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  • Simplify Your Life: Get Cooking

    I'ma let you in on a little secret.

    If a vibrant, healthy, whole, full life is what you want, you're going to have to get cozy with your kitchen.

    Meal planning for the week. Can you guess what time of year this was? (:

    One of the most interesting insights I've had since opening my practice is that nobody cooks. We may throw a pasta dish together, or go all out every now and again when entertaining friends- but for the most part, we busy urbanites do not inhabit our kitchens. We eat out on average 80-90% of our meals-lots of protein bars, sandwiches, and various smartly packaged single servings of easily edible goods.

    The food you eat literally becomes your cells, your bones, muscles, tissue. Whatever you don't poop is assimilated through your intestines and used to actually create all the systems and structures of your body.

    Do you see where I'm heading? When we fuel ourselves with processed, fake, nutrient deficient foods, what does that say about our health, and even deeper, our life?

    Here are some tips for getting cookin:

    • Cook one new recipe each week. Make sure the recipe has 5-7 ingredients or less. This way, you aren't spending tons of money on new ingredients all the time, and prep to table will be simple. Gain some confidence, build your cupboard, and you can start to experiment with more complicated dishes.
    • Cook once, eat three times (or more). Each time you cook, make enough for at least three meals. So, whip up a huge dinner, and eat it for breakfast and lunch the next day. This will save you so much time, and money. Which leads me to my next suggestion:
    • Invest in a crockpot. These bad boys cost anywhere from $45-75, and will be one of the best investments you'll make for your kitchen, and your life. There is nothing better than throwing your 5-7 ingredients in the pot before you leave for work, and coming home to a healthy, warm, delicious, home cooked meal. I'm drooling just thinking about it. A six-quart crock is a good starting place.
    • Make it fun! Re-frame your time in the kitchen from chore to recreation. Light some candles, play your favorite music or podcast, have friends keep you company, have a glass of wine/beer...the possibilities are endless! Today I made bacon-wrapped chicken thighs while rocking out to my favorite 90's dance hits-it was awesome! 
    I hope this is helpful! And if you have any other suggestions, please share below~


  • Simplify your Life: Body Awareness

    Every Day Sage has a theme for the year: Simplicity. This is a first of a series of posts where I will share some of my tips for cultivating this under-valued quality. I'm also going to use this post as an opportunity to clarify a couple things about the business.

    But first, a few anecdotes:

    • My sister told me a story yesterday that her ex-boyfriend, at 28 years of age, had a mini-stroke. The day it happened, he had a busy day and in lieu of eating actual food he subsisted on two Rockstar drinks. He collapsed at work after slurring his words and being unable to form a sentence. There doesn't seem to be any lasting damage but the fact remains that the man is under 30 and already has had a stroke.
    • A dear friend of mine recently attempted to work with her doctor to change birth control methods because she was uncomfortable with the idea of consuming hormones in perpetuity. The doctor laid so much shame on her as she lay half naked on the examination table that she went along with what he said, against her intuition, and then completely stopped receiving her monthly cycle. 
    • As a yoga practitioner and teacher, I have to continually check myself as I cram my body into these funny shapes, to listen to the messages of my body instead of ignoring them and potentially injuring myself, all in the name of "looking good." I am especially aware of this tendency in light of the unraveling of a system of yoga I had identified myself with which turned out to be a cult (this might be a bit of an over-statement, but many of the signs were there). Especially in environments where we are encouraged to be vulnerable must we be vigilant.
    What's the point of all this? To demonstrate how over-complicated and disconnected we as humans are from our own bodies; and, how we deny our senses and ignore the messages of our body's wisdom. I'm sure you have your own stories; either things you've noticed in the people around you or habits you have yourself.
    I believe it is this disconnect that leads to most sickness and disease.

    Every Day Sage is committed to re-connecting you with your body, and in doing so, with the world around you. Toreconnect you with something greater than the mind perceives-with your unique SOUL, to our own innate wisdom: the teacher, or guru, that lies within each and every one of us. The road to optimal health is not one of extreme dieting, restriction, over-exercise, denial, asceticism; quite the opposite: it feels like coming home.
    The tagline of Every Day Sage is "grow your inner guru." I hesitated for a while about whether or not to use this turbo-charged word, ESPECIALLY right now as multiple spiritual leaders are being revealed as corrupt (see: John Friend, Bikram Choudhury, Joshu Sasaki, Kausthub Desikachar, blah blah blah). But I'm choosing it anyway, because it feels true. That's the whole point, no?


    So, what can we do to grow this guru within ourselves? What are some everyday actions we can incorporate into our busy lives that will keep us connected to our soul even as the world continues to buzz all around us? Because it ain't gonna stop buzzing, no matter how much money we make, fancy things we have, or how perfectly we get our ducks to stand in an orderly row.

    Here's some SIMPLE tips for growing body awareness:

    • Learn how to cook whole foods. This means nothing that comes out of a box, can, or bag. Get cozy with your kitchen.
    • Eat slowly with no distractions, chewing your food properly and savoring your experience of the food. Give thanks for a brief moment before you commence eating. Notice how you feel after you eat: satiated, or over-stuffed? Gassy? Bloated? Heartburn? Begin to listen and learn what works for your constitution.
    • Hydrate properly. A good rule of thumb is to take your body weight, divide it in half, and drink that many ounces of water per day. This is also a good way to begin to crowd-out excessive coffee or soda intake. See how it feels to be properly hydrated-are you more alert? Able to sleep better?
    • Go barefoot as much as possible. This might mean going to a park on your lunch break and taking off your shoes and walking in the grass, if only for 5-10 minutes. Let your feet widen, and settle into the ground.
    • Move your body. Find a teacher you trust and who encourages you to listen to your body's uniqueness. This can be pumping iron at a gym, taking dance classes, practicing yoga, walking your dog, cycling. Find a way to move that you truly enjoy and brings joy to your life. 
    • Connect to your breath. Meditation is a good way to do this. During moments or anxiety or overwhelm, even 1-3 minutes of slow, deep, full breathing (upper chest-rib cage-belly) can help diffuse the sensation.

    What I'm saying is, it's time to re-inhabit your body. Take up space. Let your light shine.

    These suggestions can teach us to take time to smell the flowers--to notice the simple pleasures of embodiment. From a space of connection, we move through the world from our GUTS, rather than our overcomplicated brains.

    Unplugging now. See you outside....

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  • Recipe: Pollo a la Manzana

    The one Spanish meal I mastered while living in Spain. Mastered the art of not only cooking it, but eating it almost every week, tucked in under the brasero. 

    INGREDIENTES:

    • 4 whole chicken legs (includes leg and thigh)
    • One medium yellow onion, cut into chunks
    • 4-6 garlic cloves cut in half (depending on how much you like garlic)
    • 2 cups (approx. 14 oz) your choice of mushrooms. These can be canned or fresh. I haven't found canned mushrooms like they had in spain so I usually chop up some small mushrooms)
    • One potato (or sweet potato if you want to PALEO-FY the dish)
    • 1 1/2 cups white wine
    • Butter (about half a stick), cut into 4 equal slices
    • 4 golden apples
    • One whole lemon, quartered
    • Sea salt
    DIRECCIONES:
    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
    2. Line the bottom of a large casserole dish with the chopped onions, garlic, potatoes, and mushrooms.
    3. Put the quartered lemon in each corner of the dish.
    4. Liberally salt the chicken thighs. Arrange the chicken on top of all the other ingredients.
    5. Put one slice of butter on top of each thigh.
    6. Pour the wine into the bottom of the dish.
    7. Nestle the golden apples into the crooks of each thigh. 
    8. Bake for 20-25 minutes and then check your dish. You need to remove the apples one they start to soften (you can easily slide a fork into them). This is an important step, otherwise the apples will completely collapse into mush.
    9. Cook until the chicken is cooked all the way through, usually a total or 45-60 minutes depending on your oven. Use a spoon or turkey baster to pour some of the white wine over the chicken a couple of times throughout.
    10. Remove from the oven and serve, adding an apple to each plate. 
    *The best way to eat this dish is with a piece of chicken, mushroom, potato, onion, apple, garlic in each bite. Seriously.
    *This dish keeps really well so you can make a bunch and reheat it for breakfast, lunch, etc. 
    *Sometimes I keep all the yummy juices leftover and use them to roast veggies later.
    I hope you enjoy! 
  • Sexy carrot...

    Sexy carrot...

  • How do you deal with stress?

    How do you personally deal with stress?

    Living in a city, it's easy to normalize that familiar feeling of overwhelm.

    We think we've got it handled, and then it comes as a surprise when it all comes crashing down around us in the form of sickness, anxiety, poor sleep, or reverting to past habits that no longer serve (maybe with food or alcohol).

    I wanted to share with you some of my tried-and-trues when it comes to managing stress. You can begin to incorporate all of these, or one at a time. It's also nice to have a little list handy, so when you catch yourself spiraling out of balance, you can take a quick look and recommit to your health right then and there.

    5 SAGE STRESSBUSTERS:


    SLEEP:

    You know the saying "Everything is better in the morning"? Oftentimes, stress visits us after we have run ourselves down, and our adrenal glands get overwhelmed. The number one way to balance this is sleep. Prioritize rest just as you would anything else on your to-do list. This means getting to bed by 10:30 PM, and unplugging from the TV/computer at least a couple of hours before.

    MOVE YOUR BODY:
    Dance. Run. Walk your dog. Go out in nature. Inevitably, you will drop out of the busy mind and into your body, and voila! The perspective shifts and you are probably breathing from your gut rather than your upper chest.



    EAT REAL FOOD:

    A lot of us use stress as an excuse to have a food free for all. Next time you feel the familiar overwhelm, prioritize a healthy meal and see for yourself what opens up. Sit down and savor the meal with no distractions. Let your food ground you.

    PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT:
    Find a mindfulness practice-yoga, meditation, tai chi- even ten minutes per day makes a huge impact at stilling the mind-chatter. In this mindful silence, we give voice to the teacher within.

    GET INTO ACTION
    In those moments stress really takes over, take action. It can be something small: Respond to emails. Create a plan for that lingering project. Clean your room. Movement leads to more movement and in that space of action, it becomes possible to relax and focus your energy.

    I'm definitely a work in progress myself, but I hope some of these suggestions will support you busting some of your stress!

  • Breakfast Smoothie

    Even after all this time, there are still days I miss the breakfasts from my youth.

    You know, cereal, toast, bagels, stuff like that.

    On those mornings I usually bust out my dusty blender and shake up my favorite banana almond smoothie. It's got nut-butter and a whole banana, so it's really filling, and the seeds give it some texture which makes it seem like a hearty meal.

    Takes about 5 minutes to prep and make, so it's perfect for those mornings you don't have tons of time. I had one for breakfast this morning and it held me over just fine until lunchtime around 1pm...

    Dani's Breakfast Smoothie

    Ingredients:

    1 banana (as green as possible)
    2 Tablespoons almond butter
    1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
    1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
    1 teaspoon chopped cacao

    Directions:

    Throw it into a blender. Puree until smooth, and enjoy!

    It's also good with a shot of espresso thrown in if you need the extra kick~

  • Read this book, feel bettah

    If I had to recommend one book to someone interested in taking charge of their health, this is the one.

    "How to Eat, Move, and Be Healthy" by one of my wellness heroes, Paul Chek.

    I followed a Facebook thread on a friend's page and stumbled upon this interview with Paul Chek. Halfway through the article, I thought to myself, "this man is insane!" --and I knew I needed to study with him as soon as possible.

    I registered for a Holistic Lifestyle Coach training at the Chek Institute and participated in March of 2012. At that point I had been teaching yoga for two years, ate an entirely plant based diet (except those moments when I couldn't fool my body any longer and caved in for a nice juicy steak), exercised almost daily, and took a variety of supplements and vitamins. I considered myself "healthy," an example of great health, even.

    Wrong! My skin was erupting near daily and none of my pants fit anymore. I walked through the doors  into the training and was blown away by the other participants: glowing skin; fit, toned bodies; white and bright teeth; clear and shining eyes; smiles for days. It didn't take long to realize I was missing something. 

    Our first challenge was to go gluten, dairy, and soy free for the duration of the course. Within 36 hours I began to notice a difference in my skin: I was still breaking out, but the painful cystic acne didn't seem as angry. I was so bolstered by the results I kept going, and within 90 days I was zit free for the first time EVER. Praise the lord! I still feel giddy just thinking about it. If any of you out there have struggled with acne, you know what I mean.

    Could it really be that easy to heal with whole foods? I began following the practices of Metabolic Typing and devoured Paul Chek's book, which gave me tools to really take on my own health and healing into my own hands. Here are the steps the book takes you through:

    • Step 1 Complete the questionnaires to determine YOUR metabolic needs. 
    • Step 2 Develop an eating plan that’s right for YOU. 
    • Step 3 Build a personalized exercise program that fits YOUR needs. 
    • Step 4 Fine-tune a healthier lifestyle that fits YOUR routine.
    It is all developed and designed to fit who YOU ACTUALLY ARE, not some idea of what you are "supposed" to be. Just because one diet/way of being works for one person does not mean it will work for you! (just like vegetarianism, no matter how "noble" it seemed to me, simply did not work and actually threw me and my hormones out of balance-that's for another post).This book will help you take on an entirely new lifestyle that is long term sustainable, rather than trying to fit yourself into the parameters of a diet. We learn to relish and savor our lives, rather than restricting them.

    Don't take my word for it--check the book out for yourself! And see what opens up for you. 

  • Inspiration Galore

    If You Knew
    Ellen Bass

    What if you knew you would be the last
    to touch someone?
    If you were taking tickets, for example,
    at the theater, tearing them,
    giving back the ragged stubs,
    you might take care to touch that palm,    brush your fingertips
    along the life line’s crease.
    When a man pulls his wheeled suitcase
    too slowly through the airport, when
    the car in front of me doesn’t signal,
    when the clerk at the pharmacy
    won’t say Thank you, I don’t remember
    they’re going to die.
    A friend told me she’d been with her aunt.
    They’d just had lunch and the waiter,
    a young gay man with plum black eyes,
    joked as he served the coffee, kissed
    her aunt’s powdered cheek when they left.
    Then they walked half a block and her aunt
    dropped dead on the sidewalk.
    How close does the dragon’s spume
    have to come? How wide does the crack
    in heaven have to split?
    What would people look like
    if we could see them as they are,
    soaked in honey, stung and swollen,
    reckless, pinned against time?

  • Coco-CRAZY

    Well!

    Look what just arrived in the mail.

    Yes, an entire gallon of Organic Virgin Coconut Oil!!!

    As if my roommates didn't already think I was nuts enough as it is...

    I use the stuff enough that buying in bulk made the most sense. From a tablespoon in my morning coffee, to a dab here and there on minor cuts and bruises, to cooking and baking safely, plus countless other uses, I'm stoked to have such a versatile wonder in my kitchen.

    If you're interested in starting to incorporate Coconut Oil into your daily routine, I highly recommend this company. All of their oil is high quality, culled and created by small family farms in the Philippines. Not only that, but with your first order, you get a free book that will teach you how to get started.
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