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.
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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,
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