Peaceful Daily Blog

The Sound of Silence?

A student in my class this week asked me to recommend some music for her home practice. She liked some of the ambient sounds that I use in class and disliked some others. That was fine with me; choice in music is such a personal, visceral thing that it’s hard to always explain why a piece of music pleases you. I shared with her a few ideas and cautioned her that just because you like to listen to a certain piece of music does not mean that it suits your yoga practice.

 

Later that night, I was reflecting upon this conversation and found that it was quite a strange thing for me to be talking about music in a yoga class. I began my yogic studies with teachers of Iyengar yoga, who are, in my opinion, the most learned and best trained teachers in the world. For years, I attended classes, workshops and trainings where there was NO MUSIC at all! Since this was my formative experience, I did not find this to be strange at all. Years later, I began attending Vinyasa and other Hatha Yoga classes where the teachers played music: chants, sounds of nature and traditional Indian songs. At first, I found it distracting! I could not hear the instructions from the teachers and I felt that the rhythm and energy of the music was forcing my mind to pay attention to something outside of my practice. As time went on, I became more comfortable with the music and learned how to use it to help rather than hinder my asana practice.

 

When I practice at home, however, I do not play any music in my space. The silence is very powerful and acts as a great foil for the thoughts that come and go during the yogasana. I am certainly not opposed to having sounds in the background, but I find that for my intensive, introspective work at home, the music is not only unneeded but can be distracting. I like to hear the sound of my breath resonating in my skull; I like to hear any sounds that my body makes in space.

 

For my public group classes, I have taken to using music about half of the time. Most often, these are instrumentals and are frequently more sedate tunes rather than fast, rhythmic pieces. The choice to have music or not really depends on what I am doing in class; a flowing, dynamic class lends itself well to musical accompaniment and my instructions are minimal, so are not as easily lost. When I am conducting a class that is heavy with attention to alignment, I want the students to hear me and hear me clearly, so the music may be too distracting.

 

While living in Los Angeles, I attended a class taught by a hugely popular teacher at a hip yoga studio. The class was huge and we were crammed together with mats touching when the class began. The teacher strode in with some haste, plugged in his IPod and the music started as the class began. I had to fight back the laughter as U2 echoed out of the speakers. The soundtrack of the class was contemporary popular music. I felt like I was at a singles club and that we had all traded our cocktails for yoga mats. Weird. This, I thought, was not a good use of music! I never returned to that class.

 

I would advise that you try practicing both with and without any music during your home practice. Also, experiment with a variety of musical styles to see how they affect your practice. You will find that you have a strong preference for silence or sound, but each has something unique and beneficial to offer.

 

Peace!

 

Trent

 

The Reality We Choose

I just returned from a weekend in a magical place.

This place is perched on a cliff over the Pacific. From most areas on the property there are views of the sea – sun kissed, white capped, filled with migrating whales and lolling sea otters. Body kindness is always available in the form of massage, dance, yoga, hiking. Opportunities abound to learn, play and expand in workshops around art, writing, healing, meditation, communication, sustainability and countless other enriching subjects.

The energy of the earth is powerful here. It pulses through the ground and infuses the plants and people. Volcanic hot springs feed deep stone tubs where gorgeous humans of all shapes, ages, colors and sizes laze, naked and relaxed, in comfortable silence or intriguing conversation. Inner beauty spring-feeds outer beauty and there is not one person who is difficult to look at or be around. Food is grown and prepared on the property – abundant, delectable, highly nutritious.

There is never reason not to smile at, speak with, help or applaud another person there. There’s nothing to judge; nobody judges you. You connect and love and feel loved. Your time is your own; you can participate or wander, pitch in or reflect. The air is clean and plentiful. The stars from the tubs at night are a canopy that extends down to the horizon. They can be read like brail. Meteors burn across the sky for hundreds of yards. People applaud.

Sweet collarless cats roam the property and sleep with the people they can sense need them at night, purring next to their heads. Bodies are dressed in colorful fabrics and magical stones, linens and yak wool, denim and polar fleece. Chimes ring. Hands wave, palms open. Waves break on rocks. Flashlight beams slash and freckle the pitch-dark landscape.

This is a real place. Not many know about it. There is no strife, conflict, disease, scandal or unrest. But it is still real. It is not threatened by famine and is rarely victim to drought or disaster. It never makes news. But it is real. It is as real as a war-torn country. Its people are as real as terrorists are. Its vitality is as real as swine flu. It is real.

Places like this exist all over the world. In as many places as there are strip malls and car dealerships, landmines and oil fields. For every sick person there is one that is healthy. For every sad one there’s one whose heart is filled with joy. There’s abundance in this world. There’s beauty. There’s tranquility. We just don’t hear about it.

But I promise you it exists. If we’re unable in a moment to make the physical journey to a place like this, we can in that same moment rest our minds there. We can shut out the drama and panic and we can be at peace, sitting on a cliff, eyes on a glowing horizon. We can nod and smile at our neighbor, we can encourage a stranger. We can spontaneously dance. We can be naked, open and available. It’s our choice. All of it is real.

Peace,
Joy

p.s. this virtual utopia to which I refer is the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA

If I Can, You Can

Summer will be upon as before we know it and with it brings an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. I am excited to see what my early girl and siletz tomato plants, summer squash and shell peas bring forth in a couple of months.  I am just as eager to get my big Bolgatanga basket and head to my local farmer's market for ripe, red strawberries.  In addition to fresh fruit salad and strawberry shortcake; this year I am making jam.  My local strawberry farmer gave me a tip for jam and told me to wait until June to get jam-making strawberries.  They'll be sweeter then. And, once my tomatoes ripen, I am making spaghetti sauce. I have a great from-scratch recipe from a Sicilian family whom I lived with in Australia after college. My mom got me a canning kit for my birthday earlier this month, so this will be my first attempt at canning.

Canning is great for several reasons:

Canning your own food gives you control of the ingredients.  When you prepare your own food for canning you can be sure of what your family is eating, with no hidden ingredients.  Do you have a favorite soup or pasta sauce recipe? Perhaps you love chutney or jam, but want a lower sugar content for your child. Dig out your cookbooks and secret family recipes and spend some time in the kitchen. You'll be glad you did when winter rolls around.

Canning also gives you control of the packaging. The traditional Ball glass jars are not lined with Bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor.  Most tin-canned foods are lined with this chemical.  Bad for you and bad for the environment when it goes into the landfill.  Sometimes, it's difficult to reconcile organic foods with earth-friendly packaging.  A lot of organic choices still come in BPA lined cans.  This makes it difficult to make the "right" choice. I am tired of having to take sides: my family's health or the health of the planet.  They don't always go hand in hand.

Canning saves money.  When purchasing in bulk it usually translates into savings - and that's important when opting for organic produce in today's economy.

Canning means storing for later.  This is good for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, you can enjoy a fruit or vegetable in the winter that is not available locally during that season. Sure, you could get imported strawberries in December for that holiday party, but they probably won't be organic and it's not a green choice to ship off-season fruits and veggies long distances!  Not to mention, that it's very cool to support local farmers. Storing for later is also good for an emergency.  With the recent news of swine flu making it's way to the states, it makes one think about having stored food if you can't get to the store due to illness or in case of a natural disaster, like a snowstorm.  

Canning can save time in the long run. It may not seem like it when you are spending hours in the kitchen preparing your foods to be canned. But, once you have a pantry full of choices, all you have to do is open a jar of sauce or soup and heat it up - no trip to the market.

Unlike freezing, canning is a green choice because it requires no electricity to store.   All you need are a few shelves in a cool, dry place. This also saves room in your freezer for other items you actually need to freeze. 

 

If you haven't tried canning, why not join me and get your canning kit (if you are not an expert canner already) and share your favorite recipes with all of us at Peaceful Daily.

Peace,

Deborah

Picnic at the beach ~ Shrimp and Scallop Lime Ceviche and Blueberry Lime Salsa

I am in love with limes.

Okay, let me back up.

I am in love with this weather after a long, and rainy, few months. I suppose what I also love, is being at the beach for a picnic in the sunshine. Oh, you can go to the beach in winter, and I have, but there is something lost in that translation when the warm weather arrives.  I live in a NY apartment so if you follow my imagination, you might just believe you are on a sunny deck, with a cool refreshing drink, sitting beneath a striped umbrella. I can hear the roar of the surf, and the tinkle of the ice in my glass sounds like a dance and it’s ladies choice.  Before I go ditch my shoes, and take a long walk by the water, I’m making lunch.

Which brings me back to limes. I love fresh produce and using just a few ingredients to make every meal a little party.

Picnic at the beach ~ Shrimp and Scallop Lime Ceviche and Blueberry Lime Salsa

Ceviche is food that has been “cooked” using citric acid. The food is marinated in lemon or lime juice for a minimum of an hour, or until the proteins become denatured. This technique actually cooks the food without heat, sort of pickling the food.  Tastes great cold or at room temperature, looks yummy on a buffet but packs great for a picnic!  Both dishes are refreshing and can be eaten with edible scoops, endive and baked pita chips.

Shrimp and Scallop Lime Ceviche

½ pound of raw, cleaned shrimp
½ pound raw scallops
¼ cup diced celery
¼ cup diced red bell pepper
Zest of two limes
Juice of two limes
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon of sugar
Salt to taste
1 pinch (unless you like it hotter) of Cayenne pepper

Combine all the ingredients, in the order listed above, in a glass bowl. Mix until thoroughly coated. Cover and place in your refrigerator to marinate for an hour. After and hour, you will see the difference in the texture of the fish, as it should appear opaque. Drain most of the marinade and serve. Keeps for four days in the refrigerator but I doubt you’d have much leftover. Serves 4 people with a light appetite.

A fruity compliment with a bit of zip is Blueberry Lime Salsa. Fast to prepare, it tastes even better the next day!

Blueberry Lime Salsa

2 cups of blueberries
¼ cup of minced red onion
¼ cup of minced yellow bell pepper
1 charred, peeled and diced jalapeno pepper
¼ cup minced cilantro
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lime, zested and juiced
Salt to taste

Combine the ingredients in order. Use a spoon to stir the mixture and lightly crush the berries, releasing the juice into the ingredients. Although it is tasty at room temperature, the flavor improves if it has time to develop. Chilling it a half hour before serving at room temperature works well. 

Breathing in the sea air, smiling at the sunshine and wrinkling my nose at the spray.  Try this picnic soon!

Peace,

Elizabeth

elizabeth@peacefuldaily.com

Eco Trip

If you have a spare 30 minutes and are looking for some informative, inspiring programming, check out the Sundance Channel's new series, Eco Trip: The Real Cost of Living, airing Tuesday at 9. The 8-part series follows the life cycle of commonly used products from production to disposal and explores the resulting environmental, social, and public health impacts. I missed the first episode on chocolate, but was able to watch a few short clips on the Sundance Channel’s website. 

Tonight’s episode will cover cotton, tracing its journey from cotton fields to a trendy Manhattan store. Cotton is a particularly interesting crop as it accounts for nearly 25% of the world’s pesticide and herbicide use, though uses only 3% of the world’s farmland. This episode examines both organic approaches to cotton farming as well as the conventional approach with its dark, chemical-laden legacy.

If you miss Tuesday’s broadcast, repeats will be aired throughout the week, check out the schedule for upcoming airings. Future shows will cover gold, light bulbs, bottled water, cellphones, paper napkins, and salmon. 

I am always looking for some inspiration to green-up my life in new areas, and I suspect Eco Trip may do just that. 

Peace,

Annie

The Four R's

One often hears of the three R’s of resource conservation: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. I propose a fourth R: Rummage sale. Does anything capture the essence of sustainability more than the rummage sale?  Okay, perhaps many things do, but I love rummage sales anyway. 

Over the weekend my mom, the kids, and I loaded into the car and went rummage saleing. On our third and final stop we hit pay dirt: a theatre company was purging their collection as a fundraiser. Sheer, unadulterated delight filled us all as we scanned the horizon laden with box after overflowing box of decorations, props, costumes, as well as various and sundry junk begging to be repurposed. We had been waiting to find used sand toys for a month as new ones tend to be plastic and the non-plastic ones tend to be expensive.  Our patience was rewarded with an old metal sieve (a sand box favorite) that went for a quarter.

We then came across a box of brand new Easter toys. I bought the whole lot for a dollar, and now have next year’s gifts for the kids and prizes for our ever-growing annual Easter egg hunt. Then there were the craft supplies. Our excitement was reaching epidemic proportions--we spend a notable amount of time and money doing arts and crafts, and finding a box of unused craft supplies was perfectly providential.  We settled on buying an origami kit, a brand new package of modeling clay, and a generous roll of metallic fabric to be transformed into a knight’s chain mail, perhaps a robot casing.  

And the costumes...the costumes...We love costumes, especially handmade ones, and we swelled with collective joy as we pulled out gold, jewel-encrusted turbans, rainbow colored veils, and flowing princess headdresses. We managed to choose just enough costumes to last us through a staging of Aladdin, perhaps Hamlet, as well as countless days of dress-up. 

We spent a grand total of twenty-five dollars and less than one hour on our serendipitous outing. Sitting in the sand box with our new sieve and wearing our collection of royal head wear, I reflected upon the beauty that is The Rummage Sale. What a magnificent way to circumvent the process of resource exploitation, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal, with its resulting human and environmental costs (see The Story of Stuff). The less things we buy new, the less new things are made to replace them. The less things made to replace them, the less we continue stripping our planet of its precious resources only to replace it with waste and pollution. 

It was there in the sandbox, wearing a gold, jewel-encrusted turban, that I decided that buying used is nothing short of revolutionary.  As a result of this ‘revolution revelation’ I plan to expand my practice of waiting to find gifts and desired items that are used rather than new. 

Looking for something particular for yourself or perhaps a gift for someone else? Be patient, give it a few months, you may just find it at your local rummage sale, thrift store, or wherever else used items may patiently await new homes. Enjoy your revolutionary outing and know your purchases will be appreciated by your pocketbook and, more importantly, your planet.

Peace,

Annie

Living Peacefully in an Age of Violence Part III

One last bit I wanted to add in regard to dealing with anger/violence is a basic asana: the standing forward extension, uttanasana.

 

Generally speaking, forward extensions (or forward folds) are cooling, calming poses that are excellent in times of stress, hyperactivity and excitement. Uttanasana means “intense stretch” of the spine, specifically, but many of us find the intensity to be focused in the hamstrings. This is totally normal; the more you practice uttanasana and as the pliancy of the hamstrings increases, the more subtle benefits and demands of the pose will become clear. For the beginner as well as the seasoned practitioner, this asana will slow down the heartbeat, naturally cool the body through perspiration and will help to remove depression. The slowing of the pulse and the cooling/calming nature of the pose make it an excellent tool to combat anger.

 

 

1. Stand upright with the inner feet touching.

2. Bend forward from the hips-not from the waist!- and place the fingers on the floor. Do not bend the knees. Then place the palms on the floor beside the feet.*

3. Hold the head up and lengthen the spine from the hips to the head, making the legs more perpendicular to the floor.

4. With an exhalation, move the trunk closer to the legs, maintaining the length in the spine. Continue to grip the knees by pulling the knee-caps upward strongly.

5. Take 6-10 breaths. Reverse the actions by doing Step 3, then Step 2 and Step 1.

*If you cannot reach the floor with the fingertips or the palms, place blocks or books on the floor next to the feet; the lift should be high enough to support the hands, but not so high that the elbows bend.

 

 

Uttanasana is a fantastic pose to do before going to bed. I also recommend doing the pose 2-3 times after running, cycling, swimming or any other demanding exercise. Of course, I recommend uttanasana, along with the seated breath exercise from the last post, during times of excessive stress or anger.

 

 

Peace,

 

Trent

 

Spiraling

 

I’m deeply in love with this shape. For a long time I didn’t understand my attraction to it, but the mystery didn’t stop me from getting a tattoo of one on my ankle three years ago. I put it there so I could see it often and be reminded—of what, I wasn’t sure. But I did know it had to mean something eerily significant to my life, and I knew at some point I’d find out.

 

I’m finding out.

 

First, the spiral is not only significant to my life, but to ALL life. This is a shape that occurs everywhere in nature. Shells, ferns, whirlpools, galaxies, uh … coiled snakes, what have you. Even in cases where the thing does not look like a spiral, mathematically it follows the structure of one. Or something. I don't know, I was an English major. Point is, they’re a very, very natural occurrence.

 

A teacher recently mentioned, almost offhand, that our developmental and spiritual journeys are spirals. We are ever-expanding, but not linearly. Growth is not about moving forward and beyond. Rather, I’m finding that my own journey, at least, happens more cyclically. As I expand, I go around and around, hitting high points and low points, loud times and quiet times. I swing between overwhelm and boredom, eagerness and anxiety, energy and fatigue.

 

You may have heard the phrase, “this too shall pass.” Don’t know about you, but I’ve only ever heard it during down or difficult times, uttered as words of encouragement that things will get better. What I’m finding, though, is that IT ALL passes – even the times you are most in flow and connected and productive and exuberant. When you’re at the top of this particular loop of the spiral, it’s hard to imagine the bottom. And yet, as we grow in this manner, we do swing back and forth. Constantly.

 

Right now I’d say I’m in a bit of a down swing. I’ve quit my job and am counting the days until I start my new one. I’ve been busy with the logistics of How This Will All Happen, preparing myself as much as possible, and naturally with that come fear, uncertainty, what-ifs, and a bit of overwhelm. A few weeks ago, I was surfing the high of anticipation, when everything was shifting and doors were opening and I felt my most alive, energetic, capable and powerful.  As I write this, I just upended a bag of pita chips into my mouth. So clearly I’m not QUITE there anymore. And as many times as I’ve seen it work out before, I can’t avoid going to this place of general discouragement every now and again.

 

This time, though, as I journey into another quiet spell, I’m doing my best not to bring to it the usual despair that I am “back in a rut.” Seen another way, having less energy compels me, for instance, to not say yes to every invitation. To chill at home, pet the cat and reflect on all that’s happening. To journal – make a record of this ride that I myself can barely believe. Process. Observe how much I’ve grown. Take a break. Go inward. Be good to myself. Ya know? We don’t have to be producing all the time. In fact, I think if I was in constant go-mode I’d surely perish from exhaustion (cue dramatic back-of-hand-to-forehead pose).

It IS hard to recognize your own growth during these down times, though. Sure, when you’re up, everything is new, fascinating, filled with hope and vivid color, and you can see more clearly where you’ve been and where you are. Not to mention how awesome you look. But have you ever noticed that each of your down times is also somehow bigger than the last? The stuff that you’re worrying about has more to do with your wildest dreams than last time. You’re bored by things that used to entertain you because your spirit has expanded and it takes more to fulfill you. Relationships may be ending because your evolution has taken you in a separate direction from the other.

 

Again—natural. All of it. And, as with nature, none of it is wrong. It’s simply another phenomenon in this universe that we can choose to either fight or go with. I’ve theorized (again, English major, not psychology, so please take all theories with grain of salt) that our resistance to the down times either draws them out longer, or intensifies them. Maybe a “downward spiral” can actually be thought of as clinging, through resistance or obsession, to the bottom edge rather than letting go and riding the curve back to the top.

 

Perhaps next time you find yourself feeling melancholy, pensive, quiet, lazy, or in a rut, think about ways you might use this time to reflect on how far you have come, appreciate, fill up and prepare for the next loop. This too shall pass, and it’s coming.

 

Peace,

Joy

What’s Around Veggies and Soba Noodle Salad

It’s been one of those weeks and I haven’t had two minutes to shop, or plot out what’s for dinner.  Rummaging through my pantry for something snappy, and trying to avoid the take out menus, I decided on some grilled veggies and soba noodles. Some days the carb desire just burns bright so I try to find healthful options.

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and are great in hot or cold recipes.  My dish will be room temperature by using the noodles in a salad of sorts. I can find soba noodles in my local supermarket and love that they take half the time to cook as regular pasta. I am using two packages of soba noodles, so I will have delicious leftovers for tomorrows lunch.

As with most good salads, the dressing is key. This recipe is a standby for me, and I tweak it by changing the citrus from lemon to orange to lime depending on what is fresh and juicy in my kitchen. Whatever you have in the house will work. Today, it’s limes.

Salad Dressing

Zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

Assemble all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. You can adjust the cayenne pepper to taste depending on what heat you prefer your dressing. Remember that the ginger will add some zing to this dressing, so consider that if you increase your cayenne.
Set aside.

Prepare the soba noodles according to package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl.

If you have a grill pan, lightly oil the vegetables, adding a little salt and pepper before placing on the grill pan. Most vegetables only take minutes on each side if you slice then thinly. You can roast the vegetables instead of grilling, but I was looking for a fast fix so grilling wins.

The Veggies

Use anything you prefer and have available. Tonight’s salad will have zucchini, red bell peppers and Portobello mushrooms. I am shredding some carrot and adding some bean sprouts for crunch. Toss all together in your salad bowl with the soba noodles and salad dressing. You can chill this, or eat it at room temperature. I have brought this dish to BBQs, and it is a refreshing change from the usual side dishes. I think the flavor is even better the day after when the dressing soaks into the noodles. I have made this recipe with cooked shrimp and used shredded chicken on a different occasion with great results. Try it sometime and let me know what you think.  

Peace,

Elizabeth
elizabeth@peacefuldaily.com

Happy Earth Day!

This year I decided to thoroughly celebrate Earth Day for the first time ever, taking it beyond a day’s observance and turning into a two week in-depth examination of earth-related topics at our home school.  Here are some highlights from our ‘Earth Fortnight’ agenda:

Friday before Earth Day: Go to library and check out heaps of children’s books on various environmental issues. (Note: there is nothing like a well-written children’s book to clearly get the point across--I never really understood electricity until reading the Magic Schoolbus’ book on the subject) 

Saturday through Earth Day eve: Read said books and hope my particularly sensitive child doesn’t get too upset (remembering time at aquarium when picture of a sad fish living in polluted water resulted in a break down and early departure followed by manic run around parking lot picking up trash “for the fishies” while I fretted about the likelihood of disease contraction.) Watch relevant DVDs from atop my Netflix queue. 

Earth Day: Lights out at sundown!! No computers, lights, electric-powered gadgets of any kind. Instead rely on the light from candles and oil lamps. Consider making this a more regular (weekly? monthly?) activity.

Saturday: Attend Earth Day festivities.

Sunday: Attend more Earth Day festivities.

Monday: Take son to a screening of DisneyNature's Earth (a kinder, gentler, shorter, version of the Planet Earth series).

Tuesday-Friday: Get more books at library and read to kids. 

Our ‘Earth Fortnight’ has been a success so far (we’ll see how the family feels after sundown tonight) and I suspect it may become an annual tradition. If you are looking for ways for your family to celebrate, check out the many Earth Day events near you at www.earthday.net or www.earthday.gov. In the meantime, enjoy your Earth Day and may it fuel your fire to live even lighter this year on our beloved little planet.

Peace,

Annie