Sep
08
Favorite Ingredients of Wellness
Mindbody wellness
mindfulness apps
It’s truly mindboggling the number of mindfulness or meditation apps available. Meditation apps can be helpful for those who are not yet able to meditate in silence or even if you need some help getting into that silent space. Sometimes a guided meditation is what you need because the mind is too busy or the body too tense. In these situations apps seems to be the technology of choice.
Apps are also helpful as a meditation timer, which is what I use them for, and Insight Timer is my current favorite. I love the choice of sounds available from the singing bowls. The interval bells help me bring my attention and awareness back to the breathe when I wander and perhaps don’t realize it. I also like this app because it has a few guided body scans. These I find more powerful and effective when guided. Another cool thing about this app is that you can connect with other meditators around the world and where you live. This leads to interesting conversations when you actually meet someone from the group as I did earlier this week.
Physical wellness
daily yoga in recovery
Over the summer I had to undergo some excruciating dental work. Apart form the agony experienced in the dentist’s chair, despite the good intentions and wonderful care given by the dentist and staff, I also had to avoid physical exercise because of the pain, and the inflammation in the root that occurred whenever my heart rate increased. With my yoga teacher out of town I turned to Yogaglo.
Great classes, great teachers, in the comfort of your own living room, bedroom, office…wherever, all for a very small monthly fee. Although the class environment is more energetic and it is likely we challenge ourselves more, Yogaglo offers so much when a class is just not possible. I am lucky to have a beautiful space to practice in at home, that has wonderful energy. Throw in some extra self-care with reiki before practice and I was on the road to recovery.
Social Wellness
sharing food and stories about growing food
Last month I was interviewing some special people for a feature article about growing our own food. Sharing food has always bought people together for love, giving, friendship, laughter, and above all for the pleasure that food brings to our senses.
I spoke to eight people during the course of these interviews and found that the common thread and common passion about growing food was sharing. Sharing the experience and satisfaction of growing food and getting their hands in the earth; sharing the beautiful and health giving produce that they took pride in growing; sharing the knowledge of how to grow the best food possible in limited space; and sharing in the passion of food, earth and sharing.
So take some time to break some bread with friends and family, and share the food you’ve grown or the meal you prepare. Consider sharing with those less fortunate or teaching others who may not be confident to grow, and heed these tidbits:
If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food, give you their heart. – Cesar Chavez
and this
if more of us valued food and cheer and song above horded gold, it would be a merrier world. – J.R.R Tolkien
Reading
I have finally received my copy of Blue Mind : The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected and better at what you do, by Wallace J. Nichols.
I first heard Jay speak at the Bioneers conference a couple of years ago and have been following him since. He started the Blue Marble project of which I am a fan and have a few to share. The project is about sharing – in person – blue marbles with others as a way of building awareness and gratitude for helping the planet. “Look through your marble and imagine the taste and feel of the ocean,” is one of the things you must do when you have been given a blue marble.
But back to the book. This is a collection of the creative and scientific; a collection of real stories and real experiences of how blue environments are so important to human health and well-being with a focus on the mind and cognitive aspects of being near, in, on or under these blue environments. A fascinating journey through research, art and stories to discovery the connections between mind, body and environment.
Cooking
with the healthy chef
One of my favorite online food bloggers is Teresa Cutter, The Healthy Chef and a favorite recipe I have turned to over and over this past month is her Super Food Tabouli. This super delicious and nutritious salad is wonderful on its own or with some grilled fish or chermoula lamb fillet. A couple of alterations I made include:
- I find raw broccoli hard to digest so I lightly steamed it before chopping
- I didn’t have any pistachio in the pantry so I toasted up some sunflower seeds with the pumpkin seeds
- I used kale that I had in the fridge instead of the spinach, which I finely chopped
A delicious way to finish this post.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this months offering of my Favorite Ingredients of Wellness. What are your favorite things wellness this month?
