Enjoy these recipes from the January 2016 Nourishing Self Retreat

• SWEET POTATO-LENTIL STEW
•    1/4 c safflower oil
•    1 medium onion, diced
•    2 small tomatoes, diced    
•    1 t minced ginger
•    1 1/2 t turmeric
•    1 t cumin
•    1 t ground coriander
•    1/2 t ground cinnamon
•    1/8 t cayenne
•    fine sea salt
•    2-3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4" cubes
•    7 cups vegetable broth
•    1 c lentils (red or brown)

Heat oil over medium heat in a large, deep pot. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes or until onions start to soften. Stir in the tomatoes and ginger and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne, and a small pinch of salt. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, then taste for seasonings; try to use only enough salt to heighten flavors.

Add the sweet potatoes, broth. Stir well, and bring to a boil over medium heat. When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add the lentils and simmer for another 20 minutes.   You can also puree a portion if you prefer.

Shakti Balls

• 1/3 cup blanched almonds
• 1/3 cup shelled walnuts
• 1/3 cup flower seeds
• 15 pitted dates, preferably Medjool
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• Few drops pure orange oil
• Coconut Oil

Shredded coconut and toasted sesame seeds for rolling

Put all ingredients in a food processor fitted with the S-blade and pulse the machine util the mixture forms a thick paste. Add coconut oil so that when you squeeze it in your hand it holds together and can form a ball.
With a spoon, form the mixture into bite-size balls, shaping them gently with your hands and putting them on a plate or tray.
Roll in toasted sesame seeds or shredded coconut.

Tahini and No Garlic Hummus

Tahini

• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 3 tablespoons or more extra virgin olive oil (see Note)

Instructions

1. Heat a clean, dry cast iron or heavy duty skillet over medium high heat and add the sesame seeds. Stir frequently until they begin to turn golden brown and then stir constantly. Be careful, sesame seeds burn very easily.
2. Once they're toasted, let them cool a few minutes then add them to a food processor.
3. Start by adding 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Process the mixture into a paste, scraping down the sides. Add more olive oil until you reach the desired consistency (*see Note)
4. Makes a little less than ¾ cup tahini paste, depending on how much olive oil you use.
5. Store the tahini paste in the refrigerator in an airtight jar. Will keep for several months.

Notes
* The texture may be slightly gritty, which isn't a problem, you won't notice it at all when you use it to make hummus for example. But if you want it a little smoother you can run it again through a high-powered food blender.

* Instead of olive oil you can also use sesame oil, but olive oil is traditional. (Use raw sesame oil, not toasted)

No Garlic Hummus

• 2 cups canned chick peas, drained, liquid saved
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbs. reserved chick pea liquid
• 1/4 cup homemade tahini
• juice of one lemon
• 2 tsp of coconut aminos (substitute 1 tsp. of salt if you don't have)
• 1 Tbs. of olive or sesame oil
• 1Tbs. ground cumin
• Pinch cayene pepper

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Taste and add ingredients to your liking.

Yoga and Self-Compassion

Patanjanli’s Yoga Sutras

The mind is like a brilliant gem.  Over a lifetime, it gets dusty, dirty and coated over by conditioned thoughts and experiences, which causes us to lose touch with our inner brilliance… Our true Self…The Light in the heart.

We develop thoughts and patterns of behavior that are self-defeating and destructive.  We erroneously think that we are bad, flawed, broken and the way to change is to deprive, shame, drive hard and insist on change…immediately.

When we take this self-critical approach to change, we are incorrectly understanding or interpreting our behavior (avidya) and falsely identifying with who think we are (asmita).  We mistake our behavior for who we are (i.e. bad/flawed/broken),  instead of seeing that we have a pattern or habit that is not serving our highest good.

Kristin Neff, Phd who studies self-compassion, found that people who are hard on themselves are less resilient after a set back and are more likely to develop anxiety and depression.

(Neff) “Self compassion has an active element of caring, of wanting the best for yourself, saying to yourself...’I want to…

                        …heal.

                        ---be happy.

                        …be healthy.’

…creating a supportive environment necessary for change.”

So what do we do when we have a habit that doesn’t serve our highest good (i.e., snapping at others, addictive behaviors, not standing up for ourselves)?   We accept that this is a part of us (our conditioned thoughts and life experiences), douse it with self-compassion and patiently, without judgment begin to observe our behavior and make conscious choices that are more in-line with our true Self.

Self Compassion Tips:

·      Be present and mindful to what is going on

·      Treat yourself like you would a friend

·      See your undesirable actions as behaviors/habits/symptoms vs. being a bad person.

·      Observe your inner critic.  Be curious and choose a compassionate response (“Does this feel good? Safe? What can I do to respond more kindly?)

·      Acknowledge all your feelings without judgment, pause, observe, then act compassionately.

Quotes for each pose:

(1)  “The next time you feel alone or afraid remember…how you speak to yourself changes everything”  ~Unknown

(2)“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day.  A string of such moments can change the course of your life. “ ~ Chistopher Germer

(3)“Don’t try to win over the haters, you are not the jackass whisperer.”  ~Brene Brown

(3)“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete” ~ Jack Kornfeild

(4)“When we give ourselves compassion, we are opening our hearts in a way that can transform our lives” ~Kristen Neff

(5) “Be careful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening” ~Lisa Hayes

(6/7)  “Only when we’re brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of light.” ~Brene Brown

New friends and users of Red Twig Yoga and Gardens sometimes ask when the studio space was built. Both the yogi and the gardener smile when the question is asked, happy to reminisce.

The studio has had a few lives. Once, it was one with a working farm spreading out on both sides of County Road W. It served as a granary. Oats, still grown in the area, stapled an operation that included cows and pigs. Imagine savasana in the present studio, seeing oats stacked to the windows.

Now, imagine the second life when Lucy and the gardener gutted the insides leaving only the ribs of oak and fir that form the walls and floor existing still behind the present interior facade. The open spaced served our life, family and friends in legend celebrations having now been memorialized. Such as we remember.

Entering the next life the space awaited an awakening. Creating a new space to incubate the awareness of yoga as path to renewal and healing is the new life of the granary. Certainly worthy of being the new storage space for the staple of a new life. In 2010 the inside and outside of the present studio space was reborn. sweat and some times, the blood, of both of us and those who love us remade the structure as it is now seen.

It is entirely possible that the old granary studio will see another life still. We are temporary when considered in relation to such a structure. Our intention is to honor the space as it now lives and trust in the it's inherent power as a place of resource and healing for people.

By Dan Przybylski, aka The Gardener

Many people ask me for the recipe for the Ginger tea I serve after the restorative retreat.  I'd love to be able to give you the exact measurements, but I do it to taste. Here is what I do:

Chop a handful of fresh organic ginger root (no need to peel) place in a pot and cover with about 12 cups of filtered water.  Bring to a rolling boil, cover and let sit for at least an hour.  The longer it sits, the more flavorful and hot it will be.  Add organic lemon juice, and local honey, to taste. Once the taste is right, I add a pinch of Cayenne Pepper if I want it to be hotter.  Be careful not to put too much Cayenne in, the longer the tea sits, the hotter it gets!

Enjoy!

I use to think Restorative Yoga was wimpy and only for people who were sick or couldn't do standing poses.  Boy was I wrong!  The more I have studied yoga, the more I have learned that Restorative Yoga and meditation is where deep, lasting transformation happens.

In Restorative Yoga, we use a variety of of props to support and stabilize your body.  Once settled in and supported, you begin to feel every part of your body release and relax.  Each pose targets specific areas of the body including muscles, ligaments, connective tissues, organs, and glands. As theses parts of the body relax, so does the mind and the nervous system.  Restorative Yoga combines yoga and mediation and emphasizes emotional strength, flexibility and balance.

From the outside, it doesn't look like there is much going on, but the internal practice is intense.  Once the body settles, it's not uncommon for the mind to ramp up. Through the support of the props and the guidance of the instructor, you learn how to tolerate the initial discomfort of racing thoughts and emotions and learn how to soften into them and release them from your body and mind.  Once this occurs, you experience deep relaxation and restoration, building the foundation for resilience.

I hope to have the opportunity to lead your through this blissful experience.

Hatha Yoga is a powerful tool for self-transformation. By linking breath and movement, you learn to still the fluctuations of the mind and be more present in the  moment.   Hatha is translated as "ha" meaning "sun" and "tha" meaning "moon."  This refers to the balance of masculine (active/sun/heat) aspects, and feminine (receptive/moon/cool) aspects within all of us. 


Hatha I:  Is a beginning class where you learn the basic poses (asana) and breathing techniques (pranayama).  In this class you will develop a balance of strength and flexibility in body, mind and spirit.  This class is open to all levels.
 
Hatha II: This class focuses on linking breath, movement, and sound.  Learn and practice the traditional techniques of: Pranayama (directing of Life Force), Kumbhaka (breath retention), Bandha (energetic locks), Mantra/Nada (chanting externally and internally), Bhavana (visualization/awareness of Life Force), and Dhyana (Meditation).  All levels welcome, but it is helpful to have at least a 6 month practice.

Hatha I&II:  Hatha I is a beginning class and Hatha II is an intermediate to advanced class. Hatha I & II would be considered and advanced beginner and above class.

I was getting some feedback that the Chakra Balancing Aroma Oil was losing it's scent after six months and that each batch seemed to smell a bit different.  So I borrowed a few noses and did some research.
After testing many brands, I have found the oils that work best together and do not overpower each other. 

I am now making the oils in smaller batches, and using jojoba and vitamin E oil to increase 'shelf life.'  Each vial is dated so I can track them.  I anticipate that the scent will hold well over a year. 

The purpose of the blend is to bring you into balance based on the Chakra system (the vital energy centers that link body, mind and spirit). Whether you are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or exhausted, this oil will bring you peace and tranquility.  I wear it every day!