Hipster Yogi Rainbeau Mars tells us about fashion, peace and loving your Mother Earth

Rainbeau Mars isn't just about yoga, though she hasn't lived a day in her life without practicing it in some form (yes! Even in the womb!). This fashionable, fabulous yogi who has a set of original DVDs is, at her muscular core, about wellness, happiness, and goodness, for our bodies and our planet. We caught up with Rainbeau as she's launching her new line for Adidas to get her tips on practicing green, yoga, and kindness. Check out her inspiring answers, cool clothes, and meaningful mantras!

How and why do you think teens like us can or should incorporate yoga into our lives?
Be on the lookout for the best thing I've ever created, the ra'yoKa overview, to be released this summer. The ra'yoKa system incorporates some elements of martial arts movements and core conditioning as well as yoga. When one learns the tools of ra'yoKa (integration through the sun), they will find that they can apply these helpful alignment visualizations and points to whatever practice, sport, job or relationship they are in. Play ra'yoKa [DVD] anytime, anywhere. Check out the Internet, read some cool books and come ask me questions on my website. It is my greatest pleasure to share with teens the benefits of yoga that, thank goodness, brought me the tools I need to be the best version of myself.

When did you first discover yoga? How did you know that you wanted to make a career out of it?
I first discovered yoga when I was a little girl, watching my mother practice. I also experienced it while she was pregnant with me. I remember being five and sitting in Lotus and at age 10, standing on my head to watch the Disney Channel. My parents used to make fun of me and tell me they would send me to live with the bats.
I really did not make yoga part of my daily routine until I turned 17, when Woody and Brett Harrelson brought me to a class on a movie set. I was secretly insecure and body conscious and started to realize yoga?s spectacular results in my beauty and mind/body connection. When I was 19, my life changed with yoga because I needed it to balance out the chaos that I found in Hollywood.
I never meant to make a career of yoga and was the only one in my teacher's training class to not raise my hand, when asked if I wanted to teach. However, I was sought out to lead a class or teach people private lessons, and I could not deny them because I wanted to share the gift that had changed my life. Yoga, by definition, means union, so my job is to continue to become more of who I really am and less of who I am not and to share the secrets with people who want to connect with the world.

Do you keep any mantras you can share with us? Any philosophies on life and fashion?
"We are the ones we've been waiting for."
"If not now, then when?"
"Not my will but the greater highest will be done."
Just like our house is a representation of our selves, so is how we take care of ourselves, what we wear, buy, how we dress. How we do one thing, is how we do everything, so I am always in the process of refining myself, my style, my life and home.
Beauty begins from the inside and works its way out. When we feel good, we look good -- eating good food, dressing in comfortable, beautiful clothes.
To be hip, fashion should be flattering as well as good for the planet. That is what I have done with the Rainbeau Mars signature line with adidas, which you can buy at shopadidas.com . The fabrics are made from sustainably harvested eucalyptus and organic canvas and recycled rubber shoes. Feel good about what you wear and you will have more peace of mind and more light in your eyes.

You also work as a life coach! What are three pieces of advice you wish you could impart on the world?
1. THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB YOU HAVE IS TO BE YOU. Find your truth, separate from influences from your friends, or even parents. What are you passionate about? What makes you happy? Where do you feel good? Not from a place of validation, but from your heart.
2. By giving you receive and by receiving we give. Life is not just to give you things, but also what you can offer, so what is your offering?
3. Let what you do be what you LOVE. No matter what that is feel good, be healthy, take care of yourself and practice everyday, listening to the voice inside of you that will keep you lined up with your truth. And I have a number 4! Take care, eat organic food and focus on your best features until they are all your best.

Did you ever get teased as a kid about your name? Or did everyone think it?s as cool as we do?
Oh yeah, I was called Rainbow Brite. She was a cartoon character that saved the world. Now I think that would be cool, but back then, I did not. Also, I was called rainblow (like the bubblegum) or people would ask me where the pot of gold was. If I was being antisocial and boys asked me my name, I said Jennifer. Thank goodness, I had a bigger sister that made me a little more popular, but I had embarrassing moments, because my mother was the town flower child and herbalist. Looking back, I wish I had spent less time caring about what others thought of me and just being glad for what I had, because now I realize my parents are the coolest people I know. Enjoy your lives now, while you are at the most epic carefree time of your life. I am glad that I understand it now, while I am still young, but trust me, 16 is pretty amazing, if you can shine and be grounded now, you have the best opportunities in the world, so do YOGA ra'yoKa to help with that.

Do you think Yoga and eco-responsibilty are related? How?
Yoga means union -- first with ourselves and then with all things -- not just our families or friends and communities, but the world and planet so there is an interconnection within all things. As we treat the world, so it treats us back. Respect, care, love and support come back as we put it out there.

You are so insightful! We're in love with you! Tell us more! I could go on and on for ever! But what I want to say is to stay connected, to hold on -- don?t let go. I am here for you always! E-mail me or join me at a class or come hang out at an event.
I want to say, that I am you and you are me and we are it. I am so deeply inspired by having already been a role model to lots of teenagers and am moved to tears -- because of you, things on this planet could change. Don?t ever underestimate the power that lies in your hands, and do not wait for someone else to show or tell you about it.
Do not wait to find your validation from anyone else, but find it in the silence of your own heartbeat and on the mat. Take the time you have and donate yourself to charitable events that support the goodness of the planet and travel as much as you can, so that you can really know that wherever you go, there you are and at the heart, we are all the same. WE ARE ALL ONE. The celebration has begun and its time to have some fun.

Posted on: Fri Apr 24, 2009