The joy of sharing good food

I tried this recipe the other day and wanted to share it with the Sunshine, Yoga & Pancakes community. (I do realize it is not a pancake recipe, but bear with me!) One of the Eight limbs of Yoga is Ahimsa meaning non-violence or compassion. Incorporating vegetarian or vegan meals into your diet is one of the many ways to practice non-violence. I made this in my slow-cooker and still had plenty of time for my personal practice. The thick-warm soup with lots of root vegetables such as potatoes made it an excellent “grounding” dish for my first chakra and a perfect winter evening meal. The pose for today is also a restorative grounding posture. Enjoy!

Pose of the day: Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose)

Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodhah

This phrase taken from Patanjali’s yoga sutras 1.2 is translated roughly as “yoga beings when the mind-chatter stops.” In our practice we can easily forget that the essence of yoga is a union of the mind, body and spirit. Too many times we become so focused on the physical postures that we forget that real yoga begins when the mind chatter, that dizzying noise inside our head, subsides and we become one with our breath. In this state, it doesn’t matter if you can touch your toes or balance on your head. In the bliss of ceasing the mind-chatter, we can find that inner love and gratitude of simply being.

Posture of the day: Sukasana (easy pose)
Pancake of the day: apple cinnamon

new year, new breath

It has been almost a year since my last post. I am saddened that I abandoned this project temporarily, but happy to say that life happened and this year was a great year! Unfortunately, the Sunshine, Yoga & Pancakes tour did not kick off last summer. I still believe that the Pancake Sisters will reunite soon because I know our meeting was not random. In the meantime, I leave you with a copy of a poem from one of my favorite yoga authors. I hope it brings as much warmth and sunshine to your heart, as it does mine.

In the refuge of your eyes,
there can be no compromise
with truth. The ruthless
mind may dig to find
what’s lacking, but we
are the love we long for.

This outpouring of the heart,
no end, and no beginning,
bigger than our deepest fear,
fresh and clear in every moment—
it’s love that makes us whole.

Danna Faulds
Go In and In, Poems from the Heart of Yoga

Pose of the day: Ustrasana (camel pose)
Pancake of the day: Blackberry