01 Jun
Veganfoods health wayoflife plantbased plantbasedfood
yogahealthfoundationadmin Others

Vegan Foods Reigning 2022

Much more than a fad, diet, or trend, veganism is a way of life for thousands of people around the world. According to statistics in 2022, the number of vegans at present is 79 million – making up only 1% of the world population. In fact, Vancouver is ranked amongst the top five most popular cities for vegans. Vegan food and vegan products in Vancouver are universally a must-try! Surveys have also shown the growth of vegan food is “rapid” and there will be a 40% increase in the coming years. 

Whether the cause is based on environment, ethics, or health, the rising demand for plant-based and organic foods concludes it to be the need of the hour, as is the conservation of our planet. Planet and palette-friendly, here are some vegan food products that have been and will be seen reigning 2022:

1. Legumes

Searching for a nutritious alternative to meat? Legumes will be your best friend. Peas, pulses, and lentils make the holy trinity for all vegans. Rich in minerals and iron, legumes are also diverse ingredients you can mix and match in many ways to fulfill your diet needs. 

2. Nuts and Seeds

Whether you are craving something binge-worthy or need a quick office snack to accompany you for the day. Nuts and seeds are of high nutritional value and satisfying. Hemp, flax, and chia seeds make for great additions to salads while nuts like almonds, cashews, and avocados will almost always find their way into a vegan diet.

3. Mushrooms

One of the only non-animal sources of Vitamin D, mushrooms are today a staple for vegans. They are rich in fiber and protein and can be cooked in a multitude of delicious ways. It’s no surprise they are called earth-meat and can be easily consumed as alternatives to your preferred meat. 

4. Fruits

While many might be concerned about the “fruits are high in sugar” debate, researchers conclude that their nutritional value outweighs their sugar counterparts. So, feel free to include a bountiful of fruits in your vegan diet. Apples, pears, guavas, berries, grapes, plums, apricots, and such are on the rise. 

5. Plant-based meats

You don’t have to go cold turkey on meat, as the market is now brimming with healthy vegan alternatives. Some of the most popular ones are plant-based chicken, bacon, tofu, seitan, jackfruit, and soy. In fact, the global plant-based meat market is estimated to reach USD 24.8 billion in revenue from today’s 6.023 billion. 

6. Milk Alternatives

Offering a variety of flavors and nutritional elements, milk alternatives are often marked as the beginning of the vegan revolution. Almond, oat, and soy milk are already a huge demand in the world, whereas rice, coconut, cashew, and even hemp are beginning to establish themselves in the market today. Saying no to dairy and dairy products is considered ideal for lactose intolerant vegans. 

7. Chocolates

For the longest time vegans have been questioned about their love for chocolates. Can vegans eat them, or can they not? The answer is yes, and no! While the majority of the brands contain dairy in their products, dozens of indulgent vegan options have now surfaced in the market. Some of the most common vegan chocolates as suggested by PETA include Hershey’s, Alter Eco, Theo Chocolate, VGAN, and CASSE-COU. 

8. Seafood

Following the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, The Growth of vegan food is significant in the seafood market, we appear to be entering a new age of fishless fish. And the trend could very well revolutionize the food industry. Vegans can now enjoy fish filets and sauces, shrimp, lobsters, crab cakes, tuna, and even caviar which are made with vegan ingredients.

Brands like Beyondmeat, Amy’s Kitchen, Gardein, BeLeaf, Jinka, and Sophie’s Kitchen are spearheading the vegan seafood wave. The future of vegan food will be seen growing exponentially in the sphere of seafood.

Plant-based fish has been gaining traction as a tasty and readily available option, for example. Consumers prefer plant-based fish products due to the fact they’re typically allergen-free, 100% vegan, and highly nutritional.

The best part about vegan food? Everything can be paired with anything! The vegan world is your oyster – quite literally.

22 May
yogahealthfoundationadmin Message, Others

Aditya Tawatia – Spearheading The World’s Health Conversation

As dynamic an entrepreneur as he is a philanthropist, Aditya Tawatia is the founder and director of Yoga & Health Expo Foundation – the non-profit organization working towards healthy eating and well-being lifestyle.

A successful personality in each one of his endeavors, Aditya is renowned in the media, health, and community service landscape. Currently titled as the President of the Indo Canada Global Forum, BC, he is considered to be an industry innovator for bridging relations between India and Canada over the past decade.

The entrepreneur has always been inspired by his father’s ideologies that he continues to put in motion in all his ventures even today. From being the publisher of Canada’s oldest ethic English newspaper “The Link” that is today well-renowned across the country’s stations to paving way for a healthy organic lifestyle platform with Yoga & Health Expo Foundation, Aditya rightfully redefines what it means to be a true visionary.

HEALTHY BEGINNINGS: International Yoga Festival Vancouver

Established with the aim to enhance health, happiness, knowledge, and peace in life through a holistic approach to life, Yoga & Health Expo is Aditya’s non-profit organization based in Vancouver, Canada, that celebrates healthy food and joyful living. Through Yoga, Veganism, Local for Vocal, going Organic, and Meditation, he believes in the necessity of saving our Environment and giving back to the community earnestly.

Be it highlighting the importance of vegan food and products or building a Yogic way of life through yoga classes, instructors, and practices, he is most passionate about spearheading the motto of clean and green eating for a better future for the world.

An avid wellness enthusiast himself, he advocates for ‘Oneness’ which he grew up admiring in his own  Indian household. He believes in bringing the values of peace and harmony of Indian culture to the rest of the world through healthy and organic eating. “My real passion lies in forging a strong link between the country of my birth, India, and the country of my living, Canada.” he shares.

LOOKING TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE

The Yoga Festival & Health Expo is an annual affair that aims for an environment-friendly, clean and healthy lifestyle for everyone around the world. The festival has witnessed seven expos since 2015 – all of which have fared most successfully. The event will now be making its comeback with the 8th Yoga Festival & Health Expo this 19th of June 2022 in Vancouver.

As always, Aditya today too aims to unlock the true potential of a healthy lifestyle and an even healthier planet if only we choose to eat right.

#adityatawatia #yogahealthfoundation2022 #YogateacherVancouver #YogaclassesVancouver #VeganproductsVancouver #VeganfoodVancouver #yogahealthfoundation

14 May
yogahealthfoundationadmin Others

Yoga & Holistic Wellbeing: Road To A Healthy And Happy Lifestyle

In our ever-bustling never-resting state of mind, the International Yoga Festival & Health Expo aims to bring focus on healthy eating and bring oneself closer to the pursuit of positivity in one’s body and mind. Here’s how we at Yoga & Health Expo believe in bridging the gap between health and happiness, holistically.

Established in Vancouver, Canada, the Yoga & Health Expo is a one-day festival celebrating the joys of good wellbeing while enhancing health, happiness, knowledge, and peace in life through a holistic approach to the Yogic way of life including Yoga, Veganism, and Vegetarianism in our lifestyle. Hosted both physically and virtually since 2015, the celebration welcomes famous yoga instructors, a platform for health-conscious brands and retailers, and stalwarts from the walks of wellness, health, veganism, vegetarianism, and organic living.

Following a successful streak of seven expos since 2015, we are all set and excited to make our comeback with the 8th Yoga Festival & Health Expo this 19th of June 2022. Aiming for an environment-friendly, clean, and healthy lifestyle through food, the Expo shall witness yet another gathering in celebration of good health and good food.

Our Founder and President – Aditya Tawatia

With his belief in the essence of a community and giving back to it earnestly, Aditya Tawatia is the man behind Yoga & Health Expo. One of the most accomplished businessmen in recent times, he hopes to enhance health, happiness, knowledge, and peace in daily life through a holistic approach following the four cores of the brand.

An avid advocate for ‘Oneness’ which he grew up admiring in his Indian household, he believes in bringing those same values of peace and harmony of Indian culture to the rest of the world through healthy and organic eating. Hence was borne Yoga & Health Expo.

OUR FOUR CORES: Yoga, Meditation, Veganism, and Vocal For Local

Yoga: The oldest form of attaining wellbeing through the amalgamation of mental, physical, and spiritual disciplines. We at Yoga & Health Expo honor its ancient wisdom with interesting yoga sessions, conversations with instructors, and a healthy dose of motivation to practice it on daily basis for good wellbeing.

Meditation: Meditation has been long proven to combat many physical and mental health issues, and we encompass this exercise in all our activities to increase focus, reduce anxiety, and ground our minds to the present.

Veganism: Healthy, do-able, and well within everyone’s reach, going vegan is not just for trends and can be opted as a definite lifestyle option – this is what we hope to bring to the table for clean eating.

Vocal for Local: Supporting small businesses pertaining to fresh local produce makes a difference, and we at Yoga & Health Expo believe in harnessing the power of the right nutrition to make everyone’s journey to wellness happier.

OUR PAST VENTURES

Celebrating the power of good health and wellbeing every year, our previous excursions have witnessed the health industry’s most coveted participation in our interactive yoga sessions, mindfulness activities, and sparked interesting conversations on holistic and eco-friendly wellbeing. Our Expo highlights the sanctity of leading a clean and green organic eating and the natural way of life.

Emerging strong against the pandemic, our 7th Virtual Yoga Festival & Health Expo 2021 was a resounding success with speakers Rachel Beau – Creator & CEO (PARTY STAR) of Rock’n’Beau Entertainment; Marlene Watson-Tara – long-time vegan, activist and human ecology enthusiast; Bill Tara – co-founder of Sunwheel Natural Foods in London, England; Dr. Matthew Nagra – Naturopathic Doctor, and many more experts guiding our guests on living in accordance with nature’s laws.

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

#yogahealthfoundation2022 #YogateacherVancouver #YogaclassesVancouver #VeganproductsVancouver #VeganfoodVancouver #adityatawatia #yogahealthfoundation

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.

04 Feb
yogahealthfoundationadmin Yoga

The Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

Traditionally, yoga poses or “asanas”, were developed and practiced in India to help the body and mind develop flexibility during long hours of meditation. What many people don’t know however, is that yoga is about much more than physical fitness alone. It is a holistic system with the physical component of asanas only forming one out of eight limbs of a complete yoga practice. Yoga means “to unite”, referring to the union of body, mind and spirit. It is a science of balanced living, a path for realizing full human potential, and a tool to cultivate the ability to remain centered in the midst of turbulence.

Life’s stresses indeed cause many people to feel emotionally unbalanced. When we are stressed, our survival instinct kicks in and the body goes into the fight or flight response mode— either preparing to do battle with the perceived threat (fight), or preparing to flee (flight). This response is regulated by the brain, in the region called the amygdala. Among the body’s responses to stress are increased heart, respiration, and blood pressure rates and decreased immunity and insulin production.

Without a healthy way to release daily stress, it becomes internalized and fight or flight becomes the body’s customary response. Over time, this can cause damage not only to the body, but also to the mind. Research shows that constant stress actually changes the brain. For example, stress can lead to a stronger connection between the amygdala and the hippocampus. A stronger connection of these two brain areas leads to increased stress response. Stress has also been shown to diminish the connection between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, thus altering the brain’s ability to bring calm to the mind and body. When a person is under constant stress, these imbalanced brain connections can cause a greater reaction to stress and a more challenging time mitigating that reaction.

Yoga, including asana and meditation practices, can help ease these physiological stress responses by helping to bring down heart rate, blood pressure and by boosting the immune system.

In his article, “Healing from Depression” Dr. Deepak Chopra discusses some of the benefits of meditation. In terms of mental health, he explains that studies have shown mindfulness meditation to alleviate mild-to-moderate depression and stress.

As noted by Dr. Chopra, the healing effects of yoga, particularly those of physical asana and meditation practice, are supported by empirical research. According to a Johns Hopkins University study, meditation has been proved to be helpful in reducing anxiety, depression, and pain. In 2011, Harvard researchers discovered that eight weeks of meditation could decrease the volume of the amygdala, which in turn, could help reduce stress, fear, and anxiety. Stanford researchers also discovered in their studies that mindfulness meditation practitioners experienced a decrease in the symptoms of social anxiety.

A Duke University review of yoga for neuropsychiatric disorders tested the belief that regular yoga practice had a positive effect on emotional wellbeing. At the conclusion of their experiment, researchers stated, “There is emerging evidence from randomized trials to support popular beliefs about yoga for depression, sleep disorders, and as an augmentation therapy.”

Studies have shown that yoga asana practice helps reduce the symptoms of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by increasing an individual’s sense of awareness and control over the body. One study of women aged 18 to 58 compared the impact of Trauma-Informed Yoga versus Women’s Health Education on PTSD symptoms. Results showed that by the end of the 10 weeks, more than 50 percent of the yoga practitioners no longer met the criteria to classify them as having PTSD, while only 21 percent of the group in women’s health classes exhibited the same results.

Shedding light onto how meditation may be helpful in all these areas of mental health, Dr. Deepak Chopra explains that meditation trains the mind to develop a witnessing awareness that is independent of the external environment.

“This core self is not a philosophical or theological concept; it is an experience of your authentic existence,” Dr. Chopra states. “With an established sense of the silent witness, it will be easier to not become identified with the darkness of your depressed days.” Essentially, cultivating this observer state of mind through meditation allows you recognize that you are not your emotions.

We look forward to uniting in Yoga for Peace, Harmony and Health!

By Nirmala Raniga

© 2017, All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

30 Jan
yogahealthfoundationadmin Vedic Knowledge, Yoga

FROM STRESS TO SERENITY

Maitreyi-mug-shot-(5)I was asked in year 2016, by a participant at the International Yoga day, organized by International Yoga Festival & Expo Foundation and sponsored by ICSEA as well as the Indian consulate, about stress.

How does yoga reduce stress?

I have taught many corporations and individuals in different countries on stress management, self mastery and aligning with the highest. I see that many times they perceive asanas and pranayama to be like a pill. Many want three postures to heal blood pressure, one pranayama or a breathing technique for weight loss , some other combination for increasing creativity or one secret manthra or chant for enlightenment. Though all are possible, more than just the tools, the approach to the tool, right attitude as well as lifestyle and paradigm changes are  very important. So in a series of articles I will explain how stress can be alleviated by approaching yoga in a holistic manner. We will also see the depth, expansiveness and beauty of the yogic system. It is a system which goes to the root imbalance rather than just getting rid of the symptom and addresses every aspect of the individual. The physical, emotional, mental and spiritual are aligned.

The right approach to yoga will help us deal with stress more efficiently

When I see what is happening to Yoga these days it reminds me of those using an airplane only on the runway. Even worse they are looking at competing with a race car on the runway. The aim of yoga is not an adrenaline high but the journey of building inner stability. So when we actually fly, despite the turbulence we are able to re-stabilise. Despite the high speed of our evolution we do not have the speeding thrill of the race car.

However when we are ignorant, we continue to use yoga only on the runway and even undervalue it because it is not able go faster than a race car or give the same thrills. Or feel proud we have bent yoga to suit our needs for an adrenaline high. The whole purpose of yoga is to change the whole paradigm of where and how the race happens and if at all a race is needed. This discernment and tapping into a higher intelligence is what yoga gives us.

Self reflection and taking responsibility is a necessary step in stress management

That is why in the Arkaya Mindfulness and Healing Teacher Training programs I take only those who have the courage to see themselves clearly and want to shift their underlying physical, emotional and mental patterns and programming.  Not just learn some asanas, some pranayama , some chanting, quotes and concepts from the scriptures and prance around looking like teachers. It  takes a lot of effort to step away from the busyness and keep time for contemplative time as well as see and release suppressed emotions. However this contemplation and capacity for emotional honesty is not usually valued in a productivity oriented society. It can seem challenging to take responsibility for your well being in the beginning and one might find a lot of resistance. However with practice one can see the messages and insights that come even out of the worst times and darkness. We are so used to giving away responsibility to doctors, therapists and temples that it seems scary to reclaim this power. It does not mean we do not consult them but also work on prevention. Fear is what leads to stress, so let us align with the wisdom to release this fear and empower ourselves.

Wisdom Principle One for Stress management

  1. Start with the simple and start step by step

This means that apart from the tools that you learn , the rhythm of the yoga class you go to is extremely important. Do not go to a  class where you are pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion. Yes you will become a great gymnast and if that is what you want then good, however you will still be a stressed and emotionally needy gymnast.

You are again overworking your adrenals and the whole point of rebalancing the adrenal glands  is lost. The adrenals are in charge of the stress response and secrete adrenaline or cortisol in high stress situations when you are being attacked or your survival is under threat. When we do high intensity training as well, this stress response is triggered and you are overworking the adrenal glands. So mindful, simple practice with slow deep breathing is better to rebalance the adrenals.

The yoga class is a structure for life, so your approach in class will translate as your approach in life. If your class is paced well , in life also you will learn to pace yourself rather than kill yourself in the rat race.

Also though we are aware of other addictions like alcohol and drug addictions we rarel speak of adrenaline addiction. Many have adrenaline addiction and that is one of the main reasons for this perpetuating cycle of  increased stress.

In the next series of articles we will go more into adrenaline addiction and see more principles and tools on how to address stress.

The practice

Till then simplify, be mindful of how you sit, stand and lie down. Are you sitting with back straight yet relaxed, shoulders relaxed yet pushed back and neck in line with shoulders rather than jutting it forward. Have a gentle smile on your face and remember to tap into lightness and play. This awareness and mindfulness in day to day situations is important. Breathe deep and slow and trust you are well and all is well.

It is interesting how a Hindi movie beautifully used this yogic concept of “all is well” and popularised it 🙂

Yogacharini Maitreyi is a practical mystic. She trains Arkaya yoga teachers& healers and creates conscious community around the world. She also runs a foundation for children living in slums in Chennai  E-mail: maitreyi9@hotmail.com; www.arkaya.net

Fb Arkaya Vancouver/Conscious Living group

Dates for Arkaya Mindfulness & Healing Teacher Training in Vancouver, 2017 will be announced soon. It starts in July.

© 2017, All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.