A central theme of yoga is doing what is most natural for your body – this brings vitality, strength, and longevity.

In the above video, Professor Pig brings forth many salient points in his endeavor to lead humans onto the point of health and well-being through food choices that are suited towards their (i.e. human) biological & anatomical make-up.

Of course there are many reasons for choosing a plant-base diet – human health, environmental concerns and ecology, animal well-being, and more. This particular video looks at human anatomy and physiology.

We all want a long life – longevity, but not just that. We desire a high-quality of life as well.

Here are some yogic guidelines for a long, productive life:

1. Exercise regularly: Along with daily yoga postures, a fast-paced, 30 min walk in the open air each day, or a comparable form of exercise that is not taxing on the body is extremely beneficial. Walking is generally recommended as it is accessible to most people living in most areas of the world.

2. Eating as soon as one feels hungry: This is actually more difficult than it sounds as it also means not eating when one is not hungry. When true hunger comes then the digestive acid is released into the stomach, if food is not eaten at that time, the acid itself remains undigested and leads to acidity. On the other hand, if one eats when not hungry, when no digestive acid has been released into the stomach, then that food will not be assimilated properly by the body and leads to acidity, bloating, and a host of health problems.

3. Going to sleep as soon as one feels sleepy: We should be aware of our natural sleep cycle and not stress the body by staying awake when really the body needs sleep.

4. Regularity in contemplative practices; Daily meditation, reflection, contemplation, and deep relaxation contribute greatly to our mental well-being, which helps create a healthy physical body.

5. Fasting at intervals: Fasting, half-fasting, juice fasting, and water fasting all enable the bodily organs to rest and rejuvenate. Every engine, every machine, every process needs to experience a state of pause or rest. The same is the case with the human digestive system. In this case rest (not eating) brings renewal.

6. Washing and Bathing: In addition to a daily shower / bath, preferably with not very hot water, it is also recommended to wash the limbs, face, and nasal passages before each meal, meditation, and sleep.

7. Curd (yogurt) and raw foods: Each and every day it is advisable to eat a moderate amount of curd (ideally not processed) and / or raw foods. This practice combined with a vegetarian diet is itself a medicine or therapy for the body.

8. Getting out of bed at daybreak: Just as one should go to sleep at the proper time, it is important to rise a with the start of the day. This helps increase one’s vitality and tune one’s body to the natural cycle of life.

So those are some of the practices recommended by yogis for living a long, happy, and productive life.

Here are links to related aspects of this topic:

1. Here is a past discussion we had on “blue zones” and living a long life.

2. Discussion on Aging: This radio show aired this past week on NPR and discusses some of the scientific research related with aging.

3. This website on long life tips contains some very good information.

4. And indeed there is an abundant amount of good information out there. I often find that the best articles and blogs speak to very similar points and recommendations. Share some of the info that you come across.

Here’s to a long and joyous life!!!

Well, Bethanne & Kenny did it again! Today we held our 4th ever Eating Healthy seminar and it was a smashing, sumptuous success. We had a full house (18) for the event – a mix of Renaissance Yoga yoginis and Bethanne groupies.

The seminar was  smooth & seamless throughout with plenty of tasty dishes for all to try, savor, and take home. We started off with “breakfast” and enjoyed donut holes (vegan of course!) that were tasty, sweet & moist. And there was much more such as energy bars, and other treats to give your morning a GO.

Lunch featured great salads including “fall slaw” with maple tahini dressing (shown here), a colorful herb and kale tabouli / tabbouleh, Marrakesh red lenil soup over fresh organic chard, and more.

Of course the great thing with Bethanne is that along the way you learn all about the properties of the foods, their healing qualities, where to get them, how to prepare the dish, and how to enjoy it. So each dish becomes a whole presentation & experience unto itself – and the entire time Kenny is quietly plugging away as the sous-chef par extraordinaire making sure everything is ready and on track.

After a great “lunch” we had a few snacks – what else!?! How about 2 kinds of popcorn that was really cauliflower: One style raw and seasoned to perfection and another dehydrated. Everyone got to pick their favorite.

So after breakfast, lunch, and snacks (of which there were multiple of everything), we had dinner.

Here is a wonderful asian noodle dish with kelp noodles and I believe this is also the dish where we used the spiralizer with a wonderful daikon radish. And of course the sesame-everything sauce was out of this world.

Here is what it looked like when it was completed – a perfect presentation as always!

Then we had a stuffed butternut squash casserole which was baked magnificently – and tasted even better!

Here you have to understand that the array of ingredients, the meticulous preparation and the tasting experience is unparalleled. Top of all we learned the secret to making this at home – and it is easier than you think.

Finally, after breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner we had – dessert. And there was a great selection!!

We had desserts like superfood brownie bites, chocolate chip cherry bites, cookies, and an incredible raw pumpkin parfait with cranberries and ginger “whipped cream” made from soaked cashews, coconut oil and more. The parfait was built in layers and everyone made their own. It was truly a work of art and tasted even better!

But to be honest, no matter what I write and how many pictures I post – you really had to be there to experience it. And it was that – AN EXPERIENCE!!!

Last but not least, we had such a great community of people present who shared, learned, and took delight in the whole program. Special thanks also to Frannie for running such a tidy ship.

Everyone left with a recipe book, plenty of food for tomorrow, and a warm feeling inside. All in all a great experience – see you at the next one!!! It is not to be missed…

Cold and flu season is nearly upon us. Here are some natural remedies, thoughts and common-sense tips for how to stay healthy.

This is by no means an exhaustive list – just I am putting forth a few ideas as well as some resources and websites. Please do share your views & experiences.

1. Practice good hygiene: This is a fundamental way to stay healthy in any season, but especially so in flu season when others are sneezing frequently. Be sure to always wash your hands before eating as well as when out in public.

2. Listen to yourself: This is an important skill which always seems to need honing. The mind and body constantly give us signals and messages but in our fast-paced lifestyle we do not always listen. Take a moment to key into how you are feeling. When rest is calling, try and give your body some downtime, or an extra hour or two of sleep.

3. Drink plenty of warm fluids: Lemon water, herbal teas and more. At the herbal seminar, Sharon shared with us a number of great herbs to use in your tea combinations: sage, thyme, oregano, violet, willow among others.

4. Namaskar or Handshake? We live in a handshake society, but that seems to be slowly changing, primarily due to issues of hygiene. When we have a cold, it is probably best not to shake hands – and a good alternative is to simply do namaskar mudra (palms together at the heart). Any maybe this is something to practice during the entire cold-flu season.

5. Ayurvedic treatment for cold and flu prevention. Here is a helpful list from the good folks at Kripalu.

6. The Wai Lana newsletter also shares some good healthy tips in the yoga tradition for cold and flu prevention.

7. Yoga Journal shares a list of yoga poses that help relieve symptoms when under the weather.

8. Here are more sites that feature herbal remedies: (1) Organic Nutrition (2) Wild Roots for cold and flu symptoms.

9. So tell us what works well for you…

On this brilliant afternoon, we held our first-ever Herbal Remedies & Healing workshop, presented by Sharon Brewer.

And what a turnout we had – 28 total, not including Sharon & myself.

Sharon runs her own herb farm – Green Violet Herbs – out of her home in Fairhaven and truly speaking natural living and herbs are a big part of her life. So she really had a lot to share: Both in terms of knowledge and samples. The above photo, which shows herbs as well as a solid mass of bees wax to the right which we used to make a salve, represent just a few of the many samples Sharon shared with us.

After beginning with a few minutes of contemplation and gentle asanas we segued into our main herbal program. With Sharon’s breadth and depth of knowledge and her easy-going manner, the entire afternoon flowed very nicely. It was really more of an open discussion forum than a lecture per se. One Q & A led into the next as everyone who came had great interest and so many queries. Of note I might recognize Tina’s effusive, yet need-to-know, manner of rifling off queries to Sharon as well as Ms Ellie’s earnest interest in enhancing her current home gardening program. Ellie is just a few days into 6th grade.

Here is a sky-view of but some of the many herbs, oils and tinctures that Sharon had on display. She reviewed a wide array of herbs like calendula, nettle, sage, lavender, chamomile, and many others and then discussed their healing and energetic properties, uses, growing patterns and more. The information shared was extremely practical as Sharon would link each topic with daily living; Teas to calm the body and mind and reduce stress, herbs and creams for relieving insect bites and stings, herbs and spices used in cooking for both taste and health, and so much more.

After a very productive open dialog Sharon graciously invited us all up to make our own tea mixes. She had bags and a plethora of herbs and aromatic essences to share. Everyone quickly got up from their mats and crowded around the front tables. Here is a look at that scene! Plus check out the youtube clip below.

All in all it was a very productive afternoon. If you could not be there, we do have extra handouts available for $3, plus you can always find Sharon in one of our yoga classes during the week!

Here is what participants had to say in response to the query, “The best part of the seminar was…”:

- learning the benefits of each herb in a very friendly open manner.
- getting to make your own blends.
- interactive, I liked that she answered everyone’s questions – from the basic to the more advanced.
- seeing & touching.
- learning how to prepare, store, and use herbs and the ratio of ingredients.

Thanks Sharon for a great, great seminar!!

Here below is a very short 14 second action scene from the end of the seminar wherein all were making their own teas and herbal mixes…

Here are two more short video clips, at the side table, at the presentation table…

(The below is an excerpt from an article titled, Bill Clinton Declares Vegan Victory, that was published by USA Today on Aug 25, 2011)

Where’s the beef? Not in Bill Clinton’s diet.

The former president, known for his love of burgers, barbecue and junk food, has gone from a meat lover to a vegan, the strictest form of a vegetarian diet. He says he eats fruits, vegetables and beans, but no red meat, chicken or dairy.

Clinton, 65, who had quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 and then stent surgery in 2010, is following this eating plan to improve his heart health.

He talked about his plant-based diet last year, saying he lost 24 pounds on it for his daughter Chelsea’s wedding, and he chatted about it again recently on TV, drawing national attention to the potential health benefits of this type of diet….

About 3% of U.S. adults are considered full-fledged vegetarians because they never eat meat, poultry, fish or seafood, and about 1% of people are vegans because they also never eat dairy, eggs or honey, says the Vegetarian Resource Group. “The percentage of vegetarians has doubled since 1994,” says John Cunningham, consumer research manager for the organization…

Elizabeth Turner, editor in chief of Vegetarian Times, says, “A much larger number of people — 22 million based on a poll the magazine did in 2008 — are what I’d describe as vegetarian-inclined. These are the people who might have the occasional chicken or fish. They’re interested in vegetarianism and moving in a veg direction, but they aren’t all the way there yet.

“What the science shows is that people who are vegetarians have a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, especially colon cancer, and they tend to live longer,” Turner says. “They’re also less likely to be overweight.”…

Clinton says he was inspired to follow a low-fat, plant-based diet by several doctors, including Dean Ornish, author of Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease. Ornish has been working with Clinton as one of his consulting physicians since 1993.

After Clinton’s angioplasty and stents in 2010, Ornish says he contacted the former president “and I indicated that the moderate diet and lifestyle changes he’d made didn’t go far enough to prevent his heart disease from progressing, but our research proved that more intensive changes could actually reverse it,” he says.

View our earlier post on this in January 2011 that features a short video interview with Mr Clinton about his dietary changes…

RESOURCES ON DIET:

Caldwell Esselsytn, M.D. – Heart Attack Proof — T. Colin Campbell Foundation – Dr. John McDougall’s Health and Medical Center — Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine — CHIP – The Coronary Health Improvement Project — The Engine 2 Diet – The Wellness Forum – Pam Popper, N.D. — TrueNorth Health Center — Alona Pulde, M.D. And Matthew Lederman, M.D. – Transition to Health — Ruth Heidrich — Gene Baur – Farm Sanctuary — Mercy for Animals

Check out Mark’s new fare!! Goin’ veggie, and by the looks of it, fairly local too. Well done Mark!!

As he writes below, this is indeed a great time to sample many of the farm fresh items available to us in our locale.

On 7-19-11, Mark writes:

I am stepping out on the wild side by doing only vegetables for dinner tonight.  The looks I got from the kids was priceless. Will this turn into a weekly event?  What a great time of year to turn a new leaf.  Mark

What many may or may not know is that Mark is a seasoned “grill man”, as he once told me. And while he still may be grillin’-a-plenty, it seems that some of the fare may be different. As many of you have probably discovered, grilled vegetables – peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini & more – are really really great!! Another wonderful item is grilled marinated tofu & tempeh too!

Share with us how you are enjoying and using summer’s bounty which is locally available…

With our own fasting seminar coming up this Sunday (July 24), I could not help but share the trailer about a film I first heard about last Wednesday after Community Yoga. While the yogic approach to food and fasting stands on its own unique pillars, the below film (which I have not seen but is offered on Netflix) seems to offer a compelling and much needed voice to this great practice…

Food Fasting and Health

Sun, Jul 24, 2p – 4p

Galesville Memorial Hall

$20 by Jul 20 ~ $25 after July 20

Register Now

Eating is a big part of human life. Proper food gives us sustenance. At the same time, the body greatly benefits from periods of fasting. It gives our organs that much needed rest, and also prevents and cures common ailments and diseases. Plus fasting helps calm the mind.

This is an open forum where we collectively investigate our personal food choices as well as why we eat. To what degree is our eating based on emotional desire rather than physical need. And how can we transition towards eating patterns and habits that better serve us, both physically and psychically.

Fasting has a long tradition in our human culture and indeed there are many types of fasts. We shall discuss this history – primarily from the yogic perspective – and apply it to our modern world referencing today’s medical literature. How do our food choices and fasting programs cleanse and detox our system. What are the mental benefits of fasting. And that all important question: How does one break a fast.

Maybe you have fasted many times, or maybe never before. This is a conversation along with practical guidelines for how you can safely transition into healthier eating patterns as well as periods of fasting.

YES, I want to register now…

What to drink in the summer? How to stay hydrated and drink something that is good for you as well.

A recent study stated that 1 of 4 kids have at least 1 can of soda a day, and 2 of 4 have at least one serving of a sugary drink (Gatorade, Hawaiian Punch, Hi-C, etc)  each day. This is down from 3 out of 4 some years ago.

Of course, we all need to drink – especially when it is hot out. In that case, what should we reach for – what are our options besides soda / artificial drinks.

Water, as well all know, is one of the best beverages of all-time. And for an alkaline twist one can add lemon or lime. This is what I drink every morning, with a slight pinch of salt.

And indeed we have many more options without having to reach for a sugary soda, artificially flavored punch, processed juice, or caffienated joe / java. (Note: Processed fruit juices become acidic during production – that is they lose their alkalinity, among other drawbacks. And any beverage with caffeine acts as a diuretic; it dehyrdates the body not hydrates. Plus coffee depletes the body of so many nutrients including calcium from the bones – reference.)

So then what what are those beverage options? How about:

1. Cucumber water: So simple and easy. See our post about this from nearly 2 years ago. Some also add basil to this – at least I think that is what Melanie told me, otherwise Melanie please say how you used basil.

2. Herbal teas: Easy, economical and you can go with loose or bagged. That’s right keep it caffeine free.

3. Homemade juices & smoothies: Get out the ol’ blender / juicer and enjoy your favorites.

4. Watermelon Juice: Diana mentioned this one in class – just let the watermelon sit as it creates its own juice. Or try this recipe…

5. Then there is this absolutely wonderful lemonade recipe. Kate kindly shared a few mugs with us after class and it was truly wonderful. Here is that recipe (that’s right it has sugar, but probably 1/100th of store-bought lemonade!).

Please share with us your favorite drink to keep hydrated and cool on those hot summer days.

Here is the recipe for chamomile lemonade: (This is from Kate & she adds that it came from the Vegetarian Times.)
1/4 c cane sugar
2 tbs lemon zest
5 tbs fresh/dried chamomile flowers or 6 chamomile tea bags (I used fresh picked)
3/4 c lemon juice
lemon slices for garnish

1. Combine sugar, lemon zest and 2 c water.  Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.  Remove from heat, add chamomile flowers and let cool.
2. Strain chamomile mixture in 2 qt pitcher; stir in lemon juice and 3 c water.

I let mine sit in the fridge with the lemon slices added so it might have strengthened the flavor.

Also, another summer drink I really enjoy, especially in the morning, is cold hibiscus tea (made much in the same way as above, with boiling the  petals and straining) and mixed with fresh orange juice.  Also good with added lemongrass and an amazing color any way!

Thanks Kate! Now, everyone, please share with us your thoughts, recommendations for that ultimate summer beverage!

As we enter the summer season, it is important to wash your mat more regularly. I do have wipes available at our classes – and certainly if you are borrowing one of our mats then definitely wipe it down. However if you are looking for more creative and thorough ways to wash your mat, the following has been adapted from the Wai Lana website – along with some of my own additions as well as excerpts from the Manduka website.

Fitting yoga into your busy schedule is a challenge without having to worry about spending time cleaning your mat!  However, regularly washing your yoga mat will:

* Keep it soft and sticky.
* Prevent bacterial growth.
* Maximize the life of your mat.
* Keep you healthy & well.

The only way to keep most yoga mats clean is to wash them by hand, so here are some tips to show you how to wash a yoga mat easily. (Note: There are some youtube videos out there that say it is OK to put certain yoga mats in the washing machine, but I would not take a chance on ruining your machine. Manduka says to NEVER put their mats in a washing machine)

Wash your yoga mat before first use

You will probably want to wash your yoga mat before its first use to remove any “rubbery” odor and slickness. It will help remove the oils. This can be done with warm salt water as well as with the ways recommended below.

Deep Clean

For its first wash, or whenever your yoga mat seems particularly dirty, you will probably want to give it a really thorough cleaning. (Note: I have never done this with my Manduka mat, I always do a topical scrubbing as opposed to the deep plunge. But I can certainly understand how the ol’ plunge would be effective. That is what I do when I wash the knee pads, which you might also want to wipe down when in class.)

1. Run a few inches of cool or slightly warm water into a bathtub or large laundry sink and add a few drops of mild, non-oily detergent like Simple Green. Make sure you don’t add too much soap or it will be difficult to rinse away completely, leaving your yoga mat unnecessarily slippery.
2. Submerge the yoga mat in the water, one part at a time unless you have a big enough basin to wash it all at once. Let it soak for a few minutes (the longer you let it soak, the more thoroughly it will be cleaned).
3. Gently rub down both sides of the mat, top to bottom, using the soft side of a sponge, a piece of terrycloth, or even just your hands. This will help the mat to develop that soft, grippable surface for which sticky yoga mats are so prized.
4. Rinse the yoga mat out very thoroughly in clean water, making sure you get rid of any soap residue.
5. To dry your yoga mat, lay it on top of a dry towel and tightly roll mat and towel together like a cinnamon roll. Squeeze out excess water by pressing with your hands or feet. Unroll and hang to air dry. Make sure you let it dry out completely before storing to prevent mold.

Manduka’s Guideline for Manduka Mats

Lightly scrub the mat with a soft brush, cloth or sponge using a gentle household cleaner or specially formulated mat wash, like Manduka’s Mat Renew.

Wipe clean with clean water and air dry in sunshine. Do not put your mat in a washing machine or dryer!

Quick Clean

For lighter, more frequent maintenance cleaning and a quicker drying time, you can just clean your mat with a spray bottle and soft cloth.

Homemade Yoga Mat Cleaner

It is very easy to make a spray-on mat cleaner that will break up sweat and dirt and kill odor-causing molds and bacteria while at the same time extending the lifespan of your mat. Try either of these recipes.

Water/Vinegar Spray

For a very simple, natural antibacterial/antifungal mat spray, simply mix 1 part warm water with 3 parts white vinegar. You can also try adding a few drops of essential oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender, mint, or tea tree oil to add a nice aroma and increase the germ- and odor-killing potential.

Soap/Water Spray

Another easy cleanser is a simple soap solution of 2 or 3 cups of water and a few drops of mild detergent.

Spray Cleaning Instructions

1. Spray your yoga mat cleaner over the surface of your mat. If you are using a soapy cleanser, spray very lightly or your mat may become slippery. If you are using a vinegar cleanser, you can spray liberally. If your yoga mat seems especially dirty, let the cleanser sit and soak in a bit before cleaning it off.
2. Wipe the yoga mat with a wet cloth or sponge. When the cleanser has been thoroughly removed, rub the mat down with a soft dry cloth, like a small towel or washcloth. Now repeat on the other side.
3. Allow your mat to air dry, which should take only about 5 to 10 minutes. If it takes longer than this, then try rubbing your mat down some more with a towel to remove the excess water and accelerate drying time.

Mat Cleaners For Purchase

I have mat cleaners made by Manduka and I know some members of our Renaissance Yoga community have begun making their own herbal mat cleaners as well.

The above has been adapted from the following website:

http://www.wailana.com/yoga/newsletter/wash-yoga-mat.php

Here is perhaps one of the single-greatest things a person can do for their health and well being.

To learn more about Forks over Knives click here…

Some pathys – fields of medicine – believe that the right use of water can both prevent & cure numerous ailments. Yogis agree.

Drinking 3 or more  liters of water a day – in between meals – helps with digestion, purifies the skin, and provides numerous other benefits.

Water is not only for drinking. We also of course use it to wash ourselves. In that function, yogis say that water is not just for cleaning the outside of the body but also for revitalizing the inner systems as well.

That is why cold water is preferable for bathing / showering. I know, I know, most of us shudder to even think such a thought. But here is how it works. The blood has a tendency to pool both in the limbs and within the inner layers of the body. Yet this same blood is responsible for delivering nutrients to all cells of the body. When it pools it fails to do this.

The application of cold water to the body gets the blood moving fast. The blood can no longer stagnate. As one researcher wrote: “The cooler blood from the skin is squeezed out to the deeper organs and the warmer blood from the deeper organs is pumped out to the skin for cooling.”

Here is more about the benefits of a cold bath:

A cold bath has various benefits which a hot bath lacks…With a hot bath the blood circulation does not reach the uppermost layer of the skin. Besides, the blood cells near the outer skin become weak, whereas a cold bath strengthens them. When our skin comes in contact with cold water, it contracts. The contractions caused by the loss in temperature provide relief to the body. It creates an effect equal to that of body massage…When we use cold water for a bath it accelerates the blood circulation; we can feel it while bathing. The interesting thing is that when we take a cold bath the body experiences a sort of inner warmth. It happens because of the rapid flow of blood. (reference)

I always try to at least complete my bathing process with 100% cold water – dousing the body until I feel every cell revitalized. I do find that this creates an inner warmth as well. Plus this cold water system is incredibly energizing.

Now that we are getting into the warmer weather – try cooling down the water a bit in the shower / bath and see for yourself the benefits this has. The effect is instantaneous!! Plus there are many hidden benefits as noted in these below articles.

For more about the benefits of cold water: (a) 7 Benefits of cold water + James Bond bath, (b) Cold Shower Cures, (c) Cold Water Therapy, (d) Cold Baths to Promote Health. And not doubt there are more.

Let us know how it goes…(warm comments only please!)

To celebrate their first anniversary, Edgewater Acupuncture is offering FREE acupuncture on Saturday April 16 from 9am – 2pm. Appointments are strongly recommended, walk-ins will be taken on a first come, first served basis.  More information can be found on their website under Events.

About Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a 3,000 year old system of medicine which has been proven effective in treating a wide variety of ailments such as chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and menstrual issues.  Most people become very relaxed and even fall asleep during treatment.  The needles are tiny, thin and disposable. Acupuncture is a drug-free, safe and natural method of healing.

Edgewater Acupuncture provides affordable treatments on a sliding scale of $15-$35 with a one time new patient paperwork fee of $10. Their sliding scale allows people to come as often as necessary to get healthy and stay healthy.

Edgewater Acupuncture

Have you ever sworn yourself off of donuts, successfully driven by a donut shop, only to find yourself with a sticky, jelly donut in your hand 5 minutes later.

Here the term donut refers to any life habit you had consciously decided to avoid but couldn’t.

The Sanskrit word abhnivesha is the tendency to revert back to old habits & poor living patterns. As a human being you know this is not good, yet you pursue it anyway.

Actually this phenomenon of abhinivesha affects us all – to some or more degree. But there is a clear-cut way to race ahead of these bad habits, and be rid from them forever.

I was going to call this post, “Abhinivesha: Hard to Leave Old Habits” but thought why should I emphasize the difficulty when it is very attainable by all – if you know the secret.

The yogis are highly intrigued with the functioning and development of mind. Overcoming old living patterns is all about the transformation of mind. So this topic is an integral aspect of yoga.

Mostly people revert back to old habits like smoking, drinking, unhealthy snacking etc, because that is something they are familiar with and the environment they are in supports that poor practice.

For instance, let’s say you have the habit to stop at Dave’s Greasy Drive Thru every afternoon at 4pm. You know the food is not good and adversely affects your cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and overall health. You do not want to go, yet you stop anyway. It becomes a cycle that you seem not to be able to break.

The solution lies here: channelization & preparation. From the moment one decides that going to Dave’s Greasy Drive Thru is not good, one must make proper plans to support a better life habit. That means packing a healthy lunch that day and having plenty of available good snacks (dried fruit and nuts; fresh fruit; carrots, celery and bean dip; or any other unprocessed food) with you – within arm’s reach – at 4pm. And think that, “The moment I get hungry then this is what I will eat.” That mental idea can be supported by taking a different route that does not go past Dave’s.

At first this may seem difficult; but in truth it is quite easy. The human mind is incredibly flexible and dynamic. It will naturally adjust to your new habit. It just needs preparation and a tad bit of determination. Then you will certainly get success.

Remember: The time to quit going to Dave’s Greasy Drive Thru is not at 3:59pm when you have no food with you. That’s like being on a sinking ship.

Rather one must be armed and ready – psychically and physically – to instill that new habit ahead of time. Then when the moment arrives, victory will be yours. Practicing this for a few days will build your new habit and in due course – with consistency – that habit will become your nature. That means, the thought of Dave’s Greasy Drive Thru will be long gone from your mental plate, and you will be totally focused and happy on your new path.

Victory to you and let us know how it goes!!

Lately in class we have been talking about the health benefits of certain Indian spices, most notably turmeric which acts as an anti-inflammatory and blood cleanser. (Read the 20 benefits of Turmeric, or visit here for more benefits.)

Our class talks invariably veered towards curry – what is it and how to use it. More recently Sarah D wrote and asked if we could swap curry recipes on line. Feel free to share your contributions here.

The following has been adapted from the Indian Foods Co website.

What is Curry?

Curry is an English word most probably derived from the South Indian word Kaikaari. Kaikaari, or its shortened version Kaari, meant vegetables cooked with Kari leaes, spices and a dash of coconut. It may have become the symbolic British word for Indian dishes that could be eaten with rice.

Since the British occupation of India started in Bengal before Madras and some Bengali dishes are called “Torkari” or vegetables stews – the word curry may have been derived here. Another theory is the root word for curry is “Karai” or Kadhai” denoting the wok used in Indian kitchens.

In India curry now means gravy. In America many believe curry is an Indian spice. Curry powder is sold in many supermarkets. Many dishes in America call for curry powder, which is actually a blend of spices (mainly garam masala) that is mixed with coriander powder and turmeric. In India, Indians would be confused if you mentioned curry powder.

Note: There is a plant, however, that has leaves that are called curry leaves or in Hindi meetha neem or Kadhi leaves. They look like miniature lemon leaves and grown wild in most forest regions of India and are used as a seasoning. But these curry leaves are not related per se with curry powder. (I used to get these regularly in DC at an Asian market – they are very good!)

Curry is now an international dish recognised the world over.   It is a dish with gravy (or is a stew like dish) and had many spices and seasonings and is flavored with hot and sour tastes.

Curry may or may not be made with curry powder. Curry powder available in the supermarket is not a single spice but a blend of spice. Curries are made with many many Indian spice blends. Some curry powder ingredients are: black pepper, chile pepper, cloves, coriander, fenugreek, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger, turmeric and nutmeg. You can mix your own curry powder according to your tastes or buy it ready mixed in the spice aisle of your grocery store.

The classic Indian curry often combines the following spices: coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, cumin, cloves, ginger, red and black pepper as well as other spices. One popular variety of spice blend used in Indian curries is called “Garam Masala”.

A ‘dry’ curry simply means that there is less liquid involved in the cooking process than you would normally associate with a curry.

Making a Curry

Although Curry is not an Indian word – it has come to represent the varied dishes that are stew like or a soupy.  These dishes are cooked in steps with the following seasonings which are called masalas.
1.  A base of spices sautéed in ghee or oil
2.  herbs and seasonings like curry leaves or fenugreek may also be added
3.  A secondary level of seasonings are added and include all or some of the following – a mixture of onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes
4.  A third level may include coconut milk, almonds, cashews or cream
5.  Curries often have a sour taste which may be achieved with lime juice, tamarind, mango powder, kokum or yogurt.

Share your curry recipes, or click here for vegetarian curry recipes.