Buckwheat Carrot Cake with Cashew Cream

Who says cake isn't for breakfast?

In the world of Savouring Stella, cake is a perfectly acceptable breakfast. Especially when it has densely nutritious buckwheat flour, carrot, and a lightly sweetened cashew cream frosting. Umm HELLO!

This beautiful cake is dense, moist, and just the right amount of sweet. It's spiced with cinnamon, and topped with cashew cream frosting- which when done right, is about the best thing in the world. How could cashew cream be done wrong you ask? I didn't think it was possible either until I had a cake with a cashew frosting and it was far too bitter and nutty. Not enough vanilla and agave in that recipe obviously. Fortunately for you, I've perfected cashew cream after years of practice. However, it's one of those things that's subjective to the individual, so when in doubt, keep adding agave, and lemon zest until it's to your liking.

Brunch spread; fruit salad, buckwheat carrot cake, yoghurt, granola, quinoa and greens, avocado. Photo credit: Brandi Daniels at Eat.Drink.Yoga

Buckwheat Carrot Cake makes one 9-inch round cake

cashew cream, cinnamon, lemon zest

Carrot Cake

• 1.75 cups buckwheat flour
• 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend (I used Bob's Red Mill; alternately, you can use all buckwheat)  
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 cup almond or rice milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated carrot + extra optional for garnish
• 1/2 cup raisins + extra optional for garnish
• zest and juice of half a lemon

Cashew Cream 

• 1.5 cup raw unsalted cashews, soaked overnight, drained
• 3 Tbsp agave nectar (maple syrup would also be tasty)
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 9-inch round baking pan.

Make cashew cream by combining cashews, agave, lemon juice and zest in a food processor or high speed blender. Let this baby BLEND until it's silky in texture. Add additional sweetener and lemon zest to your taste. Cover the frosting and place in the fridge so the flavors can meld.

 For the cake, combine flours, spices, baking powder and soda, and sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then whisk in apple sauce, milk, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Add wet mixture to dry. Fold in carrots and raisins.

Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 30-35 min, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Careful not to over-bake, once you hit the 30 minute mark, check on the cake and continue checking. 

Once it's done, remove the cake and let it cool. I let mine sit covered on the counter all day, or for at least a few hours. Run some errands, grab coffee with a friend, then come back to it.

When you're ready to frost, how easy is this, place the cake on your serving plate, dollop the frosting on top of the cake. For this version, I kept the frosting on top, you could also work it onto the sides. Use a spatula to smooth the frosting while twisting the plate in a circular motion. 

Optional garnish; I tossed the extra carrot in cinnamon and a touch of agave, and sprinkled it along the edges, then followed with raisins.

Yoga & Pilates Retreat Recipes

I just got back from my most recent stint of work with Azul Yoga & Pilates at their southern California location. I'm so inspired by the healing power of real food, and by it's ability to fuel our most exciting adventures.

In between sunset deck yoga sessions and pool lounging, I'll often be found in the kitchen, preparing daily brunch and dinners for retreat guests. With as many people who walk through the doors of any Azul retreat, all have particular eating habits, allergies and preferences. In their week with us, they are invited to eat a whole-foods, plant-based vegetarian diet; a mixture of recipes from resident chef, Jo Dombernowski, in Fuerteventura, and myself.

Top deck view at sunset from Vista Villa Azul, November 2014

Every so often, a week in the kitchen will be challenged by further dietary needs and allergies; this past week, that meant eliminating gluten and dairy, in addition to being a vegetarian plant-based retreat. Everything is made from scratch, with care, and with a focus on sustainable organic sourcing.

I know heaps of vegetarians that rely on dairy to get protein, myself included. I love a great cheese, and regularly eat whole milk yogurt. I love creaminess in recipes, yet try not to consume too much dairy, as it is an inflammatory for our bodies. This week, I turned to alternate sources for flavor and texture. A cashew cream frosting for carrot cake, a toasted nut base for pesto. After eating like this for a week, I felt on top of the world. That's the healing power of whole foods. The sand and surf didn't hurt either.

I want to share this delectable world of whole foods with you, so in the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting what I call a Retreat Recipes Special Collection. These are recipes of my own creation or adaptation. If you're interested in more recipes like this, you can check out Jo's cookbook, straight from the kitchen of Azul in Fuerteventura.

To kick off this foodie fest, I have a spectacular veggie pizza for you. This is veg from top to bottom. A crust of roasted butternut squash and almond meal, topped with a vegan pesto, red onion, zucchini, kalamata olives, and arugula. This is seriously the bomb. It was raved about over the table last week and was dubbed 'the best pizza I've ever had in my life' by one of our guests!

 Incredible Vegetable Pizza serves 4-6 Adapted from Wholehearted Eats

 pesto, kalamata, zucchini, arugula

Crust

• 1 butternut squash (2-3 cups squash puree)
• 1 cup almond meal
• 1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour (I used Bob's Red Mill brand)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 Tbsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Pesto

• 1 large bunch basil (1 cup loosely packed)
• 1 cup spinach, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup roasted cashews
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice 
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• sea salt to taste

Toppings

• 1 zucchini
• 1 small red onion
• 3/4 cup kalamata olives
• 2 handfuls arugula

method

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Halve butternut squash and place cut side down in a baking dish filled halfway with water. Bake for 35-40 min until skin can be easily pierced by a fork. Remove from oven and let cool.

Meanwhile, make pesto by combining all pesto ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth, add sea salt to taste. Set aside.

Once squash has cooled, scoop out flesh into a large mixing bowl. Add remaining crust ingredients. and mix until smooth. Depending how much squash you ended up with, you may need to add more flour to create a thicker dough. You want it to be soft, but able to form a loose ball.

Use your hands to press the dough into lined baking tray, creating a little lip at the edges. What's great about this dough is that you can pick it up and eat it like any other pizza. None of that crumbly cauliflower crap here!

Bake the crust for 30-35 min until it's golden brown. Remove from over, let cool slightly. Spread on pesto, and all of your toppings. note: I like to toss my zucchini and onion in a little olive oil so that they crisp up nicely in the oven. Keep arugula on the side for now. Bake pizza for another 15-20 min until vegetables begin to caramelize. Remove from oven, let cool for 5-7 minutes, then top with arugula.

  
enjoy!

Apricot Bliss Bars + Following Your Bliss

I had a beautiful meeting with a friend, mentor, and coach of mine this past weekend- my experience through which inspired this post.

I consider myself to be an ambitious person. I think it's part of the human spirit to be in constant growth. The nature of my work keeps me in constant development with my team and myself. I'm always asking myself, what's next, how do I get there, and the big one, what is my purpose and my intention?

This roots me into my True North as a leader, a coach, and a teacher. My aim is to empower people to see the possibility in their lives, and to create action around their goals.

I got disconnected from this.

I got caught up in not feeling ready and not feeling good enough.

I forgot my fundamental goal- to see possibility and to empower myself.

I got inspired to get into action. Inspired to use my resources and start teaching. I had a reality check in my meeting- if you want to teach, you'll teach. You just do. No limitations by circumstance or beliefs that hold me back. That's the power of choice in every moment. If you want to do it, you will. You just start.

The next six weeks are going to be BIG! Here's what I'm up to:

• igolu Level One, which will span the next four months and involves creating my personal legacy moment to moment, setting my intention in the world and acting on that purpose 
• attending the igolu Road Show with Susanne Conrad to benefit imagine1day
• Level Two Training through Baptiste Yoga in Sedona, Arizona, my final training before I start the process of getting certified as a Baptiste Teacher
• 40 Days to Personal Revolution kicks off at my home studio- that's 40 days of yoga, twice daily meditation, mindful eating, and self work through journaling and reflection

boom.

I could not be more excited and nervous with what I'm up to. Goose bumps are always a good sign.

I think where many of us get stuck is figuring out which actions to take to propel us towards our highest goals and intentions.  
Here's the radical truth: you need to get related to your intention. Why do you do what you do? What calls you into action? What gets you up in the morning?

And make it your mission to do more of that. The good stuff, the juicy stuff. This is where you find your True North. All else falls into line and suddenly the decisions to make become easy; because you're being guided by knowledge far more powerful that your logical mind.

____________________________________________

Now onto these bars- because every ambitious bliss junkie needs fuel. And the right kind. The kind of fuel that makes you feel good and keeps you crushing goals for hours!

Apricot Bliss Bars Adapted from Sprouted Kitchen makes 12

apricot, lemon, oats

• 1.5 cups dried apricots 
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup honey
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 1.5 cups spelt or oat flour
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/3 cup almond butter
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 6 Tbsp coconut sugar

method 

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.

Place dried apricots in a bowl, pour boiling water over apricots, cover and let steep for at least 10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, combine spelt flour, almond flour, brown rice flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt in medium bowl

In a separate bowl, add the almond milk, almond butter, 3 Tbsp coconut sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine fully. Add this to the flour mixture, stirring to combine fully.

Once apricots have softened, drain excess liquid, reserving it. Add the honey, lemon juice and zest to the apricots and use a hand blender to puree. Add some of the reserved liquid, a little at a time if needed to create a smooth jam like consistency.

Take half of the dough, press it into the lined baking sheet. Spread apricot mixture on top of this. Add rolled oats and remaining coconut sugar to the rest of the dough. Crumble the dough over the apricot mixture.

 Bake for 25 minutes. Remove and let cool completely. Use the parchment paper to remove the bars, then cut into 12 bars.

Setbacks as a Catalyst for Change

I got coffee this morning with a good friend. She asked how I'm liking Bellingham.
I told her, it's ok, I like it fine.
I said, ask me in three months though, and I'll probably be over the moon excited with what I'm up to.
This is so totally how it's been for me in the past month. The town is awesome, the people are so rad, but I'm so wrapped up in opportunities not working out in the way I thought they would, expectations not being met, and I'm left feeling stuck or stagnant.

The second piece to my response, to ask me again in three months, comes from the deep rooted knowing that there is something great just around the corner.

I got the advice to do what feels good. And to keep doing what feels good. Even when I'm not seeing the results or fruits of my labor that I expect to enjoy, to keep doing what feels good. This relates back into my values, influenced through yoga, to do the work for the sake of doing the work, not for the benefits that we hope to, someday/maybe/hopefully if all goes well, enjoy.

By doing what feels good now, we continue to live in the NOW.
All other time- really- is an illusion.
Dwelling on the past, getting upset about how right now isn't as great as the past was, is madness and evokes suffering.
Anticipating the future is also mad, because you'll never get to enjoy your current life.

So here I am, committing to living in light, and not choosing to focus on how things aren't the way I painted them in my mind to be. But to focus on these apparent setbacks as a catalyst for pulling my towards my goals stronger than ever.

What once appeared as setbacks, are truly turning out to be blessings.
If I'd gotten the position I wanted with more responsibility and commitment, then I wouldn't have the same freedom that is so valuable to me. I can still take on the responsibility and accountability that I'd like to, without committing to a time frame of being in this location for X number of years.
I look at where I'd hoped to be teaching right now, and how they're not taking me on with the same enthusiasm that I approached it with. Then I look at my own truth, and I'm enjoying simply practicing right now, working my own self study and spiritual growth. I'm in a damn good place, and there's nothing wrong with taking a break from teaching- I'm not taking a break from the journey.

I've had to ask myself:
Am I doing what I desire, or what I think I should be doing? 

Such a distinction. What we think we should be up to, is not always the best path for us, and it's certainly not the most authentic. 

So when I actually get down into it and examine my own journey, values, and what I know to be true, I find that I'm in a beautiful place.
I'm in a place of not knowing what's coming next.
And to sit in that discomfort, with nothing promised, and possibility wide open, is a magical place.
I'm riding the edge of greatness, with nothing but potential ahead of me.
And it's ok to not know what's coming next. It's ok to not be actively working toward an acute goal, but to simply be taking the daily steps toward a much bigger journey.

Stepping from Setback to Possibility

1. See things clearly.
So often when we’re suffering in the turmoil of a setback, it is because we are not seeing clearly.
Remove yourself from the situation and take an objective look at what happened vs what I made it mean, e.g.
What happened: I didn’t get the position that I wanted.
What I made it mean: they don't think I’m competent and capable.
See what I mean? There is no suffering in the first statement. All the upset comes from what we make the situation mean. Seeing clearly is seeing objectively and seeing the meaning that we give to situations.
PS, you can apply this tool in absolutely any area of your life. It’s gold.

2. Get related to what you really want.
Before you go getting upset with what is so, and start making assumptions and rash decisions, get related to what it is that you truly want. What are your core desires, the things that guide your big-picture decision making. When you’re clear on what you want the endgame to look like, you’re much more likely to make decisions and take actions in alignment with those values.

3. Ask yourself: what opportunities now appear that I didn’t see before?
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day work. In the face of setback, especially one that steers you in an entirely new direction, new possibilities become apparent. New actions that we can take that will bring our goals into reality now appear. Maybe you end up going in a completely new direction that the original path you envisioned. What is now possible, from scratch, that you are free to create?

Train your mind to see possibility and light in any situation, and just like a muscle, it gets stronger and positivity becomes a habit. Creating opportunity becomes second nature. That’s the kind of world that is available when you exercise choice and personal responsibility in your life!
 
Photos from a recent camping trip along Mountain Loop Highway in Washington State.

4 Things I've Learned From Injury

Taken in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands 2013, coming back from injury with the help of some astounding healers at Azul Fit.

An injury is a bummer. It stunts your growth, stifles your shine, and holds you back from the activities that you love.

After doing a little too much too fast, I now find myself flat on my back-- literally, with a back injury.

The worst part? I've been here before.

The first time this happened, I was working in Spain. Similarly sparked by an unknown activities, giving me no further knowledge of how to prevent it. At the time, I sought the help of some amazing healers through massage, cupping, reiki, therapeutic Pilates and yoga. No one could pin down exactly what I had done to injure myself. I was out of commission for weeks.

Fast forward.

Over the past year, I've had minor flare-ups with my lower back, stemming from a known imbalance in my SI joint. Usually I'm able to swing by the chiropractor, get adjusted and be on my way. On to the next. BUT this time, not so much. It's been three weeks. Three weeks of laying down, resting more than I would like, paying quite a few visits to my chiropractor, and getting acupuncture treatments.

This much time on my back? Let me tell you about what I'm learning.

1. This too shall pass
Like all things, this injury will pass. You can go to your PT, massage therapist, chiropractor, doctor, etc., all you want, and healing will still take time. This is rough. The Type A, result-driven side of me hates this. And this is my learning. Patience and trust. Do all that you can, then rest and release the force for results.

2. Listen to your body
I can't tell you how many times I say this to students and to myself. And yet, it's the nature of the ego to creep in and throw a wrench in the whole works. I was coming back into training full time after a four month project, and my mind had a different idea than my body of what I could do. Guess who I listened to. And guess who got a big slap an reality check from the universe. The body's sensations are direct feedback to a much higher intelligence than the mind-over-matter training mentality that plagues so many of us. Tune into these cues to save yourself.

3. Take this as an opportunity to learn something new
I've taken this time to study anatomy and empower my yoga practice. I've been taking therapeutic classes via YogaGlo and am learning so much about the musculature of the lower body, that which supports the spine. Information that I can now bring to my classes and share on a larger scale. Our setbacks are our greatest teachers. Did you get that? Our setbacks are our greatest teachers. Apply this to any situation in your life and you'll come out on top.  

4. Change your perspective of success
On the same island of listening to your body, changing your perspective of what success, or strength, or beauty looks like will change the way you relate to your body and to your training. I have no problem taking Balasana in the middle of a power class, yet when it comes to going down in weight for a set of squats, I dig my heels in and say power through. Funny right? Not the best advice I would give. Success in my fitness, ultimately, is the ability to move through life pain-free. That's why I move my body. So I can keep moving until the day I pass. Get clear with your own goals, and what gets you moving. If the reason is not healthy for your mind and body, then your training will not manifest anything healthy.

Spring Cleaning Breakthroughs + Chickpeas

I don't know about you, but when April rolls around, I start to get inspired by the longer days, the breakthroughs of sunshine, and the spirit of spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with what matters.

I just spent a weekend in Seattle at the Baptiste Art of Assisting program. A phenomenal training on hands-on assisting yoga postures, and the second of three courses that I need for my Baptiste Certification. The weekend was about integrity in alignment. Integrity in our yoga practice, in our assisting, and in our lives. What I love about about Baptiste yoga, is the boldly obvious correlation between how we show up on our mats and in our lives. One thing that showed up for me in assisting this weekend was me holding back because I was afraid that I didn't have something to offer that person. What I really got present to, is that, first off, I DO bring value to the table- in all arenas of my life, and that I'm doing my community a disservice my not sharing that. I also really got that my growth happens when I dive in regardless of how comfortable I feel. There's this saying that Baron has,

The question is not, 'will I survive if I step out of my comfort zone?', it's 'will I survive my comfort zone?'

Every time I've been nervous to do something, and did it anyway, I've experienced a breakthrough. A breakthrough in my confidence, in speaking my truth, in my full self expression, in my relationships. The list goes on.

Spring cleaning is about much more than the dark corners of our homes, it's about the dark corners of our lives! What have you been putting off? What's piling up without attention? Where do you want to experience new freedom? What do you need to clean up- are there conversations you need to have?

The turning in the seasons is a great time to check in with yourself. Are you where you want to be? If not, what's lacking? Usually there is a lack of integrity somewhere. For me, lately, there's been a lack of integrity in my own self care. In taking the time to cook healthy meals. I've been using "busy" as an excuse to grab food at the Co Op for a quick fix. What I really needed to address though, is that I'm not taking the time to care for myself in one of the most basic ways- nourishment. I want to share with you today, a recipe that I'm coming back to for a quick, easily packable, nourishing meal. I present to you, Chickpeas & Greens!

This recipe was adapted from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day. And what a gem this recipe is. I like to soak chickpeas on the weekend, then cook them the next day so I have a fresh batch for various salads of recipes throughout the week. This recipe requires cooked chickpeas, I recommend soaking your own- in such a simple recipe, the quality of ingredients really takes precedence- but canned also work.

Chickpeas & Greens serves 4

lemon zest, red chili flakes, olive oil

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/8-1/4 tsp dried red chili flakes
• 3 large handfuls spinach, kale, chard, or another green of your choice
•  2 cups cooked chickpeas
• zest of 1 lemon
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Method

Combine olive oil, garlic, and chili in a cold frying pan. Turn the heat up to medium and let the garlic and chili begin to sizzle and infuse the olive oil. Saute until just golden, careful not to burn the garlic.

Add greens, saute and turn until slightly reduced, and bright green. Remove the pan from heat, add chickpeas and lemon zest. Stir to combine. Add sea salt and black pepper to taste.


This salad keeps great in the fridge for a couple days. I love to serve in over quinoa, or stuffed into an Ezekial tortilla for a tasty wrap.

enjoy!

2013 In Review

2013. A year of growth, possibility, discovering pieces of my true self, my power, and my potential.

January began with saying goodbye to a stable job and relationship and getting back on a jet to Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain. My friends from Azul had called earlier in 2012 with a seasonal job offer. Even though it didn't make sense or push me directly toward my goals, I felt strongly pulled to go. Looking back, I can recognize this as a pivotal action in my life. Previously I had everything, but I was half-assing my work and my relationships in a lot of ways. Removing myself from my environment and simply looking at these areas of objectively was powerful. I gave every bit of comfort and stability up in order to see clearly, what was working, what wasn't. And this gave me the power to change and transform it.

Watching the sun rise over the rolling green hills during a layover on Dublin, Ireland.

February I began to get grounded in my work at Azul. I found great friendship in my roommate and colleague, Manuel. Manuel inspires me for a number of reasons. He is open, kind, and generous beyond belief. He is generous with his time, love, and resources. Nothing is off limits to talk about, he is an open book, showing strength through vulnerability and raw honesty. Manu's yoga practice and teaching is rooted deeply in Ashtanga. His commitment to the practice is something I remind myself of daily.

I would wake up around 7 to head into the Azul kitchen to prepare brunch for our guests, and I would see him in the living room, halfway through his 90-minute Ashtanga practice. His Ujjayi breathing filled the entire house with methodical power and precision. I quietly gathered my things so as not to disturb his meditation, then as I walked out the door, I looked over and he winked at me as though to say, 'don't take it too seriously'. I keep this image as a reminder, to take my work (my yoga practice, teaching) seriously, and take myself lightly.

This was also the month I passed my certification as a Les Mills Body Combat Instructor!

Manuel and I saluting the sun in the volcano fields of Villaverde, Fuerteventura for a yoga-shoot.

March was a month of culinary adventure! Savouring Stella launched as a full functioning food blog. I took on more freedom in the kitchen of Azul to experiment. We cooked a lot from our head chef, Jo Dombernowsky's, cookbook, Truly Healthy, Truly Delicious, and we also experimented a lot. Blending Manuel's knowledge of fermentation, and vegan gourmet with my indulgent twists on whole foods.

I got more adventurous on the island, I mountain biked down a volcano, fed a baby goat, and partied all night on the streets for Carnival.

clockwise from top left: Colorful medley of leftovers from the previous night's dinner; sugar-free strawberry sorbet, and vegan avocado chocolate mousse; grain-free nut & seed bread; date-sweetened chocolate courgette muffins; creamless cream of broccoli soup; Manuel's super vegan cake with coconut milk chocolate ganache; green salad with avocado and a gluten-free bun.

April, my last month in Spain and my first month back home, with a multitude of adventures in between. I left to my friends and family at Azul Fit with enough smiles and hugs to last us another year apart.

Frauke, one of our general managers at Azul Fit, me and Manuel, before I left for the airport.

I spent a day in Dublin, got cooking lessons from my dad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, got to hang out with my little bug of a niece, Lily.

I traveled to Toronto and ate a peameal bacon sandwich at the St. Lawrence food market, got soaked by Niagra Falls, and spent time exploring in the Kensington District.

Exploring in the Kensington and Distillery District of Toronto.

May was when I decided to get back to business. Full steam ahead into my goals. Within weeks of landing back on U.S. ground, I bought my first real car (aka I took out a loan), got my job back at lululemon, started teaching yoga and Body Combat at Studio Z. I came back clear in knowing what I wanted and how to get there.

top: posing in the store window with two of my best girls bottom: posing in front of my new baby.

June, I flew down to Sedona, Arizona for my Level One Training with Baron Baptiste. Seven days of asana, sweat, tears, laughter, and Sedona red sand in every crevasse. 

 August included my first Body Combat release as a certified instructor. Studio Z combined Body Pump and Body Combat into two hours of pure weight training and martial arts inspired interval fun!

September I launched the Yoga Foundations Series at Studio Z. I lead a group of 12 people through a series of progressive yoga classes. Rooted in my training with Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, each class opened a layer of Baron's foundational Journey Into Power sequence. Each class offered a multitude of options and variations for poses, modifying for specific injuries, and how to build a home practice. This was also the month I began my 200-hr Teacher Training with Shakti Vinyasa Yoga in Seattle, Washington! After months of fundraising, this was made possible! Gratitude still spills over thinking about the generosity of my friends and family in this reaching this goal of mine.

Teacher Assisting Program (TAP) Weekend with Shakti Vinyasa Yoga.

October, I became a Keyleader at lululemon and brought goal coaching to the forefront of our awareness with one-on-one coaching sessions and a revamped goal wall.

November I taught the inaugural Free Sunday Yoga Class at our lululemon athletica Burlington Outlet. I made my final payment on Yoga Teacher Training. I had a decadent Thanksgiving for two with my mom.

December was full of celebration. I graduated from Yoga Teacher Training with a massive dance party (how else do you spend grad night?), spent a night bar hopping in Ballard, Seattle, Washington for my 21st birthday, and will ring in the New Year alongside my favorite man. Setting our sights even higher for 2014 as we raise the bar and push the envelope even further!

Happy New Year! Wishing you abundance in health, love, and levity this year! 

Yakima Peach Pancakes

Summer has come to a close. The last BBQ’s of Labor Day weekend have passed, Halloween displays are popping up in the stores, and the sun has been replaced with Washington’s characteristic drizzle. This summer has been filled with work, and taking care of one thing after another, unexpected car expenses to school planning (aka yoga teacher training). Just as it was starting to feel like I could do no more planning, September starts and I jump right in.

I’m teaching a Yoga Foundations Series workshop this month at the studio, an 8-class series of progressive yoga classes that will explore deeply into the foundations of power yoga. I have a group of eleven people, many of whom have never practiced yoga before, with so much potential to learn and find their niche in the practice. Our classes are 60 minutes, with time opened up to practice and play in poses, observe and ask questions. I encourage the group to be generous with their inquiries, and to question the poses when something isn’t working for them. It suddenly becomes clear that yoga is for any body, it looks different for everyone, and that’s a beautiful thing. To feel successful wherever you are in your practice, knowing that you have options in every pose to work your edge and expand your possibilities.

At the beginning of the month I also started a training of my own, my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification with Shakti Vinyasa Yoga, a Baptiste Affiliate Studio in the Seattle area. I have been fundraising to make this possible, and continue to do so (read more about my fundraising efforts here). To those who are unfamiliar with the certification standards of yoga teaching, I equate this training and certification as my Bachelor’s degree in yoga teaching. The 200-hr RYT certification is a national standard, regulated by Yoga Alliance. It lets potential studios know that you have reached a certain amount of course study. It’s the first big step towards teaching professionally. Within that, becoming a Certified Baptiste Teacher is like a specialization in teaching power yoga. I’m actively pursuing both, which is why I’ve chosen to study at Shakti.

So what does this all mean? It means I’m up to my ears in yoga study, practice, teaching, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Every once in a while I have to take a step back and breath. Remembering that hard work is important, and rest is just as important. We say this in interval training, maximize your periods of rest and downtime so you can maximize your output and energy in the high moments. Maximizing my down time looks like this; being productively restful. This could mean making a leisurely breakfast (peachy pancakes, anyone?) and kicking back with a book that teaches and inspires me. Currently on my list are, Journey into Power by Baron Baptiste, Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates, and Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar. These are a few of the books that I’ve been reading for my teacher training. You know you’re in the right field when you want to read your school books for pleasure.  A good book, warm breakfast, and a strong cup of coffee-- sold!

These pancakes are made from my house recipe all-purpose batter of spelt flour and whole milk yogurt which yields a lightly sweetened, moist pancake. This is then topped with a peach slice. When the pancakes are flipped, the sugars from the peaches sear and begin to caramelize.

I’ve been eating these with a dollop of Greek yogurt and honey, or with a spread of coconut oil and cinnamon, but they really don’t need much to dress them up. The batter can be made up to two days ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator, then thinned out with water or milk when you’re ready to get cooking. This recipe is best in the late summer/early fall when produce stands are bursting with the last of summer’s bounty, juicy ripe peaches. These could also be made in the fall with slices of soft pears, then topped with toasted pecans and maple syrup. YUM! Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Yakima Peach Pancakes serves 2-3

spelt flour, whole milk yogurt, peaches, cinnamon

• 1 large egg 
•  1 cup whole milk yogurt
• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp ground flax seed (optional)
• 1 ripe peach, sliced into 1/8" thick rounds
• coconut oil for cooking

Method

Preheat a heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg, add yogurt, lemon juice and honey. Whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon and flax seed, if using. Add wet ingredients to dry, stirring to combine. 

Add coconut oil to the skillet, swirl to grease the entire surface. Dollop batter into pan, a few tablespoons at a time, top with a peach slice, pressing lightly so that the batter spreads out. Continue, filling the skillet with pancakes. After 2-3 minutes, when the edges appear cooked, flip the pancakes and cook for 2-3 more minutes. 

Remove pancakes from skillet, at place in the preheated oven to keep warm. Continue with remaining batter, adding more coconut oil to the pan as necessary. 

Enjoy with a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of honey, or with a smear of coconut oil and cinnamon.

Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes & Level One with Baron Baptiste

Playing Big

Back in action in the Pac Northwest! You may recall my post on ‘Playing Big’ back in February of this year, written when I was in the process of applying for the Level One training with Baron Baptiste in Sedona, Arizona. I decided to take the plunge and apply, trusting that it would be exactly what I needed. And it absolutely was!

Investing my time, money, commitment-- and DOING THE WORK in this training was the best thing I could have done for myself. I, with 149 other passionate yogis spent a week,  16-hour workdays, in the middle of the Sedona desert, excavating every aspect of our lives.

Off The Mat, Into Your Life

We know that our yoga practice extends beyond the mat. We practice rewiring our minds to create more space between stimulus and response, to end negative reactive thought patterns, to approach life from a space of possibility, connectivity, and compassion. These are the things I think of when I talk about taking yoga off your mat and into your life.

For me, this training was about examining how I show up in different areas of my life. Not just how I practice yoga. But how I show up in my relationship with my mom, or my co-workers-- because it’s all the same, really. Tendencies that show up in one area of our lives, will generally show up in multiple areas.

I once had a teacher tell the class, when we were holding Utkatasana (Chair Pose) that the tendency when things get uncomfortable is to react in a certain way, whether that is to get out (straighten your legs, get out of the fire), muscle through forcefully, or maybe something else. My tendency would be to straighten my legs and get the heck outta there. “Where else do you see that show up in your life?”, she asked, “that tendency, that habit, do you see it in other areas of your life?”. Oh you betcha. Like in my relationships, when I have a disagreement with someone, if something at work isn’t going my way, just get out. I would get quiet and reserved, remove myself from the conversation or situation.

The challenge in class, then, is to be with the discomfort. Rather than getting reactive (automatically triggered without control), start getting responsive (choosing how you respond to situations from a clear, calm state). Just be with the discomfort, create space and choose your reaction. Then take this work, and apply it in your life.

Stepping back into life in Washington, the same relationships and work that I was in when I left now feel different. I feel focused in my purpose to teach and alive in my spirit to continue to learn, and with the commitment to DO THE WORK for this to work. This lightened feeling that comes from being up to something bigger in your life is something the Baron refers to as ‘being a YES’. It’s like when you get into a new relationship, or get a new opportunity in your life that excites you. Everything seems a little brighter, you glow, and you absolutely float through life. You start to view things from a place of excitement for the new possibility. In his book Being of Power, Baron says, “When being a yes, you’re someone who is standing positively for what’s happening in your life and for what you want to have happen in your future-- you’re a person who’s up to something bigger. Yes sets the stage for being of power”.

What’s Up Next

I’m teaching my Saturday morning yoga class at the Studio still, based in the Baptiste Power Yoga methodology, which has been phenomenal. New faces walk through the door weekly, saying they know they need yoga, for the stretching, yeah, but for so much more. People are leaving feeling lighter in more than just their bodies, in the hearts, in their minds. These guys are busting through barriers that once confined them, they’re seeing the benefits outside of class. It’s powerful stuff, this yoga.

My next step is to attend Level Two with Baron next year. I’ve also been toying with the idea of a 200-hr teacher training at a beautiful Baptiste Affiliate studio in Seattle. This is a studio that I love to attend class in, and would love to teach in one day. The only thing I feel that’s missing from the process of training right now is a community and yoga studio to regularly practice in. Also on my radar, the Art of Assisting program through the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute, a weekend workshop that dials into assisting classes and adjusting yoga postures. My work is to have the discipline to practice daily (because that’s where I’m learning most-- in experimenting to find what works in my own body), stay committed to my goals and what I want in my life, which is to build powerful partnerships and to connect with people in a way that supports growth.

Breakfast of Champions

Now that you’ve been dosed up with some morning inspiration, let’s fuel that body with some nourishment, in the form of lemon cornmeal pancakes. I made a simple blueberry syrup to serve with these pancakes, by taking fresh blueberries in a saucepan with a splash of water and cinnamon and cooking them down until it thickens into a syrup. Blueberries in the PNW are fabulous right now. Cooking them down brings out their thick, sweet-tart flavor, adding cinnamon further intensifies this. Cornmeal and blueberries are flavors of summer, brightened by fresh lemon juice and zest.

Spelt flour and cornmeal are combined to create a pancake that’s still fluffy, and with a toothsome crunch that cornmeal brings. They’re great topped with fresh ricotta or a traditional full-fat greek yogurt, and drizzled with blueberry syrup or fresh blueberries.

Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes makes 14 3-inch pancakes, serves 3-4 people

cornmeal, lemon zest, blueberries, fresh ricotta

• 1 cup milk
• zest of 1 lemon, + 1 Tbsp juice
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp grape seed oil + extra for cooking
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 2 Tbsp raw cane sugar, or honey
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Method

Pre-heat a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat.

Combine milk and lemon juice, set aside to let curdle, creating buttermilk.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs, whisk in lemon zest, and buttermilk. continue whisking as you drizzle in oil.

In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients; spelt flour, cornmeal, raw cane sugar, baking powder, and sea salt.

Add wet ingredients to dry, slowly mixing in until fully combined. Add another tablespoon of oil to the skillet, swirl around to coat the entire bottom. Pour in batter (I used a large spoon, so each pancake was about 2 Tbsp of batter), cook for 2-3 minutes, until bubbles start to form on the top of the pancakes, then flip and cooke for another 2 minutes. Keep warm in the oven, and repeat with remaining batter. Continue to keep the skillet greased as much as necessary.

Blueberry Syrup

• 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
• 3 Tbsp water
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Method

As pancakes cook, combine blueberries, water, and cinnamon in a saucepan over high heat. Once water begins to boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer uncovered  to thicken. As the blueberries cook and break down, they release pectin, which thickens this sauce. This is a low maintenance sauce. You can leave it to reduce as you cook all of the pancakes and it will likely finish at the same time. If it thickens too much for your liking, simply add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, alternately, if you like it thicker, continue to let it cook down.

Play Big

Is there something in this moment that you are waiting to take action with? If so, why? What holds you back? Are you doing a really great job at rationalizing your actions or lack thereof? I think what we'll often find is that our inaction boils down to a fear.

For some time now, I've been looking into further yoga teacher training. I was seriously considering a 200-hr Teacher Training at a gorgeous studio in Seattle. I would commute to Seattle one weekend out of every month for four months. The studio I was interested in, Be Luminous, has cutting edge temperature controlled rooms for an optimal practice, a library of books from philosophy to anatomy, snacks, tea and coconut water (the quickest door to my heart) and most importantly, phenomenal instructors. Their classes are varied in content and style but grounded in Baptiste methodology (a style of Power Vinyasa yoga created by Baron Baptiste, read more in this interview!).

There's a certain energy in a Baptiste class. The language is transformational, it guides you to a powerful state of being based in possibility and strength. The flow is dynamic, athletic in nature. The practice challenges the body fully, guiding you through a transformation both physically and mentally that I can only describe as coming in touch with your highest self.

Baron Baptiste at Yoga Journal Conference San Francisco, CA 2012

Working at lululemon athletica, an idea was sparked, a BHAG- that's Big Hairy Audacious Goal for those of you who are unfamiliar with the lingo. The BHAG I set was to train with the big guy himself, Baron. And not just to get my 200-hr RYT certification, but to become a Certified Baptiste Teacher. This is a big deal. The journey includes three things:

• Baptiste Level One Training
• Baptiste Level Two Training
• Art of Assisting Program

The soonest Level One Training I can attend is in June of 2012. Now, I've been waiting for two months for the application become available online; this week it FINALLY did. It is set up to be completed in a single sitting, nothing gets saved if you do not submit the application in one sitting. I got through the entire application, all the way up to the application fee and submittal then I froze. Between travel costs, training costs, and commitment issues, I found myself second guessing the decision. I decided to 'wait on it'. I rationalized, saying to myself, 'this is a lot of money', 'are you sure this is the way to go for training?', 'you need to save enough money to get home from the Canaries'. Blah, blah, blah. Noise.

Truth is, I have been saving for teacher training, I will have enough money to get home, and this IS the way to go because this is what inspires me and lights me up. I was just scared. Scared of not being good enough, scared of playing big and coming up short. And that fear isn't a bad thing. That's the feeling of reaching out of our comfort zone, and into our stretch zone. The fact that we can imagine it though, makes it a possibility.

San Diego 2012

It's so easy to get caught up in a comfortable pattern of being, and when the idea of new action comes up, whether it's in a relationship, job position, family dynamic, your health- whatever, and we end up getting stuck. We can also get caught up in knowing we want something to change but we don't know how. What's the magic first step that will catapult us to success?!

Try this on- any action you take right now will be better than no action. The first action you take might be successful. You might have to take further action in the future as things adjust. Whatever step you take right now will leave you in a better place than if you chose to sit and think on it some more. That's liberating news. As Goethe said,

 "Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!"

On a side note, on Monday, I submitted my application into the Baptiste Level One Training this June. A single step toward a much larger journey.