Diary of a Yogic Transformation

Hello fitness fans!

Wow, what year it has been for me. I won't go into detail, but let's just keep it at "life changing." Anyways, I'm back up to speed and I'm excited to start posting my blogs again about fitness, health, nutrition, spirituality, and of course, my favorite, YOGA!!!

Speaking of which, I recently graduated from an intensive yoga teacher training. It was a profound experience filled with laughs, tears, dangling upside down, reiki attunement, and deep personal healing. It's amazing how much I learned about myself on my mat during this time. It gave me a deep gratitude for everything I have, a deeper acceptance of who I am, and the deepest peace I have ever felt in my entire life. In the mix of all of this, I started a Kundalini Yoga practice.

Now, Kundalini yogis, these are the weirdos of the yoga community. They're the ones chanting, dressing all in white (usually included by a little white hat or turban) and the style of yoga is completely different than hatha. Most of the movements are quick and forceful while incorporating a breath of power or fire.

My first real experience was with a lady named Joy. And although this Joy character seemed kinda spacey and well, picture the fortune telling lady from Harry Potter with the thick glasses, her name said it all. She was vibrating with joy and happiness. So while I was a bit cautious approaching this practice at first, I was intrigued by the radiating beauty and calm of the woman in front of me. I thought to myself, this woman has something figured out. She has a deep peace and contentment I've rarely seen in anyone. I want to have what she has. So, acknowledging this desire, I realized I would have to do what she does in order to attain it. So with the guidance of my best friend (who actually started a Kundalini practice a few months prior and had an amazing transformation) I began.

My current path of Kriyas (or postures)

http://www.3ho.org/kundalini-yoga/kundalini-yoga-yb/kriyas-meditations/featured-meditations/pdfs/TenBodies.pdf

So incorporating Kundalini into my daily practice, here are some things I've noticed happening:

I'm more present in the moment
I have more overwhelming moments of gratitude for everything I have
I feel more content with myself
When I speak, it feels more truthful and wise
I feel more emotionally balanced
More positive people are presenting themselves in my life
Everything seems to make more sense to me (well, except Math...I don't know if yoga can fix that though lol)

I am still making my journey on this path and I am learning as I go. I have found that like most things, experience is the greatest teacher here. With all the changes I've noticed so far though, I can see that this practice is profound.

And just in case you're wondering, I haven't adopted a turban or little white hat as one of my accessories...but I would maybe. It could be a strategic place to store a sandwich or car keys.

Your Trainer,

Erin Is Awesome

Detox Kale and Spinach Soup! It tastes good for real!

Due to popular demand I am sharing my ultimate detox smoothie recipe! This is the smoothie I used on my cleanse. In 2 weeks I lost over 2% body fat and about 5lbs. In three weeks (I know, I’m crazy), I lost just over 3% body fat. Unlike a juice fast, this recipe gives a lot o protein for muscle repair. Vegetables do have a certain percentage o f protein naturally, but for someone who hits the weights a few times a week, this smoothie gives more aminos for the muscles to repair.

1 cup kale
1 cup spinach
1-2 tbsp fresh cilantro
½ of a tomato
1 cucumber
½ an avocado
½ lime (squeeze the juice)
1 tbsp cumin
½ tbsp turmeric
½ tbsp curry
½ tbsp Himalayan crystal salt( or sea salt)
1-2 servings of unflavored plant fusion protein powder
2-3 cups of water


Combine all ingredients into a blender. I happen to have a vitamix so I can gently warm the smoothie so it’s more like a soup. If you don’t have one of these marvelous blenders, you can blend all the ingredients and then to warm it, pour it in a sauce pan and warm on low (rule to keep it raw is to be able to place your finger in the pan without having to remove it as a check) and keep the soup under 104 Fahrenheit.


I recommend drinking two of the above servings throughout the day while on the cleanse to make sure you get enough calories. You may also want to incorporate a salad for lunch or dinner if you need some crunch during your cleanse.
Good Luck. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me
Happy Cleansing!!!

Body Talk

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have been around many health professionals: Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, Naturopath, Nutritionists, Energy and Chakra Healers,
Yoga Instructors, Physical Therapists, and even neurobrain frequency specialists. If they were a pool of knowledge then I was a knowledge sponge, soaking up all the information I could. It's amazing how this knowledge has changed my perspective on fitness and health to make it more Well-Rounded (pun totally intended).

I am a holistic trainer meaning I consider many factors from food sensitivities, to emotional and physical traumas, to body movement patterns. It puts the whole picture in clear view for both me and my clients so we can strategize the most adaptive and successful approach for our goals. Unfortunately, most of the time before I meet these people, they have never heard or considered this approach before.

When people come to me, it's because they want change. I find that with this want of something: weight loss, corrective training, nutrition advice, and so forth, people will become impersonal with their problem...kind of zeroing in on it like it's the enemy and disconnect with it while being harsh and critical of themselves. This can ultimately lead to frustration, unhealthy approaches, desperation, and unresolved issues.

When we allow ourselves to disconnect, we lose sight of possible crucial factors in solving the problem, and we become impersonal with ourselves.
Our bodies are amazing healing machines have every capability to become healthy, fit, energized, and balanced. In fact all the health professionals I've been around facilitate one thing: SELF healing.

So, this is mind, if you have something you want to change about yourself, look in the mirror and see what your body is telling you. Take a look at your posture, skin, eyes, tongue. What is it saying? How do you feel? What are my routines with movement (exercise and everyday activities)? What are my eating habits? Do I feel anxious, stressed, depressed? (So on and so forth).

Below are some basic questions you can ask to consider the whole SELF and start to make some changes

On good days I do these things:
This is what I need to work on:
This would make my days better:
These obstacles keep me from making those changes:
Notes and Self Observations:


Above all when considering these things about your self be honest, but also, be kind. Give yourself the padding of unconditional love no matter
where you're at or what mistakes you make. Imagine you are the mother or father looking down at yourself as an innocent child. A lot of the time we get into ruts we don't realize with the body or mind, so keep it personal and positive. That will keep your methods of self preservation and improvement healthy and well-rounded;)

Fitness Tips for Fall

Fall is by far, my favorite season. Maybe it's because I love the cool air. Maybe it's because I associate the crisp air with helping my dad rake up leaves and then jumping into the pile. Maybe it's because I love apples and it's ripe for apple pickin'. Either way, fall is one of the best times to mix up your workout.


In yogic belief, the fall is associated with the lungs and heart. To me, that translates to cardio! If you've been putting off jogging or cycling, why not start now? The air is refreshing and at the very least, it's great damage control for all the candy corns, turkey, and Christmas cookies that surround us mercilessly force us to eat them:)

Check out the link for more tips on fall fitness.



Also, if you live in the Bradenton/Florida area, come check out your favorite yogi Sunday mornings at 8:30am at the end of Manatee Avenue (on the left side of cafe on the beach).

Namaste' and get your booty in gear!

xoxoxo
your trainer,
Erin Is Awesome

"Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food"

During my run at the gym my eyes wandered across the plama screen t.v.s until they came upon a commercial. In the commercial there's a teacher with a class of students behind her walking up steps and down halls and such. Four times durig the commercial, the teacher busts out her bottle of pills and pops away until another teacher hands her a different bottle of pills and she smiles. The commercial then cuts to her looking all satisfied and confident. Seriously? How many pills is that? I thought, well maybe that's an exaggeration, and then I thought again to something more scary. Is this the norm? Do people in America pop a pill everytime they have an ache?

Back in February, I sprained my MCL on my left knee. It sucked really bad. I was in the middle of jamming possibly the best game I've ever played, and then it came WHAM, WHAM, WHAM, and on that third powerful hit, I went down. The newspaper quoted my non-epic words, "I fell down kind of froggy-style on the inside of my knee." That's me in the picture to the right FYI.

I did fall and it took a while for me to bounce back and my knee hurt for a while. I did yoga, took my Omega supplements, started keeping up with my MSM, glucosamine, and Chondriton supplements and the pain was reduced. I also noticed that eating lots of vegetable and staying away from processed foods not only gave me the vitamins and minerals I needed to heal quicker, but they also reduced inflammation and PAIN! That's right. If you're in constant pain, I suggest you keep a food log to see what you may be putting in your body to either cause pain or exacerbate any injuries. Night shade vegetables (tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant, garlic etc.), gluten, dairy, and highly acidic foods such as coffee or soda could be the culprits behind your joint pain.

So to that teacher in the commercial, put down the OTCs, grab a green drink and set a better example for the children.

Boost your Metabolism and Be a Rock Star! Plus Yummy Recipes ^-^

When I was a teenager, my parents owned a little Mom and Pop Restaurant. I would come in before school, place my order with our cook George, and sit back and relax. I would order an omlet with turkey, cheese, and a bunch of vegetables and dig in. It was heaven I tell you. George, our pot-belly cook, would always comment, "How is it that you eat all the time and you're skinny and I eat once a day and I have this?" (he would grab his belly and shake it). My response was pretty funny though lacking insight fullness, "Because I'm a rock star and you're a butt head." I realize now that the difference in our appearances had little to do with the fact that George was a Butt-Head and everything to do with the fact that he only ate once a day at night and I ate throughout the day. His metabolism fires were flickering out while mine were roaring.

I like to think of metabolism as a fire in the belly. Now, with a fire, you want to constantly feed it small manageable chunks of wood so with little effort, the fire can burn it and maintain its roaring flames. If you wait too long to feed the fire, the flame gets smaller and it won't burn as much fuel. While I was managing my metabolism with smaller meals throughout the day, George was throwing a huge log on a tiny flame and as a result, his body packed on the pounds.

Now, George's eating habits may be extreme, but the lesson learned here is to eat consistently. Eat throughout the day starting with a wholesome and energizing breakfast and eat again every 3-4 hours. You can make your meals 300-400 calories depending on how many meals you have. Try to have a mix of Protein (not just meat), Carbohydrates (not just bread, veggies too!), and Fats (healthy oils, nuts, avocados, etc).

Need some ideas for a wholesome breakfast? Check out the recipes below. Enjoy in Good Health.

Your Trainer,
Erin Is Awesome

Oh and FYI, Mr. Megasaurus knows the importance of eating multiple meals too!

Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
Makes 2 Servings
1/4 cup blueberries (frozen)
1/4 cup peaches (frozen)
1/2 cup coconut milk
1-2 tbsp Agave Nectar (depending on how sweet you'd like it)
2 heaping tbsp coconut flour
1/2 cup water
1tbsp Coconut oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients into a blender and enjoy! It's great for gluten-free people that want something sweet and satisfying. The coconut flour gives the smoothie protein and fiber:)

Homemade Raw Granola
Makes 1 Serving
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup raw pecans
1/4 cup raw walnuts
1/4 cup raw almonds sliced
1 tbsp raw Cacao powder (available at whole foods)
1 tbsp Agave Nectar or 1&1/2 tbsp of xylitol
1/4 cup of almond or coconut milk

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. You can add less or more of the almond or coconut milk. You want the granola to stick together in delicious clumps. Also, take your time and enjoy this one. It's so chewy and awesome it almost forces you to sit down and enjoy it.

Change your Diet, Change your Life

As a personal trainer, I often counsel people on nutrition to reach their goals. I remember when I was going through the necessary training for my certification and my jaw dropped when I learned that nutrition is 70% of weight loss. I was so disappointed when I heard this. Food had always been my downfall, but I just made up for it by being so active. When I heard that, it was a reality check.

Ugh. Ok, so I have to change it up with nutrition. So I did. I poured over books, magazines, scientific journals, blogs, and more to learn what I did. Now, if you've read my past blogs, you know that another motivator for my focus on nutrition was from my own battles with intestinal pain and I have to say, health for me is a much bigger motivator than dropping 10 lbs.

Now I am speaking from the perspective of someone who's refrigerator looks like an orchard. There's no way around it that if you want permanent health changes in your body and health, you need to make permanent healthy changes to your diet.
Who knows? You may start to crave vegetables instead of pizza. Your palate does change and when you feel the energy and difference in your body, you may become hooked. Who ever thought that fruits and vegetables could be addicting?

Feed your addiction below and Enjoy ^-^

Your Trainer,
Erin Is Awesome


Recipe of the week: Chipotle Garlic Kale Chips
June 22, 2011 By Reboot Nutritionist Stacy Kennedy
Chipotle Garlic Kale Chips

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 large bunch fresh kale (any variety)
1/4 teaspoon chipotle seasoning
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Wash kale well then rip off stems in large pieces
Mix olive oil, garlic and chipotle in a large bowl
Add kale to bowl and drench with oil spice mixture

Pour kale onto baking sheet

Bake for ~12 minutes. (note cooking times vary depending on oven. start checking at 10 minutes to prevent over cooking).

Kale chips are ready when crisp

Nutrition per serving:
Calories: 56 kcal
Protein: 2 g
Fiber: 1.5 g