Articles in the yoga Category
Hi, y’all!
As I promised myself – and y’all – I’m getting back to healthy eating and my yoga practice.
My first morning back to yoga practice was spent with Stacy McCarthy and it was AMAZING!
I tried out one of her new DVD’s: Yoga Body: Hip Opening Flow – which I LOVE.
But you can read all about that HERE.
On to the oats, right?! Right!
You’ll notice the specs and dark color of the oats. That’s because I loaded ‘em up with cinnamon.
I heart cinnamon.
And it’s not just for the spectacular aroma and yummy flavor, it’s because it’s so good for me, too! See for yourself by reading my Health Benefits of Cinnamon post.
Get ready for something that’s….
Warm, Crunchy, Fluffy, Delish!
I also had a cup of yumilicious coffee with breakfast. I added a few drops of vanilla stevia AND cocoa bean extract. I’m living on the wild side, aren’t I? LOL 
NuttZo-Cinnamon Oatmeal
Ingredients:
-
3/4 cup old-fashioned whole-grain oat flakes
-
1 1/2 cups milk
-
10 drops vanilla stevia
-
healthy dose of cinnamon (to taste)
-
1-2 TBSP NuttZo
Directions:
-
Following directions on the container, heat on stove or in microwave, if you use one.
-
Once done, stir in NuttZo, vanilla stevia drops, and cinnamon.
-
Enjoy!
Cute Item found @ a Thrift Store: $1.00
Are you a patient person? Or does this quote sum you up?
How do you like your oatmeal? Do you like to switch up the flavors and textures or are you partial to a certain oatmeal concoction? Do share!
And…
Don’t forget to enter my SWEET GIVEAWAY!!!!
There will be FOUR winners!!!
Hi, y’all!
Hope you enjoyed my last post (on the health benefits of blackstrap molasses). It’s actually quite delicious in smoothies and oatmeal.
As I was weeding through emails tonight, I came across one from Diane Ferraro. Her email touched my heart. As a survivor of domestic violence – and someone who has found such significant healing and peace through yoga – I knew I had to share her message with y’all.
I’ve blogged about yoga several times before. And Diane’s email hit really close to home for me, as I’m a survivor of domestic violence myself. Yoga also helps me cope with living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. It truly grounds me….
Here’s the press release included in Diane’s email:
Contact: Diane Ferraro FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office: 347.457.6823
Cell: 917.376.1302
Email: diane@littlefloweryoga.com
LITTLE FLOWER YOGA JOINS NATIONWIDE YOGATHON Raising Awareness and Prevention Efforts around Domestic Violence
April 29, 2011 New York, NY – Little Flower Yoga–a premiere resource for yoga
practitioners committed to serving children and families–is teaming up with Karma Krew, a volunteer-based non-profit organization, to raise awareness and prevention around domestic violence by participating in the “3rd Annual Peace by Peace Yogathon,” starting June 1, 2011.
Little Flower Yoga advocates for healthier lifestyles for children and their families by bringing yoga and mindfulness practices to classrooms, professional development trainings, and workshops reaching more than 500 children each week here in NY, and many more through an international team of yoga practitioners.
Little Flower Yoga is raising funds through their participation in the Yogathon to support Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit organization providing domestic violence victims and their children with comprehensive services including
education and awareness-building initiatives, clinical and legal services, economic empowerment programs, and shelter.
The impact on victims of domestic violence is far-reaching. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is considered a significant public health problem in the United States as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.1 Children
are the most vulnerable casualties among this traumatized demographic of domestic violence victims, and often the hardest to reach. According to Futures Without Violence (formally Family Violence Prevention Fund), 15.5 million
children in the United States live in families in which partner violence occurred at least once in the past year, and seven million children live in
families in which severe partner violence occurred. And, according to the same
organization, in just one twenty-four hour period in 2010, 20,406 children were
living in a domestic violence shelter or transitional living program.2
“Parents and children who have suffered abuse have often had their spirit battered along with their bodies, and rebuilding their sense of trust,
self-worth and capacity for joy is a crucial component of their recovery,”
says Jennifer Cohen Harper, founder of Little Flower Yoga. “Yoga can be a wonderful gift to those who are recovering from abuse, and Little Flower Yoga is honored to partner with Sanctuary for Families to offer adults and children classes that they otherwise would not have access to.”
Yoga is widely credited for effectively reducing stress, improving concentration skills, and developing a healthy and holistic approach for personal development.
By offering yoga to children, Little Flower Yoga is providing a resource that children can use to help them as they navigate through some of the most challenging developmental stages they will ever face, and a tool they can access for the rest of their lives.
To learn more or become involved in this fundraiser with Little Flower Yoga
visit http://www.littlefloweryoga.
Yoga teachers and studio owners can sign up as ambassadors and hosts by May 1; yoga students may join the cause starting May 1st. Participation is simple and as a community we can make a tremendous impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors.
1. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/
2. http://www.
###
If you would like more on this topic or to schedule an interview with Jennifer
Cohen Harper, contact Diane Ferraro at 347.457.6823 or
diane@littlefloweryoga.com and feel free to visit www.littlefloweryoga.com
What about you? Have you tried yoga? Does it bring you peace? Strength? Joy? Have you found healing through yoga?
I’ve blogged about yoga before. It complements raw living so well in my life. I honestly feel like it is wholesome for me, like it grounds me, and brings me full circle from deep within. It’s still amazing to me how many differences there are when I compare the times I’m practicing yoga, and when I am not.
Doesn’t the gal in this photo look so at peace? Of course, there were lots of other cool yoga photos I could’ve chosen for this post, but I thought the hay was the best fit – considering I’m in Amish country. 
I’m going to share the pros and cons of yoga vs no yoga in my life later (below) but first, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite go-to yoga resources.
YogaisYummy.net – I came across this gem a while back. I immediately loved Polly’s bright, sunny, positive attitude and her fun yoga videos. I continue to use her videos – especially if I’m short on time (her videos are each 10 minutes in length).
Stacy McCarthy’s Yoga Body Lean & Defined Total Body Workout DVD
“Be slow to judge and quick to acknowledge your efforts toward a healthy life.”
That’s a difficult thing to do, but so rewarding!
The Bolder Mat Company – I love this company! They’re passionate about the environment and they make beautiful mats that are not only inspiring to practice yoga on, but they’re actually sticky mats that are good quality and serve a purpose. They’re cushy, too!
Ali MacGraw – Yoga Mind & Body DVD 
Where the Lemon Water Comes In
A lot of you have asked why I love drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach). I shared my answer on the FAQ page but I’ll paste it here for your convenience. 
Lemons are loaded with goodies your bodies need such as Vitamin C and heart- and cancer-fighting compounds like limonin and limolene. I love them. I have been drinking warm lemon water each morning before breakfast for a long time now. My Mom is a HUGE advocate of lemons and we have been having them in our iced tea for oodles of years. The warm lemon water (drank on an empty stomach) helps alkalize the body, jumpstarts your liver and bowel and flushes your kidneys and bladder. It’s very cleansing to your body. Lemons boost your immune system, lower histamine levels, and help give your skin an overall healthy glow. I definitely feel less energetic and have less “umph” on days I don’t get my lemon!
Hope that helps you understand my obsession with warm lemon water.
Warm Lemon Water Recipe
Ingredients:
- a slice of lemon (you can use up to a half of a lemon)
- a cup of hot water
- a drizzle of (raw) honey or organic stevia (optional – I drink mine plain, without sweetener)
Directions:
- Add some water to your tea kettle.
- Heat the water (don’t let it boil).
- Squeeze the lemon slice/wedge into your cup.
- Pour hot water in to cup (about 3/4 full).
- Sip and enjoy.
Tip: Don’t chug this down. Slip it slowly. I eat about half an hour (sometimes up to 45 minutes) after I’ve drank all my warm lemon water.
Back to Yoga
So, when I’m not practicing yoga and drinking warm lemon water every morning, I feel:
- stagnant
- stiff
- lethargic
- moody
- out of balance
- hungrier
- sleepy
- blocked on my writing/blogging
- etc.
When I am practicing yoga and drinking warm lemon water every morning, I feel:
- stronger
- happier
- more grounded
- more alert
- healthier
- less hungry
- more radiant
- more confident
- like I’m bursting at the seams with words to write
- and much more
I sleep better, too, when yoga and lemon water make their way into my day!
What about you? What grounds you and makes you feel more centered and just healthier and better? Is it yoga? Raw foods? Smoothies? Running? Please share!
Photo Credits:
jhoc (yoga)
spakattacks (lemon)
