Becoming One From Many

It is so easy to live a fragmented existence, mainly  it is taught to us by society, by our parents, by our teachers, by our friends.   Behave this way when  in school, this way when adults are present, this way when these folks are around...so it  isn't a surprise that as adults we have to embark in a long quest to make our lives whole again.  It took years to fragment  who we were  into small compartmentalized fractions of ourselves and so it takes years to bring those pieces into who we want to be again.  In the meantime, a lots of those fragments get further broken, or polished, or painted.  The longer we wait to go back to the whole, the harder the process will be.  So wait no time and be, and remember it will take time and this process is a gift.  Here is a poem that explains this concept better than I could possibly do.

Love After Love

The time will come when, with elation, you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror, and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again the stranger who was your self. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart. Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.

“Love after Love” from COLLECTED POEMS 1948-1984 by Derek Walcott

Cool Cucumber And Avocado Soup

It’s that time of the year when Summer is upon us, and all of Winter’s extra calories and Spring’s extra allergens catches up with our bodies.  As we progress into our Spring Cleaning, it is also a good time to do some good Digestive Cleaning.  This Cucumber and Avocado Soup is a great Spring/Summer addition to your Detox recipes.  The green color is so mesmerizing and the flavor is soothing and just kewl. This is what you need:

zest of 1/2 lime

juice of an entire lime

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cucumber, peeled and seeded, roughly chopped

1/2 avocado, peeled and roughly chopped

This is what you do

Blend everything together until totally creamy and smooth.  I love drinking this at room temperature, but I can’t see why it would be a problem warming it up a bit if the idea of a cold soup isn’t appealing to you.

This is a 1 serving recipe, who else is going to join you for it  and it only takes 1 minute to make, you got no time to waste!

Enjoy!

Breath here.

I am not one to ignore messages from the Universe; and this week the message was loud and clear: BREATH.    I was teaching a twists-focus class this week;  as I taught,  I swear, I saw my students twisting and  the image of a twirling cloud came to my mind.  Next thing I know I am at the wonderful Dana Covello's class and she'd decided to sweep us into a Pranayama journey for 90 minutes that culminated into the sweetest understanding of Hanumanasana (disclaimer, even though my internal body fully manifested this pose, I wasn't anywhere close to the full pose-smile).  So when I came across a podcast  from Elsie's Yoga Class: Live and Unplugged Episode 93 focus on breathing (you must subscribe to her awesome free podcast), I decided to surrender to the powerful force of just listening to my breath. A clear message has emerged from this week's breathing exercises:  I am the fruit of my breath.

Remember this as you move into your everyday.  Please take a moment to observe your breath today and always.

Now, Universe, if you can just tell me what numbers to purchase in the lottery!!!

Saucha for Your Home Office

Saucha is one of  the observances of  Patanjali's eightfold path of Yoga.   Saucha can be translated roughly as cleanliness; and there are many amazing interpretations and explanations on how utilizing Saucha will align us with our Yoga path.   A way in which I apply Saucha is through awareness of my surroundings (i.e., how are my surroundings honoring my experience of life?).  In a yoga setting, a simple way to apply Saucha may be placing back the props in the yoga studio so that the next students can enjoy their yoga practice as well- little by little you can see how practical Saucha can be.   But this concept, just as yoga itself, doesn't stop when one steps away from the mat.  In this post I am trying to utilize Saucha to help you deal with paper management at home.

As I work with clients, a common issue that most of them face  is  document management.  I can't stress enough that you best friend when working on  paper management is a sleek and dependable shredder !   However when it comes to dealing with the IRS we must still keep some document handy.  Below are some guidelines which I hope can help you decide what to keep and what to throw away.   For more information speak with a financial expert or your accountant.

To make it easy, I divided the paper load in three categories:

1- Documents you don't dispose- long term storage box or filing cabinet are the best for these documents.  Keep these safe and protected.

• Annual tax returns
• Year-end summaries from financial service companies
• Stock and bond certificates
• Deeds of property and ownership, auto titles, insurance policies
• Home improvement records
• Health records, wills and powers of attorney
• Birth certificates, adoption and custody records, death certificates

2- Documents you will eventually shred. Accordion-type files, desktop file boxes work better for these.

• Paycheck stubs; phone and utility bills for one year (or seven years if business-related);  monthly bank and credit card statements for one year; and monthly mortgage statements for one year- however if you ask to receive these bills/statements via e-mail, it will be one less thing to keep around the house.
• Brokerage or mutual fund statements until they’ve been reconciled at year end
• Year end statements from credit card companies for seven years
• W-2 and 1099 forms for seven years
• Cancelled checks and receipts for all tax-deductible expenses for seven years

3- Discard and/or shred

• ATM, bank-deposit slips and credit card receipts after cleared on a statement
• Non-tax deductible receipts for minor purchases
• Old magazines and articles not read within the past three months
• Receipts, instructions and warranties for items you no longer own (or warranties that have expired)

Keep breathing through the process and remember that just like all yoga poses, you've got to start somewhere.

Karma is gonna get you (good Karma, that is)

I was browsing through my YJ (Yoga Journal Magazine), and found a very practical piece on Karma by Sally Kempton.   Yes, I get YJ for the articles! There are many deep and fascinating ways to explain Karma and how this Eastern Philosophy concept affect our everyday life.  I feel that these type of concepts should be digested individually and their understanding should be drawn from personal experience.  However the article was so inspiring, I just want to present it in the most practical & physical way: for every action we apply in our lives, there is a reaction.

These are some good Karma practices,  extracted from yoga traditions, that can shift your day-to-day positive attitude.  It may sound cynical and almost impossible to stay  with a positive attitude all the time, but here is where fake-it-till-you-make- it philosophy can come in handy.  In other words,  just as your attitude can shape your actions, you can, through your actions,  re-shape your attitude.

1- Start the day with a positive intention: it is your intention so make it count for you.  As an example, you can start the day with something like, "I am present on my actions and my actions will serve those around me," or " Today, I will be an instrument of the Universe's joy," etc.   At the end of the day don't forget to notice how your intention shaped your day.

2-Act for the good of others.  Certain acts and thoughts create positive impressions in your mind.  These imprints result in positive life experiences.  So go ahead and DO something kind everyday:  as simple as picking up trash along the sidewalk, donating to a charity or helping a stranger on the streets.   Notice how the act makes you feel.

3-Make an offering.  We are surrounded by abundance in our personal life, however when we feel lacking, we tend to engage in negative patterns.  One solution to these tendencies is the practice of offering your positive actions to the benefit of others.   When you observe how your positive actions are beneficial to others, you can stay motivated to act positively.

Incorporate Movement in your Day and Feel Great

A lot of times we may find ourselves trying to find the time in a busy day to incorporate physical activities.  A lot of times we may think that a formal setting is the only way to bring those precious calorie burning experiences in our life.  Yes, a visit to the gym, going to a fitness class, or spending time with a personal trainer  have tons of benefits; however we have lots of other ways to incorporate physical activities during the day.  We love excuses, the balance game is to try to meet a busy day with creative alternatives to traditional  exercise.  Nature is never lacking, so here are some ideas to incorporate in you life:

• If you are bound to a desk or spend lots of time driving around. Make a commitment to get up from your desk or out of your car at least once every hour and walk around a building, walk up or downstairs, find a parking area and walk – whatever you have convenient to you.

• On your lunch break, go for a walk instead of sitting in the cafeteria.

• When possible, walk or bike to work/the store/your friend’s house instead of driving. Often we automatically get behind the steering wheels of our car without realizing places are close enough to walk to.

• Make a date to walk or bike with friends, instead of going for coffee or drinks. You can still do all the talking you want, but you’ll be burning calories and getting fitter by moving around. If you don’t want to give up your coffee or drinks, meet up on the other side of town and walk to your destination.

• Instead of ordering in – cook. standing in the kitchen, walking from your fridge to the stove can all burn more calories than sitting on the couch waiting for the pizza guy to ring the doorbell. Extra points if you go out to the garden to get some fresh herbs. Not to mention, you can cook a much healthier meal.

Just keep your eyes peeled to the endless opportunities to incorporate movement in your day.

Down Dog and Amp-Up You Energy Right From Your Desk

   It's three o'clock and it seems that your day at the office is just starting.  It's one of those days when coffee alone is not going to cut it.  If there were only a way to remove fatigue and revitalize your afternoon.  But wait there is such a thing: AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAHS-anna) adho = downward mukha = face svana = dog

or as we lovingly call it Down Dog pose.

Mr. Iyengar himself says that Down Dog "is an exhilarating pose."  From removing fatigue and eradicating stiffness in the shoulder region to toning your abdominal muscles and legs, Down Dog is a super pose.  However getting on the office floor mid afternoon could be time restricted or perhaps  just plain embarrassing.   In addition to other at-your-desk poses that I practice,  I like to practice this Desk Down Dog which bring some of those amazing benefits of the full pose, OK it is still a bit embarrassing, but you will make new friends with all the extra energy you will have.

Step by Step

 Facing the desk stand with the feet a bit wider than hip distance apart; 8" to 12 " apart.  Feet are parallel to each other.  Begin to inhale and exhale through your nose, allowing the inner body to stay bright and your skin softens.  Keep this breath throughout the pose.  Uji breathing if you know it.   [Stand on the side of your desk that offers more space.]

Bent your knees a little bit and place the palms of your hands on the desk.  Spread your palms, index fingers parallel or slightly turned out.  Keeping the palms of your hands firmly pressed on the desk, begin to walk backwards away from the desk till you create an L shape with your torso and legs (see sketch).   Keep breathing into your back body, particularly in the kidney area, so that you feel your lower ribs integrated into your body.

Then with an exhalation, push your top thighs back and stretch your leg bones down toward the floor. Straighten your knees but be sure not to lock them.

Firm the outer arms and press the bases of the index fingers actively into the desktop.  From these two points lift along your inner arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. Firm your shoulder blades against your back, then widen them and draw them toward the tailbone. Keep the head between the upper arms; don't let it hang.  Can you keep the heart soft?  Imagine the heart as a drop of melted chocolate dropping down towards the floor!  Enjoy the pose for a minute or two.

When you are ready to come out of the pose, you can bend your knees and walk forward till you are standing again.  If you have extra time you can add to this down dog some other desk yoga poses.

The Fast and Furious: Caprese Salad to Go

Fasten your seatbelts, this is the fastest recipe in history.  If you ever wonder if there was a healthy  appetizer that will take no time in making and could single handed change the course of a cocktail party; wonder no more.  My favorite go-to-domestic0-maven Joannie Coles shared with me this recipe which turns out to be a favorite anywhere it goes.  I believe she got it from Rachel Ray, originally called "Caprese Antipasticks" and who wouldn't  love that name or  the bundle of smile Rachel Ray is.   In Joannie's own words, this isn't so much a recipe as it is an assembly instruction.  Enjoy. This is what you need

• 1 package 8-inch bamboo skewers
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
• 2 (1 pound) tubs bocconcini (small balls of fresh mozzarella), drained
• 24 leaves fresh basil
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• Salt and pepper

This is what you do

For caprese sticks, skewer tomatoes and bocconcini bites, placing basil leaves between them. Drizzle these sticks with extra-virgin oil and season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

Cucumber Apple Salad - a break from breakroom treats

I worked in retail for so long that I tend to ignore the holiday decorations and music, gliding oblivious to the fact that the end of the year is approaching.  To me, the holiday season starts the moment all the home made treats appear on the break-room tables across America.  New recipes get tested, excess sweet treats get recycled, sugary gifts get re-gifted...you name it; temptation lurks around the corner.  Unless you are made out of stone, you will succumb.   When I do, I always tell myself what I imagine Iyanla Vanzant would tell me: ' Beloved - I love when she says that- you must first forgive yourself, don't blame the sweets, don't blame yourself, ask instead what can you do to bring  the caring and wellness that you deserve back into your life?' Nothing serves me better than a nutritious, light and fresh lunch.  Below is one of my favorite cleansing salads.   The crunchy apples and watery cucumbers always taste heavenly during this time of the year.  Enjoy.

This is what you need

1 Apple- cored and diced.  I tend to use green apples, but you can try your favorite kind.

1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped with seeds removed

1/4 small red onion, diced

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

sea salt and fresh pepper

Sometimes I add a little mint or any other fresh herb I may have at hand.  A little bit goes a long way with these simple ingredients.

This is what you do

In a bowl, toss all ingredients together and serve!  I love any recipe this easy.  I promise the flavor of this small lunch will be so big you will be satisfied till snack time.

Roasted Pumpkin and Arugula Salad

My new friend roof-top-sparklers-show-Angel gave me a the biggest pumpkin to take home the other day and I have taken it as a personal mission to use every ounce of this pumpkin.  I have incorporated the darn thing in all my fall recipes and I still have some pumpkin left,  so I dusted my recipe box and found this glorious arugula-pumpkin salad recipe in there.  I am not sure where I found this little treasure, but I feel I should give credit to Martha Stewart.  I think we all should give credit to Martha Stewart even when it is not her recipe.  Just reading the recipe makes me salivate in anticipation; partnering the sweet pumpkin with the tingling flavors of arugula and peppers is, well, just genius.  Enjoy. This is what you need

• 1/4 cup pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
• 1 pumpkin (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut in 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 5 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Coarse salt and black pepper
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (you can use honey if you don't like maple syrup)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (sometimes I use lemon juice or white wine  if I don't have time to go to the store)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 pounds arugula (2 to 3 bunches, thick stems removed), washed and dried
• 6 ounces feta cheese (you could opt this out if you are vegan)

This is what you do

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Spread pepitas on a large rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven, tossing occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside.
2. On a large, rimmed baking sheet, toss pumpkin with 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until pumpkin is tender, 25 to 30 minutes.  IMPORTANT TIP:  If you tend to forget that you have things in the oven, like I do, set your timer to 10 minutes at a time so you remember to toss/flip the pumpkin- the pumpkin will burn if you forget to toss.
3. Remove garlic cloves from sheet pan; set aside. Drizzle pumpkin with 2 tablespoons maple syrup; toss to coat. Return to oven and continue roasting, tossing every four minutes, until pumpkin is glazed, 8 to 12 minutes more; let  it cool.
4. Meanwhile, cut off root ends of garlic cloves; squeeze out garlic and mash to a paste with the side of a knife. Transfer to a large bowl. Add lime juice, mustard, and remaining maple syrup; season with salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, add remaining oil in a steady stream; once emulsified set aside.
5. Add arugula and pumpkin and toss to combine. Serve salad sprinkled with toasted pepitas and crumbled feta cheese.

This is good for 4 servings.

Aromatherapy for your yoga practice

Chances are that if you have been around me in the last several years, you have come in contact with  my aromatherapy experiments - I do apologize for the Summer of patchouli ; experiments do come with sacrifices.

I am not gonna try  to explain what makes Essential Oils and Aromatherapy such a unique and interesting form of alternative medicine, I'll let you explore the information on you own.  I can only tell you that  it has made my health a lot better since I started using them.

There are different ways to use essential oils, and they have a lot of emotional and esoteric properties attributed to essential oils,  however I will concentrate on the practical ways in which I  use them during my yoga practice.  Needless to say,  if you tend to have allergies or have a specific condition, consult with your doctor before exploring the wonderful benefits of essential oils.

Before and After your Yoga Practice

• Preparing the space: Diffusing oils like lemon essential oil, grapefruit essential oil, Thieves® essential oil or Purification® essential oil before or in between yoga class will purify the air while bringing a refreshing, uplifting energy to the space.
• Cleaning:  For cleaning your yoga mat, props and or the area where you practice, you can use my formula.    Thieves household cleaner is a great non-toxic-disinfectant alternative for those of you who don't enjoy the DIY projects.

During your Yoga Practice

• Meditation (dhyana): Diffuse or directly inhale oils such as lavender essential oil can sooth your mind and senses to become more open.  I find the calming quality of lavender very useful in softening my heart and opening my mind to the experience of meditation.  By the way, lavender is like the baking-soda of essential oils; it can practically be used in all circumstances (and a little trivia, the term Aromatherapy was named after the use of lavender essential oil to treat burn victims- royalty! )
• Breathing (pranayama): The pure aroma of essential oils such as eucalyptus essential oil can assist in opening the pathways of your respiratory system (pharmaceutical companies reproduce synthetically this chemicals, but can we really surpass nature's wisdom?).  If I wake up with a stuffy nose, I diffuse eucalyptus essential oil in the room.  I sometime do a face steam bath with one drop of  eucalyptus essential oil...this is a stronger application for more severe nasal congestion, but so effective - again consult with your doctor if you have any medical condition.
• Poses (asana): Topical application of oil-diluted peppermint  essential oil may help alleviate muscle soreness and tension.  Make sure you dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil such as almond oil.  I sometime use  lavender essential oil  to decrease post-practice muscle irritation or yoga mat burns.

If you have any comments or questions, please let me know.   There is a lot of information available through the Young Living website, the company I get my essential oils from.   I also have various aromatherapists available for questions.

How to Order Organic & High Quality Essential Oils? I created an ordering essential oils page with easy steps to make it easy.  There are a lot of products market as essential oils, but therapeutic grade oils are the ones to use for Aromatherapy...after all there is aroma & therapy in Aromatherapy!!

Experience life...better.

Less <3 More

“What if we could save money, radically reduce our environmental impact, and have a freer, less complicated life?”  Now that is an attention-grabbing-question, isnt’ it?  This exactly is the premised behind the interior-design project LifeEdited.  In the project, Graham Hill challenged interior designers to create a space using technology and common sense to transform his NYC 420 square foot apartment into a comfortable place to live.  I mean, comfortable: home office, space for 2 guests to stay over, a sit down dinner for 12, lounge space for 8 and even a workout/steam room!! I totally recommend you look at the designs submitted- the winning designs are outstanding, and you can also see all the submitted designs.  It is a feast of multi-function and organization.  However, you don’t have to move or remodel your home to achieve this Less = More status, you can start right now and I think that  we  can all use technology and common sense to make more out of our living spaces.  Here are some life-editing steps we can all implement immediately:

Multipurpose spaces:  allowing your real estate to be multifunctional doesn’t have to involved designer or custom-built contractions (though I have seen some amazing work at my friend Lalita’s renovated apartment).  If you want to transform, for instance your living room into your personal yoga space, add casters or furniture sliders to your coffee table and sofa and listo, you have created the necessary space for your yoga mat.  Another example could be packing your laptop computer and file folders in a canvas tote when you are not using them, this can clear a lot of space of your desk or kitchen table.

Store everything digitally: this may require some effort and time, but the amount of space you will gain will be lucrative and satisfying.  First sign up to receive your bills electronically-don't ask any question, just do it.  Additionally, little by little you can download your CD and DVD to your computer.  Donate the hard copies to your local Library.  Chances are you have a bulky printer that scans, faxes and make copies; it is time you put it to use and begin to scan to your computer all those snapshots from the 90’s that you have been carrying with you for decades.  You will be surprise the amount of embarrassments you will inflict on your facebook friends.  Worried about computer memory?  You can use countless sites to store your information.

Think Accessibility vs. Ownership:  Netflix, eBooks, SoundCloud…should I continue?  You get the idea, why have excess DVDs, Books, CDs collecting dust and taking space.  The only way to allow for the divine grace of new/fresh ideas to come into your living space is to have space for it (spiritually, mentally & YES, PHYSICALLY!)

Only Keep Essential Necessities:  Constantly, ask yourself how is this item serving my vision, my values and everyday harmony?  That is a tough requirement to fulfill, but aren’t you and your home worth it?  Think about it, how could you take space from your everyday existence for something that isn’t allowing you to live a better life?  Edit, edit harshly.