A Yoga Intensive

When they called it a 'yoga teacher training intensive' they weren't wrong... Intensive it sure is. This morning we woke with the sun to walk to the area where we will practice for the next three weeks. It is a wooden open sided hut covered in flowers and overlooking rice fields: translation, it's beautiful. The cottages we are staying in are called 'Ananda', meaning 'bliss', and doing yoga in this setting makes it very clear to see why. After some morning meditation we begun a two hour class followed by a short break. We then went back to learn some theory, had lunch, learnt more, ate dinner and went back to our rooms to do some homework for tomorrow. I must admit I'm very tried (and I'm not sure how much longer I can pass it off as jet lag), but I am still having so much fun.

There was a large focus on spirituality in our teaching today. We learnt a lot about the philosophy of yoga, it's purpose and traditions. I found some of this quite challenging. It is very new to me and was at some points quite confusing. But I think it's great to try and translate everything into something more tangible and understandable for me. One great explanation of yoga I heard today was how it is finding 'quiet in movement'. For me this has two meanings, on one hand it is stilling the mind there and then by concentrating on the flow of postures, and on the other it is helping to find stillness in the craziness of our everyday lives. I think that one of my favourite things yoga helps to teach is being present in the moment - by doing that it stops anxiety and worry; it helps you to live to the fullest. So maybe I shouldn't be worrying about how hard the teacher training will be. Instead I need to enjoy every second spent in this beautiful place, because I am so lucky.

Bali Magic

You would think that being 22 years old and having completed a degree at university I might have been away from home for at least three weeks but I honestly haven't. At uni I felt a personal sense of achievement if I made it two weekends without going home... The one time that happened anyways. You might question then why I chose to travel all the way to Bali for almost a month to complete my yoga teacher training when I could have done it at home.

Going to Bali to do my teacher training was something I joked about but deep down never thought I would actually do. But when the course I was supposed to complete at home fell through and I felt like I had lost all direction. So to the internet I went (seriously how did people function before google?!)After searching and searching the only thing that seemed perfect was training in Bali... Apart from the fact that it was over 7750 miles away from home and started in just three weeks. Then I did the first spontaneous and slightly crazy thing I have ever done. I just booked it. For someone who writes a list and plan for everything this was big: I decided I was going, no doubts. So a car journey, two flights and rather scary taxi ride later here I am in this beautiful country. It is like nowhere I have ever been before, greenery and flowers back onto dusty roads; places of tranquility are hidden behind crazy bustle; it is swelteringly hot. I think here you have to look for the magic; and I've found it.

The course starts properly tomorrow. We will get up at 6.30 ready to begin, I couldn't be more excited. Apparently after 3 weeks of this intensive training I won't want to hear the word yoga again. I'm pretty sure that for me that is an impossibility, but maybe hold out shouting names of asanas at me when I get off the plane.

Hello. Finally.

Hello!

For a long time I've kept this blog on the DL but with an imminent trip to Bali now feels like the right time to share it.. and it has been a long time coming.

Back at university my flat mate (Elaine I’m looking at you) and I kept saying that we were ‘going to’ write a blog but it never actually happened. I’m sure back then I would have made the excuse that I didn't have time because I was working too hard and living in the library, but in all honestly I probably just spent a little too long chatting and drinking copious amounts of tea. But, a couple of years later, here it is.

One thing we always puzzled about when discussing our non-existent blogs was what our ‘angle’ or ‘point’ would be; what direction would our websites take? Well this new site is all about health; in every aspect. It’s about nutrition that is easy; about recipes, strength, yoga and fitness. It is about finding ways to constantly nourish your body and soul so that you can live to the fullest.

The next month or so of the blog will admittedly be inundated with posts about yoga. On Thursday I will leave for three weeks in Bali, where I will learn to be a yoga teacher and would love to share as much about it as possible. I will upload a couple of recipes to be going on with until I get back (then hopefully full of Indonesian inspiration… and also with a tan…).

I hope you will enjoy reading the blog as much as I will writing it.

Lots of love x

(N)ice cream

Banana ice cream. There isn’t a recipe much simpler. Part of me was unsure whether a blog post was really necessary, but then I remembered the first time I saw it on Instagram and having no idea how bananas could create something that so much resembled traditional ice cream. So a post I have created!

I’ve been allergic to milk and soy pretty much my whole life so I know how hard it is to find an alternative to ice cream… especially when trying to find something that doesn’t cost the same as my house (… maybe exaggerating slightly…). But this recipe is super easy and cheap. It’s also amazing for you, as bananas are full of potassium and fibre. They act as anti-acids, improve the body’s ability to absorb calcium, are thought to lower blood pressure and contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients: {serves 1}

1 overripe large banana

Almond milk

Method:

Peel and slice your banana into thin ‘coins’.

Put the banana slices into a freezer bag and freeze overnight or for at least 6 hours.

When ready to make/eat empty the frozen banana into a food processor. Add a splash of almond milk and blend away until creamy!

Scoop out into a bowl and serve straight away! Top with anything and everything: cacao nibs, chopped dates, granola, dark chocolate shavings, raw chocolate sauce… the world is your oyster!

A Step To Recovery

Not too long ago I was in a pretty dark place. The eating disorder that had sent my life and the lives of those who love me, on a crazy rollercoaster ride that only seemed to go down was in full control of my mind. I was diagnosed with depression and osteoporosis of my lower spine. I was doing all I could to stay at university but struggling big time. I would like to say that I had a Eureka moment, when I thought ‘this had to change’ and everything just got better. But reality is it has taken a very long time.

I do think realising you need change is integral though. I decided that living in a way that crippled me so entirely just could not go on anymore. My family helped me enormously, taking control when I needed it. They knew how badly I wanted to stay and university and finish my degree but they also knew I couldn’t do it alone. So for the second of my three years at university I commuted to my lectures and seminars. I spent a lot of money on trains. But I also took my first few steps to recovery.

 

Back when I was 15 a food plan was created for me. It told me what to eat and when to eat it. I ate the same thing Every. Single. Day. For 4 years. I’m not kidding. The food plan was designed to make me gain weight, which it slowly did. But that also meant I had to eat 3 chocolate bars a day. Being forced to eat like this meant my fear of food never went away. It meant I would anything to avoid it and so my brain became transfixed, obsessed with summoning up ways to secretly ‘cut things out’.

The first mini breakthrough came when I changed my attitude towards food. I knew that if I wanted get better (physically and mentally) I was going to have to start eating better. So to control my anxiety around food I altered my perspective. Rather than seeing food as something negative I chose to fall in love with it. I chose to see it as something that would strengthen me; something that would help me fight to become the person I wanted to be.

That was in December 2012, a little over two years ago. Since that time a lot has changed. It hasn’t been easy. For a little while I became so obsessed with healthy eating that it actually turned my philosophy full circle and became something negative and unhealthy. But I have taken control again. What I have realised is that it is food that fuels us through life. It is food that makes it possible to live the lives we want in the way that we want and so we should provide our bodies with the nutrients to do so. Life is for living; recovery is worth it. So fight. Fight, fight, fight and never ever give up. 

Caramel Smoothie

I have a habit of going through ‘phases’. Once upon a time I couldn’t get enough of granola and fruit. I would have it for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dessert… I would have had it for dinner too but you have to draw a line somewhere. Right now I’m obsessed with smoothies. This is probably in direct correlation to my love for my new blender, but it is also because they’re so fun and easy! I usually load mine up with fruit and love to experiment! This particular combination is one of my favourites. It is super sweet and caramelly!

Ingredients: {serves 1}

1 large overripe banana

1 large medjool date

1 cup of almond milk

½ tsp vanilla extract

Method:

Simply place all ingredients in blender and blend, blend, blend!!

Bircher Muesli/ Overnight Oats

I tried making Bircher Muesli a few times, however it’s traditionally made with a squeeze of lemon and apple juice; something I personally find too tangey (... I have an English Literature degree... can you tell?). I experimented with all sorts of methods; grating an apple into the oats, sweetening the mix with copious amounts of honey, but I still didn’t like it. So instead I thought I would try overnight oats, but most recipes require the use of chia seeds if you want a dairy free option and I find that they just don’t provide the creamy texture I'm after.

So I tried again. I stopped being all fancy and went for a much, much more simple method. I upped the oat content and lowered the almond milk measure them left the concoction to soak in a jar overnight. The Bircher/ overnight oat concoction was just the right amount of creamy and not too sour or too sweet – perfect. And so this time Goldilocks got her overnight porridge just right.

Ingredients: {serves 1}

½ cup of oats

2/3 cup of almond milk

1 tsp of vanilla extract

Method:

Mix the ingredients well and store in an airtight jar or container overnight. In the morning pour into a bowl (adding a little more almond milk if desired) and serve with a drizzle of honey and fresh fruit!