By David Romanelli, Intent

My first step into becoming truly “green” was when I bought a Toyota Prius back in 2005. I was one of the first in Arizona to own a Prius and people would say, “You’re gonna have zero chance with the ladies driving this piece of sh-t,” or “If this thing weren’t a hybrid, it’d be a freakin’ potato on wheels.” Now of course, the Prius is a defining image of the green movement. And as much as I’d like to say I’m a green revolutionary because I had a Prius early on, I’m really not. I try to recycle, and bring a reusable water bottle to yoga class, and buy green laundry detergent. And I try to pick up trash on the road, and use fluorescent bulbs, and limit my use of paper. But the other night my girlfriend (younger than me) scolded me for using 3 sheets of paper towels to wipe my hands…just as I scolded my mom for not even having a recycle trash basket in her home…just as my mom scolded my grandma for denying global warming as a reality.

And I realized something… the Green Movement is still very much a generational movement. For it to really take hold of everyone (not just the youth), it needs to hit people in the heart. Being green is not just a list instructions to follow. It’s a feeling, a philosophy, a vibration. As was so beautifully stated in the movie The 11th Hour, “The deterioration of our planet is an outward mirror of an inner condition.” To truly “go green” is a statement of union with the world on the outside and the world on the inside. You protect trees, skies, and seas — but you also protect the mind, body, and spirit. Here are some tips on going green that you might not see in your local paper:

1. Protect the present moment.

Just 20 years ago, people smoked on airplanes, cars spewed dirty exhaust, and people didn’t think twice before dropping a soda can on the street. Now, if you did any of the above, you’d probably hear people hootin’ and hollerin’! But the fact is that we pollute the present moment the way we used to pollute the environment. We answer the cell phone while engaged in conversation with someone in the same room. We return emails while ordering coffee at Starbucks. We drive while sending a text message. The present moment is the arena where life happens. In other words, all you remember in life are moments. If the moment is uncomfortable and filled with obstructions, you’ll never have deep and moving life experiences. If you really want to go green, first and foremost, live in the moment.

2. Tap your brain’s potential.

A human being can utilize a mostly untapped and “clean source of power” from their very own brain. According to The Einstein Factor by Win Wenger and Richard Poe, the human brain can store up to 280,000,000,000,000,000,000 bits of memory. And estimates of the brain’s speed of operation have ranged from 100 to 100,000 teraflops (a teraflop is 1 trillion flops, the standard measure of computing speed). In comparison, the world’s fastest supercomputer operates at only 100 billion flops. By learning to quiet and harness the mind, whether by yoga, conscious breathing, or a 10 minute nap, we significantly enhance our efficiency and appreciation for life.

3. Harness the wind, ride the current, and surf the wave.

There is a natural “current” described throughout the ancient Eastern spiritual arts. The yogis call it prana, the Chinese call it chi. Some refer to it as a wind, the breath, the sea. When a great song’s melody sweeps your mind up and away, that is the current. When you dip into a sweet Savasana’s magical ascent, that is the current. When the perfect plate of penne amatriciana brings your taste buds into an ecstatic joyride, that is the current. By riding this current, you are swept into opportunity, synchronicity, and happiness. By not taking time to enjoy life, you resist the current and, no matter how hard you work, there’s always a sense of struggle. So quiet the mind, still the body, live in the moment — and go green.

Ready to save the planet? Post your green intent and blog about your green successes and struggles, tagging your posts “greener life.” We may feature your post in this series!

David Romanelli travels the country presenting Yoga + Chocolate, Yoga + Wine, and Beautiful+Funny+Delicious workshops teaching how everyday passions (chocolate, wine, music) are accessible gateways to the present moment. His debut book, YEAH DAVE’S GUIDE TO LIVING THE MOMENT, will be released by Broadway Books/Random House in March 2009. Visit his website www.yeahdaveyoga.com.

Intent.com provides content and community for who you aspire to be–personally, socially and globally.