It is amazing how the mind-body connection works. I have repeatedly found the minute I take good care of my mind-body and spirit through healthy eating, movement, strength training, yoga and the simple act of conscious breathing the universe joins in. It does it’s magic of allowing the things I need most to find their way into my life. Creating good habits around our personal wellness is not a selfish act. In fact, as we prioritize our personal wellness we become more present in giving to our family, our work and those around us in general. As you evaluate your priorities for 2012 consider giving the gift of “creating space” to yourself. The mind-body-spirit connection begins with creating space. It could be as simple as following Thich Nhat Hanh’s advice he shared this year in Washington DC at the Warner Theatre …“Breathe in, Breathe Out” consciously to check in with your mind, body and spirit as you bring in the new year.

What will you create space for in 2012?

NEW LOCATION: Beloved Yoga’s Reston Studio
• Experience and discuss ways to infuse mindfulness into your daily life towards nourishing your mind (food), body (yoga) and spirit (meditation).
• Gain an overview of one of the most popular evidence-based complementary modalities, yoga, that takes the whole person into consideration to manage stress.
• Have an experience of coordinating your breath and movement in a Kundalini Kriya (set of yoga exercises) designed to heal and restore the parasympathetic nervous system.

I will be leading students in a class that allows you to experience your breath consciously and use yoga, mantra, relaxation and meditation to help you cultivate mindfulness in all you do.


Plus, we will be serving my Signature Ginger Chai Tea

Take a Sunday afternoon for your own self-care and nourishment!

* stimulate   *   strengthen   *   synchronize

Date: Sunday July 24th, 2011
TIME: 2:00 pm to 4 pm
Registration: $25.00 pre-registration and $35 at the door
Location: Reston Studio
To Register: Call 703-860-Yoga (9642) or RSVP to:  belovedyoga@yahoo.com

From the symposium I realized there is a sea of change occurring in our society as we take control of our health and stress management. The medical field is beginning to integrate the best healing practices from many cultures. As I indulged in all the yoga books I could afford and inhaled the smells of paper and binding I met yoga teachers and researchers from all walks of life.

The conference blended intellectual discovery with a daily yoga practice, while leaving ample time for reflection in solitude or quiet groups. I shared a dormitory with ten other women where we did not speak after 10 p.m. to honor silence in the monastery tradition. I discovered nuggets of truth from lectures and conversations over fragrant vegetarian communal meals and fresh chai. The IAYT conference showed me that yoga offers the possibility of transforming each one of us.

Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa

The IAYT conference experience reflects the vision of Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa an international speaker, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of Research for the Kundalini Research Institute and Kripalu Center for Yoga. Join me for your own intellectual journey and experience of yoga on March 5, 2011 at The Science of Yoga seminar from 8 am to 12:30 pm in Arlington, Virginia as we welcome Dr. Khalsa to the Northern Virginia and Washington D,C, area.

Have your own yoga experience with the lovely Maryam in the morning and meet a yoga pioneer, Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa. Bring a friend, enjoy some tea and good food, do some yoga and learn how you can empower yourself. All levels welcome. Contact Anu to find out more information and register today.

Anu Kaur, MS, RD, - Emerging Dietetic Leader

“This is a relatively new award that is intended to honor a Virginia member who shows great promise in their early career to move our profession and association forward… [Anu Kaur] has been described as a pioneer of the “whole-person” approach in which she employs the values and practices of East and West philosophy to focus on the mind-body-spirit. A unique aspect of her business is “Tea Time With The Dietitian” in which she conducts home nutrition parties by sharing a cup of tea (preferably “chai”) with the host and guests while discussing nutrition topics in a casual, intimate setting… Anu’s mission is authentically connecting with people and guiding the process of mindful changes in daily living.”

I’ve been familiar with the VDA, but when I received this award it occurred to me that it is a great resource for my readers as well. If you want to find out how to get in touch with a dietitian in the state of Virginia and learn more about the profession, then the VDA is a great place to start.  Find people out there who can give you guidance on eating healthier and get some one-to-one time with a nutrition health professional.

I have felt very grateful for those readers and friends who given their words of encouragement.  Most of us have experienced how a few kind words can make our day despite how brief those interactions may be.  For that I am thankful and happy.  Psychology research indicates that gratitude does indeed deepen our happiness.

I am also happy to share that “A Nu Healthy You” blog made the “Top 50 Dietitian Blogs” list.  A special thanks to Suzane Smith and her group for taking the time to see what nutrition-related websites are out there for readers.  I encourage you to visit my colleagues’ websites and explore more of the nutrition world.

In addition to checking out those top 50-nutrition related websites you may enjoy these two delightful blogs:  5 Second Rule for recipes and general life thoughts and the oh so popular ZenHabits on simplifying your life and appreciating that “less can be more.” Cheryl Sternman and Leo Babauta are great writers.  I have been enjoying them over a cup of “chai” for months now and you may also.

If you are interested in the full effect and perhaps willing to make a cup of fresh Indian Chai then check out my chai recipe below and the simple but powerful gratitude exercise.  Positive Psychology teaches us the benefits are not in looking at the cup as “half full” or “half empty” but just appreciating the cup for what it is.  So here’s to your perfect cup!

Anu’s Ginger Chai Recipe (for 2 cups)

Ingredients

2 cups of filtered water

4 whole cardamom pods (2 cardamom pods can work well – I like this flavor heighten so I do 4)

2 whole cloves

1 teaspoon of fennel seeds

1/2 inch peeled fresh ginger root (you can keep the skin on for a more earthy taste, first timers may prefer the skin off)

1/2 fresh stick of cinnamon (this is a strong flavor – I typically don’t put any in but some people love it)

2 teaspoons loose black tea of your choice or two teabags of black tea (Lipton & Red Label work great)

1/3 cup organic 2% milk (or to taste – this amount may be on the creamier side for some)

Sugar to taste (if you are not sure where to start I have found most people like 1/2-1 tsp sugar)

Directions

1.  Pour filtered water into pot and turn heat to medium high.

2.  As the water starts to boil crush cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle (or roll over with rolling pin).  The black seeds inside the cardamom should come out and you crush them also.  You should be able to smell the delicate sweetness of cardamom after doing this.  If the inside cardamom seeds are brown that means they are really old (happens if they have been on the grocery shelf too long) and ideally you need to toss them out and try another batch of cardamom seeds.

3.  Add crushed cardamom seeds and pods (yes all of it), whole fennel seeds, whole cloves and peeled 1/2 inch of fresh ginger into water (the cinnamon stick would be added at this time if you choose to use it).  I personally do not recommend using powdered versions of any of these ingredients.  If you don’t have one of these ingredients then just forgo adding it.

4.  Once the water boils with these seasonings for 2-3 minutes (flavor really seeps in) then add black tea (loose or tea bags).

5.  Let the entire mixture boil with black tea for about 1-2 minutes (if you want more caffeine, i.e., like your tea darker) then boil a bit longer.

6.  Now add milk to taste and allow the mixture to boil one more time. This is key for good chai. (For me it is this smell of chai that reminds me of gratitude as I begin my new day).

7.  Use a tea strainer and pour tea in a cup.  Discard all the seasonings and tea (loose or tea bags).

8.  Add sugar to taste.

Play around with these chai ingredients.  Add all of them or take away one or two of them and create your perfect cup.

Once you have poured the chai into your favorite cup, do a two minute gratitude exercise, i.e., think about 2 to 3 things you appreciate in your life right now.  Moonlight jogs and the beautiful Mandeville flowers blooming on my deck have me grateful for living today.  Take a sip.  Savor.

What Are You Grateful For Today?

Enlightened Buddha

I start this blog with the hope of stimulating my mind and those of others about the benefits of merging East and West.   I recently reread Siddhartha by Herman Hesse after many years.   It was a beautiful reminder of how we strive to find our spirit and life purpose in our daily choices.  Health and wellness, in my mind, is the balance of your mind, body and spirit in daily living.

Stimulating your mind by learning and gaining knowledge as your foundation is crucial in making decisions for your overall wellness.

Strengthening your body and having the ability to function at an optimal level physically is equally important.  Nutrition knowledge alone will not suffice. Implementing your knowledge and actually exercising is key to creating and maintaining a healthy and stress free body.

Synchronizing those pieces with your personal energy and spirit is the final and perhaps most important piece of the entire package.  So with those goals in mind I begin my journey of sharing with others.  Welcome to a world of growth as we synchronize the best of East and West knowledge, philosophy, and heart.