52 @ 50 no. 6 - The Monument
Continuing my series of explorations of things I've never done before, this week I visited The Monument in the City of London. I have been vaguely aware of the Monument all my life, mainly due to there being a tube station on the Circle and District lines of that name, but I didn't know there was public access.
It was built in 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London and celebrate the rebuilding of the City. The Great Fire began in a baker's house in Pudding Lane on 2nd September 1666 and was finally extinguished 3 days later. Although there was very little loss of life most of the city was destroyed.
It is 61 metres high (202 feet) which is the exact distance between it and the site in Pudding Lane where the fire began. It has 311 steps and a viewing platform. The view from the top is a little obstructed by tower blocks of offices, but looking out over the river towards Tower Bridge offers a great vista and a new perspective of the City of London.
A Place for Quiet Contemplation in the Middle of London
I love walking around our capital city - there's always something interesting to look at. I came across Inner Space last week - it's a meditation shop in Covent Garden which sells books on spiritual wellbeing and offers many courses and talks on meditation, relaxation and positive thinking. It has a Quiet Room too, where anyone can go between the hours 10.30am and 6pm to sit for a while in contemplation and tranquility. If you ever visit Covent Garden and need somewhere to take 5 minutes away from all the hustle and bustle do take a look inside.
This Week's Recipe.... Chickpea and Squash Salad
This is a dish from food blogger Ella Woodward's new recipe book 'Deliciously Ella Every Day'. It serves two as a side dish or one as a main.
You will need:
120g butternut squash
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
80g chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
Large handful of rocket
40g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
For the dressing:
1 tablespoon olive oil
half a tablespoon apple cider vinegar
half a teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon honey
Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas mark 7. Peel the squash, then cut it into small, bite size pieces. Place on a baking tray, brush with olive oil, coat with the paprika, mixed herbs, and a little salt. Bake for 30 mins until tender.
Place the chickpeas on a separate baking tray, sprinkle with the chilli powder, toss well to coat and bake for 20 minutes until firm but not too crunchy.
Mix together all the dressing ingredients and season with a little salt and lots of pepper.
Once the chickpeas and squash have cooked and cooled, mix them with the rocket and sun dried tomatoes, then pour on the dressing and toss everything together.
Please note: Adjust the spices according to your taste. I found this dish quite spicy so next time I will do half measures of the chilli and paprika.
Your Questions Answered.... Why Do We Breathe Through The Nose In Yoga?
Although exhaling through the mouth can help to release tension in the shoulders, jaw and tongue, breathing through the nose has many more benefits:
- The nasal cavity is lined with tiny hairs which help to filter dust and allergens from the air.
- The nose is lined with mucous membrane which captures germs, and prevents them from being taken into the body.
- Breathing through the nostrils warms the air before it is taken into the lungs.
- There is increased lung movement when breathing through the nostrils, which creates a gentle resistance and strengthens the lungs and helps them become more elastic.
- The airways in the nose are smaller than the throat which therefore helps to slow the breathing down. Slowing down is good - we're always rushing everywhere and not breathing deeply enough so slow it down as much as you can.
- Nasal breathing increases circulation, and blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. When there is proper oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, the blood will maintain a balanced pH. If carbon dioxide is lost too quickly, as in mouth breathing, oxygen absorption is decreased.
- Increased airflow through the right nostril is associated with increased left brain activity and enhanced verbal performance, whereas increased airflow through the left nostril is associated with increased right brain activity and enhanced spatial performance.
- I am reading an amusing yoga book at the moment called "The Reluctant Yogi" by Carla Mackay and she adds the following benefit of nasal breathing: 'It stops you looking like the village idiot' ;-)
This Week's Musical Offering.... Karuna by Stellamara
I love this track and play it a lot in class. It's 9 minutes long and has a strong, steady rhythm so it's ideal for slow Sun Salutations or a steady flow.
Continuing my series of explorations of things I've never done before, this week I visited The Monument in the City of London. I have been vaguely aware of the Monument all my life, mainly due to there being a tube station on the Circle and District lines of that name, but I didn't know there was public access.
It was built in 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London and celebrate the rebuilding of the City. The Great Fire began in a baker's house in Pudding Lane on 2nd September 1666 and was finally extinguished 3 days later. Although there was very little loss of life most of the city was destroyed.
It is 61 metres high (202 feet) which is the exact distance between it and the site in Pudding Lane where the fire began. It has 311 steps and a viewing platform. The view from the top is a little obstructed by tower blocks of offices, but looking out over the river towards Tower Bridge offers a great vista and a new perspective of the City of London.
A Place for Quiet Contemplation in the Middle of London
I love walking around our capital city - there's always something interesting to look at. I came across Inner Space last week - it's a meditation shop in Covent Garden which sells books on spiritual wellbeing and offers many courses and talks on meditation, relaxation and positive thinking. It has a Quiet Room too, where anyone can go between the hours 10.30am and 6pm to sit for a while in contemplation and tranquility. If you ever visit Covent Garden and need somewhere to take 5 minutes away from all the hustle and bustle do take a look inside.
 |
| Inner Space, 36 Shorts Gardens, Covent Garden WC2H 9AB |
 |
| The Quiet Room (plays nice music too) |
This is a dish from food blogger Ella Woodward's new recipe book 'Deliciously Ella Every Day'. It serves two as a side dish or one as a main.
You will need:
120g butternut squash
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
80g chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
Large handful of rocket
40g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
For the dressing:
1 tablespoon olive oil
half a tablespoon apple cider vinegar
half a teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon honey
Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas mark 7. Peel the squash, then cut it into small, bite size pieces. Place on a baking tray, brush with olive oil, coat with the paprika, mixed herbs, and a little salt. Bake for 30 mins until tender.
Place the chickpeas on a separate baking tray, sprinkle with the chilli powder, toss well to coat and bake for 20 minutes until firm but not too crunchy.
Mix together all the dressing ingredients and season with a little salt and lots of pepper.
Once the chickpeas and squash have cooked and cooled, mix them with the rocket and sun dried tomatoes, then pour on the dressing and toss everything together.
Please note: Adjust the spices according to your taste. I found this dish quite spicy so next time I will do half measures of the chilli and paprika.
Your Questions Answered.... Why Do We Breathe Through The Nose In Yoga?
Although exhaling through the mouth can help to release tension in the shoulders, jaw and tongue, breathing through the nose has many more benefits:
- The nasal cavity is lined with tiny hairs which help to filter dust and allergens from the air.
- The nose is lined with mucous membrane which captures germs, and prevents them from being taken into the body.
- Breathing through the nostrils warms the air before it is taken into the lungs.
- There is increased lung movement when breathing through the nostrils, which creates a gentle resistance and strengthens the lungs and helps them become more elastic.
- The airways in the nose are smaller than the throat which therefore helps to slow the breathing down. Slowing down is good - we're always rushing everywhere and not breathing deeply enough so slow it down as much as you can.
- Nasal breathing increases circulation, and blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. When there is proper oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, the blood will maintain a balanced pH. If carbon dioxide is lost too quickly, as in mouth breathing, oxygen absorption is decreased.
- Increased airflow through the right nostril is associated with increased left brain activity and enhanced verbal performance, whereas increased airflow through the left nostril is associated with increased right brain activity and enhanced spatial performance.
- I am reading an amusing yoga book at the moment called "The Reluctant Yogi" by Carla Mackay and she adds the following benefit of nasal breathing: 'It stops you looking like the village idiot' ;-)
This Week's Musical Offering.... Karuna by Stellamara
I love this track and play it a lot in class. It's 9 minutes long and has a strong, steady rhythm so it's ideal for slow Sun Salutations or a steady flow.
This Week's Video.....
is very relevant to us in our yoga practice and in life itself. In class we've been practicing handstands this half-term and everyone has progressed at least one step, often more, to I Will Do It. I've seen bodies, confidence and attitudes get stronger - it's awesome :-)
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