Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Soup's On!
“When we were growing up, we were so poor that our heritage was the only thing we had. Mama would say, “Kids, pour more water in the soup. Better days are coming.”
-Ashley Judd, American actress
Whenever I am unable to practice yoga and I am feeling unsettled, I default to making soup. Last week, I made three pots! Making a pot of soup grounds me. There is something so magical about a steaming pot of soup with all of its individual ingredients blending together yet allowing each herb, vegetable or spice to stand out. Soup crosses all borders, all ethnicities, all religions and always returns back home to our hearts. Soup is universal and soup is unique to each culture. Soup is a beautiful thing.
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the first sutra should be enough to ground us: “Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodhah”. It means the restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff: the chatter, the voices that say you should or you shouldn’t or you should have. This is Yoga. All of the yogic practices are based on this one sutra. If you can control the ebb and the flow, the frantic and the calm, and the rise and the fall of the mind, you will experience Yoga. Well…some days are better than others!
There are oftentimes in life when the world seems to be spinning so quickly; especially now. People are worried about their jobs, their children, their finances and the future. Uncertainty breeds discontent and it becomes increasingly difficult to manage the chatter or the citta. It is in times of uncertainty when we need to practice yoga the most, but sometimes that too becomes a challenge.
So what grounds you? When you can’t get to yoga or the yoga just doesn’t seem to work that day, what is it that reminds you that everything is okay our world? Maybe you make cake or cookies or maybe you balance your checkbook or review your accounts; maybe you clean out a closet or cuddle with your sweetie or your kids; or maybe you cuddle up with Ben & Jerry (I’ll admit it…I’ve done it). Maybe you go for a run or get on your bike, or maybe you write a letter to a friend, or call your mom or dad. Me…I make soup and I am reminded that all is right in the world. Soup is a sure thing.
The Kindest Course
“Soup is cuisine’s kindest course. It breaths reassurance; it steams consolation; after a weary day it promotes sociability…there is nothing like a bowl of hot soup, its wisp of aromatic steam making the nostrils quiver with anticipation.”
-Chef Louis P. DeGouy from The Soup Book, 1949
Reminder: Class will be cancelled this Saturday due to the Dean Learner workshop at the Yoga Room. Check out www.greentarayoga.com for more information.
-Ashley Judd, American actress
Whenever I am unable to practice yoga and I am feeling unsettled, I default to making soup. Last week, I made three pots! Making a pot of soup grounds me. There is something so magical about a steaming pot of soup with all of its individual ingredients blending together yet allowing each herb, vegetable or spice to stand out. Soup crosses all borders, all ethnicities, all religions and always returns back home to our hearts. Soup is universal and soup is unique to each culture. Soup is a beautiful thing.
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the first sutra should be enough to ground us: “Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodhah”. It means the restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff: the chatter, the voices that say you should or you shouldn’t or you should have. This is Yoga. All of the yogic practices are based on this one sutra. If you can control the ebb and the flow, the frantic and the calm, and the rise and the fall of the mind, you will experience Yoga. Well…some days are better than others!
There are oftentimes in life when the world seems to be spinning so quickly; especially now. People are worried about their jobs, their children, their finances and the future. Uncertainty breeds discontent and it becomes increasingly difficult to manage the chatter or the citta. It is in times of uncertainty when we need to practice yoga the most, but sometimes that too becomes a challenge.
So what grounds you? When you can’t get to yoga or the yoga just doesn’t seem to work that day, what is it that reminds you that everything is okay our world? Maybe you make cake or cookies or maybe you balance your checkbook or review your accounts; maybe you clean out a closet or cuddle with your sweetie or your kids; or maybe you cuddle up with Ben & Jerry (I’ll admit it…I’ve done it). Maybe you go for a run or get on your bike, or maybe you write a letter to a friend, or call your mom or dad. Me…I make soup and I am reminded that all is right in the world. Soup is a sure thing.
The Kindest Course
“Soup is cuisine’s kindest course. It breaths reassurance; it steams consolation; after a weary day it promotes sociability…there is nothing like a bowl of hot soup, its wisp of aromatic steam making the nostrils quiver with anticipation.”
-Chef Louis P. DeGouy from The Soup Book, 1949
Reminder: Class will be cancelled this Saturday due to the Dean Learner workshop at the Yoga Room. Check out www.greentarayoga.com for more information.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Carving Pumpkins
“The Great Pumpkin always picks the most sincere pumpkin patch to rise out of. He's just gotta pick this pumpkin patch. He's just gotta! Look around. You can see that there's not a sign of hypocrisy anywhere. Nothing but sincerity reaching out as far as the eye can see.” –Linus from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
After spending Saturday afternoon with my mom, she suggested that I take home one of the 12 pumpkins that she and her husband had displayed in honor of Halloween. My mom and her husband are those people in the neighborhood; the ones that decorate for every holiday. The trick or treaters love it, and my mom loves the kids…so it all works out. But when she suggested that I take a pumpkin home, I said: “What am I going to do with a pumpkin?” Responding quickly and nonchalantly, she said: “Carve it. Peel it. Roast the seeds and the pumpkin.” “Okay,” I said. So, the pumpkin and I headed back to the city.
Carving a pumpkin is tough. After slicing the pumpkin in half, I scooped out the insides including the seeds which you have to separate from the stringy guts of the pumpkin…now I know why pumpkin seeds are so expensive. After cleaning the seeds, I sectioned the pumpkin into manageable parts in order to peel its skin. It was at this point that I began sweating, swiftly cut my finger and found myself and my kitchen covered in pumpkin skin…but I refused to give up despite the injury. Finally, I was able to cut the pumpkin into bite-size cubes in order to roast. I was exhausted!
I don’t remember carving pumpkins being so dangerous, so that leads me to believe that I never actually carved a pumpkin as a child. My family carved pumpkins every year, but after carving this pumpkin, I am confident that any adult in their right mind would never, ever let a child carve a pumpkin! So it was my parents or my older brother who bravely risked their fingers or hands every year carving pumpkins so that I could enjoy the full Halloween experience.
In the end, the roasted pumpkin was delicious. Even more, were the scrumptious memories of Halloweens past and the sweet realization that there are special people in our worlds who do things large and small to make our lives wonderful… memorable… easier.
Who has made your life a little easier or sweeter this week, this month, this year or in this lifetime? Thank them today. Thank you, Mom, Dad and Johnny for risking your fingers to make every Halloween enchanting for me.
This Saturday, devote your yoga practice those people or that one person that you want to thank!
Roasted Pumpkin Recipe…if you dare! (servings depends on the size of the pumpkin)
-Preheat oven to 450 degrees
-See paragraph 2 to begin and proceed with caution
-Toss pumpkin cubes in the best olive oil you can afford, 100% pure maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, sea or kosher salt and fresh pepper
-Spread pumpkin cubes in a single layer on a cookie sheet and roast in oven for approximately 45 minutes or until tender; toss midway
-Serve as a side dish, with plain Greek-style yogurt or with Ben & Jerry’s vanilla bean!
After spending Saturday afternoon with my mom, she suggested that I take home one of the 12 pumpkins that she and her husband had displayed in honor of Halloween. My mom and her husband are those people in the neighborhood; the ones that decorate for every holiday. The trick or treaters love it, and my mom loves the kids…so it all works out. But when she suggested that I take a pumpkin home, I said: “What am I going to do with a pumpkin?” Responding quickly and nonchalantly, she said: “Carve it. Peel it. Roast the seeds and the pumpkin.” “Okay,” I said. So, the pumpkin and I headed back to the city.
Carving a pumpkin is tough. After slicing the pumpkin in half, I scooped out the insides including the seeds which you have to separate from the stringy guts of the pumpkin…now I know why pumpkin seeds are so expensive. After cleaning the seeds, I sectioned the pumpkin into manageable parts in order to peel its skin. It was at this point that I began sweating, swiftly cut my finger and found myself and my kitchen covered in pumpkin skin…but I refused to give up despite the injury. Finally, I was able to cut the pumpkin into bite-size cubes in order to roast. I was exhausted!
I don’t remember carving pumpkins being so dangerous, so that leads me to believe that I never actually carved a pumpkin as a child. My family carved pumpkins every year, but after carving this pumpkin, I am confident that any adult in their right mind would never, ever let a child carve a pumpkin! So it was my parents or my older brother who bravely risked their fingers or hands every year carving pumpkins so that I could enjoy the full Halloween experience.
In the end, the roasted pumpkin was delicious. Even more, were the scrumptious memories of Halloweens past and the sweet realization that there are special people in our worlds who do things large and small to make our lives wonderful… memorable… easier.
Who has made your life a little easier or sweeter this week, this month, this year or in this lifetime? Thank them today. Thank you, Mom, Dad and Johnny for risking your fingers to make every Halloween enchanting for me.
This Saturday, devote your yoga practice those people or that one person that you want to thank!
Roasted Pumpkin Recipe…if you dare! (servings depends on the size of the pumpkin)
-Preheat oven to 450 degrees
-See paragraph 2 to begin and proceed with caution
-Toss pumpkin cubes in the best olive oil you can afford, 100% pure maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, sea or kosher salt and fresh pepper
-Spread pumpkin cubes in a single layer on a cookie sheet and roast in oven for approximately 45 minutes or until tender; toss midway
-Serve as a side dish, with plain Greek-style yogurt or with Ben & Jerry’s vanilla bean!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Liberation
“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.” -Thomas Jefferson
This past weekend, I had the unique opportunity to run the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. It was an amazing experience all around. During the run, I relied heavily on my yogic practices: methodical breathing, mantra, karma and trusting wholeheartedly in the Universe. During the first half of the race, I repeated one mantra over and over again until there were moments during the run that I didn’t even think about running…my body was just moving. During the third quarter of the race, I began to send out a little karma to fellow runners. I told people that I liked their shorts or their shirt and if I saw a struggling runner, I sent them some shakti love. Finally, in the last quarter of the race, I had to pull out the most magical, sure-fire, get-it-done ritual: any and all Madonna on my IPod. Works every time!
This race was particularly meaningful and moving, especially during this historical Presidential election. Erika, my good friend said: “What an exciting time to be in our Nation’s capital!” And she was right. We started at the Arlington National cemetery and ran across the Francis Scott Key Bridge into Georgetown. We traveled along the Potomac River and around the Thomas Jefferson Memorial down Constitution Avenue to the Washington Monument. The course took us along the front of the Capital building where a marching band played patriotic tunes to motivate the pack. One last time over the Potomac, we finally crossed the finish line at the Iwo Jima Memorial and I was grateful to live in a country where I am free to run (in a running skirt, no less), and I was reminded of the goodness of humanity… the hundreds of spectators who spent their Sunday morning handing out tissues, Twizzlers and Tylenol at their own free will…just to help us finish.
Our country is not perfect and we are certainly facing uncertain times, but we are free. Free to choose our vocation, free to choose our religion, free to protest and free to run. Celebrate your freedom and take advantage of the opportunity to vote…to make a statement for what you believe in. My teacher’s teachers, Sharon Gannon and David Life say: “You can’t help but be political. Every action, every choice you make affects us all. To say that you are political is to say that you care about the world we live in.” My little rituals helped me along the way: mantra, Madonna…oh…and did I mention those Marines? But it was liberation that I celebrated as I crossed the finish line.
Celebrate your freedom this Saturday, November 1st with an invigorating asana practice.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Invest
Class will be cancelled this Saturday, October 25th resuming on Saturday, November 1st. Please contact me with any questions.In the meantime, practice sending shakti (meaning force, power, energy) love out into the world around you. It is the most solid investment you can make today and is guaranteed to pay dividends.
Shanti...shanti...shanti...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
