Category: healthy eating

How to Gain More Energy?

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As I prepared the theme for today’s yoga classes the word “energy” kept popping into my mind. When I reflect on who is showing up to yoga, meditation, or reading posts like this you might be feeling:

  • Exhausted
  • Depressed
  • Imbalanced
  • Sleep-deprived
  • Or simply curious about what I have to say 🙂

I arrived to two simple questions and a call to action: START or STOP

SELF-INQUIRY: START or STOP?

Close your eyes, take 5 breaths and ask yourself two questions:

  1. Right now, what do I need I STOP today?
  2. Right now, what do I want to START today?

CALL TO ACTION

  • Commit to STOP what is draining your energy.
  • Commit to START what gives you energy.
  • Write and recite positive affirmations to STOP and START.
  • Be honest with yourself if it’s time to seek counsel from a friend or professional, including reaching out to me.

I could have written an article suggesting you eliminate gluten or sugar, or get to your yoga mat and meditation cushion every day, or do what lights you up like going to the beach, dancing, book a ticket to a sporting event, or call a friend to play Scrabble. There are plenty of articles and books telling you what to do. Instead, I invite you to discover for yourself the answers by experiencing Svādhyāya, the yoga practice of self-study, self-inquiry, and discovery.

My offer to you is to look within, to trust your intuition, listen to your inner guide, who always has your back, and trust that you have the answers. Weed out what’s sucking the energy out of you and bring in what will allow you to thrive and feel alive! It’s a practice my friends, to know which thoughts to pay attention to and which ones to dismiss and ignore.

In my personal experience, when I feel low-energy I also tend to feel sad, depressed, brain fog, physically weak, unmotivated, anti-social, tendency towards negative thinking. As opposed to feeling high-energy I am enthusiastic, smiling, laughing, physically strong, awake, alert, alive, vibing high with positive thoughts, willing to connect with others. Observe your energy levels, they are an important barometer to signal what is requesting your attention and self-care.

As someone who was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), adrenal fatigue, gluten sensitivity, iron deficiency, and menopausal mood swings, I have first hand experience of low energy and all of the other symptoms which emerged from my physical challenges. I 100% am NOT saying that low energy is all in your head, that it can be simply solved by asking two questions and writing in a journal AND I am also 100% saying, for me, discerning between what thoughts and actions drained me vs. energized me has been a huge part of my healing process and discovering what it takes for me to gain my energy back and experience life with vitality. I practice what I teach.

Of course, a situation can be complicated, I know mine was, and yet, the power of paying attention to my symptoms and choosing STOP or START every day is a simple, powerful framework to prioritize what is needed for your particular circumstance. Shift your mindset from impossible to possible and you will experience an increase of energy.

I was diagnosed with CFS almost 20 years ago and I am no longer trapped in an experience of chronic low-energy. I manage my symptoms with those two questions, “What do I need to STOP and what do I need to START?” Yes, for me that means, I cut out gluten, sugar, coffee, toxic relationships; I add whole foods, yoga, meditation, extra sleep, alone time, gardening, etc. All informed by reflecting on my STOPs and STARTs, my YESes and my Nos.

Give my latest Spiritually Fit Yoga podcast episode a listen – Yoga to Support Immunity

There is hope on the other side of doubt. There is joy on the other side of fear. I believe in you. Keep the faith. Stay spiritually fit. I am grateful you are here. I’d love to hear from you! Comment below, DM me on instagram, email me. I care.

Blessings,

Amelia Andaleon

p.s. As others have supported me in my journey, I am here to support you. Please reach out if you are interested in a free initial consult if you’d like to work with me as your Wellness and Energy Healing Coach!

Reset and Recharge!

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Whether you’re taking a hike, getting to your mat, reading a good book, or relaxing in your own favorite way, take time to reset and recharge this weekend! The picture above was taken yesterday during a morning hike up the Remington Loop Trail, just 10 minutes from my home. The vibrant poppies are starting to blanket our hills. Stop and enjoy the beauty of nature close to home!

Read: 11 Scientific Reasons Why Being in Nature is So Relaxing

Here are my in person and virtual yoga offerings April 19-25!

Outdoor Yoga – I’m back on my yoga deck!

Virtual classes:

Special Weekend Event!

* Sunday April 25th Nourish Body, Mind and Spirit! Special wellness event Sunday 11am-12pm in downtown Danville at Beyond Active – tickets just went on sale today; limited space at Beyond Active. They have a beautiful outdoor space behind their store. I hope to see you at this fun social-distanced class! And, stay and chat with me and enjoy your 10% discount to shop! Yoga clothes, loungewear, etc. (eg. Spiritual Gangster, Vuori, and more!)

Click on this link to book your spot! Limited space at this outdoor event.

Questions? Call 925-854-2862 ` Visit Beyond Active, a boutique active wear store in charming downtown Danville! 166 E Prospect Ave Danville California 94526 United States

2021-04-25T11:00:00

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Nourish Body, Mind, & Spirit

(Looking for my class schedule? Click here)

The Best Chocolate Chip Bars with Almond Pulp

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I recently posted a video and recipe making homemade almond milk. Here’s the link. And, follow me on Instagram! 🥰

Here’s what I made with the leftover almond pulp…YUM! Healthy CAN be tasty!! I love that there was no waste after making my almond milk!! These gluten-free bars passed the adult and kiddo taste test!! This recipe is vegan and dairy-free.

Note: Because I personally used a mix of mini vegan dark chocolate chips, and melted regular semi-sweet chocolate chips on top, my version is not technically vegan because of the butter in the chocolate chips. The chocolate topping is optional but, I also found that adding a thick smear of melted chocolate helped keep these bars intact and offered a pleasant crunch/snap. Slice your bars first THEN slather or drizzle with chocolate.

Below is the ingredient list and partial recipe. Click here to view the additional notes and full recipe.

The most delicious Chocolate Chip Granola Bars made from leftover almond pulp! Or you can just use blanched almond flour if you prefer. These are full of flavor, are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and oil-free and only 8 ingredients! SO much better than store-bought!

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Servings: 8 bars Author: Brandi Doming

Ingredients

• 1 cup (107g) almond pulp or 1 cup (112g) blanched almond flour

• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons( 200g) pure maple syrup, room temperature (or agave)

• 1/4 cup (32g) ground flaxseed

• 1 cup (100g) gluten-free whole rolled oats, NOT quick oats

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1/2 cup (120g) mini dairy-free chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life)

• 1/2 cup (128g) creamy roasted almond butter

• 2 teaspoons (10g) vanilla extract

Instructions

• Before following the recipe, if you are using homemade almond pulp, make sure you have squeezed out the excess moisture out really well, from preparing the almond milk. Papertowel dry it and store in the fridge overnight, as this helps to dry it out some. You do not need a dehydrator or to bake it to dry it out, but you also don’t want it too wet or to use it immediately after making your almond milk, because it could make the bars too wet.

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees and line a 9X5 loaf pan with parchment paper hanging over the sides for easy removal later. Do you use a different size or bigger pan, otherwise the bars will be too thin and not bind well or hold their shape. They are meant to be thick bars like in the photos.

• Mix the syrup and flaxseed in a cup well with a fork and set aside for 10 minutes to gel up. Do not skip this step, as it is what acts as the “egg” and binds the bars to hold their shape.

• In a large bowl, combine the almond pulp (or almond flour), oats, cinnamon and salt and whisk well. Stir in the chocolate chips. I prefer mini because they disburse well and stay in tact better.

• After the 10 minutes is up for the syrup and flaxseed mixture, stir in the almond butter and vanilla until very smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir for a couple of minutes until very sticky and absorbed, pressing with the back of your spoon to help mix.

• Add the dough to the loaf pan and spread out evenly and flat with a rubber spatula. You can slightly dampen your fingers to help press it down around the edges, as it will be sticky.

• For dough using almond pulp, bake for 30-32 minutes until very golden brown and firm on top. For dough using almond flour, bake about 27-30 minutes until very golden brown and firm on top.

Important

• Cool 1 hour before cutting, or they will fall apart. They firm up a lot as they cool. If desired, melt some chocolate chips and drizzle the tops for added sweetness or for presentation purposes. Honestly, they are plenty delicious without it, I just did it more for looks. Slice very carefully into 8 bars. Wrap each individually in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. They will hold their shape very well this way and it makes for an easy grab-and-go snack!

Day Eleven SFY Mindful May Challenge #pleasure – Chia pudding parfait with berries

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day11-parfaitDay 11 #SFYMindfulMay #pleasure – during today’s yin yoga class I spoke about being mindful of pleasure. I love that Christiane Northrup, MD professes that “Pleasure is a vital nutrient.” Where we place our attention and awareness, we increase our experience of that object. Breathe into pleasure, notice the sensations of your experience, and give yourself permission to thoroughly savor every moment. Be mindful of experiencing pleasure in your relationships, in your work, your hobbies, in every bite you eat. Notice how pleasure increases in your life when you look for it in each moment…breath by breath.

CHIA PUDDING PARFAIT WITH BERRIES
Mix 1/2 cup of nut milk with 1/4 cup chia seeds and let sit in the refrigerator a few hours or overnight. Stir after a few hours just to remove the clumps of chia gel. Add a dollop of “yogurt” (eg coconut cream yogurt or dairy yogurt) and top with berries. Taste and feel each creamy, healthy bite. Enjoy…

Yogamama Meels

Day Eight SFY Mindful May Challenge – Mindful eating

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day9-mindfuleating
Veggie quinoa wrap in rice paper. Gluten-free.

MINDFUL EATING – mindful of WHAT you eat and HOW you eat.

Do you multi-task while you eat?  Eating in front of the TV…while reading your email on your smart phone…while reading the paper? When is the last time you JUST ate, paying attention to each bite?  Or, when eating with your family, put all your electronic devices away, notice the food you’re all eating, thanking those who prepared the food, thanking mother earth for providing you that food, and talking to each other with eye contact?  Hmmm…maybe it’s time to eat mindfully!
IDEAS FOR COLORFUL WRAPS AND SALADS

Want to eat clean but, you’re tired of beans and rice or plain old salad?  Here are some ideas for being creative in the kitchen.  Try it and maybe you’ll discover your colorful, inner chef! Get your kids creating in the kitchen too!

Take the time to choose colorful foods and present them with care and creativity. Treat your meal like a masterpiece and savor each beautiful bite.

Add color to your veggies by adding these to your salads and wraps:

  • shredded carrots
  • purple cabbage
  • watermelon radish
  • yellow and red peppers
  • orange sweet potatoes
  • strawberries
  • raspberries

 

Add protein:

  • creamy avocadoes
  • hearty legumes
  • hummus
  • pesto
  • nut sauces
  • nuts
  • whole grains like quinoa

Try gluten free:

  • rice paper
  • nori sheets.
  • “noodles” of spaghetti squash
  •  zoodles from zucchini in a spiralizer

Brighten flavors with herbs:

  • cilantro
  • parsley
  • basil
  • dill

Spice it up:

  • curry
  • jalapeĂąo
  • salsas
  • chipotle sauces

Add acid:

  • lemon
  • lime
  • vinaigrette

Add richness with oils:

  • sesame oil
  • olive oil
  • coconut oil
  • avocado oil

And savory “umami” flavors:

  • tamari
  • Bragg’s liquid amino acids
  • sautĂŠed mushrooms
  • caramelized onions
  • fun sea salts

Eat clean and organic for 3-7 days and notice how you feel. Eat two or more hours before your next vigorous yoga class and notice how it affects your practice and digestion. Think PTY “pretty, tasty and yummy” when creating your food art…have fun and enjoy each bite!!

Thank you for participating in this month’s Spiritually Fit Yoga Mindful May challenge!  Join anytime!  It doesn’t matter if you haven’t started on day one with us.  Just follow me on Instagram @spirituallyfityoga then in each post tag @spirituallyfityoga and #SFYMindfulMay.

Here’s to happy, mindful eating!

Yogamama Meels

Day One SFY Mindful May Challenge – Watermelon detox juice recipe

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watermelonjuice
Watermelon detox juice

Watermelon detox juice

  • 1 small watermelon cubed (~ 4 cups)
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric

Whiz up on high in your blender.  Serve frothy over ice or room temp.  Cheers!

  • Watermelon to hydrate
  • Lemon to detoxify
  • Turmeric to reduce inflammation

In addition to hosting the #SFYMindfulMay challenge I am also participating by committing to:

  1. Starting my day with a morning detox juice, such as this watermelon detox juice
  2. Drinking at least 60 oz. of liquids per day, which will consist mostly of water
  3. Bring more yoga philosophy into my yoga teaching and yoga practice
  4. Shoulder healing and love
  5. Reconnecting to my inner photographer by taking daily photos with my Nikon D7000 (my blog posts will be taken with my D7000 instead of my iPhone) and I want to find my slides from Nepal, digitize them and share those online #PrayforNepal

This is the first instagram challenge I have hosted and I’m excited to be part of a challenge that lets the participants choose what they would like to focus on for the next 21 days.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE yoga challenges but, I felt like I wanted to put energy into some specific goals which would nurture my soul and detox my body.  There are so many things I could actually commit to such as going gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, etc. etc.  Although I may still bring those dietary goals into my next twenty-one days I decided to narrow it down to “just” four goals.  “Focus” is after all one of my challenges too!

Thank you for participating!  Join anytime!  It doesn’t matter if you haven’t started on day one with us.  Just follow me on Instagram @spirituallyfityoga then in each post tag @spirituallyfityoga and #SFYMindfulMay.

Cheers! (hear me *clink* my detox juice to you!)

Yogamama Meels

Instagram Mindful May Challenge May 4 – 24, 2015

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Spiritually Fit Yoga Mindful May Challenge 2015
Spiritually Fit Yoga Mindful May Challenge 2015
It can take 21 days to make a new habit or break an old habit so in light of the popular 21 day challenges, I am hosting a Mindful May Challenge. Rather than dictating a yoga pose a day or a list of foods to eliminate, instead I’m suggesting that YOU CHOOSE what life changes or behaviors you hope to invite into your life. What would you like to change in your life to awaken to a brighter, happier, lighter YOU?

MAKE A DECLARATION
On Day One, post your first pic and make your declaration “I will practice yoga 20 minutes every day”, “I will eat whole foods every day”, “I commit to eating gluten-free every day”, “I commit to telling a joke every day.” You get the idea. Commit to one or more behaviors, declare them to the cybersphere on instagram, then continue to post your progress daily.

FEATURED PARTICIPANTS DAILY
Every day I will feature one of you by reposting your instagram photo. Just tag your posts with @SpirituallyFitYoga and #SFYMindfulMay. Support the other participants and searching on the “SFYMindfulMay hashtag to see what others are being mindful about this month.

SPREAD THE LOVE…YES,  TO YOURSELF TOO!
Support each other by liking posts and leaving supportive comments. And, be truly mindful approaching this challenge with that open-minded observer mind. No self-criticism, judgment, or guilt trips allowed! Skip a day? So what! Just notice it…let yourself learn something about yourself, and continue on your merry way!

IS THERE A PRIZE?
On the last day a participant will be randomly chosen and will receive a $25 gift card from amazon.com. Yippee!

I look forward to your instagram posts and congratulations for participating in this challenge!

Yogamama Meels

ABUNDANCE, POSSIBILITY, AND PLAY! YOGA RETREAT SUNDAY MAY 18TH 10AM-3PM @ KULA YOGA, PORT ANGELES #yogaretreat #portangeles

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COED YOGA RETREAT

Due to the request from several guys I’m offering a coed yoga event instead of another women’s yoga retreat. SUNDAY MAY 18TH 10AM-3PM at Kula Yoga in Port Angeles. The cost is $50 per person.

The theme of this retreat is about inviting abundance, thinking and dreaming big, opening your heart and mind to possibilities, and giving yourself permission to play! Give yourself the gift of time to listen to your heart, get playful and adventurous through a power yoga practice, and allowing yummy, juicy release of tension, blocked energy, and tightness by inviting openness, softness and compassion through an introspective yin yoga session. Indulge in some “me” time and connect with some new yogi friends!

We will workshop more advanced poses like handstands. jumping back from crow into chatauranga, tripod headstand, etc. Then we will incorporate them into a fun, energizing 90 min power yoga practice. A healthy, tasty, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free lunch will be served. We will end with a 60 min. yin yoga practice and yoga nidra. You will leave feeling powerful, relaxed and renewed. I really hope you can make this fun and challenging event…and invite your friends!

Space is limited so PLEASE RSVP by MAY 2nd. Your $25 deposit will reserve your spot.

For questions or to RSVP, please email me at amelia@spirituallyfityoga.com or call me at 360-808-0074.

Do you really want to do this retreat but, you’re feeling financially challenged right now?? Please call or email me. We will work something out!!

BAPTISTE 40 DAYS TO PERSONAL REVOLUTION JANUARY 13, 2014

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Ready to make healthy changes in your life, and make them stick? The next 40 Days to Personal Revolution online program starts Monday January 13th! If you want to join our local group of yogis, email amelia@spirituallyfityoga.com.

Get ready before January 13th!
* register for the online program at http://baronbaptiste.com/40days/
* optional, but, suggested, order the 40 Days to Personal Revolution book: http://www.amazon.com/Days-Personal-Revolution-Baron-Baptiste/dp/0743227832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389120023&sr=8-1&keywords=40+days+to+personal+revolution

40days-2014-header

YOGA STOCKING STUFFER…GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR 2014 YOGA RETREAT

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2014womensyogaretreat-webConsider giving the gift of yoga! I have gift certificates available for my 2014 Women’s Half-day Yoga Retreat on January 12, 2014 in Port Angeles. Call 360-808-0074 or email me to register, purchase a gift certificate, or if you have questions. Space is limited for this special yoga retreat.

ABOUT THE JANUARY 2014 RETREAT

When: Sunday January 12, 2014 10am-4pm

Where: Kula Yoga Studio – 128 E. Front Street Port Angeles, WA

Class format:

  • Anatomy focus: learn proper shoulder integration in basic vinyasa poses
  • 90 min. heated vinyasa class: Baptiste Journey into Power sequence
  • Delicious, healthy, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free lunch (we are using the same caterer from our 2013 summer retreat. it was unanimous that the food was FANTASTIC!)
  • Time for socializing, reflecting…FUN!
  • Wrap-up after a yummy 90 min. Yin yoga class
  • Yogis of all-levels welcome