’s classical period, and Patanjali’s attempt to define and standardize yoga around the 2nd Century resulted in the famous 195 sutras — where he nailed down yoga as comprising an 8-fold path to enlightenment.

Asanas were just one step in this compact system designed to combine matter with spirit and make the body immortal.

POST-CLASSICAL YOGA

Here’s where yoga heads to the West, and gets a little modified, so to speak. Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda opened schools in the States and Europe, and compressed all the elements of the yoga system of old into a brand new set of principles. So now, yoga is basically:

• Relaxation• Asanas• Pranayama (breathing)• A diet• Positive thinking and meditation

Sivananda wrote profusely on the subject of yoga and had disciples who spread the word during the late 20th Century. One of them was Yogi Bhajan. Yoga was changing, not only in the West, but in India, the homeland of yoga.

THE YOGA BODY

In 2010, Mark Singleton wrote a great book on the disparity between modern and traditional yoga. In the book, he says that there is no evidence in the Indian tradition of the kind of health and fitness-oriented asana practice that dominates the global yoga scene this century, and that its popularity owes a lot to the spiritual aspirations of European bodybuilding and early 20th-century western women’s gymnastics movements. Singleton argues that somewhere between way back when and right now, yoga has changed so dramatically, it’s almost unrecognizable.


YOUR MODERN YOGA CLASS

So what does yoga look like now? Though the range of activities you might enjoy in any one yoga class depends on the school, teacher and their specific schedule for that session, here is a typical breakdown of what might occur:

• Sun salutations• Specific postures held for a slightly longer period of time• 5-20 minutes in savasana (lying down) and/or pranayama

(breathing exercises)

If your teacher is more advanced, you might also do some meditation, mudras, pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), discuss values (yama) or perform kriyas (specific movements to access spiritual energy in the spine). But there is actually little evidence that yoga was even practiced in groups!

MASS CONSUMPTION

Yoga has reached such popularity in the States now that it’s strange not to be able to go to a yoga class somewhere no matter what time it is! People are doing yoga in squares, parks, gyms, fitness centers, residential homes, pilates studios, bedrooms and on roofs.

So does yoga make people feel fashionable? Some would agree that yoga is more about looking bendy and Instagram-able than learning an ancient method for spiritual progress now. The yoga industry is worth $27 billion and counting. But does that really matter?

Let’s be perfectly honest: yoga is making people healthier. In our sitting-down-almost-all-the-time culture, yoga is exactly what we need! Right? People are stressed, anxious and depressed, and yoga relieves these uncomfortable conditions quickly and effectively for many.

But what about the hidden and almost forgotten facets of yoga? They were established for a reason. Could they add even more benefits to the yoga cure? And will yogis across the world realize they’re only getting a small part of the pie?


which type of barefoot shoe is right for you?

You might have been eying up the barefoot, minimalist or “birthday” shoes being worn around you, but what’s stopping you from taking the plunge? Well, some of them are kind of weird looking, aren’t they?

Actually, now is the perfect time to look into this. The range of options is at an all-time high, and barefoot is creeping into offices, cinemas, nightclubs – they’re everywhere, and many don’t even look like barefoot shoes at all.

Barefoot designers have realized that versatility is what we need. Because once your feet fall in love with minimalist, they refuse to feel good in tight, stiff, clumpy footwear anymore.

And if you’re a woman wondering if there are any decent professional and stylish options available, you won’t be disappointed. However, there are no barefoot platforms, kitten heels or stilettos.

If only that were possible! Save those for special occasions, because the benefits of barefoot outweigh those of heels. You’ll thoroughly enjoy your beautifully strong body, enhanced balance, delightfully healthy feet and the feel of barefoot, we’re sure.

OFFICE ELEGANCE

If you work in the city and simply must look dapper at all times, there are some great shoes you might just love.

If you’re a man, there are shoes that nobody will notice are barefoot. Check out The Primal Professional’s FER Cap-Toe Oxfords or ZETONE Plain-Toe Oxfords. They’re resoleable and you can make the most of their full recrafting service whenever you need to. They’re perfect for weddings, funerals, and the attorneys’ office.

LEMs Shoes Nine2fives are more casual, but they’re still office worthy and super comfortable, naturally. VIVOBAREFOOT Ra II Leather is also a lovely alternative to The Primal Professional’s Oxfords if you need something a little more informal. They have a nice dessert boot style. VIVOBAREFOOT’s Lisbon, Bannister and Porto Leather are certainly worth checking out, too.

byjessie maguire


For women, there are more and more good options out there as the designers rack their brains with the aim of making us happy. It’s a challenge, because most of the pretty shoes we’re used to buying damage our feet. So what have they come up with?

VIVOBAREFOOT’s Jing Jing Slip-On, first of all, in 12 different colors. Black/Hyde, Midnight Blue and Bronze could all work rather nicely at the office.

VIVOBAREFOOT Women’s Nancy Shoe is perfect if you’re vegan and want to avoid leather. It’s available in lemon and taupe with faux suede and faux leather options.

Then there’s Merrell Women’s Barefoot “Life Zest Glove Flat” and the “Whirl Glove Slip-On Shoe”, which comes in 4 colors. They’re like a mix between a barefoot shoe, ballet pump and a brogue shoe. The “Mimix Haze Flat” is another similar alternative, with a more casual feel. Very modern.

If you just want something simple, the Mary Jane flat is a timeless zero drop shoe alternative. Could they work at your office environment?

CASUAL WEAR

There are lots of casual options for both sexes when it comes to barefoot casualwear. Women should definitely check out VIVOBAREFOOT Women’s Penny Walking Shoe, the 200039 Walking Shoe in Pink/Turquoise, their 200040 Slingback Sandal, the Grace Boot, Motus Cross Fit Shoe, vibrant blue 200035 Walking Shoe, beautiful leather Pandora Walking Shoe sandal, the Penny Canvas Vegan Flat, and Nufoot Ballet Barefoot Slippers.

If you’re a guy, watch out for the VIVOBAREFOOT Men’s WP RA II Classic Casual Oxford, the Soft Lion of Juda Casual Slip-On Shoe, the Gobi II M Classic Casual Winter Shoe, the Soft Kemba Ankle Boot, the 300022 Fashion Sneaker, Merrell Mens Electro Barefoot Shoe in Molten Lava and the OTZ Shoes Expadrille Wax Canvas shoe.

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RUNNING AND YOGAThere are two types of minimalist running shoes:

Barefoot running shoes. They all feature “zero drop” from heel to toe, and provide the bare minimum protection so you feel like you’re wearing nothing. People with heavy pronation may struggle to adjust to the lack of arch support off the bat.

Minimalist running shoes. These hydrids help runners ease into barefoot running with a heel drop of around 4-8mm (as opposed to the tradition shoe’s 10-12mm) to aid with midfoot or forefoot strike. Some offer stability posting for overpronators.

The New Balance Minimus 10v2 Trail shoes have been rated highly for traction, weight, comfort and ground feeling by real trail runners. The Inov8 Trailroc 245 and the Merrell Trail Glove 2 were also popular with trail runners, protecting the foot and providing good traction. Check out the Vibram FiveFingers TrekSport and Nike Free 5.0 for road running. Vibram Women’s V-Run Running Shoe comes in some awesome colors.

Yoga should always been done barefoot, so barefoot shoes are perfect. Dealing with slippy mats and intense sessions is so much easier when you’ve got better grip! Check out the Freely Barefoot Water Skin Shoes Aqua Socks or just say namaste in your Vibrams.

TIPS

When buying barefoot shoes, make sure they fit like a glove. You don’t want any extra space in the toe pockets or around the heel.

Minimalist shoes can be worn with or without socks, and most are machine-washable so you won’t have to worry about odor so much.

Lace systems offer better access to toe pockets and accommodate high arches.

Barefoot shoes don’t have to be weird. Try out some of the many styles!

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NUTRITION

If you make a point of placing your ear to the health community ground every so often, you’ve probably heard the occasional mention of a mysterious thing called glutathione. Along with this word, you’ve possibly also heard phrases such as “master antioxidant” or “most important nutrient”. But what really is glutathione, and what’s all the fuss about?

THE MYSTERY OF GLUTATHIONE, UNRAVELED

Also known by its super-sciency name of L-glutamylcysteinylglycine, glutathione is a tripeptide consisting of 3 bonded amino acids - glutamate, cysteine, and glycine. You’ve probably now guessed where the ridiculous scientific name comes from. Glutathione is generated by cells in our body for the purposes of protection and survival. Glutamate makes up part of our brain cells, glycine promotes metabolic processes, and cysteine acts as a moderator in the manufacture of intracellular glutathione.

It’s possible that you’re now even more confused about what glutathione is then you were before, but it’s necessary to explain the different roles of its 3 amino acid components in order to fully understand the important functions it provides in our bodies. These include elimination of toxins, protection of cells from free radicals, increasing energy production, and supporting your immune system. In addition to being an all-round, cure-all-ailments sort of compound, glutathione is also unique in that, unlike other antioxidants which operate from within the blood on cell membranes, glutathione works from the inside out. This means that it operates from within the cells to protect the mitochondria, expel toxins and boost immune system function.

A growing body of clinical trials, along with substantial anecdotal evidence, show that glutathione replenishment in the body can significantly promote renewed energy, anti-aging effects, and increased brain function and clarity. This is probably the point at which you’re starting to see what all the hype is about – glutathione really is the king of antioxidants.

WHY YOU’RE PROBABLY NOT GETTING ENOUGH

Our body naturally produces glutathione via the liver, however studies indicate that glutathione levels in the body decrease as we age. This occurs from around age 20 onwards, and is exacerbated by a number of factors, namely stress, diet and nutrients.

WHY

GLUTATHIONE

IS THE KING OF

ANTIOXIDANTSby Liivi Hess


In the western world, stress levels generally increase after a person reaches adulthood, with the introduction of stress-inducing pastimes such as work, commuting, relationships and debt placing chronic pressure on our minds and bodies. Unsurprisingly, free radical damage greatly increases as a result of this exponential rise in stress, and your natural glutathione production is no longer sufficient to prevent oxidative damage to your cells.

The average diet of the modern man is one rich in hydrogenated fast foods, gluten, chemicals from pesticide-laden produce, growth hormones and antibiotics from factory-raised animals. All of these inflammatory, nutrient-poor dietary inputs can place additional pressure on the liver (the organ which naturally produces glutathione) and starve the body of the fuels it needs to produce glutathione in the first place. The elasticity of childhood dampens the effect a poor diet can have on our glutathione production, but as we age our ability to roll with the bad-diet punches diminishes.

Finally, our body’s ability to absorb vital nutrients declines as we age, while our exposure to environmental toxins continues to build – things such as heavy metals can remain in our deep tissue and accumulate over time, rather than passing through our system. This increasing state of nutrient depletion and toxic accumulation offsets glutathione production and impedes the processes which promote healthy concentrations of glutathione inside our cells.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION OF GLUTATHIONE

From what science understands of glutathione, the more of it you have, the better off you are. It’s possibly the closest thing to anti-aging that modern research has unearthed, as it is so small that it can work from within your cells, protecting them from the oxidative damage of free radicals, which are the main agents of aging.

While your glutathione levels appear to naturally decline with age, there are, fortunately, certain things you can do to halt this decline and preserve your health. The first thing you can do is to increase your intake of certain whole foods and high quality food products which can provide some of the provide glutathione precursors, such as sulfur and amino acids. These foods include onions, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and grass-fed, minimally-processed whey protein.

The second step is to get your hands on certain high quality supplements. While a wide range of glutathione supplements are available in health stores and supermarkets, most of them have little-to-no success as their proteins are easily broken down by acids in the stomach and so they’re completely denatured and effectively useless by the time they reach the liver.

For this reason, you need to look out for glutathione products which guarantee that the proteins don’t get denatured by your stomach acids. This can include products which use compounds to bind the glutathione to acid-resistant peptides, or straight bonded cysteine, which can make it through your stomach intact and team up with glutamate and glycine afterwards to build glutathione. Make sure you really do your research here, otherwise you’ll be throwing your

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O R G A N I CF O O D

S H O P P I N G

By now, most people are well aware of the health benefits organic food can provide over conventional, intensively-farmed foods. Fruits, vegetables, fungi and animal products which are created using modern, mass production-based methods of farming are literally seething with toxins. These foods are riddled with carcinogenic compounds, hormone-altering chemicals, immunity-destroying antibiotics and radioactive pesticides. While food, whatever the source, is obviously a necessary component of life, it’s sometimes hard to say whether a non-organic food produced using conventional means is helping or harming your body.

As such, those who want what’s best for their bodies choose organic, no questions asked. Organic food is administered by reputable organizations, such as the USDA, to ensure that it is free from pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones and antibiotics (in the case of meat and animal products), synthetic fertilizers and often even genetically modified

organisms (GMOs). This ensures that the food you put in your mouth is free from chemicals, compounds and pathogens which could harm your health, and ensures the plant or animal in question grows up in a healthy, happy environment.

While the importance of supporting the organic food industry cannot be downplayed, the average person is often deterred from buying organic due to the perceived price increase. Because organic foods are produced under less crowded, more natural conditions, they generally take longer to produce and are often smaller than their semi-synthetic, genetically-altered counterparts. For this reason, the producer and hence the wholesaler needs to charge more for them than non-organic products. Thus organic products are considered more expensive and therefore only those people with money to burn can afford to buy them.

ON ABUDGET

by Liivi Hess

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This notion is wrong in so many ways. Firstly, if you performed a lifetime health analysis of a person who ate predominantly organic foods versus a person who ate mostly conventional foods, you’d probably find that the toll those toxic, non-organic foods took on the second person’s body more than made up for the small additional cost of buying organic foods in the first place. Non-organic foods greatly increase a person’s risk of developing serious health problems, including organ failure, cancer, hormone imbalances, and a myriad of other illnesses. If you examined the healthcare bill of that person in comparison to the person who ate mostly organic foods, it would be a no-brainer.

Secondly, and more to the point of this article, shopping for organic food doesn’t have to be the wallet-emptying experience you think it is. There are a number of approaches you can adopt to ensure you’re getting access to quality, organic produce and products while ensuring you don’t break the bank.

1. PLAN AHEAD

With some careful planning, you can ensure your dollar goes a long way in the organic department. It may require a few more minutes of planning, but jump online or check out your local supermarket’s specials of the week and plan your meals around what organic products are on sale. It’s actually a really good way to get creative and receive some new inspiration for dishes you wouldn’t normally try your hand at.

Step your organic strategy up a notch by making all your own organic products, rather than buying them pre-made. For example, in-store pre-packaged organic smoothies are ridiculously expensive, however they’re actually very easy and cost effective to make at home, and you’re guaranteed as to their freshness. Similarly, make your own granola bars, baking, chips and juices yourself – this way you’re in control of exactly what goes in there, and you’ll save a lot of money by simply buying the raw/whole ingredients and making the product yourself.

2. PRIORITIZE

If you’re really in a tight space with your food budget, use the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15” as guides. They’ve very generously compiled extensive data regarding the amount of pesticides used on any given fruit or vegetable, and compiled these lists as a rough shoppers guide.

The Dirty Dozen, now actually more like the Dirty Fourteen (doesn’t have quite same ring to it, unfortunately) includes foods such as strawberries, apples, peaches, celery, grapes, spinach, and tomatoes. The Clean 15 encompasses foods like avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, and cauliflower. So, if you’re close to bursting your budget, prioritize your shopping by buying organic those foods in the Dirty Dozen and not worrying too much about the rest. Remember, however, that you should always try to buy organic meat and animal products,

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as these can contain the highest concentrations of toxins and hormones.

3. BUY IN BULK

These days, supermarkets are always running some kind of far-fetched “buy 3, get 1 free” type of promotion. These also apply to organic products – make the most of it! If these promotions relate to perishable foods, buy them anyway and put those you’re not immediately going to eat in the freezer. If you seal them well and ensure they don’t get freezer burn, they’ll last for a long time. Also look out for those wondrous “reduced to clear” shelves and bins, as they often have really good, now-affordable organic products. There’s no shame in sifting through them!

For non-perishable goods, buy them from bulk dispensers, which are far cheaper than pre-packaged goods from the supermarket. And finally, seek out a reputable organic farm and inquire as to whether you can buy your beef, chicken or lamb in large portions, such as 1/4, 1/2 or the whole animal. You can ask the farm or a butcher to cut the animal into rough portions and store most of it in the freezer. This will save you big time, and get you eating parts of the animal which you wouldn’t usually eat, and which are often much healthier than traditional, mainstream cuts.b r u s s e l s p r o u t s


B A C O N:healthy orharmful?

b y L i i v i H e s s

The world has long had a love-hate relationship with bacon. According to popular consensus, it’s atrociously bad for you, but it’s hard to hate something just so darn delicious. However, the scales have now tipped against bacon and its tastebud-toting advocates, with the publication of a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report which claims that processed meats can cause colorectal cancer.


In September, 2015, 22 scientists from 10 countries met at the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to examine the potential risk of cancer from consumption of red meat and processed meat. Based on their findings, they determined that processed meats such as bacon, sausages and hot dogs, increase a person’s risk of cancer.

The WHO research team found that eating around 1.8 ounces of processed meat on a daily basis, which equates to roughly two slices of bacon, will increase your risk of colorectal cancer by approximately 18%. The lifetime risk of any given person developing colorectal cancer is estimated at 5%, thus with the new WHO results it stands to reason that eating 2 slices of bacon per day would increase your risk of colorectal cancer to 5.9%.

This isn’t what one would consider a significant increase in cancer risk, but it’s an increase nonetheless. The thing is, who actually eats 2 slices of bacon, every single day? For most of us, bacon is a rare treat, and chances are you don’t have it more than once or twice a week at most. For this reason, it’s unlikely that the WHO’s findings have any significant consequences on whether you should treat your tastebuds to an occasional bacon-vacation.

Furthermore, many of the traditional arguments raised by health-gurus against bacon are actually unfounded. The first is that bacon is very fatty, and for this reason can clog your arteries and place your heart and cardiovascular health at risk. Happily, an overwhelming body of peer-reviewed studies has firmly dissolved this mode of thought, and we now know that saturated fat is, in fact, good for you. Contrary to what you’ve been led to believe, eating saturated fat does not make you fat, and it actually performs a vital function in fueling our bodies and promoting nutrient absorption from the food we eat.

Next, bacon opponents would have you thinking that nitrates and nitrites are bad for you. Extensive scientific meta-analyses have found no links between nitrates, nitrites, and cancer. A number of recent studies even go so far as to conclude that nitrates and nitrites may in fact be beneficial, particularly with regards to cardiovascular health and immunity. Besides, our bodies naturally produce these compounds anyway, so why would they be bad for us?

Lastly, sodium. Sodium is regularly made out to be the bad guy by the media and health experts, however as usual you need to take these warnings with,

for lack of better words, a grain of salt. The truth is, salt is a vital nutrient for our bodies, as it is a major component of extracellular fluid and essential for promoting healthy cellular metabolism. Without sodium, our bodies could not survive.

So, it’s apparent that the ominous warnings against bacon consumption might not be as ominous as you first thought. We urge you not to take this information and start eating bacon like there’s no tomorrow – it’s not necessarily bad for you, but in large quantities it can certainly become unhealthy. The occasional slice of bacon or two, however, is probably not going to do you any harm. Especially if you choose high quality sources.

Cover your bases by only eating bacon from pastured, organic, humanely-raised pigs. Pastured means the pigs are allowed to roam freely, rather than being cooped up inside a dark factory/prison, and allowed to develop in a healthy, natural way. Organic means pigs are raised on feed which is not contaminated with pesticides, antibiotics or other harmful substances which can accumulate in the meat and get passed on to the consumer. Finally, humanely-raised pigs are treated in such a way as to promote their happiness and reduce stress. Stressed pigs are unhealthy pigs, and you do not want to be eating unhealthy bacon.

Choosing bacon which is sourced from farms which promote these practices ensures that it is of the highest quality. Bacon from these sources should be high in healthy, saturated fat, have a beneficial fatty acid profile (omega-3 to omega-6 ratio), and have plenty of other nutrients which you otherwise wouldn’t have access to in standard, factory-raised bacon. View it as an enjoyable treat, one which you’re willing to splurge on to get hold of high-quality bacon, and eat it with plenty of healthy accompaniments such as dark leafy greens and complex carbs, and you’ve got yourself a delicious, guilt-free meal.

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Urban Monk Academy

GET UNSTUCK& LIVE LIFE FULLY

Learn how to set goals, get focused, gain moreenergy, and make things happen.

My name is Pedram Shojai and I’m a physician, Qi Gong Mas-ter, Author, Film Producer, seasoned martial artist, and successful businessman. I’ve got a lot going on and people always ask me how I do it all. I decided to share my secrets. I’ve spent quali-ty time meditating on how to help more people and make the world a better place. I took my powerful 3 day seminar called “Energy Economics” and blended it with my higher level “Life Mastery” course because I wanted a single resource where our students can learn to get out of their own way and achieve true mastery, happiness, health, and wealth in life.

This may sound lofty but I’ve been teaching Fortune 100 CEOs, elite athletes, and dedicated students these skills for the past 15 years. A blended course that was less expensive and available to more people was what I was striving for as my regular week-end seminars run $2,000 and higher. What I created here is a 3 month, 12 module course with all the resources needed to learn how succeed in your diet, career, and relationship goals.

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ENROLL NOW

MEDICINE

Pimples are related to facial skin health and hormonal balance. Most people try to dry out their pimples by using astringent or harsh chemical products on their facial skin, but an over-secretion of sebum (you skin’s natural oil) is actually a symptom of another cause, and removing it only causes increased sebum production.

THE CAUSES OF ACNE

Acne can be cause by a number of different lifestyle habits and health issues, according to Dr. MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), Ph.D. (Ayu) and Dr. Hebbar. These ayurvedic practitioners point to the following potential causes:

• Eating too much fried and junk foods, unbalancing the doshas (or the balance of energies within the body)

• Too many late nights• Using a lot of makeup• Stress and anxiety• Hormonal imbalance during adolescence, adulthood or

pregnancy• Eating meat

AYURVEDIC SOLUTIONS

So how do Ayurvedic herbs help? Ayurveda is an ancient herbal medical system from India. Ayurvedic practitioners put the body back into balance using herbal blends, fasting, lifestyle modification and other techniques. They can be applied topically or taken orally in many cases.

NEEM

Neem has been used as a medicine for over 5,000 years. It’s an evergreen trees that’s found throughout India and has many healing powers, including strengthening the immune system and helping heal acne.

Since it’s a blood purifier and detoxifier, it works well to cleanse your system, and your skin. It’s also antiseptic/antibacterial, antifungal, and

Best 5 Ayurvedic HerbsFor Acne That Really Workb y J e s s i e M a g u i r e

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reduces inflammation, so it’s perfect for red, itchy, irritated pimples that don’t seem to want to go away, according to bodyecology.com.

Dr. Mercola has a neem moisturizer, which can be used twice daily and underneath makeup, but you can also take it orally. IMPORTANT: if you are currently trying to have a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding, you should consult a qualified medical practitioner before taking any herbs, especially neem.

If you’re looking for a topical preparation you can make at home, making a neem toner couldn’t be easier. Find the best quality neem powder or leaves you can afford, and boil two leaves or less than 1/8 teaspoon of powder in ½ liter of spring water or other good quality water until the water goes green. Allow it to cool, strain and then store the liquid in a glass bottle. Twice a day, or as needed, dip an organic cotton ball or pad into it after cleansing, and pass it over your face gently.

ASHWAGANDHA

Ashwagandha can correct your hormonal imbalance, calm your skin and reduce acne. It’s also great for stress reduction! Also known as Indian ginseng, it’s an adaptogen that acts as an overall health tonic, but it’s great for acne because it’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and aids wound healing (bye-bye redness!). If you’ve been trying to dry your skin out, ashwagandha could also help you combat dryness because it’s moisturizing. Why not try taking ashwagandha orally? It’ll help with your skin, and your general health and stress levels, too. Always followed the recommended dosage for best results, of course.

MORINGA

Moringa is super skin nutrition. It’s full of protein and vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene and phenolics. This Ayurvedic herb has also been used for millennia – in fact, the ancient Egyptians placed vases of valuable moringa oil in their tombs. The oil is said to clear acne-prone skin, firm and promote elasticity, reduce pore size and boost radiance when applied topically.

ASHWAGANDHA

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But don’t forget that most herbs deliver most of their benefits when mixed with a liquid and swallowed! Moringa also helps with wound healing, and it’s antifungal and antibacterial. This hydrating, detoxifying powerhouse should certainly feature in your daily nutritional and facial routine if you’re looking for clearer skin.

Moringa leaves are added to many cosmetics. If you’d like to make a purifying mask, find some moringa power and mix it with a little organic rose water to make a paste. Apply and leave it on your skin for 5 minutes, then wash it off with warm water. Try this once per week before bed.

SHATAVARI

Shatavari is the main Ayurvedic rejuvenating female tonic, according to Kate Magic of rawliving.eu. It’s a wide form of asparagus that has been used for thousands of years by women of all ages. It offers soothing, restorative relief from PMS, menstrual and menopausal imbalances, according to Dr. Mercola. It works like dong quai, wild yam, raspberry leaf and evening primrose, says Dr. Mercola.

Indeed, scientific studies show that it has been used effectively to reduce premenstrual syndrome, which is a great benefit for anyone with hormone-related acne – plus the headaches, bloating, tender breasts and other symptoms associated with PMS.

Shatavari root comes as an organic powder. Add it to your acne arsenal for perfectly balanced hormones.

KUTKI

Kutki is another bitter tonic herb recommended by Ayurvedic practitioners in the treatment of acné. It’s known for its liver detoxifying properties. It’s a pitta pacifier, so it’s cooling and cleansing, which is great news for the hot, red, inflammatory nature of pimply skin. Here’s more on this herb. For clearer skin, you could take ½ teaspoon of it with 172 cup of hot water before breakfast every morning. It’s also synergistic with turmeric, and a 1:1 ratio of each herb works well. If you can’t stand the taste, add a little honey to sweeten.

Although kutki and its compounds are already being used in medical industry, bear in mind that it is an endangered herb, so support organic sources and use it sparingly. It can be sourced through Ayurvedic doctors and supply stores.

SHATAVARI

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MINDSET

Lovely to see you back here, as we continue on our journey through 10 awesome ways to quit the rat race and live the life of your dreams.

FINANCIAL TIPS TO SAVE AND BREAK AWAY

You’ve probably heard a thousand ways to save money during your life. And hilariously, most of the tips out there work for someone, so try out a few methods and see which works for you as an individual.

Is there anything in your life you could do without? A cup of coffee? Cable TV, a luxurious car? Your commitment to your dream will motivate you. Remember, this is just temporary, but you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to get used to not having something after a very short while. Here are some more tips:

• Make it visible: get a big jar with a coin slot in the top, place it in a visible spot and then tag a huge poster of a beautiful beach or a vision board (more about that later) behind it. Make it glamourous. Make it yours.

• Celebrate how far you’ve come – the amount you’ve saved, however small; the steps you’ve taken, the solar panel you’ve invested in. Toast with your loved ones.

• If you don’t have a lot of spare cash, put the money somewhere where you can’t get your mitts on it! If you’re putting away 10% of your income every month, make sure you can’t draw that little treasure out when things get tough.

• Remember that you don’t need to save that much. Yes, it’s nice to have a comfy, substantial wad of cash to fall back on, but you’ll be surprised how little you actually need to live it up in Bali, Bolivia or Bermuda.

GET OFF THE GRID

This may seem like a counterintuitive way to quit the rat race, but you’ll adore how self-sufficient it’ll make you feel.

Once you’ve decided on the one or two locations you adore, you can start installing the keys to self-sufficiency into your new home:

10 WAYSTO QUIT

THE RAT RACEAND LIVE THE LIFEOF YOUR DREAMS,

P A R T I Ib y J e s s i e M a g u i r e

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solar, water and heating technology. The cocktail of power-saving instruments you replace the regular ones with depends a lot on the climate you’re in.

Could a rainwater catchment system solve your water needs in the rainy season or winter? Is there a well nearby? Reed bed waste water treatment systems cost around $5,000 plus installation. They help you with your water bill and make for a happy conscience, too.

Solar could help you heat that water, and/or give you extra power. What are your heating needs? One benefit of living in warmer climes is that you won’t need to heat your living space as much, if at all.

A fireplace bio fuel, electric or pellet stove insert helps make your traditional fireplace more efficient, and they really make a home feel homely. Installing more insulation or closing off areas that don’t need to be heated could also be a smart hack that gives you some tasty ROI for years to come.

Studies show that we use less than 40% of our living space on a regular basis, and simply providing supplemental heat to the rooms you use the most can reduce heating bills by 20-40%.

The average heating bill in the USA is between $80-125. Let’s say $100, and you save 30%. If you use the same insert for the next five years, that’s $1800 minimum, since heating prices are forecasted to rise substantially during the next few years.

The little savings you can make throughout your house and your life can really add up over time, giving you more money to spend on what you really want.

VISION BOARDS, VISUALIZATION AND DREAM OUTLINES

As Tony Robbins says: “We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish.” But what do you want to be? If you’re reading this article, you want a better life. And your ticket to freedom - where does it come from? Well, your imagination.

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A super hack to harness the power of your imagination involves vision boards, visualization and dream outlines.

Let’s start with dream outlines. This can be a simple list. Take each area of your life, and write 10 things you’d like to achieve: like exactly how much you’d like to earn, how many hours a week you’d like to spend doing activities with your kids – the more precise, the better. Let your imagination go wild. Dare to outline your ideal life.

Vision boards can be general or specific. To make one, you’ll need a cork board you can hang on the wall, or even a poster to pin up somewhere visible. Use your dream outline to fuel your imagination, and pick out some photos of the things you’d like most. Pop them up onto your vision board, and let your vision board subtly influence you positively while you gaze at it regularly.

Visualization works on your emotions, making you think more positively and get inspired more often. Remember when you used to day-dream at school, thinking about a guy or girl you liked coming over and asking you out? The same applies here, but you’ll be day-dreaming about another type of dream, like a new job or an ideal weight. Try and visualize a positive scenario every day for at least 20 minutes.

COACHING, HEALTH AND NETWORKING

In part 3, we’ll be looking at some more power hacks you can use to quit the rat race and be the best version of yourself. Because you deserve that, right?

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location: west covina, caphotographer: adam garfio

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