Creamy Chickpea and Tahini Casserole 06/16/2010
Super easy and yummy. I found and altered this recipe from online because I was missing casseroles and wanted to find one with no dairy. This recipe is a good pantry/ food storage recipe too. My husband and I thought it may be good to add olives or artichokes but we haven't tried it yet. Have fun with it and enjoy! 2 (15-22.5 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 3-4 cups cooked brown rice 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 medium white onion, chopped 1 tsp garlic 1 tsp oregano 3 Tbsp tahini (sesame seed butter, health food store) 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp chicken seasoning (opt) 1 tsp basil 1 tsp parsley 3 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast (opt) Preheat oven to 375. Mix tahini and water in a seperate bowl. Spray 9x13 pan with olive oil. Dump all other ingredients into pan. Salt and pepper to taste and add tahini mixture. Bake 40 minutes. If divided into 6 servings: calories 365 calories from fat 56 protein 11.9 g fiber 11 g How Yoga Helps Me Run 06/12/2010
 Today I did my long run of the week, 9 miles. I'm building up one mile a week and have started doing 1 or 2 of my weekly runs on a treadmill. Well treadmills bore the crap out of me. Especially 9 miles on a treadmill, (I might as well express myself freely here right!) and I found my mind wandering. My mind really started wandering at about mile 4 or 5. I had had a cramp in my side for a few miles and I think I was trying to escape the discomfort by being in my head. I also was periodically feeling like I needed some replenishment and even getting a little light headed. (I listened to my body and gave it some water here and there as well as a bite of a cliff bar mid run.) I needed to change something if I was going to last for 9 miles. I remembered how part of the benefit of savasana after an asana practice is that it is a time for your mind to rest so that your body can use all of that energy for healing. Mental energy is energy used by your mind that could otherwise be saved for your body. At that point I consciously directed my awareness into my core, and 1st and 2nd chakras. I thought about and felt my body being energized through the first chakra, and the 1st chakra taking in energy from the earth. Any time I started feeling a little less energized or light headed I was reminded to stop thinking and come back into my body awareness. With the help of this awareness, I was able to make it through my 9 mile run strong. Yoga has given me so much body awareness that comes in so useful in other areas of my life. Yoga gives my body more flexibility to help prevent injury in other activities, it teaches my body to find peace in my breath even in physically challenging circumstances, and yoga helps me be more aware so I can find more enjoyment in staying physically, spiritually and emotionally open. Vegetarian Protein Sources 06/04/2010
There's so much hype in the athletic world about protein. Protein shakes, protein bars, make sure you're getting enough protein to rebuild your muscles! Well, when you combine the need for protein with scriptural wisdom to "eat meat sparingly" you will rationally come to the conclusion that there must be plenty of other sources for protein and that they would likely be BETTER for you than dead flesh! (not editing my personal phrasing there...and yes I do currently still eat some dead flesh). The counsel to "eat meat sparingly" is proven as inspired counsel. Red meat is horrible for you and ups your chances for strokes, heart attacks and heart disease. It also can contribute to gout (which I've heard is extremely painful and miserable), liver and kidney issues. Animal proteins are harder on your body to process than plant sources. I've always liked the fact that cows and horses manage to become quite muscular by eating plant foods, NOT by eating animal protein. So why don't WE get the protein straight from the plant source?! So here is a short list of alternative protein sources for those who want to consume less meat but want to make sure to get their protein! Quinoa (little yummy grain you can buy at Costco or health food stores) 1 cup cooked, 8 grams of protein Almond butter (health food stores) 1 Tbsp, 2.4grams protein Peanut Butter 1 Tbsp, 4.6 grams protein Soy (Tofu,soy milk, etc) 1/2 cup tofu, 10 grams protein All nuts and seeds All beans (black, garbanzo, kidney,lentils, peas, etc.) 1 cup cooked black beans, 15.2 grams protein Orange (I chose a random fruit, they all have some) 1.2 grams protein Your recommended protein intake? Well there is no one consensus but here's a ballpark from Web MD. I never count the grams or really worry about it. If you're eating a salad, add some garbanzo's, have a fruit or veggie snack with some peanut butter! Not a big deal, just pay a little bit of attention and remember even your grains, fruits and veggies are giving you some protein!
I would add another logical exception...if you are an athlete doing a lot of endurance training, up the protein. :) Many sources, including some scientists claim these numbers are too high...the jury is still out. Just do your best The Third Chakra 05/11/2010
 Sankrit Name: Manipura Color: Yellow Vowel: Oh Location: mid-belly Associated Muscles/Organs: Core muscles, intestines, stomach, pancreas Crystal: Citrine (fyi....citrine is one of the few crystals that will not hold on to negative energy and does not require cleansing.) Yoga poses: core strengthers- boat pose, plank, warrior III, ardha chandrasana, nali cria, udiyana bandha Highest Truth: Honor Oneself If your third chakra is balanced (that balance may change day to day) you will feel mental energy and alertness. You will feel determined to accomplish your goals. A healthy and thriving third chakra will come from honoring your self and your wishes, having integrity and living the way that you truly believe is best for you. This type of healthy relationship with yourself creates a positive self image. Signs of a less healthy third chakra would include negative self talk, ongoing addictions that you really wish you could quit, an unhealthy weight, looking for others approval (only yours and Gods matter!), fear of how others perceive you. The empowered third chakra allows you to stand up for what you know is best regardless of how others may feel about it. When speaking of the third chakra, Carolyn Myss reminds us to, "[NEVER] NEGOTIATE YOUR SOUL/SPIRIT TO ANYONE!" Honor yourself! Just before my last baby was born I was being taught about service and actually I still am. In a church class the women were discussing service and how important it is for our spiritual well-being. I was totally overwhelmed with my life at that time and realized, while it is true that service can do trans formative things to people, YOU are the most important person for you to serve! If you are depleted in any way, you are not much good to the people around you and you must do what is best for you.... without feeling guilty about it! I think there is an important lesson in this for many, many women who try to be everything to everyone. When you feel like you have enough time and energy to reach out to people around you, wonderful! Reach out and bless people! Find and even search out people whose burdens you can lighten. When you're lucky just to take care of yourself and your family or work or school, honor that! Honor you, because you are no less important than all those other people you want to help. Think of a way you can feed your spirit TODAY! Do some yoga, do some breathing, some meditating, take a walk or hike outside, sit down with your favorite book, play your instrument, make YOUR favorite dinner....nurture YOU! NAMASTE! Presence Power! 05/01/2010
 So much of our stress comes from not being present. When we hurry or worry we are projecting ourselves into the future and when we think about what we "could have" or "should have" done we are projecting into the past. One of the biggest blessings of a yoga asana practice is the power that it has to make you more present in your life. This presence power comes from being in your breath and truly feeling and listening to your body at the moment of your practice. It is so healing and does wonders for your spirit! Make time to bless your life with an asana practice 3-4 times a week even if it only lasts for 15 minutes! Set a goal that is doable for you, breath, and enjoy. Natural Remedies for Allergies 04/10/2010
I have started feeling some serious outdoor allergies the past week. I've only been bothered by allergies for 3 or 4 years, about as long as I've eaten dairy while living in Utah. Last year I tried several natural things to kick the really horrible itchy eyes but nothing natural was doing the job, and I gave in to Zyrtec which made me feel totally drugged. This year I have remembered what I learned from Dr. Christopher's School of Natural Healing: astragulus and marshmallow. Dr. Christopher sells a formula of this combination called Immunocalm that you can pick up online or at natural food stores and if they don't carry it, they can at least order it. This combination helps your immune system stop overreacting to things it should be okay with. So on my bad days I'm taking those pills, and using some homeopathic allergy eye drops. Natural remedies don't kick it quite like drugs do, but they bring it under control enough that I don't want to lock myself indoors. The other, and probably most important thing that I'm doing, is cutting dairy out of my diet. I want to be completely rid of allergies once again and 99% of people with allergies would be allergy free after a year max without dairy. I am setting out this year to prove this to myself (and my skeptic husband :)). I do have a friend last year who cut out dairy for two of her children who had bad outdoor allergies. Within days they could handle being outside and she could see a major difference. Honestly, it's only been a week, and not knowing exactly what I'm allergic to or what the pollen levels are, I am feeling a big difference. I would love to hear from any of you who have had success with your allergies by natural means, and especially from cutting dairy! Heal, Strengthen, Renew! Recipe: African Peanut Soup 04/09/2010
This soup is VERY good and is vegan friendly. My mother-in-law made some for me when I had mt last baby and froze a batch too. It's a keeper. Ingredients 1/2 cup chopped onions , or more, to taste 1 cup red bell peppers chopped 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 3 tsp Garlic, minced (or to taste) 5 cups tomatoes, diced, peeled, no salt added (three 14 oz cans) 5 cups water 4 tsp soup bouillon cubes (vegetable based, low sodium) 1/8 tsp pepper (red or cayenne) 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/3 rice 1/3 chunky peanut butter Instructions Saute onions, peppers and garlic in oil until just beginning to brown. Add all other ingredients EXCEPT rice and peanut butter. Add rice and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until rice is tender. Add peanut butter and mix until it is completely dissolved and smooth. Garnish with green onions. The Second Chakra 04/05/2010
 Sanskrit Name: Swadhisthana Color: Orange Location: low belly Associated Organs/ Muscles: sexual organs, stomach, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, liver, kidney, upper intestines, hips, lower back Vowel: oo Yoga poses: cat/cow, horse stance (a wide legged squat) with pelvic motion, wide angle pose, pigeon, double pigeon, backward and forward bends Symptoms of Overactive: Overly emotional, sexual addiction Symptoms of closed: Being out of touch with your feelings, resisting change, pessimism Highest Truth: Honor One Another The second chakra deals with our relationships with other people. It also deals with our need to control things in our lives and how able we are to just let things go. When we think negative thoughts about someone that pollutes our second chakra. If we have had any negative (or positive) sexual experiences those are stored in the second chakra. The second chakra also relates to our personal creativity. Do we allow it and nurture it, or do we stifle it? It relates to our feelings in general, are we in tune with them, do we bury them? How do we feel about our personal finances? This specifically affects lower back pain. In yoga, past feelings stored chemically and energetically in our muscles can be spontaneously released. Sometimes while in a pose, a rush of unexpected feelings can arise. I've had several experiences with this and most often, for me, it is in poses that cleanse the second chakra. Once in my room I was in baddha konasana (wide angle, or kobbler's pose) and I felt a sudden urge to cry along with a physical heavy sensation radiating out from my hips. I resisted the urge to leave the pose and hung in there and allowed it, without trying to define what specific thing I was clearing. It was not tons of fun but I was glad that I was ready to release something negative, dark, and heavy from my system. Chakra Balancing Specifics: Visualize a true orange, radiant ball in your lower belly. If visualizing does not come easy to you try toning, "oo " aloud while allowing the region of your lower belly to feel light. Feel all the gunk releasing and LET IT GO!- a big benefit to this chakra. You can also go lay on your back, with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and feel yourself breathing the good into your low belly as you inhale, and pressing out what you no longer need, from that region, as you exhale and lift your hips into bridge pose. On the next inhale, lower your hips, again breathing the good into your belly. Use this idea and apply it to any yoga pose or stretch for this chakra. For a mantra meditation, chant honor one another. Sequence #1- Lower back strengthening 04/01/2010
 This is the first of my free audio yoga classes. There is a sound glitch from the 4th second through about the 13th second of the track that happened in editing so please ignore that. I'm still learning as I go. :) This sequence is very beginner friendly, slow paced and approachable and is specifically built to strengthen the lower back with back and core strengtheners as well as hamstring stretches. All of these areas contribute to a healthy back. I know there are a lot of people out there with lower back issues. I also know many of those people are a little intimidated to go to a class full of more experienced yogis. So here is the solution! P.S. Your down dog DOES NOT need to look like the one in this picture to be perfect for you! (One variation of child's pose not mentioned in the podcast is with your knees apart and feet together.) Roll out your mat or pick a spot on the floor and enjoy your 50 minute practice! God Food 03/31/2010
 I have a 3 year old that is a very picky eater. Recently, I had a conversation with him about how God made his body and that the foods that are best for his body are the ones God made. I was thinking on that yesterday and about the vibration of foods. This is not a new train of thought for me. I spent years as a vegetarian, more years as a vegan, and 2 years as a raw foodist, only now to have a pretty typical (but definitely on the healthy side) American diet. You can probably imagine I have a lot to say on the topic of what foods we put in our bodies, and I know at some later point in my life I will end up eating different than I do now, because the knowledge that I have will take me back there. All foods have a vibration right?! So looking at food in a vibrational light, "God foods," straight from God and unaltered with chemicals, have the highest vibration. When what we put in our bodies has a high vibration, it raises OUR physical vibration, and our energy level, which turns out to be of a lot of assistance emotionally and spiritually. The more God food you eat, the better you feel. I have books more to say on this topic, but for now, add more fresh, loving God foods to your daily diet and listen to the signals your body gives you! Heal, Strengthen, Renew! | About Me
Amber Gurr I was first introduced to yoga in 2001 and quickly fell in love. In 2004, I completed my 500 hour teacher training with D'ana Baptiste and have done annual trainings since that time with notable teachers such as Mark Whitwell, David Williams, Baron Baptiste and Rolf Gates. I love teaching and I love seeing yoga bless both the physical and spiritual aspects of people's lives. I have a husband and 4 little boys, ages 9, 3, 2 and 0 that keep me busy and playing. I decided that now is the time for me to be home with my family so now I just sub a yoga class here and there. I also am a nutritional herbalist, herbalist, doula, have an Associates degree in music, teach piano and do some energy readings and healing here and there. I am excited to share some of the tid bits of truth that I have come across that have shaped my life thus far and hope that this sharing will assist many others in their journey. Namaste! |