Body Connection – Page 3

Productivity and Success

Procrastinators?

It’s easy to think of ourselves as procrastinators so we don’t have to take responsibility for our own laziness. The fact is, the sooner you get into the mindset of being better and doing more, you will be just that–better. Getting into a pattern of productivity and success at times seems daunting, but truthfully once we get the ball rolling it’s easier than putting things off.?

First things first. Get up at least a half and hour earlier than usual. This means getting to bed half an hour earlier every night. When we give ourselves more time to get ready in the morning it means we have more time to dive into our work.

Make a list

Making lists is a great way to actually see what you have on your plate for the day or week. We recommend getting yourself setup with a monthly or weekly calendar where you can list your to do’s. Checking things off can make you feel more accomplished and get your head in the game for future projects. Making schedules means you’re always looking ahead and thinking ahead.

Exercise!

This helps get your brain pumping in some endorphins to pick up your mood; plus the oxygen being sent through the heart and brain, will help you loosen up and make you feel more energized instead of the all day fatigue.

Try out some of these tips and let us know how it works for you.

Enjoy,

Skip

The Lotus Kitchen-Red and Napa Cabbage Saute

Red and Napa Cabbage Saute Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red pepper, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
2 cups red cabbage, sliced
2 cups napa cabbage, sliced
1 cup raw cashews, chopped
sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large frying pan or wok, sauté the garlic and onions until tender. Add the red peppers and sauté a few minutes longer. Add the cabbage; stir for three minutes – no longer. Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the sea salt and cayenne pepper. Place on serving platter and sprinkle with cashews. Serves 4.

The Practice: Mantra Yoga — The practice of repeating spiritual princi- ples and divine quality to anchor our consciousness into the One Mind of God. A great pose, that requires a man- tra of “Yes I Can,” is Eagle Pose. Eagle is one of the most challenging poses to practice. The practice is done while cooking this dish or practicing Eagle. You will create a mantra that activates the energy of “Yes.” And cabbage is a cool season crop with healing prop- erties and vitamins that allow you to soar. Its high Vitamin K properties are especially nourishing for bone health.

Eagle Pose (Garudasana) Instruction: Stand tall on the mat and extend both arms to reach to the sides of the room. Bring both arms in front of you until the right elbow is under the left continuing to wrap the arms around each other, joining the arms into the Namaste position. Sit back into Chair pose; option is to place the right knee over the left knee balancing on one leg. Option 2; wrap the ankle around the left calf. After 5 breaths, release the pose and contemplate the energy of the body. Then repeat on the other side.

The Lotus Kitchen-Quinoa Burger

This week’s recipe and yoga thought from my upcoming book, The Lotus Kitchen, is a delicious Quinoa Burger and for yoga practice we’ll explore to know thyself taking an adventure within. Each week I’ll showcase new recipes that explore and engage the meaningful pathway to empowerment through food and yoga. Stay tune next week for another recipe and more.

Quinoa’s superfood status is solid and researchers have recently taken a close look at certain antioxidants. Compared to cereal grasses like wheat, quinoa is higher in fat content and can provide valuable amounts of heart-healthy fats like monounsaturated fat (in the form of oleic acid). Quinoa can also provide small amounts of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) too! Enough of the science talk, let’s make it.

Quinoa Burger

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup hummus
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
10 basil leaves, chopped
2 sprigs thyme, chopped
Pinch cayenne pepper, to taste
Salt & pepper to taste
6 burger buns
Mixed greens to dress burger
Avjar Sauce

Blend all ingredients in a bowl or food processor. Divide burger mix into 6 equal portions and form into 4-inch patties. Grill on medium heat 5 minutes each side, until browned and firm. Place patties on buns and top with avjar and mix greens. Serves 6

Homemade Avjar

8-12 fresh red paprika (mild or medium-hot, to taste)
4 medium-size eggplants
½ cup olive oil
1 large onion, minced
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup parsley leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Roast the paprika and eggplants in a preheated 475 F oven until the skin is blistered and darkened, approximately thirty minutes. Remove from oven and place the now roasted vegetables in a paper bag and let them steam in their own heat for 10 minutes. Peel off and discard the burnt skin along with the stems and seeds. Mash the peppers and eggplant pulp together to form a slightly chunky mass. You can do this with a fork or in a food processor. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion until very soft. Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the pepper-eggplant pulp, mixing well. Slowly drizzle the remaining oil into the mixture, stirring constantly to incorporate all of the oil. Add the lemon juice, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

The Practice

This quinoa burger is a real treat. We often associate burgers with gatherings of family and friends and the informal joy of eating something a little messy with our hands. It is so important to enjoy life and indulge in the delights the Universe has in store for us. We must be willing to take the time to experience what we love when it come to food and when it comes to yoga. What’s your favorite pose? What your favorite type of yoga? Who is your favorite yoga instructor? The practice is simple; approach your practice as if it was an expression of joy. Do what you love. To know what practice activates happiness, you must be willing to get out there and explore. Exploration is a practice. To know thyself you must be willing to take an adventure within.

The Lotus Kitchen- Quinoa Tabouli

Welcome to The Lotus Kitchen, the title of my upcoming book with co-author Gwen Keannelly and a place where yoga and vegetarian cooking entwine. This week’s recipe is Quinoa Tabouli.

The Lotus Kitchen-Quinoa Tabouli

2 cups quinoa, cooked
1 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped scallions
2 tablespoons mint
2 tablespoons basil
3 garlic cloves, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup olives, sliced

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss together lightly. Chill for 1 hour or more to allow flavors to blend. Garnish with olives Serves 4

The Practice:

Traditionally tabouli, also spelled tabbouleh, is an Arab salad filled with Mediterranean delight. When exploring the connection of tabouli and yoga, we are reminded of what yoga is all about – the practice of seeing the Oneness of two things that appear to be separate. When connecting India and The Middle East, what better way than to do it with food and yoga. It takes a practice to experience the Oneness Consciousness. We must begin to see what cultures have in common instead of what separates us.

Thread the Needle Pose (Parsva Balasana) Instruction:

If you have stiffness and pain, this pose can provide relief by stretching and opening the shoulders, chest, arms, upper back and neck. It releases the tension that is commonly held in the upper back between the shoulder blades. This pose also provides a mild twist to the spine, which further reduces tension. Begin on all fours (table pose), with hands shoulder width apart. Turn the right palm upwards and thread the right hand underneath the left arm. Bring the right shoulder and the right side of the face toward the floor. Rest on the right cheek for three long breaths. Bring the left arm up off the floor and send it straight up towards the ceiling, releasing the left shoulder. Bend the left elbow and see if you can reach around to hold your waist or the right thigh. Stay here for six to twelve breaths. To get out of the pose plant your left hand firmly on the ground and use the weight of it and return to table pose. Repeat on the other side.

The Lotus Kitchen-Black Bean and Corn Salad

Welcome to The Lotus Kitchen, the title of my upcoming book with co-author Gwen Keannelly and a place where yoga and vegetarian cooking entwine. This week’s recipe is Black Bean and Corn Salad. This salad has the perfect balance of everything flavorful. You will feel the love and gratitude from each ingredient.

This week’s yoga pairing is Easy Pose Meditation which will open your mind and body.

Looking forward to your comments.

-Skip

The Lotus Kitchen Black Bean and Corn Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups black beans (drained and cooked al dente)
3 cups roasted white corn (cooked al dente)
1 red onion (raw)
1 red pepper (raw)
1 cup cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
1 jalapeno, minced
2 chopped avocados (firm, not overly ripe)
½ cup olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup of lime juice
Arugula lettuce

Instructions:

Combine black beans, corn, red pepper, cilantro, jalapeno, and avocado. Add olive oil, vinegar, and lime juice and mix together. Place on a bed of lettuce and serve. Serves 4-6

The Practice:

Beans and corn sprout goodness. Like a long planting season, after practicing Yoga for a while we begin to see the harvest from our hard work. The sprouts from a practice can be: good eating habits, better perception of one’s self, and a better awareness of the body. These are all fruits of the labor. Part of crop harvest is the practice of gratitude. Gratitude is the highest appreciation for what is good in your life. After a strong and powerful session of yoga, endorphins are released, which can cause a feeling of euphoria or a sense of gratitude. The practice is to maintain gratitude, while preparing this salad. Recognize the harvest of the fruits in your life, and when you sit and partake, be grateful for your life.

The Easy Pose Meditation Instruction:

Sitting with your buttocks on the mat, cross your legs with your ankles under your thighs. Rest your hands on your knees, pressing both hips towards the floor. Close your eyes and breathe. Allow your thoughts to open to knowledge and learning. Set the intention to know and feel gratitude.

The Shift Radio Guest- Author of Fat to Fearless, Asher Fox

asher-fox Asher FoxAsher joins Skip as his guest on “The Shift With Skip” Radio Show to discusses how he built one of the largest personal training businesses and how his battle with food eventually led him to create the most comprehensive arsenal of psychological tools assembled to date to overcome, convert and enroll the subconscious mind in the healing process. Fat to Fearless: Enjoy Permanent Weight Loss and End Emotional Eating…For Good! .

Asher is a pioneer in the integration of several fields of study into a comprehensive therapeutic approach that creates rapid and lasting improvements in the lives of his clients where prior forms of therapy and treatment proved ineffective.

Listen-in and find out why Asher named his book Fearless and why reaching and changing the subconscious – is so critical. It’s a terrific show!

Listen-On Demand

Skip’s segment with Asher Fox is available On-Demand here

The ShiftWithSkip Radio shows are LIVE every Wednesday at 10 AM PST
Stay up to date with my latest guests or listen to past shows On-Demand via my radio page.

Follow Asher Fox on his social media pages:

The Practice of Love, Get Creative, All is Well, Moon House Rolls and More…

A Body Connection and Meditation on The Practice of Love
This week’s video “Get Your Creativity On”
My latest recipes, delicious 7th Moon House Rolls and delicious lentil salad from my upcoming book, The Lotus Kitchen
Diving deep into an unconventional approach to therapy with leading clinical psychologist, Dr. Denee Jordan on The ShiftWithSkip Radio

Skip’s Body Connection and Affirmation – The Practice of Love

This week’s Body Connection we’ll focus on Yoga as it relates to our theme, The Practice of Love.

Physical practice is a form of self-love and to feel the vibration of Joy that lives within our soul. The word “yoga” means to yoke or to bring together two things that appear to be separate.

This week, get physical, move, dance and connect this “yoke” to the spiritual and set your intention to elevate your love and joy vibrations.

“The Practice Of Love” Affirmation: Just for this moment…just for this breath, I am the love energy that blesses the planet. I move from a place of love and my life is good. And so it is.

Peace and blessings,

-Skip

The Lotus Kitchen-Vegetarian in the 7th Moon House Rolls

Welcome to The Lotus Kitchen, the title of my upcoming book with co-author Gwen and a place where yoga and vegetarian cooking entwine. This week’s recipe is Vegetarian in The 7th Moon House Rolls. These house rolls make the perfect snack or appetizer and the hot mustard dip is a natural decongestant, aids in circulation and helps restore bacterial balance. This dish warms you up inside with the heat and flavor of the ginger, garlic, and mustard.

This week’s yoga pairing is Sun Salutation (Suryanamaskara), which is used to heat the body. The Sun Salutation is designed to pay homage to the sun that heats the planet, and to activate our own internal sun from within.

Looking forward to your comments.

-Skip

Vegetarian in the 7th Moon House Rolls

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 cup carrots, shredded
1 each red and yellow bell peppers, sliced
1 1/2 cups snow peas, thinly sliced
1 cup green cabbage, shredded
1 cup kale, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, de-stemmed
2 teaspoons sake
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/4-cup vegetarian hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon chili sauce
1 package pot sticker wrappers
1 egg, beaten
Peanut or sunflower oil for frying

Instructions:

Heat wok (or stock pot if you are wokless) over high heat until very hot. Add oil then garlic and ginger. Cook for a minute and then add the vegetables and cook about 6 minutes more, stirring frequently. Transfer to a bowl and add sake, rice vinegar and hoisin sauce, chili sauce and cilantro.

To make Moon Rolls, place 2 to 3 tablespoons of vegetable filling in the center of the wrapper. Using your fingers or a pastry brush spread egg all around the edges. Fold in half and pinch the edges tightly. They will resemble little half moons. Wipe the wok clean. Heat 3 cups peanut or sunflower oil on high heat. Drop egg rolls in batches of three and cook for one minute, or until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon, place on a cookie sheet lined with paper towel to drain oil and serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Dipping Sauce:

3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 inch fresh ginger, finely minced
½ cup apricot preserves
½ cup raspberry preserves
4 tablespoons rice vinegar (and/or sake) In a small bowl whisk together until smooth.

Serve with: Chinese hot mustard. Everyone can create their own dipping sauce by blending the two.

Sun Salutation (Suryanamaskara) Instruction:

Stand at the front of your mat beginning in Mountain pose. Inhale; raise your arms above the head. Exhale, and hang from the hips to a forward bend. Inhale and lift the chest half way. Step back into plank position. Exhale and lower the body to the mat in a push-up. Inhale to Upward Facing Dog pose. Exhale, and push the body back to a Downward Facing Dog pose. Inhale and lift the heels, then exhale bending the knees, and step or hop forward with both feet. Inhale the chest half way up. Exhale and release the chest to the legs. Inhale the upper body to a standing position, and exhale the arms to Mountain, the first pose. During the Sun salutation, visualize the sun heating your body from the inside out. Also notice that each pose will move you in a complete 360◦ circle.

Friday Body Connection and Affirmation – Remember to Remember

Woman swimming in a pool When deciding on a workout or routine, choose workouts that help focus your body connection intentions. If you set the goal to be the best you can be, choose a practice that anchors the intention. The physical should always be in alignment with the mental and spiritual goals. Set the intention to always remember your truth.

Friday Affirmation: Friday’s are a great day for me as I take a moment to reflect and affirm.

Just for this moment…just for this breath, the qualities of God is my life. I “remember to remember” my purpose.

Peace and blessings,

-Skip

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