energy

Greens Plus Protein Bars

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:25:00 +0000

Snacking is inevitable. I regularly snarf all varieties of energy bars, even though I am not climbing mountains, lofting from ski jumps, or training for triathlons. I schlepp groceries and books and stomp down city sidewalks, but do not exert myself on Himalayan Peaks or the Appalachian Trail. However, my energy bar consumption trailed off once I heard a physician 'tsk' that most contained so many chemical ingredients and were so high sugar that he'd prefer that his patients consume a vitamin pill and chocolate bar.

I was happy to comply, but have since discovered GREENS+ products, endorsed by athletes and activists, doctors and distributors, and also the recipient of nine international awards. Items include not only energy and protein bars, but mixable powders and concoctions such as Greens Plus, Fiber Greens, Protein Greens, Pro-Relief, Jungle Greens, Coral Calcium, Thermo Greens, Immune Guard, and Omega Chia. Products are hand-mixed at facilities in compliance with Natural Products Association and GMP-certification standards. The protein bars contain no salt, refined sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oil, synthetic sweeteners, preservatives, or genetically-modified plant products. They're light enough to not feel overly decadent, and tasty enough to qualify as 'treats.'

If you're more inclined to get your daily dose of good-for-you potions in the morning, there are Superfood and Greensicle supplements, as well as 'Wild Berry Burst' powders to take stirred into water or your favorite juice. I tend to associate 'Chia' with the infomercial standard 'Chia Pets,'* but apparently there is a plant, Salvia hispanica, also called Chia, a whole food source of Omega3. A Central American mint used for millenia, GREENS+ offers chia seeds for a nutritious energy boost. Use the coupon code 'YUMMY' for a five dollar discount on online orders. Next, to try their chocolate-covered peanut butter bars...

_ * I have not been tempted to purchase a Chia Pet, and am now even less so since they have released a Chia Obama. While I attempt to be a first amendment purist, that does not mean that I have to support what I consider to be a fairly obviously racist product. Yes, comedy is inherently tasteless and incorrect, i.e., Eddie Murphy's Buckwheat portrayals, but would we tolerate a depiction of the President as the same character? Or, do they offer any Chia Pet versions of Caucasian officials? Until they offer a Chia Washington and Chia Lincoln, let me know if this merits a Chia Boycott._

Written by: Erika Mikkalo, October 12th 2009

Ascension

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:12:00 +0000

By Phoenix Rising

Copus Music

One tell-tale sign of good music is that it has the ability to transport you somewhere physically, mentally or spiritually. Ascension by Phoenix Rising aims for and succeeds at the latter. It’s an album that is peaceful, serene, and uplifting.

According to the album’s liner notes, the seven songs on Ascension are organized around the seven chakras. For those who are not familiar with this concept of energy centers in our bodies, understanding chakras is not essential to enjoying the music. The duo behind Phoenix Rising, Wendy Loomis and Monica Williams, only want the listener to take away that these songs allude to the idea of our own energy’s ability to ascend to a spiritual plane.

Beginning with track one, named “Seed,” through the final track, “Ascension,” the music takes the listener on a journey. It has a wonderful quality of not becoming just background music but of creating a sonic space that is conducive to meditation, yoga and deep relaxation. In other words, the music is similar to a vessel that each individual can steer to any internal place.

Intertwining melodies from piano played by Loomis and flute played by Williams create the backbone of every song. Guest musicians on each track give the album an international sound with a variety of instruments, including Swiss hanging drums, Spanish and Middle Eastern-style guitar and even Bolivian goat hoof shakers. All tracks are instrumental with the exception of “Unspoken,” which features Irina Mikhailova, whose voice lends a wistful and reverent quality to the song.

In explaining the inspiration for the album, Loomis and Williams wrote in the liner notes that they wanted to “create a CD that had the power to help people relax, de-stress and energize with positive vibrations of gratitude for this life.” There is no doubt that both women are accomplished musicians and have created a beautiful album. The music is at times uplifting, but the album at times teeters toward mournfulness and uncertainty. Perhaps that’s just an inherent aspect of a phoenix, however. Before rising, one must go through darkness. As Ascension shows, there’s brilliant sounds waiting for us on the other side.

Written by: Beverly Jenkins-Crockett, June 19th 2009

Cosmic Connection: Messages for a Better World

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:12:00 +0000

By Carole Lynne

Red Wheel/Weiser

Cosmic Connection is a difficult book. Difficult because if you are not used to thinking about the world in multiple dimensions, the physical and spiritual, you will be taken aback by the author’s basic assumptions about life. If you are not initiated into the ideas and lingo of mediums, psychics, and the whole section of our culture with their ears attuned to another world, you will probably find this book to be “way far out there.” Author Carole Lynne tells the story of her journey as a medium, and reveals her experiences traveling through multiple dimensions and dreams. The book provides transcripts of the author’s communications with spirits or energies like “The Energy,” a “higher being” that she and the other mediums talk to.

It’s a shame there are so many charlatans posing as psychics or mediums, because it definitely hurts the credibility of the entire group. It’s unfortunate for both the author and most readers that these exploitative few have given our society such a suspicious and negative view of “supernatural” occurrences because the message the book offers is a truly positive and unifying one. Lynne posits that, with the many problems of the modern world, humans need to reach out to each other and open themselves up to a spiritual life to truly evolve. It’s hard to argue with the idea that our interconnectedness, or “Oneness,” gives humans a special interest in ending war, poverty, and pollution.

I approached Cosmic Connection with skepticism. Its content is outside of anything I’ve experienced (or anyone I know has experienced). Some of the terminology and visions that Lynne described seemed a little bit clichéd or implausible, and I found that I couldn’t discern a difference in the voice of “The Energy” Lynne channels and her own authorial voice. That said, Lynne’s acknowledgement of her uniqueness and the obvious sincerity with which she tells her story make it a compelling and interesting journey.

Written by: Jennifer Wedemeier, June 10th 2009