by Kimberly Fowler

People who are passionate about yoga often get really passionate about the style of yoga they practice. And controversy over what is “real” yoga and what isn’t — which style or philosophy is purer — goes back as far as, well, yoga. To me, all that doesn’t really matter. Getting people to practice yoga does. My philosophy is simple: Doing a little yoga is better than doing none at all.

Yoga yields many rewards. People will often start a practice of yoga because they hear it’s good for back pain, insomnia or for postural imbalances. But months down the road, they realize that they no longer get headaches or menstrual cramps, they’ve lost weight, and discover that they are less reactive and hostile. A persistent disciplined practice of any style of yoga reveals unexpected healing.

One of the things I miss most living in NYC is seeing the nighttime stars. I grew up camping and have many wonderful nocturnal memories counting shooting stars and guessing at constellations. City life detaches us from that primordial nighttime sky connection. As a designer of healthy home environments, light pollution is a growing concern for myself and for anyone who understands that our quality of life is directly connected to our natural environment.

Eco-travel is a rapidly growing sector of the travel industry. From cruise lines to rental cars to adventure tour providers, many businesses are trying to capitalize on a perceived consumer desire for a greener on-the-go experience. Hotel guests are encouraged to re-hang their used towels. Cruise ships recycle millions of plastic bottles each week. Tour operators offset carbon output for the individual guests on their trips.

Some people ask me why I’m so passionate about “environmental issues.” Well, these “environmental issues” I’m so concerned about aren’t just about the environment. In fact, I haven’t thought about them as environmental issues for some time. They’re about everything else that’s inevitably on people’s agenda — economy, health care, politics …

For as long as I’ve been an adult, I’ve had my own car. That must be why, at 40 years old, it’s hard to part with the one I have now. The decision has been made in my head — on paper it makes so much sense. But my heart is dragging its feet a little.

By The FIRM Master Instructor Tina Smalley

For years, men and women have been searching for that ideal abdominal training routine that will give them a perfect six-pack. It’s relatively easy for me to sculpt my upper and lower body, but when it comes to really toning up my middle, it takes a little more than just crunches three times a week. It takes dedication and hard work!

Enjoy this simple yet savory Mediterranean cous-cous salad from the Gaiam Café kitchen. Perfect as a healthy, vegetarian side dish.

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb Israeli cous-cous salad
• 1 Tbsp paprika
• 1 Tbsp tumeric
• 1 Tbsp granulated/powdered onion
• 1 qt vegetable stock
• 1 carrot
• 1 red pepper, small dice

Despite the common observation that obesity runs in families, genetic research shows that the habits you inherit from your family are more important than the genes you inherit. Obesity genes account for only 5 percent of all weight problems. So, we have to wonder, what causes the other 95 percent of weight problems?

Road Trip Queen: That’s me. Give me a car, a map, a debit card and some new discoveries to satiate my quest for novelty and you’ve got the makings of a happy traveler here. I’ve logged over 150,000 miles on road trips across North America, so I think one could safely say I’ve learned a thing or two about how to do it right. If these remaining weeks of summer are tempting you to hit the highway in pursuit of some relatively cheap freedom, here are my top “road rules” to make your trip the best it can be.