Friday night at 3a, and I am still up taking care of the logisitcs of life. As a yogi, I “should” be up early in the day, doing my meditation / practice, but I am such a night owl. I think it is because the energy of nighttime is quieter and more peaceful, as most people have drifted into their unconscious minds of sleep, truly having surrendered their usual thought patterns. I am very surprised that I have had so much energy these past few days with zero caffeine. In fact, I daresay I have a more consistent stream of energy than when I enjoy my mid-morning coffee. But, today was the first day I wished I could have my ritualistic beverage of choice, along with a bite of the pecan pie with vanilla bean ice cream that my friends all enjoyed at a dinner party. Their sounds of “mmmm” and their detailed description of the dessert’s deliciousness did not help, but I am happy they got to eat it!
Practicing yoga has been pretty incredible. I definitely feel a difference in my body, mostly related to flexibility. I don’t generally feel inflexible, but on the Cleanse, I have been feeling extremely flexible. Truly putty-like. It also feels deeply nurturing to be in asanas…just yummy, sweet, good. The yoga high is extremely potent, particularly in the physical body. It was almost scary how deep my backbends were…but, I felt less grounded through my legs. For example, when I tried to stand up from Wheel – which usually isn’t a problem – I wobbled and opted to kneel down instead of trying to land on my feet. So it seems that I have more flexibility, but less strength.
I feel bloated, which I’m not sure is normal or not. My belly feels full of liquid, which it is, with the morning and night teas, the liver flush, the master cleanse lemonade, fruit / veg juices, and water. It might just be the liquids, or, maybe something else is going on.
So I’m done with the Liver Flush Days and moving into the All-Green Days where the focus shifts to the colon. That means, goodbye quinoa! And goodnight to you.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Ultimate Energy Cleanse || Day 2 || 4 November 2009
I’m sitting again with a cup of tea; this time it’s a Lemon Ginger Herbal tea. Surprisingly, I haven’t been craving coffee at all! I told myself that whatever I’m “giving up” for this weeklong period, I can have again on Day 8 if I want. Put into perspective, it’s really not that big of a deal! Plus, raw honey in my tea is absolutely divine.
Yesterday was not terrible, but not easy. I was assaulted with a brain-bumping headache for pretty much the entire day. Luckily, I went to a Yoga Therapy class with Deva at Pure Yoga, and he taught these amazingly simple neck strengthening movements that momentarily completely alleviated the painful throbbing. I’ve also had pretty intense lower back pain for a day and a half now, and I can’t seem to relieve it at all. No conventional medicine is allowed, but I did go for an acupuncture session, which helped a bit. I think it’s just a process that needs to happen, so I’m trying to surrender to it. My healer-friend Peggy says that this low back pain relates to the kidney and gall bladder meridians, which hold fear, uncertainties, and frustrations. So if this temporary pain means an excavation of negative energies - good riddance!
Today was much better in general. I’m actually having a lot of fun preparing everything at home. I’m basically standing at the kitchen sink for the majority of the day, whether I’m washing, cutting, or peeling fruits or veggies; juicing, blending, or cooking; or washing dishes. It’s kind of a pain in the ass, to be perfectly honest, but it’s worth it! It feels great to know exactly what I am putting in my body, to know that it is all food that is very alive and nourishing, and without the torture of animals (although I did wonder today, how do we know that this sprig of parsley didn’t cry out in agony when it was plucked from its roots??). The recipes provided in the Booklet are excellent, and I have successfully made and enjoyed: herbed quinoa pilaf, fabulous RAW dressing, butternut squash soup, and roasted portabella. I’ve never minced so much garlic before in my life, but it really does make everything more delicious. Even my carnivorous boyfriend has been enjoying the healthy dishes, and is already trying to guilt-trip me into continuing to make them after the Cleanse (which I totally plan to anyway!). I’m definitely not left hungry, because I can eat as much as I want from the list of allowed foods, and with all the juice that I’m drinking (Master Cleanse lemonade, liver flush, fresh fruit / veg juices), it really doesn’t feel like there is much empty space in my belly to fill.
I will say that I am grateful for quinoa, as it is the only allowed grain (along with millet, though I’m not quite sure what that is). In this carb-conscious world, I don’t know many people who unabashedly love and regularly hoard bread as much as I do, so that has been a bit challenging, but definitely not impossible.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror earlier, and noticed that my face seems brighter and more alive, the whites of my eyes are super white. And each time I take a dosage of the herbs, I temporarily feel a bit high and lightheaded, which is always fun.
Trotting forward!
Yesterday was not terrible, but not easy. I was assaulted with a brain-bumping headache for pretty much the entire day. Luckily, I went to a Yoga Therapy class with Deva at Pure Yoga, and he taught these amazingly simple neck strengthening movements that momentarily completely alleviated the painful throbbing. I’ve also had pretty intense lower back pain for a day and a half now, and I can’t seem to relieve it at all. No conventional medicine is allowed, but I did go for an acupuncture session, which helped a bit. I think it’s just a process that needs to happen, so I’m trying to surrender to it. My healer-friend Peggy says that this low back pain relates to the kidney and gall bladder meridians, which hold fear, uncertainties, and frustrations. So if this temporary pain means an excavation of negative energies - good riddance!
Today was much better in general. I’m actually having a lot of fun preparing everything at home. I’m basically standing at the kitchen sink for the majority of the day, whether I’m washing, cutting, or peeling fruits or veggies; juicing, blending, or cooking; or washing dishes. It’s kind of a pain in the ass, to be perfectly honest, but it’s worth it! It feels great to know exactly what I am putting in my body, to know that it is all food that is very alive and nourishing, and without the torture of animals (although I did wonder today, how do we know that this sprig of parsley didn’t cry out in agony when it was plucked from its roots??). The recipes provided in the Booklet are excellent, and I have successfully made and enjoyed: herbed quinoa pilaf, fabulous RAW dressing, butternut squash soup, and roasted portabella. I’ve never minced so much garlic before in my life, but it really does make everything more delicious. Even my carnivorous boyfriend has been enjoying the healthy dishes, and is already trying to guilt-trip me into continuing to make them after the Cleanse (which I totally plan to anyway!). I’m definitely not left hungry, because I can eat as much as I want from the list of allowed foods, and with all the juice that I’m drinking (Master Cleanse lemonade, liver flush, fresh fruit / veg juices), it really doesn’t feel like there is much empty space in my belly to fill.
I will say that I am grateful for quinoa, as it is the only allowed grain (along with millet, though I’m not quite sure what that is). In this carb-conscious world, I don’t know many people who unabashedly love and regularly hoard bread as much as I do, so that has been a bit challenging, but definitely not impossible.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror earlier, and noticed that my face seems brighter and more alive, the whites of my eyes are super white. And each time I take a dosage of the herbs, I temporarily feel a bit high and lightheaded, which is always fun.
Trotting forward!
Ultimate Energy Cleanse || Day 1 || 3 November 2009
I think it was summer 2008 that I first heard about the Ultimate Energy Cleanse, from Seane Corn. She was in town (Hong Kong) teaching her Detox Flow Workshop. I really appreciate her as a teacher because she speaks about energy, the chakras, and “being spiritual” in such a practical even tangible way. This language works really well for me because even though I feel Truth in my heart and Prana moving through me, I am a child of the contemporary Western world, and therefore it’s helpful for my mind to be able to intellectualize the yogi experience. It’s also especially helpful for me as a teacher to be able to talk to people of all kinds of backgrounds, including the skeptical left-brained yogi. Seane is really inspiring in this way.
Seane’s teachings about detoxification go two ways: “It’s not just what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you.” Intuitively, I already understood the latter part, hence, working on non-reactivity, inner peace, letting go of negativity, etc. Intellectually, I have been back and forth about the former. When I first hopped on the yoga-bandwagon, I wanted to try everything that most yogis seemed to be doing. I went vegetarian, vegan, raw, organic-everything from soap to socks … I even bought an ૐ sticker for my beetle convertible (I never put it on). In time, I discovered that any sort of extremist mentality simply wasn’t me. I felt like I was being pulled out of balance. So I let go of these external expectations to be a “good” or proper yogi, and focused more on honing into my own inner voice of truth, and figuring out what was perfect for me.
I was always curious about fasts and cleanses, as people who did them absolutely raved about the experience, namely about how high they felt. Sounded great to me! But one of my friends told me that she had done a juice fast for 108 days, and at the end of it, she was left with little scar marks on her face, because she had pulled her body out of balance. This friend is absolutely beautiful and you don’t notice the marks, but her story definitely served as caution for me. Along with a very sad story about a fellow student from my home studio in Santa Monica, who had just come out of a 1-month fast, and was attending a gathering where perhaps he ate too much too fast (apparently you have to be very slow and careful when bringing yourself back to regular eating after a fast), and somehow, he died that night.
I realize these are extreme examples, but they – along with my own “extreme yogi” experiences – were enough to steer me clear of any fasts. I continued to learn about them, and cleanses, and watched many friends go through them (successfully and happily), but it just never clicked into place for me. I was aware that part of it was fear and attachment. I was afraid it’d be too hard or that I might fail. And, I was very attached to my daily cup of coffee. Partly I didn’t want it to negatively affect my teaching, as fellow teachers would go through cleanses (usually the Master Cleanse) and share with me how difficult it was to teach their 3-5 classes/day (which is hard enough as it is!). Partly, and I think most importantly, it just wasn’t the right time.
When Seane told us about the Ultimate Energy Cleanse, I was very interested. “You can eat, and eat a lot!” she said. You just have to stick to the guidelines, which are pretty strict, but sensibly so. You’re basically on a fruit and vegetable diet for 7 days, and you take Chinese herbs to flush the liver and cleanse the colon. You also drink the Master Cleanser on each day. You must omit, among other things, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and grains except quinoa and millet.
I went to California soon after Seane’s workshop, and brought the Cleanse back to HK with me. For a slew of reasons (read: excuses), I didn’t start on it right away. In fact, a year would pass before I actually started preparing for it!
About a week ago, I started feeling indifferent about drinking coffee. I know that might sound silly, but coffee is my favorite indulgence that I admittedly have a physical and psychological attachment to. I also started randomly remembering things I’ve learned from Seane, and I noticed I kept quoting her as I talked to friends. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, I opened the Ultimate Energy Cleanse information booklet, and effortlessly decided that now was (finally) the right time. I felt no fear or worry, but surprisingly, I was excited!
I have about 10 days before I set off for another month of travel, so the timing seems good for my schedule. I did need a couple days to stock my kitchen with Cleanse-friendly products like Grade B maple syrup (is it really that different from Grade A, I wondered, as I compared the prices), organic first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil (never knew that many words could be used to describe oil), and Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acid (which I’d never heard about).
So here I sit, with my morning cup of DeCaffe Roast Herbal Tea (from YogiTea), embarking upon what’s sure to be, at the very least, an interesting experience.
Seane’s teachings about detoxification go two ways: “It’s not just what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you.” Intuitively, I already understood the latter part, hence, working on non-reactivity, inner peace, letting go of negativity, etc. Intellectually, I have been back and forth about the former. When I first hopped on the yoga-bandwagon, I wanted to try everything that most yogis seemed to be doing. I went vegetarian, vegan, raw, organic-everything from soap to socks … I even bought an ૐ sticker for my beetle convertible (I never put it on). In time, I discovered that any sort of extremist mentality simply wasn’t me. I felt like I was being pulled out of balance. So I let go of these external expectations to be a “good” or proper yogi, and focused more on honing into my own inner voice of truth, and figuring out what was perfect for me.
I was always curious about fasts and cleanses, as people who did them absolutely raved about the experience, namely about how high they felt. Sounded great to me! But one of my friends told me that she had done a juice fast for 108 days, and at the end of it, she was left with little scar marks on her face, because she had pulled her body out of balance. This friend is absolutely beautiful and you don’t notice the marks, but her story definitely served as caution for me. Along with a very sad story about a fellow student from my home studio in Santa Monica, who had just come out of a 1-month fast, and was attending a gathering where perhaps he ate too much too fast (apparently you have to be very slow and careful when bringing yourself back to regular eating after a fast), and somehow, he died that night.
I realize these are extreme examples, but they – along with my own “extreme yogi” experiences – were enough to steer me clear of any fasts. I continued to learn about them, and cleanses, and watched many friends go through them (successfully and happily), but it just never clicked into place for me. I was aware that part of it was fear and attachment. I was afraid it’d be too hard or that I might fail. And, I was very attached to my daily cup of coffee. Partly I didn’t want it to negatively affect my teaching, as fellow teachers would go through cleanses (usually the Master Cleanse) and share with me how difficult it was to teach their 3-5 classes/day (which is hard enough as it is!). Partly, and I think most importantly, it just wasn’t the right time.
When Seane told us about the Ultimate Energy Cleanse, I was very interested. “You can eat, and eat a lot!” she said. You just have to stick to the guidelines, which are pretty strict, but sensibly so. You’re basically on a fruit and vegetable diet for 7 days, and you take Chinese herbs to flush the liver and cleanse the colon. You also drink the Master Cleanser on each day. You must omit, among other things, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and grains except quinoa and millet.
I went to California soon after Seane’s workshop, and brought the Cleanse back to HK with me. For a slew of reasons (read: excuses), I didn’t start on it right away. In fact, a year would pass before I actually started preparing for it!
About a week ago, I started feeling indifferent about drinking coffee. I know that might sound silly, but coffee is my favorite indulgence that I admittedly have a physical and psychological attachment to. I also started randomly remembering things I’ve learned from Seane, and I noticed I kept quoting her as I talked to friends. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, I opened the Ultimate Energy Cleanse information booklet, and effortlessly decided that now was (finally) the right time. I felt no fear or worry, but surprisingly, I was excited!
I have about 10 days before I set off for another month of travel, so the timing seems good for my schedule. I did need a couple days to stock my kitchen with Cleanse-friendly products like Grade B maple syrup (is it really that different from Grade A, I wondered, as I compared the prices), organic first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil (never knew that many words could be used to describe oil), and Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acid (which I’d never heard about).
So here I sit, with my morning cup of DeCaffe Roast Herbal Tea (from YogiTea), embarking upon what’s sure to be, at the very least, an interesting experience.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Loving my Korean roots!
**If you can't be bothered with all the hyperlinks but want to see my latest photos, click here.
An nyoung ha se yo!
Most of you probably know that that means "Hello!" in Korean. =)
Life has been super sweet and super blessed here in Asia. If you've caught glimpses of my Facebook or Twitter updates, you know that I've been traveling around a lot. Most recently, I spent 10 days in Korea. This trip included my brother MYK's performance at the Epik High concert, an interview with Joongang Ilbo (a major Korean newspaper), and a family getaway to Jeju Island. Oh--- and my uncle is now Prime Minister!
The interview / article about me is obviously in Korean, and I will do my best to try to translate it, but as my Korean vocabulary is rather limited, it will likely take awhile. If there's anyone who'd be interested in translating it for me, please let me know! ;)
To my boyfriend's delight, I returned to Hong Kong freshly inspired to (finally) try my hand at cooking! I've somewhat successfully made some Korean dishes (thanks to my mom and my brother's stellar girlfriend, Jung Mi) and some of my best friend Julie's dishes (veggies and noodles for Pad Thai soaking as I type).
It's been 2 months since I left Pure Yoga, and I have been living my once thought to be far-fetched dream of teaching yoga around the world. I now add Amsterdam, Shanghai, and Beijing to my list of cities where I've taught, with Sydney, Wellington (New Zealand), and hopefully other locations to come. I'll be sharing more details about this adventure very soon!!
With big love,
Leah
An nyoung ha se yo!
Most of you probably know that that means "Hello!" in Korean. =)
Life has been super sweet and super blessed here in Asia. If you've caught glimpses of my Facebook or Twitter updates, you know that I've been traveling around a lot. Most recently, I spent 10 days in Korea. This trip included my brother MYK's performance at the Epik High concert, an interview with Joongang Ilbo (a major Korean newspaper), and a family getaway to Jeju Island. Oh--- and my uncle is now Prime Minister!
The interview / article about me is obviously in Korean, and I will do my best to try to translate it, but as my Korean vocabulary is rather limited, it will likely take awhile. If there's anyone who'd be interested in translating it for me, please let me know! ;)
To my boyfriend's delight, I returned to Hong Kong freshly inspired to (finally) try my hand at cooking! I've somewhat successfully made some Korean dishes (thanks to my mom and my brother's stellar girlfriend, Jung Mi) and some of my best friend Julie's dishes (veggies and noodles for Pad Thai soaking as I type).
It's been 2 months since I left Pure Yoga, and I have been living my once thought to be far-fetched dream of teaching yoga around the world. I now add Amsterdam, Shanghai, and Beijing to my list of cities where I've taught, with Sydney, Wellington (New Zealand), and hopefully other locations to come. I'll be sharing more details about this adventure very soon!!
With big love,
Leah
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Surfing the Vinyasa Wave with Simon Park + Julia Horn
My latest article as posted on The Source Asia.com.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Latest photos
Monday, June 8, 2009
9 June 2009: Awaken to Your Truth
I recently wrote an article for Hong Kong's Namaskar magazine about bringing more global consciousness into our daily habits, in an effort to embody our vision of a cleaner, healthier world, both within ourselves and expanding to our greater, tangible planet. In the article, I suggested replacing disposable plastic bottles with a more sustainable option, such as SIGG bottles. In response, a good friend and fellow yogi // truth seeker suggested that actually, SIGG may not be the best recommendation if a clean inner world is what we’re looking to create and maintain. She directed me to Real Green Girl’s blog, and since then, I have somewhat unsuccessfully been trying to unearth the mystery surrounding a debate that apparently has been ongoing for several years, completely unbeknownst to me – and I’m guessing, unbeknownst to most of us. (Unbeknownst is such a good word, I just had to find a way to use it twice!) (Thrice!)
I am not a professional researcher of facts (is that an actual job, I wonder?), a scientist or chemist; I am also not affiliated to any company that manufactures any sort of bottle, sustainable or not, toxic or not. I am simply a yogi, and to me, that means I seek the truth…I do my best to choose the middle, enlightened way closest to nature…I strive for balance…I try to keep my heart and my mind open.
I think it’s important that I share the above with you, so you know what inspired my amateur quest into all of this, and also so you can understand the nature of my so-called research and resulting suggestion to you. So, here it is…
Real Green Girl is adamant that SIGG is not trustworthy. A further read into her two blog entries dated 21 July 2008 and 6 October 2008 (which include external links and comments) will help you understand where she’s coming from, and perhaps even inspire you to do your own research, which is what I have been doing.
SIGG has never been transparent about what the inner lining of their aluminum bottles are made of. Aluminum, of course, has long known to be toxic, so in order for SIGG to make aluminum bottles, they need to line the interior with something non-toxic (or so one would hope). In January 2008, the President of SIGG, Steve Wasik, publicized a letter explaining that the formula of the lining was a secret because their 3rd-party supplier/producer of the formula had SIGG under contract to keep it confidential, to prevent copycat production. I managed to find a morsel of illuminating information through a company that sells SIGG products (and that assured me via email that SIGG was absolutely safe). This company notes on their website: “The special SIGG lining is not plastic - it is a micro-thin epoxy.“ Oh. Okay…but, what’s an epoxy?
Let’s hold that thought for a moment.
So, SIGG is adamant about having to maintain confidentiality regarding their formula, and perhaps on one hand, we can all understand that; it’s why patents and trademarks exist. What seems suspect is that after they made such a big deal about not disclosing their formula, in January 2009, they went and changed it! Devil’s Advocate would postulate that they changed it in response to the conscious public’s problem with their secrecy, and the ensuing suspicion that epoxy might be a fancy way of saying plastic. Plastic, of course, is currently under fire for being toxic, which is the reason a company like SIGG, offering (supposedly) non-plastic, reusable bottles has risen. According to the President’s update letter, their new and (supposedly) improved liner is called the SIGG EcoCare Liner, and he cites “innovation”, “technological advance”, and “sustainability” as reasons for the change. This new liner is “a bake-on, polymer powder coating.” Oh. Okay…but what, now, is a polymer?
Wiki says that epoxy IS a polymer, so even without understanding the chemical composition of these substances, I wonder if the liner perhaps hasn’t essentially changed? Could it all be clever marketing to confuse the average consumer who doesn’t understand this vocabulary? Wiki’s epoxy entry states: “Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A” (aka “BPA”, aka the major culprit of toxicity in plastic!). According to Real Green Girl’s research, this synthesis results in an amber-colored solid. Furthermore, Wiki lists the common uses of epoxy and polymers, and these uses include paint, adhesives, and plumbing sealants.
(Ew.)
My friend and I inspected the inside of our SIGG bottles (I have four in my home!), and found that my older bottles have an amber-colored lining (possibly the result of the aforementioned synthesis of epichlorohydrin and BPA?) whereas her newer bottle has a silver-colored lining. It could be that hers has the new EcoCare Liner, which possibly is a true improvement, but I personally still don’t feel good about “bake-on polymer powder coating.” It’s like that Breyer’s ice cream commercial, where the ingredients are all words you can pronounce, such as “vanilla” and “milk”, as opposed to the ingredients of less natural brands of ice cream that list chemical names or codes of artificial flavorings and additives.
Sure, SIGG bottles may have undergone “independent” “testing” to ensure no “detectable” leaching, and an “independent” “PhD” may have offered his endorsement of these tests, but I can’t help but be reminded of those cheesy infomercials I used to watch when I was younger, totally convinced that a vibrating exercise belt was going to give me a six-pack if I just wore it around my belly for a few minutes a day. That “independent” “doctor” promised it would work...
So, now what?
I would love it if SIGG were more forthright and clear in their communications, and I wish I could believe their claims of safety and sustainability. But as I run all of this through my own personal filter of what feels right or wrong, I am leaning towards the latter. And I’m totally bummed, not only because I own several SIGG bottles, but also because I have been urging my loved ones to get their own. It seems SIGG has been exploiting my world of yogis and other health-conscious people, whilst they themselves may not be so conscious.
Still, I am aware that I may not really know what I’m talking about. So I offer my personal thoughts to you, and ask you to now move forward with what resonates with you. Perhaps we look in places other than Whole Foods and take Real Green Girl’s suggestion to go with Klean Kanteen’s food-grade, stainless steel bottles (or check out the 100% stainless steel options from Laken or even SIGG). Perhaps we all migrate to the mountains where we can drink fresh water from the source (but then, what about bugs and animal feces, right?!). Perhaps the only choice we can make in this situation is choosing the lesser evil.
Whatever you make of all this and ultimately decide, I urge you to run it through your own personal filter. There is so much divine and worldly intelligence within you. Awaken to that. And then think, speak, and act from that awakened place.
PS If you'd like to read my original article, please send me an email! Or download the PDF here.
I am not a professional researcher of facts (is that an actual job, I wonder?), a scientist or chemist; I am also not affiliated to any company that manufactures any sort of bottle, sustainable or not, toxic or not. I am simply a yogi, and to me, that means I seek the truth…I do my best to choose the middle, enlightened way closest to nature…I strive for balance…I try to keep my heart and my mind open.
I think it’s important that I share the above with you, so you know what inspired my amateur quest into all of this, and also so you can understand the nature of my so-called research and resulting suggestion to you. So, here it is…
Real Green Girl is adamant that SIGG is not trustworthy. A further read into her two blog entries dated 21 July 2008 and 6 October 2008 (which include external links and comments) will help you understand where she’s coming from, and perhaps even inspire you to do your own research, which is what I have been doing.
SIGG has never been transparent about what the inner lining of their aluminum bottles are made of. Aluminum, of course, has long known to be toxic, so in order for SIGG to make aluminum bottles, they need to line the interior with something non-toxic (or so one would hope). In January 2008, the President of SIGG, Steve Wasik, publicized a letter explaining that the formula of the lining was a secret because their 3rd-party supplier/producer of the formula had SIGG under contract to keep it confidential, to prevent copycat production. I managed to find a morsel of illuminating information through a company that sells SIGG products (and that assured me via email that SIGG was absolutely safe). This company notes on their website: “The special SIGG lining is not plastic - it is a micro-thin epoxy.“ Oh. Okay…but, what’s an epoxy?
Let’s hold that thought for a moment.
So, SIGG is adamant about having to maintain confidentiality regarding their formula, and perhaps on one hand, we can all understand that; it’s why patents and trademarks exist. What seems suspect is that after they made such a big deal about not disclosing their formula, in January 2009, they went and changed it! Devil’s Advocate would postulate that they changed it in response to the conscious public’s problem with their secrecy, and the ensuing suspicion that epoxy might be a fancy way of saying plastic. Plastic, of course, is currently under fire for being toxic, which is the reason a company like SIGG, offering (supposedly) non-plastic, reusable bottles has risen. According to the President’s update letter, their new and (supposedly) improved liner is called the SIGG EcoCare Liner, and he cites “innovation”, “technological advance”, and “sustainability” as reasons for the change. This new liner is “a bake-on, polymer powder coating.” Oh. Okay…but what, now, is a polymer?
Wiki says that epoxy IS a polymer, so even without understanding the chemical composition of these substances, I wonder if the liner perhaps hasn’t essentially changed? Could it all be clever marketing to confuse the average consumer who doesn’t understand this vocabulary? Wiki’s epoxy entry states: “Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A” (aka “BPA”, aka the major culprit of toxicity in plastic!). According to Real Green Girl’s research, this synthesis results in an amber-colored solid. Furthermore, Wiki lists the common uses of epoxy and polymers, and these uses include paint, adhesives, and plumbing sealants.
(Ew.)
My friend and I inspected the inside of our SIGG bottles (I have four in my home!), and found that my older bottles have an amber-colored lining (possibly the result of the aforementioned synthesis of epichlorohydrin and BPA?) whereas her newer bottle has a silver-colored lining. It could be that hers has the new EcoCare Liner, which possibly is a true improvement, but I personally still don’t feel good about “bake-on polymer powder coating.” It’s like that Breyer’s ice cream commercial, where the ingredients are all words you can pronounce, such as “vanilla” and “milk”, as opposed to the ingredients of less natural brands of ice cream that list chemical names or codes of artificial flavorings and additives.
Sure, SIGG bottles may have undergone “independent” “testing” to ensure no “detectable” leaching, and an “independent” “PhD” may have offered his endorsement of these tests, but I can’t help but be reminded of those cheesy infomercials I used to watch when I was younger, totally convinced that a vibrating exercise belt was going to give me a six-pack if I just wore it around my belly for a few minutes a day. That “independent” “doctor” promised it would work...
So, now what?
I would love it if SIGG were more forthright and clear in their communications, and I wish I could believe their claims of safety and sustainability. But as I run all of this through my own personal filter of what feels right or wrong, I am leaning towards the latter. And I’m totally bummed, not only because I own several SIGG bottles, but also because I have been urging my loved ones to get their own. It seems SIGG has been exploiting my world of yogis and other health-conscious people, whilst they themselves may not be so conscious.
Still, I am aware that I may not really know what I’m talking about. So I offer my personal thoughts to you, and ask you to now move forward with what resonates with you. Perhaps we look in places other than Whole Foods and take Real Green Girl’s suggestion to go with Klean Kanteen’s food-grade, stainless steel bottles (or check out the 100% stainless steel options from Laken or even SIGG). Perhaps we all migrate to the mountains where we can drink fresh water from the source (but then, what about bugs and animal feces, right?!). Perhaps the only choice we can make in this situation is choosing the lesser evil.
Whatever you make of all this and ultimately decide, I urge you to run it through your own personal filter. There is so much divine and worldly intelligence within you. Awaken to that. And then think, speak, and act from that awakened place.
PS If you'd like to read my original article, please send me an email! Or download the PDF here.
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