Extraordinary Health Magazine EH Magazine VOl 32 | Page 38

Jason’s routine on the road reflects his conscientious attitude. Each morning, he finds a space to relax into his restorative yoga practice, taking up to two hours to rebuild his energy and reconnect to his vocals. Then, he likes to wander to a local coffee shop and blend in with the locals, to participate in the gratifying ritual of drinking tea, juice, smoothies or coffee. By reconnecting with himself in this way, Jason prepares for the day ahead, ready to face whatever comes with ease and grace. On Touring & Performing This year, Jason’s tour schedule doesn’t accompany a new album release. Instead, he’s “finding freedom as I play around with new material, inviting musician friends, trying new things. One of those new things was joining the cast of the Broadway musical, Waitress, for 10 weeks beginning in early November of 2017. “It’s been a thrill to be on stage night-after-night and help people have an emotional response and evoke laughter.” Eating healthily while on tour has gotten much easier over the years. “In 2001, there were few options for local, organic, vegan food. Now people can count on more access to more food.” When dealing with a cold, he uses “a tincture of echinacea, vitamins C and D, and spicy foods such as garlic, ginger tea and peppers.” When he’s feeling better, he likes “smoothies made with avocado, bananas, coconut water, almond milk and berries.” On Organic Sustainability Jason Mraz Singer, Songwriter, & Avocado Farmer ORGANIC SUSTAINABILITY PERMEATES JASON’S LIFE, FROM THE TOUR BUS TO THE HARVEST TABLE. by Kimberlee Ferrell In between tour stops, Jason took a moment to rest his singing voice and discuss his avocado farm, his organic chocolate bars, and his restorative approach to life, both at home and on the road. Expanding beyond basic diet and exercise, he seeks out the natural medicine found in the local flora to boost his immune system while on the road. 36 Vol 32 • Extraordinary Health ™ Organic sustainability has made a huge impact, both on Jason and his fans. “People who mentally thought they couldn’t live their dreams have seen me, a regular kid pursuing the dream, and it is possible to quit and pursue a new career. Physical transformations also, with a new diet their skin glows, they’re more muscular, their smiles encourage me to keep going.” In his own life, he “has seen 100% improvement. When I started, I had fast food, cigarettes, beer and soda. I was sick a lot, would lose my voice a lot, be frustrated a lot. In 2007, I more consciously turned to a vegan diet, with yoga and smoothies. This brought big energy, overall health improvements, better skin look & feel. I believe I look younger now, turning 40, than I did when I first started performing.” from the trees he added to his farm. Milk Chocolate Masterpiece, although “not quite vegan friendly,” has toffee, sea salt, and 38% milk chocolate. Coffee Shop is 66% dark chocolate, and “tastes just like the cinnamon latte I make my wife every morning.” Mrazberry is 77% dark chocolate, with raspberries, strawberries, and hibiscus, for the true dark chocolate lover. On Healthy Living Every 12 to 18 months, Jason goes to the doctor to get his blood work done, noting any particular vitamin deficiencies. Then he adjusts his Garden of Life® vitamin regimen to pick up the slack. Currently, he takes mykind Organics Men’s multivitamins, and Oceans 3 Better Brain Omega-3 fish oil, which he finds to be essential when eating a low or no meat diet. To those who want to improve their eating habits, he says, “Everyone’s lifestyle is different, so start anywhere. Learn in the process, discover what you need. We know what kinds of things are bad, such as doughnuts for breakfast and sugar-loaded coffee. They catch up to us, as stored fat and energy displacement, whereas whole foods have a different energy. Recognize the temptation of processed foods, and reach for the natural alternatives. Create the possibility to make good choices.” Jason’s Life Approach Jason’s approach to life is illustrated best through this anecdote: “In 2003, I was asleep on the couch in the front lounge of the tour bus. We collided with a peanut truck, which flooded the entire front half of the bus with peanuts and broken glass. We couldn’t use the front door, so we all had to climb out of the window and wait for a charter bus to continue on our way. We were all alive and okay, no one was hurt. But it reminds you, that it’s not all in your hands. You have to trust the people you hire, but also have faith in something greater. I don’t consider myself religious, but I pray every time before I fall asleep on the bus, and I feel better.” On Avocado Farming When Jason bought his home, along with a 30-year-old avocado grove, he decided to take responsibility for the trees, going through the process of becoming certified organic. Now, he has diversified his farm to include over 40 different kinds of fruits, from the three 3,000 trees he has planted. He has learned “so much about biodiversity and maximizing space. With urban farming classes, anybody can grow fruits and vegetables anywhere. This could completely transform the hunger and economic crisis.” He sees neighborhoods “taking baby steps in this direction, with school and community gardens.” On Organic Chocolate Bars Jason once wrote a song about chocolate, and the “rich medicine inside the cacao bean.” After marrying his herbalist wife Christina, he noticed that there was always chocolate in the house. He decided to develop three varieties of organic chocolate bars, Vol 32 • Extraordinary Health ™ 37