Yoga Food Part 2: the next SUPERFOODS

​You know those things they sell in the produce section at the healthy grocery stores?  The ugly and gnarled looking bits that you have never actually heard the name of and would not ever dream of eating.  MAKE THEM YOUR BEST FRIENDS.  They are the next "superfoods".  Here are a few of my favourites.

Burdock Root: 

The burdock root has vital ingredients such as calcium, arcigen, flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, potassium, and a host of other elements that are helpful to the body. Furthermore, the root also has an ample amount of vitamin C, chromium, magnesium, and trace amounts of organic mercury, which can make a good detox formula.

More info from burdockroot.co

The burdock root can be chopped into salads and is also tasty fried in coconut oil.  It has a pleasant earthy flavour.  I place a couple chopped pieces into a cup of hot water to use as a tea.  Be mindful and conscious eating this root as it is powerful and used by First Nations as medicine.  It is most well known for purifying the blood.​

I buy the root from Choices however the quality is not always spectacular (look for firm roots) and the cashier never knows what it is because I could, quite possibly, be the only person in town who buys the root lol.​

Turmeric Root:​

Turmeric is a powerful spice used to prevent some cancers and slow the effects of Alzheimer's Disease.  It is also anti-inflammatory like it's more commonly used cousin, ginger.  For more health benefits of turmeric, visit ​​this site.

You can commonly find turmeric ground up as a spice to use in curries and other vegetable dishes.  I prefer the power of eating it raw!  I buy the whole root from Choices and then juice it.  I dilute the juice with water and a little bit of lemon and honey.  I like to drink it either cold or hot as a tea.  Be careful with the preparation of this root as it is neon in colour and will stain anything.​

After researching the topic of "superfoods"​ I found some that I had never heard of but am interested in trying.  Check out the Chaga Mushroom which is apparently called by Siberians "the gift of god".  I am also interested in the Ashwagandha Root which was difficult to find information on but at the same time it seems like every supplement company wanted to sell me their version of the root.  It is apparently used in Ayurveda as a rejuvenative tonic and can help with memory loss and sleeping problems.

​Well that's it for this week!  Try them out and let me know what you think, k?  Lots of love and namastes,

​rock on,

l.e. martini

Upcoming Event: The Art of Balance and Self-Care

I am honoured to be teaching a yoga class as part of this event on Saturday March 9, 2013.  To receive more info and to purchase tickets, please click ​​here.

Why everyone should go on a yoga retreat.

Hola!​

After spending the last 15 days in Costa Rica leading 2 yoga retreats, I am now back in the great white north.  Thinking about these past two weeks has made me uncharacteristically emotional.  I feel as though a transformation has truly occurred and I attribute this transformation to what the Tico people call "Pura Vida".  Pura Vida roughly translates to "pure life" and it is a common answer to the question "How are you?" in Costa Rica.

The 15 of us who had the opportunity to practice in the eco paradise that is Nosara, Costa Rica, experienced a glimpse of our true selves; what life would be like if we disconnected from our technology, cities, and judgements, and instead connected with our bodies, the natural wonders around us, and our hearts.​  

What is "pure life" anyways?  It is the privilege of allowing ourselves the time to leave our chores and routines behind so we can gain fresh perspective.  It is the recognition that we are all indeed connected on a spiritual level that is inherent in our humanity, no matter what language we speak.  It is the awe of a spectacular sunset that can draw an entire town away from what they are doing to focus on the beauty of nature at exactly 5:30pm every day.  Can you imagine a life where we put down our duties/phones/computers and watched the amber sun fall below the shimmering sea EVERY DAY?   This is Pura Vida. 

​Sunset at Playa Guiones.

So with the memories of the Martini Yoga Costa Rica Yoga Retreat fresh in my mind, here are the reasons why everyone, at some point in their life, should go on a yoga retreat.

• ​To really ensure you are practicing yoga safely and effectively.  A yoga retreat allows you the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time with your instructor; this gives he or she the ability to get to know your body better and ensure that you are doing the postures safely and accurately.  This is much more difficult in a yoga class setting as there are likely more people in class and an instructor can only convey so much information in an hour.  Yoga retreats are great for experienced yogis looking to deepen their practice as well as beginners looking to ensure they are getting the basics accurately.
• To gain fresh perspective on what is important to you.  When you take a public yoga class, chances are it is difficult to find stillness of mind when you have to remember what groceries to get after class, when to pick up the kids, what to make for dinner, and how to close today's business deal.  When you are on a retreat; you can really focus on your practice because someone is cleaning your sheets for you, someone is lovingly making your meals, and your job is on hold hundreds of miles away.​  All you need to do is relax because there really is nothing more important than the present moment when you are on a yoga retreat.
• To create life-long relationships with like-minded people.  When you go on a yoga retreat, it is guaranteed that you will meet other people who are interested in health and wellness.  By befriending fellow retreaters you have the opportunity to create a network of support and love, as well as memories that will keep you connected forever.​
• To allow your mind and body a break from stress.  The Western lifestyle is not exactly the healthiest way to live.  The busy-ness of our lives can be taxing on both body and mind.  It is important to our health that we take consistent breaks from the daily grind to ensure our physical health allows us to grow old with grace.​

Here are some other blogs I found on the same topic:​

Elephant Journal​​

MInd Body Green

And in case you're curious, here are some pics from our recent Costa Rica Yoga Retreat:​

Pura Vida and Rock On,​

l.e. martini

Top Ten Yoga Quotes

After much debate, I have compiled what I consider to be the top ten yoga quotes.  These quotes include modern-day musings as well as translations of ancient yogic writings (written by a half-man half-snake...no big deal...).  I use these quotes not only to inspire my own passion and practice, but also to read in class and remind my students what is important about their relationship with yoga.  So without further ado...

• "I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God.” -Rumi

• “Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked.” -Patanjali's Yoga Sutras 

• "Come from a space of peace and you'll find that you can deal with anything."-Michael Singer

• "Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured." -BKS Iyengar

• "Yoga is the study of balance, and balance is the aim of all living creatures: it is our home." -Rolf Gates

•  “The cause of bandha and moksha (bondage and liberation) is our own minds. If we think we are bound, we are bound. If we think we are liberated, we are liberated. . . . It is only when we transcend the mind that we are free from all these troubles. (117)” -Patanjali's Yoga Sutras 

•  "You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state." -Sharon Gannon 

• "Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory." -Sri K. Pattabhi Jois 

• "The cause of all agitation is the constant modification of mind. The mind easily becomes concentrated and one-pointed through the practice of yoga. When control of the mind is obtained, the kingdom of peace is established." -Swami Kripalu

Rock On,

l.e. martini