Balance – Christina Hop

When life gives you memorable days, and Summer Wind takes us where the wind blows!

Yacht traveling for me always conjured up the image of a yacht anchored in the middle of nowhere surrounded by beautiful landscapes. But the reality is slightly different yacht owners also explore remote locations that are far to reach by land, as well as other with plenty of culture and sites to see.

The South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach fairly glitters and is just a fun place to be. Enjoy the historic pastel-hued Art Deco architecture, the most iconic street Ocean Drive, fancy cars and all types of dinning.

The Art Deco style that is present on Ocean Drive today was influenced by the 1924 Paris Expositon des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. A lot of Mayan and Egyptian motifs were used along with clean lines an geometric patterns. South Beach took it to the next level by adding nautical and tropical designs from nature as well.

Locations in Miami can be very touristy and may not truly represent the essence of the city. There is a lot to do in Miami Beach and best way to discern is to follow the locals. There are some great venues that locals visit that represent the true Miami and South Beach.

Nourish from the inside out with enlightened plant-empowered cuisine!

To find healthy, delicious, plant-based or vegan restaurants in Miami is easy. The restaurant Plant Miami heralds a modern plant-based approach with an emphasis on vibrant organic living food, with a commitment to the art of conscious cuisine. They use only the purest ingredients and highest sustainability practices in the industry.

The restaurant is located in the tropical garden of The Sacred Space Miami. We love this place and the food, and have joined the Sunday events for live music and a customs brunch menu. Must try!

Authentic local spot, cozy locations with lots of vegan options

Under the Mango Tree is a authentic local spot with healthy organic juices, smoothies, bowls and bites.

The little shop I packed with love and shares the happiness through every product offered. It´s a pleasure to be a customer, you are like a family, and you meet like minded people every day.

Another day in paradise where health meets happiness

Pura Vida is a yum place to go for breakfast, brunch or light dinner. Pure Vida was created by husband and wife to serve as a place for friends to gather, eat delicious food and be surrounded in comfort of home. The food is healthy and delicious, my husband and I love this place! They create a menu that includes organic bowls, breakfast, bagels, salads, wraps, smoothies, cakes and cookies. The menu can be eaten any time of the day. Pure Vida has become a community of people who value quality and health.

Seeking organic food in Miami is easy

Planta is a innovative plant-based restaurant in South Beach inspired by all parts of the world, founded in 2016. The restaurant is a epic plant-based bash that uses high-quality ingredients from ethical suppliers. Planta has great atmosphere, decor, vibe and offers the wonderful vegan food, simply delicious. My husband and I came here for dinner a couple of times and got a number of different tasty dishes. Our favorites were the vegan nigiri 5.75, maki rolls 15, spring rolls and soft serve vegan ice cream.

Miami Design District is sure to spark joy

The Design District´s offering art spaces, restaurants, design shops, contemporary Arts and furniture designer. Each issue covers the latest happenings in the neighborhood.

I start the day with a green juice at OTL to just relax and unwind. I´ll walk around the district and engage in conversations with others who also walk around or work here.

If you think streetwear is just about clothing you´re missing the culture. A crew of stylish teens and twenty somethings has claimed a corner of the Design District as their own. Welcome to the world of streetwear. The retailers have created a real community. Hype and individuality.

Wynwood, Miami´s art & soul

Wynwood is a living neighborhood paced with art, culture, and innovation. The former warehouse district of Wynewood has become the arts hub of South Florida. It started with murals, street art, and graffiti, by the neighborhood´s early developers, sparing vibrant spaces teeming with outdoor art. Today, there are more than 70 galleries and museums, dozens of new restaurants and bars, and hundreds of creatures, and innovators working in a place that just feels alive. There is plenty top see, and we love just walking in the streets and explore and feel the culture.

Yoga practice in South Beach

When visiting South Beach I had the pleasure to practice with Kino MacGregor, Miami Mysore Style Ashtanga Retreat at Miami Life Center. The center is dedicated to the study of Yoga in the lineage of Pattabhi Jois. The Ashtanga Yoga´s Vinyasa system is sequences of postures that vary in difficulty and benefit.

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Image by Rachael Dunville @ rachaeldunville

I love this place and to practice in small group, that allows you to truly dive deeply into the yoga practice. It was truly an honor to meet all of the beautiful people joined the retreat and be a part of the journey along this yogic path.

Sharat Jois Tour, Miami

Ashtanga yoga is not a style of yoga, it is a method to explore something far more than handstands. I am so grateful that I had the possibility to learn this method directly from the lineage holder of Asthange Yoga while he was teaching in Miami.

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Image by Rachael Dunville @ rachaeldunville

Big thanks to Sharat Jois and Miami Life Center for crating such an amazing experience, I have a lot of beautiful memories from this event!

Where is the top place to experience the sun and sand?

Ever since I could remember I fantasized with the beach and the sand between my toes. All I want to do is to be surrounded by down to earth, happy & positive people. People who realize that it is the little things that truly matter. Sharing a tea with a friend, or a healthy smoothie after a yoga practice or sunny day at the beach. South beach in Miami offers it all!

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Image by Rachael Dunville @ rachaeldunville

Miami´s beaches are famously flat and calm, and rank among the finest stretches of shoreline in the nation. I am soaking up every ray of sunshine and letting each wave of crystal clear water nourish my mind and body.

I want to bottle this feeling and carry it around in my heart for ever.

The health is a constant subject that each and everyone of us is addressed with on a daily basis whether we are conscious of it or not. Good nutrition – an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity is an cornerstone of good health.

Each day we make choices in what we let enter our mouth

The intake of food, considered in relation to the body´s dietary needs. Every bite is a new opportunity to feel healthier and happier. This is about healing, revitalizing and restoring our bodies from inside and out. Food is medicine, nourishing our mind, bodies and moods. Prevention of disease through food and movement is the most powerful option we have. The understanding that each body is unique and thus has a unique path to optimal health. Knowledge is important but at the end of the day, you need to be the driver of your own vehicle. We are all different and therefore, it is important to listen to the body and become an expert on our personal health.

Generally, eating clean means avoiding packaged and processed foods and eating foods as close to its natural state as possible. The majority of food in a clean food diet should be fresh (avoid items that come in containers; bag, box and package) and free from additives as preservatives, artificial sweeteners and food coloring. Whole fruit is encouraged, avoid foods with added sugar and refined grains. If the clean food diet includes eating meat, lean varieties is chosen, such as skinless chicken, turkey and fish. Consistently eating clean food fills your body with plentiful vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein and healthy fats, which improve heart and brain health, assist with weight management, build a stronger immune system and increase energy levels, among other benefits.

The act of choosing plant first is going to do a number on you mentally in a every positive way. When you eat clean, your body will tell you what is needs and warns you when you are eating something it does not agree with. The benefits from adapting plant based lifestyle is improved digestion, clearer skin, whiter eyes, shinier hair, stronger nails, weight loss, muscle tone, heightened mental clarity, hormon balance and a feeling of stability.

There are choices

You choose. Think about a craving. You just got home from work and the energy is low. The quickest way to boost dopamine is to eat sweet foods, or taking a glas of vin. Cravings have a shape – they build, they crest and then they fade away. We often reach for whatever it is we have learned will make us temporarily feel better. The brain stores that pattern as information. It is a learned response an emotional experience. It is a message telling you that you want to feel better. Notice if the root is stress, pressure, sadness, or hurt? Cravings tend last some where between 3 and 10 minutes. Next time, try to address the cravings before you reach for something to calm you. This is about understanding the effect food has on your mind and, in turn, your body and vice versa.

Personally, I find freedom and well-being through a holistic and plant-based lifestyle, based on fresh fruits and vegetables and sometimes some fresh seafood, chicken and turkey. Many of us walk around in a constant state of bloating or inflammation of the gut, however we rarely recognize it as such. When you eat food that nourish the body and abundance of fresh, nutrient dense plant-based food, the digestive system can work efficiently and more energy can be spent on repair.

The idea is to aim for balance in all aspects of life which are meant to benefit you and also the health of our planet. According to a new comprehensive overview (by Joseph Poore from Oxford University, Science), we can reduce the world’s agricultural area by 75% and CO2-emissions from agriculture by 50% by growing grain and vegetables instead of keeping animals. 15% of large-scale meat producers release 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 and use an agricultural area on the size of China!

By getting in touch with your internal dialogue, you will find the space that give you the information on what the body is feeling and what it needs.

Eating clean regularly, in season and hang on to it, and you will feel more healthy!

Tag: Balance

Good vibes in SoBe, Miami

Image by Rachael Dunville @ rachaeldunville

Image by Rachael Dunville @ rachaeldunville

Image by Rachael Dunville @ rachaeldunville

Why eat clean?

Each day we make choices in what we let enter our mouth

There are choices

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