Yoga, Sustaining Body and Mind

     While standing on one foot in a contorted yoga balancing pose…for what seemed like an eternity…I thought, “Yoga deserves space on this blog, because it sustains me, body and mind”.  It helps me feel refreshed, strong, flexible, balanced, and focused, while adding very little to my ecological footprint--especially when done at home or at a location that's close enough to ride my bike.

     One of the best aspects of yoga is that there are few, if any, supplies needed.  A mat is useful, but a carpet works just as well.  Comfortable clothes and some relaxing music are helpful.  Poses can be done indoors, outdoors, in small rooms with a few people, in large studios, or in any room where the furniture is simply moved aside.

     Yoga is one of those life-long exercises that is practiced everywhere along the age continuum.  It can be adapted to meet most people’s needs, even well after many other exercises are no longer possible.  There is rigorous yoga, regenerative yoga, and even chair yoga.  It relieves stress and anxiety, increases range of motion, builds bone density, strengthens muscles, increases flexibility, and improves balance--to help prevent falls.

   

Local yoga classes that fit a variety of schedules and budgets:

Pawling Library 

Dover Library 
Inner Balance Studio in Patterson

Holmes Whaley Lake Civic Association 

World Gym at the Atrium on Route 22 

Pawling Recreation Department

Ensure a minimal footprint by purchasing "eco-responsible" mats and recycling your old mats at RYM.

     Yoga keeps me on my "tiptoes" physically, mentally, and ecologically.

Starting The Day off Right

    Eating breakfast is an effective way for adults to help control body weight, because it keeps us from overeating during other meals--perhaps it would be a perfect way to start the day tomorrow, before the Thanksgiving feast.  A healthy breakfast also supplies children and teens with the needed energy for improved: memory, concentration, attention, creativity, mood, productivity, behaviors and school performance. (http://www.ufl.edu)

     Eating granola for breakfast is a terrific way to begin the day with a hearty whole grain meal. Choosing a granola sold by a company committed to organic food production using only organic ingredients, without GMO's, is simple with the Cornucopia Institute organic cereal score card.  It rates brands using a one to five "wheat" rating system. Companies with the highest rating have the strongest commitment, "100% of the brand's cereal and granola products are certified organic/by fully committed organic company."

     Or, you can make your own granola.  Then you control all the ingredients, and choose the nuts, spices, and sweeteners, so you can create hundreds of different varieties by experimenting with a basic recipe.

Granola

Mix in large bowl: 

10 cups uncooked regular oats

¾  tsp. cinnamon

¼  tsp. cardamon

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts 

¼ cup brown sugar (optional)

Combine and add to dry ingredients, mix well: 

½ cup honey and/or maple syrup

½ cup Safflower oil

¼ c water  

1 tsp. vanilla

Add after baking:

1 cup dried fruit 

1. Combine dry and liquid ingredients.
2. Spread on two lightly oiled cookie sheets.
3. Bake at 275°F for 50 minutes (until crispy), stir only once after 15 minutes.
4. Let cool.
5. Stir in fruit.
6. Store in glass preserving jars.

   Eating organic granola, whether it is purchased from a responsible company or created in you own kitchen, is a great way to begin the day.