My Daily Springtime Smoothie

If you've ever taken a weekend workshop with me, you've seen me plunk down in front of the classroom with a dark purple, mysterious smoothie in hand. As you can imagine the first thing I get asked is, "What on earth is in that??" I’m here to spread the smoothie love and let you in on the ingredients I use, particularly in the spring time when seasonal greens start coming back.

One of my favorite things to put in smoothies this time of year is dandelion greens. Not only are they are full of nutritional benefits, but they are so huge and beautiful in spring, they are irresistible. I especially love getting them from my local farmers market.

Eating dandelion greens also indirectly supports honey bees because to eat them means that people will have to stop using weed killer on their dandelion flowers, which poisons the bees!

Some of the many nutritional benefits of dandelion greens:

• They are detoxifying, cleansing, and purifying
• High in antioxidants and phytonutrients
• They contain lutein and zeaxanthin - two nutrients important for healthy eyesight. A daily serving of these daily lowers your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, according to the American Optometric Association.
• They contain considerable amounts of vitamins A and K, both of which positively affect your blood – assisting with the formation of blood clots and supporting new blood cell growth. Vitamin A also contributes to healthy eye function and boosts your immune system, while vitamin K helps keep your bones healthy.
• Incorporating dandelion greens into your diet will also give you an excellent source of vitamin C, as well as a solid dose of calcium and protein, which will positively affect your bones.
• Dandelion greens also contain many anti-inflammatory properties and much more!

Now let's put those nutritional benefits to work along with the other super food ingredients!

Here's the Recipe:

2-3 Handfuls of Dandelion Greens 8-12 oz Almond Milk (to desired thickness) 1 Tbsp Goji Berries ½ Cup (or more) Frozen Wild Blueberries 1 Serving of Vega One protein powder - (Any flavor will do - they all are yummy!) 1 tsp Vitamin C (Healthforce Nutritionals) 2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds 1 tsp Nutiva Coconut Manna or Coconut oil ½ Unsweetened Sambazon Acai Smoothie packet Optional – 1/2 Frozen Banana if you prefer a sweeter taste

Throw it all in and blend!

I hope you enjoy my daily smoothie as much as I do. I would love to hear which nutritionally packed ingredients you like to toss into your smoothies!

My Secrets for Glowing Skin

At age 45, I am flattered when people write me or comment about my skin. And I get asked frequently about what I do to take care of my skin and make it glow. So, I’m finally putting it all down in writing for you! Is it vain to care about how your skin looks? Sure it is. But healthy skin also comes from a healthy lifestyle on the inside and a desire for self care as well. Therefore I think there is absolutely no shame in caring about your skin or how it looks.

Getting glowing skin is a combination of external and internal health habits.

Taking care of my skin, or at least "the idea" of it, actually started at a young age, when my mother attempted to impart the virtues of self-skin care to me and my sister. Of course, as with many things our mothers try to teach us, I didn't really "get it" until I was about 30, when it dawned on me that I was getting older.

So I scheduled my first facial at a Jurlique concept store and spa in New York City.

After the facial, I was high for three hours! (Some of you might remember the yoga class I taught right afterwards...)

Something about the nourishment, aromatherapy, and pampering made me feel like I was on a cloud.  It left such an impression that I was ready to do whatever my aesthetician told me to do to get this feeling on a daily basis. I bought the cleanser, the serums, the mists, the moisturizers, the masks, the eye creams - and I haven't looked back since!

Ever since that pivotal moment, skin care has been a major part of my day and a lovely ritual. Long gone are the days of just washing my face with soap, putting on a basic face cream, and walking out the door.

For 15 years I've followed a complete ritual, which can seem (and is!) expensive and time consuming, but it's been an investment in myself that has paid off. When you live in a dry climate with 300 days of sunshine a year like I do, the environment can take a toll on your skin. Despite having lived in Colorado for 10 years, I've been able to protect my skin and keep the glow with a 5-step daily process.

My Daily Skin Care Ritual: For this 5-step ritual, I use all Jurlique products which are 99.9% organic, natural, and chemical free. Jurlique is an Australian company that makes an all natural, organic line of skin care products with biodynamically grown ingredients free from synthetic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.

This line may or may not work for your particular skin, and if it doesn't, I encourage you to find an organic, chemical free line like Dr. Hauschka, Weleda, or Pangea Organics. As long as it resonates with your skin (no rashes, no breakouts or burning!).

1. Cleanse with a cream or foaming cleanser (not soap!).
2. Apply a cream exfoliator and rinse. Do this daily if specified for daily use, if not alternate days. Do this step only in the evenings.
3. Apply a toner mist (blot into skin with fingers).
4. Apply serum and eye cream.
5. Apply moisturizer with sunscreen for daytime (reapply mid day especially if you are in intense sun/altitude); apply night cream before bed.

Tip: your skin benefits most when it has direct contact with your products, so be sure to cleanse first!

In addition to the daily regimen...

• Exfoliate with a Clarisonic 3x per week in place of step 2. If you don't have a Clarisonic, just use the exfoliating cream.
• Once a week, use a detoxifying, hydrating mask. Weekends are a good time to fit this in.
• Get a monthly facial if possible (let the professionals do a deep cleanse, massage, and treat your skin; a good aesthetician can also help you find the right products for your skin).
• Considerations for a dry climate - use a facial steamer 1-3x per week and especially before your weekly mask (I like the Panasonic EH-SA31). Run a humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep.
• Remember, whatever you're doing to your face, you should also be doing to your neck!
• For lip care, I find that most chapsticks and lip balms actually dry out my lips. The one natural product I've found that works to moisturize and protect is Alba Unpetroleum Jelly in a tube or their chapsticks, which are fantastic.

Alright. Now you know what I do for my skin externally, but skin care is two fold - what you put in your body also makes a huge difference!  Below are some ways I tackle the health of my skin from the inside out.

Internal:

• Drink tons of water - use a hydration calculator online to find out how much you need.
• Green juice daily - suggested juicer Omega VRT 350.
• Omega 3’s critical - I like using a vegan fish oil equivalent by Premier Labs, called DHA.  As I age, this supplement has made all the difference (not just for my skin, but for my hair, nails, and my memory)! When I am not taking it, my skin looks dry and less glowing. I take a high dose, but as always, check with your health care provider as to what amount is right for you.
• Welcome good fats into your diet such as coconut, coconut oil, avocado, extra virgin olive oil, hemp seed oil, sprouted nuts and seeds, etc.
• A high fiber diet is key too - chia seeds, greens, and fiber supplements help keep the gut clean and moving, which is great for the skin.
• Many people also find that dairy products negatively affect their skin, likely due to the difficulty in digesting dairy. I've been dairy free most of my life.

There you have it! What do you do to keep that beautiful glow? Comment below and let's continue to share and spread the skin care love!

Plant Based Love Salad

We know that leaning toward or switching completely to a plant based diet is the single most important way to help the environment. The production of beef and other animal protein consumes huge amounts of water, fossil fuels, topsoil, and destroys our forests, while polluting our water and air. And don't even get me started about the worst perils of meat production...Meat production causes more greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide to spew into the atmosphere than either transportation or industry!

So if you're like me, you're constantly looking for high protein plant based foods! The good news is, these foods are out there in abundance.

I was thrilled to find a product called Sprouted Mung Beans, by TruRoots, and even more happy to discover that each serving has 10 grams of protein.

This past Valentine's Day I made brunch for a friend, and I had a vision of combining the mung beans with quinoa to pack in even more protein awesomeness.

After a trip to the market it was clear what was in season and I shopped accordingly to add some magic to the overall vision of protein combining.

The result is the Plant Based Love Salad! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Ingredients: 1 Bunch Baby Asparagus 1/4 Jicama 1 Purple carrot 1 Celery Stalk 4 Radicchio Leaves Arugula ½ Red Onion 1 Cup TruRoots Sprouted Mung Beans ½ Cup Quinoa (preferably TruRoots Sprouted) Real Salt Extra Virgin Olive Oil Nutiva Refined Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil or Nutiva Sunflower and Red Palm Oil (don't worry, it is harmless to orangutans!) Tessa Mae’s Lemon Garlic Dressing Lemon (optional)

To prep the baby asparagus, find the "natural breaking point" on each asparagus spear’s end, separating the tender flesh toward the tip from the woody end, wash, and prepare a shallow baking pan.

Place the clean asparagus in pan and coat with Nutiva Refined Coconut Oil or Nutiva Sunflower and Red Palm Oil and bake at 375 for 20 minutes, stirring 2-3 times in the process. At 15 minutes in, salt the asparagus generously.

While that is cooking, dice and combine the following vegetables in a large mixing bowl:

1 Purple Carrot ¼ Jicama 1 Celery Stalk 1/2  Red Onion (sautéed first in oil until translucent) 4 Radicchio Leaves, julienned

And…

Cook the quinoa according to package directions Cook the mung beans according to package directions and strain

Once the asparagus is done, chop the roasted spears into 1/3 inch lengths and mix into the other veggies.

Toss the cooked quinoa and strained mung beans into the bowl and add a splash of olive oil and salt to taste.

Combine the veggies with the quinoa and mung bean mixture and do a final salting to taste along with a tablespoon of lemon garlic dressing. You can also squeeze fresh lemon on to taste.

Serve on top of a clean fresh bed of Arugula and enjoy!

Makes 4 - 5 servings.

I would love to hear how yours turns out and if you made any yummy variations!

How to Get On Your Yoga Mat and Stick to It

I'm writing this because I need to hear it. With energy to give and technology to help me do things faster, I tend to say yes to everyone and everything until I'm up to me ears in deadlines and emails.

Because I like to keep my word if I've made promises, and I don't function well when the house is a mess, sadly I'll choose the email inbox or loading the dishwasher over my practice when things really pile up.

I know I am not alone. Most of us have the pressure to put food on the table, pay bills, and if you're a parent, saving to put your kids through college. So if the choice comes down to working or mat time, work will often win.

Enter the hamster wheel effect, a downward spiral of work dominating your life, your practice going to pot, getting out of yoga shape, and in the end not producing at the level we could be!

We all know that a yoga practice makes us more productive, easier to be around, grounded in our decisions, and guided from a place of deep authenticity. In 2014, the word "haters" was written into the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song - hating has become a phenomenon!  Ahhh, but yoga when practiced regularly (and practiced intelligently), helps us live in our hearts so we can be quite simply, a "liker". Kindness these days is on the endangered species list and needs our protection!

Despite knowing exactly what a yoga practice will do for me and the people I love, I've sometimes chosen what seems so all important in the moment over even the shortest practice.

Yeah, I've been addicted to crisis and busyness, and it's time to shift. Sure, my preference would be to practice for at least 90 minutes or the luxury of even more, but a yoga practice need not be a long, drawn out time sucker - even 10 minutes yields big results. And it's certainly better than no practice at all.

Here are the steps I'm using this month to stick to my sticky mat!

1. See your yoga mat? Choose a strategic spot to store it that is nearby an open floor space so it can easily be unrolled swiftly and put down on the open space.

2. When you get dressed in the morning, put on either yoga clothes or something as close to stretchy/comfy as possible so you can't use your outfit as an excuse not to bend!

3. It does not matter what time of day it is. Stop everything you're doing and roll out the mat. Set a timer for 10 minutes. If you have an iphone you can even tell Siri, "Set a timer for 10 minutes" and she'll do it. This is literally #stopanddrop yoga except you don't need to take a selfie - you're going to do a whole practice!

4. Get on your mat and play for those 10 minutes. Either do your own solo practice, or use the search feature on YogaGlo to cue up a ten minute class (they have hundreds of them but I've curated a list of my favorites below)*. When the timer is up notice if you're in the mood to do a little more and if so, stay a while.

5. When you're done, give yourself a high five for doing a great practice instead of beating yourself up for not doing a longer session. (Positive reinforcement is key!).  Roll up your mat, and put it back in the strategic spot for tomorrow. When you return to your day, take a moment to notice how the practice has shifted you in your body, your mind, and your spirit.

6. Lastly, make a list of things you can say no to each week and consider politely declining some opportunities to allow yourself more time for you.

In our 30 Day Yoga Challenge on Facebook this month, we're practicing a minimum of 10 minutes of yoga a day the whole month of January. Please join us if you're moved!  My hunch is that those 10 minutes will become 12, 15, 20, 30 and eventually 45 minutes or more.

Please leave a comment below to let us know how you stick to your sticky mat!

* Here are some of my favorite ten minute online practices on YogaGlo:

Maintain Your Yoga Shape, Amy Ippoliti Morning Oil for Tin Men & Women, Amy Ippoliti Bliss Blast, Amy Ippoliti Wake Up Rock Star, Taylor Harkness When You Only Have Ten Minutes, Marla Apt Short and Sweet, Kathryn Budig Reboot Your Brain, Marc Holzman Ten Postures, Ten Minutes, Jason Crandell Reboot, Mary Taylor

Follow me on Instagram for photos and conversation about yoga and inspiring change in the world. Hang with me on Facebook and chit chat on Twitter.

Cleansing Autumn Green Juice

As most of you know, I love juicing. I juice every single morning because it keeps me energized and feels like good preventive medicine. I’ve written before about why juicing is so important, and it’s worth mentioning again! I read once that 98% of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables are trapped inside the fiber capsules of the plant. Our teeth barely access those nutrients when we eat our fruits and vegetables.

By contrast, when you juice, the fiber capsule is accessed, giving you a much larger mega hit of nutrition!

It would take me hours to chew through all of the produce I plunge through the juicer each morning. Nobody has time for that!

I use the Breville Elite 800 juicer (centrifugal and easier to use) when I’m short on time, and the Norwalk (slow masticating) when veggies and time are more ample.

The Norwalk is an industrial juicer and is not for everyone. My recommendation would be to get a smaller slow masticating juicer, or if you’re concerned about time, the Breville Elite 800.

Note: Research has shown that centrifugal juicers can be less nutritious than a cold pressed or slow masticating juicer and you must consume the juice immediately after it's made. If you want the most nutritious juice, and if you want to store the juice for a few days, go with a slow masticating/pressing juicer.

Williams-Sonoma has both types of juicers here.

In the fall I love to take advantage of the local apples and pears that are abundant this time of year. I am also fan of adding a ton of greens because of the alkalizing effect and the lower sugar content. This recipe, combining fall greens and local fruit is refreshing and tart. Plus it’s great for your liver!

Ingredients*:

2 small cucumbers or 1 large cucumber

6 handfuls of baby spinach or a head of chard or both(which might still be growing in the garden!)

1 stock of celery

1 head of romaine lettuce (optional)

1 apple or pear

1 small lemon or 1⁄2 of a large lemon

*Use seasonal, local and organic whenever possible!

Directions:

1. Put the celery in first and plunge.

2. Put the cucumber in without plunging and fill the space around it with the baby spinach or chard, then plunge. This way the greens get juiced rather than spun out through the juice.

3. Juice the romaine, apple or pear.

4. Juice lemon last to help clean the juicer.

Voila!

New to juicing? Here are a few useful tips:

• Always drink the juice within minutes of making if you use a centrifugal juicer. The juice begins to lose nutritional value quickly. If you make your juice with a slow masticating juicer and want to store it up to 72 hours, fill a jar up all the way to the top so that the lid touches the juice when you close it – sealing it in with as little oxygen above the juice as possible.

• Sip your juice with a straw if you’re worried about your teeth turning green – I recommend using these glass straws from Coco Jack.

• When you use a lemon, put it in last – it works as an astringent to pre-clean the juicer!

Digital Detox: Yogis Need to Unplug Too

You don't need a supercomputer to recognize that huge chunks of our time are occupied by the stuff we do on our electronic devices. However, until I spent six internet and cellular free days in the mountains of northern New Mexico last week, I had not grasped precisely how much time I spend online. On a daily basis I’m answering hundreds of e-mails, posting updates and photos on social media, blogging (like right now), and texting with at least 10 different people. It’s no joke.

To fit it all in, I’m lucky if I create an hour a day to pause, be in the moment, do something outside, read a book, or sit to eat with family and friends.

Sometimes I want to throw away my phone, close my social media and email accounts, and turn back the clock to the 70’s and 80’s before these technologies existed and go camp in the woods, or hang out on the beach (without worrying about getting sand in my iPad). Can you relate?

As much as I fantasize about throwing in the tech towel, I practice yoga, and as the name yoga (meaning union) suggests, we like to connect. Even if it’s through a screen. And this longing to connect is what keeps me on my iPhone and laptop.

Some on the retreat were surprised that I would be addicted to devices and technology. People often make the assumption that because I do yoga, that I’m immune.

The truth is that most everyone now grapples with their relationship to technology, and yogis are no exception.

That said, I do believe yogis, with their understanding of mindfulness and being present are ripe to lead the charge to explore ways in which to create boundaries with devices and schedule purposeful times of “unplugging” to simply be. But to do this this, we must start with ourselves.

The biggest realization I gained from six days off is that in the absence of transmitting electronic devices and social media I was truly free (as my younger self was) to do whatever my heart desired. Time opened up and I became obligated only to myself and to the people that mattered most.

There was space to relish nature, read books by a crackling fire, break bread with the artists and visionaries at the retreat, spend 5 hours hiking through the woods with no trail, and to rock climb for the first time in years. I enjoyed the better part of one day creating land art (see videos below!) practiced yoga, pampered and sauna'ed, sang, and played music!

Note: We agreed to use smartphones and cameras for the sole purpose of photography and creating imagery. Videos by Norman Johnson.

The whole idea of “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) is actually an illusion of sorts. Life goes on. It was OK not to “need” to know every detail of the feeds I regularly scroll through. Not having to be 100% on every minute of the day in order to stay on top of things was a massive relief to my spirit.

I'm still getting used to typing on my laptop again. And sure, I've got an overwhelming amount of work and emails to catch up on, but it was worth it.

Perhaps you’re saying, “Duh, why is this such a revelation?” but honestly, the most time I’ve given myself off the grid in the last few years has been a day, not six.

My new goal is to extend the time even longer on my next “unplugging”.

Based on what I learned during those seven days, here are some ways we can start creating a healthy relationship with technology:

1. Realize that you’re not missing out. Not seeing every single post in your Instagram or Facebook feed is OK. If there is someone you really need to catch up with, pick up the phone. You can also check their individual page instead of scrolling through an entire feed so you are selectively choosing vs. being subjected to the blast of everyone and their mother’s updates. Just this choice alone will limit your time on social media and open up more time in your day.
2. Unplug for at least an hour a day and unplug for one whole day per week. Give yourself the gift of being free to do what you enjoy most such as reading a book, cooking and eating a meal at the table with no distractions, taking a bath, hiking or walking outside. Tell your colleagues and friends that this is your time off and to not expect responses during that time.
3. Build in at least 1-3 solid vacations (stay-cations count!) a year and purposely hit the off button on all technology! This can be a great time to recharge, reboot and prevent burnout. A “Digital Detox” helps you get back in tune with your own rhythms and nature’s rhythms vs. keeping up with the pace of the digital world. It’s such a joy to dictate how you spend your time rather than spending so much time responding to other people’s demands of you.
4. Be in the moment and do one thing at a time. We’ve all too often been in a conversation with someone or in a meeting and one of us gets a text message or e-mail popping up on the phone. Don’t be that person who picks up the phone in the middle of the conversation to see who texted! Put the phone in airplane mode and out of sight and give your fullest attention to the moment.Here’s a trick I learned from Shannon, who recently joined our team at 90 Monkeys: When you’re out to eat with family and/or friends, put all of the phones in the middle of the table face down. The phones have to stay there for the entire meal (no exceptions!). Whoever touches their phone first buys everyone’s dinner. Not only is it a fun game, but it also lets you enjoy a meal together without any outside distractions.

These methods for digital detox will make you happier, more productive, and help you to gain more perspective on your life. The best proof of this is to try it yourself. Once you’ve done a full “unplugging”, chances are you’ll be longing to press the off button more often.

Have you done a digital detox? If so, please share your experience and methods for a healthy relationship to tech in the comments below.

We enjoyed this fire every day in an outdoor living room! Here I am bouldering up to a lava cave with my new friend Imran, founder of EmbarcChicago.org. Photo by Norman Johnson.

Vegan Cream of Delicata Squash Soup

On a brisk October day, I was doing some errands around Boulder and saw that the Farmer’s Market was having its final Wednesday of the season. On a whim, I bought a couple of delicata squash’s along with heaps of kale, broccoli, and other veggies. I have never tried making a puree of delicata squash for soup, but my experiment proved to be one of the tastiest (and simple!) soups I have ever made.

To make this soup you will need a food processor or high-powered blender (such as a Blendtec or Vitamix)*. This recipe uses a new product from Nutiva called Organic Refined Coconut Oil. I love this oil because it has all the nutritional and cooking benefits of coconut oil, without the coconut taste making it much more versatile.

Now on to the recipe…

Ingredients: 2 medium sized delicata squash Approx. 2 cups unsweetened plain almond milk (depending on desired consistency) Sea salt to taste 1 Tbsp Nutiva refined coconut oil

Instructions: 1. Rinse and scrub the delicate squash. 2. Cut off the ends of the squash and slice the squash into quarters. 3. Place the quarters in a steamer. Steam until tender. 4. Scoop and remove seeds out of the quarters. 5. Combine all of the ingredients in the food processor or blender. 6. Blend until smooth and all the skin of the squash has been well blended. 7. Garnish with sautéed broccoli or kale if desired.

*If you only have a regular blender, make sure to skin the squash first.

Autumn Carrot Pecan Butter Smoothie

Are you one of those people who digs dipping carrot sticks into nut butter? If so, you'll enjoy this refreshing new smoothie I came up with after a visit to the farmers' market where I found beautiful, succulent carrots, begging to be eaten.

photo 2

In a Vitamix, Blendtec or other hi-powered blender mix the following:

8oz almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 small raw carrot
1/4 cup Pecan Butter
Cinnamon and sea salt to taste
3 Ice cubes

Roughly 28 grams of protein depending on what protein you use. Pour into glass and enjoy!

Video: Thrilling Instead of Killing: Swimming with Whale Sharks & Manta Rays

On one of my trips to experience marine animals with marine conservationists, Taro Smith, Ph.D and Shawn Heinrichs, we found a place where former shark fishermen are now "thrilling instead of killing" by taking people like me out into the ocean to swim and interact with whale sharks and manta rays.

It was an honor to support the eco-tourism efforts in Mexico and to witness how these fishermen are so protective of the whale sharks and manta rays!

Although there were many boats and people in the water (which may seem bothersome to the animals), the alternative (being fished for their fins) could mean much bigger problems for these creatures.

My experience swimming near them is that they were aware enough to avoid collision with me, but they certainly were not threatened by my presence in any way. The animals were so focused on filtering for fish eggs, I might as well have been a floating log!

This video, shot by Taro Smith, Ph.D, showcases the beauty of these animals and how you can help protect sharks and manta rays, as well as our oceans.

Eating on the Wild Side

  We all know that a big part of a yoga lifestyle is to eat well and follow the latest research in nutrition so we can live more vibrantly while respecting the earth.

And when it comes to food and nutrition ideas, we've heard it all!

We try to eat more plant based organic. We've tried raw, cooked, BPA and Gluten Free. We eat more greens to keep the doctor away. The list goes on.

But this time my world got rocked by Jo Robinson, author of “Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health".

Jo spent ten years researching the nutrient value in the most common and popular produce found in our super markets, even the organic markets. I always knew that wild foods and even weeds were extremely good for you, but it turns out we started breeding the nutrition out of food when we became farmers 10,000 years ago...Ack!

History geeks will love Jo's research, and foodies - you will get a kick out of revolutionizing your produce selection methods, learning best practices for storing your produce, and the various new creations you can make in your kitchen!

Here is just a little bit of what I learned:

Greens Dandelion greens, Purple kale, Raddichio, Arugula and Red Leaf lettuces are total phytonutrient superstars compared to standard green lettuce like Romaine or Butter leaf - seems obvious when you think about it, but I'd never given it that much thought.

Eat Your Brussel Sprouts! Everyone knows that Brussel sprouts are ridiculously healthy but according to Jo, they are superfood ninjas:  “Brussels sprouts kill more human cancer cells than all other crucifers. In a 2009 test-tube study, extracts of the vegetable destroyed 100 percent of human cancer cells of the breast, pancreas, stomach, prostate, and lung.”

How You Prep and Store Your Produce Makes All the Difference In the pictures below I am doing the produce ritual I learned. Soak the greens for an hour in cold water, rinse well, and then spin the leafy greens.

Once spinned well, place the greens into zip lock bags that have been perforated with a needle 10-20 times to allow for gas exchange. The Dandelion greens in the picture actually have red stems, so I'm sure they are even more incredibly healthy. (Dandelions also help feed our dwindling population of honey bees, so never spray them with weed killer!)

Push all the air out before sealing the bag so it looks vacuum packed and store in your crisper drawer. According to Jo, “If you tear up the lettuce before you store it, you can double its antioxidant value. The living plant responds to the insult as if it were being gnawed by an insect or eaten by an animal: it produces a burst of phytonutrients to fend off the intruders.”

Purple Carrots, Artichokes and Asparagus It turns out that purple carrots are higher in anthocyanins than regular carrots. And if you steam them whole and then slice them afterwards they taste sweeter and their ability to fight cancer increases. Who knew?

The information on Artichokes (one of my favorites) shocked me.  Jo throws it down: “Artichokes have a higher ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value than all the other fruits and vegetables in the supermarket. You would have to eat eighteen servings of corn or thirty servings of carrots to get the same benefits.” Needless to say, I've been obsessed:

Asparagus is very high in antioxidants, but I learned that purple asparagus has three times more antioxidants than the green varieties. I always assumed the purple ones did not taste as good. I was totally wrong! Asparagus, like Broccoli is best eaten no more than 2 days after harvest in order to actually get the incredible nutrients inside the plant, so it's almost impossible to shop for them in standard super markets where the produce typically arrives ten days after harvest. Getting Broccoli, Asparagus, Artichoke and Brussel sprouts at farmer's markets or growing them on your own is the best bet.

Here is what my salads look like since reading the book:

It has been so much fun applying Jo's wisdom to our kitchen!

I must thank the awesome yogini who told me about the book (I can't remember who you are, but please come forward so we can all give you a virtual hug!).

Please leave a comment with your experiences of "eating on the wild side", recipes, or comments on the book!

Ego Bashing and Yoga, Is it Helping?

Yogis want to eradicate the Ego. A select few, but prominent, schools of yoga will tell you that one of the goals of yoga is to extinguish the ego and instead be as modest and unassuming as possible. I beg to differ. I call this view of the ego "ego bashing".

In spite of all this work trying to quell the ego, modern yogis are often accused of being the most egotistic, self-obsessed, selfie-taking, navel gazers alive. So how’s that ego bashing working out? Here's a theory.

If anything, I believe that the pressure on yogis not to have an ego is creating an opposite, reactionary effect. Yogis are so tired of subduing their egos that they're actually craving the need to celebrate themselves a little with a selfie or two. (Not to mention, yogis are also subject to the same self-absorbed culture of social media as everyone else on the planet, but I digress...)

Ego bashing is not going to solve any problems. Here's why embracing your ego might even be a good thing:

If you believe that the Divine lives in everything, then the Divine must also be present in the ego!  It’s not a question of whether the ego is bad or good. It’s how you relate to the ego that matters.

Can having an ego be healthy?

Yes, when you use it to honor your assets and offer them to the world around you!  In fact, it would be a shame if your ego were so suppressed that you shied away from sharing your gifts with your community. If you've got something to share that will benefit others - please do so!

Conversely, your ego is also healthy when you are aware of when to be humble, when to take the back seat, when to let others have the spotlight, or when to defer if someone else is more capable of doing the job than you.

To me, good yoga is never about suppressing something natural that exists within us. Good yoga instead happens when we participate, seek to understand, and engage with the natural foibles and shortcomings we have as humans.

Keep sharing your gifts with the people around you. Do it with awareness and thoughtfulness. Keep others in mind and never forget that the life force moving through you is the source of your greatness.

Get Your ZEAL Back and Keep it This Time!

Happy New Year, dear friends! Like many of you, I took full advantage of the quiet solstice time to take a thorough look at my life.

I've been investigating how I want to feel in the coming years, what truly matters and how to make the most of the precious time I have on this planet - especially when life has become so busy and techno-centric.

What I've come to realize is that nothing I do has as much pizazz or passion if it's not connected to a higher personal purpose or reason why. There's got to be a higher reward.

Seems obvious, right?

But that is easier said than done.

How often have you found yourself just plodding along, doing your work, following your routine but with little zeal?

The fresh start of the New Year gives you the opportunity to reconnect to what you want and get your enthusiasm back!

To rediscover your zeal:

1. Get out of your house and go somewhere fabulous to sit with your grand purpose. Close your eyes and wait for an image, a symbol or even a clear sentence that articulates why you are here and what you're meant to do.
2. Write about what you want to feel, do, be and have in your life in the next 1-5 years. Go big!Go forth into everything you do with purpose, passion and ZEAL by always keeping your purpose and what you want in your mind. It can help to have it written out where you meditate each morning so you see it daily.
3. Let's not allow the passion to fade until New Year's resolutions come around again next year!

My promise to you this year is to teach with more gusto and to devote every practice to reconnecting with our personal purpose so we can reach the stars with our dreams and visions.

All the love, Amy

On the Bright Side of Disaster: Lessons from the Colorado Flood

The rain has finally ceased, the sun is out and there has never been more love and caring energy in Boulder. Being a mecca for spirituality and consciousness Boulderites understand non-attachment and yet trauma and loss does not magically go away because one lives in the "Boulder bubble". Many lost everything. It will take time to move through the range of emotions our community is experiencing. It was scary - men and women went out in the storm in shoulder height water to take down fences to help divert water away from homes. Flash floods were raging in the pitch black of night while sirens sounded. Many yogis and neighbors worked around the clock digging trenches and putting up barricades to direct the relentless water out of harms way. Countless streets and roads are destroyed, totally washed out and the asphalt cracked in pieces.

Our house lucked out but others in our neighborhood, even next door to us did not fare so well.  Other than houses directly in the flood path (old seasonal creeks and drainages) it seemed entirely random which properties took in water and which did not.

Our friend who was house sitting for us was a champion because our neighborhood had rapids rushing through it and she evacuated with our cat yet still found a way to keep her watchful eye on the house. Even her dad came over and helped her open the hatch door to our cellar which was miraculously dry.

We live on 6^th St in Boulder and yet one block over (exactly parallel to our house) the street was destroyed. That's me in the picture above surveying the damage.

Many families are displaced.  Towns just adjacent to us like Jamestown and Lyons are all but destroyed. This video sums up how frightening it was in the mountain towns of Boulder:

Long after the rains our streets continue to be filled with the sounds of shovels, pumps, helicopters, saws, and mostly rushing water that never was audible before. There are piles and piles of debris and mounds of now bone dry river silt which gets stirred into the air we breathe the minute a car drives by.

On the bright side of disaster, human beings always seem to show up at their best with compassion, love and generosity to help others. We were out of town during the worst of the storms and were touched by the support we received not only from friends all over the world, but our friends at home who wrote us in Indonesia offering to check on our home despite being in the middle of their own mess and the danger of getting around town.

Everyone you talk to knows at least one person who is housing a flood refugee or two whether human or animal. Our 90 Monkeys team has been showering in our guest bathroom since their water is still contaminated up the canyon. Almost all the conversations I've heard in passing have been what I call "Flood talk" - ie. people checking in, comparing stories, offering to help, or giving advice on what to do about mold or debris.  Relief is desperately needed for those who are still homeless, who have no clean water to drink, and lost their possessions and homes.

In true Hanuman spirit, the Hanuman Festival has organized a huge benefit event for November 16th that I will be teaching at along with local Boulder teachers Richard Freeman and Gina Caputo. Also joining us will be Janet Stone and musicians DJ Drez and MC Yogi. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the Colorado Flood Relief Fund.  I feel grateful to the Hanuman Festival, these teachers and musicians - as well as Yoga Journal, Give Back Yoga Foundation and prAna for lending their support to this event! Hanuman Festival is also donating $20 from every Gratitude Pass for the 2014 festival sold until Oct 31st.

Visit www.HanumanFestival.com for more information.

Our community was so disappointed about the cancellation of the annual Estes Park Yoga Journal LIVE conference due to the roads to Estes Park being destroyed. Our community truly looks forward to that gathering and in some ways needed the yoga love more than ever. Though the flood was clearly out of our direct control, we still feel so sorry that so much destruction in our state created this problem for YJ LIVE.  :( We hope the Hanuman Festival benefit on the 16th will make up for it in some small way while raising much needed funds for our state.

If you can not be at the benefit, consider making a donation to the Colorado Relief Fund.

Tumeric Citrus Juice: Dr. Taro's Spring Wellness Boost

Taro came back from photographing sailfish and bait balls in Mexico with a bit of a Spring cold. If anyone does the juicing in the family, it’s me, but I was filming for YogaGlo. So off he went to the store and low and behold, he concocted quite the elixir to soothe his bug! It's sweet, delicious and kicks inflammatory butt! The Recipe

4 inches of fresh crisp organic turmeric root 1 inch of organic ginger 1 organic Mikan (satsuma tangerine) 2 organic ruby grapefruits 1 organic granny smith apple 1 small organic lemon (optional)

Plunge all the ingredients through a juicer being mindful to keep the turmeric in the middle rather than last to go through. This will ensure you get every last drop of the healthy goodness and less stain on your juicer parts.

Turmeric is known for its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. While it is spicy and bitter, with a little sweetness from the grapefruit, tangerine and apple makes the turmeric flavor come alive! Be well, enjoy and let us know what you think of the juice in the comment section below!

Exotic Citrus Green Juice

With winter's citrus season booming, our organic produce delivery has been bursting with two of my favorites exotic citrus varieties: pomelos and meyer lemons. Pomelos, in case you have never heard of them, are pretty much my favorite fruit. They are similar to a grapefruit with a much thicker skin. What they lack in thin skins, they make up for in taste and texture. Pomelos are slightly sweeter and less bitter than their grapefruit friends. The texture is actually delicious. Pomelos come apart nice and dry, but are loaded with juice once you bite in.

To peel the pomelo, use a knife to score a line along the equator of the fruit. Dig your fingers into each side and peel the whole half off each side - usually you can do this in one piece each side. Then cut the fruit in quarters so it will fit in your juicer.  To read about the benefits of juicing and tips on what kind of juicer to get, read this article.

Meyer lemons are like regular lemons except they have a thinner more orange-yellow color, and their flavor is like a lemon perfume, which lends a signature taste to any food you prepare with this fruit.

Of course I had to try some juicing combinations in the kitchen with this kind of citrus on hand.  Here was the winner:

Exotic Citrus Green Juice

1 Small Meyer lemon

1 Pomelo, peeled

1 Anjou pear

2 Small cucumbers or one large

1 Head of Romaine lettuce

1 Large handful of baby spinach (optional)

Make sure all produce is organically grown. Wash carefully and push through your juicer.  The lemon can go in un-peeled. To make sure you maximize the juice in the spinach, put the cucumbers into the shute, then pack the spinach in around the cucumber before plunging.  Enjoy this refreshing, good for you libation!

Teaming Up With Boardworks for Some Stand Up Paddle Boarding Fun

You may not know this about me, but growing up as a girl during summers in Vermont, I was an avid canoeing enthusiast. Through the guidance of my canoeing mentor, Elizabeth Smith (one of my first true teachers in life), I learned to paddle a canoe in a perfectly straight line in storm force winds, land the the boat - stopping on a dime with no movement, reverse a swamped canoe and get it back to shore with no paddle, and how to solo a canoe down white water rapids. After leading groups on wilderness lake trips, portaging canoes for miles, building a shelter out of an overturned canoe to sleep in, and countless other sailing & mountaineering skills acquired along the way, I achieved the highest rank in canoeing in my final year at the camp. It was a huge moment for me to have worked toward something so rigorous and succeed. In fact, it was that accomplishment that helped me get myself through intense yoga teacher certifications later in life.

It had been a long time since I had paddled, but three years ago I was introduced to Stand Up Paddling and instantly fell in love.

In August of 2012 I teamed up with Boardworks, a leading Surfboard/ Stand Up Paddle Board company to help define the relationship Yoga has with Stand Up Paddle boarding.

These are two of the fastest growing activities in the world, and have become a way of life for the those who practice or paddle. One child's pose floating on the water was all I needed to know that yoga on the board, while it would never replace what I do on the mat, is certainly heaven!

The combined benefits of the cardiovascular exercises, core stability and yoga on the water provide for an all body workout as well as access to nature in a watery environment.

Yoga on stand-up paddle boards, also known as Yoga SUP is an interesting niche, and there are a rapidly growing number of Yoga SUP classes being offered around the world in lakes, open water, waterways, reservoirs and more.

Boardworks believes there is a bigger connection between these sports, and that it is more of a mindset of the demographic that they share; health, wellness, nature, fresh air, and play.

I am very excited to partner with Boardworks to help connect two of my favorite passions…this is another way to expand on yoga and while taking my yoga practice outside.  We are seeing more and more Yoga SUP happening at yoga events around the world!

According to Boardworks National Sales Manager Ryan Guay, “We’ve seen organic growth of the Yoga SUP lifestyle and it's a natural extension of our brand. We have specific models that work perfectly for yoga applications and believe our products to be ideal for this purpose. Amy hosts retreats in beautiful places around the world. I am excited to get involved with these events and help expose people to SUP.”

To learn more about Stand Up Paddle Boarding and get a board of your own, visit Boardwork's Website.

Join me and a bunch of great yogis in Costa Rica to practice therapeutic yoga and get in the water on SUP boards every day! Visit the retreat page.

大変なとき、私たちにも何かができる

ヨガは私たちに、人生の中でどんな状況やチャレンジにあってもそれを美しいものに変えて行くことを教えてくれます。アメリカではハリケーン「サンディ」からの回復作業が進む中、日本では津波の被害にあった地域でヨガの生徒さん達がどのように大きな損失に対応し、それぞれのコミュニティーで貢献しているか、私が知ったことを共有したいと思います。 岩手県で教えた際、仙台をはじめ、２０１１年の津波で大被害を受けた地域に住む生徒さんと知り合うチャンスがありました。

前年、この災害で多くの人々が影響を受けました。ワークショップの後、津波被害の写真集を見せてくれた方がいました。その中の一枚は彼女の住んでいた町で、 津波が来る前の彼女の家も写っていました。次のぺージにはまったく破壊された同じ土地の写真がありました。彼女の家は大きな穴と残骸と化していました。

彼女自身は内陸にいたので助かりましたが、お母さんとお婆さんは自宅にいて、大混乱の中で離ればなれになってしまったそうです。お婆さんはかすかに息をしている状態で見つかり、病院に運ばれましたが、いっぱいで手当をしてもらえないまま病院の外でなくなりました。お母さんは未だに見つかっていないそうです。彼女はヨガをやることによってこの辛い出来事に何らかの意味を見いだそうとしています。

災害以来、家を失った多くの方々が無味乾燥なプレハブ仮設住宅に住んでいます。木や草や花もなく、自然の美しさとは無関係な環境の で、まるで駐車場に倉庫が並んだような感じです。ここに住んでおられる方々は家を失ったばかりではなく、家族、友人、そして「通常」の感覚を失ってしまっています。言うまでもなく、これらの住宅施設では臨床的鬱病の発生率が高いということは言うまでもありません。

破壊された家の中には、４００年以上も大事に手入れされ新しい世代に継がれてきた伝統的な日本家屋もありました。そのような家は、単なる住宅ではなく、ひとつの文化の歴史と伝統を伝える重要な陸標として大切にされていました。

このような家屋の最大の特徴は、野草が茂っている茅葺きの屋根です。その美しさも当然ながら、このような屋根は何百年にも渡り（何千年も前に遡るとさえ言われています）自然と共存して来た重要な建築デザインの象徴として、家のオーナーばかりか日本全国で崇拝されて来ました。

ワークショップの出席者のひとりにシダ・アヤコさんという方がいました。彼女は４００年「生きてきた」これらの家の歴史を調査してきてとても刺激されていました。そして津波の後、地域の経済復興を願って災害地の植木屋さんから鉢植えの花を買い始めました。そしてボランティアの力を借りて家を失った人たちの仮設住宅にその花を植えるというプロジェクトを開始しました。名前は「花咲プロジェクト」です。

本当の自分の家を持てるのがいつになるのか分からない被害者の方々の生活環境を向上させ、明るい環境を作ってあげたい、そして皆が応援しているという気持ちを伝えることによって心を癒してあげたいという思いでした。 東京でも何人かのヨガティーチャーがこの活動を応援するために資金集めのクラスを開催しました。私はその活動に感動し、ワークショップの収益の一部を寄付する約束をしました。

皆が応援している気持ちを伝え、ちょっぴりでも美しさを散りばめていくだけでも、再び希望の灯をともすことにつながっていくのです。

花咲プロジェクトへのご協力をお願いいたします。

500円以上ご協力いただいた方に「いわて芝棟ものがたり」を１部差し上げます。

《協力金送付先》

岩手銀行県庁支店　普通口座　0101011

社団法人岩手県建築士会　会長　小川惇

〒020-0887　岩手県盛岡市上ノ橋町1-50　Tel/Fax　019-654-5777

ジンベイザメとファッションが手を組んでフカヒレ採取撤廃に挑戦

私のパートナーのタローが最近フィリピンから帰りました。アーティストのクリスチャン・シュミットとカメラマンで海洋環境保護者のショーン・ハインリックスと共に、アート、ファッション、環境保護意識向上の３つの要素を合わせるという革新的な冒険撮影をして来たのです。被写体は、プロのモデル/人魚のハンナ・フレーザーさん、エクストリーム・スポーツ選手で近接飛行ベース・ジャンパーとして世界のトップの座にいるロバータ・マンチーノさん、そしてもちろん雄大で優しいジンベイザメたちです．彼らの背中は夜空がプリントされているかのように美しいのです。

サメは殺すより生きてる方が貴重であることをより多くの人が知れば知るほど、 海洋環境や私たちの吸う空気を守るチャンスも高まりす。

ほんの１年前までこの地域のジンベイザメはヒレを獲るために殺されていました。海底撮影とフカヒレ採取の害を暴露する意識向上活動のおかげで、この村では今やサメを見学するエコ・ツアーを開催しています。それだけでも嬉しいことなのに、今こうしてサメがアートの一部となりました！

上：ロバータ・マンチーノ。イタリア人スカイダイバー、ベース・ジャンパー、ウィングスーツ・フライヤー、国際モデル。7000回のスカイダイビングの経験を持つ。

フカヒレ採取は良くないことです。

毎年８８００万から１億匹のサメがヒレ採取のために殺されています。すべて中華料理のフカヒレスープのためです。ヒレ採取は残酷なばかりでなく、まったく無意味なことです。サメのヒレは無味で、栄養価値も医療価値もありません。単に富の象徴として価値があるだけです。中国の経済力が高まるに連れ、フカヒレスープの需要も増加しています。

漁師はふつうサメをいったん船に揚げ、ヒレを切り落としてから海に投げ返します。ヒレをとられたサメは３週間くらいかかって窒息死します。でも、問題はこの残酷な行為以上に大きいのです。

上： サメとポーズをとるハンナ・フレーザー。プロの人魚、海洋環境保護活動家、パフォーマンス・アーティスト、モデル。海底でもプロです！

サメがいなくなったら困ります。

なぜなら、サメは食物連鎖系の頂点に位置し、捕食者がほとんどいないので、獲られ過ぎて数が減ってもそれを補充するには大変な時間がかかります。今のような状況が続くと、 １０〜２０年後にはサメは絶滅してしまうでしょう。頂点にいる捕食者として、サメは食物連鎖系のバランスを保つのに大きく貢献しています。病気や怪我などで弱っているものを食べ、他の魚介、水産動物の数をちょうど良く保つことにより、全体として魚介人口が強く健康でいるために、サメの存在は欠かせないのです。サメがいなくなったら海洋食物連鎖系は崩れてしまうでしょう。魚が増え過ぎて海草を食べ尽してしまったら、水面の酸素生産量はグンと減ってしまいます。これも気候変動につながるのです。

私たちに出来ること：

• フカヒレスープを出すレストランを避けましょう。友人や家族にも訴えてください。サメを救うために優れた活動をしているWildAid などの団体に寄付をしてください。
• 2013年の夏、私とタローとショーン・ハインリックスと一緒に一生一度の Seva （サンスクリット語で奉仕、つながり、という意味）旅行に行きませんか？メキシコのムヘレス島でジンベイザメと泳ぎ、WildAid  団体の資金集めのお手伝いをします。この旅行に関する e-メール情報はこちらから。

上：左側、スクーバスーツ姿がタロー。ハンナ・フレーザーは人魚のように泳ぎたいという子供の時からの夢をキャリアとして実現しました。びっくりするほど長い間息を止めていられます！

上：クリスチャン・シュミットとモデルのロバータ・マンチーノ。陸や海底でモデルをしていない時は飛行機から飛び降りてモデルをしています！

上：ハンナ・フレーザー。後ろでこの一瞬をキャッチしようとしているのはクリスチャン・シュミット。

以下のビデオで海洋環境保護の第一人者であるショーン・ハインリックスによる調査を見て下さい。フカヒレ採取の真相を明かすために、ショーンとタローはアジア中をドキュメントして廻りました。

Holiday Raw Food Salad Platter (Warning: Kale Food Porn!)

This raw massaged kale and pomegranate salad platter on butter leaf lettuce cups has been a huge hit at my holiday parties.  The vibrant green mixed with the bright red of the pomegranate seeds make this totally festive. For those friends who shutter when thinking of eating raw kale, the shredded texture of the kale chiffonade, the creamy avocado and the sweetness of the pomegranate make this salad much more palatable!

I get very artistic arranging all the ingredients and always enjoy putting it together, so if you have children in the house, be sure to ask them to help out - they'll have a blast.

Ingredients (Makes 3 large servings)

Salad:

1 bunch red butter leaf lettuce

1 bunch curly kale

Seeds from ½ pomegranate

½ large avocado or 1 small avocado

A handful of chopped raw almonds

Dressing:

3 tablespoons Olive oil

Juice from a lemon

Himalayan sea salt to taste

Instructions:

Whisk dressing ingredients in small bowl and set aside. On a serving dish, place 3 large butter lettuce leaves in a circular formation face up.  Then place 3 smaller leaves inside the large ones.  These will be “lettuce cups”.

Remove stems from the kale and chiffonade the leaves. (Google how to chiffonade and watch a how-to video - it's worth it!)

Place chiffonaded (is that a word?) kale in a medium sized bowl and pour dressing on top.  Wash your hands well and massage dressing into kale until the leaves are tender. The dressing will "cook" the kale much like ceviche.

Spoon the kale mixture into each of the butter lettuce “cups”.  Spoon pomegranate seeds and almonds on top of the kale mixture (or you could also mix them into the kale after massaging and then spoon into the cups). Drizzle the whole platter with balsamic vinegar (optional).

You should be able to lift each large leaf cup (with its contents) right off the platter to serve on a someone's lucky plate.  Enjoy!

ヨガティーチャーのストレス疲労？ こんな兆候には要注意！

ヨガティーチャーの疲労は馬鹿にできません。事実、私はヨガを始めた頃、先生が私の隣にいた生徒にいきなりかっとなった言い方をしたのにびっくりして、そのクラスに行くのを止めたことがあります。

それは、ストレス疲労は正しくマネージしたら単なる変化（発達）の１段階にすぎないということを身をもって知る前のことでした。初期の兆候を自分で認識出来たら、生活や指導のキー・エリアにおいて的確なアクションを起こすことで、ストレス疲労を阻止することが出来ます。

私たちは皆、ヨガのプラクティスが本当に好きになって先生になります。ヨガは満足感を持たらし、周りの人と貴重な経験を共有することを可能とし、人生の救いとなることすらあります。ヨガを教えること自体が自分のヨガに対する愛情の延長となるのです。

けれども、多くのヨガティーチャーが、指導に疲れたり、飽きてしまったりすることを経験しています。

ヨガティーチャーはそれだけでは生活が出来ず、他の仕事も掛け持ちでやっているケースがほとんどで、自分自身のプラクティスの時間は作れないというのが現実であることもしばしばです。

ロボットのように毎日を切り抜け、別のキャリアを見つけた方がいいのではないかと悩んでいます。

そうなったら、授業の準備に身を入れ、心から指導し、生徒と繋がり合うことがどれだけすばらしいかを忘れてしまうのです。

ヨガティーチャーのストレス疲労の兆候：

• ハンズオンのアジャストをほとんどしない。
• 指示が理解されないとかっとする。
• プレゼンテーションが異例に厳しく、冷たく、思いやりがなくなる。
• 教室で誰よりも不健康で最もストレスが溜まっている人であるかのよう．．．ヨガティーチャーなのに。
• もうヨガを教えるだけで実践しない。
• 美しいけれども空虚にしか聞こえない言葉の羅列に頼る。
• アジャストをして自分が腰を痛めたり、故障が頻発になる（自分のプラクティスをしていないから）。
• 子供や旦那様などにあたる。
• 自分が教えられないときに代理の先生を手配するのを「忘れた」り、全クラスを代理に任せるようになる。
• 愚痴っぽい。とげとげしい。機嫌が悪い。怒りっぽい。いらだっている。意地悪になる。威張り散らす。

私も経験あるのです。ティーチャー仲間にもその兆候を目撃しています。完璧な人はいないのです。

 もちろん、大変なとき（身近な人の死、病気、離婚、など）でも頑張って教えなければならない時のことを言っているのではありませんー人生の中には皆それぞれ辛い時があります。私が言いたいのは、バランスのとれたライフスタイルを実践するお手本となり、自分を大切にするために知っている限りのツールを上手に使うことで、ヨガティーチャーとしての責任を果たすということです。

幸いなことに、このような兆候はティーチャーとして駄目だということではありません。ストレス疲労は目覚めの機会であり、チャンスと成り得るのです。

ヨガティーチャーのストレス疲労を即回復するアクションステップ： 

• 近くの他の先生のクラスに行ってみる

毎週少なくとも２回、仲間やお気に入りの先生の教えるクラスに行くことで、元気や刺激をもらうことができます。

• 関わりの場を持つ

たまには生徒さんたちと教室外でも関わりの場を持っていると自然に彼らの生活にもより密接なつながりが生まれ、それが教える意欲にもつながります。

• 休止時間をスケジュールに入れる

家でプラクティスしたり、マッサージに行ったり、散歩に行ったりということを、時間が出来るまで待つことはやめましょう。仕事と同様にスケジュールに入れて実行するのがポイントです。

• 指導スケジュールの最適化

６ヶ月間どうがんばってもクラスが一杯にならなかったら、時間帯を変えた方がいいのかも知れません。通勤、駐車、家族への迷惑など、ストレスの原因になっている他の要素も考えてみましょう。

• 基本を見直し、再度勉強する

ヨガ哲学や人体、ハタヨガなどに対する理解を深めることで指導者としての意欲も高まります。１日１０分でもいいので、もっと強くなりたい分野の勉強をするだけでも強壮剤として即効果があります。