Monday, April 28, 2008
Update: Yoga, Juicing and Corporate Wellness
So much has been going on since i wrote last. i've done a few different yoga workshops which have helped me to continue to progress my personal yoga practice. i believe that we should all be life-long students and i love being a student and learning new things. the key is to keep a "child's mind". be open to new things every day. Annie Carpenter from California was in DC a few weeks ago and she conducted three days worth of fabulous workshops. if you get a chance to take a workshop with her- do it. she is very knowledgeable and is able to really get you to understand different body sensations and movements. this past weekend i did a two day workshop with stan andrzejewski who is a physical therapist and yoga practitioner located in Baltimore, Maryland. it was great to get his viewpoint on the use of yoga as physical therapy. I love spending an entire weekend doing yoga and getting deeper into my mind, body and spirit.
I continue to juice every single day. i'm addicted. i honestly can't imagine a day without my juice. i drink 32ozs per day of my juice of choice which has been:
6-7 stalks of celery
2 cucumbers
5 carrots
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch parsley
a few handfuls spinach
a few handfuls chard
a few handfuls kale
I eliminated the apple to decrease the sugar and i simplified it compared to what i was doing before. this juice tastes fabulous and is light and refreshing. i do add apple for my son who drinks this out of his sippy cup.
for dinners lately i've been doing a one bowl mixture of:
chopped cucumbers (without seeds)
a variety of greens (watercress, herbed mix, baby greens, arugala etc)
a variety of sprouts (clover, radish, alfalfa, broccoli, arugala etc)
sundried tomatos (sometimes- it gives it a fabulous taste)
1/2 avocado
sprinkle of kelp and other sea veggies (nori, dulse)
each night i do a different nut butter (tahini, hemp, sunflower or pumpkin seed butter)
the dressing is: hemp oil, apple cider vinegar and a little of the sundried tomato water
This is a wonderful dinner that gives me good fats and protein and i don't feel too full afterwards. i hate the feeling of eating too much. i like feeling light and energized after eating. remember, you are eating for energy!!
I conducted two new corporate wellness programs last week. one was focused on holistic nutrition and practical ways to incorporate holistic nutrition into your daily life. the other program was focused on balanced living and how to create daily rituals that will help you balance all your primary foods (all your passions in life). both were successful and well received. i love conducting workshops and getting the word out about healthy living to groups of people.
April 19th i celebrated my 32nd b-day and my son mason celebrated his 18 month b-day. B-days to me are a time to celebrate everything you accomplished and reassess goals and life for the future. however, one of the most important things i do is set the intention to focus on the present. to be more mindful and live in the moment. to stop multi-tasking and focus on the activity at hand. i'm currently reading "the power of now" by eckhart tolle (can you believe i have not read this yet). remember to inundate yourself with everything you can on the subjects you love.
Now that spring is here remember to enjoy the variety of amazing fruits and vegetables coming into season. Chew each bite thoroughly and enjoy. shop at organic markets and buy from local farmers.
Be Well,
kelly
Monday, March 17, 2008
Yoga Day
as much as i love being a teacher i also love being a student. i will be a student for life. being a student for life makes me a better teacher.
Take the opportunity to do various workshops and experience different instructors and techniques.
Live each day with a beginner's mind. See everything through a child's eyes.
kelly
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
What's New
In regards to my own wellness i've been working on simplifying my own daily food intake. Digestion and assimilation are key to long-term health. the more pure and simple your food and meals the better. i've been paying more attention to specific combinations and following the food combination rules more. i have experimented with combinations and know what works best for me. when i keep it simple i feel better and have increased energy. Lately this is what i've been doing:
wake
b-complex, MSM
elliptical intervals 30 minutes
yoga/stretching
set intensions for the day
2 oz wheatgrass, approx 1/4 cup E-3 live
get ready
mono fruit (mixing different types of fruit does not work for me): i alternate the type of fruit each day- papaya, apples/pears, berries, watermelon
DHA, pre/post natal multi, D3
probiotic, digestive enzymes
green juice- approximately 2 16 oz servings made of: celery, cucumber, spinach, cilantro, kale, swiss chard, parsely (i've been only doing greens and not mixing carrot or apple or adding too much stuff. This works better for me. I feel cleaner and more energized).
last meal options:
-green salad and sprouts with apple cider vinegar and hemp oil wrapped in nori roll with a few of lydia's organic crackers (somtimes i add avocado and sundried tom to the salad)
-nori roll with sundried tomato pate, sprouts, cucumber (these are sooo yummy) (sometimes i add avocado)
-nori/lettuce roll with sundred tomato pate, tahini, sprouts, cucumber
finish eating by 6 ( i used to make it a rule to finish eating by 7 but i feel better if i do it earlier so i changed this to 6). This gives my body time to digest food before it is time to rest and rejuvate with a great night sleep.
no tv before bed. i would occasionally click the tv on prior to going to bed. i have found if i get into bed, read briefly on a topic that i thoroughly love and do some deep-breathing exercises i get a better night's rest.
i'm still working on simplifying my evening meal. I've been feeling great with my new daily rituals. i also do yoga classes, pilates and gyrotonic exercise each day. nice days i go for long walks/hikes with mason or play outside with him. i try to get outside as much as possible. i really look forward to spring/summer and being able to be outside all day!!!
have a wonderful day. kelly
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Healthy Crackers and Nut Butters
Two of my favorite dehydrated crackers, or this company calls them "crisps", are made by Mauk Family Farms (www.maukfamilyfarms.com). They are called "Mineral Crisps" and "Breakfast Crisps". Check out the website for more details but the minerals crisps are made of dehydrated pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds and more. The Breakfast Crisps are made of dehydrated buckwheat, flax and include raisens and gogi berries. Both crisps are extremely nutritious. My favorite way to eat the minerals crisps is to spread either pumpkin seed butter or tahini on them and enjoy every bite. My favorite way to eat the breakfast crisps is to spread them with almond butter or cashew/brazil nut butter. I get these crackers at My Organic Market.
When you are purchasing nut butters be sure they are truly raw organic nut butters. Some labels can say raw but not truly be raw. You can purchase truly raw nut butters from www.naturalzing.com or www.rejuvenative.com. Two good brands are artisana and rejuvenative foods. Whole Foods carries some of the rejuvenative nut butters. They are expensive but well worth the price. Remember, your health is priceless.
Another brand of crackers that I love are lydia's organics. They make not only fabulous crackers but also great raw granola and breakfast cereals. My favorite crackers are the sunflower seed bread, luna nori crackers and green crackers. I love spreading tahini and pumpkin seed butter on these too. You can sprinkle a little kelp on top for some added iodine. Check out www.lydiasorganics.com or www.naturalzing.com.
To make an open-faced sandwich on any of these crackers just take the cracker of choice and spread it with spread of choice (my favorite is tahini) and then layer on the fun stuff. My favorite layers are sprouts, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado and a sprinkle of kelp!!!
Here are my wellness rituals from yesterday:
woke around 6:30
warm water with lemon and msm powder
took my b-complex and D3 supplements
elliptical 30 minutes
2 oranges
cup of green tea: I've been drinking warm tea lately. I switch between green tea, yerba mate and yogi detox tea
9am yoga class: one and a half hours of vinyasa flow yoga- i love this class!!!! if i could do a full class of yoga every morning before i start my day i would.
12pm large energizing shake: raspberries, blueberries, gogi berries, my green juice (already prepared with kale, chard, cilantro, parsley, apple, lemon, carrots, E3 live, wheatgrass), coconut water, pure synergy green powder, maca powder, hemp protein powder, acai powder, bee pollen, mesquite powder and a date. This shake is such a nutritious treat.
supplements: dha, biotin, multi-pre/post natal
4:30 salad: mixture of greens, sprouts- alfalfla, arugala, clover, avocado, kelp with dressing of hemp oil and apple cider vinegar
5:30 mineral crisps with tahini spread
8-9 relaxed before going to sleep
Enjoy your crunchy new crackers!!! kelly
Sunday, January 6, 2008
What a Fabulous Day!!
My wellness rituals today:
woke early
water, msm, b-complex, D3
elliptical 30 minutes
was going to make juice but mason woke early
ate 1 mango, 1 papaya, 2 oranges
1 1/2 hour vinyasa flow yoga class at Hot Yoga- no it is not Bikram- it is vinyasa flow yoga in a room heated to about 90 degrees.
grocery shopping
skin brushing, exfoliation, hot cold shower, tongue cleaning
shake: gogi berries, blue berries, strawberries, green powder, E-3 live, maca, mesquite, hemp protein, bee pollen, cacao
pre/post natal, dha
ate red peppers
ate nori rolls: sundried tomato pate (soaked sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, sundried tomatos, olives, spinach, garlic, cilantro all blended up), avocado, sprouts (arugala, clover, alfalfa). I love these rolls!!
I feel refreshed and energized.
GET REGULAR MASSAGES:
Massages are beneficial in so many ways. I used to go for a massage every other week however, since having Mason I go once a month. It is my time to relax and rejuvenate. I feel an hour and a half is a good amount of time for the practitioner to get to all the body parts well. While I'm getting a massage I practice deep breathing techniques to increase the benefits for my mind and body. I recommend that everyone get some form of massage on a regular basis. It also helps to think about the body part that the practitioner is working on. I benefit most from deep tissue massage. With all the exercise and activity I do it is great to have my muscles released with deep pressure. It is important to find a practitioner who you see regularly because he/she will get to know your body allowing you to benefit even more from the work.
My wellness rituals on 1/5/07:
Slept in and woke around 8 (my husband got up with Mason)- occassionally I sleep in to allow my body and mind some extra rest. Plus, my little one is sick and I felt like I may be getting something so I wanted to stay well-rested. I rarely miss my saturday morning yoga class but this saturday I decided sleep and rest were more important.
warm water with lemon, msm
supplements- B-complex, D3
drank detox tea- herbal medicinal brand
drank yerba mate tea
I was enjoying relaxing with my teas today.
Ate 2 mangos and 3 oranges
Massage!!!- This one was given to me as a gift by a client. One of the best gifts is a gift certificate to your favorite massage therapist. Thank You!!
Salad filled with a variety of greens and sprouts, avocado, kelp and olives. Dressing of flax oil, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.
I ate very light today to allow my body to rest. When you eat too heavy the body uses all its energy on digestion and not healing.
I received an email asking about my water intake. I drink water throughout the day. I do not drink 1 hour before eating and 1 hour after eating as it disrupts the digestion of food. I vary my water: warm water with lemon, water with msm or cucumber water. Cucumber water is my favorite. It is so clean and refreshing. Always drink as pure filtered water as possible. I'm still experimenting with the best type of water in regards to reverse osmosis, distilled etc. I'll keep you updated with what I decide.
Namaste
Friday, January 4, 2008
Staying on Track with Goals
Here are my wellness rituals from yesterday (1/3/07)
woke
warm water, lemon, msm
supplements: B-complex, D3
elliptical 30 minutes with intervals
yoga, stretching, breathing
while making my juice i ate: 3 oranges, cherries with bee pollen sprinkled on them
approximately 1 liter of green juice: kale, chard, cilantro, parsley, pea sprouts, cucumber, celery, carrots, apples, lemons, ginger, wheatgrass, E-3 live
supplements: whole food pre/post natal, DHA
skin brush, exfoliate, tongue scrape
to the studio to see patients and clients
workout- pilates and gyrotonic at studio
2 more liters of green juice throughout the day with a variety of superfoods: spirulina, green powder, bee pollen
30 minutes meditation/breathing at studio
ate raw tomatoes and 2 red peppers while preparing dinner for mason and me
nori salad rolls: salad rolled in nori rolls- salad made of mixed greens, alfalfa sprouts, clover sprouts, cilantro, avocado, olives, kelp, dulse- dressing: hemp oil, apple cider vinegar, miso
3 italian flavored flax seed crackers
1 cup green juice
face mask of raw honey and leave in hair conditioner by sea chi organics
bedtime at 9
i will continue to write out some of my daily wellness rituals to give you motivation and ideas for your wellness rituals.
enjoy. have a wonderful day.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!!
I love starting a new year. I wrote all my goals for the next year and action steps for the most important ones. I love the feeling of starting new especially after I just got done doing a juicefeast detox. I feel energized and ready to focus on the things I want to accomplish this year. Remember, energy flows where attention goes. So put your attention on the things you want. Make one of your goals to have the best year ever.
My clients and patients are always inquiring about what I eat and what are my daily rituals. So this year I'm going to include some of this info in my blog. Here is what I ate today:
January 1, 2008
Woke 4:15- yes, i'm an early riser. I get up prior to my 14 month(mason) getting up so I can do my things and be ready to focus my attention on him when he wakes up.
Warm water, msm, b-complex, vit d-3
Elliptical machine 30 min
5:30 whole papaya
6:30 bowl of organic cherries
8:00 drank 1 liter greens juice: kale, swiss chard, dandelion greens, spinach, cilantro, parsley, celery, cucumber, carrot, apple, lemon, ginger, E-3 live, wheatgrass
10:00 Yoga sun salutations/Stretching/Breathwork11:30 shake: strawberries, blueberries, cherries, gogi berries, cacao, maca, hemp protein, mesquite, bee pollen
DHA, pre/post natal vitamins
dry brushing, shower- hot/cold/hot/cold, tongue scraper
3:30 Drank ¾ liter of green juice (same as above)
5:30 raw organic tomatoes and red pepper
nori salad wrap: nori roll filled with salad made of: greens- mixed herb, cilantro and watercress, sprouts- clover and arugala, avocado, olives and kelp. Dressing: hemp oil, miso, apple cider vinegar.
6:15 ¼ liter green juice.
8pm- bedtime
Enjoy!! Namaste.