In a world where convenience and quickness is key, there is still a place for cooking. So much of our human culture revolves around family and food. The two are closley related and have given birth to the cuisines and colorful cultures that we cherish and celebrate.
Cooking is a necessity, an art, and a spiritual practice. Our families need real whole foods. We need relaxed, healthy, easily digestible meals. We need to cook and eat food as a therapeutic way to deal with the half-ass-ness of mainstreeam values. We need to cook to heal our bodies, minds, and spirits.
However, fast food, cold food, snack food, and convenience packaged food are making up so many of our meals. Of course, eating this way comes with lots of sugar, salt, fat, additives, coloring, and chemicals. So there are health issues associated with these foods as well, such as obesity.
I grew up around cooking and my children are growing up around cooking.
May we cook for our families, friends, and for ourselves. May we teach our children to cook and eat fresh, healthy foods that are prepared with patience and love. May we strive to include cooking as part of our spiritual, yogic practices.
Namaste,
Monique
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Monday, 16 May 2011
Food and Body Legacy
I had a fairly rough childhood. Although I was loved by many, I suffered through:
- Two parental divorces,
- Adults in my life with addiction issues,
- I grew up with mostly just my father,
- Loneliness. I stayed home from school a lot by myself due to terrible asthma and I was a latch key kid for many years - I took refuge in TV and the Frig.
- Instability and Insecurity about the future; I went to 11 different schools before high school,
- I had lots of mysterious stomachaches especially at night.
These events led me to find comfort in food, to become an emotional eater, and to overeat. The adults in my life fed me lots of sugar, fried foods, mashed potatoes, and white bread which were considered part of a normal diet. As we now know, these high glycemic index, high carb foods increase cravings for more food.
From 12-25, things began to look up for me. I gained confidence, ambition, a great education, self-esteem, and personal successes. However, I still held onto food, body image, weight, self-esteem, health, self-worth, and insecurity issues that led me to engage in some self-destructive behavior and relationships. I remember standing at the fridge and eating handful after handful of raisin bran as fast as I could...not out of hunger, but as a way to stuff my fears. A way to pacify my anxiety. I ate until I was stuffed and numb.
Many experiences have contributed to my healing and I continue to optimize my capacity heal and be healed to this day. My 15 years of yoga practice has been the most dramatic and sustaining catalyst for change, growth, healing, and happiness.
My practice includes:
- Yogic Diet - I eat a diet that balances blood sugar and is mostly plant based.
- Meditation - Quieting the mind reduces stress and stress eating; it also leads to lasting feelings of happiness and peace.
- Hatha Yoga - I practice yoga for an hour most days of the week and I walk.
- Self-acceptance - My weight fluctuates 5 pounds up and down; still I aim to love and accept myself just the way I am.
- Positive Thinking and Law of Attraction - Positive thinking takes practice! We have to learn to focus our minds on what we do want regardless of what our present circumstances may be.
- Prayer - I aim to be in a constant state of prayer and communication with God.
What are your practices?
The most important teaching that I have learned is that we are here To Serve. We need to take care of our issues, sort ourselves out, heal our bodies and make them strong, and release our addictions, mood swings, and negativities in order to be there for others.
Hopefully, our practices make it easier for others to be around us...like spouses, kids, family members, neighbors, co-workers, friends, and so on. Then, if we can be a light in the world once in a while - what a bonus!
Namaste and Keep Practicing!
Monique
- Two parental divorces,
- Adults in my life with addiction issues,
- I grew up with mostly just my father,
- Loneliness. I stayed home from school a lot by myself due to terrible asthma and I was a latch key kid for many years - I took refuge in TV and the Frig.
- Instability and Insecurity about the future; I went to 11 different schools before high school,
- I had lots of mysterious stomachaches especially at night.
These events led me to find comfort in food, to become an emotional eater, and to overeat. The adults in my life fed me lots of sugar, fried foods, mashed potatoes, and white bread which were considered part of a normal diet. As we now know, these high glycemic index, high carb foods increase cravings for more food.
From 12-25, things began to look up for me. I gained confidence, ambition, a great education, self-esteem, and personal successes. However, I still held onto food, body image, weight, self-esteem, health, self-worth, and insecurity issues that led me to engage in some self-destructive behavior and relationships. I remember standing at the fridge and eating handful after handful of raisin bran as fast as I could...not out of hunger, but as a way to stuff my fears. A way to pacify my anxiety. I ate until I was stuffed and numb.
Many experiences have contributed to my healing and I continue to optimize my capacity heal and be healed to this day. My 15 years of yoga practice has been the most dramatic and sustaining catalyst for change, growth, healing, and happiness.
My practice includes:
- Yogic Diet - I eat a diet that balances blood sugar and is mostly plant based.
- Meditation - Quieting the mind reduces stress and stress eating; it also leads to lasting feelings of happiness and peace.
- Hatha Yoga - I practice yoga for an hour most days of the week and I walk.
- Self-acceptance - My weight fluctuates 5 pounds up and down; still I aim to love and accept myself just the way I am.
- Positive Thinking and Law of Attraction - Positive thinking takes practice! We have to learn to focus our minds on what we do want regardless of what our present circumstances may be.
- Prayer - I aim to be in a constant state of prayer and communication with God.
What are your practices?
The most important teaching that I have learned is that we are here To Serve. We need to take care of our issues, sort ourselves out, heal our bodies and make them strong, and release our addictions, mood swings, and negativities in order to be there for others.
Hopefully, our practices make it easier for others to be around us...like spouses, kids, family members, neighbors, co-workers, friends, and so on. Then, if we can be a light in the world once in a while - what a bonus!
Namaste and Keep Practicing!
Monique
Friday, 29 April 2011
I am Willing to Take a Positive Step
One theme among my clients right now is discovering their willingness to keep taking a positive step forward to do something to help themselves feel good, contribute something, and curb bad habits. This discussion arose from looking at the three forms of energy:
Sattvic - pure, calm, peaceful energy,
Rajasic - excitable, over-stimulated, manic energy,
Tamasic - heavy, dull, grumpy, and lethargic energy.
We were delving into how we all keep moving back and forth to these three states. Some of us spend more time in the Tamasic heavy and dull state. In this state, it's hard to pick oneself up off the sofa to do much of anything and especially to eat right, go run around the block, and be cheerful and ready to serve others. Others keep it Rajasic...lots of screen time, sound, caffeine, activities, conversation, overeating, lack of mindful eating, and go, go, go. Of course, spending lots of time in this state sends one directly to the Tamasic state once things quiet down.
We all agreed that the Sattvic state is the most ideal place to spend most of our time. In this state, we take care of ourselves, keep our commitments, know our priorities, happily do spiritual practices and physical exercise, and take care of others with an good attitude. But how do we get there and stay there more of the time?
Sometimes making plans, promises, rules, and commitments can backfire on us. So, a gentle approach can be to adopt the mantra, "I am Willing to Take Positive Step." It is also helpful to make a list of items that could be a positive step for you. Your list may include: exercises you enjoy, reaching a for a piece of fruit and savoring it mindfully as a snack, cleaning out a drawer, writing a thank you note, playing with your kids/pets, and sending your partner a loving text.
One client mentioned that going on a long walk can be a daunting thought, but being willing to walk to the end of the street is more doable. So this aspect of knowing yourself and your areas of resistance is very helpful.
For the next week, see if you be willing to take a positive step.
Blessings,
Monique
Sattvic - pure, calm, peaceful energy,
Rajasic - excitable, over-stimulated, manic energy,
Tamasic - heavy, dull, grumpy, and lethargic energy.
We were delving into how we all keep moving back and forth to these three states. Some of us spend more time in the Tamasic heavy and dull state. In this state, it's hard to pick oneself up off the sofa to do much of anything and especially to eat right, go run around the block, and be cheerful and ready to serve others. Others keep it Rajasic...lots of screen time, sound, caffeine, activities, conversation, overeating, lack of mindful eating, and go, go, go. Of course, spending lots of time in this state sends one directly to the Tamasic state once things quiet down.
We all agreed that the Sattvic state is the most ideal place to spend most of our time. In this state, we take care of ourselves, keep our commitments, know our priorities, happily do spiritual practices and physical exercise, and take care of others with an good attitude. But how do we get there and stay there more of the time?
Sometimes making plans, promises, rules, and commitments can backfire on us. So, a gentle approach can be to adopt the mantra, "I am Willing to Take Positive Step." It is also helpful to make a list of items that could be a positive step for you. Your list may include: exercises you enjoy, reaching a for a piece of fruit and savoring it mindfully as a snack, cleaning out a drawer, writing a thank you note, playing with your kids/pets, and sending your partner a loving text.
One client mentioned that going on a long walk can be a daunting thought, but being willing to walk to the end of the street is more doable. So this aspect of knowing yourself and your areas of resistance is very helpful.
For the next week, see if you be willing to take a positive step.
Blessings,
Monique
Monday, 4 April 2011
How May I Serve?
The other day, I had a miserable night's sleep which resulted in a not very pleasant morning mood. I wasn't really looking forward to the day. And then Ibu Ani arrived. Ibu Ani has been a part of my household for five years as a cook and housekeeper here in Indonesia. I'll be missing her when I go! Anyhow, I asked her if she ever has restless nights and she gave me an interesting reply.
This lovely, devout, Muslim lady told me that when she can't sleep, she gets out of bed to pray for an extended period. Then she studies her scriptures for a while and goes back to sleep. She says it works every time. She told me quite clearly, "You know when you pray, you don't pray for yourself. You pray as an offering to God."
Since I had been in a rather self-absorbed poor-sleepless-and-tired me mode, this exchange with Ibu made an impact on me. I don't think I would have gone to do my morning prayers/chanting/hatha yoga practices had I not talked to her. Sometimes God speaks to us through each other.
So, as my paradigm for the day was shifting, I went to do my practices as an OFFERING. I wasn't doing them to feel better. I ended up having a very clear intention that week that I was living and giving in service to my maker, my body, my family, and my community with all of my actions. I had a wonderful week!
The impact of this small encounter lingers on. Sometimes when I don't really feel like doing something positive, helpful, generous, or productive, I'm trying to remember Ibu Ani. I'm trying to remember the phrase that Dr. Wayne Dyer lives by, "How may I serve?" I am trying to remember that the purpose of my life (according to yoga philosophy) is to aim to know God and to serve others. Basically, the purpose is to live in that open handed state of offering...no matter how we feel.
It is not always easy to do, but I suppose the purpose of life isn't supposed to be easy.
Namaste,
Monique
This lovely, devout, Muslim lady told me that when she can't sleep, she gets out of bed to pray for an extended period. Then she studies her scriptures for a while and goes back to sleep. She says it works every time. She told me quite clearly, "You know when you pray, you don't pray for yourself. You pray as an offering to God."
Since I had been in a rather self-absorbed poor-sleepless-and-tired me mode, this exchange with Ibu made an impact on me. I don't think I would have gone to do my morning prayers/chanting/hatha yoga practices had I not talked to her. Sometimes God speaks to us through each other.
So, as my paradigm for the day was shifting, I went to do my practices as an OFFERING. I wasn't doing them to feel better. I ended up having a very clear intention that week that I was living and giving in service to my maker, my body, my family, and my community with all of my actions. I had a wonderful week!
The impact of this small encounter lingers on. Sometimes when I don't really feel like doing something positive, helpful, generous, or productive, I'm trying to remember Ibu Ani. I'm trying to remember the phrase that Dr. Wayne Dyer lives by, "How may I serve?" I am trying to remember that the purpose of my life (according to yoga philosophy) is to aim to know God and to serve others. Basically, the purpose is to live in that open handed state of offering...no matter how we feel.
It is not always easy to do, but I suppose the purpose of life isn't supposed to be easy.
Namaste,
Monique
Thursday, 17 March 2011
The Queen of Happy
I wanted to share with you some feedback from a participant of the Yogic Diet 2011 retreat in Bali. Here is what she had to say:
Changes from Retreat:
Diet:
The foods we ate during the retreat left me feeling so good that I wanted to continue that when I got home. I am much more aware of what I eat and how it makes me feel. I have had a couple cups of coffee and a little wine and some meat. The coffee I really enjoyed, the wine just made me feel like crap, and the meat was good - but left me feeling heavy. I have also had some desserts too. The best part about what has changed is that I am enjoying a treat now and then (coffee, ice cream, etc), but then I move on and don't look back. Before I would have felt bad about myself and just totally went overboard and eaten everything bad for me all the time. Now I am not in an ALL of NOTHING mentality. I am excited enough about the foods that my husband is attempting a detox like diet for 5 days like we did during the retreat. We are doing the best we can to follow the guidelines and remembering what we ate. I am excited for him!
Lifestyle: My rut was a pretty deep one and I am having to work hard to get out of it. I am better but find it easy to slip back in. I am making more time for myself and using my time more effectively. I am more aware that I waste a lot of time and I am not sure on what (hence the waste). I do know that I was not taking care of me before the retreat. Now I am concentrating on making time for me (quality time).
Yoga: So I am hooked on yoga. It makes me feel great. I gained a lot of confidence in myself during the retreat. I can do it on my own with a video or just audio. I am working on a schedule so I can do it more often.
Positive Thinking: Overall I am more positive. I am very aware of my self talk and how it has not been positive. When I catch myself with negative thoughts I shift them to a positive.
During the retreat I lost 3 pounds and I have continued to lose another 3 pounds since I got home. I am very excited about this because I have had some splurges with my eating and I have not found the right routine to do regular exercise. So going back to that All of Nothing idea..... I have gotten away from that. I am physically active (but not as much as my goal is) and happy that I have done something. I am not beating myself up over not getting it all done. This is a big one for me.
Aspects in my life that have been influenced:
Diet - I am more aware of how foods affect me.
Body image - I look good. I am not seeing all the trouble spots I used to.
Exercise - I am more active.
Yoga - I want to do more and I have more confidence in my abilities.
Relationships - I am more calm with my children; I am using my law of attraction notes and it seems to be helping.
Meditation - I enjoy it, but must make more time for it! Miss it.
Insights:
From Tomasz - Seriously would be "NO DRAMA." He also taught me that I CAN do yoga!
From Monique - I can obtain what I am wanting and the law of attraction does work. I am an awesome person!
Thank you so much for this opportunity.
The Queen of Happy
Changes from Retreat:
Diet:
The foods we ate during the retreat left me feeling so good that I wanted to continue that when I got home. I am much more aware of what I eat and how it makes me feel. I have had a couple cups of coffee and a little wine and some meat. The coffee I really enjoyed, the wine just made me feel like crap, and the meat was good - but left me feeling heavy. I have also had some desserts too. The best part about what has changed is that I am enjoying a treat now and then (coffee, ice cream, etc), but then I move on and don't look back. Before I would have felt bad about myself and just totally went overboard and eaten everything bad for me all the time. Now I am not in an ALL of NOTHING mentality. I am excited enough about the foods that my husband is attempting a detox like diet for 5 days like we did during the retreat. We are doing the best we can to follow the guidelines and remembering what we ate. I am excited for him!
Lifestyle: My rut was a pretty deep one and I am having to work hard to get out of it. I am better but find it easy to slip back in. I am making more time for myself and using my time more effectively. I am more aware that I waste a lot of time and I am not sure on what (hence the waste). I do know that I was not taking care of me before the retreat. Now I am concentrating on making time for me (quality time).
Yoga: So I am hooked on yoga. It makes me feel great. I gained a lot of confidence in myself during the retreat. I can do it on my own with a video or just audio. I am working on a schedule so I can do it more often.
Positive Thinking: Overall I am more positive. I am very aware of my self talk and how it has not been positive. When I catch myself with negative thoughts I shift them to a positive.
During the retreat I lost 3 pounds and I have continued to lose another 3 pounds since I got home. I am very excited about this because I have had some splurges with my eating and I have not found the right routine to do regular exercise. So going back to that All of Nothing idea..... I have gotten away from that. I am physically active (but not as much as my goal is) and happy that I have done something. I am not beating myself up over not getting it all done. This is a big one for me.
Aspects in my life that have been influenced:
Diet - I am more aware of how foods affect me.
Body image - I look good. I am not seeing all the trouble spots I used to.
Exercise - I am more active.
Yoga - I want to do more and I have more confidence in my abilities.
Relationships - I am more calm with my children; I am using my law of attraction notes and it seems to be helping.
Meditation - I enjoy it, but must make more time for it! Miss it.
Insights:
From Tomasz - Seriously would be "NO DRAMA." He also taught me that I CAN do yoga!
From Monique - I can obtain what I am wanting and the law of attraction does work. I am an awesome person!
Thank you so much for this opportunity.
The Queen of Happy
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Our Retreat
Our first Yogic Diet retreat was recently held in the lush and surprisingly breezy, cool mountains of Bali, Indonesia. Our group of 14 met at dinner and then wrapped ourselves in sarongs to prepare for a blessing from a Balinese Hindu priest. Every aspect of life is ritualistically blessed in Bali and each of us, carrying our own intentions for positive change, were ready to receive. We sat on the ground on this full moon night and held incense sticks while the aged priest chanted. When he finished, we sipped three spoons of holy water from our palms to bring the blessing within. The retreat had begun auspiciously.
This auspiciousness continued as each conversation seemed blessed. Each sharing from the teachers Monique and Tomasz, from Richard our Australian Bali mountain man, and from the participants about yoga, diet, health, life, relationships, challenges, and more entered our bodies, minds, and spirits. Each yoga session took us deeper into our strong bodies and higher into our big hearts. Each coaching session was a peeling back of layers as we unwrapped the golden nugget that we really do create our own realities and all it takes is a new thought to create a new reality. Each trek through the jungle or rice paddy encouraged us to remember that abundance in nature really is our birthright if we can just be in harmony with her and strive to take better care of her.
And oh my gosh, the food! Most people on the retreat had never taken a break from caffeine, alcohol, meat, processed food, white flour, and sugar like that. Some were worried about how they would handle such a detox. But the yummy, colorful, delicious, Balinese vegetable laden dishes kept appearing to satisfy our appetites and the ginger-lime-honey teas and fruits kept appearing to quench our thirsts. The food was amazing and especially cooked for us with love. And even though I eat a similar diet at home...I feel a longing for the food we had at the retreat. It was good and it somehow fed the soul.
So, the retreat was a great success! People who wanted to lose weight did (from 2-8 lbs). People who wanted to feel happier did and seemed to feel more hope for their futures. People who wanted to have fun and do yoga did! Tomasz rocked it as always and twice a day! And each time one of the yogis walked up the steps to the open air yoga room to surrender to the ritual of practice...he/she was a hero.
Namaste,
Monique
This auspiciousness continued as each conversation seemed blessed. Each sharing from the teachers Monique and Tomasz, from Richard our Australian Bali mountain man, and from the participants about yoga, diet, health, life, relationships, challenges, and more entered our bodies, minds, and spirits. Each yoga session took us deeper into our strong bodies and higher into our big hearts. Each coaching session was a peeling back of layers as we unwrapped the golden nugget that we really do create our own realities and all it takes is a new thought to create a new reality. Each trek through the jungle or rice paddy encouraged us to remember that abundance in nature really is our birthright if we can just be in harmony with her and strive to take better care of her.
And oh my gosh, the food! Most people on the retreat had never taken a break from caffeine, alcohol, meat, processed food, white flour, and sugar like that. Some were worried about how they would handle such a detox. But the yummy, colorful, delicious, Balinese vegetable laden dishes kept appearing to satisfy our appetites and the ginger-lime-honey teas and fruits kept appearing to quench our thirsts. The food was amazing and especially cooked for us with love. And even though I eat a similar diet at home...I feel a longing for the food we had at the retreat. It was good and it somehow fed the soul.
So, the retreat was a great success! People who wanted to lose weight did (from 2-8 lbs). People who wanted to feel happier did and seemed to feel more hope for their futures. People who wanted to have fun and do yoga did! Tomasz rocked it as always and twice a day! And each time one of the yogis walked up the steps to the open air yoga room to surrender to the ritual of practice...he/she was a hero.
Namaste,
Monique
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Thank God I Got The Flu
Last week, I had the flu. I had not been sick in a long time...not even a sniffle. But somehow I knew that when my housekeeper starting sneezing around the house that I was going to get this one. Never mind that this year I had the second flu shot that I've ever taken in my life. I knew I was going to get it.
Then it came...the sneezing, fever, body aches, painful sinus cavities, naps, moaning, etc. No fun, not happy. C'est la vie. However, on the 5th day when I was still napping for three hours in daylight, I decided to see a doctor.
Fairly randomly, he asked me to go to the lab and do blood work. Half an hour later when the test results came back, he called me in and said that I had a problem, but the flu and the hurting nasal passages weren't it. He said my hemoglobin was down to 7 (12-16 is normal). And since we live in a developing country where the medical can be sketchy, he asked me to fly to Singapore the next day for further tests.
Imagine my shock as I sat in the waiting room of an Oncologist's office in Singapore the next day. I was panicking and my husband didn't look too relaxed either. Anyhow, to make a long story short, I didn't have the C word. It seems that I have an iron deficiency anemia. This means that I've been running around with about half a tank of oxygen and didn't even really know it. But looking back, I do see some signs: the dizziness that I felt doing Sun Salutations, the shortness of breath I felt when running around the block, and my growing need for afternoon caffeine weren't just in my mind.
Now why is this nutrition/healthy lifestyle person getting anemia? I believe that there are spiritual as well as physical reasons. On the physical side, I had not been really paying attention to eating particularly iron rich foods and my female cycle has gotten heavier over the last few years...a common reason for anemia. On the spiritual side, I can see that I've been pinching off the joy in a few areas of my life. And now I have a relatively small wake up call to make these right.
I did have a big pity party for about five days after the diagnosis. I got mad that I physically need more rest and naps and I felt afraid. But I'm coming out of the fog. Tonight, I did my first yoga practice in two weeks with an attitude of sheer joy and delight. Yoga is amazing...what a life affirming practice.
I TRUST that I will be well and that all will be well. I will listen to my body, keep up the iron, and smile, laugh, and give my love more often. May we all optimize our capacities to heal and be healed each and every day. ACHOO! God bless you.
Then it came...the sneezing, fever, body aches, painful sinus cavities, naps, moaning, etc. No fun, not happy. C'est la vie. However, on the 5th day when I was still napping for three hours in daylight, I decided to see a doctor.
Fairly randomly, he asked me to go to the lab and do blood work. Half an hour later when the test results came back, he called me in and said that I had a problem, but the flu and the hurting nasal passages weren't it. He said my hemoglobin was down to 7 (12-16 is normal). And since we live in a developing country where the medical can be sketchy, he asked me to fly to Singapore the next day for further tests.
Imagine my shock as I sat in the waiting room of an Oncologist's office in Singapore the next day. I was panicking and my husband didn't look too relaxed either. Anyhow, to make a long story short, I didn't have the C word. It seems that I have an iron deficiency anemia. This means that I've been running around with about half a tank of oxygen and didn't even really know it. But looking back, I do see some signs: the dizziness that I felt doing Sun Salutations, the shortness of breath I felt when running around the block, and my growing need for afternoon caffeine weren't just in my mind.
Now why is this nutrition/healthy lifestyle person getting anemia? I believe that there are spiritual as well as physical reasons. On the physical side, I had not been really paying attention to eating particularly iron rich foods and my female cycle has gotten heavier over the last few years...a common reason for anemia. On the spiritual side, I can see that I've been pinching off the joy in a few areas of my life. And now I have a relatively small wake up call to make these right.
I did have a big pity party for about five days after the diagnosis. I got mad that I physically need more rest and naps and I felt afraid. But I'm coming out of the fog. Tonight, I did my first yoga practice in two weeks with an attitude of sheer joy and delight. Yoga is amazing...what a life affirming practice.
I TRUST that I will be well and that all will be well. I will listen to my body, keep up the iron, and smile, laugh, and give my love more often. May we all optimize our capacities to heal and be healed each and every day. ACHOO! God bless you.
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