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What’s your favorite color? by Siga Bielkus

zara — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:12:11 +0000

One of the first decisions a bride faces is the choice of color scheme. When asked whether I wanted my Save-the-Date cards to be accented in green, pink, or blue, I didn’t have to think long to know my answer. Not blue. Not green. I wanted pink.

How did I know this? I have no personal vendetta against green. Green is lovely. It’s the color of nature, of my favorite veggie drink, of Kermit. But it wasn’t for my bridesmaids’ dresses. Why did my instinct, my gut, seemingly choose one wavelength on the color spectrum over another?

One of the first questions we ask as children is “What’s your favorite color?” Every child has an answer. Most are willing to go to the mattresses to defend their choice. They know that they like pink better than green by tapping into a deep, personal side of themselves – their observer mind. It’s an early instance for them to step outside of the moment of action and reflect by asking, “What do I, removed from the distractions and noise of the moment, truly feel?” It’s a simple act, but one that underlies the infinitely more complex web of choices and actions into which they’ll soon find themselves bound.

In yoga, you return to that simple question that appeals to the observer mind. What do I, apart from the white noise of life, really feel? Finding that “I” can feel impossible. Yoga helps us locate ourselves.

Within that context, the million choices I face planning my wedding don’t seem so stressful or complicated. All I need to do is ask myself, “What’s my favorite color?” Then, like I would have done when I was three years-old, answer from within.

The perfect peanut butter!

zara — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:59:07 +0000

There are a ton of reasons why I am thankful for this past season’s amazing snow fall in New England: 1. It got me back to the mountains of my childhood, where I learned to ski (although the snow was so good this year that I hardly remember a season like this in New England!) 2. The snow lasted well into April which gave me the chance to go to Jay Peak with my three sisters and my niece and nephew! We had a ball and some great spring skiing! And 3. I am most thankful for the snow because it introduced me to no joke, the WORLD’S GREATEST PEANUT BUTTER! You read right folks. Who could possibly know that the most delicious peanut butter on the planet hails from Vermont?

We were up in Vermont getting some food at Jay Peak’s little provisions store, when my sister Siga insisted we get some peanut butter. Considering we were only up on the mountain for 3 days, the peanut butter didn’t seem so essential to me, but she remembered my mom always insisting that the two type 1 diabetics in the family (one is me!) always need an easy ready- to- go snack, especially when active, with just the right combination of protein, carbohydrate and fat. Peanut butter is the perfect way to get this combo. We had left Skippy long ago, and always buy only freshly ground peanut butter, or at least a brand whose list of ingredients only includes peanuts and salt. It passed the ‘ingredient list test’, had the fun “Welcome to Vermont” sign, and the words Chunky, so my sister and I figured it passed enough criteria to be bought.

Well the first morning for breakfast, we toasted up some bread and made sandwiches with the Vermont Peanut Butter Company’s chunky style peanut butter. Suddenly my staple breakfast of two eggs in the morning had a serious competitor. This peanut butter is like no other peanut butter and is better tasting than freshly ground peanut butter. It has the perfect chunky consistency (we are talking whole peanuts) and the hint of sea salt pretty much makes this stuff addictive. The peanut butter was suddenly making an appearance on bananas, rice crackers, even a tortilla chip. Basically anything that could be a vehicle for more peanut butter. And then there it was… the moment, when the knife scraped the last little but of scrumptiousness out of the jar. Panic in the kitchen!

So I quickly went and googled the peanut butter from Vermont, and I was so excited to see the cool folks and story behind the brand. And then was amazed to see that they have 10 unbelievably delicious sounding flavors, like “Good Karma” with peanuts and dark chocolate, “Bee Nut Butter” peanuts and raw honey (considering I can satisfy a cookie craving with nut butter and raw honey; these guys know flavor combos J), and the limited edition “Champlain Cherry” which I will now patiently await for October’s arrival.

Secretly, I dream that the Vermont Peanut Butter folks send me one of each flavor to sample. But until then, I will be ordering my fix from their easy to navigate website. Trust me, you should too!

Drats!

Mama-Ste! The 3 Most Important Things My Mother Taught Me – by Vyda Bielkus

zara — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:18:36 +0000

Mama-ste! The 3 most important things my mother taught me.

I have a great relationship with my mother; in fact all of my 3 sisters do too. We jokingly call her the ‘Guru-Ma’ – the all-knowing wise woman. Looking back at our lives together, I have come to realize the number of important life lessons she has taught me are countless. But as we approach Mother’s Day, I wanted to share what I feel are some of the most important. So many mothers (moms to be, new moms, and even moms of 30+ years) struggle with putting other’s needs ahead of their own, and feelings of guilt, that I believe what I learned from my mom can be an inspiration to all. Take good care of yourself.

1. Take good care of yourself.

Many moms who come to my studio tell me they find it really challenging to make time for yoga class when they have kids… and then when they do come, they feel bad that they are going to class instead of being with them. Taking care of yourself is one of the biggest gifts you can give your kids. Yes taking care of YOURSELF! When my sisters and I were still very little (all under ten) our house was full of crazy! There were four of us girls (one who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 2). My mom had just started a business of her own which literally had an office in our basement- and our dad was no Mr. Mom. With all that swirled around her, I remember on Saturday mornings my mom would head out. She wouldn’t wash the dishes from breakfast, she didn’t really care if we were dressed or not, she just would kiss us good bye and take off, leaving us with our dad. One of us would always be crying at her feet as she would be heading out the door, but out the door she went. As soon as the door closed behind her, my sisters and I had a ball! We’d run around the house, play pretend, get outside in the mud and just had fun, not thinking about her at all. When our mom came back she was always glowing and more relaxed. As the pattern continued, we made the connection that “exercise at Dunphey’s” made our mom happy, which in turn made our entire household happy! She continued to role model taking care of oneself for us. She learned Transcendental Meditation (TM) and it became a household rule that when mom meditated we’d be quiet. Even our friends, and yes at times that meant eight kids in the house, each of us with a friend, knew “TM time” meant quiet time. We learned to respect her needs. Although we might not have been able to put it into words back then, we understood that when mom took care of herself she was more present when she was with us. She wasn’t as distracted or stressed.

2. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but of strength.

Help is always available. Moms don’t suffer from having to juggle a lot (that is the fun of life), moms suffer because they believe they need to do it alone. After our parents’ divorce, my mom, probably out of sheer need was able to ask for help. She enlisted her sister, our uncles, our grandparents and nannies to help her raise us. When she would go off to work and leave us with Buba(grandma) and Bocius(grandpa) we didn’t feel less loved; in fact it made us feel more loved. We always knew as kids someone was watching out for us and had our back. We also got to learn so much from the richness of our relationship with our extended family. But there were countless other ways my mom taught me that asking for help is the only way to have your needs met. When two of us were in really big transitions, she dreamed of sending us to a private girls’ school. She knew she wanted this for us. The school would not only support our growth, but also help her raise us because of its structure. In many ways getting us into the school was as much of a good thing for us as it was for her (a busy single working mom). The school is one of the most exclusive, private schools in the country, and there was no way she could afford to send us. Instead of seeing this as a block, she asked for helped. As our luck would have it, the school granted us scholarships. I loved my school! It was some of the most amazing years of my childhood. From watching my mom ask for help, I got it: if you don’t ask, you’ll never know. Sometimes we don’t ask for help because we perceive it as not available. Start looking around for help and you will see it everywhere.

3. The Power of Sorry.

There were the moms that made it to every sports game and then… there was my mom. I think she made it to one of my games and maybe a few of my sisters’. There were the moms who picked up their kids right on time every time and then… there was my mom. Lots of times my mom was late, but one of the bests was when she was a whole two hours late, and to top it, she was at the wrong school! The thing about it is that my mom would always and still says sorry. She was genuinely sorry if our feelings were hurt, she was genuinely sorry if she misunderstood or was given conflicting information, but the secret is she didn’t feel guilty. The truth is, in life, you will sometimes have to be in two places at once, or a work meeting will take priority, or you will make a mistake. Be sorry not guilty. I still observe this amazing gift my mom has to say sorry to just level the playing to field. To make whoever she is “disagreeing” with feel and understand that the relationship matters more than whether one person is right or wrong. And FYI, for all you mom’s out there who feel guilty when you miss a child’s “important” game, recital, or school, function, I used to think my mom was way cool, that she couldn’t come to my games because she was working!

Dr. Bronner’s Classic Soaps / Review by HYL Sister: Zara

zara — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:37 +0000

Lemon Water. Coffee. Facebook. Porridge. Strawberries. Sun. Avocado. Good Morning America. Kashi. Eggs. A supine twist. Tea. Rain. The Today Show. Marmalade. We all have our morning favorites, the small rituals that make our routine a moment of solace before the day barrels on taking us for the ride of our lives. And then there is the obligation (before facing anyone who can’t see you in your robe): a shower. Somehow it marks the end of the me morning and begins the we day. The same way that there are countless choices of cereals, there are also countless choices of body wash, soap and suds. Maybe to make it easy on those of us who are not morning people, the choices are much the same… grapefruit this, raspberries fields that… I for one have never enjoyed smelling of a larder, but I can understand the need for variety in life. In general most of us know what we don’t want, and for bathing that includes things like parabens, sulfates, and other yuckies that not only dry our skin but also damage the ecosystem. Many brand-named body soaps and washes contains lots of these and other yuckies. The solution? Switch to Dr Bronner’s!

This all natural, castile soap is seriously the only bottle you need in the shower/bath, so you can finally get rid of that cluttered shower caddy full of hotel miniatures. It suds, it lathers, it cleanses, it softens skin, it rinses clean. Incredibly concentrated you only need a few drops on a loofah before meringues of foam burst up and aromatherapy diffuses through the steam. An active yogi I sometimes must bathe more than once per day, which is annoying for someone who (much like grizzly bears) detests getting water in her ears; but this beautiful bottle makes it a little less dreadful because it makes my skin feel so good. Being the largest organ, we must learn to care for the skin as one entity, and keeping it smiling will improve our overall wellbeing. I even use it as shampoo, but my hair is pretty resilient so I can’t say what it would feel like on colored/permed or treated tresses.

I even use the Baby Mild (scent-free) for hand washing my delicates; so far no damage to silk stockings but DO test patch to determine if it is suitable for your clothes, and because of its lathering power do not use it in a washing machine! The company makes many specified products, including Sal Sud, a cleaning solution, and balms, hand soaps, conditioners, shaving gels etc. In all honesty, I find the one, original bottle can do all the work that any soap, shampoo, or shave foam does, but try out their other ranges if you like targeted lotions and potions.

Just like all the big-brand names, it has scents for any mood: Rose, Lavender, Baby-Mild, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Almond, Orange, Peppermint, Green Tea, and yes even Citrus! For the past ten years my go-to has been Tea Tree – I am pattern person – but upon trying Green Tea, bold but tender, for the first time I could be tempted to alternate. Pouring a bit into a half filled bath, with a soft face cloth, is a quick way to clean up before dinner after a hot-yoga class. All the writing on the bottle makes for good bath time reading, and you won’t have to worry about newspaper ink staining your fingertips!

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Pure Castile Classic Soaps

Heels in a Marathon – by Zara Bielkus

zara — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:23:11 +0000

Some memories in life are so strong that when we remember them, we feel as though they are happening right there in that moment when we are recalling them. This may happen when you hold your child for the first time, or you are told you passed the BAR exam. Or it can be something more collective, like when you saw the new Dalai Lama for the first time, or seeing George W’s face on the news in that elementary school in 2001. We all have these moments, some public, some private. Some we share. Some we don’t. Perhaps part of our consciousness remains there, in that moment, for good or for bad, and therefore every time we recall it we can almost live it. My most recent experience of this is from the day of the 2013 Boston Marathon. I imagine it will remain raw for some time for the whole city, and part of our collective consciousness will remain there, cradling the incident with the stronger arms of the present.

A week after the incident I gave my nude-colored stilettos in to my cobbler.

“What did you do in these?” he asked. The leather had been stripped off both heels, the soles cut, and blue spots (Gatorade?) all over one.

“I wore them in the Boston Marathon – ” I replied.

“Heels…in a Marathon? Who…” he scratched his head.

I had meant to say I wore them to the Marathon. In many ways I did not even want to get into it, because most people don’t wear heels at sporting events, even as a spectator. But in a more comprehensive way I guess I was trying to say, I wore them in the Boston Marathon…bombing. But I could not. I did not want to. I did not want to have that memory there in a cramped shop, with my head aching from the smell of glue and leather.

And then it happened. It happened anyway. But for the first time the memory was not of the day, or running in heels, or the fallen barricades, police, cattle bells, baseball caps, magnolias, smoke. It was not of the hurt. A totally different aspect of the event surfaced. My mind saw a man in a raincoat with puffy eyes, turning the door knob of my sister’s apartment front door, with my scarf in his hand. Through the night following the attack, I had reported the experience to some news networks. Because of time differences I was asked to report near the crime scene in the middle of the night. Standing at the door, at 3am, to help me was my future brother-in-law. All things considered, he said, I shouldn’t have to go alone. When we arrived at the television crews, I realized I had to say something as opposed to just show how I felt. Crying would only say one thing. I needed to say some thing. Shocked from the day and the hour, and the cold spring night, I froze – until my future brother-in-law said, ‘just be you. People just want to hear you.’

Then the memory finished, and all I felt was kindness. The kindness of him keeping me company, the kindness of the reporters sharing stories so compassion could be showered back to Boston. And kindness to myself, allowing everything that unfolded that day and week to follow to be okay as opposed to wanting it, or me, to be feeling or acting differently. Returning to a place where part of your consciousness sits, you see more of it than before. You learn more than before. You are more than before.

Me. That is who wears heels as a spectator to the Boston Marathon.

The Hoboroll by GobiGear / Review by HYL Sister: Siga

zara — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:19:21 +0000

Like recycling aluminum, paper and plastic, some things are best kept apart. Sweaty yoga clothes and the rest of the material universe form one of these conflicting relationships, which makes toting your yoga gear such a challenge when a wet clump of yoga apparel, and bliss, is what you’re left with after an hour and a half of heated, Vinyasa practice.

Conceived as a lightweight nylon backpack, the Hoboroll by GobiGear contains five tubular pockets and drawstrings at either end. You can stuff it with shoes, water bottles, sweat-engorged clothing, dry clothing, towels and, say, an Organic Food Bar, all of varying sizes, shapes, and levels of hygiene, then draw the ends tight to compress the roll. Made of mixed recycled and new materials, it’s a simple, comfortable way to pack a range of items for either a long trek or a quick dash to the yoga studio. The shape echoing that of a yoga mat makes for an easy fit in cubbies (bonus).

The Hoboroll is also a huge time saver! You can always spot a yogi running to class with a yoga mat slung behind their backs and toting a bag heavy of essentials. Yoga students rarely come to class early and rather slip into class right on time. Having the essentials compartmentalized is a useful way to find what you need when you need it. Ever find yourself in the dilemma at the start of class of either tossing all your apparel, towel and props out onto the studio floor, or rummaging through your dark bag looking, but mostly feeling, for that favorite headband? You almost feel like a squirrel, searching for a treasure that is actually buried 8inches the other way. Well, no more! The Hoboroll makes for an easy transition from transportation to your mat.

The Hoboroll wins points for elegance, hygiene, time efficiency and sustainability!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Hoboroll for free from Gobi Gear as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations, in consideration for review publication.

After Boston, Chase the Unicorn – by Vyda Bielkus

vbielkus — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:06 +0000

My sisters and I call Boston home. When we decided to open a yoga studio, we all unanimously knew we would open in the heart of Boston (Even though only 2 out of 4 of us now live in Boston full time. This is where we grew up). We love our city. We proudly shout the song by The Standells “Well I love that dirty Water…Oh Boston you’re my home!” It has been a little more than 48 hours since the Marathon bombings. As I type those two words together, the tears swell up and my throat tightens. The experience of hearing two bombs go off in the city I love, and then not knowing what had happened and if one of my sisters (who was near the finish line) was harmed is still very, very fresh and raw in my mind and body.

Boston like any city in America or anywhere in the world for that matter is full of loving caring amazing heroes; the people who ran to the injured to help, the people who ran 26.2 miles and ran 2 more to the hospital to give blood, the people who opened their apartments to total strangers. This is what humanity is all about.

So how do we make sense? What do we do next? We chase the Unicorn. The Unicorn? The Boston Marathon’s symbol is that of a unicorn. In 1887 Boston Athletic Association chose the unicorn as their symbol and to this day there is a unicorn on all the Boston Marathon medals. It is a fitting symbol as you think about athletes that chase the undoable, the elusive, and chase that thing like an un-quenching thirst-the desire for accomplishment, of total completion, of Samadhi the space in time when all is just that very perfect moment.

We are being called upon now to chase the unicorn for peace! This is not a time to hide, to remain quiet, to stay complacent. It is time to lace up the sneakers and run toward it. And, we must train for it every day.

What I know for sure now that was previously only a concept of mind, is that the only thing we can absolutely be sure of is the very moment we have. We have no control of our fate. But we can control how we are with others in the present and that we have total control of who we choose to be in this world. Monday, my family and friends, all made very small choices. Had any of our choices had just been slightly different, our fate could have been that of Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi, or any of the 180+ injured. The truth is we are all the victims, we are the injured, we are the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends. We are one. At this time I am reminded so much of the Indian philosopher’s Krishnamurti’s quote, “What you are the world is. And without your transformation there can be no transformation of the world.”

So my sisters and I are ready. Every student of ours that came to our “This one’s for you Boston” classes on Tuesday are ready. Are you ready? Practice yoga, practice truth, practice love and run after your own inner unicorn. Our world is relying that we finally realize that which has only eluded those before us, the dream of peace and a non-violent world.

Staying Young at Heart with a Challenge – by Aida Bielkus

vbielkus — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:21:24 +0000

Health Yoga Life’s “Spring into Summer – 30 Day Challenge” is starting April 24^th. Sure, as adults, we can rationalize that we somehow will get fit for the summer, feel better, lose addictions, drop stress etc. Yet in order to really engage in this challenge and accomplish goals an inner fire must be stoked…the spark of ‘can I do this?!’ must be ignited. This spark grows you past a point that has gotten familiar (and dare I say boring?!). As adults we forget that we can create that spark and it is up to us to step up to the challenge. We get lulled into habits and patterns. Creating a challenge, like our 30 Days of Yoga is similar to someone who runs a marathon, engages in a make-over, adventure travels, starts a new relationship and so on; it has to be outside of your comfort zone to be effective.

It is a game! Remember games, folks?? There is that sense of a competition within the self. Kids have this sense of competition a lot; in fact just this morning my daughter challenged herself to how long she could stand on one foot on the edge of a rock for no apparent reason. My son has a daily game of hoops with his buddies where they play, act freely, laugh and challenge themselves over and over again. I remember testing myself, contest after contest growing up: how long can I hold my breath, how long can I tread water, how fast can I eat my taco? Yes we yoga sisters had many taco eating contests growing up! This quest for testing oneself is fun and natural.

What inspires you? What would spark your inner fire? Music is a big spark for me. I could see myself dancing to Bruce Springsteen all the way through a challenge, and take inspiration from his great dancing song, “Can’t start a fire without a spark”… throwing caution to the wind, letting go of control, unsure of the outcome, “even if we’re just dancing in the dark.” Yoga philosophy also keeps me going. “Tapas” is a theory from the Yoga Sutra that actually means “to burn”. Tapas are described as a “fiery discipline”, a burning fiery discipline is required to burn off that which does not serve you. Remind yourself of a time in your life when you engaged a fiery discipline (it may have been when you were a kid) and rekindle that energy! Seeing change also inspires me and I know as I engage in a challenge outside of what is considered “normal” outside of what “I expect”, everything around me will change without me even trying (as a side benefit!).

Affirmation for the 30 Days of Yoga Challenge:

My inner spark fuels my challenge as I play my way to transformation!

‘Life Alive’ in Cambridge / Review by HYL Sister: Aida

vbielkus — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:01:51 +0000

LIFE Alive in Cambridge offers healthful, fresh vegan/vegetarian fair and a welcoming colorful atmosphere. As soon as you walk into Life Alive your senses open up! The air is filled with freshness – it actually feels oxygenated. Your nose fills with aromas of herbs, greens, spices, ginger, carrots, beets, grains all mixed together – it is an intoxicating mix that begins to draw you in. Your belly begins to rumble, ready for a treat. The café is known for its bowls, wraps and freshly blended/squeezed drinks.

THIS place is the real deal. Sometimes, when I have eaten at vegetarian restaurants it feels like they are playing “dress-up”, like playing veggie; Life Alive is not playing around. They have researched every item they serve and see food as a therapeutic healing life-giving part of life! Love that. Everything is chopped and blended on the spot so the food truly tastes garden-fresh every time. Having worked in restaurants I know how tricky consistency can be (especially working with fresh, healthy foods) and Life Alive has never failed. Nearly a 24/7 operation as it is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner…impressive! Lots of folks run in quickly and are served fast for take-out. I do this on occasion between yoga classes, but I really enjoy hanging out there too. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and I like going down to the basement, extremely cozy it is a great place to sit with a friend or two to get into some fun ‘goss’. Our conversations tend to be uplifting there because of the joyful atmosphere Life Alive creates.

I really love the “Adventurer Bowl”. It combines corn, beets, broccoli, dark greens, cheddar, tofu, sprouted legumes, and tamari almonds over quinoa and brown rice. This amazing mixture is topped off by a delicious sesame ginger sauce. A large bowl is under ten dollars, decent value for the quality and diversity of items. And your eyes will feast too because it all looks like a piece of colorful, modern art all splashed together… you can’t wait to dig in! Every bite is like a flavor explosion on your taste buds. You might think the crunch would overwhelm, yet it does not, and the consistency is perfect. After eating this meal I feel alive! I am satiated, balanced and can allow my day to unfold with an extra little bounce in my step.

SO whether you are in search of a great place to run in for a wheat grass juice, needing to get your morning energy with locally made granola and a vibrant smoothie, hungry for real, whole foods full of nutrients and nourishing power, or up for enjoying a great glass of wine while listening to some live music, Life Alive has got your fix!

5 Reasons to Consider Yoga Teacher Training – by Vyda Bielkus

vbielkus — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:20:51 +0000

IF you have been considering yoga teacher training, now is the perfect time to leap! Our Boston Yoga Teacher Training Spring/Summer session kicks of April 27! In just 8 quick weekends you would be a 200 Hour Certified Yoga Alliance Certified yoga teacher. Read about 5 great reasons to join us!

1. Deepen your relationship with yourself!

Few experiences in life give us the opportunity to really explore what we are made of. The Health Yoga Life Teacher Training is designed to bring out the most true YOU! Self-inquiry and self-reflection are important for helping us shine both in our lives and as yoga teachers. Yoga is an all-encompassing journey into the self. By the end of training you will be your own best cheerleader.

2. Strengthen your yoga practice!

Two classes per weekend, practice teaching and classes during the week. Health Yoga Life’s Boston Yoga Teacher Training concentrates on teaching you proper alignment and healthy modifications for various body types. Your body will change and your practice will transform.

3. Earn more income!

A great reason to take a training is the desire to change your career or add to what you are already doing. The demand for yoga teachers continues to grow. For well-trained good teachers the demand is even higher. Get trained. Get teaching. Start making mula.

4. Learn strategies to make life work for you!

Improved public speaking. Increased intimacy with others. Honed communication skills. Changed habits. All of these and many more outcomes await you. Yoga is so much more than just the practice of asana (physical postures). Come find out about how ancient principles when applied today can unleash the magic in your life.

5. Connect with like-minded people!

“‘Cause you’ve got to have friends.”-Better Middler. Each teacher training group is incredibly unique and brings together people from various walks of life. Here is an opportunity to connect with others who share your same interests. These friendships (and professional network) will last long after the training completes.

TO learn more about our 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Boston Yoga Teacher Training Click Here.

FOR questions email yogatt@healthyogalife.com

SAVE $200 register by 3/31 click HERE to register or email yogatt@healthyogalife.com