Let's Meditate, Chicago Yogis!

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Photos via The Pursuit Aesthetic and Pinterest.

Summer Solstice Meditation - Free!
Wednesday, June 20th. 8:30-9pm 
TruHarmony Yoga Chicago rooftop
900 North Franklin Ave. Suite #508, Chicago, IL 60610 

Climb up to see one incredible view of the city, as you wind down your day with a calming and restorative guided meditation at sunset. No experience necessary.

Who's with me? :)

Like or Dislike: Subscription Boxes

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Photos via Pinterest, Elephantine and Simone Coppola.

Do any of you guys subscribe to subscription boxes like the ones at Quarterly and Birch Box? 

These healthy foods boxes suggested by the Greatist also look delicious.

I imagine the little gifts they send would be inspiring. A little something to get your creative juices flowing. Or just something fun to look forward to (like online shopping, only easier because you sign up once and then the mailings continue to come!).


If you have recommendations on subscription boxes, I'd love to hear. Also, if you know how to become a contributor to them, I'd love to know more. It would be fun to share more inspiring tidbits with you, readers.

Say, if I were to mail you a box, what would you love to see in it? 

Relax

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Photos via Oh Darling, Middle Child Complex, and My Morning Coffee. 


Start to let go. Now is the time. You'll be OK.
You'll come out stronger in the end.



You think you have to, but maybe you don't. 

Maybe there's something you can give up. Some space you can carve. Go ahead. The season is about to change. You can.



Just let yourself.

Yoga Inspiration: Getting Un-Stuck

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Photos via Amy Ippoliti on Facebook, Pinterest, and PrAna.

Occasionally we get stuck in a rut in yoga. Or in life, depending on how you look at it.


To get un-stuck, make a change. Even if it's minuscule. Choose to look at your mat a little differently.



Set up in a new spot in the room. Scoot a little closer to your neighbor. See how the energy shifts. See what's possible.

Choose to be a part of a new conversation.



You may find yourself doing something you've never done before. You may find that you're finally free.



Getting un-stuck starts by simply being open. Mind, body, spirit. 

Namaste.

Recent Eats

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There's nothing better than farm fresh foods in springtime. 
Stuff out of the earth. Like tomatoes.



Artichokes w/ lemon butter and pasta w/ parmesan.


Juice fixin's. 


Farm fresh eggs. 
Literally, from a farm in Wisconsin that a friend at work drives by on her way in. :)



Green curry.


Salad stuff.


More juice!


Pretty pear.


Green juice. With carrot froth.


Kombucha.


Good Belly and fresh mango.


Blueberry green tea. And of course lots of water on these hot days! :)


What are you eating lately, yogis?

Simplify

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We spend so much time plugged in. Little screens, glowing blue on our faces.

What if instead of holding your iPhone, you held a couple of fresh-cut flowers?

Give yourself time, the time you need. Unplug. Rest.

Be.

What if you washed tomatoes slowly, pausing to look out the window, not hurrying to eat... but instead relishing in the sound of the water dripping through the strainer...the smell of spring air wafting in the window...the quality of light as it glints off of things in the room?



The world is alive with beauty. Stop for a moment. Witness it.



Namaste.

PS Can you tell I spent the weekend cleaning the apartment, clearing out empty spaces? :) Mother's Day yoga also relieved my body of all knots of tension. It was a blissful class; more about that soon! Be well, friends.

Eat Clean: Nutrition for Yogis

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All photos via Pinterest.
What should I eat before and after yoga class?


This is a question I've pondered since the start of my practice, and by experimenting, I've learned how to better support my yoga by choosing a careful diet. 


You are what you eat, as they say, and this rings especially true when you're hanging out in a twist or forward fold and suddenly realize what you've put into your stomach is still sitting there, doing the yoga with you.
As you Bikram yogis know, things get even more interesting when the element of heat is thrown in!

Today I bring you a lovely guest post by writer Angelita Williams, who shares her perspective on ways to maximize the benefit of the foods you eat before and after class in order to get a great yoga flow.


 

Whether you have just started yoga or have been practicing for some time, it’s essential to maintain a diet that will support the yogic lifestyle. This includes eating at the right times and making sure to eat the right foods, both before and after class.

To give your body the fuel it needs to get through an entire yoga class, choose foods that will be healthy and robust, without weighing the body down. 


Never eat directly before class. If you eat too soon before practicing yoga, your digestive system will be working to process the food during your yoga session, making food more difficult to digest and your workout more difficult to sustain. 


Eating meals at least one hour before class (preferably two) is the best bet. Try to avoid heavy meals before class at all costs, just because it’s hard on your system. If you are going to be eating a heavy meal, try to do so 3-4 hours before class.





The best foods to eat before yoga class are light and easy to digest. It’s also great to load up on foods that fill you up but contain mostly water, like fruits and vegetables. Smoothies are perfect pre-workout snacks, and you can get protein, carbs, fiber and water all in one easy step. For a pre-session snack or meal, try blending yogurt, milk, strawberries, bananas, and flax seed for a delicious source of fuel and hydration. 


Another light option is a bowl of soup loaded with veggies. You will need some grains to help sustain your workout, but avoid overloading on dense grains, meats and fried items.


After your yoga session, replenish your body with the proper nutrition and hydration.
Post-session is the perfect time to take in the whole grains that you were craving beforehand. 


Things like long grain brown rice, rolled oats, and whole grain pasta help to refuel your system. Along with grains, it’s also a great time to have some high-protein foods such as beans and lean meats. 


Also, try to add some iron in the form of fruits and vegetables, like bananas or spinach. Try to shoot for a balanced mix of grains, protein, and vegetables to restore blood sugar levels. You can also bring a snack to class with you so you have something on hand right after you finish. Try bringing along a carbohydrate bar (watch the sugar content) or some fresh squeezed juice to pour on ice.




If you know that you will be doing a more strenuous yoga session, then it’s important to plan ahead and make sure you have enough snacks on hand to get the fuel you need. You will want to eat enough carbohydrates to get through the workout and also add a small amount of protein for added fuel. 


It doesn’t take much food to energize your body; it’s just important to eat the right kinds of foods at the right time. Eat a small snack before your session, with enough carbs to fit in the palm of your hand. 


Things like trail mix or bread with peanut butter have healthy carbs and protein. It’s also a good idea to bring some form of replenishment in case you need something during class. Some fruit juice or a protein shake will travel well and can be sipped mid-session, as long as you're not in a Bikram class. 


  
This guest post was contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online courses.  


Comments? Questions? Feel free to post below, or you can reach Angelita at angelita (dot) williams7 (at) gmail (dot) com.

What are your favorite pre- and post-yoga snacks?

Farmer's Market Bounty: Episode 1

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Photos by me.

Saturday the Farmer's Market in Evanston opened. Even though it was grey and misty out, I couldn't have been more excited to walk over and check out all the fresh foods, beautiful plants, and curious folk.



I love that there is a hustle and bustle going on, but I can walk around on my own and observe all the details there are to see. 

Witnessing the color of a mushroom I've never seen before. Taking in the texture of a stalk of willow, the way the fuzziness reminds me of a blanket on my couch. Stopping for a minute to smell the scent of freshly baked bread as it mixes with the aroma of coffee brewing.

  

During my visit I enjoyed a delicious all-fruit blueberry smoothie from the Seedling stand, and a fresh-baked chocolate croissant.

The bounty I brought home included purple asparagus, rhubarb, and a handmade portabella red pasta sauce.



Of course there was no choice but to make a strawberry rhubarb crisp right away and serve it with some vanilla ice cream... mmmm. The photo does not do it justice! :)
  

I'm happy to report the asparagus was a huge success, too, and I'll be back for more next weekend. I think this year I'm going to take a photo of each market bounty I bring home, too. Stay tuned for more fresh, green goodness coming soon to Alive in the Fire. Namaste.