Out with the old….

Another year comes to a close. 

2008 has been a year of ups and downs. As always offering gratitude for both coming my way. Trying not to focus so much on the negatives…why do that to myself? Why do that to the people around me? 

Live and learn – a motto to take with me at all times, even into the New Year.

 

2008 saw my yoga classes become more popular. My own practice we t to a whole different level and a started to enjoy the poses I had previously disliked. 

I discovered I wanting to give my students more and move away a little from asana practice – the breath is where it all lies.

 

I taught my first raw food class. I bought a Vitamix and said Sayonara to my old blender. I realized that I can’t be a fruitarian and that if I am living a healthy raw vegan lifestyle – why the need to follow long juice feasts? 

 

After 48 hours of suffering, I now know I will never eat grapefruit again (I have never felt so ill in my life).

 

Things I knew, but were reconfirmed…..I am a mango whore. The avocado girl. The sun goddess. The girl who loves life. 

 

And in 2008 – each day I feel in love with my husband a little bit more each day.

 

I look forward to 2009. In fact I’m looking forward to waking up in a New Year. I will be asleep at midnight, due to the mysore practice in the morning. 

 

I don’t set resolutions, easily broken within the first 48 hours. 

 

Tonight at Yoga Thailand there will be a fire ceremony. On a piece of paper I have written all I am grateful for and what I am happy to let go of for this last year. On a separate piece of paper I have written desires, goals for the coming year. These aren’t things that I expect to change as clocks strike midnight – I need to work towards these and see what how the universe and I align with all. 

 

The one thing I do PROMISE is regular blog entries with photos. More recipes, thoughts, ideas. I find writing this blog therapeutic and when I receive emails I’m grateful to have connected with someone.

 

As I sit next to the ocean, on this cloudy day on Koh Samui, looking out at the tide, and being surrounded by beauty – I wish you all a wonderful 2009. Happiness and love now and always.

xxxxx

Christmas Cheer from Thailand

Feels strange. Doesn’t really feel like Christmas, which is kind of nice. If we were in Japan, hubby and I would be working. Yet, there is a little sadness that I’m not with family in the UK. 

We headed out to the mountains to see some waterfalls. There were elephants treks there. Obviously, we didn’t take one as it is cruel. I did see one of the handlers hit one of the elephants with a stick for wandering off track slightly and I nearly burst into tears. The elephants look very sad. I hoped my face spoke to them as they sauntered passed me. I just wanted to set them free amongst the trees. 

Animals are not here for our entertainment. 

Animals are not here to be eaten.

Daily Munchings

The usual – spiralina and coconut, banana

After our climb to the waterfall, we happily drank coconut water and then munched on the meat

Green salad for dinner.

Really not that hungry today. 

My Practice

Was raining this morning, so the heat was different in the shala. More humid and my practice was great. Absolutely loved being on the mat. The pranayama session, just before the asana practice felt more connected. My breath was reaching places it didn’t normally reach. My concentration was deeper -and it continued right into the asana flow. 

Always reaching a new level in a pose, and enjoying the opening of the body. How slow can I take the breath? How far can the body open? How much can I lift my heart?

Learning as always.

Am lucky to have such great teachers.

 

Will download photos tomorrow. Share some of the magic I am surrounded by.

Am reading The Secret - perfect way to lead into 2009.

Colonic tomorrow.

Enjoy your Christmas everyone.

Hugs to Suvine (you sexy raw girl).

xxxxx

Angels

Everyday I choose an angel card. Have been doing so for over a year now. When I travel I take them with me. They speak to me. I learn from them. I like to flick through the pack sometimes and just look at the messages and focus on the pictures. I have a particular way of choosing my daily angel – the way I wish to keep secret, but there is one card that seems to come to me more often than the others and this really has helped me decide on my next venture. A venture essential to yoga, without it there is no yoga. More will be told in my New Year post.

Daily Munchings (wheatgrass and spirulina had run out this morning)

Before practice – 6.00am – MSM in water

Breakfast (10-ish) – Coconut (straight after my practice), 1 banana, Pineapple, ginger and coriander juice (amazing)

Lunch – (2.30-ih) – Apple, celery, carrot and parsley juice – perfect 

Dinner (6.00- ish) green salad and avocado

Am finishing eating before 7, making sure my body has time to digest prior to sleep.

My practice

I felt strong, connected. really flowed with the breath today. Hadn’t felt this strong for a long time. Yes, I have asanas to keep working deeper in, but the natural heat here really helps the body organically melt into a pose, while the muscles stay alive. 

I try and spend more than five breaths in poses where my body needs to open. Sometimes if I’m loving a pose I will spend longer in it. The mysore practice is a self practice. Work with where your body is at. I have never understood why people zoom their way through. Surely they are missing the beauty of the practice. As a teacher, I also listen to my body so I know how to explain deeper details of sensations arising to my students.

Every time I come to my mat I fall in love with yoga a little bit more.

Other things

The food at Yoga Thailand is vegetarian and 98% vegan. Low sugar, low fat. Healthy, organic produce. The first year I came here I was toying with becoming vegan (having been vegetarian for 20 years). The next time I was here I was more or less raw, so the staff would allow me to use the kitchen and use the fruit and veggies to make whatever I wanted. Now with the new place, (and because I am frequently here I think), the chef is playing with some raw recipes, which I have been asked to sample – of course I am happy to oblige. I have already sampled a soup, which was lovely just recommended adding a little bit of tumeric to add a bit of ZING. 

So if anyone fancies a yoga retreat, but are worried about food, please know that Yoga Thailand will accommodate your needs.

I need to sleep now. Up early to meditate and listen to my angel before practice.

xxx 

HOME

Sorry to have neglected you dear blog. I reason is clear and simple. I had too many ideas, too many things I wanted to say and get done and really didn’t know how to get it all down. Now all seems a little clearer. Angels are guiding me. 

I’m back in Thailand at the new Yoga Thailand.   Now on the south side of Koh Samui. Although the surroundings are a little unfamiliar, just being back here I know I am home. And that is why all seems a little clearer. The madness of Tokyo is far away for the next two weeks. 

I’m here deepening my meditation practice. Working on my pranayama and of course there is my physical asana practice to deepen. On top of that is the glorious fruits that surround me.

Daily Munchings

One hour before class I have MSM and water. Following class as shot of wheatgrass and the spirulina and coconut (am in heaven).

A banana

Juice – orange and mint

Mango and banana

And a lot of water. Important to sip and not gulp, despite wanting to keep the body rehydrated. 

Am mindfully eating. Not wanting to waste food and to eat wit happiness and gratitude.

Hubby and I are off for colonics on Friday. Staring the New year nice and cleansed. Will be back here in march for training so will have another one then.

Am also doing a Reiki level 1 training on Sunday and if I get time before I leave (Jan 5th), may try and squeeze in Level 2. When back in March will do the next level.

2009

Have a lot coming up and I feel it will be a magnificent year. 

Check back tomorrow.

xxxxx

am here

Have been on vacation in the UK.

Will update over the weekend.

 

love and smiles

Day 7 – Loving Life

Is impossible for me to blog at daily. There is so much going on, so much to write but my schedule really doesn’t allow the time. Maybe I should just blog what I have consumed on a daily basis and write more when I can? Maybe that is what I will do.

So, yes day 7. Body brushing. Cold(ish) showers. Daily salt water purging. MSM taken every morning. Arm healed, so back on the mat. Lots of greens, Vita-mix and juicer always on the go. Tomorrow is my water cleanse again.

Any detox symptoms? A few headaches, but I’m not sure if this is due to the cleanse or because of the humidity and the fabulous storms we have been having here. I have natural tiger balm, so I use that when I feel a headache coming on. I’m tired, more so then usual – but again it is HOT and I’m teaching nearly double the amount of classes. Urine is clear. My period lasted just three days (usually four).

Of late there have been a couple of people in my life making me unhappy. making me doubt myself. Not saying it is bad to question yourself from time to time – where you are going, your actions – but these people were just full of negativity. I found it draining. I would let these people get to me. Then all of of a sudden something happened. The one person, sent me an email last week- rather rude, no not rather – VERY RUDE. So, I thought no more, this is too tiring, I don’t need this and all of a sudden I had dettached myself from negativity that pours from this person. I just let it go. The second person, well lets just say they made a decision to step away and leave my hubby and I to live our lives the way we wish (after years of criticism). I feel amazing, fabulous. So appropriate that this all happened while I am cleansing too…..

I started to read David Wolfe’s The Sunfood Diet Success System (again – how times is that now?) and appreciated the first three lessons of the books so much more. That tends to happen anyway when you re-read something, something shifts, you find another level.

Hosted my first yoga workshop on Saturday. A huge success – can’t believe how well it went. Have received some lovely feedback and there may be a chance for me to present it again.

I am simply shining.

Am on a high.

Raw Munchings

• water with a spoonful of MSM
• cucumber and nashi juice (yeah nashi season is nearly here)
• water melon juice
• later – spinach, parsley and banana (maybe with spirulina)

Have a great day.

smile

Mx

What better way to start…Day 1 (Weds)

Back on track. Started with a 24 hour water cleanse. Considering the hectic day I was full of energy at 10pm last night.

During the first week I’m starting each day with Vaman Dhauti a yoga cleansing technique for the stomach. Not the most pleasant of things, but over time you get used to it and it becomes easier. It is basically vomiting salt water. A LOT of water. You should feel great after. Removes any nastiness in the stomach. If would read up on it before trying and speak to someone who practices this technique before trying it yourself.

So following the ‘purge’ I allowed my stomach to rest for a while.

The rest of the day follows like this.

• Water with MSM
• water
• water
• water
• water
• water

I kind of lost count of how much water I drank as I was subbing two extra classes yesterday and was sipping here and there through class.

I didn’t get to do my own practice as my shoulder hurts and I was doing a lot when teaching and adjusting. My body is wanting to heal, so I will let it do just that.

xx

It didn’t quite start

What with all the peaches, melons, kiwis in season at the moment I had difficulty getting on this smoothie/juice path.

Another thing, I felt I didn’t have enough ideas, creativity (I’m a dancer/choreographer/yoga teacher??) – something wasn’t fitting. I needed to do more reading and I had to figure out how I was going to work round it all with my August schedule. I think I may have it sorted. FINALLY! So I intend to start tomorrow.

My dear friend is currently in the air on her way to California. She is off to a farmers market later this week. Will be stopping by Cafe Gratitude. She was talking about all the fabulous organic produce and wanted to know what she could bring back for me. As most of you know I try and remain positive about living raw here in Japan. It can be done – but I wish it were easier, or maybe not easier just more FUN. I dream of huge farmers markets. I remember watching Gordon Ramsey, and him visiting farmers markets in France and in the Uk- the ones here just aren’t  like the ones back home. There isn’t the sparkle, the interest the passion for fresh, healthy organic food. I question myself at times, or more I question moving elsewhere. Then I think the raw movement needs a push here and I need to stay here to aid that push. I dream one day i can walk in to a regular cafe and order a juice – one made in front of me. Maybe it will be MY raw food and juice bar.

My Munchings

It is HOT, HOT, HOT – HUMID, HUMID, HUMID so I am drinking WATER, WATER, WATER

• Watermelon juice
• Sugar lettuce, parsley, spirulina and banana smoothie
• banana
• peach

The heat is great for a natural cleanse during yoga.

Smoothie Delay

I head to the UK in two months, so decided to count down to my vacation with a two month smoothie and juice feast. Just seemed perfect. Return home all vibrant, full of energy.

As I mentioned before I intend to drink about two quarts of green smoothie or juice and a fruit juice or smoothie. Why did I decide to change the focus of this you may asked?  Well, with watermelon season in full flow I knew I would crave watermelon juice. Wednesday will still be my water fast day.

So tomorrow it will start and hubby is going to be on it about 80%. Will update daily.

I miss writing my blog- am putting more time aside to ensure I post an entry.

In the meantime here are some recent pictures.

Earth Day Market – July 2008 – Yoyogi Park – Tokyo

organic eggplants – the stall holder gave us one free

The farmer we bought the zucchini from gave us some potatoes for free – we don’t eat potatoes so gave them to my yoga teacher

Great veggie poster

Creating my mini farm on my urban balcony

Parsley

Cherry toms

And my dinner tonight – Parsley, Rocket and Peach Smoothie- green, green, green

Green Smoothie-ing…

…will start on Wednesday.

Over the weekend someone gave us a whole load of lovely goodies – portobello  mushrooms, lychees – things I can’t use during my smoothie/juice feast. so all is nearly finished- so green day 1 will be tomorrow.