Auntie Cari's Birthday Spinach Salad and Cupcakes

So it's Saturday and my sister-in-laws Birthday was yesterday so we are gathering with the Godbois family this evening to celebrate.  As we are not gathering at our house, and it's Cari's birthday so she is not cooking, Jeff's dad is preparing dinner this evening, and this always adds an interesting flare to the evenings festivities.  He's a great cook and can barbeque up a mean chicken breast, and mash some potatoes and squash. 

Since we are approaching Thanksgiving, this seems to be the standard for most non-vegans this time of year.  However being both vegan and gluten free, this poses a little problem. Namely I can't eat any of that dinner.  So set out to find something for dinner, not just the delicious cupcakes I am making for dessert. (But we will get there).

In preparation for Thanksgiving, we did a test run last weekend of VegNews' Gluten Free Thanksgiving recipes or Parsnip, Pumpkin and Kale Lasagna and Tempeh Bacon Spinach Salad.  I did decide this is what I will make for Thursday, but literally just finished the leftovers yesterday, so wasn't ready for that.  But decided the salad would be a great addition to the meal for everyone.

Wilted Spinach Salad with Tempeh Bacon:

Serves 8

For Tempeh Bacon:

1 8 oz package of Tempeh, thinly sliced

1/3 cup of red wine

1/2 tbsp liquid smoke

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoon tamari (I used Braggs liquid aminos in place of it)

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp vegetable broth powder

1/8 tsp allspice

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp of freshly ground pepper

For salad:

1 tsp Olive Oil

1 large Vidalia Onion, thinly sliced

5 cups baby spinach

2 tbsp fresh Lemon juice

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1.  For tempeh bacon, in a shallow dish, arrange tempeh so strops do not overlap. Combine remaining ingedients in a medium bowl and pore over the top of the tempeh to marinate overnight (or at least 4-5 hours).

The Tempeh ready to bake

2.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place strips onto the sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until crisp, flipping halfway through. Let cool them crumble. Set aside.

3. For the salad, in a plan over nigh heat, heat oil. Add onion and 3/4 tsp of salt and saute until onions turn translucent.

Reduce heat to medium high and continue sauteing until onions turn a golden brown. Reduce heat to medium and let cook over medium stirring often, until onions turn a deep caramel brown.*

4.  In a large bowl, toss spinach, remaining 1/4 tsp salt, lemon juice, lemon zest, and pepper. Add caramelized onions and stir gently. Top with tempeh bacon crumble before serving.

*When caramelizing onions, be use to take it slow, if you don't watch them and the temp is too high, they will burn and you will loose the sweetness.

And for Dessert: 
Chai Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Butter Cream frosting

The cupcakes came from my favorite vegan cupcake book.  Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

The Frosting, after much experimentation:
For a dozen cupcakes:
1/4 Cup of Vegan Butter(Earth balance Sticks, not spread)
1/4 Cup of Vegan Shortening
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Cinnamon extract
2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1-2 tsp cinnamon (depends on the strength and preference)

**** Here is the key***** Let the frosting sit in a bowl or pastry bag in the fridge for at least and hour to let the flavors blend.  
I have used this frosting on apple cinnamon cupcakes and pumpkin cupcakes as well.  It is AMAZING and so simple!!

Or my 3 year old just likes to eat it, straight on her tongue is her favorite vehicle for this frosting.

Enjoy, and Namaste!

10 Minute Super Easy Dinner (or lunch)

As a busy mom how works way too many jobs, I often find myself running in or out at dinner time to teach a class or see a client.  As a result I have put together this super easy and delicious meal that can be eaten at home and prepared in 10 minutes.  

I used to struggle to find things that were both Vegan and Gluten Free that I could eat that would give me energy and what I needed to make it through and still taste good.  This recipe is both.

Ingredients:

One medium Onion (I used a sweet onion)

One medium Sweet pepper (I used orange today)

14 oz Can of organic Diced tomatoes (Fire roasted or with green chilies) 

14 oz Can organic Black Beans (or any kind that you like)

Cumin (to taste)

Chili Powder (to taste)

Red Pepper flakes

Sea Salt 

1 Avocado

Pepper Jack Daiya (for topping)

Vegan sour Cream

Makes about 2 servings

I start by chopping the onions and Peppers (You could also add a jalapeno pepper here) and adding them to a hot oiled skillet.  Allowing them to cook down some before adding the drained tomatoes. (You can used frozen onions and/or peppers as well if want it to take less time)  Cook down the veggies and then add the seasoning.  You can use whatever "Mexican Style" seasoning you like, and although I like things hot, I also don't like them over seasoned.

Once combined and cooked down add the drained and rinsed beans.  I used black but any type is fine, I tend to switch each week, and often cook a batch of beans on Sunday to be used in recipes for the week.  This time I did use organic canned beans.

Mix and allow them to combine in flavor, let sit 2 minutes or so. (Just enough time to get out the bowl and toppings.) 

Once combined top with your favorite toppings, mine happens to be avocado,

Daiya, 

And Tofutti Better than Sour Cream.

You can go as heavy or light as you like on your toppings, and could add a wrap or corn chips to this recipe, but this is how I like it.  And it rarely puts up a fight.  I usually eat if for dinner and the left overs the next day for lunch. Truth be told, I could heat this meal 3 meals a day 7 days a week, which is why I decided to share it.

Enjoy and don't forget to comment if you are loving it.  Coming soon, Vegan Chili and some  Vegan, GF Lasagna. Yummy.

Namaste!

Sandy

So it has been over a week since I posted.  With Sandy approaching the east coat, life got hectic. 

Living in the country of NH, we often lose power, so the days leading up to Sandy were marked by frantic cooking and cleaning and preparing to be without power for days.  There were no Generators anywhere so we were resigned to that fact that we would be power less but would have food we could heat on our Jet Boil hiking "stove".  In the end we were without power for 5 hours.  We were very fortunate. And I am grateful for that. 


I spent most of the week chasing my tail, but we did manage to Carve the pumpkin in the dark, that was a great power outage activity.  Marley really enjoyed wearing the head lap and scooping out the pumpkin guts. And she was very proud of her work.  We also hung onto the seeds to replant them in our garden next year.  

We had a wonderful time for Halloween, both parties and trick or treating went well. I am however new to the iPhone so, I forget to take pictures, but here are a few of Marley and Jeff and I on Halloween.

In order to get the top of Scarecrows Hat, he had to duck down, because of course the ruby red slippers had to be in the photo. (The Ruby Reds are finding a new home in Peabody I think)

Enjoy your week and I promise to get that Chili recipe and pictures up, as it was fantastic!

Namaste!

Vegan Cupcakes

So Halloween is this week and I found out two weeks ago that Marley's new pre-school teacher is also Vegan, which means, of course we have to make cupcakes for her Halloween Party on Wednesday, and because I like to make things complicated (as my hubby would say), I pulled out my copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terry Hope Romero and Sara Quin, and began to play with flavor combinations and recipes. 

Love this cook book and if you don't own it buy it!!

Luckily my husband and I have a Halloween Party to go to tonight so I don't have to eat 10 dozen cupcakes all by myself. Vegan or not, that is a few too many for even me.  So before our trip to visit our good friend Amanda and her horses, my baking assistant and I started batching cupcakes and we finished baking, frosting and decorating them today at about 6:00 am. Too bad for Daddy since he was still in bed and got to hear the mixer going bright and early. 

Some of this weeks flavors: The Elvis (for Lori since we are going to her party tonight and he is a huge fan), A chocolate Orange Cupcake (the winner along with a spider Newman O's on top for Marley's school party) and an Almond Joy Cupcake.  For the Almond Joy, I am still playing, as of right now I used the Chocolate Coconut Cupcake Recipe and added Almond Extract, then made a Chocolate Butter Cream with Almond, not sure I love it. Will try again soon and keep you posted on my continued tweaking.

Here is my Baking assistant following my directions, step by step for the Chocolate Orange Cupcakes batter. 

Whisking.

  

I was actually pretty amazed at how well she follows instructions and she stuck with me in the kitchen through the whole process, even moving her baby dolls table into the kitchen to use as her surface to "write her recipes in her note book".

 And since she it too little to put them in the oven, she cleans the spatula for me. One benefit of Vegan Cupcakes, no eggs!  She told me her friends "are really gonna like these cupcakes, because I'm a really good cook". And yes, she meant her, not me.

Once the batter was in the oven, we moved onto the Elvis Cupcakes, after making a delicious and light Banana Cupcake, we filled and frosted them with Peanut Butter cream Frosting. The secret is in the Molasses.

  Peanut Butter Cream

The Elvis Cupcakes with the Ghosts, per Marley's direction. (she actually put them on)

  Here are the Chocolate Orange Cupcakes, with Orange Butter Cream Frosting and Chocolate Ganache, there are only 11, as #12 is below and the start of the Newman O's Spider, without the legs. (I'm having a hard time finding Vegan shoestring Licorice which is what I want to use)

Busy morning, thanks for checking in and more pictures and blog tomorrow. Tomorrow we tackle that yummy roasted Vegetable soup, and carve pumpkins!! And maybe even pictures from the Halloween Party! :)

Namaste, and get your down dog on people!! 

XOXO

New Businesses- Volunteers needed

So in July of this year (2012) I started a new business venture with a colleague and friend Val Leyton.  It is a business that offers life coaching, yoga and yoga therapy as well as  workshops on improving communication, increasing productivity and preventing burnout in the work place.

I am happy to say that after four months things are going well, and we are starting to make an impact and people are finding us.

So for those of you who do not know me, you don't know that I get bored easily, and like new challenges.  Part of the reason I do what I do I guess.  But a large part of my practice with clients over the years as a therapist has been working with individuals, women specifically, with anxiety.  So after much thought about it and work with clients I have decided to write it down and share it.  

SO, this means I have started yet another venture in my life, (I know, why right?) this time making the information I know available to you in time for the holiday season.

Check out my new website at www.anxietyfreemom.com and see what programs I have to offer. One is designed to be a quick tips format that helps with everyday stress and worry, basic diet changes and exercises as long with thinking pattern changes.  The other is a self help program that currently offers CD's and a manual along with yoga sequences to manage Anxiety and Panic designed for busy women.  

Check it out and see what you think.  

The Self-help Program will be rolled out in the coming month and I hope to hear much feed back.  I am currently looking for a few more people to take a look at the program and test it out for free, and provide feedback before it's December release.  Send me an e-mail at anxietyfreemom@gmail.com if you are interested.  Only qualification you must be a women with mild to moderate anxiety.

My Favorite Fall Soup

Okay, so really this is just one of my favorites.

I great up in a household where the only soup we really had was homemade chicken or turkey soup when we were sick or after a holiday bird was cooked. Needless to say, I no longer eat these soups, nor did I ever really.  Soup was never really my thing.  I was a kid who didn't like my food to touch so I was clearly never going to like them cooked together.  Then one day, I don't even really remember when that was, I found that soup was so much more than chicken, carrots and rice.

I know since that time this soup has been one that warms my heart and my body on those cold Autumn days.   I often play around with it, and my soup is always kind of chunky  because that's how I like it but you can add more to less stock to taste.

This recipe has been adjusted from Ina Garten's Roasted Vegetable Soup

• 1 1/2 pound carrots, peeled
• 1 pound parsnips, peeled
• 1-2 large sweet potato, peeled
• 1 small butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled and seeded
• 3 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 3-5 cups Vegetable Stock

Place all the cut vegetables in a single layer on sheet pans. Drizzle them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until all the vegetables are tender, turning once with a metal spatula.

Place vegetable mixture in a food processor and add stock, along with parsley until blended to desired consistency. 

I tend to use less stock, but you can add more to think the soup out.

Serve with bread or crackers of your liking.  Or make a delicious Vegan Grilled Cheese with Vegan/Gluten Free Bread, veggies and Daiya cheese, the flavor that strikes you today.  (I really like the spicy cheeses from them). 

Frozen Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake
 Pulled originally from www.thekindlife.com

Vegan, Gluten-free with a sweetener free option for a fermenting free friend of mine.

Option suggestion, use what is in season for Berries, they all work and are wonderful strawberries and blueberries are my favorite.
 
Ingredients
Crust:
1 cup(s) almonds
1 cup(s) Medjool dates
1/4 tsp. sea salt
Filling:3 cup(s) raw unsalted cashews, soaked overnight and drained
1 cup(s) strawberries
2/3 cup(s) coconut oil
2/3 cup(s) agave (sweetener free use 3-5 dates)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Topping:1 cup(s) strawberries
1 tbsp. agave (sweetener free, omit)
1/4 cup(s) orange juice
Steps
1. To make the crust, pulse almonds, dates, and sea salt in a food processor until well combined and crumbly. Press the crust into the bottom of an 8-inch spring form pan.
2. For the filling, combine cashews, strawberries, coconut oil, agave, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a food processor orhigh-speed blender until smooth and well combined. Pour the mixture on top of the crust and spread evenly.
3. To make the topping, add strawberries, agave, and orange juice to blender. Blend until smooth and pour on top of the 'cheese' layer. Freeze overnight.
4. Take the cake out to thaw for about 40-50 minutes before serving. You'll want to cut it when it's still semi-frozen.
If anyone has made this before or tries it out, let me know how good it is on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being yummiest!) in the comments below!

Change

Times they are a changin'.

I decided that what I am always drawn to is food and movement so I have updated my blog to fit with what I love, not just what I do.

Please check back often as I will be posting recipes and yoga poses daily along with pictures...now that I finally got my iPhone.  Can't wait to get started.

Thanks for all the support.

A Delicious Breakfast or Snack

During my Yoga Teacher Training I became close with lots of fellow yogis and we would often share yummy food with each other and I got this delicious chocolatey snack or breakfast loved by both me and my family.  This recipe was shared by my lovely friend Kelly.

Give it a try, it is Gluten Free and Vegan and Raw Option

Raw Cocoa Buckwheat Granola

1 cup raw buckwheat groats
1 cup raw unsalted cashews
1/2 cup Zante currants
1/2 cup unsweetened dried Coconut
1/4 to 1/2 cup carob or cocoa powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup agave nectar (to taste)

Soak Buckwheat and cashews over night in water. (in separate containers) Drain. Chop cashews in the food processor.  Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until combined

If using a food dehydrator, spread mixture onto teflex sheets and dehydrate for 1 hour at 140 degrees, then turn the temperature down to 105 degrees, and continue dehydrate overnight or for 8 hours.

If using oven, spread mixture onto cookie sheet and place in the oven on the lowest setting your oven allows (mine is 200) and bake until Crunchy.  This depends on time of year and humidity as well.at least an hour.

Other variations for Dried Fruit and Nuts:
Almonds, Pecan, Walnuts, Macadamia

Apricots, Cranberries, Blueberries, Figs, Dates

The options are endless....play with it and try something new this weekend. 

This is also to die for over Coconut Milk or Almond Milk "Ice Cream".

Hello Vacation

So Vacation? Yes, but apparently a vacation from writing too. It has been a hectic February starting with vacation and then a very sick child, a sick self a sick husband, a week long yoga training and finally a sick child again.

It always amazes me how when I get out of a routine life goes haywire.  A need to stay connected and balanced goes out the window and I often find myself looking at a period of time (this time a month) and wondering what happened.  

After much chaos and conflict, I think we are all back on track.  All working to take care of ourselves and having an opportunity to grow.  For me part of my growth came on the Commuter Rail coming home from Boston one night after an almost 15 hour day of commuting and yoga, and talking about the principles of yoga when I was reflecting on the Yama and Niyama (Part of the 8 Limbs of Yoga).  I had been doing a lot or reading for this training and suddenly I realized that the grounding I needed had been starting me in the face for quite some time.  So I have decided that I will take a few weeks and reflect upon each individually during this journey I am currently on.

Yama - the ethical disciplines by which to live.  Our timeless moral code.

1.  Ahimsa- non- violence, or non-killing

Ahimsa means so much more than, though shall not kill.  It is referring to everyone and everything.  It is about living a non-violent life style. In thought, action and belief.  In yoga, not pushing past what your body can do, being non-violent in the way we care for ourselves and our family and those around us.  And often most importantly, it is about self criticism.  Letting go of the violent nature with which we think about the world and the people in it.  

During the next few weeks I will work to write about how I am following this, and will use the blog as my journal on my journey to growth.

As always I am open to any feed back you may have!

Namsate.

Fear.....

So in writing for the book, I have come across and have been writing about Barriers to balanced living and self care, barriers that contribute to Burnout and I have recently written about Fear.  So I ask, how has fear contributed to who you are, what you do and/or how you do things?

I like to believe that I am fearless, that when something "scary" presents itself, I simply see it as a challenge to over come, and not an obstacle blocking my path, but the reality is that we all have fears.  Including me, my fears change depending on the day.  

For most fear is a natural part of life, our ancestors lived among wild carnivorous and they were often the prey, so the bodies response for fear, the "fight or flight" response serves them well. But currently fear tends to get in our way of happiness. It causes us to not take risks, not live a full life and sit at home, worried something or other will happen.

Fear often causes us to avoid that which we find to be unfamiliar or challenging, opting instead for the known or safe path.  This often does not lead us to happiness, but rather an increase in stress.  The result of giving in to fear is we stay stuck in the same spot, not growing, not moving forward, but simply existing. 

I know for sure that I want my life to be more than just existing.  Fear may cause us to continue to set the same goals over and over and yet not move forward toward completion because of fear.  We may be really good at long term goals, my 10 year plan is......, but not as efficient at the 1 week goals, or due to fear not even make them.


Fear is an emotion that can be used to move us forward (like fight or flight) or hold us back.  Fear is powerful and think if you can harness that fear and use that to fuel the fire of growth how much success and happiness you will find.


How will you use your fear??


Namaste

Stuck in a Rut

Do you ever feel stuck in a Rut. Not sure which way to go, what to do or how to get there.  I sometimes find myself low energy, indecisive, ruminating and stuck in the right now, no longer looking ahead and hopeful. Maybe your trying to lose weight and notice those that last few (or first 20) pounds sticking around and no matter what you do they won't go any where.  And when I sit with it and do nothing and allow it to rule my life, I become irritated, edgy and difficult to be around, and yes, down right pissed at my clothes, like it's their fault they won't cover my ass.  I know shocker!! (There I said it for you!)

How could that be, I eat healthy exercise....well I go to the gym, I drink water...most of the time.  I'm a vegan for goodness sake how can I not be thin and healthy.....oh maybe it's the vegan cookies and cakes, hmmmm.

I have found that regardless of your lifestyle and how healthy you attempt to be, if you are stuck in other areas of your life, or stressed, physically, emotionally, spiritually, we often end up out of balance and stuck in that Nasty old rut!! 

The Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I have been there.  So how do you shift it, what can you do to get unstuck??  The Key is CHANGE.  But how, so often we obsess about guilt, grief, fear, anger, sadness, anxiety and the more we focus on it the more entrenched we become.  Our brain begins to rewire itself, thus giving our Rut more power.  If we can begin to turn away, focus on that which is hopeful, positive and uplifting, this will help those old negative connections to fall away, and then we realize we are not in a Rut, just coming over a small bump in the road.

Being around positive, happy people is quite helpful in this journey. It allows us to focus more on the uplifting, joyful aspects of our lives or to create these experiences. Do something new, try on a new way of thinking, ask for help, or help others, move outside of your comfort zone and push your edge, just a little at a time and you will see new worlds opening up for you.  It will get you out of that Rut for sure!

I would love to hear about your journey.

Namsate.

Balancing point

     So finding my balancing point has often been a challenge in my life. I sometimes struggle to stay away from foods that, lets face it we are all better off without, or balance my work and home life, not accepting that my family needs me just as much if not more that my clients do.  And how do I find balance when I feel pulled in so many directions??

     So I placed a challenge in front of me, to post 4 times a week on my blog, the place that helps me put my balance into perspective, and after making that commitment, actually 5 days in, today, I get a message from my BFF, that says "so waiting for those 4".  This is when I know I am not quite balanced.  So I have been writing, don't get me wrong, actually with my ADD, I have been doing a lot of writing, just on 5 different journals and I can't find anything because it is fragmented and I basically have been writing on whatever I can find, good for free writing, bad for blogging when I need to find them to type them in (I know good/bad are judgements, I'm okay with that in this setting).

     So I got back to the idea that I wrote about last week and will try a rewrite here (since I'll be damned if I can find the notebook it is in).

     I began thinking about balance and what it takes. I say in my yoga classes that balance is 85% mind, 15% body and of the body, most of that is foundation.  So physically speaking we work to ground ourselves through the three corners of the feet, with a soft bend in the need, toes lifted activating that mid-body time, then we draw in and up through the core (or belly area), then we express (i.e. lift into half moon, warrior 3, tree or whatever the asana).

     So thinking about this more having to do with the rest of my life I tend to think about: 1 what is my foundation? 2 Where is my strength? 3 How do I share this?  So here are my answers to these questions.

1.  My foundation is me,  my family& friends, my support system, my healthy diet, and my knowledge of self.

2.  My strength is also me, my exercise, yoga, running, Pilates and all the other crazy stuff I do (kick boxing sometimes too), along with my knowledge of self and the human system

3. My expression, this too is yoga, my practice and my teaching, providing therapy, sharing my perspective, blogging, teaching SW and all other means of my sharing of knowledge and self.

     My expression is built on my foundation and my strength. If I do not take care of myself, if I am not truly connected with me I can not help guide or teach others on their journeys which what I get paid to do. Without this foundation, this balance, I am of no use to me, my family and friends or my clients/students!

     Think about it what is your foundation, strength and expression? What is your gift?

Namaste

Family

     Family is a gift to me, having the opportunity to spend time with those that I love.  I had a nice weekend with my sisters and niece and nephews.  Spending time with family helps me to put things into perspective. 

     The newness of experiences that we take for granted, the excitement of falling snow, the first snow boarding trip, the first time sledding.  Winter can be so amazing, so tranquil, and so exciting for Floridians and children.  I enjoy the quite that comes along with the winter, it is calming for me. I'm not sure if it is the fire in the pellet stove and the nice cozy house, the shorter days or the quite outside when I am out there since so few venture out in the cold snowy weather.

    Learning new things and exploring that which we have forgotten.  As a family, we all went sledding and we spent most of the afternoon laughing and enjoying each others company. Not stressing about image or judgement, not worried about behavior, just being able to enjoy the company of that with whom you are with. (and maybe dive out of the way of oncoming nephews.)

     This is a gift. I hope to take a lesson from this experience.  That being in the moment, spending time with those whom you value, and throwing your whole heart and soul into the experience, makes for fun, laughter and maybe a few extra pounds, but who's counting??

     Make the most of each moment, as you never know which will be your finest, and which your last.  Love and peace to you all.

Namaste

Making amends!!

Sorry about the not posting, I have had family here and getting the computer was a challenge although I have been writing, just couldn't post...so here come my 3 from last week....... Enjoy!!!

Getting Moving

The winter months can be tough and I often find myself ( and many of my clients) hunkering down to ride out the winter until sunny days arrive again in the early spring.  This often leads to the blues or depression, an increase in eating thus leading to weight gain and an increase in isolation.  One strategy to over come the winter slump is keeping a watchful eye on self care.  Self care through exercise adn eating healthy.

In my practice I often hear people that want to get moving, taking new classes, going for walks, starting to run and I come across two challenges. The first is getting started.  How do you get up early to head to the gym before work, or commit to going after work, and once there what do you do?? Figuring out what is going to be a comfortable start for you in crucial.  Are you going to be comfortable joining a gym and if so what kind, and will you go alone or with a friend. If not a gym, can you find a walking group or are you motivated to do workout tapes at home? All of these are extremely important in the preparation phase of change.  Having a sold plan will allow you to meet your goals more successfully.

So step 1 is develop a plan, what do you hope to accomplish and how are you going to go about doing that?  I have a very good friend who I have run several half marathon or marathon relays with who has set a plan to run a bunch of half marathons this year and has even gotten a personalized training plan to PB at a local race.  That is a clear and reachable goal, that is what your looking for. 

Now comes the hard part. So okay, I ordered new sneakers, or a cut yoga top and pants and a new mat, and I went to the gym this week now what.  How do you keep going, how do you stay committed? I find this to be the more challenging of the two.  Working in a gym, I hear people that come to class and they say things like, oh don't worry, classes are big now but wait a few weeks and all those "Resolutioner's" will be gone.  Is that what you want, to be known as someone who isn't going to make it through their commitment?  I think not! 

Step 2, This is your chance to keep those gyms packed, but again you have to set a plan, make the commitment and here is the key, make it specific and attainable and then share it with people that will help hold you accountable.  It's easy to say yeah I'm gonna work out, that's vague, what does that mean, I did squats for one minute? I took the stairs? All of that is working out, but the key is to say I'm going to go to the gym for 30 minutes on three days a week. See what classes if any you would like to take and plan accordingly, schedule child care, pack your clothes, bring a healthy before workout snack for late afternoon (or whenever you are planning to work out).  Maybe even hire a trainer.

It's the specificity and the sharing that make our plans successful and not just another failed New Years Resolution.  I know I was there for years, always waiting to start, and now I help people get moving, my how things have chanced. 

How are you going to get moving this winter??

Namaste

Resolution

So I realized when I signed on this morning to write my blog that I haven't written anything since New Years Day.  I think I got stuck in some sort of time warp because I'm not even sure how that happened, but I am making the commitment to blog at least 4 times a week.

Also Like me on Facebook at Sadhana Principle for even more updates about self care and balanced living.

Namaste

Happy New Year

Today is another opportunity to celebrate your own personal turning point. Providing yourself with love and nourishment of the spirit will give you all you need in this new year.

What if all you did and said today was indicative of what the rest of your year would be like? What would you do differently?  I believe there is a reason that stores have organizational products and healthy food on sale this first week of the year because, we hope that this will have an impact on our behaviors and successes this year.

If each action was truly a learning experience that we could grow from. Seeing life and it's actions as challenges to be concurred. 

I say at the end of each yoga class that "what you do on the mat translates directly to how you live your life outside of the studio, so be mindful and make each day your day." So make what you do this first day, week and month of 2012 a building block of how you are going to do things differently this year.  How are you going to rock it??


Use the good china, put on the nice jewelry, splurge and get that massage, make today the day, don't wait until it is convenient or affordable, but grab life by the horns and make it work!!

Make 2012 your year, Rock it hard core and keep it going, so you can continue to build on your strength and success.

Namaste