Pamela Kalechofsky, New York

I am a movement artist, whether it be dance, yoga, sound or bodywork — I move energy. My life’s work is to be of service & I want to assist people in finding their happiness. I believe we can do it through movement & various other practices.

Veganism is another fold in these layers. I was about 11 when I connected what eating animals is — masticating flesh & consuming something that was once alive & now is dead. No thank you.... But I was an unhealthy, unguided teenager who struggled with anxiety & depression, chronic allergies, & eventually cancer. I was lost but through the dark, I discovered an all plant-based, Vegan, chemical-free, gluten-free diet. Every allergy left & my mind cleared. With diet & other practices, I became bright, energetic, & happy! When we practice ahimsa for ourselves & our habitat, the universe around us changes. 

Every day I say prayers. I try to eat mindfully & feel the energy of the food. I do most of my own cooking, thinking creatively about dishes, & hope in the future I can do a lot of my own growing. I think it’s important for us to understand & acknowledge, rather than just consume. When we eat without awareness that is when problems occur, which we can see both on personal levels & global scales.