Treat to nourish your mind, body & soul...

My infamous treats that are deliciously ravished after my Yoga workshops….mmmm yummy!!!

so I thought I'd share with you one of the recipes...I made it up from two different recipes I use...these are vegan, raw, highly nurturious, natural sugar, and delightfully divine...your mouth will savour the delight, your body and mind benefit from the superfood packed ingredients and your heart sing. now that's Yoga food...enjoy! 


Raw Fruit & Nut chocolate Balls

75g raisins, 75g mixed nuts, 50g goji berries, 2tbsp coconut oil (or enough to bind mixture) 1 tsp cinnamon
chop the raisins, nuts, goji berries in a food processor or blender and add to bowl, stir in the melted coconut oil liquid and cinnamon (to melt coconut put the bottle or container of solidified coconut oil in a bowl with bowl water and the coconut oil becomes liquid) and combine all ingredients. Form the mixture into small balls in your hands (squeeze/massage the ingredients lovingly together) and place on tray then put in freezer for 15 minutes to set

For the raw chocolate – make when the fruit and nut balls come out the freezer
2 tbsp of cacao powder (this is different from cocoa powder notice the “a” is in a different place – it comes from places like peru and contains more vitamins and minerals and anti-oxidants more than is in blueberries so its superfood) 1tbsp carob, 1 tbsp mesquite powder (optional it is a natural sweetener) 1 tbsp agave (a natural sweetener which is low G.I) 1tsp maca powder (another superfood) coconut oil

place the cacao, carob, maca, mesquite, agave in bowl and stir and then add add the melted coconut oil stirring until it becomes a thick liquid

Take the nut balls from the freezer and then dip the balls in the chocolate (gets messy :-)) and place on a plate and then put in the fridge to set and then enjoy…. With a smile on your face and think of me...
Namaste

All Life Is a Yoga Pose

I am posting this wonderful blog I read on Facebook and Jennifer has kindly said i could re-post as i loved it so much. Jennifer writes for MindBodyGreen - i hope you enjoy
here's the links....www.mindbodygreen.com / http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-2852/All-Life-Is-a-Yoga-Pose.html

 All Life Is a Yoga Pose By Jennifer Jarrett

I believe it is true that all life is yoga -- we are all connected, we are all part of the Divine Whole, there are infinite amounts of love and grace within each of us, our nature is divine, everything is temporary, the Universe is generous, we have everything that we need, etc., etc. But, I think we could also say that every moment is like a yoga pose. The different moments in life and the way I feel in these moments, who I am in these moments can be likened to different yoga poses, and the way I feel in them and who I am in them. Life is like one yoga pose after another.

Those moments when I am super blissed-out, feeling heart-wide-open and fully enlivened, and completely “hell-yeah” about life – those are my Urdhva Dhanurasana moments.

The moments when I need to invoke my inner ninja and access my own strength and power, the moments when I need to be that stealthy, non-violent ninja warrior who dwells within the balance of strength and surrender – those are my Virabhadrasana 3 moments.

When I am feeling more contemplative and introspective, reflecting on my own feelings, thoughts and intentions – these precious moments are my Paschimottanasanas.

When I know that I need to surrender, to let go of something, be it a thought, feeling, notion, opinion, or something else that no longer serves me or my higher good – these great moments of cleansing, of wringing it out are my twists.

Then there is the sweetest of them all -- dear Savasana -- the pose that reminds me that I am held, that I am supported, that I am a part of this infinite Love, this divine Grace. Savasana is like this sweet lullaby that comforts me, holds me and loves me for exactly who I am. And, it reminds me that because of Who walks with me through every step of this journey, there is no reason to fear.

And, sometimes life just puts you in an experience that makes you feel just as unsteady, compressed, challenged, vulnerable and anxious as you might in your least favorite yoga pose, leaving you wanting to know how many more breaths you will be there, aching to find relief from the intensity, desperately yearning to move straight into that joy-invoking Urdhva Dhanurasana. Pretty much just wanting to be anywhere but “here.”

While at certain times in life I may not like the “pose” I am in, I recognize that it is part of this flow. It is part of this journey. I remember everything that all of the poses in my life have ever taught me. See, for me, when I find myself in the most difficult and challenging experiences, well, it’s game time. Every experience, every pose, every word and every breath has brought me to this very moment, to this time when I get to pay homage to this beautiful practice and rely on what I know to be true. This is my opportunity to call upon who I know myself to be in other poses, in other times of my life, and I draw these qualities, these strengths in to my present self with my breath. I let the joy of Urdhva Dhanurasana move through me as I notice the sweetness in even the most difficult moments. I step into my stealthy ninja warrior self, knowing that I have the strength within me to be here now. I allow myself to be reflective and contemplative about the profundity of this experience. I know that I don’t have to hold on to the suffering, that I can surrender the things that separate me from my higher good, and I allow myself to rest in the knowing that I do not walk alone. I know that even in the midst of the struggle, I can breathe in the beauty, the wonder and the miracle of it all.

I know that within me I have the strength the power and the grace to endure, even though there are moments where I feel incredibly weak and powerless. I know that embodying my own stealthy ninja strength doesn’t mean that there will no longer be moments of fear, sadness and trepidation that will knock me off my feet. It just means that I will continue to stand up again no matter how many times I fall. It means that no matter how much life pushes back at me, no matter how uncomfortable I am in this pose, in this moment, I will continue to breathe through it, embracing the impermanence of all of it.

But, the reality is this -- when the pose is called out, the pose is called out. So, if you are in it…really be in it. Be all in for every moment of it, knowing that eventually this pose will dissolve into the next. Just as it does in class, so it does in life. Nothing will remain the same. All of it is temporary.
Published 07.27.11 at 02:45 PM

About Jennifer Jarrett
While still an Indiana girl at heart, Jennifer is a yoga teacher in San Francisco who loves to laugh until it hurts, eat good food, travel to wherever the sun is shining, snuggle with her Labradoodle, Ruby, and spend as much time as possible with friends and family. She teaches at Urban Flow, a donation based studio that shares the practice of Bhatki Flow, the yoga of love and devotion.

Words Can Help or Hurt Us by Deidre Glendon

I read this beautiful article by Deidre Glendon and so wanted to share with you - for you to reflect on how you use your words, how you communicate in your cOMmUNITY, and how words can be transformational when used for higher purposes and with the intention of love from the heart...

Thank you Deidre for allowing me to post this...

enjoy..
Namaste
Michelle

Words can Help ot Hurt Us by Deidre Glendon

What are words? As a child I remember the saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me." As I grew older I realized that words can hurt. Words are a very powerful way to communicate. Wars are fought because of the words that are used. Words can lead to lies, arguments, disagreements, sadness, hurt feelings, riots, fear, ill-will, dissention and misunderstandings. Words can also lead to truth, happiness, love, joy, peace, comfort and understandings. Words are so powerful in our everyday lives, in songs, in the written word, in what we say, in prayer and in our thoughts.

Words! Without words our lives would be extremely difficult. How would we be able to survive? How would we be able to interact with others? What would become of our world if our governments, countries and people couldn't communicate? Words are important no matter what language we speak. Because of words we can speak, read or write our thoughts, ideas and opinions. Thank goodness for the internet because it's connecting us quicker and closer than ever before. In an instant communication can travel around the world. Humans need communication for their very existence. Our modern civilization evolved because of our ability to communicate on a higher level of rational thinking with purpose and intention.

As babies we've experienced communication through words, the tone of our voices and the way we're touched by our parents and other people in our lives. In this way, we can learn criticism, sarcasm or love and nurturing. So it's important to speak with intention, purpose, love, integrity and kindness. Words create energy that can travel around the world. There is a universal law that what we give out we receive in return. What we feel, say, think and do comes back to us in unexpected ways. This is the way energy works. Choose your words carefully so the energy will not come back to you in a negative way.

If we want the world to be a better place to live in then we should be diligent in keeping balance and harmony in our lives. Everyone has a part to play whether it's big or small. We're in this world together. Let's all live in harmony by promoting positive energies of love, peace and joy. We can change the world through one deed at a time. Be happy and live your life in the best way possible. From the moment we were born we began communicating by crying when we were uncomfortable and smiling or cooing when we were happy. Our parents or caregivers knew how we were feeling because of our responses. As we grew older we began to learn how to communicate with our words. The next step that we learned was to put the words together into ideas and thoughts. Our simple sentences became more complex throughout our growing up years. We went to school and gained the knowledge that we needed to become contributing citizens in our society. Through our words we can build bridges or destroy relationships.

Communicating is a vehicle that can help us throughout our lives. It can take us to many places and it can also direct us through our life experiences. Words can make us better or words can break us. Words are at our disposal and we can use it positively or negatively. It's up to us to use our words to benefit and spread goodness, happiness, love and peace

Copyright © 2011 Deidre Glendon

Deidre Glendon, MEd: A death experience and helping others through intuitive insights led her to write The Healing Light, Trouble in Paradise and Light of Forgiveness. To see more excerpts on peace and stories of healings visit her website and click on Light of Forgiveness at http://wwwdeidreblog.blogspot.com

What are you dancing with in your life? What is your music?

When coming to write this I was thinking a lot about Yoga as a dance and the Hindu god Shiva – especially as Nataraja. I was connecting to the Vinyasa flow of Yoga and looking at my statue of Nataraja. The King of dance -Nataraja is a portrayal of Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy the universe in preparation for the creation process once again, for everything has cycles. To understand the dance I found to understand the concept of dance useful.

Dance, just like Yoga, induces movement, trance or meditative state, even ecstasy and the experience of the Divine. Shiva as Nataraja depicts stillness and motion in one, the stoic face of Shiva represents his composure, unaffected by all forces going on around him. Is this not a state we are all trying to achieve in modern day living?

During the practice of Yoga there is movement through the asanas and even when holding an asana there is still (excuse the pun) movement of the breath, the pulse of prana within so there is stillness and motion in one in the asana. The dance of Nataraja portrays all life and its polarities, the oneness in everything.

My dance…
For me the dance in my life is quite simply Yoga and my music is the evolving connections I make with the rhythms, pulse and creativity of life as I move through it. I think of the sequences of asanas of my Yoga as a dance that flows, resonates and moves me from within, enhancing the music of my soul, my Divine nature. This evokes the dance to evolve even deeper and further, reminding me of my Divine nature and its connection to the Divine all around. 

I am always dancing, the music within still plays, just different melodies, different vibrations; surrender and stillness turning inwards, along with dynamic, vibrant, uplifting and expansive, they are all one – Divine.

Just like Shiva as Nataraja we are all performing the dance in life through our ever changing cycles; on the one hand Shiva is tranquil, meditative, inwardly calm absorbed in the Supreme Consciousness where all differences dissolve. Yet on the other hand Shiva is total activity, frantic, playful and life’s energy as he performs his dance of destruction and creation. Does this remind you of some of your many life states?

The king of the Dance
Nataraja encourages all individuals to overcome complacency and get his or her act together – for anything is possible when you open up to greater possibilities in the dance.  The dance of Shiva represents five divine activities; creation, protection, destruction, concealment and revelation or Grace. These are all represented in the four arms of Shiva dancing in a circle of flames, lifting his left leg and standing on the dwarf, Apasmara who symbolises ignorance.

Shiva’s upper right hand symbolises creation, holding the drum which is the beating pulse of the universe and the music for Shiva’s dance. The upper left hand holds the fire of destruction; fire destroys all at the end of each cycle of creation. These two hands are symbols that portray the intricate balance of the forces of creation and destruction in the universe.

The lower right hand is held in abhaya mudra, a mystical hand gesture that means fear not or Have no fear. This signifies protection from evil and ignorance. The uplifted leg signifies Revelation or Grace that liberates all souls. The lower left hand represents concealment; it crosses the heart signifying how one forgets or looses touch with their heart concealing or camouflaging the heart qualities and forgetting one’s true nature, which is inherently Divine at essence. This lower left hand points to the uplifted leg in assurance of Grace, surrender and liberation, and each individual by means of revelation or Grace reunites with the Divine within.

The image of Nataraja has Shiva dancing in a circle of flames represents the  field of the dance with the whole universe and the lotus pedestal on which Shiva rests places this universe within the heart or consciousness of each individual. Shiva dances on the body of Apasmara -the man of forgetfulness, personifying ignorance and laziness. So creation and all creative energy are only possible when the weight of inertia is overcome.

Shiva also has the snake around his waist representing the kundalini or divine energy found in all beings and Shiva’s hair which is usually piled up in a kind of pyramid on top of his head flows freely, dispelling the idea of a conventional ascetic in his frenzy dance of creation and destruction.

Opening up to something Greater
The Nataraja depicts not just a mythical event of a deity, but on a universal level represents the cycles of life, the forces of nature, that constantly evolve and change and the aspirations and even the limitations that each individual tries to overcome in life.

When I think of Shiva I also always think of his consort Shakti who balances the extreme ascetic in Shiva. So as you dance in life, I invite you to evoke the masculine image of Shiva, his strength, courage, stillness, faith, freedom and steadiness and also bring in the feminine Shakti energy of freedom, surrender, joy, playfulness and reverence.  For Shiva and Shakti are one Ardhanarishvara. Bringing these qualities forth helps you to appreciate all qualities of the heart on your Yoga mat and then bringing forth Yoga in all aspects of life.

All life comes in cycles, for me this is very apparent at present. Nataraja is encouraging you to win, go further, dance your dance with 100% attitude and love, for you are Divine already. When you open up to something greater, this Divine spirit moves you differently and the whole dance is a joy. Enjoy life’s greatness; celebrate the light and the dark, the contraction as it brings forth new expansion, as one cycle closes a new one is born.
Join me and connect with your heart as the music of your soul dances divinely!

Namaste

Michelle
http://www.yogarelax.co.uk

Alleviation for Cancer Sufferers by Krista Peterson

Krista kindly wrote this piece for YogaRelax to share how Cancer patients are receiving peace of mind from Yoga. I thank you Krista for sharing, Namaste Michelle

Yoga offers a way to heal 

Going through the treatment process for cancer can be one of the most difficult and challenging experiences you can imagine. Even in treatment, there are multiple stages of therapy, and a number of side-effects that can be incredibly taxing on the body. Complementary treatments have grown exponentially in popularity in recent years due to the ability to relieve some of the rigors of traditional treatments. One of the more popular and better known options is yoga.

One of the larger reasons for the popularity of yoga in medical circles is because of its focus on both the mental and physical aspects of the self. This popularity is also partially attributed to the diversity of the practice of yoga. Patients can engage in yoga sessions around their own treatment schedules. They can take party in short daily sessions, or longer sessions space throughout the week.

 For patients with terminal illnesses, yoga can provide a tranquility and peace of mind, and can also help to provide some clarity for patients going through some of their darkest times. A good example would be patients afflicted with mesothelioma, a rare cancer related to the exposure from asbestos. These patients have an extraordinarily low life expectancy rate, and can use yoga to relieve a lot of the stress and difficulty they may be facing during these times.

The benefits of yoga are common to most households, and have gained popularity as a low-impact exercise routine that not only burns fat, but also melts the body and mind through meditation. For cancer patients, the physical attributes are far more meaningful than just exercise. Yoga is used to relieve the symptoms of the affliction and help the patient feel as though they are on the path to recovery, and can improve sleep in sufferers as well.

Yoga will likely continue growing as a viable complementary treatment as a result of its combined mental and physical benefits. As the research on the subject continues, yoga is certainly on the path to becoming even more popular among terminal illness patients.

Krista Peterson
krista.peterson925@gmail.com