Mary Cordaro is a healthy home guru and can cure "sick building syndrome" or "sick home".

She focuses on creating a healthy, green  workplace and home using the fields of Bau-Biologie (Bau-Biologie translates as "building biology", a discipline from Germany dedicated to improving how our homes impact our lives and the living environment) and Building Science with very low consumption so that you are truly living an ecological lifestyle indoors.  

It all started in 1989 for Mary, when she was working on trying to create an eco-friendly environment in her own home. She wanted to use materials that had very little effect on all of us and the planetary health. Since then Mary has gathered a team of specialist to test and eliminate contaminants, electromagnetic fields, mold and chemicals in indoor spaces. Mary continually works with architects, contractors, designers, health practitioners, and medical doctors to find more ways to improve our indoor environment.

Mary is available for consultations and she also sells water purification systems and air cleaners which are found on her online store. The water purifiers and air cleaners offered from Mary Cordaro Inc. are sophisticated and state of the art. They are more effective than most conventional filters and will do a great job at protecting your family from awful chemicals that pollute your indoor area. You can also learn more about healthy indoors in the multi media section of her website. I finally switched my water system over to one I got through Mary.  I was stubborn, and it took me a long time to do it, but I did and I’m very happy with it!  I’ll blog soon about picking out a water filter for your home, and why I struggled so much with this decision.

Mary is expensive...so private consultations are not for everyone.  But she does have great info on her website for free, and she teaches classes.

Homes can have 50 times more contaminants than the outdoors...so if you are sick, or have any suspicion that your home has mold in it, it would be very important to call Mary ASAP. It’s so worth it.  

I’ve learned some great things over the years from Mary, and I will be sharing that info with you. But for those of you who would like to have a coach for your home – someone to make your home the healthiest and most environmentally friendly you can – and you have the dough to pay for it, she is an amazing resource.  She charges by the hour, so you can get a lot of info from her if you need it!

Mommy & Me Yoga
By Desi Bartlett

Like many traditions, Yoga is handed down from one generation to the next and is often shared within families. In my own family, my mother was a dedicated Yogini. My mother's guru (teacher) was Goswami Kriyananda, the founder of the Temple of Krya Yoga in Chicago. I can remember going to initiation as a little girl, and receiving my first mantra [sacred syllable] when I was six years old. I learned pranayama [work with the breath] and meditation when I was very young and continue to practice these techniques daily.

Now that I am a mother, I am excited to share Yoga with my son Cruz. I practiced Yoga throughout my pregnancy, and went back to the physical practice when he was six weeks old. I would lay him down on my mat, and go through my own practice while he cooed and giggled at me. After a few weeks, he started to get a little anxious because he wanted to move too! I started to pick him up and involve him more in my practice. This was the birth of our personal Mommy & Me Yoga classes, classes that provided the inspiration for a weekly class I teach that is open to mothers and babies ranging in age from four to thirteen months.

I experimented with many different Yoga postures to see what made sense to share with my son, and what was best to do on my own. Some of the postures I practiced with him happened to be postures that strengthened and toned the muscles that were over-stretched during pregnancy. My physical benefits from our practice include core strength, opening the chest (often tight from breast feeding) and toning the upper arms. The emotional benefit of connecting with my son and sharing the gift of Yoga has been amazing. Watching his joy of movement is truly inspirational.

In class settings, helping new moms rediscover their physical strength while spending quality time bonding with their baby has been a joy. Each mother has her own journey into parenthood, and every day there is a new story to share. For this reason, we begin our class with each mom sharing something that happened that week with her baby. A new tooth, sleeping through the night, and discovering solid foods are all cause for celebration. The babies delight in visiting with their friends, and dancing with mommy. I believe they are also learning about the importance of health and wellness, as their mother models this behavior for them in such a positive way.

The learning is not just a one-way street. The babies in Mommy & Me Yoga classes are natural yogis and powerful teachers. So much of what we learn in Yoga involves staying in the present moment and not getting lost in past events or anticipating the future. Babies are completely in the moment and eager to engage in movement. Also, practicing beginner's mind and attitude - including laughing when we fall can be incredibly challenging for an adult, but is second nature to the little ones. The babies teach us to have a sense of humor, go with the flow, to stay present and to embrace change. These are powerful lessons for new (and experienced) moms.

Yoga means union. The connection between the mother and baby is a beautiful example of the living tradition of Yoga. The familial bond is a form of union with the divine. We slow our breath down, stay in the moment, and fully absorb the gift of family.

Here are some ideas to get you started practicing Yoga with your little yogi:

Flying Baby: Place the baby with his torso on your shins, draw your knees towards you and then straighten your legs.

Boat Pose: Lift your legs to a 45 degree angle (you can bend your knees to modify) with your upper body leaning back and the chest rising. Feel the strength in your belly as you hold your little one.

Tree Pose: Place the baby on your hip, as you lift your foot to the inside of your standing leg and find a deep sense of inner and outer balance.

Going to a Mommy (and Daddy) & Me Class: A number of studios offer Mommy (and Daddy!) & Me classes. Check schedules (which can change often) and ask questions about the class before attending to find the right fit for you and your baby. Some classes focus more on the mother's Yoga practice while the baby is watching and lying on the mat. Other classes have a much more interactive focus on parent and child. A variety of postures can be practiced with the baby in your arms.

The class etiquette in a parent/child class is different from an adult class. Babies always come first, so if your little one is getting fussy or needs a diaper change, everyone in the room understands. Remember to take cues from your child. They will let you know if they need to move more, of if they just need a hug. In any case, it can be a fun bonding experience filled with some giggles, some breath and some sweat.

Desi Bartlett teaches Mommy & Me Yoga at the Pump Station and Revolution Fitness. She also teaches Pre & Post Natal Yoga at Exhale's Center for Sacred Movement. Her latest DVD, Prenatal Yoga, by Acacia, is available through her website along with her complete teaching schedule:
desibartlett.com

Doug Evans (pictured below) is this super cool guy who I met when I was having dinner at Pure Food and Wine by myself. Doug came over to my table and asked if I would like to join him and his friend at their table. I was loving my date by myself, but he was so nice that I went and joined them for dessert. I’m happy that I did, because he’s a great guy who is doing great things in this world!

Organic Avenue is his place that specializes in raw and vegan essentials as well as detoxes and cleanses. Denise Mari is the founder and shepherd of the brand, and Doug is the CEO. The mission of Organic Avenue is to spread love. Love, Organic, Vegan, Experience. They spread the love by offering detox cleanses, superfoods, prepared raw meals, and yummy juices. And they hold organic workshops to help others transition to a sustainable lifestyle.

The store is super cute and a really great place to meet up with friends. It's got such a good vibe - the location on Suffolk street is called The Space of Love. The Space of Love was designed to be environmentally sustainable with bamboo flooring, non-toxic paint, and custom-built air and water purification systems. It's a beautiful place to be.

When I was in New York this winter and I felt like a little green juice, I would head over there and get my favorite juice, Green Love. Green Love has a bunch of stuff in it; kale, cucumber, spinach, romaine, Swiss chard, collard greens, apple, lemon, and parsley. I would go about a few time a week. It was wonderful to walk by Organic Avenue and pick up some Green Love whenever I wanted it. Especially cause the West Village store is so quaint and cute!

When I was in Shreveport shooting Butter (which I loved!!!), it was a challenge to find greens and vegetables, so I asked Doug if he could send me some delicious juice. It was definitely a desperate measure, but I was so happy to have some Green Love.. and the coconut water he sent me was a fantastic dessert treat. It felt so decadent, and I felt so spoiled...and I loved it.

Organic Avenue delivers all around New York City and for those outside of the New York area there is a website with various items that can be shipped to you.

I’m not into raw foods myself...as I tell the story in my book, I’ve kinda been there, done that (I’ll blog more about this in the future). Being macro/superhero works way better for me!! But I love what Doug is doing. And I love a green juice every once in a while, or even a few times a week! And coconut water is a dream luxury treat! I just want you to know that if you like a green juice, Organic Avenue has the best!  And if you like nice vibes, good people and a happy world, this is the place to go.

Thank you Doug, and thank you to the whole staff at Organic Avenue who are all so groovy and sweet, and play great music!

Heather and Jenny of Spork Foods are super sweet and great. You must take one of their very affordable cooking classes...stat. You might leave having eaten 3 times the amount of food you should have because really, you have no choice and you get to walk away with glorious knowledge of organic vegan cooking, a little packet of the recipes they taught you that day (so you can make them again and again and again) and maybe some new friends that you sat next to during the class!

I sent Megan, my trusty right arm (I was away forever) to their Southern Comfort class a while back. Regarding the mac and cheese recipe they made in the class, here is what Megan had to say:

“Hellllloooooo mac and cheese. How yoooooou doin'!? Now, this mac and cheese wasn't really a superhero recipe since it has nutritional yeast in it, so if you are superhero, maybe skip this one or save it for your one day of indulgence but that said, this was, hands down, the best mac and cheese I've ever had....and let me tell you, during my non-vegan years, we will call it my time of illegality....I had my fair share of mac and cheese, so I consider myself a good judge here”. 
*Note: Kristina Brindley of Seedling Catering makes a superhero mac and cheese.  Check that one out HERE.

Here’s the menu from the class.  You will also notice Megan's commentary in bold:

• Skillet Jalapeño Cornbread with a Whipped Lime Maple Butter - um hi...yes please
• Baked Mac and Cheese with Smoky Tempeh Bacon and Spelt Bread Crumbs – you’ve already seen my rant about this
• Slow Cooked Collard Greens with Heirloom Tomatoes - everyone in the world would eat these collards, so it's a great recipe if you aren't feeling them plain steamed-style
• Red Velvet Cupcakes with a Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting - ok, so i cheated and ate 2, yes 2 of these with sugar in the frosting, and yes I felt a little crazy in the head from that (sugar goes strrrrraight to my brain and makes me feel dumb...honestly).....but man, it was worth it

Heather and Jenny recently moved their cooking class digs to a snazzy loft-space in West Hollywood. They had been teaching in Silver Lake for years. They now have loads more space and will be hosting events there as well.

In addition to their cooking classes (which are every Saturday and Sunday btw at 11am and 4pm....they are busy!!) they are also available for private in-home cooking, consultations, and catering. I must give a slight disclaimer here though...while I love them and whole-heartedly think everyone in the world should take their classes, sugar and nutritional yeast are apparent in some of their recipes. Some of their classes are more vegan fare/less superhero/macro-infused fare, but that said, they do offer Macro info and teachings too. Ideally you would steer clear of things like sugar if you are on The Kind Diet path...with sugar being the devil and all and remember the whole deal with yeast.

BUT - all that said, Spork Foods will rock your vegan world and if you are on a mission to secretly convert your friends into Kind Lifers, get them a gift cert to a class, or better yet, just take it yourself and you can blow their minds with the great food you will make!! 

And remember, in general, when recipes call for slightly naughtier ingredients...explore alternatives!! Try maple sugar instead of real sugar if you need something granulated...use Earth Balance butter instead of real butter, etc. Have fun playing with recipes out there.    

A big thank you to Heather and Jenny for all their compassion they put out into the world (they have photos of their adopted farm animals on their fridge). They are so lovely and have the biggest hearts. Check out their website at www.sporkfoods.com. 
 
If you guys see their new West Hollywood space before I do, let me know how lovely it is, and give us a full recipe rundown with your thoughts please!

Jessica Porter wrote “The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics” and she offers online cooking classes.

Jessica is super charming and warm, and great in the kitchen.  She’s super smartipants too.

Her cooking classes are perfect for Superheroes, and anyone who wants to learn how to make Superhero fare, but might be afraid of the kitchen.  You can check out all of the cooking classes that she offers HERE.

I have a lot of love for Jessica, and this little video on her site about her cooking classes makes me smile... Check it out – It’s pretty darn cute, you can see it HERE.

Her “Intro to Macrobiotic Cooking” video is on her website too and you can watch it for free...  It’s really interesting and engaging. You can watch that one HERE.

Enjoy!

Calling all Angeleno women!  Kind Lifer Hazel Williams-Carter is hosting a Women's Healing Circle on July 25th in Santa Monica.  Hazel is certified by the Bert Hellinger Institute in Family and Human Systems Constellation Work and hosts these healing circles on the last Sunday of each month.  A $12.00 minimum donation is requested. All proceeds will be gifted to Women For Women International and the Global Fund For Women.  

The healing circle's main purpose is to gather as sisters to assist each other, humanity, our planet and all her kingdoms. No experience is needed to join, only an open heart and mind. The circle begins at 10am and will end around 1pm, taking place at 1448 15th Street, Suite 202, Santa Monica. For more information about Hazel and her Healing Circles please visit Indigo Healing - you can also email or call her: 310-463-9512 or indigohazel@gmail.com.

I went to one of Hazel’s Constellation workshops a long time ago and had a wonderful experience.  Check it out and let me know if you attend.  I’d love to hear about your experience.

Janah Adickman is a community member here on The Kind Life, and has a blog called Delish Your Dish. I’ve recently gotten to play around in the kitchen with her... it's been very nice and fun, and we’ve come up with some yummy things!  

Anywho, Janah is co-teaching a vegetarian workshop at the end of the month that will be held at Sur La Table at the Farmers Market in the Grove. 

The 2-day class focuses a day on teaching you how to make seitan and other protiens, then the next day how to use those proteins in a number of delicious recipes.  You can sign up online with this link, or simply call to register.

Here's the menu for what Janah will be cooking up:

Day 1: Homemade Tofu, Seitan and Mochi - Grilled Tempeh Kebabs with a Citrus Soy Marinade over Seasonal Greens - Ice Cream Filled Mochi

Day 2: BBQ Seitan Pizza - Vegan Caesar Salad - Tofu Ravioli - Seitan Panini Sandwich - Millet Croquettes with Avocado and Tofu Sour Cream - Vegan Orange Cream Cupcakes

This workshop sounds great! Especially for those of you who feel like you can’t cook, or don’t know where to start, or for any of you flirts! Or you vegans who just want to have fun cooking and playing... sounds fun to me! 

I wish I could go!  I’m going to be in Detroit shooting a film called Vamps, but if I was in town I would want to be there.

If any of you make it I’d love hear about it!  Take pictures of the food you make, upload them to your profiles on the site and “like” them.