dailyfrosting

Good stuff that puts the frosting on the cupcake of your day

Tag Archives: Kripalu


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One veggie, Two veggie, Three veggie, Four

Aside from the copious amounts of yoga, fresh air, relaxation and sunshine, one thing that leaves you feeling like a million bucks at Kripalu is the food. Organic, fresh, colorful…you can feel your body jumping for joy inside when you eat your meals because it knows its being nourished something fierce. They also only serve desserts two days a week and don’t offer coffee or much caffeine. If you feel like your body is going to go into a tailspin without either of these items, though, they do sell them at a little store on the main floor. Coffee and Newman’s Organic Peanut Butter cups and cookies await if you just…can’t… go…without (for the record, I’ve never caved).

In the three days that I was there, I ate so many vegetables, it was crazy. With the exception of a piece of haddock one of the nights, my plates were loaded with veggies, nuts, seeds, beans, yogurts, fresh breads, eggs and some fruit. Probably doesn’t sound all that exciting…your’re thinking hemp and sprouts, right? Faaaar from it. Kripalu proved to me, although I have been experimenting with this more and more in my home kitchen, that a more plant-based diet can be wildly satisfying. And from the ever-increasing readings that I’ve come across, it’s just plain healthier. I’m worlds away from becoming a vegetarian (go without fish or bacon, are you loco?) but I am also seeing that more plants can be a very good thing.

It’s all in your intention and how you prepare the food, how creative you get and the quality of ingredients you use. Intention is a big thing at Kripalu. What is your intention for your yoga practice? What is your intention for the day? When you start thinking this way, setting these goals (big or small) and putting thoughts at the forefront of your mind, it’s interesting the shift and motivation that it creates.

lavenderI’m going to share with you two recipes that I love from Kripalu. One is for breakfast and the other, for anytime and perfect for the upcoming summer season. I guzzled the iced tea (yes, they do offer some caffeinated teas) and the scones…well, let’s just say that I pulled the ultimate class-less move. After having breakfast on the last day and enjoying these scones SO much (swoon), I actually-in a stealth move-went in and out of the dining hall twice so as to abscond with 5 of theses babies for the trip home and breakfast the next morning. Shhhhh, ok! They are that good.

Psssst….these two things would be GREAT for a Mother’s Day Brunch. Just putting that out there.

More stories and recipes to come. There are many good ones :) Have a great day, everyone!

Lavender Black Tea with Honey, courtesy of the Kripalu Summer Salads, Sandwiches, and Soups cookbook (Makes 8 cups)

4 cup water
7 tea bags of English Breakfast tea
3 Tb. dried (cooking grade) lavender*
2-4 Tb. honey
4 cups ice

Bring water to a boil in a 4-quart sauce pot. Remove from heat and add the tea bags and lavender. Steep for 5 minutes, then strain into a pitcher. Stir in the honey and ice. The ice will melt, bringing the tea to the perfect strength. Refrigerate until cold. Serve chilled.
*dried lavender for cooking can be purchased at Whole Foods in the baking section

Vegan Ginger Scones (don’t let the vegan part scare you), courtesy of Kripalu Breakfast Savory and Sweet cookbook (Makes 12 scones)

1 cup cold, non-hydrogenated shortening
1/2 cup sweetened soy milk
1 1/3 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white sugar
2.5 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2/3 cup chopped candied ginger

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
Slice cold shortening into small flakes and keep cold. Combine the oats, pastry flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add the cold shortening and use your fingertips, a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the cold shortening flakes into the dry ingredients. Do not overmix; the mixture should be mealy, not heavy and pasty. Pour in the soy milk and use your hands to gently combine. Add the candied ginger and continue to mix to form a heavy, fairly wet dough. For a tender texture, it is beneficial to handle the dough lightly while mixing and during the subsequent rolling.

On a floured board, roll dough 1-inch thick and cut into 2-inch rounds (or other similar-sized shapes). Combine any scraps of dough and gently re-roll and cut. Place scones on prepared baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes (cooking time will vary depending on their size). Remove from baking sheet and serve immediately or let cool.


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Watch the Fish

Yesterday, I had the fantabulous pleasure of having a massage. My husband, God love him, surprised me and scheduled one, even covering the tip. I only had to show up, travel to bliss and leave the spa, floating on air. Big Sigh.

I’ve often said that if I ever win the Powerball, weekly massages will be entered on my calendar in pen. They are one of my favorite, high-maintenance things in the universe. The Mayo Clinic sites such benefits as managing anxiety and depression, pain, stiffness, blood pressure, and boosting immunity. Pile on the all-mighty power of touch and you have a  relaxing, energizing hour that helps your mind, body and spirit. You really can’t beat that. Not to mention, it just feels so goooooood.

So, there I was. On the table, totally blissed-out. I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s ironic that sometimes (lots) we have trouble making the simplest eye-contact with a person in the grocery store, but when it comes to masseuses, all bets are off. There, you are in a dimly lit room, wearing little more than your birthday suit, their hands are all over you and you have no problem with it at all. In fact, you are paying them to do that and hoping that the minutes pass as slowly as molasses.

One thing that I noticed during my massage was that I had to make a concerted effort to not think, and that struck me as amusing. Here I was in one of the most relaxed states that someone can be in and my mind kept jumping like a frog on hot pavement. “Don’t forget to check the online registration for the kids’ activities…can I squeeze in writing my post before the kids get home from school?…must look into more writing opportunities…hmm….don’t forget to register for the macaron pastry class!” And heavy-hitters like: ” I can’t wait to try out that new Essie Mink Muffs nail polish that I got the other day”. Going to look so good for fall, don’t you know.

My mind kept jumping and I kept on trying to corral those thoughts, clear the mind and concentrate on the massage. I’d start thinking about something (inane), waste a few minutes on it and then have to remind myself to focus on the lusciousness at hand. Why was this so difficult??

When I went to Kripalu yoga and wellness center back in the early spring, I took an introductory meditation class. The charismatic woman with the amazingly soothing and intriguing voice told us there were two keys to meditation. One was that to have a successful practice of meditation, all you have to do is get on your pillow. Meaning, the mere fact that you have sat (on a pillow or whatever you chose to sit on) and attempted to meditate is success in and of itself. Very yogic thinking there. The second key was to think of meditation like going to an aquarium. You stand in front of those immense floor- to- ceiling tanks of water and you are mesmerized. The fish swim by. You notice them. And then they keep on swimming. On and on. Swimming towards and then beyond. Like Dory in “Finding Nemo”…”just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”

It’s the same with thoughts when you are trying to meditate or just focus, as in my case on the masseuses table today-even if you are trying to focus on nothing but sensations. Forget the extra thoughts for those moments. Be present. It will cast a dramatically different light on a situation.

Guess I’m still miles away from a good meditation because I was wrestling with my thoughts the entire time (including “don’t fall asleep! I know it’s relaxing but stay awake so that you can enjoy it!”). But just recognizing that my thoughts came swimming in and that I was trying to watch them float by is a step in the right direction.


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Simply Complex

When I went to the Kripalu center (Kripalu) a few weekends ago, my brain had the fun of getting packed full of some pretty amazing new information. About all different things, too. It was like a mental buffet…little bit of this, little bit of that…ooo, I’d like seconds of that, please! It was a weekend that was stimulating for the body as well as the mind. Quite the combo. I consumed so much info that I’m still processing it and know I will be for a while. I’m also hoping that I can retain it all…or at least, if I’ve forgotten some of it, some parts of memory will be jogged at points in the future and one of those morsels will be set free to be thought about again. Generally, my life revolves around many habitual things, so to have a new flurry of ideas is a wonderful thing in my book. And boy does it feel great.

When I left Kripalu on that Sunday afternoon, I was feeling both energized and a bit melancholy, although that word sounds very dramatic. Hmmm…how to retain this sense of peace, balance and focus in my daily goings-on after I leave the lovely Berkshires? This was a fabulous little bubble where Kripalu-ites concentrated on yoga and meditation and self-awareness. They thought about ways to treat their bodies and minds in the best ways that they could, whether by food, exercise, relaxation or creativity. There were no bills, no obligations, heck there weren’t even any phones really. Technology was quiet. Peace was easy.

For starters, I bought a little talisman of sorts before I left. I felt like I needed something tangible to remind me of what I learned and how I felt while I was there. It was that good. I’m now wearing a very delicate, two-strand beaded turquoise bracelet that has a wee “om” symbol in silver dangling from it. Tiny and unassuming but I find myself glancing at it whenever I need a little reminder of balance. I suppose you could liken it to Greek worry beads or worry stones. Or for some, even rosary beads. I’m just not going to rub these into oblivion.

Secondly, I’m trying to slowly integrate some of what I learned into my daily routine. I have not dove head-first into meditation, but I’ll try it a bit soon. I have not done Sun Salutations every morning since returning home (I have eaten more quinoa, though). Too much enthusiasm usually leads to burn-out quickly. I’d rather the slow and steady approach.

One idea that really struck me while I was there and I think it was discussed in one of my meditation classes was this….What is your intention for the day? The notion of starting each day with a written-down or clearly communicated intention. This is not your to-do list. This is not your run-down of errands. Think of those as being the spokes on a wheel. Well, the intention is the tire. What is the overwhelming thing that you want to accomplish in your day? Do you want to stay balanced? Do you want to be friendlier to people that you encounter? Do you want to foster your creativity and step out of your box today? What do you want to do and how will you approach your day because of this resolve?….

Mine, as of late, seems to be focus. It was jumping around in my head while I was there, too. Focus. As a Mom, you multi-task. Child is born and you are off to the races. Second child is born and you are working your tail off to keep up with the pack. Somehow, though, evolution just dropped the ball because along with giving birth to babies, women should at the same time be given extra arms, feet and an extra head (eyes-in-the-back-of-the-head included). Add to the multi-tasking  a smartphone, a couple of computers and other technological fancies and we are doomed. Too much to keep track of. Too many directions to run. My husband always says that I can’t multi-task for all of my talk about being able to. As I step back, I see that he’s right about this. Yes, there are days when I do a million different things, but did I do them ALL WELL? Not necessarily. Some I did just to knock them off the list (oh, what a feeling!). But actually focusing and being present. Hmmm…there’s that old yoga idea again…being present. I’ve been trying it for the past week (one week in! yay!) and I have found there is a difference. A good difference. Case and point, I hosted Easter this past weekend for friends and family and Was. Not. Stressed. Not even when I did all the grocery shopping on Saturday, pulled back into the driveway and realized that I had forgotten to buy the coconut that I needed for my macarOOns. I actually amazed myself. I did not swear a blue streak. I did not stomp up the stairs with the groceries I just bought. Somehow, I was ok with this. I unpacked the groceries, went back to the store, got the coconut, even smiled at the checkout lady, returned home and made my macarOOns. Which, as a side-note, turned out brilliantly.

Take your time. Look at the thing in front of you. Only that. Don’t flip out. Do it well. Niiiiiiiice! This is an addictive feeling. Mama like.

So, the Simply Complex question of the day for you is….What is your intention?


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Holiday coming? Get your torch.

Shifting gears a bit from Kripalu….right now it’s recipe time, as I’ve had a request. My friend “K” was looking for a recipe for a Classic Creme Brulee and so she hollered in my direction. Here it is, K! Plain and simple. Perfect for Easter and beyond, whenever you are in the mood for decadence and torches. I have to be honest, the propane part of this recipe kept me from making it until this past Christmas. Truly. I had never made it before, even despite the fact that it is my husband’s favorite dessert. After the flaming Banana cake incident, I’ve been a little gun shy in the kitchen when it comes to flames. But, I dove in and it was easier than I thought. And SO worth it. This is a gem of a recipe. Fire up that propane and enjoy! We have Cook’s Illustrated to thank for wrangling out the pesky details for us and perfecting this classic dessert. May it add enjoyment to your holiday weekend!

Creme Brulee

*Note: Separate the eggs and whisk the yolks after the cream has finished steeping: if left to sit, the surface of the yolks will dry and form a film (ew). A vanilla bean gives the best flavor, but 2 tsp. of vanilla extract, whisked into the yolks can be used instead. Go for the bean, though! Penzey’s has them.

1 vanilla bean
4 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup granulated sugar
pinch salt
12 large egg yolks (holy cow…or chicken)
8-12 tsp. turbinado or Demerara sugar

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat to 300 degrees.  Cut vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Using tip of paring knife, scrape out seeds. Combine vanilla beans and seeds, 2 cups of cream, sugar and salt in medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Off heat, let steep for 15 minutes. This could almost be served as a hot drink. Super yum.

Place baking towel in bottom of large baking dish or roasting pan. Set 8 (4 or 5 oz.) ramekins or shallow fluted creme brulee dishes on towel (they shouldn’t touch). Bring kettle of water to boil.

After cream has steeped, stir in remaining 2 cups cream. Whisk egg yolks in large bowl. Whisk about 1 cup cream mixture into yolks until combined. Repeat with 1 more cup of cream mixture. Add remaining cream mixture and whisk until evenly colored and thoroughly combined. Strain mixture through strainer/sieve into large liquid measuring cup or bowl; discard any solids from strainer. Pour mixture and divide evenly between ramekins/dishes.

Set baking dish on rack. DO NOT SPLASH any water into the ramekins, pour enough boiling water into baking dish/roasting pan to reach two-thirds up sides of ramekins. Bake until center of custards are just barely set (30-35 minutes or 25-30 minutes for shallow dishes). Check 5 minutes before recommended minimum time.

Transfer ramekins to wire rack to cool. Then set dishes on baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, about 4 hours.

Uncover ramekins. If condensation has collected on custards, gently blot with a paper towel. Sprinkle each with about 1 tsp. turbinado sugar (1.5 tsp. for shallow fluted dishes). Tilt and tap to evenly distribute sugar. Dump out excess. Ignite torch and carmelize sugar. Refrigerate to re-chill, 30-40 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

This recipe is easier than it seems. Trust me. Don’t you just want to tap, tap, tap on that sugary crust right now?


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All-Natural Frosting. With Quinoa sprinkled on top.

Good morning, all!

So, drool, lack of balance and farts aside, I came away from this past weekend with some invaluable new lessons and perspectives. My mind was stimulated as well as my body and I’m all the better for it.

It was one of those weekends where I was taking in so much “newness” that I have to make a concerted effort to really think about it and remember it all. Great stuff, but lots of it.

I’ve said for a long time how much I enjoy yoga. It just fits with my body. You know what I mean? I tried running for a while but felt that when I did, I was just all over the place…limbs akimbo, weird stride, odd breath. Probably didn’t look that kooky but it sure felt that way. I do love walking and do that virtually every day. And as for sports, well, I’ve told you about those experiences. Never did them and only now am discovering tennis, although Venus is not my middle name. But I’m progressing! Ah, but yoga…it fits naturally. It’s the one physical pursuit where I find myself wanting to push farther. Bring on a new pose. Let me work up to that one. I can do better with my breath…let me try. It fits. And this past weekend of being submerged in it proved all of this further, with a whole lot of frosting piled on top. Albeit, all-natural frosting. With quinoa sprinkled on top.

So… a little recap of what I very relaxingly sauntered away from the Berkshires with….

Lesson #1. Know when you have to take a break. And then do it. I got into my room and there was one small action that reaffirmed to me that I needed to reprioritize my life at the moment. I looked into my rooms’ safe and I realized that even without thinking about it I had put my makeup bag into the safe. Really? Along with my wallet, my keys and my camera, my makeup bag was that important? Yes, if you break into my room, you can take my clothes and my books, but you’re not getting my face. I actually laughed out loud at myself. Time for a break, April. You need a break.

Lesson #2. Silence is a good thing. And a necessary thing. From the smallest text ping to the loudest traffic jam and everything in between, we hear noises, noises, noises all day long, every day. Even sitting in your quiet back yard, you will probably hear a leaf-blower off in the distance (don’t get me started on those things). Not to mention the constant din from other people (mercy, mercy me). In choosing to spend this weekend solo, I found that the silence at times was almost unnerving but I also knew that I needed it. I did not read a newspaper, turn on a tv (or even see one…no random monitors here there and everywhere. Fabulous.) and was virtually smart-phone free. Man, is that freeing. There was a point in the dining hall when I looked around and realized that I was the only person walking around with my phone. I felt like an idiot. A person has to just listen to themselves sometimes. That’s the only way you will hear what you are needing and thinking. Forget just in your brain. In the deep down.

Lesson #3.  Step the heck out of your box sometimes, because it won’t kill you. And in fact, will make your life all the better. Even just in little ways. You go from having a dish of vanilla ice cream to a dish of double-fudge chocolate with coconut and whipped cream on top. All in one swoop or scoop, as the metaphor may be. And it tastes great. This weekend, in between yoga classes, they had lots of other workshops to choose from, including guided hikes and walks. I pointedly chose things that I don’t usually gravitate towards. I took a writing workshop and a workshop on Shakespeare. Huh, I’m usually an art and cooking gal. But not this weekend. I even read one of my writing prompts up in front of the class. This from a girl who virtually threw up on command at the thought of public speaking when she was younger. That’s not the April I know. But hmm…I kind of like this one.

Lesson #4 You need to move. Every Day. Our world is now constructed in a way that we use cars instead our feet (more), we sit much during the day and we’ve become more stagnant with the emergence of the tv,video games and the like. Farmers never went to the gym..they had their fields. Our grandparents didn’t go to Planet Fitness, because each family didn’t have 2 or 3 cars. They were lucky if they had one and even then, they walked to the grocery store and when they did their errands. Towns were smaller. Life was more contained. It’s a different world now but our needs are still the same. And the basic premise holds true….our bodies are constructed to move and if they don’t, they atrophy. And NUTTIN’ good comes of that. Our organs and their functions need it to literally survive and even more…thrive. We all know how good we feel when we get outside for a walk or just breathe fresh air. You know when someone’s been sick in the house, the first thing you want to do when they get better is air out the house? Our bodies crave air, breath and movement. When we do, all systems work that much better.

Lesson #5 Meditation is not horrifyingly boring. Nor impossible. Who knew? I certainly didn’t. Ok, I tried a few meditation classes this weekend and yes, my foot completely fell asleep during one of them and I seriously wondered how I was going to stand up with any sort of grace, but the meditation part was very intriguing. I sort of liked it. How I’m going to integrate it into my daily routine with 2 small children is another issue altogether, but I think I really need to try. The fact that even just doing it for literally a few minutes each day is remarkably beneficial…well, that’s a selling point if ever there was one. What else can you do for just a few minutes that works miracles? One of my uncles has been meditating for years now…he’ll routinely  disappear from family get-togethers for a small spell of time, only to resurface quietly a little while later. Frankly, he’s one of the most youthful, calm and even-keel people I know. Hmmmm….And you can also meditate anywhere… in a train, in a car, in a house or with a mouse, just to bring Dr. Seuss into all of this.

Lesson #6 Eat Good Food and Your Body Will Feel Great. Well, there’s a big DUH statement if ever there was one. Yes, I lived in a culinary bubble this weekend where there was only organic, whole food, virtually no caffeine or sweets and it was all more or less plant based. The first night I was so hungry that I thought I would die. I got there in time for dinner, but then the dining hall closed leaving only TEAS for the rest of the evening. I had not stockpiled, I had not hoarded earlier. I was screwed. Water and tea was not cutting it and I seriously wondered how I would make it through the night with my stomach screaming FEED ME at the top of it’s stomach lungs. But then I realized that it’s not a bad thing to be a little hungry sometimes (most of the world does it every day. oh my) and frankly, my thighs could do with a little deprivation. After that first night, though. I was amazed. I only ate at meal times. I ate obscenely huge piles of veggies, non-meat based proteins (nuts, beans) and you know what? I felt great. Flushed out. Healthy. Sparkly, even. And totally satiated, amazingly so.  And after the caffiene headache abated, my mind liked the new routine too. The lack of sweets (they only do desserts twice a week) turned out to be a good thing, too. I’m heading into chocolate-bunny-jelly-bean weekend with a quieted hunger. I am one of those people who generally does eat healthily but when it’s the ONLY option, it really becomes a whole new game. And a good game, at that.

And the #7 That Really Should be #1 Lesson is Simply to…Be Present. Whatever is in front of you right now is what you need to be giving your whole attention to right now. Give it 100% and be there with it. Be it a thing, a person, an activity, even a meal. That concentration will be miraculous. This is supremely difficult in our kudos-t0-multi-tasking society, but it’s what a mind needs to do. Success is sure to follow.

So there you have it…I certainly learned more than even these few points and I’m sure I’ll be peppering more posts with little quips here and there, but these are the biggies and the highlights.

Have a great day and wherever you are, be there.


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Thelma is Back…Laughs and Happiness in YogaLand

Yes, I have returned from my Thelma-Minus-Louise adventure, therefore not pulling the last stunt that Thelma and Louise did over that canyon. I also did not shoot out the tires on any 18-wheelers (as previously mentioned) or get a hickey from a young cowboy. My weekend was far milder but just as satisfying.

I went away for the whole weekend. Alone. And to a yoga retreat center. It’s at this point that some of you will roll your eyes and make a hasty exit, I’m sure. But I loved every stinking minute of this trip. This was actually the first time I have travelled by myself on a weekend getaway since becoming a Mom. 11 years ago. And granted, it was only a 3-hour drive to my destination, but in the life of a busy Mom, we have a dog-life vs. human-life thing going on here. 3 hours driving alone listening to my own music, stopping when and where I choose=1 day. Basically, I felt like I was away for about a week.

As I reported when I returned home (trying hard to keep that yoga-calm vibe going!), the weekend was a perfect blend of being calming AND stimulating at the same time. How often does that happen on a trip? I’m honestly not sure where to start with this little recap of mine, there’s so much to tell. How about we dive in like this…

1 Building, 400 Stories-It is the biggest yoga and holistic retreat center in the U.S. I think someone said that the dining room accommodates about 400 people, and I think all 400 of them were there this weekend. It was a hive of activity. My husband got me a gift certificate to Kripalu (that’s the name…Kripalu) for Christmas and promptly asked if I wanted to go with a friend, my Mom or whomever. No offense to anyone, but I wanted to go alone. To experience it for the first time myself, at my own pace. I also felt like I needed a weekend to just regroup, refocus, concentrate on my wants and not hear anyone call my name for a few days. In short, be completely selfish for 72 hours. Luscious, delicious, amazing hours…oh, did I say that out loud? Well, that’s just what I did. Me, myself and I scooted up to the Berkshires and took on Kripalu in my yoga-outfitted self. I tell you, it was the best people-watching ever. Sitting in the dining hall that first night…well, I could have sat there for hours and been totally entertained. If with nothing else than trying to figure out all the stories for all the souls that were crammed in there getting their quinoa and roasted veggies. As a side note, I think I ate about 10 days worth of vegetables in those 3 days. You can call me Miss Antioxidant. So, the people. There were old (I want to be doing yoga and looking like you when I am that age), young (how the heck are you affording this?), couples (aw), some folks who seemed to be in the midst of battles (cancer…oh my…), earthy-crunchies (thank goodness they say in the brochure to not wear heavy perfumes etc. because I KNOW you’d smell like patchouli), the yoga-moms (pants, tops, yoga bags all look expensive) and everyone in between. It was quite the assortment and I tell you, they were all as nice and social and smiley as can be. Great bunch of folks all getting their yoga on and learning how they can make the machine that is their body run to it’s best potential while expanding and calming their minds and hearts in the process. A good common goal, eh?

The Yoga-Was awesome. I took a variety of classes, from nighttime yoga (yes, I fell asleep for a short bit and woke up not totally clear on where the heck I was) to 6:30am yoga (surprisingly enjoyable, despite yawning my way through it). BUT I did not snore like the guy in my meditation class. There’s always one dude who snores and one dude who grunts in every class. And usually they are somehow within 3 mats of mine. I swear I should start winning the lottery more with these odds. The snorer was loud. Loud to the point where I had to start giggling. In such a quiet place, he might as well been snoring with a megaphone perched on his lips. And the grunter in the yoga class. Yikes. That’s all I can say. I know he was just doing yoga, but he seemed to be enjoying himself A LOT. More giggles. I’m happy to say that I have returned home feeling mighty bendy and like a million bucks from all the yoga that I did. My bod is thanking me right now for making it feel so good. Gotta love yoga. You just have to.

Fears-I discovered that there are 3 fears at a place like this. Thankfully, they did not come true for me, but for some, well…
1. Drooling during your massage. Hallelujah, I had a massage! No, I did not drool but came close. I’ll admit it. Barry, my long pony-tailed older surfer-dude masseuse became my best friend on Saturday night when he pummeled my over-yoga’d muscles into submission. I find the whole masseuse thing a bit bizarre in that, hey this is a stranger. I met him exactly 10 minutes ago and now I am in a dimmed room with him, I am buck naked with only a thin sheet between us, he’s got his paws all over me in a good masseusey way and you know what? He could have set fire to my toes and slipped off all of my rings and I would not have cared. He was the man. Stranger or not. I love you, Barry. So why is it so hard to just say Hi to someone you don’t know sometimes or make eye contact? Hmmm. A question. And about the drooling…there’s that point when you are on the table, face down in that little upside-down horseshoe cushion when you just get SO relaxed. And that drool from your open mouth is RIGHT THERE. And somehow, by the grace of God, you SNAP back into clear reality JUST in time to SNAP your mouth shut and save yourself from drooling on Barry’s foot.
2.Tipping over during yoga class. Again, didn’t happen to me (I had good ju-ju this weekend) but during some of those balancing poses, you realize you are about a millimeter from tipping to your left and thus setting off this human-domino effect of bodies. The fear keeps your muscles stiff and on your own mat.
3. The MOST horrifying…The Fart. In yoga class. Yes, the yogis will gingerly and sweetly explain that it’s your body just functioning how it should but really, you DO NOT want to be that guy. I’m happy and amused to report that it did happen (TO SOMEONE ELSE) in one of my classes. Picture it: about 50 bodies. 5 rows of 10. Everyone aligned and doing their bendy things. Everyone on your mat, people! Bring your knees to your chest….and…..RRRRRRRIIIIPPPP! There she blows. This lucky soul was about 2 rows over and one row back from me. And mind you, this was not a small Beep or a Toot, this was a “granola-for-breakfast” *bwaaaaamp*. Priceless. Thankfully, out of my range because at that moment, I heard my husband’s words: “There is nothing funnier than a fart.” Nope, nope there isn’t. And I am doubly lucky because we swooped right into a pose where we had to bury our head between our knees and that was a good thing because I totally lost it. Laugh city. “April, get a grip, you’re an adult! It happens! It’s yoga. It’s natural“, I tell myself. So much for THAT. I can’t contain myself and am laughing myself silly all hunched in a ball. Mind you, relatively silently, which is even harder, because I’m trying to not further humiliate the farter. Karma will get me. So much for “Moderate Yoga”.

There’s more to tell, obviously, but that’s a good start I think. More tomorrow on what I learned and what I took away from the whole experience. Then, we’ll shift gears and get some good recipes out there for the upcoming holiday weekend. Sound good? Great. Have a wonderful day everyone! Jai Bhagwan…which is the Kripalu equivalent for “Namaste”.

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