Bhakti Immersion Retreat 2013

I have really been MIA lately. One reason: I was on a yoga retreat for 4 days the weekend before last. We did the same retreat last August and loved it so of course we signed up as soon as registration opened this year.

I took no pictures because we left our phones in our cabin the whole time – completely technology-free weekend. It was wonderful!

Here is one picture via Instagram (Bobby and I are in there, not sure if you can see…)

bhakti-immersion-2013

Source: http://instagram.com/raghunathyogi

Bobby is in a black sweatshirt behind the girl with the yellow scarf. I’m to his right in a grey sweatshirt behind the girl with a red plaid scarf. We went with another couple who are into yoga just as much as we are – Bobby’s coworker and his girlfriend. We all loved it!

This was definitely not your typical yoga retreat – it could be very spiritual, but also very much “take what you want and leave the rest” at the same time. I would say about half the people there were there for the spiritual part and half for the yoga. It was a great mix of very kind and warm people.

Incredible teachers:

All 3 yoga teachers were amazing – each offering something different but valuable. I listened to a couple talks by the two swamis, who were both inspiring and wise. We learned to play the harmonium with Gaura Vani, who was so talented. Bobby and I took 2 workshops in “Marma Therapy” (ayurvedic massage) with the ayurvedic practitioners. Marma and yoga were definitely the highlights of the retreat for me.

pumpkin-hollow-salad

Buffet line + salad bar! (Source)

At the retreat we were treated to 3 vegetarian buffet meals a day. Most of the food was grown on the grounds of the retreat center (Pumpkin Hollow Farm in Craryville, NY – about 2 hours north of the city). It was delicious and Bobby and I totally overate the entire time. But neither one of us came back even a pound heavier, so we must have been burning it off with the 2x a day yoga sessions.

Here is a video from last year’s retreat.

Another reason I have been MIA – I have been working on a new project! I’ll share soon.

What have you been up to lately? Have you ever done a yoga retreat?

Foraged Chanterelles (Mushrooms)

Over the weekend my sister and mom came up to NYC to visit me.

Julia (sister) brought me some chanterelles that my brother, Rob, and his girlfriend had foraged.

I didn’t take a picture before, but here is the after…

chanterelles

Simply roasted for 12 minutes at 450F. Drizzled with olive oil and some sea salt before roasting.

Yum yum.

This roasting method (evoo + sea salt, roast for 10-14 mins @ 450F depending on the mushroom) is my go-to recipe for all kinds of mushrooms.

Here are some mushrooms from another night (maitake on the upper left and beech -I think- on the right; these are organic and from a Japanese grocery store on 59th street).

japanese maitake mushrooms beech

Always delicious.

What’s your favorite way to have mushrooms? What’s your favorite mushroom?

I think my favorite kind of mushroom is maitake, prepared this way.