Gentle Yoga for Healing

Tender Loving Yoga!!
Hey all! My good friend and colleague Kym Sevilla is starting a healing yoga class! Kim has years of experience in rehabilitative exercise and yoga and is a certified advanced health and fitness specialist and cancer exercise trainer.

Starting October 1, Kym is starting a Gentle Yoga for Healing class. This class is specifically targeted at individuals that do not feel that they can keep up with the fast pace of regular yoga classrooms. The class is intended to be very small- (maximum 6) and allows for lots of individual attention! Participants will practice yoga at a slow and intentional pace, paying attention to any particular health concerns. This class is for women only (although if you men have interest I’m sure you could write to her and get a class going!) If you are recovering from any surgical procedures, joint replacement, lymphedema, or chronic pain then this is the class for you!

Kym’s view is simple: No one should be left behind and not experience yoga’s amazing therapeutic value! This class will ensure that people feel safe and can work at their own pace. After all, yoga is about learning from one another and developing patience with ourselves and our bodies.

The class is offered on Saturdays at 10 am, and if there is enough interest Thursdays at 6 45. The first class is Saturday October 1. Classes are 75 minutes long and run in a six-week session.

There are numerous reasons why one should practice yoga, but one of the most common ones is because you become fitter, more energetic, and peaceful. In the age of stress that we all have become accustomed to, yoga allows your mind and body to relax and you allow yourself to enter an almost tranquil state, letting go of all worries, anxiety, and stress. Yoga stretches not only our alignment but all of the soft tissues in our body, including ligaments, tendons and the sheath that surrounds muscles.

Other Key Benefits Gained by Practicing Yoga:
o Strength and endurance
o Build upper body strength
o Increased flexibility and strength leads to better posture
o Develop core strength
o Lung capacity improves- due to the deep mindful breathing of yoga
o Less stress and more calm. Among yoga’s anti-stress benefits are biochemical responses including a decrease in catecholamines, the hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress.
o Weight normalizes
o Concentration, memory, depth perception, attention, sleep, steadiness, dexterity skills, reaction time improves

Everyone can do some form of yoga!! namaste, kelly

Must- Read: Spirit Junkie

Here is a must-read for fall- Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein

The self-help world's been a buzz with the release of Gabrielle Bernstein's second book last week.

Witness Bernstein's transformation from NYC party girl to Gen-Y Spiritual Guru in "Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles."

Addicted to work, food, drugs, and fear, a fated purchase in 2005 -- a dark blue hardback with the title "A Course in Miracles" -- would usher in dramatic changes for Bernstein. The hardback contained spiritual leader Marianne Williamson's critically acclaimed curriculum that utilizes practical applications to empower students to relinquish the fears crippling their lives. Although "Miracles," iconic text that it is, provides the backdrop for Spirit Junkie, reviewers maintain that Bernstein's fresh voice sets hers apart from other self-help books.

Labeled "hip and edgy," Kirkus also opined “In this mixture of humor, grief and how-to instructions on achieving enlightenment, Bernstein offers more than just autobiography or a user’s guide to meditation . . . A groovy blend of meditative and instructive writing.” We're sold! "Spirit Junkie" has officially been added to the fall booklist. Check back in a few weeks for a more detailed review.

Check out this video


Have you already read "Spirit Junkie?" Let us know your thoughts!

Enjoy, Kelly

Goji Goodness!!

I know its been a while but i'm back and you will be getting regular daily posts- so be on the look out. as i said previously i'm working on a huge project that you will all enjoy very soon. i'll give you a hint- it has something to do with my obsession of "green juices"!!! i'll keep you posted.

you must try this amazing goji superfood smoothie. i made it this afternoon for the whole family and it was a hit. it includes the infamous superfood- goji berries- a must-have in everyone's diet. see below for more fabulous info on the goji berry.

goji blueberry bliss:
water of one coconut
meat of one coconut
handful of greens- i used spinach and kale
handful goji berries
handful blueberries
blend it up and enjoy

besides throwing them in smoothies here are some other ways to enjoy them:
-soak them and eat the soaked berries and drink the goji water
-soak them and turn them into puddings such as a spinach goji pudding: just blend soaked goji berries with spinach or any greens and it turns into a yummy pudding- may need to add a date, vanilla stevia drop or mesquite if need more sweetness.
-throw them into salads or raw dehydrated cereals

goji vanilla pudding
this is a recipe i do for the kids- they love it
meat of two young coconuts
1/2-3/4 cup coconut water
1/2 cup goji berries
1 tbsp mesquite
1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla powder
dash sea salt
- you can eliminate mesquite and vanilla and add a few drops of vanilla stevia

read more about goji berries here:

Superfoods Sleuth Strikes Gold: Goji Gold!

What is a superfood? A superfood is a nutrient rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being. It describes a food with a high phytonutrient content that may confer health benefits as a result.

Goji Berry: The wolf berry, more commonly known as the Goji Berry is a deciduous woody perennial plant found in temperate and subtropical regions in China, Mongolia and the Himalayas of Tibet. Although normally found as shriveled up dried red berries, they are found on an evergreen shrub just like all the traditional berries we’re used to seeing. Goji berries have been used for over 6,000 years by traditional medicine men and herbalists in China, Tibet, and India to treat a number of ailments- it’s even known as the “longevity fruit” as the berries have major immune-enhancing properties. According to research, the compounds found in goji berries enhance our bodies ability to resist disease and slow down cancer!

Why called the ‘wolf berry’? In the 18th century, Chinese farmers nicknamed gou qi zi (The Mandarin name for wolfberry) when they saw wolves feasting among the berry vines during late summer at harvest time.

Notable Benefits of Goji Berries:

Goji Berries are rich in anti-oxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin—which protect the retina of the eye. Increased intake of foods containing zeanthanin decreases the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 65.

Goji extracts may prevent the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood glucose, and lower cholesterol levels.

Goji berries are listed as the number one food on the ORAC scale, which measures the level of antioxidants in food. The higher foods are in antioxidants, the more capable they are of preventing cell damage!

In addition they…

o Protect the liver
o Lower high blood pressure and cholesterol
o Promote and improve longevity
o Strengthen the legs
o Improve sexual function and fertility
o Prevent cancer and heart disease
o Boost immune function

enjoy- kelly

Superfood Mango Strawberry Gelato

This morning i was in the mood for something different compared to my usual "Juice Junkie" addiction of green juice. yes- i admit i'm a juice junkie- but even i want a change occasionally!!
i decided to go for a power gelato!! remember any time you are combining fruit with other types of food it is not an optimal food combination. so if you are in a healing phase or cleansing or just wanting to eat "optimally raw"- then this is not for you. if you are living the raw food lifestyle and in a healthy state- this is a great treat for you.

1 bag frozen organic mangos
1/2 bag frozen organic strawberries
1 tbsp mesquite
1 tbsp lucuma
5 drops vanilla stevia
1 scoop vanilla sun warrior protein

blend all above ingredients in blender till smooth and creamy!!

enjoy!!

Mixed Green Fermented Veggie Salad with Tahini Dressing

i know its been a while. i'm working on a huge project which i will be launching in the next few months. i'll tell you more when i can. its very exciting and you will all be able to benefit!!! i'm very excited!!

keep up to date with whats going on via my tweets too.

here is a delish salad i made today:
1 handful mixed greens
1 handful sunflower sprouts
raw fermented mixed veggies
1/2 avocado
dulse and kelp
dressing of: lemon juice, tahini and cayenne- dash of sea salt
i mixed it all up together and placed it in a nori roll to eat!!
i ate it with my yummy cheesy kale chips.
these are the fermented veggies i used:


Eat Optimally RAW and live an optimal life!! enjoy, kelly

Delish Juices and Amazing Ice Cream

I was so spoiled in NY having access to such a variety of amazing cold-pressed juices that i had to juice a variety of delicious and nutritious ones this morning.
mason helping me juice

i started with my power green loaded with seasonal greens, a small amount of apple and ginger and lemon. i of course drank this while eating my chlorella tablets. Next i made simple cucumber. Here is mason enjoying his morning cucumber juice.

cucumber juice by itself is sooo refreshing and smooth.
Next i juiced loads of carrots and loads of beets and jarred them up separately.


later in the day i combined them with a little ginger in one batch and a little garlic in another batch. both were delicious and smooth.


Tonight i made an amazing lime coconut avocado ice cream.

this is my new favorite. i can't give you the exact recipe because this will no doubt be on the menu of my juice/raw food bar but here are the ingredients: coconut water, coconut meat, avocado, lime juice, dates, vanilla stevia, sea salt, lime zest. this is amazingly nutritious and delicious and extremely creamy!! you will all get to taste it soon!!
here is a pic of a fresh young coconut with the water still inside.




kelly

Kid's Lemonade, Superfood Gelato and Captain America!!

hi everyone, The kids and I had adventures inside today- i am nursing a little cold. i decided to rest and rejuvenate. when i know my body is fighting something here are a few things i do- and i did them all today!!
i load up on fluids including warm water with lemon and cayenne, a variety of immune boosting teas and ginger tea, green juices, an elixir filled with ginger, cayenne, spearmint, tumeric and honey, another elixir filled with orange juice, scallions, ginger, lemon, parsley, celery and cucumber and lots of alkalized water with minerals. it felt great to only do light fluids most of the day. i take lots of vitamin D, C, echinaecia and elderberry. i also do droppers of cold and flu herbs, nasal wash, light movement, deep breathing, skin brushing, light trampoline and rest. It was a great day to rejuvenate my body and connect with my boys.
A regular drink for the kids lately are their lemonades made in the vitamix blender. we add the juice of many lemons, coconut water, a few drops of stevia, dash of dulse and dash of cayenne (very small). They love drinking them out of straws!

The kids had fun playing "restaurant". they were making smoothies and serving me food all afternoon. Mason just got a "captain america" constume and will not take it off. He is no longer mason bradley he is CAPTAIN AMERICA!! i love it.
mason and owen blending their smoothies

mason sweeping his restaurant floors

mason and owen making sandwiches for their customers

tonight we made a delicious superfood fruit gelato.

i made a big batch for owen, mason and I. in your vitamix blender add:
1/2 bag frozen organic mangos
1/2 bag frozen organic strawberries
1/2 bag frozen organic blueberries
2 scoops sun warrior vanilla protein
1 large tbsp lucuma
1 large tbsp mesquite
1 dropper vanilla stevia
use temper to blend till smooth. You need to use your muscles for this one!! sprinkle bee pollen and or hemp seeds on top!!
yummy!!

enjoy, kelly