Being “real” is the new perfect. Social media is bursting with memes of lazy days with sweatpants and pizza, in celebration of “imperfections” and minor slips of willpower. We’re told it’s okay to be human, and yet, why do all these women gobbling gorgeous looking cupcakes look so damn perfect? Then there are the accounts that only highlight vibrant green juices, or elegant yoga poses, or perfectly-plated raw meals, and its like, do you ever just eat a brownie that isn’t date-sweetened, gluten-free and low glycemic? We all strive for wellness, but sometimes it can seem like a never-ending pursuit – always in sight but never quite there. In comes the GOOD Fest.

The GOOD Fest helps women to realize that they can still be health-conscious and enjoy a tall stack of gluten-heavy pancakes. This one-day event features a plethora of wellness topics, breakout sessions, yoga, and a supporting community of experts and like-minded attendees.

It all started in a coffee shop when the founders Kate, Jen, and Jess, decided to curate the “The. Best. Day. Ever for a wellness-lover.” Each of these dynamic women came to wellness after leaving their established careers in the marketing and restaurant industries. Now, they work as bloggers, yoga instructors, and health coaches.

Kate, Jen, and Jess are thrilled to host the second GOOD Fest at the Hudson Loft in Los Angeles on February 3, 2018, to share their love of wellness with four hundred women from around the world. People are traveling from the East Coast, as well as other countries, to attend this empowering festival. To keep the conversation relevant and intimate for everyone, each attendee has been assigned one of five unique wellness tracks. Each track addresses various wellness interests through its specific breakout sessions and panels.

“This day is designed to give you a taste of multiple facets of wellness so you can find what works for you. It might be crystals or it might be an inspiring career talk – our goal is for everyone to walk away from this day feeling inspired in some way,” said the founders.

Although the tracks are unique in themselves, each includes a yoga session with a local instructor, a veggie-centric lunch courtesy of Sweetgreen, time to shop the marketplace of wellness vendors, and of course, a concluding cocktail hour to mix, mingle, and make new friends. Plus, everyone will receive an epic swag bag loaded with healthy goodies from over a dozen festival partners – like Hu Chocolate, Nektar, and Rebbl. 

Attendees can look forward to hearing from prestigious speakers who are both knowledgeable yet relatable. Panelists include Sophie Jaffe of Philosophie, Katie Horowitz of Women Against Negative Talk, Jordan Younger of the Balanced Blonde, Lynn Chen of The Actor’s Diet, and so many more. The panels are packed with nutritionists, powerhouse female entrepreneurs, natural healers, and successful creatives.

If you’re getting the “woo-woo” vibe, its true, some opinions may be considered a bit out there. There is a discussion on crystals, and you are likely to hear the words “high vibrations” and “energy,” and perhaps even a few “the universe has your back”s. However, the founders ensured that all feel welcome, no matter their beliefs.

“In the end, it’s all knowledge, and you can do with it what you’d like. Maybe you’ll brush it off, or maybe it will be the thing that inspires you and changes your life.  We have speakers covering everything from living a more eco-friendly lifestyle to taking charge of your sexual health – so if you’re anti-woo – woo, no worries, we’ve got you covered too.”

The most important role of the GOOD Fest is creating a safe and nurturing space to foster a wellness community and personal growth. “If there’s something we’re most proud of, it’s being a place for people to truly connect & support each other,” said the founders. They hope to inspire the attendees to continue on their wellness journeys, no matter where they are, and support them when they feel less than perfect.

“We all have each others backs as we navigate and define this wellness space for ourselves. We aren’t ashamed that that we love a good burrito and IPA as much as a green juice and a Kundalini class. When we are real about our own lives, it creates a safe and accepting space for [attendees] to share theirs!”

There are still a few spots left. If you’re interested in wellness, or even just looking to meet a new friend or two, tickets and the full agenda are available here.

Tanya Flink is a vegan, foodie, and certified Master Personal Trainer based in Orange County, CA. She is also the host of the podcast, “The Vegan Potluck.”

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These stocking stuffers are geared toward the yogi, the vegan, the meditator, and the soul-searcher. You know who I am talking about – the person who actually looks at ingredient lists and actually gives a shit about what they put on their skin and in their bodies. The one who typically eschews gifts for that very reason — because it’s not always easy to buy gifts for such friends or family members. But if done right, it can be a lot more fulfilling. These seven stocking stuffer ideas will help you make the right choice for your loved one.

7 Stocking Stuffers for the Eco-Conscious Soul

1. Crash Jewelry Teal Porsche Bundle

Jewelry is a common gift, but it’s not always meaningful beyond the act of giving itself. CRASH Jewelry adds a little more thought to their beautiful jewelry designs, like this Teal Porsche bundle, which includes a bangle, a necklace, rings, and earrings. CRASH make sustainable accessories from the metal of luxury automobiles that have had minor accidents. Each order arrives with a certificate of authenticity that lists the name of the car that the jewelry came from. Bundle price: $230.

2. SoulMakes Chloe Quartz Keychain

Be engaged in the healing process at all times with this quartz keychain. Clip it onto a set of keys or a favorite purse and let it spread the good vibes wherever it goes. Price: $23.

3. Aura Cacia Grounding Root Organic Chakra Balancing Roll On

Give the gift of groundedness with this simple chakra-balancing roll on. Apply its essences onto the crown of your head, behind the ears, just under the neck, and to the temples. It’s made with water and pure essential oils, including vetiver, patchouli, bergamot, and nutmeg. Use daily! Price: $15.

4. 100% PURE Sheer Cherry Lip Gloss

Make-up is a common stocking stuffer gift for any queen in your life, but don’t just gift  any ol’ lip gloss – gift a lip gloss made with natural, recognizable ingredients that will enhance not only beauty but also nourish the skin. This sheer cherry lip gloss is made with grapeseed oil, shea butter, beeswax, and vitamin E and the pigmented extracts of pomegranate, wine, cherry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, peach, coca bean, plum, vitamin C, and strawberry. Price: $20.

5. Simply Divine Get Acquainted Kit

You may not want to splurge on a full set of natural organic skincare for a friend or family member, because that can become quite expensive, but samples will do just fine. Cult-favorite Simply Divine Botanicals is an old school natural skincare player whose longevity speaks volumes about its quality. In this pack of more than a dozen samples, you get the full-body experience, head to toe. Price: $39.

6. Fine & Raw Coconut Chunky Chocolate

Fine & Raw produces perhaps the most delicious raw chocolate out there. The holidays are certainly about indulgence, and Fine & Raw’s coconut chunky bar is in good company. The difference it has with regular milk or dark chocolate varieties is that it is made with raw cacao, coconut butter, blue agave, coconut sugar, cacao butter and is completely unprocessed and not heated in a way that destroys its inherent nutrition. Try it once and you’ll be hooked. Price: $7.

7. 52 Lists for Happiness

If you’ve got a list lover in your life, this is the perfect gift. This book makes journaling a matter of inspiring positivity, balance, and joy. Author Moorea Seal draws from happiness research and her own personal philosophy to create a tool for list lovers so that they can unveil their own unique happiness. The 52 listing prompts encourage readers to reflect, acknowledge, and invest in themselves. Price: $13.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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These yoga clothing brands are off-the-beaten path and welcome inspiration to your spiritual wardrobe.

It’s time to branch out from the usual. Sure, LuluLemon has the design, performance, and aesthetic we have all come to love and appreciate, but there are more (and better) fish in the sea. Expand your yoga clothing to include independent designers, more unique designs, and a touch of eco-consciousness. The following 6 yoga clothing brands are sure to inspire your wardrobe and spark enthusiasm for yoga and increased spirituality.

6 Unique Yoga Clothing Brands

1. Teeki

Perhaps the most standout yogawear brand out there, Teeki sells yoga gear with very unique prints – imagine: a constellation meets a tiger meets tie dye meets ancient Egyptian encryptions. The illustrations, patterns, and visuals on their yoga pants and tops inspire the kindred spirit in all of us and are a true delight to the senses. If you want to set your downward dog self among everyone else in your yoga class, get Teeki gear now! Even better Teeki’s designs are the company’s commitment to sustainability. All of its products are made from sustainable or recycled goods. Every pound of Teeki products conserves an equivalent of half a gallon of gasoline. And all clothing is made in the U.S.

2. PrAna

PrAna offers a selection of yoga tops and pants. The designs are light-hearted and fun. Devoted to inspiring a free-spirited lifestyle, PrAna reflects this purpose not only with its designs but also with its committed to sustainable practices. The sustainable clothing company uses organic cotton, recycled wool, hemp and recycled polyester in its production processes. It also uses responsible down from used bedding products collected through charities in Europe. PrAna now wraps most of its garments in 100 percent  recyclable bags, having cut down the number of plastic it used in its packaging by 74 percent.

3. Nina B Roze

Originally from Ukraine, Nina Berenboym moved to L.A. in 1992. A former ballerina and educated designer Nina was so passionate about art, movement, and the mind-body-soul equation, she jumpstarted her own activewear brand. Her creations are inspired by the Victorian era, full of femininity and elegance. Nina’s signature design, the Heart Butt™, is a best seller.

4. Alala

Sleek comes to mind when a woman walks by in ALALA gear. She’s fresh off the mat but her style is on point, almost too on point. ALALA screams New York City – bold colors, lean fit, black mesh, and crisp corners. The luxury activewear brand is sophisticated, authentic, comfortable, and functional, fully embodying the balance modern women seek in their everyday lives. Named after a Greek goddess, ALALA signifies a battle cry or call to arms. As its namesake suggests, in ALALA gear, you’ll surely make your mark.

5. Yoga-Paws

Let’s face it, sometimes you just want to bust a yoga move and a yoga mat is nowhere to be found. Enter: YogaPaws, clothing you wear on your hands and feet for comfort and stabilization when you’re on the move and neither want or have your yoga mat in tow. The gloves for your hands and feet fit a lot like biker gloves – your fingers and toes are exposed while your palms are lightly padded. Not only do YogaPaws boost your outdoor or on-the-move performance, they also make a fashion statement.

6. AloYoga           

AloYoga is one of my favorite yoga clothing brands. I love the bright colors, intricate patterns, and diversity, and I’m a huge fan of the various mesh leggings designs (I’m so into the mesh trend) as well as the iconic (and apparently patent-pending) Goddess legging, which bear a colorful design from the waist down to the upper knee, then turns completely black, grey, or white down to the feet. AloYoga is also a stickler about flattering designs, which is something we can all be thankful for!

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Yoga Image from Shutterstock

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