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Treat Your Self – To A Green Drink Smoothie

February 23, 2021November 13, 2020 by Health Yoga Life

Health Yoga Life Online Green Drink Recipe

With the global pandemic, there’s been a lot of focus on mental health – and rightly so! But we wanted to give you a little reminder today to care for your internal health as well. With a healthy recipe, organic or local fruits and veggies, and a high-powered blender, you can create dozens of scrumptious, nutritious smoothies and juices.

Our family here at Health Yoga Life has been making green drink smoothies with our Vitamix 5200 for over a decade! Check out this video of our co-founder, Siga Bielkus, sharing her favorite green drink recipe back in 2011.

Since then, we’ve perfected this recipe Siga created. We’ve removed all sweet ingredients (like carrots and apples) that can increase blood sugar so that everyone, no matter their dietary restrictions, can enjoy our green drink. Did you know two of our co-founders have Type 1 diabetes? We know they are not alone, and that’s why we made this recipe accessible to everyone.

Friends, treat yourself to a green drink today with a Vitamix 5200! This universal tool is perfect for making large batches and can provide you with any texture you enjoy most! Make anything and everything from smoothies to soups.

For today’s green drink, follow these steps:

Add the following ingredients to the Vitamix 5200 blender after thoroughly washing them (check out Siga’s YouTube video for tips for washing greens):

- Leaves off stalks of kale
- Chard (or collard greens)
- (2) Organic peeled cucumbers
- Parsley off the stem
- Peeled lime
- Bit of peeled ginger
- Lots of filtered water
- Optional: Dandelion

Helpful Tip:

Be sure to keep all the stems for vegetable stock (which we’ll discuss in an upcoming Treat Your Self post).

With the Vitamix 5200, start off at a low speed then gradually increase to the fastest speed. Allow it to blend for several seconds at the fastest speed to let everything emulsify.
Once all the ingredients are well blended, pour the drink into a large pitcher for storing.
Repeat steps 1-3 as many times as you want to use up all your greens!

Bonus Tip:

At HYL we drink a lot of KeVita and kombucha, and we’ve found their reusable glass bottles to be a great space-saver in the fridge! With a funnel, simply transfer the green drink from the pitcher to the bottles.

Thank you for joining us today! Keep an eye out for the next HYL Treat Your Self. Remember, treat your internal health lovingly, friends!

If you try our green drink, we would love to know! Tag us on social media:

Instagram: @healthyogalife

Twitter: @HYLtweets

Facebook: @HealthYogaLife

Fight the Fight: Be Kind!

February 23, 2021June 26, 2018 by Health Yoga Life

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

The other day I was walking along the Charles River as I love to do. The sun was glistening just so on the water and the sail boats where spinning. When the weather turns beautiful in New England, and in New England it’s literally like a switch, everyone crawls out to enjoy the warm weather. We look like hibernating animals reveling in the sun for the first time in ages.

I noticed a man jogging in front of me. He waved to an oncoming jogger passing him by. From his wave, just a simple “hey”, it seemed like he knew the oncoming jogger. I thought to myself must be a coworker. But then I kept watching the jogger in front of me. He waved to everyone he passed. Not an obnoxious wave, just a “hey I’m out here jogging. It’s gorgeous out. I’m happy.” type of wave. And guess what, NO. ONE. WAVED. BACK. Not one person!

What is that about? Are we all so distracted by our own thoughts, our own to-do lists, our own agenda that we can’t wave to someone who waves to us? Granted I realize that in this day and age maybe any slightly unusual behavior (or just typical neighborly behavior somewhere in the Midwest) puts us on guard, and triggers our fear a tiny bit. “Oh are you acknowledging me? I thought no one can see me running out here! I won’t wave back, then I won’t be seen! Please don’t make me have to engage with another human being.”

How do we solve our global problem of more loneliness than ever before, of more anger, fear, isolation, if we can’t even acknowledge someone with a simple gesture of “peace brother”?

We must change ourselves that is how. We must continue to eradicate the fear, loneliness, and pain in our own hearts. We have to acknowledge we carry this pain, anger, fear, and we must recognize that it blocks out the light and the love. It literally stops us in our tracks and keeps us from developing our ability to have compassion and healing. This translates to the world around us.

Do something about this! Decide you are going to change it up. Decide to be the person who actually initiates the wave or the smile. Start. A great little exercise if you still feel hesitant to outwardly acknowledge a stranger, is to wish them peace or a great day mentally. Beam it to them. Be kind. Always.

If you are ready to work deeply on yourself to transform and grow, then it’s time to step up and challenge yourself. Sign up for our fall yoga teacher training. Take the step toward your, and therefore your world’s transformation.

Save $300 now through the end of June. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Register Today! Best Savings Pay in Full. CLICK HERE

Payment plan options have finance fee included:

Pay $1000 now then 3 monthly payment of $665 CLICK HERE
Pay $1000 now then 6 monthly payments $358 CLICK HERE

Or check out the online Health Yoga Life Coach Training and learn about the powerful change management tool the Emotional Responsibility Method. CLICK HERE

How to Lose Belly Fat: Yoga & Sleep!

February 23, 2021May 17, 2018 by Health Yoga Life

Summer is just around the corner. At this time of year, we start to shed our layers and remember that we have a body. You might think there is nothing you can do to lose stubborn belly fat, but that is simply not true in fact two thing that you love to do can help significantly–yoga and sleep!

Yoga helps by helping regulate the endocrine/hormonal system, by reducing cortisol levels which is the stress hormone that keeps the body storing fat around the midsection. Yoga can be one of the most transformative exercises for your body. Weight bearing exercise build strength and stretching increases flexibility.

You don’t need fancy equipment with yoga, your body will do. The power flow style of yoga classes at Health Yoga Life in Cambridge and Boston will get you in tip top shape for the beach days of summer. Commit to practicing 4-5 times per week and it can be the only exercise you need to do.

In addition, yoga helps you sleep! Being wound up from stress will impact the quality of your rest. Letting it all go on the mat will increase your ability to rest deeply. When sleeplessness strikes try an ancient Kundalini yoga breathing technique-left nostril breathing. It’s so simple. Simply block the right nostril off by applying gentle pressure to the outside of the right side of your nose with your right index finger. Breathe in and out of your left nostril. You’ll be fast asleep in no time!

Check out the classes at the Boston Health Yoga Life Studio

Check out the classes at the Cambridge Health Yoga Life Studio

Or try our online Mind, Mood, & Muscle Plan

Treat Yourself! Urban Weekend Retreat!

February 23, 2021May 2, 2018 by Health Yoga Life

In terms of getting back to balance, very little compares to taking time for yourself! But we know it can sometimes feel impossible to carve time to getaway. Health Yoga Life has created the Boston Urban Weekend Retreat just for you. Join us this Memorial Day for a rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit. You deserve to be good to yourself.

Take time focus on yourself and plant seeds for transformation. Health Yoga Life’s founders are experts in the field of wellness and have created a dynamic weekend program to teach you the tools and tips they know work for people. Come learn, have fun and connect back with yourself! Just in time for summer!

Highlights of the weekend include:

Welcome Kit-including weekend nourishment and detox (optional) plan
4 Yoga Classes
Meditation Sessions
Healthy Delicious Lunch Saturday
Emotional Wellbeing Strategy Session
Gong Sound Bath
Endless tips for optimal health to last a lifetime & awesome community!

The weekend will take place at the HYL Cambridge Yoga Studio at 181 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139

Schedule for the weekend:

May 25-27, 2018

Friday: 6PM-9:00PM

Saturday: 11AM-7:00PM

Sunday 8:30AM-12:30PM

Save $50 for early bird registration! CLICK HERE

Sweet Delish! It’s so Good it Will Fool You!

February 23, 2021April 24, 2017 by Vyda Bielkus

When one of us HYL co-founder sisters likes something she lets everyone know about it, and I mean everyone! On the latest retreat to Tulum, I fell in love with the chia pudding parfait at Nomade Hotel. It was so good that it felt like a decadent treat, when really it was loaded with health! From the chia seeds that have protein, fiber, omega3-s to the berries and fruit loaded with vitamins, to the superfood antioxidant rich cacoa this thing was packed with goodness.

I was determined to try this at home and now am eager to share this super easy to make treat with you.

Inspired by:

All you need for the base pudding is 3 ingredients! How easy is that?

¼ cup Black Chia Seeds plus a bit about 2 tablespoons
a little less than ¼ cup Cacoa Powder (not to be confused with Cocoa or Coco powder) Raw cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans, which keeps the living enzymes alive!
2 cups unsweetened vanilla coconut or almond milk
Pinch of salt

Stir this all up in a bowl and refrigerate overnight. By morning you have amazing pudding richness. The chia seeds expand and soak up the liquid and chocolate. Now warning! This concoction is bitter. It will look and smell amazing, but it will not be sweet. Add a little maple syrup (from the tap peeps- no fake maple!) for your desired sweetness.

You can spice it up too: maybe add a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla to the base before refrigerating.

I topped off my bowl of chia deliciousness with a little coconut flakes, a dollop of thick Sophia’s Greek Yogurt made of goat and sheep milk, seriously the best Greek style yogurt ever, serious foodies agree that I bought at Savenor’s on Charles Street in Beacon Hill, and some strawberries and a little blueberry jam. Let me tell you, one bite transported me back to sitting on the beach of Tulum day dreaming away.

Eat this anytime of day! I have found it makes a perfect snack or dessert or the perfect thing to eat right after posting a blog!

Vyda’s at home version:

HYL Sister Review-Sipping in Ease for Mind, Body & Spirit! Yogi Tea!

February 23, 2021March 1, 2017 by Aida Bielkus

I have enjoyed Yogi Teas for many years now. Inspired in the sixties by Kundalini Yoga Teacher Yogi Bhajan and Ayurveda, these teas are now part of the East West Tea Company. There are many delicious flavors to choose, that sometimes it’s hard to pick. These teas are more than delicious; they are healing. Ayurveda is the world’s oldest holistic healing systems and the tea formulas use specific herbs for specific healing properties. The range of teas include Bedtime, Detox, Calming, Immune Support, Breathe Better and others that take aim at your specific mind, body, & spirit needs.

My favorite of the moment is The Honey Lavender Stress Relief. It is particularly delightful. The ingredients include lemon balm, passion flower, chamomile, lavender, honey and spearmint. The combination is just right. There is a bit of sweet honey sensation, but not too much. The aroma of lavender is gentle and calming. The formula relaxes my whole system from the inside out and the outside in.

As a Health Yoga Life coach and yoga teacher I am often asked about how to break unhealthy habits and many of my clients are eager to reduce their stress. To reduce stress, often we need to work on removing things from our lives that are causing stress or change our relationship to those things. Sometimes we need to add things to our lives, new habits to replace old negative ones. Sipping on a Yogi Tea could be a new healthy habit you add to your life. In coaching others, I teach my clients about self-care and the importance of taking a few moments for the self every day. What could be better and more convenient than sitting down and allowing yourself to hold a warm cup of tea? It warms your hands, provides a gentle soothing aroma, and allows your entire system to take a brief reprieve. Yogi Teas also have a little inspiration on every tea bag, which makes the mind reflective toward positivity even for a brief moment.

This tea does calm my nerves (body). It does release negative thoughts (mind). It does give me time to be with myself and rest (spirit). Are these big claims? Yes, they are. However ultimately it is bringing me to the present moment. And as we yogis know it is about enjoying the present moment and the journey, not about the achievement that brings a sense of ease.

The Power of a Yoga Retreat!

February 23, 2021February 7, 2017 by Vyda Bielkus

I have been a fortunate soul when it comes to travel. I have been to beautiful places around the world and often through my work with yoga. This past week I was reminded about just how powerful a retreat can be for aligning with yourself and resetting your life. There is nothing like taking time for yourself in a healthy way to clear the debris from your mind and the stress from your shoulders.

On my recent journey, I tried surfing for the first time in my life. I signed up for a class thinking for sure I would hate it and ended up finding a new passion. As I thought about this experience, I realized this feeling I had was very similar to when I went away on my first yoga retreat at the age of 25. Before signing up for the retreat, I had a lot of trepidation-would I like it? would this be a waste of money? will I be the only one by myself? will I regret it?

Then on the retreat, when I had the opportunity to connect deeply with myself, it set my life in motion in a way I never would have predicted. I found courage to honor myself and started to trust that if I honored my authentic self, I would be happy (even if life wasn’t perfect all the time). I came back and started to take real steps toward more health and professional satisfaction, which I knew did not have to be mutually exclusive.

There are so many barriers, real or perceived, that keep us from doing something we want to do -too much work, too little money, too many family responsibilities, this isn’t for me, I’ll be the only one by myself, I’ll be the only guy, I will regret it, someone will be mad at me if I do this, and on and on and on. What I invite you to see is that these barriers are illusions that keep us stuck right where we are. If I listened to the lie I was telling myself, “you aren’t a good enough swimmer, don’t try surfing”, I would have never discovered this new passion.

If you want something to change, if you want more happiness, health, freedom, success you need to do something to honor your spirit. You need to make the time to get to know the real you, the one without the stopping energy. This is the power a retreat can have! A retreat is one of the best ways to do that-to take the time to actually be with yourself, so you begin to peel off the stuck and step into the flow!

Join us for our yoga retreat to Tulum, Mexico March 30th to April 5, 2017. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Simple Yoga Routine to Do at Home!

February 23, 2021December 26, 2016 by Vyda Bielkus

Go ahead and try this at home! In need of quick routine you can do at home to get the blood pumping and the body moving, check out this latest article on Boston Magazine, featuring co-founder of Health Yoga Life, Vyda Bielkus.

All you need is the space of yoga mat and you can do this simple yoga routine anywhere!

CLICK HERE and try it for yourself. A little yoga everyday goes a long way!

Three Quick Tips to Boost Immunity! #WellthyWednesday

February 23, 2021December 7, 2016 by Vyda Bielkus

We know this time of year can be crazy hectic. Parties, shopping, keeping healthy and fit, weather changes, end of year work projects…the list continues! It’s easy for stress to pile up and to start to feel rundown. Luckily there are strategies that can really help keep the immunity up.

Here are three quick tips to consider:

1. Keep unrolling your mat! Sometimes yoga is the first thing to get sacrificed when the demands on our time increase. STOP! UNROLL! GET ON YOUR MAT! Consistent yoga practices decreases stress and immunity. Studies have shown that people who practice yoga regularly are less likely to get the flu or catch a cold.

2. Pop a probiotic! Gut health is critical to overall health. Different foods/beverages, weather changes, and stress can contribute to the flora in the gut being compromised. So if probiotics aren’t a daily habit yet, you might consider a month trial in December. See how you feel. Gut health is even connected to our mental health. Probiotics have been shown to help ease stress and anxiety. All kinds of foods have good probiotics including yogurt (just go for the plain stuff and add a drop of maple syrup or berries as most yogurts are loaded with sugar) and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kombucha!

3. Go Green! Increase your daily raw green leafy vegetable intake. You know the ones: kale, romaine, parsley, chard, dandelion greens, collard greens. Indulged a little too much? You need to hydrate and raw green vegetables are loaded with WATER! Look for or make juices with primarily green leafy vegetables and start to replace fruits, like apple and pear, with lime and ginger (both great immune boosters that enhance the taste of the juice but without the added carbs from the fruit. Want a how to? Check out Siga’s Green Drink Video CLICK HERE

WINTER YOGA TEACHER TRAINING STARTS JANUARY

GROW YOUR PRACTICE-TEACH!

Take everything you learn back to your mat and your life!

Yoga teacher training is an opportunity to learn about the practice you love. Our training will give you the skills to start teaching and teach you how you can take the incredible tools that yoga offers back into your daily life. Time to embrace the yoga lifestyle! Learn more CLICK HERE

YOGA RETREAT TO TULUM, MEXICO

SNOW AND COLD IS COMING! HAVE SOMETHING TO DREAM ABOUT!

REGISTER TODAY. SPACE IS LIMITED.

A yoga retreat is one of the best vacations you can ever go on! Tulum, Mexico is a world known destination. Come play with us. 2 yoga classes per day, healthy life giving food, amazing beaches, Mayan ruin exploration, great people and GREAT FUN! Come with a friend or register by yourself, and we will match you with an appropriate roommate! Time to be good to your self and your soul! Learn more CLICK HERE

HYL GIFT CERTIFICATES! THE PERFECT PRESENT!

Give the gift that brings peace and health! Or forward this link to someone who might be struggling to come up with the perfect present for you and say Hint! Hint! PURCHASE HERE