So it's the end of the year and you may be setting your New Year's resolutions for 2011. You may be cutting out sweets, maybe reducing your caffeine, perhaps even quitting smoking.  But one bad habit you may need to stop may be going unnoticed in your everyday life, and it may even be the most detrimental: plastic.

Have you ever noticed how much plastic you consume on a daily basis? It's the lid on that coffee you are getting to-go in the morning, it's part of almost any packaged item your purchase in the grocery store, and it even is what your chewing gum is made of (I'm not even kidding). In good circumstances, some plastics will take more than 20 years to break down. In less ideal circumstances (land fills or as general refuse), plastic refuse will take more than 1,000 years to degrade. And it's important to note that when plastics break down, they don't biodegrade, they photodegrade.This means the materials break down to smaller toxic fragments which contaminate soil, waterways, and animals upon digestion.
 
Enter Beth Terry, founder of the blog Fake Plastic Fish, and one of my personal heroes.  Three years ago, a photo of an albatross chick changed Beth Terry's life. The bird's stomach had exploded from eating disposable plastic waste it foraged on land and sea. It was our everyday items -- toothbrushes, lighters, and bottlecaps are commonly found -- that were not only contaminating our environment, but destroying the life that depends on it. Beth decided to see if she could live a life without plastic. Her blog, Fake Plastic Fish, started as a diary of her attempts to find plastic alternatives, and has now become a resource for people trying to live a plastic-free life.

I know a lot of great environmental activists, and it is rare and special to find someone as dedicated to the cause as Beth. She goes to great lengths to educate people about the dangers of plastics, as well as where they are often hidden unbeknownst to most of us (cans of food are usually lined with plastic, as our shopping receipts). Now, she wants YOU to join her.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE! Collect your plastic waste (both recyclable and non) for one week or more. Then photograph, tally, and post it here. What can we learn about our habits and lifestyles by examining our waste? And what changes can each of us make to leave the planet a little less trashy?  Find lots of other people's successes in cutting out plastic, as well as their trials and tribulations. Perhaps it will inspire you to change some habits in the coming year.

Stephanie Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of To-Go Ware. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for 12 years and currently resides in Oakland, CA.  

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Ah, the holidays. Another year where you travel great distances to be with your family. Another year where, after arriving there, you may wonder if you come from a different planet than them. How can you be so different, one asks oneself? Many living a life full of yoga find themselves living an entirely different lifestyle than the clan from which they belong, replete with local organic food and energy efficient light bulbs. For me, I'm almost spoiled in my green lifestyle opportunities--I have curbside compost, live within a mile of two huge organic grocery stores, have five farmer's markets a week at my disposal, and the local biodiesel station is conveniently located in my neighborhood where I can fuel up with ease.

Don't all families live this way?

So you can imagine the challenge of then leaving my little bubble and traveling across country and getting together with family who don't do yoga and barely know what composting is. Oh sure, my family has come a long way over the years and my mother is willing to drive to another state ensure the fridge is stocked with organic food and the tea I like (she's the best).  Society in general has come a long way as well, and hopefully it has trickled down into your family, so that you understand how you may be related.

So if you are someone who struggles at the lack of green in your extended family, turning your holiday get-together into an anxiety attack, perhaps remembering a few yogic lessons can help you practice compassion and, dare I say, enjoy yourself:

Breathe. Take a moment to center and remember that ultimately, you love these people. And they love you back.

Gratitude. Remember first and foremost, if you are with family, that you are lucky to have such a thing. Many folks don't have the luxury of relatives to gather with, so take a minute to acknowledge that gift. Then, be grateful for the choices and opportunities you have had that have allowed you to learn about your conscious lifestyle, and that you have a community of people that have help you cultivate it. Even be grateful for any flagrant unconscious acts (OMG, styrofoam cups at dinner??), for it is a great reminder of why the mindful steps you labor to take in your life are so important.

Practice Non-Judgment. Take a moment to consider that your family may not have had the same experiences or opportunities. They may be busy practicing what their belief of living a good and righteous life is, even if it isn't what you think it should be. And many folks don't have access to certain things like organic food or even recycling. As I said, I have curbside compost --I simply put a green bin out with my food scraps and each week it's whisked away for me.  My family's jaw drops when hearing about such a thing, and composting without this luxury does require not only work, but a bit of a learning curve.

Teach by Example (and keep it positive). Let's face it, no one likes to be preached to, or told they are wrong. If there's something you'd like to see your family practicing, encourage them by practicing it yourself. Perhaps help them set up a system of recycling, or bring a reusable option to the dinner table if they like disposables. Maybe bring something delicious and organic (dispelling the myth that organic and healthy foods are not tasty), or help them start a compost pile in their yard. Ultimately, show them that living this way is a life enhancement--many believe that making green choices requires sacrifice. If they are shown that it contributes to quality of life, who knows what choices they'll begin to make.

Stephanie Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of To-Go Ware. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for 12 years and currently resides in Oakland, CA.  
 

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At this time of year, we all tend to spend a little bit more money. And most of this is well-intentioned--perhaps we are giving a gift to a loved one or co-worker, or we inspired by the season of giving to do something for someone in need. Our money has great power to do good if spent wisely. Whether you are buying a sweater or choosing a charity to support, there are lots of questions to ask about where to put your dollars. I thought I'd share some of my favorite websites and organizations that are incredibly compelling in the way that they ensure that your dollars spent have a lasting impact. These sites directly change the lives of individuals.

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Often at this time of year, I drive an hour north to one of my favorite places. In a little town called Forestville lies the California School for Herbal Studies, a bastion of knowledge and with one of the most beautiful gardens you'll ever have the pleasure to stroll through. I head up to take a class with my dear friend Trinity Ava, a gifted herbalist and teacher (and yogini), who often has a class in holiday gift making.


The day is a wondrous delight of the senses, filled with the aroma of essential oils and hands on goodness. You learn so much about the skin, about plants, and how we can be so bamboozled about what the beauty industry is pushing for us to buy. What's better than a homemade gift that makes someone feel wonderful (and is really inexpensive, to boot)?  I asked Trinity to share an simple recipe that would be great for yogis to make this holiday season. She suggested her Nourishing & Invigorating Body Scrub, which I have made myself and it is pure heaven.

Why use a body scrub? Daily oiling of the body helps to support beautiful skin, and gives it great nourishment. It feeds our body from the outside in, increases circulation, reduces the signs of aging and helps our body to be more "lubricated." Trinity likes to use the image of oiling the tin man -- the more you add oil, the better your joints, muscles, and tendons respond to staying flexible. Nourishing scrubs also assist to tonifying the nervous system (helping to calm you down and focus the mind/body) and the gentle exfoliating feels so good!

Nourishing & Invigorating Body Scrub
What you'll need:
-  Any size clean glass jar, preferably glass. 
-  Fine sea salt
-  Organic almond oil or sunflower seed oil
-  Essential oils of grapefruit, rose geranium, and rosemary (Tri-Doshic blend)-  this blend of oils will generally be good for all constitutions.
 
Directions:
-  Fill jar halfway with sea salt
-  Slowly fill jar with your oil; it takes a little time for the salt to absorb the oil. Poke and stir the oil into the salt with a wooden spoon or chopstick. Once the oil is nicely absorbed into the salt, add a little more salt, and a little more oil (small amounts at a time) until your jar is full. You want a small layer of oil floating above the salt.
-  Add total of 12 drops essential oil per ounce of scrub.  
-  Wipe down the jar, label it with a happy name such as, "I Am Radiant Scrub" and VOILA! 

Use daily or as desired to nourish your skin. Use gentle flowing strokes towards the heart as you scrub. Be careful getting in and out of your bathing environment as it will get a little slippery with the oil.
 
Optional nourishing oils: Sesame, Gotu Kola infused oil, St. John's Wort infused oil, Calendula infused oil. (If using infused oils;  you can use 10% infused oil added to your primary oil).

Optional Essential Oil Favorites: You should like how this smells!  Find the aromas that make your heart and mind sing. Some of Trinity's favorites are: Vetiver, Red Mandarin, Ginger or Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, and Grapefruit. Use caution with skin irritating oils such as Peppermint, Clove, Cinnamon and Thyme.

Stephanie Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of To-Go Ware. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for 12 years and currently resides in Oakland, CA.  

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Last week, you may have been part of the stampede at your local shopping mall and gotten some great deals due to the annual "Black Friday" sale. It has become something of a tradition, dare I say, a new American pastime, where we expect deep discounts on all the stuff we have been wanting to buy for ourselves and our loved ones.


I, too, participated in this much anticipated event, with my company, To-Go Ware, when we offered our own 4-day Black Friday sale (a whopping 30% off all of our merchandise on our website). It was a tremendous success, bringing in a few hundred orders, just as we had anticipated. But as we geared up for the big day and sent out a giant email blast with the blessed coupon code, I received the following email from a customer:

Hi there,
I love your products and do give them as gifts. I usually enjoy hearing from you, and this time I was a little concerned. I am a fellow environmentalist of many years in Santa Barbara, California, and I remember when the environmental movement itself created Black Friday as a protest to the biggest consumer holiday of the year. The fact that it has, in turn, become an even bigger shopping holiday than before, is certainly ironic, and possibly insulting to any serious environmentalist over 40. As I am sure you can conclude, this is of no consequence to most businesses, but your business, given it's otherwise positive environmental contributions, is more likely to be directly impacted so you may choose to be a little more selective in your celebrations and advertisements. I won't be shopping the day after Thanksgiving, and I encourage you to lovingly examine your business practices on that day as well, and as you are already doing, work toward a more sustainable, just, and fulfilling future for all.

With respect and in peace,
Rachel
Citizen

Now, we get tons of emails on a consistent basis from people who like to give feedback about everything from product ideas to complaints. But this one really struck me. Had I strayed from my core values? Had my intentions been too opportunistic and taken me out of alignment with what I know and believe in? Was I promoting the very thing I started the company to alleviate?  Perhaps too, it was the compassionate tone of the email, that allowed me to really take it to heart. I was impressed with this woman and the way she chose to share her opinion, as opposed to it being an emotionally charged and angry rant (which is the more frequent manner in which customers tend to share their opinions). 

I thought about this email for a full week before I could respond. I thought about it all through Thanksgiving dinner and as I watched each sale attributed to our Black Friday sale roll in.  What an opportunity this woman had given me. As I had a moment with the holiday to pause and step out of the office and the day to day frenzy, I was able to take stock and understand my position. Like a good yogi, I watched my mind experience a whole gamut of emotions ranging from guilt to defensiveness to pride. I finally found the voice and the words to reply that seemed to articulate the challenge I felt, as well as my gratitude for her sharing.

I thought I would share my response:

Hi Rachel,
My name is Stephanie Bernstein, and I am the founder and CEO of To-Go Ware.  I wanted to thank you for your email--it struck a chord with me on many levels.

First and foremost, I want to thank you for sharing your opinions in such a compassionate way--we so often receive feedback from customers who seem to enjoy attacking us when we misstep or make a choice they disagree with. Your email expressed your sentiments in a way that I appreciated and consequently, I was able to hear your feedback in a subjective way.

My initial response is to convey the conundrum one can encounter when running a consumer product company in this day and age. It can often become a catch 22 when you are trying to simultaneously encourage people to reduce their consumption and waste while you are selling them a product. I share your feeling about what has become of our holidays and that making Black Friday a national pastime where the more you buy the better, does, indeed, make me cringe.

However, our company has a mission to try and reach a broader swath of the population than the early adopters (such as yourself), and our products are designed to make it easy and enjoyable for someone to make a difference in the world. By participating in Black Friday, it is one of the best opportunities we have to reach consumers who may otherwise buy a less mindful product, or who may be on the fence about choosing reusables and this gives them a reason to say yes. In addition, due to the current state of the economy, running a sale such as this helps our customers who need to stretch their dollars further this year, and who want to purchase gifts that matter.

All this being said, I still hear your email. I've thought about it everyday since you've sent it (apologies for my delay in reply, I have been traveling). And I thank you for sharing it, it has been a great mirror for me to look in as I evaluate our messaging and our core mission. I always appreciate feedback from those who are working alongside of us to help the planet, and am appreciative of your taking the time to help me reflect on where we are after 7 years in business.

I hope you enjoy the holiday season and all the best,
Stephanie

I believe my work in this world is to remain mindful while participating in the world around me.  It is a constant dance, a balance I am always trying to strike more carefully. So this year I am thankful that there is a forum where someone can share their thoughts with me on how my actions may be perceived and that I can take the time to take those thoughts to heart. Perhaps consider your own participation with consumption and holiday shopping, and do a little check-in for yourself on how it sits with who you believe you are. Allow yourself to see truly what it is that you find. And give thanks.

Stephanie Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of To-Go Ware. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for 12 years and currently resides in Oakland, CA.

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