They’ve been doing this for a while, but they’ve found new elements to incorporate in the Oahu Wanderlust–especially surfing. Seeing the correlation between surfing and yoga, with the peaceful, meditative, elements intertwining with healthy physical activity, Seane and John sat down with a crew of reporters at the Wanderlust Festival on the North Shore of Oahu to talk shop.

What’s different between Wanderlust and other yoga festivals, someone asked. The truth is that the yoga industry is huge and growing. But Wanderlust really tries to tie in a spiritual connection to the outside world, not just the studio setting that normally may serve as the testing ground for yogic adventures, according to Seane. “We’re trying to get people outside to experience nature,” he said.

They run 4 festivals in the summertime at ski resorts so people can get out and hike, cycle, etc. John said that the mindfulness present in surfing is such a great overlap with the yoga culture. The integration of Hawaiian culture was also important, so for this event, they’ve created multiple “talk story” sessions so people can learn about the culture of Hawaii. In addition, they’ve set up Hawaiian cultural walks.

The event was not as big as some of the other Wanderlusts in the world. It was 1/3 the size, in terms of yoga attendees, as the Wanderlust in California. Part of it was the remote nature. Hawaii is 2500 miles away from the nearest city (San Francisco), and hosting the event at the north shore resort of Turtle Bay adds an extra layer of logistical challenges. But by the time people have arrived, they’re really present, said John.

Being green is a natural part of hosting a yoga festival, so Hoess and Krasno spoke to the challenges they had to overcome. Turtle Bay is not known as an eco-friendly resort. Its restaurant and food service options tend to tailor to country club appetites for prime rib and filet mignon, so most food served on site is neither healthy nor local. Most yogis coming to the festival, of course, would be looking for tofu, salads, sprouting things, fresh fruits and veggies, smoothies, and juices.

To adapt, Turtle Bay’s restaurant shifted its menu, and for a limited time during the weekend, served a yogi-inspired cuisine focused on whole, local foods. For just $16, you, too, could have a garden burger at the resort’s high end restaurant. Thankfully, Hoess and Krasno thought to recruit some local vendors of better cuisine. The Beet Box Cafe, a local vegetarian health food cafe in Haleiwa, had a line 40 people long during most of the festival. LYFE Kitchens was also there, selling microwaved portions of its healthier than Lean Cuisine packaged foods. Jessica Quinn, local Nutritional Therapist, also had a booth and provided nutritional counseling.

Waste was also a challenge. Turtle Bay Resort offers very limited recycling throughout its sprawling complex and sends all organic waste to landfill. Knowing that Wanderlust attendees would likely find that objectionable if not repugnant, Hoess and Krasno reached out to the local community to find a solution. Sustainable Coastlines, a local non-profit, came through. The organization set up recycling and compost bins throughout the festival’s grounds, and the members of Sustainable Coastlines volunteered their time to sort through the waste stream, and get recyclables to where they needed to go, and food waste to a composting facility.

The festival combined music and yoga in a way I’d never seen. Michael Franti and Shiva Rae did a duo performance on stage, and had a concert-like atmosphere with hundreds of yogis stretching and dancing…I saw tears of joy, and my long-running man crush on Michael Franti grew in proportion to his rousing performance. At one point, he had the entire crowd break down into circles of five, then 12, then one gigantic circle running the entire outer ring. Then he said, “now go hug someone across the way,” and hundreds of yogis giggled, ran, and hugged complete strangers like they were long lost childhood friends.

To me, the festival was kind of like that–random, beautiful, and warm.

Photo from Seen Imagery’s Wanderlust Gallery

Although many people think that changing the world around them is the best solution, the real life changer is changing your attitude. There is little that you can do to make another person fit your image, but there is something that only you can do to change your attitude about him. By changing your attitude, you change your relationship with that person. The gift of service is actually a gift to yourself, after all.

Relationships are constantly changing. The husband who takes his wife for granted will discover his marriage is on the rocks (no, not those kind of rocks, Mr. Buffett). While building their relationship, each was working hard to bond with the other.

Can you imagine building the same type of relationship with your employer? How about your coworkers and customers. If you worked as hard building relationships with others as you did with your marriage, you might love others almost as much.

In addition, you can build relations with your neighbors. You may think that you’re too tired to work on relationships after working all day, but you regained energy when you were dating.

A Modest Proposal

Since you know how to develop relationships with your spouse, you are capable of developing relationships with any other person. Of course, not all relationships will flourish. You cannot be perfect in every relationship, but you can try. You can improve your world and the world around you by developing an attitude of service to your friends, neighbors and all whom you meet.

You Can Change Your World

Once you have developed a servant’s attitude, you will search for ways to help others. You will need money to buy various necessities for those you want to serve. Begin today to get out of debt. Find the best savings account interest rates and begin saving. The needs of the people you serve will require as much money as you can raise. Making millions is not the answer to happiness, but financial freedom is important to learning to open your heart, and open your wallet to those you love.

Going Green

In considering how to improve your life, you should also consider the earth. You can fine many other suggestions at simplemom.net/tips-to-go-green at home.

With the proper attitude, the average Joe (or Jimmy) might find ways to work miracles.

StacieStauffSmith Photos / Shutterstock.com

There are five different love languages: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch. Expressing and receiving love differently than your partner opens the door for miscommunication, which can cause serious problems in your relationship. In order to avoid this tragedy, figure out and cater to your partner’s love language.

Words of Affirmation

To these people, words speak much louder than actions. They need to hear you say how much you love and appreciate having them in your life. Start with always choosing your words carefully. This kind of person lives for your compliments and words of approval. Even the smallest compliment will go along way with Words of Affirmation.

Quality Time

This language is more than simply spending time with one another. It needs to be quality time. Turn off your phone, send the kids to a babysitter and enjoy some actual time with your loved one. Make date night a regular priority, maybe learning healthy recipes together, to make sure that Quality Time really feels how much you care.

Gifts

This person isn’t necessarily materialistic. It’s often the thought and meaning behind the gift that really resonates with this language. Pay attention to the little things this person says they want. Also, surprise gifts like organic fruit baskets or fair trade flowers are great ways to show some spontaneous love in this language. Organic Bouquet is an Insteading favorite, but also FloristExpress.com has some arrangements that are sure to speak to your loved one.

Acts of Service

For those considering alternative gifts, the gift of service is as strong a builder of personal relationships as any on earth. Go find that to-do list your loved one gave your three months ago and get to work on it. Chances are, you lack of service is the reason your relationship hasn’t taken off. This person isn’t lazy. Rather, they want to know that you are willing to take care of them. Find little things you can do to show your love everyday. Even the simplest thing like doing the dishes or packing their lunch can go a long way.

Physical Touch

This reaches beyond the bedroom. Physical touch is about making your partner feel safe and loved through your touch. A carefully placed touch on the arm or pat on the back can go a long way in this language. Little things like sitting closer during a movie or making a point to touch your partner in a crowded room are great ways to show your love.

Everybody gives and receives love, but sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint. Have a conversation with your partner about these things and learn how to start communicating love more powerfully to one another.

Photo from Shutterstock

The underlying cause is a feeling of unfulfilled expectations, often accompanied by revisiting the hopes, aspirations, and dreams men had in their younger years. The mid-life crisis can take many forms, but the concept of transition is one that is undeniable.

The problem is, it’s not a healthy transition. Fast cars are expensive. Young girls interested in older men are more expensive. And divorce and child support? REALLY expensive. On top of the financial impact, men often find they had it pretty good, but after goofing off in their mid-life crisis for a while, pissed it all away for no good reason.

I’d like to propose that there are better solutions.

The real cause of the mid-life crisis is those expectations, so the key is to reduce those expectations. One way to do so is to have a truly life-changing experience that can show you that the pressures you feel, the expectations placed on you (by you, your family, your school, etc.)…they’re all BS.

There are many ways to achieve this sort of mind-shift, but none more powerful than a festival known as Burning Man. The week-long “Burn” takes place in the desert of central Nevada near Reno. It’s a beautiful out-of-mind experience that is hard to put into words for folks who’ve not experienced it. There’s art of mind-blowing creativity. There’s music. There’s yoga. There’s costumery and games. There’s a sharing economy that rivals anything you could dream up if you had to create a money-free society.

Young to old, straight, gay and everything in between, Burning Man attracts a wide swath. And once you arrive, all pretense goes out the window. In my first Burn, I arrived a pretty straightlaced guy (some might even have said uptight, and damn them, they were right). Within a few hours of arriving, setting up my tent, and donning a giant afro wig and some preposterously fluorescent pants, I found myself dancing to Paul Oakenfold on top of a 40 foot tall Merry-Go-Round (literally, on the horse’s head).

 Python sidekicks are not essential at Burning Man, but hey…it’s quite the accessory if you can pull it off. 

So what is essential? Absolutely nothing. That’s the beauty of it. You bring what you want and you explore your own creativity as well as that of the community all at once. You can certainly do faux fur outfits, cool vogue wigs, create your own costumes with second hand craft supplies, shop thrift stores in hipster neighborhoods for some truly vintage and preposterous outfits….the sky is the limit. You won’t see a lot of store bought new costumes…the idea is to be green and crafty!

The main thing to remember is that Burning Man is a community. You must consciously try to leave behind those things that create negative energy in your life in order to open yourself to the life-changing effects of the Burn.

So how did dancing on a 40 foot tall horse’s head work out for me? I can truly say that Burning Man changed my life for the better. All the pretense washed away, priorities came into clear focus, and I discovered that real happiness comes from connections and community, not anything that has to do with fast cars and fast women.

So…go. Open your mind so that the beauty can pour in. And please carpool to Burning Man if you can.  :)

Photos from Dust to Ashes, Jasper Gregory, and Travis Britton on Flickr Creative Commons

Note: the following is a guest post from Ma’ikwe Schaub Ludwig, a resident at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage.

Intentional Community is the radical notion that how we live ought to be based on our values. Strange that this is “radical” but the truth is, many people struggle to integrate their values into their daily lives, and intentional community provides a rare forum to be able to live, well… intentionally!

An Intentional Community is a group of people who are working together for a common goal, and the term usually applies to groups who live together. Commune, cohousing, ecovillage, housing coop and shared house are all kinds of intentional communities.

I’ve lived in community for 16 years, and the biggest blessing of choosing this lifestyle is that everything in my life works together: my work, my food, my child rearing, my free time, my ecological practices and personal growth are all found together and feed into each other in a holistic way.

Communities serve as social laboratories of sort: we are actively experimenting with societally relevant things like peaceful conflict resolution (because boy, do we bump into conflict when we live together!) direct democracy, natural building, resource sharing and ecological sustainability. The solutions developed in community are hands-on, practical and grass roots at their best.

In North America, the organization that serves as an umbrella group for cooperative living organizations (basically playing with anyone who wants to cooperate more, regardless of the specific form it takes) is the Fellowship for Intentional Community. Through publications– such as the Communities Directory (both in book and web form) and Communities magazine– annual events gathering like minded people together, and online resources such as Community Bookshelf and a process consultant directory, the FIC is all about supporting the vibrancy and spread of community in the world.

And given that most people in both the US and the UK say they want more of a sense of community in their lives, it is fortunate that someone is looking out for just that.

The FIC is currently raising money to build a new national headquarters in the innovative sustainability community of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. Come check out the project and how you can help FIC spread the word more effectively through getting this critical need met.

http://www.indiegogo.com/FICgreenoffice

Ma’ikwe Schaub Ludwig is the author of Passion as Big as a Planet, and a regular contributor to Communities magazine. She serves on the oversight board for FIC, and the board of directors for Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage (which is also her home) and teaches a variety of workshops about sustainable community living and healthy group process. Check her work out at www.maikwe.net, or find her on facebook.

Image credit: Earthworm via photopin cc

What does insteading mean?

According to the Urban Dictionary, the definition of insteading is:

When you’re doing anything but the assignment that you’re supposed to. Avoiding writing your paper/essay or doing any study related activity by involving yourself in anything that can distract you Procrastination.

Clearly, that is not the answer. Procrastination has nothing to do with the ethos of this site.

Instead, this is what Insteading means to us:

Resources for those who value self-sufficiency, sustainability, and community reliance, including topics like collaborative consumption, the sharing economy, local and virtual currencies, off-grid living, and peer-to-peer technologies.

I think of it as a modern term related to homesteading. Although many of us aspire to be homesteaders, there is more to conscious living than the self-sufficiency of yesteryear. Even though I live off-the-grid and grow a lot of food, I still rely on technology I am not willing to give up.  I have a long way to go to live an insteading life

Instead of what?

• Instead of relying on farmers in distant lands, I want to grow my food. Then, I have control over what fertilizers are used and how water is conserved.
• Instead of getting power from coal and nuclear plants, I want to use green energy in my home.  I want to be able to rely on my own two hands to fix power outages, and I don’t want to feel guilty for using electricty.
• Instead of feeling isolated while living amongst hundreds of thousands of people, I want to feel connected to my community.  I want to be able to trade with neighbors for their cottage industry goods. I want to know there are people I can trust and call on in times of need, and vice versa.
• Instead of vacationing at a resort, I prefer the wilderness.
• Instead of going to a gym, I prefer to hike and practice yoga.

Instead of what?  There are so many alternatives to modern life that are contemporary yet fit the ideal of insteading.

There was a time in my life when I wanted to do it all in terms of self-sufficiency. I wanted sheep. I wanted to spin my own wool. I wanted to weave my own cloth.  I wanted the sheep to mow the lawn.  I still have my loom and spinning wheel, but the sheep have never come.  I enjoy these crafts not to fulfill a desire of self-sufficiency. It’s just not a reality for a family of four in modern times.

What do you want to do instead of the conventional American life that is unhealthy for our bodies, souls, and the planet?  How do you live an insteading life?

I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions.  I understand the intention to start a new year with healthy goals, yet they rarely last longer than a couple of months for most individuals.  Instead, I am personally more successful with season resolutions.

This year, as I toil away in the garden, my new garden resolution is to mulch more.  My focus for the past few weeks has been on planting, planting, planting.  Unfortunately, that means the weeds are taking over!

Mulch, mulch, mulch, but what kind?  Instead of spending money on mulch, I am using grass clippings. I do use a push reel mower for parts of my yard (actually, my kids use it).  For the larger yard, I use the gas mower with bag, then empty it around freshly weeded plants in the garden.  As long as you only use organic fertilizers in your lawn, this will be beneficial to your garden.

Mulching with grass clippings also helps appease my eco-guilt a wee bit for the pollution my gas mower emits.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), gas mowers are responsible for five percent of United States air pollution.  I need an electric one.

What are the benefits of mulching?

The benefits of mulching go beyond reducing weeds to greater root development and water conservation.  Savvy Gardener explains:

Benefits of Mulching

• When applied correctly, mulch has the following beneficial effects on plants and soil:
• Mulches prevent loss of water from the soil by evaporation.
• Mulches reduce the growth of weeds, when the mulch material itself is weed-free and applied deeply enough to prevent weed germination or to smother existing weeds.
• Mulches keep the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, thus maintaining a more even soil temperature.
• Mulches prevent soil splashing, which not only stops erosion but keeps soil-borne diseases from splashing up onto the plants.
• Organic mulches can improve the soil structure. As the mulch decays, the material becomes topsoil. Decaying mulch also adds nutrients to the soil.
• Mulches prevent crusting of the soil surface, thus improving the absorption and movement of water into the soil.
• Mulches prevent the trunks of trees and shrubs from damage by lawn equipment.
• Mulches help prevent soil compaction.
• Mulches can add to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and interesting texture to the surface.
• Mulched plants have more roots than plants that are not mulched, because mulched plants will produce additional roots in the mulch that surrounds them.

There are so many reasons to keep this new garden resolution to mulch, mulch, mulch.  I am focusing on the large plants that are difficult to weed, such as squashes and melons, as I begin this resolution.

Actually, I prefer the term “intention” over “resolution”.  It gives more focus and empowerment to my premeditation and actions in the garden this season.

Today is World Water Day, and the entire Important Media network is celebrating with posts dedicated to this most essential of liquids.  Check out all the posts from across the network on our sister site, Eat. Drink. Better!

International World Water Day is held annually on March 22nd as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. There are 7 billion people who need clean, affordable drinking water on our planet, yet more than one out of six people lack access to drinking water that is safe.

You may think that the “water crisis,” is only a concern for those in developing countries or isolated communities, but its your problem too. Since Insteading focuses on alternatives to the status quo, we’ve chosen to highlight some surprising ways that people and companies are conserving, sourcing, and recycling water.

Water From Poop

Sounds ridiculous (and gross), but it’s true. EarthTechling tells us that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recently made a significant investment in a new technology designed to extract fresh water from human waste. Yes, poop. Not only that, but this multi-talented technology could also harness the energy generating power of excrement as well.

App To Help You Find Free Water

While public awareness that water is necessary for good health has grown, our obsession with convenience has created the monstrosity that is the bottled water industry. Bottled water is expensive, bad for the environment, and less healthy than you think. A smarter way to stay hydrated is to fill your own reusable bottle with water straight from the tap. Since bottled water has sent many public water fountains the way of the dodo, a crowdsourced app called “We Tap” can help you located sources of free water no matter where you are.

Chilling Out With Gray Water 

There are three different kinds of water (shocking right?): potable water, gray water, and black water. The first is treated and comes out of your faucet, the second is what goes down the drain after washing dishes or clothes, and the third is what you flush down the toilet. Google recently discovered, that finding ways to reuse the gray water can mean big savings and lots of good things for the ecosystem. Check out CrispGreen’s post on Google’s revamped Atlanta data center, which uses an evaporative cooling process to keep its servers safe and conserve water.

What other surprising methods for conserving, sourcing, or recycling water have you encountered? Share them in a comment!

Image via Flickr/trouble with tribbles

More than 36 percent of adult respondents said that if gas prices continue to rise, they’ll have to give something up in order to afford their car. Of those who regularly drive a vehicle, nearly one-in-four (23 percent) said it is at least somewhat likely that they will build up credit card debt to pay for gas in the upcoming months. Households with children (29 percent) are significantly more likely than those without children (19 percent) to indicate this.

When asked what they likely will do to better afford to drive a vehicle due to rising gas prices, survey takers said the following:

• Dine out less often – 70 percent
• Spend less money on entertainment (going out to the movies, attractions, concerts, etc…) – 64 percent
• Postpone seasonal clothes shopping – 37 percent
• Cancel paid online or other subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu Plus, etc…) – 22 percent

OK, let’s pretend for just a minute that I don’t have strong feelings about what or who is sticking it to the American people through gas prices while laughing all the way to the bank. Instead let’s focus on the amazing fact that people are willing to give up things that make them happy and allow them to spend quality time with their loved ones, just so they can keep driving that gas guzzler all over town.

WHY?! There are plenty of perfectly good ways to get around without owning a personal car. Alternatives like car sharing, bike commuting, ride sharing, walking, and public transportation are much cheaper and better for the planet too. The good news is, more people are becoming embracing these alternatives every day.

When asked how their driving habits would be affected by rising gas prices, U.S. adults who regularly drive a vehicle said the following:

• Plan to drive less overall to save money – 61 percent
• Plan to carpool – 9 percent
• Plan to use public transportation – 8 percent
• Plan to buy a hybrid/energy efficient vehicle – 6 percent

The Future Of Car Sharing Is Brighter Than You Think

Top 4 Peer-To-Peer Car Sharing Services

New Technology Turns Bike Rides Into Cash

Ride Sharing Makes It Cheaper To Get Home For The Holidays

Most Americans Would Rather Have A Walkable Neighborhood Than A Big House

Tips And Resources For Biking To Work (Even When It’s Hot)

Image Credit: Flickr – Images_Of_Money

Technology has become so entrenched in our society that’s it’s almost hard to remember a time when we didn’t depend on these gadgets and gizmos to get us through the day. We’ll save the debate on whether that’s a good or bad thing for another day. What we can say with confidence, however, is that today’s children will work and play in environments surrounded by technology. Understanding, using, and most importantly, knowing how to build these technologies will be a requirement for future generations.

The problems is that the gap between those who have access to the ever-changing world of new technologies and those who don’t gets wider everyday. Economic disparity, especially in developing countries, means that many are being left behind, unable to access the technologies that will make or brake tomorrow’s work force.

“…The need for a cheap and durable computing device for kids is greater than ever: computer literacy is now considered a basic necessity, and once non-technical jobs are increasingly requiring some level of programming skills,” writes Shareable Technology editor Paul Davis.

Raspberry Pi, a UK company on a mission to build a tiny and cheap computer for kids, may just be part of the solution to this problem.

There isn’t much any small group of people can do to address problems like an inadequate school curriculum or the end of a financial bubble,” write the company’s founders. “But we felt that we could try to do something about the situation where computers had become so expensive and arcane that programming experimentation on them had to be forbidden by parents; and to find a platform that, like those old home computers, could boot into a programming environment.

The result is an open-sourced computer on a single card with RCA and HDMI video outs, USB and ethernet ports, and even a slot for SD Cards. And the $25 price tag puts even the good intentions of One Laptop Per Child to shame.

Watch the video below to learn more about the power of  this credit card-sized computer, and read Paul Davis’ full article on Shareable to learn how the company hopes to use it to make every kid a coder.

Image via Raspberry Pi