Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
- Howard Thurman
January 5, 2010
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
- Winston Churchill
January 3, 2010
from wholeliving.com
while green tea can come in lots of shapes and varieties, one thing remains constant – it’s loaded with antioxidants. though it derives from the same plant as black and oolong (camellia sinensis), green tea undergoes no fermentation, giving it that fresh, grassy flavor. the major antioxidant power comes from epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). because the tea isn’t fermented, the EGCG remains intact, neutralizing free radicals to reduce the risk of cancer. it may also help the heart by reducing levels of “bad” cholesterol and improving blood flow. EGCG’s antibacterial properties may prevent gum disease and tooth decay. And, as if all this weren’t enough, drinking green tea can boost the metabolism.
green tea, i think i ♥ you!
January 3, 2010
from wholeliving.com
in this month’s body+soul magazine, i came upon an interesting section called the whole body action plan. while the whole plan seemed awesome, this section on meditating was especially interesting. many people find meditation to be particularly difficult. while you are simply sitting, a lot of times it is hard to settle in to the silence and really quiet the mind.
here are some directions for meditation for beginners, to help ease you into the process:
- sit in a chair and allow your body to settle.
- slowly scan your body from toe to head, noticing where you feel tight.
- bring your attention to your breathing, inhaling and exhaling through the nose but never forcing your breath. keep your mouth softly closed, your jaw relaxed.
- become more and more sensitive to your breath, in tune with where your body moves (and doesn’t move) on the inhale and exhale.
- allow your awareness of your breath to bring ease to your entire body. imagine your body moving toward the earth, fully supported.
- continue observing your breath moving in and out of your body.
- at the end of the 15 minutes, breathe deeply three times, allowing the inhale to move down to your toes and the exhale to move up and out of the tops of your shoulders. pause and then open your eyes.
while this is the only technique in the physical magazine, you can find more here. if you want to find out more about the whole body action plan, you can read about it at whole living.
January 3, 2010
modified from wholeliving.com
based on some promising research at Southern Methodist University, scientists have learned that learning to breathe more slowly may reduce the severity of an asthma attack. “Techniques derived from yoga breathing can help you feel calmer and possibly open your respiratory capacity,” says Benjamin Kligler, M.D., who is the vice chair of the Beth Israel Department of Integrative Medicine in New York City. according to the doctor, while breath training to target asthma patients may be ideal, any kind of mind-body activity can help to manage asthma by reducing stress.
December 6, 2009
from satyajewelry.com
during my christmas shopping session earlier this week, i happily wandered into a brand new jewelry store. satya jewelry is a line that was started by two friends, satya and beth. with a yoga background, and lots of traveling in their past, satya and beth ventured to design gorgeous, inspired jewelry. the line ranges from everything from necklaces to rings, big to small, silver to gold. there’s something for everyone (and especially your favorite yogi).
an added benefit is that satya, sanskrit for truth, donates a percentage of sales to children’s organizations through the satya foundation which is committed to providing the experience of yoga and healthy living for children through need based scholarships. for more information, check out their website. if you live in the northern part of jersey, you can check out their new store at the short hills mall (the employees are awesome, to boot).
*editor’s note: i bought that little necklace you see here and i absolutely LOVE it.
December 6, 2009
some new things this week 
tuesday: elizabeth high (YES) at 2:00 PM
wednesday: elizabeth high (YES) at 2:00 PM
fit above at 7:15 PM
saturday: fit above at 9:30 AM
hope to see you!!
December 6, 2009
The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.
- Charles du Bos
November 11, 2009
Nothing is permanent.
- Buddha
November 9, 2009
november fruit of the month.
Posted by sofiatome under fruit/veggie, recipe, seasonalLeave a Comment
from google images. no credit.
nothing screams fall and the start of the holidays to me quite like pumpkin. pumpkin lattes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie. *yummy* who could resist?
some awesome tidbits of pumpkin information: the pumpkin is a gourd-like squash, which makes is a fruit! and is indigenous to this part of the world. this explains why we see them all over at this time of year. pumpkins are high in carotenoids that give them their orange color and neutralize free radicals in cells, particularly in the eyes. they have lots of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin and they’re also high in lots of common nutrients such as iron, zinc, and fiber. read more here.
wanna make good use of that gourd? i found this recipe here years ago and it never fails me:
Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
This recipe uses either two standard loaf pans, or three aluminum foil loaf pans. The foil pans make it easy to give the bread as gifts.
• 1- 3 / 4 cup canned pumpkin (one small can-425g)
• 2/3 cup butter, melted (150g)
• 3 cups sugar (600g)
• 4 eggs
• 3-1/2 cups flour (455g)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (5g)
• 1 tsp nutmeg (5g)
• 1 / 2 tsp cloves (2.5g)
• 2 tsp baking soda (10g)
• 2 tsp baking powder (10g)
• 1 / 2 tsp salt (2.5g)
• 2/3 cup water (160ml)
• 1 / 2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (60g)
• 1 cup chopped fresh or dried cranberries (120g)
Preheat oven to 350F/180C degrees. Combine the eggs, pumpkin, butter, and water in a large bowl. In another bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients, plus the nuts and cranberries. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix with a wooden spoon by hand. Mix until the batter is combined, but don’t over mix. Grease the pans, and distribute the batter equally in the pans (should fill each about half way up). Bake for 1 hour.
