We eat for nourishment. We eat for fuel. We occasionally eat for fun. All these things are good, healthy habits. But how often do we think about these reasons? Sometimes, sure. Maybe after a particularly long run or a sweaty yoga practice I might make a smoothie with some extra protein because I know it will help me recover more quickly, but I don’t often think about how sharing that brownie with a friend over a cup of afternoon tea helps us connect. To be sure, I really don’t think about how my eating habits change in the wake of stress, or during times of transition.

Coloring is no longer just a childhood pastime. Adult coloring books are becoming one of the latest trends, and for good reason. Some of the health benefits of adult coloring include reduced stress and mindfulness. But there is some serious science behind these claims, showing that engaging in coloring actually relaxes the amygdala, or the fear center of the brain.

Everyone’s meditation practice is deeply personal depending on individual needs, and certainly it helps to have the advice of a qualified meditation teacher. But our most profound guru dwells within us.

This weekend, my brother, his old friend, and I, got to talking about Ohio.  About how sometimes it’s a wonderful place. My brother and I grew up near Cleveland, but neither of us spends much time at home anymore.  He was recently living in Southeast Asia, and now, upon coming home, he’s moved out to the Pacific Northwest.  He said he just couldn’t stand the winters, the seemingly endless season of 5pm sunsets and ice-crusted mornings.  For my part, I didn’t mind the cold.  I just wished Ohio weren’t so flat.  I longed for mountains.

In the crazy, up-tempo life of most people with jobs, kids, and relationships, it’s important to take time for rest and rejuvenation. Sometimes all we have are 10 minutes to spare, and even that time can be enough to relax and reset with a few restorative yoga poses.

I myself am an athlete with a busy life and family, so the need for rest is extra important for my body. I’ve dug deep to find the very best restorative poses to maximize both time and relaxation; here are five simple yoga poses for anytime practice:

We live in a world where we are bombarded with marketing and advertising that promise us the hopes and dreams of an amazing life, if we just had _________ (insert whatever that may be here).

I recently wrote an article about the healing benefits of honey. But before you head down to the grocery store to buy some of this liquid gold, make sure it’s real honey. That’s right, just because it’s in a jar that’s labeled honey doesn’t mean it’s real honey collected from your local beekeeper (or, even someone’s local beekeeper).

The weather is warm, the sun sets late, and the trees are lush and green. All of this signals rhubarb season, and usually that means lots of pies and sweet sauces over ice cream. This rich, tangy vegetable can also be used in more savory dishes as well though, and can add a pleasant new flavor to your summer meals.

Saffron has been used to treat common ailments for thousands of years. Ayurvedic medicine uses this spice to treat ailments from acne to arthritis. Modern science now shows that this spice, favored in many Eurasian diets, has potent effects against cancer.

Did you know you could grow your own medicine? There are so many reasons to do it! One of the best reasons is for the many benefits that it provides you and your environment. If you don't have space in your yard for a big garden, don’t worry; many of the plants can be grown in containers. To have the Echinacea growing in your yard when the cold or flu strikes, or some Aloe Vera for burns is a blessing.

The benefits of growing your medicine garden/medicine wheel are many. The nutrition and healing properties of the plant are only a couple of reasons.