The High Key in Green and Gold is almost gone. Order yours ASAP!...

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Grapefruit + Avocado Salad With Creamy Coconut Vinaigrette

Simplicity is sexy; this leafless avocado salad proves it with just a few ingredients that pack a punch, both visually and nutritionally. The beautiful recipe comes from Claire Thomas of The Kitchy Kitchen.

Full of healthy fat, fiber and vitamin C, this quick and easy avocado salad makes a stunning starter for a date night at home, a refreshing repast on a lazy autumn weekend or just a delicious treat to yourself whenever you're feeling it...

I love this avocado salad so much. I don’t know what it is, but while I was pregnant I was a grapefruit fiend. Grapefruit everything! It has such a lovely balance of sweet, tart and bitter - and when combined with nutty avocado and creamy coconut, every bite is balanced and bright. I added a bit of cilantro and black sesame seeds, because... why not. This is a fabulous option if you’re on a cleanse or looking for something simple and clean. And trust me, the coconut vinaigrette will become a favorite quickly. It’s good with everything and can be dressed up with curry powder to make something Thai or Indian inspired quickly. [olists num=1]

Find more fab recipes from Kitchy Kitchen here!

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Tastes Like Fall: Make This Fresh Herb + Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Great ingredients and little technical know-how is all it takes to make a beautiful, satisfying meal - like this Japanese sweet potato gnocchi.  And if you're busy (aka a human) it doesn't hurt to have all the elements dropped off for you at home, too.

The new 'Lo-Cook box' from farm to doorstep delivery service, Out of the Box Collective, is a once weekly delivery that comes loaded with everything you need for easy and elegant dishes, specially designed for people who don't have time to waste. They also now have a full service route and will send a chef to prepare the ingredients in your box into at least three full meals, ready to go and labeled in your fridge, so they are there when you need them! Learn all about it...

With our Lo-Cook box and new chef services, we prioritized the desire for delicious home-cooked meals that aren’t taxing on the daily calendar. We know that the only way to sustain healthy eating habits and keep you away from In-N-Out Burger or delivery-overload are meals that are so simple to put together, that it beats waiting on the drive-through line or poking at your smart phone. [olists num=1] [olists num=2]

 

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In My Fridge: The Woman Behind Sunday Suppers, ILA + Simple Fare

Join us in the kitchen with Karen Mordechai, founder of Brooklyn's Sunday Suppers, and author of our favorite quarterly, the stunning, Simple Fare...

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Stash This: 6 Essentials In Our Afternoon Survival Kit

It's 3pm. Do you know where your dry shampoo is? We've gathered together six essential products we think will pull you out of any energy-slash-beauty slump. Here are all six items, pulled from our own team's very own stash...

pump it up: Playa Dry Shampoo | Day to night FTW. This sexy-smellling dry shampoo will get your hair and mood back in place in one slip of the wrist. Spritz it on, shake it through, and get back to business looking alive and feeling refreshed. CHECK OUT

look alive: cap Matcha sticks | Make our green power milk recipe at once. Whipping up a matcha-fueled energy bev will help you re-energize and filling that drink with green powder is the ultimate afternoon 'do'. Packed with protein, adaptogens, nourishing greens and all the benefits of matcha green tea, our recipe for the potion is an afternoon life-saver. These mini matcha packets make the process even cooler.  CHECK OUT

pucker up: Kosas Lipstick | Fake it 'til you make it! if this bold lip color doesn't wake you from that energy slump, it'll at least wake your officemates. CHECK OUT

just breathe: Vitruvi Rollerball | This bright and earthy aromatic rollerball features a blend of essential oils known to help enhance focus and energy. Rub a bit into your wrists and across your collar bone for an instant refresh. CHECK OUT

get fresh: Oral Essentials Travel Mouthwash |A quick swirl of this minty mouthwash will call all of your senses into attention, instantly giving your mouth - and mind - that awakening icy-cold shower effect. Surprisingly effective. And this brand is toxin-free. CHECK OUT

beauty bird bath: Caudalie Beauty Elixir | A refreshing hit of hydration and an intoxicating floral scent makes this spritz an MVP for gliding through that afternoon energy slump. CHECK OUT

What's in your office stash for afternoon energy pick me up's? Share below! 

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Food For Thought: How’s Your Emotional Digestion?

The mind-body connection isn't just a yoga buzzterm; it's wellness' bottom line. That means emotional wellness is a major factor in feeling our best - physically, mentally and spiritually. In Ayurveda, the concept of agni, or 'digestive fire', applies to our emo side too; it taps into that critical connection of mind and body based on the belief that unprocessed emotional experiences can have a toxic effect on our health. Ayurvedic master, Deepak Chopra explains:

"When your emotional agni is strong, you are able to
extract whatever is nourishing and eliminate the rest. The inability to metabolize emotions, however, produces just as much toxic residue as undigested food. In fact, pent-up anger, long-held sadness, and lingering guilt are more debilitating for most people than problems with physical digestion."

To experience optimal health, it's essential to eliminate toxins from the body so our inner fire has room to strengthen and grow. We love the Chopra so clearly identifies these undealt with emotions as part of the equation.

Chopra recommends finding a daily balancing routine to help 'digest' emotions well. That could be creating art, journaling, meditation, breathwork, yoga or whatever personal ritual makes you feel grounded, calm and connected.

Emotional wellness is largely about letting ourselves feel the feels, but learning to optimize, or at least be aware of, the way we process those feelings is how real healing begins to occur.

How is your emotional digestion? What personal practices do you use
to detox and balance daily? 

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7 Top Chefs Dish on Their Favorite Food Memories Ever

Sight, smell, touch and taste, of course. Nothing lights up our mind and body like cooking can, which makes a special experience in the kitchen one we remember, return to and savor for life. We asked a few of our favorite kitchen pros to dish (pun intended) on their most delicious food memories, most nostalgic cooking moments, and the recipes they return to with soulful affection.

We can't all bake cake with domestic legend, Ina Garten (see below!), but cooking mindfully means collecting your own mental album of meaningful cooking memories. From scooping up grandma's homegrown culinary secrets, to indulging in true Italian cooking abroad, get inspired to build your own kitchen memories with a few of our favorites...

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6 Things To Consider Before Trying Facial Acupuncture

Normally, we're not thrilled by the idea of someone poking our faces with sharp, metal sticks. But if it makes us feel more balanced and look more beautiful, we're at least willing to learn more. As major proponents of the power of acupuncture, we asked facial acupuncture pro, Melissa Tsai of LA's Guide Acupuncture, to talk to us about the ancient healing practice. Discover what the practice is all about and why it's honestly not as scary as you'd think...

What is Facial Acupuncture? Cosmetology has been a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, using various ancient techniques to improve beauty. One of the techniques, called facial acupuncture, is when extra-fine needles are inserted into the acupuncture points along the face. But the TCM approach to treating the face isn't merely about the face.

What Goes Down? When giving an acupuncture facial, a seasoned practitioner will focus on promoting the health of the entire body to enhance the appearance of the skin. This method is a unique way of improving the complexion and smoothing out fine lines because of its holistic nature. For example, smoking is respiratory, inhaled through the lungs, but it has a tremendous impact on your facial appearance and skin! Herbal remedies may also be added as a complement to the facial acupuncture treatment.

What Happens Afterward? There are a few main effects from facial acupuncture. First off, the treatment helps to detoxify the body, which is great, because toxins in the skin lead to wrinkles and unwanted redness. Secondly, the needles create 'microcirculation,' which improves blood flow to the face. This helps with getting rid of impurities and enhancing the natural 'glow' of the face. In some cases, the improved circulation even reduces dark circles and dark spots. In addition, the muscles in the face will relax. This helps smooth out fine lines and soften any wrinkled areas. The needles also create micro traumas to the face, which help stimulate collagen production and improve skin elasticity. Collagen provides that taught, youthful look to the skin — droopy skin associated with aging is largely the result of natural collagen depletion.

Who Should Try It? Because facial acupuncture is a holistic, natural treatment, it is recommended that first timers have at least eight to ten treatments, depending on their constitution and how they respond. After that, a monthly treatment or so helps maintain the effect. Acupuncture facials are also great for prevention before signs of aging set in, as they are a great way to maintain a youthful look.

Who Should not Try It? Facial acupuncture is not recommended for women who are pregnant or trying, have chronic headaches, high blood pressure, or any serious illness. Also if the client has any laser or any abrasive facial procedures done, it is best to wait a few weeks to let the skin heal before trying facial acupuncture.

The Benefits:
6 Commonly Used acu-Points To Know

If you find yourself relaxing on an acupuncture table with a practitioner needling your face, here are six of the most commonly used points and their functions:

Yin Tang | This point right between the eyebrows helps relax the muscles in between the eyes. It is an extremely calming point and many patients will become meditative or sleepy.

GB14 | This point - approximately a half inch above the middle of the eyebrow - helps with forehead wrinkles and with lifting the eye.

Stomach 4 | This point - lateral to the corner of the mouth, directly under the pupil - helps relax those all-important smile lines around the mouth.

Stomach 2 | This point - about two inches directly under the pupil - helps brighten the eye area and reduce puffiness.

Si 18 | This point - under the the outer corner of the eye under the cheek bone - helps with smoothing and lifting the cheek area.

Li 20 | This point - about a quarter inch lateral to nostrils - is great for clearing sinuses and also helps with smile lines.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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Of Salt + Sea: In The Kitchen At Terranea Resort

We love the romance of chefs who cook with ingredients gathered from their kitchen's own terrain. For Bernard Ibarra, executive chef at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, that includes a sprawling coastline which he makes use of in the most delicious ways.

When he's not gathering native herbs or spending quality time with the property's resident chickens, Chef Ibarra has been busy building Terranea's salt water conservatory. A unique spin on sustainability, the salt conservatory is a beautiful way to harness the Pacific from beach to plate into sea salts used throughout the resort's kitchens.

After experiencing Chef Ibarra's rustic and elegant farm-to-table fare ourselves, we asked the talented foodie to join our 'In The Kitchen' series where we explore the magical minds -- and pantries -- of culinary pros we admire. Read on for his natural, nuanced food philosophy and must-have ingredient list... [olists num=1][olists num=2]

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Why We Applaud Lady Gaga’s Big Reveal On Self-Care Struggles

Lady Gaga is larger than life, but in her recently released Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two, the caricatured performer strips down to her human form, one which involves a health struggle millions face, but far too few discuss with the transparency we think it deserves.

In her new doc, Gaga reveals an intimate and often painful reality of living with fibromyalgia; something she recently opened up about on Instagram after needing to cancel part of her European tour to deliberately focus on self-care -- setting a brave boundary we could all learn from.

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic pain, intense fatigue and excruciating flare-ups. As there are no externally observable symptoms, many fibro patients suffer from a different kind of problem: getting others to understand their experience so they can get the right diagnosis and the right kind of help.

Gaga opening up about her battle with fibromyalgia is a needed spotlight on a condition that largely exists unseen. It's also an empowering reminder that wellness is an ongoing journey and that healing is a process we must honor. We love this resource from Food Matters that lists a few natural and effective solutions for managing fibro. Scan the full guide or peek below for a few natural, accessible solutions to consider...

6 SImple, Natural Ways to Manage Fibromyalgia

CLEAN UP YOUR DIET:

Did you know that there is a recognized connection between your gut health, diet and autoimmune disease? Inflammatory foods can cause tiny ‘leaks’ in the lining of your gut, allowing bacteria and chemicals from your digestive tract to travel into the bloodstream and cause inflammation. This process is known as ‘leaky gut syndrome’ and could be a major contributing factor to conditions such as Fibromyalgia. It helps to eliminate wheat, gluten, dairy and sugar – classic inflammatory foods. Many people find that eliminating these foods can help to heal and seal the gut once more, thus fortifying the immune system and helping your body to heal. Having a nutrient-rich, well-rounded diet will ensure that your cells have the best fuel to heal and function optimally. It will also boost your energy.

GET ENOUGH PROTEIN:
When our muscles are sore, we may find that our exercise drops off and we lose some muscle mass. This can lead to a spiral of feeling sorer and weaker, sorer and weaker. Getting adequate protein will help to maintain your muscle mass and keep up your strength. This can be through vegan or animal sources, including red meat, fish, chicken, organic eggs, lentils, nuts, split peas and good quality protein powders.

KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS:

Many people with Fibromyalgia find that their symptoms are switched on or worsened by different triggers.You can try keeping a ‘symptom diary’ and recording what your symptoms are doing at particular times. If you’re not aware of what yours may be just yet, consider some of these common triggers: Physical exertion, other infections and illness, stress and anxiety, changes in the weather and seasons, allergies

MANAGE YOUR STRESS:

The correlation between stress and disease is well-known. Therefore, the best medication for Fibromyalgia may very well be a chill pill, in the figurative sense! Stress triggers a cascade of hormonal, chemical and physiological events within our bodies that ultimately leads to inflammation and suppression of the immune system. Stress also lowers our ability to cope with pain and negative emotions. Reducing your stress will not only benefit your overall health but many people with Fibromyalgia find that it can drastically improve their symptoms too. Stress management tools work differently for everybody. Common, effective stress-reduction techniques include: meditation, positive affirmations, calming music, soothing aromatherapy, gentle yoga, journaling, counseling/therapy and a daily practice of “feel-good” activities.

GET BETTER SLEEP:

Getting plenty of good-quality sleep is marvelously restorative to the human body. Many patients with Fibromyalgia accordingly report that this does assist with their pain and overall condition. Secondly, sleep also improves our resilience to stress and anxiety, which can also affect symptoms.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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This ‘Rescued Veggie’ Burger From Mendocino Farms Is A Juice-Lover’s Dream

Everyone who juices at home wonders what to do with all that juice pulp (here are some ideas); can you imagine how it feels to be a juice company? Pressed Juicery sends most of it's juice pulp to serve as compost in the farmland surrounding their juicing HQ. And we applaud their sustainable solution -- but it's not quite as delicious as the situation below.

Inspired by Blue Hill's WastED program, California-based resto, Mendocino Farms, had the idea to remix juice pulp into a veggie burger and called Pressed Juicery to make it happen. Just like that, their Rescued Vegetable Burger was born, made with a base of vegetable pulp from beets, carrots, spinach, kale, romaine and turmeric.

The pulp is blended with onions, shiitake mushrooms and brown rice, then finished by the Mendocino culinary team with gluten-free tamari and nutritional yeast for a savory, umami flavor. The burger is served with a housemade vegan Beet Thousand Island sauce, a slice of melted tomato-cayenne tofu cheese, Scarborough Farms butter lettuce, tomatoes, red onion and house pickles on a plant-based brioche bun.

“wastED” is a pop-up concept designed to reduce food waste in a fun way. Created by Blue Hill legend, Dan Barber and Culinary Director Adam Kaye, wastED brings food pros together to create inventive recipes like these dumplings from Mimi Cheng’s that use the kitchen’s own food scraps. Try this delicious collab at any Mendocino Farms location, starting today.

Find a Mendocino Farms location near you | Find a Pressed Juicery location near you

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The Founders of Love Yoga on How Their Bliss Became A Business

What happens when your bliss becomes your business? For the founders of one of LA's most-loved yoga studios, Love Yoga, the outcome was pure, un-pretentious magic... times two.

Kyle Miller and Sian Gordon of Love Yoga nailed the formula for a studio we're excited to visit again and again with their original LA location in Venice. The duo's second spot is now open in Silverlake, and successfully captures the same modern, beachy vibes, peaceful setting and powerful practices as the ones we fell for the first time around.

We love seeing women in wellness chasing their passion and bringing it to life -- but turning that thing you love into a business is a whole other kind of superpower. We asked the Love Yoga team to tell us about what it's like to run a business with a bestie, how they cope with stress, and why they each think their class is the one you should try first... [olists num=1]

Get to know more yoga pros and local studios we're loving here!

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It’s Monday time for some 🍷 or a new bikini by @sunsetsseparates in gorgeous Rosewood - a must have for fall #bestswimwear http://ift.tt/2wgGyUH

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In Her Closet: The Founders of Cuyana On Phoebe Philo + Fall Trends

Fewer, better things. Excellent life-wisdom? Absolutely. It's also the motto of San Fransisco-based fashion brand, Cuyana, whose sustainably crafted clothing and leather goods are the kind of elegant essentials we couldn't tire of if we tried.

As longtime lovers of Cuyana and their mission to make sustainable style timeless, accessible and chic, we asked founders, Shilpa Shah and Karla Gallardo, to participate in our new series which spotlights pros who love the art of personal style as much as they love a good spool of eco-friendly Italian wool...

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The Mitochondria Manual: 7 Simple Ways To Keep Your Body Happy

You may not be in the mood for a new wellness vocabulary word, but trust us when we say "mitochondria" is one that definitely belongs in your lexicon. 

You likely learned about this microscopic body part in science class way back when, but over the last few years these little guys have been trending hard in wellness circles. Here's functional medicine doctor, Dr. Mark Hyman, on why...

I love telling people about mitochondria. Discovering the importance of mitochondria and how to optimize their function was a huge part of my personal healing journey.

Mitochondria are key energy sources for our bodies. They are tiny factories housed within our cells that take the foods we eat and the oxygen we breathe and convert them into energy. That energy is called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, and it is used to support every function in our bodies. Each cell holds hundreds or thousands of mitochondria; they are found in greater concentrations in active organs and tissues like the heart, brain and muscles.

In fact, we have more than 100,000 trillion mitochondria in our bodies, and each one contains 17,000 little assembly lines for making ATP.

Mitochondria are where metabolism happens. So, when your mitochondria aren’t working properly, your metabolism runs less efficiently and can even practically shut down. Problems occur because these powerful energy producers are very sensitive and easily damaged. When they are damaged, we suffer from low energy, fatigue, memory loss, pain, rapid aging and more.

Fatigue is the most common symptom of poorly functioning mitochondria, and it is the reason we tend to feel pooped as we age. Mitochondria are really important, but unfortunately many things can damage them, mainly through uncontrolled oxidative stress. That may sound complicated, but in reality we are all familiar with “oxidative stress,” even if some of us don’t know what the term means.

Oxidation is the rust on our cars, the brown color that appears on an apple when cut and exposed to air, the rancid vegetable oil in our cupboards, even the wrinkles that form on our skin. What most of us don’t realize is that our own tissues are rusting, our own fats are going rancid and our brains are melting as we go about our daily lives.

What starts this process is some sort of insult -- things like too many calories, smoking, a sunburn, exposure to toxins, anti-nutrients and sugar. The insult leads to injury by tipping the balance and starting a chain reaction of damage to cells and tissues, that leads us down the path to weight gain and chronic illness.

So how do we care for our mitochondria? There are several easy steps to follow.

How To Care For Your Mitochondria

Set the scene: Provide the mitochondria with the correct environment to thrive in. To do this we need to practice the following:

+ Eat less processed food, junk food, sugar and empty calories. In fact, you should really avoid these things altogether.
+ Detoxify your body by getting rid of environmental and internal toxins.
+ Cool off the inflammation in your body.
+ Balance your hormones.

get moving: Try interval training, which increases the efficiency and function of your mitochondria, and strength training, which increases the amount of muscle and the number of mitochondria.

Eat Real: Add real, whole, colorful plant foods to your daily diet. These foods are full of antioxidants and phytonutrients, which nourish your mitochondria. Aim for 8 to 12 servings of fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds, every single day.

supplement: Incorporate the following nutrients into your daily regimen by including the following, to support your mitochondria and boost energy:

+ acetyl-L-carnitin
+ alpha-lipoic acid
+ magnesium aspartate
+ resveratrol
+ D-ribose
+ NADH
+ coenzyme Q10
+ N-acetyl-cysteine

up the fats: Increase your intake of omega-3 fats to help build your mitochondrial membranes. Be sure to include things like salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts and egg yolks.

Taking care of your mitochondria can make you leaner and smarter. It can help prevent aging and increase your energy.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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Learning To Breathe: Join Our Breathwork Workshop With Ashley Neese

Take a deep Breath. We're gathering one of our favorite wellness practioners Ashley Neese next month and you're invited.

Join us for a high-vibe evening with Ashley at the stunning Parachute Hotel in Venice as we learn how to harness the power of breath, and become conscious of its ability to calm us down, stir our body's innate healing abilities, keep us grounded and help us tap into our intuition. Space is limited, as we want to keep the event intimate and meaningful -- get all the details below, and snag your spot soon as you can.

To learn more about the benefits of breathwork, read our stories with Ashley Neese here.

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3 Incredible Honey Recipes Just Right For The Season

Raw honey is a versatile superfood superstar. From immunity and gut health benefits to skin-perfecting properties, this ancient sweetener tastes like nothing else. It's earthy-sweet taste changes depending on the terrain the bees who make it roam and so do some of the health benefits (learn about manuka honey here). Get a refresher on honey's health benefits, then slather on a Manuka mask and try one of these amazingly simple, yet obsession-worthy honey recipes.

Baklava Trifle With Raw Honey| Imagine a homemade honey nut crumble sandwiched between layers of rosewater and coconut cashew cream, topped with fresh figs, berries and raw honeycomb - obviously - and then try to tell us you're not enchanted. Better yet, whip up the easy recipe and just dig right in. MAKE IT

Coconut-Honey Vegan Ice Cream | This ultra-clean vegan ice cream recipe from Sweet Laurel Bakery is honestly a dream come true. All it takes is two ingredients (and a little cold) to make the most innocently-indulgent and absolutely perfect dessert we've ever met. MAKE IT

Rose Petal-Infused Honey | More like a magic trick than a recipe, learning the simple process of infusing honey with rose gives it an addictively delicate and fragrant upgrade - and gives you permisson to turn any recipe into a honey recipe. Stash a jar and drizzle it across everything; we love some atop seasonal fruit, coconut yogurt, grilled veggies, or swirled into tonics and cocktails. MAKE IT

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Flow Like A Pro: Our Guide To the 7 Best Yoga Studios in LA

There's certainly no shortage of amazing yoga studios in L.A. -- the capital of wellness nation -- but finding "the one" (like, the one you want to visit daily and spend the rest of your life with) is a mission that calls for some expert guidance. Local yogi and superfood goddess, Sophie Jaffe, is giving us a tour of her favorites around town. Discover some of the best yoga studios in LA below...

While I often zen out at home with a yoga flow, I absolutely love taking my practice to the studio, where I can always count on the community, the oh-so-inspiring teachers and the powerful energy everyone brings to the space.

Here are my 7 favorite places for cultivating time to bliss-out and celebrate movement, mind and breath.

Love Yoga, Venice

It only takes one visit to Love Yoga to fall in love with their vibrant, mood-boosting turquoise walls and incredible practices steeped in perspective-shifting dialogue. You’ll be musing over the teacher’s pearls of wisdom long after class is over. This beautiful studio offers a packed schedule of strong teachers (I love Miki Ash's and Jana Romer's classes!), as well as awesome workshops and gatherings that help you further dive into the deep connection between your physiology and psychology. Join me on the mat there –- I’ll be teaching in September and October on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.! (And Love Yoga is coming soon to Silverlake!)

Hot 8 Yoga, Beverly Hills + Santa Monica

Hot 8 is my go-to workout for maximum efficiency. When I only have an hour and want an intensely hard workout, this is my spot! The heat helps you move into the poses quickly and safely without as long of a warm-up, while also stimulating the lymphatic system, which helps your body flush out toxins. My fave class is their Hot Yoga Barre, a fusion of yoga, barre, body sculpting and non-impact cardio that always leaves me feeling super toned.

Yoga Collective, Venice

As a down-to-earth, funky, friendly studio, the Yoga Collective epitomizes those wonderful Venice vibes. The Collective features sweaty, strengthening classes with amazing tunes, plus they’re right next to Cafe Gratitude and only a few blocks from the beach. Their teachers guide yummy flows rooted in ashtanga and Iyengar; my faves are Rachelle Tratt and Jackie Smyth. In a typical class, you’ll be mat to mat with the people next to you in a very hot room, so come with an open heart and a big bottle of water. After class, I recommend heading down to the ocean to mediate amongst sand and salt air!

Power Yoga, Santa Monica

This is the very first place I practiced yoga when I moved to LA fourteen years ago! Bryan Kest, who’s been practicing yoga since he was fourteen years old, started this beautiful, spacious studio so his students could explore freedom and discovery –- the essence of Power Yoga. His studio has a wide array of incredible teachers; a few of my favorites are Dan Ward, Bryan Kest, Anaswara and Travis Elliott. Thanks to the supportive dialogue from the instructors, you’ll come away from all of the classes feeling empowered and stronger in spirit.

Yoga Salt, Culver City

Yoga Salt was founded by my favorite yoga instructor, Tamal Dodge. I completed my 200-hour teacher training with Tamal. He's literally the sweetest human you’ll meet -– if you listen to his Salty Thoughts podcast, you’ll see exactly what I mean. Each episode, he shares inspiring conversations with wellness leaders on everything from yoga to conscious business to meditation. If you love a sweaty, vinyasa flow, paired with acoustic guitar and a voice of angels, go to Tamal's class.

Wanderlust, Hollywood

Wanderlust is a three-story mecca for yogi lovers in LA. They’re the people behind the amazing transformational festivals and believe that a “well seasoned yogi is a well rounded person.” This philosophy is definitely reflected in their incredible events, meetups and yoga classes led by fantastic teachers like Marybeth LaRue, Aarona Lea and Caley Alyssa. They even have a full restaurant with a high-vibrational menu for all meals of the day -– their yellow shakshuka paired with a pressed juice is simply dreamy. They also have kombucha on tap, matcha lattes and superfood smoothies!

SoulPlay Yoga, Culver City

This fun, playful studio offers the most amazing children’s yoga classes that both of my kids take weekly. We love these classes for little yogis so much! While I visit the farmer’s market, the kids get to nurture their self confidence, increase their focus, build physical and mental awareness and have a blast on the mat. They also offer pre- and post-natal classes for new mamas!

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Start The Season Right: Choose One of Our Inspirational Screensavers

Tomorrow is the first official day of fall and we've been racking up the autumn feels since the moment Labor Day ended. While we wait for crisp air, crunchy leaves, and endless root veggies to take over our lives, we're celebrating the start of a new season by offering up a little inspo for the digital appendage that is your cell phone.

We created four phone screensavers to inspire you to live your best life right now -- whether that's a reminder to calm the f down or to stay strong through a tough season. Find one for yourself and share this story with a friend so they can be inspired daily this season too.

here's How To Download: Open this post on your phone. Press down on the phone background of your choice, then tap the button to the save image. Go to your phone's display settings and select the option to upload a new phone background from your camera roll. You can also save a second image to use as your lock screen. Save and enjoy!

Let us know which one if your fave and what you want to see more of!

 

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All About Pelvic Massage + Why You Should Know About It

Our bodies are built to take care of themselves, but sometimes they need an extra hand... or two, depending on your technique. Women's health expert, Nicole Granato, is sharing the benefits of pelvic massage, and a simple instructions to try it at home...

Working with women suffering from PCOS and hormonal imbalances, my greatest focus is breaking stagnation in the body and improving blood circulation, primarily in the uterus and ovaries. While we focus on this through food and exercise we can also greatly improve blood flow and stagnation through uterus massage work -- also known as pelvic massage.

I have recently begun offering blood stagnation unblocking body work; after working with dozens of women breaking up stagnation and helping to improve blood flow we have seen major differences in their bodies! Women suffering from cysts have experiences their cysts exit their bodies while some women who have not had a regular menstrual cycle are experiencing healthy periods.

Our bodies can do so much of its own healing with a little extra care. Here are a few things that happen to your body when you have stagnant blood...

Gut Health. Our digestive system is one of the most sensitive and yet important organs in our body. When our blood is stagnant it can greatly effect our digestive system. This includes bloating, irregular bowel movements, pain and gas. Breaking stagnation through the uterus will greatly improve these symptoms.

Menstruation. Many people are not away that stagnation in the uterus can be a big cause of women not having a regular menstrual cycle. My methods when working with women who are not menstruating regularly is ensuring proper supplementation to increase iron and magnesium levels along with breaking blood stagnation through body work or with our Detox supplement.

Energy Levels. Breaking stagnation is essential for high energy levels throughout the day. Through over caffeinating our bodies our adrenal glands are suffering the consequences. If we would work on stagnation and promoting healing blood flow our caffeine intake would need to be dramatically less allowing us to feel more energy and feel over all healthier.

Skin + Hair. Believe it or not, stagnation in the body can greatly effect skin and hair. Improving blood flow is essential to a natural glow and full vibrant looking hair. [olists num=1]

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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Join Our Fall Beauty Series: Meet Celeb Makeup Artist Katey Denno At The Detox Market

We're kicking off our fall series of beauty events at The Detox Market with one of our favorite wellness pros: green beauty queen and one of Hollywood's most sought-after makeup artists, Katey Denno.

As a celebrity makeup artist whose clients range from Amanda Seyfried to Mindy Kaling and many-a-supermodel between, Katey is no stranger to stressed out skin that needs to not look... not stressed-out. In our intimate class with Katey, we'll learn all about which nourishing non-toxic products she uses to fake a flawless face, and exactly how to with the prowess of a pro.

If you missed the first installment of our beauty series last spring -- or maybe you're still studying your notes from May Lindstrom and Rose-Marie Swift of RMS -- be sure to RSVP soon! This will be an exclusive and hands-on gathering you won't want to miss. Get all the details below and check out some of our fave beauty tips from Katey here... [olists num=1]

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The Best Vanilla Cake Ever (Happens to Be Grain+ Dairy-Free)

You had us at cake -- and then again at 'grain-free dairy-free' -- but this recipe holds a special place in our hearts for another reason. It comes from Laurel Gallucci, the goddess of almost-too-good-to-be-true clean confections and founder of Sweet Laurel Bakery. As with many wellness leaders we love, Laurel's story began with a personal health crisis, and evolved in tandem with her own healing journey. Read on as Laurel shares her all too real struggle with Hashimoto's, food intolerance and medical overwhelm, and the sweet, sweet result of her journey back to health...

Two years after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's), I decided to do something about it. When I was diagnosed in 2012, my doctor immediately put me on synthetic thyroid hormones to stand in for the hormones my body was not creating. Every morning I popped my pill, and went on with my day-to-day activities, all while ignoring my body’s screams for help.

Two years later, I was suffering from extreme IBS, a myriad of digestive issues and secondary ahmenhoria. I came face to face with the realty that I could not put my health off another year; I needed to take action. I met up with a family friend who practices functional medicine and she introduced me to the concept of healing through food.

She suggested I remove inflammatory foods from my body/diet: grains, dairy, refined sugar, soy and legumes. Hashimoto’s disease has a long-standing negative relationship with gluten, which mimics the thyroid hormone in some cases. Removing gluten as well as other inflammatory foods was the first step in taming my thyroid, as well as healing my gut.

I removed foods causing inflammation, as well as processed foods and educated myself in a whole-food approach to eating. I started by eating whole vegetables, fruit, and organic and pasture-raised protein. I quickly learned if I wanted certain foods, like crackers or cookies, I had to make them myself. This was when Sweet Laurel became more then just a thought. I started to work with foods I could eat, like almond flour and coconut oil, as opposed to flour and butter. I fell in love with Himalayan pink salt for balance of flavor in my cooking and baking, and instead of table sugar, I sweetened my baked goods with maple syrup. In most recipes, I used organic and pastured eggs or found they weren’t needed at all! I kept it simple. I discovered the beautiful reality that a whole-food approach to eating doesn’t have to be complicated. In 2015, using these five core ingredients, I launched Sweet Laurel with the goal of sharing this approach to eating with as many people as possible. Here is a simple yet beautiful recipe I love to share with friends on late summer nights. The elegant topping of whipped cream and berries is a classic.

Recipe Note: Make sure to let the coconut milk set in the refrigerator at least 8 hours, or overnight, before making the coconut whipped cream topping. I always keep multiple cans of coconut milk in the back of my fridge so I can whip up this quick and delicious dessert! [olists num=1]

Discover more delicious grain-free, dairy-free goodness from Sweet Laurel Bakery here!

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Inside Under Canvas’ Ridiculous Glamp Grounds

Ah, the great outdoors: The clean air, the sprawling mountain vistas, the soul-soothing silence and unpolluted night sky ... the four poster king-sized bed dressed with luxe linens, the footed bathtub and the freshly laundered towels. Maybe this isn't the camping experience you expected? Maybe that's the point.

Inspired by the rustic luxury of traditional African safaris, Under Canvas has set out to create the ultimate glamping experience  near some of America's most iconic National Parks. There are currently four locations; Arches and Zion in Utah, Glacier and Yellowstone in Montana. In 2018, Under Canvas will also open camps near the Grand Canyon and Great Smoky Mountains. Take a peek at the pseudo-outdoorsy perfection below...

Zion National Park | Zion is the most recent addition to the Under Canvas roster, debuting the 196-acre grounds just a few weeks ago. The stunning site has fifty fully-furnished canvas tents (with an available adjacent tipi on request), and like its sister sites, boasts every hotel amenity you secretly wished you could have out in the wild. Our favorite feature? The star-gazing window offered in some of the tents.

 

Arches + Canyon Lands National Park | Located in Moab, Utah, this site is perfectly situated just outside two of the most spectacular parks in the state. The intimate collection of canvas tents are in the middle of nowhere, it seems, blending seamlessly into the breathtaking surroundings. Step outside and bask in the unadulterated beauty of the land, then step back inside for a perfectly cozy shower and sleep.

Glacier National Park | Each Under Canvas location has an on-site restaurant, so if trekking through the wild at dawn isn't your thing, a cup of perfectly brewed coffee and a locally sourced breakfast might be. But if rugged is what you wish for, there's no stopping you from driving the few miles into the gorgeous park just down the road -- you'll thank us when you land on a cloud of a mattress with the sheet mask you smuggled in after a long day of adventuring.

Yellowstone National Park |  Plan an ideal itinerary of activities and exploring -- or not. At Yellowstone, you can hop from homebase into the park for a day of hiking or fly fishing, hang around the tent for a massage and some remote relaxation, or wander around the site and see what stunning views you find.

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How To Activate The Natural Healing Intelligence of Your Body

Living well isn't just about fixing imbalances, it's about fine-tuning our (innately intelligent) bodies to do what they do best: just be. As longtime fans of Donna Eden's work with Energy Medicine, we couldn't love her protege's new book more -- and are excited to share a series showcasing her incredible natural healing knowlege here on TCM.

Join us on the journey as yogi and energy medicine master, Lauren Walker, is teaching us how to activate the natural healing potential of our bodies - and it's far simpler than you might expect...

The body is brilliant. It does a million things without you even thinking about it. There are still things the body does that science cannot explain; like how a cell differentiates in the fetus, becoming a brain cell or a liver cell. Science cannot replicate the intricate and self-created healing response of the body. If you get a cut or break a leg, science can set your leg, but it can’t describe the hundreds of processes that knit the bone back together, knit the skin back together and bring it back to wholeness.

When the body is in balance, it can heal everything. We’ve all read those miracle stories of overnight healing of cancers and other debilitating diseases; Western medicine has no answer for those miracles. The answer is: your own body!

Every day our bodies are detoxing and clearing disease patterns. A healthy immune system can handle almost anything you throw at it. But the problems happen when our immune systems are overtaxed.

So if you’re taxed, tired and stressed, how can your body do what it naturally wants to do? This is where energy comes in. Not just any kind of energy. But energy that is intelligently guided to help you come into balance, so you can heal. This type of intelligent energy is what we teach with Energy Medicine Yoga.

The first thing you need to do to activate the natural healing intelligence of your body is to start speaking to your body in the language your body can understand. Your body speaks in pulses and rhythms. Once you learn this simple language, your body will start listening to you and responding. Without having to learn the whole language, here are some basic things you can do to get your body into healing mode.

Get your energy moving forward

+ Thump all over your upper chest with vigor, Tarzan style.

This speaks to all of your meridian systems, and specifically, your kidney meridian, which is the leader of the pack. Thumping on your chest like this gets your energy moving forward.

Get your energy crossing over

+ March in place tapping the right hand to the right thigh and the left hand to the left thigh. Do this ten times.
+ Brush your hands off and march in place, tapping your right hand to your left thigh and your left hand to your right thigh.

This crosses the energy over the midline of the body and is incredibly important to your body’s ability to function well. The body can’t heal if the energy isn’t crossing over.

Calm your stress response

+ Put your palm over your forehead.
+ Put two fingers into the hollow at the base of your throat.

These two holds help to diffuse the stress response in the body so you are calmer and can think clearly. They help keep you from going into fight-or-flight response at every little trigger -- even the big triggers.

Get your energy grounded

+ Walk barefoot on the earth.
+ Oil your feet.
+ Rub a stainless steel spoon over the bottoms of your feet.

All three of these things help to ground your energy, so it can be more easily directed to do the work it needs to do in the body. Once you start to activate, de-stress and ground your energy, it will start to work for you in ways you’ve dreamed of but never thought were truly possible.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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Let’s get away from it all… 🌴 #bestswimwear...

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Everything You Need To Know About Going On A Crystal Retreat

There's something magical about Hawaii. Any time spent on the islands is food for the soul; add a few healing crystals into the mix and the result is pure, mind-body bliss. The crystal gurus at Energy Muse recently hosted a high-vibe retreat on the beautiful floating mass of mountains and greenery known as Kauai, and we're sharing a scene-by-scene below. From daily yoga to hours-long crystal therapy workshops, let this recap from Energy Muse fuel your wanderlust...

The locals refer to Kauai, the oldest Hawaiian Island, as 'Mama Kauai,' a place that nourishes the soul. It is said that when this magical place embraces you, veils will be lifted from your eyes. I witnessed this phenomenon during Energy Muse’s first, consciously-curated crystal retreat.

Kauai was not only the setting for this retreat, in many ways, it was also a host, guiding us toward heightened intuition, clarity and spiritual restoration. How my Energy Muse co-founder, Timmi Jandro, and I thought we could compete with Kauai’s hosting skills, I don’t know. As much effort as we put into finding the perfect yoga instructor, the perfect meditation healers, the perfect eco-retreat center and even the perfect lei maker, Kauai still managed to outshine us in its ability to strip down pretenses and breathe new life into intentions —- not that we’re complaining.

Each day of this five-day crystal retreat highlighted a different theme, such as synchronicity or letting go. The goal was to do more than usher in breakthroughs on the island, but to set all the attendees up with the tools and knowledge they would need to deal with issues in the future. While they may not have access to the underground healers, educators or local kahuna (the Hawaiian word for shaman) they experienced on this trip, they can always tune back into that energy with the healing techniques they learned there.

We began our days with a daily yoga class, which instructor Samantha Fox Olson customized to highlight the theme of the day. The poses and reflective meditation she offered helped us to harness the energy of healing transformation.

Then we shifted to crystal healing. After all, this was a crystal retreat! The location for these classes varied from private grounds overlooking a waterfall, to an ancient healing circle, which had crystal and copper grids embedded in the earth. That said, in case anyone had any misconceptions about crystal healing being as easy as laying down and placing crystals over your body, these three-hour crystal intensive workshops were sure to set them straight. We always say, if you want crystals to work for you, you have to work with them. This can be an uncomfortable process, as dealing with deep-seated issues usually is. But each of these therapeutic sessions overwhelmed even us, as instructors, to watch the crystals assist these people in allowing the pain they’ve harbored, to bubble to the surface so that it could finally be released. Were there a lot of tears? Yes, but by the end, they were tears of joy.

The evenings were filled with laughter. A local food alchemist and chef created organic culinary dinners every evening. Each meal was prepared with love: handpicked vegetables, locally caught fish and decadent desserts were crafted to reflect vibrancy and wellbeing. And speaking of crafting, it is my firm belief that you can’t have a retreat meant to uplift the soul without including a little craft time. Our lei maker and instructor was Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Haku who has been transforming the nature of Kauai into joyful creations for over 20 years. Each flower, herb and foliage crown that she taught us to energetically entwine, held the power and peace of the island within its braided band.

One of the most curative moments we experienced was in the medicinal garden known as the Kauai Farmacy. It is four acres of herbal gardens with no pesticides, no chemicals and where harvesting is meticulously done by hand. The Kauai Farmacy produces premium herbal health and wellness products that are subject to the seasons. We all had a private tour of the farm and then indulged in a fresh farm-to-table lunch: a vegetarian lunch made with all fresh vegetables, nuts and edible flowers that came directly from the land. Everything was served on native tea leaves or in Mother Nature’s bowls: green peppers. It was 100% eco-friendly since everything was edible and eaten with our fingers outside, under the fruit trees.

Our evenings closed with Hawaiian storytelling, prayers and hula. It was hard closing each day, knowing that it meant the next day, there would be one fewer days of magic. It was even harder to say goodbye to the island, but the restorative energy that you capture from Kauai’s hallowed grounds isn’t one that will ever leave your soul. Kauai taught us to open our hearts and recalibrate our emotional cores. We left being able to see things from a different perspective, and with a greater respect for the presence of Mother Nature in our lives. If there is one thing we will remind ourselves each time we reminisce about this crystal retreat, it is that we can spread the spirit of aloha with each breath of our life.

Explore more of Hawaii's magic with our wellness guide to the Big Island.

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