The August Break Day 8: A Selfie

I'll admit, I took like 9,000 photos of myself before I chose this one. I'm sure I'm not the only one :)

Aqui estoy:

The August Break Day 7: Skyline

Today's word was Skyline. I'll be honest, I was completely uninspired, as we haven't seen the sun in San Francisco since June. No lie.

Here's what I got for you (yes, this was taken in June. I'm using my free pass for this one).

Bernal Hill, San Francisco CA

Happy Wednesday! xo

The August Break Day 6: Diagonals

There is a Buddhist temple across the street from my apartment. I've been noticing this busy confluence for a while now, whenever I cruise down Capp Street on my bike.

More and more, as the wires get sent underground, I'm getting fonder and fonder of running into a bit of wiry chaos here and there. My favorite are the places where a bunch of bus lines converge and the cables create an urban web pressed up against the sky. 

The August Break Day 5: Close Up

A couple close ups from my Monday:

My sweet ride

At The Lucky Pork Store, my local bodega

Ganesha...my favorite image of him.

See you tomorrow!

The August Break Day 4: Love

Words, my first true love:

Since March 2009 I have kept a daily journal, a practice that stuck after I completed The Artist's Way. I now have a gorgeous stack of completed notebooks perched on a shelf in my closet--I fantasize about the day when enough time has passed that I can cull all the juicy bits and write my book.

I knew I was a writer since, well, since I learned to write. When I was seven I used to write stories on 3x5 cards, and my best friend and I would collaborate on stapled together picture books we'd write on legal pads. We didn't watch much TV in my house, and every summer, I would regularly read double, even triple the amount of books on the recommended summer reading lists. In 8th grade I won a contest for an essay I wrote on Madame Bovary (I know, kind of a weird pick for a 14 year old). Occasionally I would get in trouble for my reading choices--that was the extent of my precociousness through my childhood. Whenever anyone asked me "what do you want to be when you grow up?" my answer was, invariably, "a writer."

Somewhere along the line, I decided that being a writer was a silly choice, that I could never be good enough to be published. I stopped writing, outside of what was necessary to get through high school and college. I kept a journal sporadically, never being consistent about it for more than two or three days at a time.

I've always been anxious and a worrywart (see here and here); after a few weeks of Morning Pages it struck me how beneficial it was to start my day by getting all that chitter chatter out of my brain, through my pen and on to paper. I could then access my day from a place of presence, now that I had already attended to the usual concerns and worries. As time went on, and I continued to learn how to dwell more in my body and less and less in my overactive head, I began to use this practice as a way to fuel my creativity. I can't tell you how many times a spark of inspiration at 6:30 in the morning would later transform into a lively theme during yoga class or some of my best creative writing here on this blog.

As I reconnected to the great love of my youth, I reconnected with my GUTS. It's so funny to me now--as if I had a choice in the matter! As if I could actually decide that I could never be a writer. I see now that it has never been a choice; it's simply what has always been so. I didn't choose to write; it chose me. I am a writer regardless whether I ever get published. It is as intrinsic to my identity as is "woman" or "daughter."

This practice has also reawakened my own artistry. For the past 15 years (at least) if you would have asked me if I was an artist, I would have said "Hell no." I'd look around and see my friends painting and drawing and making things with their hands and I longed for that mythical one day to arrive where my own talent would be revealed. To look back now and see that it was always there, patiently waiting to be acknowledged...

Now, I show up every day for the muse. She will never be ignored, ever again. It sounds dramatic but this practice is literally my life-line-it keeps me honest and sane.

If you are curious about The Artist's Way, reach out to me. Or, just buy the book. You can find it used for less than $10 and even if you aren't a writer, I guarantee it will revive any dormant creative impulses. I especially recommend it if you are like me--someone who doesn't consider themselves the "creative type." I promise you it's in there--you just gotta show up.

The August Break Day 3: Yellow

I now present you with my humble abode:

The 3143~!

When I saw that Day 3's theme was "Yellow," I immediately knew what I would capture. This is where I've hung my hat since September 2006. Built in the late 1880's, this baby withstood the 1906 earthquake and ensuing fires, and, after a fresh coat of paint last year, is actually visible from space :) My front door (you can see the red doors on the second floor) originally was ground level; in the 1940's, the entire structure was raised up to add in all the storefronts. 

The August Break Day 2: Circles

First, a scene from my work:

Circles at Fix Studios, where I spend my work days

Tonight we had a dinner party. I cooked my favorite Cuban dishes, and couldn't resist snapping this photo when I realized it fell in to today's theme. A little late but too circular not to share:

Alabao!

These are tostones, twice fried green plantains--aka the flavor of my childhood. See you all tomorrow!

The August Break Day 1: Breakfast

My friend Becky over at Clean White Paper turned me on to Susannah Conway, a photographer, blogger, storyteller, and creative sparker, (seriously, go check out her site). Every summer for the past four years she hosts The August Break, a creative exercise where every day for the month of August, you take a photo and post it to your blog/Instagram/insertsocialmediaofyourchoicehere. While I don't consider myself a photographer by any means, I thought this would be a great way to fuel some creative inspiration and give me the opportunity to interact with my environment in a new way.

Here are the prompts for the month: 

I'll be posting my photos here, here, and here all month. It's not too late to participate! I'll be on vacation for 10 days this month and I'm really excited to see what shows up! 

Ok, now for my Day 1: Breakfast

I am the type of person who gets in ruts when it comes to food. If I don't push myself, I'm perfectly happy eating the same meal day after day, week after week--especially when it comes to breakfast. Sometimes it takes MONTHS before I hit burn-out and need to switch it up. 

This smoothie is perfect: I can bust it out in less than five minutes, it's delicious, protein rich (so I don't get hungry 30 minutes later), and I can take it with me when I'm short on time. Give it a go yourself! Find the recipe here.

How Yoga Saved My Life ~ Part 2

(***This post got long so I broke it down into two parts. You can read Part 1 here.)

Teacher training was like rehab. It was the only period of my adult life that I was not only sober but abstinent. I felt like I had grown wings.

But, as folks like me are wont to do, I went to another extreme. Yoga became the end all be all of my existence; all my time, money, thoughts, everything was spent on furthering my practice. I put famous yoga teachers up on pedestals. I couldn't imagine dating someone who wasn't a "yogi" (that's a killer story for another time, maybe). I never threw down for the $98 yoga pants, but I came damn close.

Luckily (I can say that now in retrospect), my yoga bubble got popped in a spectacular fashion. You can read about it here, also here. Then, my favorite teacher moved away and I felt un-tethered from everything that had been keeping me sane. The months after that were spent in deep reflection: once again, I was searching outside of myself for the answers that nobody but me could discover.

Gingerly, and after great contemplation, I got down from my high horse. I took a step back from teaching. I went back to basics, creating my practice anew, asking my inner teacher the next step to take, rather than mimicking what I *thought* a "real" yogi would do.

I'm sharing all these things (even though it's super scary to be this honest) because as I go deeper and deeper with my business, and deeper and deeper into life, I have to be as authentic as possible: not only because I am in the business of serving others, but because I need a way to hold myself accountable to the commitments I've made to myself--and to my soul; to the world I want to create and in which I want to participate. I share these things because I want you all to know that when I talk about health and wellness and living a full, inspired, healthy, creative life, I am not pulling something out of my ass or from some book I read; I have struggled hugely with simply being who I am, in all my flawed glory.

The biggest thing I'm getting is that I have a choice in all this. I can choose to make the process the goal, instead of waiting for some mythical future to arrive where I have the perfect body, all the money, a nice apartment, work that fulfills me, and the freedom to play and travel as much as I want. I can choose happiness, health, wealth, love, creativity, and joy in the nitty gritty of every day life--instead of fleeing reality. I can wake up every day and commit again and again to discovering the extraordinary in the ordinariness of daily life. When I can focus on the process and remove the pressure of the fabled end result, a freedom and clarity arises that I never thought possible; what's more, when I choose the things I'm committed to, instead of worrying over what I want to avoid, my life rises up in support of those choices. I am no longer at the mercy of past patterns; now, I have a say in the matter.

I am grateful for a life of moderation. Now, my antennae perk up anytime I start to tilt too far into extreme territory--it's only challenging when it's something perceived as "healthy" (Paleo, anyone!?). These days, I find infinite solace in early bedtimes, home-cooked meals, a daily writing practice and a return to my first love, dance. I still practice yoga, the difference is that now it's one of many tools in my toolbox, rather than the ONLY ONE.

If I were to consolidate all of this into some type of advice it would be thus: Find a daily practice. Doesn't matter what it is--but make sure to do it every day. Eat good food, and plenty of it. Get to bed early and take lots of naps. Move your body in a way that makes you feel strong and vital. Ask for help when you feel stuck. Go on vacation as much as possible, even if all you can swing are weekend trips here and there. Celebrate your accomplishments, especially the seemingly "little"ones. And most of all, TRUST THE PROCESS. Otherwise, you'll miss out on life, and, as we all know, this is the only one we get.

I usually don't share Hafiz or Rumi poems (years of hearing them in nearly every yoga class kinda killed the magic for me); this is too appropriate not to share (and maybe it's time for me to give up that story, too):

Cast Your Votes for Dancing

Hafiz

I know the voice of depression

still calls to you.

I know those habits that can ruin your life

Still send their invitations.

But you are with the friend now

And look so much stronger.

You can stay that way

And even bloom!..

Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins

That may buy you just a moment of pleasure, 

But then drag you for days,

Like a broken man

Behind a farting camel.

O keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

And from your companions' beautiful laughter

And from the most insignificant movements

Of your own holy body.

Now, sweet one,

Be wise.

Cast all your votes

for dancing!

How Yoga Saved My Life ~ Part 1

(***This post ended up being longer than I anticipated, so I broke it up into two parts~Dani)

I spent most of my life fleeing myself. In junior high, I went invisible, and by high school my disappearance was complete; I navigated the turbulent waters unseen except for the close knit group of friends with whom I surrounded myself. I began to numb out. In high school it was pot, and then in college, booze (whoever says marijuana is the gateway drug is an idiot; alcohol is FAR more dangerous, especially if being a drunk is something you carry in your genes). I took my first yoga class in 2002, as a freshman in college, to fulfill a one unit requirement. We practiced entirely in the dark, on a padded floor in a room in the basement of an old building at SF State. I'm pretty sure the majority of the classes were spent in savasana. I couldn't really say what it was but there was something I liked about the classes, and sophomore year when I moved to the Haight I started practicing weekly at Yoga Tree before it started to pimp itself out, back in the day when drop in classes were still $10 and you could buy yoga clothes for less then a flight to Orange County.

I didn't become a yoga die-hard until 2007--up to then I still spent most of my time throwing myself into the void, with little glimmers of re-connection here and there as I sweat my life out onto the mat. I knew that I liked how I felt after yoga class. I knew that I loved feeling strong in my body, especially after years of cutting myself off from it's messages. I knew that it was the only place I felt completely free and safe to fully express myself. Again, the shift didn't happen over night; I can't tell you how many Sunday morning classes I went to class hungover and disgusted with myself. I didn't realize until much later, but through all the ups and downs and learning experiences of my early 20's, yoga was the one thread that connected everything.

Over time (6 years to be exact), yoga began to permeate more and more of my life. It stopped being this thing I did to get exercise or detox and became the cornerstone around which I lived my life. I often ask myself how this happened. The spiritual teachings were part of it, but truly, I think the transformation occurred when I began to re-inhabit my body; when I started connecting the dots between the way I responded to challenges on the mat as a mirror for how I responded to challenges in my daily life. Instead of running away from myself, for the first time I came home: to my body, and it's wisdom, infinitely wiser than the evil critic in my head.

Ever since I was a kid I experienced anxiety; at age 10 I was an insomniac who would wake my mother up nearly every night, complaining of "the funny feeling;" an uncomfortable angst in the pit of my stomach that I could barely describe let alone for which I could pin down a cause. Constantly vigilant of others' perceived opinions of me, I never pursued anything that would put me in the spotlight or require me to be seen. As I grew up, I began using substances to mellow down the constant internal chatter. It was the only way I had figured out how to ease my troubled brain.

Practicing yoga was the first time I could let all these things simply...be. The first time I felt a buzz without the help of anything outside myself. The first time I could sit with my reality without retreating in a panic or leaving my body completely. I'm telling you, this was magic for me: the realization that I could actually LIKE myself. And then, more magic: that "like" turned to "love."

I was still flirting with extremes at this point; I would often go from late night drunken party on Friday to all day yoga workshop on Saturday, no biggie. I saw more and more clearly the duality of life: as the light began to shine more brightly, the shadow became more pronounced. I started to see my practice as the ultimate act of self love, and with this realization came the clarity that in this case it couldn't be both/and; I had to commit completely and let the old ways die. I moved to Thailand for eight months and in this new environment, away from all the STUFF, I felt something inside me start to blossom. I came home and studied with Katchie and Sianna, and doors continued to open.

Nourish your body, Heal the Planet

It’s a crazy time to be alive. Between the obvious signs of climate change, to great social upheaval across the world, it’s all we can do to not bury our heads in the sand like ostriches. It’s not enough anymore to simply eat organic, and forego plastic for glass, and ride our bikes instead of drive; it’s time to take it a step further.

Now is the time to heal the relationship we have with our bodies and, in so doing, come home to our responsibility as caretakers of this planet. We are disconnected from our bodies in the same way we are disconnected from the Earth. We don’t have to be environmentalists to have an impact; we must change on a smaller scale, the scale of our hearts.

When we deny the experience of our bodies, we deny life itself. On a micro level, it’s the lack of nourishment: endless dieting; critical thought patterns; exhaustive workouts; substance abuse; lack of human touch and authentic connection. The correlation between all this and what we are doing to the planet on a macro level is undeniable.

It’s time to dig deeper. We might say we’re happy; but, when we get really honest, the inner dialog tells a different story. Internalizing this angst isn’t going to bring about change. We have to transform it, and commit to radical self love not as a someday-one day kind of thing, but as the daily practices we cultivate over time. Imagine how much more of an impact we will have on the planet when we approach it from deep, abiding love, rather than denial, or fear.

Start small. Unplug. Cook. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Embrace your imperfections. Cultivate gratitude. Throw out the scale. Then, go out and make the difference you were born to make. 

When I am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
- Mary Oliver -

How I Stopped Letting Acne Rule My Life; Or, A Primer on Clearing Inflammation

There was a point eighteen months ago when my acne was so bad that I got facials every three weeks, and had a daily skincare routine that incorporated anywhere from 8-10 products per day. EVERY DAY, people. While my skin started to look slightly better, it was more like icing on a turd, and it got to the point where I could no longer go on pretending that I could just put a ton of stuff on my face and pray the spots away.

I had always struggled with acne, but this was different: not only was I breaking out daily with painful, active whiteheads, I had terrible cystic acne around my chin; Rosacea appeared on my cheeks for the first time in my life; and anytime I was out in the sun a little too long, even though I wore SPF, my face would get little blisters all over.

So, time to figure out the source of the constant face fire.

Hormones! they say. You break out because you have a hormonal imbalance. What they DON'T tell you is how to balance your hormones. Birth control! they say. That will balance you out. Here's a prescription for the rest of your life, don't mind the side effects that could end up being worse than the acne ever was.

("They" being doctor's of course, which--FULL DISCLOSURE--doctors are great! Listen to your physician. And, I just wanted to exercise all other options before popping synthetic hormones). 

Do you know how to balance hormones naturally? Yeah, I didn't either.

Dios mio!

I met initially with a fantastic acupuncturist, Amy P. I also began my foray into studying nutrition. It got obvious that everything I had ever learned simply no longer worked.

For the longest time prior to all this I tried (and failed miserably) to be a vegetarian. I felt I *had* to be one in order to ever succeed and be taken seriously as a yoga teacher (that's another story-Bernadette Birney breaks it down real nice here). As I deepened my knowledge about food as medicine, I learned that the foods I ate on a daily basis were not only the cause of my acne, but actually causing me to operate from a constant state of inflammation. You guessed it! ZITS GALORE.

The main staples of my diet were foods containing gluten, dairy, and soy. These are the top three most inflammatory foods among most people. While there are other foods that are inflammatory, these three are a good starting point if you suspect you are inflamed.

I chose to go 90 days free of these foods. At first I freaked out a little, because it was not uncommon for me to have cereal or bread for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and pasta or grains for dinner. I had to rethink and reframe my entire pantry, and expand my cooking repertoire. I was also that annoying person at the restaurant who asks the server 900 questions about the menu. I probably would have given up, but at this point, I was willing to try anything to not feel bummed out every time I looked in a mirror.

Poor Brad!

This might sound crazy, but I noticed a difference within 36 hours. My skin didn't clear that fast, mind you; however, as the days went on I seemed to have fewer and fewer new zits. The immediacy of the results bolstered me greatly as I continued my three month cleanse.

I learned about other things that may cause inflammation. A big one is refined and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Examples of these include:

• canola oil
• soybean oil
• sunflower oil
• cottonseed oil
• safflower oil
• peanut oil
• corn oil
• anything hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated
  
  
  
  

The way these oils are extracted is to put the seed/bean/grain under a tremendous amount of heat. During that process, the oil oxidizes and creates free radicals, which you then ingest when you eat the oils. It doesn't matter how many antioxidants you eat in your food or smear all over your face with fancy products, if your diet is full of these oils, you will probably undo a lot of that good.

So, I started cooking with butter, and animal fats, and coconut oil. Since soy, dairy, and gluten were off limits (for the time being), I filled my plate with high quality sources of animal protein, tons of veggies, and plenty of healthy fats (in addition to what I already mentioned, examples of healthy fats are avocados, nuts and seeds, and fish as often as I could afford it).

My skin continued to clear. People started to notice. I got a cute haircut again and sometimes would just stare at my face, marveling at it's smoothness. It felt really really good.

Acne is one symptom of chronic inflammation. Other signs are indigestion or bloating; acid reflux or heartburn; joint pain and arthritis; itchy skin, or rashes; and allergies. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you might consider eradicating these foods from your diet to see if you improve.

While I started out very strict, over time I have been able to re-introduce these foods in small amounts without negative side-effects or breakouts. In this process, I have become pretty adept in the kitchen, and these foods are no longer my go-tos. I can now have soy in my chocolate, a slice of pizza every now and again, and my favorite cheese without my skin erupting. And, when I tip a little too far out of balance, I have a bright red reminder the next day that reminds me to up the veggie intake.

Me now*

Not everyone will be able to re-introduce foods they are sensitive to without flaring up the old symptoms. If you are one of these people, instead of focusing on what you CAN'T eat, crowd your plate with all the other delicious and nutritious wonders of the vegetable and animal world. Chances are, it will be worth a life free of chronic pain/acne/room clearing farts. Not to mention that clearing inflammation NOW will probably play a great role in keeping you disease free and healthy for as long as possible.

Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your questions and comments.

*That's not really me. 

This Saturn Return Business is No Joke Y'all

So I've been dealing with some pretty hefty growing pains over the last few months. It's been interesting how taking responsibility for every aspect of my life is bringing out all sorts of behavior I thought was long behind me-all tried and true coping mechanisms from my party girl past. Building a business is only a part. As I get clearer and clearer of my message, I am forced to get clearer and clearer on what my life is for. Mostly what I'm experiencing is a whole lot of resistance. I see what needs to be done, I map it out, I have a vision; but I can't for the life of me get into action. Can you relate? I'm finally getting my act together, but it took me getting so SICK of myself that I finally couldn't avoid it anymore.

Good thing I can blame it on my Saturn Return. (Click the links, it's some juicy astrological tish, yo).

Back to the growth spurt. My ego is one fucked up asshole sometimes, no lie. It's doing everything it can to distract me from all the actions I know I need to be taking, to forward all the grown up aspects of my life (finances, career, home, relationships-you know, all the things that make you an ADULT, people).

These pains are normal, my mind groks that--I know life is change and growth and when these natural processes stop I'll be dead. As a coping mechanism, I've been trying to think of myself as a butterfly (a caterpillar, really), going through metamorphosis. I know it's a bit dramatic but it helps when I'm hard on myself, or life feels sticky, to remember that some gorgeous stuff is getting cooked up in all this gunk. Especially on the days I feel like I'm doing everything I can to avoid change; the days when everything feels completely insurmountable and I can barely get out of bed. 

As if

Today in my morning pages I got that I am NOT A BUTTERFLY, and not only am I not a butterfly, I don't want to be one! 

I am a snake.

Shedding all the old ways, like a skin; a skin that's grown too tight. It doesn't slip off easily, like a coat or a jacket; it's itchy and unbearable - until - finally, it's all slithered through, the old casing a dusty shell. The head is the last to go. And it's not the last skin to be left behind...

Bring it

Anyway, I feel like I'm just starting to slither out. It's tight and near suffocating sometimes but I have to be patient and allow the new, fresh skin to reveal itself. What kind of snake do I want to be?

All this work, of being human, expanding oneself, committing to having a life of one's dreams: it's not pretty little butterflies. It is a snake shedding its skin. It's tight, dry, and above all, SLOW. It's not particularly glamourous.

More to come.

Simplify Your Life: Get Cooking

I'ma let you in on a little secret.

If a vibrant, healthy, whole, full life is what you want, you're going to have to get cozy with your kitchen.

Meal planning for the week. Can  you guess what time of year this was? (:

One of the most interesting insights I've had since opening my practice is that nobody cooks. We may throw a pasta dish together, or go all out every now and again when entertaining friends- but for the most part, we busy urbanites do not inhabit our kitchens. We eat out on average 80-90% of our meals-lots of protein bars, sandwiches, and various smartly packaged single servings of easily edible goods.

The food you eat literally becomes your cells, your bones, muscles, tissue. Whatever you don't poop is assimilated through your intestines and used to actually create all the systems and structures of your body.

Do you see where I'm heading? When we fuel ourselves with processed, fake, nutrient deficient foods, what does that say about our health, and even deeper, our life?

Here are some tips for getting cookin:

• Cook one new recipe each week. Make sure the recipe has 5-7 ingredients or less. This way, you aren't spending tons of money on new ingredients all the time, and prep to table will be simple. Gain some confidence, build your cupboard, and you can start to experiment with more complicated dishes.
• Cook once, eat three times (or more). Each time you cook, make enough for at least three meals. Leftovers are a lifesaver! So, whip up a huge dinner, and eat it for breakfast and lunch the next day. This will save you so much time, and money. Which leads me to my next suggestion:
• Invest in a crockpot. These bad boys cost anywhere from $45-75, and will be one of the best investments you'll make for your kitchen, and your life. There is nothing better than throwing your 5-7 ingredients in the pot before you leave for work, and coming home to a healthy, warm, delicious, home cooked meal. I'm drooling just thinking about it. A six-quart crock is a good starting place.
• Plan Ahead. Set aside a few hours to make a bunch of meals, and then store them in meal-sized containers that you can freeze. The real food-fast food solution!
• S is for Success. Smoothies and salads are a fantastic way to get lots of veggies and healthy nutrients and literally take 5-10 minutes tops to create. Check out my favorite breakfast smoothie here.
• Make it fun! Re-frame your time in the kitchen from chore to recreation. Light some candles, play your favorite music or podcast, have friends keep you company, have a glass of wine/beer...the possibilities are endless! Today I made bacon-wrapped chicken thighs while rocking out to my favorite 90's dance hits-it was awesome! 

I hope this is helpful! And if you have any other suggestions, please share below~

Simplify your Life: Body Awareness

How do we reconnect?

Every Day Sage has a theme for the year: Simplicity. This is a first of a series of posts where I will share some of my tips for cultivating this under-valued quality. I'm also going to use this post as an opportunity to clarify a couple things about the business.


But first, a few anecdotes:

• My sister told me a story yesterday that her ex-boyfriend, at 28 years of age, had a mini-stroke. The day it happened, he had a busy day and in lieu of eating actual food he subsisted on two Rockstar drinks. He collapsed at work after slurring his words and being unable to form a sentence. There doesn't seem to be any lasting damage but the fact remains that the man is under 30 and already has had a stroke.
• A dear friend of mine recently attempted to work with her doctor to change birth control methods because she was uncomfortable with the idea of consuming hormones in perpetuity. The doctor laid so much shame on her as she lay half naked on the examination table that she went along with what he said, against her intuition, and then completely stopped receiving her monthly cycle. 
• As a yoga practitioner and teacher, I have to continually check myself as I cram my body into these funny shapes, to listen to the messages of my body instead of ignoring them and potentially injuring myself, all in the name of "looking good." I am especially aware of this tendency in light of the unraveling of a system of yoga I had identified myself with which turned out to be a cult (this might be a bit of an over-statement, but many of the signs were there). Especially in environments where we are encouraged to be vulnerable must we be vigilant.

What's the point of all this? To demonstrate how over-complicated and disconnected we as humans are from our own bodies; and, how we deny our senses and ignore the messages of our body's wisdom. I'm sure you have your own stories; either things you've noticed in the people around you or habits you have yourself.

I believe it is this disconnect that leads to most sickness and disease.

Recipe: Pollo a la Manzana

POLLO A LA MANZANA

The one Spanish meal I mastered while living in Spain. Mastered the art of not only cooking it, but eating it almost every week, tucked in under the brasero. 

Sabroso!

INGREDIENTES:

• 4 whole chicken legs (includes leg and thigh)
• One medium yellow onion, cut into chunks
• 4-6 garlic cloves cut in half (depending on how much you like garlic)
• 2 cups (approx. 14 oz) your choice of mushrooms. These can be canned or fresh. I haven't found canned mushrooms like they had in spain so I usually chop up some small mushrooms)
• One potato (or sweet potato if you want to PALEO-FY the dish)
• 1 1/2 cups white wine
• Butter (about half a stick), cut into 4 equal slices
• 4 golden apples
• One whole lemon, quartered
• Sea salt

DIRECCIONES:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Line the bottom of a large casserole dish with the chopped onions, garlic, potatoes, and mushrooms.
3. Put the quartered lemon in each corner of the dish.
4. Liberally salt the chicken thighs. Arrange the chicken on top of all the other ingredients.
5. Put one slice of butter on top of each thigh.
6. Pour the wine into the bottom of the dish.
7. Nestle the golden apples into the crooks of each thigh. 
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes and then check your dish. You need to remove the apples one they start to soften (you can easily slide a fork into them). This is an important step, otherwise the apples will completely collapse into mush.
9. Cook until the chicken is cooked all the way through, usually a total or 45-60 minutes depending on your oven. Use a spoon or turkey baster to pour some of the white wine over the chicken a couple of times throughout.
10. Remove from the oven and serve, adding an apple to each plate. 

*The best way to eat this dish is with a piece of chicken, mushroom, potato, onion, apple, garlic in each bite. Seriously.

*This dish keeps really well so you can make a bunch and reheat it for breakfast, lunch, etc. 

*Sometimes I keep all the yummy juices leftover and use them to roast veggies later.

I hope you enjoy! 

Like this post? Become a member of the Every Day Sage online community: www.facebook.com/everydaysage
www.everydaysage.com

Ooh la la...

Look what I found at Birite market!

How do you deal with stress?

Aye yai yai!!!!

How do you personally deal with stress?

Living in a city, it's easy to normalize that familiar feeling of overwhelm.

We think we've got it handled, and then it comes as a surprise when it all comes crashing down around us in the form of sickness, anxiety, poor sleep, or reverting to past habits that no longer serve (maybe with food or alcohol).

I wanted to share with you some of my tried-and-trues when it comes to managing stress. You can begin to incorporate all of these, or one at a time. It's also nice to have a little list handy, so when you catch yourself spiraling out of balance, you can take a quick look and recommit to your health right then and there.

Breakfast Smoothie

Even after all this time, there are still days I miss the breakfasts from my youth.

You know, cereal, toast, bagels, stuff like that.

On those mornings I usually bust out my dusty blender and shake up my favorite banana almond smoothie. It's got nut-butter and a whole banana, so it's really filling, and the seeds give it some texture which makes it seem like a hearty meal.

Takes about 5 minutes to prep and make, so it's perfect for those mornings you don't have tons of time. I had one for breakfast this morning and it held me over just fine until lunchtime around 1pm...

Dani's Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 banana (as green as possible)

2 Tablespoons almond butter

1 cup almond milk or coconut milk

1 tablespoon sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon chopped cacao

Directions:

Throw it into a blender. Puree until smooth, and enjoy!

It's also good with a shot of espresso thrown in if you need the extra kick~

Read this book, feel bettah

If I had to recommend one book to someone interested in taking charge of their health, this is the one.

"How to Eat, Move, and Be Healthy" by one of my wellness heroes, Paul Chek.

I followed a Facebook thread on a friend's page and stumbled upon this interview with Paul Chek. Halfway through the article, I thought to myself, "this man is insane!" --and I knew I needed to study with him as soon as possible.

I registered for a Holistic Lifestyle Coach training at the Chek Institute and participated in March of 2012. At that point I had been teaching yoga for two years, ate an entirely plant based diet (except those moments when I couldn't fool my body any longer and caved in for a nice juicy steak), exercised almost daily, and took a variety of supplements and vitamins. I considered myself "healthy," an example of great health, even.

Wrong! My skin was erupting near daily and none of my pants fit anymore. I walked through the doors  into the training and was blown away by the other participants: glowing skin; fit, toned bodies; white and bright teeth; clear and shining eyes; smiles for days. It didn't take long to realize I was missing something. 

Our first challenge was to go gluten, dairy, and soy free for the duration of the course. Within 36 hours I began to notice a difference in my skin: I was still breaking out, but the painful cystic acne didn't seem as angry. I was so bolstered by the results I kept going, and within 90 days I was zit free for the first time EVER. Praise the lord! I still feel giddy just thinking about it. If any of you out there have struggled with acne, you know what I mean.

Could it really be that easy to heal with whole foods? I began following the practices of Metabolic Typing and devoured Paul Chek's book, which gave me tools to really take on my own health and healing into my own hands. Here are the steps the book takes you through:

• Step 1 Complete the questionnaires to determine YOUR metabolic needs. 
• Step 2 Develop an eating plan that’s right for YOU. 
• Step 3 Build a personalized exercise program that fits YOUR needs. 
• Step 4 Fine-tune a healthier lifestyle that fits YOUR routine.

It is all developed and designed to fit who YOU ACTUALLY ARE, not some idea of what you are "supposed" to be. Just because one diet/way of being works for one person does not mean it will work for you! (just like vegetarianism, no matter how "noble" it seemed to me, simply did not work and actually threw me and my hormones out of balance-that's for another post).This book will help you take on an entirely new lifestyle that is long term sustainable, rather than trying to fit yourself into the parameters of a diet. We learn to relish and savor our lives, rather than restricting them.

Don't take my word for it--check the book out for yourself! And see what opens up for you. 

Inspiration Galore

If You Knew
Ellen Bass

What if you knew you would be the last
to touch someone?
If you were taking tickets, for example,
at the theater, tearing them,
giving back the ragged stubs,
you might take care to touch that palm,brush your fingertips
along the life line’s crease.
When a man pulls his wheeled suitcase
too slowly through the airport, when
the car in front of me doesn’t signal,
when the clerk at the pharmacy
won’t say Thank you, I don’t remember
they’re going to die.
A friend told me she’d been with her aunt.
They’d just had lunch and the waiter,
a young gay man with plum black eyes,
joked as he served the coffee, kissed
her aunt’s powdered cheek when they left.
Then they walked half a block and her aunt
dropped dead on the sidewalk.
How close does the dragon’s spume
have to come? How wide does the crack
in heaven have to split?
What would people look like
if we could see them as they are,
soaked in honey, stung and swollen,
reckless, pinned against time?

Coco-CRAZY

Well!

Look what just arrived in the mail.

Yes, an entire gallon of Organic Virgin Coconut Oil!!!

As if my roommates didn't already think I was nuts enough as it is...

I use the stuff enough that buying in bulk made the most sense. From a tablespoon in my morning coffee, to a dab here and there on minor cuts and bruises, to cooking and baking safely, plus countless other uses, I'm stoked to have such a versatile wonder in my kitchen.

If you're interested in starting to incorporate Coconut Oil into your daily routine, I highly recommend this company. All of their oil is high quality, culled and created by small family farms in the Philippines. Not only that, but with your first order, you get a free book that will teach you how to get started.

Palm to palm

If you've read my bio, you know that consistent yoga practice played a massive part in my overall well being  and brought me back from an edge I almost threw myself over back in 2007-2008.

Where did I go?

This past year, some major drams in my yoga world went down, my favorite teacher moved out of state, and, for a short time, I took on managing a yoga studio. It was the perfect storm for some serious yoga burnout. I started to forget why I ever bothered to roll my mat out in the first place. I considered cross-fit. I let go of my public class. I walked away.

...and through the doors of another studio, one that's been around for a while but I'd never attended (there was never a need). Where I was anonymous, and completely oblivious to the "cool" teachers or established cliques among the student base. Where the practice was strong, and consistent and dependable and varied. No complicated demos. No clapping. My focus started to come back.

There is this moment at the beginning of class where people are kind of awkwardly waiting for the teacher to go ahead and start, still with a foot outside the studio, brain engaged still in to-do lists and post yoga class meals and errands and conversations and all the STUFF of being human and living in a city and trying TO GET SHIT DONE, you know? I know. That's me much of the time. Shallow breathing and disconnect. Searching for something deeper than the superficial grittiness of it all. Unable to sit still even for those first three minutes tops before the teacher sits down and says hello and then:

"Close your eyes and put your palms together."

And that's all it takes sometimes, for the breath to deepen, the skin to relax, the tension in the jaw/forehead/scapulae/heart to quiet; to return to that space of remembering. There I sat last week, palm to palm, tears brimming at the corners of my eyes, as I sat and sang and sweated for an hour and fifteen minutes, fully present with my sweet self.

So often this practice that is intended to bring us deeper inside instead becomes one more thing that pulls us off our center. Celebrity teachers with cult followings, $98 yoga pants, lack of diversity (cultural, body type, socioeconomic background just to name a few)--these do not in any way reflect the aforementioned sweetness, and I'll be the first to admit I got caught up in the hype. I forgot what it felt like to be perfectly content with me as me, and started looking outside of myself for answers. That's where the breakdown happened.

What practices in your life bring you closer to you? Performing? Working your garden? Being with your dog or cat? Writing? Being in nature? Meditation? Travel? Art? Little by little, these practices help us carve new paths down old roads until the edges start to smooth. Guard these moments vigilantly. Create space and put it in your calendar. Be unwavering in this commitment to yourself because really, what else is there? If we can bolster and strengthen those moments where we connect to source, when shit hits the fan we know what to do. It's not like it doesn't suck, or terrible things don't happen; no amount of wishful thinking will keep the bad at bay. But what a gift to experience the lows while staying connected to the truth: that we are already whole and complete. For me it's palm to palm; what are your practices?

FERMENTATION STATION!!!!

First batch ever!

A few people have asked for my sauerkraut recipe, so here you go.

Fermented foods are one of the best ways to boost immunity. The live cultures help to balance the healthy and not-so-healthy bacteria in your gut, which is a good thing, because it leaves your system less hospitable to bugs. Remember, one of the best gages of optimal health is a healthy gut; incorporating fermented foods into your diet on the regular is a great way to heal and support your entire system. Pill form is one option; if you have time, creating your own ferments at home is easy and fun and you can have your very own fermentation station bubbling away right in your own kitchen. It's a simple way to really feel good about yourself as it's really easy and the results are amazing! Plus, the flavor adds a pop to everything, whether eaten right out of the jar or sprinkled over your salad or sandwich.

In the words of Sandor Ellix Katz, High Priest of all things fermented,

"By eating a variety of live fermented foods, you promote diversity among microbial cultures in your body....Biodiversity is just as important at the micro level. Call it micro-biodiversity. Your body is an ecosystem that can function most effectively when polulated by diverse species of microorganisms. Sure, you can buy 'probiotic' nutritional supplements containing specific selected bacteria that promote healthy digestion. But by fermenting foods and drinks with wild microorganisms present in your home environment, you become more interconnected with the life forces of the world around you. Your environment becomes you, as you invite the microbial populations you share the earth with to enter your diet and your intestinal ecology."

Now if that isn't case enough, I don't know what is...

On to the recipe!!!

Simple Raw Sauerkraut 

What you'll need to start:

• A big bowl
• Quart size mason jars

Ingredients

• One head of cabbage (any color you like)
• Sea Salt (a few tablespoons)
• Water
• I'm not kidding it's that simple*

Instructions:

1. Peel off the outermost leaves of cabbage, and set aside.
2. Cut the head of cabbage into thin strips. Place a third of the lettuce into a large mixing bowl. Add a thin layer of salt. Roll up your sleeves.
3. Begin massaging the cabbage until it begins to soften and water starts to release. After the water is squeezed out, add the second third of cabbage, a thin layer of salt, and get squeezing. Complete with the last third of cabbage and salt. At this point, there will be a small pool of water accumulating at the bottom of the bowl.
4. Grab your mason jars. Usually I need two for one head of cabbage. Put half the cabbage in each jar. Compress the cabbage until it is tightly packed. I usually use a tall shot glass to push it down. You want the water to squeeze out so much so that the cabbage is completely submerged in water. 
5. Take the whole cabbage leaves you had set aside. Place them in the jar so that they completely cover the sauerkraut. At this point you may need to add a bit more filtered water so that the water line is above the cabbage.
6. To keep your sauerkraut compressed, you'll need to place a weight on top of the cabbage. I usually use a shot glass, but find something in your kitchen that fits inside the mason jar. 
7. Place your jars in a dark-ish place, and cover with a cheesecloth or cloth napkin. They need to sit for at least two weeks, and you should check them every day or so to make sure mold doesn't appear. If you do spot mold growth, simply scoop it out ASAP and make sure there is enough water in your jars. It's not a big deal as long as you catch it right away. 
8. After two weeks, your sauerkraut is ready! Close off the jars and keep refrigerated, where it will last for a few months. 

*This is the simplest iteration. You can get super creative as the process is incredibly forgiving. Ideas: shredded carrots, diced jalapeno or garlic, thinly sliced apples, two different colored cabbages...go nuts!