The much touted nutritional benefits or raw cacao range from reducing cataracts to improving heart function to alleviating stress. Some claim that raw cacao is a mild, non-addictive stimulant that can treat depression. It may cause the brain to produce more of a neurotransmitter called anandamide which would account for the euphoric sensation some feel when indulging in chocolate. Raw Cacao is high in antioxidant flavanoids, sulfur and magnesium. Also the essential fatty acids found in chocolate may help the body to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol.
So lets switch to a raw cacao dessert. Anyone up for
Raw Cacao Bliss Balls?
1 1/2 Cups Almond Meal If you have a food processor you can make your own.
12 Dates Pitted
2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 Cup Raw Cacao
2 Tbs. Honey
1/2 Avocado
Blend all of the ingredients together and you get a yummy chocolate paste. Roll them in 2 inch balls . They are delicious. Similar to truffles but oh so much better for you. Only 120 calories!
I recently traveled to Kauai to hike the famed Na Pali Coast Trail. A very challenging 11 mile hike that ends at the spectacular Kalalau Beach. I had dreamed of this trip since my twenties when a young surfer friend described his recent trip to Kauai and the Na Pali Coast. It was the dreamy, far away look in his eyes that captured my imagination.
The mountains of Hanalei.Downtown Hanalei.
The small town of Hanalei Bay is the gateway to the Na Pali Coast and also evokes fond memories for me. As a young girl my dad would play the guitar and my sisters and I would gather round him to sing Puff the Magic Dragon. How surprised I was to find out that “Jackie Paper frolicked in the mists of Hanalei” was the same Hanalei Bay I was about to visit! The town held up to my childhood imaginings. The mountain range is very exotic and as it turns out was the back drop for the famous scene in the movie South Pacific when the mysterious and haunting Bali Hai is sung by Juanita Hill. The town itself was sweet and non-commercial , with lots of grassy areas to eat and relax.
The first night on the trail.
The Napali Trail itself is difficult and treacherous. It begins with a two mile ascent walking on slippery, wet, lava rock that eats shoes. This part of the hike is well traveled and can be almost comic to see how ill prepared many of the tourists are for this type of hiking. We too were unprepared in that we should have packed much lighter. The trail is an exhausting up and down and the terrain demands a slow and thoughtful hike as the consequences of losing your footing can mean a 2000 foot drop into the Pacific Ocean. We had planned to camp at Honokua Valley but it was so dark and damp we stumbled another 100 yards up to a narrow ridge where we threw down our sleeping bags to watch the sunset. It was spectacular.
The crawl is scary.Kalalau at sunset.Music and singing at night.
The next day we planned to hike the remaining five miles with trepidation as we had been told there was a place on the trail so dangerous that it was referred to as “the crawl” because that is literally what you had to do to get safely past this part of the trail. With a forty pound back pack this proved to be more difficult than anticipated. To make matters worse the trail has these little small pebbles of lava rock that roll like marbles under your feet. Once past this part of the trail however it’s a gradual descent into one of the most beautiful and remote beaches I have ever been to. Kalalau can change you. As evident by the small community of individuals who look like they sprung out of the land. Lean, tanned, and relaxed with a ready smile. Some stay for weeks as the beach has a fresh water stream, fruit trees including Hawaiian Apples, oranges and passion fruit. There is often music at night where strangers gather around a fire to make friends and share hiking horrors.
The trail home was momentous in that we were gifted by the mysterious little people of Hawaii called Menehune. We stopped for water at one of the last fresh water streams before tackling “the crawl.” Hanging on a tree branch we saw a beautifully hand crafted bracelet made from the grasses along the trail. It was so camouflaged that even seeing it, was in itself, miraculous. We were not sure if was ours to take, but when it fit perfectly on my wrist, we decided it was a gift from the Menehune. The Menehune are the people who live in the deep forests and hidden Valleys of the Hawaiian Islands. When I slipped that bracelet on my wrist that is when the magic happened.
To this day we cannot remember when or if we passed the treacherous “crawl.” We were dreading that part of the trail when we found ourselves suddenly transported to the Honokua Valley refreshed, safe and almost home! Really, it was the strangest thing, and so in the spirit of Hawaii we thanked the little people for our easy deliverance back to civilization.
The trip to Kalalua was a spiritual journey beginning with the heart strings that pulled as I dropped into the beautiful town of Hanelei and ending with the mysterious gift from the Menehune. The land, the people, the mountain peaks and the ocean combine to renew the soul and change a person forever. I am so thankful for the opportunity to experience Kauai on foot, in the jungles and on its wild beaches. You must go!
Christmas eve was always a very big deal when I was growing up. It was a sacred evening full of wonderment and spiritual renewal. Christmas morning on the other hand was joy abounding, silliness, lots of presents and love. I carried on the tradition when I became a mother and so I have many cherished memories of this special day.
This year was going to be different. My daughter was out of the country and unable to renew her passport in time for Christmas. This, in addition to the recent dissolution of a twenty year marriage, meant I had to recreate Christmas day without my intimate family. It was remaking Christmas morning morning that I feared the most.
I woke when it was still dark and with candlelight I watched the sunrise and listened to Christmas music. There were no Christmas stockings this year. It wasn’t the stockings I missed but the snuggling in bed that went along with them. I surprised myself and felt a little guilty when I decided to put on my favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. I realize now it was my craving for family. Somehow Jimmy Stewart has always seemed like family to me.
Afterwards I focused on communion with self and nature. This meant enjoying my beautiful garden, practicing yoga and meditation and finally meeting up with friends in the afternoon for a hike.
My mantra for the day became “I am marrying myself.” The relationship with self is such an important starting place for all relationships and as an empty nester I am rediscovering myself. The day was beautiful and there was absolutely no discord. If, in fact, I was marrying myself, it’s a marriage that is harmonious and self nurturing. Both excellent affirmations for the New Year!
Often what initially appears simple has instead multiple layers of understanding. Like an onion it is our task to peel off the skin until we get to the heart of the matter. Non-attachment is such a concept for me.
What is it to love with non-attachment? I believe it is complete appreciation for the presence of our loved one in the here and now, without concerns or expectations for the future. It means complete freedom, not only for the object of our love but also for ourselves.
How does this principle play out in real life? It starts with good boundaries. Suppose my partner is inattentive to my needs? What is my best reaction to facilitate a loving outcome? Complaining to someone is usually perceived as judgement. Most people run from judgement. If instead I recognize meeting my needs is my own responsibility then I find other sources for love and connection. Although his lack of attention might disappoint me, I do not hold him responsible for my unhappiness because my life is rich in love and meaningful activities.
I can imagine this type of love might be baffling to a traditionalist. After all in our wedding vows we bind ourselves with words promising union until “death do us part.” I believe over a lifetime this binding contract can cause underlying resentments and even disease. In order for love to flourish it must be free to grow.
Non-attachment means something different for each one of us. Find out for yourself. Sit quietly, light a candle and ask the question what does loving with non-attachment look like to me? Then listen for ten minutes and the answer will come. It is my guess that, like me, your first response to this revelation will be a sense of joy and freedom.
When I was a young girl my father and I would explore the foothills of California. He often gently reminded me to “walk like an indian.” I knew instinctively what he meant. I should walk gently, feeling the earth beneath me by making every step a conscious act. Thich Nhat Hanh, an internationally famous Buddhist monk and peace activist also teaches conscious walking as a form of meditation.
Somewhere along my adulthood I forgot this pearl of wisdom. Even as a dancer my focus was extension as I reached for the ethers or the collective around me. Until recently I rarely thought about what lie beneath me. It was the teachings of Aletia Alvarez from the Madrona MindBody Institute that reminded me to focus downward. She began her class by identifying the tripod on the sole of the feet. The two opposite points on either side of the ball of the foot and the heel. She had us practice walking as if the earth were a sponge. She cultivated a sensitivity in our step that reminded me of the indian walk my father and I practiced. The effect for me was profound. We are made from the earth and there is a molten fiery energy we can draw from. It gives us power and grounds our actions.
How would the world be different if we all walked more gently on the earth or listened more deeply? I know I will try to do both in my life and in my dance.
One day while visiting my friend Jay Cook, chiropractor and philosopher extraordinaire, I watched fascinated as he cut an apple into small, approximately 1/3 ” cubes and used them as a breakfast cereal. It looked so yummy I went home and tried it myself. My constitution and especially my sensitive stomach loved it.
I embellished Jay’s recipe and created a Superfood Breakfast. The 3-Seed Granola which is sprinkled on top is full of omega-3 fatty acids. The seeds are loaded with vitamin E, B1 , magnesium, calcium – and tryptophan. Remember tryptophan converts to serotonin and helps elevate mood. The omegas are also anti inflammatory and essential for good bone and heart health. And finally by increasing my raw food intake at breakfast, my body naturally began to crave healthier choices throughout the day. Try Jay’s Superfood Breakfast for 7 days and feel the difference.
Jay’s Superfood Breakfast
1 Apple Cut in 1/3 ” cubes.
1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt
1/4 Cup Water
1 Small handful of raisins
1/2 Tsp Natural Sweetener (I recommend Birch Sugar)
1/2 Cup Honey (warmed with 1/4 cup of birch sugar if you like a sinless, yet sweeter granola.)
1 Cup Raisins
1 tsp. Sea Salt
Mix all the ingredients together. Spread on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 in 3-10 minute intervals stirring in between. The granola should be light golden. Scrape the granola immediately onto wax paper or foil or you will leave much of it on the pan. Don’t eat too much! It is only meant as a garnish. These are primarily seeds and while more nutritious than regular granola it is also richer, stickier and yummier. Enjoy.
On August 20, 2014 BKS Iyendar died a robust 95 year old. In 1952 he introduced yoga to the west and brought yoga from obscurity to the mass popularity we witness today. I always considered Iyengar my teacher. I only saw him once, in SanFrancisco, in the 1990s where he demonstrated how yoga can heal certain ailments. He was mesmerizing and I was inspired by his powerful presence and his vast knowledge.
I first studied yoga at the Iyengar Institutein San Francisco with Iyengar’s Master Student, Manouso, an enigmatic teacher who taught with a precision and intensity that appealed to me. I was an triathlete at the time and the detailed exploration of the poses’ alignment became a meditation for me. I also noticed a new grace in my walk and a greater sense of balance physically and emotionally.
Although having practiced since 1985, there have been long periods when I have forgotten my practice. Work, motherhood and even hiking became distractions but l always turned back to yoga during emotional turmoil or in response to health concerns. I consider yoga my spiritual home base.
Yoga is also my physical home base and precludes all my other activities. Hiking and dancing, my two passions, are supported by yoga. A straight spine and a strong flexible body are essential for good health. I am able to avoid injuries and explore the tightness, or the blockages and through breath and stretching heal myself. I am very grateful for the excellent teachers I have had over the years and I know that my yoga practice will enable me to grow old gracefully.
I think that sometimes there is a misconceptionabout spas. Granted we live in a workaholic society that thinks taking time for a massage or facial is an indulgence, but I can assure you that the majority of us in the business see theprimary benefit is to offer a healing experience. Touch and relaxation are powerful tools for getting back to one’s authentic self.
Spa Lifestyle integrates this sense ofhealing andwell being into all aspects of our life. For example, by changing my perceptionthat I was the boss to realizingthat I wasin service to my co-workers, I not only created more harmony, but revitalized my passion forthe business. We all have the potential to change our circumstances by changing our perceptions.
How can we take a sense of well being into all aspects of our life? There are a variety of ways. For some it may take the form of transparent communication. Speaking the truth can free one from resentment, which can be healing,and ultimately create greater intimacy. Bringing greater harmony to all aspects of our life is what I mean by Spa Lifestyle. The spa is great,but bring the sense ofhealing and well being to your home, workplace, relationships and most importantly to yourself.
The much touted nutritional benefits or raw cacao range from reducing cataracts to improving heart function to alleviating stress. Some claim that raw cacao is a mild, non-addictive stimulant that can treat depression. It may cause the brain to produce more of a neurotransmitter called anandamide which would account for the euphoric sensation some feel when indulging in chocolate. Raw Cacao is high in antioxidant flavanoids, sulfur and magnesium. Also the essential fatty acids found in chocolate may help the body to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol.
