Fruity Kale Smoothie - Instant nutritious Yoga food

Kale Pineapple Banana Smoothie

• 2 cups frozen pineapple

• 2 cups chopped kale

• 2 frozen bananas

• ½ cup almond milk

• 1 cup coconut water

• 1 Tbs soaked chia seeds

• 1 - 2 scoops Protein Powder

• Fresh peppermint leaves

Toss all ingredients into a blender. Blend into a creamy consistency.

Enjoy..!
Recipe: YMSA

Kale is being called “the new beef”, “the queen of greens” and “a nutritional powerhouse.” Here are ten great benefits of adding more kale to your diet:

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat. One cup of kale has only 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat. It is great for aiding in digestion and elimination with its great fiber content. It’s also filled with so many nutrients, vitamins, folate and magnesium as well as those listed below.

2. Kale is high in iron. Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef. Iron is essential for good health, such as the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more.

3. Kale is high in Vitamin K. Eating a diet high in Vitamin K can help protect against various cancers. It is also necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions including normal bone health and the prevention of blood clotting. Also increased levels of vitamin K can help people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids help protect against various cancers.

5. Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support. Eating more kale can help lower cholesterol levels.

7. Kale is high in Vitamin A.Vitamin A is great for your vision, your skin as well as helping to prevent lung and oral cavity cancers.

8. Kale is high in Vitamin C. This is very helpful for your immune system, your metabolism and your hydration.

9. Kale is high in calcium. Per calorie, kale has more calcium than milk, which aids in preventing bone loss, preventing osteoporosis and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Vitamin C is also helpful to maintain cartilage and joint flexibility

10. Kale is a great detox food. Kale is filled with fiber and sulfur, both great for detoxifying your body and keeping your liver healthy.

For more healthy recipes go here www.ymsau.blogspot.com.au

Visit our facebook page for current class details, like, comment and rsvp for class.

If you are interested in ukulele you might like to visit our blog:

http://www.palmbeachukulelegroup.blogspot.com.au/

Namaste..!

Article: mindbodygreen.com

Photo: greenreset.com

Karma - Yoga Palm Beach

Karma
 
*    "What goes around comes around"

*   "As ye sow, so shall ye reap"

*   "For every action there is a reaction"

The word Karma means action, what is implied by this term - is this law; that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, either on the gross physical level, or on the subtle level. As long as we have a human form we are held responsible for our actions and must reap the reactions sooner or later, now or in the future.

Akarma

which means no reaction.

If you would like to learn more about Akarma and the simple and enjoyable practice of yoga meditation, leave a comment below along with your details and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Check out our Yoga timetable for an activity and time that suits your schedule. Rsvp, by going to our facebook page, yogameditationstudiopalmbeach  we are ready and willing to help. See you in class. Have a great day.

Namaste

Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife -Yoga Palm Beach

Trees reduce violence
Neighbourhoods and homes that are barren have shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Trees and landscaping help to reduce the level of fear.

Trees mark the seasons
Is it winter, spring, summer or fall? Look at the trees.

Trees create economic opportunities 
Fruit harvested from community orchards can be sold, thus providing income. Small business opportunities in green waste management and landscaping arise when cities value mulching and its water-saving qualities. Vocational training for youth interested in green jobs is also a great way to develop economic opportunities from trees.

Trees are teachers and playmates
Whether as houses for children or creative and spiritual inspiration for adults, trees have provided the space for human retreat throughout the ages.

Trees bring diverse groups of people together
Tree plantings provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. All cultures, ages, and genders have an important role to play at a tree planting or tree care event.

Trees add unity 
Trees as landmarks can give a neighbourhood a new identity and encourage civic pride.

Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife
Sycamore and oak are among the many urban species that provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees, possums and squirrels.

Trees block things
Trees can mask concrete walls or parking lots, and unsightly views. They muffle sound from nearby streets and freeways, and create an eye-soothing canopy of green. Trees absorb dust and wind and reduce glare.

Trees provide wood 
In suburban and rural areas, trees can be selectively harvested for fuel and craft wood.

Trees increase property values 
The beauty of a well-planted property and its surrounding street and neighbourhood can raise property values by as much as 15 percent.

Trees increase business traffic

Studies show that the more trees and landscaping a business district has, the more business will flow in. A tree-lined street will also slow traffic – enough to allow the drivers to look at the store fronts instead of whizzing by.

Planting  trees is a worthwhile investment of time and money. Invest in the future of our children and mother earth.

 

 Yoga Meditation 

If you would like to get some information on the practice of  yoga meditation, you are most welcome to contact us. Leave a comment and your details below, we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Check out our Yoga timetable for an activity and time that suits your schedule. Rsvp, by going to our facebook page, yogameditationstudiopalmbeach  See you in class. 

Namaste

Retreat Yoga Meditation ... Last Saturday in April

YOGA MEDITATION RETREAT APRIL

10am - 4pm Saturday 27th April 2013

NO YOGA MEDITATION RETREAT IN MARCH DUE TO THE EASTER HOLIDAYS

Our Yoga Palm Beach Day Retreats are pretty informal, relaxed and alot of fun. Our program and times are flexible allowing everything to flow nicely.

*Short talks - Yoga Wisdom * Learn Meditation & Pre-meditation techniques * Group singing meditation * Gauranga Breath awareness * Om Hari Om Practise * Pranayama * Hatha Yoga class * Yoga Nidra class * Massage * Simple AND delicious Vegetarian Lunch, Herbal Teas, Pure water.

Short Talks On the history of yoga and the spiritual side of yoga.

Meditation

One of the meditations we will practise will be a group activity. Group meditation to music is traditionally known as kirtan. Simply put - the singing of sacred yoga mantras generally accompanied by guitar, or other instruments.

A nice description of the meaning of Kirtan is - The sound of the soul singing. A lovely ancient practice which helps us to re-connect with our higher awareness.This powerful practise can draw us into a profound state of deep meditation and joy. A truly heartfelt communication causing the sleeping spiritual essence of a person to awaken and flourish.

On the physical level singing is very therapeutic, it is good for our cardiovascular system, increases our lung capacity, helps reduce stress and has a powerful effect on our moods.

Combining singing with yoga mantras creates a very potent combination. By relaxing into the sound we can experience the soothing waves of spiritual energy from our meditation. This gives us the heart connection and deep peace that we're always seeking.

If you are a fan of yoga or even if you have never been to a yoga class before, here's an opportunity for you, come join in on the day. Stretch, strengthen and find your yoga breath.

The introductory yoga class will be flowing and gentle. You will be in safe hands, just let the teacher know if you have any body issues. If you are under a doctors care get the go ahead from them to be doubly sure it is safe for you to practise yoga.

We will practise yoga nidra or sleep yoga to achieve a sense of refuge, deep rest and rejuvenation. This is a very popular class, once you have tried it you will understand why.

I can assure you it's a blissfully relaxing experience, you will feel really great afterwards. This practise helps to relieve stress, tension, and anxiety. Come along and try it for yourself.

We will practise Pranayama or breath awareness. You will find it to be a very healthy, simple practise you can easily add to your collection of natural health aids which will benefit the overall wellbeing of yourself and your family.

These timeless practises are powerful and effective. The techniques are so straight forward and simple that you will find you can easily slot them into your daily routine.

You can take the skills that you learn and continue with your practise at home. In this way you will be able to keep the yoga meditation experience with you until you have the opportunity to come back and practise with us again.

The consistent practise of your meditation will ensure that you keep experiencing all of the health giving benefits for body mind and spirit. You will be less stressed, more focused, balanced and enlivened.

Hatha yoga asanas, yoga nidra, pranayama, etc,. are all pre-meditation techniques greatly benefiting body and mind. Singing meditation or kirtan takes care of the 'soul' or "spirit" component of our wholistic practise. A melodious voice is not necessary. It's all about the beautiful yoga mantras and our meditation upon the divine sounds.

Vegetarian Meal
Simple AND Delicious Vegetarian Lunch - Wholesome nutritious and delicious.

(This is a photo of one of the raw deserts that was served at the Retreat.)

To book in or for further details

Txt 0468344108

There are limited spaces so they will be allocated on a first come basis. We keep this group small and friendly at 16 spaces total.

Sorry there will be no refunds (so please be sure you want to attend before booking in and paying). If you have to cancel rest assured you will be able to attend any of the Yoga Meditation Retreats held during the year, so don't worry. You will have a whole year of retreats to choose from, this means you can pop in at any time, simply choose a month that will suit your schedule.

All payments need to be in by Friday 19th April 2013 at the latest or sooner if possible to gaurantee a spot.

Cost for this Yoga Meditation Retreat is $40- All inclusive.

Learn something new and exciting. Breathe, stretch, relax, & eat yumi food.

Namaste

Sleep Yoga and meditation for deep relaxation and rejuvenation

Sleep Yoga guided meditation

If you have been to a yoga class you will have experienced some yoga nidra before. Some teachers begin the class with yoga nidra as well as practise it at the end of the yoga class. In the final yoga relaxation part of most yoga sessions the teacher will invite all the students to lie on their mat in sarvasana, dead body pose. The students are then guided through a well planned sequence of deep peace relaxation talk, this settles the healing energy and helps everyone to unwind.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Relax Renew Replenish yoga nidra session I would strongly advise you do so. It is a very, very blissful relaxing experience not to be missed. The teacher will talk you through a routine in which you will be asked to pay attention to your breath and also pay keep a gentle awareness onattention to what is going on throughout your body. There is so much to it, I don't really want to spoil it for you, so my advise would be to pop along to a class when you can and immerse yourself in the experience.

I will just say that you will notice the tension you are holding in your body and be able to let it go, exhale it away on your outward breath. You will also notice your breath slowing and deepening, developing into a rejuvenating deep smooth wave of breath as you inhale and exhale. 

Students have commented that  they were not sure if they went to sleep or not, but were aware that they experienced a deep sublime form of relaxation, a state of heightened awareness while still being mindful of hearing everything the teacher said, including following the instructions at the end to stretch through fingers and toes. They were incredibly bemused by the fact that the hour spent lying on their yoga mat doing essentially nothing went by in a flash.

Yoga nidra is an excellent remedy for insomnia and anxiety. A number of students have shared the fact that they suffered from insomnia for years but after yoga nidra they were able to fall asleep happily in their beds and sleep for 7 - 8 hours or more.

We do have Yoga Nidra Cd's available for purchase if you are unable to come to class on a regular basis, just ask about them when you come and see us.

If you would like to find out more about the practice of  yoga meditation you can contact us. Leave a comment and your details below, we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Check out our Yoga timetable for an activity and time that suits your schedule. Rsvp, by going to our facebook page, yogameditationstudiopalmbeach  we are ready and willing to help. See you in class.

Namaste
Yoga Palm Beach

Lei Making Lesson - Yoga Palm Beach

The History And Traditions of the Hawaiian Lei

The lei custom was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by early Polynesian voyagers, who took an incredible journey from Tahiti, navigating by the stars in sailing canoes. With these early settlers, the lei tradition in Hawaii was born.

Leis were constructed of flowers, leaves, shells,seeds, nuts, feathers, and even bone and teeth of various animals. In Hawaiian tradition, these garlands were worn by ancient Hawaiians to beautify themselves and distinguish themselves from others. The Maile lei was perhaps the most significant. Among other sacred uses, it was used to signify a peace agreement between opposing chiefs. In a Heiau (temple), the chiefs would symbolically intertwine the green Maile vine, and its completion officially established peace between the two groups.
  A Custom of Aloha
Airport Lei Greeting With the advent of tourism in the islands, the lei quickly became the symbol of Hawaii to millions of visitors worldwide.During the "Boat Days" of the early 1900s, lei vendors lined the pier at Aloha Tower to welcome malihini (visitors) to the islands and kama'aina (locals) back home. It is said that departing visitors would throw their lei into the sea as the ship passed Diamond Head, in the hopes that,like the lei, they too would return to the islands again someday.

Today, visitors can easily bring back the nostalgia of old Hawaii by ordering a traditional flower lei greeting for their arrival at the airport. Greeters welcome visitors with a warm “aloha” and adorn them with beautiful fresh leis. It's a wonderful way to begin a Hawaiian vacation.Wearing leis at a wedding.
  Lei Etiquette

There are very few "rules" when it comes to wearing a Hawaiian lei. Anyone can wear one, anytime - there need not be an occasion. It is perfectly fine for one to purchase or make a lei for themselves. It is common for locals to have a nut, seed or shell lei on hand to wear on special occasions. And hats are often adorned with flower, fern or feather leis.

There are, however, a couple of "unspoken rules" one should know when receiving a lei for the first time. A lei should be a welcomed celebration of one person's affection to another. Therefore, always accept a lei, never refuse. The proper way to wear a lei is gently draped over the shoulders, hanging down both in front and in back. It is considered rude to remove a lei from your neck in the presence of the person who gave it to you, so if you must, be discreet.

Graduation leis

Lei giving is a regular part of any special occasion such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and graduations. It is not uncommon for a graduating senior to have so many leis around their neck that they can no longer see!

Lei or Leis?

The Hawaiian language does not distinguish between singular and plural. Therefore, the proper way to say the plural form of lei is actually just “lei.”

Leave a comment or fo here for more details on our classes

 Lei making class

During frangipani season only.

If you would like to learn how to make on of these amazing fragrant leis leave a comment or go to our facebook page to get more details on this or our classes.

Namaste

www.facebook.com/yogameditationstudiopalmbeach

Yoga Meditation Retreat - 10am - 4pm Saturday 23rd February 2013

Off to a great start 2013

Yoga Meditation Retreat

10am - 4pm Saturday 23rd February 2013

Our Yoga Palm Beach Day Retreats are pretty informal, relaxed and alot of fun. Our program and times are flexible allowing everything to flow nicely.

What's on offer:
*Short talks - Yoga Wisdom * Learn Meditation & Pre-meditation techniques * Group singing meditation * Gauranga Breath awareness * Om Hari Om Practise * Pranayama * Hatha Yoga class * Yoga Nidra class * Scalp massage * Simple AND delicious Vegetarian Lunch, A Main, Vege Brown Rice, Salad, Hor d Oeuvres, Condiments, Dessert, Fruit, Herbal Teas, Pure water. 

Short talks:
On the history of yoga and the spiritual side of yoga.

Meditation:
One of the meditations we will practise will be a group activity. Group meditation to music is traditionally known as kirtan. Simply put - the singing of sacred yoga mantras generally accompanied by guitar, or other instruments.

A nice description of the meaning of Kirtan is - The sound of the soul singing. A lovely ancient practice which helps us to re-connect with our higher awareness.This powerful practise can draw us into a profound state of deep meditation and joy. A truly heartfelt communication causing the sleeping spiritual essence of a person to awaken and flourish.

On the physical level singing is very therapeutic, it is good for our cardiovascular system, increases our lung capacity, helps reduce stress and has a powerful effect on our moods.

Combining singing with yoga mantras creates a very potent combination. By relaxing into the sound we can experience the soothing waves of spiritual energy from our meditation. This gives us the heart connection and deep peace that we're always seeking.

Hatha Yoga:
If you are a fan of yoga or even if you have never been to a yoga class before, here's an opportunity for you, come join in on the day. Stretch, strengthen and find your yoga breath.
The introductory yoga class will be flowing and gentle. You will be in safe hands, just let the teacher know if you have any body issues. If you are under a doctors care get the go ahead from them to be doubly sure it is safe for you to practise yoga. 

Yoga Nidra:
We will practise yoga nidra or sleep yoga to achieve a sense of refuge, deep rest and rejuvenation. This is a very popular class, once you have tried it you will understand why. I can assure you it's a blissfully relaxing experience, you will feel really great afterwards. This practise helps to relieve stress, tension, and anxiety. Come along and try it for yourself.

Pranayama:
We will practise Pranayama or breath awareness. You will find it to be a very healthy, simple practise you can easily add to your collection of natural health aids which will benefit the overall wellbeing of yourself and your family.

These timeless practises are powerful and effective. The techniques are so straight forward and simple that you will find you can easily slot them into your daily routine.

You can take the skills that you learn and continue with your practise at home. In this way you will be able to keep the yoga meditation experience with you until you have the opportunity to come back and practise with us again.

The consistent practise of your meditation will ensure that you keep experiencing all of the health giving benefits for body mind and spirit. You will be less stressed, more focused, balanced and enlivened.

Hatha yoga asanas, yoga nidra, pranayama, etc,. are all pre-meditation techniques greatly benefiting body and mind. Singing meditation or kirtan takes care of the 'soul' or "spirit" component of our wholistic practise. A melodious voice is not necessary. It's all about the beautiful yoga mantras and our meditation upon the divine sounds.

Vegetarian Meal:
Simple AND Delicious Vegetarian Lunch - Wholesome nutritious and delicious.

To book in or for further details Txt 0468344108

There are limited spaces so they will be allocated on a first come basis. We keep these Yoga Meditation Retreats small and friendly catering for 16 maximum. As of today 21st January there are only 6 spaces left.

Sorry there will be no refunds (so please be sure you want to attend before booking and paying). If for some reason you have to cancel, don't worry you will have 9 more opportunities during the year to come to one of our rejuvenating monthly yoga meditation retreats. (March - November.) This means that you will be able to pop along anytime at your leisure - simply pick a month that suits your schedule and confirm your booking.

All payments need to be in by Friday 15th February 2013 at the latest or sooner if you want to gaurantee your spot.

Cost for this Yoga Meditation Retreat is $40- All inclusive.

 

Learn something new and exciting. Breathe, stretch, relax, & eat yumi food.

 

Namaste

Trees Benefits of - Yoga Palm Beach

Tree Facts - Environmental Benefits

• Trees intercept and slow storm water, decreasing the likelihood of flooding and erosion, and improving water quality

•  Large trees have a greater benefit in terms of reducing pollution than small trees

• Trees, shrubs, hedges and grasses have a positive effect on the environment by the transpiration of water and the emission of oxygen by photosynthesis

• Plantings around buildings are a proven method of reducing the demand for artificial heating and cooling with a resultant, and important, lower use of fossil fuels.

• Greenery provides ‘white noise’ reducing the effects of man-made sounds

• Haven’t we all driven around looking for that shady spot to park on a hot summer day!

•  Trees and other plantings can reduce asphalt temperatures of carparks by as much as 13°C, and cabin temperatures by 17°C.

• 500 trees are required to absorb the 5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emitted by a 4 cylinder car driven 20,000 kilometres.

• 30 to 40 mature trees are required to store the carbon produced by one person.

• Tree canopy on private land is declining at a rate of 5% per year.

 

Practicing Yoga Meditation outside surrounded by trees, with the suns warming rays on your skin and the birds singing their merry song. How wonderful is nature, a meditation in itself. A time to give thanks and be grateful for the Creator the original cause of all causes.

Check your schedule and our timetable, take some time out - come yoga and meditate with us.
Namaste

Patience - Benefits of - Yoga Palm Beach

Meditation And Patience:

1 – The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2 – An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.

3 – Quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

It's been said that patience is a virtue. Why? Here’s one explanation:

Patience is a virtue because it makes us better people. The definition of the word is to tolerate delay. This implies self control and forbearance as opposed to wanting what we want when we want it. How many times have we jumped the gun and found out it would have been better to tolerate delay or to have had self control?

What are the benefits of being patient? Recent studies have found the following:

Benefits of Meditation in Developing Patience

1 – Reduces stress levels. When you learn and practice patience you don’t get as angry, stressed or overwhelmed.

2 – Results in better decision making. Take the time to assess the situation, see the big picture, and weigh any pros and cons. The chances of making a big mistake lessen because you avoid making it in haste.

3 – Helps develop understanding, empathy and compassion. Patient people take the time to process what they go through and are able to determine what it takes to overcome obstacles so they are more understanding of others. This can result in better relationships with your spouse, friends and children.

4 – Helps you understand and appreciate the process of growth. Planning, growth, evaluation and measurement all take time, and taking time takes patience.

Meditation helps with paitience, what else can I do:

1 – Develop realistic expectations

2 – Realize that setbacks are only temporary

3 – Employ a problem solving attitude instead of choosing to be a victim

4 – Avoid bitterness

5 – Have faith that you can overcome a difficult situation

6 – Be aware of triggers that cause you to become impatient. If it’s something you can change, take steps to change it. If not, then adjust your attitude and mindset accordingly.

Physicians always recommend meditation for health problems and disorders. It's a proven fact that the regular practice of meditation helps with so many problems. Take some time out to day for your practice. If you are new to meditation we can help, leave a comment and your details and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Alternately, why not check out our Timetable and come see us. We look forward to practicing Yoga and meditation with you soon.

Check out our Yoga timetable for an activity and time that suits your schedule. Rsvp, by going to our facebook page, yogameditationstudiopalmbeach   See you in class.

Namaste

Yoga Food - Yoga Palm Beach

Yummy Healthy Cheesecake

I've been spending a little bit of time searching online for raw vegan desserts lately (my current passion.) 

I found this very scrumptious looking recipe. It's one from this blog sweetlyraw.com When you have time go and have a look. There are lots of very inviting raw vegan recipes all of which look beautiful. 

Very healthy and delicious. I'm sure you will agree. Perfect Yoga Food.

Raw Caramel Apple Cheesecake

More fall flavors to share today! Who doesn't love the caramel apple combo?! It's a classic and even more perfect for this time of year. For literally years I've wanted to create this recipe. I'm so glad I finally did because it's a keeper. I'm going to make it again for Christmas.

This raw dessert is packed with apples all the way around. Dried apples in the crust, fresh apples in the filling, and both fresh and dried apples in the topping. Hey, I'm just trying to take advantage of Autumn's freshness! Mmmm....

Sweet smooth cheesecake with juicy apple chunks and thick caramel sauce with crunchy pecans on top.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Raw - Vegan - Gluten Free

Crust

I used 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon in my crust, as I wanted it to be a soft background flavor. Use more if you want a more defined flavor. You could do without the dried apples, but they really do create a unique crust that goes so well with the whole cheesecake.

2/3 cup almonds
1/4 cup pitted dates
3 tablespoons finely chopped, packed dried apples
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
1/2-1 teaspoon water

Grind the almonds in a food processor.
Add the dates and process together into a dough.
Pulse in the apples, cinnamon, and enough water to create a dough that will hold together when pressed.
Press most of the mixture into two small (3-4") cheesecake pans (I had a bit extra for an "apple nut ball" - chef's treat ;) OR press into a bunch of mini silicone muffin cups.

Filling

The filling is great by itself but if you want a cinnamon swirl, simply remove 3 tablespoons of the blended filling and add 1/2-3/4 teaspoon cinnamon to it. After pouring the filling over the crusts, spoon small blobs of the cinnamon mixture over the filling. Use a chopstick to push the mixture down into the cake and then swirl it around.

2 cups peeled, diced apples
3/4 cup cashews
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons melted coconut butter
4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
Pinch of salt

Blend the first 5 ingredients until completely smooth.
Add the butter and oil. Blend again to incorporate.
Pour over the crusts.
Chill in the fridge for 12 hours, or in the freezer for 5-6 hours and in the fridge for 1-2 hours before removing the ring.

Caramel
 

This is the easiest caramel sauce ever and super delish. If you have any of my raw dessert ebooks, you know that I love caramel featuring dates but this easy recipe can be stirred together in a bowl.

1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons lucuma, sifted
3 1/2 tablespoons almond butter*
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

Add the maple, almond butter, and vanilla to a small bowl. Sift the lucuma over top. Stir in.

*A note about the almond butter - I use Dastony stone ground almond butter that is basically like silk. Creamier and silkier than any nut butter I've come across. You may have to adjust for consistency if using other brands that are thicker. Maybe 1/2 - 1 tsp water to thin.

Caramel Apple Topping

1 large apple, peeled and diced small
1 tablespoon finely chopped dried apple
Caramel (above)

Toss the apples with enough caramel to suit your liking! Extra caramel can be used to drizzle over other things, or eaten with sliced apples. It won't last long ;)

Great for thanksgiving or Christmas!

Yoga Meditation Retreat 24th November 2012 - Yoga Palm Beach

An Invite to the LAST Yoga Meditation Retreat for 2012
Saturday 24th November 
10am start until 4pm

 Our Yoga Palm Beach Day Retreats have been alot of fun. Our program and times are flexible but everything manages to flow on nicely.  

There will be a talk on the history of yoga and the spiritual side of yoga. We practise a number of meditation techniques, all of which are very simple. And all of which bring peace and tranquillity to the mind and satisfaction and joy to the heart. 

These timeless practises are powerful and effective. The techniques are so straight forward and simple that you will find you can easily slot them into your daily routine. You can take the skills that you learn at the yoga meditation retreat and continue with your practise at home. In this way you will be able to keep the yoga meditation experience with you until you have the opportunity to come back and practise with us again. The consistent practise of your meditation will ensure that you  keep experiencing the benefits, all of the health giving benefits for body mind and spirit. You will be less stressed, more focused and more balanced.

We will practise yoga nidra or yoga sleep for deep rejuvenation and rest. This is a very popular class, once you have tried it you will understand why. Check this blog for a post on yoga nidra, also known as guided meditation. Read up on the benefits. I can assure you it's a blissfully relaxing experience. You will feel really great afterwards. This practise helps to release stress, tension, and anxiety. There's alot more to it, so come along and try it for yourself.

We will practise Pranayama or breath awareness. You will learn a few ways of how to practise it and how this lovely practise can benefit you and your family. There will be an explanation of what pranayama means and how this practise is beneficial for both body and mind. All of these yoga practises have many health benefits both physiological as well as psychological.

 And of course we couldn't have a yoga and meditation retreat without practising hatha yoga. 

 So, if you are a fan of yoga or even if you have never been to a yoga class before, you will have an opportunity to join in. Come along, stretch and find your yoga breath. What a great experience. All classes are gentle with a bit of a challenging edge. You will be in safe hands, just let the teacher know if you have any body issues. If you are under a doctors care it is always good to talk to your doctor first. Get the go ahead from them to be doubly sure it is safe for you to practise yoga. 

One of the meditations we will practise will be a group activity, group meditation to music. This means the singing of sacred yoga mantras with musical instruments. This is a very beautiful and very ancient practise. Getting together and singing

has many health giving benefits, some of which you may have read in the Yoga Palm Beach blog profile. In short singing is very therapeutic, it is good for our cardiovascular system, increases our lung capacity, helps to reduce stress and has a powerful effect on our moods. When we combine singing with yoga meditation it is a very potent combination, you will feel it for sure. You will find that you'll be able to relax into the sound and experience the soothing wave of spiritual energy from the meditation. This will give you the heart connection and deep peace that we are always seeking. It's always a wonderful experience for first timers and continues to get better each time we practise it.

Scalp Neck and Shoulder Massage by Carmen 

Our friend Carmen is a qualified beautician, she will take us through a power point presentation and explain to us how to massage the scalp, neck and shoulders. She will also briefly explain why massage is so beneficial for our health. We will then partner up and practise the techniques she has showen us on each other. We all know massage is good for us, it sure feels as though it's doing us the world of good while we're having one. The stress reducing effects can be experienced almost instantly. 

If we have time we are going to squeeze in a little introduction into Chakras also.

 Simple BUT Delicious Vegetarian Lunch

Not always sure what we will end up with - BUT it's always wholesome nutritious and delicious

The addition of tasty hors'dourves, good oils, salts, tahini and a squeeze of lemon PLUS a yummy raw dessert guarantees a winning combination.

SOME of the awesome foods we have had for lunch over the year 2012

Feel welcome to call us and book in, a brand new experience for some and a revisit for others. Doesn't matter, come along and dive in, learn something new and exciting. Practise pre-meditation techniques as well as learn about the yoga system and a couple of ways you can meditate. Immerse yourself in the day, have fun, stretch, relax and eat yummy food.

Call 0404076108 or 0468344108 for details

Namaste