They Ate. They Prayed. They Found Inner Peace.

Taking a cue from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love, Your Daily Thread helped to host a one-day retreat where inner peace seekers embarked on a journey of self-discovery and relaxation through yoga, meditation, an Ayurvedic consultation and hypnosis.

The retreat took place at RakSa, an eco-friendly wellness center in Culver City, which was created to educate others on how to live a more peaceful and healthy lifestyle through different mind and body therapies.

The day began with attendees moving seamlessly from Uttanasana (standing forward bend) to Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) during a yoga and meditation session. With minds at ease and bodies calm, they then learned about Ayurveda, a holistic practice that aims to create balance in the body, spirit and mind. This is done by identifying one’s Dosha, and creating an appropriate diet, exercise and meditative lifestyle, based on energy levels, digestion, sleep patterns and pulse.

Having worked up an appetite, hungry participants enjoyed fresh bites from the RakSa café including grilled salmon, roasted seasonal root vegetables and kale with white beans. Some cooled off with refreshing organic iced tea while others opted for coconut juice, straight from a cracked coconut.

With their stomachs full, and otherwise relaxed, everyone returned to the Sala space for a hypnosis through love session. Some drifted off to sleep in deep relaxation, others allowed themselves to connect with their subconscious as the hypnotist guided them through the session.

As the day began to wind down, retreat-goers gathered their shoes and bags, said Namaste to Apinya Pokachaiyapat, the owner of Raksa, and made their way over to the theater for a showing of Eat Pray Love – a must see for any enlightenment seeker.

For more information on the different services offered at RakSa, please visit their website at raksasala.com. To learn more about Your Daily Thread, please visit yourdailythread.com.

Appy Days Are Here to Stay!

Let your iPhone be your guide...to the Farmers' Market, through the aisles of the beauty store, and more! 

California’s Famers’ Market Finder (Free)
Stuck in a Farmers’ Market rut? This search friendly app allows you to find new and exciting Farmers’ Markets, by county, city name, day of the week, or its location on an interactive map.

Farmers’ Market Companion ($0.99)

Starting with Artichokes and ending at Zucchinis, this app has your trip to the Farmers’ Market covered from A-Z. Discover what’s in season, as well as how to choose, store and prepare an item. Find out what makes a “good” Farmers’ Market (i.e. is there enough space to move around? Are the vendors knowledgeable? and so on). There’s even a handy-dandy shopping list, which you can mark off as you go!

I like it Organic! (Free)

Get up-to-date news on everything from new USDA regulations to information on genetically altered alfalfa. Learn how to live a more organic lifestyle with their “useful tips” on how to shop for organic products, eating on a budget, etc. You can learn how to grow your own organic garden, or discover three ways to grill veggies, from their how-to videos.

Organic Spa Magazine Skin Care Guide (Free)

Denatonium Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopheryl – what?! Finding products that are both skin and earth-friendly can be quite overwhelming. Organic Spa Magazine’s Skin Care Guide, however, makes it super simple, allowing app users to search for products by type of certification (e.g. Fair Trade, Cruelty-Free, Ecocert, Vegan and more); or by category (e.g. hand and feet, face or sun products). They also list their top picks in organic and natural skin-care. 

ShopNoGMO (Free) 

You know it’s better to buy “organic” than it is to buy “natural”. Recently, however, you’ve heard that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are harmful to your health and the environment, but you’re not really sure why. Let this app guide you through the world of GMOs. Learn what they are, why you should avoid them, and most importantly, what products are GMO-free, using the handy-dandy Shopping Guide.

Your Guide To One Hot Summer

Slowly but surely, the haze is lifting and summer is rolling in. Crank up the heat with these hot tips that will have you sizzlin' all summer long.

Get that cute bum of yours outdoors and you’ll have those legs mini-skirt-ready in no time: Here Comes the Sun on Your Daily Thread.

Eco-friendly fashion that won’t go out of style. Posted three months ago, these eco-chic pieces featured on Who What Wear are perfect for summer, and seasons to come...Go Buy Now: Earth Friendly Fashion.

Get out of the city, as well as out of your work clothes, and head to the beach to show off that spectacular bod of yours in these adorable, eco-friendly swimsuits: 14 Eco-Friendly Bikinis, Swimsuits, Board Shorts to Sizzle Your Summer on ecouterre.

Less is more all summer long! Sexy Green Lingerie: 20+ Sustainable Styles on The Daily Green.

Make like you’re at summer camp with these DIY arts & crafts projects: I DIY on Refinery29.

Beat the heat and have yourself a scoop - or maybe even two - of these decadent and tasty, Vegan ice creams: HBD: Vegan Ice Cream Rocks Our World on EcoStiletto.

You crave fresh, local, seasonal and all around, downright delicious food. Give in to your cravings here: Farm Fresh on Daily Candy.

Soak up the sun and surf the L.A. Green scene, with Your Daily Thread’s weekly Weekend Guide.

Image via: http://weheartit.com/entry/2907379

Relay For Life of San Fernando Valley Goes "Green For A Cure"

Join me in the fight against cancer by participating in Relay For Life of San Fernando Valley’s (SFV) 24-hour walkathon, taking place this Saturday, June 5 at 9:00 a.m. to Sunday, June 6 at 9:00 a.m. The event is held annually to celebrate those who have won their battle against cancer, to remember those who lost their lives to it, and to fight back against the disease by helping to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Participants form teams of 10-25 people and camp out at local high schools, parks, etc. and take turns walking or running around the track or path. “Because cancer never sleeps” at least one team member is asked to be on the track at all times during the event.

Going even one step further, Relay for Life of SFV has pledged to do their part and help our environment by going “Green for a Cure.” To lessen waste at the event, they will be selling re-usable water bottles with refills provided by Kangen Water. Eco-friendly goodies have been provided by different eco-conscious companies, such as Studio Alexandria LA and Your Daily Thread. Volunteers and participants are greatly encouraged to recycle any paper or plastic items, as well .

To join a team, or to register as an individual, sign up online or head over to the registration booth to sign up at the event. For more information visit their official website or check out their blog, Relay For Life of San Fernando Valley.

More like Real Freakin’ Delicious!

I may be a bit late to jump on the Real Food Daily (RFD) band-wagon, but with dishes as tasty as theirs, I say better late than never.

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As the name implies, this place is nothing but “Real.” The restaurant was real contemporary and casual, real eco-friendly and chock full of patrons real hungry and ready to eat. The food, of course, was real good, organic and 100-percent vegan.

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My dining partner, Laurie, and I scoured the menu for what to order. We were both famished, and were a bit overwhelmed by the number of food items we saw – everything looked delicious.

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Laurie decided to go for the "Fettuccini Alfredo," but had a last minute change in appetite and went for "My Hands Are Thai" instead. This wound up to be a fantastic choice – with a little mooching from me, there wasn’t a bite left over. I, on the other hand, felt that it was only appropriate that I go with the "Real Food Meal" – you know the saying: when in Rome – er, I mean Santa Monica.

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I was absolutely delighted by the meal. Brown rice, beans, chard, kale, land and sea vegetables, all topped with a dressing or sauce of your choice (I recommend going with the citrus dressing – it complimented the natural flavor of the foods perfectly). It was beyond filling (I even had enough left over for lunch the next day) and I felt invigorated by all of the healthy goodness I had just devoured.

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The next time you find yourself on the West Side I highly recommend stopping by this vegan joint. The majority of the food is “grown exclusively with organic farming methods,” purchased locally, and any kitchen scraps, etc. are composted when possible. If your experience is anything like ours was, I can say without a doubt, that you will be real(ly) satisfied with what you get.

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To read more about this delicious joint, please visit their website at http://www.realfood.com/.

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Location: 514 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 (map).

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Images by: Laurie Roderick & RFD

Chuck that chicken. Forget the fish. And say buh-bye to beef. Go Meatless in May!

Following their recent re-launch of the re-designed website, Your Daily Thread is kicking off the month of May with their Meatless in May campaign.

Meant to bring awareness to the impact our consumption of meat has on our carbon footprints and the environment at large, Meatless in May challenges subscribers to do just what the title implies – to go an entire month without eating meat.

To help fellow burger lovin’, filet grubbin’ meat eaters transition into the realm of meatless dining, Your Daily Thread will be providing motivational tips to those who have made this pledge. In addition, subscribers will be privy to alternative meal options, such as vegan and vegetarian recipes, and will be pointed to restaurants throughout the city that provide meatless menu items.

Make the pledge to go meat free in May by becoming a fan of YDT’s Meatless in May Facebook Page.

An Army of Green

Drill Sergeant: ATTENTION! We, the Your Daily Thread Green Forces team, have a mission for you, should you choose to accept it. Your mission will be to go from an Eco-Zero to an Eco-Hero in twenty days.

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Cadet: But sergeant, I’ve never even recycled before – how am I going to become an Eco-Hero in only twenty days?

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Drill Sergeant: By signing up online for Your Daily Thread’s “Going Green Bootcamp,” you will receive daily tips that will teach you the basics of living an eco-conscious life as well as challenge you to go Greener than you have ever been before. You will live, eat and sweat Green.

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Cadet: But sergeant, what if I don’t make it?

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Drill Sergeant: If there is one thing we, the Your Daily Thread Green Forces team, will not let you do Cadet, is fail!

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Cadet: Alright ma’am, I’m in! Where do I sign up?

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Drill Sergant: Click here to enlist. We’re proud to have you onboard. The world thanks you for your service.