Nourishment

NOURISHing in Route to Washington, DC

2011-06-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

Today I take off my teacher hat and put on my student hat. I'm off to DC for the Food as Medicine annual conference. I look forward to bringing back a wealth of new nutrition information for everyone I will be working with upon my return.

As you can imagine, I take healthy nutrition on the go when I travel to ensure that my health isn't sacrificed to Starbucks at various airports or the phytochemically-lacking plane snacks. Here's what I packed for my trip (most snacks courtesy of NOURISH, of course). Looking forward to traveling NOURISHed and being fed in mind, body, and spirit! Jocelyn

New Blog

2010-05-23T11:06:00.001-07:00

If you have stumbled onto this site and are interested in reading more NOURISH blog posts, we have re-located. You can find our new blog here: http://www.nourishsantacruz.com/blog/

Be well!

Essential Yoga Practices

2010-02-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

For the last several years I have been encouraging students learn and engage some essential yoga practices. These have been around much longer than the last several years. They are the 8 limbs of yoga, ashtanga, that Patanjali codified in the Yoga Sutras.

I have also promised over the past several weeks that I would blog the definitions for a few of these. These definitions are in no way intended to be the end of a conversation, but rather the beginning. It is my intention that students and others will not simply take what I say as gospel, but will dig deeper and come to their own conclusions about the best way to define and practice each of these.

Finally I would like to note that while some of these practices can be construed simply as philosophical concepts or as end points to be acheived, they are intended as processes of exploration and are best engaged actively.

Asana: posture; mindful physical action;
Pranayama: intentional breathing;
Pratyahara: turning the outer senses inward; inner reflection; deepened awareness;
Dharana: concentration; mental focus;
Dhyana: meditation; presence; openess to what is;

More to come next week.

Victor

The Fuzz

2010-02-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

So, I know I tend to get on my soap box a little bit in class sometimes. It's just that I think yoga is fascinating. It's been a great gift to be teaching again after taking time off to have the little one. Sometimes I get a little carried away!

Speaking of my soap box, I was going on in class a few days ago about "the fuzz". "The fuzz" are strands of cobweb-like connective tissue that develop between the muscles and between muscle groups when we fail to move our bodies around in all the magnificent ways it can move. These strands of connective tissue multiply and bind together during long periods of inactivity (like when we sleep).

As time passes the fascia thickens and hardens between those once juicy, smooth and slippery surfaces rendering them less and less able to slide and glide past one another. As the individual muscles lose their ability to move freely and independently of other muscles our movements become less multidimensional and refined. We call this 'stiff'. If you've ever had an injury that left you immobilized in a joint for a number of weeks, you've noticed this in your process of rehabilitation. Physical therapists include deep tissue massage in their treatments as ways of recovering this loss of mobility and literally breaking up "the fuzz". A sedentary life, or physical activities that limit motion to simple gross-motor movements can have the same effect. We notice we're no longer able to stretch as high for the tennis serve. Turning around in the car to parallel park becomes more difficult.

I first saw the video about "the fuzz" a few years ago in a workshop I took from a dear teacher of mine, Paul Grilley. Paul teaches the most practical (and eye-opening) anatomy lessons I've ever had. He transformed the way I think of alignment in yoga (and in everything else too).

I had never actually mentioned the 'fuzz' concept in any of my classes before. I'm not sure why. Anyway, that very day...the day I (it felt like not so eloquently) introduced "the fuzz" for the first time in one of my classes, my dear friend Brendan Armm posted "the fuzz" video on Facebook. What are the chances? I snapped it right up, and am happy now to pass it onto you.

The video is by a brilliant Ph.D, Gil Hedley. Anyone interested in anatomy can take his workshops and attend a dissection of a human cadaver. For the less adventurous, you can buy a video of a dissection, and see the real world examples of what is going on inside your body. He's a fascinating narrator, as you will see below. The unique thing about Dr. Hedley, is that he is very spiritual in his approach to understanding the human physical form; he is personal, respectful, and sensitive in his explorations.

A little warning: The following video includes some very palatable for the average person (in my opinion) video of "the fuzz" in the tissues of a real human cadaver. Enjoy!!

A New Year Means New Food

2010-01-27T18:45:00.003-08:00

So it's not the most original New year's resolution... but in 2010 I told myself I would eat healthier. I generally don't have a terrible diet. Compared to some of my acquaintances, who live on a staple of Burger King and Taco Bell, I am positively zen. However, I do have weaknesses that bring me down. Weaknesses like bread - I could easily eat a loaf a day - and white rice and Miller HighLife (it's the champagne of beers) and British tea with milk and sugar and, well, anything that tastes remotely sweet and candy-like. It was with these weaknesses in mind, and a desire to improve my diet, that I went to see Jocelyn.

Slightly nervous, although everyone I spoke to who had seen Jocelyn assured me of her patience and brilliance, I sat down and shared what I had eaten for the last 24 hours. After talking to me about my eating preferences and habits, she then began to make some positive suggestions; taking into account my likes and dislikes. Suggestions such as yogurt and nuts with my cereal in the morning to provide me with protein to give me more energy throughout the day, or fish once a week to make sure I get those all important Omega 3's!

All the changes she brought up sounded very do-able. I can often be picky about foods and stubborn, I'm sure my partner would be glad to testify to that, but Jocelyn's smile and common sense approach prevented me from ever digging my heals in. She asked about my family history and any medical issues I had and looked for foods that could help me feel good and avoid any future health problems. I really valued this approach as it helped me to try things that perhaps I would ordinarily dismiss as "not for me"... such as hummus! After trying it once a few years ago I hated hummus and decided chickpeas were for hippies. After discussing what it was that I didn't like about hummus, Jocelyn suggested I try a particular brand and low and behold now I eat hummus on all of my sandwiches... and listen to The Grateful Dead.

At the end of the consultation she handed me a a list of everything we had discussed; complete with a grocery list of where to buy the items. And on the list there were even sweet treats! A week into my new regime I do feel better. There have been lapses, I guess that comes with the territory when your friends like Taco Bell, but on the whole I'm on a march to good health... powered by flax seed, walnuts and spinach. While many who make the resolution to eat better quickly recoil into a familiar groove of carbs and Coors come February, I think I can stick to it. Why? Well, fortunately for me, I work at NOURISH and have access to the all-knowing nutrition queen... Jocelyn Dubin!

A National Holiday For A King

2010-01-18T20:51:00.000-08:00

All week I have been creating music mixes for classes to honor the life of Dr. King. Today it culminates with the national holiday in his honor. Most of today's exerpts come from the March on Washington speech, but some from the march to Birmingham and others from his later years in opposition to war in general and the U.S. participation in war specifically.

Monday 1/18/09
Beginning, 11:30-12:15 and 12:30-1:15
The Pleasure to Present Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Star Spangled Banner (Live) - Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye NBA At 50: A Musical Celebration
Beginning of a Movement Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come Sam Cooke Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
Now Is the Time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom Now Tracy Chapman Crossroads
How Long Not Long Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sojourner's Battle Hymn Sweet Honey In The Rock Still On The Journey
Happy to Join With You Today
America The Beautiful Ray Charles Ray Charles Anthology
Soul Force Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Soul Power James Brown Crooklyn, Vol. 2
Unearned Suffering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Redemption Song Bob Marley & The Wailers Uprising
My Country Tis of Thee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
My Country Tis of Thee Mahalia Jackson I Wonder If I Will Ever Rest
Let Freedom Ring Through Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Someday We'll All Be Free Without Gospel Aretha Franklin Malcolm X Soundtracck
Free At Last Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

5:45-7:00 Beginning
Free At Last Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Star Spangled Banner (Live) - Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye NBA At 50: A Musical Celebration
The Pleasure to Present Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Books & Spoken
Shed A Little LIght James Taylor New Moon Shine Music
Happy to Join With You Today
What's Going On (Original Unreleased Detroit Mix, April 5, 1971) Marvin Gaye Unreleased: What's Going On (Deluxe Edition)
Life Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Get Up, Stand Up Bob Marley & The Wailers Songs Of Freedom [Box Set]
Now is the Time to Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom Now Tracy Chapman Crossroads
Soul Force Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Soul Power James Brown Crooklyn, Vol. 2
Unearned Suffering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Redemption Song Bob Marley & The Wailers Uprising
Even Though We Face The Difficulties Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dreaming On A World Tracy Chapman Matters Of The Heart
With This Faith Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
My Country Tis of Thee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
My Country Tis of Thee Mahalia Jackson I Wonder If I Will Ever Rest
Let Freedom Ring Through Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King
Someday We'll All Be Free Aretha Franklin Malcolm X Soundtrack
Integration of Moral Concerns Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away Stevie Wonder Fulfillingness' First Finale
Against the War with Love Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
America The Beautiful Ray Charles Ray Charles Anthology
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All That You Have Is Your Soul Tracy Chapman Crossroads
Mountain Top Prophecy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

All Levels, 7:15-8:45
Free At Last Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Star Spangled Banner (Live) - Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye NBA At 50: A Musical Celebration
The Pleasure to Present Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Books & Spoken
Shed A Little LIght James Taylor New Moon Shine Music
Happy to Join With You Today
What's Going On (Original Unreleased Detroit Mix, April 5, 1971) Marvin Gaye Unreleased: What's Going On (Deluxe Edition)
Life Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Get Up, Stand Up Bob Marley & The Wailers Songs Of Freedom [Box Set]
Now is the Time to Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom Now Tracy Chapman Crossroads
Soul Force Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Soul Power James Brown Crooklyn, Vol. 2
Unearned Suffering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Redemption Song Bob Marley & The Wailers Uprising
Even Though We Face The Difficulties Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dreaming On A World Tracy Chapman Matters Of The Heart
With This Faith Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
My Country Tis of Thee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
My Country Tis of Thee Mahalia Jackson I Wonder If I Will Ever Rest
Let Freedom Ring Through Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King
Someday We'll All Be Free Aretha Franklin Malcolm X Soundtrack
Integration of Moral Concerns Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away Stevie Wonder Fulfillingness' First Finale
Against the War with Love Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
America The Beautiful Ray Charles Ray Charles Anthology
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All That You Have Is Your Soul Tracy Chapman Crossroads
King's Self Eulogy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Michael McDonald This Christmas
Mountain Top Prophecy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I hope this week has been as inspirational for you as for me. Let's keep moving together toward freedom for all.

Saturday's MLK Celebration Playlists

2010-01-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

Intermediate 10-11:30:
Love's In Need Of Love Today Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life
It Tolls For Thee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Everybody Got Their Something Nikk Costa
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Time To Love, Stevie Wonder (with India Arie) A Time 2 Love
Integration of Moral Concerns Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Strength, Courage, and Wisdom India Arie Acoustic Soul
The Weapon of Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Let Us Love Bill Withers
On the Move Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Move on Up Curtis Mayfield The Very Best of Curtis Mafield
Unearned Suffering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Anyway , The Black Crowes Band [unreleased LP]
Victory For Justice and Goodwill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We Are The Champions Queen, Queen's Greatest Hits
I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Had A Dream Last Night Joss Stone
Free At Last, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free Nina Simone Anthology
Now Is the Time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
If Not Now... Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman
Soul Force Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We Shall Overcome FreedomSingers
How Long? Not Long. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Eventually Carole King The Carnegie Hall Concert June 18, 1971
Commitment To Non-Violence Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Search Of Freedom
Love'll Set Me Free Michael Franti, Songs From The Front Porch
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come Sam Cooke Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
King's Self Eulogy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Michael McDonald This Christmas

Beginning 12:00-1:15
Love's In Need Of Love Today Stevie Wonder Songs In The Key Of Life
It Tolls For Thee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Let Us Love Bill Withers
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Time To Love, Stevie Wonder (with India Arie) A Time 2 Love
Integration of Moral Concerns Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Move on Up Curtis Mayfield The Very Best of Curtis Mafield
The Weapon of Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love That Will Never Grow Old Emmylou Harris
Unearned Suffering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free Nina Simone Anthology
I Have A Dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Had A Dream Last Night Joss Stone
Now Is the Time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
If Not Now... Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman
Soul Force Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We Shall Overcome FreedomSingers
How Long? Not Long. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Eventually Carole King The Carnegie Hall Concert June 18, 1971
Commitment To Non-Violence Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Search Of Freedom
Love'll Set Me Free Michael Franti, Songs From The Front Porch
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come Sam Cooke Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
King's Self Eulogy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Michael McDonald This Christmas

See you Monday!

King on Thursday 1/14/09

2010-01-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

Thursday's Playlists
12:30-1:15 All Levels:
Shed A Little Light, James Taylor, New Moon Shine
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Let Us Love, Bill Withers, Live At Carnegie Hall
It Tolls For Thee, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Everybody Got Their Something, Nikk Costa
The Weapon of Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love That Will Never Grow Old, Emmylou Harris
Unearned Suffering, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, Nina Simone, Anthology
I have a dream 1, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Had A Dream Last Night, Joss Stone
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke, Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
King's Self Eulogy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace, Michael McDonald, This Christmas

5:30-7:00 Intermediate:
Shed A Little Light James Taylor New Moon Shine
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant, Martin Luther King Jr.
Let Us Love Bill Withers Live At Carnegie Hall
It Tolls For Thee Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Everybody Got Their Something Nikk Costa
Integration of Moral Concerns Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
One U2 Achtung Baby
The Weapon of Love Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love That Will Never Grow Old Emmylou Harris
On the Move Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Move On Up Curtis Mayfield The Very Best of Curtis Mayfield
Unearned Suffering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Anyway The Black Crowes Band
Victory For Justice and Goodwill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We Are The Champions Queen Queen's Greatest Hits
I have a dream 1 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Had A Dream Last Night, Joss Stone
Free At Last Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free Nina Simone Anthology
Now Is the Time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
If Not Now... Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman
March Ahead Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We Shall Overcome FreedomSingers
How Long Not Long Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
Eventually Carole King The Carnegie Hall Concert June 18, 1971
Commitment To Non-Violence Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Search Of Freeom
Love'll Set Me Free Michael Franti Songs From The Front Porcc
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come Sam Cooke Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
King's Self Eulogy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Michael McDonald This Christmas

MLK Birthday Week Wednesday Playlist

2010-01-13T13:37:00.000-08:00

As promised here is the playlist I used in classes this morning, Wed. 1/13/10, 11:30-12:15 and 12:30-1:15 Beginning Level classes:

Shed A Little LIght, James Taylor, New Moon Shine
Commitment To Non-Violence, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., In Search Of Freedom
Freedom Richie Havens, Resume: The Best of Richie Havens
Victory For Justice and Goodwill, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, Nina Simone, Anthology
The Weapon of Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love That Will Never Grow Old, Emmylou Harris
Unearned Suffering, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke, Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
Now Is the Time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom For My People, U2, Rattle And Hum
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Someday We'll All Be Free, Donny Hathaway, A Donny Hathaway Collection
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.
All That You Have Is Your Soul, Tracy Chapman, Crossroads
King's Self Eulogy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace, Michael McDonald, This Christmas

Long Requested Playlists

2010-01-12T23:06:00.000-08:00

After many years of putting together playlists for yoga classes and having numerous requests for the list of songs/tracks, I will now begin posting the special playlists on this blog. Most of the songs are readily available for purchase at your neighborhood disc shop, or of course online.

As I said tonight in the intermediate class, single days are not nearly enough to celebrate a birthday. Seems like at least a full week is required to do anyone's celebration of life justice. This is particularly true as we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week. His birthday is Friday, January 15th and the national holiday to honor him is Monday, January 18th, but I've started celebrating today.

As promised here are the tracks from today's classes. More tomorrow. Enjoy.

Tuesday, 1/12/09
12:30-1:15 p.m. All Levels
Shed A Little Light, James Taylor, New Moon Shine
Beginning of a Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom, Richie Havens, Resume: The Best of Richie Havens
Victory For Justice and Goodwill, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peace Anyway, The Black Crowes, Band [unreleased LP]
Commitment To Non-Violence, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., In Search Of Freedom
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, Nina Simone, Anthology
The Weapon of Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love That Will Never Grow Old, Unknown
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke, Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love'll Set Me Free, Michael Franti, Songs From The Front Porch
A Preacher Leading His Flock, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., In Search Of Freedom
Peace, Michael McDonald, This Christmas
Mountain Top, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

5:30-7:15 p.m. Intermediate
Shed A Little Light, James Taylor, New Moon Shine
Beginning of a Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Peace Anyway, The Black Crowes, Band [unreleased LP]
Victory For Justice and Goodwill, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom Richie Havens, Resume: The Best of Richie Havens,
The Weapon of Love, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love's In Need Of Love Today, Stevie Wonder, Songs In The Key Of Life
Commitment To Non-Violence, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., In Search Of Freedom
Let Us Love, Bill Withers, Live At Carnegie Hall
Police Brutality Will Backfire, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., In Search Of Freedom
Bomb The World, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Everyone Deserves Music
Now Is the Time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Forgive Them Father, Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
Unearned Suffering, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, Nina Simone, Anthology
On the Move, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke, Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
How Long Not Long, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Someday We'll All Be Free, Donny Hathaway, A Donny Hathaway Collection
March Ahead, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love That Will Never Grow Old, Unknown
I have a dream 1, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Star Spangled Banner (Live) - Marvin Gaye
He Who is Greatest Shall Be Your Servant, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom For My People, U2, Rattle And Hum
Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All That You Have Is Your Soul, Tracy Chapman, Crossroads
Peace On Earth, U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind
A Preacher Leading His Flock, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., In Search Of Freedom
Love'll Set Me Free, Michael Franti, Songs From The Front Porch
Peace, Michael McDonald, This Christmas
Mountain Top, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

(Sources of King Speeches: In Search of Freedom; The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.; A Knock At Midnight)

We Just Call It Christmas

2009-12-10T20:10:00.000-08:00

In England we don't call it the "Holidays"... we call it Christmas. Depending on your stand point you could say this is a classic example of British traditionalism ... or a lack of cultural sensitivity. Either way, it is something that has stuck out for me as the festive season picks up speed. You see, prior to moving here my understanding of the American Christmas was derived from movies like "Christmas Vacation" or "Home Alone" and television. On the flat screen the American Christmas did not seem so different to the English one. How wrong I was...

Having observed the different traditions and nuances of both countires I have to say in my humble opinion there are both positives and negatives. I like what America brings to the food and beverages department... Egg nog, Gingerbread Houses and Spiced Pumpkin Lattes. Delicious. I think it is also fair to say that you do not do decorations by half over here. Stores and homes go all out and it looks great!

That being said, I think there are is one area where you could learn from your cousins across the pond... Christmas music.

Now don't get me wrong, Bing Crosby, Jingle Bell Rock and something about Grandma getting run over by a reindeer... they all put me in the festive mood. However, listening to the "holiday station" in the car, I have encountered for too many truly terrible songs. I don't know the names of half of them, but there's a Faith Hill Christmas song that almost brought me to tears... and not in a good way. I've heard countless versions of the drummer boy, although I've yet to make it through the whole song, and in between these horrendous tunes I'm forced to listen to the cheesiest DJ's to grace a microphone.

Now, it wouldn't be right of me to just bash your music without at least providing a British alternative so I give you The Pogues and Kirsty McCall - FairyTale of New York

Merry Christmas!

Time Magazine's Year in Health: Yoga

2009-12-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you to one of our clients for bringing an interesting article in today about yoga and eating diorders. This excerpt comes from Time's annual The Year in Health article, which focuses on important medical topics and developments from 2009.

"A session of yoga for teens with anorexia, bulimia or other eating disorders may provide more than a spiritual and physical boost; it could also help them get over their illness, according to a new study of 50 adolescents, mostly girls. The girls were seriously ill — nearly half had been hospitalized because of their eating disorder — and were being treated at an outpatient clinic at Seattle Children's Hospital. The teens were randomized to receive either their usual treatment at the clinic or that treatment plus two hours a week of yoga classes. The study lasted eight weeks. While the non-yoga teens showed improvement during treatment, they relapsed a month afterward. In the yoga group, improvement started slowly, but a month later, the teens were showing steady gains. The exertion required by some yoga poses had no negative effect on weight, which was reassuring — the last thing dangerously underweight subjects needed to do was shed more pounds. The researchers suspect that yoga may help by reducing the obsessive concern about weight associated with eating disorders. In their study, they wrote, "Food preoccupation may be reduced by focusing attention on yoga poses." Some subjects even expressed this idea directly to the researchers. Said one: "This is the only hour in my week when I don't think about my weight." A larger study is planned to confirm the findings"

My Top 4 Yoga Tips

2009-11-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

I have only been practicing yoga regularly since I started working at NOURISH. Before that it was just MTv yoga dvd's in the living room and an occasional free class if I could get a hold of a coupon. Since starting to do yoga more intensively at NOURISH, I have realized it is imperative to continue your practice on a regular basis. I feel more flexible, energized, relaxed and overall in better health if I do yoga at least once a week. In addition, keeping up with yoga helps me remember all the tips and adjustments I am supposed to be implementing!

Here are some things that I have learned at NOURISH which I like to keep in the front of my mind while I do yoga:

1. Keep your hands and feet active: Sometimes its easy to forget these expremities when you are concentrating on your back posture and the larger muscle groups involved in a pose. I felt and saw such and improvement in my practice after Victor gave me this little tip. Simply spreading your fingers or flexing your foot can activate more muscles and work them harder than letting your paws slack while you are in the pose. Flexing your foot makes the biggest difference for me in seated poses, where my legs can get lazy. It really helps stretch out my hamstrings and even gets into my back! As foryour hands, Kate showed me that when you are in poses like Virabhandrasana II spreading your fingers wide without raising your wrist too much can help make your arms more active and involved.

2. Make it challenging, not painful: On Sunday, Kate said something very important for yogis of all levels: The difference between sharp pain and a slight challenge for your body. We are constantly trying to push ourselves further in yoga, both physically and spiritually. These changes should be incremental and positive in order to be most effective. If you feel a sharp pain in any pose, you went too far! Try to slowly fall deeper into the pose with each breath or ask for an adjustment from the instructor if you are just plain uncomfortable in a pose. Challenge is imperative for improvement in yoga, but the changes you make must be controlled and smooth in order to be beneficial.

3. Smile with your buttocks: Try it! Literally try to make your booty smile. I like this tip not only becasue of the physical effects, but also becasue it never fails to put a grin across my face! It's hard to explain in a blog, but just try to uplift your butt with your back and core. Kate taught me this one as well, and it really helps to make poses engaging and comfortable. I think this technique is implemented mostly in standing poses, but I just try to do it in class whenever Kate mentions it. Mention it next time you are in class and I am sure she will be stoked to teach how and when it should be done.

4. Enjoy!: Victor sometimes says this after students enter a pose and will be there for a while. I think this is one of the most important tips I have learned at NOURISH. If you are not having fun and feeling great, something needs to change! Yoga should be a positive experience that de-stresses you and brightens your day. Sometimes in the grind of things, people forget that we are at yoga and are supposed to be letting go. Don't think about what you did that day or what you will do tomorrow, think about how you feel in the pose and just relax! Leave your stress at the door and enjoy some physical and spiritual release, that is what NOURISH is all about!

Keep in mind that I am not a yoga instructor, so these tips should be used with caution! These are just some things I like to remember when I do yoga that have helped me over the course of my practice. So....as Victor says: Enjoy!

Poppy Waiting for a Harvest Surprise

2009-11-10T07:34:00.001-08:00

Poppy Waiting for a Harvest Surprise
Originally uploaded by bartt

First of all, thank you so much for such a warm welcome. I feel blessed to be a part of the Nourish community and connected to all you wonderful people through this gem of a wellness center. Santa Cruz is living up to my every hope, and then some.

Teaching here for the first few weeks has been a sweet journey towards reconnecting to the part of me that exists out in the world, rather than home with the girls. Needless to say, I had been feeling a little restless. It's nice to be reminded that the solitary nature of the practice is overshadowed by the opportunity so many of us are taking these days to be in dialogue with others about our process. To be out in the world, practicing together, sharing breath and space in the yoga room has been so much a part of the practice for me over the years. Coming to Nourish, I am reminded I am here, with others, seeking answers. And that though we are turning to look in, we are still connected, looking in together. I have missed this in the year I took off to birth my second baby.

I commented in Savasana one day something to the effect of our practice being an opportunity to let go of our expectations, because all we really have is what is happening right now and that ultimately we don't know what will happen in the next moment. As yogis we sacrifice our musings about the future and the past for what is here before us, seeking truth in the present. A student came up after class to ask about the possibility of choosing our reality by working with our energies, and our beliefs as a way of manifesting what we believe possible and want to bring into our lives. If we visualize ourselves in abundance, wealth, or love (indeed whatever we are seeking) then we will have it.

Certainly we have to have an idea first, believe it can exist, and then bring it forward into reality. That's how we say...get dinner on the table. And I do believe we must see more esoteric things into the realm of possibility too. Like love or abundance, or the fulfillment of a dream. But I was wondering if Maya, the illusion, is nothing less than the world of our wildest dreaming, our greatest wishes manifesting all over the place, and every other possibility too. And if that's true, then it's not the energy around us that we have to influence, but how we receive. Because we may or may not have control of the energies rushing us in the coming moments, but we do get to decide whether we perceive them as obstacles or opportunities. And what an opportunity it is to get to practice with you all. Finding my way into your beautiful space did not happen for me without effort, fear, or uncertainty. Yet here I am, grateful and full of delight.

Thanks for reading!

Bonfire Night!

2009-11-04T19:48:00.000-08:00

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder treason and plot,
I know of no reason, Why the gunpowder treason,
Should ever be forgot.

Today I feel a little homesick as I think about the festivities that will occur in my home country tomorrow. November 5th is a holiday in England called Bonfire night, or Guy Fawkes night.

I won't bore you with all the details but the gist of the history behind the holiday is that a band of dissenters led by a man called Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up King James I and his men with a large amount of gun powder in 1605 (he was Scottish - it's a long story) .

Mr Fawkes was caught before he got the chance to light the fuse (his cousin betrayed him) and we celebrate the fact every year by setting off fireworks and lighting big bonfires. Some people even make a Guy Fawkes model out of hay and throw it on the bonfire too. It's one of those twisted traditions that it is best not to really think about - needless to say it's a lot of fun.

Although most towns organize a large bonfire and firework display for the public to attend, lots of people choose to hold their own bonfire night in the back garden. It's certainly a fire risk (although England is mostly damp) and every year people blow off their fingers, but it's also very exciting.

My family takes it pretty seriously. My mum and nana combine to cook soup, chili, baked potatoes and parkin (a kind of delicious gingerbread) while my dad and granddad are in charge of the fireworks. Like kids in a candy store, they pick out the biggest explosives we can safely ignite in our small back yard and then everyone drinks tea or beer and watches as thier money goes up in colorful clouds of smoke!

It's essentially an excuse for people to get together and have a fire and that's why I think I like it so much. There's something very pagan and honest about it... and who doesn't like fireworks?

But this year I will miss out. California does not even allow me to let off a commemorative roman candle. Perhaps I'll light a match and smell the smoke...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisloxton/ / CC BY 2.0

Clean, Green and Mean - Tesla Motors

2009-10-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here's another note from the bright side:

So we've all heard the buzz about global warming and the problems it brings. It's often difficult to find information on any potential solutions, which only adds to the feeling that we've got our collective head in the sands, but recently I found a breath of fresh air in learning about a company called TESLA MOTORS.

There was a recent interview that aired on the "On Point" NPR show that explained how TESLA is trying to move the entire automotive industry toward clean technology (you can learn more and listen to broadcast HERE.

By the sounds of it we could be seeing real electric cars on the road that can perform as well as a regular family car as soon as next year. I can't wait for the day I recharge my car with solar panels and the left over energy goes back into the grid!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelastminute/ / CC BY 2.0

News From The Bright Side

2009-10-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share some news from the brighter side of life. Sometimes the news can really be a downer and I think that it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the things that are hopeful and really inspiring.

One such thing that I've been looking into and find really fascinating is "Cymatics".

Cymatics is the use of sound to form sand and other substances into different geometric shapes, with higher frequencies creating more complex designs. I think the thing I like most about this is - if everything is energy and sound is a form of energy then this process allows us to look at the world with a little different point of view.

You really need to see it to appreciate it, so check out the "vibration creates form" on the Youtube video below. If you dig it, there is lots more related material on the actual youtube site and the designs on the walls of Roslyn chapel are especially awesome!

I hope you find as much inspiration and fascination as I have!

New Year's, Early

2009-10-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

I love yoga. I really do! But sometimes I can't muster up the strength to get by booty to class. After work and school, you would think I'd be chomping at the bit to put myself in a relaxing environment. But I just get so tired and lazy, its truly frustrating! Even though I know it will feel so good to get a little work out and center myself, it can be all too much for me at times.

I admire all the students at NOURISH who come to class on a weekly basis. Heck, some even come daily! You all are truly inspiring to me and I love coming to class when you are there. I love practicing yoga with the people I am working for and with. It gives us a bond that is more than just a hello! in passing by the front desk or a reminder call for their next appointment. What we all have going on at NOURISH is truly unique and I am proud and lucky to be a part of it!

Think of this as my New Year's Resolution: From here on out I want to make a comittment to myself and do the things that make me happy on a weekly basis! This means going to Tuesday night yoga with Victor, hanging out with Emily, Brittni & Kate more often, doing nice things for my boy friend and pursuing a new hobby. I also think it would be nice to do my homework and reading on time....

Thanks for the inspiration and NOURISHment : )

yoga anytime

2009-10-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Wish you had more time for yoga? Do a pose right now, right where you are! Doing just one pose can change the way you breathe and feel...for the better! So stand up...yes out of your computer chair..... reach your arms up overhead (Urdhva Hastasana) and strrrretch up towards the sky. If you like fold from your hips and move into forward bend (Uttanasana). Ahhhh...feel better?

You can also improvise and make up a pose like my daughter Lily. Here she is doing a cross between down dog and forward bend. Good job Lil! And smiling while doing yoga is even better, great for you mood!

Swell Coming

2009-10-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

Next week we are supposed to receive a significant pulse from the West. If the forecast is correct we should be dropping into double over head waves by late Thursday. Come to the surf yoga class Thursday night after your session to limber up those paddle worn arms and shoulders, and twist out your cutback and lipper battered body, so you'll be ready to shred some more on Friday.

Yoga Battle

2009-10-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

For better or worse we live in a competitive society, and it is understandable that it may be difficult to completely shed ones competitive machinations when practicing yoga. I remember when I first learned how to hold a hand stand, I looked forward to showing off my new move in the next yoga class. I think this is fine and dandy but I have found that I derive more benefit when I come to yoga with a more holistic approach: concentrating on mind, body, spirit with maybe a dash of ego. As we evolve as yogis and people we can allow space for that part of us that is proud and has a desire to show others our ability to go deeper into an asanas, especially those asanas that have been eluding us for some time. What I believe is more detrimental is prescribing any kind of right/wrong judgment on any practice, since we all have our own paths, and we are all reflection of the infinite. But as this short film comically demonstrates it might not be wrong but possibly detrimental to completely let competitiveness consume our practice.

Public Art

2009-10-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Taking a photograph today is a simple as clicking a button and aiming in the general direction of your intended victim. We click away the world around us compounding years worth of memories into 1 gig of space on a hardrive. Bedtime stories have been replaced by photo albums, or the ever elusive photo slideshow. Technology makes the world smaller everyday, archiving the past, predicting the future and tucking the present away in our 30 gigs of space on our iPhone.

For years now, I have been obsessed with a certain picture which had significant importance in my artistic representation of the world around me. The memories and meanings behind this single image changed the way I looked at photography, sculpture and art.

So, one day I was biking up Highway 1 documenting everything as I went by....wait...why am I explaining this...here I'll show you (see picture above). Anyways, I found this tag on a wall of an abandoned house, and slyly laughed at the irony of the tag being 'public art'. Having studied 'public art' as a major at a university, having been to so many 'public art' galleries, having made business cards with 'public artist' as my title, I was astounded by the irony that nothing I had learned meant anything to the 'public.' As Marcel Duchamp so elegantly put it, place the world on a pedestal and you have made art. This one day entirely blurred the line between art and life, turning every urinal on its side and making it a fountain, turning every gallery upside down into storage space for culture. Just as musicians must realize the hard truth about the 'it's who you know' music world, so must artists address this issue in the art scene. Beyond this epiphany, all of my current and future art was put into question and my ego was deflated. I assumed the role of being nothing more than human, for after all artist is a title one must selfishly designate to themself.

As you can see this one day, this one image, this one tag sums up a lesson that I will take with me for a lifetime to come. On the flipside, who knows what that tag, that image, and that day meant to the artist that put it up? A picture really is worth a thousand memories.

Back To School

2009-09-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

Minus one decade, each year of my life has revved up in September and slowed down markedly by the end of June. Yes, I have been either a student or a teacher for the majority of my life. Packing 12 months of energy into 10 months each year ended for me when I finished grad school and became a dietitian. But now that I've finally settled into a 12 month rhythm, I'm starting school all over again. No, I'm not getting another master's or pursuing a Ph.D. Dalia just started kindergarten. Every time I see her proudly carrying her brand new Hello Kitty lunchbox, put on her new shoes, and run to the playground to go across the monkey bars, it takes me back to when I was a student. It was always so exciting to delve into the newness of it all each September. Now I'm getting ready for the first show and tell, reliving the first field trip, and meeting the first class pet all over again. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I'm almost as excited as Dalia to be back in school. I'm just counting myself lucky that my P.E. is yoga now instead of dodgeball.

Sausage-less Sausage

2009-09-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

I am not a vegetarian. My partner is though... which basically makes me a vegetarian.

However, my partner is not one of those vegetarians that does not like meat. She's an ethical vegetarian; which means while she doesn't agree with how the food reaches the plate, she sure likes the taste of some of it. Which is how why we came to discover the taste sensation that is Trader Joe's Sausageless Sausage!

Now, without wanting to sound like a commercial, this product is seriously great. Coming from England, I have high standards when it comes to bangers. Previous to our discovery we had tried various other brands of veggie sausage; most of which, at least to me, tasted like rubbish. However, with the sausageless sausage, they have nailed the texture and flavours.

It does not taste exactly like it's pork cousin, as fake meat never does, but the ingredients they use give it a warm and herby feeling; not unlike the stuffing you eat at Christmas time. What's more, the reduced cooking time and firmer consistency make it super versatile. We eat it for breakfast and in pasta, stir-frys, salds and sandwiches.

In terms of it's nutritional value, it's not bad either. It has a fairly high sodium content (which no doubt explans why it tastes so good) and contains some saturated fats, but being made from soy it is full of protein and even has some fiber.

So if you're a vegetarian, vegan or even a meat eater looking for a healthier option, I would reccomend you give these little links of love a try... and thank me later!

What do you value?

2009-09-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Last week one of our dedicated yoga students sent and email regarding the NOURISH Core Values that are listed on our website. Here is the text of that email:

"Dear Nourish Staff,

Thank you for the confirmation for my appointment with Jocelyn. Today I had the pleasure of having time to read all of Nourish's information. It is great.

I would like to add a Core Value that I believe is missing, having been devoted to the Om/Nourish family now for years. That is the value of LISTENING. I would like to see the core value "WE LISTEN to and embrace suggestions, questions, concerns and joys of our clients, members, students, and customers." As I read the list, I missed that important element [of the Dubin family(well, Dalia is still in training)(smile)].

Though I have not had many classes with Kate and Roxanne, I have found them, as well, always willing to listen to any question, or happy to share some tidbit of life experience I or anyone after class had to share with them. They listen. I also find both of those ladies so open and willing to share their lives with us, supporting and giving a foundation for a family of professionals who truly care about nourishing the health of anyone who is willing to give even the smallest amount of their time toward bettering their lives and walking through the doors of NOURISH. Thus, both Kate and Roxanne seem to me to be in concert with Victor and Jocelyn in the Core Value of Listening.

In our cultural climate, in our political atmosphere, in a world where the importance of individualism sometimes erodes, or shades the importance of social values, compassion and the development of camaraderie, listening is a skill often missed, yet yearned for. Victor and Jocelyn Dubin have always listened well to me, my friends and family. I have over the years, observed them continually take an interest in participants' needs through active listening, a quality that is essential to NOURISH anyone's mind, body and spirit.

Thank you, Namaste, and Aloha,

Kulani Kamaha'o

Devoted to Nourish"

Thanks Kulani. We are listening and you can expect the addition to our core values page soon.

Massage: preventive medicine vs. indulgence

2009-09-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings

Let me introduce myself -- With a lifetime of experience (I started massaging around 2nd grade, giving my teacher neck and shoulder massages on rainy day recess), over 1000 hours of formal education, and nearly 8 years with a professional background; I can no longer call myself just a massage therapist. Trained in over 16 modalities, I am known to utilize massage, energy and breath work, and guided meditation in any of my sessions. I specialize in pain relief, injury recovery, stress reduction, emotional transformation, and relaxation. My interest is finding the deep seeded root of any issue within the body, the intention I bring is to HELP create sustainable results in every one of my clients. Here at NOURISH I consider myself a "Healing Facilitator," I choose the term facilitator because I merely assist in the process of healing. It is up to each individual client to bring one's self to the state of well-being.

More often than not, the common reason I hear people use to NOT have a massage is because they don't have the time, money, or need to "pamper themselves" or "indulge in frivolous things". I'm hear to tell EVERYONE...yes that means you too, please listen up...

Massage is much more than a simple luxury to be had when you have the time or enough extra cash laying around. It is an ideal way to keep your body/mind vehicle rejuvenated and nourished, which is helps with your overall well-being and maintaining a body free of dis-ease. The physical and emotional health benefits list is long and very detailed, but because it feels SOOOOOOO good, too many people don't realize or even discredit the actual effects it has on the individual - body, mind, and spirit.

So I have decided to dedicate a blog series to the holistic health advantages of massage therapy...stay tuned to learn more!!!

Many blessings of health and vitality,
Yarah

The King of Yoga

2009-09-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

I read a theory once that suggested the main reason for watching sport, be it soccer, the Olympics or surfing on Steamers Lane, was the desire to see humans go beyond what we think is physically possible. The writer argued that the best moments in sport were the days when you saw an athlete go beyond good and move into greatness.

Well, I know that yoga is not a sport and that the majority of us practice the activity for helping and healing oneself... but I read a story the other day about an Indian man who certainly seems to have made the move from good to greatness.

On June 14th 2009, Mr C Poovendran set the world record for longest yoga marathon when he performed yoga for an incredible 28 hours!

While attempting the world record, Mr Poovendran performed 1019 asanas and also sought to entertain the spectators by drinking water and taking off his t-shirt... while performing a headstand... with his eyes closed!

Now admittedly on first read this story seems a little shallow. The breaking of world records is something that tends to take up the last five minutes of local news broadcasts and this seemed no different. However, when I learned a little more about his life, I began to think about it a lot more.

Mr C Poovendran is currently a yoga teacher who works in Hong Kong. He started his yoga training with his father at just five years old. By the time he was 14 he gained his first yoga award - the yogaraj... or King of Yoga. He has also gained the Best Demonstrator Award at the 5th International Yoga festival, the Yoga Rathna award (jewel of yoga) from the Divine Life society of Chennai, India, and the Creative/Innovation Award in 2006 from Pure Yoga International.

So clearly, Mr Poovendran is not someone looking to have his five minutes of fame by breaking a world record. This is his passion. To take something you love and push it to the very limit must have been very hard. I would imagine that practicing yoga for 28 consecutive hours has a fairly negative affect on your physical and emotional state (so don't worry, we won't be extending our class times here at NOURISH). I think I would be afraid that the effort alone would scare me off from every wanting to do a tree pose again. But for Mr Poovendran yoga is clearly more than an activity - it is his life's work and his commitment to it is something I cannot help but be inspired by.

Something New at NOURISH

2009-08-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce a new item we got at NOURISH this morning.

Jim Gallas, one of our massage and yoga practitioners, has created his own Zen Tai Shiatsu DVD which illustrates and teaches the viewer some new and interesting massage techniques which he has developed throughout his career.

The DVD contains an easy to learn session that will leave your clients, friends and family deeply relaxed and revitalized.

Done on a standard massage table- zen tai integrates well with other forms of bodywork. It is ideal for on-site work, including corporate events, conferences and festivals. Proper body mechanics are emphasized for safety, strength and ease.

The DVD also boasts an appendix with user-friendly meridian charts, as well as Spanish and English language options.

Although this DVD seems to be geared towards practitioners, I think we call can benefit from learning a few basic massage techniques. Enjoy this video with a friend or loved one and practice the techniques together for a fun and relaxing time!

Jim is a highly practiced massage therapist who had trained other practitioners in Santa Cruz, CA. He is available for massage appointments by request only at NOURISH in downtown Santa Cruz. His DVD is currently for sale at NOURISH's boutique.

Laughing Yoga

2009-08-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

I’ve been curious about Laughing Yoga since our Sing Along Yoga Workshop here at NOURISH. It was briefly mentioned before the workshop started and since then I’ve been thinking about what it might be like to participate in a Laughing Yoga class.

After some reading online, it seems that laughing yoga can be very similar to our Sing Along yoga class. Everyone being a little apprehensive at first, not knowing what it’s going to be like, how much they will actually sing aloud, etc. As it turns out, everyone sang their hearts out to every word that they knew and it seems the same is experienced in Laughing Yoga. The participants usually begin tentatively until you just can’t stop yourself from laughing even if you tried. By the end of the class everyone is feeling refreshed, more clear headed and feeling like they just had a really unique yoga experience.

The class begins with grounding and centering, then the laughing is introduced as an exercise. For example, try to give the deepest belly laugh you can, or add in a body movement that is in sync with your laughs. Soon enough you'll be watching as those around you can’t help but join in the laughter. Can you imagine the potential health benefits from all the laugher? This can be a really fun yoga class to try out! (lol)

The Downward Facing Dog

2009-08-11T08:44:00.001-07:00

I heard someone in class ask the other day, "Why's the downward facing dog so special?"

I completely got where they were coming from. Even before I really knew anything about yoga, I had heard the name. It seems like it is one of those yoga words everyone knows. But why?

Victor explained to the curious student that it is a pose that is used regularly and is often one of the very first stretches beginners learn. It's a transitional pose that is fairly comprehensive in its benefits to the body; having a positive effect on the shoulders, legs, spine, arms and feet. Furthermore, it's thought to improve digestion, increase the blood flow to the sinuses, build strength throughout the body and even help your immune system.

However, Victor was also quick to point out that despite its fame, it is not considered a superior stretch. There is no technical reason why downward facing dog has become entrenched within the mass public's notion of what yoga is all about (alongside Sting and herbal teas).

So there must be some other reason. I would be so presumptuous as to suggest it's good branding. It has dog in the title.

You may laugh, but a large portion of the population love dogs. Sure there are other "cooler sounding" poses (Warrior pose, Cobra pose etc.) but at the end of the day we are all suckers for a cheeky-looking cocker spaniel.

Perhaps on some level we also like the idea of copying the movements of a dog. I know at various points of my life I have watched a lovable mutt go about his day and thought to myself, "a dog's life... they've got it pretty sweet!"

And there's even a case to suggest it brings us closer to lost friends. I read about one lady who enjoyed the pose because it brought back fond memories of her very first puppy and made her feel closer to him in some way.

Whether any of this hits a chord, or you think I'm barking up the wrong tree, I think it's fair to say... for a number of reasons... the downward dog is a special pose.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hisa/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Sing Along Yoga

2009-08-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of listening to the sing along yoga class tonight while working at the Nourish reception desk, and I have to say that it was the MOST FUN class that Nourish has ever offered. I got to sing while I was working! I can't even imagine how awesome it was for everyone who attended to sing while doing yoga. So for all those who missed the class, but still want the fun of yoga with a karaoke twist, or for all those who attended and can't wait to do it again, here is the playlist from tonight:
Love's In Need of Love Today by: Stevie Wonder
This Little Light by: The Montgomery Improvement Association
The Circle Game by: Joni Mitchell
Every Breath You Take by: The Police
Hey Jude by: The Beatles
Three Little Birds by: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Wonderful World by: Sam Cooke
Joy to The World by: Three Dog Night
Into the Mystic by: Van Morrison
Your Song by: Elton John
59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) by: Simon and Garfunkel
Lean On Me by: Bill Withers
You've Got a Friend (featuring special guest star James Taylor) by: Carole King
Bridge Over Troubled Water by: Simon and Garfunkel
Sunshine On My Shoulders by: John Denver
Imagine by: John Lennon

Why We Do This

2009-08-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn works late on Thursday nights. It's the schedule we've had for a while now (Dalia in preschool all day M/W/F; On Tues. with me during the day and Jocelyn at night, on Thurs. with Joc during the day and me at night).

Most Thursday's she's in the office seeing clients who need after work hours appointments, or taking someone on a guided grocery shopping at New Leaf/TJ's/Staff/Whole Foods. Tonight she was in Monterey at CHOMP giving a presentation for the American Cancer Society, "Fight Cancer With Your Fork."

Until February of 2009 Jocelyn worked part time at the Monterey Bay Oncology Center doing in person and phone consultations with cancer patients. In that capacity she mostly helped patients find foods they could keep down during chemotherapy, find nutrients to support getting well, and for some simply find joy in one of the basic pleasures of life during their transition into death.

Tonight, the spouse of one of those patients came to the presentation in order to meet Jocelyn in person and share how much the sessions his wife had had with Jocelyn in the last weeks of her life had meant to them and their family.

While she told me this my eyes swelled with tears. Tears of pride (I am so proud of my wife). Tears of sorrow (suffering and loss). Tears of gratitude.

What do Photographers Blog About

2009-08-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

For over a week, I have been wracking my brain for something to say on this darn blog. I have literally sat down twice and begun writing things, only to get distracted and never finish. Let's just say that my attention span is limited to visual appeal. I am of the kind that can remember your face, what you wore, if you smiled, how you smelled, and generally everything about a person except their name and 'how they were that day.' With this said, I think it is very suiting that I recently finished my bachelor's degree in photography. So, what do photographers blog about...

This past weekend was one of great enjoyment for me. I spent all day Friday at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur listening to a slew of bands, two of which really caught my eye, War Paint and Sleepy Sun. War Paint is a band I had never heard of before, but will definitely see again. Consisting of 3 women and one man, this psychedelic folk group captivated the audience with their soulful and melodic tunes. Their style blended the teenage angst of Minor Threat and the saucy vocals of Crass with heavy psychadelic riffs more influenced by Phish and later Anastasio projects. Sleepy Sun is a local Santa Cruz band who I have been following for a quite a while. There is no way to put my finger on their sound and style other than saying that they are the high minus the drugs. I saw them once, and have gone to every show since for over a year now. Here is my favorite picture of the week of their lead singer, Bret.

Mist On, Mist Off

2009-07-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

The other day I was in Los Gatos at Sur la Table, and a certain kitchen gadget caught my eye: the Misto olive oil sprayer. Misto is a refillable canister which can be hand-pumped to produce a fine mist of oil. After a week of using Misto, I am quite impressed with its performance and would recommend it to anyone who uses olive oil in home cooking. Here's how it went:

I filled my Misto with olive oil and pumped feverishly until I felt too much resistance to continue. It is a pretty easy process, but after a while can get a bit tiresome. (You pump the Misto by pushing the cap up and down over the canister) If you have enough will to pump the Misto totally, the charge lasts for a few meals. Otherwise, you have to pump it each time you apply a mist. Overall, the pumping is the worst aspect of the Misto, but not enough to turn me off in comparison to all its positive benefits.

I like using the Misto to lubricate pans and baking dishes before cooking with them. The Misto produces a mist that works just as well as Pam or any other kitchen spray, but doesn't have an unnatural taste or residue like those store-bought mists. I will even use the Misto to top broccoli or pasta instead of tossing the food with oil, as the coverage tends to be a lot lighter and even. I don't really eat salad, but I imagine that the Misto would be an awesome substitute for too-rich vinegarettes if you added some balsamic to the salad and then sprayed a light layer of Misto over the dish.

I have begun to use the Misto almost daily in my cooking, and I feel like it has improved my diet a lot. My foods are less oily and taste fresher and crispier as left overs. I also can appreciate the money Misto saves by using less oil and saving me from buying cooking sprays. I am not sure if other oils can be used in the Misto, but it would be worth trying out. For about $10, I think the Misto is a great buy in all aspects.

Living (a little bit) Greener

2009-07-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Live Green. We hear this catch phrase tossed around so often these days. But until a few days ago, living green only meant recycling and biking to work for me. I never knew that applying this statement to every aspect of my life could be so rewarding and easy, until my first nutrition consultation with Jocelyn last week.

Going in, I was a little nervous about letting my employer in on my history of dietary indiscretions, picky eating habits and lack of exercise. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the baby steps Jocelyn was willing to take with me.

Despite the fact that there are only about 4 or 5 vegetable which I will really eat, Jocelyn had a world of information on how to incorporate these, and other not-as-nasty-as-I-thought greens into my diet. We found ways to work greens into my morning routine through treats like broccoli pancakes and sweet beet smoothies. She also taught me that a little spinach goes a long way, but does not add any "green" flavor to smoothies or shakes. Getting my daily dose of greens as early as possible really helps sustain my energy and health throughout the day, even if I don't get a chance to eat another serving later.

Before my nutrition consultation, I was scared of the word, color and taste of green in reference to food. But now I realize that there are so many ways to get this important food group into my daily routine without much effort at all. Little by little I am living greener everyday. I even tried kale for the first time yesterday, and to my surprise, it really wasn't that bad.

West Cliff Walks

2009-07-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think we forget that we live in Santa Cruz. Not in a medically concerning way, but in a getting caught up with life and bills and work kind of way. We forget that the air we breathe is that little bit cleaner and crisper than most folks. We forget that wildlife still gets to be wild around us. We forget that the epic and enamoring Pacific Ocean is right on our doorstep.

Not today.

This afternoon I felt the walls closing in on me at home and so I stepped out into the lovely warm sun and wandered toward West Cliff. Being a Tuesday it was not jammed with weekend cyclists and tourists, so I strolled peacefully along the coast. I thought about lots of little things and made plans for the rest of the day. It was calm at sea so instead of watching surfers battle it out for the next wave, I watched two guys goof around in kayaks. At the surf museum I sat on a bench and listened to the sea lions honk. A man wearing a shirt that looked like it used to be a curtain in a Hawaiian breakfast diner made me smile. And then I walked home.

All in all I probably spent 40 minutes escaping the same old routine and thinking back over it tonight, it was the best part of my day. I'm promising myself to do it more often. After all it's the summer. We should all be soaking up Santa Cruz!

A Yogi's Dilema

2009-07-09T20:05:00.000-07:00

So Jocelyn and I are at the downtown farmer's market on Wednesday (which is our regular Wednesday date now for more than 12 years!) a little later than usual because Jocelyn's 4:00 p.m. client had called to say she couldn't make it. No sooner had we approached our first stand when Dana calls and tells Jocelyn that her 4:00 p.m. client is there and ready for her appointment!

So, we finished up at Route One (thanks Ora) with carrots for juicing and green plums for devouring and headed back to NOURISH. Jocelyn goes in with her client and I am left to fly solo at the market.

Particularly in the summer having two of us is great. Not just because Jocelyn looks awesome in her summer attire, but also because there is such a bounty to gather and return with. So I gather the bounty myself: two bags full of onions, peppers, tomatoes, avocado, etc. and 1 full flat of Frog Hollow peaches, nectarines (white and yellow) and apricots.

I've got the smaller of the 2 bags on top of the 10 lb+ flat of fruit, which I am carrying in both arms like an offering, and the larger of the two bags over my left shoulder. Sure the bags and box are heavy, but that is not my dilemma.

My dilemma is that I am a yogi. So after years of practice my shoulders have a natural inclination to NOT hunch, which means one of the straps of the large bag is falling off my left shoulder and I've got all this ridiculously beautiful if not fragile fruit in my arms. Luckily, I've seen hunched shoulders, so had some idea how to do it and safely transported all the produce back to NOURISH.

Luckily for me, Jocelyn was the one who had to bring all that stuff home.

One Bite at a Time

2009-07-03T11:22:00.001-07:00

It's been such a great morning! I just finished consultations with fantastic clients who are motivated to transform their health. It is so great to see people get excited about having a new list of healthy groceries to buy, breakfast menus to try, and energizing snacks to carry with them on the go. Though our sessions are packed with information, I remind people of the easiest way to improve their nutritional well-being-one bite at a time.

Yoga and Broccoli

2009-06-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

When the idea of yoga, nutrition and wellness was first put forward to me by my beautiful wife, I approached it much like a toddler approaches broccoli... with fear and trepidation. After eventually succumbing to her pleas to take me to a yoga class, I was pleasantly surprised... and embarrassed; most of the class breezed through the poses while I ached from muscles I never knew I had. Still, it gave me a new found respect for everything I had previously dismissed as "for hippies" and sparked my interest.

Arriving at Nourish a year later, I promised myself I would embrace everything with an open mind and try to make some healthy changes. I've been here just over a month now and although I'm still a while away away from doing head stands and turning my back on pepperoni pizza, I can honestly say... I feel better. Just spending time in an environment that puts an emphasis on health and wellness has made me make better choices inside and outside of the Nourish studio. They are not big changes, but everyone has to start somewhere. So now, I try to take a yoga class every week, and I stretch every night and a few days ago, when offered the chance of a fried pork sandwich or vegetable pasta, I went for the pasta. Why? Because there was broccoli in it. And these days, I really love broccoli.

New Yoga Props and Cuisine

2009-06-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

Come check out our new yoga props in the boutique, as well as, our new cuisine in the Nourishment fridge! We now have assortments of 6 different colors of yoga blocks, new yoga wedges (shown above) , yoga balls, yoga bolsters, and yoga straps. We are also now carrying Samabazon Acai drinks and an assortment of wraps (including vegan options) from fundamental foods.

The Lending Library at NOURISH

2009-06-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon!

I am so excited that the lending library at NOURISH is finally up and running! Victor and Jocelyn have generously supplied NOURISH with tons of yoga and wellness related materials for clients to enjoy.

Clients can check out up to 3 books or magazines for a period of 2 weeks at no cost. How cool is that?! In addition, many of the books are available for purchase at the reception desk (along with copies of Victor's Yoga and Travel Yoga videos).

We have books about yoga theory, poses, buddhism, achieving inner peace, general wellness, cookbooks and much more!

Some of the authors in our collection include: Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, B.K.S Iyengar, Leo Tolstoy, and Martin Luther King Jr. We also have various magazines and compilations published by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the International Journal of Yoga Therapy.

There is something for everyone to enjoy, so come check it out!

Loving NOURISH

2009-06-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

I am so loving being at NOURISH! Our central location in downtown Santa Cruz gives so many more people access to our full schedule of yoga classes. Better yet it's only $50/month for unlimited classes! Since we've opened I've seen students who previously practiced yoga only once or twice per month now practicing yoga 3, 4, 5 times a week and some nearly every day!

How awesome is it that Jocelyn and I offer our services in the same place now?! Not only do we get to see a lot more of each other and collaborate professionally, but our clients and students are seeing the powerful combination of yoga and mindful eating.

Additionally, massage is an integral element of our menu of services, with 6 practitioners practicing more than 15 styles, our clients and students are stoked to be able to care for themselves all under one roof!

Hooray for the bike rack!

2009-06-23T18:56:00.001-07:00

I am so thrilled with the much needed bike rack in front of Nourish. That much more incentive for people power!

Welcome!

2009-06-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome one and all to the Nourish blog!

We hope to make this a cyber extension of our downtown studio in Santa Cruz. A space for information, ideas, self expression, wellness and perhaps most importantly of all - interaction.

Here you will find regular blogs from our charismatic yoga practitioners, our magical masseuses, our delicious nutritional expert and various other lovely people involved with Nourish.

In addition to sharing our insights into the various areas of our expertise, we will also share our musings on; wellness related issues, the weird and wonderful city of Santa Cruz, music, movies, art and anything else that moves us to put fingertips to keyboard.

We encourage you to do the same and are always eager to answer your questions or hear your thoughts.

Nourish aims to create a sense of community amongst our members and in the city as a whole. We hope this site can provide a platform for the discussion of good health and good times.

Be Well!