moonlilyyoga: Combining Yoga and Pilates

moonlilyyoga: Combining Yoga and Pilates: Good Morning! As a yoga practitioner I do my practice each day, and it always varies! When I look at how I feel each day and what I need t...

Combining Yoga and Pilates

Good Morning! As a yoga practitioner I do my practice each day, and it always varies! When I look at how I feel each day and what I need to maintain my high vibration and joy for each moment each day, I need to adjust my practice. Which includes PILATES, I have found in my own practice the need to establish more strength in my Third Chakra(solar plexus-energy center)that adding Pilates has been amazing, it adds a whole other layer and allows me to balance my body in a way that I wasn't before. Although, much yoga these days across the United States is including more varied poses and more abdominal work, it is wonderful to just go to a Pilates class and experience the whole process. THEN go to the yoga mat and see the added transformation. Have fun, with what ever you do and vary what your body receives, you will feel more balanced, harmonious and strong!

see my schedule here: www.moonlilyyoga.com

Breathe deep....

During this holiday season, it is easy to let go of that consistent breathing. We have also been under an air quality advisory here in the Twin Cities. So those of us who having breathing issues, asthma, sinus, shortness of breath, or just plain hold shallow breathing, this is a great time, to focus on breath. In Pilates we are trained to do our breath as in through the nose and out through pursed lips. We also spend much of that inhale breathing into our ribs to expand them. My theme this past week! As we learn to breathe side to side as we inhale, expanding our ribs as we do so, we expand our ability to take in more air, deeper breaths and utilize those secondary breathing muscles. As a yoga enthusiast and teacher, I find myself using this breath consistently in my own practice, it is a great crossover for those who love mind/body work. Peace and Light, Everyone!

Healthy Eating: what is it for you?

I have been on a journey for many years, to feel better, have more energy and eat well. Thinking all the time that I was doing exactly that! It took my body talking to me rather loudly and several trips to my doctor to find out that really most of my issues were food related. I tell many of my clients and those who I discuss nutrition with that it is a constant process.

I was hung up on thinking I was "eating healthy" when really I wasn't. Eating too many foods with additives, fake sugar, too many carbs and going over board when I went out to dinner. For me, it really came down to "feeling better" and what was going to help, but start to listen to my physician, and start to really read labels and think about what I was fueling my body with. How did I feel after I ate a protein/nutrition bar that had several ingredients that did not agree with me? Not so great. Ayerveda, books, and lots of observing other yogi's has helped me! I love food, and recipes and cooking, finding that I needed to be low gluten and dairy free, has been an eye opener! A good friend as well, is gluten free so she keeps me honest and challenges me when we have dinner together. In reality I was not "giving anything up" I actually gained, more energy, lost weight, and felt better, all the things that I wanted in the first place. If you are resisting changing your diet or trying a new food, or cooking more healthy, cause you don't think it will "taste" quite as good, try again. It will! There are no cookie cutter diets, it really is about what makes you feel and perform the best! Hang in there, make a change! Take a risk and let go of your resistance.

Healthy Eating Lifestyle: Tips-Cravings

One of the biggest issues around healthy eating is how to manage those cravings we all have! I have never been into chocolate to the point of craving it, but I love fruit jams in cookies, pastries or cakes. If anything will tempt me that will! Kind of funny, but we all have something. Notice if your craving is texture, taste, sweet, sour, whatever it is, take note. Our food cravings have a lot to do with our brain chemistry: reward, confort, pleasure. All these things can make our cravings hard to ignore. What to do? First, if you feel deprived, be sure to make time to engage in your craving, in some way, pick a healthy alternative, if it is chocolate: pick an organic high cocoa content bar, --these are delicious and there are so many picks! If it is potato chips, instead of greasy salty ones, pick a healthier, veggie chip or organic chip that is much lower in fat and salt. Sit and enjoy whatever you choose, taking the time, to enjoy your food is so important in feeling satisfaction! Next time your craving comes up, dive in, more mindfully!

Healthing Lifestyle Eating: Superfoods Quinoa

Quinoa, One of my favorites! I love this grain, it not only has a ton of nutrition but it is tasty, and easily digestible. I find it fascinating that we are using ancient(2000-4000 years old and used by early cultures) grains, most of these ancient grains are a more complex food, high fiber, higher in protein, nutrients and gluten free. It is versatile, and good for breakfast; make it a couple days in advance and have fresh from the fridge or heat it up with fruit and soy milk just like oatmeal. Salads, side dishes, etc. so easy to make and use! Nutrition: Nutritional value per 1/2 cup: Dietary fiber 7 g, Fat 6 g, Protein 14 g Vitamin B6(38%).49 mg, Folate (B9)(46%)184 μg, Iron(35%)4.6 mg, Magnesium(55%)197 mg, Phosphorus(65%)457 mg, Potassium (12%)563 mg, Zinc(33%)3.1 mg. Keep in mind I just hit the highlights with some of the nutrients. Enjoy! Stay tuned to my website www.moonlilyyoga.com for recipes and information on healthy lifestyle!

Superfoods for Healthy Lifestyle Eating, Blueberries

#2 on my list of Healthy Lifestyle Superfood's, are Blueberries.

I love blueberries and eat them everyday. Nutrition content: they are high in antioxidants, vitamin A, C, K and Folate Choline. Minerals: Potassium manganese and magnesium, in addition they will give you fiber as well! Superfood's always make the list when they have a nutritive content, when we add them to foods, we get a boost. Blueberries do that, eat them on their own, on cereal, in baked goods, salads and great with fish! They are in season now, so look at your supermarket, co-op or health food store and you may find them on special. and try the following recipe for Banana Blueberry Flax Muffins! Enjoy! Blueberry Banana Flax muffins Heat Oven 375, prepare Muffin tin with papers and/or cooking spray 1 ¾ cups flour (I do a combination of quinoa and spelt) 1 ¾ cup flax meal ¼ cup organic sugar (if you want no sugar you can omit) ¾ cup sunflower seeds 1 t salt 1 t cinnamon ¾ t baking powder ¾ t baking soda Mix all of the above ingredients in a large bowl In separate bowl or electric mixer Combine: 4 medium bananas mashed, 3 beaten large eggs ¾ cup milk: (sub coconut milk, soy or almond) 4 T melted vegan butter 2 t vanilla extract Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until combined, fold in two cups of fresh or frozen blueberries. Divide the batter among the muffin cups (batter will come to the top of the cups) Bake until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. 25 to 30 minutes. Cool, if you spray the muffin papers, the paper will fall away naturally when you take it out of the tin. www.moonlilyyoga.com Peace and Light, Denise