Adios, 2012.
Welcome, 2013.
Happy New Year, friends.
Blog
Yoga Tip: A 6 Minute Vinyasa
Here is a six minute vinyasa that will warm up the body. Perfect for beginners. Always move within a pain-free range, and be gentle on yourself. If there's a specific pose or vinyasa you'd like me to do in the future, I'd love to hear- tell me on twitter, facebook or leave a comment here. Have a wonderful weekend.
Cauliflower Feta Fritters
Cauliflower on its own kind of makes me gag. Something about the texture when you bite into it just, ughhhhh. In a baked casserole? Love it. Mashed up like potatoes? Delish. But on their own, bleh. So I was excited to try this recipe for cauliflower feta fritters because anything to get cauliflower in my belly in a way that does not involve eating them plain is a win in my book. Of course, I like to keep things as clean and as healthy as I can, so I made a few minor changes to the recipe, and they were really fantastic. Full disclosure, I even measured everything out. I know, the shock! Here's what you'll need:
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Hell Bent
Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga
If you've ever been into Bikram yoga, or even hot yoga, Hell Bent: Obsession, Pain and the search for Something like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga might be a book you'll want to check out. The subject matter tends to jump around a bit and comes across as part exposé of Bikram Choudhury and the obsessive subculture of competitive yoga, part memoir, part examination of how we react to pain and placebo effects, and part exploration of the physical and psychological benefits of intense yoga. Regardless of the fact that the book jumps around a bit, author Benjamin Lorr is laugh out loud funny, and held my attention from start to finish.
I started out practicing Kripalu yoga (the benefits of growing up close to the Berkshires!), and moved on to a more physical vinyasa practice before discovering hot yoga and then Bikram yoga. Once I discovered Bikram, it was an instant love/hate. The class itself was miserable nearly every single time, but I felt so great afterwards. Once, I weighed myself before and after and realized I lost eight pounds in one class, which in hindsight is a pretty good indication that the amount of sweating one does in a Bikram class could potentially be very dangerous- a point underscored numerous time in Hell-Bent as Lorr recalls people passing out, throwing up, and having seizures from the intense heat. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the culture of modern yoga, or Bikram Choudhury.
Merry Christmas from Germany
Wishing you a wonderful day full of love, gratitude, and happiness. xo
Holiday Blues
You know how some people get all holly jolly for the holiday season? I've got a secret: To me, it's not the most wonderful time of the year.
It's not that I don't like the freshly fallen snow (I do! Perfect for sledding, which is one of my favorite things to do), or holiday music (Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" is my jam), or cuddling up to watch Home Alone (best holiday movie, hands down); I don't have an explanation. I just tend to feel sort of down when November comes to a close, and it doesn't really go away for a few months. It's nothing major, really- little errands start to feel like a real pain, holiday get togethers sound exhausting, and, ok, I start to really miss home. I've got the holiday blues.
According to this article, feeling like this around the holidays is not all that uncommon. If you've got the holiday blues, here are five ways you can kick them to the curb:
1. Laugh. Watch your favorite funny movie. A few favorites of mine (click for funny scenes) are Wedding Crashers, The Break Up, Bridesmaids, Rat Race, Mean Girls, The Hangover, and if you like old comedies I found Some Like it Hot in its entirety.
2. Sign off social media. There's a beautiful quote that says "The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel," and never has it been more true when we've got facebook, twitter & instagram feeds to scroll through. Sign off, and meet up with a friend in person instead.
3. Help others. Sometimes the best way to feel good is to help others. Volunteer at an animal shelter or soup kitchen, or participate in random acts of kindness.
4. Try something new. Give snow boarding a go or try a hot yoga class if you've never been, or make a reservation at a restaurant you've never tried before.
5. Read something light. Quick, easy reads that I've enjoyed include The Help, The Book of Joe, and The Saving Graces.
Remember, the choice to feel good is always yours. Do what you can to take care of yourself and feel gratitude for all you have in your life. That is the foundation for a life of abundance. It is important to note, however, that there is a difference between feeling bummed out around the holidays and having full on depression so if you think you might have the latter, please seek professional help.