Sunday, November 18, 2007

Good for You! Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Good for You! Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or white)
1teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups dry oatmeal

Mix together:
2 eggs
½ cup fresh maple syrup (honey can be substituted)
½ cup corn oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix well wet and dry ingredients above and add:
1 cup of chopped walnuts
½ package or 1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Drop heaping tablespoons full of batter onto lightly oiled baking try. Press cookies down to flatten and bake 20 minutes till lightly browned.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

cookies!

Congratulations to all 40 dayers- at our closing pot luck folks asked for the recipe of the cookies.
here are two (I did not bring the walnut ones- but they are worth trying) I will post the chocolate chip one tomorrow. Joan
Raspberry Jam Dot Cookies
Ingredients
raspberry jam ( any flavor can be substituted)
Dry: 1 cup almonds
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
a pinch of salt
Wet: ½ cup maple syrup
½ cup canola oil

Procedure
1. Process almonds in food processor into a coarse nut flour.
2. Process oats in food processor into a coarse oat flour.
3. Combine all dry ingredients together.
4. Mix oil and maple syrup together.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well.
6. Form walnut size balls, flatten a bit, and put a thumb print in middle.
7. Fill each thumb print with ½ teaspoon of raspberry jam.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden colored.
Natural Gourmet Cook School/ All That Matters 99


Maple Walnut Cookies
Ingredients
1 ¼ cup of walnuts
¾ cup of rolled oats
½ cup of flour ( try brown rice or ww pastry)
¼ cup oil
1/3 cup maple syrup

Procedure
1.Place the walnuts, oats and flour in the food processor. Grind till coarse flour texture.
2. Pour in oil blend- pour in syrup blend. Dough will be thick.
3. Oil a cookie tray- drop the dough by the teaspoons full on tray.
4. Flatten with a wet fork.
5. Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes or until golden.
6. They will become crisp as they cool. Cooking with the Right Side of Your Brain

Raspberry Vinaigrette
Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar / 5 Tablespoons olive oil / 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
1 Tablespoon raspberry jelly / salt and ground pepper to taste

Procedure: Mix all ingredients together and add salt and pepper to taste

Thursday, November 1, 2007

So- some of you are starting to wonder about how to keep this up after the 40 days.
Here are two things we can suggest...

Nov 14th at 7:15(after yoga) we will have a closing celebration (pot luck optional) Please join us!

ATM will offer all 40 day folks an unlimited yoga pass for $99 a month. This pass does not include yoga immersion and has to be purchased by the first of each month.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Week Six: TRIUMPH

Congratulations! 5 more days. I hope you feel fabulous. You gave yourself these 40 days, and hopefully you are realizing that you have in fact chosen to change your life! A regular practice of yoga, meditation, and conscious eating makes you younger, lighter, brighter, natural, whole. You are remembering who you are and where you belong. That is no small gift.

"Our personal victory here in these final five days is about becoming more childlike and letting go of any childish ways that stop us from entering the kingdom of heaven in our own hearts."

"Our willingness to be reinvented is precisely how we let go of our childish ways."

"Your completion of the forty days is not the end of anything. It is only the beginning of a flexible life, where you can find triumph in staying open to growing and transforming."

For these final 5 days, just observe the little successes, triumphs you are experiencing. This may mean going a little deeper in a pose, finding a relationship has gotten easier, realizing how easily you can change habitual thinking and action. Whatever it is, know that these changes, small and large, collect and bring you home. You created this, so you deserve a triumphant HURRAH!

1. Week Six Yoga: Keep up with your glorious practice!

2. Week Six Balancing Diet:

It is time to "gather up all the fruits of your efforts and reap the bounty of all you have learned, revealed and come to appreciate in terms of how you nourish your body."

Week Six Diet To-Do:
Take the time to look back over the past five weeks' worth of eating habits and ask yourself:
From which did I most benefit?
Which habits and practices yielded the greatest results for me?
Which do I want to incorporate into my lifelong eating habits?

Write down your answers to these questions. This will help you remember your responses, and how good you felt when your diet was in balance. It will be easier to get back on track if you notice negative habits creeping back in.

I hope that you have shifted your beliefs about food. You can enjoy any food, without guilt! You have learned how your body feels when you nourish it with all-natural, whole foods. When your overall diet is healthy you can nourish yourself with your old favorites...simply by listening to your intuition, you will know.

Week Six Triumph Meditation
30 minutes morning, 30 minutes evening.
"As you become more skillful in not getting involved with your thoughts, you realize that all of your thoughts have a natural cycled of rising, lingering, and then melting away. You may notice how the thoughts create strong feelings or bodily sensations: appetites, cravings, sexual excitement, physical pain. But as you sit this week, just watch and see how these seemingly powerful sensations rise, swell, and then dissolve and disappear." This, too, shall pass. Realizing this will help to loosen the hold of outside forces.
Watch the ebb and flow of your thoughts this week. Avoid the voice-over you add to them, the meaning you assign them. It is with a sense of triumph that you realize that your thoughts are not you!

Friday, October 26, 2007

dean hudson will be offering two workshops on meditation this weekend.
all 40 day folks are welcome and encouraged to go.
atm will offer 50% off - just mention it to the front desk.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Week 5 Centering

When we find ourselves full of "if only" complaints, "If only he or she did this or that, then I'd be happy", we are not centered. We are not living intuitively and present. We are loyal to the victim within. It's our excuse for failed relationships and self-pity. We've learned to externalize control of our lives. Are we the cause or effect? Most of us believe that our world created us, and external events continue to cause our suffering. Guess what? We ARE the cause of our lives, and all it's ups and downs. It is our beliefs about ourselves, about our essence, that lead us to see a happy world or a fearful one. Hopefully, these weeks of yoga and meditation have shown us extended moments of peace and presence. We are learning that it is our thoughts alone that cause us to suffer. So how do we change our thoughts?

"By saying, 'I will become centered', we become responsible people; we own our lives from the inside. We don't have to wait for others to set us free. As we practice staying centered we discover that we have the capacity to be aware of the little gremlin voices in our heads and that we don't have to get caught up in the illusions of our own story."

"This week is about learning to stay intuitively grounded...It is learning to relax and be present with everything in your life, both big and small...When you eat, really eat. Really chew, really taste, really smell, really feel the food dissolve into and nourish your being."

"Make everything you do a practice of meditative awareness. If you can do this, you will see that your meditation practice is not separate from your life. We think that life is a distraction from meditation, but really life is an occasion for meditation."

1. Week Five Yoga Practice: Continue with your practice!

2. Week Five Balancing Diet:

The fruit fast is over. We feel light, clean. Now we need to get grounded. Time for some healthy rebuilding. Baron suggests that we need to give our body minerals this week. He tells us that minerals are from the earth, and therefore grounding. They strengthen our bones--they are our structure and foundation.

Week Five Diet To-Do:

Begin to include some of these mineral-rich foods into your diet:
  • Whey protein
  • Seaweed (hijiki or nori)
  • Leafy greens (organic greens have more minerals)
  • Nuts
  • Fish (especially halibut, mackeral, sardines)
  • Root vegetables
  • Tofu
  • Broths (chicken or vegetable)
  • Fresh vegetable or fruit juice
The following may rob our bones and bodies of minerals...try to cut out or reduce:

  • Coffee
  • Refined sugar
  • Soda and other soft drinks
  • Alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Too much salt
  • Too much protein
  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Reactivity

3. Week Five Centering Meditation

"As we meditate this week our focus is to connect to the symbolic anchors of our hands, body, and breath, thus experiencing the truth that our center is always there, steady and waiting, no matter what swirls up around us."

Week Five Meditation To-Do:

  • 25 minutes morning and evening
  • Close eyes and bring attention to hands
  • Observe gently and anchor attention to them
  • Notice sensations, ignore them
  • Do not strain...right aim and right energy
  • If thoughts arise, don't analyze them...let them go gently
  • Each time you get lost, simply pull back into gap between you and your thoughts
  • Re-anchor to your hands, body and breath.
4. Week Five Excavation Questions:

  • How much do I believe in myself, and how much does this play out in my everyday life? Do I trust my intuition? If so or if not, what results does that produce?
  • When, where, and with whom do I feel the most grounded? With my friends? When I am by myself? With my spouse?
  • How mindful am I of even the the smallest details of my life? Am I present enough to notice all actions I take? Do I remember what I said to the salesperson at the store, what route I took to get to work, how and where I hung my coat, what I told my kids when they asked me a question? Am I truly there in all these moments?


Friday, October 19, 2007

The Invitation

Someone gave me this poem today, and again, it's everything we've been talking about. This is the same person who recommended What the Bleep do We Know, which was mentioned in A Crash Course in Miracles last night, so it's funny how everything seems to be coming together...


The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.



© Mountaindreaming, from the book The Invitation published by HarperSanFrancisco, 1999

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A Complaint-Free World

I saw this story on The Today Show yesterday morning, and it corresponds really well to everything we've been doing and talking about, including the Crash Course in Miracles.
A minister from Kansas City, MO, Will Bowen, started this challenge: Can you go 21 days without complaining? As we know, it takes 21 days to make a habit. Bowen's congregation took on the challenge, and it has since become a movement around the world. His organization sends purple bracelets on request to help monitor your complaining--every time you complain, you change arms. The goal is to make it to 21 consecutive days without complaining!

The Today Show
A Complaint-Free World website

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Fruit, Fruit, Fruit

Hi All,

What did I eat today? You guessed it Fruit!! :) 3rd, and last day. For those just starting. Not to bad. I had only two negatives, headaches Sun and Mon, and really tired Tue. Could be do to traveling also not sure, but these symptoms are in line with the Fasting article on the blog from a few days ago, BTW which was really helpful. Thanks Joan. I don't notice to many changes in my body, though I eat a lot of fruit anyway, and no junk food. When I started this kind of diet last year, I did notice right a way a change in my skin texture, tone, and hydrophobicity (water would bead up on it). Maybe to much info. but interesting, and could be helpful info. I can remember also expelling mucus, rather then feces in my BMs along the way also when I first changed (this was covered in the fasting article from the blog). This had never happened to me before, so I assume it was part of the cleansing process. I also can remember people telling me how good I looked. I lost 20lb, and I remember having a lot more CONSISTENT energy as well.Before the switch, I would have major ups and downs all day long, due to high processed sugar intake. All this I can attribute to change in diet from mainly processed food to whole foods, lots of veggie. and fruits. Surprising to me that exercise did not do it alone. I had been exercising, weight, cardio for a number of years without seeing such results. To think, all it took was a change in diet to provide such radical results. So I expect you will see changes like I did if you are radically changing your diet. BTW, the Mint, Ginger, Camomele tea has realy helped with upset stomach. Thanks :) Yoga has been strong and peacefully, even the long holds and 1/2 pigeon! Mediation a challenge. I usually get to about 10-15 min and then check my watch :)

Stay strong

SPE :)

Monday, October 15, 2007


Good fruits and vegetables for your dosha
from Bre
Hello 40 day students,- use it as a guideline (but not steadfast rule) as you go through your cleanse.Good luck to you all!
Vatas:sweet fruits, bananas, coconuts, apples, grapefruit, papayas, figs, grapes, mangoes, melons, oranges, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums, berries and cherriescooked asparagus, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, radishes and zucchini
Pittas:apples, avocadoes, coconuts, figs, melons, oranges, pears, plums, pomegranates and dried plumssweet and bitter vegetables, squash, pumpkin, asparagus, cabbage, cucumbers, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, peas, parsley, potatoes, zucchini, sprouts and watercress
Kaphas:apples, berries, cherries, dried figs, mangoes, peaches, pears, raisins and dried plumsbeets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, garlic, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, parsley, peas, radishes, spinach and sprouts

fasting and Auryvedic wisdom

Jessica Ferrol who does Auryvedic consultations offered this wisdom about modified fasting. According to Auryveda there a 3 doshas or body types. We each have one predominant one.They are Pitta, Kapha, and Vatta. (this is a little like Baron's hot/ cold body types - just a guide to get you to know your self better)
There are many websites where you can answer a few questions to see which dosha you favor. Here are two click here or here. Jessica says when you are stressed if you tend to be angry - that is more Pitta. Pittas tend to be warm and intense and focused. If you tend to be fearful or anxious that it Vatta. Vatta are enthusiastic and have lots of energy and they do not have much focus.If you tend to be mellow - not take it on that is more Kaffa. Kaffas tend to be the turtle in the race- focused but do not charge, good supporters and don't get stirred very easily.She suggest for Kaffas- you can fast on fruits and juices- but avoid really sweet juices.Kaffas should be careful not to drink too much cold- they are inherently cold. It is a good idea to dilute your juice with hot or warm water and maybe add cinnamon or cardamon.Pitta's and Vatta's need to take extra care if they are going to fast.
She really suggest they rest the day before and after - and during have a lighter schedule focused only on things that nourish your soul and nothing else. Eating grounds vatta and pitta- and fasting can weaken you- so extra care needs to be taking.It would be good to a more of a kitcheree fast (mung and bastmati rice and vegetable stew with cumin, corinender and fennel are good) or vegetable and grain soups. Nutmeg and cardomon are good spices for both doshas. She also suggest a good oily massage to keep you grounded- you can give one to your self. For Pitta a light oil like sunflower with some essential oils like sandlewood or lavender. Vatta sesame oil with lavender or ylang ylang. It is great to do this 15 min. before shower or bath or after shower or bath.True fast - is a fast on everything that is coming into your body. Be aware of what is coming into your body- avoid TV, talking too much, read only inspiring books etc... walk in nature.Be easy on yourself to reap all the benefits..There is an extensive article on fasting that makes some great points. To read it click here.Joan
"

Sunday, October 14, 2007

what is a fruit?

A fruit comes from a flower and most times, has seeds.
Examples are: apples, oranges, berries, tomatoes, avocados, sqaush, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers
If it doesn't come from a flower, it's not a fruit.
Examples are: Vegetables: greens, cabbage, kale, swiss chard, bok choy
Roots: potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic
Flowers: broccoli, cauliflower
Check out the following links. They should be helpful.
Happy cleansing!
Tasha
www.thefruitpages.com/tomatoes.shtml
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fruit
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question143.htm

Week 4 Restoration

"As we remove the rocks that block our wisdom and light, we find that we are able to set more and more time aside for the things that restore us: time spent in nature, solitude, meditation, intimacy, having heart-to-heart conversations that heal. These moments spend in restoring ourselves are signposts of our progress in health."

This fourth week, we will begin the three day fruit cleanse. Be sure to find time for yourself this week. Separating ourselves from the hurried activities of our lives will help us keep perspective and give us the healthy detachment necessary for optimal health and well-being. This is the week to get a massage, sauna, find quiet time to read a good book.

"Remember to stay in the moment and relax in all of your activities. Put aside your focus on outcomes and meeting expectations for right now. If you get stuck in tension and toxic behaviors...Realize you are in over your head and unconditionally surrender everything over to God."

Week Four Yoga:

Keep doing what you are doing! Seek a restorative yoga class, gentle stretches, deep breathing.

Week Four Diet:

Three day fruit cleanse. See posts related to the cleanse. Be careful to come off the cleanse gently. Slowly introduce foods back into diet...don't shock your system too quickly.

Week Four Restoration Meditation:

To-do:

  1. Twenty minutes morning, twenty minutes evening.
  2. Our goal is to notice how often we get lured into the activity of our minds, away from stillness.
  3. Get comfortable and anchor your mind to the now moment.
  4. Notice the ceaseless images in your mind and their efforts to distract you from being still and restoring in quiet.
  5. Don't fight these thoughts. As soon as you notice them, step back into the gap between you and your thoughts and let them go.
  6. You may need to do this again and again. That is ok, meditation is all about beginning again.
  7. We are learning to know the difference between thinking and being lost in thought. Our goal is to learn the truth and experience the curative beauty of seeing life through a clear lens of present-moment consciousness.
Week Four Excavation Questions:

  1. What excess baggage am I carrying around with me? What thoughts, feelings, worries, or past situations am I clinging to that drain me?
  2. What do I most need to let go of? What are the things that I would be relieved to finally release? Anger toward someone in my life? Stress about money? Fears that arose from a past negative experience?
  3. Do I really give myself enough time to relax and restore myself? How can I carve out more time for this?
***Note: This fruit cleanse may not be right for you. Consult with Joan if you have questions/concerns.

"Because of our culture of excess, we believe we have to have three big, protein-laden meals a day, otherwise we will be undernourished. But the truth is that we need far less food than we think."



As we approach the mid-point of our 40 Day Revolution, we are noticing the changes. The combination of yoga, diet, and meditation have allowed us to begin to realize who we are. WE are feeling extended moments of presence, balance. Our old habits stand out like a sore thumb. Who needs them? I hope we are smiling more. Most of us look different, feel different, both inside and out. It's amazing how before we started it was easy to make all kinds of excuses for why there was not enough time in the day for yoga and meditation. Hopefully, when we are finished, most of us will realize we must have our regular yoga and meditation. We are creating new default settings, habits. This is good.

We have made adjustments to our diets over these last few weeks. I'm sure most of us feel the benefits of adding more natural, whole foods to our diets. We are ready for this next step. Let's start Week Four with the 3-day fruit cleanse. This intensive will "allow your body to fully empty out and get clean, giving your metabolic organs a chance to rest and renew themselves."

*Consult your doctor if you have any health concerns or questions. If you are deficient, thin, or weak make small modifications to the diet, add superfoods, like spirulina, or even one small meal. You will still get the full benefit of the cleanse, while taking good care of yourself.

Avocados and tomatoes are fruit!

Week Four Diet To-Do

  1. Let's begin the diet together on Tuesday October 16. From that morning eat meals that contain only fruit. Stick to mostly fresh fruit, but juices and soups are ok as long as they are all-natural and additive free.
  2. Prepare full meals! Don't just grab an apple and call it lunch. Slice up a variety of fruit and arrange your plate, sit down and eat as you would any other meal. Fruit smoothies are great!
  3. Intentionally fill your time with non-food related activities. Take a sauna, get a massage, movies, read, walk---whatever nourishes you. Surround yourself with people who support your efforts...that's why we have each other!
  4. Meditate!!!
  5. Continue doing daily yoga. Be intuitive with your body, listen when you need to lessen the intensity.
  6. Chew fruit well. Better taste and digestion..
  7. Eat small amounts throughout the day to keep blood sugar level. If you start to experience any hypo-glycemic symptoms, such as headache or dizziness, drink diluted fruit juice. It takes a lot less than you think to keep you steady.
  8. Drink water, diluted fruit juice, or herbal tea to maintain hydration. Stay away from caffeinated beverages.
Any questions, concerns, ideas?

The Heavens Rejoice

This will totally warm your heart.

click on the link below, and when at http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/ page, scroll down then click on THE HEAVENS REJOICE icon to start the short film/slideshow.

peace and happiness
Frank

The Heavens Rejoice > > > > > >
http://www.duirwaighgallery.com/ > > > inspiration_heavensrejoice.htm > > >

Saturday, October 13, 2007

100 BREATHS IN 15 MINUTES

Try this meditation:
Count from 100-90(11 breaths), inhaling and exhaling as much as humanly possible, gulping the last of your breath on the inhale and pushing out every last bit of air on your exhale.
From 89-80, fully inhale and exhale, with no gulp or extra push.
79-70, inhale and exhale deeper, but quicker.
69-60, still deeper and quicker.
59-50, quickest, deepest breaths.
49-40, longer, but still deep and quick
39-30, still longer, still deep
29-20, longer, fuller
19-10, fullest inhale and exhale, without extra gulp and push
9-1, fully inhale and exhale, with extra push on the exhale and the extra gulp on the inhale.
0 - take a moment of silence
open your eyes.
So, basically, you start with the fullest, longest breath possible and work your way towards the quickest, deepest breath possible, then work your back.
This had an amazing effect on me. my legs and arms got tingly, my heart got light, and my whole body relaxed.
This was, by far my favorite meditation, actually the first one i truly enjoyed.
Let me know what you think!
Tasha
ps- i started the meditation at 9:02 and when i opened by eyes, it was 9:17! (that's approximately 7 breaths a minute!)

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Staying w/ the program

Away at company company training, not able to practice at SPY :( Miss the heat and people, but still doing an hour of power 5-6am, and my meditations. Interesting self observation: For as long as I can remember, I have hated business trips, or at least convinced myself of that, saying in my mind "this sucks, this sucks...." so it did suck. Essentially I created my own suffering. This time, I CHOSE for it not to suck, and It has been OK since I am not fighting it. What is the use, I can't control it, I am here, so I am relaxing (law 7) which has shifted my vision, which is allowing me to commit to learning something while I am here; commit to growth (Law 4). It is so much easier to not fight it.

The second comment is really a question: Again since I can remember, I always get an upset stomach when I travel (heart burn, bloating...) I try and eat similar foods as at home, possible in more quantity though. Can anyone suggest a natural treatment for these symptoms, or better yet a root cause. I am sick of traveling with TUMS, (not good for the stomach over time)

Lastly regarding the pod casts: Love em, they are getting me to practice while away. I have been listening to the western one. Wow is it fast. Philip was really lively that day. If you want a really good "Vanyasa flow" this is it, since you don't really have time to fiddle with your poses. Thanks for the Pods, and your suppport.

Stephen, flowing in Peapack, NJ :)

Podcasts by Philip Urso @ Saltpondyoga.com

For those of you who have not listened to or downloaded these Podcasts by Philip Urso they are great! My friends who are not able to make it to his classes love these podcasts of his classes. Also if you are in NYC go see the Sacred Mirrors. The website is AlexGrey.com. I am going on a tour by Alex Grey this Saturday night!

Monthly Magic with Baron Baptiste

Great idea Heather! Monthly Magic with Baron Baptiste live is awesome! Volume 0412 - Evolve. Tamsy was so kind to give it to me. I love it. Tamsy has some other amazing CD's as well. As far as music anything Krishna Das or Donna De Lory. His DVD Power Vinyasa yoga for beginners_ Unlocking Athletic Power for beginners and all levels is excellent also. I love week three- the winds of grace will carry you ...so true...sinking ship I think of the scene in the movie The Titanic....the band still played on. Grace, dignity....I choose to remember that and not the creep pushing the children out of the way.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I thought it would be interesting to do a kind of survey on the blog to find out about everyone's favorite yoga "stuff." What better way to get recommendations than with all these like-minded, yoga-focused people available for instant consult? For example, do you have favorite yoga or meditation dvds, books, music, websites, podcasts, etc.?

Some of my favorites include:
DVDs by Erich Schiffman (Beginning Yoga) and Shiva Rea (Yoga Shakti)
Music by Jai Uttal (Music for Yoga and Other Joys, Kirtan: The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant)
Wynyfyd's Meditation Room podcast--free meditation podcasts on iTunes or online
Website: collagevideo.com has video clips of all the videos they sell so you can preview before buying