Paris: Naturally sw(eat)

A few years back my mom gave me a book entitled, "French Women Don't Get Fat." I never read it. I thought it must be hogwash. How could French women seriously sit around all day eating pastries, cheese and steak frite and still be thin and healthy?

Well, I just returned from Paris, and my friends, it's true. Here are a few observations:

• EVERYTHING is fresh. Parisians buy their bread daily from the boulangerie. Outdoor markets dot each area of the city providing fresh, local, seasonal produce. They buy their meat fresh from the butcher and artisanal cheese from the fromagerie. Wine? From neighboring wineries. Outside of the supermarkets, nearly all of their food is whole and without preservatives.
• Food and drink is enjoyed. We were sitting at an outdoor cafe enjoying a glass of rose and the best-I've-ever-tasted bowl of french onion soup, and I noticed the couple next to us. Their drinks (one each) were half full when we arrived, yet the couple remained even as we were leaving, an hour and a half later--still talking, engaged in conversation, using hand motions and expressions--One drink only. They were purely enjoying each others company; no need for 3 more rounds of drinks to give them something to do or loosen them up for continued conversation.
  
• The thing that stuck out in my mind was the fact that everything for Parisians is art--architecture, fashion, food--all art. Which is why they only choose the best, whole, real foods to prepare their meals. Do you think Coco Chanel would use fake leather for her handbags?
• They walk and bike-- a lot. Walking, bicycling and public transportation are the easiest and fastest ways to navigate the city. Paris is peppered with public bike racks called Velib which allow you to pick up a bike in one part of the city, ride to another and drop it off...so cool.

Erica's Morrocan Spiced Quinoa

I went to visit my friend Erica in Baltimore over Labor Day weekend, and it was a weekend of maxin' and relaxin'; sleeping in, city strolls and brunching were about as taxing as it got...
So as the weekend came to a close she was kind enough to send me off with my favorite Erica specialty--an addictive compilation of spices, raisins, toasted almonds and quinoa. It's an easy, worry-free recipe comprised of mostly dry/staple ingredients that could be lurking in the kitchen cabinets (fitting for our relaxed, anything-goes weekend).

It packs and keeps well and leftovers would be yummy as a salad topping or side.
Quinoa is a champion in the grain family as it is a "complete protein" containing all essential 9 amino acids, making it a highly effective form of vegetable protein aiding in tissue repair and growth. High in magnesium quinoa may also help prevent migraines by helping relax blood vessels, relieving constriction and rebound dilation common in migraine suffers (bonus!).

You'll need:
-1.5c dry quinoa (red or white, we used a mix of both)
-3c water or vegetable broth
-2 small onions
-2 or 3 cloves of garlic

The Dressing:-handful golden raisins
-handful slivered almonds
-curry powder
-cumin
-turmeric
-pomegranate syrup-olive oil
-lemon juice
-salt n' peppa
-ground mustard
-chopped (or dried) parsley

How To:Saute onions and garlic in olive oil, add water/vege broth and quinoa. Cook covered for 7-10 min or until all water is absorbed and the seeds of the quinoa spring open. Set aside.

Dressing:
While the quinoa is cooking, mix remaining ingredients to taste...as I said this is an anything goes recipe, so a pinch of this and a dash of that topped off with a handful of raisins. Mix the quinoa into the dressing. Great warm or chilled or on a bus...thanks Eri!!

End of Summer Salad

Two of my favorite things: Avocados and summer fruit. Now, while I'll throw avocado into just about every salad (and sandwich) I make, I'm not normally one to base a salad around fruit. Yet in the last few weeks of summer with the arrival of all the juicy varieties of peaches, plums and pluots, I've been shaking things up and leaving the salad greens aside. This salad is easy and tangy and flavorful--no MSG necessary.
Even though the fat-free craze tarnished the avocados' rep for a brief stint in the 90's, it's back...a great source monosaturated (good) fat, avocados' nutritional score also includes potassium and folate promote overall heart health: lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, raises HDL (good) cholesterol, regulates blood pressure and guards against circulatory diseases.

Plums are high in antioxidants which protect cells from being oxidized by free radicals, and vitamin C which boosts immunity and aids iron absorption.

Not only is this salad super easy, but it has a nice kick and could see it pairing well with a soy-chili glazed salmon. It's also good over bulgur for a little more of a tabouleh style salad.
You'll Need:

• 2 medium ripe Avocados
• 5 medium sized ripe black plums
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 small clove of garlic
• several pinches sea salt
  
• 1 medium lemon
• a few glugs of olive oil
• 1 dried red chili pepper

-Peel and cube avocados
-cube plums (you can peel them if you were blessed with that kind of patience, but I don't think it's necessary)
-Place plums and avocado into dish
-Chop cilantro, chili pepper, garlic and mix with lemon juice and olive oil to make the dressing.
-Pour dressing over avos and plums, and GENTLY mix as not to mush the delicately divine avo.
-Let sit for a few minutes to marry flavors and enjoy!

Recipe from: food52

Gratitude

The universe works in mysterious ways...I had just been thinking that I needed someone to shoot some photos of my classes in the park, as I'm always too engrossed in teaching to snap any post-worthy shots myself. And then along came Adrian. He happened to be in Sheeps Meadow one Monday and took some beautiful photos. He came back a few weeks ago and captured some amazing shots that really illustrate what yoga in the park is all about: stress relief, joy, sweat and community. If you haven't made it to a Monday class, maybe these will entice you...

Thank you, Adrian!
Check out Adrian's impressive work: www.adrianalston.com
All photos credit: Adrian Alston www.adrianalston.com

Here Comes the Sun

The Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) is one of the best ways to warm up or begin your yoga practice. I like to do a few to get my heart rate up and my muscles warm before heading into any deeper poses. Moving through each posture either on an inhalation or exhalation, heats your muscles from the inside out and the repetitive cycle is a great way to quiet the mind--sort of an active meditation. The act of bowing to the sun (the source of all light) symbolizes our own consciousness.

The sequence above is one sun salutation. Repeat as many times as you want to loosen up and work up a sweat. There are also numerous variations to the sun salutation, one being to modify by bringing the knee(s) to the mat through crescent and chaturanga for a less strenuous cycle. The second is to jump back into chaturanga from forward fold to add a little more heat.

I often begin with the modified knees to mat version and work up to a full jump-back version as my muscles begin to heat up.

Ubuntu: sw(eat)ing out west

Months ago upon sharing my idea for sw(eat) with a work colleague over dinner in NYC, the restaurant's sommelier mentioned that I visit Ubuntu, the mecca of yoga for foodies in Napa.

3,000 miles is a bit farther than I'd usually travel for yoga class and a meal, but I just couldn't get it out of my head. After a little research and lots of trips to Ubuntu's website to salivate over the seasonal and organic ever-changing-veggie-based menu, I managed to wedge a day trip to Napa into my vacation to the west coast to visit family and friends. I am so thankful I did. Happy Birthday to me.

Initially unsettled that I'd be driving, documenting and dining all on my lonesome, the 90minute long kundalini yoga class settled my nerves and opened my mind. Nestled among regulars in the bright, cheery studio it didn't matter why and how I was there, I was just grateful I was. I let go.

After the class, Punky, my mat neighbor graciously introduced me to Ubuntu's owner/founder, Sandy Lawrence, who had been practicing in the front row. To my surprise, Ubuntu started out very similarly to sw(eat). Sandy, a yoga instructor and Napa native, started teaching classes to her friends in the backyard. Each student would bring a potluck dish and after class the group would open wine and dine together. Yoga. Food. Community. Like-minded people sharing life. When Sandy's house and backyard became too crowded to accommodate the growing community, Sandy began looking for real estate and Ubuntu was born. She now grows a vast amount Ubuntu's seasonal produce on her property, but lets someone else do the cooking--Executive Chef, Aaron London (back left). And cook he did.I threw on my flip-flops and headed downstairs into the restaurant. I checked with the hostess on the way to make sure it was okay to dine in spandex..."of course," she assured me (bonus...definitely my kind of place).

I eyed my spot, a middle seat at the base of the restaurant's L-shaped bar. I had barely balanced on my stool when Nick, the bartender welcomed me with a big white smile and shiny blue eyes (yet another reason not to be upset about dining solo).

The menu was mind-boggling--I wanted to order one of everything. Seeing the confusion on my face, Nick inquired with the chef about setting out a tasting menu...and within minutes the dishes started rolling out. Concoctions I had never dreamed of...pairings I had not thought possible. Clear cantaloupe blackened melon and sage gazpacho, Fennel pasta with squash and carrot top broth, charred 'purpullete onions' with brioche and turkish figs. Each dish gorgeous, colorful and thoughtfully prepared; unique and surprising with a fresh flavor and texture. Each presented and explained with care and love. Honestly stunning.

Clear cantaloupe and sage gazpacho with blackened melon

Charred 'purplette' onions, roast turkish figs, brioche burnt with love.

I did not meet a dish over which did not spout some over-used exclamation: "amazing!" "delicious!" "WOW." I gushed, I fawned, I ooo'ed, awed. This was such the case that I only slowed down when the bartender noted, "...you housed that.." I took that as a compliment, but soon realized that I was indeed ready to pop. "Two more dishes" he grinned.

The experience in total was phenomenal, but I must say I was most impressed by the soul of the place; the wait-staff, chefs, hosts and yogis were all gracious, graceful and glowing with a pride and joy in their work and surroundings. The message emblazoned on the back of Ubuntu's t-shirts says it all, "practice humanity towards others."

My visit inspired me to continue exploring and sharing my love for whole, real foods alongside a lifestyle of yoga, health and compassion. I am grateful to the staff at Ubuntu for taking such great care of me...If you're ever in Napa stop in for a bite and a glass of local vino! Cheers!

Ubuntu Napa, 1140 Main St. Napa, CA 94559

Yoga Playlist 7.19.2010

Step Into the Light

• Porcelain, Moby
• Here Comes the Sun/Inner Light, The Beatles
• Beautiful, G. Love feat. Tristan Prettyman
• Day'n Night, Kid Cudi
• Daylight, Matt and Kim
• Let Your Love Grow Tall, Passion Pit
• There is a Light That Never Goes Out, The Smiths
• Sunshine of Your Love, Cream
• I Will Be Light, Matisyahu
• When the Sun Comes Up, John Legend
• Lovely Day, Bill Withers
• Turn Your Lights Down Low, Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill
• Orange Sky, Alexi Murdoch
• Heartbeats, Jose Gonzalez
• The Wind, Cat Stevens
• Final Relaxation...Still don't know who sings it!

"The great arises out of small things that are honored and cared for." -Echart Tolle

The Green Mustache

Tired? Groggy? Rundown? Sounds like you could use a Green Mustache. As frightening as it looks and sounds, one glass of this concoction will have you buzzing faster than a triple-venti-no foam-latte.

Raw juices send vitamins, minerals and enzymes directly into the blood stream giving you an instant surge of energy while boosting your immune system. Drink one some of this upon rising and not only will you be skipping to work, but you (and your mustache) will be glowing.
You'll Need:

• A juicer
• One head romaine lettuce or celery
• 5 to 6 stalks of Kale
• 1 to 2 apples
• 1 lemon
• 2 inches ginger
  

It tastes good--I promise! Best to drink right after juicing. If you don't have a juicer, seek out a good juice bar in your neighborhood, most will have something similar and if not I'm sure they'd be happy to make it for you.

Here are some juice places in NYC I fancy:
Liquiteria, 170 2nd Avenue
The Juice Press, 70 E 1st St (1st Avenue)
Organic Avenue, several locations in Manhattan
Integral Yoga Natural Foods, 229 West 13th Street

flaunt it. seriously.

Green Lemonade recipe from The Raw Food Detox Diet, by Natalia Rose

Yoga Playlist 7.12.2010

Love Generation

• Do You Mind, The XX
• Where's the Love, Black Eyed Peas
• Love Generation (Feat. Gary Pine), Bob Sinclar
• Easy Love, MSTRKRFT
• Let My Love Open the Door, Pete Townsend
• You've Got the Best of My Love, The Emotions
• Bleeding Love, Leona Lewis
• Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down, ALO Featuring Jack Johnson
• Love Is My Religion, Ziggy Marley
• Gravity Rides Everything, Modest Mouse
• Turn Your Lights Down Low, Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill
• I Can't Help Falling In Love, UB 40
• Real Love, Regina Spektor
• Warm Love, Van Morrison
• Killing For Love, Jose Gonzalez
• Final Relaxation, Some Dude from South Africa

"Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you."
-Christian D. Larson

Simple Summer (Shovel) Salad

Nothing says summer like corn on the cob. BBQs, pools, sand, bonfires and corn...it just works. So when my aunt Melanie introduced me to this recipe a few July's back it's been my summer staple ever since. I don't dare arrive at a pool party, BBQ or picnic without it. It's fresh, easy, healthy, shovel-it-in-your-mouth-while-standing-in-the-kitchen good.

And it's ok if you shovel this salad in your mouth because corn is high in fiber, folate, vitamin B1 and B5. Folate-rich diets are associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer and heart disease. Vitamins B1 (thiamin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) are integral to cognitive function and energy production--metabolism of protein, lipid and carbohydrates. So, go right ahead....shovel.

You'll need:

• 6 ears corn
• 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1 large avocado, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (I LOVE basil so I usually add more)
  
• 2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
  
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

How To:

• Cook corn in a large stock pot of boiling water 3-5 min, rinse with cool water and cut off the cob.
  
• Add chopped onions, tomatoes, avocado and basil
• Mix remaining ingredients into a vinaigrette and pour over all ingredients, gently toss

I often like it best after it's had a little time to chill in the fridge, gives the flavors time to make friends.

Recipe From: Sunset Magazine

sw(eat) picnic

Thank you to all of you who joined Aimee and I for our first sw(eat) picnic last Tuesday evening. It could not have been a better night to enjoy the park's scenery, with a workout, a healthy meal and friends.

sw(eat) menu:

• Quinoa salad with black beans and grilled corn
• Poached organic salmon
• Mixed organic greens
• Guacamole
• Chipolte-lime vinagrette
• Flourless chocolate walnut cookies (no butter, no oil...unreal)

Time Out NY Shout Out!

I was pretty psyched to get a shout out in Time Out NY's list of 52 cheap things to do...

Yoga has become so popular that it's tough to find a drop-in class for less than 17 bucks a pop, which can alienate people from trying out new studios or taking up a regular practice...And that my friends, is a shame (not to mention a deviation from what yoga stands for to begin with).

Part of the reason I decided to teach in Central Park was so I could expose people to yoga that may not otherwise try it. That said, as an instructor I understand the business side of things, and realize how hard it would be to make a living off teaching alone. At this point in my life, I'm thankful to be able to offer classes (that are practically free) and share something I love with others.

One studio in the city that shares this philosophy is Yoga To the People; they have several studios in NY and SF Bay area...check them out!

Becoming Clear

I've mentioned before that this blog is a journey to wholeness. But after one too many glasses of wine enabled me to try every cookie, truffle and cake on the dessert platter, I woke up at 3am unable to sleep. This is not the first time.

More than despising my lack of willpower with food and drink (especially because I know better), this habit of over-indulging is compromising the way I live my life. It makes me lazy, anxious, irritable. It makes me, well, not me.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life--living in NYC is the best gift a single girl in her mid-twenties could have. There are limitless opportunities, activities and adventures to be had, yet I believe drinking alcohol at times holds me back from doing the things I really want to do. It's a vicious cycle: I have a few drinks, over-indulge, feel guilty, hit the snooze, miss yoga or my morning run, feel guilty, eat poorly to counter-act feeling bad, feel guilty, and pledge to do better tomorrow. Repeat. (Wow. That really made me sound like a raging alcoholic.)

Approaching another birthday, I've realized New York is a place where I should be pursuing all my goals and passions, yet waking up foggy after a few drinks a few days a week sets me up to follow my old routine, doing the same things I did before. In this state I'm not clear on what I want to pursue; I want to write, meditate, do yoga, run, eat whole, take an improv class, try standup, cook, start a business, read, make jewelery...but doing any of these buzzed or hung over is not easy. I've put off taking a dance class or an improv class or a weekend trip because of cost, yet I don't bat an eyelash at a $14 Gin 'n Tonic. It adds up--my guesstimate is that I spend around $3,200/year on alcohol (That also makes me sound like an alcoholic). That's equivalent to another yoga training course, a couple international weekend trips, or at least a year of improv class.

I want to become clear, whole, conscious and more deliberate with my choices and my time in NYC, so I'm considering taking a year off of alcohol...But I'm scared as hell. Scared I will be shunned by my friends and family. Scared I will be single the entire year. Scared it will be too hard. Scared I will be judged. Scared I won't be able to do it.

However, I think I'm more afraid to squander goals and dreams with a foggy head, when a wealth of opportunity lies right at my fingertips, and that is the worst fear of all.

Yoga Playlist 6.14.10

• Be Here Now, Ray LaMontagne
• 1st of Tha Month, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
• Easy Love, MSTRKRFT
• Just Like Heaven, The Cure
• Hurt So Good, John Cougar Mellencamp
• Good, Better Than Ezra
• Tell Me Something Good, Chaka Khan and Rufus
• Where Does the Good Go, Tegan and Sarah
• Here I Am (Come and Take Me), UB40
• Satellite, Dave Matthews Band
  
• Who Says, John Mayer
• My Sweet Lord, George Harrison
• Wild World, Cat Stevens
• I'd Rather Be With You, Joshua Radin
• Final Relaxation

"Your journey has molded you for good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think that you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time." -Asha Tyson

Heirloom Watermelon Salad

I had not passed more than two market stalls and...tractor beam....my eyes fixated, my heart started to race. Heirlooms came early! So plump and handsome, I fawned over them checking for color and ripeness. Without any idea of what I was going to do with them, I made my choice based solely on aesthetics--one green with yellowish streaks, the other a deep pink with orangy stripes.
Walking home from the farmers market on a muggy, sweaty Saturday I decided I needed something light and refreshing and what better for that than some juicy watermelon. With whatever else I had on hand, I came up with Heirloom Watermelon Salad. Not only are watermelon and tomatoes high in water content and excellent for re-hydrating and quenching your thirst on a warm summer day, but both are also great sources of lycopene, an antioxidant praised for its cancer-preventing properties as well as its ability to neutralize free radicals. Bonus!

Pair it with a chilly glass of Riesling and a roof deck. Summer's here.

You'll Need:

• 2 medium heirloom tomatoes, cubed
  
• 1 1/2 cups watermelon, cubed
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup feta cheese

Dressing:

• 2tbs olive oil
• 2tbs balsamic vinegar
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• sea salt and pepper
• Riesling or your favorite white (optional, but highly recommended)

Yoga Playlist 6.7.2010

• Let Go, Frou Frou
  
• Let Your Love Grow Tall, Passion Pit
• Make Her Say (Feat. Kanye West and Common), Kid Cudi
• Tennessee, Arrested Development
• Under Pressure, David Bowie
• Could You Be Loved, Bob Marley
• Doo Wop, Lauryn Hill
• Love Me Two Times, The Doors
• Lovely Day, Bill Withers
• Gravity Rides Everything, Modest Mouse
• Fast Car, Tracey Chapman
• Crazy Love, Van Morrison
• Beautiful Boy, Ben Harper
• Falling Awake, Gary Jules
• Final Relaxation

"You are always already happy. The reason you don't experience it is that it's covered up by layers of supressed emotions and negative thoughts. Shift your attention and your inherent happiness flashes forth." - Steve Ross

Relax the Back: Poses to Ease Low Back Pain

Once word got out around the office that I taught yoga, I became the resident fitness guru of sorts. I get asked about everything from inner foot stretches to loosening up tight hips, but most frequently people are interested in ways to ameliorate back pain and stiffness.

While I'm no doctor and these poses are certainly not the end-all-be-all for back issues, I am certain that sitting hunched over a desk for eight plus hours can cause a host of tightness and pain in the low back. Since everything in the body is interconnected, back pain can also be caused by a tightness in the hip flexors (or psoas), causing a swayback.

Here are two poses, Modified Locust Pose and Bridge Pose that stretch both the low back and the hip flexors. Hold each pose roughly 20 seconds and repeat 3-4 times keeping the breath steady. End with the counter-stretch. For maximum benefit, repeat daily.

Yoga Playlist 5.31.10

• Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye
• On the Radio, Regina Spektor
• Return of the Mack, Mo'Reece Marks
• Heartbreaker (feat. John Legend), MSTRKRFT
• Set Adrift on Memory Bliss, P.M. Dawn
• All These Things That I've Done, The Killers
• Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap
• Betty Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes
  
• Lonely View, Red Hot Chile Peppers
• Night Moves, Bob Seger
• Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover, Sophie B. Hawkins
• Slip Slidin' Away, Paul Simon
• Song For You, Alexi Murdoch
• Star Mile, Joshua Radin
  
• Blackbird, Sarah McLaughlin
• Final Relaxation
  

Spa In A Glass

It's Monday morning, the alarm rings just before 6, glance at the blackberry-- 38 emails overnight. It's only Monday. We've all been there.

Since I had to abort my plan to do a morning yoga practice, and it was highly inappropriate to fix myself a stiff cocktail at that hour, I figured the next best thing was spa in a glass--a delightfully refreshing, souped up version of lemon water.

This heavenly concoction passed down to me by my friend Erin, is comprised of lemon, mint, cucumber and ginger and has several soothing and healing properties.

Straight up lemon water has been hailed for years as an aid for detoxifying and re-alkalizing the body. When we're stressed out or eat too many rich/processed/sugary foods, the body becomes acidic. A chronically acidic system or acidocis leads to decreased immune function, weakened mental capacity, inflammation, premature aging, and increased risk of degenerative disease. Although counter-intuitive (as lemon itself is highly acidic), the body's reaction to lemon water is alkalizing, helping to bring the system's pH back to neutral where it functions optimally.

Ginger aids in digestion, alleviates high blood pressure by increasing circulation, treats nausea and morning sickness and has also been known to lower LDL cholesterol.

Cucumber improves complexion, decreases water retention and helps soothe skin irritation.

Mint also relieves indigestion and its aroma has soothing and calming properties.

I try to keep a pitcher of this magical punch in the fridge so I can sip away the stress...Drink up!

You'll need:

• Pitcher of filtered water
• 2 lemons; juice of 1, thin slices of the second
• 1/2 large cucumber; thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
• 1 inch of ginger, grated

Add all ingredients to a large pitcher and let chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Pour over ice.

Green Salad Sans the "Greens"

Being that two of the fruits of my farmers market trip were asparagus and a potted mint plant, I thought it was too serendipitous that my friend Erin sent me this tasty recipe the following day. I happened to have all but one ingredient on hand--when does that ever happen?

It's fresh, easy and unlike most green salads, it keeps well in the fridge.


The Goods:

• a bunch of asparagus
• 1 bag of edamame shelled; fresh or frozen
• 1/4 cup finely chopped mint leaves
  
• 3-5 tbs. finely grated pecorino (feta might be nice too)
• 3 tbs olive oil
• sea salt and pepper
  
• juice of 1/2 lemon
  

How to:

Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Wash and cut the bottom ends off the asparagus; add to pot. Let boil for 4-5 min; add edamame and cook another 2-3 min. All veggies should be bright and firm. Remove from heat, then drain and run cold water over veggies. Let cool.

Chop asparagus in inch long pieces. Place chopped asparagus and edamame to a large bowl. Add olive oil, mint and season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so.

Mix in grated pecorino and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. enjoy.

Yoga Playlist 5.17.2010

• Breathe, Alexi Murdoch
• Better Man, Pearl Jam
• Sexy Bitch (feat. Akon), David Guetta
• Day'n'Nite, Kid Cudi
• Girl, Beck
• Everyday People, Arrested Development
• Sweat, Inner Circle
• Mercy, Duffy
• Beast of Burden, The Rolling Stones
• Heartbeats, The Knife
• Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, The Police
• Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder
• The Heart of Life, John Mayer
• The Fear You Won't Fall, Joshua Radin
• Secret Garden, Bruce Springsteen
• Final Relaxation, Some Dude in South Africa?
  

More than a good sweat.

Cranky knees forced me to find an alternative to jogging in high school, but my real love affair with yoga did not begin until my friend Kristen introduced me to Maha Yoga in LA during college. The owner of the studio, Steve Ross, is a former rocker turned monk who believes yoga is a celebration. At a time when yoga had become so mainstream, and sometimes uptight and ego-driven, his classes were fresh, fun and sweaty. His ear to ear smile and hip-hop laced playlists had me hooked...initially just for the workout. It was only after committing to semi-regular classes that I realized yoga is much more than a way to tone the physical body.

Yogis like to refer to the process as "peeling back the layers of the onion." Yoga starts with the physical postures or asanas, but it is in pushing your body to the edge of its limits that then starts to liberate the mind from its constant chatter. Once you get past worrying about the physical body and turn your awareness inside, the mind gets quiet. For me, that was then that I got my first few glimpses of peace--a reprieve from the broken record of counter-productive thoughts and useless worries plaguing my head on a day to day basis. The calm, refreshed, re-balanced feeling after a long Final Relaxation is what kept (and keeps) me coming back.


-For more on yoga and stress relief check out the article I wrote for F.A.C.T during the holidays.

I Think Your Tractor's Sexy

Topping the list of my favorite things: Farmer's Markets. I am very fortunate to have the Green Market in Union Square (the grand-daddy of all organic markets) a few blocks from me. I went there this morning eyes wide, like a kid in a candy store, wandering up and down the stalls drooling over all my options...exotic produce, local cheeses, homemade bread, organic meats and fish, flowers and herbs. The problem is that I never bring enough cash to support my habit!

I do as much of my shopping as I can at farmers markets because there is no comparison in taste and quality and because I get such a kick out of talking to the farmers themselves--the people that grow, harvest and make their livelihood off fresh, whole foods. I love knowing where and how the produce is grown, and probing farmers about the best way to store and prepare their prize picks of the season. This is the one place I find dirt under fingernails acceptable (sexy, even).

Each trip is a learning experience for me too--Who knew that chives originated from a flower? Or that horseradish is a long skinny root? Black walnuts? Breakfast radishes?

I make it a point to pick up one new thing I've never tried before as it inspires me to try new dishes. So, what's in season now?

• Persian Cucumbers
• Asparagus
• Spinach
• Rubarb
  
• Pea Shoots
• Radishes

The Real Deal Oatmeal

There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of oatmeal in the morning for its "stick to your ribs" quality. Growing up I loved the mulitpack of instant oatmeal, so I could bounce between Apples n' Cinnamon and Maple and Brown Sugar to spice things up, but after converting to the real stuff I can't go back.

As easy as it is to toss a pre-measured packet of oats (and preservatives, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated soybean oil and a host of other un-pronouncables) and water into the microwave for 1:30, I would argue that oatmeal made from real whole oats will keep you more satisfied than the packaged stuff (sorry, Mr. Quaker). The oats are fluffier and the goodies you add yourself are much more nutritious than the dehydrated apples and artificially concocted "peaches n' cream" flavoring that may have been on grocery store shelves for a year.

The Real Deal Oatmeal:
1 serving

• 1/2 cup dry whole grain oats (or a mix of oats, barley, flax)
• 1 cup water
• pinch of salt
• toppings (whatever you like: raisins, sliced banana, cinnamon, chopped walnuts or almonds, honey, blueberries...you'll never get bored)
  

Boil water and salt in a sauce pan. Add oats and stir frequently for 5-6 min or until oats have become fluffy and absorbed most of the water. Add favorite toppings and enjoy.

I confess that for a brief stint I reverted back to the packets for the pure convenience of breakfast at work, until my friend Aimee tipped me off that you could whip up a big batch over the weekend (it literally takes 6 min), and take it to work in a tupperware for the week. Add a little water and it reheats great in the microwave. Ditch the processed packets for good!

sw(eat).

sw(eat): The idea is simple; sweat more and eat whole, unadulterated foods.

I'm not here to preach; it's just that after doing and teaching yoga for 8 years and being a nutrition and health nerd most of my life, I've come to realize that everything we do is connected. The food we eat and the way we treat our bodies affects and guides the the rest of our life. And now, more and more we're finding that our personal habits have larger repercussions upon the world we live in--socially, economically and environmentally.

So for me this little blog is a way to clear my own path, with the hope that by becoming more conscious at the source, looking first to the health of my mind and body, that I may then become more aware and appreciative of the life all around me.

This is an outlet where I will share thoughts, ideas, recipes, yoga and anything else that is helping me stick to a path of wholeness. Hopefully this will serve as a platform for people to learn, share and grow together; healthy in mind, body and soul.