Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

Yoga is a path of self-improvement and self-discovery, where through practice and discipline, we can transform ourselves. Renowned ParaYoga founder and Tantra Yoga scholar Rod Stryker teaches, “We’re not transforming into something we aspire to,” he says. “We’re transforming into the very thing that we are innately: our best Self.” We are all in different stages in our lives and our personal development is an individual process. Yoga gives us tools to shed the habits and patterns which may be holding us back from being our best selves. This week’s Yoga Alchemy Program with Mark Morford is a deep dive into your own personal physical, mental, and emotional metamorphosis.

Let me introduce the most common way I am cooking. I have an idea or too much of something at home waiting to be used up. So, I browse the web for a perfect recipe. I find several and then decide on one. Almost every time I decide that “this time I will be following the recipe to a t”. And almost every time I end up replacing half the ingredients, and changing the cooking time and ratios. This is what happened this time too. The base recipe is here, and I am sure it is delicious, but I have no way of telling for sure.

“Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think.” - Buddha The way that you start your day can determine how the rest of it unfolds. Getting up in the morning can be challenging, and finding ways to get motivated and excited for the hours ahead isn’t always easy. If this resonates with you, know that it’s completely normal and you're not alone. But there are ways to change the way you feel for the better. One of the most effective ways to bring the right energy into your morning routine for a calm, happy, and flowing day is through mindfulness.

Never forget that rest is just as important as work! Seasons are changing and the shifting hours of sunset and sunrise impacts the quality of our sleep. And if like many of us, you’re busy juggling career and a personal life, sometimes it is tough to wind down from your adrenaline filled days. If you’re having a tougher time getting an excellent night’s sleep, you aren’t alone. By making some simple changes to your bedtime routine, you’ll be catching all your zzz’s in no time!

Rowdy Mermaid is a Colorado kombucha brand that’s sustainably sourced, herb-infused, and palatable for everyone (including toddlers!). Their beverages are all delicious, caffeine-free, and low-sugar, with added nutritional benefits from herbs and adaptogens. We’ve been huge fans of Rowdy Mermaid for years! In fact, Jo used to teach Jamba in her first yoga classes over a decade ago. If you’ve been a part of the Conscious Cleanse community for a couple of years, you’ll probably recognize them from our Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha Sangria (which also pairs well with summer vibes).

Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language. It is similar to Latin in the sense that many modern languages have roots in Sanskrit, but it is not really spoken as a first language in modern times. While many people are intimidated by yoga in general, they are more so because of words in a language with which they are not familiar. Sanskrit is an ancient language of India that today is spoken mostly by Hindu priests in religious ceremonies. Yoga studios are the other place where Sanskrit is most commonly used around the world in modern times.

Someday, everything will make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, be strong, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason. - John Mayer Whether you’re in a phase of life where everything feels joyous or traumatic or somewhere in between, remind yourself that everything is temporary. The only universal constant is change. If we can learn to release attachments to feeling or being a certain way, we can find more peace when navigating times of loss and grief. We can also accept that “good times” don’t last forever.

As with most of my recipes during summertime, even my cocktail is inspired by fresh local produce. Not grapefruit or tequila, obviously, but the super fresh honey that I got from my aunt. I don’t usually drink tequila, but I recently went to a restaurant where the bartender mixed a cocktail that matched all my desires perfectly and it was tequila-based, so figured I try my hand mixing a cocktail at home myself. And oh boy it was a success! I’m not sure how I had never had Paloma before, somehow I never even thought about having a tequila-based cocktail instead of my usual favorite, gin.

We’ve all experienced stress in our lives, when the unexpected happens and we can’t control it! That’s when our brains decide to send out stress hormones - the hormones which trigger our ‘fight or flight’ response. This can cause heart racing, quicker breathing and tense muscles. Our stress responses are designed to protect you in an emergency by getting your body ready to react quickly. But, when our stress responses are triggered too often, it can cause some serious health problems.

​"Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -Christopher Robin Every time we step onto our yoga mat is an opportunity to create our own mindset. Whether we want to enhance a sense of positivity or shift from negative feelings weighing us down, yoga provides the tools to take charge of our personal well-being. Mindful breath and movement offer a powerful path to not just grow stronger and more flexible physically, but to become calmer and more confident. Yoga helps remind us of just how wonderful we are!

Summer is in full swing here, and we hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather. You may be planning your menu for get-togethers with family or friends still. If so, we’re sharing this recipe with you in mind! If you’re looking for a healthy but show-stopping centerpiece, we’ve got you covered. Our Herb Crusted Lamb Roast is perfect for your big dinner. Lamb is a cleanse-friendly alternative to beef or ham, plus the fresh herbs make it packed with rich flavor. Lamb is also a nutrient-dense meat; it’s a great source of protein, healthy fats, and iron. It’s also rich in essential B vitamins like B12 and B6, which promote a healthy nervous system, and zinc, which supports a healthy immune response.

When you think of yoga, you might not necessarily think of it as a masculine activity. Calming music, oils, soft speaking - yoga has traditionally been seen as a more feminine activity, while men’s sports were seen as more extreme types of exercise. But actually, there are very many powerful benefits of yoga for modern men that you can get from spending some time on the mat. We’ve listed the top ten here, to try and show you how a yoga practice can bring some positive change to your body and mind. Increased Mobility

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.” ― Shunryu Suzuki Did you know that up until the early twentieth century, yoga was only taught by and to men? T. Krishnamacharya is considered the “father of modern yoga” with such illustrious students as Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar, who both helped bring yoga to the West in the twentieth century. It wasn’t until 1937, that Krishnamacharya agreed to teach Indra Devi, a Western woman who became a renowned teacher.

Here is a super light summertime dessert for you to enjoy. In fact, it is light enough to enjoy as a breakfast, but for breakfast, I would substitute the coconut shavings with granola and add more fresh berries. Did you know that parfait means two different things – it is a classical French dessert meaning a frozen treat that is super similar to ice cream. And it also means a layered dessert like this one here. I like both of them, but as my freezer is usually fully stocked with all kinds of things there is usually not enough space to place a whole loaf tin there to set the frozen parfait. But I always have space for layered desserts that feature coconut and rhubarb! I love all kinds of food served in tiny jars so much that last summer during my travels in France when I discovered they sell yogurt in cute glass jars I knew I needed those jars at home so I brought back 6 of the little jars. You can bet that airport security had a few questions to ask about them, but here they are at my home and being used almost every week.

While modern media and advertising may have us think that yoga is all about physical poses, the entirety of yoga includes a wide range of contemplative and self-disciplinary practices, such as meditation, chanting, mantra, prayer, breath work, ritual, and even selfless action. The word “yoga” comes from the root word “yuj,” which means “to yoke” or “to bind.” The word itself has numerous meanings, with the underlying theme being connection. Yoga asana is the physical practice and postures. 1. Yoga improves flexibility In 2016, two of yoga’s leading organizations, Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, conducted a worldwide survey looking at a variety of statistics about yoga in an attempt to quantify its value amid ever-increasing popularity.

What if we told you that there’s a day dedicated to slowing down and chilling out, with zero guilt and zero regret? National Relaxation Day on August 15th is all about hitting the pause button on your busy schedule and putting your feet up. See if choosing to focus on doing less actually helps you create space for more joy and peace! Many of us complain that there isn’t enough time in the day. We’re constantly too busy and too committed to checking off item after item on our never-ending to-do lists. We forget that rest is just as important as work. We lose appreciation for experiencing the here and now. When we fall into a pattern of constantly “doing” instead of being, we can burn out and lose that sense of santosha or contentment in our lives.

If there was a competition for a healthy, yet delicious cookie, these here would definitely be in a running. They are not too sweet, they are gluten-free and completely vegan, and they contain a good amount of protein thanks to using chickpea flour. I sometimes call these hummus cookies as chickpeas and sesame (in a form of tahini for hummus) are the main components for both snacks, but in reality, they don’t taste anything like hummus. Luckily. I know that sweet hummus exists, but it is really not my thing. Now, of course, I started wondering if savory hummus cookies could also be a thing. I think they could, but this needs some extra exploring from my side first. I will keep you posted if my trials turn out to be a success!

The Bhagavad Gita says that “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self”. But what do you do when that self is struggling to get itself on the mat? We’ve all been there. Even the most ardent yogis sometimes struggle with a lack of motivation or a feeling of just not getting what they need from a practice. The truth is, staying active on your own is hard, and from time to time you need a little push in the right direction. Luckily, there are many ways you can spice up your practice and keep enjoying the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual benefits yoga provides. And you don’t need to attend a class or find the perfect instructor to ensure your surya namaskar sets the tone for a scintillating workout! Here’s how to make sure your workout works for you. Challenge Yourself

Whenever we step onto the yoga mat, we’re beginning the process of healing our bodies, our hearts, and our minds. These intertwined benefits serve to not just make us stronger and more flexible in tangible ways but also intangible ones. This week’s classes will invigorate and replenish your mind and leave you feeling more clear, calm, and happy. Through well-sequenced and planned classes focused on Pranayama (mindful breath work) and Asana (Physical postures), you’ll experience adjustments to your state of mind and create shifts in your perspective. We live in a world where many external events are out of our control and if we don’t work to keep our mental state balanced, we can internalize those events, causing stress and unhappiness.

Drinking from a hollowed-out pineapple (or any other fruit for that matter) instantly makes me feel like I am on vacation. But instead of a rum-based drink, today my pineapple was filled with a super healthy oat-pineapple smoothie. Still felt like a vacation drink to me, but this might be enhanced by sunny weather. Of course, if you have something better to do with your time than spend 20 minutes carefully taking the flesh out of a pineapple trying to not pierce the skin, feel free to drink from a glass. This is also a good option if using frozen pineapple cubes and the smoothie will be just as delicious, but you just need to get into the vacation mode some other way.

This New Moon in Cancer, at Pushya is in the star of Asellus Australis. At this juncture, we move psychological balance within the physical structure. Currently in formation are the visions, ideas, and mental impressions of one’s desires, goals within the reflective now. This moon will refine the image and bring the embodiment of self to bloom, full circle. Moveable energy works to attract and draw unto itself that which it is. (Like attracts Like) Consciousness can only be what one sees of themselves. Materiality shifts and disallows the reliance of pleasure attachment.

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” - Haruki Murakami A broken heart, a car accident, a death of a loved one, a cancer diagnosis: any one of these can occur and knock us off of our feet. We all experience pain. Suffering is the identification with the pain. Or, as Judith Lasater states in her book Living Your Yoga, suffering is the personalization we bring to our difficulties.

I love this time of the year when all the fresh produce is available at the farmers' market. In this salad here, the watermelon is from the market (growing watermelon on the terrace in the city center is too much even for a loco person like I am), and all the herbs, cucumber, and strawberries are from my terrace. I just love going out and picking a little something from one pot and another thing from another. Pure luxury and it does not get any fresher. This salad is something I could eat every day right now. I almost do eat it every day. So light, refreshing, sweet, and also slightly salty from the feta. I do play around with different seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds) instead of pine nuts and different herbs, but the combination I bought out in the recipe is my absolute favorite.

Do you often start practicing yoga but then find yourself stopping after a few days or months? This is a very common occurrence for people starting out in their yoga journey - it starts out strong and then yoga can take a backseat to other requirements in life. Here are some top tips for staying consistent in your yoga practice. 1. Set an intention Intentions are things that you want to cultivate more of or amplify - basically like your ‘why’ or your purpose. If you’re finding it hard to stay consistent with yoga, think about why you want to practice it in the first place.

“Practice and all is coming.” -K. Pattabhi Jois One of the most common pieces of advice you’ll receive from yoga teachers is to make time for your practice––daily if you can. What you usually don’t hear is for how long, when, or where to practice. The key element is to be consistent with your yoga. We’re here to encourage you to release the attachment to believing you must spend a certain amount of time on your mat to “make it count.” There’s an element of freedom and surrender when you recognize that you: