An Apple a Day is Wasted per Day
30 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, the boys and I were walking to the park when we noticed a tremendous amount of beautiful little red fallen apples on the sidewalk. Then we pin-pointed the source – two apple trees laden with apples just yelling at us to be eaten, hanging over the fence. The low-hanging fruit were not so low-hanging, so we picked up a couple that landed on the side walk and took bites into our respective apples. Wow! The taste, juiciness, color…perfect! Nothing that resembled what you would see at the store, of course. Rather, they were small and some a little odd-shaped, some were appetizers for birds and they lacked the waxy coat. But they were the best tasting apples we had eaten all summer and fall, if not ever.
We rang the apple tree owner’s door to see if they were willing to share the fruit (seemily they had more than enough to share). The neighbors were very warm and welcoming when I asked if we could pick their apples. They neighbors were not the problem. It was the amount of totally and utterly wasted apples that were laying on the ground rotting away from three perfectly fabulous trees, supplying a healthy, convenient and even pretty food source. There were hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of small apples wasting away. I was saddened that no one took advantage of such a lovely God-given fruit. I asked the owners if they did not eat the apples and it was almost a response in unison that they were not fans of the fruit. Fine, who am I to tell you that you need to enjoy them the way the boys and I do. But to just let all this food go to waste?
Well, I am not here to judge, but it was hard not to be so disappointed that they would not at least take the time to pick them and set them out at the end of their driveway with a “free” sign. Come on, I know in our country, things are readily available and so very easily disposable. But is this a reason to not take a little time to share the fruit and avoid such waste? Man, what I would do for just one of those apple trees in our yards.
Our four and two year old boys, each had one while I was picking the apples, then each another while walking back to the car and then asked for yet a third round after getting buckled in their car seats. I thought that eating three was a bit much just before dinner, so I suggested them as dessert after dinner. After dinner was over, you would have thought the boys were eating a molten chocolate cake!
We enjoyed our 20 pounds of red, crispy, yummy apples (which we ended up having to share with friends). I was inspired to be mindful of my own waste and not just observe others. May you also be inspired to find ways to find happiness and peace in your day, reduce waste, and enjoy fresh-picked fruit.
~Sasha
Pratyahara – the Fifth of the Eight Limbs of Yoga
16 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
Pratyahara is the fifth limb of Pantajali’s Ashtanga Yoga and defined as withdrawal of the senses. It is thought to be the bridge between the external (bahiranga) aspects of yoga namely yama, niyama, asana, pranayama (the first four limbs already discussed in this blog) and the internal (antaranga) aspect of yoga namely dharana, dhyana and samadhi. When the yoga practitioner is at the stage of pratyahara, his or her consciousness is internalized such that the sensations from taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell do not reach their respective centers in the brain (withdrawal) and the practitioner is taken to the next stages (or limbs) of yoga.
So how do you achieve the fifth limb of yoga in our continuously distracted digital world of ours? I wish I could give you the answer from my personal files, but I have yet to achieve total withdrawal of senses, Pratyahara. As long as we are incessantly distracted by our sensory input and sense desires, we will continue to be slaves to our senses. When sense input can be controlled and we try to practice this withdrawal, even for just one minute, meditation can begin, bringing us closer to the subsequent limb of yoga (Dharana – focus, concentration).
Give it a try, just for one minute today, then five tomorrow and so on – turn off your TV, internet, cell phone, resist responding to your i-phone when it “pings”, ignore Facebook. Maybe you can try it for one whole day. You would think it may have been easier for yogis in pre-electronic times to achieve Pratyahara. However, try the task above and you will see that sense desires and distractions always existed and the power of the senses over the mind was just as challenging then as it is now. So does this mean I need to log off now and practice my sensory withdrawal of the day? I suppose so… 
May you find quietness, peace and a pause from sensory overload today and give Pratyahara a try, even if it is just for a minute.
~Sasha
Pranayama – the Fourth of the Eight Limbs of Yoga
29 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga and is the technique used to measure, control and direct the breath of the yoga practitioner. It is the breathing exercise that promotes proper breathing and aims to restore and maintain health, controls the energy within us and provides more oxygen supply to the body.
In Sanskrit, the word prana means “life force” or “life energy” and ayama means “suspend” or “restrain”. It is often translated as control of the life force. Breath control is a practice of cleansing the mind and body. In order for Pranayama to be practiced appropriately, it should be practiced with proper preparation and guidance from the yoga teacher.
The following summarizes the benefits of Pranayama:
- Reduces toxins and removes wastes from our body.
- Improves metabolism
- Develops and improves concentration and focus.
- It banishes stress and relaxes the body allowing peace of mind
- Allows clear functioning of the mind, helping to avoid arguments and wrong decisions.
- Leads to spiritual journey through a relaxed body and mind.
See the following link for more information on pranayama http://yoga.iloveindia.com/limbs-of-yoga/pranayama.html
On a personal note, I used pranayama to help me go through child birth calmly and control the pain for both our kids. I could not have delivered without it and truly game me a positive and peaceful birthing experience.
Take a deep and slow breath in…….and now exhale all the air from your lungs. Do it one more time – this time with your eyes closed. Take a nice long breath in…..now, a nice long exhale. May you find peace, breath and happiness in your day today!
~Sasha
Asanas and an Ode to Great Summer
22 Sep 2010 3 Comments
Asanas – the Third of the Eight Limbs of Yoga
Asanas are the postures practiced in yoga. It is the most commonly known aspect of yoga for the modern “yoga” world or for those unfamiliar with the other seven limbs of Pantajali’s Yoga Sutra. Asana literally means pose or posture in Sanskrit. This is why you will typically see the word “asana” at the end of most yoga poses (i.e. savasana means “corpse pose”).
The following yoga asana photos were done by my great friend, Todd Good. Check out his work at
http://ec-designstudiosblog.com/
The asana practice has a wide range of benefits; physical, mental and spiritual. Of these benefits, the most underlying is the physical benefits improved health, balance, flexibility, and strength. On a deeper level, the practice of asana can be used as a tool to quite the mind and move into the inner essence of being. The challenge of an asana practice can offer the opportunity to explore and control aspects of the practitioners focus, intention, emotion, faith and the connection between the physical and spiritual self. The asana practice can be a way to explore our mental attitude and find balance between our material world and our spiritual experience.
For a bit more on the third limb, asana, check out Yoga Journal’s link http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/158?page=2
An Ode to a Great Summer
The following are just highlights are the wonderful summer we had this year:
- Great times with college girlfriends at Melbourne Beach in Florida (our hubbies – Mike, Steve, and Bill- enjoying the surf)
- Boys (Oliver 18 mo and Aidan 4) doing down dog in the sand
- Watched my hubby, Mike, complete and do amazingly in his very first Iron Man race in June. The whole family drove out to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to see him complete in an awesome 10 hours and 21 minutes! A very inspirational event to watch.
- Sunny days here and there all over Denver and the burbs. Aidan at the park and the boys with the Kaplan kids on our “Wildflower Hike” on Turkey Creek trails somewhere in Evergreen
- Mountain biking with friends. Here I am with Chelle at Deer Creek trail – one of my fav trails to ride.
- Grilling and eating dinner outside! This night we had grilled pepper stuffed with cheese, roasted sweet potatoes with tarragon and beet salad.
- Camping in the Rockies
- Oyster Urban Adventure race in Denver with good friends, Jeff and Adrian. Lots of fun but was six hours too long! We did not do as well as we thought we would! http://www.oysterracingseries.com/
- Lake-side picnics at Evergreen Lake http://www.evergreenrecreation.com/facilities.php?id=10
As much as I dislike saying good-bye to summer, fall shall bring new adventures. I shall relish in all the moments so that they bring joy and not sadness to say farewell.
May you find peace and happiness in your day today!
~Sasha
Niyamas and a Naughty Bear
08 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
Niyama – how can you better yourself?
Niyama is the second limb or constituent of Yoga, which means laws or rules. It contains the five internal practices of Niyama (observance). Niyama can be described as the rules that need to be observed by individuals, at the personal level and are `more intimate and personal, as compared to the yamas. They refer to the attitude that we adopt toward ourselves, as we create a code for living meaningfully. The practice of Niyama helps us maintain a positive environment and gives us the self-discipline and inner-strength necessary to progress along the path of yoga. (http://yoga.iloveindia.com/limbs-of-yoga/niyama.html). The five directives of niyamas, according to yoga.iloveindia.com, are:
- 1. Sauca – cleanliness
This is the first Niyama or rule of yoga and stands for cleanliness. However, in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, Sauca has a deeper meaning, with both inner and outer aspects of a person included in it. Outer cleanliness refers to personal hygiene, while inner cleanliness indicates maintenance of a healthy body and mind, with positive thinking. Cleanliness of mind is achieved by the removal of mental impurities, such as jealousy, pride, anger and so on. On the other hand, the purity of body is attained not only by cleaning one’s body parts, but also by consuming nutritious foods and following a vegetarian diet.
- 2. Santosa – contentment
This is the second rule of Niyama and stands for contentment. It also means accepting the truth ‘as it is’. Yoga sutra teaches us that instead of grieving or complaining about the things that have gone wrong, we should accept the truth and learn from it. It aims at helping a person attain a state of calm and happiness, irrespective of what is going on in the outer world.
- 3. Tapas – generating heat
‘Tapas’ means the strength of being unaffected by opposites, such as heat and cold, hunger and thirst, sitting and standing, etc. It also refers to the activity of keeping the body fit, or to confront and handle the inner urges without outer show. Tapas also signify cleansing the inner debris existing in the body, through asanas and pranayama. ‘Tapas’ deals with correct eating habits and breathing patterns. The main purpose of this rule is to make our mind pure and clean.
- 4. Svadhyaya – self realization
The fourth Niyama in yoga is Svadhyaya, which means becoming close to oneself, through meditation and self-exploration. The name itself explains the meaning – ‘Sva’ meaning self and adhyaya meaning ‘inquiry’ or ‘examination’. It refers to knowing more and more about oneself, intentionally. This rule teaches us to give up destructive tendencies. It teaches us to be centered and non-reactive to the dualities, to burn out the unwanted and self-destructive tendencies.
- Isvarapranidhana – surrender to God
Isvarapranidhana, the fifth rule of yoga, is also known as ‘Celebration of the Spiritual’. The simple meaning of Isvarapranidhana is to lay all your actions at the feet of God. Yoga Sutra teaches us to accept the fact that we will not always get what we wish for, in life. We should only be concerned with putting all our efforts in a specific task. As to the end result, it should be left to God. This rule also instructs us to spend some time, each day, in recognition and realization of the omnipresent force (God), which is larger than us and is guiding and directing the path of our life at all times.
One Naughty Bear at Winter Park
Sadly, we only managed to do one camping trip so far in 2010. However, rather than dwell on the negative, I can practice Santosa and be happy that we got to go camping at all! Having said that, I am happy to tell you about our fun camping weekend in Winter Park where we discovered a new favorite camping spot. Even though we know Winter Park like we know our neighborhood – from the ski trips to the mountain bike trips to the Christmas tree cutting trips and the simple good old camping trips – we were pleasantly surprised to find such a winner only 2 miles outside of town.
We headed up to WP with Rob, Jess, Fleet, Jen, Baby Dean-o-Bean-o and our combined five dogs. Headed up Vazquez Road and found a beauty of a spot right along the bend of the creek. There were a perfect amount of trees for hammocks and a nice fire ring along the edge of the creek.
Early on Sunday morning – around 6:30-ish, I heard “Jen” rummaging through our cooler thinking that she and Fleet were heading out early and she was looking for some of their food. Ingo (our pooch) was whining a bunch but I thought he was just excited to see Jen or to go have a pee. About half hour later when I came out of the tent, I saw the cooler and our food container opened and turned over. All the left over chocolate, marshmallows, English muffins were missing, a bag of pretzels ripped open and an empty yogurt container was on the ground. I just made the assumption it was a raccoon and made a side note to the crew about the wild animal invasion and late realized it was not “Jen“ going through our cooler.
It was not until I was returning from a nice morning jog with Ingo that I saw Rob and Jess’s large storage plastic container strewn about 75 feet from our camp spot on the side of the road that I thought it may be something bigger than a raccoon. When Jess went to retrieve their container with all of their food that was when we saw the large claw marks inside of the peanut butter jar and it occurred to us that it was a bear. No way! How unsafe of us to not take the “put away your food in your car before bed” rule seriously. Now we know better. Thank God I did not let Ingo out the tent when he was whining like we normally do. Who knows how that would have ended!
As we were all packed up ready to roll out of the tent, who decided to show up but Mr. Yogi himself. He was big! I could not believe that he was not making more noise at the cooler just outside of our tents. Mike revved the jeep engine and honked the horn to send him on his way as he was only about 30 feet from the jeep – too close in my opinion. I tried to get a video of him but the video looked like I was shooting from a roller coaster and I got nothing but me saying “do you see him – he is huge!”. It was a nice end to see a beautiful piece of nature. However, we have learned to take this seriously and next time to put our food away.
Since I was not able to capture on film all the nature we saw (including the black bear), I can share a pic of some cool mushrooms that we found throughout the area.
Until next time, find peace and happiness in your day.
Sasha
Yama and Yelling for Dada
30 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
Yama, the first of eight limbs of Yoga
The Yamas represent a series of “right living” or ethical rules within Hinduism and Yoga. They are a form of moral imperatives, rules or goals in which to live your life.
http://brookshall.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
According to the Yoga Sutras by Pantanjali (and summarized in yoga.com) the yamas are composed of five components including:
- Ahimsa, or non-violence is the awareness and practice of non-violence in thought, speech and action. It advocates the practices of compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, and worthiness.
2. Satya, or absence of falsehood. To be in harmony with mind, word and action, to conduct speech and mind according to truth, to express through speech and to retain it in the intellect what has been seen, understood or heard A truthful person is one who expresses in his speech exactly what he thinks in his mind and in the end acts according to it.
3. Asteya, or non-stealing upholds forgoing the unauthorized possession of thought, speech, and action. Asteya stands against covetousness and envy and advocates the cultivation of a sense of completeness and self-sufficiency in order to progress beyond base cravings.
4. Brahmacharya, or appropriate use of vital essence. In yoga, this term tends to take on a connotation of disciplining the use of and preserving sexual energy. Brahmacharya can be understood as being applicable as appropriate in different contexts (e.g. faith in marriage, celibacy for spiritual aspirants, etc.) and in more extreme cases, complete celibacy.
5. Aparigraha, or non-possessiveness or accumulation of unnecessary worldly objects, caused by covetousness and attachment. Aparigraha is attained when one remains totally detached from sensual pleasures of all kinds.
Most of these Yamas seem reasonable to attain on a higher level (i.e. don’t kill your neighbor), but how far are you willing to live by following the Yamas? Aparigraha, for example, how does this manifest in our modern ever consuming, ever “needing” world? How do we escape and resist this trap?! How deep can you go on each of these components of the Yamas? Sure, I am guilty and I struggle to live in accordance to the Yamas, but my intension is there and I am a student and I am willing.
Yelling for Dada
Mike (hubby) did his first Criterium (“Crit”) race right in our neighborhood. It’s a bike race held on a short course with the distance determined by a number of laps or a time. I have to say, it was super exciting to watch! Each lap was about two minutes long and the whole race lasted only 45 minutes. It was impressive to see the variance in positions of the riders – one lap, a rider could be in first place and then two laps later he is dead last. Due to the speed of the race and unpredictable spurts of acceleration, wrecks are an ever-present danger. The boys loved watching their Dada on each lap and were having a good time cheering him on. Mike did very well, especially for his first Crit, finishing 12th out of about 45 racers. I am guessing their superhero capes gave him good vibes.
Until next time, find peace and happiness in your day.
Sasha
Eight Limbs and Rubber on the Rocks
23 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
Yoga’s Eight Limbs
So what are the Eight Limbs of Yoga you ask? If this is a new term for you, it is quite interesting and will take your daily/weekly yoga practice to a much deeper level once you grasp that yoga is much more than just striking a cool balancing pose or makes you break a sweat. Here is a concise explanation and one that you will hopefully find interesting…
Let me start with Pantanjali. Pantanjali is often thought of as the “father of yoga”, the man who compiled 196 sutras, or concise aphorisms, into what is known as the Yoga Sutras. The estimated time frame for compilation of works is wide, most commonly though it is stated that they were written in the second century BC.
Within the Sutras, Patanjali prescribes the adherence to the eight “limbs” or steps which basically act as guidelines on how to live a meaningful and purposeful life. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct and self-discipline. Additionally, they direct focus towards one’s health and help us to acknowledge the spiritual aspects of our nature.
For more on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, check out what Wikipedia has to say http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali
The Eight Limbs include; Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. I will break down the Eight Limbs and discuss one limb per each blog post for further information about the Eight Limbs.
Rubber on the Rocks
And now on to the “other” stuff that makes my life balanced… One of these things being biking on the rocks!
My friend, Sarah, and I finally got to go mountain biking together after knowing each other for so many years! That is what happens I suppose when we live across town from each other – which brings us to be about 40 minutes apart. Add the fact that we have four little boys ranging from 20 months to 4 years between the two of us and the fact that Sarah is an engineer -working mama. I wish we had not waited so long to ride together because we had so much fun! It is always so fun riding with someone who challenges you but also you feel is a good match, ability wise. And of course, a triple bonus when this is a friend! Here is a shot of Sarah on Bergen Peak (near Evergreen, Colorado).
The following weekend, Sarah and I managed to get together to do some more biking! Here I am taking on some rocks at Alderfer Three Sisters trail, again in Evergreen, CO.
That was a lovely Sunday which included Sarah and myself actually riding with our husbands! Her Mum, Mary, watched all four kids for us – what a grandma. After the ride, we had a couple mimosa and delicious vegetarian strata in the Ander-Seitz backyard –ahhh!
Until next time, have a peaceful and beautiful day,
Sasha
Organic Gnocchi and a Midnight Ride
11 Aug 2010 3 Comments
Denver hosts an annual Moonlight Classic – essentially, a super fun bike ride that goes around Downtown Denver, hitting some nice spots (i.e. starts at Capital building and meanders through well-known popular neighborhoods, Washington Park, Botanical Gardens, etc.) that starts just before midnight and ends a few hours later. We got overnight babysitters lined up and hooked with a bunch of friends to join the thousands of Denver-ites on such a fun ride. If you have not experienced it yet, it is a must! For the fun and rowdy, families, serious riders, casual riders, you name it. And for a good cause too! Check it out http://www.moonlight-classic.com/
Here is a shot of our team…
Before our midnight ride, Mike and I got suited up to ride to our dinner date at Root Down, a fantastic local restaurant featuring an interesting amalgamation of ingredients that you would not believe would be so delicious together. Not only was their menu wonderful, Root Down prides themself to focus on sustainability. In their efforts, they usw 100% wind powered energy, locally farmed, sustainable and organic foods wherever possible, 70% of Root Down was built and finished with reclaimed, reused and recycled materials, just to name a few. http://www.rootdowndenver.com/menus
Leaving one of our very dearest friends, Jeff and Adrian’s place, riding bikes to dinner – gotta love urban living!
What we ordered:
- MadrasCurried Corn & Tempura Asparagus salad, with organic avocado, micro basil, and harissa vingagrette,
- Steamed mussels in a Thai red curry broth, Israeli cous-cous served with grilled bread
- Sautéed organic carrot gnocchi with seasonal wild mushrooms, asparagus, and parmeggiano, and carrot coriander sauce (wow! Wow!), and
- The delicious veggie burger with red pepper jam, sprout salad and a side of organic sweet potato fries.
Our waiter, Chinadu, was really cool guy from Nigeria. We chatted up with him a bit, learning about how his name is like “Mike” in Nigeria and very common. Learned about his family and the food they eat and a bit about the culture. His shift ended with such a sweet gesture – he sent over two specialty drinks on the house for Mike and I – watermelon, gin, fennel, salt and pepper. It was actually quite tasty!
Me, reflecting about such a delightful meal and great eating spot.
The amazing organic gnocchi from Root Down. Yummmmm…
The next day, we all slept longer than I had ever slept in since college, probably! The morning welcomed us with a terrific urban view from Jeff and Adrian’s place.
After that night’s spectacle, I was in desperate need of some detoxing, sleep and yoga!
Wishing you a beautiful and peaceful day,
Sasha
July 31 – Your Daily Cup of Asana and Health Benefit!
31 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Good evening!
Late to post the last asana and health benefit of the month! Hope you will give me a break as it is Saturday and the day was packed! This morning, I went to a free yoga in the park practice at Civic Green in Highlands Ranch, taught by Nancy of http://namasteworksyoga.com/ What a great turn out – such a great thing to have in a neighborhood, especially the burbs. Ilana, my amazing niece, played with the boys at the park so that I could focus on my morning yoga practice.
Immediately after the park yoga session, we headed to Boulder where we spent the whole day with a bunch of old friends and their kiddos, had lunch, kids played in the fountains, then we enjoyed some decadent ice cream, tea and coffee and walked around Pearl Street on a gorgeous day.
We just came home after a very long day in the sun. Had a quick dinner, Dadda is giving the boys a bath so that I can blog. Next I will jump in the shower, followed by a movie with the hubby possibly with a nice glass of vino.
Well, the month of July is coming to a close. I hope you have learned some interesting information about asanas and their health benefits through my reading of Yoga, the Path to Holistic Health by BKS Iyengar. Now you have a yet another reason to start, continue or deepen your yoga practice! And now, ladies and gentlemen, the last “daily cup” asana for the month.
Asana of the day – Marichyasana (Torso and leg stretch)
Health Benefits of Marichyasana
- Increases energy levels
- Tones and massages the abdominal organs
- Improves the functioning of the liver, spleen, prancreas, kidneys, and intestines
- Reduces fat around the waistline (This will take care of the ice cream we had for dessert on Pearl St today)
- Alleviates backache
- Relieves lumbago
Check out the following link to ensure you are doing the pose correctly and gaining the post benefit. Keep in mind that I have shoulder issues and cannot do a full bind, Yoga Journal shows the pose with a full bind.
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/691
Find happiness, laughter, and peace in your day and this evening,
Sasha
July 30 – Your Daily Cup of Asana and Health Benefit!
30 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Namaste! Whoever you are out there following my blog, you know by now…
I am reading Yoga, the Path to Holistic Health by BKS Iyengar and thought I would share with you what he has to say about each asana (pose) and its corresponding health benefit. For the month of July, I will feature one asana per day and share its health benefit with you.
The down-side of posting a daily asana and its health benefit is now I realize how quickly our summer is flying by! Only one more day left for July :(
Asana of the day – Upavista Konasana (Seated Wide-angle Pose)
Health Benefits of Upavista Konasana
- Helps treat arthritis of the hips
- Relieves sciatic pain (sciatic pain is definitely not fun!)
- Helps prevent and relieve hernia
- Massages the organs of the reproductive system
- Stimulates the ovaries, regulates menstrual flow, and relieves menstrual pain and disorders
- Corrects a prolapsed uterus or bladder
Check out the following link to ensure you are doing the pose correctly and safely.
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/684
It’s sort of weird weather today in Denver…almost Seattle-like which is nice for a change. However, wait five minutes and the weather can be dramatically different. Maybe I will be off on a bike ride with the kids if the rain looks like it will hold off. Then tonight, after we walk the three dogs (our Ingo and the two Golden Retrievers that we are babysitting), we are getting a sitter for the kids and then we are off on a date – yeah!
Find happiness and laughter in your day,
Sasha
