Why would you do a 30 Day Meditation Challenge?

Why would you consider a 30 day meditation challenge? A few reasons:

• According to one study, it takes between 18 and 254 days to form a habit and the folks at Google say it takes about 21 days. It is different for everyone. The point is, it takes time to create the neuro-pathways for change.
• It's not easy. So there lies dormant as sense of accomplishment. Setting goals + meeting goals = positive feeling.
• Other people are doing it too. You are not alone. You can connect with, support and be supported by other 30-day challengers.
• Meditation is one big key to unlocking 'higher' levels of consciousness and evolution. Does that seem weird or un-relatable to you? Well, here's some science. We have the limbic brain, the "reptilian" brain - responsible for flight/fight and circadian rhythm - your auto-pilot and we have the pre-frontal cortex responsible for conscious thought - human beings' most incredible gift. Meditation helps to get you off auto-pilot and become fully engaged - which allows for your big brain to serve the highest good.
• It's peaceful and relaxing.
• It's physically possible for all. I'm not sure a 30 days plank or handstand challenge is, but sitting on my bottom everyday and breathing? Sounds like a vacation.

And the most convincing reason? You will find out on day 31!

30 Day Meditation Challenge [Begins Nov 1!]

A 30 day Meditation Challenge?! Who's with me?!!

When: Nov 1 - 30, 2013
Where: Wherever (or at home in a designated spot)
Time: Whenever. Same time everyday (or first thing in the morning/last thing at night)
How Long:  15min (or longer)

Part of the challenge is to meditate and then write a short reflection on the experience. 15 minutes of meditation followed by 5 minutes of writing.

Sign up: Send me an email, like/friend me, and join the 30 Day Meditation Challenge group for inspiration, motivation, and encouragement.

Yeah.

Food loving and mindfully prepared tastes better and satisfies longer.

After an awesome summer of fresh-from-the-Earth food that requires only a little bit of a chop here and there and a strong desire to keep the oven in the off position due to the heat, I am so loving firing up the range and cooking! I love to make my time in the kitchen preparing foods a sort of meditation, prayerful time of intention and loving preparation.

In the book, 3 Bowls: Vegetarian Recipes from an American Zen Buddhist Monastery, Seppo Ed Farrey and Myochi Nancy O'Hara outline 5 Principles of Mindful Cooking. These principles apply to my raw food friends as well. 

Before selecting the recipes you wish to prepare, consider those you will be feeding and what they might enjoy. Then bring all your attention to the food. Food lovingly and mindfully prepared tastes better and satisfies longer.

FIRST. Consider the time you have allotted to cook and wisely choose the recipes you wish to prepare, with your time constraints in mind. Rushing only serves to undermine mindfulness. SECOND. Before you begin, check to make sure you have on hand all the needed ingredients or workable substitutes. THIRD. Wash, chop, sift, and stir. Think only of washing, chopping, sifting, and stirring. Breath and be mindful of each slice of the knife, of each swift of the spoon, of the magical process of cooking. FOURTH. Before throwing anything away, consider whether it might have a use. For example, save vegetable remains to make soup stock or use them as compost* to feed your garden. FIFTH. Keep it simple. Relax and enjoy the process of cooking, and the miracles that are born from your efforts. Sometimes we get so carried away that we can't stop, and with all good intentions, we make more food than anyone could possible eat at one sitting. If you want to make four or five different dishes for one meal, remind yourself that three are plenty.

Try this totally awesome recipe. I had it this morning, prepared as instructed above. It blew my mind.

Oatmeal with Sweet Potato and Apricots

2 cups rolled oats 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and grated 4 dried apricots, chopped (or a handful of raisins) 3/4 tsp sea salt 1 tsp vanilla extract yogurt and honey to taste

In a larger saucepan, bring 5 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in oats, sweet potato, apricots (or raisins), and salt and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Stir in the vanilla. Serve with a few spoonfuls of yogurt and honey stirred in.

Bonus: Brendan, my two year old loved it!

*The city of Portland composts! 

Fall Recommendations for Health

Though its still warm and lovely now, Fall is Vata season which poses a few challenges to the system, especially during the transition time. Here is a quick outline to help keeps your Vata and Fall calm, cool, and collected. Food Focus (cooked/roasted/stewed/braised) Fruit

• cooked apples
• avocados
• bananas
• dates
• figs
• grapefruit
• grapes
• lemons/limes
• mangos
• tangerines
• soaked raisins

Veggies

• roasted beets
• roasted carrots
• sweet potatoes
• onions
• chilies

Grains

• basmati
• oats
• quinoa

Legumes

• kidney beans
• mung beans
• miso

Nuts

• all are good

Dairy

• butter
• soft cheese
• cream
• ghee
• kefit
• warm milk
• sour cream
• yogurt

Animals (local, organic, know-your-farmer animals are best)

• beef
• buffalo
• chicken
• duck
• eggs
• fish
• oysters

Oils

• almond
• ghee
• olive

Sweeteners

• honey
• maple Syrup

Teas/Herbs

• ginger
• licorice
• cumin
• coriander
• fennel
• ashwaganda - stability for the nervous system

Lifestyle Focus

• warm
• grounding
• stability
• intention
• fluidity
• self-nourishment
• wear hats and scarves
• establishing a daily routine dinacharya including asana, meditation, and abhyanga self-oil massage using warming oils

Scents

• vetiver
• geranium
• citrus

Resources Banyanbotanicals.com or all the Ayurvedic products you'll ever need including wonderful abyanga oils. My friend Carin Cundey in Bend gives the most wonderful, out of this world, Bliss Therapy treatments, now is a good time to book one. How to Do Abhyanga