Interview: The Yoga Element

With the holiday season and new year approaching, there is no better time to pause.

Last week I was invited to a yoga, meditation and mindfulness workshop with Cecily Milne from The Yoga Element at The Thompson Hotel in Toronto. It was a three-hour afternoon of practicing yoga, meditation and drinking green juice. I left feeling a sense of calm that I hadn't felt in months.

I interviewed Cecily to get her insight on her craft, and how us mere mortals can learn to quiet our minds. Enjoy!

1. What is The Yoga Element?

The Yoga Element is the result of my passion for movement and well-being. It represents the balance between having a healthy, mobile, pain-free body as well as a deeper sense of awareness in our everyday interactions.

2. How long have you been practicing yoga?

I started practicing yoga in 2003 when I was a university student. For almost a decade, yoga was my main outlet for movement; a couple of years ago, I started incorporating other forms of practice into my life including strength and mobility training. Today, I integrate these other movement modalities into the yoga "asana" practice, reflecting my understanding of what it means to have a "fluent body, fluid mind".

Health Spotlight: That Clean Life

Baked Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal 

I've been following Abigail Keeso for years on Twitter, and recently got in touch with her when I started hearing and reading all about her new health initiative called That Clean Life. My social media feeds were buzzing with people tweeting about her healthy meal plans and recipes.

Keeso is also a registered nurse and her e-books include meal plans, recipes, grocery lists and photos.
I was part of her summer beach body group, and I loved having the itemized grocery lists. Her e-books are easy to follow, and really help people on the go, make quick and fresh meals. They are also affordable, ranging from $7 to $35. She also has a great health blog with tips on everything from exercise, to natural beauty products.

Below is my interview with her. Don't forget to sign up for yourself.

1. When did you decide to start That Clean Life?

The idea originally came about when a friend at work was always interested in what I was eating and asked me to make her a meal plan so she could start eating healthy. While in the process I thought, “Well if I’m designing a meal plan, I might as well share it on my blog”. I created a sign up form and had over 500 people download the plan within the first week. That’s when I knew I was onto something.

2. How do you want people to feel after they join your program?

Excited. So many people associate eating healthy with dieting, aka feeling hungry and deprived. My plans prove to you that it doesn’t have to be this way. My plans have changed lives for the better and that is something worth getting excited about!

3. What advice would you have for people who say they don't have time to start a program like this?

If you really want to change your mind, body and soul - you have to make the time. Yes, it’s a challenge but as the old saying goes, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.” Commit to the challenge, follow the plan and get on the path to better health. Life’s too short to feel crappy in your own body.

4. Who or what is your greatest inspiration for living a clean lifestyle?

I’m addicted to feeling great. I’ve come from a place of being sick and tired all the time. When I discovered that what I eat has such a huge impact on how I feel mentally, physically and emotionally I committed to making some serious changes. Looking back and seeing how far I’ve come is what inspires me to continue down this road to That Clean Life.

5. Finish this sentence. That Clean Life is… 
...a life-changing lifestyle.

/ all photo credits attributed to That Clean Life / 

Press: Not A Model's Interview with ListenMR

Happy Monday Not A Models! 

Last week I was approached by ListenMR to be interviewed on their blog.

ListenMR (pronounced like mister) is the brainchild between two sisters Mahsa and Rashel. The blog focuses on the categories of work, play and spirit. They also conduct regular interviews with people that they deem inspiring.

I'm happy that I made the cut. 

For the full interview, (where I discuss blogging, quitting your job to travel and who inspires me), click here.

Not A Model Weekly Mantra

By the end of the week, I'm usually drowning in information.

I constantly collect and send myself links to blogs, news articles and interesting photographs. I take home chunks of the New York Times to read at my leisure and jot down notes and quotes of other pieces throughout the day. I find that although I collect the information, sometimes there isn't enough time in a week to share it, or to delve into it.

I recently read an inspiring and revealing interview with fashion designer Tom Ford. Before reading, I assumed Ford, (a really handsome, classy, glamourous man) would be the epitome of high society socializing, and celebrity living. However, the interview reflected the opposite. Ford talks about life, love and simple living in a way that is refreshing. Below is one of my favourite quotes from the interview. The quote highlights the superficiality that we all can get caught up with, but reminds us that the most important thing we have in life is our relationships, friendships; people.

"When I am on my deathbed, I don’t think I will be thinking about a nice pair of shoes I had or my beautiful house. I am going to be thinking about an evening I spent with somebody when I was twenty where I felt that I was just absolutely connected to them." - Tom Ford

I encourage you to read the full article by "The Talks" here: http://the-talks.com/interviews/tom-ford/

Also, for some additional reading, I was featured as Mediummag.com's "Blogger of the Week." Check out my interview here.

Happy Reading!