Confession #1

The great English author, playwright, poet and just overall artist William Shakespeare once wrote, "To thine own self be true." Ladies and gentlemen, I think it's important to be true to yourself, but also to those around you. Particularly when others hold you to a certain moral standard.
It is officially Day 8 of my month-long Sattvic Diet challenge and I have failed you all by not following through this morning. Though typically I've been meeting friends and just ordering water or warm tea, today I met with a good friend and as we discussed the possibilities of making a yoga DVD, I ended up becoming a little overwhelmed with excitement... in the process of talking business I got a little carried away by future prospects and completely forgot about anything Sattvic (Sentient). My friend and I were at Bob Evan's and I specifically prepared & ate a Sattvic Meal before the meeting, but once there I ended up ordering--dun, dun, DUNNNN--a piping hot mug full of coffee.
My dad, a devout follower of The Great Sage of Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi, explained that yogis of South India typically drank coffee with no qualms and while that was mildly consoling, I do genuinely feel a bit disappointed in myself and I apologize for letting any of you down if you were looking to me for strength during this challenge.
I will resume the Sattvic challenge and carry on for the rest of January because much like my yogic practice on the mat, I believe in life also, there will be many times where I fall and fail temporarily. I just need to get back up, inhale and exhale, deeply planting my feet into the Earth and embrace what may come.

Sattvic Meal #4

Mmmmmm Mmm!!!!! My favorite vegetable in Nepali cooking tastes ABSOLUTELY delicious even when Sattvic :) Isn't life great sometimes? Here's a super simple way to cook Cowliflower:

In a large pan heat up some olive oil. Place cowliflower that's been cut to nice big chunky pieces in the oil. Add a dash of turmeric for a nice, vibrant yellow, some ground cumin and at the very end garnish with my favorite herb--cilantro!

I like to eat this with some steamed brown rice. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)

Sattvic Meal #3

I realize that a cold salad might not be the most appealing meal during wintertime, but this is so delicious & simple I had to share! Boil some barley and set it aside. Cut some Granny apples, get some walnuts, pomegranate seeds and in a little bowl whisk together some honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Mix all the ingredients together and ENJOY a splendidly Sattvic salad :)

Mad About Meditation!

The latest issue of Om Yoga & Lifestyle Magazine has a great article about the wonders of meditation. Since I've been waking up at 4:30am to lead Guided Meditation classes at 5:30AM every morning this week, I've definitely felt a significant shift in my level of clarity. Needless to say, I'm mad about meditation and I'm happy to share the following excerpt from the aforementioned article:

Scientists at the University of Oregon discovered just eleven hours of learning a meditation technique can induce positive structural changes in brain connectivity.

"The importance of our findings relates to the ability to make structural changes in a brain network related to self-regulation," said University of Oregon psychologist Dr. Michael Posner.

The study focused on a meditation technique known as Integrative Body Mind Training (IBMT). Based on ancient Chinese medicine, IBMT combines posture, mental imagery and body relaxation and breathing techniques.

So, exactly what are you waiting for? It's a brand new year, begin your brand new day tomorrow morning by joining me for an hour of Guided Meditation! I'll have your cushion ready :)

First in a series of a new weekly Vlog: Virabhadrasana/Warrior 1

Before I present to you the instructional video for Warrior One, I'd like to offer a Sattvic Recipe (#2) for breakfast. It's extremely simple:
Oatmeal with milk (for vegans any variation is fine: rice milk, soy milk, etc.) and Cinnamon. Enjoy!!

Sattvic Meal #1

One of the biggest concerns a lot of people have expressed regarding this Sattvic Diet Challenge is, "What am I supposed to do when I go out to eat?" While I can't speak for any other areas in the country, I do think those of us in the Ann Arbor area are extremely fortunate! Yesterday to ring in the New Year, my good friend and I went to a restaurant on Liberty St. Seva's offers really delicious vegetarian food at a relatively reasonable price.

The entire menu was full of yummy-choices, but everything except for one dish had loads of garlic and onions. The picture above is of the only purely Sattvic meal I was able to find: Basil Pesto with Mozarella cheese and one slice of tomato on whole wheat bread. Since potatoes are considered too starchy for the Sattvic tradition, I opted to order a side of steamed broccoli instead of the standard French Fries.

This is a super simple meal that is easy to re-create in the comfort of your own kitchen! To make the basil pesto sauce simply grind fresh basil leaves (I have basil plants all year round) with olive oil, salt and some pine nuts. You can either grill or toast the whole wheat bread and mozarella and tomatoes should be available all year round at all grocery stores.

Enjoy!

SATTVIC DIET CHALLENGE 2011

Many people seem to wonder exactly what yogis (people who practice Yoga) eat. Known to some as a Yoga Diet, the Sattvic Diet (Sentient Diet) is, in fact, one that dates back thousands of years ago; it has little to do with weightloss. Sattvic Diets are more about creating a sense of balance between your mind, body and spirit.
Slightly rigid by nature, the Sattvic Diet is known to provide clarity of the mind and offers a myriad of benefits to the body. Usually, it is assumed that while eating foods encouraged in the Sattvic traditions, yoga is practiced simultaneously, hence a strengthened inner-spirit is cultivated as well.

Here are a list of foods and beverages that are OKAY in the Sattvic Diet:
* Fresh, organic fruits
* Fresh, organic dairy
* Unsalted nuts (which have not been overly roasted), seeds and oils
* Organic Vegetables which are mild in nature (for example, Sattvic Diets require that you avoid pungent veggies like peppers or starchy veggies like potatoes)
* Whole grains: rice, oatmeal, barley, etc.
* Legumes like split mung beans, yellow split peas, organic tofu, etc.
* For sweetening dishes use honey

* For spices avoid anything that heats the body up such as Garlic or Onions. Stick, instead to mild spices like Basil, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cumin, Nutmeg or Corriander

Foods and Beverages one should completely avoid in the Sattvic Diet are:
* All meat products including fish and eggs
* All alcoholic beverages including beer and wine
* All forms of smoking including Cannibus and Tobacco
* Any stimulant such as caffeine or sugar

All right, now that it is absolutely clear what can and cannot be consumed... here is my challenge for you all:
Let's enter 2011 with a purely Sentient Diet for the entire month of January! Who's with me?
I will be posting what I've eaten for breakfast/lunch/dinner so that you all can get some ideas of what to prepare. I hope you either comment on this blog with your own recipes or you e-mail me at: takefiveyoga@gmail.com

I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited about this!!!!!!