Tread Earth Lightly

Your Favorite Yoga Pose

What's your favorite Yoga pose?

Share it with us and we will post it in a weekly post highlighting everyone who has contacted us for that week.

Just email us a picture of you doing your favorite pose, the name of the pose, and why it's your fave. You may include your name, but do not have to. Also, if you are a Yoga teacher, here is a chance to get your info out there. Tell us where you teach and any contact/website information. We will post it along with your picture and info.

We look forward to seeing all of you awesome Yogis and Yoginis!

Send your photos and info to: info@treadearthlightly.com

Namaste!

Photo by: Nickolette22

A Different Side of Jim Carrey

This is a great interview with Jim Carrey. It shows a side of him that we don't often get to see. He is intelligent, down to earth, and as always funny. He believes that everything, yes everything, that happens to you is the greatest thing to happen to you. His positive view on life is wonderful. His ideas on a higher purpose and alternative ways of dealing with depression are thought provoking. Amazing! I love it!

Guruji's 59th Jayanthi!!

Rev. Jaganath Carrera wearing the maha garland we made him. It was one of the many things he had to wear during the ceremony as you can see.

Saturday January 24th we celebrated Rev. Jaganath Carrera's (Guruji) 59th jayanthi (birthday). It was a beautiful and auspicious event. During this celebration a puja was performed, guests gave gifts, and food was shared. However, because it had been a long day for the kids, we had to leave early and did not get to partake in the food.

For many the word puja is confusing, as well as the actions of a puja itself, so let me explain. A puja is performed in order to honor, praise, give thanks to God, Gods, or guru. (A guru is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge and wisdom, which he/she uses to help others on their spiritual paths. It literally translates GU: darkness and RU: light - one who helps another out of darkness and into the light.)

 It is an event in which you treat the deity or guru as your most esteemed guest. During a puja prayers are recited, chants or songs are performed, and offerings of flowers, incense, food, and candle light are made. To many this may sound strange, but it is just a way to show respect and humility towards God and remove the ego. It also a way to show love to the God or guru. The ceremony itself reminds me allot of going to Catholic Mass and listening to the priest say the prayers and bless the holy Eucharist. Though, a puja is a bit more lively than Sunday Mass. Below are some more pictures of Guruji's Jayanthi celebration. Click on images for larger versions. Enjoy!!


Chanting before Guruji's arrival.


Guruji has just arrived and the puja is about to begin.


Bathing of feet.


Bathing feet with honey.




The garland was beautiful, but very big. I had to hold it like I was holding a snake.


Placing the maha garland around Guruji's neck.




Aarti




Jai and Daddy (Gopal) going up to Guruji.


Bharatan and Mommy (Sumati) going up to see Guruji.






Keeping Jai occupied.




Still keeping Jai busy.


End of ceremony. Some share songs, skits, and poems as gifts.
All were beautiful.

The celebration took place at Naturally Yoga in Glen Rock NJ.
For more info on Rev. Jaganath Carrera click here.

Happy 59th Jayanthi to our beloved Guruji!!

Mark Bittman - What's wrong with what we eat?

I saw a interview recently, on Cooking Up a Story, with Mark Bittman and it reminded me of the one I saw on Ted.com a few months ago. In this video Mark Bittman discusses what's wrong with the way we eat. It's an enlightening, down to earth look at what our food was and what it is today.  Mark is an author, journalist, and tv personality. He currently writes for the New York Times and is the author of How to Cook Everything, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, and his latest, Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating (just to name a few). He also writes a blog called "Bitten."

What are your thoughts on food? Do you cook often or not at all? Do you have any simple ways of cooking and what are your best, easy recipes? Let us hear what you have to say.

This video is 20 minutes long, so I hope you can stay and watch the whole thing. If not please come back to finish viewing. And remember to leave a comment or two. Thanks!

Making the Maha (flower) Garland

My husband and I had the task of making the maha (flower) garland for Guruji's Jayanthi celebration. (Jayanthi is the birthday celebration for your guru) Our beloved Guruji, aka Rev. Jaganath Carrera, is turning 59. Yay!! Now really I did not make this garland. My hubby did all of the work. I just took the pictures. Honestly, he's the florist, not me, so he was better off doing the whole thing anyway. And I must say he did an excellant job!! So here are the pics of him making the maha garland. How the garland was used in the celebration will be in a future post. Enjoy!!

Yellow and white carnations. We used about 100 of them.

Threading some of the first flowers.

I love this pic.


Gettin' there.


They look like dancers.


More threading. Yes, those are what his hands look like on a normal basis. See being a florist isn't so pretty. You get landscaper hands.


Getting longer.


It's getting late and the silliness has started.

 
Almost finished. I stood on a chair to get this shot.


All done!! What a beauty!!

Welcome President Barack Obama

Wow what a day!
Whether you voted for him or not this is definitely a momentous occasion. "Change" may not be as drastic as we want in the next four years, but the fact that we now have an African American president is change in itself. My only hope, prayer, wish (whatever you want to call it) is that the next four years go well and are not as disappointing as the last four years. Also, I hope that everyone can remember one thing: that just like us, President Barack Obama is human. And in being human we all make mistakes and not everyone agrees with us at all times. It is also not up to one man to make change happen in this country, it is up to all of us.

And as for former President George W. Bush I hope and pray that we can all remember that he too is human. That our current situation is not just his fault. And that we try to put ourselves in his shoes as a person. Imagine, even though he does not show it, how he really feels when he goes to bed at night. Imagine how much he probably does worry about the mistakes he has made because he is human. If Britney Spears had a breakdown because of her negative press what do think he is feeling with all of his? What kind of medication or therapy does he need right now? Sure, maybe he is not bothered at all. Though, I think, highly unlikely. I get upset when someone flips me off while driving let alone when someone throws eggs at my car on inauguration day. So just remember we are all human and all have feelings no matter what job, position, or party we have or belong to.

I have a positive outlook for the future knowing that "change" has already come. Let's all think positive for the future and for our new President Barack Obama!

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. here are some of his quotes. We think this day is best remembered in his own words.

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What

 are you doing for others?'”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted."

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching
spiritual death."

"We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him."

Martin Luther King Jr.
January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

Thank you for your many words and actions of wisdom and peace.

Quotes found on the following sites:
www.brainyquote.com
&
http://en.thinkexist.com

Forget Recycled, Try Upcycled

So maybe I am a little slow, but I have finally checked out Etsy.com....And I love it!! There are so many great things there that people have made by hand from stuff that most people would just throw away. This stuff is so great that it's not just recycled, it's upcycled. Meaning it's even better and prettier than before. Here are just some of the great upcycled items we found when searching Etsy.

Glamarita TIE ME UP TIE ME DOWN Custom Ball gowns

I am desperately trying to figure out a place where I could where this to because I really want one of these dresses. Prom is in the past (not like I went to mine anyway) and as a mother to two little ones I don't get all "fancy" too often.

About the dress: These dresses are made from recycled men's ties. An average of 36-42 ties go into the making of these gowns. They are one of a kind, and perfect for formal events like proms, cocktail parties, etc.
For more info and to buy click here.

RECYCLED COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD GEEKERY BOOKMARKS

These awesome bookmarks are made from the inner layers that make up a circuit board. They are also laminated and have added gold tassels. Because the inner layer is so thin, these bookmarks are very flexible but also incredibly strong as they're made from fiberglass. Perfect gifts for any book or computer worm. Click here for more info.

Rescued Junk Mail

These envelopes are upcycled from a plethora of junk mail security envelopes. They come with blank address labels. Seal with tape or lick and tuck the flap inside. Visit here to purchase and for more info.

Ecomonster (the ones who make these wonderful envelopes) also takes donations. So if you wondered what you should do with all of that unwanted junk mail, well wonder no more. Click here to learn how to turn that old mail into new mail.

Crayon Original Spiral Bound Recycled / Upcycled Mini Journal Notebook - The Colors of the Rainbow

This cool little notebook is made from a crayon box. Size is: appx. 2.75" x 3.75" Perfect for kids' doodles or to carry in your purse or pocket. This great notebook  contains 50 acid-free, blank, white, recycled (natch!) pages (100 front and back). Backed with heavy-duty chipboard.

This notebook,along with the crayons below, were created by Ivy Lane Designs.

RACE CAR-Shaped Recycled / Upcycled Crayons

In keeping with their recycled/upcycled theme, Ivy Lane Designs also offers  handmade RACE CAR-shaped crayons. (Many other shapes available) They are a perfect size for your little ones (appx. 2.25" x 1.25" - or 5.7cm x 3.17cm), and fun too. These crayons are made from recycled Crayola Crayons and are a great way to teach kids about ways to help the environment. Together with the notebook, these crayons would make a great gift, or earth-friendly, birthday party favor.

 

Search Etsy.com today for more Eco friendly, handmade goodies. I know I will.

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