DRESSING
1 tablespoon Dijon or other artisan mustard
juice of 1/2 a large ripe Meyers Lemon (I picked one right off my tree here in SoCal)
1 tablespoon raw local honey (great for your immune system)
Blend all the ingredients above together.

SLAW
2 cups grated Green Cabbage, don’t use the core
2 Tart Green Apples, grated
1 large Shallot or 2 mediums Shallots, grated
6 Red Radishes chopped, not too thin
1/2 cup chopped Parsley
1 teaspoon Salt
fresh cracked Pink Pepper, to taste
In a large bowl toss the SLAW ingredients with the DRESSING. Serve fresh, or chilled one hour later to increase the depth of flavors. The day after the slaw becomes more pickled which is also good!

This is Yogi Bhajan's Recipe for Yogi Tea, also known as chai. It comprises a specific combination of spices, milk, and black tea. It is Health promoting, delicious, soothing and a great coffee substitute. Yogi tea is easy to make from scratch and will warm your home with the fragrance of herbs and spices.
 
8 cups water
20 black peppercorns, purifies the blood
20 green cardamom pods, crushed, a digestive aid,
15 whole cloves, generates heat in the body, & heals the nervous system,
3 cinnamon sticks, good for your bones
5 inches ginger root, boosts the immune system, helps to fight colds, flu, physical weakness, helps digestion & increases potency
3 cups cows milk, assimilates spices & coats stomach lining (other "mylks" can be used)
1/2 tsp (a pinch) of black tea
honey to taste
 
Bring water to boil in a 3 or 4 Qt. pot.  Add cloves and boil one minute. Add other spices, boil 20-30 minutes.  Turn off heat add black tea.  Strain and serve adding milk (almond, coconut, oat or rice mylk work too) and honey to taste.

ENJOY!

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness

I love cooking in the abundance of harvest season when your body craves warm, spicy, & rich foods. I created this easy vegan, gluten & sugar free, pumpkin pie recipe a few years back. to fulfill all those needs. It comes out tasting like a coconut milk pumpkin flan with a pecan macaroon crust! I baked it for Wild Woman Rachel Pringle's birthday, and she told me that it reminded her of a healthy version her father’s Jamaican Bread pudding. I'll take it!

GLUTEN FREE CRUST
1 cup pecans
1/2 cup coconut shreds
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons date sugar

In two separate pans, toast your pecans until they become fragrant and your coconut shreds until they become golden. Let them cool. Add to your food processor, and pulse until the mixture is fine. Mash into and up the sides of an un-greased 9 inch pie pan. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, until the crust is frozen solid.

SUGAR FREE VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE
3/4 cup date sugar
3 tablespoons organic non GMO cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
pinch of salt (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 oz pumpkin puree, or fresh pre-roasted pumpkin (cooled) = to 15 oz
13 oz coconut milk (can is OK, but I prefer it fresh, with out preservatives, Cream Party is one of my favorite mylks

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Slowly add in the wet ingredients and mix in well, the mixture will become smooth like a pudding. Get your crust from the freezer, and pour in the pumpkin mixture. Bake for 30 minutes then spin the back to the front and bake another 20-30 minutes, until the pie looks solid and the center no longer looks wet. Let it cool and serve slightly chilled.

If celebrating a special occasion you can decorate your cake with stevia sweetened, vegan dark chocolate chips to spell your friend's name. :)

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAnd Wellness
#glutenfree #vegan #paleo #keto #healthy #pumpkinpie

I finished my 3rd yard sale of the year on labor day weekend. If you've ever had a yard sale you know they are incredibly rewarding, cleansing, and exhausting. I highly recommend at least an annual clearing away karmic/material build up, and if you can not have a yard sale, make a bag and bring to a local charity.

It is interesting what items find new homes, and what is left behind. I noticed a box with the word BioBand, remained in the “first aid” section of my yard sale. My Mom probably gave me this as a gift at some point. The other items that had been next to it, instant hot and cold packs, unopened bottles of tequila & triple sec, were some of the first to go at 8am on Sunday morn.

At the end of the day, exhausted, barely able to stand on my feet, I opened the BioBand box – thinking the Universe has left this here for a reason. I followed the instructions, placed the band approximately three fingers width above my wrist between the flexor tendons on the  surface on the forearm.

A small bead embedded in the adjustable band began to apply pressure on the Chinese meridian point P6 (Neiguan also Nei Kuan).

The Neiguan, P6 point: regulates the heart and calms the spirit, harmonizes the stomach and alleviates nausea.  Acupressure at this point has been scientifically proven to control nausea and vomiting.

Even though the yard sale was done, I still had to clean and get my house back in order. And after putting the BioBand on I immediately felt a sense of ease. My nerves felt soothed, and I felt supported as a sweet second wind of energy.

The manufacturer says to use for relief from nausea causing conditions like car, plain, train & boat travel, morning sickness, post surgery, chemotherapy, and amusement park rides.

1)  Don’t drive at night, unless you absolutely have to.

2)  Travel during the months closest to Summer Equinox to ensure longer light filled days.

3)  Never drive more than 7 hours a day. I prefer driving 4 or 5 hours. This gives you sufficient time to enjoy and rest at your final destination, plus time to stop and take in some of the sights along the way.

4)  Stop in college towns, they often have health food stores, farm to table restaurants, Yoga studios, art galleries, good music and other fun cultural events.

5)  Nurture your self along the way, find the local hot springs, get a good body work session, take a Yoga class, walk in nature, barefoot, swim in glacier fed lakes and rivers...

6)  Find moments of gratitude every day. Even on the difficult days, keep tilling the fertile soil of your experiences to reap life’s subtle messages and synchronicities.

7)  Keep a journal about your experiences.

When I arrived in NYC I discovered, with sadness, I forgot to pack a supply of Yoga props.

Since it was a late hour, and no Yoga studios were open, I decided to go to the neighborhood CVS to see if they carried any Yoga gear. In an effort to keep up with healthy lifestyle trends, many chain-stores are stocked with some Yoga props. I was not lucky on that front. However, as I cruised the isles, I noticed a large pen filled with balls of various shapes and sizes, and a sign that read: 50% off sale! This was a Yoga Therapeutics SCORE!!!! I purchased small balls, big balls, nubby balls, and weighted balls all for under 30 bucks.

One of the nights I was in town, some friends and I spread the balls around an empty room. We rolled on the floor and up the wall to go deep into our tension spots and to access various asanas with support. I highly recommend this as a regular morning and/or evening practice.

The next morning I went to Kula Yoga in Tribeca, which is a wonderful place to land and practice when you are in NYC. They feature a variety of classes from strong to therapeutic, and pride themselves in their community of dedicated Yogis.

I was there to share a workshop called Yoga Therapeutics for Your Sacrum & Hips. A wonderful group of Yogis came out to practice Yoga for their Yoga, and explore going deeper into postures with props, to heal and strengthen this very sensitive part of our bodies that have a working relationship with the health of our 1st two chakras.

The word sacrum is derived from the Latin word for sacred. This area is the place from which we grow strong, when the energy is clear and grounded. It also holds the magic of procreation, and is our connection to ourselves as human animals, and our literal tail.

Most of us have 5 lumbar vertebrae in our "tail.". A small percentage of humans have 6 – this is said to be linked to an older genetic lineage on the planet. Around the age of 16-18 these bones begin to fuse together, and are not done with this process until you are around 26 years old. Depending on your alignment, and the activities you were engaged in during that decade, the bones will fuse, and set a pattern for how you use that area, for the rest of your life.

While in NYC I DJ’d at a Yoga event Aarona Pichinson produces called Yoga Soundscape. As the invited sound artists I provided musical structure for Aarona to lead students on a sweaty and inspiring Yoga adventure. Aarona is a world traveling Yogi. You can experience her unique classes at festivals like Wanderlust and on retreats with Yogascapes. She is also one of the creators of The Moondeck.
 
My journey as a DJ started when I was teenager. And lead to my first career after college  as a sound designer and music supervisor for theater, dance, film, and TV. In the evenings I worked spun at NYC parties, clubs, art galleries and fashion events. My inspiration came from my mother's love of music, and her had a fantastic vinyl collection. When I was growing up she played music at high volumes on cleaning days as we danced around the house singing harmonies together.

My club name, DJ Ganesha Del Mar, was given to me when I was a regular at the original Jivamukti on 2nd Ave. Ganesha, because it sounded like Vanessa. Del Mar because it made the male deity feminine, and because of my love of la mer, the ocean. The name can also be translated as elephant of the sea, a code name for dolphins, which I adore too!
 
I enjoy the creativity of collaborating with moving bodies, hunting for music to create heart centered layers of loops that people can ritualistically move to in performance or in a private moment on their magic carpets.

I call what I create mantra new era, ambient audio acupuncture, an earful of love from my global gypsy, rock, roll, folk, and funk roots. You can check out a selection of some of the sound designs I have created here.

They now live in Maui and teach at a place called Lumeria, and you should totally participate in a class with them if ever you have the chance. Created by Gabriel Roth, a 5 Rhythms dance class provides an amazing judgement free space to become intricate with self-created healing movements, and to let off some steam! All experience levels are welcome as you are guided on a journey, by the music and gentle instructions of the teacher to sweat through old body mind patterns and release into flowing, staccato, chaos, and lyrical movements to find yourself... in stillness.

It happened to be Fashion Week, my last night in NYC. There were many events to check out as we strolled through the city after class. At one of the spots our crew landed makeup artist Laura Nadeau was set up in a corner of the showroom giving advice and quickie make overs. She encouraged women, to keep it simple, in a fun way. If you are in NYC, call her to add spice to your girls’ night out or finishing touches to you bridal party.

I leave you with two special treats for mermaids and water lovers, in the city that never sleeps, check out underwater spin classes at Aqua plus book a soak and massage next door at Ancient Aire. For the price this is the best way to go, and a nice way to finish your experience in this underground sanctuary built to resemble an ancient Roman bath.

In the Autumn of 2011 I took a road trip from the North East corner of the United States to Southern California via the great Northern States of our country. I am excited to share a few blog posts about that adventure as my road map of places to stop and enjoy nature, healthy food, ideas on how to nurture your body and mind, plus great places to catch a meditative moment - including hot springs!

Whenever I plan a trip I start by creating a potential road map. I look up places to practice Yoga, eat and shop for farm fresh healthy foods, stay in eco-friendly lodgings, bathe in hot spring or fresh glacier water, and I inquire, with people that have been there before me, about awe inspiring spots they recommend I visit along the way.

Road Map, USA East -> West
Princeton –> New York City
New York City –> Oberlin, OH
Oberlin, OH –> Kohler, WI
Kohler, WI –> Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN –> Mount Rushmore, SD
Mount Rushmore, SD –> Thermopolis, WY
Thermopolis, WY –> Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park  –> Jackson, WY
Jackson, WY –> Salt Lake, UT
Salt Lake, UT  –> Bryce Canyon, UT
Bryce Canyon, UT  –> Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV  –> Ventura, CA
Ventura, CA  –> Los Angeles

Inspired by Pema Chodron's book, When Things Fall Apart, Kimberlee found the Body Mind Gifts Cleanse looking for an opportunity to practice leaning into her sharp points, finding that both pain and pleasure allow access to being more awake. And in fact leaning into pain helps make sadness and anger go away.

Below is a short video log Kimberlee created as she went through the cleanse journey. You can literally see changes in her skin, eyes, and even her energy level.

Some quotes from her experience...

I  like testing my strength. I like knowing that nothing and no one owns me, that I could give up sugar, and I am going to be okay. And if anything, maybe even healthier....being better to myself, even if that means giving up something that I love.

It's not just a physical cleanse...you meditate, set intentions, and try to release emotions that you are holding on to.

I had more energy, my body felt free-er, and I didn't feel heavy or weighed down. Once you clear your body you become aware of what your body generally needs as opposed to over eating.

Currently based out of Los Angeles, CA, the Body Mind Gifts Cleanse can be an in-person experience or a journey you take via guided SKYPE sessions, from anywhere in the world.

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness

When my wife Dushinka and I did the Body Mind Gifts Cleanse we were living in Western Australia, so we worked with Vanessa through Skype sessions. Neither of us had ever done a 40-day cleanse before, much less a fast, and so we were a bit apprehensive at first. Our daughter had recently been born, and my wife and I were adjusting to the new rhythms of having an infant while working.

Incredibly, the answer was yes!  I think part of the success was that Vanessa encouraged us to do the Cleanse together. Having this "fellowship" element to an individual cleanse was vital for it being such a rewarding experience for both of us.
 
But equally important, in my experience, was having Yoga & mediation component we did each day of the cleanse. This 30-40 min practice became a kind of clearing-house of the emotions, an arena to work out the exuberance or the frustrations of the day, but also to ride out the the roller-coaster of the different phases of cleansing. Until we started doing the Yoga along with the cleanse, I was not aware of how valuable and essential this component would be.
 
The cleanse itself was not as hard as I feared.  Not by a long shot.  Regular contact with Vanessa was very helpful, as well as the extraordinary amount of delicious recipes she provided us, as alternatives to the diet we were accustomed to. 
 
In the years since first doing the cleanse, the protein-rich vegetable-based recipes have become a staple in our house, and we have delightfully incorporated them into our weekly menus in our new home, in Norway. Our food intake includes some meat now, but has become mostly vegetarian; meat is no longer the feature of all our meals. We still feel the effects of the boost in energy and vitality that the Body Mind Gifts Cleanse gave us, and we feel great. We recommend Vanessa and the Body Mind Gifts Cleanse to anyone.
 
#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness

When the seasons are changing, and the weather begins to shift, our immune system becomes a little more vulnerable. This is the time to nip things in the bud by making subtle changes to your diet and exercise regime that positively support your body and mind. In this episode of Ingredients for Joy & Wellness Vanessa Kudrat shares with you some of her simple recipes and exercises to help raise your vitality levels throughout the year.

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness
#tulsi #elderberry #blueberry #lemon #juice plus #Kundalini #Yoga

The 8 day Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates that there was enough oil to cook in, and light the winter nights. There were no potatoes in the ancient world, and many cultures made "latkes" whether Jewish or not. The original fried treats were most likely made with barley, salty cheeses, turnips, kashi, and then in the 18th century... potatoes! Latke making season is in sync with the end of the olive oil harvest. It was not so important what they were frying, but how pure the oil was they were frying in. This was a celebration of temple quality, fresh pressed, pure olive oil and its many uses.
 
Winter season is dark, cold, and genrally a drying time of the year. It is also a great time to use fresh pressed "temple quality" oil on your skin. Organic olive, coconut, sesame or joint healing ayurvedic mahanarayan oil will help your body keep its luster through the season.

SWEET POTATO GINGER LATKES
Adapted from Plant Based Yogi's Grandma Bogart's Recipe
Ginger is the perfect flavor counterpoint to the sweet potatoes.
This recipe sings with apple sauce!
 
Ingredients:
1 pound sweet potatoes or yams (about 2 medium), peeled
4 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk*
1/2 cup all-purpose flour*
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
non-gmo organic vegetable oil for frying
applesauce

*can be made non-dairy milk & with gluten free flour 

Shred the sweet potatoes with the shredding disk of a food processor or grate them by hand, and place in a large bowl. Stir the ginger into the potatoes. In a separate bowl mix together the eggs, milk, flour, baking powder and salt; fold into the potatoes until mixed.
 
Lightly coat a nonstick cooking pan with oil over medium-high heat until it sizzles instantly when a small amount of batter is added. Drop 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter into the oil for each pancake and flatten slightly with the back of a wooden spoon, making 3-inch pancakes. Cook until golden on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. If the pancakes cook too fast or too slow, adjust the heat. Turn and brown the other side, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to a tray lined with paper towels.
 
Serve hot, with applesauce, or reheat in a 400 degree oven until hot and crisp. Yields about 10 pancakes.

SUCCULENT ZUCCHINI LATKES
with an amazzzzing Lemon Cumin Yogurt!
 
Add a little color to your Festival of Lights with zucchini pancakes. Lighter than potato latkes, they are their Mediterranean cousins.
 
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
~
3 lb zucchini
1 1/3 cups panko*
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
About 1 cup non-gmo organic vegetable oil for frying

*can be made with gluten free panko
 
Prepare the yogurt suace first. Spoon yogurt to 1/2-inch thickness onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels. Cover with additional paper towels and let stand for 5 minutes. Scrape/scoop yogurt into a bowl using a rubber spatula. Combine with the next 5 ingredients (through 1/8 teaspoon pepper), cover and chill.

Grate zucchini using medium shredding disk of a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 2 tsp salt. Let stand 30 minutes. Squeeze zucchini in batches in a kitchen towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Transfer zucchini to a large bowl and stir in bread crumbs, eggs, marjoram, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper.
 
Preheat oven to 200°F. Heat 1/3 cup oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Scoop 2 Tbsp mixture per latke into skillet (6 to 8 per batch). Flatten with a fork to form 2 1/2- to 3-inch pancakes. Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side (adding more oil as necessary).

Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve. Makes about 36 latkes.

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness
#WinterSolstice #ritual #temple #quality #recipes

If you are like me, sensitive to processed cane sugar, you will love this recipe. It tastes so good! You can even eat it for breakfast, as it is easy to digest and doesn't give you the sugar blues. I like it with banana slices added to the bottom & top of the bowl, pouring the pudding in-between. You can also bottle the dry mix and give it away as holiday treats for your friends and loved ones. Everyone from children to adults will love this healthy treat.

Ingredients:
1 cup powdered coconut milk
1 cup powdered date, maple, or coconut sugar
1 cup organic cornstartch
1/2 cup cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
1 3/4 cups almond milk (or more depending on how much pudding you will make)
1 banana - optional

In a large mixing bowl blend all the dry ingredients together. Seal and save for later or to give as gifts.

To make the pudding, add 1 3/4 cups almond milk + 1 cup of the dry Cacao Pudding mix to a a pot. Whisk to blend while bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir constantly for about 5 minutes, or until it is the consistency of mousse or pudding, whichever you prefer.

If you want, slice one banana and add slices to the bottom of each small serving bowl, pour your pudding on top, then add banana slices to the top of each serving. Let rest 5-10 minutes or place in the fridge and let cool completely.

Pictured below is my holiday gift version of this recipe, Reindeer Mousse Pudding. I bought little red noses, eyes and pipe cleaners at the crafts store and used a hot glue gun to add in the faces. The pipe cleaners are twisted around the top with smaller pieces twisted into each antler.

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness
 #diy #vegan #milkbottle #holiday #gifts

This superfood vegan *egg* nog is sooooo simple to make, tastes delicious, is good for you, & will have your non-vegan friends begging for more. You can keep it kid friendly or add a dash of rum or cognac for your naughty friends on cozy cold winter nights. For parties I double or triple the recipe the night before, as the flavors really shine the next day. I also use it as creamer for my Immune Boosting Yogi Chai.

Ingredients:
1 cup cashews
3 cups purified water (or 2 1/2 cups purified water + 1/2 cup rum or cognac)
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract, bean powder or 1 stick of vanilla
1 apple, no seeds - peeling is optional
1 pinch to a tsp each of: cinnamon, fresh ground nutmeg, & cardamom

Blend, strain (I use my nut milk bag) to make it silky smooth, sprinkle a little nutmeg over each class before serving & ENJOY!

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness

The surprise of this recipe is the half cup of ginger it requires, giving it quite a kick!  If you don't like spicy you could use less ginger.

ingredients:
26 cloves of garlic (roasted, unpeeled)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons (raw) organic butter or coconut oil
1/2 tsp cayenne powder
1/2 cup fresh ginger
1 onion sliced
1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
26 cloves garlic (peeled)
1/2 cup coconut milk
3 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
lemon (optional)

FYI, 52 cloves of garlic is 2-4 bulbs of garlic, depending on the variety.

Preheat your oven to 350. Break apart 52 cloves of garlic.

Place 26 cloves flat with their skins in a baking dish with a lid. Sprinkle with salt plus 2 tbsp of olive oil. Cover and bake about 45 minutes, until golden and tender.. Remove, and let  cool. to the touch so you can remove the roasted garlic from the skins.

Melt butter or coconut oil in a soup pot saute onion, ginger & cayenne until onions are translucent.  Add raw (peeled) garlic plus the roasted garlic, removed from the skins and saute another 3 minutes. Add water, cover and simmer until all the garlic is soft - about 20 minutes.

Puree the garlic mixture with coconut milk in your blender. Options when you serve:, squeeze some lemon on top, add salt and pepper to taste, I was also enjoying some truffle oil on top.!

#BodyMindGifts #IngredientsForJoyAndWellness #tistheseason for #superfoods
#recipe modified from an article found on Complete Health & Happiness

In junior high I began to swim competitively and had the great fortune of having Olympian sisters, Lara & Dara Torres, as coaches. I was particularly good in solo and group relays. My strongest strokes at that time were Butterfly and Backstroke with a decent Freestyle and Breaststroke. One summer we did an underwater race and I far out swam my teammates, going 60+ meters underwater on one breath. As an adult I continued to swim with leagues and coaches would yell, "breathe Vanessa," as I liked to swim laps on the surface holding my breath as long as possible.

In 2012 while swimming at a pool where some of the members of the US Freediving Team train, I discovered that something I did naturally as a child, swimming under water with one breath hold, was now an official sport.  I have a slow resting heart rate and as I began to train I discovered all of these qualifications made me an excellent freediver, In 2013 and 2015 I placed second in the US in different pool disciplines.
 
When I moved to the North East for college I joined the Triathlon club. Because of the extreme Winter weather, we had seasonal workouts entirely in the pool and on stationary bikes at the gym. I learned  many new skills and drills to improve my swim speed and efficiency. We worked in a deep water pool on cycling and running in upright positions, essentially hours of variations on treading that mimicked the moves of cycling and running on land. The added weight of water on our legs built and lengthened the muscles we needed for the same actions on land. This type of training was new to me, and transformed as it strengthened my body. It also made me aware that cross training athletes in a pool was a great value for amplifying the strength of specific muscle groups needed for land sports.
 
When I began to teach Yoga, I would bring private clients, anyone from professional athletes to wall street business moguls, to the pool when they had shattered their feet in a car accident, were in postpartum recovery, had busted a knee on the ski slopes or had injured themselves during an extreme sporting adventure. Their doctors often asked what they were doing as they started to heal 3x faster than their peers with the same injuries who were not being trained in the water; I knew I was on to something.
 
Fitness in the water has yet to hit its peak in the US, like it has in South America and parts of Europe. Most people think of it as something for the older population, not realizing that those people they see in the water are super strong, especially at their age, because they are working  muscle groups with resistance in both eccentric (elongation) and concentric (contraction) movements while getting their heart rate up.
 
Working out in the water creates a strong core as the water does not let you cheat into bad alignment for the most part. You can also get your heart rate up while keeping the impact low on your joints. You control the amount of intensity of each exercise by how hard you push into the water. For example, one of the movements I teach to students is based on something I saw watching the super bowl one year. They ran a segment showing the star quarterback training in a pool, doing a particular movement with the additional pressure of running into a jet stream, to build the endurance and strength needed to push back and make a touch down on land.
 
Other exercises I teach come from my fitness background in Yoga, Pilates, and ballet barre, also from researching the training regimes of other land athletes, then bringing their moves into the water. One of my favorite athletes to watch videos of is MMA fighter Ronda Rousey - such a beast! The moves she does to get the drive she needs in her arms are perfect for the pool.
 
I feel so blessed to work at a gorgeous pool near the ocean. My youngest clients are just 4 years old. It brings me tremendous joy to see people of all ages improving their swim strokes and getting stronger in their bodies. Whether you are looking to cross train in the water, heal an injury, or just become more confident as a swimmer, reach out with your questions and we’ll get you into a pool and on your way to meeting your fitness goals while enjoying the beautiful year-round weather of Southern California.

As spring sets in here in the city of Angels I find myself craving mint (like off the charts) and playing with various recipes inspired by stimulating visits to my local farmer’s market, one of which I will share with you below... Coco Cream de Mint Shake.
​
Appropriately, mint has been considered a hospitality herb in Greece and the Middle East for centuries; used to welcome people as they enter your home, served as a tea, iced or hot, or even rubbed on the table before a meal for a special guest. Mint is rich in Vitamins A and C, contains small amounts of B2 and also a wide range of minerals such as manganese, copper, iron, potassium and calcium. Mint is thought to decrease the risk of colon and rectal cancer and can aid in stimulating digestion before a meal plus improve digestion after a meal.

On a side note, if you ever find yourself in Boulder, CO – go to visit the Celestial Seasons Factory. Apparently the oils and aroma of mint leaves are so strong that they are stored behind big heavy doors in their own room, so as not to infuse all of their other teas. On the FREE factory tour, you are allowed to go into this room, and can immediately feel the deep healing properties of the mint infused air clearing your sinuses and lungs. Needless to say, that visit inspired me to want to create my own “mint room”…some day. For now, I am growing mint in the sunlight of my new patio.

COCO CREAM DE MINT SHAKE
1 freshly picked organic apple
2 heaping table spoons of fresh pressed coconut cream*
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 pieces of  kale, de-stemmed
1 large handful of freshly picked mint leaves
3 cups fresh coconut water*

Blend all ingredients in a powerful blender, like a Vitamix. Use less coconut water if you like your shakes thick. ENJOY your energizing, naturally sweet, green shake.

​ccc