One of my favorite yoga instructors in New York City is Elena Brower. If you’re still looking for the motivation to get to a yoga class, just drop in Elena’s on Saturday mornings (but get there early because there’s always a line) and be prepared to join the cult-following.  She also happens to be one of the most famous and well-respected yoga instructors today, a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher and is the founder and co-owner of Virayoga in New York City, the Global Adidas Ambassador, and a mom to 4-year-old Jonah. Elena is one of those rare people who walk the talk. And despite the zen path she’s chosen, she faces the same challenges we all do–staying calm, balancing a busy schedule, and speaking her truth. Everything she teaches, she is also learning. This inspires her work every day, which she shares with us here.

J: What are the top reasons to practice yoga?

E: Number one, so that you get time to see yourself communicating with your body, which will hopefully inspire a quality of patience and listening to every conversation that you have. For example, lately, even one pose is going to change the way I respond to my kid or to my man–otherwise I’ll just blow up. So to me, that’s number one. Number two, because your nervous system and immune system will thank you. Number three, so you can see yourself in relationship to a teacher–and taking that beyond your yoga teacher and seeing the teacher in your spouse, your child, your parent.

J: What is the ‘art of attention’?

E: I created the website, The Art of Attention, and chose the name because I wanted to embody what it means. I felt that if I used this name to describe the work I’m doing, it would take me closer to living the art of attention. I so desperately lose attention so many times and want to get better and better paying attention and not let the animal take over.

J: What lessons have you learned in 2010? And what are your intentions for 2011?

E: In 2010, I learned that I really do have to be honest a hundred percent of the time. In 2011, I want to conquer the self-doubting inside of me; I’m going to accomplish this by telling the truth at all times–even when I have doubts. I believe that telling the truth can make that belief or issue I’m holding onto disappear.

J: How do you balance owning a yoga studio, being an Adidas Ambassador, teaching a 10,000 person yoga class in central park, and being a mom to a four-year-old?

E: I don’t do well but I’m trying all the time. I just have to really give attention to what I’m doing at any given point. And it’s really hard for me, so that’s what I’m working on. When I’m cooking, I’m cooking; when I’m teaching, I‘m teaching.

J: What projects are you currently working on?

E: One of the most exciting things I’m working on is with YogaGlo. The teachers on the site are offering their best work and it’s reaching students all over the world. Christina Sell and I are working with Yogaglo on a new project called YogaConvo, which will include conversations and practices around the reality of yoga and how it impacts our daily lives. It will be for both teachers and students, and I’m inspired because of its relevancy and raw quality. The idea developed from our long phone chats, and we thought our reflections would be helpful to others. So to share that kind of conversation between two people where there’s a lot of respect and creativity is really exciting.

J: What’s your favorite food?

E: A combination of white and red quinoa with blanched kale and squash, carrots, zucchini, or brussel sprouts. I top it with a white miso, olive oil and citrus dressing, and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. It makes me happy and if I eat this once a day I never get sick.

We’re expected to grow up and get with reality, which usually entails a certain type of job, relationship, timeline… you know the story. But while it can be scary, when we do what is true to us, life is much easier in the end. What happens when we keep dreaming? Enter Casey O’Connell, a woman who is very in touch with her inner child and has succeeded at the two most difficult things in life: becoming a successful artist and following her passion. After landing her first gig in San Francisco five years ago, moving into Hotel des Arts for a month and painting room 405, which appeared on the front page of the New York Times, and surviving well, life, she is continuing on her journey–which is where we come in. Reaves Gallery is hosting Hope Echoes, an autobiographical journey of O’Connell. Join the beautiful Casey tomorrow evening for  her debut solo exhibition and experience a personal journal in bold, bright paintings rather than words. Prepare to fall in love: you’ll need to clear some space on the walls because you won’t be leaving empty-handed!

Here, a revealing and inspiring interview with the talented artist to whet your appetite for tomorrow’s opening:

J: There’s something to be said about ‘letting go’ and following your dreams–syncronicity happens and everything falls into place with coincidences and serendipitous moments. How has this played a role in your life?

C: I am a huge believer in everything happening for a reason. Coincidences happen to me all the time and I feel that if I were not going after what I was meant to do, that would be less so–I feel so lucky to know this is my path. Even though being an artist has its challenges, it’s because of the syncronicity that I know this is what I’m supposed to do. The craziest coincidence happened just recently. When the New York gallery asked me to do the show three months ago (it’s usually a year and a half in advance), I didn’t know if I could do it in time. I thought, I’ve got to do it–it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I know I won’t sleep or eat for three months, so I wrote my friends to let them know I’ll be missing for three months and the email subject was the Beastie Boys’ song, No Sleep Til Brooklyn. After three months of 18-hour days painting, we drive the U-Haul from Savannah and arrive in New York City. The minute after we finished unloading the paintings–No Sleep Til Brooklyn came on the radio (see the actual moment here). It’s probably one of the most special moments of my life. There’s a fine line between being courageous and letting the fear creep in. Even if everything flopped, I knew at that moment I was supposed to be there–when you get those moments, it’s all worth.

J: What are the defining moments that led to your success as an artist?

C: Five years ago, I was living in New York walking dogs, submitting art everywhere with tons of rejections. I decided to submit to the West Coast and the very first yes was from John Doffing of START SOMA Gallery in San Francisco. He invited me to a group show where my art was not even chosen to hang on the wall, just stacked on the floor leaning up against the wall, but it sold out before the show even opened. Over night, it was a whirlwind of a year with show after show. Doffing was first to believe in me and one of the greatest supports I’ve had in getting to where I am now. It only takes one yes for anything to happen.

J: When I first discovered your art a couple years back, I felt the inner child in me stir. Your work has been described as an autobiographical journey and the artist and subject matter is a self-proclaimed “12-year old girl trapped in a woman’s body” –how has this evolved from when you first began? Is she growing up? Are there pieces of her you want to keep?

C: That’s an amazing question. She’s definitely growing up–especially this past year, which was really awful and a lot of unfortunate things happened outside of painting. It was the first time I was really changing–that eternal optimist was being challenged. For me, the struggle is that I don’t want to lose that innocent side of myself and become jaded, but I feel like I need to know that it’s okay to look at the world in a more realistic way. When I was a child, I escaped into my own world a lot and I carried it into adulthood. I’ve had to come to terms with the reality that life isn’t this crazy fairytale and when things or people don’t turn out the way I thought they would, I can’t escape into that world whenever that happens. It’s a daily struggle because I don’t want to walk around bitter and jaded, but I know I need to be more realistic about life and people. I think that the work itself is my inner dialogue and it’s interesting because there’s a documenting of the evolution and I’m able to connect with people through it.

J: What is the story you’re telling through your work?

C: I didnt even realize it until painting for the New York show because I started out trying to be cool and being something I thought people would want.  So, I ended up painting over every single one of them because I can only paint for exactly what is going on in my life. I’ve never planned a painting beforehand–it’s really just about whatever is happening in my life. I paint the first layers blindfolded to shut off the inner critic, so that I am able to get out what’s really going on inside me. My past two shows have disappointed people because they love the romance in my past work, but my relationship with my boyfriend ended this year, so the girl is single–I can’t paint a couple right now. It’s honest but embarrassingly so because my work is like a journal and I can’t hide it. It’s who I am and in the long run, looking back I’ll be able to see it all, so I need to embrace this.

J: What is the feeling or experience that gives you the most inspiration in your paintings?

C: No one’s ever asked me that. It’s hard to explain… it’s like that extra second, that pause before you kiss or right after someone laughs. It’s still in the air and not yet a memory, but it’s that in between moment, that isn’t visible. I can feel it when it happens and I see it and it overwhelms me in such a way–those moments are the reasons we’re here and do what we do but they’re not the typical generic moments. I always thought prom was the biggest moment in highshchool but it’s the time hanging out in the parking lot before. That’s the real moment–you havent planned it or photographed it. If I can capture all that, I feel human–those are the human moments and not these glorified events.

J: What is your vision for your life ten years from now?

C: I think about that all the time because I believe in putting it out there. I definitely have to have a house that is large with floors I can paint on–and be allowed to do that. I do believe I have someone super special out there who will be perfect for me and we’ll have a little family and I’ll just be painting every day. It’s weird because the part where I struggle is that art has always come first and that hurts a lot of people. It’s my first love and I really want so badly to find that balance. It gets very hard because they know that they come second and I believe it would work with the right person–I want to be able to have both. James Franco would be perfect, if he’s available. He’s very smart too and he does art! Man, this could be perfect.

While the debate over whether or not coconut oil is ideal to consume due to its high percentage of saturated fats (those also found in eggs, cheese, and red meat), there is no questioning its place in our beauty arsenal. Coconut oil is one of nature’s best moisturizers–rich in emollients and restorative while fighting free radicals. The top three best ways to use this naturally delicious smelling product:

Remedy for parched and overprocessed hair. A go-to for super soft strands and a healthy head of hair. Coconut oil penetrates hair with its relatively small molecular structure and provides essential proteins that nourish and repair hair. A water-based conditioner will only mask the damage rather than repair. The instant shine is the biggest perk, but this one is sustainable since the coconut oil retains moisture, leaving locks quenched long after treatment.

Soothes a dry or irritated scalp. As the cooler months kick in, so does the dry skin–and it’s not just our legs and arms that suffer. Using the coconut oil as a pre-wash conditioning treatment can banish flakes (and even dandruff) because it contains lauric acid, an antimicrobial agent, and leaves our ‘do smelling like the beach rather than a medicine cabinet.

Fights aging and moisturizes skin. Coconut oil helps fight free radicals because it’s high in antioxidants, which reduce and prevent aging. While most body moisturizers are predominantly water and lack any antioxidants, coconut oil is packed with protective antioxidants, which softens skin, prevents damage and promotes healing. The best part is it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy residue.

Bonus: Moms, coconut oil has been used in India for years to ward off lice. Keep that in mind as the little ones head back to school!

Here, a simple at-home coconut oil hair mask to perk up your locks and make you a coconut oil-convert, whether you’re a fan of using this oil in the kitchen or not:

Brush hair first to get any kinks or knots. Apply a generous amount of coconut oil (I buy mine from Whole Foods, their 365 brand is divine!) to dry hair and comb through.

Wrap hair up in a towel and heat with a hair-dryer until warm. Then sit back and relax for an hour. I also like using a plastic shower cap to lock in some heat, and leaving the mask on for 1-2 hours.

If your hair is in need of some long term TLC, go ahead and sleep with the treatment in. Just remember to put down a towel as not to ruin your linens.

Rinse, wash, and follow with your favorite conditioning rinse. Do this once a week, and your hair will thank you.

By Kat Feldhouse, Writer in New York City and lover of all things beauty.

By now, we’ve all slathered on something ‘natural’ and it wasn’t always pleasant (either the Patchouli scent or the lack of absorption or texture made us cringe and never go back). So, it was with reluctance that I first tried Pangea a couple years ago, for Allure’s Best of Beauty testing. Turned out it was better than anything I’d tried in a long time. Among all the products I’d been through over the years, not only was this one amazing, but it was organic. My favorites–Pangea Organics Body Wash (it’s so concentrated that I shave with it and the essential oils moisturize) and Pangea Organics Facial Scrub (skip the spa–this scrub leaves an instant glow). Staying true to what the brand stands for—the packaging is biodegradable and embedded with seeds to plant and grow a tree. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, everyday packaging accounts for 1/3 of landfill waste. Nothing slips by Joshua Onysko, Pangea’s founder. He also happens to be from my hometown, so I’m extra proud to write about his products in this post. Here, the man himself speaks about why organic beauty is important.

How was Pangea conceived?

Before leaving for India, I was at my mom’s house visiting, and there was a coffee table book called “Making Handmade Soap.” she’d never made any so I thought it would be a nice bonding activity–we made a batch and gave some to friends and family and the rest is history!

Why is organic important?

In beauty products, organic ingredients have 35% more antioxidants than conventional products; antioxidants are the only proven way to stop premature aging. A large problem we face in the cosmetic industry is that it’s completely unregulated—which is scary, because there are 119,000 ingredients being used in skincare and only 10% of those ingredients have been tested. Zero percent of them have been tested in combination with each other or what you would call ‘cocktailing’. The average woman has 129 chemicals a day in her beauty regimen. Skin in the largest organ in the body and it absorbs 87% of what goes on it. Bottom line: If you can’t pronounce it and wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.

Bonus: One tip for all those budding entrepreneurs?

Loosen the grip and strengthen the understanding.