Key Principles of Revolved Triangle from Susi Hately Aldous

The following came to me via Susi Hately Aldous' I Love Anatomy: Anatomy and Asana Newsletter. Susi is a yoga teacher, anatomy expert and owner of Functional Synergy.

Susi's book, Anatomy and Asana: Preventing Yoga Injuries, is required reading in the Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training, and is one of my favorite anatomy books. It is well-written, clear, and accessible both to the professional, and the student of yoga.

An example of Susi's clear style can be read below in her excellent discription of the proper approach and mechanics neccesary to do revolved triangle pose (parivrtta trikonasana) safetly.

Enjoy!

In order for Revolved Triangle to occur safely and smoothly, a few things need to happen.

1. There needs to be balance of the legs on the pelvis. As the twist occurs, the legs and feet can’t collapse on each other. If they do, the twist also collapses, and strain can enter into the neck, shoulder girdle, or back.

2. Although much of the initial twist is meant to occur around the base of the thoracic spine, the muscular engine of the twist is at the obliques. Because of the structure of the facet joints, the lumbar spine doesn’t have much of a bandwidth for twisting. The base of the thoracic spine however, does. The obliques, with their attachments at the ribs and the pelvis, help to gently drive that movement. Allow yourself to feel that oblique movement (or lack thereof).

3. The cervical spine (neck) twists only after the spine below has found its position. As many teachers know, students often move the neck too soon and too far. Feel the rotation in the torso below before moving the neck.

4. The shoulder girdle follows the spinal rotation. Sometimes this happens in reverse and the student gets into over-leveraging (a very easy mistake to make). Let's look at an example with your right leg in front. If your right leg is in front and you are twisting to the right, you may be inclined to have your left hand move to your right leg to . . . jusssst . . . squeeeeze a bit morrrrre . . . twwwist . . . out of the pose. In this example, the left hand and arm are driving the twist as opposed to the spine leading the twist and the shoulder girdle following with the support of the left arm and hand. It is something that I often see in students who really want "to feel SOMETHING" in this pose. Small note: I am not against leverage, but if it happens before the lower thoracic spine has been connected to the obliques and pelvis, then leverage can be downright dangerous.

I think Revolved Triangle can freak people out in a similar way to back bends. You can’t really see where you are going, and you are relying on your legs and your pelvis to be stable while the spine moves.

Nonetheless, Revolved Triangle can be truly remarkable, as many participants in the workshops can attest. If you would like to dig down a bit more, I have a Revolved Triangle teleclass ready to download. In this recording I speak more about the shoulder girdle and hip mechanics as well as the nature of the twist. Just click, here.

Self-Observation Without Self-Criticism

"The highest form of spiritual practice is self-observation without self-criticism."
– Swami Kripalu

This quote from Swami Kripalu is one of my favorites. It encapsulates the essence of what the journey of yoga is all about. It is a journey into ourselves. It is a long, and sometimes arduous journey, full of great joy and many sorrows, but it is, I think, always a worthy adventure.

Can you pause now in your day?
Take a moment with me?...

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
Observe the breath moving in and out of your body.
Make the offering of this mantra to your self:

In this moment I breathe, in this moment I am perfect. At all times, in every way possible, I have everything I need.

As you move into your evening keep these phrases in mind, and take some time to contemplate the words of Bapuji (Swami Kripalu). How can you move along this great adventure of life making it an inquiry of self-observation, without entering into the harshness of self-criticism?

I would love to hear the ways that you do this!
Leave a comment, or drop me a line.

Namaste

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• Awesome Kundalini Yoga DVD

Awesome Kundalini Yoga DVD

Jai Bhagwan my beloved. A quick post for you this morning.

If you've been reading this blog you know I am a huge fan of Kundalini yoga (Kripalu actually comes from this lineage, Swami Kripalu was a major Kundalini Yoga practitioner.) I encorporate a lot of it into my teaching, and I practice many kriyas as part of my sadhana every morning. When I want to take a Kundalini class and can't get to one, I do this DVD:

Chakra Yoga for Mental Clarity (1998)

Starring: Gurutej Kaur Rating: Format:

It is SOOOO great and only 60 minutes long. The exercises completely clear and balance my energy and always set me on the path for a great day. I was feeling so tired and scattered this morning (results of a poor night sleep, because my poor Michael has got a terrible cold and was tossing and turning like mad) and now I feel focused and 100 % better.

Give this one a try, you won't be dissapointed.

Sat Nam, Sat Nam, Sat Nam

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Rise and Shine with Sun Breath

Rise and Shine!!!

It's morning, and a new day full of possibilites is before you. Wake up your brain, raise your prana, and get ready for a beautiful day with this seated variation of Sun Breath.

1. Sit in Sukhasana (simple cross-legged pose), or Lotus Pose.

2. Start with your hands by your hips, palms turned out. Inhale and sweep the arms overhead – reach out through your finger tips as if your arms are the rays of the sun – keep stretching upwards to the sky, and bring the palms together over your head. Exhale.

3. Keeping your arms raised, look up at the sky, lift your heart to the heat and light of the sun – inhale the prana of our ancient sun – feel this new expansion in the chest. Turn the palms out, reach through the finger tips and exhale the arms down.

4. Repeat on the next inhale, and use the mantra:

Breathing in, I breathe the light of the sun into my heart.
Breathing out, I give the light of the sun to our world.

5. Repeat at least 3 times.

Namaste, and may you have a radiant day!
Go out and shine!

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Free Kundalini Yoga Class with Gurmukh from Golden Bridge Yoga

Image © Anodea Judith's The Illuminated Chakras DVD. and SacredCenters.com.Enjoy this Kundalini Yoga class with the incredible teacher Gurmukh from Golden Bridge Yoga.

Her book The Eight Human Talents is one of the most beautiful and useful books on yoga I have ever read. She also does amazing prenatal yoga classes, and DVDs. I have taken her classes at Golden Bridge in New York City, and they are transformational.

Kundalini Yoga is an invigorating tradition of yoga. It will get your prana flowing, leaving you energized and cleansed. I include Kundalini kriyas as a part of my morning sadhana every day (check back soon for a post detailing my favorite kriyas.)

The exercises may look at little funny, but let me tell you they are amazingly effective, and not easy! Don't be discouraged if you find them challenging; they are well worth your time and commitment.

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Give Your Respiratory System a Tune Up

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Continuing our series on supporting your body and spirit as we transition into the fall and winter seasons I have a few tips and products that will support your respiratory system.

Both autumn and winter can be very challenging to sinuses and the respiratory system. The changing climate, seasonal allergies, and dryer air are a few things that contribute. The good news is an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; if you do the right things to support and build your immune system you will be much less likely to get sick. So, here are a few things to try:

Give Your Sinuses a Bath with a Neti Pot
If you don't already have a neti pot, I HIGHLY recommend that you get one. I use mine every day, sometimes twice a day, and I almost NEVER get sick. If I do get something it is always the lightest little version and it goes away quickly. Using a neti pot regularly has also decreased my seasonal allergies by about 90%. I have very little symptoms anymore. Neti pots have been used in India and in Ayurvedic medicine for a very long time; the term comes from the Sanskrit, jala net out of the back of my throat as well. This may seem really gross at first, but I promise you the results are worth it! i, which literally means "to irrigate with water", and this practice keeps the sinus cavities clean and clear. To use a neti pot dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in 2 cups warm water (don't use tap water that is unfiltered, the chlorine content tends to burn the nose a bit), and pour into the net pot. Go to a sink and tilt your head to one side. Place the neti pot in the opening of one nostril and begin pouring the water. The solution will go up into your sinus, give them a flush, and then pour back out the other nostril. Repeat on the other side. If you tilt your head back slightly, the water will head toward the back of your throat and then you can kind of hack it out. Sorry, no other way of saying it. I find that helps to clear the gunk at the back of the throat. Youtube has A LOT of videos on this, and I know Oprah featured neti pots at some point so you many be able to find some video of that out there. Here is one to get you started:




You can purchase neti pots from The Heritage Store, and they have another product that I highly recommend for respiratory care, called Alka-Thyme. It is a wonderful, refreshing mouthwash and gargle that really cleans and alkalizes the mouth. It can also be used as a topical pack if you feel a sinus or respiratory infection coming on. Just soak a wash cloth in Alka-Thyme and place over the sinus/forehead area, or over the glands on the throat, and on the chest. This is also a gentle and appropriate remedy for children, especially right before they go to sleep to help relieve congestion. I have started adding a 1/4 tsp of Alka-Thyme to my neti pot saline mixture and it is very refreshing. Alka-Thyme contains sodium bicarbonate which is another substance recommended for sinus irrigation.

Support Your Respiratory System Naturally with Mother Earth's Respiratory Tonic
This is another favorite of mine from The Heritage Store. It is a great support for the respiratory system and really helps relieve the congestion and tightness associated with allergies and colds. Their product description explains the active ingredients:

"Mother Earth's is a therapeutic combination of horehound, which soothes irritated mucous tissues, wild cherry bark to alleviate respiratory distress, rhubarb, which cleanses the system, and elixir of wild ginger for toning the digestive tract, preserved with grain alcohol in a honey and syrup base. This gentle, pleasant-tasting tonic is safe and effective for children and adults, just as Mother Earth intended."

This is the kind of product I seek out and use because it supports the body in it's own wisdom and healing process, instead of bombarding it with chemicals that only treat symptoms and often lead to rebound effects worse that the original illness!

Humidify, humidify!...and Open Your Windows
One of the reasons colds and flus increase in the fall and winter seasons is that as it gets colder we tend to close up our houses, thus locking in stale air, dust and germs. Even during the coldest months if you can air out your house for a few minutes each day, you can prevent this stagnation.

Running a humidifier, at least at night when you sleep, is another big one. We do this for babies all the time, and it is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick. When sinus passages dry out the friendly mucus that provides a barrier to germs is reduced. Keep your mucus healthy! Humidifiers are very inexpensive and can be found online or at any drug store or department store near you.

Well, I hope you find these tips useful. Please share in your comments any favorites you may have for keeping the body and spirit healthy during this turn of the seasonal wheel.

Also, for more good information check out this episode from Vitamin Junkeys 5 Tips to Survive Allergy Season Ep 19.

And don't forget about drinking lots of Yogi Tea! it is a great support for the whole body. Find ideas for nourishing, warming meals for the winter months, here.

May you be happy, may you be filled with radiant health!

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Get in Touch with Your Inner Goddess

My mom called me the other night. She gets together with this awesome group of women who have the most incredible parties. Their big one is in June, and it’s called Estrofest…it’s quite an extravaganza. Anyway, they are having a “Goddess Party” this weekend and she, and my sis-in-law, were asking for some ideas for goddesses. I was just going to email them, but then I thought, hey, this is a great post…

So, before the concept of “God” started leaning toward the patriarchal, bearded grandfather concept that dominates many religions today, the goddess, in her many forms, reigned supreme. This is a vast and fascinating subject, and the archetypes represented in the pantheons of goddesses across cultures and millennia have a lot to offer to us. They show up in our dream minds, and inform our ordinary waking states. We can recognize some aspect of all of them in ourselves, and it can be helpful to contemplate them when we need a little support cultivating the energy or ideas that they represent in our own life.

Here are a few goddesses that come first to my mind in this autumn season:

Demeter: The Greek Goddess of Agriculture.
Her name means, “barley mother” and “earth mother”; she is a fertility goddess, and is often shown with a stalk of corn or grain, a torch, and a crown. She helps women harmonize with the ebb and flow of their life cycles. Her daughter, Persephone, was carried away in a notoriously bad relationship with Hades, god of the underworld. Demeter was so grief stricken that she caused the world to ebb into winter and to stay in that state of death until Persephone was returned, albeit for only part of the year (hence, the seasonal cycle.)

Hestia: Greek Goddess of Hearth and Home
Hestia represents purity, sincerity, sanctity and safety. She is responsible for the wholesomeness of a warm meal and a cozy hearth. We bring her energy into our lives when we express the “domestic goddess” inside of us.

Now, if you are looking for a goddess with energy a little less tame, meet a few of my favorites:

Durga: Hindu Warrior Goddess
Durga is my girl.

She symbolizes strength, valor and protection. The Hindu gods called her forth with a “breath of fire” when they found they could not defeat the Buffalo Demon, Mahisasura, who threatened the world. She rides on a lion in a sacred trance, brandishing a weapon given to her by the gods in each of her eight arms (click the link above for more on her weapons.) She is the slayer of evil, and is also referred to as "Triyambake" meaning the three eyed Goddess. The left eye represents desire (the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire).

Here is kirtan (a sacred chant) to Durga


Lilith: Hebrew Goddess of Personal Power and Sexual Appetite
Take a walk on the wild side ladies. When God made Lilith (the first Eve) for Adam, and she told him, “I will not lie beneath you”, and he gave her the old “well, I won’t lie beneath YOU because you should always be in the inferior position…”, Lilith said, “Ah, no you din’it!”…or something like that. Anyway, Lilith doesn’t take any shit, so if you feel like you need to pull a little of that power into your aura, she’s ya’ girlfriend. Lilith is all about freedom of choice; she makes her own rules, and she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She is also a sensual seductress, tempting men to follow her for her own pleasure’s sake. So, have at it ladies. YOu may also want to check out Lilith Magazine.

White Buffalo Calf Woman: Lakota Goddess of Peace
This sacred woman of supernatural origin gave the Lakota their "Seven Sacred Rituals". She is the ultimate role model for woman as facilitator, leader, healer and bringer of peace. You know the “Peace Pipe’? Yep, that was all her. The peace pipe was used in rituals within a sacred circle; it was passed from person to person so each could share their truth, and understanding and unity could be brought to the group. I love her because her way to peace and understanding is decidedly feminine, based in communication and tolerance.

Saraswati: Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Arts
Saraswati is my patron saint, so to speak. I just love her. She dresses in white, and holds a mala (prayer beads) and a palm leaf scroll, indicating knowledge. Saraswati usually rides a swan or a peacock, while playing music on a veena. She is the mother of the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India. She is identified with the Saraswati River and it’s nourishing and purifying aspects. She is the consort of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Saraswati Puja (celebration) is coming up in October, if you have a Hindu temple in your town, try to go, they are amazing rituals and celebrations.




None of these great goddesses resonating with you? Here are a few more to ponder:

Aphrodite: Goddess of Love
Green Tara: Buddhist Goddess of Compassion
Isis: Egyptian Goddess Magic and Life
Artemis: Greek Goddess of the Wilderness and the Moon
Butterfly Maiden: Native American Goddess of Renewal

Manditory Goddess Reading:
Goddesses in Everywoman, Gods in Everyman by Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD
A Goddess is a Girl's Best Friend by Laurie Sue Brockway
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.


Other Resources for Your Inner Goddess:
Goddessdownload.com
Inner Goddess Retreats
Art of the Divine Feminine
Goddess.com.au
Lush

Enjoy, and may the Great Goddess hold you in the palm of her hand always.

Teal Marie

P.S. Mom and Sarah, send in some pics from the party and I’ll put them in a follow up post.

Turning of the Seasonal Wheel: The Autumnal Equinox

September 21, is the Autumnal Equinox, the time when night and day are of equal length.

“This time holds the night and day in perfect balance… As the wheel turns towards the dark half of the year we honor the aging of the Great Goddess as she passes to the Crone stage…” says Natalie “Fox” Maisel in her ritual for Mabon, the autumnal equinox (available for download, here.) “At this time we give thanks as we yield our harvests and turn inward for the cold months. This is an auspicious time to finish old business and take time slowing down from the business of the past season.”

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love it so much, I wish the whole year was autumn. When the air starts to turn cool it’s so invigorating to me. I feel this real internal pull towards center; a deep going in, and in, and in. I feel most creative at this time of year, and deeply intuitive. I also feel a real need to slow down. My yoga sadhanas get deeper, more meditative; lots of long holding postures and slow transitions. I feel especially grateful for fall this year, as it is the first year in many that I am living in a place that has a change of seasons. Last weekend my fiancé and I went to the Blue Ridge Mountains to hike in the cool mountain air and sip hot apple cider as the sun slipped behind those dusky blue ridges. It was incredibly beautiful and peaceful.



As Natalie’s words above highlight for us, this is a wonderful time to heed the natural instincts we are feeling. If you feel a little sleepy, and slow, like you need some time to rest and think, go with it, you are on the right track. This is the season for resting and thinking, for taking inventory of what we have been running around doing all year. I encourage you to take some time to take care of yourself, and give yourself the gift of some processing and transition time in your life. It is also a great time to leave behind things you don't need. Behaviors, relationships, or ways of thinking that are no longer useful to you. As the poet Rumi says, "Change rooms in your mind for a day."

This time of reflection is also a great opportunity to re-establish contact with Gratitude. As you make your inventory of the past year, consider starting a Gratitude Journal, and writing in it daily. I find just a few lines, even a word, helps to keep me rooted in mindfulness and gratitude for “what is”, and makes acceptance of “what isn’t” much easier.

During this change in seasons the body, as well as the mind and spirit, need some special care and assistance. Check back to my blog during the couple weeks. I will have several posts focusing on how to honor and assist your body as it rides this turn of the Seasonal Wheel.

May this autumn season of harvest bring you bounty and blessings in your life-
Teal Marie

Yoga master, 90 next month, says discipline makes him feel one-fifth his age

This is a beautiful and inspirational story about yoga and the positive impact in can make on our lives. This guy is my hero! I'm telling you, if we all did one hour of pranayama each day we would live in radiant health forever.

I was also excited to see that this gentleman did some of his studies with Swami Kripalu, who is the head of the Kripalu Yoga lineage that I teach. They were both from Gujarat, India.

Make sure you watch the slide show! To view it go to the original article by DAVID CASSTEVENS, here.

ARLINGTON — He spoke as if he were seated on an examining table, talking with his doctor.

"I am feeling very goood," he declared.

Any pains?

"No headache. No fever. Never."

Problem with medications?

Kantilal Talati smiled. "No med-i-ca-tion."

The polite, gracious man from India, who turns 90 next month, summarized his well-being in economical English. "I never fall sick. Due to yoga only."

Arpita Shah’s grandfather knelt on the living room carpet of an Arlington home where he has lived with his daughter and son-in-law since leaving Bombay, India, last summer. Limber as an Olympic gymnast, Talati curled his 5-foot, 125-pound frame into a tight ball, and using his head for balance, slowly raised both legs overhead until his inverted body punctuated the accomplishment, forming an exclamation point.

Then Talati lowered his bare feet, turning the soles inward until they met in a posture of prayer.

As he maintained the headstand — the king of yoga poses — his family watched with respect and admiration.

Daily devotion
Talati performs a variety of positions — asanas — as part of his disciplined daily yoga schedule.

"Never do I lapse," he said proudly.

Yoga, an ancient Hindu practice, is aimed at achieving a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. Postures and breathing techniques induce relaxation.

Talati devotes one hour every morning to pranayam (breathing exercises), followed by an hour of yoga.

After breakfast he gives yoga lessons to his hosts.

In the afternoon he does another session alone, performing more challenging yoga poses and movements that massage internal organs, enhance blood circulation and act on the joints, increasing strength and flexibility.

According to a yoga philosophy, it’s not the number of years that determines a person’s age but rather the suppleness of the spine.

Talati credits his 30-year regimen for his good health and longevity.

"I am very young now," Talati said. "If someone asks me 'How old are you?’ I always say, 'I am 18 years!’"

Amused by his own statement, the man born Oct. 25, 1918, broke into a high-pitched staccato laugh..

"My grandfather," said Arpita Shah, a 33-year-old nutritionist, "is my hero."

Crisis spurs change
A native of Bharuch, a seaside city in the state of Gujarat in western India, Talati worked as a project developer for the government-operated Western Railway. As a young man he smoked heavily.

"Four packs a day," he said.

"What!" his granddaughter said in disbelief at this revelation.

After Talati suffered a heart attack at age 44, he made a commitment to dramatically change his lifestyle. He learned relaxation and meditation techniques, and yoga poses from famed guru Acharya Swami Krupalvaanandji and, after he retired, began teaching the discipline at schools, temples and public gardens.

Talati is registered with the Yoga Alliance to teach at the 500-hour level, the highest level available.

"He is a jewel, the perfect testimony for yoga," said Marinda Hollar, owner of the Arlington Yoga Center. "It’s not only his physical prowess, but his kindness. Humility. Authenticity. He’s not trying to get money or attention. He cares about others. That’s what a yogi is."

Talati hopes to open a yoga studio next year. For now, his daughter and granddaughter are his regular students.

Arpita Shah’s stamina has improved, but she has yet to master the headstand.

"My grandfather won’t let me use a wall to help balance," she said. "He tells me, 'There are no shortcuts.’ He says I must learn the right way. No matter how long it takes. I am so lucky. I have found my teacher in him."

A simple life
Talati lives simply, modestly, happily, at peace with himself and the world.

He sleeps in a small guest room furnished with a rattan bed and a dresser.

A photograph on one wall pictures the woman to whom he was married for 66 years.

After Padmavati Talati died last year at age 85, her husband left his homeland to live with family in Texas.

"I prefer it here," Talati said. "The climate is better. The atmosphere. The air."

Rising before dawn, the yogi bows before a brightly colored painting of a Hindu deity and then begins his regimented day with a body-cleansing cup of hot water with lemon juice and honey.

A vegetarian, he has whole-wheat toast, with egg whites, juice and Indian tea for breakfast.

He doesn’t require naps and spends hours each day reading and writing about yoga.

Before retiring at 10:30 p.m. he walks about two miles.

"He wants to start jogging," his granddaughter said.

How long will he live?

The question appeared to surprise and amuse the elderly man.

"As long as God gives me that bonus," he said, smiling. "It is not in my hand. I want to die healthy. That is always my prayer."

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Healthy Treats for Big and Little Yogis

As a yoga teacher, I get a lot of questions about healthy eating, particularly from parents who are trying to improve their own eating habits, and start their children out on the right track. In general I tell people:

A healthy diet for the yogi or yogini of any age should be moderate to help keep the body light and the mind calm; and full of vital nutrients to support and build Prana. A correct diet will strengthen the immune system, make meditation and yoga asana practice easier, and lead to a more equananimous approach to life.

I also tell people, "if it's green...eat it!" Basically, you can't go wrong if you make 70% or more of your diet living, whole food. Meaning something that grew in the ground, or on a tree and has had no processing other that you lightly cooking it. The salad pictured above is very typical of what we would have for dinner. My fiance Mike made this one. Isn't it gorgeous? How could you not want to eat that? It even had edible flowers on it.

This is doubly important for your littlest yoginis. I would highly encourage any parent to make their own baby food. I know you are extremely busy, but really it takes very little time, and the pay off is enourmous. Your child will grow up with "whole food tastebuds", instead of fat, salt, sugar, aka "Mickey D's", taste buds. This summer I spent an afternoon at each of my sis-in-law's homes making baby food for their little girls (see pic of eager eater Bella gazing at her stash of baby food). It took a few hours to make, literally, a couple months worth of food, and for a fraction of the cost of commercial baby food. Try it, and tune back into my blog, those baby food recipes will be coming soon.

Besides the baby food, over the next few months I’ll be sharing a lot of my day-to-day favorite recipes, but in the meanwhile these came to my email box and I thought I’d pass them along. If you’d like to see more recipes like these you can find them, here.

Namaste, and may your food nourish you-
Teal Marie

Peanut Butter and Granola Breakfast Wraps or Snack
This wrap recipe calls for bananas, but you could also use apple slices or another fruit instead. Omit the honey for a fully vegan version.

Ingredients:
* 1 flour tortilla (use whole wheat if possible)
* 1-2 tbsp peanut butter
* 1 banana, sliced thin
* 1/3 cup granola
* honey (optional)

Preparation: Spread the peanut butter on the flour tortilla. Place bananas and granola on the peanut butter. Drizzle with honey, if desired and wrap.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
If you're craving a high-fat and salty treat like fast food French fries, try this recipe for healthier baked sweet potato fries. Baked sweet potato fries are much lower in fat than a deep-fried version and are very quick to prepare. Kids will love these baked fries as well.

Ingredients:
* 3 large sweet potatoes, cut into wedges
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 1 tsp cumin
* dash cayenne pepper
* 1/4 tsp paprika
* 1/2 tsp salt or seasoned salt

Preparation:
Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients until potatoes are evenally coated with oil and spices. Place potatoes on a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, or until done.

Thai Peanut Sauce
A basic Thai peanut sauce can be used for dozens of things. I like to use it as a salad dressing, to dip spring rolls in or as a sauce for noodles. This basic recipe isn't too spicy, so kids will especially love the peanutbuttery taste. You might also want to try this spicier Thai peanut sauce recipe or a Thai peanut sauce with ginger.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup peanut butter
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* 2 tbsp lime juice
* 2 cloves garlic, minced and crushed
* 2 tbsp rice vinegar

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat (mixture will become easy to combine as peanut butter melts). Continue stirring over low heat until ingredients are combined and mixture is smooth and creamy. This recipe is perfect as it is, but you may want to thin it out a bit with more water, depending on what you're using it for.

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In the end if you stay happy...you win.

Book cover via Amazon I was thinking a bit about happiness today...maybe because I was feeling a little un-happy. And, I really had to ask myself, "Self...what's the point?" And then I remembered reading this...

Billions of things could happen that you haven’t even thought of yet. The question is not whether they will happen. Things are going to happen. The real question is whether you want to be happy regardless of what happens. The purpose of your life is to enjoy and learn from your experiences. You were not put on Earth to suffer. You’re not helping anybody by being miserable. Regardless of your philosophical beliefs, the fact remains that you were born and you are going to die. During the time in between, you get to choose whether or not you want to enjoy the experience. Events don’t determine whether or not you’re going to be happy. They’re just events. You determine whether or not you’re going to be happy. You can be happy just to be alive. You can be happy having all these things happen to you, and then be happy to die. If you can live this way, your heart will be so open and your Spirit will be so free, that you will soar up to the heavens. This path leads you to absolute transcendence because any part of your being that would add a condition to your commitment to happiness has got to go. If you want to be happy, you have to let go of the part of you that wants to create melodrama. This is the part that thinks there’s a reason not to be happy. You have to transcend the personal, and as you do, you will naturally awaken to the higher aspects of your being. In the end, enjoying life’s experiences is the only rational thing to do. You’re sitting on a planet spinning around in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Go ahead, take a look at reality. You’re floating in empty space in a universe that goes on forever. If you have to be here, at least be happy and enjoy the experience. You’re going to die anyway. Things are going to happen anyway. Why shouldn’t you be happy? You gain nothing by being bothered by life’s events. It doesn’t change the world; you just suffer. There’s always going to be something that can bother you, if you let it.

This choice to enjoy life will lead you through your spiritual journey. In truth, it is itself a spiritual teacher. Committing yourself to unconditional happiness will teach you every single thing there is to learn about yourself, about others, and about the nature of life. You will learn all about your mind, your heart, and your will. But you have to mean it when you say that you’ll be happy for the rest of your life. Every time a part of you begins to get unhappy, let it go. Work with it. Use affirmations, or do whatever you need to do to stay open. If you are committed, nothing can stop you. No matter what happens, you can choose to enjoy the experience. If they starve you and put you in solitary confinement, just have fun being like Gandhi. No matter what happens, just enjoy the life that comes to you.

As difficult as that sounds, what’s the benefit of not doing it? If you’re totally innocent and they lock you up, you might as well have fun. What good does it do to not have fun? It doesn’t change anything. In the end, if you stay happy, you win. Make that your game, and just stay happy no matter what.

©2007 Michael A. Singer. From the book The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself. New Harbinger Publications, Inc. www.newharbinger.com

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Yoga Meals for Cleansing and Health

Image via Wikipedia

When diet is wrong medicine, it is of no use.

When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.


~Ayurvedic Proverb

Kitcheree is a traditional Indian dish made from rice and daal (lentils).


Mung beans are often used, but many varieties of lentils and beans can be used. This site has some wonderful recipes for Kitcheree and other health building and cleansing recipes. This is not a "hot" spicy dish, but it is filled with aromatic herbs like cinnamon, cumin, and cloves. All of the spices provide vital health giving functions in the Ayurvedic tradition.

You can find out more about the ancient system of Ayurveda, here.

Happy Eating! May your food nourish and protect you.

Teal

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Interview with goddessdownload.com owner Natalie "Fox" Maisel from Pink Heels Blog

http://pink-heels.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-post_25.html

If you have not yet visited goddessdownload.com go there now! It is a fabulous site with all things honoring the Divine Feminine in all of us. Natalie provides audio downloads of beautiful guided meditations and rituals that will help you tune into the uniquely feminine strengths and energies within you. Her Meditative Journeys CD is one of my favorites for use in my yoga classes, and for my own relaxation.

Her yoga classes are also available at yogadownload.com.

Check Nat out today!

Namaste-
Teal

Stop Trying to Be Perfect...Stop Trying to Be a Saint!

"Stop trying to be perfect...stop trying to be a saint. Just stoooop! Ok? Have some fun! Stop trying to be perfect, and make a mess...make a big mess!"

When I was at Yoga Teacher Training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health this was my favorite thing to hear, and I got to hear it, often. Now you have to hear this in your own head with the most delightfully, lilting Singapore accent, because the speaker was Jovinna Chan, one of our teachers, and that is what she sounds like. Every time I heard her say these words it was like all the bones went out of my body. Ahhhh....I would just sink into that delicious release from the slavery of perfection. How long had I waited to hear those words? To be given permission to be "imperfect"; permission I would never fully give to myself? A very long time.

Perfection is a hard task-master. It keeps our nose down on a grindstone with singular purpose, believing in the end we wil grind out something of beautiful, polished perfection. But, all we end up with is a sore nose and a pile of grit.

On and off the mat, yoga is a great way to become, like myself, a "Recovering Perfectionist". Anything you carry with you will show up on the mat, and as you work with it you take the awareness, and the biological changes that occur in your mind and body, into your everyday life.

Dinabandhu Garrett Sarley, the CEO of the Kripalu Center, says that, "There is a physical analog for every spiritual experience." (You can read more about this in Dinadandhu's article in the current issue of Yoga Bulletin here).

Our work on the mat is transformational, bringing us in very concrete ways closer to our own humanness. And humans aren't perfect.

So, let's just let that one go... all together now...

one...two...three, deep breath...I N H A L E... and...E X H A L E.

All gone.

Hmm...perfectionism can be stubborn. So, if you feel some residue of that grimacing task-master left behind, maybe this offering which we read so often in Yoga Training will speak to you, as it did to me. Maybe you can read it to your task-master.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

from Dream Work by Mary Oliver
published by Atlantic Monthly Press
© Mary Oliver

May you be happy, May you be free from all suffering,

Teal

P.S. Check out the two related articles below, they are excellent.

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