Jamie Abrams*Raw Food*Yoga*Teacher

Release Your Hamstrings

I discovered Giles Wiley a couple weeks ago. I think you’ll find his flexibility techniques super effective and useful. He uses an amazing trigger points system to help even the stiffest bodies surrender into suppleness.

So many people suffer with very unyielding hamstrings. When our hamstrings are taut this places extra stress on our backs causing problems. The equilibrium between the different spheres of our bodies is delicate. If one thing is out of balance it will eventually create a spiral effect throughout body - a.k.a. everything becomes out of whack!

I have been using Claude (Mr. World’s Tightest Hamstrings) as my guinea pig. Giles has flexibility tests that you perform before and after each trigger point exercise. (Click here to see his full article.) On Claude’s first attempt of using Giles' hamstring release he became at least two inches closer to touching his toes. It might not sound like a great deal, but this was a huge breakthrough for him. I don’t think he has ever come as close to his toes before! It was really inspiring see.

Here is Giles' instructional video for healthy hamstrings. After all stretchy hamstrings can mean having a very happy back (and a very cheery body).

(Image:Nellee100)

Little Gems, Big Wow

Mmm... the alluring aroma of coconut-chocolate macaroons in my dehydrator is tormenting my nose. I must focus - soldier on with writing this blog not to be detoured into the kitchen to steal a macaroon from its warm hiding place, while they are still in their infancy and have not yet reached their full decadence.

(Deep breath. Aaahhhhh. My lungs release and I still have those little delicacies on my mind.)

Okay, that aside I have a few GREAT links to share.

The first one is yoga-related. I know how many people try to start a home yoga practice, but then end up feeling discouraged, disillusioned and/or disgruntled with their attempts. I came across this überuseful article on Yoga Journal’s website by Claudia Cummins. Here are some of her top tips at a glance, but I highly recommend you click here to read in full how you can transform your home-practice into an unshakable routine:

• Focus on a single pose.
• Round out your practice with variety.
• Slip short yoga breaks into your day.
• Base your practice on an established sequence of postures shown in your favourite book or video.
• Practice with a friend.

My next nugget I found on Tim Ferriss’ blog. Tim breaks down a chapter from The Power of Less by Leo Babauta from Zen Habits. This expose is sure to get you rocking and rolling into the most phenomenal year of your life. I have to say I really love Tim’s stuff (reading his book as we speak) and Leo is a total inspiration.

There is a whole lot of wisdom to be gained from both of these gents, but the ONE thing that shouts out to me right now while so many of us are in resolution mode is this: Select one habit for your resolution per month. There are only a few rules you need to follow to make this challenge a success. Click here to find out what rules you’ll need to follow. With these rules in hand, it would be hard for you not to form a new habit by the end of the 30 days.

I have managed to type this whole blog without stepping foot in my kitchen to pinch a macaroon. If you are wondering how these tiny bites of love have bewitched me try the recipe out yourself. I guarantee you’ll have a hard time not scoffing them all down in one go!

Chocolate Macaroons
Recipe from: Real Food Real World by Sarma Melngailis & Matthew Kenney

Ingredients :
3 cups, dried, unsweetened coconut flakes
1 ½ cups cocoa powder (I use raw cacao powder)
1 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup coconut butter (melted)
1 TBSP vanilla extract
½ tsp sea salt (I omit)

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine. You can also use a standing mixer with the paddle attachment.
2. Using a small ice cream scoop, your hands or a big tablespoon, spoon rounds of the dough onto the dehydrator screens. If you are using your hands, it helps to refrigerate the mix a bit prior to forming the macaroons. Dehydrate at 115F for 12 to 24 hours, or until crisp on the outside and nice and chewy on the inside.

For blonde macaroons: replace the cocoa powder in the recipe above with an equal amount of fine almond flour.

Psst…don’t worry if you don’t have a dehydrator. Just eat them as they are. Believe me these are so incredibly more-ish.

New Year, New Resolution, New Me

The bustle of the holiday season and New Year have pranced by in just the blink of an eye. The old cliché ‘Where has the time gone?’ keeps buzzing in my head. My festive days were filled with lots of lying in, socializing and tantalizing raw desserts.

It was so fantastic to sleep-in like I did pre-baby days (thank you hub-a-bubba). I even had someone say to me for the first time ever how rested I looked. I didn’t know whether to kiss or hug him!

I am not even sure whether I should spout off the indulgent desserts I made. It might just be too cruel. But over Christmas I did discover the art of making kale chips, which helped to balance out all of the dessert eating.

These crispy sensations are so addictive and totally guilt-free (not that I ever feel guilty about my food choices!). I’ll include my recipe below. You will definitely want to give these babies a go.

Claude and I have a little New Year’s Eve ritual of making a family vision board. It is always enlightening, humbling and at times entertaining making these together. I feel really blessed to have a partner that I can truly share my life path with.

Although we have family goals and aims they aren’t terribly different to my individual resolutions. I haven’t made my personal vision board yet, but thoughts of what need to be put on it are rattling around in my head and heart.

I do have one resolution in particular that is slightly personal, but I think could also apply to other people on many different levels. This year I have resolved to ACCEPT myself. Under this umbrella of acceptance comes truly being in love with ALL aspects of myself, feeling worthy and to not be so harshly judgemental towards my being or perceived faults.

I know a tall order, but I am up for the challenge because I know the rewards of self-love are greater than any obstacle I self-create.

So this is my year to really notice my own inner-bright and let it shine with full worthiness.

Inner-Bright Kale Chips
2 big bundles of curly kale
2 TBS olive oil
pinch of sea salt
1 TBS garlic, granulated powder
1 TBS onion powder
2 TBS nutritional yeast
dash of cayenne

Wash kale and roughly chop or tear apart. Pour olive oil over kale and add sea salt. Massage your kale with lots of gushy love. The kale will shrink down a bit. Then add remaining ingredients. Massage some more. Place on dehydrator tray. Dehydrate at 105-115 for 4 hours +.

*For a little something different add a TBS of Mexican seasoning, Indian seasoning or pizza seasoning. Be sure to buy a combination that doesn’t have added salt, sugar or toxic fillers.

Kale Image: Zorbs