BALANCE

Kauai, Oct 2015

 WHAT?!?!?!? A new blog post!! You must think you are hallucinating, right!!? Don't worry, you aren't! It is reality! Life just took over, as most of you can probably relate! I am a busy mom of two sweet, spirited girls, now 4 and 19 months! Where does the time go!? No, really, I want to know!

Yes, it has been over two years since my last post, but I have made a goal for myself to at least post two times a month, hopefully more.

Life is changing for me, as it does for all of us. Never stagnant. And, right now I am probably at my busiest I have been (I dare say EVER been - not complaining though). But, I am often reminded of how important balance is in life. Not just for moms of little kiddos, but for everyone. Finding balance between too much and too little, that that takes you to the edge without going over. And, only we know where that edge is.

Like I said, things are changing in my life, all good things (more on this later)! And, for me, coming back to my mat reminds me to find a balance. It helps me to recognize where that balance is. We are like rubber bands - elastic. We can stretch, but when stretched too far, we can break, too...yoga has taught me how to release without breaking. And, for me, my family is a constant reminder of the things that are important to me and why that balance is so vital.

As always, I invite you to come and join me on your mat on Tuesdays at 6pm at Ebb & Flow Yoga Studio in Vacaville. You may be pleasantly surprised by how much you can learn about balance off of your mat and in your lives, while actually trying to balance on your mat!

Kauai, Oct 2015

Brussels Sprouts and Yoga Mats and Hawaii, OH MY!

What do brussels sprouts, yoga mats, and Hawaii have in common???

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (at least that I know of) except that now, after 30 years, I LOVE brussels sprouts, and of course, I LOVE yoga therefore I LOVE my yoga mats, and who doesn’t LOVE Hawaii…oh, and did I mention that I ate brussels sprouts and did yoga on my new travel yoga mat while we were on our family vacation in Hawaii a few weeks ago.

Hey, don’t hate me! I just got lucky when I married my husband. His family likes to do family vacations on Kauai…what can I say!?

But, I will say that the weather was beautiful during our stay! We did some shorts hikes (our 21 month old toddler only tolerates so much), we went down to the beach to play in the sand, and played in the pool.  We cooked and ate dinner as a family at the resort, which is way more favorable to me than going out to eat.  It was a much more relaxing trip than when we last went when my daughter was 4 months old. But, two of the highlights from the trip…brussel sprouts and yoga on my new Manduka eKO SuperLite Travel Mat!

Yes, I took my yoga mat on our trip! Actually, I bought myself a little present before our trip. I am a big fan of my Manduka PRO Yoga Mat (aka The Black Mat PRO).  When people ask me what mat I recommend, I always point to my mat (don’t worry, this is not a paid endorsement! This is just my PERSONNAL opinion!). This is what I tell people when they ask: if you are going to be on your mat a lot, doing a lot of yoga (have boney knees life me), and can afford to invest (because this mat runs about $100) in one awesome mat with a lifetime guarantee, then look no further…if that does not describe where you are in your life/practice, then you might want to shop around. But, if you want to travel around with your mat, this is NOT the mat for you! It is NOT a light weight mat. It is definitely made to last. So, since we were going to be traveling to Hawaii with a limited amount of luggage, I decided to buy myself a birthday present (my birthday was in September, so don’t worry, it was justified). I bought Manduka’s eKO SuperLite Travel Mat! This baby only weighs about 2 lbs. and can be folded or rolled! For me, one of the most important things in a mat is what I call “the slip factor.” The rubber has to be somewhat sticky so that my hands and feet don’t slip all over the place and I land on my face.  Aside from it lacking in the cushion department for my boney knees, it was just like practicing on my Black Mat (and obviously it can’t have all the extra cushion if it is only going to be 2 lbs and fold and roll for travel).

Ok, moving on (you thought I was going to rant and rave about my yoga mat forever, didn’t you!) So, my husband always jokes around that if someone came out and said that dirt was the new superfood, I would eat it! Well, that is only partly true… :) To me, beets taste like dirt and they are extremely good for you and I have never been able to eat them. Although, I have found some ways to include them in my foods. As for the brussels sprouts, growing up and until this year, I thought I HATED brussels sprouts! WOULD. NOT. EAT. THEM! But, my sister cooked them one night for dinner (she is living with us while finishing up at Vet School), and I barely left any for her! They were amazing! Now, you would think that I prepare brussels sprouts as my main course, and everything else as a side dish! So, I made these in Hawaii as well. Actually, I would love to make them every day! I don't think I could ever get sick of them!

But, let's for a second look at how awesome these bad boys are for us.

1. Their high fiber content helps lower our cholesterol.
2. Recent studies have shown that certain compounds in brussels sprouts help block specific enzymes that can be detrimental to the health and stability of DNA within our white blood cells.
3. TONS of vitamins AND antioxidants
4. Helps fight inflammation
5. Cancer prevention AND cardiovascular support
6. Aids in digestion and diet

Here is the EASIEST and TASTIEST recipe ever (again, my PERSONAL opinion):

What you will need:

• Brussels sprouts
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Minced Garlic
• Sea Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees and line baking tray with parchment paper (or aluminum foil)
2. Rinse sprouts, cut/remove ends, and cut brussels sprouts in half lengthwise 
3. Place sprouts on baking tray
4. Pour oil and vinegar over sprouts. (This is the fun part! We like a lot of vinegar on ours...just make sure to drench them pretty well, but it is up to you how much).
5. Sprinkle with garlic, sea salt, and pepper.
6. Using a spatula, turn sprouts a few times to make sure they are all coated,
7. Place in oven for 25-30 minutes, depending on how soft or crispy you want them.
8. Devour...guilt free! :)

If you were like me and hate brussels sprouts, try these! And let me know what you think! :)

   

I'm the Guest Blogger on Yuppie Farm Girl for Part 2 - Building Strength and Flexibility at Home

I am so excited and honored to announce that I am blogger, and most importantly my BBF, Lisa Howard's first guest blogger on Yuppie Farm Girl! This is part 2 to Yoga Is Just a Study Hall, so head on over to Yuppie Farm Girl to learn more about how Lisa and I met, the truth about sheep people and pig people (you know you want to read more now!), and some yoga even beginner yogis can do at home (with a step by step guide and PICTURES)!

SNEAK PEAK!

Thank you, Yuppie Farm Girl, for featuring Live, Love, and Do Yoga (or what I will, from this day forward, think of as, Cowboy Boots and Yoga Pants! I see this blog evolving before my very eyes! HEHE!). 

Be sure to go to Yuppie Farm Girl and follow her!

And, of course, keep an eye out for more Lisa and Lauren stories, as Live, Love, and Do Yoga will be featuring Yuppie Farm Girl soon!

Yoga Is Just A Study Hall (Plus, Stay Tuned for Building Strength and Flexibility at Home)

Have you ever been so excited to master a pose in your yoga class? Maybe Handstand or actually balancing in Balancing Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana) for more than half a second! Feels pretty awesome, right!? I am completely guilty of running straight home to tell my hubby what yogic asana epiphany I just had! (He usually just responds with a "That's nice, babe." He obviously isn't "yoga crazy" like I am.)

But, what you might find yourself doing more of is grading each pose that you come into, even comparing yourself to others. For instance, I could say, "Wow! I actually got into Full Camel (yes, that is me in the picture below), but really I could work on pushing my hips forward a little more and walking my hands further up my feet so that my elbows come down onto the ground, so really I only get a B+."

STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!!!!

Your yoga practice is NOT a test where each pose gets a grade!! That isn't how this works! I actually like to compare yoga to study hall. What?! Why study hall, you ask? Well, because! That's why!

Ok, ok...well, we practice yoga to bring awareness to our breathe and consciousness to what is going on in our bodies and around us in the present moment, not only for the 60-90 minutes that you might practice per day or every other day, but to start to make that awareness and consciousness a habit that will start to seep out into our lives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So, really, everyday life is the test and yoga is just the study hall that helps us prepare for it. My hubby is actually spot-on in his response to me. That IS nice that you feel accomplished by finally being able to come into a pose you never thought you would get. No need to down play that. But, that really isn't why you show up to your mat over and over again, is it? (I see you shaking your head NO). :)

So, while my full camel may not be "picture perfect," at least I won't be graded on it. The test is, can I take that same awareness, calmness, and consciousness off my mat and into my life?

The answer.....I try...and if I fail today I get to wake up tomorrow and try again. :) 

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Building Strength and Flexibility at Home with one simple sequence. One of my oldest and dearest friends, Lisa Howard, writes a blog called Yuppie Farm Girl, and will be featuring Part 2 of this post on Tuesday, September 10th. Be sure to check out her blog! She is amazing! Her and I have been friends for almost 15 years, and have always been kindred spirits. Although she now resides in Arizona with her adorable little family, I am excited to be able to stay connected with her through our efforts to lead healthy, wholesome lives for both ourselves and our families.

Our Food is Our Medicine & Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread {Paleo}

This morning we took a family outing to one of the local produce stands in Suisun Valley, Larry’s Produce.  My hubby wanted to make some Pluot jam and some Citrus Pickled Bell Peppers tonight, so we bought lots of pluots, some bell peppers and some other stuff for the recipe. We also bought kale, figs (YUM!), white peaches, avocados, apples, limes, garnet yams, cilantro, bananas, raw local honey from Vacaville (our home town!) and more. And the best part, we only spent about $45! Believe me, that is fantastic for all of the great food we bought! We already have a ton of zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes and egg plant from our garden and my parent’s garden at the ranch, so I have been sautéing lots of veggies and making other yummy things (hint: recipe below)! We are so blessed to be able to have access to such a vast array of healthy seasonal fresh fruits and veggies! These are exactly what are bodies NEED and CRAVE! This is what I call Soul Food!

Thinking about all of the healthy foods we plan to prepare made me remember that I have been meaning to share with you all a book that I bought during my yoga teacher training when we had a lecture on Ayurvedic Health and Healing. Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is really just a generic term for “traditional medicine” in India.  I could site of bunch of information in which case you would just zone out and probably have no idea where I was going with this, and I am, by no means, an Ayurvedic expert. So instead, what I got out of this lecture and my own research regarding ayurvedic medicine is that we should view the food that we eat as medicine for our bodies, whether we are sick or not! The book, called Eat, Taste, Heal: An Ayurvedic Guidebook and Cookbook for Modern Living is amazing! 

It has wonderful recipes and talks about how to eat for your body type. I personally do not feel that there is necessarily ONE right way to eat. Some people swear by Paleo, some Vegan, some Vegetarian.  I think that there is a healthy and possibly a BETTER way to eat for YOUR body type! If you have Celiac Disease, maybe Paleo is the right way to go for you. But, it may not be the right way for someone else. We are not all made the same. And, it might possibly be that your body is just out of balance, so you might have to eat a certain way for a while to balance things back out, and then you can slowly start to add other things back into your lifestyle. I had to do this at one point. My Nutritionist had me cut out wheat and corn. It was amazing what a difference this made! My digestive system started to feel so much better. I even started to have more energy! Once my system was back in balance, I started to add some wheat products back in. At this time in my life, I choose not to eat most wheat and corn products because I have noticed that my body seems to be happier when I don’t eat them. At any rate, you probably get the idea, right! This book is not a cure all for eating or digestive disorders…but it is certainly interesting and worth the purchase.

Since I had some zucchini lying around, I will leave you with this recipe for some DELICIOUS Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread…it is even Paleo!!!

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Paleo, Clean Eating, Pure Deliciousness

What You Need:

• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup shredded zucchini (about 1 small zucchini)
• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a bread pan with parchment paper so that a little hangs over each side (to make removal easier) – Personally, I think this is the only way that works with this type of bread!
3. Mix eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla until well combined.
4. Add zucchini and mix well.
5. Add almond flour, shredded coconut, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to wet mixture and mix well.
6. Stir in chocolate chips (optional).
7. Pour batter into bread pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes, then remove from pan.
9. Eat up!

Ok, so this is what happens when your toddler distracts you...you forget to add the chocolate chips!!! That's a crime, right!! 

The up side is, you can always add the chocolate chips to the top! SAVED!

This

Let me just say that this loaf did not last very long at all! 

The Glorification of Busy & Healthy Chicken Salad

I have seen and heard this quote all over the place lately. It seems like it is popping up everywhere I go, and maybe that is not a coincidence.

“Stop the glorification of busy.”

At first glance, you probably brushed this off just like I did, saying, “This does not apply to me.” But, then after you let this sink in for a bit, you started to wonder, “Do I do that?” or “What does that even mean?”

When my husband and I were dating, we used to make little lists of things we wanted to do together, and then check those things off as we went, even if it was just a list to the grocery store.  He liked making lists as much as I did, and it was always something we could do together, even if it seemed like something very small and insignificant.  And, on our wedding day, I vowed to him that we would make hundreds more lists together, because that was our little special thing. Well, fast forward 2 ½ years later, and my husband requested that we write a list for something or other…I don’t remember what right now…but what I do remember was that I was too busy to make the time to write that list, even though it would have only taken seconds. He then reminded me of my promise, more as a way to get my attention, but that really hit home with me. Did I really just blow off something that would take seconds to do, but meant more to both him and me than anything else I was doing that day because I was what…busy????!! That was pretty lame of me!

But, the fact is, we get busy in our lives doing the mundane day to day things, and many times for others in our family, but sometimes we lose sight of the little things that matter most. In our society, we seem to be judged by the number of things we accomplish in a day, week, month, whatever. We further glorify this by calling it “multi-tasking.” I take pride in being able to multi-task, as most Moms do. But, what sacrifices have I made at the expense of my pride?

So, I asked myself, am I too busy to sit down and read to my child when she brings me a book while I am washing the dishes and cleaning? Am I too busy to make something healthy for my family to eat or would I rather pop some processed food item into the microwave just because it takes fewer minutes to make? Or should I blow off spending a few minutes of quality time with my husband to make a short little list because am I too busy cleaning the house or some other project that I gave myself that could be put on hold for a bit?

When I phrase it like that, it really puts things into perspective for me.

If you are like me, it might take you a while to realize these things, or maybe you are a quicker study than me and already have this figured out. Either way, it is still a process and sometimes we need a little reminder (thank you husband!).

And, just in case you need a quick, easy, healthy recipe for you and your family instead of tossing something into the microwave for lunch or dinner, here is one of my favorite go-to recipes!

Healthy Chicken Salad (with vegan option)

Serves 4-6

Here's what you will need:

• 2 ripe avocados
• 2-3 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (can sub with 2 cans drained garbanzo beans for vegan option)
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 1/2 cups seedless grapes
• 3/4 cup raw almonds

Directions:

1. Place almonds into food processor and chop into small pieces, but not fine powder.
2. Tear chicken up into pieces so it fits into the food processor. Add chicken and remainder of ingredients to food processor and blend.
3. Either serve or place into refrigerator.

Let's face it. We are all busy! But, there are still ways to make time for the things that matter, and eating healthy, clean, wholes foods does matter!

Life is a Balance...

I feel that part of being a yoga teacher rather than a yoga instructor, is being able to be vulnerable enough to let your own life experiences emerge in your teachings. I truly feel that you cannot be much more authentic than that, and authenticity is a huge part of being a teacher. I feel that teaching from the heart is what separates the teachers from the instructors - one of my very own teachers shared that profound lesson with me one day.

With that being said, I want to share something from my Saturday afternoon class. First of all, I love my students, and I often times feel that they teach me more than I could ever teach them. About half my class was completely new to yoga, but showed up willing to try something new which was probably very scary to them!

After enduring some intense balancing poses about two thirds of the way through class, I shared a quote that I recently found:

Photo by James Leash with Sharp-Eye Images

I then shared this: recently my heart has also been heavy and filled with sorrow, anger, and disappointment. I was sharing my feelings with a friend the other day and telling her how angry I was. And for me, when I get angry, I then get angry at myself for being angry, and then angry at myself for being angry at myself...and you can probably see that it is just a downward spiral from there. I start to feel like Alice chasing that darn White Rabbit...down the hole I go! But, my friend listened and then she said, "It is okay to feel angry and be mad. Just allow yourself 10 minutes a day to be as angry as you need to be...set the kitchen timer, get it all out, and once the timer goes off, be done being angry for that day." Well, let me just say that I think this is the BEST ADVICE EVER! :)

Our hearts are like sponges. The soak up and absorb all that hate, sorrow, and anger, and unless they are rung out, they just stay saturated with all those emotions and they will consume us. And this is where that quote comes in for me: "Life is a balance of holding on and letting go." 

Instead, let your heart soak up as much love, joy, and compassion as it can possibly hold. Soak up the good...let go of the bad. 

It's a process...sometimes slower than we would like.