Interview with Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath

Gorgeous raw vegan yoga girl Kath provides abundant inspiration in this fabulous interview with Loving-It-Raw.com in June 2011.

In this wonderful interview, we talk about pregnancy, childbirth, raising her child Oceana on a mostly raw diet, eating as much as you care for and living a high vibe fruity lifestyle.

Kath is a yoga instructor and hosts yoga retreats that are entirely raw every month on a beautiful beach in Australia. A fabulous retreat with raw food, surfing and yoga is right up my street and it is now firmly on my wish list to attend one of these! I think I'll put it on my vision board, it's a must do!

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Can you tell us about yourself? Age, where you live, occupation, etc?

I live in harmony with nature, the seasons, the moon, the currents and tides with my 3.5yr old daughter Oceana Rose. I'm at home anywhere my feet touch the earth, usually flowing between Sunshine Coast and North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, North Queensland and Bali. I am 31yrs alive, following my Dharma (life’s purpose) teaching dynamic Vinyasa yoga, ecstatic dance and live food health. I share this journey with anyone who wants to join the bliss flow or visit Samadhi Yoga Retreat.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Can you tell us about your dietary progression, i.e. was it from vegetarian to vegan to raw? 

2yrs Vegaquarian (inc fish), 1yr Vegetarian, 5yrs Vegan, 1yr Raw Vegan, 4yrs Low fat raw vegan

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What led you to veganism?

Ethics, knowledge (dairy and eggs inflict suffering on animals) and health (cows milk is for baby cows)

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What led you to becoming raw?

The quest for super health and energy to be the best mother I could be!

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: How long have you been following a low fat raw vegan diet?

4yrs (with short periods of including small amounts of whole cooked vegan foods)

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: How did you find the transition to a raw diet? Did you struggle with any aspects of it? Is there anything you still struggle with?

It was a natural transition and felt great. After the first 3 months I went through a healing crisis, a series of flu like symptoms that was made worse by the stress of doing it alone (make some raw friends!). Learning where to source the best quality organic fruits in BULK was the biggest obstacle. Tip: invest in a wagon for the markets.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Are you now 100% raw or do you eat any cooked food items occasionally? If so, which cooked items do you include?

I'm 95-100% raw. I occasionally include some whole vegan cooked foods (2 x week) including steamed vegetables, an ayurvedic curry made with love or some whole spelt pasta or sprout bread. This is usually just when the weather gets cooler or eating at a friend’s house.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What benefits have you experienced from the raw food diet?

Energy, energy, energy!!! Clarity of mind, higher connection to nature, super immunity, clear sinuses, strong teeth and shiny hair, sweet body odor, little menstrual flow and little discomfort, strong body and amazing friends. 

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What do you eat in a typical day?

Breakfast: 6 bananas, ¼ watermelon

Lunch: 6 bananas, 1 red papaya, big bowl greens, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, ½ avocado, 10 pepitas and sprinkles of wakame.

Snack: 3 mandarins, 6 dates, ½ pineapple

Dinner: 6 bananas, 2 fresh figs, Asian salad with greens, carrot, capsicum, ½ avocado and mango
(around 3000 calories)

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: How much exercise do you do on a regular day?

8km walk or 5km beach run (alternate days), 10-15km bike ride, 1hr surf or 1hr ecstatic dance, 2hrs dynamic yoga and running after my super energetic daughter all day.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: How long have you been practicing yoga? 

9yrs of bliss!

Has your athletic performance and recovery improved as a result of vegan raw foods? Please give details.

Yes! Pure fruit = pure energy. I’m fitter, stronger and have more energy now age 31, than before I had my daughter at age 26. I've also noticed, that I have almost no muscle soreness or fatigue after intense exercise.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you tend to keep track of roughly how many calories you eat per day? If so how many calories do you generally eat per day?

I don’t count calories, just eat till I feel full and satisfied. But just for fun, my non- vegan, 6ft tall, 90kg brother calculated my cals on his Iphone app and I got over 3000. He nearly fell off his chair.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Did you ever have any excess weight?  If so, when/how did this resolve?

I’ve always been very active and a healthy weight. Excess weight has only ever been an issue when I’ve substituted complex carbs with fats for fruit, because cooked carbs taste really good with avo or olive oils. Not a good habit to get into.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Some woman are afraid that if they eat a high carb/low fat diet with unrestricted calories, that they will become fat.  What would you say to these women?

I eat over 3000 cals a day because this is what my body needs to perform. If I did less exercise I'd want to eat less. I maintain the same weight, because I’m eating to fill my needs naturally, not with artificial salted, spiced, oiled cooked foods. Fat = body fat and lethargy. You don’t want to be a fat (body fat) and tired skinny person. Just look at the photos of Freelee, Alison or myself and all the others on 30 bananas a day.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: As a woman in a society that values physical appearance, do you think the raw food diet enables you to look your best?

Absolutely! If you want clear skin, bright eyes, shiny hair and a strong lean body, high fruit is for you

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: You have an absolutely beautiful daughter, what are your thoughts on parenting as a raw vegan?

It's simple and challenging at the same time. Provided you have all the correct information regarding raw food nutrition for children (it differs slightly from adults), it can support a very healthy happy child. Oceana loves coconuts, olives and pecans. However, the biggest challenge is letting go and allowing your child to choose intuitively what their bodies need. Obviously, the optimum choices would be raw or cooked whole vegan foods depending on your beliefs.

Very important parts of growing up are experimentation and feeling included. If I let go and allow my child to have strawberry sorbet out with friends once in a while, although not ideal dietary wise, it’s a way for her to explore the world, her health and her own likes and dislikes.

Below: Oceana

I constantly talk to my daughter about what food does in our bodies and to our minds. She knows what healthy fruit sugar is and what “white death” sugar is. I’ve taught her the truth about the meat and dairy industry and will continue to educate her to the very highest of my knowledge. However, it is her choice (when away from the home and my watchful eyes) to eat what she feels like. Oceana maintains around an 80% raw diet.

This independence means she will be better equipped to make wise, intuitive and healthy choices as she grows up and is away from me.

Every day I watch my daughter play, smile and grow into a beautiful strong healthy woman and know it’s because of the living foods Mother Nature has given us.

What benefits did you notice through pregnancy, childbirth etc from your lifestyle?

I had a very healthy pregnancy and my body was prepared for an intense long labor and a peaceful childbirth at home.

Below: Kath's pregnancy yoga DVD

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you think a raw food diet enables us to reverse or limit the signs of aging?

Yes, because we are not adding to the toxic load in the body and eating nutritionally dense, alkalizing, cleansing and mineral rich foods, especially greens.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you feel there are spiritual benefits to a raw food diet and lifestyle?

When you become raw and more aware of what you are eating, you start to treat your body like a temple. This is a perfect place to tune in to the subtle energies all around us. From this place of peace and purity, it’s just natural to be more connected with the universal spirit, Mother Nature and consciousness of love.

What are your thoughts on emotional eating?

Food is matter with a specific vibration. If you eat raw, organic, high vibration food, it will help you to feel high. Other factors can influence our moods such as sleep, sunshine and fresh air. If we feel emotional, sad or depressed, then eating fruit definitely helps, as simple sugars fuel the brain. We reach for carbs for comfort because it gives us energy. But complex carbs can cause other problems if eaten in excess, so fruit is always the way to go.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Are there any foods or aspects of a less healthful lifestyle that you miss? If so, how do you deal with this?

I don’t miss anything. Now there are organic farmers markets, raw food meet- up groups and live food cafes popping up everywhere being raw is easier and more fun than ever!

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you ever make compromises with your food choices, i.e. while travelling or during winter etc? If so, what kind of compromises and what effects do these have on you?

As I already mentioned, I will very occasionally have small amounts of cooked vegetables in winter, but I try to avoid this by going to the tropics in winter and living in a sub-tropical environment. Steamed vegetables don’t affect me much, maybe sometimes gas, but any cooked grains block my sinuses and make me feel acidic. So, I only eat these if desperate and try not to stress about it. I am human after all.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What inspires you to continue in a raw lifestyle?

A Raw lifestyle brings paradise health that leads to freedom and peace and provides the energy to help all living beings enjoy the same. The raw lifestyle has the least impact upon the environment and doesn’t harm any animals.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Tell us about your yoga retreats! 

Based on sacred, sub-tropical North Stradbroke Island, Australia, surrounded by lush coastal forest and abounding with whales and dolphins, turtles and dugongs, we take people to find their true nature…Bliss!

The daily flow is based around sunrise and sunset Flow Yoga, synchronized with Soul Freedom massage, healing and movement meditation sessions to balance and open the chakras. Package also includes: delicious healthy organic low fat raw vegan meals, raw food health seminar and discussion, twin share beach bungalow accommodation, free swim, snorkel and surf time, ecstatic dance party, music and mantra and more... The retreats are monthly and go for 2N/3D. For enquiries email: kath@samadhiflowyoga.com or for more info see samadhiflowyoga.com

Below: Awesome raw vegan food at Kath's retreats!

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you take any supplements, i.e. B12? Why or why not?

If I am growing all my own greens and eating them unwashed, I do not need B12, as micro-bacteria from dirt make it. If I am traveling or not getting my own greens then I take a B12 supplement.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What would you say is the best thing about eating raw foods?

Energy!

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What do you think is the most challenging aspect of this lifestyle?

At first being raw can be socially isolating, but with time you’ll find the balance between old and new friends.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: How do you find socializing on a raw diet? Do you go to restaurants, or socialize around food?

Socializing can be difficult at first, especially if you are hungry and people are shoving cooked food in your face. I find just eating lots of fruit before I go to friend’s houses or taking big delicious salads with me really helps and my friends love it too! I don’t usually go to restaurants unless they are raw or vegetarian. Picnics are a regular, every weekend occasion for us.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: How do you feel about the raw food movement as a whole?

There are so many great raw food teachers with a lot of heart and soul; however there is a lot of misinformation out there. Trust your intuition and listen to your body. Cacao can be dangerous if misused; it is a natural drug and is best used ceremonially. Also, high fat raw mostly fails long term.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What would you say is the biggest factor in your success?

Organic farmers markets…I love my “slow” banana lady Di. Also, I give thanks for the support from the 30BaD community and my local Raw group “Sunny Coast Raw”.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What do you think is the biggest challenge most people have with sticking with a raw food diet long term?

They lack raw friends and support.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: What advice would you give to someone just starting out with raw foods?

Read Dr Doug Grahams book: The 80/10/10 Diet join 30 bananas a day, and go to farmers markets.  Go easy on yourself - if you eat cooked foods today, don’t stress, and just eat more fruit tomorrow.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you tend to just take it day by day or do you think you'll be on a raw food diet for life?

Raw for life!

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Do you think a raw food diet would be good for everyone?

Yes, as long as you take it slowly, listen to your body and have support.

Raw Vegan Yoga Girl Kath Interview: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Love your body, love your mind, and set your spirit free!

Wow, what a fabulous interview. Isn't it wonderful to have the powerful reinforcement from all these fabulous empowered, strong women, that you don't need to restrict, you don't need to 'go on a diet', by contrast you can enjoy abundance when you're eating the right foods: a high fruit, low fat raw vegan diet.

When you're eating the right foods and eating enough for your needs, you will rediscover the child inside you, the one that would rather run than walk, that would rather be IN the sea, swimming/surfing/bodyboarding than lying on the beach, that would rather be IN the race than watching from the sidelines.

So, definitely check out Kath's website to find out more about her yoga retreats and her awesome yoga DVD's! And maybe I'll see you at a retreat one of these days!

We've only got one life, LIVE it!

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