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.