What's in a Name?

Julian was drawing quietly last night...

Mommy:  Hey Julian, what are you drawing?

Julian: I'm drawing Papi's name.

Mommy: Oh yeah?  What is Papi's name?
Julian: His name is Melvin.  I'm drawing mommy's name too!

Mommy: Wow...What is Mommy's name?

Julian: Babe.

LOL!

Colonics Continued

There have been a lot of questions offline about the medical viewpoint and insurance coverage of colonics.  This is what I know and then I'm totally done with this topic :)

Doctors: They usually want a scientific answer and/or benefit of something.  I am not sure  if doctors really know too much about the irrigation part of it and its benefits, (unless one researches and/or does it, right?), but most do know that the colon is somehow associated with the state of our health.  I would be interested to hear a viewpoint of one that has actually tried it.  Here are some statements that I've researched and heard of. 
Footnote: I've spoken to 3 hydrotherapists, 1 naturopathic doctor and asked about what they have talked to MDs about.  I also checked out WebMD. Melvin felt it was important I made my sources clear :)

Remember: To each his own. I am just stating what I've researched.

1- It is not natural. Totally fair, but well, neither are surgeries, neither are the toxins and chemicals and pesticides that we are ingesting these days.  Removing a gallbladder and,  moreso, without explaining to patients what the function of a gallbladder is, is also not "natural".  Just because the removal of a gallbladder  or appendix are totally normal surgeries these days does not mean they are natural either. 

2- It makes the muscles down there lazy and people rely on the procedure to go to the bathroom.  I know from experience that this is not true as for the first time since toddlerhood, I'm actually going everyday!  I also know 8 people that have gotten this procedure done and all can attest that this statement is false.

3- You lose probiotics (good bacteria) during the procedure. Yes, this is absolutely true.  This is like how chemotherapy kills your bad cells, as well as your good.  Your good and bad bacteria get cleansed out during the procedure.  This is why it's particularly important to take acidophilis (pill or liquid form) for  at least 2 days after.  However, most of us, as adults, should be taking acidophilis (good bacteria) everyday anyway.  Even both my kids take it.

Now, in regards to insurance...I've actually been able to get 90% covered through extended insurance.  So far, Canada rocks with that.  In the US it's not covered.  I believe that anything preventative (aside from a yearly physical exam once a year) is not covered in the US and people get treated for pre-existing conditions, for the most part.  Again, you go in with a stuffy nose, that is what they look at.  So dumb and so controversial, I'm not going to get into it.  

Not to mention, if you do feel something is wrong, you need to jump through hoops to get the proper tests covered by insurance for it (speaking from my mom's experience).  At the end of the day, prevention is the key word.  I know people that were put on diabetes medicine before they got diabetes "because it runs in their family".  How is that right? Also, how many people out there are on crazy strong acne medicine that causes depression, infertility, etc.  My only thoughts on this is look to the internal cleansing first...before reaching for that prescription. Most of us don't want to change our diets and lifestyles (trust me, I'm one of them)...it's a tough call.

Medicine costs more later when you really, really need it, so why not "do what we can" now. without the use of prescription meds...At the end of the day, this is the reason I'm so open to alternative medicine, as well as organic foods.  Do what we can, right?

Okay...moving on to the next thing...til next time!

Diwali

 

Mommy & Julian working on the Rangoli

I'm going to take a bit of a break from all the poop talk...

This weekend, Vancouver had many celebrations for the Indian holiday of Diwali. Diwali is popularly known as the festival of lights, which is a five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. Diwali is the most important festival of the year for Hindus.  

We are lucky enough to live right across the street from the Roundhouse Community Centre, which hosts the largest celebration in downtown Vancouver.  Yesterday, we witnessed some very talented Bhangra dancers, Mendhi artists, painters, sari designers and, of course, an assortment of Northern & Southern Indian snacks.  It was so great to see people of all types of ethnic backgrounds enjoy the event.

Above, Julian and I were contributing to making the Rangoli, which is a traditional folk art in India, often using symbols to signify different things.  This Rangoli above is made out of dyed rice!!  Pretty amazing, huh?

Not for the faint-hearted...

If you have an aversion to poop, I would skip reading this...:)  Also, please do not read if you feel you'll get so grossed out and then later give me crap about it! :)

Many of you have asked me to write about my colonic irrigation journey.  I don't blame you, it's a  fascinating topic, whether you want to admit it to me or not.  This is going to be information overload, but it's so important to share and document.  I want to be clear that this is not about weight loss, it's about your overall health.

Also, my colon is far from being at the state of where it should be and my diet could use major help too.  For me, it's just good to be aware.  It helps you become aware of your body and its energy too.


Facts
- 80% of your energy goes towards digestion.  If you have a clean colon, this energy can be better distributed to your blood, glands, brain, motor functions, etc.
- Our colon houses up to 25 lbs. of waste.  That's right folks, you read it right.
- Health begins in the colon.  Toxins are absorbed by the colon, so this is where diseases start, if our waste is not properly eliminated.
- We are supposed to have 2-3 bowel movements a day.  It has become the norm in our society to go once every 2-3 days.  In fact, the definition of constipation has recently been changed by doctors that you are not considered constipated until you have reached 4 days.  WHAT??
- Bad breath and acne are often a sign of an unhealthy colon.


Okay, so on to the procedure and my experience...Picture a lasagna pan after a huge dinner with the family.  No one ever wants to wash it out.  All that build up can be a pain in the ass to scrub off and often times, you need a Brillo Pad to get that bad boy cleaned.  So what do you do?  Let it soak...That pan is your colon after how many years of build up...a colonic is the "soaking" to eventually (after a series of treatments) get that build up out of your body.


Here is another scenario for those of you that are parents.  You know the baby's first poop?  The meconium?  THAT is what has stuck to the sides of our colons after so many years.  The reason the baby has that first poop like that is because that was the build up from the 9 months he/she was in the womb.  Do you remember how hard it was to clean that first changing?  


Colonic Irrigation by definition is also known as hydrotherapy of the colon, high colonic, entero-lavage, or simply colonic. It is the process of cleansing the colon by passing several gallons of water through it with the use of special equipment. It is similar to an enema but treats the whole colon, not just the lower bowel. This has the effect of flushing out impacted fecal matter, toxins, mucous, and even parasites, that often build up over the passage of time. It is a procedure that should only be undertaken by a qualified practitioner.  


Here is a picture to help you out.  Usually, an enema only clears out the Descending Colon, but this procedure irrigates the entire thing. 

Most of our colons are disfugured because the waste that remains (up to 25 lbs) build up pockets.

Moving on, this is why our poop is in all sorts of shapes and sizes when we "release".  :) Here is a video from the man who invented the colonoscopy procedure.  Warning:  The video is a bit dry, but does show live footage of colons from individuals with breast cancer, gout, etc.  You can see the difference between their colon and a healthy one.  Click here for your viewing pleasure.

Okay, my brain is totally dead from writing this.  I think I covered most of what I've learned.  Here are some tidbits from my personal experience.

- On my 1st colonic, I got rid of 3-4 lbs of waste.

- On my 3rd colonic, I had 3 feet of waste come out and on my 4th colonic, I had more!

- I saw waste that included yeast, candida (these are the organisms that are "carb eaters" which are the reason we crave carbs.  They are VERY hard to kill as you need to go off carbs for weeks), acid and a bunch of other fun things.

- On my 4th colonic, I saw undigested food, which means I was making major progress and actually cleaning a bit of my small intestine.

- I've also done 3 colonics with a "coffee soak", which goes right through the Portal Vein directly connecting the colon to the liver.  This automatically cleans your liver which makes the toxins from the bile go directly through you colon and out.  I found this to be extremely successful as I could feel the acidity of the bile (I thought the coffee was actually hot but found out later it was the acidity I was feeling!).  Also, the bile toxins is what actually goes into your gallbladder making gallstones, which are actually cholesterol crystals!! Our gallbladders hold 500-2000 of these stones!  I have high cholesterol so this is particularly insane to me.  The second I am done nursing, I'm going to do the gallbladder cleanse, so I'll let you know how it goes.

 Gallstones in Gallbladder!

If you decide to do a colonic irrigation, I recommend doing a juice or raw food diet for 2-3 days prior to your FIRST one.  Again, picture the lasagna pan, the first couple appointments are to "soak" and loosen up your build up from however many years of life you've lived.  I heard if you do a raw food diet for 6 weeks with a colonic once a week, you can lose 25-30 lbs in a healthy way.  I am not doing this because I need my cooked food and I'm nursing.

Okay, my brain is fried from this post.  Feel free to chat with me about this and I could recommend a place in NYC that my sister has tried.  There are also places in Philly that do this, which I've found online for a friend, but I don't know anyone that has tried it yet.  Good luck!

Addition (2 hours later) - I forgot to mention some pretty cool things that the people administering my procedure have seen come through the observation tube.
* Barbie shoe
* Comic strip from a bazooka wrapper
* Meat from a vegetarian of 8 years
* Clam, which my sis saw yesterday and she hasn't had clams since Sept.  Chew your food, girl!

East Meets West

I've been learning a lot about Eastern and holistic medicine and practices lately.  Melvin thinks I'm absolutely nuts; however, a lot of the beliefs and ways just "make sense".  Also, Eastern Medicine is at least 2,000 years old, so I don't think we Westerners have a right to judge if it's been working for that long already...

Vancouver is busting at the seams with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic clinics, as well as Naturopathic Doctors.  We've been to a couple of places and here are some things I've noticed and learned.

1. The practitioner always makes it a point to learn about not just you, but your parents, your grandparents, your history, what you eat, what you poop, lifestyle, etc.  They treat you as a whole, not just the stuffy nose you came in with on that day.  This is HUGE, from my point of view.  It means they are trying to get to the root of the problem and not just giving you antibiotics for your "symptom". 
2. Your body's energy and emotional stability affects your organs and health in more ways than you think.  Stress is a major killer, which we all know, right?  However, from what I've learned recently, it's worse than we could have ever imagined.  This is why acupuncture and acupressure is so good for you as it releases blocked energy (qi) within your body.
3. Cupping is a wonderful method to release "knots" in your neck, shoulders or wherever.  It also releases stagnant blood.
4. 90% of your health is a reflection of your colon's health.  Notice how pediatricians ask how a baby poops?  They are concerned about the consistency, color, frequency, etc.  Well, as an adult, when was the last time a doctor asked about your poop?  Guess what? It is just, if not more, important now!!
5. 80% of our body's energy is spent on digestion.  Again, goes back to the colon...if our colon is clean and healthy, this energy can be used by our brains, blood flow, glands, etc. and our energy will be better distributed.  When a baby or child is sick, don't force them to eat!!  This is what my parents, grandparents, etc would always do, but it makes things worse!  Their little bodies need all the energy they can get to HEAL - lots of fluids and don't force solids on them!
6. Vitamin D deficiency is a MAJOR problem these days, especially during cloudy winters in places like Vancouver.  Make sure you are getting at least 1000-2000 IUs of Vitamin D daily.  To give you an example, baby supplements are usually only 400 IUs, which is not enough, especially for breastfed babies.  Vitamin D can help boost immune systems (making bodies stronger against allergies) and create good bone structure.  I recently discovered Julian is bow legged and our Naturopath is boosting his Vitamin D to help with this.  We are also going to get it checked out structurally today, but hopefully it helps!
7. I wondered why it was quite hard to find a naturopathic doctor in NY and apparently there are all these licensing laws that make it way too hard to open a clinic there, which is a shame.  300 naturopathic doctors graduate in British Columbia alone each year.   
8. I would add more but I think Julian is about to run over his little sister right now!!!

Conclusion:  Get your colons cleaned!  Yes, I have my 4th colonic irrigation appointment tomorrow night.  I will blog about the benefits of this and my experience later, but all joking aside, it is totally important for your body to have a clean colon.  Food for thought...

Happy Halloween! And the winner is...

Kristen!  Congratulations (Julian picked the name out of a hat today) and a coupon voucher will be sent to you shortly!  Let me know what you end up buying :)

Thanks to those that submitted a comment and, of course, thank you for reading!  I have a ton of topics to write about this week, just sorting them through my mind.

For now, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

$35 GIVEAWAY! Comment on this entry for a chance to win!

Are you in need of housewares, baby items, apparel, accessories or are in the mood to shop online? Well, I am hosting my very first giveaway.  It is with CSN Stores, which features 200+ online stores, offering a great online shopping experience. Place a comment on this entry to be included in a drawing to win $35!  Have you bought a new home and need a dining room table? Or are you expecting, have had or need a baby shower gift - perhaps a video monitor?

Here are some of my favorite items from their websites:

Le Creuset is having a close-out sale!

7A.M. Enfant - must've missed this when I registered for the kids!

Over 2,500 bathroom sink faucets to choose from!

If you would like to win a 35 dollar gift certificate that is good for any of those 200+ online stores, then all you have to do is comment on this post!  Just be sure to include your email address so I have a way to get a hold of you if you're the winner.  I will choose a winner next Monday (November 1st).  Until then, good luck!

Note: This contest is limited to the United States and Canada.

Saturday Routine

We're still unpacking and recovering from our 2-week trip to NY, but slowly and surely, we're getting back into the daily grind.  Today was a routine Saturday - Melvin took Julian to soccer practice, while I stayed at home.  Amélie napped and I worked on doing the umpteenth load of laundry, updating pictures and restocked the refrigerator with meals.  On our lunch menu today - Fried Manchego Cheese and Tomato Soup.

This Saturday is a little different in the fact that I am getting certified in Kids Yoga, so I have my second class this afternoon.  I had my first of three classes yesterday and not sure that it's my cup of tea, but I'm learning some handy tricks for Julian in the process.

Hey Friend, take your time

Cool that fire in your mind

Patience, Patience

Keeps you cool

Helps you follow

The Golden Rule!

Patience, Patience

Namaste

I taught my first class last night at a studio I rented from Treloar Physiotherapy and 6 people attended!  It was great.  I was feeling tired and under the weather because Amelie has been teething and has a virus that has been keeping me on my toes.  In any case, I mustered all the energy I had and taught my butt off.  


It felt great.  Hopefully people will come back next week!


People often wonder why a teacher ends a yoga class with Namaste.  It has several meetings and could be interpreted as simply a salutation, as well, but it also means: I see the higher self in you.


We say this because in the spiritual path, the aim is to reach "realization" and awareness of your higher self, leaving your "small" selves behind.

First Class

Teaching my first class tonight!  I am literally CRAPPING IN MY PANTS.


Breathe....

Nuevo Latino

We went to Cobre Restaurant last night and it was really good food....Latino?  Not so much.  There were certainly Latin flavors in there.  We ordered four tapas (Sablefish, Sea Prawns, Flat Iron Steak and finally, the Boar Belly), plus dessert, and they were really flavorful and the presentation was beautiful.  We would certainly return, but our search for an authentic Latin restaurant lives on.  


Coleen: Is the chef of Latin descent?
Server: No, believe it or not, he is Caucasian, born and bred Vancouver, and is of Scottish descent.
Coleen: Hmm, ohhh-kay.


Server: Our desserts this evening are a Dulce de Leche with whole, evaporated and condensed milks and a Tres Leches cake with coconut.
Coleen: Oh, cool, does the Tres Leches have the three milks too?  
Server: No 
Coleen: Hmm, ohhh-kay.
(server leaves)
Coleen: I am so confused.
Melvin: Yeah, I don't think she knows what tres leches means. Let's just try it.
Coleen: I don't understand how the first dessert has three milks but Tres Leches doesn't.
(server returns)
Server: Hi, I just wanted to let you know that there is, in fact, dairy in the Tres Leches dessert.
Coleen: Okay, thanks (in my head, I'm like WTF?).  We'll try that.


As I said, restaurant was really special.  Great food and good Latin flavor fix.  We just thought the chef being Scottish and Tres Leches not having 3 milks was rather funny!

Jewish Wedding

Melvin wearing his Yarmulke

I went to my second Jewish wedding last night and had a great time once again.  I grew up going to Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, so I'm not completely ignorant, but this was my 2nd wedding at a temple, with a reception following in the next room.  The Hava Nigila is my favorite part, by far.

These facilities are amazing because when you enter the cocktail hour room or dinner room after the ceremony, you are transported to what could very easily be a ballroom at a hotel or at a specialized venue.  You would have no idea you're at a temple.  I'm not sure if it's the norm to have an insane amount of food during cocktail hour either, but it was the same both times.  Pretty much passed hors d'oeuvres and 10 stations, consisting of fish n chips, sliders, hot dog stand, ceviche, veal milanese, pasta station, caviar, ribs & mashed potatoes, duck and tuna tataki.  Filipinos always make sure they have more than enough food, but I can honestly say last night had us beat a million times over.  Dessert consisted of a plated Milky Way dessert, build your own sundae, cupcake and milkshake carts, PLUS passed cookies, red velvet cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit tarts, cream puffs and more brought to each table by the servers.  I couldn't even look after awhile.

It was a great night with good friends,great food and Hava Nigila.  Mazel Tov to Jodie & Mike!

Now I'm packing for our flight to Vancouver with one extra bag full of kids clothes and 10 more pounds.  It's been real, New York...

TV

I can't pinpoint what it is, but the TV programming is so different in NY vs. Vancouver.  We get Seattle news and some channels, but it's still different.  There are just some things I've seen this week that we now know we would not see in Vancouver...for example, Chileans going crazy and dancing in traditional garb at some bar in NYC when the miners were freed.

Cheating Miner

Funny


Cheating Miner

Home (?)

It is so weird being back home.  From the moment we stepped off the airplane in Newark Airport (which used to be my second home), my stress level went up slightly.  It was a stressful time before leaving for Vancouver, so I'm working on disassociating that feeling with the location.  

Anyway, it has been really great seeing old faces! We had a blast with our college friends in Philly, forgetting how good a greasy cheesesteak is at 1:00am.  Melvin went out with the guys on Friday night and I with the gals on Saturday night. Julian had a few play dates, so all were very happy.  

Our restaurant of choice on Saturday was Koozeedoo, which features Portuguese fare in the Northern Liberties neighborhood.  Having been to Portugal  twice (Lisbon & Sintra), it definitely brought me back.  The food was excellent and is shared family style, so we dined on Duck with Baked Rice (excellent-good call by my friend Beverly), Seafood Feijoada (tasty, but I prefer Brazilian Feijoada - if you are ever in Brazil there is a huge Feijoada buffet at the Sofitel Hotel Rio de Janeiro every Saturday that is to die for), Potato Croquettes (also tasty, but the Spaniards do it better), Steak with Fried Potatoes & Fried Egg (excellent - so glad we got 2 orders of this!), Shrimp with Hot Sauce (yummy, yum, yum and it had major kick) and finally, Bread Soup with Mushrooms, Cheese & Poached Egg (could've done without...gimme the mushrooms and hold everything else).  For dessert, I got the traditional egg custard, which was just good.  I was really hoping for a traditional Pasteis de Nata, but I guess there's nothing like the original in Lisbon.  If you ever find yourself in Lisbon, make your way to Antiga Confeitaria de Belem, which is located by the waterfront in Belem.  They let you take those bad boys on the airplane, so I brought back a dozen (not to share) and it was just heaven.  There is also a place in Newark, NJ (Teixeira Bakery) that sells them and they are a good fix, since Lisbon is not a hop, skip, jump away. 

Last night, we went to Ephendi with our Rockland friends and had a wonderful time. Ephendi (New City, NY) is the sister restaurant of Turkois Grille (Airmont, NY) and features Turkish cuisine, which is amazing. We each had our own plate and I have to say that this place does not have a bad dish on the menu.  The food is so fresh, whether it's the fish, kebobs (lamb, chicken, etc) or appetizers.  The main dishes are served with a bulgar pilaf in tomato sauce that is just to die for.  It was definitely a great night with good food and friends.

Okay, must get ready for the day.  We have been shopping like crazy because sales tax in Vancouver is 12%, so need to stock up on kids clothes while we are here.  We also got the kids' Halloween costumes - Thomas the Train for Julian and a Hot Pink Ladybug for the little one. I'm going to need a vacation from this vacation for sure.

Traveling with the kids...

Portable DVD Player - Check
3 DVDs - Check
Library Books - Check
Hootie Hider - Check
Dry Ice & Breastmilk - Check
Car Seat - Check
Passports - Check

Prana (energy or life force - "essence")

Yesterday, during our graduation potluck, we presented our teacher with a couple plants for the new Prana Centre and as a gift from us, since we were the first group to graduate from the new location. 

Anyway, my classmate was in charge of the gift and card (guess who organized the potluck and everyone's duties?  hehe) .  She printed up this poem that she has been carrying around with her for a couple years now.  We read it aloud and our teacher was like, "who wrote that?" and my friend said she didn't know and she came across it online years ago.  Well, it turns out my teacher wrote it back in 2007!!  How weird, right?


I wanted to document it on my blog and share with anyone interested.


Prana Bridge
..is a suspended bridge that connects the muddy land of the small-self with the fertile land of the higher-self.  When the bridge sways from side to side in the storms of the mind, it is impossible to walk on it and reach the higher-self.  In extreme storms, you may continuously fall from the bridge into the ocean of ignorance.


When the bridge is still, you arrive safely on the other side to the island of realization.  The moment you step on the land of realization, the bridge disappears and with it the ocean, the storm, the mind and the ignorance...


...Relax your shoulders and Breathe...


-shakti mhi

Graduation

My graduation from the yoga teacher training is today.  I'm so sad it's over, but am trying to live in the moment and be ready for whatever comes my way.  We have our "ritual" today at 3:00pm and then family are welcome to join us in the potluck.  It should be super fun for my classmates to see the kids and see why I was pumping diligently twice a day to feed sweet Amélie . 


Time to start packing for our trip back to NY...

Déjà vu

My yoga teacher training at Prana Yoga College is coming to an end tomorrow (waaah!) and I got together with some friends I've made to "cram".  We have to each teach about 10 postures tomorrow, plus a written exam.  I felt like I was back at Drexel again cramming for a test (not) - haha.  I remember those days at the library, where Melvin really wanted to study and I looked around doing everything in my power to not study. 


Anyway, I'm as prepared as I'll ever be.  I'll be teaching the following flow tomorrow:


Up to all 4s, downward facing dog, pigeon (right leg and mirroring to class), downward facing dog, child's pose, rag doll up to sitting, camel, child's pose, downward facing dog, pigeon (left leg and mirroring to class), downward facing dog, child's pose


WISH ME LUCK!!

Bliss

Happiness is one of those things that many are always searching for.  What will make one happy?  Love? Success? Money? Vacation?  


One of the things I learned in my yoga teacher training course (it's almost over, so these entries some of you may find annoying will eventually come to an end!) is that people shouldn't look for happiness or try to achieve happiness.  With happiness, there is also unhappiness.


Happiness often relies on circumstance:
I can't wait until I graduate college...
I can't wait until I get married...
I can't wait until I go on vacation...
I can't wait to become a millionaire...
I can't wait to retire...


What you should strive for is...BLISS.  Bliss is the internal state of being that does not rely on circumstance.  It is a place where you are at ease no matter the situation in your life.  What is the opposite of bliss?  The dictionary says "misery", but when we had a discussion in my class today, I totally get it and I totally believe that once you are in a state of bliss, that's it. No one and nothing can take that away from you, except yourself.

Question of the Day

...Are you living life or just existing?


For the first time in my life, I can honestly say I am no longer living for the weekend or for my next vacation...Monday is no longer a dreaded day.


At the ripe age of 30 (almost 31 - gulp), I am, without a doubt, living life!!

Canucks vs. Mighty Ducks

Last night, we went to our first Canadian hockey game.  Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Might Ducks...Vancouver won 4-1.  The hockey rink where the Olympic hiockey games were held is a 10 minute walk from our apartment (pretty much a 1 minute drive).  Well, it was a pre-season game and we figured it'd be pretty empty, so we'll just drive, so we don't have to walk back so late.  Uh, can you say traffic?


We drove BACK to our apartment, parked in the garage and decided to walk.  I guess hockey really IS a big deal here!  Sheesh.  This pre-season game was packed!


I got tickets for Melvin's birthday - club seats, row 10.  It was pretty cool.  Lot of fights!


Speaking of birthdays, we went to a kids birthday party today.  We had some amazing Persian food.  The basmati rice had this herb called Zaresh (snuck into Canada from Iran!) and it was a perfect complement to lamb kebabs and marinated chicken fresh off the grill.  YUM!


Everyone was discussing how the rain "is just beginning"....we are totally nervous about this winter!  I hope the mild temperatures compensate for everything...fingers crossed!

Interesting Story

Sorry for slacking on the blog.  It's been crazy busy and I'm getting ready for my final teachings and exam and then "graduation" from my teacher training program (so so sad it is ending), as well as mentally preparing myself for our trip back to NY on Oct. 5th.


I did want to quickly share this story my yoga teacher told us.


One day, she and another instructor were sitting at a cafe in Yaletown.  They were discussing food (don't know specifics) when a truck driver at the next table interrupted them and said, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help listen to your conversation.  I just wanted to add that you both don't have any idea how bad it REALLY is."  He was taking a break from delivering bananas to Urban Fare, the supermarket that is across the street from our apartment.


It turns out this truck driver drives bananas from the States to Canada.  That is his job - banana driver.  Anyway, he explained to them that whenever bananas leave the U.S. to be exported, they have to be green.  They only bring over green bananas to Canada.  When he reaches the border crossing, he has to call the supermarkets in Vancouver - Safeway, Urban Fare, Choices, etc. to see how their supplies are doing.  So, if Safeway has a ton of bananas left, they say to bring the green ones in, as is.  However, if Safeway is running low on yellow/ripened bananas they need them ASAP.  So you know what this guy does?  He presses a button on the truck, which emits gas to the bananas, so that by the time they reach the respective supermarket, they are yellow.  The border is only 45 minutes away to downtown.  


That, my friends, is the reason to go for organic produce whenever possible.

Happy Birthday!

...to my hubby!

Hope you enjoyed your day, even though you had to work.  Love ya!

Season in Review

Today is the last day of the summer.  When we arrived in Vancouver, it was the first day of summer, so we've been here an entire season already.  It has really flown by!!

Season in Review
The summer in Vancouver is, by far, spectacular.  I will do a review of every season, but if I were to make a recommendation, I would say: come visit us in the summer!   We welcome you during all seasons; however, I can only speak intelligently about the summer so far.  Water activities are bountiful, mornings/evenings are comfortable, mountains are green and lush and the city is best seen on foot.  Summer fruits, like berries (3rd largest producer of blueberries in the world) are everywhere!  Farmer's markets, in practically every town, are in effect every week.   People dine on fresh coho salmon on restaurant patios all around town.  Rainy days are scarce in the summer (at least this year), but when it does rain, there is at least 4-5 hours of beautiful sunshine to be outdoors.  Also, I have not minded wearing my rain jacket and my wonderful Michael Kors rain boots.

As we move into the fall, I wonder how the rest of the year will be.  I still can't believe we are here.

Grouse Grind - Part Deux

Vrksasana - Tree Pose

Today, we hiked up Grouse Mountain's Grouse Grind during the kids' nap.  I thought that we could get back in time for Amélie's next feeding, but no such luck.

I came with the "I got this" attitude, so the first 1/4 was fine.  Then, I went into "oh shit" mode when I realized we'd only gone 1/4 of the way up Grouse Mountain.  Also, I saw a couple of my yoga peeps coming down as they couldn't make it up the mountain, so then I was a bit discouraged.

Well, long story short, we made it up, but I didn't beat Melvin's time - we did it in 1 hour and 27 minutes though.  I also got my Lululemon gear all dirtied up, which was unfortunate.  Note to self: no need to wear leg warmers just to look cute.  I decided to do the Tree Pose and practice oneness with the trees about 3/4 of the way up.    

It was a good time.  

To summarize for anyone planning to do the Grind anytime soon, here's my take on it:

1/4 - the longest trail, zig zags and is less steep

1/2 - getting a bit steeper and where most people lose hope

3/4 - point of no return and straight up rock climbing, there are ropes to help people along

last 1/4 - steepest and the point where people fear leg cramps

Full Circle

It's funny how some things in life come to a full circle.  There will be a huge Yoga Convention in Vancouver the weekend of October 1st, which I don't plan on attending as that is my "graduation" weekend for the 200-hr teacher training program.  In any case, I was browsing through the catalog just to see what is being featured when I came across a name and face that looked so very familiar.

One of my old yoga and pilates teachers from Philadelphia is teaching a couple workshops at the convention!  I find this to be so strange as she was one of the reasons I became interested in yoga.  Her teaching was so distinct that I remember her 11 years later.  I just recently learned how to teach Anuloma Viloma, (a fairly complex alternate nostril breathing exercise) and she is the only teacher that has ever taught it in a class that I've been to.  I discovered her specialty is the Prana Flow Hatha Yoga that I am learning now.  Pretty crazy how things in the past turn up like that.

The same thing has happened with work.  One of my old contractors that I used to hire for meetings emailed me on Sunday.  It turns out she and her husband live in Vancouver for part of the year and have a business here.  She heard through the industry grapevine that I moved here and wants to see if I'm interested in working with them.  Anyway, I'm meeting with her on Sunday to find out more details, so we will see, but again, very weird how things like that happen in life.

Be nice to your co-workers.  You never know when one might end up being your boss.

Organics

I knew this would be an eventual entry as I have pretty strong feelings about it...

Time Magazine just had an article about Organic Food in a recent issue and the beginning annoyed me a bit, but then it got better, but just wanted mention a couple points.

Before I start, I completely agree that  food choices are totally a lifestyle choice.  It's just really important to know the facts.

The main reason to eat organic food is NOT because the food is supposed to "taste better" or "have more vitamins".  I think that is a common misconception people have.  Food tasting better may be a "side effect"; however, the more important reason is that it is chemical, pesticide and (whatever else) free food.  Also, it's better for the planet.  Up to 10 million tons of chemical fertilizer per year are poured onto fields to cultivate corn alone - scary!  The toxic runoffs are poisoning the Gulf of Mexico.  Beef  raised in industrial conditions are dosed with antibiotics and growth boosting hormones, leaving chemical residues in meat and milk.  Melvin recently asked my why I bought organic butter.  Um, well, what do you think butter is made of?

Also, the fact that you can find 'out of season' foods available in all seasons means that crops must be grown in one place and are flown all over the world to those demanding year-round strawberries, plums, etc.  This leaves a major carbon footprint on our Earth.  I was very surprised to find clementines available in the summer last year.  They used to only be available in November (and maybe October) when I was growing up.

Some other misconceptions:

"All-Natural" does not equal pesticide or antibiotic/hormone free.  It is just like "low-fat" means it is 3 grams OR LESS fat than a regular product.

"Farmer's Market" does not equal organic.  It is nice to support local farmers though.

"Grass-Fed" does not mean the animal was able to graze grass through their lifetime.  If you are interested in eating "free" animals, you want to look for "Grass-Finished" meats.

"Free Range" is a very abused term in the market. It simply indicates that chicken are not in cages, but doesn't mean they are outside of the "building".  Those that saw Food, Inc. know what I'm talking about.

I could go on, but I won't.  I don't eat ALL organic, but try as best as we can for most of our foods cooked at home.  It is just way too hard to know the source of the foods served at restaurants.  I have to say the main reason is for our kids (Julian eats better than we do).  As a parent, there is just that need to protect them from everything...including pesticides.

Food for Thought

Here are some of my favorite ideas, findings and quotes from my yoga teacher training so far.  I just randomly listed it but would love to talk more in depth about this stuff to whomever is interested in a deep conversation.

We can perceive only from what we know (i.e. the world is flat)...and what we know creates our reality (i.e. if you ask a child to draw a monster, they will only draw body parts that they know but how they perceive a monster to look - like a monster with one eye).


There are no muscles whatsoever in our fingers & toes...so I guess I really DO have fat fingers!

Tantric Yoga - did you know this yoga practice stops women from getting their period and teaches men to make love without ejaculating??  Crazy stuff, huh?  Let's see if Melvin will let me pay to take this workshop.  LOL

Lotus Flower - it is the symbolic flower of yoga.  The roots of a lotus flower are in the mud and it blossoms above water.

Quote: Some bamboo are short and some are tall. What do you think this means?

Quote: We search for unconditional love because we don't love ourselves.


Quote: Freedom is letting go of the small self.


Quote: Realization is so hard to grasp because our mind is so complicated.


Quote: Suffering is a result of the perceptions of the mind.  When we identify ourselves with something lesser than us, suffering arises. (For example, our name, our gender, our nationality, etc)  This is one of my favorites and it is such an interesting concept.

Finally, Yoga is NOT a practice of self-improvement...it is about radical self transformation.  The essence of what you are, not form.


One of the most important things I've learned during my course thus far is that yoga is NOT a workout.  It is about the practice of "stillness" and "finding your inner bliss".  Again, the biggest challenge that most people have, including myself, is being still and being in the present.

Toons for Toddlers

We took Julian to his very first movie today.  Canada has this program called "Toons for Toddlers" where they have specific showings targeting his age.  Anyway, the movie was called "Thomas & Friends: Misty Island Rescue" and some of the things they do to keep it toddler friendly are:

- Keep the lights dimmed so kids and parents can get to the washroom
- Have space available for strollers at the front and back of the theater
- Keep the sound lower so not to scare the kids
- Keep movies under 60 minutes long to avoid restlessness

It was really great and he loved it.  Melvin and I took full advantage and both took naps, during the movie, after we all shared a large popcorn.

Spirituality

...has been a huge topic in my yoga teacher training classes, particularly the "meaning" of it - to you, to others, to everyone.  Deep stuff, my brain hurts.


The most magical and spiritual place I have ever experienced is Bali.  Tonight, we watched a movie (book turned movie) called Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I knew there was no way I'd enjoy the movie more than the book. The concepts and ideas are way too deep to be portrayed visually.  Instead, the reason we chose to watch it was to be reminded of the beautiful landscapes, glistening water, humble people, and peaceful island called Bali, within Indonesia, that is often misinterpreted because of its location. It was our honeymoon spot and best vacation ever (R & R - you are going to LOVE it).  Of the 14,000 islands called Indonesia, it is probably the island where its people have the most tolerance.  You'd have to have that tolerance to exude the essence of spirituality the way it does.


Spirituality: Elevating ourselves above our evolutionary roles of animals serving evolutionary functions. 


Food for Thought: Are our choices "authentic" or a result of our programming?

Mindfulness

I've been learning a ton at my yoga teacher training classes.  It is such a wonderful experience for me and my teacher is one of those worldly, all-knowing (even though there's no such thing) people.  Today was my fourth day and I feel like I could write a book about some of the topics that have come up in class, but I'll spare you.

Here are some things I've walked away with thus far.

Mindfulness - Shakti (my teacher) says it's not healthy to be TOO pure.  For example, she is okay with smoking as long as it's "mindful" smoking....drop everything, pick up that cigarette, breathe, enjoy and be mindful of the moment (don't smoke while walking, eating, driving, pooping, etc or else it'll just be a habit).  I discovered that I do not know how to "mindfully gamble" after I lost $200 at the casino last night.  Whoops.

Running Kills Your Body - We've been covering a ton of anatomy and I realized how much training for a marathon a few years ago killed my joints, tendons, spine, internal organs, etc.  Scary.

Yoga Philosophy - I could write a book about our lesson this afternoon, but I learned that everything that we do has not changed from the ice age.  We just do things differently.  This could be a very interesting discussion over wine and cheese another time.

Gender Matters -  men and women are all wired so differently - again reference to the ice age.  Women, don't try to change your husbands.  It ain't gonna work!

Quantum Physics and Yoga are very much the same - don't even ask, I'd have to refer to my notes

I could go on and on but it's only the 4th day.  Today, I also taught my first asana to a class of 10 people.  It was completely invigorating and I loved it - more than I thought I would.