tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79514861109903995742024-03-19T18:33:01.880+00:00thrive lifestylethrive yoga's weekly communication to inspire you to add more creativity, motivation and fun to your lifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-67732010527916401882017-01-29T13:32:00.000+00:002017-01-29T13:32:08.336+00:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for reading....</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-47443682923558334622016-12-18T22:19:00.004+00:002016-12-19T07:24:32.064+00:00On Poetry, Chocolate and Buddy the Elf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>52@50 no 19: Reading Poetry</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reading poetry reminds me of school. Until quite recently that's the only time I've ever really sat down and read a poetry book. Then I discovered the work of poet and yogi Danna Faulds and started reading her lovely poems aloud during my Restorative Yoga Classes. They are lyrical, evocative and relaxing and, I think (I hope!), enhance the restful ambience of those classes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I thought I would educate myself and become a little more well-read whilst searching for some new poems to include in future classes. Off to the library and down the rabbit hole I go, and discover a whole new world. So many poems that I never knew existed. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I find I get the most from the poems from reading them aloud - I get into the rhythm of them better. I've learned that the rhythm of a poem is called a meter, and that there are different types of meters - iambs, trochees, spondees, anapests and dactyls. Yes, really - who knew?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm going to carry on with this particular 52@50 - I'm really enjoying it - and I hope to share some of these lovely poems with you either here on the blog or if you come to one of my Restorative Classes in 2017. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are a couple that I find particularly relevant to life as a yogi... you probably know the first one - I remember it from school...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Leisure by W H Davies (1871-1940)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is this life if, full of care,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have no time to stand and stare.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No time to stand beneath the boughs,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And stare as long as sheep or cows.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No time to see, when woods we pass,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No time to see in broad daylight,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Streams full of stars, like skies at night.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No time to turn at beauty's glance,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And watch her feet, how they can dance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No time to wait till her mouth can</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enrich that smile her eyes began.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A poor life this if, full of care,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have no time to stand and stare.</span></div>
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<u style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yoga's Reach by Danna Faulds</u></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is a wonder </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">how a simple stretch </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">deepens breath,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and an elegantly held pose </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">grows to touch </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the whole of me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like sugar stirred into tea, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the potency of yoga spreads </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from body into mind and heart,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">revealing an ocean of energy </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that heals and opens, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">holds me close</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and sets me free</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">all in the same moment. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5oiTqtZPM3tdwDzSaHw6ING_uSkmdlLg2dn_yaWJ_ChSFY4lZjc6jddKunGXLFeaOJo4C6uukW5F83WkqZ4zjaPMr2CIp4rP-dEXH4cu16CbV1J5QxkVhKBYEFbgRUtFT44xvr6xf_ab/s1600/poetry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5oiTqtZPM3tdwDzSaHw6ING_uSkmdlLg2dn_yaWJ_ChSFY4lZjc6jddKunGXLFeaOJo4C6uukW5F83WkqZ4zjaPMr2CIp4rP-dEXH4cu16CbV1J5QxkVhKBYEFbgRUtFT44xvr6xf_ab/s320/poetry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bedtime reading...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Know Your Chocolate</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have some very important information for you this week. It's about chocolate. I'm taking a guess that you'll be eating some chocolate over the festive season. I love the stuff but I also know that all chocolate is not created equal and, as someone who likes to choose the healthy eating option where possible, I'm interested in finding out what's good and what's not.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First things first, where does chocolate actually come from? It's made from the seeds (beans) of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), an evergreen tree about the size of an apple tree which grows in the tropical regions of Central and South America. The tree produces pods along it's trunk and inside each pod there are rows of beans. The beans and pulp are carefully removed, partially fermented and finally dried. The beans are then ready to be bagged up and sold on to factories to be made into chocolate.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8bE6UC1NA0p1Ne7CO4LxM6pMPy1n5hEIRA3umkoU2wzk1apfgqMahMeVG4zLWPXD_WLlJhYhAIk2svdBIwWuiKakpY2bcw8FcKqEQC6vAoU9Z7t2UA6HA0EeZK2TaeasmUqEmxrq2w3u/s1600/cacao.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cocoa pods </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvmkCqne43KZP6U2Vq7wJPzt22mNys6LZfp9ld0SCXD9GFH1ixgIwujGPogkRqOBa3VMyUS6P8a2Ad3yX-5OpVd_tt41M9bI9tPuaHoxkmEFmKqkZw63KMJOyA3J5Du5jzUjcXW3lSKA5/s1600/open-cacao-pods.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The beans inside the pods</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvmkCqne43KZP6U2Vq7wJPzt22mNys6LZfp9ld0SCXD9GFH1ixgIwujGPogkRqOBa3VMyUS6P8a2Ad3yX-5OpVd_tt41M9bI9tPuaHoxkmEFmKqkZw63KMJOyA3J5Du5jzUjcXW3lSKA5/s1600/open-cacao-pods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the factory the beans are roasted, winnowed (the shell separated from the inner bean), and made into a paste. This is then mixed with cocoa butter, sugar and flavourings to make chocolate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cocoa butter is the fat extracted from pressed, unroasted beans. It is very oily and, because of its long shelf life and velvety texture, it makes an excellent moisturiser and is used in the production of toiletries as well as in the making of chocolate. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what's the difference between cocoa and cacao? Although the spelling is almost the same there is apparently a big difference between them, especially in health terms. Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans, which preserves their natural enzymes and nutrients and cocoa is the result of roasting the beans at high temperatures which destroys some of the nutrients. So therefore any product called or containing cacao has not been roasted and has higher levels of anti-oxidants and nutrients.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And why is dark chocolate better for you than milk chocolate? Dark chocolate is made with cocoa whereas milk chocolate has been diluted with milk solids, sugar and cream. The higher the percentage of cocoa the healthier it is. However, the more cocoa it has in it, the more bitter it tastes, which is challenging for those with a sweet tooth. I have trained myself to like dark chocolate - I find 75% is about my limit - and I find that I don't eat as much of it as I would if I bought milk chocolate, so it's better for me all round. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Recipe... Frozen Yogurt-coated Blueberries and Chocolate-coated Strawberries</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Want to enjoy a sweet treat without diving into a tin of Roses (and not being able to stop)? Try these simple recipes. They're good to serve at a dinner party too - and your friends will thank you for offering them a healthier alternative.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>For the Blueberries...</u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 punnet of fresh blueberries</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tub of Greek yogurt</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and a toothpick...</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wash the blueberries and pat them dry with kitchen paper.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper/baking parchment.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Using a toothpick, pick up a blueberry and dip it in the yogurt until completely covered.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tap off any excess and place carefully on the baking sheet.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Put in the freezer for at least an hour.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy straight from the freezer.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfItn8Ff41AjPaDHV-e6eILxirxuaWqn0F7gQ8oyhSenF42eMV9ByCnA_NfJ9B824juW228lfAlH-_6S8JEMkyPQmotb7Pvl-TlCN5TdQeCZBTK4_6jEKiox41fgr0kYTAc7dUPyjklC_/s1600/blueberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfItn8Ff41AjPaDHV-e6eILxirxuaWqn0F7gQ8oyhSenF42eMV9ByCnA_NfJ9B824juW228lfAlH-_6S8JEMkyPQmotb7Pvl-TlCN5TdQeCZBTK4_6jEKiox41fgr0kYTAc7dUPyjklC_/s320/blueberries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>For the Strawberries...</u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I bar of dark chocolate</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 punnet of strawberries</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wash the strawberries and pat dry with kitchen paper (leave the hull on).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leave to dry a bit longer on a clean tea towel (this is important - if they are damp the chocolate won't stick)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper/baking parchment.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Break up the chocolate into a glass bowl and place over a small saucepan with just an inch or so of boiling water in it. Turn down the heat to simmer whilst the chocolate melts because you need to be careful that no water droplets end up in the chocolate or it will not be smooth and glossy and you will need to start again.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the chocolate is melted, carefully dip the strawberries into it until completely coated. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Place carefully on the baking sheet and place in the fridge (not the freezer this time).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve straight from the fridge.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxxdXXMzrEyTfewiMsvSNVPh5HGqi6N3ROgXAUgLfrK3JgNzNz0qAawdRVE548qE7nXk1apOd-9iYEKeLc4OR3e_ZNSGIM7oG7c5_phIktjL8e8bYisdawiTXo1Ldxeloz5oz8_ao5Wgz/s1600/blueberries1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxxdXXMzrEyTfewiMsvSNVPh5HGqi6N3ROgXAUgLfrK3JgNzNz0qAawdRVE548qE7nXk1apOd-9iYEKeLc4OR3e_ZNSGIM7oG7c5_phIktjL8e8bYisdawiTXo1Ldxeloz5oz8_ao5Wgz/s320/blueberries1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Afternoon snack... yummy!</span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Optimistic women 'cut risk of deadly diseases' - an article from BBC News Health</b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Women who look on the bright side of life cut their risk of many deadly diseases, according to researchers. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a study of more than 70,000 women, optimists were less likely to get fatal cancer, heart disease, lung conditions and stroke in their retirement years. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although some of the association is explained by healthier life choices and behaviours, experts believe a positive mental attitude is powerful in itself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And even if you lack a natural sunny disposition, optimism can be learned. Encouraging people to imagine a bright future could be a good medicine to boost public health, say the authors of the study in the <a href="https://aje.oxfordjournals.org/">American Journal of Epidemiology</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The researchers looked at health data collected from a large US study of working and retired female nurses. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The participants had been asked to rate how optimistic they perceived themselves to be on a scale of zero to 24. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The healthy women, who ranged in age from 58 to 83, were monitored over the next eight years and any disease-related deaths were recorded. There were 4,566 deaths overall.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Higher optimism was linked with lower death risk, even after controlling for other factors such as whether the woman was married, came from a richer or poorer family background, or had a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or depression. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A significantly lowered risk was seen for deaths from a number of causes, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory disease and infection over the course of the study period.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The researchers believe optimism may have a biological effect on the body as well as a psychological one, although they didn't look at this. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other studies have linked a positive outlook to lower inflammation, for example, and better heart health.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Investigator Dr Eric Kim, from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said there were several strategies people might want to try for an optimism boost:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Think about what your "best possible self" should look like for key areas of your life such as family, marriage and career. For example, imagine how you would feel in a future work situation if you worked hard and successfully achieved a personal goal.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Write down three things each day that you are grateful for. Try it for a week and see how you feel.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keep a log for a fortnight of any kind things you do for other people.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or you could try a course of mindfulness or some sessions of talking therapy.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He said: "Twin studies suggest up to 25% of optimism might be genetic or inherited which would mean up to 75% could be modifiable."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Video... </b>talking of optimism, watch this short montage of clips from my absolute favourite Christmas film Elf. I love the enthusiasm and sheer joy of the main character Buddy. If you're feeling a bit down or overwhelmed by Christmas preparations go and find/rent this movie - it really does make you feel good :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I'm looking forward to an exciting 2017 as I get closer to my big birthday. I'm also excited about Thrive Yoga next year. I have lots of things planned to bring you more revitalising yoga and inspiration to live your life in a healthy and fulfilling way. I'll be sharing these plans with you here on the Blog next week. As always, thanks for reading, Namaste and Seasons Greetings.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-72115646659491607532016-12-04T23:03:00.001+00:002016-12-04T23:19:22.780+00:00Running in the Dark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52@50 no 17 - Participating in Run in the Dark, Battersea Park, London</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently took part in Run in the Dark, a night-time charity 10k run in aid of spinal cord research. Each year the Mark Pollock Trust organises this event in various cities throughout the world to raise awareness and funds for research into a cure for paralysis. Mark Pollock went blind as a child yet grew up to become a global adventurer and inspirational speaker. In 2010 tragedy struck him again when he fell from a first floor window and was paralysed. He now dedicates himself to learning to walk again and finding a cure for paralysis. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a number of years I have participated in Run in the Dark at a small, local pop-up event organised by one of my yoga students. This year I decided to go and do the London event. I've done a number of races in my years as a runner but never one at night. Joining around 2,500 other runners in Battersea Park we braved the weather and ran for, and in honour of, those who cannot. I ran hard and fast (for me!), was beaten by my younger sister (darn it!), and endured a cold, long journey home. But it felt good to participate and raise money for this charity. The words of Theodore Roosevelt "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" are ones I try to live by, and they were relevant here, as was this quote by Margaret Meade, which is also one of my 'life signposts' and sums up the power of this sort of event - "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a picture of me looking elegant in my bin bag which was keeping me dry as I waited at the start. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's the official video from a previous year's Run in the Dark so you can learn a bit more about the inspirational Mark Pollock, his Trust and his work to find a cure for paralysis ...</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52@50 no. 18 and This Week's Recipe... Sauteed Persimmons</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I follow a woman on Instagram who posts about wellbeing and reclaiming her health after Lyme Disease. (Her website is <a href="http://www.wholelifewithamy.com/">www.wholelifewithamy.com</a> in case you want to check her out). She lives in California and one of her recent posts was a recipe for Sauteed Persimmons. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have heard of these fruit before and have a vague recollection of Persimmons being in the supermarkets around this time of year but I've never actually eaten one, so when I saw her very easy recipe on Instagram I thought I'd try it. If you'd like to know a bit more about Persimmons there is some good information here at <a href="http://ukfoodnet.com/">ukfoodnet.com</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I found the Persimmon fruits at Tesco and waited until they were soft to the touch before preparing them. Have you ever had Persimmons before? If not, why not give them a try? They were very tasty - a bit like nectarines, and I love the fact that, even at nearly 50 years old, I'm still tasting new and interesting foods.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I used:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 x persimmon fruits</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a little oil for sauteeing (I used coconut oil)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ground cinammon </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and I had them for breakfast with Greek yoghurt and granola</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's Amy's recipe...</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Slice Persimmons into bite-size pieces. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heat a pan and add a tablespoon of your favorite fat. We love coconut oil. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saute for several minutes until tender and starting to brown. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turn off heat sprinkle heavily with cinnamon and give a final toss. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wait till barely cool and devour</span></li>
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<u><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How To Be Happy: eat pickles, have a ceilidh. Yes, really</span></b></u><br />
<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by Rachel Carlyle via The Times Body + Soul pages</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gardening is good physical exercise, but research is proving that it is so good for mental health that it should be counted as therapy. One study of mice found that a bacteria in soil ingested by gardeners activated neurons that produce the mood-regulating chemical serotonin - which is similar to the way anti-depressants such as Prozac work.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Research has proved that gardening lowers stress-hormone levels and blood pressure, and now the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has embarked on its biggest scientific study into the effects of gardening on mood and wellbeing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"There's good evidence that gardening improves mood, but does it match Prozac or counselling? My feeling is that it could, especially for mild depression," says Dr Ross Cameron at the University of Sheffield, who is leading the three-year RHS project. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr George MacKerron, a lecturer at Sussex University, has been tracking people's real-time happiness since 2010 with his smartphone app Mappiness. Users report what they're doing and how happy they're feeling and there have been 3.5 million responses. "We've found that the top activities are related to physical activity, and most are connected to the outdoors - gardening increases happiness by 7.8% which is just behind exercise and sports on 8.1%", he says.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are six activities aside from gardening that research says could boost happiness and wellbeing.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Eat more yoghurt and pickles...</b>three quarters of the body's neurotransmitters are made in the gut, as is almost 90 per cent of the body's serotonin, the hormone which maintains mood balance, so there is a direct link between gut and mood. For that reason it's important to keep the gut microbiome diverse and numerous, which means cutting down on processed food (which destroys gut microbes) and increasing bacteria-containing probiotics, such as live yoghurt and fermented foods (pickled vegetables, soy, miso and kimchi).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Take up Scottish dancing... </b>according to research from Oxford University last year, dancing - especially energetic dancing - appears to prompt the brain to produce more endorphins than other types of exercise. Why? Studies suggest it is because dancing connects directly with the brain's emotional centres.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr Peter Lovatt, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire who studies dance, says: "I think the social element is important. We've done research where people dance together in the lab, which produces a measurable improvement in mood, then they take home a DVD to practise, which produces no improvement in mood unless the researcher goes to the house to watch them practise."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not all dancing is equal,though; rules-based dancing doesn't make you as happy as relaxed dancing with structure, such as Scottish country dancing, line dancing or Bollywood routines.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Give to charity... </b>donating to charity stimulates the brain to produce dopamine in the same way as sex, chocolate and recreational drugs. "Experiments on people having an MRI scan while giving to charity have shown it's the same part of the brain that lights up - the front-mesolimbic," says Rhodri Davies, a programme leader at the Charities Aid Foundation, one of Europe's largest charitable foundations, and UK organisers of the Global Giving Tuesday campaign on November 29.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Go for a walk in the woods... </b>walking reduces stress hormones because it releases endorphins. One experiment showed that walking doubled creative thinking. Scientists believe that this could be because walking doesn't require conscious effort, so our brains are freer to make creative connections. Strolling in green space lowers stress and increases happiness in a way that urban walking doesn't, concluded a study scanning walkers' brains at Stanford University. Walking in a forest is even better. The Japanese therapy of forest bathing, <i>shinrin-yoku</i> - or meandering in woodland - has been shown to reduce blood pressure and the production of stress hormones.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Take up a team sport... </b>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has officially sanctioned exercise as a treatment for mild to moderate depression. It recommends three 45-60 minute sessions a week for 10 to 14 weeks. Playing a team sport could be the best exercise for happiness: a study in Australia found that women who played netball regularly had greater life satisfaction and better mental health than those who went to the gym or walked alone.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Get a dog (but not a cat)...</b> people with pets are healthier, have higher self-esteem and are less lonely than those who don't, which are three of the key aspects of wellbeing. However, - cat owners look away now - almost all the positive research is associated with having a dog. This is probably because dog owners get extra wellbeing points because they are physically fitter than the general population and spend more time outside. That leads to improved sleep and a reduction in blood pressure and stress hormones. Stroking a dog can also stimulate the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with wellbeing and calm.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Week's Musical Offering... Meditation of the Night by Benji Wertheimer</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Slow and relaxing with an Indian vibe, this track is perfect for accompanying your Shavasana.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, if Mark Pollock wasn't enough to inspire you to get moving, and the article about being happy didn't movitvate you then maybe Sister Madonna will... take a look at this video of an amazing woman who I aim to emulate in years to come....</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-3425625699037578252016-11-27T12:10:00.003+00:002016-11-29T16:41:17.371+00:00Caprioles, Cauliflowers and Coconut Oil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52@50 marks my half-century of being alive on planet Earth. It's a reminder to myself and, hopefully, an inspiration to you to be curious about life. To get off the sofa and out into the world. To open new doors and live this one precious life to the fullest. <br /><br />These new things I'm doing, they don't need to be momentous or daring, they just need to be an exploration - with an open mind. I'm intending my next 50 years to be a little more adventurous than the first 50, but at the same time have a peaceful and restful flow to them, balanced with the joy of just 'being'. I want more freedom from constraints (which are often self-imposed, sometimes culturally imposed) yet I want to give more back to the world. I want to be interested, to look at things more closely, and be full of wonder. I want more magic. <br /><br />In recent years I have chosen a mantra to guide me through the next 12 months. I've used "be bold", "head up and heart open", and "keep it simple" (which worked so well for me I used it for 2 years). I've already chosen my mantra for 2017, it's "be curious" and as I share what I find during the coming months I hope to inspire you to get out there and find some magic too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_on7U57q4ym6hpZgUalIP93MyBpTjfJzepkZL7OdoirSWpoxhGRL1Qy9pcM2Jt-g3Oib8TM9qHlXMWe-x7Xh1XVkESqtwGeiWvMiM3GoaDD2GY3cUtLjGdWLstkzCM88J5x2oeFyEfoR/s1600/magic2.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_on7U57q4ym6hpZgUalIP93MyBpTjfJzepkZL7OdoirSWpoxhGRL1Qy9pcM2Jt-g3Oib8TM9qHlXMWe-x7Xh1XVkESqtwGeiWvMiM3GoaDD2GY3cUtLjGdWLstkzCM88J5x2oeFyEfoR/s320/magic2.png" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>52@50 no 16: The Spanish Riding School on Tour</b><br /><br /> I've always loved horses. As a small girl I constantly harrassed my parents to let me learn to ride, and I read all the pony books I could get my hands on. My bookshelves were crammed. In particular, I remember the paperback novels by the Pullein-Thompson sisters, Josephine, Christine and Diana. Between them they wrote over 150 books for pony-mad girls (Show Jumping Secret, Riding With the Lyntons, I Rode a Winner and Janet Must Ride were my favourites). At age 10 I was allowed to start riding lessons and shortly afterwards I started helping at the stables on a Saturday. At 15 my greatest wish of having a pony of my own came true. Except I chose a clompy carthorse rather than a gymkhana pony. On his way to Southall Market where he certainly would have ended up on the meat lorry, Questor became my true love for 20 years. He was a Clydesdale that was a little too small at 16hands to make the grade, but I thought he was perfect. Here we are all dressed up for a show nearly 30 years ago!! :</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0QBg6xAJLEWWRw6z026c56nHL59Lry6vzEAnpw0Rap3o8PJhCmR1uc5W6MzEJ0BkSpo81i2AfPUaOIDDI5H0wDHjIStXf_8azmAxEaSaJAQHlZfam3tOn0B61Cm-3aPRXyBANd6fLA6D/s1600/questor2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0QBg6xAJLEWWRw6z026c56nHL59Lry6vzEAnpw0Rap3o8PJhCmR1uc5W6MzEJ0BkSpo81i2AfPUaOIDDI5H0wDHjIStXf_8azmAxEaSaJAQHlZfam3tOn0B61Cm-3aPRXyBANd6fLA6D/s320/questor2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<br /><br /> I had another horse for a while too - an unwanted grey pony who was lots of fun to ride, but when he died and my beloved Questor had to be put down about 15 years ago, I didn't get another one. I had small children by then and they were the focus of my life so I decided to step away from the rather all-consuming equine world. To this day, although I still love horses and have been on the occasional hack at a local riding centre, I haven't stepped back in. Maybe one day I will....<br /><br /> I recently had the opportunity to go to Wembley Arena to see the famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna perform with their beautiful white Lippizaner horses. Of Spanish descent (hence the slightly misleading name) the horses are born brown and gradually turn white. Only stallions are chosen to perform and those that are considered the best undergo years of training in classical dressage until they can perfectly execute the difficult movements that are required in the performances. The Riding School, which is situated in Vienna, is a tourist attraction in it's own right, but no visit would be complete without seeing the horses, both in their stables and in the arena.<br /><br /> The Spanish Riding School goes on tour around the world and a ticket to a performance is highly prized and not cheap! The horses are beautifully presented with sparkling saddles, and the riders wear immaculate uniforms. They perform set routines to music which include ridden sequences, long reining (where the rider walks behind the horse, guiding him with long reins) and the famous 'Airs Above the Ground' where the horses rear and leap. The Capriole is a vertical leap with a kick-back of the hind legs. These movements were historically part of the training of military horses, to keep them fit and athletic enough to perform in battle.<br /><br /> As I watched these beautiful horses circling and crossing the arena perfectly in time with each other, but controlled with whips and spurs, I unexpectedly experienced a sense of discomfort. I felt sorry for them, leading their organised, contained and artificial lives, dominated by mankind in every way. I'm glad I can say that I have seen them but I think this 52@50 is going to be a once in a lifetime experience for me. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHlx_yGRXVAHxfTQsRNdXKSRjWi5D-W3fkn0fbOhpbZUk6DGlXRTKycRfT9jLcaxVW3gTr4tg78F1fWyGeQysNNnyLtfdhy2Qc_-B7zOLKjH36bSvdMl2ePUKPWw-thyphenhyphenoXqAqmOc44kw3/s1600/horse1.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHlx_yGRXVAHxfTQsRNdXKSRjWi5D-W3fkn0fbOhpbZUk6DGlXRTKycRfT9jLcaxVW3gTr4tg78F1fWyGeQysNNnyLtfdhy2Qc_-B7zOLKjH36bSvdMl2ePUKPWw-thyphenhyphenoXqAqmOc44kw3/s320/horse1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<br /><br /><b>This Week's Recipe...Cauliflower and Almond Soup</b><br /><br />Here's another recipe from Florence House, the retreat centre in Sussex where I host my yoga weekends. Cauliflower is full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants (if you're interested to find out more about its nutritional values click <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=13">here</a>) but it can be a little uninspiring and there don't seem to be too many interesting recipes around to make it a bit more exciting. This recipe is easy and has the added health benefit of the almonds (click <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20">here</a> to look at all their many nutritional benefits). It makes simple, healthy lunch and the only drawback is that cooked cauliflower leaves a lingering smell and I needed to leave the windows open for a while to air the house afterwards! But don't let that put you off - every house needs a good air-change every now and then, especially in the winter when we don't have the doors and windows open so much, so you'll get an extra benefit here too. <br /><br />You will need:<br /><br />1 small onion<br />2 sticks of celery <br />small amount of olive oil<br />1 small cauliflower<br />110g ground almonds<br />600ml vegetable stock (use Marigold vegetable bouillon for the best flavour)<br />Ground white pepper<br />(Serves 2)<br /></span><br />
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<br />And here's how to make it:<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Sweat the roughly chopped onion and celery in a little oil until soft. </li>
<li>Add the chopped cauliflower, almonds, vegetable bouillon and a pinch of white pepper to taste and simmer until soft. </li>
<li>Blend with a hand blender or in a food processor until it has reached the desired consistency - add more stock liquid if necessary. </li>
<li>Season as required and add some seeds for topping. </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I9n9CxAyHHCcbx3oWt2p5cVhv1ywmaHjELdFS-xWKZjC720Vil8CASSzrYXXIA5Co4m87vOZrseFXUPpvoSrInfa90t6H90CveqBxml_FCH2lBK9tq88L7wSAZnx5ag581FByQLJU-zF/s1600/cauliflowersoup2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I9n9CxAyHHCcbx3oWt2p5cVhv1ywmaHjELdFS-xWKZjC720Vil8CASSzrYXXIA5Co4m87vOZrseFXUPpvoSrInfa90t6H90CveqBxml_FCH2lBK9tq88L7wSAZnx5ag581FByQLJU-zF/s320/cauliflowersoup2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><b>4 More Ayurvedic Tips to Help You Stay Well This Winter</b><br /> Turmeric Milk is the healthy hot drink of the moment. Turmeric is a spice which has been used for flavouring food and for its healing properties for centuries in India and its benefits are now being scientifically recognised to help with many illnesses and diseases. Click <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78">here</a> to look at its impressive list of beneficial properties. <br /><br />Turmeric Milk, also known as Golden Milk, is an easy way to take the spice without having to eat lots of curries. Especially useful in winter to both prevent and alleviate coughs and colds due to its anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities, turmeric milk actually tastes nice too and makes a great alternative to a caffeine drink. Here's the <a href="http://www.naturallivingideas.com/turmeric-milk-benefits/">link to an article</a> entitled '12 Reasons You Should Start Drinking Turmeric Milk' so you can have a look at why it's hit the health headlines recently. <br /><br />This recipe was given to me recently by one of my yoga students (thanks Sandra - I love it): <br /><br />Ingredients: <br />2 cups of homemade almond milk <br />1 tablespoon local honey, optional <br />1 tablespoon coconut oil, optional <br />1 teaspoon ground turmeric <br />1 cinnamon stick or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon <br />small pinch of black pepper and grated ginger (fresh is best) <br />(serves 2)<br /><br />Instructions: <br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Simply pour all ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to a light boil. Whisk to combine ingredients. Reduce heat to low and simmer for up to 10 minutes. </li>
<li>Strain the milk if you have large pieces of ginger, cinnamon, peppercorns, etc. To serve, add honey or a dash of cinnamon. </li>
<li>Enjoy warm. </li>
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One word of warning though about this shift to all things Turmeric - it is powerful stuff and can have a neutralising effect on prescribed medicines. Therefore, if you take any medications, you should speak to your doctor first before embarking on enriching your diet with it. <br /><br /> It's been pointed out to me by one of my yoga students (thanks for the tip-off Hazel) that there's a word of warning about drinking lemon water first thing in the morning too (see last week's post). Because lemon contains high amounts of citric acid it can be detrimental to the enamel of your teeth. Apparently, dentists recommend that you don't brush your teeth immediately after drinking lemon water as this can wear away the enamel as the citric acid is still fresh on your teeth. Before you brush, make sure to rinse your mouth with water, or you can also use a straw so that the water doesn't touch your teeth. You could also try using lemon essential oil instead of the fresh fruit. Apparently, as it's made from the peel rather than the flesh it's better for your teeth - use 1-2 drops per glass of water. <br /><br /><b>Practise Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall Pose)</b> This relaxing pose has many benefits. If you've been standing all day at work and have achy legs it will reduce swollen, puffy ankles and feet. The heart doesn't have to work so hard pumping blood into the legs, and lactic acid is flushed from the legs so it's a good one to practice after a workout or a run. It helps to balance the endocrine system and the nervous system as less adrenaline and cortisol (the 'stress hormones') are sent around the body so it can relax into 'rest and digest' mode. It is safe for everyone, including beginners to practise. Cautions are given though to pregnant women and those with eye problems and heart problems - but, as long as the pelvis is not lifted higher than the heart, it is fine for those who are menstruating to practise this pose (usually inversions are avoided during the first part of a period).<br /><br />Viparita karani is my 'go to' pose at the end of the day when I want to settle and quieten both body and mind before bed and, hopefully, ensure a good night's sleep and, if I get a chance to do it during the day, it leaves me feeling refreshed as if I've taken a powernap, and content that I have taken the time to give myself a little tlc.<br /><br /> Here's how to do it: <br /><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Choose a quiet spot with clear floor and wall space. </li>
<li>Use a yoga mat or a blanket to lie on if you are doing this pose on a hard floor but you should be comfy enough on a carpeted floor. </li>
<li>Sit down close to the wall facing sideways, then swing your legs gently up the wall as you lower yourself onto your forearms and then down on to your back. </li>
<li>If your hamstrings are tight you might need to have a little space between your bottom and the wall so your legs are slightly angled, but for those with looser hamstrings, lie with your bottom right up against the wall. </li>
<li>Stretch the legs up the wall and reach up into the heels. You can use a yoga belt or the tie from a bathrobe to tie your legs together so they can passively relax if you like. </li>
<li>You can rest your forearms and hands on your belly, have your arms stretched out to the side or stretch them overhead - whatever feels most comfortable. </li>
<li>Check that you are symmetrical. </li>
<li>Relax the whole body - legs, torso, arms, face, eyes - and rest for up to 10 minutes breathing smoothly. </li>
<li>To come out of the pose, inch yourself away from the wall enough to bend your knees and roll to the side. Pause for a moment lying on your side before coming up to sitting. Pause again to savour the peaceful feeling. </li>
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If you're a member of Thrive Yoga I've added a class with a Viparita Karani sequence for you to practice. If you're not a member of my online classes site and you'd like to add a bit more yoga into your life with guided practice via video, why not come and join us? Click <a href="http://www.thriveyoga.co.uk/">here</a> to take a look. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><br /><b> Use coconut oil to keep your skin soft</b> I mentioned the Ayurvedic practice of Abbhyanga in the blog last week. It is self-massage, using simple, pure oils to keep the skin supple and smooth. It is a beneficial reminder too to care for this one amazing body you have been given. Ayurveda teaches us to treat the body kindly and to take the time to keep it in the best condition possible.<br /><br /> This tip, based on the practice of Abbhyanga, will moisturise your feet which can often become dry and cracked in winter. We tend to forget about our feet and keep them constantly wrapped in socks and boots and they need a little tlc too. Before you go to bed rub a tiny amount of coconut oil (which is solid at room temperature) into your feet. Do this over a towel to avoid getting oil on the carpet and put an old pair of socks on straight afterwards - the warmth will help the oil to soak in and will stop the oil getting on your sheets. It is a quick and easy habit to get into and it really works - your feet will feel smooth and cracked heels will quickly become a thing of the past. <br /><br /> To alleviate chapped hands, rub in a little coconut oil before you do the washing up, then put your rubber gloves on and when you've finished your hands will feel really smooth and silky. Best to keep a special pair of Marigolds for this job as they do get oily inside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm2HeLv_GvzrStqXG6IkhagUY0iEM-urLFfMaIly-aiopq41F66msNpEXy0xSYbWM5cY3XaXQt-bkmCmz_tbxboOlK2SBmzycq9PPEbeig-ctuldOf7du6YV2B1IthEJ8C326fEQ7NqC2/s1600/coconut2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm2HeLv_GvzrStqXG6IkhagUY0iEM-urLFfMaIly-aiopq41F66msNpEXy0xSYbWM5cY3XaXQt-bkmCmz_tbxboOlK2SBmzycq9PPEbeig-ctuldOf7du6YV2B1IthEJ8C326fEQ7NqC2/s320/coconut2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UzyVedOtJOsxu-dbDvr0FwNuj42QlM1VTeMsjns5PqwFP90cuBwRLyN3C2EpH0m2jTavTP27T62rwNG5Xftoh-sZOXym5ErgRk7BFonwh4UzN3v7OyuZyhEd9F8-FHY57bRVNVTyg5Un/s1600/coconut3.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UzyVedOtJOsxu-dbDvr0FwNuj42QlM1VTeMsjns5PqwFP90cuBwRLyN3C2EpH0m2jTavTP27T62rwNG5Xftoh-sZOXym5ErgRk7BFonwh4UzN3v7OyuZyhEd9F8-FHY57bRVNVTyg5Un/s200/coconut3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><b>Ginger Steam Inhaler</b> If you do have the misfortune to succumb to a cold, you could try this simple steam treatment to help relieve congestion: Boil a pint of water in a large pan. Add one teaspoon of ground ginger. Remove from the heat with care. With your head over the pan, inhale the steam. Use a towel over your head to keep the steam from dissipating too quickly. Stay for about 5 minutes to help clear blocked sinuses and a stuffy nose.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCheFioy9rCtTCCA8_Nw4PYQAa27oasjJXaXXAcKlFmCuAXX7vxuyTem32aQ7H9Lmp6wPybR8H01WJP283pdnuqQbqrfEKxmxRsfEfStUlSo2-NCfftyA40QOQn4VUfuKkEq71_L6lgSbl/s1600/steam.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCheFioy9rCtTCCA8_Nw4PYQAa27oasjJXaXXAcKlFmCuAXX7vxuyTem32aQ7H9Lmp6wPybR8H01WJP283pdnuqQbqrfEKxmxRsfEfStUlSo2-NCfftyA40QOQn4VUfuKkEq71_L6lgSbl/s200/steam.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><b><br />This Week's Musical Offering... </b>is Floating Sweetness by DJ Drez. I love this track. It has a gentle yet definite rhythm and a lovely melody. You could use it in a playlist for slow Sun Salutations or a relaxing seated/supine sequence or you could, right now, relax your face, shoulders, arms and hands, legs and feet. Take long, slow deep breaths and allow yourself to just sit in a quiet meditation enjoying this lovely music...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Finally, referring to my recent blog post and the happening of the Supermoon, I thought i'd share this photo with you, taken by a relative of my friend in Eilat, Israel on the Monday evening. It doesn't look real does it? But it is - no enhancement or photoshopping at all. Truly beautiful!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz8QTUZFv3x8lLIqgRxDrwXkzTOd7FUb5mtmaVHDbaT8uRO4xBr6WG9BRe4lo53O3mChj8_U-EKUo4mmwXbMqu2V0OnytrdnEjb7Me58Rc2Tw_DbPPFccXGoGqWmJFLn-V-S_zNAaDhSu/s1600/eilat+supermoon.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz8QTUZFv3x8lLIqgRxDrwXkzTOd7FUb5mtmaVHDbaT8uRO4xBr6WG9BRe4lo53O3mChj8_U-EKUo4mmwXbMqu2V0OnytrdnEjb7Me58Rc2Tw_DbPPFccXGoGqWmJFLn-V-S_zNAaDhSu/s400/eilat+supermoon.JPG" /></a></span></div>
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<br />Namaste. Until next week....</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-78235371807460715602016-11-13T08:38:00.000+00:002016-11-13T08:56:35.199+00:004 Ayurvedic Tips to Boost Your Wellness This Winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've definitely moved a big step towards winter this week here in Surrey. We've experienced the first proper frost and my beloved dahlias have been blasted and are now collapsing. W</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e've had a lot of rain, i</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t's been windy, and some of the leaves are on the ground - although as I look out of the window, there's still a remarkable amount of green leaves still on the trees. As winter approaches we tend to retreat indoors, put the central heating on, and pile on the layers, and it's easy to get a little lazy about taking care of the body. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of medicine which balances the body using diet, yoga, meditation, breathing practices, herbal treatment and many other self-care practices with the aim of reaching and sustaining optimum health. Ayurveda offers more than just the treatment of illnesses, it shows us ways to change our lifestyles so we can nourish ourselves, become healthier and enjoy life more fully. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are 4 simple practices you could do first thing in the morning to start your day with self-care and boost your immune system this winter ... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. Drink a glass of warm water</b> with a slice and a squeeze of lemon as soon as you wake up. This stimulates the digestive system , encouraging bowel movement, hydrates the body after a night with no fluid intake, and introduces some vitimin C via the lemon. Ayurveda recommends we then drink water regularly throughout the day but in small amounts so that we absorb the water slowly rather than downing a pint of water at lunchtime and just peeing it straight out. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Dry Skin Brushing</b> your skin every day before you shower has many positive benefits for your health and is very quick and easy to do. It's cheap too - a soft body brush from the local chemist or health food shop costs around £10-£15 and, if you hang it up to dry after use, it will last for ages. Always choose a natural bristled brush, or a loofah, rather than a synthetic one as the bristles are more gentle, and give it a wash it from time to time too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 minutes brushing every day will help to stimulate a sluggish lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system's primary function is to isolate infection and clear waste products from the whole body, so it is crucially important to your health. Lymph drainage is improved by deep breathing, exercise and massage. Dry skin brushing provides the massage to increase the lymph flow and also helps to reduce cellulite, which is caused when fat cells, lymph and toxins get stuck in little 'pockets' beneath the skin. If you're interested in learning more about the lymphatic system and cellulite, take a look at <a href="https://www.womentowomen.com/detoxification/the-lymph-system-and-your-health-2/">this article</a> which explains it really well.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before you shower (ideally in the morning as skin brushing really does boost your energy and make you feel tingly and alive) take just 5 minutes to brush your skin. Always brush towards the heart. Start at the feet and brush in long strokes up the legs and over the buttocks, then brush your </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">arms from the hands towards the shoulders. Brush your back (it's helpful to have a long-handled brush for this bit)</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and gently do your chest (be really, really gentle as you brush your breasts), and the sides of the body. Finally, brush your stomach gently in a clockwise motion, following the direction of the colon (up the right side, across the top from right to left, then down the left side). Then step into your shower to wash away the dead skin that has been exfoliated. After a week or so of doing this each day your skin will be feeling really smooth and you'll start to notice the other benefits of this simple practice too. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Oil Massage </b>In Ayurveda the practice of massaging the body with warm oil is called Abhyanga. It helps keep the skin supple and smooth. It has the added benefits of being cheaper than expensive body lotions and much purer too - it just doesn't make sense to be taking care of yourself, trying to decrease the toxic load on the body, and then adding loads of chemicals to be absorbed into the skin via standard lotions and potions. Choose sesame, almond or coconut oil, and don't rush - take time to massage with loving care and attention.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Warm the oil first by placing a little bowl of it by a radiator (be careful not to spill it!) or place the bowl in a sink of hot water. Massage your body slowly, using long strokes on the limbs and circular movements on the joints. As in the dry skin brushing, massage the abdominal area in a clockwise direction. This helps with digestive problems such as constipation by encouraging peristalsis - the movement of food along the gut - which encourages regular bowel movements, which therefore removes more waste products and toxins from your body. Gut health plays an important part in keeping your immune system in good working order, which is especially important at this time of year when there are lots of coughs, colds and bugs being passed around.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Tongue Scraping </b>This practice, known as Jihwa Prakshalana<em>,</em> is an important part of daily self care as it removes the bacteria and toxins that build up on the tongue overnight. If you are well, this coating is minimal, but if your body is struggling to cope with an illness or health problem the coating can be thicker and smell bad. As with all toxins, we want them to be eliminated from the body rather than be re-absorbed, and scraping the tongue is a quick and easy way to do this. It is also beneficial for oral hygiene too by freshening the breath and helping to remove particles of food which decreases plaque building up on the teeth. Ayurveda recommends a stainless steel scraper as it is easy to clean which you can buy in health food shops and online, but there are plastic versions available in chemists such as Boots for around £5. You can also use the side of a metal spoon quite effectively too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how to do it: extend your tongue fully and scrape from the back to the front repeatedly until all the residue has been removed, cleaning the scraper under the tap as you go.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next week I'll be sharing some more simple Ayurvedic health care tips to help you stay well this winter. Until then, get brushing, scraping, oiling and flushing - you are important and feeling good is priceless, and anything you can do to take a little extra care of yourself is worth it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8INipFaZMZGQUOgi6apD1eXwca677GJJmwHVyIGEUoRBgN36JZxjbSeJ17EKS5icjcQHWYGxtjXObl9kkAcDmKOJqrRFFO-vIxVUGWrB1MBt1eRlCI9P2F2upPiA3oLXNTa66-NUphdB/s1600/bodybrush.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8INipFaZMZGQUOgi6apD1eXwca677GJJmwHVyIGEUoRBgN36JZxjbSeJ17EKS5icjcQHWYGxtjXObl9kkAcDmKOJqrRFFO-vIxVUGWrB1MBt1eRlCI9P2F2upPiA3oLXNTa66-NUphdB/s1600/bodybrush.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Week's Recipe... Super Green Soup</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This soup is like a green smoothie - full of almost raw, fresh, healthy goodness - but it's hot. Its vivid bright green colour makes it look very vibrant and alive and it just feels like you're eating energy! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
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<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 bunch fresh asparagus, roughly chopped</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 small onion, finely diced</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 big handful fresh kale leaves, roughly chopped</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 small fennel bulb, finely diced</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 big handful fresh spinach</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 celery stalks, roughly chopped</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">half a litre of vegetable stock (I use Marigold Bouillon for the best flavour)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 garlic clove</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon olive oil oil</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">juice of half a lime</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">toasted nuts and seeds, to garnish</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and here's how to make it...</span></div>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the chopped onion, garlic, asparagus, fennel and celery stalks and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the vegetable stock, bring to boil and simmer over a low heat for 5-7 minutes.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the kale leaves and spinach and remove from the heat.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Allow to cool for a few minutes, then transfer into the blender, add lime juice and whizz until almost smooth (be careful when blending hot liquids). Add more vegetable stock to adjust the texture to your required consistency.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve warm, topped with toasted nuts and seeds</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxli36m4DIXB3PElHcDgnz-s8sLyYp3kVHGMt8Q24VQQWASxwTIg8yR_eoWI1xCf3AwXtR3eBKPvU0Dala0sPWxEh8z9daOYfrA6GerV1s7Nl7USBp5NK7DRbAcAPpdR4Db-yXaLfgxVn/s1600/soup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxli36m4DIXB3PElHcDgnz-s8sLyYp3kVHGMt8Q24VQQWASxwTIg8yR_eoWI1xCf3AwXtR3eBKPvU0Dala0sPWxEh8z9daOYfrA6GerV1s7Nl7USBp5NK7DRbAcAPpdR4Db-yXaLfgxVn/s320/soup2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From super-greens to super moon...</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tonight, Sunday 13th November, and apparently tomorrow night too, if the weather is clear we will get the chance to see a celestial spectacle - the largest supermoon for 70 years!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even though I watched the video twice it still boggled my mind so I found this article from CBBC's Newsround which made it much clearer for me!!.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How to see biggest supermoon in almost 70 years</b> via CBBC Newsround.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />If you go outside at night on 13/14 November, you might get to enjoy something quite spectacular. You will see an amazing supermoon up in the night sky, which means the moon will be very big and bright. <br /><br />There was a supermoon last month but this one is particularly special. That's because it will be the biggest and brightest that it has been since 1948 - that's almost 70 years!<br /><br />But what actually is a supermoon anyway? Why do they happen? Two things have to happen for there to be a supermoon. Firstly, it must be a full moon. Secondly, the moon must be at a point during its orbit where it is particularly close to Earth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />The moon orbits the Earth in an oval shape, and sometimes it is closer to the Earth than at other times. <br /><br />When the moon is at the stage when it is closest to Earth, this is called its perigee. When it is further away, this is the moon's apogee.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The perigee, which makes supermoons happen, is about 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the apogee The reason that the supermoon this month is particularly special is because the moon will be even closer to Earth than it has been for decades, so it will be bigger and brighter than you will ever have seen in your entire life!<br /><br />Usually, a supermoon is about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon when it is further away from the Earth.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How can I see it? Go out at night and have a look at the sky on the night of 13 or 14 November. Try to go somewhere where there aren't many other lights, as this can distract from how bright the moon is and how easily you can see it. <br /><br />If you look at it when the moon is nearer to the horizon, this can create an optical illusion which will make it look even bigger and more spectacular.<br /><br />There is due to be another supermoon on 14 December, but it won't be as amazing as the November one, which is the biggest so far this century. <br /><br />The December supermoon will be special for its own reason. Because it is so bright, it will make seeing the Geminid meteor shower next month much more difficult than usual. As for November's supermoon, you won't see one as impressive as this again until the end of November in 2034, so it's well worth making sure you step outside to take a look!<br /><br />Let's hope the weather decides to behave ...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Q3q2tpWPCRHf4i-Ie4zX0Cr2ou5aUVTi9AxH3klXVnCw-csMWos0RJlEIVWnWbkguxm8C3LTVkbbRafnLjIeQZzkQ-kaT0ePQKfW-UzRvfFBapsEnJ0TAyruFly_JQ1N6TI7jKjaXQ4/s1600/supermoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Q3q2tpWPCRHf4i-Ie4zX0Cr2ou5aUVTi9AxH3klXVnCw-csMWos0RJlEIVWnWbkguxm8C3LTVkbbRafnLjIeQZzkQ-kaT0ePQKfW-UzRvfFBapsEnJ0TAyruFly_JQ1N6TI7jKjaXQ4/s320/supermoon.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A supermoon behind Glastonbury Tor </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Musical Offering... Moon Magic by Stevin McNamara... </b>a track with a steady, gentle rhythm that you could add to your yoga playlist for standing and seated pose sequences and sun salutations. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-13307445478925309372016-11-04T01:30:00.000+00:002016-11-04T17:15:32.746+00:00Circles and Cycles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I sat down to write this week's blog post and .... nothing! No inspiration, nothing to say. Usually, something has come to my attention over the week that I want to share, but not this time. I haven't participated in any 52@50 experiences this week either so I couldn't use that to get me started. I sat there and I sat there, willing something to pour forth but no, so I closed the computer and went to do something else instead. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then November arrived and we were full-on into autumn with all its glorious colours. On Tuesday morning I stood at the top of the Downs near Polesden Lacey and looked towards London but there was no view, just a very thick blanket of fog. The next day I walked to the same spot in bright sunshine and the view was clear and sharp. What a difference 24 hours makes. And there it was - my subject for the blog this week - circles and cycles. The turning of the day into night, the changing of the seasons, the years and our lives themselves are cycles. Nature is full of circles and spirals too - flowers, shells, markings on ladybirds' wings (I've seen a lot of ladybirds this week). And m</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y yoga practice itself is a cycle too - a gentle beginning to warm the body, strength-building poses, followed by slow, long stretches and then Savasana,which offers the opportunity to let go and begin again, renewed and refreshed. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Mandalas</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sanskrit word 'mandala' translates as 'circle'. Mandalas are circular designs used in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions as meditation aids and as offerings. Their circular form represents the Universe, and the intricate patterns within the circle are infinite and never-ending. Meditating on a mandala helps you to focus - there is repetition and order, energy and beauty which help to calm and relax the mind. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although Mandalas are part of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, circular patterns are also found in Christian churches in stained glass windows and on the floors, and in Celtic designs too. In all traditions, the circle represents the cycle of life with no beginning and no end. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mandalas have been in my consciousness for a couple of weeks now - on my recent weekend retreat to Florence House in Seaford I shared mandala colouring pages and pens, and this week in class our standing poses took the form of a circular flow. Funny how I had been searching for a theme for the blog and it was already there. I just couldn't see it. I had to wait for my fog to clear before I had a good view. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought you might like a mandala to colour. It's very relaxing - the perfect antidote to our busy lives where we are so often multi-tasking, colouring a mandala invites you to focus your attention on the circle and become completely absorbed in the colours and the infinite patterns of the design. Once you have coloured it, keep it somewhere safe and you can use it as a meditation aid - take a comfortable seat with your mandala picture in front of you, set an intention (you might want to quieten the mind or your intuition to help you make a decision, whatever feels right), then let yourself become focussed on the patterns, infinite circles and colours of your mandala for 5 or 10 minutes. Acknowledge your intention at the end of your meditation and observe how you feel. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To print the mandala out, right click on the picture and, if your computer works in the same way as mine, you will get an option to 'open image in a new tab'. You can then press Control and P to print it out. I hope that works for you and that you enjoy some rest and relaxation with some creative colouring.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>This week's recipe...Stir-fried Savoy Cabbage with Caraway Seeds</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A cabbage has it's own spirals and circles too - study yours as you slice it to make this super-quick and very tasty side dish. The caraway seeds give it a unique flavour. The recipe comes from the Florence House Cook Book which was for sale at my recent weekend retreat there. I'm slowly working my way through it. Although it doesn't have any photos (usually a pre-requisite for my recipe book purchases), it does offer really easy, yummy and mostly vegetarian recipes, many of which I've never come across before. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon of caraway seeds</span><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHZoF3mhyT1nrqOqvV1jc6R85C563eYkI4wEZnOQyS9bP5kagTv1dIAdjlDvXrG4wqgT9VOzBZlGhOSLVBzAja3XhQ7lIrwIAsmyizSOfasAZZ9_5Z-kXyl2RJpEyEx9hCfANxrQaovRM/s1600/cabbage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHZoF3mhyT1nrqOqvV1jc6R85C563eYkI4wEZnOQyS9bP5kagTv1dIAdjlDvXrG4wqgT9VOzBZlGhOSLVBzAja3XhQ7lIrwIAsmyizSOfasAZZ9_5Z-kXyl2RJpEyEx9hCfANxrQaovRM/s320/cabbage1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how to make it:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finely slice the cabbage.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heat a wok or large frying pan and add some oil.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the cabbage and the seeds and stir-fry until the cabbage has wilted and started to go golden around the edges.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This recipe serves 4 portions.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you're looking for some inspiration for some tasty, healthy, wholefood dishes (although there's a good selection of desserts in here too), the cook book is available to purchase for £10. Please contact me via email to hi@thriveyoga.co.uk and I will order a copy for you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's musical offering... </b>Circle by Karunesh. This track has a slow rhythm that could accompany both a slow vinyasa flow and some relaxing seated stretches. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, some pictures of circles and spirals courtesy of Mother Nature - once you start looking you see them everywhere...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiibVC7dzUwriggJD2PynO3frfQU9Or4cXkCqqsbAVSAF79810UcYJQ3ZtMHd6tnxlYWlFAQ4Bkh6GUKUFIOoXokVEEU18EefPIsh0i95Dvn-nryPd4XKId8Kqrxl-CT4OeGOqPJ28oCrD/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiibVC7dzUwriggJD2PynO3frfQU9Or4cXkCqqsbAVSAF79810UcYJQ3ZtMHd6tnxlYWlFAQ4Bkh6GUKUFIOoXokVEEU18EefPIsh0i95Dvn-nryPd4XKId8Kqrxl-CT4OeGOqPJ28oCrD/s320/IMG_1738.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leaving you with this pretty mandala containing a thought for the week ...</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-8585407374034519712016-10-21T11:34:00.000+01:002016-10-21T11:38:46.194+01:00Going With the Flo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot can happen in 2 weeks. In my last post I wrote about my sadness at the death of The Furry Guru and how I was adjusting to life without my canine friend. Then this happened......</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsCMpt5ZntH2jmSrPDfRWAmrnFZtDBsfZmI0TMk0dS9rhAozeDI26gPhlTl97966FTkYWwiDC8WphI33GMSLlubE0HNd5MeZ7XLxo4V6E049mMi49uOKJwtuf1jU_IvzsATQx_5qQwqSb/s320/flo4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoying the autumn sunshine</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsCMpt5ZntH2jmSrPDfRWAmrnFZtDBsfZmI0TMk0dS9rhAozeDI26gPhlTl97966FTkYWwiDC8WphI33GMSLlubE0HNd5MeZ7XLxo4V6E049mMi49uOKJwtuf1jU_IvzsATQx_5qQwqSb/s1600/flo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is Flo. She is a little cross-breed (looking at those ears I would guess there's some Chihuahua in there somewhere) and she's about 4 years old. Already named Flo, I came across her on a rescue website and thought she looked very sweet and would tick all our doggy requirements. We've had her for almost 2 weeks now and, although she was very timid and overwhelmed to start with, she's just starting to relax and get used to her new environment. I'm looking forward to introducing her to yoga and gardening and will share her progress with you from time to time here on the blog. For now, we're taking it slowly and trusting that it will all work out ok. We're going with the Flo flow. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPmOAOTUpZW7d7f8FKhb1yKY59jXTTk_6kYLmT3OCJtQ7AwVXR5AGT0uCAMYXdCo1HJVpm5v-3OSv04ml_KHnBTVYm4JGJw_hbola1sEeUcvYBvtAdndO1bq9rELJjqIMLkTO3sBBog8Z/s320/flo3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surveying her new garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>52@50 no. 15 - Aerial Yoga</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A small group of intrepid yogis and myself went on an adventure recently to experience Aerial Yoga. Although I'd heard about it, I'd never done it before, so when a student mentioned that she'd read about it and would like to try it I set about finding somewhere we could give it a go. We teamed up with a company called Flying Fantastic who offer classes in circus skills, trapeze, hoops and aerial yoga at a number of venues in London. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In an aerial yoga class, silk hammocks are rigged to ceiling beams and dangle about 3 feet from the floor. Doing yoga poses using the hammocks provides support for the body, and it's especially helpful for practicing inversions as the hammock takes your weight so you don't have to. It offers the possibility of going deeper into more familiar poses too. The <i>possibility.</i> For the first-time aerial yogi it's all a little insecure and unstable. You have to trust the hammock to support you even though it's swaying gently in mid-air. You have to let go and trust. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although we were on the edge of our comfort zones at times, it was fun and a new experience and I'm going to do it again. It's like trying most things in life - the second time it feels a bit more familiar and you feel a bit more confident and a bit more able. A</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, Sri K Patthabi Jois was known for saying "practice, practice and all is coming!". </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfUr_A9shrFJteAPqGugh7TYuMFiOinMKipxjrUJD-zS9ydYVHlBGlMI1X2B5WyzEin6DwLRHc1Zheo-Ma0ShdYUEetFhMmaK-tqyoGfseIKUvEfWwnbplgmRVflRgLh5bugpBdvJDjsr/s1600/2016-09-25-PHOTO-00000001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfUr_A9shrFJteAPqGugh7TYuMFiOinMKipxjrUJD-zS9ydYVHlBGlMI1X2B5WyzEin6DwLRHc1Zheo-Ma0ShdYUEetFhMmaK-tqyoGfseIKUvEfWwnbplgmRVflRgLh5bugpBdvJDjsr/s320/2016-09-25-PHOTO-00000001.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Getting a little deeper into a backbend</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPV9cX7OWVuf91VPCUexUdIjuBRIyzRCA6y4pQOkJs56NAOz31yvF1gj6QG87OcdwI_DubfOo4OKpcCo94tLZ03uzTAdT1ZNsCx3GZk43hhFfxnWt7g2MeqvEoDwkK5YfEe1o3kycIBiy/s1600/2016-09-25-PHOTO-00000006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPV9cX7OWVuf91VPCUexUdIjuBRIyzRCA6y4pQOkJs56NAOz31yvF1gj6QG87OcdwI_DubfOo4OKpcCo94tLZ03uzTAdT1ZNsCx3GZk43hhFfxnWt7g2MeqvEoDwkK5YfEe1o3kycIBiy/s320/2016-09-25-PHOTO-00000006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flying!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM4ZKXnzJDUltoGKF-JpRDbEsQ8ERBKU0rta2RHugPJAC0Ogf3dQiXY_Y3gPusbfV43M3FQs1ECbVMrG1_zAsCV6vkyjnPwMovKdmNP47bQ47Vf-15LqLXKJ4BOSjNoNxeKuiCX8ZaC8z/s1600/2016-09-25-PHOTO-00000017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM4ZKXnzJDUltoGKF-JpRDbEsQ8ERBKU0rta2RHugPJAC0Ogf3dQiXY_Y3gPusbfV43M3FQs1ECbVMrG1_zAsCV6vkyjnPwMovKdmNP47bQ47Vf-15LqLXKJ4BOSjNoNxeKuiCX8ZaC8z/s320/2016-09-25-PHOTO-00000017.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Savasana - relaxing all wrapped up in a cocoon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b>This Week's Video...</b> these two short videos are a reminder of how adaptable us human beings are... be inspired ...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">Talking of trust and support, and new things to try.... How about Acro Yoga? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or challenge your balance like never before with Slackline Yoga.... At 2.35 minutes into the video, she's doing Kneeling Bow Pose. We did this pose a few times in class this half-term... it's hard enough to balance on the floor, let alone on a slackline! Awesome! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iZb8pjVbuZA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iZb8pjVbuZA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>This week's recipe... Tomato and Coconut Soup</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had this soup at our retreat last weekend at Florence House in Seaford. It's tomato soup with a twist - the addition of a tin of coconut milk gives it a different flavour and makes it creamy. It's really easy to make and hardly any washing up! Bonus! I'm using my Nutribullet to blend soups at the moment. Although I bought it to primarily make green smoothies, it works really well and blends a nice smooth soup (and again, very easy to wash up). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 medium onion</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3-4 sticks of celery</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon of oil for frying</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon powder</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 tins of tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tin of coconut milk</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon of sugar</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Serves 4)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETEYm5_RYhV71JSGK7AZALq_p9jhx26uqATZZ7S3MbrWdc8G3k5IBLg-avGaVB_x8ILcBEGYKdVE9kRbK3vxcEwUugv2NgZ5AGLywUTBTRo174SIyNyBluoNsPM5-zu7ZJBEhqcjUo1pG/s1600/tomato+soup1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETEYm5_RYhV71JSGK7AZALq_p9jhx26uqATZZ7S3MbrWdc8G3k5IBLg-avGaVB_x8ILcBEGYKdVE9kRbK3vxcEwUugv2NgZ5AGLywUTBTRo174SIyNyBluoNsPM5-zu7ZJBEhqcjUo1pG/s320/tomato+soup1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's how to make it:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Roughly chop the onion and celery and fry gently in the oil until soft and the onion is translucent.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stir in the vegetable bouillon powder then add the tinned tomatoes and coconut milk.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add a teaspoon of sugar to reduce the tartness of the tomatoes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Simmer gently until everything is soft.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blend.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add some seasoning to taste. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2obmHpvnnaVN5gu1CAYje2HuMT9835wh9_fE4yz0bgu0tSWfMv1y0RK_EYXpv10jbNgcqaJXtSFkhDt7cVxxtug_2Zq6e95SWVbGR3UpqxEF81mBsmAgWmXBrrnKVtZKFg-C_NfkSBk7Z/s1600/tomato+soup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2obmHpvnnaVN5gu1CAYje2HuMT9835wh9_fE4yz0bgu0tSWfMv1y0RK_EYXpv10jbNgcqaJXtSFkhDt7cVxxtug_2Zq6e95SWVbGR3UpqxEF81mBsmAgWmXBrrnKVtZKFg-C_NfkSBk7Z/s320/tomato+soup2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's musical offering....</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Labrynth by Peter Jack Rainbird - a lovely track to accompany an evening wind-down of some slow, relaxing seated stretches. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-74505132261322899402016-10-04T12:35:00.002+01:002016-10-04T13:10:02.875+01:0091 days without The Furry Guru<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 months. 3 months have passed since The Furry Guru died. 13 weeks. 13 weeks without my friend. 91 days. 91 days of learning to re-shape my life without him. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was a part of every part of my day. The first thing I did in the morning - say hello to Digby and let him out in the garden. The last thing I did at night - say 'night night Digby'. My days were shaped around him. Get him in from the garden before I taught a class. Let him back out as soon as I had finished. Take him for a walk every morning. Back in the garden when we returned for the walk. Afternons were spent in quiet companionship. He would be on his bed by the patio doors where he could keep an eye on his garden and on me working on the computer or doing my lesson plans. Or he would be on the front door mat where he could keep an eye out for the postman or other possible intruders. His favourite thing was to be in the garden with me, rummaging around (but never digging holes), especially if I opened the gate that led to the compost heap. He was convinced there were rats there and spent many hours waiting patiently for one to appear (he never caught one though). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the evening of Friday 1st July we noticed that he wasn't quite 'right' and was breathing very rapidly. An x-ray the next morning revealed a tumor mass that was pressing on his heart. We took him home in the hope that we could have a last few days with him but, although we had a lovely afternoon sitting in the sunshine in the garden, he had deteriorated very quickly and he was finding it difficult to breathe. It was very obvious that to spare him from any more distress we had to make our final journey to the vet and say goodbye. It was all very sudden and such a complete shock. We had no idea that there was anything wrong with him and maybe he didn't either. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was a quirky, independent, straightforward little soul and he lived a wonderful life. One day I'll be able to think about him without feeling the pain of loss but for now I just miss him. I loved him and I miss him. My yoga practice teaches me that this too shall pass. That it will get easier. It teaches me that it's ok to be sad and to just sit with the sadness. I try not to go back into the past too much and look for the sadness but there are so many reminders. Everything I do reminds me of him. There's something missing when I'm in the garden now. There's something missing as I go about my day. For 10 years our days were entwined and it's going to take a while .... Night night Digby.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Furry Guru in one of his favourite meditation spots</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>52@50 no. 14 - 'I Have a Dream' Day - an introduction to The Trust Technique </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I attended an animal communication workshop last weekend. Ironically, for the first time since I was 5 years old, I don't have a pet. Over the years I've had cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses and of course a dog. Many of my animals were victims of human cruelty - horse no. 1 was rescued from the meat market, horse no. 2 from neglect, cat with 3 legs was shot by someone with an air rifle, rabbit no. 2 had a disabled back leg, rabbit no. 3 had no ears - someone cut them off!, but all of them regained their trust in humans and led happy lives. I don't think I did anything special for them but I did offer them all a calm, relaxed home with a regular routine - no dramas or uncertainties, just kindness and as much understanding of their species as was available to me at the time. But I wish I had known about the techinque I learned about on this workshop. I will certainly use it with future animals that I might own to offer them an even more peaceful life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">James French is an animal communicator. He works with many types of animals including dogs (and lions and bears!) but he has a special rapport with horses. His Trust Technique is a sort of meditation, producing such a peaceful state of mind that the animal relaxes completely. The introductory day offered an in-depth explanation of the technique and some instruction on the meditation method itself. It was held at Mane Chance Sanctuary, a haven for rescued horses just south of Guildford in Surrey. Although they do not own the Sanctuary, James and his wife have based themselves there for the last few years and helped with the rehabilitation of most of the horses. They offer training courses for people to learn the Trust Technique and become practitioners themselves, and they work with people to overcome issues and problems with their pets so they can learn to trust humans and relax and enjoy life again. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a truly inspiring day and I learned a lot about animals and our conditioned ways of thinking about them.Take a look at the video below which is a snapshot of the Trust Technique and shows the possibilities of learning to understand our animal friends on a much deeper level.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's recipe... Carrot and Parsnip Rosti</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whilst on the subject of animals, you might have noticed that I only share vegetarian recipes. I've been a veggie for 31 years now, having decided I could not condone the farming and destruction of animals for meat - I want no part of the suffering and fear that inevitably come with that. I love the creativity of vegetarian cooking and I especially enjoy simple, easy recipes that I can prepare quickly. Yoga has taught me to eat mindfully so I try to appreciate the colours, textures and smells of what is on my plate and have gratitude for the abundance of delicious, healthy plants available to me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This recipe comes from this week's Waitrose free paper that you can pick up at the checkout. It often has good recipes and this one is no exception. The recipe in the paper makes 8 patties, but I have halved it to make 4. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 large carrot</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">three quarters of a teaspoon of ground cumin</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">30g flour (oops, forgot to include the flour in the picture below)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">handful of chopped corriander (I didn't have any so left it out and it was fine) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's how to make it...</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grate the carrot and parsnip and mix together with the cumin and coriander. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Season well then stir in the flour and the beaten egg. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mix well and divide into 4 patties. Squeeze and squash them down a little so they stay in shape.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and place the patties in to fry gently for a few minutes until they are golden brown, then turn them over to to do the other side.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drain on kitchen paper and serve - great with a salad for a quick and healthy lunch. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiK0BpkMDxcXVRUyaJWfvA83qIh79bbfx8XX3E3E9tfgvmkrZ9GyZxMSgZ3Qndxkxv8anfEfQCIZZH5a3TxKFr2jWCWEujVRFu5bp5_ki58SqLUCVz2iEWEuF_xO3J3YAS3N_WPX3BNhb/s1600/rosti2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiK0BpkMDxcXVRUyaJWfvA83qIh79bbfx8XX3E3E9tfgvmkrZ9GyZxMSgZ3Qndxkxv8anfEfQCIZZH5a3TxKFr2jWCWEujVRFu5bp5_ki58SqLUCVz2iEWEuF_xO3J3YAS3N_WPX3BNhb/s320/rosti2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's musical offering...</b> Lokah Samastha by Deva Premal. I play this in class regularly but this live version is a little different.The meaning of this mantra is explained by Deva at the beginning of this recording and is shown in the picture below too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And finally, if you're feeling up for it, a video that will tug at your heartstrings...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I saw this film a year or so ago but it cropped up again this year as one of the short films in the Banff Film Festival. It's a moving tribute to a special dog - it's sad, beautifully filmed, gently humorous and full of love. You'll need some tissues... Take a deep breath.... Ready?... press Play....</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-78249625868683286452016-09-22T22:54:00.002+01:002016-09-23T09:32:16.729+01:00Beethoven, Gong Baths and the Muppets!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>52@50 no. 12 - Sunday Morning Concert at Wigmore Hall</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">30 years ago my husband used to go to the Sunday morning recitals at Wigmore Hall just behind Oxford Street in London. Although I've been to other classical concerts in different venues over the years, I'd never been to the Wigmore Hall so whilst thinking about things I'd like to do in my 50th year I thought we sould rectify this. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Wigmore Hall was originally built in 1901<strong> </strong>by a German piano firm called Bechstein next to its showrooms on Wigmore Street. The Hall was intended to be "grandly impressive while remaining intimate enough for recitals". </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the outbreak of war in 1914 the German company was forced to sell it's business - including studios, offices, warehouses, 137 pianos and the Hall itself - and it was sold to Debenhams for £56,500. A bargain considering the Hall alone had cost £100,000 to build. It reopened in 1917 under it's new name Wigmore Hall and became an internationally recognised venue with near-perfect acoustics. Today it hosts over 400 concerts a year and a weekly concert which is broadcast on Radio 3. It is also a centre of education, offering many family concerts and workshops, study events and masterclasses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Playing for us were the Danish String Quartet and the pieces we enjoyed were String Quartet in D major by Haydn, String Quartet in C minor by Beethoven followed by a traditional Scandinavian piece. I'm really not a classical music expert I just know when I like what I'm hearing and I did indeed. The pieces were melodious and the players energised and expressive. These Sunday morning concerts are short - just an hour - and coffee is served afterwards, although most of the audience (who were mainly of a much older generation) went straight for the sherry! We then enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sunshine (this event was the weekend before last) before 'Boris Bike' cycling back to Waterloo (see last week's blog). A very cultured Sunday. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>52@50 no. 13 - Sunday Evening Sound Therapy and Gong Bath Meditation</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Sunday I participated in another musical 'first' - a gong bath. I've been in a sound healing class before where Tibetan singing bowls were used to create the sound, but I hadn't experienced the powerful tones of a gong before. Sometimes also known as a gong meditation, it's called a 'bath' because you are bathed in sound - it reverberates all around you and right through you. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The class was held in Cobham Village Hall by a couple who offer sound healing around the Elmbridge district (<a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-Alchemy-of-Sound-South-West-London-and-Surrey/">The Alchemy of Sound: South West London and Surrey</a>). The hall was set up with 10 yoga mats arranged in a circle, each with a blanket and cushion. In the centre was a big gong, various mallets, a crystal singing bowl, a drum and some bells. Intriguing! We sat to do some chanting - a few simple rounds of 'om', then we laid down and got comfortable, ready to receive the sound healing. First some high frequency sounds from the crystal bowl - clear, single, ringing notes, then the duller thud of a drum took over. The small drum was being walked around the outside of the circle so each of us could feel the vibrations close to the head. Then for the next 45 minutes or so the gong was played and waves of sound filled the room and resonated around and through me. It was very relaxing - I almost dropped off to sleep! I understand that's not unusual! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apparently, the brain can't predict or follow the notes of the gong so it doesn't try. It relaxes so much that the brain wave patterns change from Beta (waking state) to Alpha (relaxation state) to Theta and Delta (meditative states). This therapy is said to clear energy blockages within the body and release all the muscles, leaving you feeling completely rested with a sense of liberation. I certainly felt great afterwards and I slept really deeply that night. I'd definitely go to a gong meditation again and am curious to experience how other practitioners (if that's the right word for a gong player) offer the therapy and to feel and hear the various sounds that different gongs make.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Your Questions Answered... why do some yoga teachers play music in class while others don't?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It really depends on the teacher and the style of yoga being practiced. Traditionally music is not played in yoga classes. If you attend a class from a particular lineage, such as an Iyengar, Sivananda or Ashtanga, then they will usually stick to the traditional way of doing things and they won't play music. Any form of distraction from the focussed attention is not encouraged. However, in recent years new styles of yoga have been created which offer a blend of the traditional methods. In a vinyasa flow class it is common to hear music and in a Jivamukti class there will always be a playlist, often containing contemporary chanting tracks, to accompany the class. The music helps to lift the energy at some points, and soothe and quieten busy minds at others. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did my training with Ruth White who had been a student of BKS Iyengar and as such followed his traditional methods and music was never played in her classes. I have subsequently done trainings and taken many classes with teachers who are well-know for their creative playlists - Shiva Rea being the most influential to me. She plays tracks with a really good beat which always fit the rhythm of the sequence of postures. From her I learned how to match the rise and fall of the energy of the sequence to the music and therefore guide the flow of the class - upbeat but steady rhythm for Sun Salutations, melodic and ambient sounds for the more static postures and quiet relaxation music for Savasana. I rarely play tracks with vocals as I find them distracting but carefully chosen tracks with gentle rhythm work well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Therefore, in my opinion, it's all down to personal preference. Don't like music in class and find it a distraction? Go to an Iyengar class. Like an eclectic mix of devotional chants and contemporary music, try Jivamukti. Enjoy music in the background to create a soothing ambience? Come to one of my classes where the music is chosen to match postures with minimal vocals for minimum distraction. When practicing at home, it's completely up to you and your mood whether you do your yoga to the tones of DJ Drez or Beethoven or just the sound of your own breath. And it's good to have the choice. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Recipe... Beetroot and Apple Soup</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's soup season! The beginning of autumn finds me reaching for the root vegetables and cooking up batches of simple healthy soups to enjoy for a quick and easy lunch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've never made a recipe with beetroot before. I've always been a bit unsure of it - how do I cook it, how do I peel it and how do I avoid getting pink juice everywhere?! A friend made me a delicious salad with beetroot last week and it inspired me to be a bit braver and use beetroot more. So, here it is ... my first attempt at beetroot and apple soup... and very successful and yummy it was too. And easy - no peeling or pre-cooking required, and only a bit of juice mopping! And gorgeously deep pink against the white bowl too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">350g uncooked beetroot</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 medium onion</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 garlic clove</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 eating apple</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">25g unsalted butter </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">500ml vegetable stock (Marigold Vegetable Bouillon is the best)</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's how to make it:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wash and trim the ends off the beetroot. Don't bother to peel it, just chop and then add to the onions and garlic. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Core and slice the apple and add to the onions and continue to fry for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the stock and seasoning, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes. Allow to cool enough before whizzing in the blender until smooth, then return to the saucepan to reheat. </span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So pretty and pink!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Musical Offering...</b> For What It's Worth by DJ Drez . A great steady beat for doing slow sun salutations to. I play this in class quite often, but does it ring any other bells (pardon the musical pun) for you?.....</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, connected to the track above is this week's video....</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I first heard the above track by DJ Drez it sounded familiar. I knew I knew it but I just couldn't place how, what or where I knew it from. Then one day I was doing my practice (fortunately it wasn't in front of the class - that would have been funny!) and this track was on in the background and I just sung out "Stop children. What's that sound? Everybody look what's going round" and it all came back to me.... The Muppets!!! I remember this sketch from the Muppet Show even though I was very young and I only heard it the once (no video to record it and no YouTube to look it up on back then). It had a profound effect - I remember I intensely disliked the noisy men with guns who were disturbing the lovely peaceful woodland animals. Well things haven't changed! There are still, unfortunately, noisy men with guns in this world and I still dislike them! And in case you think you've heard it before even the Muppets used it, the original track was by Buffalo Springfield and it's called For What It's Worth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The power of music... Enjoy.... it's fab...</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-85954888457357839322016-09-11T21:34:00.000+01:002016-09-11T22:52:03.481+01:00Yoga and Cycling, and a September Salad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52@50 no. 11 - Riding a 'Boris Bike'</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been meaning to try out a 'Boris Bike' (the unofficial name for the bikes that are for hire in London under the Santander Cycle Scheme) for ages but the idea of cycling in the city has always felt a bit daunting. However, today turned out to be the perfect day to give it a try. The weather was beautiful and for half of our journey from Oxford Street to Waterloo the roads were completely empty! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The final stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race was taking place later in the afternoon so the roads around the route were closed to motor vehicles but not to bikes. We rode down Goodge Street and Chancery Lane to avoid the busiest streets and then, as we passed the law courts on Fleet Street, we left the cars behind. We whizzed around the Aldwych and over Waterloo Bridge, pausing for a few minutes to look left and right to take in my absolute favourite views of London. We continued off the bridge and around the Imax roundabout without stopping (completely unheard of!!) and cruised into Waterloo station to park up our bikes. This fun ride gave me a new experience of London and took me exploring down roads I'd never been before. And it cost us the grand total of £2 each! Bargain! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXz7xfOWrtJORIWyccgJcrDc0gZCFxxtJyIXH-qemMlY4mL2GQGWFDumoDHYiOHEn6N5W1ChqJe0KpTGGMC20q5a6sSb-hmwk5dXYSpT9WZhfNUt9MVGqmE4GEsRsvIZ-Zq4uxMr6IqpS/s1600/cycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXz7xfOWrtJORIWyccgJcrDc0gZCFxxtJyIXH-qemMlY4mL2GQGWFDumoDHYiOHEn6N5W1ChqJe0KpTGGMC20q5a6sSb-hmwk5dXYSpT9WZhfNUt9MVGqmE4GEsRsvIZ-Zq4uxMr6IqpS/s320/cycle.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j8UU78wqrhgHSiSikd1bTwrSWaRg5rhiBlZYA1wOjyLoSpzEdCDNgzdgk5g-_AVAjKdaLCbcIMMaum2QstnQGstdrOMJCLHvnMqxkDWJIeUWYalf892irpFOYD3YnUMM4vVbjGyudh-s/s1600/londonview2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j8UU78wqrhgHSiSikd1bTwrSWaRg5rhiBlZYA1wOjyLoSpzEdCDNgzdgk5g-_AVAjKdaLCbcIMMaum2QstnQGstdrOMJCLHvnMqxkDWJIeUWYalf892irpFOYD3YnUMM4vVbjGyudh-s/s320/londonview2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Law Courts in Chancery Lane</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTizaphgj9Kal86xt8mI0AktelRMvXKCI4okZPH4RcKcJgjfqiF23aRWfb6-CAeal2GB9kJlHl5sussctfihEL2bpAlaMUrbXLfmn8WznkZ_ZGsYZwAJLyoU71ZhIMJtkY3y3ckxKAxT6C/s1600/londonview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTizaphgj9Kal86xt8mI0AktelRMvXKCI4okZPH4RcKcJgjfqiF23aRWfb6-CAeal2GB9kJlHl5sussctfihEL2bpAlaMUrbXLfmn8WznkZ_ZGsYZwAJLyoU71ZhIMJtkY3y3ckxKAxT6C/s320/londonview.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Waterloo Bridge looking towards the City</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This weekend I've done some yoga and I've done some cycling but I haven't done the two together, unlike the YoGoGirls.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By James Greig via <a href="http://cyclelove.cc/">cyclelove.cc</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’ve recently added yoga alongside cycling as part of your everyday life, you might be wondering… “Should I do yoga before or after my bike rides?”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://yogogirls.com/">YoGoGirls</a> have created another possibility for you to ponder — doing yoga with your bicycle.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I discovered these amazingly energetic photos of the YoGoGirls lifting bicycles with their feet last month, I was intrigued. How did they come up with the idea of incorporating bikes into their yoga practice? And wasn’t it a little… dangerous?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Insert obligatory “do not try this at home” disclaimer here)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv73hYQOUhlkjWWUDLGgNuP7twKfRPEEhcgaO2glyPPFYAm3osraSgSchuFRj1g1h7X2Vocn_0rZoojejtNHKHcRehPT9RAcE-yLI0HTYGR_sIDmDLR5m-aeHKCF1NkDxTOlzHRqATdu9x/s1600/yogo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv73hYQOUhlkjWWUDLGgNuP7twKfRPEEhcgaO2glyPPFYAm3osraSgSchuFRj1g1h7X2Vocn_0rZoojejtNHKHcRehPT9RAcE-yLI0HTYGR_sIDmDLR5m-aeHKCF1NkDxTOlzHRqATdu9x/s320/yogo1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I fired some questions over the Atlantic to Saint Louis, Missouri — and here’s what came back from Michelle and Debby, aka the YoGoGirls.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what came first, the yoga or the cycling?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cycling came first for both of us. We both commute by bike often. I race cyclocross and Debby participates in triathlons.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You met Debby on a bike ride… was it CycleLove at first sight?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes! We met at a triathlon training camp and had many things in common and some differences that complement, like yin and yang. We also have different abilities that work perfectly together. Debby is a writer/marketer and I’m a designer/photographer. Debby is 5’8” tall, and I am 5’0. She is very outgoing, and I am an introvert… somehow it just all works.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was there a eureka moment when you decided to start incorporating the actual bikes into your photos?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can’t totally remember the exact time we started incorporating bikes, because it was just a natural extension for us to have our bikes nearby. Sometimes we would go on rides then stop at a cool place to hang out and do some random handstands. There was one pivotal moment when we thought it would be funny to do a handstand with a bike on our feet, so we did that and called it the yogokickstand. As more and more people emulated the move, we got encouraged to try even more photos incorporating bikes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC4iTh7ywYaTGavDeQv0M50Y2TW1GDdwBs9_5RqHx2WwZtrbc-aIn4Gxgc-KS9KX_kk9ZQTAE_ccIZptevuXWTNJLNjVWyqT_2_wy-b8gegEl23u_f5KYfZZkwt3A_q8QPJqeIBmf0yc3/s1600/yogo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSC4iTh7ywYaTGavDeQv0M50Y2TW1GDdwBs9_5RqHx2WwZtrbc-aIn4Gxgc-KS9KX_kk9ZQTAE_ccIZptevuXWTNJLNjVWyqT_2_wy-b8gegEl23u_f5KYfZZkwt3A_q8QPJqeIBmf0yc3/s320/yogo6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What tips would you give to a cyclist who’s thinking about taking up yoga?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do it! There are so many benefits for cyclists.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Racing as a competitive cyclist can be stressful. Yoga not only offers your mind a respite, but can provide your body the reset it may need to race again. Yoga is focusing on breathing and then linking it to movement. By focusing on the inhale and exhales of your breathing in a rhythmic fashion, you connect to a calming place where your central nervous system relaxes and your mind rests.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’re a non-competitive cyclist the benefits of a yoga practice abound as well. Stretching and strengthening combined with deep methodical breathing is good for everyone. There are as many varieties of yoga as there are brands of bikes and types of cyclists. Try as many as it takes to find the one that fits you. There are more rigid forms that dictate a format and more interpretive varieties, all the way to meditation and restorative classes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It looks relatively effortless in your videos, but as anything ever gone wrong when you’re using bikes in your yoga?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, all the time. We try not to have them fall, but they do occasionally fall over on us, or we drop them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSER6J4Ub10BKpGuH0uDhP11Jx_0ppdbAa3com7meo0N6c2VzAdWlTc5Y7wWanTYZxRvA2vf-rTJUWStxtKd0i0mj37BqOgaeZgQfJrqk4C4TYbWwgzy1TTsw_sZqi68UmdgKGyk2A15w/s1600/yogo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSER6J4Ub10BKpGuH0uDhP11Jx_0ppdbAa3com7meo0N6c2VzAdWlTc5Y7wWanTYZxRvA2vf-rTJUWStxtKd0i0mj37BqOgaeZgQfJrqk4C4TYbWwgzy1TTsw_sZqi68UmdgKGyk2A15w/s320/yogo4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What have you got planned next for your Instagram photos? Do you feel pressured to keep upping the ante?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Debby has a new fat bike shipping to her now, and we are planning a Dr. Seuss themed video with it. We like to be silly and come up with crazy ideas that are unexpected, and the challenge of new opportunities for creating inventive images for Instagram.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What kind of cycling do you enjoy most? And have you been on any epic rides recently?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We both enjoy road cycling. I love cyclocross because of its competition and the fall weather. Debby loves the social aspect of going out on her fixed gear with friends. She recently rode in a century and has another planned on her time trial bike and is waiting on a fat bike to arrive to take on some local mole hills asap. I was recently in Marin, California riding the mountains and am going this weekend to mountain bike again. There are some amazing views there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLY8J9S1iYf75E6n-cJazOdb4GnUfiWQzSElAOaTuUCWJ184dZHbT4FgEsRHBe_qfGPuT2dOEqJ6F-qUJOyQyGCwhL2cQ5RWW5m3MKsrb3rYlG2Qtq7T-kuwGJHZB2ThA7Efz2lJQ6pnU/s1600/yogo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLY8J9S1iYf75E6n-cJazOdb4GnUfiWQzSElAOaTuUCWJ184dZHbT4FgEsRHBe_qfGPuT2dOEqJ6F-qUJOyQyGCwhL2cQ5RWW5m3MKsrb3rYlG2Qtq7T-kuwGJHZB2ThA7Efz2lJQ6pnU/s320/yogo5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Find out more about the YoGoGirls <a href="http://yogogirls.com/">on their website</a> or by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yogogirls/">following them on Instagram</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>This week's recipe... Mixed Green Salad with a Twist</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I'm looking forward to the autumn season of root vegetable soups and stews, I'm hanging onto summer and still eating salads. This one is crunchy and has some unusual ingredients and flavours...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">100g rocket and spinach blend (or similar)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">200g edamame beans, shelled</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 handfuls of sugarsnap peas</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">150g pistachios</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">150g golden raisins</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon lemon zest</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sea salt</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">liquid honey</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjZjOxiZK_ACWLIkxU2pijL4plSqo4Nl9zNwKOXMrvbqY78CtsnSWdWi3g_saBDH3oux0FPVhT3JeLucqRlWW80h_4R2Xgm2sttH1VO7KALV4toQReaiyOTrXHc7mh5svYawmgG-o5Ekt/s1600/salad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjZjOxiZK_ACWLIkxU2pijL4plSqo4Nl9zNwKOXMrvbqY78CtsnSWdWi3g_saBDH3oux0FPVhT3JeLucqRlWW80h_4R2Xgm2sttH1VO7KALV4toQReaiyOTrXHc7mh5svYawmgG-o5Ekt/s320/salad3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's how to make it...</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Put the ingredients in a bowl without mixing too much.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sprinkle a few remaining pistachios and raisins on top with a drizzle of olive oil, the lemon juice, some sea salt and a drizzle of liquid honey.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb87eAoh1VB9uEqhWh1KkLJn3xIPMwRl8ySs9LwFft2kXQH3JCBsDxUmBsNotJqttVt2OuluC9M8skjp-xwvEr9QWpHdGGt_8h9wPfjjeW7MyD6cFPPgKE_qO09Cpe9A2lTSF4UGWqSqWc/s1600/salad2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb87eAoh1VB9uEqhWh1KkLJn3xIPMwRl8ySs9LwFft2kXQH3JCBsDxUmBsNotJqttVt2OuluC9M8skjp-xwvEr9QWpHdGGt_8h9wPfjjeW7MyD6cFPPgKE_qO09Cpe9A2lTSF4UGWqSqWc/s320/salad2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, if you have a few minutes, do watch this relaxing and inspiring video about the joys of getting out into the countryside on a bicycle.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this week's class on the <a href="http://www.thriveyoga.co.uk/">Thrive Yoga</a> site there is a 'toe-to-top' gentle sequence that is perfect for a post-cycle stretch out. Join me 'on the mat' even if you haven't been out on your bike to loosen up tight muscles and joints. Membership of <a href="http://www.thriveyoga.co.uk/">Thrive Yoga</a> is just £9 a month - join me and bring a little more yoga into your life with</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> over 40 classes varying in length and intensity to choose from.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv7IJUO93j4TMiEgA83MROSo-NaxpiQ1sl56nxrWYIeQ0p1fn0JseGLZIgSgZxEm4foAs4IfZ_aMoDaHlG6BNzcxxAJmMbvaiEhvK-WyI8TwB87jSm9NCWIv1JqQUH9SeVd8wRXF9tjye/s1600/postcyclestretches%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv7IJUO93j4TMiEgA83MROSo-NaxpiQ1sl56nxrWYIeQ0p1fn0JseGLZIgSgZxEm4foAs4IfZ_aMoDaHlG6BNzcxxAJmMbvaiEhvK-WyI8TwB87jSm9NCWIv1JqQUH9SeVd8wRXF9tjye/s320/postcyclestretches%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stretching out the wrists and the chest in this week's class</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-11985601950686982952016-09-05T13:09:00.002+01:002016-09-05T14:57:31.045+01:00Skin Food and Late Summer Fun on the Farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>52 @ 50 - no. 9 - Climbing a Tree</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although '52@50' was supposed to be for things I haven't done before, I think this counts - I haven't climbed a tree for years!! I was challenged by the friend I was with to climb this wonderful tree on a visit to Petworth House. She shinned up the tree swiftly and easily but I was a bit reticent - as you can see from the photo of my ascent. However, seeing as there were 2 small boys and my friend already up there I couldn't wimp out...Simple pleasures of being outside, being spontaneous, challenging myself and enjoying the view from a different perspective.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Going up.... slowly!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Holding on tightly!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EURbzsigdErh3VBMw9J01zqLeV1FUFtaPPFRhhxSROtgcqvIMfaj4CYl3o-t13OAmm2Yrlxnodpqqv0cpRZ9sKX0m_CagHCeA-E9X8WVQm2sMwKrOOuU5G7IotL5ruDt4AVdmKc0bK5T/s1600/tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<u style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>52 @ 50 - no.10 - Making Natural Beauty Products</b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's easy to find healthy recipes so we can cook ourselves nutritious food but, although organic skincare products are becoming more and more available to buy in the shops, making them yourself is not so common. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a recommendation I booked myself in for a 1 day course at </span><a href="http://www.trillfarm.co.uk/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Trill Farm</a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> near Axminster in Devon to learn how to make skincare products from natural ingredients. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trill Farm is a 300 acre organic farm in Devon that hosts a number of small independent enterprises who together produce a range of their own products such as salad leaves, skincare products, wool blankets, wooden products and herbal teas. The farm was bought in 2008 by Romy Fraser, the founder of Neal's Yard Remedies, and today it is a thriving mix of education centre, small businesses, b&b and charitable trust. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one-day course started in the farm's herb garden so we could pick the flowers and leaves that we would need to make our products, and then it was back to the classroom to learn how to make a simple body lotion, a toothpaste and a lip balm. This involved lots of weighing, measuring, stirring and sniffing and it really was more like cooking than chemistry.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSO0tHZH5y_7vBdO1qIP-HddIxJZt-Cb-P2q78lw4hA5jXv0kINuVmaUBc9MO8OGhBnpaYGIpqblcw8h3xZDoEQvsbd82ZdUAi0e6c5_EXXHklnEU3O3y579OVyPd6Y_14QQ5my5R_j7B/s320/herbs1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A beautiful basket of herbs</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSO0tHZH5y_7vBdO1qIP-HddIxJZt-Cb-P2q78lw4hA5jXv0kINuVmaUBc9MO8OGhBnpaYGIpqblcw8h3xZDoEQvsbd82ZdUAi0e6c5_EXXHklnEU3O3y579OVyPd6Y_14QQ5my5R_j7B/s1600/herbs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a wonderfully inspiring day in a beautiful, peaceful environment. The fact that I stayed the in the farm's b&b the night before and after the course added to the fun. There was good company with lots of lovely food too, and I'm coming back home wanting to learn more about how I can use the plants in my own garden to make more of my own lotions and potions.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ1WkYxWl5CqVmjB99USd1ShqO8qK5ZCCyaVRbavRT7xqYQGqZpa16rfABonjh-igsEhUCuVsPmp4hyphenhyphenTbYWq0rGQYitbaXNIBbtFT5jqPbDB-WczXEMlhwPO2Acjj3iYbd9VRpLD7-_aJ/s1600/trill3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ1WkYxWl5CqVmjB99USd1ShqO8qK5ZCCyaVRbavRT7xqYQGqZpa16rfABonjh-igsEhUCuVsPmp4hyphenhyphenTbYWq0rGQYitbaXNIBbtFT5jqPbDB-WczXEMlhwPO2Acjj3iYbd9VRpLD7-_aJ/s320/trill3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trill Farm</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1KbnYeFjWELfM9uEQrBpux2N1PtK9a6re8etWHLRYEGSStHGtMFdodY1YdQrw0AncxXLExsFL5XVzI00hmjC6DLKabWKDUITIogA02y87ZDGww6QnoHwtUiiXd3JCROxei6k2FJa7eXP/s1600/salad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1KbnYeFjWELfM9uEQrBpux2N1PtK9a6re8etWHLRYEGSStHGtMFdodY1YdQrw0AncxXLExsFL5XVzI00hmjC6DLKabWKDUITIogA02y87ZDGww6QnoHwtUiiXd3JCROxei6k2FJa7eXP/s320/salad1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Salad leaves growing in one of the polytunnels</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How Yoga Helps Your Skin</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As well as using natural products to help keep our skin healthy on the outside, our yoga practice can also help the skin - from the inside out. During yoga we move the body and therefore the blood, breathe deeply, bringing fresh oxygen into the body and helping to clear out waste products. The mind quietens down and the parasympathetic nervous system (often called 'rest and digest') takes over, leaving us feeling rested yet energised.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good circulation is crucial to our health because the blood needs to be flowing freely around the body to feed cells with oxygen and glucose. In the standing and sitting postures, the contraction and stretching of the muscles helps pump the blood to the heart. The inverted poses (such as shoulderstand and headstand) use gravity to improve the flow of blood to the heart (although these poses are not recommended for those with high blood pressure) and in the supine, relaxing poses, especially savasana, the muscles are relaxed and blood flows freely through the capillaries. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yoga helps improve the function of the lymphatic system too - the contraction and relaxation of the muscles improves the flow of lymph, a fluid that, on it's journey through the body, collects bacteria and delivers them to the lymph nodes to be filtered and destroyed. It's our drainage system and we need to help it flow freely so it doesn't get stagnant </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Your skin is also affected by the quality of your sleep. During sleep the body uses oxygen more efficiently. It produces less of the stress hormone cortisol, and less adrenaline and nor-adrenaline which allows constricted blood vessels to release and the blood to flow freely to rebuild the cells in your body, including skin cells. The deep breathing and relaxing postures we practice in yoga help to normalise blood pressure and quieten the busy thoughts which often prevent us from falling asleep too. A few postures just before bed will help set you up for a good night's sleep. This week's class for members of <a href="http://www.thriveyoga.co.uk/">Thrive Yoga</a> is a 25 minute Restorative Class which shows you how to make yourself a bolster to support the body, and takes you through 3 poses that will completely relax you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>This week's recipe... Asparagus and Avocado Potato Salad</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Avocado is great for your skin as it contains healthy fats, vitamins and antioxidants. This recipe from Deliciously Ella uses avocado instead of mayonnaise so it's much better for you. It's really easy to make and looks very pretty in the bowl too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1kg of new potatoes</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">150g of asparagus (chopped into small pieces)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 avocados </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5 spring onions (chopped)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10g of chives (chopped)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5g of mint (chopped)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 tablespoons of olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 lemon, juiced </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lots of salt and pepper </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Boil the potatoes until just soft. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the chopped asparagus and cook for a further one minute, then remove from the heat. Drain and leave to cool.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a food processor, blend the flesh of the avocados with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. When smooth, mix in the chopped chives, mint and spring onions.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stir the avocado mixture into the potatoes, sprinkle with the remaining spring onion and chives and serve. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note: this recipe produces a large amount - I did half-measures as I was only cooking for 3.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I didn't see a kingfisher while I was at Trill Farm, although I can imagine they do live around the peaceful ponds there, but I thought I'd share these photographs with you because they are so beautiful and are a reminder that patience and perseverance can help us reach our dreams....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>After 6 Years and 720,000 Attempts, Photographer Finally Takes Perfect Shot Of Kingfisher</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alan McFadyen, who has been an avid wildlife photographer since 2009, just captured a photo that he has spent 6 years trying to get. By his count, it took him 4,200 hours and 720,000 photos to get a perfect shot of a kingfisher diving straight into the water without a single splash.</span></div>
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“The photo I was going for of the perfect dive, flawlessly straight, with no splash required not only me to be in the right place and get a very lucky shot but also for the bird itself to get it perfect,” McFadyen told The Herald Scotland. “I would often go and take 600 pictures in a session and not a single one of them be any good. But now I look back on the thousands and thousands of photos I have taken to get this one image, it makes me realise just how much work I have done to get it.”</span></div>
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McFadyen, who also runs a wildlife photography hide business, was inspired to love nature and wildlife by his grandfather. “I remember my grandfather taking me to see the kingfisher nest and I just remember being completely blown away by how magnificent the birds are. So when I took up photography I returned to this same spot to photograph the kingfishers.”</span></div>
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“I remember my grandfather taking me to see the kingfisher nest and I just remember being completely blown away by how magnificent the birds are. I’m sure my grandfather would have loved it, I just wish he could have seen it. All of my family contacted me when they saw it and said he would have been so proud of it."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>And finally... this week's musical offering...</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fitting in with the theme of my visit to Trill Farm and offering you some accompaniement to your Savasana and restorative poses, here's a relaxing track from Rudy Adrian called Summer Fields....</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-20035038784364898762016-08-23T15:34:00.000+01:002016-08-23T15:53:28.714+01:00Life is Out There.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I shared some of my holiday photos in the last two blog posts I was aware that not everyone gets to go away on wonderful trips and that seeing mine might therefore be a little bittersweet for some. At this time of year it seems that just about everyone is going away somewhere exciting and, from all the Facebook posts, that everyone is having a fabulous time, all the time! Social media can often heighten the feeling that everyone else's life is better than our own. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our yoga practice helps to keep us grounded, reminding us to focus on the present moment rather than going off into the stories that the mind distracts us with. The teachings of yoga encourage us not to compare ourselves to others - there will always be someone else in class who can more easily do the pose we find so challenging and there will always be someone else with a newer kitchen or a more exotic holiday. We learn to have gratitude for the things we already have in our lives and we are guided towards contentment rather than feeling we should be continually happy. We learn that life is rarely completely perfect and we learn to be ok with that. We learn to look for the little things in life - many quite ordinary - which enrich our lives on a day to day basis and we learn to appreciate them. In this way, instead of </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">waiting for 50 weeks of the year for our 2 week holiday which seems to be over in a flash,</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> we can practice participating fully in life as it unfolds, 365 days a year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, if you're not going away this summer, or your holiday already seems like a distant memory, here are some smaller things you could do this week that might get you out into the sunshine and give you the holiday vibe:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Visit the Travel Photographer of the Year Exibition at Greenwich, London and appreciate the beauty of the world without leaving the country. Winners from this annual photography competition are on display at the University of Greenwich (very close to Greenwich DLR station) until 4th September - and it's free! Click <a href="http://www.tpoty.com/exhibitions/london">here</a> for more details.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are two photographs from last year's overall winner Marsel van Oosten:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefjx5ybFhsb2b62bW9J5VFiqHW8NM1eIi_UiTj0IonsH5cSXJ-CKjCrhWDSJSU5jtiT4pB8y1YT6MpKuFWwkJjvfZtTqlyuTIO7UU6qXE5KdwPlzBxJHol8AVZ7g6haGyjD_xv6sQr2Lz/s1600/tpoty2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefjx5ybFhsb2b62bW9J5VFiqHW8NM1eIi_UiTj0IonsH5cSXJ-CKjCrhWDSJSU5jtiT4pB8y1YT6MpKuFWwkJjvfZtTqlyuTIO7UU6qXE5KdwPlzBxJHol8AVZ7g6haGyjD_xv6sQr2Lz/s320/tpoty2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take a day trip. Get away on a mini-adventure to somewhere you've never been before. How about a day in Bournemouth with a <a href="https://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/offers--days-out/destination-guides/bournemouth/">ticket from Southwest Trains</a> for just £11 or a coach trip to Lymington from a new company called Road Trippers set up by one of my yoga students which will take you there and back for £22.50 <a href="http://www.road-trippers.co.uk/whats-on-this-summer/">http://www.road-trippers.co.uk/whats-on-this-summer/</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can't get to the seaside but want to swim outside in the open air? Here's a link to Time Out's <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/lidos-and-outdoor-swimming-pools-in-london">guide to the best lidos and outdoor pools</a> in London. You don't even need good weather for this one - swimming outside in the rain is a lovely experience and means that the crowds will stay at home.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just sit outside in the garden and read a book. As a gardener, I have a tendency to sit down with the intention to relax and immediately pop back up again to do some deadheading/propping up/weeding jobs I have spotted! This week I'm going to find some time to just sit and read. If you haven't got a good book at the moment, check out this list of <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/the-10-hottest-summer-beach-reads-of-2016/">Top 10 Summer Beach Reads</a> from the Telegraph.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Feeling a little flat after the Olympics have finished? I know I am missing the inspiration and enthusiasm from our amazing athletes and all the fabulous tv coverage. But you could go and get a little bit of a Rio fix at the Notting Hill Carnival. Europe's biggest street party with all its colour, costumes, music and dancing takes place this weekend on Sunday 28th and Bank Holiday Monday 29th. Click <a href="http://www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/">here</a> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">for more details if you want in on the fun. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pack up a picnic and head out to one of <a href="http://www.visitsurrey.com/ideas-and-inspiration/top-10-ideas/top-10-picnic-spots">Surrey's top 10 picnic spots</a> according to the Visit Surrey website, or get hold of an ordnance survey map and explore some footpaths and bridleways near to you that you've never been down before.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Talking of picnics, this recipe would be perfect to pack in a tupperware for an al-fresco lunch...</span><br />
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<img alt="" class="lightbox-content" src="" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b> Green Bean Salad with Walnuts & Coriander</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This recipe comes from Tibits, one of my favourite vegetarian restaurants which is situated just off Regent Street in London. It's tucked away down a little alley called Heddon Street which means it's not quite so busy and on a fine day sitting at their outdoor tables feels very continental. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whenever I go I look for their green bean and walnut salad and, as it's a self-serve restaurant, I make sure to take a big spoonful as it's so tasty. Tibits' recipe uses dried beans but I thought I'd try it with fresh ones as they are so easy to come by. It worked just fine....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">150g of fresh green beans (or use dried beans if you can get them)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">half an onion chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 clove of garlic, crushed</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 teaspoons vegetable bouillon</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">splash balsamic vinegar</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fresh coriander, chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">handful of walnut pieces</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">optional goats' cheese to crumble on top</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how to make it:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cook the beans in boiling water with 1 teaspoon of bouillon until they are soft.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drain and allow to cool.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gently fry the onions and garlic in the olive oil and remove from the heat.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mix the remaining teaspoon of bouillon, the balsamic vinegar, walnuts and chopped corriander into the beans, onion and garlic.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve with some goats cheese crumbled on top.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'd like to share with you one of my favourite poems by one of my favourite poets. You may already have heard of the contemporary American poet Mary Oliver but, if you haven't, do look out for her work. She writes about her connection with nature. About love and loss and solitude. And it's all beautiful.</span><br />
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The Summer Day</b></u></span></div>
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<pre><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean -
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down,
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?</span></pre>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">—Mary Oliver</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, some more singing with Bobby McFerrin ..... brilliant! </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-406922872902729042016-08-10T12:03:00.000+01:002016-08-10T12:13:07.689+01:00Look Up, Look Down for a Different View of the World - part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my last blog post I wrote about how holidays help us to notice our surroundings more and that the unfamiliar sights such as beautiful views, sunsets and different flora and fauna present us with feelings of awe and wonder that are often missing from our daily routine. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although we use the words 'awesome' and 'wonderful' often as we speak, awe and wonder in their truest sense are more rarely experienced. To me the word 'awe' brings to mind things on a grand, majestic scale. Things that make my jaw drop open, things I cannot begin to understand and am content not to even try to, a deep respect for the power of whatever it is I am looking at. So often these things are connected with the natural world - watching a storm, standing at the top of a mountain, seeing pictures of a nebula, super-nova or other cosmic events. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The word 'wonder' seems to me to be a softer word - there is less jaw-drop and more contented smile, less of the slight frisson of fear of power and more heartfelt warmth. Think holding a newborn baby, seeing baby birds take their first flight or watching a sunset.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look out for these occurrences of awe and wonder in your life. They are there, alongside the daily routine, if we choose to see them. I'm in awe of the many physical feats of endurance at the Olympics at the moment, and I'm sure I'll experience it again when I watch the determination of the athletes at the Paralympics next month, and I'll experience wonder the very next time I step into my garden and pick some flowers. Where will you find awe and wonder waiting for you?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continuing my series of doing things I've never done before in my 50th year...</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52 @ 50 no. 8 - Whale Watching</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've always wanted to do this! I have an early memory of standing under the skeleton and model of the blue whale in the Natural History museum and wanting to see a real one, and on my recent trip I was able to fulfill this wish.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monterey in California is the perfect place to see whales. Close to the shore the sea bed drops away to form a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon. It's nutrient-rich waters are teeming with krill which in turn support many types of whale as they migrate along the coast. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our boat trip lasted for two and a half hours and, although the cloudy weather made for a smoother passage, it was really cold despite our extra layers of warm clothes. Our discomfort was worth it when, about half an hour out to sea our guide pointed out our first whale. Initially spotted by it's blow - the spout of air and water vapour that is expelled through the blowhole as the whale reaches the surface - this is shortly followed by a view of the fin as the whale starts to dive down again. Blue whales have a tiny fin and do not lift their tail (fluke) out of the water as they dive. Therefore, you can't actually see much of them above the surface but, when they come close to the boat, you can get a sense of just how enormous they are. The humpback whales lift their tail as they dive back down and although I didn't take many photos I did manage to get this one:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woo hoo! It was awesome! Really, it was!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52 @ 50 no. 9 - Hiking in Yosemite - Face to Face with Awe and Wonder</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I bought a magazine to read on the plane on the way to the US. It's not your usual WHSmith magazine - it's an independent publication that I found in a shop in Covent Garden. Its colourful cover and its name, Flow, caught my eye as I'm attracted to anything to do with the concept of 'flow' - how life travels along, sometimes smoothly and at an even pace and sometimes tumultuously and over the rocks. The first article I read was entitled 24 Hours of Nature and it was about going on a Muir Trek in the Netherlands. Apparently a 'Muir Trek' is a day of wandering through nature, from sunrise to sundown, with no plan, no telephone and no watch.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This paragraph from the article explains its origins:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John Muir (1838-1914) was a Scottish-born American naturalist, writer and environmentalist. He walked alone through the great outdoors, driven by enormous curiosity. He didn't think twice about going into the woods, especially in storms with thunder and lightning, and watching the forces of nature from the top of a tree. Muir also loved small patches of nature, like his backyard, and he was convinced that a person could find peace and inspiration in nature. He was one of the first to actively plead for preservation of the natural areas in the American wilderness. His letters, books and essays about nature are read by an international audience of millions.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He wrote:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storms and avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Synchronicity was in play when we arrived at Yosemite National Park and found that the John Muir Trail (200+ miles of wilderness trek ending at Mt Whitney, the US's highest peak) starts right there. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our visit to Yosemite was, indeed, awesome. Huge granite cliffs rise from the valley floor, and waterfalls drop back down again. Lush meadows in the valley and easy trails make a good place to start exploring the area before hiking up the many steeper paths to one of the viewpoints which offer glorious panoramas. From Sentinel Rock, at 2,145m (7,038ft) you have a 360 degree, truly awesome view. It's a great place to do a headstand!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The excitement of seeing a bobcat calmly trotting past our cabin, and a deer with twin fawns who visited to graze in the morning and the evening, added to the sense of wonder I felt in this place and I would love to return there one day to explore it further.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upside down on top of the world</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hiking the trail</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evening visitors</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain warriors</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tree with a tree</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where in the world are you visiting this summer? If you get a chance when you do your yoga practice on holiday, please take a photo and send it to me to share and inspire others to practice wherever they are. Mat or no mat, yoga kit or no yoga kit, the practice is still the same and so are the benefits to mind, body and spirit. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacqui, steady as a rock in Warrior 2 pose</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we do our yoga we are taking care of ourselves in many ways. But self-care goes further than committing to a regular yoga practice. We all know that our lifestyle choices, such as the food we eat, what we drink, how much sleep we get, etc., play a part in how healthy we are now and will be in the future. At the forefront of new research is the health of the gut, and pro-biotic foods which help to increase the good bacteria in the gut such as saurkraut, kombucha and kefir are becoming more widely available.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This article from the Guardian makes for interesting reading and offers some new views about familiar illnesses and weight gain. It's definitely food for thought....</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is Your Gut Making You Sick?</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by Ann Robinson via The Guardian</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A gut full of diverse microbes – bacteria, viruses and fungi – is essential for a healthy mind and body. And evidence is growing that our modern diet, overuse of antibiotics and obsession with cleanliness are damaging the diversity of microbes that live in our guts, contributing to a range of conditions including depression, multiple sclerosis, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Microbes live in our guts, bodily fluids, cavities and skin. For every one of our human cells, there’s at least one of them. In an average adult, they weigh in at 1-2kg; similar to our brain. Collectively, they’re called the human microbiota and their genes are the microbiome. Only a few microbes cause disease; most are beneficial and live in peaceful symbiotic coexistence in and on our bodies. We need them and they need us. And if our microbes aren’t healthy, neither are we.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Microbiome and the diet</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A healthy microbiome protects against obesity, allergies and diseases as bacteria break down food in the colon, providing energy for themselves and useful byproducts for us. These byproducts are essential components of chemicals that affect mood, appetite, metabolism, inflammation and the immune system. Professor Tim Spector of King’s College London says that variations in the gut microbiome explain, in large part, why our kids are getting fatter and why some individuals gain more weight than others on the same diet. There is no good evidence that we consume more calories or do much less than previous generations, yet people around the world are getting fatter, and Spector says that, while genetics play a part, so does the diversity and types of microbes in the gut.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The gut microbiome is mostly influenced by diet and environment. Babies get their first exposure to bacteria that colonise their guts as they travel down the birth canal. Babies born by caesarean section, as at least a quarter are in the UK, appear to be more prone to obesity. Spector explains that a good diet is a diverse one, with a range of fibre and vegetables including artichokes, leeks, onions and garlic. Polyphenols, found in foods including nuts, seeds, coffee, dark chocolate, red wine, olive oil and berries, are used by microbes as an energy source, with beneficial effects on human immune cells. Foods that nourish the microbiome are called prebiotics, and foods that contain the actual microbes, such as yoghurt and fermented milk called kefir, are called probiotics. Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi and miso, are combinations of probiotics and prebiotics, known as synbiotics.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inflammatory arthritis</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An international consortium of scientists is studying faecal samples from people with inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Bacterial groups that seem to be increased can be isolated and introduced to rodents, triggering the development of arthritis in previously healthy animals. Professor Michael Dustin of the University of Oxford says that the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis is associated with genetic predisposition and environmental factors. “But it’s much easier to modify your microbiota than change your genes,” he says. Tests for rheumatoid arthritis can prove positive several years before symptoms appear, so there’s a window of opportunity to try to stave off the onset of the condition. Using that time to establish a more protective microbiota is one approach being studied. Dustin says that we still don’t know whether dietary changes are enough or whether more radical procedures (such as faecal transplants) are necessary.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Diarrhoea</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Changes in the gut microbiome can be very dangerous; people treated with prolonged courses of antibiotics that kill a wide spectrum of bacteria can develop life-threatening diarrhoea due to an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile. Faecal transplants (infusions of donor faeces down a nasal tube or up the rectum into the gut) are used to treat these extremely unwell patients, proving that disruption of the gut microbiome can cause serious illness and restoring it to normal can cure the problem.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Multiple sclerosis</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About 100,000 people in the UK live with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological condition that can cause problems with vision, balance, sensation and movement. Researchers have found specific changes in the microbiome of people with MS that appear to be linked to changes in their immune function. And drug treatment of MS has also been shown to impact on the gut microbiome. Dr David Schley of the MS Society says: “The link between MS and the bacteria living in our intestines is an exciting area of research. Recent studies in mice have indicated that intestinal microbes could influence symptoms. While this early evidence is intriguing, we need to learn more before we can make recommendations over whether people with MS should make changes to their lifestyle or diet.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Depression</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the World Health Organisation, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. So, there is a lot of interest in the role of the gut microbiome in preventing and treating it. Professor John Cryan of University College Cork says: “We now know that good brain health depends on good gut health. The gut microbiome affects every aspect of brain functioning and human behaviour.” Studies have shown that rats with high levels of bifidobacteria in the gut withstand psychological stress better than those with low levels. And it appears that humans do, too; recent human studies from the Cork group in healthy volunteers show increased brain activity (measured by EEG) and reduced levels of stress (measured by rating scales of anxiety and chemicals in the blood, such as cortisol, that rise in response to stress) when people are given demanding tasks to perform.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“We know that the more diverse your microbiome, the less likely you are to be frail or have cognitive impairment. And a diverse diet is what drives a diverse microbiome,” says Cryan. Microbes from the guts of depressed people have been fed to healthy rats, which then develop depression and anxiety-like behaviours. Other healthy rats, fed microbes from the guts of people without depression, remain well.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“It’s an exciting area but we need to find out just how gut bacteria send signals to the brain,” says Cryan. “There’s no downside to recommending a diverse Mediterranean-style diet that includes lots of fibre and cuts down on emulsifiers, processed foods and artificial sweeteners.” Probiotics sold commercially are largely unregulated, are of unknown effectiveness and may not reach the colon alive. “We can’t even be sure a lot of them get past the stomach acid,” he says. But Cryan thinks that within the next five years we will learn a lot more about which specific bacteria are important and we will be able to test our personal microbiota and supplement deficiencies. “It’ll become like getting your cholesterol checked,” he predicts.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's recipe... Watercress Soup</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This soup (from Jamie Oliver) is so easy and very healthy too - it is rich in Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron and Folic Acid. It's like a hot green juice! Here's the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/diet/3337922/Super-foods-watercress.html">link</a> to some nutritional information if you'd like to know more about the benefits of watercress.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 potatoes</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 onions</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 cloves of garlic</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a little olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">400ml stock (I use Marigold Vegetable Bouillon available at most large supermarkets)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 bunches of watercress</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's how to make it:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peel and chop the potatoes into chunks. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chop the onion and garlic and fry them all gently in the olive oil in a large saucepan until the onions are translucent.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the stock and simmer until the potatoes are soft (about 15 mins).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chop the watercress, removing any really large stems. Add to the saucepan and simmer gently for another 3 or 4 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When cool enough to do so, blend the soup in a liquidiser ( I use my Nutribullet smoothie-maker which does a brilliant job on blending soups).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add back to the saucepan to reheat gently for a couple of minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve with a swirl of Greek yoghurt or creme fraiche.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The recipe says it serves 2-3 but I needed it to feed 4. It makes a thick soup so I diluted it with more water to thin it a little and make it go further - it worked just fine.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlqC9ybd5nOo-lEpgb7h4qZVV5UPnVmwTdw-7277ARwU2lkKjpi5uix2YS4JiWmkoqipoPYwSgnVoJAHuaM4BlhfdzGxCTtw3E7avcXY1xnoWv0caciE_oTPoGFcF8RRLp0cq8x3qRZE7/s1600/soup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlqC9ybd5nOo-lEpgb7h4qZVV5UPnVmwTdw-7277ARwU2lkKjpi5uix2YS4JiWmkoqipoPYwSgnVoJAHuaM4BlhfdzGxCTtw3E7avcXY1xnoWv0caciE_oTPoGFcF8RRLp0cq8x3qRZE7/s320/soup2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally....a book recommendation</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Uplifted by my time hiking in the mountains, I dug out my copy of Wild by Cheryl Strayed and started reading it again for the second time. Its Cheryl's story about losing everything, and making an impulsive decision to hike 1100 miles through California and Oregon on her own. The book cover says "Strayed's account captures the agonies - both physical and mental - of her incredible journey; how it maddened and terrified her; and how, ultimately, it healed her. Wild is a brutal memoir of survival, grief and redemption - a searing portrayal of life at its lowest ebb and at its highest tide." If you're looking for something to read this summer I recommend it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ps. did I mention I loved the sea otters? Here's a cute picture - not one I took but sharing anyway.....</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-81665318955866737092016-07-24T17:05:00.000+01:002016-07-24T17:09:43.962+01:00Look Up and Look Down For A Different View of the World - Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greetings from San Francisco! We've been in California for a week and a half now, driving from Los Angeles up the coast on Highway 1, pausing here for a few days before we travel on to Yosemite National Park. It has been a week of contrasts: from sunshine and blue skies in LA to chilly cloud and fog in San Francisco, and the ocean and beautiful beaches to the left, with sun scorched hills to the right. There's so much to see everywhere I look and many, many things I've never seen before - it's been new experiences all the way.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">52 @ 50 no. 7 - Running Over Golden Gate Bridge</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well that was an early morning run with a difference! San Francisco is often cold and cloudy in the mornings and long-sleeved tops were required. Gideon (hubbie) and I ran around the coastal path and then over Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County, pausing at the viewpoint to look across the Bay before crossing back to the City and adding on a few more kilometers in Presidio Park to finish the run. The towers of the bridge were covered in cloud and looking out to sea there was hardly any visibility at all. The other way, looking inland, was clear and there was a great view of the city. It would have been really easy to stay in bed but I'm so glad I didn't - running across the Golden Gate Bridge was a real experience.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfioSbQsT6GbaPzv1UletjD5y3I5p_lcwIVzfQ5IYZmeHBpPSXhQMAaV6vfsv_5pK_lQ6gei6EmwfkMVQk17eV_52qdb43Niqe7OnigtMUVMWN3k4SGscRu7CT-rLQpYxL5SUVsfl5-Ehg/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfioSbQsT6GbaPzv1UletjD5y3I5p_lcwIVzfQ5IYZmeHBpPSXhQMAaV6vfsv_5pK_lQ6gei6EmwfkMVQk17eV_52qdb43Niqe7OnigtMUVMWN3k4SGscRu7CT-rLQpYxL5SUVsfl5-Ehg/s320/IMG_1982.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look Up and Look Down</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's easy to get stuck on "autopilot" in our everyday lives. Through necessity we go through our routines in order to make the most efficient use of our time and get things done. We have rituals in yoga too - clearing a space in our day to practice, clearing a space literally to unroll the mat, the flow of Sun Salutations and pausing at the beginning and the end for centering are all sequences that we repeat regularly. They are soothing and reassuring and help the busy mind to quieten down. But sometimes our routines can feel more like drudgery - the laundry, the commute, work itself - and life can feel a bit dull and uninteresting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yoga, meditation and mindfulness remind us to to be present and notice what's around us. To stay curious and interested in life and not to lose the 'joie de vivre'. It's easy to do this when we are on holiday - there are brand new views, time to sit and relax, and no chores to do - but how to bring this into everyday life? We can do it by paying attention, by looking more closely at familiar things, by looking up at the clouds, the changing light, the stars, and the vastness of the sky above us and by looking down at the earth too, noticing the things that live and grow upon it, noticing the landscapes and how they change with the seasons. In this way we don't take the little things for granted, we appreciate it all. We learn to make a conscious choice of where we place our awareness - on the breath or a mantra in our meditation practice, on the person who is talking to us, on the food we are preparing for our meals, on the natural world outside our front doors,... In this way we become less caught up in the stream of random thoughts that constantly pass through our minds and more deliberate about directing our attention to real life which is unfolding in front of us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some of my holiday photos so far. There are so many things to look at, so much to take in ....</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking Up</span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp7pxNz9yGTwy9GYg04QYKDFcHrtFzv4mlf4L2i-ogrFs0mHtowb7axyVu5AuJf4NWueOVmZkR56T2vhs_hh4IT1_Tc-c-YD274_NCJUJVlQ1aQdFIizE3MjXrW2GKz8kGAZCdex0bvAf/s1600/IMG_3632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp7pxNz9yGTwy9GYg04QYKDFcHrtFzv4mlf4L2i-ogrFs0mHtowb7axyVu5AuJf4NWueOVmZkR56T2vhs_hh4IT1_Tc-c-YD274_NCJUJVlQ1aQdFIizE3MjXrW2GKz8kGAZCdex0bvAf/s320/IMG_3632.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The moon and a palm tree just after sunset</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp81MlhxY56thfGZj3IDKwlI5C5xgJstwlR8-hHRtnLfXzt0LnGRyJ7rNQaY-PGJnf2d8xEJOyuLHsu3p3v9CoRp59BKs4C4ToaOW2xgP80aTqvSKa0QgQfieVhB4s_1fXKwfrb8FxWkqk/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp81MlhxY56thfGZj3IDKwlI5C5xgJstwlR8-hHRtnLfXzt0LnGRyJ7rNQaY-PGJnf2d8xEJOyuLHsu3p3v9CoRp59BKs4C4ToaOW2xgP80aTqvSKa0QgQfieVhB4s_1fXKwfrb8FxWkqk/s320/IMG_3658.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Los Angeles roof structure</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking up at an Abutilon flower</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbyQISkq_tQcYCDEZKTZPr1Xj_jkHM4oZ4zEgIbsU8yysJ_HlEBebCyybKtCAGS6qYr2P85J4OuMxeThhE9A5_rqct9PrSNTQJDg5VW00v0QELpHm2p3KpeTtcZl92UgFcoSe4djZFuqf/s1600/IMG_3696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbyQISkq_tQcYCDEZKTZPr1Xj_jkHM4oZ4zEgIbsU8yysJ_HlEBebCyybKtCAGS6qYr2P85J4OuMxeThhE9A5_rqct9PrSNTQJDg5VW00v0QELpHm2p3KpeTtcZl92UgFcoSe4djZFuqf/s320/IMG_3696.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My view in Shoulderstand</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9uecMbsrbaGesqykpRfCXCl4HjnqIKNf_6su9W-fO-HPPqnPIUbbjP48rBEs9_Pb7uhhhoycY2I_YcxT7mvhQRCUmfkEICNxBE8fUvJD1Exzdngcm050B5NfBmod9AK2hRONTw_8eCKL/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9uecMbsrbaGesqykpRfCXCl4HjnqIKNf_6su9W-fO-HPPqnPIUbbjP48rBEs9_Pb7uhhhoycY2I_YcxT7mvhQRCUmfkEICNxBE8fUvJD1Exzdngcm050B5NfBmod9AK2hRONTw_8eCKL/s320/IMG_3646.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Interesting architectural design at </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look Down</span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMjOY86-12aAYB4IERWBXFL-4-0CBLgeknL9HNtlZqfZW_Iok3PZ_h-QWjMOnYCexBAC9j4Q1DF2f4_o_D9pnpvD_cqtQM5q-XdrpPeRrzb4qSCRnlIQrxnrDIWcnhccYwX-XP7KfkG_k/s1600/IMG_3668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMjOY86-12aAYB4IERWBXFL-4-0CBLgeknL9HNtlZqfZW_Iok3PZ_h-QWjMOnYCexBAC9j4Q1DF2f4_o_D9pnpvD_cqtQM5q-XdrpPeRrzb4qSCRnlIQrxnrDIWcnhccYwX-XP7KfkG_k/s320/IMG_3668.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking down on Hollywood Boulevard </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10ZakL1XNnwLWx-XKFwCxzgc06gW4MJYugx9SfL7px8-Kr3hdA8udTEHvR3L1J7l018cG0POFWiATqvMJj64wkkkmwpmqQp4uaWhtJ25ax0m4MSdJFty-mc-ObG4MoG2Npch9ZPrRuOsX/s1600/IMG_3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10ZakL1XNnwLWx-XKFwCxzgc06gW4MJYugx9SfL7px8-Kr3hdA8udTEHvR3L1J7l018cG0POFWiATqvMJj64wkkkmwpmqQp4uaWhtJ25ax0m4MSdJFty-mc-ObG4MoG2Npch9ZPrRuOsX/s320/IMG_3881.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jellyfish at Monterey Aquarium (completely mesmerising and very </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">relaxing to watch - this could be a stress relief therapy ...)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-pRuhjOS8tCeBBe04ukLWZmxIO758xMDaT9acY4fDlh0OXfqWZIzaUwzWQo79zb5qXp0puqrfOGKiNtiJ7kG9xQueYpTEUqjrwp3kwZEYVt2iDK7yRLPOwerA4evoyNHKnDztzg-aXB0/s1600/IMG_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-pRuhjOS8tCeBBe04ukLWZmxIO758xMDaT9acY4fDlh0OXfqWZIzaUwzWQo79zb5qXp0puqrfOGKiNtiJ7kG9xQueYpTEUqjrwp3kwZEYVt2iDK7yRLPOwerA4evoyNHKnDztzg-aXB0/s320/IMG_3816.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking down on the very top of a conifer tree </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(I was standing on a flight of stairs)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmXSzkdTSYjASqwxyZFUcdKKq70MlQh1qwxXoh8ZBMOm7KeG52CVcxxJ7wYibFW2QEYRNCm-cJQ0aljJpXLDeOWhdQKzaz-DSQPoa07xHLh8PxHcq9bgYCANzurdcfr08TwtOkC_uXa-l/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmXSzkdTSYjASqwxyZFUcdKKq70MlQh1qwxXoh8ZBMOm7KeG52CVcxxJ7wYibFW2QEYRNCm-cJQ0aljJpXLDeOWhdQKzaz-DSQPoa07xHLh8PxHcq9bgYCANzurdcfr08TwtOkC_uXa-l/s320/IMG_3790.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking down into the centre of a flower.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> - it looks like a Protea but I'm not sure... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLFHO60EacJo9dImVZ2JaiQRJedxgky8G-bA_Q7K7gfRoqBPleINpSeH8W9rwvoloKU5K7TS6ZrXNzseVofw-HWQ8ZdcmBn9sWzgDwWg1TvgggZuS1s8WNRhSIwWqPXxIDsMmH9lmfi4F/s1600/IMG_4039+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLFHO60EacJo9dImVZ2JaiQRJedxgky8G-bA_Q7K7gfRoqBPleINpSeH8W9rwvoloKU5K7TS6ZrXNzseVofw-HWQ8ZdcmBn9sWzgDwWg1TvgggZuS1s8WNRhSIwWqPXxIDsMmH9lmfi4F/s320/IMG_4039+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="text-align: center;">A different view of the world in Handstand </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;">- by Golden Gate Bridge</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I invite you now to look at your surroundings, wherever you are, a little more closely. What do you see? What do you notice? Look up - what is above you? And look down too and take this moment to change your perspective.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we are looking up and down, whether on or off the mat, it pays to take care of your neck. It's a delicate structure and the health of it is precious. Here's a great article which explains the muscles of the neck and how to keep it safe as you do your yoga:</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Save Your Neck: Practice Wisely to Prevent Pain</span></u></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Julie Gudmestad via Yoga Journal</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Judging from the complaints of my physical therapy clients, chronic neck tension is a modern American epidemic. Even the more benign consequences—the painful crick in your neck, the dull headache radiating from the back of your skull—can be mighty annoying. The more serious ones, like pinched nerves, arthritis, and damaged discs, can be debilitating.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, yoga can do wonders for neck problems while simultaneously teaching safer, healthier posture habits. But some of the poses that can help you, like Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), can also do harm if performed incorrectly. It’s important to approach them with knowledge of proper alignment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s take a look at the muscles of the back of the neck. Why do they cause so much trouble, and how can we use yoga to help them function better? The primary muscles of the back of the neck are the levator scapulae, which extend from the cervical (neck) vertebrae to each inner upper scapula (shoulder blade). Lying on top of the levators and also inserting on the shoulder blades are the upper trapezius muscles, which originate on the base of the skull and the neck vertebrae. Together, these muscles lift the scapula and backbend the neck. The levators and trapezius muscles also help to turn the head and sidebend the neck.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The stress of a busy lifestyle with deadlines, difficult people, and lack of sleep certainly tightens neck and jaw muscles. A forward head posture is also a factor for many people. An average head weighs 12 to 15 pounds; when that weight sits forward of the central line of the spine, the muscles on the back of the neck have to work very hard to hold the head up against the pull of gravity.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether due to stress or poor head-neck alignment, chronic tightness in the levator scapulae and the upper trapezius can lead to significant neck pain. As the muscles pull down on the base of the skull and upper neck, they also pull up on the scapula. All this adds up to compression on the cervical vertebra. Such tightness and compression can lead to arthritis, cause nerve pressure that makes pain radiate down the arm, and increase the likelihood of neck muscle injuries.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Do No Harm On the Mat</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just as in medicine, a key rule in hatha yoga is “First, do no harm.” It’s crucial to avoid common yoga mistakes that can result in neck injury. If you come to yoga after years of neck tension, the muscles at the back of your neck will probably be quite short and tight, limiting your ability to bring your head toward your chest. Since you need a great deal of this neck flexion to do Shoulderstand, forcing a tight neck into the pose can strain the muscles and ligaments. Even worse, forced flexion can cause cervical vertebrae discs to bulge or herniate, serious injuries that may take many months to heal.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many people habitually tighten their neck and shoulder muscles when they concentrate, and it’s easy to carry that habit over into yoga. This can be especially true in backbends. Students tend to overcontract the neck, sticking the chin out and up and compressing the back of the neck. This action can result in anunpleasant headache after backbends such as Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), Salabhasana (Locust), and Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward-Facing Bow). Fortunately, one backbend actually lengthens the back of the neck. Doing Bridge Pose supported on bolsters for a few minutes three or four times a week can help prepare you for Shoulderstand.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Decompress Your Neck</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s helpful to learn how to relax, lengthen, and decompress your neck before you try to do it in a pose. Here’s a simple exercise to prepare you for keeping your shoulders down and neck relaxed in yoga poses. Hold an object weighing one to two pounds in each hand, letting the weight of the objects pull the shoulder blades down. Make sure that you keep the breastbone lifting up so that the tops of the shoulders don’t pull down and forward, collapsing the chest. Now set the objects down and see if you can find the muscles you need to pull your shoulder blades down just as the weights did.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These muscles are called the lower trapezius. They attach to the vertebrae of the midback and insert on the inner border of the shoulder blades. They are the antagonist muscles to the upper trapezius—in other words, they perform the opposite action—and are very important posture muscles, helping support the spine in the midback. Unfortunately, when the lower traps are too weak to counteract the pull of the stronger and tighter upper traps, the scapulae will tend to ride up, compressing your neck.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now let’s take these lessons and apply them in an asana. Stand with your legs ready for Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II). Lift your breastbone up and pull the scapula down: This action requires release and lengthening in the upper traps and contraction and firmness in the lower traps. Next, lift your arms out to the sides to shoulder height, turning your palms up. Feel how turning the palms up helps bring the shoulders down and activates the lower traps. Keeping that action and position of the shoulder blades, turn the palms back down; you now have the correct shoulder and arm position for Warrior II and many of the other standing poses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is also important to incorporate this action into Headstand, so that you can protect your neck from compression. When you’re upside down, gravity pulls the shoulders toward the ears, so you need extra awareness and strength in the lower traps. While in Headstand, have a helper put a finger on each shoulder blade at the base of the neck and gently draw the fingers away from the floor, lifting your scapulae toward your hips. At first you may get disoriented while upside down, but once you’ve felt the proper direction of lift, you should find it easier to engage your lower traps.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before you begin working on Headstand, you should probably spend at least several months working on a variety of other poses to strengthen your back and neck muscles and improve the alignment of your spine. It’s also a good idea to be strong in all of the arm and shoulder muscles before trying Headstand. The small cervical vertebrae are designed to support only the weight of the head, but when we do Headstand, they are supporting nearly the full weight of your body. Unless you have developed enough strength in the arm and shoulder muscles to take a little of the weight off your head and to balance the body if it shifts around slightly in Headstand, you can injure your neck. Work often on Downward-Facing Dog and Handstand to build the strength and endurance that will help prepare you for a safer Headstand.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One final thought about Headstand: A normally curved neck will bear the weight of Headstand much more easily and safely than an overly curved or overly flattened neck. To check your own neck curve, stand in front of a mirror. With a normal curve, your chin should be level and you should be looking into your own eyes in the mirror. Put several fingers of one hand across the back of the neck. The tissues there should feel soft, and the neck should curve slightly forward. Now drop your chin and feel how the tissues become hard and the curve flattens. Then lift the chin and feel how the back of the neck compresses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Headstand, if your head contacts the floor toward the forehead, your neck curve increases and the back of the neck compresses. If your contact point is toward the back of the head, your neck flattens. When you do Headstand, make sure you are centered on the very middle of your head. Look in a mirror while you’re in Headstand—or have a teacher look at you—and make sure that your eyes look straight ahead, your neck curve is normal, and the back of your neck is soft.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Practicing yoga poses with conscious awareness of your head, neck, and shoulder alignment will help you gradually break the habit of chronic neck tension. The benefits to your health and well-being will be many—and you probably won’t be seeking an appointment with me for a yoga-related neck injury.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-81022752608513558042016-07-04T14:56:00.000+01:002016-07-04T14:56:21.248+01:00Breath-taking Views and Life-Giving Breath<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>52 @ 50 no. 6 - The Monument</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continuing my series of explorations of things I've never done before, this week I visited The Monument in the City of London. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>A Place for Quiet Contemplation in the Middle of London</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inner Space, 36 Shorts Gardens, Covent Garden WC2H 9AB</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Quiet Room (plays nice music too)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>This Week's Recipe.... Chickpea and Squash Salad</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need: </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">120g butternut squash</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon paprika</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Salt and pepper</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">80g chickpeas, drained and rinsed</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/2</span> teaspoon chilli powder</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Large handful of rocket</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">40g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the dressing: </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">half a tablespoon apple cider vinegar</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">half a teaspoon turmeric</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon honey</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf85AjSMnCnwMa0MnjSM-BLcFg1Fb0vtXGkTufwKvOTbI2XzLjsTBnW6YcN3QO1wDweq17ngRdScmge6WcHXtGF_IH-x3e8QJVxwPmBeM0mOvCvPNcuT_jQadzWXr_yn0ulM9qFVrL3J9/s1600/squash2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf85AjSMnCnwMa0MnjSM-BLcFg1Fb0vtXGkTufwKvOTbI2XzLjsTBnW6YcN3QO1wDweq17ngRdScmge6WcHXtGF_IH-x3e8QJVxwPmBeM0mOvCvPNcuT_jQadzWXr_yn0ulM9qFVrL3J9/s320/squash2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas mark 7. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peel the squash, then cut it into small, bite size pieces. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mix together all the dressing ingredients and season with a little salt and lots of pepper.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Your Questions Answered.... Why Do We Breathe Through The Nose In Yoga?</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although exhaling through the mouth can help to release tension in the shoulders, jaw and tongue, breathing through the nose has many more benefits:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />- The nasal cavity is lined with tiny hairs which help to filter dust and allergens from the air.<br /><br />- The nose is lined with mucous membrane which captures germs, and prevents them from being taken into the body. <br /><br />- Breathing through the nostrils warms the air before it is taken into the lungs.<br /><br />- 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.<br /><br />- 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. <br /><br />- 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.<br /><br />- 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.<br /><br />- 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' ;-)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHL6S9aYh2DfioRPaWjJZyo-UsKmlyuMy5Sqprl0szJimGi4ia6PWUvJolvxTSGjb6FTOoY2Wp78aEtdO7D-hd8wAprMQWl4Kb3H1Ii2d7KxKUfQxxwtrIsxSrlUlub86ooFifgRY3ieP/s1600/breathe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHL6S9aYh2DfioRPaWjJZyo-UsKmlyuMy5Sqprl0szJimGi4ia6PWUvJolvxTSGjb6FTOoY2Wp78aEtdO7D-hd8wAprMQWl4Kb3H1Ii2d7KxKUfQxxwtrIsxSrlUlub86ooFifgRY3ieP/s320/breathe.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>This Week's Musical Offering.... Karuna by Stellamara</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>This Week's Video.....</b></u> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">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 :-)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-33280005181711765942016-06-24T11:19:00.000+01:002016-06-24T11:20:44.811+01:00Fennel, and Fitness As We Age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>52 @ 50 - no. 5 - Fennel for the First Time!</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 52 new things I'm doing in my 50th year don't need to be adrenaline-fuelled challenges, I'm quite happy with them being more gentle explorations into what life has to offer...so this week I'm eating Fennel for the first time!! Am I the only one who has never tried it?? I don't know exactly why I haven't - possibly it's the smell? It's very aniseed-y, like liquorice, which I don't dislike but don't really want with my dinner. But I had it on good authority that when it's cooked the flavour is much softer and is really delicious! As I'm aiming to be particularly open-minded this year I couldn't really refuse to give it a go.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been in this scenario before. When I was a child I allowed my mind to decide what I did or didn't like rather than basing my decision on trying things to see if I actually liked them. And more recently when I had thought for about 40 years of my life that I didn't like olives, went to a tapas bar in Barcelona and lo and behold discovered that I love them! What else am I missing out on? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, fennel duly bought from Waitrose and other ingredients gathered, I made Roasted Fennel with Parmesan for dinner tonight. And..... I liked it! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's the very easy recipe I used:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Roasted Fennel with Parmesan</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fennel bulb</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Salt, pepper</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Balsamic Vinegar</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parmesan cheese </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvc8c6c-d_GGsuabJB3_ECgyUR-Ls6_MRSx4vrbbRnz_9x73mgdL4Urn_TCCI3vPxDcQegsEMrpTwDzJfHqtzjcQ10s8a9OsH3t8ZBT39e8NgTCnkwDBb-D2qsdcxvr3AKsdW8zXMnj0_/s1600/fennel1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvc8c6c-d_GGsuabJB3_ECgyUR-Ls6_MRSx4vrbbRnz_9x73mgdL4Urn_TCCI3vPxDcQegsEMrpTwDzJfHqtzjcQ10s8a9OsH3t8ZBT39e8NgTCnkwDBb-D2qsdcxvr3AKsdW8zXMnj0_/s320/fennel1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how to make it:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cut the fennel in half from top to bottom, then into quarters, then divide again.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Place the sections in a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and a splash of Balsamic Vinegar</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Roast in the oven at 180 degrees (gas mark 4) for about 30-40 minutes until soft and starting to caramelise.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remove from the oven and grate Parmesan over the top.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve as a side dish or as part of a warm salad.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qwxE5_qgtUhuzsmhRwdjvZKHlo2JBMXKO2PFL13_8p14kZDBn8mLQRl2E0jNkIbLp_2CdWUNi6nQZEHCSgk4tGPLkjI1uzJCoXS3CmnLxajEjF6LbCfG0Ew2y3bC6bB5AHLtL2Dbqbc7/s1600/fennel2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qwxE5_qgtUhuzsmhRwdjvZKHlo2JBMXKO2PFL13_8p14kZDBn8mLQRl2E0jNkIbLp_2CdWUNi6nQZEHCSgk4tGPLkjI1uzJCoXS3CmnLxajEjF6LbCfG0Ew2y3bC6bB5AHLtL2Dbqbc7/s320/fennel2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Exercise and Fitness for Healthy Ageing</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My yoga practice helps me to stay fit and well. I have a regular practice that is sometimes dynamic and sometimes quieter and more restorative, depending on what I feel I need that day. The arm balances like handstand build my strength, the Sun Salutations and Vinyasa flow make me sweat and the slow stretches help me relax and stay flexible - it's a good balance, this yoga! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it's always fun to add some variety into my exercise routine. I love to run because it gets me outside in the fresh air and gives me the opportunity to take in the wonderful views that Mother Nature offers where I live on the edge of the North Downs. I walk every day with The Furry Guru too - having a dog makes you get outside every day, rain or shine because the dog needs his exercise too and I have a responsibility as a dog owner to honour that commitment. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">T</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he weekend before last there was a whole series of articles in The Times on Saturday about healthy ageing which made me think about adding something else in to my exercise routine - maybe swimming or cycling - to keep my fitness levels up in the coming years. One of the things I love about yoga is that there's always a new and more challenging posture to learn which is very empowering - my practice is improving as I age rather than declining. This helps my general health and mental wellbeing too, and I want it to stay that way. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may have read the articles, but I thought I'd share some of them with you as it's always helpful to have a reminder about keeping ourselves healthy - life is often so busy and tiring that it's easy to put off doing the very things that are the most beneficial for us. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's what <a href="http://www.mattroberts.co.uk/">Matt Roberts</a>, the celebrity fitness trainer, has to say about maintaining your fitness as you age:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"As your body adapts to the changes that ageing brings, you need to switch the focus of your exercise:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Men in their forties:</b> Muscles need extra work from the age of 40, because muscle mass declines with age. Lift heavy weights for the major muscle groups three times each week, and do not neglect your legs and bottom. In addition, do high-intensity cardio (running, cycling, swimming) to burn fat and boost your testosterone levels.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Men in their fifties:</b> If you feel comfortable running, do that. If not, take up cycling. There is a reason why the cycling 'mamil' (middle aged man in lycra) exists: cycling is kind to your ageing tendons, muscles and joints because it entails less impact than running. Intersperse your cardio with some weekly interval or HIT sessions too, at least once a week.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Men in their sixties:</b> At this age, men should use a foam roller and properly stretch out the limbs and muscles for at least 20 minutes a day, every day. This will help to alleviate the higher levels of stiffness and aches after a workout and improve overall flexibility. Do core stability work and Pilates to keep the abdominals strong and to protect the spine. Weight training is important for keeping weight in check - try heavy lifting once a week. Don't do any more than that because you don't want to strain the tendons and ligaments - recovery from injury takes much longer at this age.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Women in their forties:</b> This is the decade in which to build your endurance levels. Do lots of running, cycling, walking and swimming, which will keep you lean, fit and with high energy levels. Take up yoga and either Pilates or core strength training if you don't already do it. Yoga will help you to maintain your flexibility - it's naturally high when you enter your forties, so don't let it slip away.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Women in their fifties:</b> During this decade a woman's hormone levels undergo the biggest shift since puberty and it's really important to keep your muscle and tendon strength high, and to keep your bone density strong with plenty of resistance exercise. Make sure you lift moderate to heavy weights two or three days a week alongside a programme of cardio (running, swimming or cycling), core and yoga work. Oestrogen levels will be beginning to drop as the menopause approaches. As a result, women often find they gain weight (about 1lb a year on average). To counteract this, run if you feel that your joints can cope with it, or swim at high intensity instead. Short, fast interval training in the pool will burn calories and strengthen your core.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Women in their sixties:</b> Every day, ideally before breakfast, power-walk with real intent (so that you can burn fat more effectively). Aerobic activity on an empty stomach forces your body to utilise its fat stores for energy and walking is a great way to do it. Use weights and do body-weight exercises (such as lunges, squats and press-ups) between two and four times a week to ensure that you keep muscles and tendons strong and well-functioning It's also crucial to maintain flexibility because mobility declines further in this decade, so take up yoga or Pilates."</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnxDpl3G8gVXJxTSYA9SFH243Hk1WIm1Bsx0ZY87xSOAs71Tt49sOyUhxGtYDBHo5z4JfK5HXLiNLznduXp2rxOXb9d1XDti6makWtFltNoOGH-_qoqGtQ2aOv2wmTqN2I2JroNT2nMy9/s1600/tao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnxDpl3G8gVXJxTSYA9SFH243Hk1WIm1Bsx0ZY87xSOAs71Tt49sOyUhxGtYDBHo5z4JfK5HXLiNLznduXp2rxOXb9d1XDti6makWtFltNoOGH-_qoqGtQ2aOv2wmTqN2I2JroNT2nMy9/s320/tao.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tao Porchon-Lynch - 97 years old and still teaching yoga</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Times then offered this advice, words I love to hear...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Take Up Yoga</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back pain, all-round joint stiffness and a worsening ability to touch your toes are signs that middle age is taking its toll. They are also the most common triggers for men and women in midlife to take up yoga or Pilates.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The approaches have similarities, namely releasing pent-up physical tension, ironing out your posture and helping you to move more freely. With yoga the emphasis is more on flexibility, with Pilates on developing core control. Proponents of each will tell you why one usurps the other in terms of benefits, but there is little to distinguish the two when you weigh up the scientific evidence. Both yoga and Pilates focus, albeit differently, on controlled breathing, which has been shown to lower stress levels.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr Loren Fishman, a researcher at Columbia University, has shown that yoga aficionados develop increased bone density in their spine and hips compared with those who don't do yoga. At Queen's University in Ontario, researchers found Pilates to be beneficial for middle-aged people suffering back pain.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What really matter to most middle-aged converts, though, is how yoga and Pilates make you feel mentally as well as physically. Yoga, the most studied of the two disciplines, has been proven to enhance mood and reduce anxiety. With both, posture and flexibility (which comes naturally in your twenties and thirties and declines after 40) will improve.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then there was a section about meditation.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>How Meditation Keeps You Young by Andy Puddicombe, meditation expert</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk who has helped to bring meditation into the mainstream, says that meditation can not only help people to achieve greater peace of mind, but also has anti-ageing benefits. And there are now plenty of studies that back this up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"There are health benefits to practising meditation no matter how old you are, and it can be particularly helpful as we age," says Puddicombe. His Headspace app with guided meditation for beginners has about 3 million users.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Puddicombe points to studies that have found differences in the brain scans of meditators and non-meditators. The brain's prefrontal cortex - associated with personality, expression, attention and decision-making - gets thinner with age, but those who practised meditation were found to have thicker prefrontal cortexes than those who did not. A study in 2013 by the psychiatry department of Harvard Medical School showed that people who meditated daily for four years had longer telomeres - the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes - than those who did not. Short telomeres have been linked to premature cellular ageing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another study showed that people who meditate have better blood flow to the brain, leading to improvements in memory and attention. Other significant health benefits across every age group are better sleep, lower blood pressure, improved immunity and the ability to stay centred in an increasingly stressful world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"By the time we get to 40, 50 or 60, many of us have negative patterns established in our minds and we think, "That's it, this is who I am and there's no way of changing." But it's never too late to change those things," says Puddicombe. "We go to the gym and train a muscle which gets thicker and stronger as it receives more blood flow. In the same way, when we train the mind in a methodical way with mindfulness and meditation, the part of the brain associated with happiness and wellbeing receives more blood flow."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 43 year old says that the biggest misconception about meditation is that you have to keep a blank and clear mind. "I was a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and what I loved about that training is that it embraced the madness of life," he says. "Even there, in the monastery, there was a lot going on, and your mind produced thoughts that you wished weren't there, so it's not about being quiet 24/7.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Meditation is about shifting perspective so that we can be more accepting of what's happening in our lives. You have to say, "Ok, this is my life and this is my situation, and how can I work it in a more positive way?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ideally, he says, you should take ten minutes to do a simple meditation every day. Take a couple of deep breaths and close your eyes. Become aware of your senses, the feelings in the body, the sounds and the smells around you. Don't think about them, simply notice them. Next, become aware of the breath. You don't need to breathe in a special way, just notice how the rising and falling movement of the breath feels in the body. Each time the mind wanders, gently bring it back to that same point of focus, the sensation of the breath. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most important thing, Puddicombe says, is to find a place where you will not be physically disturbed. You can sit on a chair with your arms and legs uncrossed. Don't listen to music - it may help you to feel relaxed, but that's not what meditation is about. It's about clarity."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope that reading this has inspired you to get out and get your body moving this weekend, and to take some time to get still and quiet as medicine for your mind too. Take care of your health - it is precious and not guaranteed..... Which reminds me of one of my favourite quotes (author unknown) about getting older....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Your Questions Answered... what is a 'drishti'?...</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A drishti is the point on which the eyes focus during a posture. When the eyes are wandering around the room, the mind is often unsteady too. Fixing the eyes helps the mind to concentrate so that we become completely absorbed in what we are doing rather than being distracted by the thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are 9 drishtis:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. the tip of the nose</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. the thumbs</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. the third eye (between and above the eyebrows)</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. the navel</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. up towards the sky</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. the hands</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. the toes</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. to the left</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. to the right</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Often when we do a posture the drishti comes in naturally, eg. in a seated forward bend we tend to look towards the toes, but sometimes when we are distracted and lost in thought we don't notice. Next time you roll out your mat to practice, pay attention to where your eyes rest (or don't rest). Make a conscious decision to fix them steadily on one point and see how focusing your gaze helps to quieten your mind and bring you fully into the pose and the present moment. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u><br />This Week's Musical Offering</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A 50 minute track called The Oneness Om by Ananda Giri. I played this in class this week for Savasana but it's equally good for a slow, stretchy practice too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, I'm sharing some good advice I'm using to guide me through my 50th year....</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZVGqNZP7eQM7XLakw5GB0FwfYOYMtjUUyVFzV9q2_NdAY3A2rMD4CK1Ek3eLTXfCYqnjV_U60mi1jXDUdANNwXlC7eckusnV90CstJu6hoejZ4YWFMnnosN3vFDCvzvMaS7ITjGl5Sq5/s1600/explorer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZVGqNZP7eQM7XLakw5GB0FwfYOYMtjUUyVFzV9q2_NdAY3A2rMD4CK1Ek3eLTXfCYqnjV_U60mi1jXDUdANNwXlC7eckusnV90CstJu6hoejZ4YWFMnnosN3vFDCvzvMaS7ITjGl5Sq5/s400/explorer2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from How To Be An Explorer of the World by Keri Smith</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until next time, stay curious....</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-75078131797599856572016-06-06T22:37:00.001+01:002016-06-06T22:37:50.640+01:00We Are All Unique - Yet We Are All The Same<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>52 @ 50 - no. 4 - An Alpaca Experience</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was given a unique gift for my birthday this year - a trip to an alpaca farm in Hampshire to get to know a little more about these strange creatures from the camelid family. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started by learning about their wool and how it is sheared, graded and used to make garments, then we were told how they are becoming popular as pets. People who have a paddock or large garden are buying a small herd (they need each other's company so they are sold in groups of at least 3) to keep the grass and hedges trimmed. They have feet like camels which are tiny and light so they don't churn up the ground and make it muddy like horses do so the paddocks stay closely cut and very neat and tidy. They don't cost much to feed (their food apparently costs just 30p a day!) so therefore they are a cheaper option than a ride-on mower and employing someone to do the grass cutting for you! They also used as guardians to protect flocks of sheep as they are good at protecting their herd. An alpaca costs upwards of £600.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alpacas come from South America. They are similar to llamas but are much smaller - more like their wild relative the vicuna. Llamas have been used for thousands of years as pack animals, transporting goods across the mountains of South America, but alpacas are not quite as placid or obliging and obviously can't carry as much so tend to be kept just for their fleece. We got to test this theory as headcollars were put on and we took them for a walk. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My beastie was called Frederico. He was extremely handsome and rather lovely, if a little flighty... but what do you expect from £14,000 worth of prime breeding stock?! Actually, none of them were particularly well-behaved - they are easily startled and they didn't want to go for a walk. When the lady from the farm tried to ease them along with an arm behind their backsides they kicked! They wanted to stay together too so it was hard to get one to go on it's own. You are supposed to walk by their shoulder rather than pull them along but they have bendy necks so are difficult to control in this way. It was all slightly shambolic but, once we got into our stride so to speak, we were ok. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They really are strange creatures. Their heads are tiny and their leg bone from knee to ankle is very short and the upper leg bone is long which gives them a very funny gait when they run. Although they were all the same breed, I was struck by how different each one was. They all had their own hair-do's and facial expressions (yes really they did!) and I expect that, when you get to know them better, each would have its own individual character, preferences and idiosyncrasies. A bit like us really.... </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz6zKsXeL4PCpZVzoByzUThIRqtAw_PF7nOtfbCa0iqWODttYLJ3hAGAN8wO8e6ITkz7WawvPSWLUWQ_lbKNtkI0O5jtag20LJU-kTVKrSvKa7hgtR-adylkVX_0MufcfCoZQV5W-2g9y/s1600/alpaca+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz6zKsXeL4PCpZVzoByzUThIRqtAw_PF7nOtfbCa0iqWODttYLJ3hAGAN8wO8e6ITkz7WawvPSWLUWQ_lbKNtkI0O5jtag20LJU-kTVKrSvKa7hgtR-adylkVX_0MufcfCoZQV5W-2g9y/s320/alpaca+1.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chatting with Frederico - we have the same fringe! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqNuy-XC_g2J4Om75sZ4fjrfyApS36v1efktYLZHBiEla_gClqxYSFzDJl-vKfrhrPo66xO0-szsXP0OiY0KI4NJ1MOF51fmHU3F-L6quUXGIscO4S66FoBX8PiB-Y6MK5UR9C0KwwqGu/s1600/alpaca+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqNuy-XC_g2J4Om75sZ4fjrfyApS36v1efktYLZHBiEla_gClqxYSFzDJl-vKfrhrPo66xO0-szsXP0OiY0KI4NJ1MOF51fmHU3F-L6quUXGIscO4S66FoBX8PiB-Y6MK5UR9C0KwwqGu/s320/alpaca+2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New friends</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItjFEEawkccKNlaQekJYipCMgkSzVbX84jODsAdouyaPlzXHHEh0wnEKPS_jPPPx_E-AeUhIJPpJWdDdoCKKP2ObzjvQe1pPxqlftAszEQbJvGMwoVrxUEYZQOmCL7wkmA9BRf1oyKOZr/s1600/alpaca+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItjFEEawkccKNlaQekJYipCMgkSzVbX84jODsAdouyaPlzXHHEh0wnEKPS_jPPPx_E-AeUhIJPpJWdDdoCKKP2ObzjvQe1pPxqlftAszEQbJvGMwoVrxUEYZQOmCL7wkmA9BRf1oyKOZr/s320/alpaca+3.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Penny and the alpacas and me - we are different yet the same...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the most basic level we are like the alpacas - we want food, shelter, safety and community. Our yoga practice teaches us that we are each a unique being, and yet we are all the same too. We all have a body but our bodies are different and so, therefore, our practice is individual. But we are all practicing to feel whole and connected..... does that make sense?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we unroll our mat to do our yoga we do it for ourselves - to increase our ease of movement, strength and flexibility and to have a quieter mind. But it also reaches out further than that. When we roll the mat back up again afterwards we might be a little more aware of ourselves and how we act and react. We might give our friends and family a little more of our attention. We will hopefully feel, having said 'Namaste' to each other at the end of class, a little more compassion for our Self and each other too. What we say and do has an effect on others. We are connected. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this quote from Rumi, the ancient Sufi poet:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b> </b></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... and this is one of my favourite teachings about connection, from the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist... If we look into this sheet of paper even more deeply, we can see the sunshine in it. Without the sunshine the forest cannot grow. In fact nothing can grow without sunshine. And so we know that the sunshine is also in this piece of paper. And we see wheat. We know that the logger cannot exist without his daily bread, and therefore the wheat that became his bread is also in this sheet of paper. The logger's mother and father are in it too. When we look in this way, we see that without all of these things, this sheet of paper cannot exist.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking even more deeply we see ourselves in this sheet of paper too. This is not difficult to see because, when we look at a sheet of paper, it is part of our perception. You mind is in here and mine is also. So we can say that everything is in here with this sheet of paper. We cannot point out one thing that is not here - time, space, the earth, the rain, the minerals in the soil, the sunshine, the cloud, the river, the heat. Everything co-exists with this sheet of paper... As thin as this piece of paper is, it contains everything in the universe."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the story of Indra's net too:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Far away in the heavenly abode of the Great God Indra, the protector and nurturer of life, there is a wonderful net which stretches out indefinitely in all directions. At the net's every intersection is hung a single glittering jewel and since the net itself is infinite in dimension, the jewels are infinite in number. There hang the jewels, glittering like stars of the first magnitude, a wonderful sight to behold. If we now arbitrarily select one of these jewels for inspection and look closely at it, we will discover that in its polished surface there are reflected all the other jewels in the net, which sparkle in the magnificence of its totality. Not only that, but each of the jewels reflected in this one jewel is also reflecting all the other jewels, so that the process of reflection is infinite. As each gem reflects every other one and everything else in the universe, so are you affected by every other system in the universe."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrVaet9h2Mooyyx_x2dNptzLBXsSXKalV5mWkK1oow67-nDxC7m-TijhFM3RkxbufPrAGykqXSWMzua0fIqZl4qBWyhe6lnODZHwq2uLrShaGiI9vgZ6Q42KdyuWZAaRlNe6ujnaX5tdc/s1600/connected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrVaet9h2Mooyyx_x2dNptzLBXsSXKalV5mWkK1oow67-nDxC7m-TijhFM3RkxbufPrAGykqXSWMzua0fIqZl4qBWyhe6lnODZHwq2uLrShaGiI9vgZ6Q42KdyuWZAaRlNe6ujnaX5tdc/s320/connected.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This week's recipe... Smashed Avocado on Sourdough Toast, with Goat's Cheese, Lemon, Chilli and Mint</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not a huge fan of avocado (except in green smoothies where it makes everything really creamy) so my husband tested this recipe out for me and he liked it so much he had it for breakfast two days in a row. He said it was the perfect thing to replenish him after his long run and his cycle ride.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will need: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half an avocado</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half a lemon</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pinch of salt and pepper</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon oil (rapeseed but we don't have that so we used olive)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 stalk of chopped mint</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">quarter of a red chilli finely chopped</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">40g goats cheese (without rind works best)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon of creme fraiche</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon chopped chives</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 free range eggs</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here's how to make it...</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use a grater to remove the zest of the lemon and mix with the chopped chilli and mint.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peel and chop the avocado into large pieces. Gently crush with a fork, squeeze the lemon juice over, add the seasoning and oil and mix well.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix the goat's cheese with the creme fraiche and chopped chives.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gently poach the eggs in simmering water.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toast the bread, spread on half of the goat's cheese cream, top with avocado and place the eggs on top.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spoon the remainder of the goat's cheese cream onto the eggs and sprinkle over with the lemon zest, mint and chilli.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4UerPFoDkFgnKJvFpB-3cMNVkgyCoIL7f7jfTpwEe5q0jj7f4X73GU34wM18euCTNA_S8mYiO0QDOCVkRgOi2R53SejJL3obwxztbrxwWbJHmZiEypltAMoXYKjHtX-DtLvwDTEPwqu8/s1600/avocado+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4UerPFoDkFgnKJvFpB-3cMNVkgyCoIL7f7jfTpwEe5q0jj7f4X73GU34wM18euCTNA_S8mYiO0QDOCVkRgOi2R53SejJL3obwxztbrxwWbJHmZiEypltAMoXYKjHtX-DtLvwDTEPwqu8/s320/avocado+2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week in the Garden... </b>I had intended to get all my border clearing done, all my pots and tubs filled with bedding plants and all my seedlings potted on or put out into the borders.... Alas, despite a mammoth 12 hour (!) session in the garden yesterday I still have a lot on my To Do List. Sigh.... I was a little frustrated until I looked at my Instagram feed this morning and saw the picture quote below. It gave me some perspective....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStqBuUlxBRBtWEF8m59eWL4qvCqRuRZCPqFvldsd-RQd4RGFGVArrl6Rp-VYfSh7dVAiyrYMavarZx4s7QWTtHZDvmsg05zPJuUtx8g7L-1S_gl153QkMcN0K0cvxc-4ZpqdMjmGs364O/s1600/new+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStqBuUlxBRBtWEF8m59eWL4qvCqRuRZCPqFvldsd-RQd4RGFGVArrl6Rp-VYfSh7dVAiyrYMavarZx4s7QWTtHZDvmsg05zPJuUtx8g7L-1S_gl153QkMcN0K0cvxc-4ZpqdMjmGs364O/s320/new+start.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC5lrN3DnlpYl6Dq-IM8sJrSfzDmoY4sjN_Yjl1s0H4QK4Sxnv9yqxzL6Krjek0fvtadvGpDArm8wSV7JnqqcfCvWp20gPQtojV4nt6GfKR53ThWMwmxUr2knog4PgxETMv9ji1X2szo4/s1600/garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCC5lrN3DnlpYl6Dq-IM8sJrSfzDmoY4sjN_Yjl1s0H4QK4Sxnv9yqxzL6Krjek0fvtadvGpDArm8wSV7JnqqcfCvWp20gPQtojV4nt6GfKR53ThWMwmxUr2knog4PgxETMv9ji1X2szo4/s320/garden.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it still all looks lovely even though there's lots to do - <br />Mother Nature just quietly doing her thing</span></td></tr>
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<b style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Week's Musical Offering... </b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is Spacious Offerings by Desert Dwellers. This track is slow and rhythmic - perfect for doing your Sun Salutations along to. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Video....</b> on the theme of 'we are all the same'. This is quite an eye-opener, a heart-opener and a mind-opener!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week's Class on the Thrive Yoga Site...</b> is a 45 minute Vinyasa Flow class with an emphasis on Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) and Garland Pose (Malasana). Click <a href="http://www.thriveyoga.co.uk/">here</a> to view the website and join me for unlimited access to all the classes for just £9 a month. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Namaste yoga friends... have a great week....</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-88587858329644500732016-05-28T18:03:00.000+01:002016-05-31T15:33:24.129+01:00Wildflower Walks and Avoiding Adversity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">'52@50' no. 3 - Learning About Wildflowers</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continuing my new series of doing 52 new things in my 50th year, this week's adventure was peaceful and benign without a hint of adrenaline - learning the names of some native wildflowers. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to do more of the simple things in life that I have long had the intention of doing 'when I have time'. Well that time never seems to arrive - there's always something waiting to fill it, so I am consciously creating space in my life for these new and different things, whether they are thrilling or not. This week, armed with a little pocket book of wildflowers, I've been out and about on the North Downs taking in all that Mother Nature has to offer at this glorious time of year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hedgerows, woods and fields that myself and The Furry Guru frequent are full of them. They seem to be more prolific than usual - or maybe it's that they've all flowered at the same time this year and so are more noticeable. Anyway, I'm noticing them... but up until now I haven't know exactly what I was noticing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember the names of the plants in my garden, those that I read about in books and magazines and even the ones that Monty Don tells me about on Gardener's World, but I really don't know many names of our native wildflowers. Many of them are instantly recognisable (such as buttercups) and some are familiar because they are used in their cultivated form in the garden (such as geraniums). Some I know by their common name but not much else and some I have absolutely no idea about at all. I thought it would be a nice thing to learn some more over the next few months and add it in to my year of experiencing new things.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are a few of the flowers that I've been learning about (all pictures taken by me):</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This little blue flower is Bugle. I have a bit of this in my garden already. In the garden centre it is sold by its Latin name - Ajuga reptans. It has a spire of blue flowers and often grows in clumps as it spreads well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Furry Guru studying the Bugle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instantly recognisable, Buttercups have their own beauty in their wild setting... but in my garden I count them as a weed</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is everywhere at the moment - especially on roadsides. It has many common names (Cow Parsley, Queen Anne's Lace or Wild Chervil) but its full Latin name is Anthriscus sylvestris. The big flower heads are in fact made up of several short stems, each with a cluster of tiny flowers which give it its lacy look. It is part of the carrot family.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNQb6YF7tYeyElgkZj6krURIFtMWRYGX6QvMAdNYmnv19BjwsHwxtM0i2tIcgw1OtnahDQmyoPlpjfOJfvYnZLaYm_polIjPdZj9nVZuJ6ao0lbV3HOL7H5YsyQi1dgMEWdOaoU7_tEup/s1600/wildflower5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNQb6YF7tYeyElgkZj6krURIFtMWRYGX6QvMAdNYmnv19BjwsHwxtM0i2tIcgw1OtnahDQmyoPlpjfOJfvYnZLaYm_polIjPdZj9nVZuJ6ao0lbV3HOL7H5YsyQi1dgMEWdOaoU7_tEup/s320/wildflower5.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana). It is tiny and looks very delicate but its tough and it grows almost everywhere. It is part of the same family at the pansies that we see in garden centres and often plant in pots and window boxes. It is not related though to the African violet which we in the UK use as a houseplant - that is from a different family (Saintpaulia) but has, confusingly, been given the common name of violet</span>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2mjNhVCC3lgk4YIlW9PAG89D0KDrbbNDnxoI7AuzXpNpAhHttILJPC-AQregFIBc4iltaPSTdZAnQVQ2AnCPo9neFr2wMiI2iRd_pFee-F9x9ehJp_ZX4O-RrLzm82HhNerUpljifsuN/s1600/wildflower6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2mjNhVCC3lgk4YIlW9PAG89D0KDrbbNDnxoI7AuzXpNpAhHttILJPC-AQregFIBc4iltaPSTdZAnQVQ2AnCPo9neFr2wMiI2iRd_pFee-F9x9ehJp_ZX4O-RrLzm82HhNerUpljifsuN/s320/wildflower6.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This plant is even tinier - the Common Speedwell (also known as Germander or Bird's Eye) grows really close to the ground so when it isn't flowering you wouldn't notice it. At this time of year it's sky blue flowers catch the eye and, if you go in for a closer look, you can see that each one has a little white centre like an eye. The Common Speedwell's Latin name is Veronica chamaedrys.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfhKfGrwQjibkyn0SUDpnlcvLVMILIusH3a2uP6UQtCivJ_-oZSbvSQfY0heqasFg4zw2KaLiqqslLUnfDOb3Fe_PG7SzcT_hQnaAxo5Y8wa41BE_lLzeGjYKmRJIdXOT_FnygWj21CRZ/s1600/wildflower10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfhKfGrwQjibkyn0SUDpnlcvLVMILIusH3a2uP6UQtCivJ_-oZSbvSQfY0heqasFg4zw2KaLiqqslLUnfDOb3Fe_PG7SzcT_hQnaAxo5Y8wa41BE_lLzeGjYKmRJIdXOT_FnygWj21CRZ/s320/wildflower10.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is the Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon). Coming into flower just as the Bluebells are going over, this grows in woodland areas. Its leaves and structure are similar to the stinging nettle but, although it comes from the same family, its quite harmless.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is a wild geranium or Cranesbill. You can just see the unopened flowers in the picture whose shape resembles the beak of a bird - hence the name. There are many different types of Cranesbill (I think this might be Geranium robertianum or Herb Robert), many of which we grow in our gardens because they are hardy and don't need much attention.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is Bush Vetch. It is part of the legume family and its leaves and flowers resemble those of peas so it is very easy to identify.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This delicate little white flower is Greater Stitchwort. It has the wonderful Latin name of Stellaria holostea, (stellar meaning starlike) and it is easy to see why. Its also known by the name Star of Bethlehem. It grows in grassy banks, hedgerows and in woodlands.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I feel I've learned a lot this week and I'm going to carry on taking my little book out with me all summer to expand my knowledge. There are about 1500 species of wildflower in the UK so that should keep me busy for a while! If you're interested to learn about our beautiful wildflowers too I recommend you find a book specifically for identification whilst out walking. My book groups plants by their families rather than their colour which is great if you're a botanist I guess but means I have to leaf through it (pardon the pun) until I spot the photo of the plant I'm looking at - it would be much easier if the book divided the flowers by colour. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br />The Face Everything Technique: Why Avoiding Difficulties Doesn’t Work</b><br /><br /> By <a href="http://leobabauta.com/">Leo Babauta</a> of zenhabits.net</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are, all of us, amazing at avoiding things.<br /><br />Our minds are less “thinking machines” than they are “avoiding machines.” And the incredible thing is that we aren’t even usually aware that we’re avoiding thinking about something.<br /><br />I’ll give you a few examples: <br /><br />Right now you’re reading this article but probably avoiding the difficult thing you don’t want to think about. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />We are constantly checking messages, news, feeds, notifications … to avoid doing something we don’t want to face.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />When we’re facing difficulties in life, we try to tell ourselves that’s it’s OK because (fill in the blank), or get busy with some activity or numbing agent (like alcohol) so we don’t have to face the difficulties. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />When a problem comes up, our reaction is to want to go do something else, put it off. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />We put off paying bills, doing taxes, dealing with long emails, dealing with clutter, because we don’t want to face these difficulties. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />We put off exercise because it’s uncomfortable. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, there are thousands more examples, every day, that come up and that we don’t even notice, because our minds switch to thinking about something else.<br /><br />Try this right now: pause for a minute and think about what difficulty you’re avoiding thinking about right now.<br /><br />You will either notice a difficulty you don’t like, or your mind will quickly turn to doing something else before the minute is up.<br /><br />What you’ve done is part of what I call the Face Everything Technique … which I’ll explain in a minute, after we talk about why avoiding everything is an ineffective strategy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b> Avoidance Doesn’t Work</b><br />Our minds want to run from whatever discomfort, pain, difficulty we’re facing … and this is a good strategy for temporarily not having to deal with difficulty and pain. So in the present moment, we might feel some temporary relief.<br /><br />But what it does is relegate us to a life of running. A life of distraction and never facing what ails us. We keep ourselves busy, but never learn to deal with what’s inside us, what’s in front of us.<br /><br />This means we are at the mercy of our fears, of our discomforts. We are like little children who don’t want to do any hard work, but want the latest shiny fun thing.<br /><br />This results in not working on the important work (or at least putting it off until it starts to get painful). The same is true of exercise, healthy eating, finances, clutter, relationships, and more.<br /><br />In the end, we usually have to deal with these things, but they’ve just gotten worse. It would have been better to face them early on, when they weren’t such a big deal.<br /> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Face Everything Technique</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>This technique is based on the idea that it’s better to be aware of things, and to deal with them like an adult, instead of running.<br /><br />And if we do, none of it’s that big of a deal.<br /><br />Here’s how it works: <br /><br />Create awareness by asking, “What am I doing right now?” Throughout the day, set reminders or put little notes that remind you to ask, “What am I doing right now?” The answer might be, “Checking Facebook,” or “Switching to a new browser tab,” or “Eating some chips.” Something simple and mundane like that, but just ask yourself what you’re doing, to start to bring awareness. <br /><br />Next, ask yourself, “What am I avoiding?” When things get difficult or uncomfortable, we automatically switch to something else. We run. We avoid, like crazy. You’re doing it all day long, but not realizing it. Ask what you’re avoiding: some fear, some difficult task, some difficult emotion, some discomfort, or just staying present in the current moment? Name what you’re avoiding. <br /><br />Now face it. Just stay with this fear, discomfort, difficulty, in the present moment. Not your story about it that you’re telling yourself in your head, but the actual physical feeling in your body in the present moment. How bad is it? You’ll find that it’s No Big Deal. Stay with it for a little longer. And a little longer after that — challenge yourself. <br /><br />Take appropriate action. Now that you’ve faced it and have seen that it’s not such a big deal, you can act like an adult rather than a little child: you can decide what the best action is right now. If you’re afraid of doing some task, but you’ve faced it and seen that the fear is not such a big deal … you can remind yourself that the task will benefit you and others, and is much more important than your little fear. If you’re avoiding a difficult conversation with someone because you’re angry, you can see that the anger and offense is not such a big deal, and you can talk to the person calmly and appropriately, with empathy and compassion, and figure out a solution. <br /><br />Of course, not all problems will just evaporate using this method, but I can tell you that you’ll be able to face many more things as you practice this method. You’ll get better at dealing with discomfort, instead of running from it as most people do. You’ll get better at not procrastinating, and doing uncomfortable tasks. You’ll be more present and more willing to stay in the moment rather than needing distractions all the time. Not overnight, but with practice.<br /><br />You might have the urge to dismiss this article, to avoid practicing this technique. That too is avoidance, and I urge you to face it this moment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's recipe.... Tuscan Tomato Salad</b><br /><br />This is another Jamie Oliver recipe. With its olive oil and basil and ciabatta bread it really does taste all summery and mediterranean. It's quick and easy to make and it goes well with the lasagne that I shared recently (click <a href="http://thrive-yoga.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-beauty-of-weekend-retreat.html">here </a>to view that post) . If you do prepare it in advance don't put the bread in too early otherwise it will go soggy - you want it to soak up the flavours but still retain some of its crunch.<br /> <br />200 g stale or part-baked ciabatta bread <br /> 600 g ripe mixed tomatoes, roughly chopped <br /> sea salt <br /> freshly ground black pepper <br /> 1 handful small capers, soaked and drained <br /> 1 red onion, peeled, halved and very finely sliced <br /> 280 g roasted peppers in olive oil , drained and roughly chopped <br />good-quality red wine vinegar <br /> good-quality extra virgin olive oil <br /> 1 bunch fresh basil , leaves picked <br /><br />In Jamie Oliver's recipe he adds anchovies but I prefer my fishes to be swimming in the ocean so I haven't included them - I'm sure you won't miss them.</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Tear the ciabatta into thumb-sized pieces, then pop them on a tray in a warm place to dry out a little. <br /><br />Put the tomatoes into a bowl, season with salt and pepper and mix together. Add the capers, onion, peppers and bread. Mix again - Jamie recommends you do this with your hands to really get the flavours going. <br /><br />Stir in 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar and about 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Add more salt, pepper, vinegar or oil if necessary. <br /><br />Tear the basil leaves over the salad, give it another good stir, and it’s ready to serve. </span><br />
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<br /><br /><b>This week in the garden...</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The borders are full of Alkanet, Forget-me-Nots and Aquilegias. The fence is swathed in Clematis montana. The grass is lush. And my seed babies are looking strong and healthy. All is well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only thing I've had to do this week is watering the pots, which I love doing - it's very relaxing. But it's the calm before the storm, so to speak. I'm gearing up for next week's big transition where the spring flowers get taken out of the borders and the summer planting goes in. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This coming week I'll be super-busy digging, weeding, planting, doing pots for the patio, cutting the grass, trimming the hedge.... and a bit more weeding.... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Clematis montana last week </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvCnFBlFYWWRga3CJ1z__Ni6ywO9wWS00OlGkeeYh12SXFGWP73jQsdNsuUMQEEaMryhdVvMqxUSz4iiud4VGyAgH7Y9CIUbsKrGoJswKfP0b8AV8tEpBl7EQdLMjN0Ad6TjCQReeUzSi/s1600/clematis2.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvCnFBlFYWWRga3CJ1z__Ni6ywO9wWS00OlGkeeYh12SXFGWP73jQsdNsuUMQEEaMryhdVvMqxUSz4iiud4VGyAgH7Y9CIUbsKrGoJswKfP0b8AV8tEpBl7EQdLMjN0Ad6TjCQReeUzSi/s320/clematis2.JPG" /></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Your questions answered... why do my muscles shake in some poses?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>Good question! My muscles were really shaking today in a long-held Plank Pose and I find it often happens in Boat Pose too. The muscles are working hard and getting fatigued and this will change as you get stronger. Remember to breathe and don't hold the pose so long that you compromise your alignment and therefore risk injuring yourself. <br /><br />Here's a more detailed, technical answer to this question from US yoga master Richard Rosen via Yoga Journal, where he is a regular contributor:<br /><br />"Your muscles are made up of many fibers. When you use a muscle, not all the fibers contract at the same time. Some rest while the others work, and then they trade places. When you really challenge your muscles, the changeovers can get a little ragged.<br /><br />You could think of it as one runner passing the baton to another in a relay race. When you quiver, someone fumbled the baton.<br /><br />Beginning yogis often shake quite a lot. As your muscles get stronger from regular practice, the fibers learn to trade off between firing and resting with smoother coordination. Your quivering will probably subside (though there will always be teachers who turn you into yoga jelly, no matter how strong you get).<br /><br />For the time being, to calm things down, try to hug the quivering (contracting) muscle against its underlying bone and press the bone into the muscle being stretched.<br /><br />Quivering is not necessarily bad, but it may be a sign you’re overworking. Several years ago, when slugger Mark McGwire was mired in a terrible slump, a sportscaster asked Mac’s hitting coach what the problem was. The coach opined that McGwire was trying too hard, and needed to “try easier.”<br /><br />Tune into your brain, your eyes, the root of your tongue, and, most of all, your breath: If any of these areas feel hard or constricted, take the coach’s advice: Try easier."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><b>This week's musical offering... </b>Sound of Invisible Water by Deuter. I played this in Savasana in my classes a couple of weeks ago. Beautiful piano music to relax to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b>And finally, this week's video...</b> a poem to inspire all women to be who they are and fulfill their dreams:</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-51176450504477566492016-05-14T22:36:00.000+01:002016-05-15T08:48:58.146+01:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>"52 @ 50" - Things I Want To Do In My 50th Year!</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was my birthday last week which means that I have now entered my fiftieth year on this planet! In the coming 12 months before my big 'Five O' birthday I want to do some things that I haven't done before. It's not quite a 'Bucket List' which, to me, is more about achievements, goals and extreme challenges, rather I want to widen my net of new experiences and live all aspects of life more fully. I hope my 50th year will contain a mix of simple pleasures (such as the two below) and some more adventurous undertakings.</span><br />
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<br />"52 @ 50" started with a picnic in Regent's Park in London last Friday. I think that, even though I've lived in and around London all my life, this was a new experience for me (although I might have done it before with my grandparents when I was a child and just cant' remember it). It was a truly beautiful day. The park was full of people relaxing with friends, enjoying the sunshine. The grass was a complete carpet of daisies (I've really never seen so many - the grass was almost white) and so many of the trees were full of blossom (I can't remember a year where there has been so much blossom either). </span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a spontaneous decision to take our lunch to Regent's Park and I'm so glad we did. It was a confirmation that sometimes it's the simplest things that bring us pleasure and it also proved that there are little oases (is that the plural of oasis??) of calm and joy amidst the busiest places.</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My next experience was to have a glass of orange wine. Never done that before! I didn't even know it existed. Here's an explanation from <strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scott Carney, master sommelier and dean of wine studies at the International Culinary Center in New York</span></strong> in case you haven't heard of orange wine either: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Orange wines, also known as “contact” or “skin contact” wines, are essentially white wines that are produced like reds. Whereas a white wine never makes contact with the grapes’ skins, an orange wine is made out of white-fleshed grapes (Pinot Gris or Rkatsiteli, for example) and is then left in contact with the skins (which can range in color from white to purple) for days, weeks or months. This “<strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">brings about the [orange] colour, but also increases the tannins,” explained </span></strong>Orange wines, also known as “contact” or “skin contact” wines, are essentially white wines that are produced like reds. Whereas a white wine never makes contact with the grapes’ skins, an orange wine is made out of white-fleshed grapes (Pinot Gris or Rkatsiteli, for example) and is then left in contact with the skins (which can range in colour from white to purple) for days, weeks or months. This <strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">brings about the orange colour, but also increases the tannins.” </span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">I enjoyed my orange wine and I'd definitely try one again. I thought it was similar to a </span></strong>rosé - fresh, light and fruty - and a perfect accompaniment to an early evening meal on a sunshiney day. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rmAy-ekm-FP36rgblPbAeiPYwCt7qBWWMNsUvFwLVJBNm2J9zkcHm-SLgbVcQmoAEIY_qu7c2hxUoySmSoT1OHKv0NQ3R3aTlrSorlL1sZVmQylgsBjZuA5rlqpWnQXU2fjj6gae0wri/s1600/orange+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rmAy-ekm-FP36rgblPbAeiPYwCt7qBWWMNsUvFwLVJBNm2J9zkcHm-SLgbVcQmoAEIY_qu7c2hxUoySmSoT1OHKv0NQ3R3aTlrSorlL1sZVmQylgsBjZuA5rlqpWnQXU2fjj6gae0wri/s320/orange+wine.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No. 2 - Orange wine (not Lucozade!)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, what shall my new experience be this week? If you have any suggestions for me please do let me know - I'm up for most things!! I think I might go and watch the film The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman to give me some ideas!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Practicing Forearm Balance</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my classes this half-term we've been practicing Forearm Balance. This pose's Sanskrit name is Pincha Mayurasana which, if you say it quickly, sounds a bit cheeky! It's not an easy pose so we've been preparing for it week by week, building both strength and positive mindset.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The picture below shows the muscles involved in doing Forearm Balance, but it doesn't show the Latissimus Dorsi which would be responsible for drawing the upper arm bone back into it's socket and keeping the shoulder girdle stable. If these muscles are tight then that limits shoulder flexion, the upper arm can't stay vertical, and the shoulders come forward. This can create an excessive curve in the back and then the head might drop to the floor. If the Lats are weak then there isn't enough strength to draw the arm bones back into the socket and keep them there as you lift into the pose - once again the shoulders will come forward and the head will come to the ground. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXuLtAKO_1DKvtDVT5f6iALKN8C-k6xjxmKWy2VhvEinAE10WPnhXPN7uS8OEMCdo7BEEiahvRAM8pfJyiBL6IpzxS5ueTkUe53rBo3v1HrEvO3MFbv2vjAT4KvULHNHI39qNsWDayygv/s1600/pincha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXuLtAKO_1DKvtDVT5f6iALKN8C-k6xjxmKWy2VhvEinAE10WPnhXPN7uS8OEMCdo7BEEiahvRAM8pfJyiBL6IpzxS5ueTkUe53rBo3v1HrEvO3MFbv2vjAT4KvULHNHI39qNsWDayygv/s400/pincha.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The muscles involved in Pincha Mayurasana - analyzing the second picture, in my humble opinion I would prefer to see the upper armbone a just little more vertical, with the armpit area little more open</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Latissimus dorsi muscles are located on the back just below the skin. They originate on the upper posterior pelvis and the vertebrae of the lower and lower middle back. The muscles then span up and out diagonally across the back, through the armpit and attach to the inner upper arm bone. </span><br /><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a picture showing the Lats and you can see how they could limit range of movement when lifting the arms if they were tight.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4scuSgbi-6whtT316ESUH1VcgCUsYQ9RDE-0KMHk9mUphEm-ZNU1eTdteV4vh1UkdKOXZKrjGi5CCKqBJ4dpdzbN9er9T-ioljw020uXSbhWZ-UYlFwdGuIlCK6K0yx9G9qHt72EqZ9mw/s1600/lats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4scuSgbi-6whtT316ESUH1VcgCUsYQ9RDE-0KMHk9mUphEm-ZNU1eTdteV4vh1UkdKOXZKrjGi5CCKqBJ4dpdzbN9er9T-ioljw020uXSbhWZ-UYlFwdGuIlCK6K0yx9G9qHt72EqZ9mw/s1600/lats.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what to do if you want to both stretch and strengthen in preparation for Pincha Mayurasana? Here are some poses you can do to help. They'll also be beneficial for other poses too such as Wheel pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) and Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana). </span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stretch</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Strengthen in Purvottanasana</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH34NgE2kBcwdUlVjRASsQEFZSpLzyti0-rSVdjD1Fd1S4TWlzWZGsp4LHiSgkDUwPySAFKXXSjIQ_0OxFxTfsLrbFd3_ecfF155RVw37a02fpcakmuSW1J7pkFLwHuWP-BM2MHPwCwPM/s1600/pincha4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH34NgE2kBcwdUlVjRASsQEFZSpLzyti0-rSVdjD1Fd1S4TWlzWZGsp4LHiSgkDUwPySAFKXXSjIQ_0OxFxTfsLrbFd3_ecfF155RVw37a02fpcakmuSW1J7pkFLwHuWP-BM2MHPwCwPM/s1600/pincha4.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">First stage of Forearm Balance - remember to draw the arm bones into the </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">sockets and pull the shoulder blades down the back, engaging the Lats</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjQMP4DTHmIcSnc_PZPH_pRqEmMM5GEBAO9wdp9zI64RXEVy_bBbTizSvSf7SnOfhyphenhyphen7zI70Kd2tykTyxd4skSHqK5e5iKeJLZqfw3NgtyP_SAXEEqv2CWfyXaF1iLPdhHgfe1GEcTu_DL/s1600/pincha6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjQMP4DTHmIcSnc_PZPH_pRqEmMM5GEBAO9wdp9zI64RXEVy_bBbTizSvSf7SnOfhyphenhyphen7zI70Kd2tykTyxd4skSHqK5e5iKeJLZqfw3NgtyP_SAXEEqv2CWfyXaF1iLPdhHgfe1GEcTu_DL/s320/pincha6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Second stage - practice lifting one leg up at a time</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The full pose</span></td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's recipe - Broccoli Bites</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I shared this recipe on Facebook recently and said I would give it a try.... so here's my verdict. It was easy and successful and I had them for lunch with a salad. Next time I'll add some herbs and some pepper for a little more flavouring but overall they were good. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12oz broccoli</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 egg</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2/3 cup breadcrumbs</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2/3 cup cheddar</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1/4 cup spring onions</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 cloves of garlic</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Barbeque sauce </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Salt</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's how to make it:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiernwYYa5KKrH_PxrzTFJtuLJ8PRDlXwTZzdsxkik81q8hhhh_zy_7K4VeCADliKSRFemKoW1DzJRuMaNr1wm0S2ChVaK_jjvqVRGI-mZuJXZb7E_6wsHkrHyz7-ukGr0mC7Nb_Ks3K2qA/s1600/broccoli1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiernwYYa5KKrH_PxrzTFJtuLJ8PRDlXwTZzdsxkik81q8hhhh_zy_7K4VeCADliKSRFemKoW1DzJRuMaNr1wm0S2ChVaK_jjvqVRGI-mZuJXZb7E_6wsHkrHyz7-ukGr0mC7Nb_Ks3K2qA/s320/broccoli1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here's my finished product</span></td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week in the garden...</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everything's growing like mad! Before the Alkanet (blue flowers, hairy stem) in my garden completely takes over I thought I'd better do some tidying. A few hours later, with some help from the Furry Guru, I'd cleared the patch ready to sow the seeds for cut flowers later in the summer (... and made a bit of a mess in the process!). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ8rtPnDTkzA7zH4_hxVNiq21ikOZQc99nOXCHms9ZA0B1PDxjFj2uf_LMCNKpYCWjym3N804eIYL3zsk57yVghqaDOv3xkPRD40n2W7zp1eFgCESKSI0fCXPznEnoe0erV6Mz2Qy4w99/s1600/garden1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ8rtPnDTkzA7zH4_hxVNiq21ikOZQc99nOXCHms9ZA0B1PDxjFj2uf_LMCNKpYCWjym3N804eIYL3zsk57yVghqaDOv3xkPRD40n2W7zp1eFgCESKSI0fCXPznEnoe0erV6Mz2Qy4w99/s400/garden1.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I sowed my hardy annuals straight into the ground and, although the half-hardy annuals (plants that done like frost) probably would have been fine to go straight into the ground too, I sowed them into seed trays and modules to get them started. All the seeds are up already less than 7 days later!! I find this process so amazing - these little tiny things contain so much life-energy that, given the right conditions, grow into beautiful flowers to decorate my home and garden.</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I planted Calendula (pot marigolds), Malope (mallow), cornflowers and more sweet peas straight into the ground. For just a couple of pounds and a few minutes work I'll have colour for the summer, right up until the first frosts. If you want something easy to grow in your garden I'd recommend these plants. (It's also ok to plant Cosmos outside now even though they're half-hardy - they'll be fine). Clear the ground of weeds, dig the ground over and rake it so there aren't any big lumps of earth (known in the gardening world as a 'fine tilth'!). Water the ground well first, then make a little channel about 1 cm deep and sprinkle your seeds finely along the channel. Then gently cover the channel over with earth. I find that watering the soil first works better than watering after sowing because it stops the little seeds getting sloshed out of their channel - although if you water with a watering can with a fine rose (ie a gentle sprinkle) they won't get disturbed. Keep the seedlings well watered.</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm holding out just a couple more weeks before I buy bedding plants and put my frost tender babies outside... just in case we get another cold snap. They'd probably be fine but I'm not taking any chances. So instead I'm weeding - this is an easy job after all the rain we had this week - so get outside and do it now!</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Your questions answered.... translations of some Sanskrit yoga terms </b></u><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A male yoga practitioner is called a <i>yogi</i></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A female yoga practitioner is called a <i>yogini</i></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Adho</i> means downwards (as in Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana)</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Urdhva</i> means upwards (as in Upward Facing Dog - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Eka</i> means one</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Dwi</i> means two </span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Hasta</i> means hand</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Pada</i> means foot </span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Angusta</i> means big toe</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Ubbhaya</i> means both or together </span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmNyQX9wWKBRpLmpS01uPjs4JlcWiU4jtK-G1FTbMZv_6PX__Fqr5ZW45v3eApkSwTQyC8HF17gIUtLE9b_e2MNGpbRm_JuRTrtpi9E6dLiDpN24h_torcJLKht-fYrAmY6dEMA29mWAu/s1600/ubbhaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmNyQX9wWKBRpLmpS01uPjs4JlcWiU4jtK-G1FTbMZv_6PX__Fqr5ZW45v3eApkSwTQyC8HF17gIUtLE9b_e2MNGpbRm_JuRTrtpi9E6dLiDpN24h_torcJLKht-fYrAmY6dEMA29mWAu/s320/ubbhaya.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ubbhaya Padangustasana</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktp95mNx8W_7_AQPiQUyhe5xhfEjiL9aly1YGv-Dawn86mwUYr3ZE3ktJCvj7p05IvggLQnLYrnMxw37S5ri9S1Nmex9N0aRNogBAmlBRSKHXGfENkV55DchJ0LwyPj9-_LTiGF7U497x/s1600/dwi+hasta.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktp95mNx8W_7_AQPiQUyhe5xhfEjiL9aly1YGv-Dawn86mwUYr3ZE3ktJCvj7p05IvggLQnLYrnMxw37S5ri9S1Nmex9N0aRNogBAmlBRSKHXGfENkV55DchJ0LwyPj9-_LTiGF7U497x/s1600/dwi+hasta.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dwi Hasta Padasana</span></td></tr>
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<section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>This week's musical offering is.... The Quiet Ambient by All India Radio</b></u></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a short mellow track good for accompanying slow stretches or cool-down poses, but it has a bit too much beat for Savasana.<br />
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<section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, this week's video .... be together, not the same :-)</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><br />
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<section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />May the path of yoga ease the way for you on your journey through the sunshine and shadows of life. Have a great week.</span></section><section class="l-12 article-head"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></section><section class="l-12 article-head">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcLo-XpCI9uomjIuuZX8AFB83l0iw6dqEkNmUDNT13hjc24Jrga8qnryvpi2ho3kdhQHmM4I63tpf-3474UhCO8C-WLwv0Zx4MGDS-xI6gAbOPYkCqGigXOlRuBIC6NDW6d_6n31RoPej/s1600/norbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcLo-XpCI9uomjIuuZX8AFB83l0iw6dqEkNmUDNT13hjc24Jrga8qnryvpi2ho3kdhQHmM4I63tpf-3474UhCO8C-WLwv0Zx4MGDS-xI6gAbOPYkCqGigXOlRuBIC6NDW6d_6n31RoPej/s320/norbury.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-63091775430886857582016-04-30T19:33:00.000+01:002016-04-30T19:36:54.568+01:00The Beauty of a Weekend Retreat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last weekend I had the pleasure of leading another retreat. This time it was a weekend one, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, and it was held at Florence House in Seaford, East Sussex right by the sea.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although short in days, a weekend retreat can seem to offer you the gift of time in various ways:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it presents you with the time to pause in your busy routine to focus on yourself - no cooking or other household chores to do - bliss!</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it makes it easy for you to put your yoga practice first - the 4 classes are scheduled in and, although attendance is not compulsory, you'll probably show up on the mat for each one, do more yoga than you would normally do in a weekend and maybe take your practice to another level as you try some poses that might not be so familiar to you.</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the change of scenery (and I like to choose places to stay that offer a strong connection to the natural world) offers a chance to pause and take in the beauty of what the season, and the weather, has to offer - we notice more than we normally would, really looking at what's around us and savouring the experience.</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">we make new friends and reconnect with old ones as we come together with our shared interest in yoga - there is lots of conversation and lots of laughter (although there are opportunities for quiet introspection and we did do a silent meditative walk along the cliff tops, paying attention to each of the 5 senses, which was interesting).</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few photos from the weekend:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnQpevt2L7F5PYb-HXj7lG9FgEd90PHs8VG6vdczvBvzZJCWBFZ_s38LJ-kUi9hYTg-RzP4BEF8SGaSLXF7y4ovYCF-B3Jfhxlzfl5MScvW_bsWNHM9SJARXsoaAG2kTXUQA79IIIPsvi/s1600/flo+ho+a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnQpevt2L7F5PYb-HXj7lG9FgEd90PHs8VG6vdczvBvzZJCWBFZ_s38LJ-kUi9hYTg-RzP4BEF8SGaSLXF7y4ovYCF-B3Jfhxlzfl5MScvW_bsWNHM9SJARXsoaAG2kTXUQA79IIIPsvi/s320/flo+ho+a.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">our light-filled yoga room</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEida7HIjsTxQuQKzxBeu0glioBi8Va44p4TRcyNf4khfwO0-c9IcwfttM9S6t72nS0LpC_aduA8IvMGnbaPcsfSFlD3emF0mj0b8L7swue7Z4tOr5iga78w3G3i8OC1nEUULVJ0JPPKlv3h/s1600/flo+ho+b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEida7HIjsTxQuQKzxBeu0glioBi8Va44p4TRcyNf4khfwO0-c9IcwfttM9S6t72nS0LpC_aduA8IvMGnbaPcsfSFlD3emF0mj0b8L7swue7Z4tOr5iga78w3G3i8OC1nEUULVJ0JPPKlv3h/s320/flo+ho+b.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">silent walk</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34LMaBg4yeeTRUxlIa7NNCf2tUR68XhQRF7MleKq7ALaTG9Mpp79V46sl7kxbxkyGVLgcGfCALxJAmaIwsETYmX53qVGZRKJv-cXoyIiwIan3PC30DVQZhn5I1mEl1dzHoqlD9Tak6htx/s1600/flo+ho+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34LMaBg4yeeTRUxlIa7NNCf2tUR68XhQRF7MleKq7ALaTG9Mpp79V46sl7kxbxkyGVLgcGfCALxJAmaIwsETYmX53qVGZRKJv-cXoyIiwIan3PC30DVQZhn5I1mEl1dzHoqlD9Tak6htx/s320/flo+ho+c.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">we found a little sheltered cove</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qGW-k4H-G_MDnNY_IDL-hfgZ9n97j7MDXe2rpfTJtE8X5zmgby-8rzS_YewrBH_FjXQQF1Zxpt4pTFM6zlLIZzBGxHXJy3SqOmL7YVr_mom4-c2RRO7okMvQYBXt_El1MEtgTDwbLoue/s1600/flo+ho+d.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qGW-k4H-G_MDnNY_IDL-hfgZ9n97j7MDXe2rpfTJtE8X5zmgby-8rzS_YewrBH_FjXQQF1Zxpt4pTFM6zlLIZzBGxHXJy3SqOmL7YVr_mom4-c2RRO7okMvQYBXt_El1MEtgTDwbLoue/s320/flo+ho+d.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my obigatory holiday headstand - with the Seven Sisters cliffs in the background </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD1mUGrVZijRExrNiBgwI2D94SWr6EZYoxQOzLl3nzH2iIGY-foSD14erQEalfMO3nAXhoStX1G29JG1B5tPHv5EBiS42-mAJ5LUwgrj3u6oQABxrfysP8EYYzGJye472P-jHMCmk5POV/s1600/flo+ho+e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD1mUGrVZijRExrNiBgwI2D94SWr6EZYoxQOzLl3nzH2iIGY-foSD14erQEalfMO3nAXhoStX1G29JG1B5tPHv5EBiS42-mAJ5LUwgrj3u6oQABxrfysP8EYYzGJye472P-jHMCmk5POV/s320/flo+ho+e.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seaford Beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you'd like to join me at my next retreat at Florence House do send me and email and I'll send you all the details - it's taking place from 14-16 October 2016 and costs £360, to include all yoga, food and accommodation. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8NvpG_QAWNT84OztCx1SDyezRY4nrQCSdIkQQm2vAihcOSSb8BAEIdGpeyyZVgHH5p_rpyvbrkY1_WJ8xZ6bl739szlfUOe74gORyuquVyBoacsl_Kwwktu0WJaBRsYXCk-E9MrDOWXQ/s1600/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8NvpG_QAWNT84OztCx1SDyezRY4nrQCSdIkQQm2vAihcOSSb8BAEIdGpeyyZVgHH5p_rpyvbrkY1_WJ8xZ6bl739szlfUOe74gORyuquVyBoacsl_Kwwktu0WJaBRsYXCk-E9MrDOWXQ/s320/IMG_0792.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a view of Florence House</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well that's all good and lovely, but what about when life doesn't flow smoothly? Here are some wise words from Leo Babauta about dealing things when the going gets tough....as it inevitably will at some point...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How to Handle the Difficult Times </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Leo Babauta from <a href="http://zenhabits.net/">zenhabits.net</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, life just wallops us against the head, deals us with such a blow that it takes our breath away.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A loved one dies, you lose a job, someone you care about gets sick, your car gets totalled, or hopelessness hits you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What do we do when the world around us crumbles, when we can’t seem to find a way out?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The times when things are falling apart are exactly the best times to practice mindfulness and compassion. These are the times we’re preparing for, in a way, when we meditate regularly with mindfulness and compassion, during the non-traumatic times.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The times when the world is collapsing are the richest areas of exploration, and when we need the tools most.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So the way to work with these times is this:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay with the pain. Don’t run from it, don’t try to do anything about it, but face it with courage.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay with the bodily feeling, dropping below your story, and smile at it, be friendly with it, have the braveness to just be with it like you would with a friend who’s hurting.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do it in small doses if that’s all you can handle. Do it with patience, noticing that your mind wants to run. Keep coming back, and you’ll earn trust in yourself to stay with the hard feelings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eventually, you see that the feelings aren’t so bad, that you can stay with them and the world won’t end, that they’ll go away like a passing cloud, that these feelings and thoughts aren’t you but just passing phenomena. You’ll start to take them less seriously, see that they’re No Big Deal, hold them lightly, give them space in your mind.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the world is falling apart, this is the time to practice.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfUmFYfCUH9dStQB6CLgZroFpOJ2cteYePXhc2ZKRmK8rmE8e_UPSO49wlShBd4A_1_lfaDLCQXBMyKBF6L7XPlVaEfOxkdnHo0UhqH2kjGNW94H2xDS7gUWtHgXPBwH4amyzaAktwJ7A/s1600/meditate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfUmFYfCUH9dStQB6CLgZroFpOJ2cteYePXhc2ZKRmK8rmE8e_UPSO49wlShBd4A_1_lfaDLCQXBMyKBF6L7XPlVaEfOxkdnHo0UhqH2kjGNW94H2xDS7gUWtHgXPBwH4amyzaAktwJ7A/s400/meditate.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Your questions answered....</b></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is a mala? </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On our weekend retreat my fellow teacher Suzie used a mala to help with the meditation we were doing. A mala is a string of beads used to help keep count during a mantra meditation (see my recent post explaining mantras <a href="http://thrive-yoga.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/third-eye-chakra-thai-red-curry-adding.html">here</a>). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Malas have been used for hundreds of years to aid focus during meditation, much like prayers beads. Traditionally made from Rudraksha seeds, there are usually 108 round beads on the string (108 is an auspicious number in yoga). There is one slightly larger bead to which a tassel is attached - this is the guru bead.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how you would use a mala:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sit in a comfortable seated position, set an intention for your meditation and choose your mantra.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lay the beads across the right hand, resting over the middle finger, with the thumb on the guru bead.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recite your mantra, then push the next bead along until it's under your thumb and recite again. And so on, until you have fed all the beads through your fingers and arrived back at the guru bead - you have recited your mantra 108 times. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkqu6TKYXg-m9Oo6nLAlJ-rAavdn1M2-D09aYsAE25Hfi4S_yxPinBQTda5keIZYi3h0_qy0r8ZWYWlNUx5qhpG-38DoI2n-whe47RFdK8BZy22exIWL2FYbOZAZQA-8xewhl8_69j5MX/s1600/mala2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkqu6TKYXg-m9Oo6nLAlJ-rAavdn1M2-D09aYsAE25Hfi4S_yxPinBQTda5keIZYi3h0_qy0r8ZWYWlNUx5qhpG-38DoI2n-whe47RFdK8BZy22exIWL2FYbOZAZQA-8xewhl8_69j5MX/s320/mala2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my mala beads</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's recipe is .... Spring Vegetable Lasagne - the Jamie Oliver way</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made this dish for supper with friends recently. It was quite straightforward to do (even though it took a bit longer than the promised 30 minutes) and it tasted really, really good.There is cream in this recipe (single cream is around 18% fat as opposed to double cream which is around 48% fat - big difference!). I'm currently doing lots of reading into the benefits of good fats in our diets and, while I eat as healthily as I can most of the time, I feel it's ok to eat what you like every now and again and not worry about, or regret, occasional indulgences (such as a bit of cream in your lasagne).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This recipe makes a very large lasagne - enough for 6-8 portions. I used half measures of everything and served 4 with a salad and some roasted vegetables.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A bunch of spring onions</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 cloves of garlic</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">700g asparagus</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">500g frozen peas</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">300g frozen broad beans</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Large bunch of fresh mint</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">300ml single cream</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 lemon</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">300ml vegetable stock</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">500g cottage cheese</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 packets of fresh lasagne sheets (12 sheets total)</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parmesan cheese</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fresh thyme (or a pinch of dried thyme)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how to make it:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 200°C.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heat the oil in a very large saucepan. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finely slice the spring onions, crush the garlic and fry gently for a few minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trim the pointed tips off the asparagus and put aside (they'll be going on the top of the lasagne later). Trim the other end and slice into small pieces. Add to the pan and fry gently for 5 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the frozen peas and broad beans, season with salt and pepper and add the chopped mint leaves.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stir in the cream (but keep a couple of spoonfuls aside to mix in with the topping later) and the grated zest of half a lemon.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cook gently for a few minutes then mash everything up using a potato masher to create a bit of texture. Cover with the vegetable stock and bring to the boil before adding 250g of cottage cheese.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stir and cook gently for a few more minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then remove from the heat and spoon a quarter of the mixture into a large, deep dish. Layer a lasagne sheet on top of the mixture, followed by a generous grating of parmesan cheese.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Repeat the layers of vegetable and lasagne sheets until you have used all of the filling and then top with a final sheet.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mix the remaining 250g of cottage cheese with the remaining cream and spread over the lasagne.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drizzle olive oil over the asparagus tips then place on top of the lasagne.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sprinkle on some thyme, some more parmesan and a final drizzle of olive oil.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bake in the oven for around 15 minutes until the topping has browned and you can see it bubbling. Check halfway through that the lasagne isn't too dry and the edges aren't curling up. If it is, add a little water and press the edges back down again.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve with a salad.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's musical offering is Long Time Sun by Snatam Kaur.</b> I played this in the Restorative Class at the retreat - so beautiful and so relaxing :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week in the garden.... </b>Everything is growing so fast and everywhere I look there is something that needs doing! I haven't managed to get outside for more than 1 hour to do a spot of weeding in my very overgrown cut-flower patch... sigh... However, I have booked myself in for a day in the garden on Sunday! Come rain or shine I will be out there and I will hopefully have a little bit more to 'show and tell' next week :-)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A shot of my diary for this weekend</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A bit about anatomy... spotlight on the psoas muscles</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I often talk about the psoas muscles in my yoga classes, and how important it is to stretch them out, especially if you sit for a large part of the day. But I find it quite hard to describe these muscles as they're deep within the body, right up close to the spine descending down through the pelvic bowl to join to the inner thighs. As you can't see them at all or manipulate them with your hands getting an idea of their situation can be a little elusive. I've just come across this great graphic (from <a href="http://www.bandhayoga.com/">www.bandhayoga.com</a> - a great website if you're interested in anatomy) which shows you the psoas muscles (collectively called the iliopsoas) in clear detail - I hope it helps you picture it now. Below it are pictures of two postures which are really good for stretching the psoas muscles out - do them regularly and you'll improve your posture,stabilise the spine and therefore ease low back pain.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) psoas major 2) psoas minor 3) iliacus 4) iliopsoas (at tendon attachment to the lesser trochanter)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyulYa8yEQRSULUZ8p_gFFenjWef4R7Q_MZsS9zx_hqCZhUm-8hvJz-eLS8d9AGAejc6neC3g1KyQ-s4Ns1Gq9gD0ehzpsqaRbSLyJ1c_ajqdEMomOfpAQe0WLdjp55LLeY3X-vADW1Gp5/s1600/anjaneyasana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyulYa8yEQRSULUZ8p_gFFenjWef4R7Q_MZsS9zx_hqCZhUm-8hvJz-eLS8d9AGAejc6neC3g1KyQ-s4Ns1Gq9gD0ehzpsqaRbSLyJ1c_ajqdEMomOfpAQe0WLdjp55LLeY3X-vADW1Gp5/s320/anjaneyasana.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, here's an inspiring video showing how you don't need anything to be a certain way before you start yoga. I often hear people say 'I'm too stiff and inflexible to do yoga'. I try and tell them that, if they just start from where they are and keep practicing the poses, the magic of yoga will happen - transformation occurs as a side-effect of a regular practice.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-5055575453373394082016-04-17T09:12:00.000+01:002016-04-17T09:12:01.836+01:00Sahasrara Chakra, Smoothies and a Simple Trick to Make Meditation Easier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We made it to the top! We've reached the seventh chakra - Sahasrara (or Crown chakra). This chakra is located at the top of the head and it connects us to our higher consciousness. When off balance there may be depression, inability to learn, rigid thoughts, confusion and fear of alienation. When in balance we live in the now with a strong trust in our inner guidance. Physically the Sahasrara is associated with the central nervous system and the brain, and also the pituitary gland and pineal gland which orchestrates all the endocrine glands in the body in their secretion of hormones.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The seed mantra for Sahasrara chakra is Om, and the colour is violet or sometimes white. Meditation is the most helpful way to balance this chakra (scroll down for a really good article and 2 short videos that might help you with your meditation practice). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The affirmation for the crown chakra is:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am connected to the wisdom of the Universe. I seek experiences that nourish my spirit. I am grateful for the good things in my life. I am open to letting go of my attachments. I live in the present moment.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The crown chakra is depicted by a 1,000 petalled<br />lotus flower opening up to receive enlightenment</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The essence of each chakra</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Your questions answered....Have you ever wondered why, when we've finished our lovely relaxing Savasana, we always roll to the right side?</b> Well, here's why it is nearly always practiced this way - the physical reason and the energetic reason:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The heart is slightly to the left side of the chest cavity so, when we roll to the right, it remains on top, therefore experiencing a little less pressure. Pausing here allows the blood pressure to readjust and we then push up to sitting slowly so we don't get dizzy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, if someone does experience dizziness due to low blood pressure when coming up from Savasana they might need to turn to the left side instead, as their venous return might not be enough and that would therefore make them feel dizzy. Turning to the left would increase the blood flow from the vena cava (on the right side of the heart) into the right atrium and prevent dizziness. (I had a little help from my well-thumbed copy of Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by H. David Coulter here.) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is also recommended that pregnant women lie on their left side as the liver is on the right side of the abdomen, and lying on the left side helps prevent the uterus pressing on this organ. It also allows for the best blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The energetic reason is concerned with the Nadis. According to yogic philosophy there are 72,000 of these channels or pathways of energy that run through the body. The primary nadi runs up the spine and is called the Sushumna. Either side of this central channel are the Ida nadi on the left and Pingala nadi on the right. The Pingala is related to the the active, solar, masculine right side of the brain and body and the Ida is related to the passive, lunar, feminine left side. When we roll to the right, the left nostril remains uppermost and open so the energy flows freely through the Ida nadi, encouraging the quiet, passivej, relaxed energy to remain with us after Savasana. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are the reasons we roll to the right after Savasana but they are both very subtle and nothing bad will happen to you if you roll to and lie on the other side! In yoga we tend to honour the traditions and the way it has been taught for so many years because to change it and do it "our way" starts to dilute it and make it feel a little more casual. The discipline and rituals of yoga help us find a deeper sense of meaning in our practice and our life and, when we honour the traditional way of practice, (like human beings in every culture have for centuries) we connect to something much deeper than ourselves. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a third reason too - everyone rolling the same way meaning less bumping into each other and disturbance of that lovely feeling after Savasana :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's an article which might help you with your meditation practice:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>A Simple Trick That Makes Meditation Much, Much Easier</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/james-brown">James Brown</a><a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24516/a-simple-trick-that-makes-meditation-much-much-easier.html#"> </a> via Mindbodygreen</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine your mind is like a glass of Coke (stay with me here). There's the foamy head with all those millions of bubbles—analogous to the surface of the mind. It's that frothy layer of useless, distracted thinking where we're trying to pay attention to too many things and doing a bad job in the process.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Settle just below that foamy head and the difference is striking. The foam has become dark, brown liquid. But guess what? There are still lots and lots of bubbles. Settle a little deeper in the glass and you still have lots of bubbles but they start to become fewer and bigger. Settle deeper and you find still fewer and bigger bubbles. And when you get all the way to the bottom of the glass, you find those big, fat, juicy bubbles as they begin to coalesce and rise up from the bottom. There are bubbles all the way down.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so it is with your mind. There are thoughts all the way down. Because as it turns out, your mind is for thinking thoughts. That is the nature of the mind. Vedic meditation, the practice I teach, is not the process for running around on the surface of the mind trying to pop all the bubbles.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We sit, close our eyes, and begin to think our mantra, and the mind begins to settle beneath of the frothy surface. We quickly get to a place where we can actually witness how many thoughts we have. (When you're lost in the froth, you can't even do that!) Then we come back to the mantra and settle a bit more. And so on. Sometimes we can settle so far that we get beyond the mind itself to touch that space between or beneath the thoughts. We transcend the mind itself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But we never reach that space in consciousness simply because we tried to (in the same way that we don’t become the best listeners by trying to listen so hard our ears fall off). We get there because we allow it to happen. And we find that when we simply open ourselves up to whatever is happening in meditation—without wishing we had fewer thoughts, without worrying that we're not doing it right—we settle much faster. It's an easy, effortless practice. And the only thing we need to do to be doing it "right" is to do as little as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a much easier way to meditate. And it works better too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's recipe...</b>is my current favourite green smoothie recipe. This is lovely and creamy and almost like a dessert. Nice to think that something so tasty is so good for me...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Smoothies are good medicine - they are an easy way to get your vitamins and minerals and, unlike juices, the provide you with lots of fibre too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a super-duper blender called a Nutribullet which whizzes everything up really quickly but an ordinary blender will do the job almost as well - just keep blending until you're happy with the consistency. The smoothie might be a little more fibrous but it's nutritional benefits will be just as good. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">A large handful of spinach</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">A quarter of a cucumber</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Half an avocado</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">A ripe banana</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">A ripe pear</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">An apple</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">One cup of liquid - I used Coconut milk but you could use water.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">(You can add little extras to make your smoothie even more nutritious - I add a teaspoonful of wheatgrass powder which is </span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and chlorophyll.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how to do it:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, blend the spinach with the liquid. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then add the other fruits and veggies and blend again. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add more liquid to thin it if necessary </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drink your medicine. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfc1JnyMmWya0BRB5G7DCGhhn5tl66SKaXfGWu3qWH8rP7E4x4s4jIN9K54juEA5qCwNLqAdKlV9Y3cCHdFDMzUqn-K82vgH1Er2obHR8pHx3tdsGitN_7PJPP09aiAOB4RlgzGUeKNaN/s1600/green+juice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfc1JnyMmWya0BRB5G7DCGhhn5tl66SKaXfGWu3qWH8rP7E4x4s4jIN9K54juEA5qCwNLqAdKlV9Y3cCHdFDMzUqn-K82vgH1Er2obHR8pHx3tdsGitN_7PJPP09aiAOB4RlgzGUeKNaN/s320/green+juice.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a helpful guide from <a href="http://www.simplegreensmoothies.com/">www.simplegreensmoothies.com</a>. Their website is full of tips and recipes - everything you need to make great smoothies.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>This week in the garden....</b> as part of my 'create space' theme for the new half-term I'm carrying on with the weeding and dividing and, bit by bit, it is all starting to look a bit clearer. However, it's been a busy week with the new term of classes and I haven't had as much time to spend out there as I would have liked.... ah well, there's always next week ....</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First pick of the year - forsythia and alkanet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This week's music offering....</b> I didn't play any music in most of my classes this week as part of my 'create space' theme for the new half term so there's not much to choose from. However, I did play this in Savasana during one class so ..... this is Home by Drala. Enjoy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, two short animations about mindfulness and meditation .... Namaste and thanks for reading.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-30508828527545555032016-04-05T21:40:00.001+01:002016-04-05T21:43:53.975+01:00Third Eye Chakra, Thai Red Curry, Chanting Mantras and Dividing Plants<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week you find me in the laundry room, up to my third eye in washing! I'm on Easter holidays from yoga classes at the moment and holidays mean that all the mats and blankets get washed. There are approximately 48 blankets and 37 mats! Washing them is no problem (if a little time-consuming), as they go in the washing machine for a 15 minute cycle, but drying them is a little more challenging, especially with these April showers! The Studio is full of temporary washing lines and my fabulous Pulley Maid drying rack is continuously draped with multi-coloured yoga kit! But oh, it's a lovely feeling when they're all done, clean, dry and perfectly folded ready for the new term.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Easter holidays haven't been all chores though. I've been up to some interesting adventures - as I'm not living according to my class timetable I can be a bit more spontaneous. I've enjoyed some yoga classes myself - it's lovely to be the student for a change and be told what to do. I went to <a href="http://www.redhotyoga.co.uk/">Red Hot Yoga</a> in Guildford and I'll definitely be going back. Situated centrally, just off North Street, they have a full and varied timetable of classes to enjoy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been running in the evenings too. For years I've run first thing in the morning as my body definitely feels lighter and more energised when I run before eating, but I've been out a couple of times now at about 6pm. It was lovely and peaceful down at Bookham Common, with a different light and energy. I noticed lots of things at that time of day that I wouldn't usually have seen - lots of herons sitting on their nests high up in the trees, the swans swimming silently on the ponds and the early evening light shining on the silvery down of the pussy willows.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My running is rarely competitive but on Sunday morning I was up early to participate in the Richmond 10k race. It was nice and flat (!) and took me along the path by the side of the Thames. I really enjoyed the new perspective and the extra boost of energy and adrenaline that running in a race offers. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did it! And got the T-shirt!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having two sick family members is heightening my awareness of just how precious life is. It's making me want to go and see lots of places and do lots of new things because you just never know what's around the corner - figuratively, as we cannot know for certain what the future holds, and literally as I found out on Sunday when I did a tourist walk around Little Venice in London. I've lived in and around London all my life, yet I'd never walked along the Regent's Canal. It was a very interesting guided tour where I learned many things about the canals and waterways of the UK. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And I saw views I've never seen before too. I'm definitely going to do some more of these tourist walks - there are lots of them. You can take a look here at </span><a href="http://www.walks.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.walks.com</a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to see the weekly schedule if you'd like to discover more about London too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like this proverb which tells us that it doesn't matter what we choose to do to with our time on this planet as long as we keep moving along our own path. We are all different and like doing different things - we don't all want to climb a mountain. But what </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is</i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> important is that we don't stop looking, learning and exploring this amazing world and our precious life:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Our journey through the chakras</b> continues with the spotlight this week on the third eye centre, <b>Ajna chakra.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sixth chakra is located between the eyebrows, and it connects us to our insight and intuition. When off balance there may be moodiness, daydreaming or mistrust. When in balance we feel open and focused. We feel a deep spiritual connection, strong morality and we can easily determine between truth and illusion. Physically, Ajna Chakra is associated with the pituitary and pineal glands. The pineal gland secretes melanin and seratonin, necessary for a good night's sleep. It has a similar structure to the retina of the eye and new research suggests it might be photo receptive and able to sense light. The pituitary gland orchestrates all the other endocrine glands to do their jobs of producing hormones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The mantra of Ajna Chakra is Aum and its colour is indigo. It's affirmation is:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am calm and clear. I open to the wisdom that is within me. I trust my intuition and follow it. I am connected to my higher self. I am the witness. I envision a world of peace and beauty. I release all attachments to wanting it my way. I see.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Your questions answered - what is a mantra?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A mantra is a word or sound that is repeated over and over again to help with concentration during meditation. Mantras </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">can be repeated silently to oneself, or </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">spoken or sung out loud (scroll down to listen to Tina Turner and even further down for Deva Premal). They are soothing and repetitive and encourage relaxation of the nervous system. They help to quieten the mind by giving it something to focus on. Some yogis are given a mantra by their guru while others choose one which particularly resonates with them</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Whilst many mantras are Sanskrit words, such as Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti (which means Om, peace, peace, peace) or </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gate gate, Para gate, Parasam gate, Bodhiswaha (which means </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gone, Gone, Gone beyond, Gone utterly beyond, Oh what an Awakening), you might prefer to choose a simple English phrase such as "love and light", "I breathe in, I breathe out" or "health and happiness" to repeat to yourself during your meditation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Listen to Tina Turner sing the Peace Mantra "Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Om Sarvesham Swastir Bhavatu, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sarvesham Purnam Bhavatu, </span></div>
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Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu </div>
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May auspiciousness be unto all; </div>
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May peace be unto all; </div>
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May fullness be unto all; </div>
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May prosperity be unto all.</div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's recipe is for <b>Thai Red Curry</b>. It comes from </span><a href="http://cookieandkate.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cookie and Kate</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a wholefood blog that posts lots of healthy vegetarian recipes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To serve 2 you will need:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrbLjKwv9bRhv72CmF1XPJzTfg0LWW_XAEMhifu3ivYO4NwBvLAyOGHoV42JNAwjPt6ig-Ipo5WwaoVhXUMBGs4XqJ2CDSQJAxueyImB97cb8nBD7J2iKIXe-yNCN1CWqK85LRXlvYoi3/s1600/curry1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrbLjKwv9bRhv72CmF1XPJzTfg0LWW_XAEMhifu3ivYO4NwBvLAyOGHoV42JNAwjPt6ig-Ipo5WwaoVhXUMBGs4XqJ2CDSQJAxueyImB97cb8nBD7J2iKIXe-yNCN1CWqK85LRXlvYoi3/s320/curry1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 cup brown jasmine rice or long-grain brown rice, rinsed</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 small white onion, diced</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pinch of salt, more to taste</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger (about a 1-inch nub of ginger)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 red pepper, sliced into thin 2-inch long strips (this recipe is quite heavy on the peppers, so you could use less and add in something else like baby sweetcorn)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 yellow pepper, sliced into thin 2-inch long strips</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 large carrots, peeled and sliced on the diagonal into ¼-inch wide rounds </span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste bought from the supermarket </span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 can (14 ounces) full-fat coconut milk</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1½ cups packed thinly sliced kale (tough ribs removed first), preferably the cavolo nero variety if you can get it </span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1½ teaspoons coconut sugar or turbinado (raw) sugar or brown sugar</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 teaspoons soy sauce (I used reduced-sodium tamari)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1½ teaspoons rice vinegar</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Garnishes: handful of chopped fresh parsley or coriander, optional red pepper flakes, optional sriracha or chili garlic sauce</span></li>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To cook the rice, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the rinsed rice and continue boiling for 30 minutes, reducing heat as necessary to prevent overflow. Remove from heat, drain the rice and return the rice to pot. Cover and let the rice rest for 10 minutes or longer, until you're ready to serve. Just before serving, season the rice to taste with salt and fluff it with a fork.</span></li>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To make the curry, warm a large skillet with deep sides over medium heat. Once it’s hot, add a tablespoon of oil. Add the onion and a sprinkle of salt and cook until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, while stirring continuously.</span></li>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the peppers and carrots and cook for until they are fork-tender, 3 to 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the curry paste and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.</span></li>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Add the coconut milk and kale to the pan along with ¾ cup water and 1½ teaspoons sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the peppers, carrots and kale have softened to your liking, about 5 to 10 minutes.</span></li>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remove the curry from heat and season with rice vinegar and soy sauce. Add salt to taste. Divide rice and curry into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or coriander and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if you'd like. If you love spicy curries, serve with sriracha or chili garlic sauce on the side.</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK36lAgrkvQoAt0SlcPqfgd_6NXTQohCNuuVJr8MwCFcB9YIsJHFUFLjlSKqFFmdAtsvzN9Dl26yV0sGBolmGXHb0zp8AmSWwIm2tFSCKyZkp23hcoxfmMs_8NqBTx6niPyGzUWVgBeIcK/s1600/curry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK36lAgrkvQoAt0SlcPqfgd_6NXTQohCNuuVJr8MwCFcB9YIsJHFUFLjlSKqFFmdAtsvzN9Dl26yV0sGBolmGXHb0zp8AmSWwIm2tFSCKyZkp23hcoxfmMs_8NqBTx6niPyGzUWVgBeIcK/s320/curry2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In the garden</b>, I'm continuing to tidy up and do some much needed weeding. I'm also starting to dig up plants that I want to move to different flower beds and there are some perennials that can be divided to make more plants. Today I've cut a deciduous grass in half! It sounds harsh but it will be just fine - it will flourish and thrive! It had got too big for it's spot and by dividing it I get a new plant for free! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I dug it up carefully with a fork, took off all the old dead foliage, then I cut it in half with a saw. Then I replanted half back into it's original hole and put the other half further along the border. I watered them in well and they're now ready to sprout fresh new spring growth.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFAvw87Y_clqWFa29ptMmAnAh5DnxEA5RSHOYMcvknzHWj43qCZYYw1vSDlK2oq76QsoZWUt67Auvkff-jQEzyZr_uQYSWaoFIycD17ZwJ3LDSq9TAM447mgXD750lIUcEVj9usF8fWeE/s1600/grass1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFAvw87Y_clqWFa29ptMmAnAh5DnxEA5RSHOYMcvknzHWj43qCZYYw1vSDlK2oq76QsoZWUt67Auvkff-jQEzyZr_uQYSWaoFIycD17ZwJ3LDSq9TAM447mgXD750lIUcEVj9usF8fWeE/s320/grass1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIpMpNwOsm2GtWlaq4EEll5bx5nmrYoSqQwaQvSQTWg6m8VEYwDVTCkgSHAgSX-mU-2x8tIcdfXovTAnNbLl45YZGxn06dEoMi3Pn1wpsHWoTXztv0TltWzJ8o-qTg18fZQUHh-ZsBpjr/s1600/grass2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIpMpNwOsm2GtWlaq4EEll5bx5nmrYoSqQwaQvSQTWg6m8VEYwDVTCkgSHAgSX-mU-2x8tIcdfXovTAnNbLl45YZGxn06dEoMi3Pn1wpsHWoTXztv0TltWzJ8o-qTg18fZQUHh-ZsBpjr/s320/grass2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During... (although that looks like another tuft of grass<br />in the bottom right corner, it is in fact my supervisor,<br />The Furry Guru, checking I'm doing it right)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4IfPK8j5vbtxFsiTzr_sv5AeSTot49RSvL33tqSDv8EEitT5OP7Y8Wudiegoi7lbnN-NNyz3_WP0qRZIfG9zG5fY7EaaEovdhsW0QX4ghCkgIKsRPJgvuJp3tvrwN-Lrk12hh0aKwmmJ/s1600/grass3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4IfPK8j5vbtxFsiTzr_sv5AeSTot49RSvL33tqSDv8EEitT5OP7Y8Wudiegoi7lbnN-NNyz3_WP0qRZIfG9zG5fY7EaaEovdhsW0QX4ghCkgIKsRPJgvuJp3tvrwN-Lrk12hh0aKwmmJ/s320/grass3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,,,, and after.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's<b> musical offering</b> it a track I regularly play in class. It's called Gate Gate and it's by one of my favourite artists, Deva Premal. It starts quietly and builds to a slow rhythm - a great track to do some warming up and a few rounds of Sun Salutation to. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And finally, this week's inspiring video comes from Soul Pancake. It's about making connections... I love it!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-40744699808775182732016-03-20T22:13:00.001+00:002016-03-20T23:43:02.772+00:00Spring, Sweet Potato Pancakes and Sweet Peas - and Visuddha Chakra too<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yesterday was the vernal equinox - when the sun crosses the celestial equator into the Northern Hemisphere bringing us the first day of spring and equal amounts of night and daylight. We can now officially say goodbye to winter and welcome in more light and (hopefully) more warmth - bring it on! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">picture credit Sam Symonds</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's chakra is <b>Vishuddha - the throat chakra</b>. Located in the centre of the throat, it connects us to our expressive self, reinforcing communication and speech. When off balance there may be issues with self-expression, and fear of loss of control or power. When in balance, we can express our truth without worrying about what others may think. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Physically it is associated with the thyroid gland which secretes hormones regulating growth and development, and parathyroid glands which regulate calcium levels. It is also associated with sore throats and neck problems.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Its mantra is Ham and its colour is blue. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Yantra for Visuddha Chakra </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you're looking for a little more clarification on why it's useful to know about the chakras, this article by Andrea Ferretti via Yoga Journal makes a good read...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b><u>A Beginner’s Guide to the Chakras</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Channel more confidence, creativity, and joy in your life with a basic understanding of your body’s energy centers.</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />It’s too bad our problems don’t stay behind with our shoes when we step into the yoga studio. Too often, we get on the mat feeling overwhelmed with worry or stymied by a relationship conflict or in need of an energy boost. But the right class can leave us feeling clearer, lighter, and refreshed. Credit the stress-busting powers of a good workout? Sure. But the ancient yogis, and many teachers today, would also chalk this up to the unique way that yoga poses and breathwork move blocked prana (life force) through the subtle body.<br /><br />According to yoga tradition, the subtle body is a part of you that you can’t see or touch—it’s where your energy flows, which is why it’s also referred to as the energy body. There are seven key points in the subtle body that are thought to be vortexes of energy, known as chakras. When energy becomes blocked in a chakra, it triggers physical, mental, or emotional imbalances that manifest in symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion. A well-tuned asana practice can free up energy and stimulate an imbalanced chakra, paving the way for that wonderful internal shift for which yoga is known. With just a little bit of coaching, you can tap into the chakras as a potent way of harnessing and shifting your energy in the direction you want it to go.<br /><br />Start by thinking of chakras as a blueprint for your own self-care, and your yoga practice as the architect that makes that blueprint a reality. The most direct way to use the chakras is to learn how each one is associated with an element in nature. As Alan Finger, founder of ISHTA Yoga, explains, the first five chakras are associated with the physical elements earth, water, fire, air, and ether (or space). The last two chakras are thought to connect us beyond the earthly realm, so they are associated with the elements of light and cosmic energy.<br /><br />Once you learn the element that each chakra is associated with, you can start to suss out how that element feels in your body. And thinking about your body in these symbolic terms can help you access new stores of energy with the practices detailed in these pages. For example, the root chakra is associated with earth. When it’s in balance, we feel strong and grounded; when it’s out of balance, we may feel unrooted and insecure. Or take the pelvic chakra, which is associated with water. When it’s in balance, we feel fluid and like our creative juices are flowing. When it’s not, we might feel rigid, dry, or emotionally brittle, like a plant that hasn’t been watered enough.<br /><br />In order to restore balance in your chakras, you must first tune in to how you’re feeling, then figure out which chakra to stimulate to counteract the imbalance. For example, if you’re feeling low in energy, you can do poses that target the navel chakra to rekindle your inner fire. If you’re feeling anxious and long to feel more grounded, choose poses for the earthy root chakra. Or if you seek more courage to speak your truth, the right poses can open and stimulate the throat chakra.<br /><br />The effects of a chakra-based practice can have a tangible, empowering ripple effect on your life. Jasmine Tarkeshi, vinyasa teacher and cofounder of Laughing Lotus Yoga Center, says she’s been doing more root-chakra practices since becoming a new mom, and the effect is palpable. “If I’m feeling frenzied, I hold the poses longer to feel more grounded and present,” she says. “It informs the rest of my day to the point where maybe I’m not losing my keys so much or I’m not so busy or forgetful that I skip lunch. If I specifically use the poses medicinally rather than just haphazardly, I can really change my day.”<br /><br />Each of the poses Tarkeshi recommends below is designed to address a corresponding chakra and its associated life issues. You can do the entire sequence, or focus on the pose or poses that speak to areas in your life that need attention. For a more restorative, meditative approach, first close your eyes while seated and envision the color associated with the chakra radiating from the chakra’s location, as you repeat the sound associated with it. And to help you focus and go deeper into each asana, try repeating the associated chakra sound while practicing.<br /><br />Remember, the changes to the subtle body can’t be touched or measured as you would your heart rate or height. You have to trust your inner experience to feel them and to recognize their benefits. Claire Missingham, a London-based vinyasa flow yoga teacher, advises trying chakra-based poses for four weeks and keeping a journal of how you feel after each practice. Keep your notes simple, and write down any changes you feel in your energy, such as, “calmed me down” or “helped me communicate more clearly.” Keeping track this way just might help you see how tuning in to the chakras can help you shift more than just your physical state.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br />Muladhara (Root Chakra)</b><br />Element: Earth<br /> Color: Red<br /> Sound: Lam<br /> Life theme:<br /><br />The Muladhara governs your family ties and feelings of survival, belonging, and guardedness. Your earliest memories are stored here, including whether or not your basic needs were met. When it is blocked or out of balance, you can become needy, have low self-esteem, or have self-destructive behaviors. When Muladhara is in balance, you feel strong and confident; you can stand up on your own two feet and take care of yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vrksasana (Tree Pose)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Stand with your feet hip-width apart, creating a stable base. On an exhale, soften your knees, and release your tailbone as you engage your thighs. Draw the sole of your right foot to the inside of your left inner thigh or calf; continue dropping your tailbone and engaging the standing leg’s thigh to keep the stable alignment you had standing on both feet. Press through your left foot as you lift through the crown of your head. Hold for 5 breaths, and switch sides. Allow gravity to root you down, while noticing how prana moves up your spine.<br /><br /><b>Svadhisthana (Sacral or Pelvic Chakra)</b><br />Element: Water<br /> Color: Orange<br /> Sound: Yam<br /> Life theme:<br /><br />This chakra corresponds with your reproductive and sexual organs, and represents fluidity, creativity, and fertility. You can take a literal interpretation of this, or associate this chakra with whether or not you feel deserving of a pleasurable, abundant, creative life. When it’s out of balance, you can feel emotionally unstable, guilty, or hard on yourself. When Svadhisthana in balance, you feel creative, positive, and receptive to change—like the ocean and its tides, you’re in the flow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Utkata Konasana (Goddess Pose)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Step your feet wide, turn your toes out, and sink your hips far enough to bring each knee over its corresponding ankle. Place your hands on your thighs and draw your tailbone down as the pubis lifts. Breathe deeply and move side to side, rocking your pelvis back and forth. You can fold down and move your arms side to side between your feet. The point is to enjoy the movement. Feel free to sigh or make sounds. Hold for 8-10 breaths. By opening the hips, you draw focus to the reproductive organs; in swaying, you recognize life’s ebb and flow.<br /><b><br />Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)</b><br />Element: Fire<br /> Color: Yellow<br /> Sound: Ram<br /> Life theme:<br /><br />You’ve heard the expression “firing on all cylinders.” When the Manipura is in balance, you feel alive and have the self-esteem and confidence to take action and be productive. When it’s blocked, you lack courage, have low self-esteem, and feel stagnant and inert. By working on this chakra, you can awaken your true personal inner power and work through your fear of taking risks.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Navasana (Boat Pose)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Begin seated with your legs ahead of you. Hug your knees into your chest, and then grab behind your knees to help lift your feet off the floor and balance on your sitting bones. Lift your chest, and draw your shoulders down. Shift your weight forward to the front of your sitting bones as you draw in your navel, engaging your abdominals, and extend your arms forward and your legs up into Navasana. As you exhale, cross your arms at your chest, and lower your legs until they’re a few inches off the ground; inhale to rise back to Navasana. Repeat 5 times, and then lower to your back. Boat is an energizing pose that ignites your core muscles, creating power for transformation.<br /><br /><b><br />Anahata (Heart Chakra)</b><br />Element: Air<br /> Color: Green<br /> Sound: Yam<br /> Life Theme:<br /><br />Awaken to the power of unconditional love within you through compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance. When the heart chakra is blocked, you become possessive and codependent, and may form dysfunctional relationships. You may also stay isolated for fear of rejection. When you stimulate the Anahata chakra, you can heal past wounds by reopening your heart, learn to love unconditionally, and form healthy relationships.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ustrasana (Camel Pose)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Come to your knees, and sit back on your heels. Join your hands at your heart center. Tuck your toes and rise to bring your hips over your knees, making sure knees and toes are hip-width apart. Place your palms on your lower back with the fingers pointing up and gently draw your sacrum down, as your front hip bones lift. Keep your chin in toward your chest, and lean back. Hug the shoulder blades toward each other. Stay here and breathe, or reach for your heels with your hands. The head is the last thing to release, if it’s comfortable. After a few breaths, bring your hands back to your sacrum and sit on your heels, returning your hands to prayer and bowing your head. Camel opens the heart center. Before you arch back, consider dedicating the posture to someone for whom you feel compassion.<br /><b><br />Vishuddha (Throat Chakra)</b><br />Element: Ether<br /> Color: Blue<br /> Sound: Ham<br /> Life theme:<br /><br />When Vishuddha is blocked, you may feel like you can’t find your voice or your truth. You may also be overly talkative and not listen to others. When this chakra is open and stimulated, your voice moves through space to help you communicate your emotions in healthy ways. You also become better at listening to others and honoring their personal truths without judgment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Lie down with your shoulders supported on a folded blanket, head on the floor. Bend your knees, rock your hips up, lift your legs overhead, and then release your toes toward the floor beyond the crown of your head. Place your hands midback, and lift one leg at a time skyward. Allow your gaze to drop toward your heart, and hear the sound of your breath. Feel free to express yourself by joining the soles of the feet, or by lowering one leg at a time toward the floor. Hold for up to 2 minutes. To release, lower both feet to the floor above your head, release your hands to the floor, and lower yourself vertebra by vertebra. Freeing the neck and spine, and then turning the senses in toward your breath, allows you to connect with your own rhythm.<br /><br /><b>Anja (Third-Eye Chakra)</b><br />Element: Light<br /> Color: Indigo<br /> Sound: OM<br /> Life theme:<br /><br />This chakra is associated with your intuition, or sixth sense, and governs how the rest of the chakras function. When Ajna is functioning well, you have insight, and you trust your inner wisdom to face life’s challenges and choices. When it’s blocked, you feel close-minded, too attached to logic, untrusting, and cynical. Working on the sixth chakra opens your mind to the bigger picture and different perspectives, and it helps you receive the wisdom that cannot be seen or heard by ordinary senses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sukhasana (Easy Pose)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Come to a seat. Fold one heel in toward your groin, and then the other. If your knees aren’t lower than your hips, sit on a folded blanket. Cup your palms toward each other, touching opposite fingertips in Hakini Mudra. For 10 breaths, close your eyes, pose a question to yourself, and focus on the sound of your breath, placing the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth as you inhale, and relaxing it as you exhale. Release the backs of your hands to your knees, and see if you sense an answer. Stay here for up to 5 minutes. Hakini Mudra is known to increase the power of concentration, and in this pose you can easily access calm focus.<br /><br /><b><br />Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)</b><br />Element: Cosmic Energy<br /> Color: Violet or White<br /> Sound: OM<br /> Life theme:<br /><br />The crown chakra connects to beauty itself and the spiritual realm. It helps you to understand who you are beyond your physical self—that you are a spiritual being having a human experience. It is not located in the body but actually hovers above the crown of the head. When it’s closed, you think happiness can only come from the outside, and you suffer. Working on this chakra helps you to feel free in any situation</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Savasana (Corpse Pose)</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Make sure you’re warm and comfortable, and lie down on your back. You can cover yourself with a blanket, cover your eyes with an eye pillow, or place a rolled-up blanket under your knees or head. Open your legs hip-width apart, and release your arms to your sides with your palms facing up. Take a deep breath and squeeze every part of your body tight, lifting your head, arms, and legs off the floor. Hold for a moment, and let everything go with a big exhale out of the mouth. Do this several times. Imagine a lotus flower at the crown of your head. With every inhale, imagine Divine light pouring in through the flower, and with every exhale, let go of anything that binds you to the past. Stay for 5–20 minutes, then slowly bring your awareness back to your breath, and move your fingers and toes to reconnect to your physical body without losing your connection to your infinite self.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Questions and Answers - Why Is It Important Not To Eat Before Yoga?</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is recommended that you leave at least an hour and a half to two hours, preferably more, between eating a meal and practicing yoga, buy why is this? When you eat, your body is busy digesting the food - too busy to do yoga as well. The stomach is busy producing acids and enzymes to break down the foot to a liquid consistency, the small intestine is busy continuing this process and also moving the food along the gut (peristalsis) and absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream, the pancreas, liver and gallbladder are also busy producing enzymes, and the large intestine continues the job of moving the food along, absorbing water, until it reaches the rectum and is ready for elimination. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we ask the body to perform the demanding twists, forward bends, backbends and inversions we do in yoga while it is trying to do all of this, it can interfere with the digestive process, causing wind, indigestion, hearburn and discomfort. Not a good idea! You want to feel light, free and comfortable rather than heavy, sleepy and full. If you feel lightheaded and need to eat before your practice, try eating a little bit of fruit or some nuts to keep you going instead. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This Week's Recipe....</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sweet Potato Pancakes</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are amazing and make a fabulous breakfast. To make them you need just 3 ingredients! Yes, really! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 medium sized sweet potato</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Here's how to make them:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bake your sweet potato in the oven for about an hour (I cooked mine the night before.) </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scrape out the flesh and mix in the eggs. Whisk until you have a smooth batter-like consistency (I whizzed them in my Nutribullet for about 30 seconds which worked really well.)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heat the oil in a frying pan.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drop about a tablespoon of mixture into the pan and gently squash down to form each pancake. Cook on a low heat for 3-5 minutes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They're not easy to turn over so either use 2 spatulas or, as I found out by chance, press the spatula into the top of the pancake and it then lifts up away from the pan and you can slide it off the other way up - I hope this works for you too!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serve with a sprinkling of cinammon, a dollop of Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of maple syrup. Yummy!</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprN0W-lDvw7nWpQmE7HA4jSPqqHbYJ4O12zk4zjht9wlGHxi-YO1JdLM1joudayv0Meo4jc0C_WR18-HjTSkZYoNs5F8A9CPqqaUB3tRwAbmVhI1RWcLCNL4WPM_x4p8B8AgUJZ6JrqY_/s1600/sweetpot2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprN0W-lDvw7nWpQmE7HA4jSPqqHbYJ4O12zk4zjht9wlGHxi-YO1JdLM1joudayv0Meo4jc0C_WR18-HjTSkZYoNs5F8A9CPqqaUB3tRwAbmVhI1RWcLCNL4WPM_x4p8B8AgUJZ6JrqY_/s320/sweetpot2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>This Week In the Garden...</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">....I'm planting Sweet Pea seeds for summer colour and scent. Sweet Peas are easy to grow and are hardy too, so if there is a frost it won't harm them. You can buy a packet of Sweet Peas in your local garden centre (and many supermarkets) for a couple of pounds and you'll have flowers to enjoy and pick for weeks in summer - complete bargain! <a href="http://thrive-yoga.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/so-what-does-all-this-lifestyle-stuff.html">Here's the link to a previous post about how to plant them</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXvDa110j05lcNvVnczpFxDEY0LmV070nBi5ynMMcWflYDr8eWM04z1davyWyD8obZcjCWiSO2O6d2P7J5nH7bqlt1qENfKj7RT2sDCk0IxvgVahbePKU3dWsZiwzNJEHe-ChHx0HwfkG/s1600/sweet+peas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXvDa110j05lcNvVnczpFxDEY0LmV070nBi5ynMMcWflYDr8eWM04z1davyWyD8obZcjCWiSO2O6d2P7J5nH7bqlt1qENfKj7RT2sDCk0IxvgVahbePKU3dWsZiwzNJEHe-ChHx0HwfkG/s320/sweet+peas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's musical offering is one of the tracks I used for Savasana in my classes this week: "Call of the Search" by Anugama.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, I thought I'd share two super-short videos of Rachel Brathen's (aka Yoga Girl) practice with Penny the Goat. I am inspired and have informed the Furry Guru that, although his preferred yoga pose is Savasana, he'd better look lively as we'll now be stepping it up a bit! Watch this space....</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BBiE3NfRdx3/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.instagram.com/p/BBiE3NfRdx3/</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until next week....</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-27795768752693780682016-03-13T18:08:00.000+00:002016-03-13T18:14:20.824+00:00Manipura chakra, mushrooms and more....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Well here we are again, continuing our journey through the chakras. That week went by so fast! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chakra number 3 is also known as <b>Manipura </b>or<b> the Solar Plexus chakra</b>. Located at the solar plexus, between the navel and the base of the breastbone, it connects us to our ego, will and personal power. Physically this chakra is connected to the pancreas which regulates blood sugar metabolism and produces digestive enzymes. Manipura chakra has a strong association with stress, especially if caused by a loss of power or control (ie losing a job). When this chakra is out of balance we lack confidence, and can feel depressed and confused. When in balance, Manipura chakra brings us harmony and confidence and allows us to feel comfortable with the Self and with others. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The associated colour is yellow, the mantra is Yam and the affirmation is:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I do enough. I am enough. I accept myself and express my identity without imposing my will on others. I live with integrity and harmony". </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE_TyGkbAFw8TkYB7tNOoWcvDrnpRWvm4oEnhvYjEiqUB77NReYQz_DRlZ_uv7-7K1MN3DQyqUgkffjmmgX6QrnEAYM3bG72yoaY7kWIXPqXO7Rm5gpS5t-yU1Ei84Np_zCISPkYIz43_/s1600/Solar-Plexus-Chakra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGE_TyGkbAFw8TkYB7tNOoWcvDrnpRWvm4oEnhvYjEiqUB77NReYQz_DRlZ_uv7-7K1MN3DQyqUgkffjmmgX6QrnEAYM3bG72yoaY7kWIXPqXO7Rm5gpS5t-yU1Ei84Np_zCISPkYIz43_/s1600/Solar-Plexus-Chakra.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Questions and answers about unfamiliar words and terminology in yoga.....</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The world of yoga is full of strange and unfamiliar words and phrases. You might have heard some of them in your yoga class but be unsure of their meaning, so I thought I'd shed a little light on some of the terminology and the reasons why, when we practice yoga, we do things a certain way. If there's something you're curious about, please do ask me in the comments below and I'll endeavour to provide an answer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language - one of the oldest on Earth, pre-dating Greek and Latin. Many of the classical yoga texts are written in Sanskrit and all of the yoga poses you practice have a Sanskrit name as well as an English one. Although it is no longer a spoken language in India and tends to be used only in the written form, it is still used in the yoga world. But why is that? What purpose does it serve? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Using the Sanskrit words invites us to be part of the tradition of yoga - we feel that we are connected to it's roots in an authentic way and that yoga hasn't been changed to suit us. As our practice deepens we become interested in all parts of yoga, realising it is so much more than just an exercise class. In the ancient Vedic tradition, the belief was that the names of the poses had a sound quality to them too - an energy, a spiritual invocation - and that the names and the poses themselves were united, not separate.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are a few translations of some common Sanskrit words that you might hear in class:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Asana - the physical postures we do. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pranayama - the breathing practices - prana = life-force energy +<i> </i>ayam<i> = </i>expansion/extension. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shala - means 'house' or 'home' in Sanskrit. A yoga studio might also be called a Shala - a home of yoga. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sangha - means 'company' or 'community' - often used to describe the gathering of those who come together for a yoga or meditation class.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Surya - the sun. Namaskar - Salutations = Sun Salutations</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Namaste - Salutations (greetings) to you/I bow to you.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll share some more Sanskrit words and their meanings over the coming weeks - there's always something new to learn in yoga. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One question that has come up recently is 'what is a vinyasa?'. It's a good questions as, not only do you hear that word a lot in class (especially if you do Ashtanga yoga*) but there is also a type of yoga called Vinyasa Flow Yoga too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A vinyasa is a sequence of movements, synchronised with the breath, used to transition between yoga postures. It translates literally as "to place in a special way". In recent times, with the popularity of Vinyasa Flow classes, the term has come to refer to one particular sequence, most often found in Sun Salutations: plank, to plank with bent elbows (Chaturanga), to Upward-Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana), to Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the Sanskrit writing for the word 'vinyasa':</span><br />
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<span lang="sa" xml:lang="sa"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">विन्यास</span></span></div>
<span lang="sa" xml:lang="sa"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span lang="sa" xml:lang="sa"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* see a previous post <a href="http://thrive-yoga.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-quick-guide-to-different-types-of-yoga.html">here</a> if you want to know more about the different types of yoga.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Caprese Stuffed Mushrooms</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are, of course, healthy, quick and easy to make (I just don't do complicated cooking!). They are great if you are following a paleo diet as there are good fats and no carbs involved.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Garlic butter:</span></div>
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<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon butter</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 clove garlic, crushed</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sprinkling of freshly chopped parsley (I used dried mixed herbs as I didn't have fresh)</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mushrooms:</span></div>
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<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4 large Portobello Mushrooms, stem removed, wiped and dried with a paper towel</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 packet of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced thinly</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8 cherry tomatoes, sliced thinly</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fresh basil, shredded to garnish</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Balsamic vinegar </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1DEovCOo0v8MIv4Zu-UTgvAIIqF9UadJhecFKfaGPP-o3qDPcjEpq1cTL3zjup1DWB9sd7Dkq0B2gnkkTLwh2M4ZywAcMBmYLX_28Ghnj-z8uWqXOA6sZCXQG_rhRZyGQWsZTJ7p-x0C/s1600/mushrooms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1DEovCOo0v8MIv4Zu-UTgvAIIqF9UadJhecFKfaGPP-o3qDPcjEpq1cTL3zjup1DWB9sd7Dkq0B2gnkkTLwh2M4ZywAcMBmYLX_28Ghnj-z8uWqXOA6sZCXQG_rhRZyGQWsZTJ7p-x0C/s320/mushrooms.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Preheat the grill (just so you know, the recipe said to do this under the grill but I've done mushrooms in the oven in the past).</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Melt the butter in a small saucepan with the garlic. Dunk the mushrooms in the melted garlic butter and place them on a baking tray.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fill each mushroom with the mozzarella slices and the tomatoes.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grill until the mushrooms are soft, and the cheese has melted and is golden in colour (about 8-10 minutes).</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To serve, top with the basil and drizzle with the Balsamic vinegar.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv6n3cypNuLAVtrbiCTnwuhYK1OyFJnCCcqDyTHKXVQjv-wOnoV6k_AtDHv07CKvFrZrooud00JEF8EzVfbNIbduWbeTGhoKwaNJBgxAd91HatZM_zPYt3xc6UdB9n_6FkKUg2Q5kyxIc/s1600/mushrooms2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv6n3cypNuLAVtrbiCTnwuhYK1OyFJnCCcqDyTHKXVQjv-wOnoV6k_AtDHv07CKvFrZrooud00JEF8EzVfbNIbduWbeTGhoKwaNJBgxAd91HatZM_zPYt3xc6UdB9n_6FkKUg2Q5kyxIc/s320/mushrooms2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My slightly over-cooked mushrooms nevertheless tasted good</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>In the garden....</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've been enjoying the sunshine this weekend. Once the fog burned off it really felt like spring and I've been out in the garden continuing the big tidy up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_CCKnehFvrarRTzcSfwpnAOVTp4_4Jq2Z95pPdPM58kg-f0QWJO92KQWpjbFwkaiQ7JucbUqtf-EH_BY5GRJKbVK-3bJMcPhQ6qK9xZR5hsVb5lfxncZbWT4bE_ZjJqd6zKboXI5AEbc/s1600/garden1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_CCKnehFvrarRTzcSfwpnAOVTp4_4Jq2Z95pPdPM58kg-f0QWJO92KQWpjbFwkaiQ7JucbUqtf-EH_BY5GRJKbVK-3bJMcPhQ6qK9xZR5hsVb5lfxncZbWT4bE_ZjJqd6zKboXI5AEbc/s400/garden1.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Work in progress - can you spot my helper?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today I've been digging up Forget-Me-Nots. They self-seed all over the place but I love them so much I'm happy to spend some time thinning them and moving them about rather than be without them. They make good ground cover when there's not much else in flower and their little blue flowers are so pretty. Last autumn I bought lots of wallflowers and overwintered them in pots against a wall at the back of the house. They're just about to flower so, after weeding and clearing the border, I'm planting them alongside the Forget-Me-Nots. Yellow and blue will look lovely.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm still cutting back all the dead stems of the perennial plants and weeding as I go, and I'm also pruning the Buddleia bushes too. These shrubs, also known as Butterfly Bush because butterflies love their nectar so much, will produce flowers on the new growth that grows this spring and early summer. They need pruning because the flowers are at the end of each stem and, if they are allowed to grow really tall, they will be so high up you won't really see them. So prune them now and you'll get lots of beautiful sweet smelling purple flowers to share with the butterflies or bring into the house in the summer. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They can take a really good hard prune - as a general rule, cut back to the second set of leaves from the base of the plant.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaEtLX3qOzMn0ckc-2YbF4wR9fa3WAZ2_G9JZmPIkVyoIWQNIAy3v7orlqt7aNUrHWVoQpKYY9-XHAcfv9TzrybXE5KECSw7y8Vua_vhU_ZBwJRkshjxMxMo7FnOn7-l6gR4M4Z-Eev6n/s1600/buddleia3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaEtLX3qOzMn0ckc-2YbF4wR9fa3WAZ2_G9JZmPIkVyoIWQNIAy3v7orlqt7aNUrHWVoQpKYY9-XHAcfv9TzrybXE5KECSw7y8Vua_vhU_ZBwJRkshjxMxMo7FnOn7-l6gR4M4Z-Eev6n/s320/buddleia3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before ....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyAwzbOLlJu2sbuoEEuNfbdPFDjBFaGZ8DP3YUf9whG7jwC6GJucibml4NIYktq3GhUBD7_IExUfXPFvBXa0wqIG-n3-SmwvKzgYvqcfJn8iXJF1M7ewPsX-fxglHZx2ndxloCcTU3OgU/s1600/buddleia4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyAwzbOLlJu2sbuoEEuNfbdPFDjBFaGZ8DP3YUf9whG7jwC6GJucibml4NIYktq3GhUBD7_IExUfXPFvBXa0wqIG-n3-SmwvKzgYvqcfJn8iXJF1M7ewPsX-fxglHZx2ndxloCcTU3OgU/s320/buddleia4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">..... and after</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Buddleia and Calendula from my summer garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week's musical offering is a relaxing track I've been playing during Savasana. It's called Seeing Stars by Leo Abrahams.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftb_5pPZqFZAD50WLEFRK0B_1PBBtWVKT7AAdT7T3ejdEtBHrExUbbnL43Osd4ZdiFIuKmJ8YG6b1gD8pDJo_g2xWse2_ykLBd1ucIaenZ_zv1IvUOkTSAkGIfP0V-5wvjpBKaSWhrXr5/s1600/breathing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftb_5pPZqFZAD50WLEFRK0B_1PBBtWVKT7AAdT7T3ejdEtBHrExUbbnL43Osd4ZdiFIuKmJ8YG6b1gD8pDJo_g2xWse2_ykLBd1ucIaenZ_zv1IvUOkTSAkGIfP0V-5wvjpBKaSWhrXr5/s320/breathing.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have a good week... and enjoy your yoga :-)</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13510599035693532907noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951486110990399574.post-68190651799768279982016-03-04T13:07:00.002+00:002016-03-04T13:07:34.264+00:00Chakras, Centenarians and Calendulas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week I wrote about Muladhara Chakra. Feeling the need to get grounded after the long flight from India, focusing on the Root Chakra (as it is otherwise known) was very helpful. In class we paid attention to our foundation, making sure there was a good connection between the ground and whichever part of the body was in contact with it. I shared an affirmation too - a positive, powerful phrase which helps cut through unconscious negative thinking and makes you more aware of conscious thinking. A couple of people have asked that I share this affirmation. It is a helpful addition to the toolbox of tools that yoga offers to help us steer a course through the sometimes challenging seas of life:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I am grounded and focused. I will not let incidents that may arise during my day knock me off balance or blow me off course. I am adaptable. I am secure."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week we're moving up to the Sacral Chakra which is situated between the pubic bone and the navel at the upper sacrum. This chakra connects us to our feelings, emotions, sexuality and creativity. It has a physical association with the reproductive organs and the adrenal glands which are responsible for producing hormones. These include adrenaline and cortisol - stress hormones that are part of the body's 'flight/fight' response to danger. When Svadisthana Chakra is out of balance we may experience reproductive/sexual disfunction, or stress. When this chakra is in balance creativity flows freely and we feel fulfilled and connected to others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The colour of Svadisthana Chakra is orange, and it's mantra is Vam. The affirmation is:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I acknowledge my uniqueness, my sensuality and my creativity. I feel connected to others and feel alive, joyful and fulfilled'. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSQibU-xmn0qO-45oYxLyudRneGc1GdMFwp_tJYCd9OpS69NzAdxFEvnT4CRiCGEMB68EygAiMmkPGuJaTmiv5Hr0h5hGo2-YeNmPnqS_F6tF8xQPQTS_Lj-A3isM2B-lBvmTJqV3Id6o/s1600/svadisthana.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSQibU-xmn0qO-45oYxLyudRneGc1GdMFwp_tJYCd9OpS69NzAdxFEvnT4CRiCGEMB68EygAiMmkPGuJaTmiv5Hr0h5hGo2-YeNmPnqS_F6tF8xQPQTS_Lj-A3isM2B-lBvmTJqV3Id6o/s1600/svadisthana.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Bircher Museli</u></span>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While we were away in Goa (I promise that's the last time I'll mention 'my trip to India'!) the most delicious little pots of Bircher museli were served at breakfast time. This no-cook porridge was created by Swiss doctor Maximillian Bircher-Benner, over a century ago. He created it to aid the healing process of his patients as it helps improve digestion and absorption. The oats are soaked overnight which gives it a chewy consistency and makes it a super-quick and easy breakfast that's ready and waiting for you after minimal preparation the night before.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will need:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rolled oats, milk (or almond or coconut milk), apple juice, grated apple, and empty jam jar or tupperware to make it in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can add any of the following: honey, cinnamon, dried nuts, dried fruits, toasted coconut, berries, yogurt and anything else nutritious and delicious that you fancy.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-MjKP1AqfLRG8jg8YkBCf5UXQg1SiZZeSDsDWVUtxlelH66gc3gohPD0KQGd2ooyjCKCB73Q8wc6nyOPaRdxbK21rFcLSkGRK2InOQlFJM7XGIXam5eoDYAOTB9iZLHWDgRcpSX4xc0x/s1600/bircher1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-MjKP1AqfLRG8jg8YkBCf5UXQg1SiZZeSDsDWVUtxlelH66gc3gohPD0KQGd2ooyjCKCB73Q8wc6nyOPaRdxbK21rFcLSkGRK2InOQlFJM7XGIXam5eoDYAOTB9iZLHWDgRcpSX4xc0x/s320/bircher1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how I made it:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I filled my jam jar half full of porridge oats (the consistency turned out better with regular oats rather than the chunkier jumbo oats that I tried first).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I topped the jar up to about three quarters full with coconut milk and a splash of apple juice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I gave it a stir, put the lid of the jar on and placed it in the fridge overnight</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the morning, I added the grated apple, some chopped nuts, cranberries, a pinch of cinammon and a tiny bit of honey.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You might have to play around with the amounts to get the consistency right - mine had a little too much liquid the first time so I added some chia seeds which absorbed the fluid and made it thicker and creamier.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbK22efn73vnEe7Q7qwWFCBSA7-kMC1UIn94Yt51B8tBrPVmcVMZDm30P_MtrVBrTNyXxae7nEU5o7g6z7LKzQNqyY4SqpS45nLPGJgOUhv6W_-s2pIcd9pPjp4jlKgv4x29P9LlNXMM8/s1600/bircher2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbK22efn73vnEe7Q7qwWFCBSA7-kMC1UIn94Yt51B8tBrPVmcVMZDm30P_MtrVBrTNyXxae7nEU5o7g6z7LKzQNqyY4SqpS45nLPGJgOUhv6W_-s2pIcd9pPjp4jlKgv4x29P9LlNXMM8/s320/bircher2.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My new favourite breakfast - it's easy on the washing up too</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whoop Whoop! It's time to get out in the garden again!</span></span></u><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With spring growth emerging I'm feeling the urge to get outside and get the garden sorted. If you need a little inspiration and guidance to make your outside space a beautiful place to be this summer, I'll be sharing some of my gardening tips with you here on the blog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we move into March spring really begins and it's time to do a tidy up in the garden and start sowing some early seeds. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVzwQcqFV_UKjPizMEAzbQ5DkMgMXuqwG11Nx6WCahB17-DjdALsPRItIVZM9QG88PD5DzqNbDCEOiZK9HR7LWvIqUbhfLDcbqDMJw4Wic25o1x-WTb-02cfmJd_d8F6gk5y5RAjC0YKK/s1600/catalogue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVzwQcqFV_UKjPizMEAzbQ5DkMgMXuqwG11Nx6WCahB17-DjdALsPRItIVZM9QG88PD5DzqNbDCEOiZK9HR7LWvIqUbhfLDcbqDMJw4Wic25o1x-WTb-02cfmJd_d8F6gk5y5RAjC0YKK/s320/catalogue.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week I've been ordering seeds from my favourite seed catalogue <a href="http://www.sarahraven.com/">www.sarahraven.com</a>. I ordered hardy annuals such as Calendula, Clary Sage, Malope (Mallow) and Sweet Peas, all of which can be sown now - the cold and frost won't hurt them. Here's a <a href="http://thrive-yoga.blogspot.co.uk/2014_03_01_archive.html">link</a> to an previous post from March 2014 about how to sow them. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And here's a <a href="http://thrive-yoga.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/from-dharana-to-dhyana.html">link</a> to another post about tidying up the garden after winter. When faced with a whole garden full of dead plants and weeds it can seem an overwhelming task, but if you break it down into smaller chunks and tackle it one border at a time it's much more manageable. If you can find a spare hour on a sunny day, get outside with your secateurs and start cutting the old stuff away to make room for the new spring growth - you'll be amazed at how much you can get done in 60 minutes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope this article will encourage you to keep up with your regular practice.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>This 100-Year-Old Yogi Tried Her First Yoga Class At Age 67 And She’s An Inspiration!</u> via <a href="http://www.yogadork.com/">Yoga Dork</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She’s been practicing yoga for over 30 years…and she just turned 100! And we heart her. Jean Dawson just celebrated her 100th birthday on February 20th and if you’ve done the math that means she didn’t even start her yoga practice until she was in her late 60s, which means you need to share this with your silver senior aunts, uncles, moms, and dads right now. (High fives if you’re reading this and you’re over 60!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dawson entered her first yoga class at the young age of 67 after seeing an ad about it in her neighborhood and she still attends weekly classes to this day. The UK-native practices the prop-intensive, static-pose-holding Iyengar Yoga and credits it for her health and longevity.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I don’t know how I would be today if I hadn’t taken up Iyengar Yoga. It has given me good posture, balance, concentration, flexibility and stamina,” Dawson told <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/23/this-100-year-old-yoga-loving-grandma-is-the-ultimate-fitspiration-5713327/">Metro UK</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“It has really changed my life and has helped cure aches and pains,” she said. “I used to have trouble from a slipped disc in my back but doing yoga really helped me cope with it.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She may not be doing wild things and eka pada whosiwhatsits, but that’s not what it’s about, anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“You can only do what you can do,” says Dawson. ”A few years ago, I could do all the handstands and everything but I have to stop doing those now due to my blood pressure.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dawson says she’s met kind people and made good friends through yoga, one of which is her teacher Christine Tyson, whom she’s been practicing with for decades and who’s now 66, which we think is pretty darn neato.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over 30 years of yoga and she’s still going strong.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Doing Iyengar Yoga has helped me more than anything and I really enjoy the company every single week, so I think I can continue for a little longer,” she says.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And we say, happy birthday, Jean! Thanks for being an inspiration. We think you’re the queen of tree pose.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">images credit: Lorne Campbell/Guzelian</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Winding all the way back from 100 years to approximately 2, this video from James Corden made me laugh, so I thought I'd share it with you. It's a great example of creativity - they're obviously all very balanced in their sacral chakras :-)</span></span></div>
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