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March Newsletter
March 6,2008
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Yoga in your Life
Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India many thousands of years ago. It is the oldest system of personal development in the world, encompassing body, mind and spirit. The ancient yogis had a profound understanding of man’s essential nature and of what he needs to live in harmony with himself and his environment.
Yoga is a lifelong journey of self-discovery in which we access greater levels of health and balance in our lives. As we deepen our understanding of Yoga, we deepen our knowledge of how to use the various elements of yoga to facilitate a friendship between the mind, body and spirit. In learning to hold a yoga posture through the full range of our emotions, and move through those emotions, staying in our quiet center, then yoga becomes a model for developing endurance to “stay” in the experiences of life with peace, love and focus.
Anyone can practice yoga. A mat, comfortable clothing, a small amount of private space and a strong desire are all that is needed. The yoga postures or asanas exercise every part of the body, stretching and toning the muscles and joints, the spine and the entire skeletal system. They also work on the body’s internal organs, glands and nerves as well, keeping all systems in whole health. By releasing physical and mental tension, they liberate vast resources of energy. Yogic breathing exercises known as pranayama revitalize the body and help to control the mind, encouraging calmness. The practice of meditation gives increased clarity, mental power and concentration.
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Newsletter for June and July 2008
Summer is here and the living is easy especially if we can learn to balance work, play, prayer and meditation, eating, and time for and with family and friends.
Eckert Tolle in his latest book “A New Earth” again addresses the importance of present moment attention. Mindfulness is one of the ways to slow down time and find ways to bring balance to our lives. In each newsletter, I will try to offer an idea to help bring more presence into your life and more joy. This newsletter we will talk about slowing down.
To guard against hurrying start your day early. Use yoga to stretch and slowly warm the body up for the movement of a new day. Sit in meditation for twenty minutes. Later in the day, read something inspirational, sit and reflect on it.
Take time with your breakfast. Chew and enjoy all the sensations of eating. Begin to factor time into your day. Do only what is necessary, beneficial and gives you joy each day. Don’t rush others in your life. Give everyone importance. Learn patience and cultivate personal relationships in all your activities. This will help reverse the depersonalization of our world.
Be always in the present moment giving your very best in every undertaking. Making the bed and washing the dishes is every bit as important as anything else you may do later in the day.
News from Lubec, Maine
I am writing this on a sunny day in May. The trees are getting there new leaves and tulips and daffodils are starting to bloom. Forsythia trees are like yellow sunshine against the blue skies.
While I am in long sleeves and sweaters, I know some of you are starting to experience the heat and humidity that comes to Southwest Florida about this time of year. Those of you that have come up North are probably experiencing similar weather to mine.
I walked through the “project” a few days ago for the first time since last fall. It is absolutely amazing to see the care and attention that has been taken to keep the structure of an incredible 100 year old building and within that structure, create beautifully designed and built accommodations for our future guests. I can sit at my desk in the office and look out at the ocean and at the men putting new shingles on the outside of the main building. The yoga and art studio are framed in and will be beautiful.
Last night, Victor and I sat in one of the apartment patios and watched a double rainbow over the ocean as the sun went down. It was amazing.
Recipe Corner
Baked Marinated Tofu
May be used s a sandwich filling or as a tasty addition to stir-fried vegetables.
This will serve 4. Prep time-10 minutes Try it with apple-pecan rice and a green salad. 258 Calories, 17 grams protein, 12 grams carbohydrates, 15 grams of fat.
Ingredients:
½ cup water
¾ cup soy sauce
2 T. olive oil
2 T. Apple juice concentrate
¼ t. dry mustard
¼ t. cumin
½ t. gingerroot, grated or ground
½ t. garlic powder
2 pounds firm tofu, sliced ¼ inch thick.
Combine all ingredients except tofu in a container large enough to cover tofu. Cover and shake. Add tofu slices and marinate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Place tofu in a baking pan and cover with marinade. Bake 45 minutes turning several times. Increase heat to 450 degrees F. and brown tofu 10 minutes until slices turn crisp on the outside.
Rice Recipe Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add one cup of 30 minute brown rice, ½ cup of apple juice and two green apples, chopped. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add ¼ cup of chopped pecans and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Until the next newsletter, Remember…
Accept your path, with its many twists and turns. The adventure is in the journey not the arriving.
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