At Root2Rise we use Andi Lynn’s Elderberry Syrup in our Get Well NOW juice to offer a huge dose of immune support! This juice has 370% of your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C!
Our bodies rely on collagen as a structural protein; it is found in bone, muscle, skin, and many other body components. Collagen itself is made up of various proteins (amino acids) in a multitude of combinations and functions. Our bodies produce collagen, but can also absorb collagen consumed in the diet. Studies have shown that portions of dye-tagged collagen peptides showed up in the skin and ligaments of the participants. This means that their bodies utilized the collagen as a source of dietary protein for energy and body repair.
Most people should be able to get an adequate amount of collagen by consuming a balanced and varied diet. However, as we age collagen stores decline so it may be beneficial to add a supplement. One delicious and comforting way to do that is with bone broth. You can make your own (be sure to use grass fed bones from a reputable source) or you can purchase some of our homemade bone broth at Root. Another easy option is adding hydrolyzed collagen to your daily coffee, tea, juice, or smoothie. At Root we like Great Lakes brand. It’s made from grass fed and pasture raised beef, contains 11 grams of protein per serving (2 tablespoons), and dissolves beautifully in any liquid. Try it in our brand new Collagen Shot (strawberry, orange, coconut water, and collagen), which is part of our Summer Lovin’ juice 6-pack! Get one today to support your body, especially your skin, through the sweltering summer months!
In honor or Earth day we want to highlight a way that Root2Rise has been doing our part to reduce waste and create a more sustainable future. As a café and juice bar we are responsible for immeasurable amounts of waste in the form of cups, bowls, utensils, straws, napkins, etc. This is the cost of doing business, especially with our “Grab + Go” concept. At the same time it is a major value of ours to do what we can to reduce our impact and limit our use of conventional, finite, or non-renewable resources.
Our main solution to living into this value is Eco Products, “A green company that happens to operate in disposables.” They make our Green Stripe® juice cups from plant-derived resources like corn and sugarcane. Our plates and bowls are also made of renewable plant ingredients and our plastic lids are made from recycled material. While our straws are 100% compostable, we know that they still can pose harm for some of our curious creature friends so we have made it easier to go “straw-less” by offering cups with sip lids. These lids are part of the Green Stripe® line and were specially designed for a clean drinking experience to minimize spills and splashes. Through products like these we are able to provide healthy options for our community in attractive and environmentally friendly disposables.
For more info on Eco Products check out their story, for more on helping us make the world a greener place check out https://www.epa.gov/sustainability.
Ellen Daigle Doskey and Anna Doskey
A native of Houma, Ellen Daigle Doskey is a dedicated wife and mother, a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School, Loyola University, and LSU Law School, a district attorney and she is also a Root2Rise yogi! She has always been committed to maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. Growing up, her father was an avid runner and her mother was either gardening, riding bikes with Ellen and her sister or teaching the girls to play basketball and softball. Ellen’s parents inspired her at a young age to run, and it became her “exercise of choice” throughout life. Although she took a few breaks here and there, running has always been her “go to” for exercise and as a stress reliever in life as a busy mom, wife and attorney.
Ellen has tried many forms of physical fitness to supplement her running such as aerobics, group fitness classes and weight-lifting; however, her practice of yoga has become the only sustainable and effective program for her: “Yoga has taught me to be present in the moment. So if I am handling a stressful case, I try incorporate what I learn in my yoga practice. Such as, take deep breaths, focus on what is before me, and to truly listen to my clients' needs. When I use these practices, I am better able to represent my clients and resolve the case."
Mother/Daughter Crescent Lunge
Presently, Ellen is extremely busy in her life and explains, “I am going through a very busy time in my life right now. I am a candidate for Court of Appeal Judge for the election on November 6th. But, I am trying to maintain my activity level - walking, running and practicing yoga, when I can. Yoga helps me stay grounded and clears my head of all the clutter and noise of everyday life.” Ellen shows up, does the work and she always leaves with a smile. Ellen’s daughter, Anna Doskey is also an active member of our yoga community. She works in our café’s juice bar after school, practices yoga and she definitely represents her mother’s strong work ethic. Ellen and Anna have a special connection and a mutual respect for one another that is evident when they practice together, "I love practicing yoga with my daughter, Anna. I believe every teenager can benefit from the practice of yoga to learn balance in their life. In today's world of constant communication and social media, it is beneficial to put everything aside for 90 minutes to focus on yourself and to learn to accept yourself as you are at that moment."
We are grateful for the strong, smart, focused and inspiring women of our community. Thank you, Ellen Daigle Doskey for allowing us to share our practice with you!
Ellen Daigle Doskey’s favorite quote:
"If you want Peace, work for Justice." -Pope Paul the 6th
Patsy Trahan is a lover of life, friends and family with an incredibly energetic, positive attitude. When Patsy turned 59, she decided that she wanted to have “buns and guns” before turning 60. One of her co-workers persuaded her to try a restorative yoga class at Root2Rise. Patsy loved restorative yoga and decided to try a vinyasa flow class. Patsy explains that she tried multiple classes and specials around Houma, but nothing compared to her authentic experience at Root2Rise. Patsy giggled and commented, “There is nothing like working really hard in a heated power yoga class and relaxing in Savasana afterward with a cold lavender towel placed on your forehead.” She expresses her appreciation for the Root2Rise instructors: “The teachers at Root2Rise really care. They give clear instruction, assist when you are out of alignment, or even need a word of encouragement or an extra push. Their inspiring words and focus on both safety and technique is exceptional.” Patsy is a strong, vibrant Root2Rise yogi who glows with positivity and inspiration. Much to our surprise, she struggled with back pain from scoliosis for most of her life, but the practice of yoga has not only given her the “buns and guns” of her desire but also relief from back pain. Thank you, Patsy, for bringing your light to our community.
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“I can tackle my emotional connection to food because I feel so good after only drinking juice for 3 days!”
By: Tami Charbonnet
Meghan Mella of Houma is a certified medical Esthetician and massage therapist who specializes in Thai massage, lymphatic drainage, orthopedic, Lomi-Lomi, and aromatherapy. Meghan is also the busy mother of a four-year-old daughter, a yoga instructor and a Reiki Master. She truly believes in the research that surrounds allowing the body to reset organically for overall mental and physical health. Meghan chose to invest in the Root2Rise Just Juice Reset because it is fresh, nutrient dense and created by a nationally registered and state licensed dietitian, Leah Porche. As a skin specialist, Meghan explains that resetting the body is also great for the skin as it rids the body of toxins. She was asked to document her personal experience throughout her Root2Rise 3-day Just Juice Reset experience, and her results are no less than inspiring.
Day 1
Meghan felt energetic and did not experience food craving at all. Her energy declined after noon, but after drinking the carrot-beet juice, she felt energized. She felt content and ready for sleep at the end of her first evening.
Day 2
Day two was the most difficult day. She had a morning headache and was both moody and hungry. However, her feelings were not enough to overpower her will to continue with the reset. Meghan explains that she shifted into an “emotional detox.” She stayed strong through moments of weakness from practicing yoga and studying philosophies that helped her mindfully persevere in discomfort. She explains that her lifestyle of studying yoga and holistic modalities allowed her to respect that the “discomfort will not last forever.”
Because she had several moments of high stress at work, she felt discomfort and the temptation of emotional eating. She resisted, and her headaches went away around noon. She was still uncomfortable, but able to get through her evening routine.
Day 3
Meghan awoke full of energy and continued to have energy all day. She giggled and said, “I was craving the R2R Kale Storm salad, but I knew I could have it on on Friday!”
“As an experienced ‘cleanser,’ the organization of the Root2Rise Just Juice reset helped me control my cravings.” Meghan lost 10 pounds, and noticed that after her 3 day reset, she no longer craves unhealthy foods and sugars. She also feels empowered; “I can tackle my emotional connection to food because I feel so good after only drinking juice for 3 days!”
Amy Danigole is a brilliant biologist, dedicated wife and loving mother who is also a Root2Rise power yogi. She has been happily married to her husband Michael for 17 years, and she has an 8 year old daughter who is full of life and love.
Amy explains, “health and fitness have been a priority of mine for most of my adult life. (Which it’s safe to say “adult” now that I’ve accepted being 40….haha!) I’m a pretty active person. I enjoy running, cycling, hiking, and anything that will get me active outdoors. Because I like to run, yoga first showed up in my life as a way to stretch and combat running injuries. Now, yoga is an integral part of my life.”
Amy is a cherished member of our Root2Rise community, and we are honored to watch her transform into the best version of herself. Our community is strong, centered, fun and focused because of the support we receive from dedicated inspiring members such as Amy Danigole.
“I am grateful for the instructors and community at Root2Rise for exposing me to the tools I needed for growth. I hope to continue to be open to change and meet life as it happens. I believe that we can all come into our greatness. It’s important to be open to change, and commit to taking time for yourself. It’s truly all we have. “ –Amy Danigole
Join our lovely, grounded and powerful instructor, Sue Verdin for Slow Flow every Tuesday at 5:45 PM and Thursday at 8:30 AM.
A Graduate of the first Root2Rise teacher training in the bayou region area, I am now RYT-200hr certified. Yoga became a part of my life over 25 years ago due to health issues. I was hooked by my very first class! It is the only pill I need for the day, and if I don’t take the pill my body and my mind let me know! I have both taught and practiced Acu-Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Bikram Yoga and Baptiste Yoga.
I currently teach Baptiste JIP and Slow Flow yoga to all fitness levels. My passion is open to all forms of yoga. I truly believe that the practice of yoga can help us accomplish our goals of total fitness. It is all we need, and gives us so much more. My desire is to share my passion and belief in the power of yoga to everyone. My goal is to be the “little ole lady” who bends like a pretzel, does phenomenal headstands, expands her practice, and continues to teach with passion. Sue Verdin
Yoga came into my life as a way to manage chronic back pain and stress. Throughout my first yoga class, I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I kept thinking “Just 40 more minutes. Just 20 more minutes…” I watched the way others were moving and thought, “I’ll never be able to move my body like that.” However, after class, I felt so good. I knew I wanted more. To me, yoga means taking care of myself. It means actively breathing after a crazy day and feeling good in my body. My career as a medical speech-language pathologist has deepened my compassion and emphasized the importance of health. I recently attained my 200-hour teacher certification and am now Yoga Alliance accredited. I teach power flow with the intention to both relax and strengthen. Life is stressful, and yoga is a place to release tension. Yoga is not a solemn, unattainable practice. It is fun and inspires personal growth! I want to help those who are suffering as I was and who are not aware of yoga as an option. My goal is to help people realize that yoga is for every BODY. - Izzy Tabor Levy
We are honored to feature this strong, beautiful and grounded yoga instructor. Lauren's power yoga classes are the epitome of mind/body power. Join Lauren at 12:00 on Wednesdays for a heated 1 hour journey into power.
I teach from my heart with both power and compassion. I have battled back pain for over half my life and found yoga to be the best form of medication. After working for years as a registered nurse, I discovered that there is so much more to healing than modern medicine. Helping others is my passion, and why I chose to complete my 200 RYT certification. I was part of the first locally sponsored National Yoga Alliance certified teacher training held at Root2Rise in Houma, LA. I am committed to help grow our yoga community. I strive to meet my students where they are and help them find strength in their weakness. At one point in my life, touching my toes was impossible. I challenge my students to be open for new possibilities both on and off the mat!
-Lauren Boudreaux
by: Tami Charbonnet
Mr. Louie Breffeilh feels both happy and healthy at the wonderful age of 73. Louie moved to Houma in 1978 with my family as a purchasing agent for a local shipyard. Louie explains that in August of 2016, he developed chronic lower back pain. One of his running buddies asked if he thought about trying yoga. She was a member of ROOT2RISE and told him to give it a try. He exclaims, “I called and made an appointment with co-owner of R2R, Shantelle Abshire, and I have been absolutely hooked ever since. Yoga helped my pain almost immediately. The classes have also helped other muscles in my body and they have made me stronger and breath properly. As in high school and college, I’ve had my share of favorite teachers. In my two years as a member of R2R, some have come and gone, but each replacement has brought their own unique talents."
Louie has been active since he was 16 years old, “I have been involved with weight lifting, running for 45 years, spinning for 14 years, walking, yoga for 2 years. I also try to stay on a healthy diet, specifically the Mediterranean Diet that works for me. I will continue to exercise and practice yoga because of the phenomenal health benefits it provides.”
Mr. Louie adds, “My advice to others is to eat healthy, do what your doctor tells you, and try to exercise and practice yoga daily. “
Louie’s Favorite inspiring quote:
“TO BE PERFECTLY OURSELVES IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL ASPIRE TO, BUT THE PATH THAT LEADS US TO THE-BEST-VERSION-OF- OURSELVES IS THE PATH OF PROGRESS.”-Louie Breffeilh
Eagle Pose
As a life-long avid tennis player, yogi and fitness fanatic, Triche Desonier Chouest of Houma always found time to fit exercise and clean eating into her lifestyle. However, the past few years have taken Triche on an incredibly beautiful yet more health challenging route. Triche and her husband, Dino travel the world, but often find it difficult to eat super healthy and stay fit. Triche was actually driving to New Orleans to find juice cleanses before she realized the amazing fresh juice reset available at her fingertips less than a few miles from her Houma residence:
“My experience with juicing from Root2Rise was nothing short of fantastic. My husband and I chose to do the 3 day “Just Juice Reset.” We are always traveling and eating on the run often times causing us to just feel weighted down. Juicing came to my mind, and we decided it would be the perfect reset for our bodies. Our first day was tough. Weening off of caffeine (meaning our morning coffee routine) was one of the first huge obstacles we had to overcome. It created for a bit of moodiness and quite the headaches.
Day one was the toughest as your body is detoxing from all of the usual processed sugars and carbohydrates going in each day. When things got dire we turned to a handful of cashews or almonds to ease the hunger. Day two came with both of us feeling much lighter on our feet and very accomplished already. We knew the routine and actually enjoyed the various types of juices we got. The flavors were delicious!! The headaches eased off a bit and the motivation was high.
It’s amazing to see how well your body starts to function when you are fueling it with fruits and veggies for energy rather than “off the shelf” processed foods. Day three came for us feeling GREAT.
My husband lost 6lbs and I lost 3lbs! We were so proud and feeling like healthy eating would be much easier to achieve now that we completed such an awesome jump start. We have already recommended to so many friends and family who express interest in looking to improve their overall health and wellness and need to see that they too can get a great start from this route. We look forward to our next juicing experience from Root2Rise.”
We are excited about the fantastic results our juice reset brought to Triche and Dino!
Try it and send us your story! Here's a link for more info! http://www.root2risehouma.com/juice-reset/