Foodie Friday: New Years Black Eyed Pea Dip

We all know the old tradition of eating black eye'd peas on New Years Eve & Day for good luck and prosperity.  Well, I figured since this is what I"m making why not invite you all to share in tasty healthy wealthy treat! You can find this and other healthy black eyed pea recipes on www.eatingwell.com! Enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas, rinsed


• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves


• 2 tablespoons lemon juice


• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil


• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic


• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon, or 1/2 teaspoon dried


• 1/8 teaspoon salt


• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

PREPARATION

1. Place peas, parsley, lemon juice, oil, garlic, tarragon, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl.

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.


• Cheese it Up: If you want it Cheesy, warm on the stovetop after processed and stir in goat, mozarella, or meunster cheese for a little extra flavor and richness

NUTRITION

Per tablespoon (without the cheese): 31 calories; 1 g fat ( 0 g sat , 1 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 70 mg sodium; 8 mg potassium.

Exchanges: Free food

Gratitude Thursday: What Are You Grateful For Today?

I am grateful for all of the blessings that have come to me in the year 2011 and for all of the blessings set to come in 2012! 

Romantic Tuesday: Spend a little Tub Time

Take a bath together by candle light.

Mindful Monday: Live in the YES world!

We live like the world is a bunch of "NO's" when actually, it's a lot of "YES's" Live in the YES world! It's more fun!

Serenity Sunday: Be Open to Receive Life

Life is full of surprises awesome and challenging. Be open to receive each one, as you never know what is on the other side of that un-imaginable future!

Foodie Friday: Your Christmas Dessert!

Gluten Free Tahini & Toasted Nuts – Flavor Rich Dessert Balls

Ingredients:  Section 1

14-15 TBS Tahini or Raw Almond Butter

3-4 TBS Coconut Oil (melted)

2-3 tsp. GF Vanilla or Almond Extract

Agave, Prunes or Soaked Dates (only needed if coconut is unsweetened see below regarding the sweetness factor)

10-12 TBS Almond Flour

15 TBS CocoChia  or  Shredded Coconut

 

Section 2:  Roll Mixture:

3-4 TBS Toasted Coconut

3-4 TBS Toasted Hazelnuts (ground)

3-4 TBS Toasted Walnuts (ground)

3-4 TBS Toasted Pecans (ground)

1-2 TBS Raw Cacao Powder or Carob

2 TBS GF Dark Chocolate Bits (I cut little chunks from my dark chocolate bar) or use Raw Cacao Nibs

• Cut 6 pieces of wax paper and place each one above on its own sheet.


• Tip: Save left over ground nuts and put into a container and freeze.  Top your hot cereals with a tbs or two for flavor!

Procedure:

Melt the coconut oil and mix all the ingredients together above in Section 1. Form mixture into small-sized uniform balls and then roll the balls into any or all of the desired roll mixtures above in section 2. Place them in a container and freeze for a few hours.  Once frozen, leave them in the freezer and eat as desired.  Because this is such a rich dessert, usually 1 or 2 does the trick to satisfy that sweet tooth!  Although the dessert balls taste wonderful right out of the freezer, my family members have been known to eat them as soon as they are created !

Note:  If you have trouble rolling the mixture in section 1 into balls because it is too sticky, add more almond flour until the consistency is better (about a tbs or two at a time).

Other thoughts:  If you are using a plain unsweetened shredded coconut you will need to add some sort of sweetener such as agave syrup (if using agave drizzle it into the section 1 ingredient mixture and sweeten to taste) or you can also try adding some chopped prunes or soaked dates into section 1 to add sweetness (you will need to puree wet ingredients first and sweeten to taste).  Anything goes with this recipe, so if you want to use another type of toasted nut or seed go for it!  Another great idea would be to try some other dried fruits and roll the balls into your favorite! Have fun and be creative!  Enjoy!

Makes about 14-18 dessert balls.

 

Serve these beauties above with chocolate mint hot cocoa below 

 

 

 

Gluten Free ~ Dairy Free - Chocolate Mint Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa

12 oz. – 2 cups GF Vanilla Almond Milk (click here for the one I used)

1 tsp Raw Cacao Powder (gf)

Procedure:

Add almond milk and raw cacao powder to a high speed blender.  Taste and adjust to your taste buds (ex: more raw cacao, added sweetener, gf vanilla, etc.) Enjoy!

Note:  the vanilla almond milk is the perfect sweetness, but if you prefer a sweeter chocolate milk, add a touch of agave syrup to the blender as well and sweeten to taste.

Hot Cocoa: To make hot cocoa add the blended ingredients above to a milk frother and heat until warm.  Fill half of your mug with the heated cocoa milk and then froth the rest and pour on top!

You can also just heat the cocoa mix in a stainless steel pot and then use one of those hand held mixers/frothers.

Mint: Add a few drops of GF mint extract if desired

 

Enjoy!  

 

Tricia Cardone, CN, CHHC

~Certified Nutritionist/Certified Holistic Health Coach~

Blog @ www.APassionforHealthyLiving.com

Follow Tricia:  Twitter.com/NHHealthyLiving

Facebook.com/NHHealthyLiving

 

 

 

 

 

Foodie Friday: Gluten Free Christmas Goodies

Twas Two Nights Before Christmas and Through various cities, the people want dessert but eat GLUTEN FREE!

So, I went to my colleague (a favorite of mine), whose sent me some treats that are Christmas Divine!!!!

Thank you Trish for always coming through on the Gluten Free Recipes!



Gluten Free Tahini & Toasted Nuts – Flavor Rich Dessert Balls

Ingredients:  Section 1

14-15 TBS Tahini or Raw Almond Butter

3-4 TBS Coconut Oil (melted)

2-3 tsp. GF Vanilla or Almond Extract

Agave, Prunes or Soaked Dates (only needed if coconut is unsweetened see below regarding the sweetness factor)

10-12 TBS Almond Flour

15 TBS CocoChia  or  Shredded Coconut

 

Section 2:  Roll Mixture:

3-4 TBS Toasted Coconut

3-4 TBS Toasted Hazelnuts (ground)

3-4 TBS Toasted Walnuts (ground)

3-4 TBS Toasted Pecans (ground)

1-2 TBS Raw Cacao Powder or Carob

2 TBS GF Dark Chocolate Bits (I cut little chunks from my dark chocolate bar) or use Raw Cacao Nibs

• Cut 6 pieces of wax paper and place each one above on its own sheet.


• Tip: Save left over ground nuts and put into a container and freeze.  Top your hot cereals with a tbs or two for flavor!

Procedure:

Melt the coconut oil and mix all the ingredients together above in Section 1. Form mixture into small-sized uniform balls and then roll the balls into any or all of the desired roll mixtures above in section 2. Place them in a container and freeze for a few hours.  Once frozen, leave them in the freezer and eat as desired.  Because this is such a rich dessert, usually 1 or 2 does the trick to satisfy that sweet tooth!  Although the dessert balls taste wonderful right out of the freezer, my family members have been known to eat them as soon as they are created !

Note:  If you have trouble rolling the mixture in section 1 into balls because it is too sticky, add more almond flour until the consistency is better (about a tbs or two at a time).

Other thoughts:  If you are using a plain unsweetened shredded coconut you will need to add some sort of sweetener such as agave syrup (if using agave drizzle it into the section 1 ingredient mixture and sweeten to taste) or you can also try adding some chopped prunes or soaked dates into section 1 to add sweetness (you will need to puree wet ingredients first and sweeten to taste).  Anything goes with this recipe, so if you want to use another type of toasted nut or seed go for it!  Another great idea would be to try some other dried fruits and roll the balls into your favorite! Have fun and be creative!  Enjoy!

Makes about 14-18 dessert balls.

 

Serve these beauties above with chocolate mint hot cocoa below 

 



 

Gluten Free ~ Dairy Free - Chocolate Mint Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa

12 oz. – 2 cups GF Vanilla Almond Milk (click here for the one I used)

1 tsp Raw Cacao Powder (gf)

Procedure:

Add almond milk and raw cacao powder to a high speed blender.  Taste and adjust to your taste buds (ex: more raw cacao, added sweetener, gf vanilla, etc.) Enjoy!

Note:  the vanilla almond milk is the perfect sweetness, but if you prefer a sweeter chocolate milk, add a touch of agave syrup to the blender as well and sweeten to taste.

Hot Cocoa: To make hot cocoa add the blended ingredients above to a milk frother and heat until warm.  Fill half of your mug with the heated cocoa milk and then froth the rest and pour on top!

You can also just heat the cocoa mix in a stainless steel pot and then use one of those hand held mixers/frothers.

Mint: Add a few drops of GF mint extract if desired

 

Enjoy!  

 

Tricia Cardone, CN, CHHC

~Certified Nutritionist/Certified Holistic Health Coach~

Blog @ www.APassionforHealthyLiving.com

Follow Tricia:  Twitter.com/NHHealthyLiving

Facebook.com/NHHealthyLiving

 

 

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday: Share Your Gratitudes Today!

I'm grateful for the relationship that I have with the God of MY Understanding!

Wellness Wednesdays: Aromatherapy Tips for the Winter Season

Mention of Gratitude ***This Article is Guest Written by Cristina Proano of Aromadina.com. View her products at www.aromadina.com.

Winters are beautiful – only if we could get ourselves out of bed! As the mercury dips, it brings along with it a host of winter blues like colds and flu, laziness and a general sense of gloom. It is easy to tackle problems head-on once you put a finger on the cause. Here are some factors that contribute to health and wellness problems during the cold months:

• The temperature and the dry atmosphere are not optimum conditions for the body’s natural immune system function.


• Winter also means a decline in physical and outdoor activity which results in laziness and lethargy. A sedentary lifestyle directly affects immunity.

Don’t let the temperatures dampen your spirits this year and embrace the sunshine with essential oils and aromatherapy.

Stop the cold right in its tracks!

You don’t need to pump in antibiotics and strong drugs to protect yourself from microbes when you can do it the natural way. If you sense a cold coming up, stop it right there with a hot aromatherapy foot bath. Fill up a tub with hot water (be careful not to scald yourself) and add 5 drops of Lavender essential oil, 5 drops of Pine essential oil along with 2 tablespoons of regular salt to it. Stand in the tub for about 20 minutes with the water reaching up to your ankles.

Warm up your paws!

Don’t let cold feet prevent you from having a good time during the holiday season. Mix a teaspoon of Jojoba oil with 3 drops of Cypress essential oil and rub onto the soles of your feet. Pull on a pair of warm socks and place your feet on a hot water bottle at bedtime.

Rubbing a blend of Geranium and Lavender oils in a teaspoon of Jojoba Oil will relieve dry, cracking heels and keep your footsies silky soft through the winter.

Breathe in the life!

Proper breathing is absolutely necessary if you have to keep your immune system going. Lack of oxygen in the blood stream lowers immunity and prevents the release of endorphins, the ‘feel good’ hormones that produce emotional well-being. Make a conscious effort to take deep breaths several times a day. If you feel lethargic and lazy because of the cold weather, rub 3 drops of Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil between the palms of your hands and inhale deeply. 7 – 10 deep inhalations are enough to give your body an instant boost of energy. This oil is known for its strong anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It is a great choice for people who are prone to frequent colds and infections.

Spruce up your shower!

Make your own aromatherapy blend at home with 10 drops of Black Spruce essential oil and 5 drops of Pine essential oil mixed in a 4 oz bottle of  Carrier oil. Spruce has an uplifting scent while Pine is very effective against sore throats, chest congestion, joint pains and respiratory distress. Keep this blend handy in the shower and rub it all over your body just after a shower. Lack of sunlight and physical activity during harsh winter months can lower the body’s immune function and induce malaise. These essential oils collectively work towards fighting infections, supporting the adrenal glands and improving lymphatic drainage. While using the oil, make sure that you pay special attention to the abdomen as that area has a dense concentration of lymphatic tissue. After a brief massage, practice deep breathing for about 30 seconds. It has been found that people who practice this method in the shower every morning stay more healthy and active during winters.

Relax your body and soul!

Health tips are no good if your mind and body are busy battling stress. Stress can really strangle the body’s natural immunity and make you more susceptible to illnesses and infections, especially when the weather is down. The simple act of using Lavender essential oil in an aromatherapy burner when you are home can calm your senses and prepare your body to fight against the oddities.

If you have a little bit of extra time, soak in a warm bath laced with 5 drops of Pine essential oil, 5 drops of Lavender essential oil and a tablespoon of Epsom Salts. This will relax your muscles and rejuvenate your soul.

Alternatively, mix a drop each of Pine essential oil and Lavender essential oil in a teaspoon of Jojoba oils and massage your feet and the back of your neck with this blend.

Liven up your mood!

Bring back the fresh, summery feel with citrus oils. Oils like Orange, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Litsea Cubeba and Lemon are known to uplift the senses and induce a positive atmosphere. Use any of these in an aromatherapy burner on a regular basis to brighten up your day.

• The comforting scent of Cinnamon essential oil is enough to warm up the senses and make you feel cozy.


• Fir essential oil is a natural mood enhancer and its woody aroma can take the sting out of winters.


• Palo Santo essential oil has a calming property that can eliminate every bit of anxiety, stress, nervousness and irritability out of your life for good.

However chilly the weather, there is no escaping parties and get-togethers during the holiday season. Essential oils like Ylang Ylang and Clary Sage induce a feeling of sociability and helps one shed any inhibitions. You may use these oils in a diffuser when you have guests coming over for a lively, cheerful atmosphere.

Unclog your sinuses!

Mucus membranes, our body’s natural defense system, need an optimum temperature of 65 -85 degrees and a clean, moist environment to function well. Apart from the chilly outdoors, our bodies have to bear the brunt of heating systems, trapped pollutants and closed windows. Dry, particle-laden air irritates the mucous membranes thus lowering their defense mechanism and making us more susceptible to infections.

Add a teaspoon of regular salt along with two drops Eucalyptus essential oil  to a bowl of steaming hot water, cover your head with a towel and deeply inhale the vapors.

Look and feel soft!

Harsh, dry weather can send your skin screaming for help. As your skin loses moisture, it ends up looking dull, flaky and lackluster. Keep your skin plump and glowing by massaging your face and body with nourishing essential oils like Frankincense, Sandalwood and Patchouli. These oils can be mixed with rich carrier oils like Foraha Oil or Jojoba Oil. The massage will improve blood circulation under the skin and restore your natural glow.

 

Romantic Tuesday: Listen To What Your Love Really Wants

Listen for things your sweetie says is missing in his/her life and surprise him/her with them on a random occasion.

Mental Health Monday: Open Your Hand in order to Receive

If your hand is closed, you will never receive all of the blessings and abundance that the Universe is trying to hand you.  Open your tight grip on the past and let it go…time for the future!

Serenity Sunday: Go with the Flow...even if you are falling!

I was once told by a friend that sometimes you have to fall down before you can soar to new heights....so today if you are feeling like you are falling, don't fight it...let yourself fall....Trust that you have a "Spiritual Trampoline" (call it God, Universe, Higher Power, or whatever you want to call it) that will rebound you to even higher heights!

Foodie Friday: Broccoli Rabe, White Bean & Fontina Pasta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been craving Italian again and so I went to one of my frequented recipe spots (eatingwell.com) and pulled this unique healthy Italian recipe for you all to try. It's high in fiber, it's got your veggie, and it's delicious! Enjoy!

4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

NUTRITION PROFILE
Low cholesterol | Low saturated fat | Heart healthy | High calcium | High fiber |

INGREDIENTS
8 ounces whole-wheat shells, fusilli or chiocciole
1 large bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces, or 8 cups baby spinach
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 19-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese
2/3 cup Toasted Breadcrumbs, optional (see Tip)

PREPARATION
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, according to package directions. Stir in broccoli rabe (or spinach) during the last 2 to 3 minutes. Drain. Dry the pot.
Whisk broth and flour in a small bowl until smooth. Heat oil in the pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broth mixture and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, until it thickens, 3 to 4 minutes. Add beans, vinegar, salt and pepper and the pasta and broccoli rabe (or spinach). Cook, stirring, until the mixture is heated through, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat; add cheese, stirring until it melts. Serve immediately, topped with Toasted Breadcrumbs, if using.
TIPS & NOTES
Tip: To make toasted breadcrumbs, trim the crusts from 2 slices of whole-wheat sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor into coarse crumbs. Toss breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until golden and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.
NUTRITION
Per serving: 444 calories; 13 g fat ( 4 g sat , 7 g mono ); 16 mg cholesterol; 70 g carbohydrates; 23 g protein; 13 g fiber; 750 mg sodium; 441 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (170% daily value), Vitamin A (150% dv), Iron (25% dv), Calcium (20% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 4

Exchanges: 4 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 medium-fat meat, 1 1/2 fat

Thankful Thursday: Who Are You Grateful For Today?

As we are giving gratitude for things in our lives, sometimes we forget to give gratitude to the people whom support us the most!

I am grateful for my parents! They have supported me at every twist and turn in my adventurous life!

Wellness Wednesdays: The Importance of the Doctor Patient Relationship

Back in the day, when a patient went to the doctor, he did all the talking.  The doctor asked the quesitons, made the recommendations, gave the prescriptions and sent the patient off on their way. But the information superhighway known as the world wide web has since changed all of that!  Now we have webMD, Medscape, and many other medically related and diagnosis information sites out there that allow the consumer to educate themselves about their health and their condition. So, the doctor patient relationship has changed and continues to evolve. It is important to know that even with the abundance of information out there on health and wellness, the doctor patient relationship is still a sacred thing, as when you go to the doctor you are trusting them with your health and sometimes with some very personal things.  There are still some very “old school” docs out there that believe that “what the doctor says goes”.  I have a different opinion.

Patient Participation

It is important today for patients to participate in their health. This means taking responsibility for their habits and roles in care.  This may start in the doctors office, but it goes on to everyday life.  Here’s an example: I saw a patient who was very insistent that she had a thyroid problem because she couldn’t lose weight (I can’t count how many times I’ve heard that one). When I began to question her about her habits, she admitted to eating fast food almost daily, not exercising, etc (need I go on).  This was a clear lack of insight of her part in this instance.

Here’s an example of positive patient participation resulting in a very productive visit: I saw a patient who thought she might need a referral to podiatry because of chronic foot pain for years. She gave me a very thorough history of her habits, of past evaluations (and I also checked her chart), and a very specific description of where and when her pain took place. I evaluated her and determined that the localized pain in her foot was due to a plantars wart causing pressure and pain in that area. She asked me how she may have gotten it, and I gave her several possibilities (walking bare-foot on the floor or shower, using some else’s socks or slippers), she asked me about different options for treatment and I explained the different options including cryotherapy and over the counter wart removal to surgical removal. I recommended cryotherapy as a start and she agreed.

In this case, there was active exploration on both the doctors and patients part which lead to a more thorough evaluation and management decision.

 Doctor Expertise

It is very important to remember that although WebMD and similar websites provide a wealth of information, they also provide a disclaimer that they are not to be substituted for a physicians evaluation.  It is often that I have patients come to me who have already diagnosed themselves and plotted their evaluation and treatment course.  While I think the educated patient is refreshing (and I actually encourage the patients to tell me what they’ve researched and found), past the diagnosis part, patients need to be aware that we physicians went to medical school and residency and some of us fellowships for a reason…to help you all!  Now let me be clear, if patients have questions about new treatment options or treatments they’ve heard on TV they absolutely should ask if they are curious. However, demanding a course of treatment because you as the patient think you know better because you read it on the internet is highly inappropriate….and can be offensive to some physicians (notice I said some, not all).  So just take caution on how you approach your physician with your research.

Conclusion

Fostering a good doctor patient relationship goes both ways.  We as physicians should not only be competent (stating the obvious here), but should also be open to allowing patients to participate in (not dictate)  their care to an extent. In addition, a good physician will also seek to educate the patient about management decisions and be open to any questions that arise.

Patients, should choose a doctor they feel they can trust, realizing that we physicians went trained for many years to be able to do what we do.  Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions, but be careful about trying to dictate to your doctor your management based on what you read, heard, or what your friends told you….even if they are doctors themselves.  Also, take responsibility for your part in your health. We can only lead you to the oasis!

Jumpstart your wellness program with Dr. Maiysha from Anywhere in the World, visit www.mbswellness.org or call 404-478-9868.

Romantic Tuesday: Be Like Teenagers

Go to a Drive in Movie & Make out in the back seat of a car.

Mental Health Monday: Be Ready To Receive What You Ask For

If you ask for change, don't be surprised when it comes! It is then that you must be ready to accept the new path that is being brought before you, even if you don't know what that path looks like.

Serenity Sunday: Create New in Each Day

If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. What are you doing differently today to create a balanced authentic you!

Foodie Friday! Red Quinoa Jambalaya

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1/3 yellow onion

1 zucchini

1 small red bell pepper

3 garlic clove

1 lemon

1 Pkg of Vegetarian Shrimp

1 cup dry red quinoa (from your local farmers market or Whole Foods market)

1/2 cup low sodium vegetable broth

3-5 vine ripe tomatoes

1 green onion, chopped

1-2 tbsps of Cajun Seasoning

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Boil the 1 cup of red quinoa in 4 cups of water for 30-35 min

2. Heat oil in skillet. Add chopped onion, zucchini, red bell peppers and garlic and sautee for about 5 min.
3.  Cut and add fire-roasted tomatoes to the sautee.  Then add the quinoa & cajun seasoning once fully cooked. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Cover for around 10 minutes.
4. Add vegetarian shrimp and cover for another 5-10 minutes (or until shrimp are cooked).

5. Squeeze juice of 1/2 lemon into mixture and continue to simmer
6. Top with green onions and salt and pepper. Enjoy!Number of Servings: 7

Thankful Thursdays! What Are You Grateful For?

I am grateful for the prosperity and abundance that is showing up in my life!

Wellness Wednesday: A Lesson in Balance

 



I receive many of my spiritual and life lessons on the yoga mat.  This morning as I lay in the final posture of my practice Savasana, I had a realization that was powerful enough that I should share it with you today.  I thrive in the practice of yoga asana 5- 6 days a week, and what I love about the practice is that it's the perfect balance between focus and flow; push and pull; engage and relax... The practice often mirrors my life, and my life often mirrors my practice.  I often say to others "Yoga is my church" because when I am in the studio there is a sense of connection and fellowship in silence with those who practice with me as well as with the yoga teacher serving as my guide.

Like most spiritual experiences-practices, we in our humanity fall in and out of balance.  And like most churches (fellowships) there is humanity that exists inside of the wonderful spiritual experience.  Currently, I'm in a place in my practice that has required a bit more focus than it has in the past, and in the past few weeks I've noticed that my flow had become disjointed and forced. It seemed that my practice became more of  just a physical motion with mental analytics than a focus-and-flow experience.  Where typically I experience as sense of well-being, calm emptiness, and balance after my practice, I was leaving with a sense of frustration and judgement.  Whereas I usually looked forward to getting up early to join my fellow yogis and yoginis on the mat, I found that I was dreading even the thought of rising before 7am.  With that dread came the guilt of..."I'm slacking in my practice...",  and then the comparison, "I'm not as dedicated as...", and self - judgement "that's why my teacher says that....(about my practice)".  As you can see, I was falling down the rabbit hole very quickly.  Then I remembered something that one of my yoga instructors used to say to me when I began judging myself about how far I was getting in my practice...she would say "It's fine...you showed up, and that's what's important. It's not always about how far you go, it's just about getting what you need out of it in the time you are on the mat".

Then it clicked!

I was also carrying this same forceful, self-judging, fear and guilt ridden emotion around a very specific issue in my LIFE as well. In that moment I saw the mirror of my practice right in front of me.  I realized that I needed to give myself some grace & compassion and let go of the fear, judgement, and guilt so that I could actually HEAR my guides very clearly, and  be returned to that state of courage, peaceful clarity and balance.  In that moment I made a choice about my yoga practice (because remember my life and practice mirror each other).  I chose that for the next week I would back off and practice only my basic series to give myself some compassion and grace around the practice itself. I wanted to find that perfect focus-flow balance again.  My yoga teacher asked if there was a specific reason I was cutting back to the basic series, and I couldn't put a reason on it...and what I really got in that moment is that I didn't need to.  I chose it because I chose it...and that was enough.

So, today I began my practice with the intention to focus AND enjoy my practice to the fullest.  Not only was the practice a perfect balance of focus and flow, but my yoga teacher was the perfect balance of firm and loving in his instruction and adjustments.  It was as if I was new again.  I lay on the mat in my final posture with that love and euphoria that I was so used to in my closing.  I was so grateful for the lesson in the moment.

As I move about my day, I"m taking that same lesson into real life! The very specific situation I mentioned earlier relates to a  major life decision that I'm making with regard to my career, and today it doesn't feel scary, stressful or forced. I am filled with a loving acceptance and trust for the guidance I am receiving from Spirit.  I'm am so grateful for This lesson as it has allowed me to re-access my power!

So, the question I leave with you today is this:

Where are you forcing a solution or holding on to judgement, guilt, or fear  in your life?

What will you do today to let go of these emotions of SURVIVAL and embrace your TRUE SELF?

You have a CHOICE ..... BE powerful!

Namaste

Dr. Maiysha

Wellness Programs for the World!   www.mbswellness.org

 

 

Romantic Tuesday: Document Your Memories

Next time you're at the mall together, jump into a photo booth and take some fun and zaney pictures. Keep them somewhere accessible so that you can look at them often for a quick smile!

Mental Health Monday: No Time Wasted On Regrets

Regret for wasted time is more wasted time. ~Les Brown

Sunday Serenity: Ask for What You Want...and you just might get it!

The percentage of people in the world who can actually read minds is unknown but probably pretty low. If you want something from someone, you should probably ask them (kindly).

Thankful Thursday: What Are You Grateful For?

I am grateful for a healthy mind and body.