I love creating in the kitchen, and creating chocolatey goodness that is actually HEALTHY is even better. This homemade chocolate made from raw cacao is just the way I like it - rich, dark and nutty like me. As someone with fructose malabsorption I can't eat honey and most sugars so I've adapted this recipe from http://butterbeliever.com/homemade-chocolate-recipe/ to use liquid sweetener that doesn't overload with fructose and added the nuts for a bit of protein. I've used both Rice Malt Syrup (can be found in the health food aisle from Coles), and Organic Maple Syrup. Rice Malt Syrup will make the chocolate more fudgy than the Maple Syrup (but that ain't necessarily a bad thing!). mmmmmmmm....... You want the recipe?? Scroll down Sugar-free Dark Nutty Chocolate
Ingredients:
Other variations could be replacing the nuts with shredded coconut or coating strawberries. Method: So simple! Melt the coconut oil, then start to stir in all the other ingredients (except the nuts) until smooth. Place some parchment or wax proof paper on a tray, spread the nuts on the tray (depending on the size of the tray, you may need to just use half the space) and pour chocolate mixture over nuts. Place in the freezer. This chocolate is best kept in the freezer. Eat and enjoy with a cup of herbal tea.. yummy!
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Without sounding like a Negative Nancy, I’m going to put it out there… for me, Winter just does not push my buttons. At all. Melbourne’s cold winds, being stuck indoors and lack of Vitamin D makes me feel out of sorts. Then I start reaching for the chocolate and waiting with bated breath for season two of Australia's The Bachelor. Yes, shame on my name I just admitted to that. Winter is the ‘Vata season’ in Ayurveda (the sister science of Yoga) and we can feel anxious, flighty and unbalanced, so it’s super important to nourish our body, mind, soul, and replenish ready for Spring. So, I’m thinking... instead of hibernating in TV reality trash land, it's the perfect time to nurture myself and take a mid-winter yoga retreat. Maybe even just at home... Food Ayurveda says that when Vata is out of balance we should eat more warming, cooked foods. Which makes sense when our bodies usually crave winter 'comfort foods'. Keep it healthy with spicy cinnamon quinoa porridge for breakfast, and kitchari, stews or home made veggie soups for lunch and dinner. Aromatherapy Lose the winter blues with essential oils. I use an oil burner or drop a few drops of lavender oil into my bath at night to help with sleep. Look for blends of citrus oil to uplift you (lemon, sweet orange), to combat the cold use warming oils such as ginger and cinnamon leaf, and you can't beat the aroma of lavender before you hit the hay. Meditation I've set up my own dedicated space in my house for Meditation and Pranayama where I can sit on a comfy cushion, burn some candles and zen out. It doesn't need to a big space, but just having a corner where you can meditate and burn a candle can help you slip into that space of bliss. Even if you just set aside 5-10 minutes for some mindful meditation it's a great way to start the (windy, rainy) day with a more positive mindset. Yoga It's been said it takes 21 days to form a habit (good or bad!. Before I did my Yoga teacher training I didn't think it possible to make the time to practice Yoga, Meditation and Pranayama daily. But as part of our teacher training we had to keep a journal of our own self-practice and I realised that practicing Yoga daily doesn't HAVE to be a full one hour class. Try some gentle restorative postures before bed if you are feeling tired or have had a hectic day, but make that habit stick with your at home retreat by giving yourself the 21 day challenge. Retreat from technology I generally try and abide by my 'no screens after 8.30 rule'. As someone who often suffers from insomnia this really helps me get a good night of shut eye. The 'blue light' emitted from your iPhone screen makes the body think it's daytime, so try not to check your messages when you can't sleep at night. Better still, switch if off for a day so you can truly retreat. Connect with nature I find when I'm feeling all sluggish and blah, I'm usually craving a bit of connection with nature. It's proven that getting out in the outdoors can help with stress, anxiety and depression. So rug up warm and get out for a walk to connect to nature, even if it's just in your local park (you get the added bonus of patting all the cute dogs!) So there we have it, my little winter do it yourself health retreat tips. Let me know how you go! If you can, then going on a weekend or longer Yoga retreat can really help rejuvinate and kick start your own winter yoga routine, here are a few listed below. Byron Yoga Centre 8 day ‘Wellness Retreat‘ 19 July – 26 July $1995 Head up to gorgeous Byron Bay for a retreat with the Byron Yoga Centre. Their wellness retreat combines yoga, meditation and pranayama as well as an evening program with discussion on nutrition, wellness and Ayurveda. Retreat cost includes: · share accommodation · nutritional balanced healthy meals · 3 treatments (shiatsu massage, ayurvedic massage, reflexology or cranio-sacral therapy) · Twice daily yoga · Talks on ways to make positive life style changes · Kirtan evening Visit http://www.byronyoga.com/8-day-wellness-and-rejuvenation-retreat Weekend retreats in VIC Yin Yoga retreat Le Yoga, Daylesford 01 Aug – 03 Aug - $545 The lovely Jennifer Crescenzo who is facilitating the 200 hour teacher training at The Yoga Social with Ambika is holding a Yin retreat at Lè.Yoga Daylesford. Explore the restorative qualities of Yin Yoga in a very private retreat in the natural springs are. The meditative and restorative quality of Yin yoga is perfect for this time of year, and Jennifer will also focus on the Five Element Theory and how it can enhance self-awareness and self-understanding. Included in the retreat price is twin accommodation and home-cooked meals. Visit www.leyoga.com.au Foundations Yoga retreat with Sunjay 15 Aug – 17 Aug Foundations Yoga Retreat covers the fundamental principles of physical and mental yogic practice suitable for beginners and those more experienced yogis. This retreat is being held at the stunning Amarant Retreat in the the Yarra Valley, just outside Melbourne, and will include: • Foundations of Yoga – Patanjali 8 Limbs • Vinyasa Yoga • Pranayama • Ayurvedic Vegetarian Meals • Still and Active Meditation Visit yogasunjayretreats.com for more information Taking a big leap last year to go back to study in my 30’s was a bit of a shock to to the old bank account when I realised that Austudy wasn’t going to keep me in the raw-organic-fair-trade-single-origin-dark chocolate I was accustomed to. Thank the high heavens my tastes are somewhat more refined now than my Uni days when my budget was solely for toast, pasta and, well, the cheapest, sweetest wine with the highest alcohol percentage thankyou please (I was a classy 19 year old). This time around, I’ve had to really think and be a savvy health nut. Here’s what I’ve come up with. Clean 15, Dirty 12 Once you actually look at the prices of organic produce, it’s enough to make a yogi fall out of a headstand. So, where am I best spending my cash for maximum health benefits? Enter the Clean 15, and Dirty Dozen plus. The Clean 15, Dirty Dozen plus is based on the research from the US organisation the EWG (Environmental Working Group), listing foods that in their non-organic state are not so bad in the grand scheme of things (The Clean 15) and those that contain a multitude of nasty chemicals and pesticides (Dirty Dozen plus). I’ve started buying what I can organically from the dirty dozen list (like spinach) and others on the Clean 15 list (avocados) from the non-organic section at the Vic Market. See below link to take you to a full list of these fruit and veggies http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/ Grow your own Veg. Winter in Melbourne is the perfect time to grow leafy greens! I’m the laziest green finger in Melbourne, watering only when I remember and half -heartedly pulling out the odd weed, and even I’m managing a small crop of curly kale, rainbow chard, sorrel and silverbeet in my teeny tiny garden. Nothing beats the thrill of picking and eating your own veg. Okay, I don’t get out much. Check out produce swapsises in your area in Melbourne: http://localfoodconnect.org.au/ Natural Health Practitioners I’m a firm believer that alternative therapies like massage and acupuncture should be a part of your wellness plan and not just a luxury. But unless you have really awesome private health insurance, going to see a natural health practitioner can leave one massive hole in your wallet. Well listen up Yogi’s ! Student clinics at Endeavour College of Natural Health and Southern School of Natural Therapies (SSNT) have modalities such as Naturopathy, TCM, Acupuncture, Massage and Musculo-skeletal therapy. You will get treated by a student and their supervisor (often the Naturopathy and TCM students have almost completed their Health Science degrees) for a fraction of the price of a professional. It’s great for your budget, and it’s great for the students. Visit http://www.wellnationclinics.com.au/pricing.html From just $10 or $8 for concession Bring your own I take my keep cup wherever I go, a bunch of herbal tea bags and then all I need is some hot water and I’m sorted. It’s not only good for the cash fund but also for the environment too. You’ll save those mid-afternoon crash and burn feelings by forgoing the coffee in place of a herbal tea, and a shed load of cash. $3.50 a day for those coffees, that’s about a $100 a month… that’s nearly a Yoga membership! Green smoothies can cost $10 or more to buy out and about, but tote your own by whizzing up in a blender and putting in a recycled glass mason jar. Shake it up when ready to drink. Delicious. Nuts. In bag. Like squirrel. Need I say more, just so important for those in-between times when the ‘Hangry' strikes, so you don’t reach for some sugar-laden snack. Lastly, be creative in the kitchen, set yourself a challenge that you won’t buy anymore food until you’ve used up everything in the fridge. I’ve created some of my best recipes this way. Ok, also some of my worst, but that’s half the fun! Happy cheap and cheerful health! Written by Polly Wilson. Day 6 of no processed sugar, no wheat, no dairy. (Not a complete detox, as I'm still eating fruit, and a spoonful of honey in one cup of black tea each day .... but pretty damn good for me, Ambika 'Chocolate' Chadwick!) WOW. I have experienced some pretty crazy withdrawal symptoms. I'm surprised how much it's affected me. I had a headache for 4 days straight which didn't ease once in that time. On the 5th day, my head was a little better and I was able to go about my 'normal' activities, but I still didn't feel like myself, and still don't. On Wednesday evening, I lay on the couch and said (or moaned) to my partner "I think I'm coming down with the flu, my joints are sore, my head hurts and I have a sore throat". I did some research the next morning and to my surprise 'flu like symptoms' are all part of it! Sugar is a drug. Fake highs and extreme lows. So, giving up sugar (not fructose) I guess is like a drug withdrawal (although I've not experienced this myself so it's hard to compare). Whinge time. I miss bread. Already!. I love bread. I eat bread every day and it fills me up. I'm a vegetarian, and I must say, due to my ignorance, I don't know how to fill up if I don't have either bread, rice or pasta with my food. So i went to see the wonderful Dr Natasja Fox (TCM) privately, and after 90 minutes of asking and answering questions I walked away with a list of bloods I need to get done next week, and HEAPS of food ideas I could try to help me feel full or satisfied after meals, boost my energy, improve my skin, ease my PMS and give me the correct nutrients my body needs on a vegetarian diet. Also, the good news is I've discovered some great food that I had forgotten about. A salad of Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries, with fresh mint and dates. This has been my saving grace the past few days. YUMO! Oh, and I purchased this ebook - http://lighterlivinghealthcare.bigcartel.com/ Here's an interesting 20 min ABC storey called 'Toxic Sugar'. I'm Not really into such a dramatised documentary myself, but I think the content is good http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3821440.htm Until next week. Om. Here's something awesome to Om about! 'Yoga Hub Melbourne' is a social venture Melbourne Yoga teacher, Lauren Jeffreys, started about 5 months ago. Yoga Hub Melbourne provides quality yoga classes at low cost in order to make yoga (and it's many benefits) more accessible to the wider community. There are many community groups who currently can't access the costly classes due to financial or cultural reasons. As they grow, the aim is to target different groups, including migrant women, low to middle income earners, parents and kids with disabilities, pre/post natal etc. Yoga Hub is a non profit venture. The cost is $5/class and any profits that are made will go back into offering workshops/sessions for these community groups and purchasing yoga props for classes. She's also looking for yoga teachers who would be interested in getting involved with Yoga Hub and support this venture to make yoga more accessible. Lauren says "I really feel strongly about making yoga accessible to everyone. We know the benefits that exist from a yoga practice not just on the physical body, but our mind and mental wellbeing and overall health. This shouldn't be exclusive to those who can afford it, every member of the community should have this opportunity. I've been getting an amazing response from the community as well as other teachers so I know that the demand for affordable yoga is there!" Check out her facebook page here Or you can email Lauren Jeffreys here Get onboard! 'You actually have to organise it properly if you want to succeed!' Detox tips. 1. Install a water filter (this, she stressed, was the most important thing of all) 2. Buy a juicer (so excited about this one) 3. Take some time off work (even if it's just cutting down hours) 4. NEVER Detox in December! So, I'm going to take her advice. Why? because she knows what she's talking about and she's been there, done that! I'll be delaying my Detox until January (so I'm sure I'll be doing it with heaps of other folk). I will however, commence cutting down the coffee (as I hear that this will be the hardest). Can't wait to cleanse! At 40 years of age, I've never detoxed. To be honest with you, I've never felt to desire to detox. Most of my 'serial' detox friends seem to either just not drink alcohol for a period of time and call it detoxing, or they don't do the research properly or have a plan and just eat Kale (and whatever else happens to be the trendy superfood of the month). There's tea in the supermarket isle called 'Detox' tea. Surely, if I drink that, and that only, I'll be cleansed in about 2 weeks. WRONG. Firstly, I wouldn't last, and secondly, that wouldn't be good for my body at all. I've noticed changes in my body over the last 12 months. It's like my vehicle needs a service of a different kind. I'm keeping it oiled and cool, and drive it regularly so it doesn't rust or my battery doesn't die, but that's not enough. So tonight, I'm going to a detox discussion led by the wonderful and knowledgable Dr Natasja Fox (TM) who will be teaching us all how to detox properly and safely. A 90 minute discussion where I'll be sitting in the front row (the nerd that I am) jotting everything down everything she says in my notebook. If I could record the entire thing I would. I'll start my detox next Monday, and I'll record my journey here on this blog. All the pain and heartache (I do love my daily coffee and chocolate SO much) and all the pleasant and interesting discoveries. Don't worry I'll leave the really personal bits out. Very exciting. See you next week. Check out a bit more abut Natasja Fox here I've not had a regular GP for the past 10 years and I reckon there's a strong possibility it could be due to my regular Yoga practice. Why do we see Yoga as an 'indulgence'? 'Today I'm gonna treat myself to a Yoga class then get a massage'. Treat myself? I've never heard 'Today I'm gonna treat myself to the treadmill'. Fitness is a necessity and Yoga is an indulgence. Sure some of us enjoy the gym, but most of us exercise because we know we must. Many of today's illnesses are due to stress. Fact. When we practice Yoga, there's an internal focus on the breath and stillness that helps to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. Yoga does improve our mental and physical health. Do I think Yoga should replace our weekly fitness regime? Nope. But I certainly think some kind of meditative practice should be just as important. So, I reckon, instead of having a weekly fitness plan, we could maybe have a 'wellbeing plan' and we could mix it up a bit. Below is a list of classes in Melbourne (just to name a few ideas) we can incorporate into our 'wellbeing plan'.
Mix it up a bit, relax and enjoy something different. You may be pleasantly surprised at how your body responds, and how different you feel :) Spin Yoga, Punk Yoga, Aqua Yoga, Hip Hop Yoga, Skate Yoga to name a few. Years ago in Australia (and I assume overseas) you would have never heard the question, "what style of Yoga do you do?". You just did Yoga. I have a friend who practices a very classical style of Yoga. It's an 'ashram' style, very traditional and guru focused. They have centres in many large cities, and in some cities they have ashrams close by. She lives in a big city working as a lawyer, she goes to the Yoga centre on weeknights, and on the weekend she travels to the ashram and volunteers. This has been her life for the past 20 years. One evening, she decided to go to a local gym Yoga class because the centre in the city was closed due to water damage. She only knew the time of the class. Of course she expected it would be different, but just wanted to get her practice in, and felt a little curious and excited about trying something new. She arrived early and lay down on her mat. Slowly more and more people entered the room. She did a quick rough head count and was surprised to count around 50 students. The lycra-clad instructor entered the room and walked up to the stage, popped on her head mike (like Madonna) and asked everyone if anyone had injuries etc. So far, so good. Suddenly the lights dimmed, the mirror ball turned on, cue disco music. Oh no. Yep, it's time for 'Disco Yoga'. Shocked, she wanted to run to the nearest exit. Instead, she respected the instructor and stayed for the hour. She cried with laughter as she told us, but then seriously asked "I don't get it, how was that Yoga?". So this got me thinking. I wonder, has this 'trend' gone too far to the point where the actual 'Yoga' has been shoved to the side and what's left is a fun/fitness/stretch class? Everything has changed since .... years ago. On and off the mat. We've evolved. Yoga has evolved. Are these fusion classes 'Yoga moving with the times'? Something to think about. I wonder if someone is doing TwerkYoga yet? |
AuthorThe Yoga Social Team Archives
March 2019
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