Gratitude- great response

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

As I reflect on the year, I realize how truly blessed I am! I have an amazing daughter, my family,and my friends and all of you!

What can I do to make a difference?
This year rather than a traditional secret Santa, I asked my yoga teacher trainees if we can do a helpful secret Santa.

1. Each person drew a name (secret, of course)
2. Each person will bring in a non perishable item that represents their secret person.
3. Of course, they will share why they chose that particular food item.
4. Finally, all food will be donated to a soup kitchen.

My contribution: I will also contribute 6 items. One for each person in the training. Our gift represents compassion for others during this holiday season.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~Dalai Lama

HOT CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE!

A friend from IIN loves this smoothie and guess what- it keeps your waistline in check and also keeps you body moving- so to speak!

So if you love chocolate like I do- try it!

Healthy Hot Chocolate Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Cocoa Energizing Protein
1 Cup Hot Ginger Tea
1/2 Cup Low Fat Milk*
2 Tbsp Raw Cacoa Powder**
1/2 Cup Mixed Berries or Apple
1/4 Cup Coarse Bran
1/4 Cup Raw Oats
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1. Add all to blender and drink. Be careful with the hot liquid!

Milk alternatives: hemp, almond, coconut, or rice milk..or none at all
Use Navitas Raw Cacoa Powder from Whole Foods/Health Food Store

ENJOY! Let me know what you think!

Autumn Vegetables

I love this recipe. It's quick and colorful like the fall season!

GINGER ROASTED FALL VEGETABLES
1/4 cup olive oil

10 carrots, peeled large sweet potatoes , scrubbed, and peeled

2 red onions, peeled

1 small acorn or butternut squash, peeled

1/3 cup fresh ginger root, cut into narrow strips

salt and fresh ground pepper

juice of 1 orange

2-3 tsp fresh ginger root, finely diced
Parsnips and red potatoes can be added to the mix.

Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.

Put the olive oil into a medium-sized roasting pan and heat it in the oven for 5 minutes.

Cut the carrots in half, cut the onions into 6 wedges each, cut the squash and potatoes into fairly large chunks.

Put the vegetables and 2 tsps ginger to the hot oil, add seasoning.

Roast for 40 – 50 minutes, turning the vegetables halfway through the cooking time.

When vegetables are cooked, remove them to a serving platter and keep warm.

Pour the orange juice into the hot pan and stir in the remainder of the finely diced ginger. Season to taste and pour the sauce over the hot roasted vegetables

Ginger helps to reduce inflamation, treat colds and calms your stomach. I am ready for some ginger tea!

Yoga yoga yoga!

This weekend, I spent the entire weekend with my new teacher trainees. WOW! Talk about being immersed in the process. I love it and can already see some of the changes they are making. All good, of course! Love teacher training and getting to know students in a different way!
Well anyway, they are very sore but feel like they are accomplishing alot and now they have a ton of homework! The book they are reading this month is "Instructing Hatha Yoga" 5 chapters and homework plus asana practice.
So after teaching the same 15 poses this weekend, my regular classes had yoga classes to strengthen their abs. Groaning but worth every single plank!
Looking forward to Friday night and spending the time teaching the trainees poses that are related to the 2nd chakra. Stay tuned-more to come!

If anyone is interested in kirtan and live in central Jersey, we are hosting a kirtan on Saturday, October 10 at 7 PM in E.Windsor. Contact me for info!

KALE CHIPS YUM!

I haven't baked kale chips since the teacher trainees graduated from teacher training but I was actually craving kale this week. It is an all around healthy and delicious veggie.
Most of the time I steam the kale and add fresh tomatoes and oregano topping brown rice with the mix and thats dinner - it's quick!

Try kale chips and eat them warm from the oven!
1 bunch kale
olive oil
fresh or dried dill
sea salt
Yup 4 ingredients!

Rub each leaf with olive oil
Place on a cookie sheet
Bake for 20 minutes until the kale is crispy
Sprinke with dill and a little sea salt

Thats it! Everyone that has tried them, really liked them!

By the way, if you only eat raw, put the kale in a dehydrator and then add the seasoning.

Shopping!

Many of us love shopping and I am no exception!I have learned to make shopping for good food fun! It's not only about eating greens but look at the colors, the textures, the smells of the various food.

This morning my client wanted to learn more about eating healthy. I jumped at the chance to take her shopping for this weeks groceries. She was so excited because she is learning a ton about organic food, locally grown food as well as foods that will make her feel great inside and out.

4 bags and 2 hours later we finished our shopping.

The best part was that I also did health counseling to and from the store. I can tell you this is a great way to bond with each other and have a good time!

Your kitchen has the answer...........

Run out of lotion, products not working as well as you like, want to save money?


The ingredients are in your kitchen!


Do you have itchy, flaky or dry skin?

1 cup coarsely ground sea salt
¼ cup olive oil
Stir oil into salt.
Save time and exfoliate and massage your skin in the shower
It only takes 2 Tablespoons of mixture rubbed on your skin
Rinse completely
Repeat weekly. (store the remainder of the mixture in a glass jar in a cool dry area).
If you want the mixture scented, add 6 drops of lavender essential oil to the mixture before using.

Puffy, tired or irritated eyes.

2 chamomile tea bags
1 cup distilled water
Boil distilled water. Add tea bags, and steep until water is lukewarm.
Remove bags and squeeze out most of the water.
Place bags over closed eyes for 15 minutes.
Important: If you have ragweed and/or hayfever allergies, do not use this preparation.

and the seasons go round Transition!

This morning, as my yoga class centered with breath, I spoke about transition.
The yoga of life!



Begin to notice the transitions from the food eaten, the climate, your physical activity and most important-your breath.


Yesterday, summer moved to autumn, even though it was 80 degrees today, and feels like summer, we are still transforming to a new a wonderous season. The leaves are changing from green to many beautiful colors. This change is always breath taking.



The food we eat changes...........

The summer brings an abundance of local fruits and vegetables in all shapes, sizes and colors. They are delicious and I always miss them when the season is over. Then the fall comes and colors and flavors of apples, pumpkins and squash show up. (orange of the 2nd chakra-hmmm) So my biggest dilemma is: what do I do with fall fruits and veggies? Remember I am new to cooking!



Breathe Relax Feel and Allow

As we sat on our yoga mats, we move from our very hectic lives to the softness and quietness of our breath and the calmness of our mind. I watched my students settle into their breath and witnessed their transition from the outer world to their inner world. As a yoga teacher, watching my students with awareness, I am always in awe of the transition that takes place and many times in just 75 minutes. Incredible!



I love the awareness in this hectic world and seeing the changes that happen as we continue to transition from season to season, day by day and sometimes minute by minute!

OIL Pulling

This is the strangest modality(method) I have ever heard but it is actually good for you!

Oil pulling is based on ayurvedic principles and for the last 10 days, I have been swishing oil in my mouth to get rid of a tooth infection. It is crazy but it is working! The dentist said that I am healing faster than he thought I would. Oil pulling pulls the toxins out of the body.

It is said that teeth are whiter, tooth infections disappear or are less, more energy, healthier digestion and more relaxed and sleep has improved.

I am going to try it for another month and will let you know how I feel!

Happy swishing and yes it is not the most pleasant! (infact, it sounds disgusting!)



OK so this is what you do.

1 tablespoon of sunflower, coconut, sesame, or flax oil. (cold pressed if you can)
I alternate between sunflower and flaxseed.

Swish in your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes and get rid of it.The oil will turn white when you are finished swishing.

Please don't swallow it because it contains toxins.

Rinse with warm water

Brush your teeth.

Do not eat for 4 hours prior to swishing!

Yoga- My passion!

Yoga has changed my life and with gratitude for the practice I am able to share my gift with others! Everyday, as I step on my mat as a student or a teacher I still feel that same passion that I felt 15 years ago when I realized that yoga is much more than an exercise program. Funny thing is that the awareness surfaced at my corporate job and I actually stopped and said "who are you?" Today, I can actually say, I like this me much better than the management me! I now get to manage my life, my schedule and my passion!
In August, my first group of teacher trainees graduated from the training program and I am so proud of them! They were amazing and as new teachers, they are already out there teaching. Graduation photo!

On Friday, I started the next 200 hour training and I am looking forward to watching their growth and changes over the 6 month period. I can tell already they are committed to their practice and open to all their experiences, together as a group and as individuals

Transition is inevitable for all of us but witnessing with compassion and awareness is an experience I will not forget as we move through the poses, the breath, yoga philosophy, anatomy and meditation. Huge accomplishments while finding the serenity within!

MORNING PAGES

In order to retrieve your creativity, you need to find it. I ask you to do this by an apparently pointless process I call the morning pages.........Julia Cameron

Julia Cameron is an amazing, creative person and during the 2 hours she spoke at IIN, I made a conscious decision to try morning pages. Today, I look forward to writing every morning.

What are morning pages?
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. Guess what- it doesn't matter what you say, how you say it and it is all yours. Keep it to yourself!

How have they helped my life?
I look forward to writing every morning and start my day on a positive note because I let go of what I could have held on to all day. I let the thoughts go and flow on to the pages in my journal.
And guess what, my hips are smaller so I must be releasing the old fears. THANK YOU morning pages and Julia Cameron for your wisdom.

Book: "The Artist Way" Check it out if you like to write or journal. Enjoy your creative journey.

Have I Become a Cook?

When did this happen? I never cooked before..........

I was the queen of pizza and processed food and now I am am cooking delicious greens, grains and whatever is in season because I also belong to a CSA and support my local farmer!

Cooking for myself, of course, AND my clients. Yes, my clients are asking me to cook for them as part of their health counseling sessions, and like I was, they are afraid of the kitchen.

What's is on the menu this week? Peppers, tomatoes, basil, eggplant and zucchini.



End of Summer Veggies over Pasta

Dice 6 tomatoes and green red and orange peppers

Thin slices of zucchini and eggplant

Mushrooms

1 clove of garlic

1/4 to 1/2 cup of olive oil mixed with balsamic vinegar (to taste)

1 box of quinoa pasta



Saute peppers, eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms in olive oil, 1 clove of garlic in the balsamic oil mixture until soft.

Add tomatoes, basil and fresh ground pepper and cover and simmer until tomatoes are tender.

While veggies are cooking, cook quinoa pasta.



Spoon over pasta.

What about protein? Add white beans or diced chicken to the vegetable mixture.

Great food- Great benefits!

• Disease Fighting food and delicious too.
• Eggplant: Rich in vitamins and minerals, the skin contains an antioxident called nasunin that protects the cell membranes. (I will talk about this in another post) Eggplant is known to protect against cancers, viruses and cholesterol issues.
• Bell peppers and tomatoes: The colors alone make one feel happy because of their vibrancy so you can imagine how the body sings! Both contain lycopene that help prevent cancers and are known to lower cholesterol.
• Zucchini is a super source of manganese and vitamin C plus magnesium, vitamin A, fibers, potassium riboflavin and phosphorous.

Try this recipe while the veggies are in season and let me know what you think!