CHAKRAS FOR BEGINNERS

I’m a firm believer in tuning ones Chakras. In my opinion, tuning ones energetic body is just as important as taking care of our physical bodies. Blocked energy in our seven chakras can often lead to illness, so it's important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely. Here's a quick breakdown of The 7 Chakras :

1. Root Chakra — Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.

    •    Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.

    •    Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money and food.

    •    Overactive: Fearful, nervous, insecure, or ungrounded; materialistic or greedy; resistant to change

    •    Underactive: Lacking a sense of being at home or secure anywhere, codependent, unable to get into one’s body, fearful of abandonment

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs: Adrenal glands, spine, blood, and reproductive organs

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance:  Inability to sit still, restlessness, unhealthy weight (either obesity or eating  disorder), constipation, cramps, fatigue or sluggishness

2. Sacral Chakra — Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.

    •    Location: Lower abdomen, about two inches below the navel and two inches in.

    •    Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure and shexuality.

    •    Overactive: Overemotional, very quick to attach and invest in others, attracted to drama, moody, lacking personal boundaries

    •    Underactive: Stiff, unemotional, closed off to others, lacking self-esteem or self-worth, possibly in an abusive relationship

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs: Kidneys and reproductive organs: ovaries, testes, and uterus

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance: Lower-back pain or stiffness, urinary issues, kidney pain or infection, infertility, impotence

3. Solar Plexus Chakra — Our ability to be confident and in control of our lives.

    •    Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.

    •    Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem.

    •    Overactive: Domineering, aggressive, angry, perfectionistic or overly critical of oneself or others

    •    Underactive: Passive, indecisive, timid, lacking self-control

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs: Central nervous system, digestive system (stomach and intestines), liver, pancreas, metabolic system

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance: Ulcers, gas, nausea, or other digestive problems; eating disorders; asthma or other respiratory ailments; nerve pain or fibromyalgia; infection in the liver or kidneys; other organ problems

4. Heart Chakra — Our ability to love.

    •    Location: Center of chest just above the heart.

    •    Emotional issues: Love, joy and inner peace.

    •    Overactive: Loving in a clingy, suffocating way; lacking a sense of self in a relationship; willing to say yes to everything; lacking boundaries, letting everyone in

    •    Underactive: Cold, distant, lonely, unable or unwilling to open up to others, grudgeful

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs: Thymus gland and immune system, heart, lungs, breasts, arms, hands

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance: Heart and circulatory problems (high blood pressure, heart palpitations, heart attack), poor circulation or numbness, asthma or other respiratory ailments, breast cancer, stiff joints or joint problems in the hands

5. Throat Chakra — Our ability to communicate.

    •    Location: Throat.

    •    Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings and the truth.

    •    Overactive: Overly talkative, unable to listen, highly critical, verbally abusive, condescending

    •    Underactive: Introverted, shy, having difficulty speaking the truth, unable to express needs

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs: Thyroid, neck, throat, shoulders, ears, and mouth

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance: Stiffness or soreness in the neck or shoulders, sore throat, hoarseness or laryngitis, earaches or infection, dental issues or TMJ, thyroid issues

6. Third Eye Chakra — Our ability to focus on and see the big picture.

    •    Location: Forehead between the eyes (also called the Brow Chakra).

    •    Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom and the ability to think and make decisions.

    •    Overactive: Out of touch with reality, lacking good judgment, unable to focus, prone to hallucinations

    •    Underactive: Rigid in thinking, closed off to new ideas, too reliant on authority, disconnected or distrustful of inner voice, anxious, clinging to the past and fearful of the future

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs:Pituitary, eyes, brow, base of skull, biorhythms

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance: Vision problems, headaches or migraines, insomnia or sleep disorders, seizures, nightmares (though this isn’t a physical symptom per se, it is a common occurrence)

7. Crown Chakra — The highest chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.

    •    Location: The very top of the head.

    •    Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality and pure bliss.

    •    Overactive: Addicted to spirituality, heedless of bodily needs, having difficulty controlling emotions

    •    Underactive: Not very open to spirituality, unable to set or maintain goals, lacking direction

    •    Associated Endocrine Glands & Organs: Pituitary and pineal glands, brain, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, central nervous system

    •    Physical Symptoms of Unbalance: Dizziness, confusion, mental fog, neurological disorders, nerve pain, schizophrenia or other mental disorders

You Scream, I Scream, 4 Reasons To Try Vegan Ice Cream

Four reasons why vegan ice cream is bomb dot com and everyone should give it a try!

1) It's healthier for you!

Vegan ice cream has less sugar and fat since it uses a non dairy base when compared to normal dairy ice cream.

2) Allergy Friendly!

Whether you're allergic to nuts, dairy, gluten, coconuts, rice, fruits or soy there is an ice cream for you! Vegans are creative creatures and thankfully these foodies have created an ice-cream for everyone!

3)Vegan ice cream is better for the Environment!

Since its not made with dairy, the carbon footprint of vegan ice cream is much less than dairy ice cream. The fact that vegan foods are better for the environment makes vegan ice cream taste even sweeter.

4) It's Cruelty Free!

Zero animals are abused in the making of vegan ice cream. 

Whether you’re vegan, environmentally conscious, suffer from food allergies, a healthy eater, tired of consuming cow pus, or just looking for a delicious treat to blow your mind, there is a vegan ice cream just for you! 

NINA'S TOP VEGAN HALLOWEEN TREATS

   Halloween is just days away, so as you stock up for your parties and trick-or-treaters please make sure the treats are Vegan friendly! The treats listed below contain no milk, eggs or other animal-derived ingredients. Watch out for gelatin, carmine color, bone char, confectioner's glaze, shellac, refined cane sugar, lard, milk and eggs when purchasing your candy. Happy Halloween!

                       

Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup

Yum Earth Organic Lollipops

Surf Sweets Gummies

Sour Patch Kids

Twizzlers

The Red Vines

Skittles ( Produced in the UK are vegan, only some varieties in the states are)

Jolly Ranchers (hard candy and lollipops)

Charm's Blow Pops

Pixie Stix

Nerds

Smarties

SweeTarts

Fun Dip

Airheads

Mambas Fruit Chews

Now & Later ( The originals)

Everlasting Gobstoppers

Swedish Fish

Hubba Bubba Bubble gum

Bottle Caps

Jujubes

JujyFruits

Chick-o-Sticks

Cry Babies

Dots

Dum Dums

Fireballs

Brach's Lemon Drops

Brach's Root Beer Barrels

Cocomel's

Zotz

Oreos

 

I have seen the future of fashion, and IT IS VEGAN.

I have seen the future of fashion, and IT IS VEGAN. I'm a huge advocate for cruelty free brands and am the Queen of a Faux Fur. Gucci has joined the likes of Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Armani, which are all fur-free. Gucci has banned the use of fur. The Kering-owned megabrand says the ban will take effect with its Spring/Summer 2018 collections and it has signed up to the Fur Free Alliance, an organization that promises to end exploitation and killing of animals for fur, as part of a wider sustainability plan. The decision to ban fur was made with creative director Alessandro Michele, emphasized Bizzarri. “Fashion has always been about trends and emotions and anticipating the wishes and desires of consumers,” he said. The best creative directors “are able to anticipate, to smell something outside before anybody else. Fashion and modernity go together.” Being Vegan is not a trend, it is a lifestyle. I can only hope that the changes taking place next Spring/Summer 2018 will spark Gucci to make more cruelty free changes within their brand.

Mr. Klein goes Faux

Calvin Klein was an early adopter of animal-friendly designs. Founded in 1968, the company didn’t go fur-free until 1994. He stated that he would no longer use fur due to his own reflections on the humane treatment of animals and the fact that the fur segment of his business simply did not fit with his corporate philosophy any longer. Fortunately, he ended all fur licensing agreements after 17 years and now offers faux-fur designs as well as faux leather. Real and faux patent leather look exactly the same. Hopefully with the rise of the Vegan movement Mr. Klein will make the choice to evolve Calvin Klein into a full-fledged Vegan brand. 

Bikini Body ABS

You've been asking for my fitness regimen, so I will start posting my workout routines. Here is one of my Favourite workouts for Bikini Body Abs. 💪🏽💦

20 of each set X5
Russian Twists
Cycling cross crunches
Straight leg opposite side toe touches
Leg raises
Plank hip dip (try not to touch floor)
Cross body Mountain climbers 

Be sure to take a 15-30 second break between each set. Do this 2-3 times a week.

'Tis The Season For Faux Fur

In 2007, directional designer Miuccia Prada described the concept for her Fall 2007 runway collection as "fake classic," there wasn’t a single fur item in Prada’s fall/winter collection. Miuccia Prada herself said that she was "bored" with real fur. Prada collections have always set the standard in the industry in so many ways. Taking a stand against designing with fur has been their most creative, forward-thinking and compassionate campaign. It has been nine years since Prada started releasing Faux Fur coats and clothing pieces. I am in love with my Jackie Kennedy inspired Prada Faux Fur Coat, because it's beautiful and cruelty-free. Fashion isn't defined solely by our clothing choices but is also conveyed through the way we carry ourselves, our personalities and our views of the world. It's 2017, using real fur is unimaginable, not to mention, cruel. So why not choose to be fashionable and humane?

What's Your Skin Worth?

    I am honored to be on the cover of SKIN TRADE. Please take the time to educate yourself on the dark world of ugly glamour and painful beauty.

"Fur is sexy, beautiful, sensuous and luxurious. Nothing feels better against your skin, and beautiful, sexy, successful people wear it. Fur is also environmentally friendly and is therefore a sustainable resource. "

   These are the campaigns the fur industry uses to get people to commit the ultimate atrocities permitted against animals. Consumers are misled by retailers who assure them that animals used for fur are humanely euthanized, intentionally hiding the reality of how the animals are hideously killed. 

   Step inside the world of SKIN TRADE. Hundreds of hours of interviews with insiders, designers, leaders and celebrities compiled in a heart-punching documentary directed and produced by award-winning director Shannon Keith. 

   This film lends a voice to the voiceless whose skin is ripped from them while often still alive. 

   Understand what makes this savage industry tick and what it will take to change it. SAY NO TO ANIMAL CRUELTY!

 

World Vegan Day

Happy World Vegan Day!

  World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated on November 1st, by Vegans around the world. The Day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then President and Chair of The Vegan Society UK to commemorate it's 50th anniversary. 

  I'm constantly asked why I am vegan, so I thought I'd share what led me to live a cruelty free lifestyle. My upbringing definitely sparked and shaped my path to a healthy vegan lifestyle. My parents really fostered a non judgmental household filled with encouragement to always follow my heart, and to be kind to others and the world around us. We always had lots of pets; we were known around the neighborhood as the rescue animal house. My first dog was a wolf my Mother rescued and he was like another member of the family. Building the bonds I had with all my pets I couldn’t imagine eating a living thing. I’m vegan because I strive to live a peaceful and healthy life. I believe we take on the energy from the food we eat, the products we put on our skin and the clothes we wear. I consciously make peaceful and loving choices every day. It’s pretty amazing to wake up every morning knowing that every decision I make is to cause as little harm as possible.

THE VEGETABLE MASSACRE

While on holiday in Toronto I had the pleasure of stuffing my face at Doomies. Doomies is every Vegans dream! All of their dishes are Vegan (MEAT FREE) versions of great American Classics. This weekend Doomies is hosting The Vegetable Massacre, The Vegan Halloween Party! If you're lucky enough to be in Toronto, I highly suggest you attend!

PAWJ IG GIVE AWAY!

 In celebration of Fall, I'm pairing up with PAWJ to do an Instagram Give away!  Entering the give away is really easy! All you have to do is:

1. Follow @Pawj.California, @KirstinaColonna & @NamasteNinasway on Instagram.

2. Repost this picture and tell us why Cruelty Free Fashion is important to you with the hash tags #Pawj  #Vegan #NamasteNinasWay

    Good luck! (Winners announced on 9/29, Public Profiles only)

PAWJ

Follow me this Fall, and make cruelty free boots the latest trend!

OUTFIT DETAILS

 Want My Look Janie Ribbed Knit Cropped Jogger Set

PAWJ CALIFORNIA Tan Snow Leopard Boots

   Like every other California girl, I love the coziness of warm boots in our “freezing” 60 degree weather, but for the longest time UGGS have been the leading company in comfort footwear. I refuse to wear a brand that profits from animal cruelty, leaving me in quite the cold feet rout. Thankfully, I’ve recently discovered PAWJ and they have quickly become my go to for cozy fall boots! PAWJ boots are designed and manufactured with dedicated compassion to offer warmth, comfort and fashion without any harm to animals. Each boot is made with high quality synthetic suede and faux fur making them 100% Vegan. The boots are offered in four different suede colors, many fur patterns, and are stain and water resistant. I’m currently obsessed with their Tan Snow Leopard boots! I can effortlessly style them with my loungewear wardrobe and there is no match for the easy slip on warmth and comfort they provide.

   Based in Southern California, PAWJ is the creation of designer Julee Merrill. Born from her passion to create a better world for animals while sustaining their right to life, PAWJ provides their customers a way to make a difference. Imagine a world where animals aren’t exploited for their skins! By using only the highest quality synthetics and faux furs available, PAWJ California provides a glimpse into that world.

   PAWJ California is a family run business that is taking a stand to create a better world. Their belief that all sentient creatures have the right to life moves them to create alternative products that avoid the use of animal skins or furs without sacrificing comfort and quality. They aspire to become the leading developer of environmentally friendly and 100% cruelty free alternative products that enable both their customers and company to make a difference!

Golden Milk

 In Coach and Player Magazine's Fall issue I talk about my fitness tips and tricks. To relieve inflammation and soreness after a workout I drink an Ayurvedic remedy called 'Golden Milk', it's sunshine in a cup!

Dairy free Golden Milk
Warning: Wear an apron. Turmeric stains! 
Serves 2

* 2 teaspoons of Turmeric powder
* 2 cups of fresh Almond milk* or coconut milk
* 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
* 2 teaspoon of raw Honey or for the Vegans Agave (optional)
* Pinch of black pepper (increases absorption)
* Tiny piece of fresh, peeled ginger root or ¼ tsp ginger powder
* Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions:
1. Blend the ingredients together in a blender or with a whisk. 
2. Pour into a small sauce pan and heat for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
3. Drink immediately. 

Is Champagne Vegan?!

    Summer is my favorite season because it's filled with brunches, beach days, and warm nights out. The warm weather provides the perfect atmosphere to relax, laugh, and share the it drink of Summer '16: champagne on the rocks. But before you start popping those bottles of bubbly please know which champagnes are vegan and which are not! I was surprised to learn that not all champagne is vegan and it all depends on how the champagne is clarified in a process called fining. Some champagne is processed with fining agents, which can include products such as casein (a milk protein), gelatin (animal protein),  isingglass (fish bladder), carmine (the bodies of dried cochineal beetles), chitosan (made from crustaceans) and egg albumin (egg whites). Check out www.Barnivore.com for vegan friendly spirits, beer and wine.