When we fully realise that the flow of our life's story has been directed by the choices we made in response to any given situation.....the great gift of each new day is that we always have the opportunity to choose again.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Blissful Bircher Museli (Surf Goddess Recipes)
If you've been tiring of eating breakfast cereals first thing in the morning, the original Bircher muesli offers a tasty and healthy alternative that we serve on our retreats!
Bircher muesli, originally brought to the world's attention in about 1900, was created by the Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. The idea was to provide a nutritious morning food as an aid to therapy. (More generally, he went against the grain, suggesting that plant based diets are much healthier than meat based diets, something which science is beginning to corroborate.)
What we think of as muesli today, is actually a descendant of the original muesli created by Bircher, but quite often with the essential healthy qualities removed, due to the shelf life of products - that is, the fresh fruits. Today's mueslis also often have added salt and sugar, both of which are unnecessary to get a great taste. Though some manufacturers do provide a healthier alternative (i.e. no added sugar), the obvious drawback is that packaged breakfast cereals can't contain fresh fruit. After getting a taste for Bircher muesli, it's hard to go back and enjoy food from a box in the same way!
Following is the recipe we prepare daily on our retreat - which is incredibly tasty and brimming with energy!
Ingredients (serves 2)
1 green apple, unpeeled, quartered, core removed
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (125ml) apple juice
1/2 cup (130g) fat-free natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve
Large pinch ground cinnamon / nutmeg
1/4 cup (25g) flaked almonds / walnuts
1/4 cup (30g) diced tropical dried fruit
2 tbs freshly grated coconut ( or pepitas / pumpkin seeds)
1/2 tbs flax seeds
Freshly diced mango, papaya or berries to serve
Method
Coarsely grate the apple. Mix the grated apple, rolled oats, apple juice, yoghurt, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl until well combined. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
Combine the flaked nuts and seeds in a small bowl.
Stir half the nut mixture through the muesli with 1/2 cup of yoghurt if the muesli has been soaking overnight. (If the muesli has been soaking for 1 hour, add a little extra yoghurt only as desired.) Top with the remaining nut mixture and fruit to serve.
Tip: Adapt this recipe to suit your tastes or whatever you have in the pantry. Replace the apple juice with orange or pineapple juice, milk or soy milk for a non-dairy alternative. Add some toasted shredded coconut, diced dried apricot or currants.
prep: 5 mins (+1 hour or overnight soaking) - Keeps for 2 - 3 days
Enjoy!
Bircher muesli, originally brought to the world's attention in about 1900, was created by the Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. The idea was to provide a nutritious morning food as an aid to therapy. (More generally, he went against the grain, suggesting that plant based diets are much healthier than meat based diets, something which science is beginning to corroborate.)
What we think of as muesli today, is actually a descendant of the original muesli created by Bircher, but quite often with the essential healthy qualities removed, due to the shelf life of products - that is, the fresh fruits. Today's mueslis also often have added salt and sugar, both of which are unnecessary to get a great taste. Though some manufacturers do provide a healthier alternative (i.e. no added sugar), the obvious drawback is that packaged breakfast cereals can't contain fresh fruit. After getting a taste for Bircher muesli, it's hard to go back and enjoy food from a box in the same way!
Following is the recipe we prepare daily on our retreat - which is incredibly tasty and brimming with energy!
Ingredients (serves 2)
1 green apple, unpeeled, quartered, core removed
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (125ml) apple juice
1/2 cup (130g) fat-free natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve
Large pinch ground cinnamon / nutmeg
1/4 cup (25g) flaked almonds / walnuts
1/4 cup (30g) diced tropical dried fruit
2 tbs freshly grated coconut ( or pepitas / pumpkin seeds)
1/2 tbs flax seeds
Freshly diced mango, papaya or berries to serve
Method
Coarsely grate the apple. Mix the grated apple, rolled oats, apple juice, yoghurt, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl until well combined. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
Combine the flaked nuts and seeds in a small bowl.
Stir half the nut mixture through the muesli with 1/2 cup of yoghurt if the muesli has been soaking overnight. (If the muesli has been soaking for 1 hour, add a little extra yoghurt only as desired.) Top with the remaining nut mixture and fruit to serve.
Tip: Adapt this recipe to suit your tastes or whatever you have in the pantry. Replace the apple juice with orange or pineapple juice, milk or soy milk for a non-dairy alternative. Add some toasted shredded coconut, diced dried apricot or currants.
prep: 5 mins (+1 hour or overnight soaking) - Keeps for 2 - 3 days
Enjoy!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Practicing Extreme Self Acceptance
Happiness and Self Love shouldn't be conditional.
Understand that you are already 'perfect' just the way you are today in your uniqueness.
Enjoy being in your skin, enjoy doing things 'imperfectly' because perfection is just an illusion.
When we accept and celebrate ourselves just as we are in each day, that is we give ourselves the freedom to experience happiness - nobody else can truly give it to us.
Wishing you a wonderful self-judgement free day!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Raw Ceasar Salad Dressing from the Surf Goddess Kitchen
There is nothing like going for an early evening surf in warm weather then coming home and having a big salad fresh salad! This is just one of our favourites dressings.
It does not need to be served with traditional cos lettuce, as it is also wonderful with arugula, olives, tomatoes, radishes, avacadoes, hemp seeds....mix it up!
Ingredients
1/4 cup cold-pressed olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 medium stalks celery, cut into fourths
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup Namu Shoyu soy sauce
2 Tablespoons sweet white miso
5 organic unsulphered dates ( I substitute 1 t. raw honey)
freshly ground pepper to taste
It's very simple to make....Blend all ingredients in blender
Makes 3 cups and keeps for about 10 days
It does not need to be served with traditional cos lettuce, as it is also wonderful with arugula, olives, tomatoes, radishes, avacadoes, hemp seeds....mix it up!
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 medium stalks celery, cut into fourths
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup Namu Shoyu soy sauce
2 Tablespoons sweet white miso
5 organic unsulphered dates ( I substitute 1 t. raw honey)
freshly ground pepper to taste
It's very simple to make....Blend all ingredients in blender
Makes 3 cups and keeps for about 10 days
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Joy of the Beginner's Mind - Surfing's Hidden Treasures
Humans are the only creatures that are self-conscious. You never see a cat blush when they slip, dogs never cringe when they fart in public and I am sure lions don’t beat themselves up over ‘the one that got away.’
It’ s only we humans that have set up the world so that we try to do every thing perfectly...every time. With this in mind, surfing can teach us one of life’s finest lessons…that is to not take ourselves so seriously!
To learn to surf we must be willing to lose our self-consciousness in order to participate. No person has ever picked up a surfboard and ridden a wave perfectly on their first try. We have all fallen off our boards in uncoordinated ways and been unceremoniously tossed around by the white wash - both as beginners and as seasoned surfers!
Surfing teaches us to keep humble, be patient and have a few laughs as we give ourselves a good long period of time where we can be ‘kooky’ surfers as we try something new.
This is also a great lesson to take into life in general. How often are we afraid to try something new because we may fail and worse yet, look foolish or uncomposed while trying?
All the wisest teachers throughout the ages have taught the benefits of keeping a beginner’s mind - to lower the bar and allow ourselves to ‘not know’ and not be ‘perfect experts’.
Indeed I have always thought that some of most fun I have had in the surf was when I was an absolute beginner. It was all great back then. Every small improvement a momentous victory, every slip, slide and tumble and chance to laugh, giggle and get bounced around by the bubbly froth.
How much more serious we become when we lose the beginner’s mind. Every small mistake becomes an excuse to berate ourselves for not doing better. Where is the fun in that?
So if you are a beginner enjoy your bumpy, frothy, fun discovery of surfing; and if you’re a seasoned surfer, re-discover your beginner’s mind.
There are many ways you can do this. One way is by teaching another to surf. As we teach what we know we share the beginner’s experience and re-visit that part of ourselves. Another way is to surf somewhere new or on a different length of board than you usually ride. Surf just for the fun of it. Let go of how you look, how ‘well’ you rode the wave or if you got wiped - just do it because you love it!
http://www.surfgoddesretreats.com/
It’ s only we humans that have set up the world so that we try to do every thing perfectly...every time. With this in mind, surfing can teach us one of life’s finest lessons…that is to not take ourselves so seriously!
To learn to surf we must be willing to lose our self-consciousness in order to participate. No person has ever picked up a surfboard and ridden a wave perfectly on their first try. We have all fallen off our boards in uncoordinated ways and been unceremoniously tossed around by the white wash - both as beginners and as seasoned surfers!
Surfing teaches us to keep humble, be patient and have a few laughs as we give ourselves a good long period of time where we can be ‘kooky’ surfers as we try something new.
This is also a great lesson to take into life in general. How often are we afraid to try something new because we may fail and worse yet, look foolish or uncomposed while trying?
All the wisest teachers throughout the ages have taught the benefits of keeping a beginner’s mind - to lower the bar and allow ourselves to ‘not know’ and not be ‘perfect experts’.
Indeed I have always thought that some of most fun I have had in the surf was when I was an absolute beginner. It was all great back then. Every small improvement a momentous victory, every slip, slide and tumble and chance to laugh, giggle and get bounced around by the bubbly froth.
How much more serious we become when we lose the beginner’s mind. Every small mistake becomes an excuse to berate ourselves for not doing better. Where is the fun in that?
So if you are a beginner enjoy your bumpy, frothy, fun discovery of surfing; and if you’re a seasoned surfer, re-discover your beginner’s mind.
There are many ways you can do this. One way is by teaching another to surf. As we teach what we know we share the beginner’s experience and re-visit that part of ourselves. Another way is to surf somewhere new or on a different length of board than you usually ride. Surf just for the fun of it. Let go of how you look, how ‘well’ you rode the wave or if you got wiped - just do it because you love it!
http://www.surfgoddesretreats.com/
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Surf Goddess Retreats in Shape Magazine Online
Getting fit doesn't have to mean going to the gym and slogging it out on the stairmaster...surfing provides a great way to get in shape and have fun doing it!
http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/classes/yoga_surf_camp
Sunday, May 30, 2010
About Commitment.... (Surf Goddess Life Coaching Series)
The word commitment often brings out mixed emotions for people. At a time when we are presented with endless options, making a commitment to something or someone can appear to be a challenge.
Often people resist fully committing to an idea because they want to minimise their risks. The only hitch is that, when it comes to life, a partial commitment usually returns only partial results and partial joy.
It is fear that often holds us back from going after our heart’s desire. First there is the fear of people seeing us fail, or at the very least struggle as we stretch ourselves to reach out for something new. We also fear success and the new responsibilities that success always brings.
I like to compare the process of making a commitment to the process of surfing. When you see a wave coming that you want to ride, you launch yourself forward into action preparing to ‘catch’ the wave. This is the same as the first steps you take when you want to achieve a goal or make a vision a reality.
Then comes the point when the wave ‘catches’ you! Sweeping you up, it starts to pull you forward with it’s own momentum. It is at this moment the crucial decision has to be made. Do I want to catch this wave or not? It is a decision that relies on gut level instinct.
You can either pull back, and let the wave roll on by, or throw your whole being into it. You know that a half hearted commitment will have you being dumped in the white wash, tossed unceremoniously around like a wet rag.However, if you throw every bit of your being at the wave you can have the chance to experience a wild and joyous ride.
Life is very much like the ocean. There are endless options to choose from, just as there are always new waves. But to experience the sense of triumph and satisfaction that comes from fully realising our dreams, we have to commit to that vision, person or goal; just the same as we need to commit to the wave we want to ride.
Commitment requires not only action, but a sense of purpose that is unwavering even in the face of challenges.
Happy Surfing!
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