“Reach your arms towards the mountains. Now arc over towards the ocean. Stand tall and lengthen like the palm trees in front of you.”
When was the last time you went to a yoga class where you were given these directions? When was the last time that you were led on a farm tour before you stepped onto your mat with the outdoors as your yoga studio?
Over a month ago my motivated yogini friends put ideas into action and hosted a Farm to Table dinner event at Green Farms in Waimanalo. One of the biggest motivators was bringing awareness to the local food movement in Hawaii considering over 80% of food consumed on island is shipped. For example you can imagine our confusion when my roommate and I are grocery shopping and we find a case full of mangos from MEXICO? Ummm… wait, it’s mango season here NOW. My style is picking up mangos on my runs and off my friends tree so that I don’t normally have to buy them… but if I DID and if I wanted them to be local and organic than I would be paying $5.99 a lb. My wallet doesn’t appreciate that.
So what better way to bring awareness to LOCAL food than host an event at a local farm? Green Rows is situated deep in Waimanalo giving it a pretty decent view of the Ko’olau Mountains. Although the property is relatively new, owners Kai and Sean are working diligently to transform the land and create something beautiful and sustainable for the community.
Upon arrival, Sean led us on a tour through the acres. His passion for farming was instantly palpable. He was SO excited. It was a contagious energy that vibrated from his being and overflowed into his words as he showed us the chicken coop, lilikoi and banana trees, and veggies galore including kale, eggplant, zuccini, okra, radish and more. By the end of the tour, I think we were all ready to quit our day jobs and move onto the farm to live from the land. At least I was!
Post farm tour came one of the most enjoyable yoga sessions I have ever experienced. I’ve said it before but I have to reiterate, there is nothing like taking your yoga practice outside and into nature. Without the confines of studio walls you get to work with mother nature’s elements and breath in rich fresh oxygen… ahhh there is nothing like it. Saying something like “Now really root through your feet and connect to the Earth” feels that much more organic and authentic when I look down to see dirt underneath my mat. Led by yogini sisters Monica & Tara, we chanted, practiced underneath the expansive sky and finished in time to catch an astonishing sunset.
And then came dinner! Our menu consisted of goodies straight from the land we were standing on. There is an intense satisfaction in eating food that you know is good for you AND that was grown sustainably and with love. Courses were brought out to the long wooden community table and were shared eagerly with neighbors. The food was obviously a highlight but the company was incomparable. I have a big place in my heart for the yogi community and I was in awe to look down the table and see so many of them gathered in one place. It made the night that much more special recognizing that I was among some of my best friends and kindred souls who support and care deeply for each other.
Dinner was followed by spreading blankets on the lawn and watching a conscious movie about organic farming under the stars. As the movie ended and everyone packed up to leave, the feedback was nothing but positive and the only question was, “when is this happening again?!” August 10th to be exact! New location, new menu, same beautiful event creating awareness around healthy living through local food and yoga. Check out the event here –> Eat Your Prana and make sure to reserve your spot as spaces are limited. =)
aloha nui xo See you on the farm!
