Yoga
Home Practice sheets
I wanted to share some home practice sheets for you to print at home and follow if your keen to practice at home. There are 4 x simple short practices, suitable for Beginners and beyond.
Thanks to Iyengar Institute of New York for having these available.
See link here
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Health Matters
How to quit sugar and why quit sugar?
Most of us have heard about quitting sugar, how sugar is bad for us, Sarah Wilsons book etc. Sugar is very controversial and there are many views on its health issues. Generally the more processed a food is the more toxic and harmful it becomes for our body.
If you think that we are what we eat, then refined white sugar is pretty poisonous consumed regularly. I have recently been on a cleanse which has extended into a way eating as its been 90 days since I started it! One of the most beneficial things Ive experienced whilst cleansing has been quitting sugar.
Some benefits of quitting sugar are;
- Increased energy
- Healthier and less processed diet
- Weight loss
- Improved sleep
- Increased concentration
- Clearer eyes and skin
- Reduced inflammation i.e. helpful for, joint aches and pains, skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, arthritis, chronic pain etc
Many studies have been done sadly with rats to show that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. Sugar is highly addictive! We need to look at why we want it in our lives and what its satisfying i.e. a form of relaxation, having it when there is a lack of love and affection, hormonal and emotional cravings, a 'pick me up' etc.
Refined sugars release quickly, making sugars in our blood spike and then drop dramatically. This effects our mood and concentration and we end up regularly looking for sugar to lift us up. only to feel worse in the long run.
In my experience sugar withdrawal takes about 7-10 days and after that it becomes much easier.
Sweetness in life is important and necessary and one of the six tastes in Ayurvedic medicine. We all want to be able to enjoy sweetness at times and how do we make healthy choices for our body and mind?
- Go cold turkey!
- Start reading ingredients lists on the food you buy
- Experiment with sugar free cooking and recipes
- Give yourself permission to sometimes have deserts i.e. Panna cotta (see recipe below), Goody balls, Banana cake with dates, almond meal, coconut oil and eggs, there are many to choose from. Try not to have sweets every day though.
- Use fresh dates, dried fruits, maple syrup, occasionally honey or coconut nectar (Easter I had a piece of raw organic chocolate sweetened with coconut nectar, a real treat!)
Give it a go and good luck...
For more information or to book a Lifestyle & Wellbeing consultation
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Dragon fruit Panna Cotta
Dairy, grain, nut and refined sugar free
I have made with strawberries instead of dragon fruit on the top, so anything goes.
Serves 2
Quick and easy
Ingredients
- 400ml can of coconut milk
- 5.5 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 3/4 tsp agar agar flakes or approximately 3/4 tsp agar agar powder
- 1 cup chopped dragon fruit
- 1/2 cup water
- 1.5 tsp corn flour
- I added a vanilla bean stick
Instructions
Panna Cotta
- Heat coconut milk on medium heat
- Add agar agar & 3 tbls maple syrup
- Sir to combine. Once mixture heats up (don't boil) turn to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until agar agar dissolves. Keep stirring often.
- Pour into glasses or glass jars - Cool and place in fridge
- Can be eaten cold or at room temperature, which is what I prefer.
Dragon Fruit Sauce
- Chop up dragon fruit and cook on a medium heat with remaining 2.5 tbs of maple syrup
- Add 1/4 cup water and come to a boil, cook until soft and then mash.
- Add corn flour and 1/4 cup water in separate bowl then stir into cooked dragon fruit and mix
- Simmer for 2 minutes until thickened.
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