Living Roundup: Yoga Better than Diets, Whole Foods Bans Plastic Bags, Shaq’s Monster Carbon Footprint, & More

Every week we highlight the best articles, blogs, news, videos and interesting Web tidbits to help you live green, be healthy, and connect with your sense of spirituality. Read our roundup for info that just helps you live better.

Whole Foods Bans the Bag

Joining San Francisco, China, Australia, IKEA and more in an effort to cut back on plastic bags, Whole Foods announced yesterday that they won’t be giving out plastic bags in their stores anymore. They’ll ban the bags in all of the chain’s 270 stores starting on Earth Day, April 22. (Treehugger)

Shaq’s $23,000 Monthly Gas Bill

Shaquille O’Neal is undoubtedly a big fellow. If he consumes a lot, it should be no huge surprise. But a $23,000 monthly gas station bill is one hell of a size 23 carbon footprint. Shaq buys around 7000 gallons of gas a month–or just can’t get enough Ho-Ho’s and roller-heated hot dogs. (Jalopnik)

Today’s MLK? The power of Van Jones

Van Jones is truly a hero. He speaks with power, with insight, with passion, with eloquence to the challenges and opportunities of combining “green” issues with dealing with the challenges of equity in our society and across the globe. (Celsias)

Why Yoga Works When Diets Often Fail

Yoga offers the inner harmony and body awareness required to achieve a healthier approach to eating. All that, and a leaner, stronger body too. (Yoga Journal)

Feed Your Body, Feed Your Skin

The old adage “you are what you eat” not only applies to our overall health and nutrition, but to how our skin looks and feels, as well. As the largest organ in the body, our skin can benefit from the same nutritional approach we take for heart and general health. (Organic Authority)

Study: Too Many Adults Skip Vaccinations

Vaccines aren’t just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are rolling up their sleeves, disappointed federal health officials reported. The numbers of newly vaccinated are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new shots – which protect against shingles, whooping cough and cervical cancer – received in recent years. (CBS News / AP)

Every Step Is Forward

There are times when we feel that we are spinning our wheels in the mud in terms of our spiritual progress. This can be especially true following a period of major growth. In fact, this is the way growth goes—periods of intense forward movement give way to periods of what seems like stagnation. In those moments when we feel discouraged, it’s helpful to remember that we don’t ever really go backward. (Daily Om)

Gomi Style Cardboard Furniture

Learn how to make cool modern furniture from cardboard in this video clip from GOMI Style. Their focus is green lifestyle and design, and finding ways to reuse materials to create cool, almost free stuff for your home. (GOMI Style)