95-yr-old Yoga Teacher Esther Vexler

NOTE: This blog post was written in 2012, and as of this update (July 2015) Esther is still alive and well at 98!!!

Today I have the great pleasure of sharing an interview I just did with an amazing lady, my friend Esther Vexler. She's a 95-year-old yoga teacher who currently teaches yoga at the Synergy Studio in San Antonio, Texas. She has a very loyal following, including students and fellow teachers. She keeps busy with her students, a writing group, yoga, her 98-year-old husband, as well as her "comfortable" family. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy this interview with Esther - I know I did!

When did you first find out about yoga?

I didn’t know about yoga til the early 60s. I learned from friends who were studying yoga in Mexico. I was visiting them and we did yoga together. Before, I thought yoga was about lying on a bed of nails. I had some funny ideas of what it was really about.

What was the first asana (yoga pose) you tried?

The first posture I learned was "lion." Undoubtedly the ugliest asana. I laughed and thought “This is so funny.”

How did you begin teaching yoga?

I looked for a yoga teacher in San Antonio and even in Austin, but there wasn’t one. So I bought a book. And so I started teaching from the book. Once I finally found a teacher, she actually asked me “Can I teach with you?” I said: “You’re probably a lot better than I am,” but anyhow we began teaching senior citizens together. “Above all, do no harm” was our idea. So I started teaching seriously in 1968.

Did you always teach yoga or did you have another career?

When I was in my 50s, I went back to get a master’s degree in urban studies. When I was working on it for low income housing, I was very idealistic and wanted to help communities. It led to my doctorate eventually. But of course, I decided to make yoga my career. And all that began because the president of the university said “Why don’t you teach at UTSA?” I replied: “Because nobody asked me!” So he gave me his card and said to call this person. Before that, I’d always just taught yoga for free. But a friend told me that I had to start charging if I wanted to be professional.

What are some of your other teaching experiences?

There was a nun who had a great idea. We saw the potential in teaching young people (mostly girls) at a dropout school. Our object was to help girls who were kicked out of school. Some were pregnant, unwanted, and most had families who didn’t seem to care about them. They had no place to be. They would walk in with chips and cokes for breakfast. I told them they were going to learn yoga and learn how to respect their bodies. Learn how to eat. We offered them fruits and no soft drinks and things like that and it was a great hit.

Also, I love seeing my students grow in yoga. One student wanted to open up a yoga school in my name. I feel good about that, but I try not to have an ego about it. When I teach, I stress that aspect of practicality. You don’t just come to class, you have to take it into your life all the time.

What is your secret for looking so young and beautiful?

That’s interesting. Most of us come from our genes. I have a pretty mother with pretty skin. My mother had nine children to bring up, and I was the baby. Actually, a secret ingredient is being married to the right person.

What have you enjoyed about getting older?

Oh, I’ve had so many satisfactions. Everything. I really have enjoyed growing.

We continue to grow from the minute we’re born. Sometimes there are a few pitstops along the way. OLD is when you stop growing. And you don’t have to stop. You can have those few pitfalls but you come back and you continue growing.

Do you have any advice for women, specifically?

Don’t worry so much about things – your clothes being up to date, your hair, your house being perfect. Women especially worry too much about these things. As you grow older, you realize how unimportant these things are. People and love, that’s what’s important.

What life lesson have you learned that served you the most?

A new consciousness of myself. And learning how to build up self-confidence. We tend to think about what’s wrong with our bodies, and not what’s right about them. Think more about what’s right - there is so much right.

What advice would you give on eating a healthy diet for a long life? What is your diet like?

Our daughter became a vegetarian when she was getting her PhD. So, we decided to try it out too, because she was so enthusiastic about it. So, 45 years ago we stopped eating meat. We just don’t have the need for it. Also, more fruits and vegetables. Less salt.  

What has kept you dedicated to your yoga practice? How do you stay motivated?

I’m still learning from my students. It’s a two-way street. If they see I’m enjoying it, they enjoy it more. Make it a pleasant habit, not a forced learning experience. Don’t come to me for exercise. Come to me for what you get along with the exercises.

What is your opinion of hot yoga? My yoga teacher doesn’t recommend it.

I don’t really believe in hot yoga either. A lot of people have high blood pressure and don’t know it, and hot yoga isn’t safe for them. Plus, in hot yoga you can overdo and overstretch. Everything is wrong – you’re overheated and you don’t know what’s wrong with you. It’s not yoga, just more of a hot exercise class. Yoga is about the total person. It isn’t stressful, and it should be relaxing. Hot yoga is a stressor.

What do you attribute to your longevity?

Partly diet, partly exercise. Maybe the most important thing is love and affection. We’re a very comfortable family. Comfort is a big word. There is a lot of love.

Do you have any favorite quotes?

“It depends on your perspective. Growing old is a great idea. You can accentuate the growing or you can accentuate the old.”

“You only live once. Make the most of it.” – Dr. Seuss

Like the Buddhists say “You have to be in this moment and move on.” I guess people believe me when I say this because I just had my 95^th birthday.


Thanks so much, Esther! You inspire us with your gentleness, grace, and beauty in every way!

Top 10 Tips For Healthy Travels!

So, it's become fairly obvious that this is a really important and hot topic . . . and that I actually need to write a book on the subject! Which I plan to do after my next book is finished this spring. After my usual post-book chill time, of course. ;-)

Healthy traveling is a subject very near and dear to my heart, as I travel quite a bit and am obsessed with the union of delicious vegan food and optimum health. However, I'm all too familiar with the challenges that traveling presents. Lack of healthy options on the road, figuring out how and what to pack, and not having access to a kitchen can be very tricky things to navigate. So, I will share some of the things that have worked well for me. Please let me know if you have a favorite tip of your own, and keep those great suggestions coming!

Top 10 Tips for Healthy Travels!

1. When I know I'm going to be traveling through a city, I use either Happy Cow or VegDining to find vegan-friendly restaurants. Even if you're only veg-curious, you'll usually find much healthier options there!

2. To stay vitalized while traveling, two things will help you immensely: veggies and water! To stay up on your vegetable intake, try packing veggies that travel well. I've found that the following work well for me: carrot and celery sticks, dried kale or zucchini chips, raw kale salads (such as those in my most recent book), cherry tomatoes, and sugar snap peas. As for water, that's pretty self-explanatory. Drink more of it.

3. If you're staying or traveling through somewhere with dismal options and haven't planned ahead, you can consult this vegetarian list of options for chain restaurants. It will help you to find something that will keep you, well, from starving to death.

4. Plan, plan, plan! Being a food nerd is sexy, I don't care what they say. Take out your little sheet of paper and sparkly pen and make a list of all of the healthy foods that you love - especially those that will keep well in a cooler for at least a few days. Some of my favorite items that always end up in my cooler on road trips? Bean salads, tabouli, hummus, salads, raw nut dips (such as cashew "tuna"), bean burritos, tempeh sandwiches, fresh spring rolls, veggie fried rice, quinoa salads, and whole grain Asian pasta salads.

5. Fruit will remind you that life is good. You can find it anywhere (well, almost) and it will fuel you with electrolytes, calories, vitamins, and fiber until your next meal.

6. You can often find reasonably healthy sustenance at a regular old grocery store. Possible options: Fruit, pre-made hummus (use with veggies, pita bread, or regular bread for dipping), nondairy milk and whole grain cereal, guacamole and organic tortilla chips, the makings for a pb & j, and instant oatmeal.

7. Even without access to a kitchen, you can do some magic of your own. In fact, I even travel with a portable burner (OK, I use it for food demonstrations - but I'd take it either way at this point!) and blender. I also take basic cookware, including a skillet, spatula, garlic press, cutting board, and chef's knife. With just those items, I can make the following: power shakes and smoothies, stir-fry, tofu and tempeh cutlets for sandwiches and wraps, whole grain pancakes, bean dips, and more.

8. Go raw! Raw foods travel well and don't require cooking (obviously). What are some raw food yummies that travel well? Dehydrated goodies (veggie chips, fruit jerky, raw granola, crackers, etc.), nut spreads (for wrapping in lettuce or tortillas), cashew cheese (for dipping in crackers), nori rolls, flax crackers, and so much more!
 
9. When traveling, I always have my cooler with me. Sure, it seems cumbersome, but it's so worth it! I learned a trick from my mom too, as far as keeping it cold all handy-dandy like: Freeze water bottles (or gallon jugs of water) and place them in your cooler. That way, they'll keep everything cold while you simultaneously drink ice-cold water and stay hydrated!

10. Need to pack items that don't require refrigeration or any sort of prep work? Here is a peek into what I bring in that sort of circumstance. I keep it by the driver's seat and call it my "snack bag" (really creative title, no?): Mary's Gone Crackers sticks and twigs (or any of their crackers), almonds (raw or tamari roasted), fruit (tangerines/oranges, grapefruit, and apples are hearty travelers), dehydrated kale chips, green powder (I mix it with my water), Two Moms In The Raw granola bars, Lara Bars (or, preferably, my homemade versions thereof), trail mix (walnuts, cranberries, cacao nibs, etc.), and, of course, a little organic dark chocolate.

Hope this helps you to get inspired for healthy, yummy travels. Please keep giving me your great suggestions and questions - I love hearing from you! xxoo

Ten Surefire Ways to Beat Cold and Flu Season This Year!

Greetings, friends! I hope you're all enjoying the New Year so far. I plan to make this my healthiest year ever and it's off to a great start...creating recipes for my upcoming superfoods book is keeping me focused on healthy, whole, supercharged foods. And this for me is the surest way to avoid illness.

However, most of us are coming off of several weeks of Holiday eating. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve always beckon us to overindulge. Even the best of us often fall short of healthy eating during these times. And unfortunately, several of my readers are not feeling well and have asked for some tips on getting better using natural methods.

So, in the interest of getting and staying healthy, I wanted to let you in on my top ten tips for beating illnesses. If you're already feeling great, these tips will ensure that you stay that way and easily fend off any illnesses. If you, however, are under the weather now, these tips will get you back on track before you can say "miso soup."

These are all tips I've personally used with excellent success and that I believe in 100%. And if you have some tips of your own, I'd love to hear them!

Ten Surefire Ways to Beat Cold and Flu Season This Year:

1. Work in these powerhouse foods whenever possible...I call them my "Fab Five" Immune Boosters. They are: garlic, shiitake mushrooms, kale, hot chili peppers, and miso. In fact, I even created a soup called "Immune Power Soup" that many of my readers swear by. For those of you who have Radiant Health, Inner Wealth, you may want to whip up a batch.

2. Ginger up. Ginger is a great way to dispel colds and mucus (yuck, I know...sorry) as well as boost the immune system. If you have a juicer, ginger juice can rock your world. If you're a serious bad*ss, go ahead and juice the root up and drink it like a shot. Yee-ow! Or make a yummy juice out of carrots, celery, ginger, lemons, and parsley. Liquid medicine.

3. Increase your vitamin C intake. Mama was right - vitamin C helps to boost your reserves and speed up recovery.

4. Reduce or eliminate the following foods and you'll be golden: Meat, dairy products, sugars, and refined foods (especially white flour). The more you can focus on fresh, whole, plant-based foods, the more amazingly bomber your immune system will be.

5. Choose organics. They contain far more nutrients than conventionally grown foods and are free from harmful chemicals that knock your system down.

6. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! If you're under the weather, drink at least a gallon of water a day - made even more effective if you add fresh lemon juice to the water whenever possible.

7. If you're already feeling ill (or think you might be getting sick), herbal remedies can be your best friend. Echinacea, oil of oregano, and osha are all very helpful. For best results, consult your local herbalist (or ask me to hook you up - one of my best friends is the world's best herbalist and makes an amazingly effective immune tonic).

8. There's a tea I once invented that I swear by for clearing up a cold and getting rid of a sore throat. Here's the catch, though - no one ever wants to drink it because it's so strong-tasting! However, I know you're braver than that, right? And if you really want to feel better, give this bad boy a shot: In a teaball, place some loose sage and thyme. Steep in hot water, then add a squirt each of the following tinctures: myrhh and slippery elm. As you drink the tea, you can also gargle it for even better results. Repeat several times per day until your symptoms are gone. I told you it tasted bad, but don't you feel better now?

9. Add probiotic-rich foods to your diet. My favorites are kim chee, kombucha, and Nancy's soy yogurt. YUM. When I eat/drink those things, I can literally feel my body saying "Ahhhhhh" and "Thank you!"

10. Be happy. Think positive. Know that you CAN be healthy. You really DO have the power to choose high-level health for yourself.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope at least one of these suggestions will prove helpful for you as you make 2011 YOUR healthiest year ever!

Top 10 EASY PEEZY Ways to Eat More Raw Foods!

No matter whether you're an omnivore, vegan, raw foodist, or junk food junky, we can all agree that more raw foods are a good thing. Raw foods are rich in antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, and fiber. Plus, none of their life-giving benefits have been denatured so you'll really get a lot of vitality out of them to keep you running strong!

Personally, I land in the category of health-food minded vegan who loves raw foods, but isn't a strict raw foodist by any means. However, with every new product that comes out on the market these days (think coconut butter, raw agave nectar, raw cacao), I find it easier and more exciting all the time to incorporate more living foods into my diet! Plus, it doesn't have to be hard at all. Or boring!



Here are my top ten EASY (and, uh, yummy!) ways to eat more raw foods every day, in every way...

1. Start your day with a smoothie and a smile. For a raw food smoothie, use fresh juice and fresh or frozen fruits. You can also throw in some superfood additions like hemp, flax, or spirulena for an extra woo-hoo!
2. Make a delicious salad every day. Find or make a fresh dressing you love and add lots of yummy things to your salads (like avocado, shredded beets and carrots, sprouts, and grape tomatoes).
3. Sprout it up, people! Sprouting is an incredibly cheap, nutritious way to incorporate living foods into your diet. Plus, anytime you sprout a food, you exponentially increase its available nutrients.
4. Have a yummy meal in a glass. Raw foods shakes are delicious, filling, and uber-nourishing. Try adding frozen banana for sweetness - or if you prefer things a little sweeter a few soaked dates are great as they add sweetness in a whole-foods, nutrient-dense way. I also like to add vanilla and almond milk for a delicious, creamy vanilla shake.
5. Experiment with raw desserts! Oh yum, are they good! I've been doing a lot of this for my next book (which is a yummy weight loss program) and boy have I been enjoying the recipe testing part of it! "Rawberry Star Bars" are my daughter's new raison d'etre. But until my book comes out, suffice it to say that you can have some fun making up treats using fresh fruits, raw coconut butter, soaked cashews, agave nectar, etc. and you'll never miss a thing.
6. Wrap up some deliciousness in a romaine or chard leaf! Here's a recipe for Funky Chunky Guacamole Wraps from the raw foods chapter of my book, Radiant Health, Inner Wealth. YUM.
7. If you really want cooked foods, that's fine. However, if something is just as delicious raw, then why not eat it that way? For example, I've recently discovered how delish it is to prepare kale in the raw. Simply cutting it finely and "massaging" it with its sauce really tenderizes it. It's so yummy and fresh-tasting!
8. Snack on fresh vegetables throughout the day - carrots, cherry tomatoes, pea pods, and celery are all familiar, crunchy health foods that do our bodies a big favor with their fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you're on the go, you can make up "veggie snack packs" to grab each morning before you head out of the house.
9. Experiment with one new raw foods recipe each week. There are lots of great recipes available for everything from sushi to pies to wraps. Gone are the days when raw foods were only about health. Nowadays, they're also about the yum!
10. Consider investing in a food dehydrator. I personally finally bought one last year and now I can't believe I waited so long! I had wanted one ever since the Ronco infomercial days of the 80s! But now I have me one fine little mama - the biggest baddest Excalibur. And boy do I love it! I can make all kinds of raw/living foods -  flax crackers, veggie-based tortillas, fruit leathers (for my daughter's lunches), zucchini chips, and so much more.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I'd love to hear what YOUR favorite way to eat raw foods is!!

Eating more raw foods is a great way to stay healthy and PREVENT illnesses. I'm loving the Kathleen Show's Prevention Not Prescriptions Tuesdays. Be sure to check out the other fabulous bloggers here!

10 Ways to Eat More Veggies (and Love it!):

People always say to me: "I should eat more vegetables, Tess!" I invariably smile at them and say "Shouldn't we all!" But it's so true...eating lots of fresh, organic vegetables makes a world of difference in our health. Good ol' veggies give our skin a glow, keep our digestive system on track, and keep our weight in the happy place. It's also striking to me how much of a difference the consumption of more fresh vegetables would make in the health of our society. Many of the diseases people suffer from are due to diet - a diet that usually includes far too few whole foods and vegetables. So, my advice? Make eating vegetables a joy! If you begin eating your vegetables daily, I promise you'll notice a big difference in how you look and feel. And I also promise that you'll love it!

So here are a few tips on getting more veggies into your daily diet. Ideally, 6 cups of fresh vegetables daily is my recommendation, although even half of that is great!

10 Ways to Eat More Veggies (and Love it!):

1. Make a list of your favorite vegetables. Start there, rather than with ones you "should" like.
2. Try tossing your favorite vegetables with a little olive oil (and garlic) and baking at 400F, until browned and well roasted. Almost any veggies are surprisingly delish this way, even broccoli!
3. Discover as many recipes as you can that use vegetables as the main ingredient. Again, go for ones that sound delicious to you. You'll be more likely to stick with a healthy lifestyle if you're actually enjoying it! There are several delicious vegetable recipes on this blog, in my book, and on VegWeb.
4. Make "snack bags" for when you're on the go. For example, if I know I'll be gone for several hours, I'll often pack some organic celery, pea pods, and carrot sticks (ready to go) so that I can keep up with my veggie intake while I'm away from home.
5. Soup out! Many soups make a great medium for vegetables. Tomato Soup, vegetable barley, and Green Chili-Garlic-Potato are just a few that are veggie-packed delights.
6. Discover your happy salad! Everyone has one. What kind(s) of dressing do you love? What toppings make you smile? As long as you're using mainly whole foods ingredients, you can build a delicious salad that will love you back. For example, one of my happy salads consists of: romaine lettuce, sliced onions, kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, diced cucumber, lemon-marinated tofu, and a garlic-olive oil-lemon vinaigrette. Oooh, my mouth just started watering...
7. Try mixing fruits with vegetables for added interest. For example, some sliced pear in your arugula salad adds a delicious, nutritious element.
8. If you need a place to begin, you can also juice your vegetables to help increase your daily intake. Juicers are available for under $50 and can help you stay vitalized with veggie power! Personally, I don't feel the need to juice daily, though - I juice when I feel my immune system needs a kick, or once in a while when my body asks for it (yes, it talks to me...just like yours talks to you!).
9. Make an Asian stirfry for dinner - with a simple sauce made from tamari, garlic, toasted sesame oil, and fresh ginger, your veggies will taste divine. Just make sure to keep their nutrition intact by only cooking them until they're crisp-tender.
10. Wrap them up! Whether in rice paper (for fresh spring rolls), phyllo (for baked pockets), or whole grain tortillas (for veggie wraps), the right combination of seasonings and sauces will make you want to eat veggies til the cows come home! (And they will come home, once they find out you're eating all those veggies.)

Eating lots of vegetables is a great way to prevent illnesses and keep your immune system at its peak! The Kathleen Show has a program called Preventions Not Prescriptions every Tuesday that I really recommend checking out. Lots of great bloggers with wonderful ideas on wellness and health are always involved.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and please let me know your favorite way to incorporate vegetables into your life!