August 2010

Niyama Of Yoga: Santosha.

Leave a Comment / 8 limbs of yoga, yoga / By

sunrise
Embrace the concept of Santosha, one of the Niyamas of Yoga.

It is the feeling of contentment with what we already have, in all aspects of our life.  Focusing our energy on what we have rather than on what we are lacking.  These things can be material like a new car or more conceptual like a better relationship with a family member.  There will always be someone who has a bigger car, a more lavish house, the seemingly perfect relationship.  These “things” are not our concern.  We can take refuge in knowing that we already have all that we need.  However, Santosha is not to be confused with complacency, it simply means that we are at peace with where we are right now.   We can be content where we are while we are working toward something.

Be content, be grateful,  and be truly happy.

Delicious Young Thai Coconuts.

Leave a Comment / Dharma Yoga, raw food, vegetarian food, yoga / By

coconut

The young thai coconut is one of my favorite things to eat.   In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as kalpa vriksha, meaning “tree which gives all that is necessary for living”   Both the liquid and the meat inside are very different from a traditional brown skinned mature coconut.  The liquid is almost clear with a faint scent of almonds and the meat can vary from thin and soft  to a thicker meatier texture. Coconut meat is an excellent source of medium chain fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Fresh coconut water contains lauric acid, b vitamins, potassium, and electrolytes. Eating a coconut can prevent heart disease and lower cholesterol.  It can instantly rejuvenate you when you are feeling dehydrated.

Where to find them?  That can be the tricky part.  If you live in a city you are in luck as they are readily available in any Asian market. Whole Foods and Fresh Direct are now carrying Young Thai Coconuts every day in the produce section.  Most major grocery stores can order them for you if you ask.  You can also order on line, but the shipping cost due to the weight of the coconuts makes ordering this way extremely expensive.

Do something wonderful for your health, drink fresh, delicious coconut water.  Use the meat in smoothies instead of dairy or soy for a rich creamy consistency.  Seek them out, it is worth the effort.  Happy coconut hunting!

Jai Uttal and Masood Ali Khan. Great Music for Yoga Practice.

Leave a Comment / raw food, vegetarian food, yoga, yoga music / By

Sometimes practicing in silence is just perfect. Sometimes you want a little music. A little inspiration. A little elevation. It is difficult to pick a favorite, so I won’t. I will just say that the following CD’s are favorites of this moment, in heavy rotation in and out of the studio. Music has the ability to transform and inform. The vibration of these songs, these chants, these musicians is pure and powerful.

Masood Ali Khan The Yoga Sessions

yogasessions

“With his heart in a pure place of Bhakti, Masood composes and performs his music with the greater intention of helping humanity. He creates storytelling compositions with captivating melodies to inspire the spiritual being within the human. This record features Masood’s mastery of the enchanting new percussive instrument, the Hang (pronounced “Hung”). The Hang looks like a flying saucer, and indeed sounds like it is from another solar system. With its ethereal resonating overtones and a harmonic minor scale it is an instrument of relaxation, joy and hope.

Combining the power of the heart and mind’s healing potential for humanity, Masood’s Hang becomes a medium, transferring positive intentions within the sound vibrations of the recordings. The listener senses this and feelings of love, creativity, passion and compassion come alive within them.”

For a listen go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bhakti-gita/id322480810?i=322481019&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach Music for Yoga and Other Joys

jaiuttal

“Jai Uttal, a veteran of world fusion going back 15 years and a devotee of kirtan singing teaming up with multi-instrumentalist Ben Leinbach for a series of extended improvisations. Leinbach creates a shifting back drop of chilled, Indian-derived grooves and textures like liquid mercury dipped in a fractal swirl. It’s a perfect modal backdrop for Uttal, who improvises freely on an Indian stringed instrument called the dotar, electric guitar, and even banjo. Pieces like the 26-minute “Govinda” extend in a free fall until a rhythm loop drops in. Uttal swaps to a fuzzed out electric guitar solo that eventually merges into an improvised kirtan, his voice coiling in note-bending spirals like soul singing from the east. This may be music for yoga, but it’s the other joys that will keep you coming back.”

For a listen go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/surya/id41446322?i=41446320&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Bartlett’s Farm and the American Farmer.

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By

farmland

The American Farmer is disappearing from our nation’s landscape. There are fewer than one million Americans now claiming farming as their primary occupation. If you are lucky enough to live near a farm, support them by purchasing their delicious farm grown produce. Support them in any way that you can. I am fortunate to live within walking distance of a beautiful farm in operation for seven generations; Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm. Their fields are pure inspiration. Carrots, zucchini, peppers, corn, tomatoes, cabbage, squash, pumpkins, lettuces, herbs, sugar snap peas, shell peas, cucumbers, spinach, swiss chard, beets, melons. And flowers, rows of glorious flowers. When you buy locally you: Eat healthier more nutrient rich food. Help farm families to stay on the farm doing the work they love. Preserve open space. Say no to genetically modified food. Prevent air pollution. Support a clean environment that benefits wildlife. Buying locally has countless benefits, visit your local farm or farm stand today.

To read more about Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm go to:

http://bartlettsfarm.com/

To find a local farm near you go to:

http://www.localharvest.org/