This morning I made a spicy vegan corn bread and a sweet corn chowder - here are the recipes!
Corn Chowder
4 fresh ears of corn or 3 cups drained canned corn kernels
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups chopped celery or 3 1/2 cups cabbage
3 potatoes, chopped
2 1/4 cups soy milk
salt and pepper
1. If using fresh corn, scrape off the kernels with a sharp knife.
2. Melt the butter in a large pan and saute the celery or cabbage over medium heat for five minutes. Add the potatoes and corn kernels and cover with water. *You can add the corn cobs to the liquid to improve the flavor or use the liquid from the canned corn. Half cover the pan and simmer until the corn is tender.
3. Transfer the soup to a food processor or blender, discarding the cobs if they were added for flavor. Blend to a coarse puree and return the soup to the pot. Add soy milk, salt and pepper to taste. Reheat and serve.
Chunky Spicy Cornbread
2 Tbsp. flax seed
6 Tbsp. water
1 C all-purpose flour
1 C cornmeal
1/4 C sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. table salt
1 C soy milk
1/4 C canola oil
1/4 cup of corn kernals
1/8 cup jalapenos, chopped
1/3 cup of chopped green or red peppers
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and grease 8 inch square baking dish.
2. Place water and flax seeds in the blender, blend until it becomes a thick egg-like mixture.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cayenne, and black pepper until well combined.
4. Add the flax seed mixture, soy milk, and oil. Mix until smooth.
5. Add in the corn, bell peppers, and jalapenos.
6. Pour into baking pan. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
To Err is Human, To Forgive is Divine
Forgiveness is pardoning or overlooking a debt. It begins as a mental disposition but it is truly a disposition of the heart. If we don't forgive, we are the ones that truly suffer. We must learn to forgive ourselves before we can forgive others. When we sincerely want to become better we will be quicker to have insights that will allow us to forgive on a spiritual level. Remember your mistakes and learn from them but don't let them get you down. It is like the expression "Don't cry over spilt milk." You want to remember the lessons constructively and not destructively. Forgive and forget but learn.
There are many levels of forgiveness including mental, emotional, and spiritual. With mental forgiveness we arrange our thoughts in a way that allow us to forgive but this is extremely superficial. When you forgive on a mental level you will still have feelings of bitterness, it is superficial to just pardon someone. A seed of suffering will still remain deeply planted within us. With emotional forgiveness we arrange our emotions in ways that allow us to forgive. If someone hurts us it is because of the way WE see things. It is usually hurting our pride or our ego - a collection of thoughts we have about ourself. Spiritual forgiveness comes with insight we learn from the experience. It allows us to see the Divine nature of things and our hearts are full of compassion. There is no trace of emnity and forgiveness is real and not superficial. Real forgiveness is very rare; it comes from mercy and compassion. Love others as they are and don't be a fault finder. Most likely the faults you will see are your own. (It takes one to know one!) When you love others as they are it doesn't mean that you see their shortcomings and love them anyways, it means that you see them as Divine. Spiritual forgiveness is not instantaneous, it will take much time. The pain we experience when someone hurts us serves a purpose for us and the spiritual insight comes when you look upon the situation.
It is said that if you die and still have not forgiven a person then you will have to work out that karma in the next life. For example, if you die and are angry with you parents, in the next life the roles will be reversed and you will be their parents. When you are drawn to someone there is a karmic lesson waiting for you and it requires work. Most of us don't like work that much so people don't get very far and once the infatuation is over they say "bye-bye!". This causes the karma to remain instead of being worked out.
Practice forgiveness and you will become mentally strong, noble, and slow to anger. Mental strength is the amount of stress we can handle without becoming irritable. Forgiveness is the antidote for anger because it destroys it at the root. You will become slow to anger because you will not be looking for others faults, a trait that can trigger anger. When we ask for forgiveness we are actually trying to ease someone's anger. Once you forgive, truly forgive so that it cannot be recalled again - there should be no resentment.
I find the more compassion you have, the easier it is forgive. Compassion takes time to develop but like anything else, practice makes perfect! When I awake in the morning I use the following meditation:
As I awake this morning, I smile.
Twenty four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully present in every moment,
looking on all beings with eyes of compassion.
Try repeating it a few times in the morning and see how it affects your day!
There are many levels of forgiveness including mental, emotional, and spiritual. With mental forgiveness we arrange our thoughts in a way that allow us to forgive but this is extremely superficial. When you forgive on a mental level you will still have feelings of bitterness, it is superficial to just pardon someone. A seed of suffering will still remain deeply planted within us. With emotional forgiveness we arrange our emotions in ways that allow us to forgive. If someone hurts us it is because of the way WE see things. It is usually hurting our pride or our ego - a collection of thoughts we have about ourself. Spiritual forgiveness comes with insight we learn from the experience. It allows us to see the Divine nature of things and our hearts are full of compassion. There is no trace of emnity and forgiveness is real and not superficial. Real forgiveness is very rare; it comes from mercy and compassion. Love others as they are and don't be a fault finder. Most likely the faults you will see are your own. (It takes one to know one!) When you love others as they are it doesn't mean that you see their shortcomings and love them anyways, it means that you see them as Divine. Spiritual forgiveness is not instantaneous, it will take much time. The pain we experience when someone hurts us serves a purpose for us and the spiritual insight comes when you look upon the situation.
It is said that if you die and still have not forgiven a person then you will have to work out that karma in the next life. For example, if you die and are angry with you parents, in the next life the roles will be reversed and you will be their parents. When you are drawn to someone there is a karmic lesson waiting for you and it requires work. Most of us don't like work that much so people don't get very far and once the infatuation is over they say "bye-bye!". This causes the karma to remain instead of being worked out.
Practice forgiveness and you will become mentally strong, noble, and slow to anger. Mental strength is the amount of stress we can handle without becoming irritable. Forgiveness is the antidote for anger because it destroys it at the root. You will become slow to anger because you will not be looking for others faults, a trait that can trigger anger. When we ask for forgiveness we are actually trying to ease someone's anger. Once you forgive, truly forgive so that it cannot be recalled again - there should be no resentment.
I find the more compassion you have, the easier it is forgive. Compassion takes time to develop but like anything else, practice makes perfect! When I awake in the morning I use the following meditation:
As I awake this morning, I smile.
Twenty four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully present in every moment,
looking on all beings with eyes of compassion.
Try repeating it a few times in the morning and see how it affects your day!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Karma, Karma, Karma
We have finished our talks on karma with the question "Is there free will or are we pre-destined based on our karma?" Here is a summary of the discussion and some little notes of my own:
Karma teaches us to evolve. We reap the fruits of our actions with precision but there is still room for Divine grace. Grace cannot be earned or gained, it is God, it is devotion, it is absolute freedom. All spiritual traditions claim that God is love. Grace is purely God's love, we know that we don't deserve it but it loosens the bonds of karma. Grace manifests through opportunities for us to grow, not as a result. Evolution has no short cuts so we must grow through experiences.
Today as I was running I was praying to God to help me lose weight, to give me perseverance, determination, and keep me injury free. In that same moment the wind changed and started pushing against me making the run even harder. Then, some huge waves came and I was treading through water. I started laughing, I was really hoping more for fat to melt off me in the middle of the night not for my run to become more challenging! It is a silly example but we learn and grow through experiences, not miracles. We have to put in self effort. A farmer does not know if it will rain but he plows the fields and plants the seeds anyways. Rain is like the grace of God, without it there is no fruit. But, if the farmer does not put in the self effort of planting the seeds then he will definitely not get any fruit, he will just get mud!
The fruits of past actions must be experienced but there is still room for us to change how we react to these experiences. We can work with the laws of nature to remove suffering. It may be your karma to experience disease and you end up with the flu but you have the choice to suffer through it or take medicine to ease the suffering. Fighting karma is an impossible battle but you can learn to react in positive and neutral ways to prevent planting more negative seeds. The say each second there are sixty karmic seeds planted, you better make sure they are good ones! Our karma that plays out in this lifetime is like inheriting a piece of land. The size, location, and climate are pre-determined but through self effort we can make the land into a beautiful garden or a filthy dump. Destiny is your own creation through your thoughts and actions. Make an effort to plant positive seeds!
Karma teaches us to evolve. We reap the fruits of our actions with precision but there is still room for Divine grace. Grace cannot be earned or gained, it is God, it is devotion, it is absolute freedom. All spiritual traditions claim that God is love. Grace is purely God's love, we know that we don't deserve it but it loosens the bonds of karma. Grace manifests through opportunities for us to grow, not as a result. Evolution has no short cuts so we must grow through experiences.
Today as I was running I was praying to God to help me lose weight, to give me perseverance, determination, and keep me injury free. In that same moment the wind changed and started pushing against me making the run even harder. Then, some huge waves came and I was treading through water. I started laughing, I was really hoping more for fat to melt off me in the middle of the night not for my run to become more challenging! It is a silly example but we learn and grow through experiences, not miracles. We have to put in self effort. A farmer does not know if it will rain but he plows the fields and plants the seeds anyways. Rain is like the grace of God, without it there is no fruit. But, if the farmer does not put in the self effort of planting the seeds then he will definitely not get any fruit, he will just get mud!
The fruits of past actions must be experienced but there is still room for us to change how we react to these experiences. We can work with the laws of nature to remove suffering. It may be your karma to experience disease and you end up with the flu but you have the choice to suffer through it or take medicine to ease the suffering. Fighting karma is an impossible battle but you can learn to react in positive and neutral ways to prevent planting more negative seeds. The say each second there are sixty karmic seeds planted, you better make sure they are good ones! Our karma that plays out in this lifetime is like inheriting a piece of land. The size, location, and climate are pre-determined but through self effort we can make the land into a beautiful garden or a filthy dump. Destiny is your own creation through your thoughts and actions. Make an effort to plant positive seeds!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
If karma's a bitch then what are you?
I seem to hear this phrase a lot "Karma's a bitch" but I am not sure most people understand karma. Generally people think what goes around comes around but it is a little more detailed than that. Last night we began a three day discussion called "The Pathway to Happiness: Understanding the Laws of Karma". We started reading out of the Bliss Divine by Swami Sivananda and here is a summary of my notes from the lecture:
Karma means action, not merely on a physical level but thoughts are mental karma. We often feel that nobody knows our thoughts so why does it matter? Yogis believe that thoughts are our primary karma, thoughts are where action begins and where your character is molded. Our accumulated karma is our destiny, whenever we have a thought or perform an action it leaves an imprint in the mind. Look at the shallow part of the ocean on a clear day and what do you see? You will see ridges in the sand left behind by the under current of the previous waves. Thoughts leave the same impression on the subconscious mind. If you plant a seed a tree will grow, that tree will produce more seeds which will produce more trees and from one single seed you will have a forest! Karmic seeds start as a very small tendency, a single thought that will become repeated turning it into an active force in the mind. The active force will then become character traits and desires. Every thought, every action we do leaves a seed and in yoga these karmic seeds are called samskaras. Samskaras work in groups, when we have a negative thought all sorts of other negative thoughts will come to support that thought. We cannot say if a seed will manifest in this lifetime or the next because it needs certain conditions just like in a garden. When the mind is tamasic (lethargic, lazy, or depressed) or rajasic (overactive, hyper) it is more prone to mental suffering and provides the proper conditions for negative, painful seeds to manifest. Karma also means the consequence of an action. The action and the reaction are one. Lying within the seed is a potential tree, the reaction is within the action.
Karma works only on the internal level, it is only about the intention. Look at two nearly identical men in the same setting that slice another man open, one is a doctor and the other is a murderer. They may be performing the same exact action but the intention is completely different which means karmically the reaction will be completely different. If you look at creation you will see an endless chain of cause and effect, every effect becomes a cause which has the same nature. If you planted an avocado seed would you be surprised to get an avocado tree? No!! It is the same with intentions. If you plant a negative intention then it will bring suffering and pain, if you plant a pure, loving intention then it will bring happiness.
A woman at the lecture raised her hand and said "I do so many things to help others and have pure intentions in my heart but do not seem to be receiving any benefits or having more positivity in my life." and Swami Brahmananda replied "Look where you are. Just the fact that you are here at an ashram in the Bahamas is a very positive thing." We don't know when karma will come but it is like building a bank account. From what I understand, you have a bank account with all the positive and a seperate one for all of the negative. Being at an ashram is a sign of a great deal of positive karma, they say it is like being a karmic billionaire! The results of karma may not be in our hands but we can be like a gardener and prepare the soil. No link in the chain of life is unnecessary. Every single minute detail of life is absolutely necessary for us to be where we are right here in this moment. Every event has a definite cause behind it, nothing happens by chance - it is all cause and effect. Every thought we project and action we perform causes a ripple in the world and it comes back to us like throwing a boomerang. God does not reward the virtuous or punish the wicked, it is all our own doing and there is nobody else to blame. The law of karma is a law of compassion to help us evolve to realize that what we do is what comes back to us. When you act with the wisdom of karma your actions will become very powerful.
Karma yoga teaches us to transcend karma. Negative karma is like being in iron shackles, positive karma is like being in golden shackles - but they are both shackles. As long as we perform negative and positive thoughts and actions we have to repeat this cycle again and again. Negative karmic seeds comes as suffering, positive karmic seeds comes as pleasure but pleasure always causes suffering. Pleasure causes attachment and we can never have anything permanently so we suffer either by having to let go of the pleasure or being worried about it. This means no matter what we do we will hit a wall and suffering is guaranteed. Karma yoga teaches us to act in a way that frees us from the shackles, to give ourselves selflessly to the greater good with pure intentions. But even to be able to practice karma yoga we need a pure sattvic mind with lots of good karma!
Any questions? Leave your comments!
Karma means action, not merely on a physical level but thoughts are mental karma. We often feel that nobody knows our thoughts so why does it matter? Yogis believe that thoughts are our primary karma, thoughts are where action begins and where your character is molded. Our accumulated karma is our destiny, whenever we have a thought or perform an action it leaves an imprint in the mind. Look at the shallow part of the ocean on a clear day and what do you see? You will see ridges in the sand left behind by the under current of the previous waves. Thoughts leave the same impression on the subconscious mind. If you plant a seed a tree will grow, that tree will produce more seeds which will produce more trees and from one single seed you will have a forest! Karmic seeds start as a very small tendency, a single thought that will become repeated turning it into an active force in the mind. The active force will then become character traits and desires. Every thought, every action we do leaves a seed and in yoga these karmic seeds are called samskaras. Samskaras work in groups, when we have a negative thought all sorts of other negative thoughts will come to support that thought. We cannot say if a seed will manifest in this lifetime or the next because it needs certain conditions just like in a garden. When the mind is tamasic (lethargic, lazy, or depressed) or rajasic (overactive, hyper) it is more prone to mental suffering and provides the proper conditions for negative, painful seeds to manifest. Karma also means the consequence of an action. The action and the reaction are one. Lying within the seed is a potential tree, the reaction is within the action.
Karma works only on the internal level, it is only about the intention. Look at two nearly identical men in the same setting that slice another man open, one is a doctor and the other is a murderer. They may be performing the same exact action but the intention is completely different which means karmically the reaction will be completely different. If you look at creation you will see an endless chain of cause and effect, every effect becomes a cause which has the same nature. If you planted an avocado seed would you be surprised to get an avocado tree? No!! It is the same with intentions. If you plant a negative intention then it will bring suffering and pain, if you plant a pure, loving intention then it will bring happiness.
A woman at the lecture raised her hand and said "I do so many things to help others and have pure intentions in my heart but do not seem to be receiving any benefits or having more positivity in my life." and Swami Brahmananda replied "Look where you are. Just the fact that you are here at an ashram in the Bahamas is a very positive thing." We don't know when karma will come but it is like building a bank account. From what I understand, you have a bank account with all the positive and a seperate one for all of the negative. Being at an ashram is a sign of a great deal of positive karma, they say it is like being a karmic billionaire! The results of karma may not be in our hands but we can be like a gardener and prepare the soil. No link in the chain of life is unnecessary. Every single minute detail of life is absolutely necessary for us to be where we are right here in this moment. Every event has a definite cause behind it, nothing happens by chance - it is all cause and effect. Every thought we project and action we perform causes a ripple in the world and it comes back to us like throwing a boomerang. God does not reward the virtuous or punish the wicked, it is all our own doing and there is nobody else to blame. The law of karma is a law of compassion to help us evolve to realize that what we do is what comes back to us. When you act with the wisdom of karma your actions will become very powerful.
Karma yoga teaches us to transcend karma. Negative karma is like being in iron shackles, positive karma is like being in golden shackles - but they are both shackles. As long as we perform negative and positive thoughts and actions we have to repeat this cycle again and again. Negative karmic seeds comes as suffering, positive karmic seeds comes as pleasure but pleasure always causes suffering. Pleasure causes attachment and we can never have anything permanently so we suffer either by having to let go of the pleasure or being worried about it. This means no matter what we do we will hit a wall and suffering is guaranteed. Karma yoga teaches us to act in a way that frees us from the shackles, to give ourselves selflessly to the greater good with pure intentions. But even to be able to practice karma yoga we need a pure sattvic mind with lots of good karma!
Any questions? Leave your comments!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Granola Recipes
Granola is not the healthiest choice in foods but eaten in moderation it is a nice snack and I have to admit that I love it with my yogurt in the morning. I have three recipes that I use for granola - depending on the mood! Here they are, enjoy!
Peanut Butter Granola
2/3 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups of oats
1 cup of raisins
1. Combine the peanut butter, honey and cinnamon in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Add the vanilla.
3. Mix with the oats in a large bowl and bake for 35-40 minutes.
4. Place the raisins in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let satand for ten minutes and then drain.
5. Add to the granola and bake an additional twenty minutes.
Coconut Granola
8 cups of oats
1 cup oat bran
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
3/4 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, oat bran, coconut and almonds.
2. Spread evenly on a baking sheet or two and bake for 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees until lightly toasted. Allow to cool and return to the bowl.
3. Combine the coconut milk, oils and honey in a saucepan while the oats are toasting. Bring to a boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
4. Pour the syrup over the granola in the bowl and stir until completely coated.
5. Spread evenly over baking sheet(s) and bake for eight minutes or until fragrant and toasted. Let the granola cool and then add in the dried cranberries.
Traditional Granola
8 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups of raisins or cranberries (or a mix)
1. Combine oats, seeds and nuts in a large bowl.
2. Stir together salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
3. Stir syrup over the dry ingredients to coat them evenly.
4. Spread the mixture evenly on baking sheet.
5. Bake at 350 degrees until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir halfway through to prevent burning.
6. Cool and stir in the raisins or cranberries.
These recipes should get you started with making granola and once you try it a couple times it is fun to experiment with other ingredients. I like to line my baking sheets with aluminum foil so that it is less mess later on and I double the baking sheets to prevent it from burning. By reading the ingredients you can see why granola isn't the healthiest decision with the oils and sugars but making your own is much healthier than store bought versions with artificial sweeteners, corn syrup and who knows what else! Use granola as fuel - it is great before and during a hike or a workout. If it is hard to ration yourself to just a small portion break it into individual servings with tupperware or plastic baggies so it will be rationed out for you.
Peanut Butter Granola
2/3 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups of oats
1 cup of raisins
1. Combine the peanut butter, honey and cinnamon in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Add the vanilla.
3. Mix with the oats in a large bowl and bake for 35-40 minutes.
4. Place the raisins in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let satand for ten minutes and then drain.
5. Add to the granola and bake an additional twenty minutes.
Coconut Granola
8 cups of oats
1 cup oat bran
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
3/4 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, oat bran, coconut and almonds.
2. Spread evenly on a baking sheet or two and bake for 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees until lightly toasted. Allow to cool and return to the bowl.
3. Combine the coconut milk, oils and honey in a saucepan while the oats are toasting. Bring to a boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
4. Pour the syrup over the granola in the bowl and stir until completely coated.
5. Spread evenly over baking sheet(s) and bake for eight minutes or until fragrant and toasted. Let the granola cool and then add in the dried cranberries.
Traditional Granola
8 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups of raisins or cranberries (or a mix)
1. Combine oats, seeds and nuts in a large bowl.
2. Stir together salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
3. Stir syrup over the dry ingredients to coat them evenly.
4. Spread the mixture evenly on baking sheet.
5. Bake at 350 degrees until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir halfway through to prevent burning.
6. Cool and stir in the raisins or cranberries.
These recipes should get you started with making granola and once you try it a couple times it is fun to experiment with other ingredients. I like to line my baking sheets with aluminum foil so that it is less mess later on and I double the baking sheets to prevent it from burning. By reading the ingredients you can see why granola isn't the healthiest decision with the oils and sugars but making your own is much healthier than store bought versions with artificial sweeteners, corn syrup and who knows what else! Use granola as fuel - it is great before and during a hike or a workout. If it is hard to ration yourself to just a small portion break it into individual servings with tupperware or plastic baggies so it will be rationed out for you.
Keep Pushing
I have been running for the past four days at noon on the beach. The first day I ran most of the way but I had to take a few walking breaks before I could push myself to run again. The second day I ran the whole way in thirty minutes and followed it with four 15 second sprints. The third day I ran the whole way in twenty eight minutes and followed it with four 20 second sprints. Today I ran the whole way and had to tread through some waves and still increased my time to twenty six minutes and followed it with three 30 second sprints. I am getting stronger and stronger every day, in every way! No matter where you are on your path of exercise, just stick with it. Each day focus on the minor improvements and be grateful for them, let them help inspire you to push just a little harder. All you need to get great results is determination and consistency. If you have any questions that are exercise related, just ask!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Magical Moment
I just had such a unique moment in my life, a feeling that I have never experienced before. Every night after dinner I have been going for a walk along the beach and it is always beautiful, but tonight was really special. The sand felt like powdered sugar beneath my toes, the waves were huge and crashing along the shore, the breeze was making a beautiful song in the palm trees and the sun was changing the entire horizon into one big rainbow - the clouds along the horizon were a cornflower blue, the sky above them were pinks, peach, and lavender, and the cloud the sun set behind was outlined in a neon coral. All of my senses were peaked. I kept turning around to watch the sunset but as I walked east I could watch the bright and luminescent nearly full moon. It was like I didn't know which way too look and I felt giddy and happy to be surrounded by so much beauty. I walked out to the breakwater and up the stairs to sit and appreciate it all. As I was sitting there soaking it all in I thought about how at that moment life was perfect and I started to think about how I never wanted this moment to end. I was wishing that I could freeze time and live in that exact moment forever. It was a feeling I had never had and as I was really immersed and absorbed in this moment a gigantic wave came over the entire breakwater and soaked me! I started giggling and laughing as I hobbled down the stairs completely soaked. I kept giggling to myself half the way back to the yoga retreat. Life is hilarious and I just wanted to share this special moment with you! I am sure there was a lesson in all this, I think God was trying to send me a message but I am still so happy and giddy that I can't think straight. The present moment is a wonderful moment!
The Three Gunas
Everything in the world is made up of three qualities, these are called sattva, rajas, and tamas (or the three gunas). One of these qualities is always dominant but all three exist in everything. Sattva is an energy of balance, order and purity. Rajas is the energy of action, excitement and dynamism. Tamas is the energy of inertia, lethargy, slowness, and dullness. You can see these qualities in everything - but most importantly the mind. We aspire to have a sattvic mind, one that is in balance and pure but often times we get stuck with an overactive rajasic mind or a lazy, depressed tamasic mind. There are a few tricks and nutrition tips to help develop a more sattvic mind that I wanted to share with you.
A sattvic diet is vital to developing a sattvic mind. Your diet should include wholemeal bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, pure fruit juices, milk, butter, cheese, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouted seeds, honey and herbal teas. Sattvic foods calm and purify the body and the mind allowing it to function at it's maximum potential.
Rajasic foods include tea, coffee, fish, eggs, salt, chocolate and strong,spicy herbs and spices. These foods overstimulate the mind making it restless and uncontrollable. Yogis also consider eating in a hurry rajasic. If you feel like you are in a state of rajas, the best way to become more sattvic is with discipline. Creating a schedule will keep you organized and bring sattva to your activities. Focus your overstimulated mind on developing virtues to create a more sattvic mind. I have also found reading about saints helps.
Tamasic foods do not benefit the mind or the body. These items include meat, alcohol, tobacco, garlic, onions, fermented foods, stale and overripe foods. These foods destroy the body's resistance to disease and the mind can become filled with dark emotions. Overeating is also considered tamasic. As we awake in the morning we are in a state of tamas. The best way to change this state is just to take a shower to help purify quite literally and transform the state of tamas to sattva. This technique is helpful anytime of the day, not just when you wake up. Any activity will bring you out of tamas but it is important to try and find a sattvic activity rather than a rajasic one.
Let me know if you have any questions!
A sattvic diet is vital to developing a sattvic mind. Your diet should include wholemeal bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, pure fruit juices, milk, butter, cheese, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouted seeds, honey and herbal teas. Sattvic foods calm and purify the body and the mind allowing it to function at it's maximum potential.
Rajasic foods include tea, coffee, fish, eggs, salt, chocolate and strong,spicy herbs and spices. These foods overstimulate the mind making it restless and uncontrollable. Yogis also consider eating in a hurry rajasic. If you feel like you are in a state of rajas, the best way to become more sattvic is with discipline. Creating a schedule will keep you organized and bring sattva to your activities. Focus your overstimulated mind on developing virtues to create a more sattvic mind. I have also found reading about saints helps.
Tamasic foods do not benefit the mind or the body. These items include meat, alcohol, tobacco, garlic, onions, fermented foods, stale and overripe foods. These foods destroy the body's resistance to disease and the mind can become filled with dark emotions. Overeating is also considered tamasic. As we awake in the morning we are in a state of tamas. The best way to change this state is just to take a shower to help purify quite literally and transform the state of tamas to sattva. This technique is helpful anytime of the day, not just when you wake up. Any activity will bring you out of tamas but it is important to try and find a sattvic activity rather than a rajasic one.
Let me know if you have any questions!
So Embarassed!
So, as embarassing as this is to admit, I am going to tell you anyways. Over the past year I have really fallen off the wagon with my diet and exercise. At first this was career related, I moved to a new city and had a completely unpredictable schedule. This made it very difficult to fit in workouts and exercise. Being all alone in a new city also made me have strong cravings of comfort food which I had no will power to resist! Now, living at the yoga retreat for the past four months have made things even worse. Exercise is definitely not encouraged here and the vegetarian buffet of what seems to be all carbs and special occassions with lots of sweets have really topped it off. I have plenty of excuses why I can't fit exercise into my already packed schedule but the pain of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin has finally outweighed the pleasure of comfort food and rest! I am in a position where I don't have a lot of control over my food choices and I don't have a gym to work out in - so I feel like I am in a position that many people are in (those who travel for work and are stuck eating out, those who can't afford gym memberships or can't find time to make it to the gym, and various other issues that get in the way of us developing healthy lifestyle choices). I am going to be posting my daily workout routines, some healthy vegetarian recipes and notes from our nightly lectures here at the yoga retreat. I have always felt it is important to be a good role model and never tell a client to do anything I wouldn't do myself, so here goes... hopefully you can get a little inspiration and some good ideas to incorporate into your own life. I really hope my journey can help you on yours!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Being Peace
I have been reading this book called Being Peace and there is a meditation in the first chapter that I have been doing this week that I love. It seems to be perfect at any point of the day whether I am walking along the beach, staring at the horizon or sitting in the meditation room. I think it is a nice one for beginner’s who are new to meditation and would be a wonderful way to start the day or renew during a stressful part of your day. All you need to remember is four things:
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment.
Or, more simply put: Calm, Smile, Present Moment, Wonderful Moment
Inhale, calmimg. As you inhale, let the air fill your lungs and sit or stand a little taller while relaxing the body and letting go of the stress and tension in your neck and shoulders. Think about how you feel when you have a nice cool glass of water or lemonade on a hot summer day. Let the calmness and peace permeate every cell in your body.
Exhale, smiling. A smile makes you the master of yourself. When you smile, you realize the wonder and power of a smile. In a moment you can change your mood and your outlook, you can change someone else’s mood too. It is such a simple act and it relaxes so many muscles in the face and the entire nervous system.
Inhale, dwelling in the present moment. Don’t think of somewhere else, of the future or the past. Know exactly where you are at this moment in time. This is very important because so often we live in the future. We tend to think we will be happy when… when I get this job, when I find a partner, when I have this money. We postpone being alive until the distant future and as a result we merely exist instead of truly being alive. Be aware of the fact that right here, right now, the present moment is the only moment to be alive.
Exhale wonderful moment. Life is short and the only constant is change. You never know what will happen next, but in this present moment you are not only alive but calm and smiling - this is truly a wonderful moment.
Keep repeating for as long as you would like!
This is such a simple meditation that can leave you feeling lighter so quickly. I encourage you to use it during times of stress and as a beautiful way to wake up each day.
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment.
Or, more simply put: Calm, Smile, Present Moment, Wonderful Moment
Inhale, calmimg. As you inhale, let the air fill your lungs and sit or stand a little taller while relaxing the body and letting go of the stress and tension in your neck and shoulders. Think about how you feel when you have a nice cool glass of water or lemonade on a hot summer day. Let the calmness and peace permeate every cell in your body.
Exhale, smiling. A smile makes you the master of yourself. When you smile, you realize the wonder and power of a smile. In a moment you can change your mood and your outlook, you can change someone else’s mood too. It is such a simple act and it relaxes so many muscles in the face and the entire nervous system.
Inhale, dwelling in the present moment. Don’t think of somewhere else, of the future or the past. Know exactly where you are at this moment in time. This is very important because so often we live in the future. We tend to think we will be happy when… when I get this job, when I find a partner, when I have this money. We postpone being alive until the distant future and as a result we merely exist instead of truly being alive. Be aware of the fact that right here, right now, the present moment is the only moment to be alive.
Exhale wonderful moment. Life is short and the only constant is change. You never know what will happen next, but in this present moment you are not only alive but calm and smiling - this is truly a wonderful moment.
Keep repeating for as long as you would like!
This is such a simple meditation that can leave you feeling lighter so quickly. I encourage you to use it during times of stress and as a beautiful way to wake up each day.
Thich Nhat Hanh
If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society will benefit from our peace.
Happiness is found externally, bliss is found within...
This morning we went on a silent meditational walk along the beach as the sky changed shades of pinks and blues. The water was very still and became a mirror making the sky and the ocean the same color with no horizon in sight. It was a beautiful way to start the day. Kanti Devi brought her guitar and as we were singing hymns and chants the birds lined up on the shore in front of us in silence - not the typical squawking you hear from them. It was as if we were all at one with nature, with God and we were all at peace. Occasionally for our morning lesson we open up one of Swami Sivananda’s books, the Upanishads, to a random page and read a letter he has written somebody in the past. Today’s letter was on page 273.
“You have wasted much of your life. A little time is left. Make the best use of it. You too can realize God and be ever happy.”
“Fear not. The mind is no doubt extremely turbulent. Through repeated attempts you can perfectly subdue it. You are the master of the mind. By constant practice and non-attachment assert your mastery. Feel the power, bliss and splendor that results from Self conquest. Curb the mind ruthlessly. Annihalate desire. When desire dies, the mind is your slave. Become desireless and be victorious. May you rest in your pristine freedom!”
I am glad this message came up today because I have been very introverted these past two days trying to figure out what I am experiencing here. I think I am feeling the non-attachment we keep learning about, it is a step on the spiritual path, but it feels very strange. I am so used to being goal and career-oriented, always wanting to do more and be more and now all of a sudden I am just happy where I am. I have everything I want in life and I have no attachment to any physical location, material things, job, goals, etc. This doesn’t mean I am going to just sit here on the beach and meditate for the rest of my life but I am learning to let go, to be at peace and be happy in the present moment. I don’t have to wait until I achieve a goal in the future - I am blissful just to be me, right here, right now.
“You have wasted much of your life. A little time is left. Make the best use of it. You too can realize God and be ever happy.”
“Fear not. The mind is no doubt extremely turbulent. Through repeated attempts you can perfectly subdue it. You are the master of the mind. By constant practice and non-attachment assert your mastery. Feel the power, bliss and splendor that results from Self conquest. Curb the mind ruthlessly. Annihalate desire. When desire dies, the mind is your slave. Become desireless and be victorious. May you rest in your pristine freedom!”
I am glad this message came up today because I have been very introverted these past two days trying to figure out what I am experiencing here. I think I am feeling the non-attachment we keep learning about, it is a step on the spiritual path, but it feels very strange. I am so used to being goal and career-oriented, always wanting to do more and be more and now all of a sudden I am just happy where I am. I have everything I want in life and I have no attachment to any physical location, material things, job, goals, etc. This doesn’t mean I am going to just sit here on the beach and meditate for the rest of my life but I am learning to let go, to be at peace and be happy in the present moment. I don’t have to wait until I achieve a goal in the future - I am blissful just to be me, right here, right now.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Emotion Comes From Motion
These are the words of Anthony Robbins, "Emotion comes from motion." It is so true. If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is jump out of bed and smile, you will feel much better and experience different emotions than you would if you roll over, hit snooze and groan. My challenge for you is to try to jump out of bed and smile as soon as your alarm goes off every day this week!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Healthy Cookies?
It seems like most people I know have a sweet tooth. For most of my clients I recommend to have a piece of fruit instead, it is like nature's candy - but there are times that cantaloupe and blueberries just don't suffice. In that case you should have a chocolate protein shake, but just in case that will not help either, I created this recipe for cookies by just replacing certain ingredients with healthier alternatives. This has made the cookies much lower in calories but also added antioxidants. Another key you should not forget though is portion control! Last time I made these someone devoured them all in less than 24 hours. Please just have one and share the rest with friends or for later in the week. I am working on replacing the cane sugar with stevia, but a cup of sugar is equivalent to a teaspoon of stevia and without the sugar they don't brown - so I will continue to expirement and if you have figured it out, then let me know!
3/4 c. cane sugar
3/4 c. organic brown sugar
1/3 c. olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. egg whites
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 package organic dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375. Mix sugars, egg whites, and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Then add the chips. Tablespoon mixture on cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes.
3/4 c. cane sugar
3/4 c. organic brown sugar
1/3 c. olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. egg whites
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 package organic dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375. Mix sugars, egg whites, and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Then add the chips. Tablespoon mixture on cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Suicidal Sweat
Lately I have been doing a lot of research on athletic performance. When I looked up the life expectancy for athletes it was actually a much shorter life span than the average person. It is extremely rare for an athlete to see the age of 100, normally they only reach their 60's. This spiked my curiosity to dig deeper and what I learned is that without complete and optimal supplementation exercise becomes self destructive and suicidal.
I looked into several different types of athletes ranging from gymnasts to heavy weight boxers, from figure skaters to basketball players and they all have an increasing rate and severity of injury, disease and sudden death. The common denominator with all these athletes is sweat. They all train differently, have different diets, skills and abilities but they all sweat a lot!
When we sweat, we sweat out more than just water to cool us down; we sweat out electrolytes and all 72 of the essential minerals that our bodies need. If we don't consciously replace them by supplementation then the minerals consumed by our bodies and released through sweat is inviting disaster into our bodies instead of health and vibrancy. The following is what can happen when we don't replace the minerals that we lose through sweat:
If we sweat out all of our selenium and don't replace it, we are at a high risk of developing cardiomyopathy leading to sudden death by heart attack.
If we sweat out all of our chromium and vanadiumand don't replace it, we are at high risk of developing low blood sugar, diabetes, depression or antisocial behavior.
If we sweat out all of our lithium and don't replace it, we are at high risk of developing depression, manic depression or addiction to alcohol or drugs.
If we sweat out all of our copper and don't replace it, we are at high risk of developing joint and/or cartilage problems, varicose veins or a fatal ruptured aneurysm.
If we sweat out all of our gallium and don't replace it, we are at a high risk of developing a brain tumor.
If we sweat out significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron and strontium and we don't replace them, we are at a high risk of developing joint, cartilage and bone degeneration or injuries.
So now the big question is how do we replace these valuable electrolytes and minerals? Well, gatorade and powerade will replace the electrolytes but will do nothing to help you replace the minerals. So, I spoke with a couple nutritionists and found a great supplement that will do it all. It is called Rebound Fx and is a very unique energy shot with a vitamin, mineral and electrolyte profile that is incomparable to any other energy drink. It is scientifically designed to give you sustained energy, refuel your body, and offers a balance of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, herbs and saccharides. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugars and you only need a one ounce serving. I will type up the nutritional facts below but you can find out more and order it online at http://fitforwellness.youngevityonline.com
Rebound FX
Serving Size: 1 fl. oz. (2 tablespoons)
Calories 36 <2%
Total Carbohydrates 8.5 g <3%
Sugars 8.5 g
Vitamin A 5,000 IU 100%(as palmitate & betacarotene)
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 500 mg 833%
Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 100 IU 50%
Vitamin E 100 IU 333%(as d-alpha-tocopherol acetate)
Vitamin B-1 (as thiamine hydrochloride) 1.5 mg 100%
Vitamin B-2 (as riboflavin) 1.7 mg 100%
Vitamin B-3 (as niacinamide) 20 mg 100%
Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) 2 mg 100%
Folic acid 400 mcg 100%
Vitamin B-12 (as cyanocobalamin) 25 mcg 417%
Biotin 300 mcg **
Pantothenic acid 20 mg 100%
Choline (as bitartrate) 20 mg **
Inositol 20 mg **
Potassium (from citrate) 100 mg <3%
Amino Acid Complex 150 mg **
Proprietary Formula - Alanine, arginine,
aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid,
glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine,
lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,
proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine.
Taurine 200 mg **
Ginseng root extract 60 mg **
Green tea extract w/ caffeine 150 mg **(50% polyphenols)
Glucono Delta Lactone 50 mg **
Plant Derived Minerals™ 120 mg **
Other ingredients: Purified water, natural custom blend fruit juice concentrate, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides,polysaccharides, natural fruit flavor, citric acid, natural vegetable gum, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.
I looked into several different types of athletes ranging from gymnasts to heavy weight boxers, from figure skaters to basketball players and they all have an increasing rate and severity of injury, disease and sudden death. The common denominator with all these athletes is sweat. They all train differently, have different diets, skills and abilities but they all sweat a lot!
When we sweat, we sweat out more than just water to cool us down; we sweat out electrolytes and all 72 of the essential minerals that our bodies need. If we don't consciously replace them by supplementation then the minerals consumed by our bodies and released through sweat is inviting disaster into our bodies instead of health and vibrancy. The following is what can happen when we don't replace the minerals that we lose through sweat:
If we sweat out all of our selenium and don't replace it, we are at a high risk of developing cardiomyopathy leading to sudden death by heart attack.
If we sweat out all of our chromium and vanadiumand don't replace it, we are at high risk of developing low blood sugar, diabetes, depression or antisocial behavior.
If we sweat out all of our lithium and don't replace it, we are at high risk of developing depression, manic depression or addiction to alcohol or drugs.
If we sweat out all of our copper and don't replace it, we are at high risk of developing joint and/or cartilage problems, varicose veins or a fatal ruptured aneurysm.
If we sweat out all of our gallium and don't replace it, we are at a high risk of developing a brain tumor.
If we sweat out significant amounts of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron and strontium and we don't replace them, we are at a high risk of developing joint, cartilage and bone degeneration or injuries.
So now the big question is how do we replace these valuable electrolytes and minerals? Well, gatorade and powerade will replace the electrolytes but will do nothing to help you replace the minerals. So, I spoke with a couple nutritionists and found a great supplement that will do it all. It is called Rebound Fx and is a very unique energy shot with a vitamin, mineral and electrolyte profile that is incomparable to any other energy drink. It is scientifically designed to give you sustained energy, refuel your body, and offers a balance of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, herbs and saccharides. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugars and you only need a one ounce serving. I will type up the nutritional facts below but you can find out more and order it online at http://fitforwellness.youngevityonline.com
Rebound FX
Serving Size: 1 fl. oz. (2 tablespoons)
Calories 36 <2%
Total Carbohydrates 8.5 g <3%
Sugars 8.5 g
Vitamin A 5,000 IU 100%(as palmitate & betacarotene)
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 500 mg 833%
Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 100 IU 50%
Vitamin E 100 IU 333%(as d-alpha-tocopherol acetate)
Vitamin B-1 (as thiamine hydrochloride) 1.5 mg 100%
Vitamin B-2 (as riboflavin) 1.7 mg 100%
Vitamin B-3 (as niacinamide) 20 mg 100%
Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) 2 mg 100%
Folic acid 400 mcg 100%
Vitamin B-12 (as cyanocobalamin) 25 mcg 417%
Biotin 300 mcg **
Pantothenic acid 20 mg 100%
Choline (as bitartrate) 20 mg **
Inositol 20 mg **
Potassium (from citrate) 100 mg <3%
Amino Acid Complex 150 mg **
Proprietary Formula - Alanine, arginine,
aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid,
glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine,
lysine, methionine, phenylalanine,
proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine.
Taurine 200 mg **
Ginseng root extract 60 mg **
Green tea extract w/ caffeine 150 mg **(50% polyphenols)
Glucono Delta Lactone 50 mg **
Plant Derived Minerals™ 120 mg **
Other ingredients: Purified water, natural custom blend fruit juice concentrate, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides,polysaccharides, natural fruit flavor, citric acid, natural vegetable gum, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year, New You
This time of year always brings a general sense of hope for a fresh start. Time to make a change for the better and forget the mistakes of the past. The bad part is that people generally make the same resolutions each year without taking the time to figure out why those resolutions didn't work out in the past. If you are actually going to make a list of resolutions or a plan for your goals in the new year, then take the time to figure out the obstacles that have gotten in the way and make a plan of action to get around them this year.
Most people that are familiar with goal setting know to make SMART goals. If you are new to goal setting, here are some helpful tips with this simple acronym.
Specific Be specific about your goals. When you make a loose goal like "I want to lose weight." there is nothing to specifically reach for. Instead make a goal like "I want to lose one pound a week for the next 10 weeks." Now not only do you have a specific goal, but it is also measurable.
Measurable Make sure your goal is something that you can measure. Often this goes along with being specific but make a goal that you can track your progress. How many contacts do you want to make? How much money do you want to save?
Achievable Do not set goals that are unreasonable, you will just be setting yourself up for failure. Losing twenty pounds this month is completely unrealistic.
Realistic Dream like a child but be realistic in evaluating if you have the commitment and ability to make your dreams come true.
Time Frame Always put a time-frame on your goals. Without a time specific goal it will lose it's priority and be forgotten in the daily grind. Get rid of the some day and make the date!
Once you have your specific, measurable, achievable, realistic goals with a time frame it is time to figure out the obstacles. What is going to get in your way? Every excuse should have an action to overcome it. It may be helpful to write some key points on why you truly want this too. Remind yourself of your passion and drive to achieve your goals. What are the rewards? Do not let your goals and resolutions get lost and forgotten until the next new year.
Most people that are familiar with goal setting know to make SMART goals. If you are new to goal setting, here are some helpful tips with this simple acronym.
Specific Be specific about your goals. When you make a loose goal like "I want to lose weight." there is nothing to specifically reach for. Instead make a goal like "I want to lose one pound a week for the next 10 weeks." Now not only do you have a specific goal, but it is also measurable.
Measurable Make sure your goal is something that you can measure. Often this goes along with being specific but make a goal that you can track your progress. How many contacts do you want to make? How much money do you want to save?
Achievable Do not set goals that are unreasonable, you will just be setting yourself up for failure. Losing twenty pounds this month is completely unrealistic.
Realistic Dream like a child but be realistic in evaluating if you have the commitment and ability to make your dreams come true.
Time Frame Always put a time-frame on your goals. Without a time specific goal it will lose it's priority and be forgotten in the daily grind. Get rid of the some day and make the date!
Once you have your specific, measurable, achievable, realistic goals with a time frame it is time to figure out the obstacles. What is going to get in your way? Every excuse should have an action to overcome it. It may be helpful to write some key points on why you truly want this too. Remind yourself of your passion and drive to achieve your goals. What are the rewards? Do not let your goals and resolutions get lost and forgotten until the next new year.
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