Real Men Do Yoga

I saw this shirt and it got me thinking… long ago there was a common misconception about yoga in a man’s eyes. The mere thought of stepping into a yoga class would mean a class full of women dressed in lululemon gear bending into human pretzels, while you’re struggling to touch your toes. Not anymore guys. Yoga has spread across the globe worldwide benefiting the sick, elderly, overweight and you. Yes you with the back pain, lack of energy and flexibility.
Yoga conforms to the person. Your teacher will work with you to find your yoga at your own pace. There are modifications for each pose and you are never meant to feel out of place. You start where you are and work with the body you have. An open mind and an intention to better your health is all you need to start.

Yes, yoga links the mind and body, a concept that sounds a little bogus until you actually do it. But just as important, yoga boosts energy and speeds up your body’s recovery. It can even help with back pain. Yoga works the entire body, providing a whole body workout that covers every muscle, joint, and organ. You work every system: cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular and endocrine!

Results take time. Yoga is about total body strength and seamlessly paring it with other passions. Golf, sex, travel, you name it.

Venturing into contortion territory is simple. Start by taking our Men’s Beginner’s class and work the poses learned into your daily life.

(T-shirt courtesy of Zazzle.com) link

Mighty Miso Soup Recipe

[intro] Food Focus: Sea Vegetables[/intro]
In traditional Chinese healing, sea vegetables correspond to the winter season and to the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder and reproductive organs. The strengthening, balancing and cleansing properties of sea vegetables are known to help these organs as well as the hair, skin and nails. Sea vegetables (or seaweeds) provide a variety of minerals and vitamins, including calcium, iron and iodine, and can help balance hormone and thyroid levels in the body. Eating too many processed foods or foods grown in mineral-depleted soil can result in a lack of minerals in the body, leading to cravings for salty or sugary foods. Adding sea vegetables to your diet can help balance your energy levels and alleviate cravings.
[intro]
Recipe of the Month: Mighty Miso Soup[/intro]
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes
Yield: 4-5 servings

Ingredients:
4-5 cups spring water
1-2 inch strip of wakame, rinsed and soaked 5 minutes
in 1 cup of water until softened
1-2 cups thinly sliced vegetables of your choice (see notes)
2-3 teaspoons barley miso
2 scallions, finely chopped

Directions:
1. Chop soaked wakame.
2. Discard soaking water or use on houseplants for a boost of minerals.
3. Place water and wakame in a soup pot and bring to a boil.
4. Add root vegetables first and simmer gently for 5 minutes or until tender.
5. Add leafy vegetables and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove about 1/2 cup of liquid from pot and dissolve miso into it. Return it to the pot.
7. Reduce heat to very low; do not boil or simmer miso broth.
8. Allow soup to cook 2-3 minutes.
9. Garnish with scallions and serve.

Note:
Any combination of vegetables can be used in miso soup. Here are some classic combinations:
• onion-daikon: cleansing
• onion-carrot-shiitake mushroom-kale: mildly sweet
• onion-winter squash-cabbage: great in wintertime
• leek-corn-broccoli: great in summertime

Variations:
• Add cooked grains at the start of making the soup. They will become nice and soft.
• Add a tablespoon of uncooked quinoa or millet at the beginning and let it cook with vegetables for 20 minutes.
• Add cubed tofu toward the end.
• Add bean sprouts toward the end.
• Season with 1/2 teaspoon ginger juice for an interesting twist.
• If using dry shiitake mushrooms, let them soak for 20 minutes, slice and add at the beginning.

(photo from the blog post of happyfoody)

Sweet Potatoes with Lime and Cilantro

Cravings for sweets can be greatly reduced by adding sweet vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, yams, parsnips, beets, squash, turnips and rutabagas to your daily diet. Sweet potatoes elevate blood sugar gently rather than with the jolt delivered by simple refined carbohydrates, so there’s no energy crash after you eat them. Much higher in nutrients than white potatoes and especially rich in vitamin A, sweet potatoes offer a creamy consistency that is satisfying and soothing. They are healing to the stomach, spleen, pancreas and reproductive organs and help to remove toxins from the body. They can increase the quantity of milk in lactating women and can lessen cramps and premenstrual symptoms. If you don’t have any sweet potatoes in your kitchen, go out and buy some (organic and local if possible) and make the recipe below.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30-40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

4 sweet potatoes
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
2-3 limes
butter or olive oil, salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Wash the sweet potatoes and bake them whole, in their skins, at 375 degrees until tender, about 40 minutes.
2. Wash and chop cilantro leaves.
3. When sweet potatoes are done, slit open the skin and place on serving plate. Season with salt and dots of butter or a sprinkle of oil, if you like, then squeeze fresh lime juice all over, and shower with cilantro leaves.

Photo credit: Jeanette’s Healthy Living. Link