I don’t really like to list the things I’m thankful for around Thanksgiving.  I believe we should be thankful every day of our lives.  But since most people are on the cheesy side and like to follow the hallmark trend, I’ll let you know what I’m thankful for, not just around this time of year but every single day.

I’m thankful for the following….

My family, old and new, my dog (now that I’m a dog owner I understand that he should be listed in the same categorie as my family).  I’m thankful for my friends, and all the love that surrounds me.  The air I breath and my health.  I’m thankful for my sense of humor and my love of books.  I’m also thankful that my mother forced me to learn how to drive a manual transmission.  I can’t believe how many people don’t know how to drive a stick.

The list of things that I am thankful for can go on and on.  But that’s not my point.  Today and everyday, we should remind ourselves what we are thankful for. Don’t save it for once a year. Also, it never hurts to share your list with others. Anytime.

I just finished reading the book; In Defense of Food. It pretty much told me what I already knew about the western diet.  That we don’t eat how we should. However it did bring to the surface more important topics. We are eating “food product” and not food.  Take a look at the labels on most of the items in your pantry.  Like me you will be surprised at how many ingredients there is for something as simple as bread, and how many of those ingredients are unpronounceable.  What I found most interesting is that Americans spend as little as 4% of their income on food while our slimmer and healthier European neighbors spend about 14-17% of their income on food. Meaning that they buy fresh ingredients. Even I don’t have to tell you that eating fresh produce and foods containing natural ingredients is going to be beneficial to your health. Or that living on a diet of frozen foods and fast food can have serious affects to your health and well-being.  But I do think that we need to start eating different and investing in our health.  I know that organic food is more expensive and not everyone can afford it.  However if you are going to invest in your life savings wouldn’t it make sense to have a life to go along with that savings account? What you put into your body is an investment and we need to  start taking food more seriously.  For more information on this go to:

http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php

Next I’m going to read a chick book.  Because as you can see I get pretty fired up about this stuff.  Now if you’ll excuse me I’m off to have a scotch.

I love, Love a good back bend.  It wakes me up and puts me into a peaceful state.  A back bend has many helpful benefits; It opens up and stretches the chest, upper back, shoulders, and abdomen. It creates mobility and flexibility in the spine. It’s also energizing, and builds stamina and strength.  Which is why I never do one at night.  You should also never do a back bend without warming up your body first.  Want to get into this position and impress your significant other?  Here’s how…

Lie on your back.  Place your hands by your ears, fingers pointing toward the feet. Hands are shoulder width apart. Bend your knees and place your feet hip width apart and parallel.  Press down evenly on all the edges of your feet. Press down firmly with each finger as you lift your pelvis.  Don’t let your legs splay out.  It’s helpful to place a block in between your thighs and squeeze together. This will take pressure off your knees and protect your back. Let your head hang and soften your neck.  Draw your elbows toward each other and keep lifting your pelvis.  To come out, tuck your chin into your chest and bend your arms slowly.  

Enjoy

Through all stages of life we have teachers.  In kindergarten through high school and for some of us college, we had our fair share.  There are only a hand full that we remember and its usually the ones we really connected with.  These days my teacher isn’t one that lectures for an hour, or hands out homework.  My new teacher happens to be a one year old Puggle.  One that is teaching me patience, kindness and a whole new way of keeping my shit together.  He has welcomed himself into my life and totally turned it upside down.  Because of him I’m learning a whole new way to communicate and to deal with my frustrations. I’m understanding my mistakes and am able to put my ego aside to fix them.  When he tests me I stay strong and try not to give into his sweet face.  This boy is teaching me how to be a stronger and more compassionate person.  This teacher is going to be one to remember.

Namaste little guy… namaste

Since I already posted my thoughts on the flu in the previous blog, I might as well share some info on how to give yourself a vitamin C boost.  All natural.

Cram the following into your juicer…

3 apples

2 celery stalks

1 red bell pepper

Cut apples and bell pepper to fit into your machine, then add the celery stalks.

Once ripe, red bell peppers are very rich in vitamin C, and according to my Wellness book, they actually have more vitamin C than citrus fruits.  Apples help in the aid of digestion, and celery helps balance the function of the heart and aids in the elimination of carbon dioxide from the body.

The flu is real, that’s for sure, and it seems to have gotten everyone in a state of panic. But as I look around at the majority of New York with their hand sanitizers and masks (I have seen a few people downing masks, it’s quite freaky) I wonder what happened to the art of getting sick?  When did we become a society of germ a phobes?  Now don’t get me wrong.  I wash my hands at every chance I get and I love the vitamin C punch of Emergen-C, but when I get sick I’m not going to run out and overdose on antibiotics or the flu shot.  I’m going to allow my body to get the rest that it is obviously telling me that I need.  I will allow myself to take shelter onto the living room couch and watch bad day time television and I will allow my body to rest.  Not just for one day but two, or however many days its needs.  I will not worry about work and constantly call my co workers to see if the building is still standing in my absence.  That is not resting fully.  I will not step foot into work until I am feeling 100% better.  But we don’t do these things.  We live in fear of getting sick and not being able to perform our best.  We look for quick answers in the medical world and then wonder why we keep getting sick.  And we run our bodies to the max until we need more couch time and bad day time television then is necessary.  So please…this flu season.  REST! Allow your body to take the break it needs,  And don’t come into work until you are feeling better!

I found this recipe from The PH Miracle, which is a great book.  It basically leads you to a life without dairy or meat, which as you know I am against.  But there are some great recipes in this book and the following is one of them.

1-2 c cooked rice or grain, I use organic brown basmati or quinoa.

juice of 1/2 a lemon or lime

1-2 t Bragg™ Liquid Aminos

1-2 t flax oil

1/2 avocado, sliced

1 small tomato

Cook rice or quinoa according to directions. Slice avocado and tomato and place on top of your rice. Then drizzle Braggs™, oil, lemon juice on top.  Enjoy.  I add a little hot sauce to this because I like most things spicy.  This also makes a great lunch or dinner.  But I love it for breakfast.

Last week I was taking  Tylenol almost every day.  I had a sinus headache and cramps and Tylenol was the only pain killer I had available.  I’m not much of a pill popper especially Tylenol since taken in large doses can do some damage to your Kidneys.  If that information is new to you then you should stop reading.  On second thought, I realize that we’re not born with all this information about products but I figure if you’re going to put it into your body, no matter what it is, you should be educated on the benefits and harms.  Although maybe you’re reading this blog so I can provide you with that small stuff.  If that’s the case, carry on…

Anyway, from all my pill popping (by the way, Tylenol was working great, that is a fast acting pain killer, kudos McNeil-PPC) I decided to bump up my Kidney function and found out from my Dietary Wellness book that the following veggies are great for just that purpose.

Asparagus, stimulates Kidney function. Don’t cut off the tips until after cooking.  This preserves the nutrients.

Celery, aids kidney function. (it also controls dizziness and headaches, and stimulates sex drive.  Who knew. Watch out Viagra)

Fennel and Parsley, also help the function of the kidneys.  Fennel is a good tea for nursing mothers to increase their milk.  Parsley is amazing, not only is it known for keeping your breath fresh but you only need a small amount to get a big dose of vitamins A, B1, B-complex, C, potassium, manganase, phosphorus, calcium, and iron.

By the way, my aches and pains are gone and my refrigerator is full of the mentioned items.

Please Note: I am not a Nutritionist or a Doctor,  these statements are o f my own personal education and are not approved by the FDA.

Travel can be hard on the body and mind.  It can make a person feel imbalanced.  At least it does to me.  The following are a few postures that will help you feel grounded again.

Lie on your stomach with your forearms on the floor.  Elbows under your shoulders keeping your hand’s shoulder width apart.  Engage the muscles of your legs. Press your thighs and knees down, scoop your tailbone,  and root your pelvis down onto the floor. Stay in this position for five deep breaths.  

I also like to lie on my back with my feet up the wall.  Bring your bottom as close to the wall as possible and then swing your legs up the wall.  To feel grounded you can place a folded blanket over your feet or put an eye pillow over your eyes and lie with your palms facing up.  

This is my favorite.  Not only does it get the blood flowing which is important after a long flight, but it’s very relaxing and grounding.

For those of you sitting on the edge of your seats, I slept on the last flight and avoided the yoga/looking like I was about to get sick position.

Every time I practice yoga I start out with setting an intention.  For example:  May this practice free me from self judgment, or this practice is dedicated to a friend who is in need of my energy. However, sometimes there are days when I don’t feel like rolling out my mat, and then no intention is set.  But I realize that I don’t need to be on my mat to set an intention.  I can just wake up and decide that today I’m going to free myself from judgment.  Judgment on myself and judgment on others.  Today, even though I’m not practicing yoga on my mat I’m going to send kind thoughts to a friend or family member, or even a stranger on the street.  Today I’m going to take care of myself.   Yoga practice isn’t just about getting a great workout in Lululemon attire.  (Which by the way, I don’t own any.  I still practice in an old tank top.  However, if someone would like to make a donation so I can buy myself something I’m not going to argue.)  It’s about being able to find that flow in the everyday.  Its setting an intention all the time.  Today I will not judge myself or others.  Today I will practice yoga off the mat.