15 Jun
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yogahealthfoundationadmin Announcements, Ayurveda, Environment, Meditation, Message, Others, Recipes, Sattology, Self Awareness, Vedic Knowledge, Veganism, Vegetarianism, Yoga

Is Reducing Meat Consumption Really Helping the Environment?

With issues of climate change and sustainability finding urgency all around the world, many experts advise us to try and limit our consumption of meat – owing to the environmental impact of the global meat industry. We find out if reducing meat consumption helps the environment, and how vegan foods are replacing the traditional meat industry.

We have more choice than ever before to choose what we eat. But are we making the right ones? With issues of climate change and sustainability finding urgency all around the world, many experts advise us to try and limit our consumption of meat – owing to the environmental impact of the global meat industry. But is it making any difference, and is meat consumption really destroying our planet? Let’s find out.

The global meat industry is nothing less than immense. In 2022, the global industry is worth over $2 trillion! With its presence so prevalent, the scale and intensity of meat production combined with projected population growth estimates show that current practices are bad for the environment.

Here is why:

IMPACT OF EATING MEAT

Health Risks

Diets high in red and processed meats, high-fat dairy foods, processed foods, and sugar are associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers whereas diets rich in fiber, fruit, and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of these diseases.

 

Biodiversity Loss

Livestock production accounts for roughly 30% of current global biodiversity loss! With the need for more land to produce more meat, we are losing the lush flora of our planet for specifically animal rearing, only to have them killed in the end. The meat industry is causing an irreversible loss to our planet to produce meat.

Global Warming

According to studies, meat production is responsible for generating about 14.5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, an astounding amount of meat is gone to waste both before and during the manufacture of meat. These practices are extremely harmful to our ecosystem, especially global warming which is directly caused by these greenhouse gas emissions.

Water Usage

About 29% of the total water footprint of the agricultural sector in the world is related to the production of animal products. By not purchasing meat products and avoiding such companies, you have the power to reduce the demand for meat, and thus – save water and conserve the planet.

IMPACT OF NOT EATING MEAT

 

If you’re looking to reduce your impact on the environment, going vegan is one of the best choices you can make. Here is why:

 

  1. Plant-based options high in protein and, alongside a well-balanced diet of plenty of fruit and vegetables, will mean you aren’t going without the vitamins you need. You will find equal amounts of natural nutrition in a vegan diet without hurting your

 

  1. Producing plant-based meat emits up to 90% fewer greenhouse gasses than producing conventional meat. If more people were to adopt veganism as a diet, the impact could cause a major shift in the ecosystem and help slow climate change.

 

  1. The global meat industry is notorious for polluting our oceans. When we leave land animals and fish off our plate, we are contributing to stabilizing the marine ecosystem as well as giving marine life a chance to thrive once again.

 

Reducing demand is the most significant factor in taking a stand against meat production. Ease your diet’s burden on the planet and choose veganism.

 

Established in Vancouver, Canada, the Yoga Health Expo 2022 will be a one-day festival celebrating the joys of good well-being through a holistic approach to the Yogic way of life including Yoga, Veganism, and Vegetarianism in our lifestyle. The celebration shall welcome famous yoga teachers Vancouver, interactive yoga classes Vancouver and a platform for vegan products and vegan food Vancouver.

 

For more information on our upcoming Yoga Festival & Health Expo, please visit: https://yogahealthfoundation.com/

11 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment, Meditation

Slow Down To Stabilize, Synthesize & Synchronize

COVID-19 has forced us to slow down. What yogic principles advocate has now become a forced reality. It is important that we empathize with the millions in some countries that are stranded or not supported by the government. However, we can also take time to see the back handed benefits that have risen for the environment and for those who have embraced a different pace. This time can be utilized for emotional processing as trauma and fear is likely  to come to the surface to be seen and healed. We need appropriate tools so  that emotions are not suppressed or projected.

Less Is More When We Slow Down

When we savour food and eat it consciously we will find we need much less than when we unconsciously binge eat, comfort eat or eat in a rush. We prioritise quality over quantity. If we are conscious, these times can create space for our true needs rather than greed.

Slowing Down Heals The Earth And Nature

All our sources of nourishment and the elements are getting a chance to regenerate. How can water nourish us when it is polluted and depleted of prana. Living in some major cities, like Delhi, is like smoking over 10 cigarettes per day, due to the poor air quality. Beijing as well is known for its poor air quality. Thanks to satellite imagery, the impact of the virus-imposed lock down on China’s pollution levels can be seen. There has been a wonderful increase in air quality.

The Wisdom That Is Revealed By Slowing Down

Science is showing us why we need to slow down. In yoga and tantra we practice slowing down to savour the senses. This allows for beauty and wisdom to be transmitted through us. We can experience the glory and graciousness of the universe within our being.

Slow Down To Stabilize And Realign

Speed is usually glorified over stability. Align the body, emotions and mind with the cosmos for better stability and less wear and tear. Realign the chakras.

There are minor to major signs of misalignment. They can start with headaches, feeling anxious, overwhelmed and restless. There can be an underlying sense of doom, unresolved disappointments, low self esteem or not feeling enough. One can become a bully, lacking empathy or being vicious and attacking others or themselves.

The Arkaya practices that I teach help realign the vertebral column as well our subtle bodies. A misaligned vertebral column can cause many issues like back pain, respiratory problems, joint stiffness, sciatica, fatigue and hip pain. So imagine what will happen, if there is misalignment between the body, heart and head as well as with the collective.

Slow Down To Synthesize

To synthesize means to combine or put together. Like plants, during photosynthesis, we have the capacity to build things that seem much greater than their individual components. These are life giving and nurturing and feed not just our bodies, but feed our energy, mind and soul.

Slow Down To Synchronize

When there is coherence between our personal and universal fields it enables many synchronicities, where our thoughts manifest into reality. Hence it is important to slow down and be aware of the quality of our thoughts.

As we evolve and unfold we see that consciously slowing down enables us to speed up our evolution and manifest a more harmonious reality.

Yogacharini Maitreyi is the founder of Arkaya Awareness Centre. For more info about her & various online programs, go to www.arkaya.net or email infoarkaya@gmail.com.

09 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment, Meditation

SELF Time is the most precious gift you have

SELF Time is the most precious gift you have. It is the Gold you have been looking for.

YOU, are already it. Your TRUE SELF.

The fact that is so simple is, for most people, a perceived barrier that stops them from realising it.
Realising the SELF, that is SELF REALISATION. Enlightenment.
It is, in truth, the natural essence of YOU.
However, it has been forgotten and in that forgetting separation consciousness and suffering emerge as a common experience.
There may be temporary highs but most frequently there is worry, fear, sadness and a whole range of other low frequency energies present and they become a perceived reality.
They certainly feel very real.
This true SELF is however untouched, unblemished, perfect, whole and eternal.
It is only the identification, attachment and belief in anything less than the totality of your truth that causes the experience of suffering. This is what the Buddha meant when he said: “Life is Suffering” – he was referring to the identified life. Identified with smallness rather than wholeness, the Infinite SELF.
So how to change this experience? That’s been a key question for humanity for millennia!
STOP.
Call off the external search.
The search for truth, peace, love, grace and joy outside of you. They are not there.
They are instead the perfume of your essence. They emanate and flow from you.
If you let them.
It is as simple as letting go completely of all that you are NOT to allow all that you are to shine through.
This is the surrendering to the TRUTH of you.
It is NOT what you think you are.
It IS what your heart and soul already knows YOU are.
The heart never lies.

Its voice is the one that is quiet. In the stillness of your pure being it can be heard. NOW.
It speaks only TRUTH. The whole truth and nothing but the truth!
Open into that now with some true SELF TIME.
Be still and open into the Infinite Silence that you are. Practice this kind of SELF TIME regularly and with the urge that comes from the heart then it will be realised as your permanent presence. Your Truth.
This is the purpose of all spiritual practice. To move you beyond the practice into the everlasting experience of truth.

The SELF.
That practice of SELF TIME merges into the timeless SELF.
It will not be through anything you have done. It will be because you have allowed it to emerge.
You cannot do anything to become that which you already are.
It is an allowing. By becoming quiet, still, centred. Trusting in that and that alone.
Then all that you are not will come forth for release. Do not judge this. Allow it. Be witness to it but not the stuff itself.
In the allowing truth will emerge:
In you, through you as YOU!
So once again:
That practice of SELF TIME merges into the timeless SELF.

Blessings as Infinite Silence,
Philip
In the 30 min video below I guide into Infinite Silence. The Gold you have been seeking. The experience is aided at the beginning with guidance from me and some beautiful Harp music drifting into Silence.
The video draws to a close with a ding of the singing bowl/gong and some final pointings. Give yourself the greatest gift today and every day with this opportunity.
www.gatewaylocation.org

Infinite Silence Experience

Facebook: Philip Wade

01 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment

Lifestyle & passion for environmentalism by Anna

I have always had an interest in science and health, but my passion for environmentalism has been growing for the past few years, as the climate crisis has become greater than ever. Having been an omnivore for the majority of my life, I stopped eating meat in 2019, and became vegan seven months ago due to the effects that animal agriculture has on our planet. The transition to a plant-based diet was relatively easy for me to make, and this is because veganism is no longer a taboo but a widespread way of life. There are now incredible vegan restaurants, cafes and markets, and the majority of non-plant-based restaurants have vegan options. Additionally, 2020 saw all high-street supermarkets drastically increase their plant-based ranges, making veganism more accessible to everyone. As much as I love that I now have the option to be able to grab-and-go with a vegan ready-meal, living a plant-based lifestyle has really augmented my love of cooking. It is exciting to try new foods, such as jackfruit, and prepare them in a way that even a carnivore, like my father, loves and admit that “you don’t miss meat in this meal!”.

07 May
yogahealthfoundationadmin Announcements, Ayurveda, Environment, Meditation, Message, Self Awareness, Vedic Knowledge, Vegetarianism, Yoga

6th Online International Yoga Festival & Health Expo

We are pleased to announce that we are organizing 6th International Yoga Festival & Health Expo virtually. As we know that from last few months the entire world is facing the outspread of Coronavirus, but that would not dampen our spirit. We have successfully hosted 5 festivals in the past, and we are proud and blessed to organize our 6th festival with the same enthusiasm and energy. Our idea is pious and we promote a healthy organic lifestyle for everyone through Yoga, Meditation, Veganism, and Vegetarianism. We feel blessed to support and connect with the global community and strengthen our ties amid dark time. We are happy to invite everyone to our 6th online yoga festival & health expo on 20th June 2020 from 11 am to 2 pm. We will soon share the program highlights and other details.

Have a blessed & soulful day!

09 Jun
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment, Meditation, Self Awareness

Mindfulness: a Tool for Increasing Happiness and Reducing Stress in Recovery

Mindfulness is the practice of fully immersing yourself in the present moment, without thoughts about the future or the past. It encourages you to direct your attention inwards, and consciously experience the feelings, thoughts and sensations that are happening right now. This is how mindfulness can promote stress relief and acceptance, and pull you away from the destructive thought patterns that may tempt you to use a behaviour or substance to numb discomfort.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of practicing mindfulness in recovery, and how being mindful in each moment can translate to more fulfillment, peace and enjoyment in your everyday life.

How Mindfulness Can Soften the Hardships of Recovery

  1. Mindfulness Reduces Emotional Cravings

Addictive behaviours are used as coping mechanisms to numb painful or uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. When faced with these thoughts, cravings can manifest as a protective mechanism— an emotional and mental escape.

Mindfulness encourages you to stay attuned with your present state of being, instead of running, covering or trying to escape these feelings. In essence, mindfulness is the opposite state of addiction. Through the process of awareness, you learn to accept and potentially transform these feelings and allow them to pass, which is the only way to heal and move on from them.

  1. Mindfulness Encourages You to Pause Before You React

You cannot always control what happens to you, but you can learn to control how you respond to life’s circumstances. When you ground yourself in the present moment by being mindful, it’s easier to pause and process a certain situation or feeling in a healthy way. Over time, this can actually change how your brain responds to emotional stress, which results in less anxiety and negative emotion over time.

For example, let’s say that when thoughts arise about the relationship you have with your mother, they instantly trigger you to crave a drink. But when you practice having awareness in the present moment, you’ll notice that you learn to pause before reacting to a specific thought pattern— and instead, become aware of the emotion you’re feeling.

When you allow yourself to feel , sit with, and recognize this emotion— rather than avoid it— the craving has a chance to pass and you can move on with your day. The more you practice this form of mindfulness, the less strong and intense your cravings will become, until they eventually disappear.

  1. Mindfulness Can Help Transcend Pain and Suffering

The desire to retreat from negativity is normal. Nobody wants to remain in a suspended state of suffering. And according to Buddhist views, pain and suffering are an essential part of life.

We have the opportunity to transcend our pain by accepting this truth, and recognizing that our suffering is determined by how we respond to it. Mindfulness brings awareness to the present moment, where we can realize and accept that everything is exactly as it should be: our pain can be used to fulfill our highest potential.

Putting Mindfulness into Action

The wonderful thing about mindfulness is that no specialized equipment or training is required. You can practice it right now. All you need to do is take a quiet moment to connect with your breath. Inhale and exhale to observe all that is going on in your mind and body. Focusing on your breathe anchors you to the present moment, and helps eliminate distractions of the past and future.

What Does Mindfulness Look and Feel Like?

When enjoying your next morning cup of tea, practice wrapping your hands around your mug. Feel the sensation of the hot mug against your fingertips, smell the fragrant leaves and observe the steam rising from your cup. Feel the calming sensations that ripple throughout your body when you take a long sip of your tea.

Where are you in this moment? How do you feel right now? What thoughts are arising in you? Be present and stay with this moment, and simply observe how you feel. Remember that you are exactly where you need to be, and nowhere else.

Mindfulness Meditation

You can also practice mindfulness through meditation, which may allow it to become second nature easier in your everyday life. By closing your eyes and focusing your attention on your breath, feel the air flow through you as you inhale and exhale. Allow your mind to slow down, and avoid judging or responding to thoughts as they arise, simply observe them and allow them to pass, imagining they’re like floating clouds in the sky.

This conscious practice, when done for just a few minutes per day, can increase the acceptance and satisfaction in your everyday life.

As you can see, mindfulness is a powerful tool to harness your thoughts and emotions (and how you respond to them) during recovery and any time through your life. By practicing mindfulness and remaining in the present moment as often as possible, you’ll be able to manage your stress levels easier, and heal any emotional trauma that’s been holding you back from living a fulfilling life, and may have been too uncomfortable to face and overcome in the past.

14 Mar
yogahealthfoundationadmin Environment

“A Plant-Based Diet – The best choice we can make for our planet, our economy, our animals, and ourselves”

For as long as we can remember, modern medicine and university research told us that a diet rich in meat and dairy would give us healthy bones, muscle mass, and an overall stronger and more energetic version of ourselves. As this research has deepened and knowledge evolved, with time we have learned that in fact a lot of the problems we once thought to be solved by meat and dairy are actually caused by it. Unfortunately these problems extend much further than us and our health, and in reality this excessive consumption of animal products and by-products that dominates our society today causes economical, environmental, and moral problems too. Now is a better time than ever to educate ourselves on these issues and begin our journey towards a plant-based diet.

Our Health

It’s true that our health should be our priority, and that what we put into our bodies is a direct reflection of our health. Unfortunately the animal produce that we are bombarded with in grocery stores today is not what it used to be. More often than not the meat we consume is pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones, and when we eat meat, we eat these additives too. The nasty stuff does not get lost somewhere in transit, it sits in our digestive system where it is not welcome, causing all sorts of health problems. It has come into light in recent years that with a reduction in meat consumption comes a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, and obesity. It’s simple – everything we once thought about the benefits of consuming meat and dairy products is a myth. The real superpowers are not in the produce from the animals we walk alongside, but in the produce from the earth we walk on.

Our Planet

With climate change, population increase and excessive waste pollution unfolding in the way that they are, we cannot ignore the health of this planet we call home. The foods we choose to consume over the coming decades will directly and dramatically impact the planet and its available resources. With more people to feed comes higher demand, and a diet that resolves around animal products will see the inevitable exhaustion of food resources. It is also estimated that animal agriculture alone will produce more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation industry combined. It is said that the average vegetarian or vegan has half the carbon footprint than the average meat eater, reminding us that although we are only one person, we have the ability to make a difference. Steadily reducing or completely eliminating our meat and dairy consumption can have huge implications on climate change and the planet we leave behind for our heirs.

Our Economy 

When meat-related diseases are on the increase as we have found they are, healthcare costs rise significantly as a result.  Health problems have a ripple effect when it comes to the global economy, and it is estimated that when we take into account medical bills and lost working days, a change in diet towards plant-based may contribute to saving $700 million on a global scale. This goes for our planet too – repairing damage from climate change is not cheap and is already taking a toll on global economic resources whether we choose to admit it or not. Now is the time to put an end to the vicious cycle before the economical damage is irreparable. We can contribute by pouring our economic resources and our support into plant-based companies, therefore fuelling a growing revolution that benefits instead of harms.

Our Morals

While there are an endless amount of economical, environmental and health benefits of cutting down on meat consumption, there are still masses of vegans and vegetarians out there with one fundamental goal – to save the animals. Over 95% of the meat that we find in our local grocery stores comes from factory farms, where animals are mass-produced in cruel and inhumane conditions. While the demand for meat-based produce is high, so is the demand for these killing fields. Even outside of these factory farms where animals are free-run and grass-fed, the end result is still the exploitation of innocent animals for meat and dairy products that we simply do not need. By choosing compassion, we contribute towards saving the animals that were never ours in the first place.

We cannot deny the devastating effects of meat and dairy consumption, and we cannot remain ignorant in the belief that we are too small to implement positive change. Whether we are omnivores simply reducing our meat intake, vegetarians who have cut it out completely, or vegans who strictly refrain from using or consuming any animal products or by-products, we can all take part in this revolution. Together, we can promote a world with healthy inhabitants that is environmentally sustainable, economically secure, and cruelty free.