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…)

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:

Yoga – Raghunath
Yoga – Bryn Chrisman
Yoga – Sondra Loring (who studied with the father of Mysore Ashtanga yoga, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois)
Guru/monk – Radhanath Swami
Guru/monk – Dhanurdhara Swa mi
Musician – Gaura Vani
Ayurveda specialists – Bud Tansey & Jai Giridhari
…And others that I did not have a chance to meet.

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.

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?

22 June, 201324 November, 2014

Summer Solstice Surf & Turf

Last night Bobby and I celebrated the end of this week + the summer solstice with a delicious home-cooked surf & turf dinner. And I even made it to yoga beforehand (Friday Night Flow @ Pure Yoga).

I posted this on Instagram (@magpie707) last night. It’s a small piece of filet migon (right), scallops & shrimp, and a side of kale + shiitake mushrooms. The recipes were all super simple. They aren’t even recipes, really.

Filet Mignon:

olive oil
steak (this one was small – 3.5 ounces. it’s about 2cm thick.)
butter (optional)

Heat a nonstick pan until it’s screaming hot. Drizzle your steak with olive oil on both sides, and also put a little in the pan. Cook the steak ~3-4 minutes on each side (3 on each side is medium; 4 on each side is done – I did about 3.5 on each side). Done! Serve with a pat of butter on top (optional).

Shrimp & Scallops:

big scallops (I did 5)
big, cleaned shrimp (6)
olive oil
salt and pepper

Heat a nonstick pan until it’s screaming hot. Season the shrimp and scallops with salt and pepper and put some olive oil in the pan. Cook the shrimp & scallops about 2.5 minutes on each side. Done!

Kale & Shiitake Mushrooms Asian Style:

olive oil and a little bit of sesame oil
salt
garlic powder
sesame seeds
1 head of red kale
1 box of shiitake mushrooms
balsamic vinegar (I used a cherry infused one)

Wash and dry the kale. Chop the mushrooms and kale. Heat a wok to high heat and add the olive oil (1-2 tablespoons) and sesame oil (2-3 teaspoons). Add the mushrooms and kale. Add garlic powder, salt and sesame seeds. Cook on high heat for 3-4 minutes, then turn it to medium and cook for another 4-5 minutes, or until the kale is tender (stirring occasionally). Add a few splashes of balsamic vinegar. Stir it around and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add more salt, if it needs it.

All told, this meal cost about $31 from the grocery store. (Filet mignon = $7, scallops = $14, shrimp = $3.50, organic kale = $2.50, organic mushrooms = $4.) A little pricey for 2 people, but much cheaper than it would be at a restaurant! I’m not including the cost of the pantry items I already had (olive oil, salt, etc…).

Bobby had the steak (I had a bite) and we split the rest, but I got an extra scallop. He was a very happy husband 🙂

Do you like surf & turf? What’s the most expensive meal you cook at home?

28 May, 2013

Review: Manduka unBLOK

I have a juicy product review for you guys today. I tend to be choosy about which products I will accept for review on the blog, because I want to keep it honest. I do review most yoga products, so when Manduka contacted me about reviewing their new yoga block, I was psyched.

unBLOK_BreezeThunder_In Packaging_Angled (2pcs)

Here are the details about the unBLOK:

Made of over 50% recycled material (foam)
Rounded shape
Slip-resistant

I was skeptical about the shape when I first saw the unBLOK because I’m so used to the normal, rectangular block shape that most other yoga blocks have. But I actually think I preferred using the unBLOK. I tried some supported chest and shoulder openers (supported fish, supported bridge), and this block was great. It’s much nicer to have a slightly rounded curve supporting your back than a straight block.

supported-fish

Supported Fish Pose – put a block under your upper back and let your arms fall open. You can also put a rolled up blanket underneath your knees for extra low-back support. (Image source.)

I also tried out some standard poses that might require a block – Virasana (hero’s pose) and Artichandrasana (half moon pose) and the unBLOK worked very well. It really is slip resistant, and it’s sturdy like a cork block is, but still light, because it’s foam. It’s more grippy than most foam blocks I’ve used, which is good for poses like half moon.

The unBLOK Party:

You can nominate a local studio that helped you “unblock” your practice for a chance to win prizes. You can nominate your studio {HERE}. Be sure to do it today, if you want to enter, because the campaign ends today, May 28th.

I just nominated my studio, Pure. And I got a 15% off discount code at the end after I submitted.

—

Do you use a block for your yoga practice? What is your favorite local studio?

I don’t use a block that often, but I love using blocks for supported, restorative postures. I have a lot of favorite studios in NYC. The two that I have been to the most are Pure and Yoga Vida (where I did my training).

16 January, 201325 November, 2014

New Years Intentions 2013

2013 Goals and Intentions

1. Eat more cleanly. Fewer processed foods; more vegetables. Eat more intuitively. Eat less emotionally.

2. Go to sleep by 11pm more often. (2x a week to start)

3. Go to yoga 12x a month. Do Mysore regularly for 1 month. (Summer?)

4. Meditate 5 minutes per day (morning).

5. Get up earlier (this will come out of #2…).

6. Log my exercise (I used to do this). And use my Erin Condren planner.

7. Spend less money and save up to start my own business someday.

8. Find at least one other source of income aside from my day job.

9. Simplify. Minimize. Give away clothes and things that I don’t use. Buy less. Have less. Stress less.

What are your 2013 goals?

1 January, 201325 November, 2014

Happy New Year & 2012 Recap

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Did you stay up? I actually fell asleep watching 30 Rock around 11:30 but luckily I have the best husband ever and he woke me up in time to share the strike of midnight and a new year’s kiss 🙂 I’m trying to cut back on coffee thus I was very tired yesterday night.

2012 was a big year for our house – here’s a recap.

I taught my first (and probably last) yoga class at my old job – turns out I like taking yoga much more than teaching yoga, at least for now. People seemed to like my classes but teaching is just not for me! (January)
I went back to my old job (I had left it for ~5 months, but missed it almost as soon as I’d gone). (March)
My hubby and I bought an apartment in NYC. And then we renovated it (still renovating it…). (Closed in May; began renovations in November)
I joined a CSA and discovered a farmers’ market on the corner of my street. (June)
I joined Pure Yoga back at the end of June (and Bobby just joined in late November so now we can go to yoga together). (June)
I fixed my PCOS. (Basically by eating more carbs, and more in general, more food more regularly.) I also ate a lot of PCOS bread. (July)
Bobby and I went on a yoga retreat with Raghunath (August), and I tried Mysore Ashtanga yoga (July).
Bobby and I went to Japan for 2 weeks for fun (and so I could finally – after 7 years of being together – meet his family!). (October)
I went to India for 9 days for work. (December)
NYC got hit by Hurricane Sandy – our home was unaffected, but my work lost power for a week and many of my friends and family members, including my parents, were also without power. Sandy Workout & Sandy Link Love.