No one wants to show up on a long awaited vacation and be burned out after the first day. Adi shows us a short routine to help build much needed strength for all such occasions. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a skier, water skier, mountain biker, or just a shopper. If you practice this series daily for a couple weeks before your vacation you will definitely feel the difference.
Four Seasons Pastry Chef Javier Franco shared with me his simple recipe for delicious and nutritious energy bars that can be prepared at home in just minutes! Feel free to switch out the fruits and nuts with your favorites for a customized version. Preparing your own snacks is a great way to save some money and take control over the quality and origin of your ingredients. You’re going to want to try this recipe!
Super Energy Bars Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole
Ingredients:
1 cup wheat bran, toasted
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1 cup rolled oats, toasted
1 cup shredded coconut, toasted
½ cup sesame seed, toasted
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup dried cranberries
1¼ cups smooth peanut butter
6 T honey
3 T nonfat milk powder
1 cup sugar
¾ cup light corn syrup
1 each orange zest
Method: Spread wheat bran, almonds, oats, coconut and sesame seeds evenly on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven at 350° for 5 minutes. Chop apricots to small cubes and mix with raisins, cranberries and toasted ingredients. In a large sauce pan, combine sugar, honey and corn syrup and bring to a full boil cooking for one minute over medium heat. Add peanut butter, nonfat milk powder and orange zest to sugar mixture and heat again until slightly boiling. Remove from heat and stir in dry ingredients. Transfer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roll out evenly or grease and roll onto a baking sheet. Let cool and cut into bars.
Yield: 1 sheet pan
When there’s not enough time for a full-length episode of Yoga Today, it’s still great if you can squeeze in even ten minutes for your health and well being. We’ve had many requests for a short series of exercises that target those hard-to-reach areas in the hips, thighs and bum. These muscles carry us through the world with confidence and need to be maintained and nurtured everyday.
For added intensity, this ten minute sequence can be repeated if you’ve got the time, but make sure to keep your movements slow and deliberate. Pay attention to the details. Adjustment suggestions such as “roll your inner thigh up” and “tack your hip to the floor” will significantly increase the effectiveness of the postures:)
beautiful and inspiring
I have been so fortunate to be able to continue my growth and expansion of yoga. My most recent experience was in Park City, UT with Baron Baptiste. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Baron he is known for Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. Baron’s approach is to empower and encourage the student to really expand into their fullest potential, into his or her authentic nature, dissolving that which holds us back, and actively accepting who we are and who we are not. His sense of humor and simplicity keeps you engaged and interested… the time just fly’s. His flow is accessible to anyone… with simple modifications it could be more or less intense.
angela, baron and me
Going into the training I had no expectations or even any idea as to what I was about to experience. Baron shared his passion and inspiration for yoga in a very accessible and powerful way. It is always so interesting to me to see all the different ways that yoga is being shared and taught throughout the world. People from a variety of backgrounds were present for this playful weekend adventure.
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The exercises presented in this video are intended to strengthen your deep abdominals (aka your six pack muscles!) In addition to protecting your body from everyday wear and tear, maintaining a strong core boosts self confidence and fortifies willpower. If you’ve been telling yourself that you don’t have enough time in your day for exercise, start with this short sequence and see where it leads you!
Feeling short on energy? Try these simple stretches and jump on your bike for a quick refresher in the middle of the day. If you don’t have access to a bike path, a stationary bike has nearly the same effect, just be sure to step out for some fresh air afterwards:)
Enjoy!
Paige and Me
Are you ever so touched by something that tears well up in your eyes and your heart thumps through your chest, compelling you to reach out and say thank you? Thank you to someone who has made a difference and is living in fullest expression of selfless service and dedication?
Paige Elenson has cultivated her passion to serve the world through an amazing foundation called the Africa Yoga Project. I was honored to meet Paige at a Baron Baptiste workshop in Park City, UT this past weekend. Her journey is an inspiration to me, and a reflection of how you can take your yoga off of your mat to empower and support communities and people all over the world.
Just because you’re short on time doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice nutritional value for fast food. Check out this quick and easy lunch recipe that comes from my grandmother in Isreal. Enjoy!
Absorka Mountain Range - Dubois, Wyoming
Six gates took me to the Diamond G ranch in Dubois, WY where a women’s retreat was shared amongst 9 old friends. Friday afternoon I arrived to an expansive valley surrounded by the towering cliffs of the Absorka Mountain range. The beauty that engulfed me was absolutely breathtaking. I was greeted by 9 beautiful women who had grown deep hearted friendships for the past 35 years.
My intention was to share with them calming and relaxing yoga practices to enrich and rejuvenate their beings from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. We all united in a large barn to share breathing and 
stretching techniques to restore and refresh.
After yoga we found our way back to the main house where dinner was served. With ease they shared their history of how they all knew one another, and before I knew it I was invited into their circle of love. The stories went back 35 years … laughter and memories surfaced as I listened to how life experience has taught and grown a deep wisdom within these women.
Beautiful melodies hummed form Marilee’s voice and guitar as we sat around the old wood table. Two candles flickered a peaceful glow across the faces of these incredible women. As they sang old songs about peace and love I felt the most amazing bond and energy. Read the rest of this entry »