Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Yoga and Water


Today is only day three of my yoga self challenge, but I can honestly say it has already been helping me open up the physical and mental binds that have been blocking my potential and limiting my life. I have actually been experiencing forms of detoxification as I am moving my body in ways that I have not done in months. Between the twisting, the bending, the sweating, and the breathing, my internal organs are being massaged bringing more oxygen to the body, circulating blood to undernourished areas, and ultimately improving lymphatic flow. Its really a magical feeling!
Practicing yoga has many benefits for everyone:
  • Powerful therapeutic tool for correcting physical and psychological problems
  • Plays a powerful role in detoxification and elimination
  • Retards aging and keeps you opened sexually
  • Gives you strength and flexibility for other physical activities
  • Can enhance your looks, posture, skin and muscle tone, and vitality
  • Can give your life a sense of grace and overall well-being
Amazing. I love yoga. In fact I forgot how much I love yoga. I am so excited for what is to come!
I have been trying to drink lots of water this time of year, because water is, Amazing! It is truly natures ultimate healer!
Without the use of drugs, many people have reported healing themselves by simply drinking pure water. Dr. F. Batmanghelidj (try to say that name 10 times fast) says in his book, Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty! The many benefits of water extend to every system of the body.
Mental and Emotional Wellness. Hydration helps relieve depression by replenishing the neurotransmitter serotonin. The brain, comprised of 85% water, requires more water to imprint new information. So the next time you forget something, drink a glass or two of water! As water helps with memory, focus and concentration as well as reduces symptoms of ADD & ADHD. The production of melatonin, the body’s sleep regulator, requires hydration; water consumption helps promote regular, healthy, restful sleep. In addition, water increases our energy levels by generating electromagnetic charge in our cells.
Anti-Aging. Water helps flush the waste from our body systm. It helps detoxify the liver and the kidneys, cleanse the bloodstream, facilitate good digestive function, promote lymphatic wellness, and regulate the body’s pH balance. These processes combined help resist early aging and keep the body looking and feeling young!
Healthy Skin. The skin needs moisture to perspire a way in which the body releases toxins through the skin. If the skin is experiencing dehydration, it holds onto what water it has left, halting the essential process of perspiration. This dries and withers the skin, leading to wrinkles and other signs of early aging.
As if anti-aging and great skin were not enough we also have more reasons to drink the magical liquid called water:

Pain Relief. Dehydration can cause exacerbate back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and other joint pain. Hydration lubricates the cartilage that cushions joints and the tendons and ligaments that hold them together, making for greater mobility, flexibility and comfort. This should com in handy as I am twisting my body into ways I have not done in months!
Protection from dis-ease. Even a 1% decrease in the hydration of the brain can damage blood vessels and cause plaque and bleeding, which is responsible for Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. By normalizing the blood, water can help treat and prevent leukemia, lymphoma and other forms of cancer.
Cardiovascular Wellness. Water is needed to regulate body temperature and blood circulation, so the next time you are cold, make sure you are drinking enough of that delicious H2O! Water in the bloodstream helps carry nutrients and oxygen to our cells. Hydration keeps blood vessels clean and clear, helping to lower cholesterol. High blood pressure is lowered when the body is properly hydrated.  This in turn reduces the risk of heart dis-ease and stroke.
 Weight Loss. Water is necessary for the proper functioning of our metabolism, which is the process by which the body breaks down proteins and carbohydrates into energy.  If our body utilize the proteins and carbohydrates fast enough into energy, they get stored as fat. Even people who may be overweight and retaining liquid may benefit from drinking more water, as our body, like a camels has the ability to store water when dehydrated as a survival mechanism for use at a later date. Water is also important for healthy digestion, as it circulates enzymes through food and helps nutrients absorb into the blood stream. When the body is properly hydrated it reduces appetite because we are more nourished with food and water circulating through the body. The National Institute of Health advises parents of overweight children to replace sodas and other sweet drinks in their child’s diet with water.
Water and salt prevent and helps to cure asthma. Asthma, which also affects 14 million children and kills several thousand of them every year, is a complication of dehydration in the body. It is caused by the drought management programs of the body. In asthma free passage of air is obstructed so that water does not leave the body in the form of vapor – the winter steam. Increased water intake will prevent asthma attacks. Asthmatics need also to take more salt to break the mucus plugs in the lungs that obstruct the free flow of air in and out of the air sacs.
Not recognizing asthma as the indicator of dehydration in the body of a growing child not only will sentence many thousands of children to die every year, but will permit irreversible genetic damage to establish in the remaining 14 million asthmatic children.
How much water should I be drinking? Since water is the principal chemical component of the body, comprising of about 70% of our body’s weight. It is important that we are all individually unique and require different amounts. A good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body’s weight in ounces of water everyday. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you would drink 75 ounces of water a day.
Note: Tea, juice and milk and other drinks are NOT substitutes for water!!
Here is what Andreas Moritz says about water: Body Drought
Here is David Wolfe seeking out spring water: Avocado’s Spring Water World
Yesterday I was able to practice yoga for 20 minutes and walk for 50 minutes. The journey is just getting started but I am already experiencing a heightened awareness of my body.
I will check in every few days to let you know how my personal challenge is going.
Much Love,
Michelle
Process transforms any journey into a series of small steps, taken one by one, to reach any goal. Process transcends time, teaches patience, rests on a solid foundation of careful preparation, and embodies trust in our unfolding potential. ~Dan Millman

Please visit my personal site at www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Monday, December 17, 2012

GreeƱa Colada


Since I live in Montana, and its cold and snowy outside this time of year, I long for warm beaches and sunny clear skies. But in the mean time I can create my own tropical hideaway in my space by cranking up the heat, practicing yoga and making myself a delicious GreeƱa Colada!
GreeƱa Colada:
  • Meat of one coconut (I used the fresh coconut water yesterday for a hydrating drink super drink)
  • 1 banana (or 4 drops of stevia if you want this to be lower glycemic)
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple
  • 1/2 cup cashews (or whatever kind of nut you have on hand – almonds, ect..)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup coconut milk or tea or water
  • 1 Tablespoon Premier Greens Mix
  • 1 teaspoon spirulina
  • 1 drop of vitamin D3 serum
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth!
GreeƱa Colada
Pineapple is a great digestive aid because it helps the body break down and digest proteins more efficiently. The enzyme in pineapple that is so amazing is called Bromelain, it is an excellent anti-inflammatory. If you eat 1/2 cup of pineapple a day it is said to provide pain relief by helping to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. In sports medicine, bromelain is used to reduce inflammation and swelling after an injury.
Pineapple is also known to help dissolve blood clots and is an old folk remedy for morning sickness. So go ahead and drink up your GreeƱa Colada!
In light,
Michelle
Winter Wonderland

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Michelle's Super Green Smoothie

Smoothies are a great way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet to increase your overall health! If you have kids its easy to get them to participate in making smoothies by having them “experiment” with different ingredients, it also helps if you love making smoothies too because leading by example is the best teacher!

Health Benefits of Green Smoothies:

  • Increase Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables
  • Easy to Digest and Assimilate Nutrients
  • Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
  • Mental Clarity and Focus
  • Increased Fiber Intake
  • Clearer Skin
  • Natural Weight Loss
  • Reduced Cravings For Junk Foods
  • Alkalizing to help maintain a proper pH level in your body.
Now is a good time to try to make your own green smoothie! Try to stick to about 60% greens and about 40% fruit.

Michelle’s Super Green Smoothie:

  • 1 Frozen Banana
  • 1 Large Kale Leaf or 2 Small Kale Leaves
  • 1 cup Blessed Water
  • 1/4 cup Walnuts
  • 1 tsp Friendly Force (Vegan Powdered Probiotic by Healthforce Nutritionals)
  • 1 tsp Vitamineral Earth
  • 1 tsp Spirulina
  • 1 tsp Maca
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp Max B-ND by Premier Research Labs
  • 1/2 tsp Liver Care by Premier Research Labs
  • 1 dropper full Nettle Tincture
  • 1 dropper full Chaga Tincture
  • 4 drops Stevia
  • 1 drop Vitamin D3 by Premier Research Labs
  • Dash of Cinnamon
Put everything in a blender and blend away! How’s that for a super smoothie?
If you don’t have all of these ingredients, don’t worry about it, experiment, taste test, and most of all have fun with it!
Lots of love to you!
Michellesmoothie goodness

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Yoga and Beauty Sleep


My exercise program has been completely non-existant since my accident in September. Its really embarrassing to say that even before the accident I wasn’t exactly working out on a regular basis. That being said, I have to take better care of my body because exercise oxygenates our body and this in turn helps brighten our cells bringing more charisma and color to our complexion.
Even though there are many forms of exercise, yoga is the one I am choosing to focus on because it is balancing. Yoga effectively works to stretch and strengthen our muscles. And since yoga is more beneficial when done consistently, I am challenging myself to do yoga every day until the end of 2012. A couple times a week I will try to document my experience of practicing yoga every day.
Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, it’s also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat (and how much), how we exercise (and whether or not we lose weight), and how we function on a daily basis. Sleep is the time when our body relaxes and repairs itself, rejuvenating our skin and connective tissues and getting the proper amount of sleep each night is necessary to face the world with my best foot forward! I am going to do is make sure I get enough beauty sleep! And for the most part a great sleeper, when my head hits the pillow, Im out like a light and I am usually up by 6:30 to 7 the next day. But lately, this has not been the case, I have been up at all hours of the night, restless and achy, I can feel how poor the circulation is in my legs and lower back. Im not sure if its stress or what, but my body is having a hard time sleeping! It is my goal to get back on a routine of exercise and beauty sleep so that I can be a more happier and healthier individual.
Here is the story: Monday night I didn’t sleep well. I went to be late and then proceeded to lay in bed for an hour, only to get back up and have some tea. I read from the book A Course in Miracles, and finally hit the pillow at 2am! Only to wake back up at 6:30am to get the girls to school. A girl needs her beauty sleep and let me tell you, a girl does not feel beautiful when she is groggy from lack f sleep!
So yesterday, I started out with a yoga Sunrise Flow for Energy. It lasted 25 minutes. Although it was short, it was a dynamic yoga practice that helped me to wake up and open my heart first thing in the morning! What a way to revitalize from my night of hardly sleeping!
Next I wrote in my journal, meditated and took a nap for about an hour.
Later in the day I took a 30 minute walk and did my mom duties driving my girls around to various activities.
Tomorrow is another day….. I’ll let you know how my yoga and sleep goes! :)
A yogi is not so much interested in finding the Fountain of Youth as he/she is in continuing the Spirit of Youth to the very end. There is nothing that will fill the human heart with more cheer than the practice of Yoga. ~Theos Bernard, Yoga Gave Me Superior Health
Have a wonderful day taking little steps to transform yourself!
Love,
Michelle
Check out my personal site at www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Insanely Chocolate Brownies


This is for all of my choc-o-holic friends. This is devilishly chocolaty and filled with amazing nutrients and high in anti-oxidants! Chocolate is super good for you!
Research and published studies show that chocolate can:
  • Lower your risk of heart disease
  • Enhance your immune system
  • Fend off diabetes
  • Fight cholesterol
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Enhance blood flow
  • Fight fat
  • Improve cognitive health
  • Slow aging
  • Enhance physical energy, stamina and vitality
  • Act as a safe and effective aphrodisiac
How can raw cacao do all of these marvelous things for us? Its easy, raw cacao is rich in iron, which assists in the process of respiration as it carries oxygen throughout the body. This helps with circulation, lowering the instances of heart disease, enhancing blood flow, which in turn improves cognitive health, physical energy and helps with stamina and vitality. An iron deficiency creates a low level of oxygen in the blood. This results in people feeling light-headed, tired, weak and interestingly enough an intolerance to cold which is a sign of poor blood flow.
Another great benefit to raw cacao is manganese, it  plays an important role in the formation of cartilage, bone and connective tissue. This ability to form and rebuild tissue helps slow the aging process. Awesome!
Raw Cacao Brownies:
Base:
1-3/4 cups almonds (ground to a flour in food processor)
1 cup raw cacao
1/2+ cup maple syrup or agave
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 drops (not droppers) of Chocolate Stevia for extra sweetness.
Dash of Himalayan salt to taste
Coconut oil (for bottom of brownie pan)
Frosting: 
2 avocados
1/2 cup maple syrup or agave or raw honey
1/2 cup raw cacao
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
To Prepare Frosting:  Blend ingredients in food processor until smooth and creamy (if you need to add a little more maple syrup or water to get a smooth consistency).
To Prepare Brownie Base: Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix until ingredients start to stick together. You may need to add a little water or a little more almond flour to get the right consistency.
In your 6 x 6 brownie pan, spread coconut oil on the bottom and on the sides to prevent brownies from sticking.
Take brownie “batter” and press it into your pan.
Once you have your brownies pressed nicely into the pan, spread your delicious frosting on top, sprinkle a some coconut flakes on top and serve! This is so delicious by itself you you may have a cup of chai tea with it or even add fresh raspberries or figs.
These brownies are so delicious even your non-vegan friends will love them!
Love, peace and bliss,
Michelle

Please Feel Free to Check Out My Personal Site at www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com