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! 

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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!

How do you know if you're healthy?

All right, check it.

Being healthy has nothing to do with having rock hard abs or a tight butt.

I mean, exercising/moving your body is of course an integral part of overall wellbeing. But being buff does not automatically equal health.

Running on the treadmill for hours while restricting caloric intake to cram one's body into an image of fitness is not healthy. 

So before you self-flagellate for enjoying dessert last night instead of making it to Zumba class, check out a few measures of optimal health.

SKIN: Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Processing toxins, operating from a state of inflammation, or hormonal imbalances are often at the root of acne and other skincare troubles (exzema, rosacea, etc). It doesn't matter how much junk you put on your face, if things are out of whack inside, your chronic skin condition probably isn't going anywhere. 

Is your skin clear of blemishes? Bright, and luminous? Ladies, can you make it through a menstrual cycle without breaking out? If your answer is "No" to one or more of these questions, there is something out of balance.

SLEEP: How is your quality of sleep? Do you fall asleep easily, sleep through the night, and wake up feeling refreshed? Physical repair happens between the hours of 10PM and 2AM, mental repair happens between 2AM and 6 AM...how often are these processes interrupted? Good sleep also helps offset stress--if you are regularly lying awake in bed, unable to sleep because of the stressors in your life, this is a big sign that something in your life is out of balance.  Sleep is an incredibly vital way to combat these stressors, give you some perspective ("everything seems better in the morning"), and regulate cortisol levels. So yeah, that means getting your ass to bed no later than 10:30 and waking up around 6. Give it a shot for a week and see what shifts.

DIGESTION (I was going to use another "S" word, but I'm not sure if we're quite there yet): This is quite an intricate topic, one that I will probably devote an entire series to, so let's keep it simple for the purpose of this post: When was the last time you were on antibiotics? Do you go one day (or even days) without eliminating? Do you have chronic constipation or diarrhea? Remember, you are what you don't poop!

Healthy digestion and gut function is also the number one way to boost immunity. Forego the flu-shot and eat whole foods (nothing that comes out of a box or package) and see for yourself if you get sick less.

Just eat real food!

Recipe: Italian Stuffed Peppers

These stuffed peppers rock my world. This is one of my preferred recipes from my hands-down favorite cookbook, Practical Paleo-it's easy, delicious, and every time I make it, I appreciate the gorgeous presentation. It's also good to bring to parties as it's pretty, easy to transport, and you only have to throw it in the oven for about 20 min to heat it back up once you're there. I also bring leftovers to work and eat them cold, no biggie, still just as yummy. My grandmother used to make them for my pops when he was growing up so it feels good to perpetuate a little family tradition, too.

Drool

*Italian Stuffed Peppers*

Ingredients:

*2 bell peppers, halved and cleaned

*1 tablespoon butter or coconut oil

*1 onion, diced. If you have a particularly large onion, use half

*Sea salt and black pepper to taste

*4 cloves garlic, chopped

*1/2 cup diced tomatoes, fresh or canned

*1 lb ground beef, bison, turkey, or chicken

*6 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

*Extra basil leaves for garnish

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 F
• Place bell pepper halves in a roasting dish face down for 10-15 minutes. If you want the peppers extra firm, skip this step.
• While bell peppers cook, heat the coconut oil or butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute the onions, adding sea salt and black pepper to taste, until onions are translucent and slightly browned on the edges. Add the tomoatoes and garlic to the onions, and simmer for about two minutes. I reduce the heat pretty significantly when I first add the garlic, or else it will burn. 
• Add the meat and cook until fully done. Taste, and add more sea salt/black pepper to your liking. Mix in the chopped basil. 
• Remove peppers from oven and flip them over. They should be slightly softened. Spoon the meat mixture into each one. At this point they're ready to go--if you want the flavors to mix a little more you can put them back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes. Garnish with basil, and serve!

Hope you try this and enjoy! It looks kinda fancy but truly, surprisingly simple and easy to throw together. I'd love to hear how it works out for you.

How Soft Drinks Impact Your Health

Learn about infographics software.

A tribute to a man

My uncle Elio died this morning from complications stemming from a long battle with diabetes. In recent months he lost his legs from the knee down. As much as I saw this coming, my heart aches today.

Uncle Elio was the youngest of seven brothers:

Eduardo
Jose Angel
Felo
Amaury
Oscar
Mario (my abuelo)
ELIO

Here is a photo I pulled from one of my cousin's FB pages of part of the family, back in the day. My great grandparents are front and center, my grandparents cut off in the back left:

Handsome looking bunch

I never knew the oldest two, who have also passed. I grew up around the youngest five, and didn't fully realize until I was much older how incredibly blessed I was to grow up part of such a warm, loving, rambunctious, fiery, well-fed, vibrant, hilarious, LOUD family. I think if you spent even one hour with this side of my family, you would think to yourself: "FULL OF LIFE!"

Elio was the youngest. He was sweet, kind, generous, and fun to be around. I remember wild parties at his house, one of the rare times the entire extended family would make the effort to get together. Every time I went to his house I would meet a handful of new cousins!

I wish him peace, and a safe passage.

The Future is Now: Introducing Farmigo

Drool

One of the more challenging aspects of a whole foods/organic lifestyle is the constant planning ahead. Am I right? This is pretty much the biggest gripe I hear from people making any sort of dietary/lifestyle change: "I tried the whole gluten-free thing but I was tired after work and it was easier to grab a slice of pizza than get to the market," "I stayed late at work and Bi-Rite closes at 9," "I live way too far away from Whole Foods to schlep all my food for the week across town on my scooter."

I get it. We are busy people in an urban environment, and between all the nitty gritty of everyday life, riding your bike to your local farmer's market in your work clothes with your gym bag and laptop in tow to peruse the produce might not be at the top of your to-do list. Even as I begin to make a living as a health coach - educating people about rest and nutrition and work-life balance - I still need to check in daily and remind myself to slow down, breathe, rest, and take time to actually enjoy the food I so mindfully procured. In my experience, and maybe you can relate, the food I eat is my biggest connection to nature, to the richness of the environment that surrounds me--even if I only see it during my once-per-month jaunt over the Golden Gate Bridge. There is something about slicing up a batch of recently harvested *insert favorite vegetable here*  that reconnects me to something bigger then all the running around, wakes up my senses, and nourishes my body. 

What if you could bridge the gap between convenience and sustainable healthy eating? Farmigo takes all the steps out of your weekly market trip and delivers local food directly from farmers to your community. This new online farmer's market "connect(s) communities of people (workplaces, community centers, schools and other locations), directly to multiple local farms, providing a personalized online marketplace for local, fresh-from-harvest food. Members in each food community shop at their dedicated Farmigo farmers market online (see example here), pick and choose their preferred items, and then have their orders delivered weekly to their food community site within 48 hours of harvest."

Kiva delivery in SF

What's not to like?

From veggies and fruits, to pasture raised beef and poultry, to coffee, yogurt, fresh herbs, bread, and more, Farmigo offers up mindful convenience. Similar to a CSA in maintaining the "farm-to-table experience," Farmigo is unique in that by bringing together larger communities, you are offered more choices, the farmers get paid more, and you can rest easy knowing that in no way are you participating in the industrial food complex. Hooray!

Not only does this service connect you to local farmers, but just think: you'll get the chance to interact with other members of your community outside of the typical workplace interactions. Farmigo unites all that we love about our food: the connection to local environments and people, fresh quality, and the joy of sharing that experience with others.

And that sounds like healthy living to me.

Questions about what the hell to eat?

Sage Advice

Don't believe everything your yoga teacher says. Believe what they actually do.

More to come on this topic I'm sure, as the deeper I get into the business side of the yoga world, the less and less I like what I see. If anyone has a positive experience managing a yoga studio, I'd LOVE to hear it...

For now, I advocate a healthy dose of open-minded skepticism! Not just with yoga, but everything.

Including food, and beliefs around food.

May we savor the food we eat this Thanksgiving such that we are truly nourished body and soul! May we love the one we're with and skip Black Friday...

I hope to write a bit more this weekend as I'll have some free time away from the city.

Much love, and a deep bow of gratitude to all the turkeys everywhere~
dani

Election results 2012

If it isn't obvious considering I am a yoga teacher/health nut/spiritualish person living in San Francisco, CA, I will share here that I was QUITE PLEASED with the results of the presidential election. Obama is still part of the machine; however I am a stand for civil rights for all humans and who wants to be on the wrong side of history when it comes to stuff like that!???

Moving on--Prop 37, which would have required the labeling of foods containing GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) did not pass, which was the BUMMER of the election. I've included a handy chart for you to get a good visual on where a lot of these so-called "natural" "healthy" foods actually stand when it comes to not only the health of their customers, but their stance on protecting the environment (e tu, Ben & Jerry's!?).

It's incredibly difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that people would actually vote against this measure; I'll take solace knowing that the campaign against GMO's isn't going anywhere. Moreover, we can still fight GMO's by choosing mindfully where we spend our money.

The following list comes from Paul Chek, outlining why it would best serve all of us (mother earth included) if we eliminate all processed foods from our diets, all of which contain GMO's. Enjoy~

CHEK Points on Processed Foods

• If you can’t pronounce a word on the label, don’t eat it! Chances are very good it is a chemical that your liver will have to work to detoxify.

• If it’s a non-food, don’t eat it! The more non- foods you eat, the more likely your body is to go bankrupt!

• The longer it lasts on the shelf, the worse it is for you! Unlike the natural foods that nature provides us with, many of the processed foods you eat today are so full of chemicals you can leave them sitting on the kitchen counter for days and the ants won’t even touch them! The bugs are smarter than we are!

• Never eat anything with “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated oils/fats” in it! These are cooked fats that have been altered in a way that make them very hard to digest, as well as being damaging to the body.

• Never eat any food product that has been “enriched”! The only reason food manufacturers “enrich” foods is because they have completely killed and stripped them in processing, leaving the foods so void of nutrition that they must add things back to them.

• Currently, almost ALL processed foods contain genetically modified organisms! Eating any genetically modified food is a risk that you may want to seriously consider if you value your health.

I've got something to say (my 'yogic' rant)

I changed the name of my blog.

The change comes after many months of reflection on my place in the greater scheme of my life; both as a yoga teacher and a burgeoning business owner. More than that though-the name change is a reflection of my renewed commitment to my own truth--not some idea of it handed to me by guru or a dietary philosophy or some future concept based on how I've experienced the past that has me completely missing, you guessed it, the present.

The catalyst for all this was the breakdown of the system of yoga I practiced, which occurred around the same time my favorite teacher moved away. I started to seriously unpack my beliefs around what a living a spiritual life actually meant for me, on my own terms, completely free of the shade I was so accustomed to living in under the previous umbrella of "yogic" v "non-yogic."

A new light started to shine.

Something else happened; during this time of breakdown in one realm of my life, I began my official health training with the Chek Institute, growing a new skill and learning that blew my mind. I began to heal myself with food. The immediacy of the results hooked me and it was incredibly empowering to look at myself in the mirror and no longer feel ashamed of my skin; to re balance my hormones without the use of birth control or antibiotics; and to heal my digestion naturally without pills or a crazy cleanse. I began to listen inward, trusting the messages from my body: checking in more easily in times of stress or overwhelm; following my intuition with the food I was consuming; working out and playing hard when called to, while equally honoring the times my body needed rest and quiet. In short, I started to experience the life I had been longing for, that I thought I would find with my yoga practice, but in reality, had been consistently falling short.

It was also the first time I was in the presence of and learning from healthy people with genuine, authentic, dedicated spiritual practices--without one mention of morality. In the yoga world, I was so accustomed to these conversations about whether or not something was or wasn't "yogic." A few examples off the top of my head: eating meat,  drinking alcohol/smoking cigarettes/pot etc; eating organic; one style of yoga v. another; driving a car; flying on a plane, and so on, and so on, and so on. I was attracted to these new people because there was a whole lot less talk, and a lot more action. I saw people living into their own personal truth without any mention of right and wrong, good or bad, should or shouldn't.

It dawned on me: I was sick and tired of yoga. Just the thought of it tilted my eyes back to the top of my skull and had me running for the nearest shot of tequila.

Not MY yoga-the practice that gave me back myself; that made me feel stronger in my body and mind then I ever thought possible; that reconnected me to people and gave me some of the best friends in the world--no, no, that wasn't it. Rather, I found myself alienated from a culture whose breakdown revealed a foundation built on a faux-spirituality and spiritual bypassing that tuned me out out faster than you could say "om."

I don't care if you down a steak after every yoga class or subsist solely on organic raw sprouted almonds harvested lovingly from a biodynamic farm; what interests me is actual reality, not some idea. Do you keep your word, not only to yourself, but to others? Are you able to speak authentically from your own truth, rather than parroting something you've heard a million times or saying what you think people want to hear? Do you stand by your beliefs regardless of ever shifting popular opinion while staying open to a new perspective? Are you living a life that leads you every more closer to your heart and heart's purpose, or are you simply filling it up with as many distractions and to-do's as possible?

I'm officially coming out as a carnivore. No more hiding-this is the real yoga. Expect a lot more tyrannosaurusasana from here on out. I hope to see you on the mat, I promise not to talk your ear off.

Navigating a new normal

It's been an interesting couple of weeks over here in Sage land. I am managing two businesses, teaching 2 classes/week, plus going to school. My partner just moved in, I play on a softball league, and am coaching a leadership training through Landmark education. Hence the title of this post.

I am a little nervous about writing this post. But I recently got clear about the work I want to be doing, so I'm going to share anyway.

My stress level in the past three weeks has skyrocketed significantly. After returning from my year sabbatical in Thailand, I devoted myself to creating a fulfilling schedule that left plenty of time for nothing; I knew that my experience of happiness hinged on the possibility of plenty of idle-time---to nap or write, take yoga class, be with friends, cook, clean; the possibility of simplicity and slowness. I'd experienced life from the confines of a cubicle and I did not like what I saw; more than that, I did not like who I was in that box. I was angry, borderline depressed, drank a lot, and my self-esteem non-existant. The thread of yoga alive in my life at this time often was the only place where I actually liked myself, where I felt strong.  After re-learning how to like myself, I vowed that this balance was a million times more valuable than making tons of money. It took some time, but I found that balance and although money was at times tight, I felt healthy and happy for the first time in years, fell in love with a great man, and started teaching yoga.

Fast forward four years, and I'm noticing many old tendencies arising that I thought I had laid aside. Cattiness. Anger. Impatience. I've started drinking more. The glass is decidedly half empty.

I am bringing all of this up for a reason. As the Every Day Sage seed continues to germinate, grow, expand, I want to be as honest as possible. As a health coach I often feel like everything I'm putting out into the world has this glossy veneer of positivity--as if living a healthful, vibrant, happy, meaningful, fulfilling life is so easy. As if finding balance is the most natural thing in the world, and there is something wrong with you if happiness isn't your experience.

So, how DO we navigate the dark moments? Where what worked last week simply stops working? When old habits/patterns/addictions rear their ugly heads, seemingly out of the blue? In those moments of overwhelm, how might we simply sit with the sensation, instead of longing for distraction? When we feel small, how might we channel it into something creative instead of being cruel to our partners/friends/family members? How can we use the tools we've learned on our own selves? How do we quiet the inner critic, that at times relentless devil? How might we learn to honor equally both the peaks and valleys of our lives?

This is the current inquiry.

While exercise, eating whole foods, healthy relationships, and a spiritual practice are all what I wish to support people in, I also want to honor people where they're at. What if we could look at the bad, accept it for what it is, and then move mindfully from a space of acceptance, instead of should-ing all over ourselves or making our experience wrong, or (my personal favorite), constantly comparing ourselves to others we perceive as farther along the path? This is what I'm committed to: radical health and wellness for everybody--even you. Even me.

Come as you are, and fall in love with yourself.

Happy Friday

What are you up to this weekend?

Whether it's landing on Mars for the first time or accessing a previously impossible yoga pose, anything is possible once we commit ourselves.

 ...until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never have otherwise ocurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.

~Goethe

I'm navigating a new normal; two jobs, teaching, a relationship, starting a business, school, the Self Expression and Leadership Program, and of course, taking care of my own self. Walking my talk is challenging at times-but when I get really present to my commitments, suddenly I'm able to expand myself enough to encompass everything (AND get enough sleep AND practice yoga AND lay in the park two days in a row with dear friends).

I felt a little physically run-down this week, and let me tell you, it felt so good to give myself permission yesterday to simply rest rather than attend the sweaty Vinyasa class I've been going to on Thursday afternoons. Being committed to health means knowing when to rest just as much as knowing when to charge ahead! 

How do YOU stay connected to your commitments? When you feel overwhelmed, what do you know to do to restore balance?

Have fun out there~

xo
dani

How to create "Peace Points" in your every day

Something I'm committed to in my practice is off-setting the urban overwhelm with simple practices you can incorporate into your every-day. 

In this foot-always-on-the-gas-pedal culture of ours, idleness, relaxation, and let's face it, peace, are oftentimes elusive during our busy weeks. How many of us have crammed through the Monday-Friday race, and then at 6 PM on Friday night, ask ourselves, what just happened? Where was I? How has another week flown by already?

Peace Points (a term I first heard coined by the brilliant Paul Chek) are little actions you can take within your days that draw you back to your center, out of your head, and back to the "why" of your life. We all have greater intentions, purposes, and ambitions in our lives that often get lost in the busyness of it all; the following practices seem simple, but act as powerful ways to re-connect you with yourself. What's more, these pauses in your day, however brief, will actually serve to make you more productive, as you will be working with greater aim and purpose, not to mention clarity and focus.

Examples:

• Go outside on your lunch break, find a bit of grass, take off your shoes, and simply feel your feet on the earth. Take it a step further: lay down outside, and stare up at the clouds. Ten minutes of this and I guarantee a perspective shift.
• Scheduling in your exercise.You get busy and what's the first thing off your calendar? Usually self-care. Schedule your run/yoga class/dance class/gym session on your calendar, and honor it like you would the strictest of deadlines.
• Set an hourly alarm on your work computer. Every time it buzzes, stand up and stretch, or take 5-10 full, soulful, deep breaths.
• Wake up 20-30 minutes earlier in the morning and allot yourself some personal time. This can look like meditation; a nice, nourishing breakfast; a walk/run with your dog; catch up on reading.

I will continue to add to this list as I continue to implement them into my own life, but in the interim, how do YOU re-connect with yourself when you start to spin a little too fast?

Introducing Every Day Sage

Greetings~


I am thrilled to announce I am beginning a new business, Every Day Sage, where I will combine wellness, nutrition and yoga. I will be working with people on how to reach their health goals, including stress reduction, increasing energy, losing weight, and improving their confidence. I’ll accomplish this by supporting them with their food and lifestyle choices. I am specifically interested in bridging the gap between mindful lifestyle choices and the challenges of city living.

As you know, I have always had an interest in health and wellness and delight in sharing this knowledge with my friends, colleagues, family, the cashier at the store, taxi drivers, bartenders, and the many people I run into on a daily basis. I decided to increase this knowledge and learn, in a formal training program, how to live a better life through eating well and taking care of myself. I am currently enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. I am not only learning to improve my life, I am also receiving very detailed and careful instruction on how to coach others around food and lifestyle choices. It’s an exciting time!

I can't wait to share more with you about my new career path, and all of the benefits of this work. I’ll be inviting people to health consultations in the near future, to have the opportunity to support them to create happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. I’ll be in touch periodically to let you know how my training is progressing. I appreciate being able to share this with you. Please feel free to visit my Facebook page at facebook.com/everydaysage to get a preview of what I am up to!

I hope you are well and I wish you a great day! I look forward to talking with you soon. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions~


Big love,
Dani