INSPIRATION: Hey FRAN Hey!

There are some interviews that leave me absolutely charged. Like a lightning bolt of energy has zipped through my body and somehow my awareness and sense of gratitude have been heightened. I've interviewed many, many people, but I swear this interview takes the cake on lightning bolt moments.

Meet Francheska Medina, the gorgeousness behind HeyFranHey.com. She has over 3 million views on her YouTube channel, tons of social media followers, and is a sought after natural hair, beauty, fitness, nutrition and wellness vlogger.

Fran has managed to bring depth and thoughtfulness to otherwise frivolous matters of beauty and having a hot body, making it cool to think carefully about caring for ourselves.

She's somewhat of a gladiator woman - totally annihilating the ideas of hairy armpits, stinky-ness and grunginess that are usually associated with women who make their own deodorant, for example. Being fit, curvy-bodied, fashionable AND making her own deodorant, hair products, body wax (to name a few) too, all make it okay for the loads of women following her to indulge in conscious self-care without feeling like they've leaped onto the crazy train.

For helping to chisel away at the oftentimes shallow beauty culture - Fran, we thank you :)

Fervently dedicated to authenticity, Fran says she is aware of the high vibrational exchange between her and her audience; she contributes to their happiness, and they to hers. "It feels good to wake up with a sense of direction, knowing that I'm leaving people better than I found them. There's no greater feeling than affecting people by being you", she shares.

If she could send out just one message to the world about health, Fran says she'd want people to know that they should listen to their bodies and create customized lifestyle routines to fit their unique needs instead of following trends. "Just do what makes you feel better, you don't have to have a vision of what you want to look like", she notes.

She also encourages people to ignore the distractions of the world in order to tap into their potential for success, instead of allowing social pressures to dictate their paths. "Think about what genuinely makes you come alive. If money, fear and judgment weren't issues, what would you do? Once you can get into the rhythm of that, you will be your most successful. You just have to have the mental strength to tune out the noise."

Fran and fellow vlogger, Shameless Maya.

This month Fran will begin to incorporate deeper conversations about mental, emotional and spiritual wellness into her channel.  Her mission is to discuss the vulnerabilities and traumas that we all deal with on a daily basis so that she can help people realize that they can overcome the darkness in their lives and create genuine lasting happiness. To do this, she says she's going to dive into the uncomfortable territory of opening up about her own struggles and share the daily practices that help her maintain balance and sanity.

One of the most eye-opening things that Fran said to me was this --- We all think that when we are able to achieve some goal or another (be it losing weight, getting rich, becoming the boss, getting married) we will automatically become happier. But, in actuality, when our lives expand through the accumulation of more things or greater success, we only become more unhappy if we haven't truly confronted the situations in our pasts that have caused us pain. "You think success, money and attention will make you feel better, but you can actually feel worse. It magnifies how you already felt about yourself. Your spiritual and material wealth have to grow together", she says.

In her own special way, Fran is shifting the cultural landscape by teaching others new approaches to living and building dialogue. It's clear - she has grown, and she wants us to grow too. High vibrational exchange indeed!

Check out the first of many of Fran's mental wellness videos here:

Follow Fran at HeyFranHey.com and on the HeyFranHey YouTube channel.

Photos courtesy of HeyFranHey.

Happiness + Wellbeing Magazine

Sometime last year I stumbled on this super-fly publication based in Australia called Happiness + Wellbeing Magazine. I was mesmerized by its beautifully designed hippie-chic look and content that spoke to the wellness woman, positivity seeker inside me.  It literally oozes with good vibes. It's a gigantic celebration compressed in an online package, joy filling every crevice, encouraging readers to live their best, healthiest, most authentic lives.  I really like it. So, when Editor-in-Chief, Cassandra Lane agreed to talk to me, I was buzzed. It was another opportunity to learn from someone doing awesome, heart-filled work.

How long have you been doing H+W Mag?

Cass: The concept for Happiness + Wellbeing Magazine popped into my head in early 2013 and we launched the first issue in August that year, so just over 15 months.


What prompted you to start the magazine?

Cass: I truly believe it was a matter of divine timing for H+W Magazine. In late 2012 my mum had two severe heart attacks (she recovered beautifully) and after a lifetime of ignoring our health, wellness and yep - holistic happiness, we discovered the silver lining in a very tough experience and feeling awakened, began to explore ways we could begin living our lives to the fullest. I remember I had been searching for some digital resources that really covered the topic of wellness thoroughly (that being that life isn't just about vibrant health, exciting adventures or great relationships, it is a combination of all these elements - and more!- that really lead to a fulfilled life), but I couldn't find anything that felt right. So, on a complete whim (and having the idea for h+w pop up fully formed in my head) I decided to launch an issue of the magazine and see how it went. It has been an absolute whirlwind of a ride and I haven't looked back since!

What's your mission for the magazine?

Cass: Our official philosophy is that we support earthlings across the globe to foster inner peace, adopt a more conscious lifestyle, master the art of meditation, nourish their body with balanced nutrition and find spiritual practices that enhance their life and wellness. Unofficially, we just want to help women feel good - about themselves, their lives and their personal journey, all while hopefully making a positive difference on this beautiful planet we call home.

What has been your greatest obstacle along your entrepreneurial journey, and how did you overcome it?

Cass: Self-doubt. There were (and still are occasionally!) times when I thought: Do people actually want this? Am I offering them something that will really transform their lives for the better? Or am I just living in dreamland?! But what I have learnt is that the most important thing is to simply try. It's the case of, if not now, when? If not us, who? As long as I am trying and feel good about what I am bringing into the world, I know I'm on the right path.

What are 3 tips you'd give someone who wants to embark on their own journey as a conscious entrepreneur?

Cass: #1. Listen to your intuition, even if it is telling you something completely different to what you expect. This goes for partnerships, packaging, branding, design - the whole kit and caboodle. Your intuition knows best! #2. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Even though you're divinely perfect, you're not going to be a whiz at everything. If marketing isn't your thing, that's okay! Bring someone into the business who has a passion and hunger for marketing and enlist their help. Which brings me to #3. Don't try to do it all. Seriously. I know you think you can and will do it better than anyone else, but it's okay to delegate and take a step back when the time is right. 

How do you balance your personal and professional lives - do you have any daily mind/body wellness practices that help to keep you balanced?

Cass: I try not to think about balance too much, instead I just run with how I'm feeling. If I don't have a driving need to create something new that day, I know it's time to recharge and spend some time building up my creativity again. If I'm chomping at the bit to write or design something (even if it's a weekend), I go with the flow and let it happen. Thankfully, this approach has allowed my natural rhythms to emerge and I don't struggle with feeling as overwhelmed as I used to. Definitely trial and error though! And as for wellness practices, my top three are: meditation (even if it's just a minute of deep breathing), journaling and spending time in nature.


Is there anything new coming up you'd like us to mention?

Cass: 2015 is going to be a huge year for us! We are coming up with some really exciting new products under the H+W brand that we can't wait to share with you all. Oh, and keep an eye out for our free Christmas edition of the magazine which is being released in mid to late November :-) You can grab it from our website atwww.happywellmag.com or from the Apple App Store when it is released.

Rockstar Founding Father of Clean Eating - Dr. Junger

Dr. Alejandro Junger - author & founding father of the clean eating movement (in my estimation at least!)

You may not know who Dr. Alejandro Junger is, but I'm sure you've heard the term "clean eating". 

In my humble opinion, Dr. Junger is the forefather of that concept... Maybe that's a bit of a far-fetched proclamation, but I swear it's true! Over a decade ago, years before eating "clean" became a thing, I met Dr. Junger in Jamaica at a yoga festival he was booked to speak at. (BTW, he's a little rockstar-esque in persona too... Very cool guy. No ordinary doctor around here!) At that time, no one was really talking about clean eating and Dr. Junger had just published his first book, CLEAN. Today, clean food and clean eating are big things E V E R Y W H E R E. Plus, Dr. Junger blew up big too - he's written several best-selling CLEAN books since, and is followed by many normal folks like myself, as well as a ton of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow who swear by his work. 

So, of course, it's massively exciting to get to talk to the founding force behind today's popular ideas about nutrition and detox. Here's what Dr. Junger told us...

"As I write this, I am finishing the amazing three-week long clean detox program. I can report that it worked wonders."
Gwyneth Paltrow (Actress & goop Founder)

What are 3 reasons why we all need to do the Clean Program or incorporate some form of detox program into our lives?

1) We are bombarded with toxic chemicals. The air we breathe, the water we drink and shower with, the cosmetics we use, the products in our household, but mostly the foods we eat, are all loaded with chemicals that alone, or in combination, cause disease.

2) Our modern lifestyle is un-natural. We are eating and digesting all day( and all night) long. This slows down our detox ability. A detox program gives the digestive system a rest and allows the body to re-direct the saved energies into detoxification. 

3) A detox program is a great way to break bad habits and form good ones.


Did you ever imagine Clean would turn into the enormous success it has become, and what is one thing you've done that you think has led to your success?

In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined the wide reach that the program has worldwide. I think one of the main reasons for that is that I surrounded myself with an amazing team of people that are as passionate and committed to helping others feel better.

What advice would you give someone about to embark on their own journey to conscious entrepreneurship?

When you find the right people to work with, give them your trust and let them shine at what they are good at. And most of all, focus on what you are good at and enjoy doing.


What has been your greatest obstacle along the Clean journey, and how did you overcome it?

For years I was looked at as someone who was wasting his time. My peers and family were urging me to stop looking for other things. To put on my suit and go to work at a hospital. Most of my colleagues were making good money in their practices while I was working at a detox spa making a small fraction of their income. I did not know if I was ever going to earn a good living at that time, and many times I felt like quitting my search and doing what everyone else was doing. But I was too curious to stop and too disgusted with the medical system to go back. So I kept on going. After a long time things started turning around. Now, many of those who rolled their eyes come asking for advice on how to get out of the system they feel trapped in while their souls are slowly dying.

With all the clean eating trends happening, is the world doing clean eating right, or are there elements of clean eating we are still missing?

The good news is that we are all getting smarter, and there are many people who are inspiring and teaching others to find what works for them. I am optimistic that we can turn things around. There is still a lot of work to be done though, because there are strong economic interests to keep the status quo.

To find out more about Dr. Junger or purchase one of his book, visit www.cleanprogram.com. 

Images provided by www.cleanprogram.com. 

5 Things I Learned From Oprah

It's the night before the start of the Oprah's The Life You Want Weekend event in Miami and I've just suffered a massive meltdown that included shouting at the top of my lungs, flinging an object down as hard as could in utter frustration, and bawling uncontrollably into the night.

Am I crazy? Maybe a little.

I hadn't had an outburst of emotion of this magnitude in years. I'd been injected with the calmness and perspective yoga brings, and have grown enough to know that just about everything passes so I should keep my cool and ride the wave of whatever internal or external storm was making its way through my life.

BUT only a few months ago, I packed up everything, hugged my friends and family goodbye, and embarked on a new journey to set up my life in a whole new country and pursue my true passions with razor sharp focus and determination.

Along the way, I've been riddled with anxiety, fear, wonder, joy, challenges, and accomplishments  - all of which I couldn't have envisaged I would have stumbled on along the way. No doubt, that night all my frustrations and insecurities came to a boiling point - only a day away from me seeing Oprah live and direct.

Now, it's a few days post-Oprah and I have to admit, I learned a lot and have gained some serious clarity about how to actually live the life I long for.

Here are some of Oprah's tidbits that struck a chord with me...

1. The life you want begins by embracing the life you have. Yep! If you take time to be grateful for your current situation and see the blessings in the details each and every day, you'll shift your energy from lacking, wanting, and needing to being filled up, joyful and prosperous. That shift alone will bring things to you that you never thought were possible, simply because you have opened your eyes to seeing your blessings. So, you see more of them. And when you see more blessings, you will notice that there are more, and more and more to see. Good stuff :)

2. Don't get stuck in the pain of birthing something new. And, there WILL be pain, pain, and more pain! But, it's okay. That pain is only part of the process. Just imagine a mother in labor - she suffers some unimaginable pain. Or even constructing a building - that's a tedious job that takes lots of hard work and time. So, why do we think building our dream lives will be easy? It never is. We just have to know that the pain of doing it will subside, and if we keep at it, one day we will reap the fruit of our labor.

3. You become what you believe, not what you want. You have to BELIEVE you can have it! Many of us want things, but don't really believe we can achieve it. Believing is a powerful tool. You have to believe with every fiber of your being. Believing is what makes ordinary people achieve extraordinary things - even when people better equipped, more skilled or better positioned could not achieve them. Why? Because those better equipped just never believed they could, and the believer plodding along know they could do it.

4. Gratitude is the fastest way to change your vibration. Gratitude opens your mind to possibility, to beauty, to the synchronicity of the world, to seeing that you're constantly being helped and supported. With that new perspective you've equipped yourself with the mental capacity to endure challenges and take the necessary steps to living your best life. Why? Because if you walk with gratitude in your heart, you'll walk with confidence and an inner-knowing that you can do it, and you will achieve your dreams.

5. Recognize there's no life without a spiritual life. Being grateful, believing in grace, believing in your self worth, knowing that there's something greater than your self, and believing that your life has meaning - are all ways of honoring and living in spirit. Energy begets energy, so once you invest the time to live in a spiritual place, your life will give you enormous returns on that investment.

Thanks, Oprah!

Photos Courtesy of Harpo Studios, Inc. / George Burns

Life Out of the Box

We can actually shape our lives - each of us creating a life that is truly fulfilling and unique to our divinely individual passions. And, maybe, when we've nourished ourselves this way, we are more able to give to the world around us. Meet LOOTB - an example of life-shaping, passion, uniqueness, and giving.

The seeds for Life Out of the Box ("LOOTB" for short), an international social enterprise, were planted when two twenty-somethings decided to leave their 9-5s in California, pack up, and create a self-sufficient lifestyle that would allow them the freedom to travel and make a meaningful contribution to the world.

That leap of faith happened only a little over two years ago and birthed LOOTB, an online spot for purchasing very cool handwoven and leather bracelets that are made by local artisans in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Morocco. Each bracelet purchase gives a child in one of these countries school supplies. So that you can actually see how you've contributed to the greater good of the world through your purchase, the LOOTB team inscribes a number on each bracelet that allows you to view photos and read about the child you've helped. To date they've helped over 3000 children. Awesome stuff!

LOOTB has also recently launched t-shirt and beanie lines which provide nutritional packets and meals for people in need as well.

The duo (Quinn Vandenberg & Jonathon Button) live in Nicaragua, where they say the low cost of living provides them the opportunity to build their dreams and immerse themselves in the local culture so they can keep in tune with the unique needs and values of the people. Quinn and Jonathon have also lived in Morocco and Guatemala.

We spoke to LOOTB co-founder Jonathon, who is only 27 years old but incredibly insightful and inspiring. His ideas about success and culture are really solid. Here's what he had to say:

On Culture...

"When we are going to a new country, it takes time to understand and be a part of a new culture. Instead of imposing who we are on the culture, we allow the culture to change us. That takes time, but it's always truly rewarding. Our eyes become open to what the real needs are so that we can know how to help, and we also gain a greater understanding of the world."

On Success...

"I like the quote that says life is all about the journey, and not about the goal. If you can wake up every day and love what you're doing, and if you're taking steps to achieve your goals - that is success. "

Visit www.lifeoutofthebox.com to buy an awesomely good-looking, cool, inspirational, socially-conscious bracelet, beanie or t-shirt, which range from $15-$25 and will get to your doorstep within four days.

Photos courtesy of Life Out of the Box

Inspiration - Anna Ruth Henriques Jewelry

Beyond striking beauty, Anna Ruth Henriques' jewelry comes with profoundly liberating energy. Anna says she consciously ignites the fires of nature, female empowerment and Source connections in each of her pieces. 

Undoubtedly, the Anna Ruth Henriques line of jewels is art. Each unique piece evokes whimsy, uncanny creative expression and meticulous attention to detail.

Anna lives a colorful life in New York where she has built success as an all-around artistic wonder-woman. She's a visual artist, writer, performer, and of course, jeweler. She's starred in a feature length film called Man Without a World; written and illustrated a book called The Book of Mechtilde (Knopf); has painting collections in New York’s El Museo del Barrio and the Jewish Museum, as well as the National Gallery of Jamaica; and her jewelry can be found in boutiques across the globe.

The elements of inspiration behind Anna's artistry are what makes her work so powerful. "I grew up in the countryside of Jamaica. I spent a lot of time at my grandparents house outside barefoot, running around, playing with animals, including insects. My work is inspired by those times and nature", she says.

Anna's jewelry frequently showcases insect, nature and wildlife detailing, which mix seamlessly with spiritual undertones that she says are roused by notions of universality, embracing humanity and love. She describes her work as symbolic narratives, each telling a story that awakens, inspires, or heals.

"My work is for women who are not really crowd followers. Women who are not conforming to what Western society has imposed on all of us. Women who see that all is interconnected on this planet", Anna reveals.

Anna is also the designer behind the Stars collection of Aayenda Jewelry, a non-profit initiative that creates sustainable employment opportunities for women of Afghanistan by facilitating them in making and selling jewelry globally.  "The star is a symbol of living in the now", Anna shares. "It's a spiritual symbol of heaven being on Earth. When you think of what the Taliban has done to these women's rights, they need a symbol of hope."

"I'm a Jew from a Christian country who has designed a collection for a Muslim group. I practice yoga and adhere to Buddhist philosophies. I see the common thread between all of us and delight in celebrating differences, not judging whose belief system is right or wrong", she affirms.  

         RIGHT ON, Anna. Right on!

View the Anna Henriques line of jewelry at www.annaruthhenriques.com. 

Photos courtesy of Anna Ruth Henriques. 

Global Yoga Warrior Woman: Shiva Rea

Rewind to Wanderlust Tahoe 2012.

After six flights all alone from Jamaica and meeting up with my three awfully-cool-weekend-roomies (thank goodness, because our room was pretty small!), the Wanderlust weekend was a blur of inspiration, utter awesomeness, scenic beauty, exhaustion, adrenaline, and all that good stuff.

I remember wearily stumbling into a Shiva Rea class and feeling a bit surprised to find her yoga-dance-mix-up welcomingly freeing. Before I knew it, the madness of dancing around wildly had rejuvenated me. BUT, that wasn't the highlight. The massive amounts of reggae music pumped into Shiva Rea's class soundtrack stole my heart. Just what I needed - I was right at home, proud as could be.

So, when I spoke to Shiva Rea this week I was even more thrilled to hear that she loved Jamaica and had spent a short stint living there studying Kumina (a traditional Jamaican dance form, which Shiva says is also trance) on a research grant. She adores the African-rooted Nyabinghi drumming, indigenous to the Rastafarian culture, because, as she explains, "It's the rhythm of the heart".  And, she positions Ital food (veganism Rastafarian-style) high on her list of favorites. Sweet.

"I believe there is more that unites us than divides us..." - Shiva Rea. 

Shiva Rea knows a thing or two about the world and its people. She calls herself a global adventurer and has not only travelled to, studied, and taught around the world, but has actually lived all over as well. With a background in studying culture, music, and dance therapy, Shiva has explored the heartbeat of many nations. Today, she integrates that understanding with her spiritual and yogic work to create an offering that includes a unique take on vinyasa yoga, trance dance, culturally immersive yoga retreats, and yoga teacher training programs, along with various events and global activism projects.

She's super-busy. She's uber-successful. Still, she's also deeply grounded and profoundly spiritual - seemingly effortlessly tuned in to the human condition, and always fervently pursuing global change.

Living Your Dreams

Shiva Rea believes that our hearts are the vehicles to living our dreams.

"It's absolutely a miracle to be alive on planet earth. A part of that miracle is our hearts. Listen to your heart. To have a meaningful life is to navigate this journey through our heart. The rhythm of your heart is giving you feedback every moment", she says.

She notes that it's important to tend to our connections to our hearts. This can be done through yoga, meditation, and movement.

Activism

"Anybody who does service has a moment when they say 'Wow, maybe I am actually receiving more than I'm giving'."

Shiva Rea encourages us to look around, both locally and globally, and start doing what we can to activate change - which can simply be by changing the way we do things at home, or by giving time and energy to global causes.

"A life without meaning is not easy to live", she reasons.

Successes & Challenges

According to Shiva Rea, if we keep close to Source/God instead of being led by our ego-minds, we will struggle less in our lives.

"Anything that has come from my life, has come when I have surrendered to God and released the idea that I am in control", she recalls.

"Live love in all ways. It doesn't matter what activity it is, if you do it with love, it will transform."

To find out more about Shiva Rea and her upcoming yoga teacher trainings and retreats in places like Costa Rica, Greece, and India, as well as her many global activism projects and her Samudra Global School, visit www.shivarea.com.

Photos courtesy of Shiva Rea