What is yoga to you?

Yoga to me is...

• To attain what was previously unattainable – every change is yoga (and life).
• Attentiveness – being in the moment 100% to be the best you can be in whatever you are currently doing.
• “To be one with the divine” – Anything that brings us to the awarness that there is a higher being and something greater then ourselves.
• Asana - the physical pose.
• Pranayama (breath)

I encourage those who practice yoga, (if you have not already) to open your mind not just your body. To me Yoga is not* just the physical, that is just one of the building blocks to the core of what yoga can bring to your life.

Here is a quote by B. K. S Iyengar from Light on Life

" Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit the broken pieces together. Yoga allows you to find a inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life. Yoga allows you to find a new kind of freedom that you may not have known even existed. To a yogi, freedom implies not being battered by the dualities of life, its up and downs, its pleasures and its suffering. It implies equanimity and ultimately that there is a inner serene core or one's being that is never out of touch with the unchanging, eternal infinite."

My BFF

Need I say more.

A C V

Apple cider vinegar - this stuff is off the chain with benefits, no lie!

I personally use it for my acid reflux, yes! I did say for acid reflux.

Here's the deal! ok so your stomach makes this stuff called "Hydrochloric acid" HCL. Which it needs to break down the food. etc. But what happens 90% of the time with people who have reflux, their bodies are not making enough HCL which in return causes this off balance and in a round about way causes heartburn, GERD etc. So what do we all do? grab for a Tums, or Prevacid, etc which are a "catch all" they either stop the acid production or slow it down (keep in mind you are already low on HCL, usually) So over time damage sets in from not having HCL. You need this to breakdown your foods so you can absorb your nutrients. Protein being the biggest absorbing problem. Now here is where ACV comes in, the acidity in vinegar from apple cider makes the LES lock up to protect the esophagus from acid reflux and rebalances the acid level, which is important for the body in the process of digestion. You might ask "why go to all this trouble, just take the drugs" and that choice is up to you. But keep in mind pharmaceuticals have side effects and you can not be on them forever. Actually, they have not even done studies on the long term effects of these drugs.

I recommend taking a teaspoon mixed with about 3oz of water with your biggest meals and anything that you know irritants your reflux. If you are having a hearburn "attack" then I suggest, 2 teaspoons of ACV and 2 teaspoons of honey in 8oz of warm water.

Also you can go to any health store and pick up HCL tablets. The goal in all of this is to help wake up your body so it starts producing its own HCL. And for those of you who are actually producing to much acid, you will know as soon as you try this.

check this out

Hey Hey for Tempeh!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces tempeh
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed and chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered chipotle (or a couple pinches of cayenne)
• 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa or brown rice (optional)

Cut the tempeh diagonally into 4 triangles. If possible, thin those triangles out by slicing each in half horizontally - 8 triangles total. Set the tempeh aside while you make the maple marinade by combining the soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, garlic, and chipotle powder in a small bowl. Reserve a few tablespoons of the marinade to use later as a drizzle.

Place the pieces of tempeh flat in a large baking dish. Pour the remaining marinade over the tempeh. Make sure the tops and bottoms are coated and marinate for anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 days, flipping occasionally.

Grill the tempeh on a medium hot grill for a few minutes on each side - Brushing all the while with the marinade remaining in the bottom of the baking dish. When the tempeh is a toasted, deep, maple-y, golden brown remove and enjoy on a sandwich, over rice, or however you like.

Serves 2 - 4

Dali Technique

Years ago, an old friend had a mad obsession with Salvador Dali. I often recall a story she told me about how he found inspiration for a lot of his work. It was a technique that included a spoon and REM sleep. He would fall asleep in a chair, hold a spoon and drift off into oblivion.... and before he could hit REM he would drop the spoon and immediately get to work. Having full memory of his dreams=surrealism. Here is a article going into more detail. I adore Dali and find him to be one of the most inspiring artists of the 20th century. I have visited several of his museums all over the world, which brought me much joy! I have yet to try this inspiring technique but! it is on the "to-do" list.

Balls of energy!

I love, love these little guys! they are so filling and give you energy! You can make a batch and have them ready for when you are on the go or want the 2pm pick-me-up. The base of these guys are Dates*-which are power-packed energy nuggets, filled with nourishing carbohydrates, fiber and naturally occurring sugars, which are quickly assimilated in the body. They are also an excellent source of potassium. This is considered a "raw" snack so yes you are getting all the yummy benefits you are promised!

So Enjoy! Bon Appetit! <3

Energy Balls

Ingredients:
2 cups dates, chopped (or you can also use some raisins, cranberries, prunes, apricots)
2 cups nuts (I used walnuts, almonds and sunflower seeds, but pecans, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias also work well.)
Dash of cinnamon
Sesame seeds for rolling (optional)

Directions:
1. Set out a few sheets of parchment paper and a Tupperware container (you will have very sticky hands when you’ll need this)
2. Place the dates and /or other dried fruits in a food processor. Pulse until processed to a paste. Transfer paste to a medium bowl (don’t clean processor).
3. Add the nuts to the processor and pulse until finely chopped (see photo above). Add the nuts, along with the cinnamon, to the bowl with the fruit paste. Use your fingers to knead the nuts into the paste (this is the fun part – kids love it too!)
4. Taking small amounts at a time, shape the kneaded fruit dough into small balls. You can roll the balls in sesame seeds, which will prevent the balls from sticking together, but this is optional. I like the crunch it gives and the extra boost of calcium never hurts!
5. Store in layers, in parchment-lined containers in the refrigerator until you set off on your next energy-intense adventure!

Rise and Shine!

Who needs an alarm clock when you have one of these. I woke up yet again to this little face standing over me. Incessant little thing, although it would not be a complete morning without those persistent meows. <3