Summer Salad Dressing

Salad@eduardolife

Visiting the abundance of farmer stands is one of my favorite Summer rites.  And nothing complements an splendid summer day as a salad containing all those delectable vegetable finds. I think it's rather silly to give recipes for a green/vegetable salad; so instead I am presenting my favorite summer salad dressing by itself, which can complement your favorite veggies.  The lemon/lime combo in this dressing is so evocative, I promise you will absolutely love it.  This is also so simple and healthy that you won't have to worry about adding extra fat/calories to your summer diet.  Learn this dressing recipe and you forever will have the power to transform any salad into a Summer Delight - all year around!

What you need: Juice from 1 lemon (zest is optional), Juice from 1 lime , 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon of grounded white pepper

What you do: Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl and let it stand for five minutes (neither shake nor mix with a fork; I'm telling you whisk!).  That is it; combine with your favorite salad ingredients.  Enjoy.

Toilet Yoga? Top 3 Movements for Relief

I had been working for several month on creating a sequence for anyone that can't never find a time to be alone, except maybe in the bathroom...  I was so serious about this that I had totally missed the joke.  Thank goodness I found this funny article in Yoga Dork. Toilet Yoga? Top 3 Movements for Relief.

we’ve come up with our own Top Toilet Yoga Movements for Relief!* Read at your leisure.

1. The Classic: Chair pose, aka Hover-asana, aka Utka-don’t you sit down that’s nasty-asana. Doubly great for firing up the legs after sitting for long periods of time, and avoiding butt cheek contact with icktastic facilities. Fierce.

2. Intermediate: Puppy Dog Fire Hydrant. Place hands on counter or sink and walk feet back under hips. Work up to fire hydrant by lifting leg back into Warrior 3 or opening up the raised leg to Half Moon. Can also be done in bathroom stall for ultimate privacy if you’re lucky to be somewhere with one-seaters like Starbucks. Beware other cranky toilet yogis waiting to practice.

3. Toilet Yoga Guru: Twisted Triko-stall-asana. One foot by the commode, the other diagonally placed. Walk hands up sides and door of stall and twist out your Triangle. Especially good for relief from hangovers, irritating co-workers and afternoon lull.

Warning: Deep breathing and inversions work wonders, but we advise avoiding headers at the head!

*yogis must wash hands before returning to work.

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Find out who you are by eliminating clutter - Office

One of my sweet students sent me an article from the Boston Globe titled Free yourself by letting go of the clutter in your home, office, and finances, the article is about balancing your finances and it points to a book written by Gail Blanke- “Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life." I am sure the book explains why "fifty" is the magic number, but I haven't read the book.  I do love the idea to start with a random number.  Engineering school taught me to analyze numbers and patterns, but it  also taught me  to trust numbers that don't quite make sense because at the end of the day you are looking for results (my Catholic upbringing just reinforced this methodology).   I've counseled hundreds of folks in how to organize a space and the most difficult part of the process is editing one's belongings.  I know it is very difficult, I struggle myself with parting from items I've attached myself out of nostalgia or out of fear.  So this is an experiment on how to free oneself of material things that aren't serving one's life anymore and I know for a fact that the process can become a metaphor to embrace the present and face one's fears.

As an unscientific experiment,I will throw out fifty items. Yes, I will become the subject of this experiment as I downsize my already pocket-size belongings in hope that the process will help you cope with the editing process of simplifying your life into a richer and healthier one.  If it doesn't do that, at least I hope it brings a smile to your day.

I am going to start with my Office Space.

So where do I  start?  I need to get rid of 50 things, so I guess as any good editor I am gonna look at every item in my office and ask  how is this item contributing to my work?

I think the key here is the active verb, contributing as supposed to contributed.  Many times I hold on to the stories in my head of how wonderful a book was, how nice a workshop was , and how one day I will use that stationary again.   Embracing who I am today means honoring those items that helped me move forward.  I need to trust that I don't need "the story" that the item evokes and let it  go from that place of confidence where I am.

- 28  Books:  this was a tough one since these books were not just books I read, these are books that moved me.   I love stories and if I find a good story like in the many novels I've collected through my adulthood I feel that parting with the book will not let me hold on to the story.  This isn't true, these stories will be with me as long as I can recall the connection I had with them.  Public libraries and electronic books are my friend, if I decided to reconnect with any of my favorite books, I know where to find them.  20 books were donated to the Dobbs Ferry Library.  I also have carried with me textbooks since graduating from college.  I sold most of them right after graduations but I kept  a handful after school thinking that I may need them, I never did, but they represented hundreds of dollars and the fear of being wasteful made me hold on to them.  Truth is that no only I never use these books and no one can use them neither.   I can't sell them or donate them, no one wants them.  So holding onto hundred of dollars that can't serve me or anyone else IS wasteful.  8 Textbooks were tossed (yes, no alternative, I even consulted with theater  prop shops).

- 1 Box of envelops,  these 81/2 " x 11" white3 envelops have been with me since college too.  I used them to send resumes to potential employees.  I don't send mass mailing anymore and PDF electronic files is the standard.  Recycled them.

- 1 Day Runner Day Planner; I have been using my iCalendar for two years now, very successfully.  The repeat/end by date function is a huge help and the fact that I can syncronize with my mobile devise is awesome.  Why do I keep this day planner? I spend a lot of time and money creating my personalized day planner, but it is not useful anymore.  Recycled.

- 2 Decks of playing cards.  Last time I used playing cards I was in Vegas, and casinos make playing cards super available.  Tossed.

- 1 Desktop lamp which has been broken for two years.  I thought I could find a small repair shop to help me with this, but I didn't find one or made any effort.  Tossed.

- 2 boxes of postcards collected in coffee shops.  I had the great idea of forwarding these post cards to friends as I thought of them in my often thinking afternoons in coffee shops.  Texting has become then new postcards.  Recycled.

- 8 pens/markers that do not work properly.  I accumulate so many pens and markers that it becomes hard to keep track of which ones are working.  60 seconds of testing, but I know I can pick up a writing devise with total confidence of success.

- 4 File Folders.  These folders contained finished projects with relevant information, which could come handy for me or my clients.   I scanned all the documents, store the electronic copy my DropBox account and shred paper files.  I  have feared that the information will be stolen or lost in the cloud network, but it could have been  stolen and lost in my house or through all the e-mails I have sent.  I surrender to technology...it is indeed a good thing.

- 5 Yoga  DVD.  These were some of my first yoga teachers.  Rodney &  Shiva were there to help me build my yoga practice, they are still in my practice, but I haven't use these DVD's in years.  I can honor their teaching by just donating these to the library.

- 1 Mouse pad.  I haven't use it in three years...bye bye, my friend.

Who am I?  I am space.  I am efficient. I am open to new experiences.   The whole experiment was very difficult to start, but once you start the process, it is relatively simple.  A great side-effect: You will find your mind more open and more willing to let go of thoughts that are not serving you.

Drop me a line if you find this helpful.

Becoming One From Many

It is so easy to live a fragmented existence, mainly  it is taught to us by society, by our parents, by our teachers, by our friends.   Behave this way when  in school, this way when adults are present, this way when these folks are around...so it  isn't a surprise that as adults we have to embark in a long quest to make our lives whole again.  It took years to fragment  who we were  into small compartmentalized fractions of ourselves and so it takes years to bring those pieces into who we want to be again.  In the meantime, a lots of those fragments get further broken, or polished, or painted.  The longer we wait to go back to the whole, the harder the process will be.  So wait no time and be, and remember it will take time and this process is a gift.  Here is a poem that explains this concept better than I could possibly do.

Love After Love

The time will come when, with elation, you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror, and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again the stranger who was your self. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart. Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.

“Love after Love” from COLLECTED POEMS 1948-1984 by Derek Walcott

Cool Cucumber And Avocado Soup

It’s that time of the year when Summer is upon us, and all of Winter’s extra calories and Spring’s extra allergens catches up with our bodies.  As we progress into our Spring Cleaning, it is also a good time to do some good Digestive Cleaning.  This Cucumber and Avocado Soup is a great Spring/Summer addition to your Detox recipes.  The green color is so mesmerizing and the flavor is soothing and just kewl. This is what you need:

zest of 1/2 lime

juice of an entire lime

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cucumber, peeled and seeded, roughly chopped

1/2 avocado, peeled and roughly chopped

This is what you do

Blend everything together until totally creamy and smooth.  I love drinking this at room temperature, but I can’t see why it would be a problem warming it up a bit if the idea of a cold soup isn’t appealing to you.

This is a 1 serving recipe, who else is going to join you for it  and it only takes 1 minute to make, you got no time to waste!

Enjoy!

Breath here.

I am not one to ignore messages from the Universe; and this week the message was loud and clear: BREATH.    I was teaching a twists-focus class this week;  as I taught,  I swear, I saw my students twisting and  the image of a twirling cloud came to my mind.  Next thing I know I am at the wonderful Dana Covello's class and she'd decided to sweep us into a Pranayama journey for 90 minutes that culminated into the sweetest understanding of Hanumanasana (disclaimer, even though my internal body fully manifested this pose, I wasn't anywhere close to the full pose-smile).  So when I came across a podcast  from Elsie's Yoga Class: Live and Unplugged Episode 93 focus on breathing (you must subscribe to her awesome free podcast), I decided to surrender to the powerful force of just listening to my breath. A clear message has emerged from this week's breathing exercises:  I am the fruit of my breath.

Remember this as you move into your everyday.  Please take a moment to observe your breath today and always.

Now, Universe, if you can just tell me what numbers to purchase in the lottery!!!

Saucha for Your Home Office

Saucha is one of  the observances of  Patanjali's eightfold path of Yoga.   Saucha can be translated roughly as cleanliness; and there are many amazing interpretations and explanations on how utilizing Saucha will align us with our Yoga path.   A way in which I apply Saucha is through awareness of my surroundings (i.e., how are my surroundings honoring my experience of life?).  In a yoga setting, a simple way to apply Saucha may be placing back the props in the yoga studio so that the next students can enjoy their yoga practice as well- little by little you can see how practical Saucha can be.   But this concept, just as yoga itself, doesn't stop when one steps away from the mat.  In this post I am trying to utilize Saucha to help you deal with paper management at home.

As I work with clients, a common issue that most of them face  is  document management.  I can't stress enough that you best friend when working on  paper management is a sleek and dependable shredder !   However when it comes to dealing with the IRS we must still keep some document handy.  Below are some guidelines which I hope can help you decide what to keep and what to throw away.   For more information speak with a financial expert or your accountant.

To make it easy, I divided the paper load in three categories:

1- Documents you don't dispose- long term storage box or filing cabinet are the best for these documents.  Keep these safe and protected.

• Annual tax returns
• Year-end summaries from financial service companies
• Stock and bond certificates
• Deeds of property and ownership, auto titles, insurance policies
• Home improvement records
• Health records, wills and powers of attorney
• Birth certificates, adoption and custody records, death certificates

2- Documents you will eventually shred. Accordion-type files, desktop file boxes work better for these.

• Paycheck stubs; phone and utility bills for one year (or seven years if business-related);  monthly bank and credit card statements for one year; and monthly mortgage statements for one year- however if you ask to receive these bills/statements via e-mail, it will be one less thing to keep around the house.
• Brokerage or mutual fund statements until they’ve been reconciled at year end
• Year end statements from credit card companies for seven years
• W-2 and 1099 forms for seven years
• Cancelled checks and receipts for all tax-deductible expenses for seven years

3- Discard and/or shred

• ATM, bank-deposit slips and credit card receipts after cleared on a statement
• Non-tax deductible receipts for minor purchases
• Old magazines and articles not read within the past three months
• Receipts, instructions and warranties for items you no longer own (or warranties that have expired)

Keep breathing through the process and remember that just like all yoga poses, you've got to start somewhere.

Karma is gonna get you (good Karma, that is)

I was browsing through my YJ (Yoga Journal Magazine), and found a very practical piece on Karma by Sally Kempton.   Yes, I get YJ for the articles! There are many deep and fascinating ways to explain Karma and how this Eastern Philosophy concept affect our everyday life.  I feel that these type of concepts should be digested individually and their understanding should be drawn from personal experience.  However the article was so inspiring, I just want to present it in the most practical & physical way: for every action we apply in our lives, there is a reaction.

These are some good Karma practices,  extracted from yoga traditions, that can shift your day-to-day positive attitude.  It may sound cynical and almost impossible to stay  with a positive attitude all the time, but here is where fake-it-till-you-make- it philosophy can come in handy.  In other words,  just as your attitude can shape your actions, you can, through your actions,  re-shape your attitude.

1- Start the day with a positive intention: it is your intention so make it count for you.  As an example, you can start the day with something like, "I am present on my actions and my actions will serve those around me," or " Today, I will be an instrument of the Universe's joy," etc.   At the end of the day don't forget to notice how your intention shaped your day.

2-Act for the good of others.  Certain acts and thoughts create positive impressions in your mind.  These imprints result in positive life experiences.  So go ahead and DO something kind everyday:  as simple as picking up trash along the sidewalk, donating to a charity or helping a stranger on the streets.   Notice how the act makes you feel.

3-Make an offering.  We are surrounded by abundance in our personal life, however when we feel lacking, we tend to engage in negative patterns.  One solution to these tendencies is the practice of offering your positive actions to the benefit of others.   When you observe how your positive actions are beneficial to others, you can stay motivated to act positively.

Incorporate Movement in your Day and Feel Great

A lot of times we may find ourselves trying to find the time in a busy day to incorporate physical activities.  A lot of times we may think that a formal setting is the only way to bring those precious calorie burning experiences in our life.  Yes, a visit to the gym, going to a fitness class, or spending time with a personal trainer  have tons of benefits; however we have lots of other ways to incorporate physical activities during the day.  We love excuses, the balance game is to try to meet a busy day with creative alternatives to traditional  exercise.  Nature is never lacking, so here are some ideas to incorporate in you life:

• If you are bound to a desk or spend lots of time driving around. Make a commitment to get up from your desk or out of your car at least once every hour and walk around a building, walk up or downstairs, find a parking area and walk – whatever you have convenient to you.

• On your lunch break, go for a walk instead of sitting in the cafeteria.

• When possible, walk or bike to work/the store/your friend’s house instead of driving. Often we automatically get behind the steering wheels of our car without realizing places are close enough to walk to.

• Make a date to walk or bike with friends, instead of going for coffee or drinks. You can still do all the talking you want, but you’ll be burning calories and getting fitter by moving around. If you don’t want to give up your coffee or drinks, meet up on the other side of town and walk to your destination.

• Instead of ordering in – cook. standing in the kitchen, walking from your fridge to the stove can all burn more calories than sitting on the couch waiting for the pizza guy to ring the doorbell. Extra points if you go out to the garden to get some fresh herbs. Not to mention, you can cook a much healthier meal.

Just keep your eyes peeled to the endless opportunities to incorporate movement in your day.

Down Dog and Amp-Up You Energy Right From Your Desk

   It's three o'clock and it seems that your day at the office is just starting.  It's one of those days when coffee alone is not going to cut it.  If there were only a way to remove fatigue and revitalize your afternoon.  But wait there is such a thing: AH-doh MOO-kah shvah-NAHS-anna) adho = downward mukha = face svana = dog

or as we lovingly call it Down Dog pose.

Mr. Iyengar himself says that Down Dog "is an exhilarating pose."  From removing fatigue and eradicating stiffness in the shoulder region to toning your abdominal muscles and legs, Down Dog is a super pose.  However getting on the office floor mid afternoon could be time restricted or perhaps  just plain embarrassing.   In addition to other at-your-desk poses that I practice,  I like to practice this Desk Down Dog which bring some of those amazing benefits of the full pose, OK it is still a bit embarrassing, but you will make new friends with all the extra energy you will have.

Step by Step

 Facing the desk stand with the feet a bit wider than hip distance apart; 8" to 12 " apart.  Feet are parallel to each other.  Begin to inhale and exhale through your nose, allowing the inner body to stay bright and your skin softens.  Keep this breath throughout the pose.  Uji breathing if you know it.   [Stand on the side of your desk that offers more space.]

Bent your knees a little bit and place the palms of your hands on the desk.  Spread your palms, index fingers parallel or slightly turned out.  Keeping the palms of your hands firmly pressed on the desk, begin to walk backwards away from the desk till you create an L shape with your torso and legs (see sketch).   Keep breathing into your back body, particularly in the kidney area, so that you feel your lower ribs integrated into your body.

Then with an exhalation, push your top thighs back and stretch your leg bones down toward the floor. Straighten your knees but be sure not to lock them.

Firm the outer arms and press the bases of the index fingers actively into the desktop.  From these two points lift along your inner arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. Firm your shoulder blades against your back, then widen them and draw them toward the tailbone. Keep the head between the upper arms; don't let it hang.  Can you keep the heart soft?  Imagine the heart as a drop of melted chocolate dropping down towards the floor!  Enjoy the pose for a minute or two.

When you are ready to come out of the pose, you can bend your knees and walk forward till you are standing again.  If you have extra time you can add to this down dog some other desk yoga poses.

The Fast and Furious: Caprese Salad to Go

Fasten your seatbelts, this is the fastest recipe in history.  If you ever wonder if there was a healthy  appetizer that will take no time in making and could single handed change the course of a cocktail party; wonder no more.  My favorite go-to-domestic0-maven Joannie Coles shared with me this recipe which turns out to be a favorite anywhere it goes.  I believe she got it from Rachel Ray, originally called "Caprese Antipasticks" and who wouldn't  love that name or  the bundle of smile Rachel Ray is.   In Joannie's own words, this isn't so much a recipe as it is an assembly instruction.  Enjoy. This is what you need

• 1 package 8-inch bamboo skewers
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
• 2 (1 pound) tubs bocconcini (small balls of fresh mozzarella), drained
• 24 leaves fresh basil
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• Salt and pepper

This is what you do

For caprese sticks, skewer tomatoes and bocconcini bites, placing basil leaves between them. Drizzle these sticks with extra-virgin oil and season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

Cucumber Apple Salad - a break from breakroom treats

I worked in retail for so long that I tend to ignore the holiday decorations and music, gliding oblivious to the fact that the end of the year is approaching.  To me, the holiday season starts the moment all the home made treats appear on the break-room tables across America.  New recipes get tested, excess sweet treats get recycled, sugary gifts get re-gifted...you name it; temptation lurks around the corner.  Unless you are made out of stone, you will succumb.   When I do, I always tell myself what I imagine Iyanla Vanzant would tell me: ' Beloved - I love when she says that- you must first forgive yourself, don't blame the sweets, don't blame yourself, ask instead what can you do to bring  the caring and wellness that you deserve back into your life?' Nothing serves me better than a nutritious, light and fresh lunch.  Below is one of my favorite cleansing salads.   The crunchy apples and watery cucumbers always taste heavenly during this time of the year.  Enjoy.

This is what you need

1 Apple- cored and diced.  I tend to use green apples, but you can try your favorite kind.

1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped with seeds removed

1/4 small red onion, diced

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

sea salt and fresh pepper

Sometimes I add a little mint or any other fresh herb I may have at hand.  A little bit goes a long way with these simple ingredients.

This is what you do

In a bowl, toss all ingredients together and serve!  I love any recipe this easy.  I promise the flavor of this small lunch will be so big you will be satisfied till snack time.