Jamie Abrams*Raw Food*Yoga*Teacher

Gandhi's Happiness & Buddha's Love

' Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. '

~Gandhi 

 

‘ You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.’

~ Buddha

 

 

Sunny Ice Cream and Happiness

We've been in Croatia the last month basking in the sun and luxuriating in the Adriatic Sea. We brought a stash of goodies with us for making treats and desserts. This recipe was my brainchild one day when I realised we were running low on cashews (from all the cashew-based ice creams I had been making) and had a bountiful supply of sunflower seeds. 

My two kilo bag of sunflower seeds were begging to be brandished on something other than the refrigerator shelf. I also had some mesquite powder that I had been avoiding - I don't usually care for the after-taste, but in this recipe it goes undetected by my scrutinising taste buds, so a bonus for us all! 

I encourage you to play and tweak with the measurements as the ones below are approximate (I am guilty of creating in the kitchen by using handfuls of this and splashes of that). 

At any rate you are sure to feel sunny on the inside after licking down a spoonful or two of this chocolate-peanutbuttery-tasting summer treat. If you really want your happiness meter to soar through the roof, try the meditation technique below! 

Sunny Ice Cream 

3/4 C sunflower seeds (soaked several hours or overnight)

1/2 C almond milk (can use H2O) 

3 TBS raw chocolate powder 

1 TBS mesquite powder 

3 TBS honey or agave (may need to adjust according to desired sweetness) 

1 tsp camu camu (optional) 

1 tsp chlorella (optional) 

1/4 C cacao butter, melted 

1 TBS lecithin 

Add first 7 ingredients into blender - save a little almond milk on the side as you want a thick smooth consistency and not too runny. Once well blended, add the cacao butter and lecithin and blend again until well mixed. Pour out into a tub and place in freezer for 3 hours when it will be ready to devour. 

The trick with making ice creams and mousses is not to get too gun-ho with adding too much liquid to the mixture. Start with small amounts. If your hand was a little heavy, try adding more chocolate powder and little more cacao butter (you may need a touch more sweetener, too). 

Finally, top with any fresh, seasonal fruits, bee pollen, cacao nibs or chopped nuts for an ice cream that is sure to get you lapping every drop from the tub. 

Happiness Meditation 

Do this anytime, anywhere for a lift to your internal happiness account. Zenchai and I love doing it together at night as part of his bedtime routine - so if you have any kiddlewinkles in your life spread the joy by adapting it to their understanding. They deserve to allow their inner-bright to shine, too. 

First think of an affirmation for yourself. Keep it simple. For example: I am healthy. I am happy. I am well. Choose up to three short statements. Zenchai and I use 'I am happy and free.' 

Then, repeat your phrase in your head, directing the thoughts towards yourself. Once you feel you have sufficiently loved yourself up, think of someone else you love. (Zenchai inevitably chooses his grandmere and then throws his arms up and says 'I love everyone!' Repeat your same phrase but this time sending it out to your chosen loved one. 

After you finish sending your super-groovy vibes out to your loved one, think of someone that you feel neutrally towards - ie. the cashier at the grocery store or the guy that pumps your gas etc. Visualise them in your minds eye and send them your affirmation. 

Now think of someone you dislike or are having difficulty with (for children this could be a bully or teacher). With that person in your mind send your well wishes towards them. Lastly, send out your happiness affirmation to everyone. 

Finish with: May everyone be happy and free. 

You don't have to do all five steps. If you need a quickie buzz booster just do the first and last steps. Your chosen affirmation does not have to be said aloud either, but do so when trying it with kiddies. 

It is magic to my ears when I close Zenchai's bedroom door and he is still happily chanting 'I am happy and free. I am happy and I love you.' until he falls asleep.

Our Ecstatic Birthing Tango

This post is one that is very dear to my heart, not only because I share one of the most intimate moments of my life, but it also marks my 100th blog post! I hope this brings tingly, warm fuzzies...

We celebrated Zenchai’s 3rd birthday last week. To honour his bubbly spirit I would like to share our ecstatic birthing tango. I wholeheartedly believe my yoga history, healthy diet, strong resolve of mind and heart and supple body contributed to us experiencing a birthing paradise.

For many moons I have been deeply connected to the natural process of giving birth. This passion stems from a time in my life when I did not have any children nor was I contemplating having them, but rather I was completely awe-struck with the female body’s capabilities. Most people gape in astonishment at the women’s ability to squeeze a watermelon through a lemon! I was no exception. 

I read everything I could get my hands on regarding childbirth, breastfeeding and natural fertility. On many occasions I have flirted with the idea of becoming a midwife. And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll cross paths with an old village midwife and she’ll extend an offer to apprentice me. I can dream can’t I?!

 When I did become pregnant I knew exactly how I wanted to have my birth – at home, birthing pool, candles lit, aromatherapy scenting the air, homeopathy kit in hand and midwives that I had formed a loving relationship with. True enough Zenchai’s birth was not far off the mark.

As my two due dates (one based on the standard 28-day menstrual cycle and the second one based on my longer 32-36-day menstrual cycle) whizzed by, Claude and I were left wondering if our babe was ever going to make an entrance into this world. We had silly bets about when Zenchai (we didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl – I didn’t have any ultrasound scans) would come, like when all three of our azalea bushes were in tandem bloom. We also tried all the usual coaxing methods – over-ripened pineapple, hot curries, vigorous walks, sperm on the cervix (sex), homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology (my therapist told me my feet didn’t even feel like a pregnant woman’s!) But Zenchai had his own agenda and still does today!

Two weeks or three later, depending on how you look at the dates, I woke-up to use the loo very early in the morning. To my surprise I had a show. Since this was way beyond Zenchai’s due date I knew that it was going to be ‘the day’. I told Claude and he drowsily commented that we should phone the midwives. I thought it was too early, so just climbed back into bed.

We both returned to sleep. As I swung from sleepiness to wakefulness, I noticed waves of sensations running through my body. I woke Claude again just before 11am to ask if he would call the midwives, just to give them a heads-up. I crawled out of bed and went straight to the kitchen. For whatever reason, I was determined to make a lemon cake. I began getting the ingredients out; I even went so far as chopping a few lemons. But I abandoned my cake attempt when I realized how ridiculous the idea was. I couldn’t concentrate on the lemons when I had something way more profound happening in my body!

Instead, I sat on our Swissball, looking out into the garden, focusing on my breathing. I am not sure if it was my heavy breathing that woke Claude from his sleep, but he came down to check on me only to find me in full-blown labour.

He decided to call the midwives to tell them the birth was becoming imminent (my waves were every three minutes). I decided to escape to the stairs. I began rocking and making very cow-like noises. At one point I broke down and wept on the steps. I just sobbed in Claude’s arms, babbling something about how we were really going to become parents. Then I was sick (obviously I was in transition!) After some comfort, I went back to my own world. Claude was madly rushing to fill the birth pool. I crawled up the stairs to the toilet. It felt like a natural place for me to go. Sitting on the toilet was always comforting when I had severe menstrual cramps in the past. (Claude said to celebrate Zenchai’s 3rd birthday I should have just sat on the toilet for three hours meditating! You didn’t know that I am married to a comedian did you?!)

Around 12:30pm, our first midwife, Louise, arrived. I was still holed up in the toilet, had just been sick again, but was totally oblivious to the world around me. Claude said it looked similar to seeing someone possessed; my head was rolling and I was breathing loud and incessantly. As I remember, it was if I had left my body and some other force had taken over. It was like I released myself to Mother Nature and totally allowed my body to flow. I don’t in fact recall thinking. There was NEVER a moment when I thought I couldn’t do it, that I needed pain relief or that I was in pain. I felt the intensity of what was happening, but was too far into the meditative-trance state to actually feel the physicality of the birth process.

Our second midwife, Heather, arrived around 3pm, just as I was feeling the urge to push. Picture four adults cramped into a tiny toilet (about the size of a small closet) preparing for a baby to be born – a tin of sardines comes to mind.

I don’t consciously remember pushing. My body just pushed; it knew what to do without me having to urge it. Claude and Louise (luckily, she is tiny!) were crouched beneath me while I was on the toilet. Both midwives thought it would be a good idea to put a towel between the toilet and the seat as Zenchai was coming quickly. While Heather lovingly supported me in very awkward standing position so Louise could secure the towel, Zenchai shot out of me like a rocket! Claude, with the quick assistance of Louise, received Zenchai and handed him to me. At 3:59pm on May 21, 2006, Zenchai was born – without intervention or drugs - all 8lbs and 21 inches of him

When I first held him I was overwhelmed – not only by him but by what had just  happened. The intense but speedy birth left me in a fuzzy place, although that could have been attributed to the huge cocktail of hormones I had coursing through my body. There is nothing at all in this world comparable to the post-birth hormone high. 

I was so utterly intoxicated by the magical little being I had carried in my body for nearly 10 months and birthed so blissfully. I had known all along he was a boy.

I may not have used the birthing pool or any of the other frilly things, but Zenchai’s birth couldn’t have been any more brillant. He may have taken his time choosing his arrival date, but when he was ready there was no stopping his miraculous entry into our lives.

Happy 3rd Birthday, My Sweet Boy!!

Pop over to RawMom by clicking here to read about how we jubilated Zenchai's big day. And click here to read the interview I did with one of the most inspirational mamas on the planet!

Smooches xx

Optical Illusion?

I went to the opticians yesterday for my biannual contact lens check. Usually these examinations are nothing to write home about. I get the standard ‘look right, left, now up and down’, flip of the eyelids, ‘can you make anything out on the bottom line’ and ‘which is better the first one or the second one’ assessment. Then a little pat on the head informing me that my eyes look healthy, nothing has changed and I am sent on my merry way.

However, yesterday I made personal history. My eyesight has significantly improved (up until yesterday my vision had remained the same from about the age of ten). I sent my optician into shock. He had to triple check my eyes to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Then he asked me if I had been taking any new medications. I just laughed and told him that no I wasn’t on any meds. just eating very healthily. I felt too shy to mention to him that I eat a high raw food diet.

He then went into a spiel about how consuming spinach helps our eye health. At which point I did tell him that I juice spinach almost every day. The goody-two-shoes in me couldn’t resist.

Doctor’s orders are to keep doing whatever it is I am doing and I was also given a new set of weaker contact lenses.

I felt really proud, okay true enough I still do! It has been a long dream of mine to cure my vision challenges. Now I really feel like I am on the road to success.

If you are looking to heal your vision here are a few things that might help you along your journey. These suggestions where given to me by a very special yogic superhero friend of mine after I had asked him how he healed his vision. I also added a few of my own in:

•  High raw food diet
• Pinhole eye glasses
• Sungazing
• Only use your glasses/ contact lenses when you are at risk of hurting yourself or others
• Do the eye exercises to suit the vision challenges you have
• Bathe your eyes in Reiki and healing energy by warming hands, cupping over eyes and soaking in the vibe.
• Ask yourself  what it is that you don’t want to see about yourself and others. Then address it as best as possible and let it go. Be open to see yours and others shortcomings.
• Eat the rainbow of colors
• Read the works of Aldos Huxley and others who were legally blind, but cured themselves using natural vision improvement. Look into the Bates Method so you will believe it can really work!
• Try and immerse yourself in nature and constantly soak in colors, smells, textures and feel it healing your eyes ...also stare at natural colors; leaves, sea, sky....
• Be mindful of what you look at. Especially when you look at things in man-made environments (tv, movies, websites,.....) 
• Be an alchemist  by remembering it is all OM, just a  different frequency ...IT IS ALL ONE!

4 Tips to Help You Choose a Yoga You Will Love

I am back!! Zenchai and I arrived in London on Wednesday. We are settling in just dandily. I must admit I feel rather lucky. I almost never suffer from jet lag.Whoo-hoo!

I am also just itching to share more about my trip, but I am going to wait until Claude returns from Vegas. Mainly, because he has the camera with the pictures that will accompany my story. So hopefully you can all hang-out for another week to hear the details.

Until then here is an article I wrote for Jenny Calcoen-Birnberg from Gemini Wellness Coaching for her monthly newsletter.

4 Tips to Help You Choose a Yoga You Will Love

I am often asked "What style of yoga do you teach?" This might seem like a really easy question to answer, but I have studied, trained and sampled so many varieties of yoga that I can't simply define it as one particular style. Although at heart I am an aspiring Anusara yogini. Anusara literally means flowing from grace or following your heart. Each posture is a creative expression of who you are that celebrates where you are in that very moment. It is a subtly strong style of yoga with a huge emphasis on the innate goodness and supreme nature of each student and every being. This translates into in a yoga practice that is full of integrity. You move from your heart. To me this is where I feel the most at home.

Many of the other more common styles of yoga are beautiful in their own right, but do not convey the same heart quality for me. A few simple differences between styles of yoga are: the length each posture is held, the speed at which one moves into the poses, the variety of postures used within the particular system and alignment discrepancies.

Here are some tips to help you choose a style of yoga you'll love. After all, there are as many flavours of yoga as there are people to try them! Sampling a style of yoga that truly reflects your personality can make all the difference in the world to your enjoyment and commitment to practising yoga. Remember to not get discouraged if you don't like the first style of yoga you try. Keep dipping and you will eventually find one that speaks to you!

1. Consider your reason(s) for wanting to start a yoga practice. Are you doing it primarily for relaxation, exercise, stress-relief, general health etc.
2. Are you looking for a class that is very physically challenging or do you want to find a class that is calmer and more relaxing?
3. Do you like small intimate class settings or large classes with lots of people?
4. Do you have any special considerations or medical conditions?

Now armed with the answers to your questions, do your research by calling yoga teachers, centres and studios near you. Ask them about the style of yoga they teach, the general flow of their classes and if they cater to your specific needs. Don't be afraid to ask the teacher about his/her qualifications, certifications, trainings and years of teaching experience. We are a pretty friendly bunch and truly desire for you to have the best experience possible.

So happy bending, stretching, breathing and yoga-dipping!

Pull back the curtains...

It is time to pull back the curtains on my latest offering.  I am so ecstatic to be presenting this service again. This is one of my favourite things to experience, so I feel really passionate about it.  If you want to feel absolutely divine on every level then this is really a must. Okay enough hype, but it really is so fabulous.

<Drum roll please!>

I would like a big round of applause for none other than: Thai Yoga Therapy!

If you have never heard of Thai Yoga Therapy it is very similar to Thai massage, but with a real yoga flare. It is a heavenly ancient healing art that combines soft rocking, gentle twisting, rhythmic acupressure, energy work, breathing techniques, meditation and deep assisted yoga postures into a flowing sequence to open and tone all the systems of the body. All this is rolled into one extraordinary session. 

Click here to read more about the benefits, how it is given and general FAQ.

If you are ready to have your inner-bright shine then you might be interested in my exclusive offer. I will give 10% off every session purchased up to my birthday – 11/11/08. The session does not have to be booked/redeemed by 11/11/08, just simply purchased. All sessions that are pre-purchased must be used by February 11, 2009. This offer is only applicable to new clients (meaning you have never had a Thai Yoga session with me before).

Click here to purchase your promotional sessions using Paypal. The 10% Off Paypal button will disappear on 11/11/2008 at 11:11 PM. Sessions can also be pre-purchased with a cheque in the post or cash in person.

This is also a great opportunity to purchase gift vouchers for anyone you think needs a little sparkle put back into their eyes. Christmas gifts anyone?

If you have any questions then feel free to touch base with me!

Here’s to an easeful body, peaceful mind and blissful life!

Images: independantman, myyogaonline.

Halloween Treat: The Corpse Pose

With Halloween nearly on our doorstep and my renewed commitment to take more time for myself, I think it is highly appropriate to share more with you about the Corpse Pose or Savasana. What could be a better name for my Halloween-inspired yoga treat?

The Corpse Pose is the posture we melt into when practising deep relaxation. Although it looks physically easy to do, it is actually considered one of the hardest postures to ‘master’. The main reasons being it can be incredibly tricky to shut off our mind’s chatter, allow our muscles to fully relax and just lay in quietness without falling asleep.

I have been to many yoga classes (as a student) where the teacher skips out Savasana totally or really skimps on the amount of time spent in the pose. I always walked away from the classes feeling cheated and usually did not return.  Not doing Savasana is missing the point of yoga. (By the way, I have been guilty of not doing Savasana in my personal home practice from time to time, so I am just as easily tempted away from the thing I need. But not any more!)

It is often the very thing we are anxious about or shy away from that we need the most. Practicing the Corpse Pose is no exception. If going deep into your inner-world causes trepidation I invite you this Halloween to go into that scary place. More often than not when you stick-in and move through the uncomfortable aspects the fear will be replaced with joy and triumphant relief.

My healthy Halloween treat to you!
Psst...I have another scrumptious treat offering lined up. So watch this space. I will be releasing the details on Halloween.

 How to do Savasana (Corpse Pose):

• Lay on your back with feet hips distance apart, arms next to the body, palms facing up. Gently close your eyes and if you have an eye-pillow, place it over your eyes. First move through the body, tensing and relaxing each muscle – start with your right leg, squeeze all the muscles, lift off the floor an inch and drop it. Repeat this with your other leg, buttocks, and both arms. Gently rock neck and head. Be sure to squeeze your facial muscles as well.

• Then make yourself as comfortable as possible and make a mental commitment not to move for the rest of the deep relaxation.

• Mentally move your awareness through each part of the body asking it to relax – starting with the feet moving to the crown of the head.

• Allow yourself to feel supported and soften into the floor.

• Now focus on your breath, an affirmation, or mantra. Try to allow the mind to be still, while you stay conscious.

• Stay here for as long as you like. Fifteen minutes can do wonders for you!

Benefits of Savasana (Corpse Pose):

• Relaxes whole psycho-physiological system

• Restores symmetry in the body

• Allows you to absorb all the healing benefits of your yoga asana practice

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression

• Relaxes the body (of course!!!)

• Reduces headache, fatigue, and insomnia

• Helps to lower blood pressure

Variations:
Feel free to use props to make this a truly serenity-filled experience. Thin cushion under your head or bolster under your knees can allow your body to release even more.

Contraindications:
In pregnancy place a bolster under the knees or raise chest and head with bolster.
Back/ hip injury bend knees with feet on floor or support the knees with bolster.

Raw Yoga Teacher Tip:
Remember your body temperature will drop, so be prepared with a blanket or warm clothing.

Images compliments of myyogaonline and GraceD

My week in short...

It has been another busy week! Although, I have to admit I haven't been busy with the sorts of things I enjoy. Alas, the beautiful autumnal day has refreshed my senses.

This evening I am going to get all dolled-up for a night out at Saf, which is much needed after a challenging week of volatile two-year old behaviour. I even treated myself to a new top to wear. I am looking forward to coming out of mama mode for a few hours and letting my hair down.

Having said that Zenchai has had some really sweet moments. Last night he gave me the moon as a present. Bless him!

I am also feeling really jazzed about a photo shoot I had last week. I received the images yesterday in the mail. I am really happy with how they turned-out. So I am sure you'll be seeing some more of them splashed around here.

Also, I am pleased to finally offer Paypal on my website for my services. Adding Paypal has felt really pivotal to me.

If you would like a little interesting reading this weekend then click here for an article about how meditation can boost compassion for living beings. It will only take a few minutes to read and is well worth it.

I hope you have a gleeful autumnal weekend wherever you are!

The YOGA Show - London

It is that time of year again for the annual YOGA Show in London. It is taking place the 31st October - 2nd November at the Olympia in Kensington. I am really excited about this event. There is going to be a spectacular turn-out of renowned yoga teachers holding some very informative classes.

I already have a few classes highlighted in the programme that I want to attend including a class with Doug Keller a master Anusara Yoga teacher.

The YOGA Show is literally all things yoga under one roof. So I am also keen to see what else is new in the yoga world. I always love looking at the beautiful yoga mat bags, organic yoga clothing, and the latest in yoga mat technology. I might even try to pick-up an eco-yoga mat (I know retail therapy at its best!).

The event is also really reasonably priced. You can enjoy an entire day of yoga for £7 (that is not including any special workshop fees). Click here to see more about the costs.

This is an excellent opportunity to experience yoga in its many forms! I really hope you can make it. Click here to buy your tickets. Remember to drop me a line if you plan on attending. It would be great to see you or you can always look for me there.

Photo from yoga show.

 

Humbling Yoga Experience

This morning as I began doing some yoga on the floor in the lounge with Zenchai playing nearby, I was reminded of how much my yoga practice has changed since becoming a mother. I am often asked if I do yoga everyday. For me answering this question is always difficult (maybe because of the ego!).

When people enquire about my personal practice I know they are most interested in how much asana (posture) practice I am doing and aren't necessarily concerned with the other deeper aspects of yoga living. Each day brings me new challenges, so I try in earnest to practice the many other forms of yoga to bring equilibrium to my daily living. Sometimes I am more successful than at other times.

My asanas have been transformed by Zenchai. I try to quietly get on with my session, but for him seeing mummy do something that looks so cool is just temptation to play. Most days my postures are flavored with him using me as a climbing frame or using my various body positions as a car park or tunnel.

Today there was something special about his playfulness. While I was in downward facing dog he magically pressed my spine in just the right spot to allow me to go deeper (the exact adjustment I would give a student in class). Then I moved into a deep lunge. He just took a seat on my back leg, which was fantastic. It really tested me to make sure I was applying the muscular energy needed to gain the most benefit from the pose - again this is something I do in my classes.  The real icing on the cake was when I was in headstand and he came directly in front of my face to give me the biggest kiss and to stroke my face. I know warm fuzzies are abounding everywhere!

His skill this morning was just one of those mystical gifts that children bring to us. So although my ego would love to give a resounding 'YES' every time someone asks me if I do yoga everyday, my spirit is more than happy with the quantity of asana practice I do.

The most humbling yoga experience I have had to date has been becoming a mother.

Photo compliments of  mollykiely.