Green Options » Zen

GreenTalk Radio: The Zen of Living Less to Have More with Leo Babauta of ZenHabits

Sean Daily — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:44:57 +0000

GreenTalk Radio host Sean Daily talks about achieving personal productivity, sustainability, and a simpler and happier life with Leo Babauta, founder and lead blogger at ZenHabits.

[Courtesy of our friends at GreenLivingIdeas.com]

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Handmade Soaps: Health and Happiness for You and the Environment

Gennefer Snowfield — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:46:02 +0000

With green living, homeopathy and natural alternatives growing in popularity, soap makers are springing up around the world, concocting magical creations of coconut and lime in gleaming, glycerin-infused goodness that cleanse the body, mind and soul.

Oh, and your hands too!

Growing up in my house, ‘handmade’ soap consisted of my mother gathering up all the remaining bits of bar soap from the shower and bathtubs, tossing them into a container with some water and shaking it up. “Voila, hand soap!” she would state proudly. But her objectives were to save money, not create a luxurious lather to soothe and soften the skin. And, trust me, an acrid amalgum of Dial and Irish Spring was anything but soothing!

But today’s handmade soaps are a beneficial blend of nourishing nutrients, rich with essential oils and alleviating aromatherapy that care for the skin and calm the senses. And because they’re chemical-free, they’re an eco-friendly alternative to their caustic counterparts, making them a great way to indulge yourself and the earth.

I Love My DIY Meditation Made Easy Guide

Lucille Chi — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:16:48 +0000

Now (on top of my yoga meditations) I’ve been reading another little guidebook on simple self meditations to instantly remind me of the beauty in our everyday surroundings, and let me share they work like magic.

“Don’t self-medicate—self-meditate” is one motto for this book (both online and off) on self-meditation which encourages us to reap the evergrowing array of benefits related to the practice of meditating.

Creatively drawn from spiritual practices from Zen, to yoga, Sufism, and insight meditation, this book touches meditation basics, mantras and koans, tips, and ideas. A pocket guide style book, it reminds us to practice our inner breath, that recharges us with energy and vitality. Often people believe the only way to enlightenment is in long drawn out meditation retreats, and while those are amazing, it really only takes time out to meditate a few minutes a day for the same health benefits.

From Amazon’s description

…hundreds and hundreds of meditation practices that can be done during the course of our daily lives. You don’t need to go to a mountain retreat, renounce meat, or walk through coals on the soles of your feet—here’s a meditation to have with a cup of tea….
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