I used to be the yoga equivalent of a gym-rat, going to class as often as I could. Sometimes the class was great, sometimes it was not at all what I needed that day. But at least I felt like I could check yoga off my todo list. Then I had a baby, and 90 minute yoga classes became a distant memory. Life was suddenly lived in smaller increments of time, and I realized that I had to adjust my yoga practice if I was going to have a practice at all.

Enter the mini-practice: 15 minutes of sun salutations during morning nap time, or a few minutes of meditation before bed. Small pockets of time with nothing else to do.

These mini-practices sometimes feel like cheating, but it all adds up. I definitely feel the difference when I have set my intention to include these short yoga sessions in my day. So whether it’s work, kids, or something else that puts constraints on your day, don’t assume that you don’t have time for yoga. A little is always better than nothing

The Oregon Chai give away is still open! I’ll randomly pick two winners on Friday morning.

Now off to the farmer’s market for some tomatoes!

The nice people at Oregon Chai just sent me a chai kit with a sample of their yummy original chai mix, and they offered two give aways for Chai & Yoga readers! To enter the drawing, send me an email (heidi at chaiandyoga.com) with your shipping info and your preference for option 1 or 2:

1. 10 oz canister sample of Oregon Chai with a hot mug
2. 10 oz canister sample of Oregon Chai with a double-walled acrylic reusable iced tea cup

Yoga Book News

I’m reading a review copy of the fantastic new book by Max Strom, A Life Worth Breathing, but a certain member of my household left the book in India when he was there on vacation a few weeks ago. I have just ordered another copy from Amazon, and I’ll write more about the book soon.

Lucy Edge’s novel Yoga School Dropout is finally available in the US. For more about Lucy read my review of her other novel, The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club.

2010 Top 45 Yoga Blogs Award

Chai & Yoga has received the 2010 Top 45 Yoga Blogs award! I’m honored to be mentioned in such company. Make sure to check out the other blogs on the list. My new favorite is the Asheville Yoga Center blog!

The benefits of meditation are even recognized by the government, but my own attempts at a seated meditation practice have been short and irregular. Somehow it is so much easier for me to quiet my mind with the moving meditation of yoga than by sitting still. Then a while ago this article by Buddhist teacher Rinpoche appeared in my inbox, like a cosmic kick in the pants. Read it and feel inspired!

(Reprinted with permission.)

Meditation: Catch and Release
By Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

I once bought a shirt at the airport because I had been traveling a long time and was in need of a change. I found one in a nice deep blue color and put it on without looking closely at it. Then, when I was sitting on the airplane, I saw it had a fish on it along with a caption down the sleeve: “Catch and release.” I felt very good about that. It was like a message from the universe — somehow, I was wearing instructions for working with the mind in meditation. That was my teaching for that trip.

You can use that phrase in your practice of meditation, too. Catch your thoughts and release them. You don’t need to bang them on the head and try to kill them before throwing them back. You can just acknowledge each thought and then let it go. Read the rest of this entry »

Rishi Masala Chai

I mostly stick to the same chai routine, making my own at home with fresh ginger and Taj Mahal chai. (Even my 10 month old knows to play quietly on the floor until I’ve made chai in the morning. Mommy needs her caffeine…) I usually drink chai made with a concentrate only when I’m at a coffee shop and don’t want coffee, but recently I came across Rishi Masala Chai at Whole Foods. It’s organic and fair-trade, and proceeds of each sale support the Jane Goodall Institute. What’s not to like?

I rushed home to try it, but unfortunately I found that all the sugar overpowered the spice flavor. Why can’t someone make a chai concentrate without sweetener? I would probably have this again as an afternoon treat, but it won’t replace my regular chai anytime soon.

Yogi Tea

The people at Yogi Tea recently sent me samples of four of their teas, which I was excited to try. I love Yogi Teas, and have been drinking their Ginger tea for years. I can’t yet report on their supposed medicinal properties, but if you are interested you can read more on that on the Yogi Tea web site.

Green Tea Kombucha - One of my favorite green teas! Tastes nothing like the bottled cold kombucha teas (a good thing in my book).

Green Tea Energy- Clean and bright, my friend was a big fan. This one also has some kombucha.

DeTox - Nice cinnamon and spice flavor, but tasted a little too medicinal. Maybe that doesn’t matter if you’re using it on a detox?

Kava Stress Relief - Sorry Yogi Tea, but I just didn’t like this one. It had a really funny smell, like alcohol or paint or something.

What’s your favorite tea? Do you prefer chai, black, green, or herbal?

I just came across this amazing poster on BlissChick, created by graphic designer Heidi Richardson Evans. To me this poster embodies the creative side of yoga - yoga can help you quiet the chatter in your head and connect with the creative energy of the universe. No matter where we are on our life path we could need some inspiration every now and then!

You can use and print the poster for free, just follow this link to get the full size poster.

We all know we should eat our veggies, but what if eating them also adds pesticides and toxins to your diet? I always try to buy organic produce, but it can get expensive. Where is it okay to choose conventional instead of organic?

I recently received a review copy of the book Clean, Green, and Lean, which really drives home the importance of reducing your intake of toxins. It’s especially important to choose organic when it comes to the fruit and veggies on the Dirty Dozen list, but luckily the book also lists a handful of conventional produce that is virtually pesticide-free (reprinted with permission from the publisher):

An Apple a Day Won’t Keep the Doctor Away — Unless It’s Organic
By Dr. Walter Crinnion, Author of Clean, Green, and Lean

The EWG recently studied extensive USDA and FDA testing that measured pesticide residues in produce and then ranked the most commonly eaten fruits and vegetables in this country on a scale from most toxic to most consistently clean. I strongly encourage you to take the list of the “dirty dozen” to the grocery store with you. If your produce manager isn’t stocking organic versions of all of the following, you may want to enlighten him or her.

The Dirty Dozen (highest in pesticides)

Apples
Bell peppers
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (imported)
Kale
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Strawberries

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been wanting to cook something with millet for a while, an ancient grain rich in B-vitamins and iron. These days I try to cook dishes that my 8-month old can eat too, and millet is great baby food. It is also gluten-free, so if you can’t eat wheat, millet is a great option.

I usually buy grains in bulk at PCC, a great Seattle area co-op, but millet should be available at most large grocery stores. (Look for Bob’s Red Mill millet, which you can also get online).

Technically this dish is of course not a risotto, but the texture is similar.  Try to find juicy tomatoes, or you can add a little water or stock in the end if it seems too dry.

Millet and Mushroom Risotto
(Vegan/vegetarian)

1 cup millet
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups water

2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 red onion
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup garbanzo beans (rinse well if canned)
Handful chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

1. First cook the millet: Toast the millet in the olive oil for a few minutes until it smells fragrant. Add water and bring to a boil, let simmer for 20-25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat and sauté the onion for about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 5 minutes. Finally add the tomatoes and garbanzo beans, and keep cooking until the tomatoes are soft. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the millet and add cilantro.

No comment necessary…

Babies are such natural yogis! I have just ordered the Itsy Bitsy Yoga book for babies, and I’m really excited to try it out. But do babies really need a book to do yoga? Seems like they already know everything there is to know!

Lately a few friends have asked me where to find a good yoga class if you’ve never done yoga before. I LOVE questions like these! I’m always excited when people are interested in yoga, especially newbies. Is this how missionaries feel when they find someone willing to listen?

If you’re new to yoga it’s really important to look for a good intro series with an instructor who is experienced in teaching beginners. An intro series lets you discover the practice at a slow pace in a fun and supportive setting, where the person next to you is not powering through his or her 50th Chaturanga. And committing to a series of classes forces you to go back even if you feel confused after your first class. It can take some time to get the hang of it (You want me to put my foot where? While focusing on my breath? Huh?)

There’s a great 6-week Introduction to Yoga series coming up at Yogalife if you’re here in Seattle:

Sunday Feb 21st 4:00-5:15pm
More info on the Yogalife website.

I made a second attempt at a power yoga class at Haute Yoga today, wanting to test my theory that power yoga in a hot room can be a migraine trigger. Today was the last day of my two week introductory pass, so I’ve obviously not been too keen on testing this theory…

I made it to the studio just a few minutes before class, and the room was packed. And really hot. And it already smelled like sweat. I felt like I was going to the dentist.

So I bailed.

I literally ran across the street to Yogalife, remembering that they have a class at the same time. Natalie led a one hour Ashtanga-inspired vinyasa class, and I loved every second of it. I left feeling calm and energized, and I decided that if I don’t test this hot power yoga migraine theory, it’s okay

(Note: I have nothing against Haute Yoga, it’s just not for me. Their studio is really nice, and if hot yoga is your thing you’ll love it!)