There's been a lot of negativity about Bikram yoga in the press lately, but most of it has to do with the man himself, rather than the practice of Hatha Yoga. What bothers me is how people start confusing the two together; and either ridicule or put down Bikram yoga as if overnight the therapeutic benefits have been replaced by a hype of too strict postures in a overheated room that will harm people. Each style of yoga has their own discipline and set of rules, so why is Bikram yoga any less than Vinyasa or Ashtanga. I love this article, as it brings it back to why it is the way it is, and the importance of staying true to the individual practice.
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Spaghetti squash is a healthy alternative to pasta as it contains no fat and is low in carbs, and resembles strands of spaghetti when cooked. I found some at Dunn & Walton, and they're not easily found in Perth so I had to get a couple of these beauties. As it's so healthy, I felt the need to indulge a little with some vegan coconut butter fried mushrooms turning it into a hearty dish.
I discovered patacones, or tostones last year in Costa Rica, plantain being a stable food item there. They are usually twice fried plantain slices, fried for a couple of mins of each side, then flattened before being fried again. I chose a healthier alternative by cooking them first then frying them once. Adding a good dose of healthy Himalayan salt in the process is the key to a great savoury dish. I use this as an alternative to bread as a side, or mash them up for a hashbrown for breakfast, being a great substitute for potatoes.
This article and video is a great visual aid to help with the simple exercise of stretching. Seeing and knowing the muscles that you are working on helps greatly to target certain areas, especially if you have a weakness or an injury. As a yoga teacher and practitioner stretching the right way is a vital part of my daily life. Stretching can help improve flexibility and in turn increase the range of motion in the joints. Improved flexibility decreases the chance of injuries by allowing the muscles to work more effectively and improve performance in physical activities. Stretching correctly with proper technic will maximise these benefits.
With a large batch of basil oil in my fridge, I decided to use it for a hearty casserole. It's so versatile, my last recipe being a fresh zesty avocado salad so this time I went with a filling earthy dish. I used leeks instead of onions as it added a mild sweet flavour, helped along with carrots and winter melon. If you can't find winter melon, you can use zucchinis instead. I got mine from Subiaco Markets, but most asian stores will usually have them as well. It's actually recognised for its medicinal properties in Ayurvedic medicine. In Chinese cuisine, it's often cooked with meat or put into soup, making dishes sweeter and more mild. The earthy flavours of the mushrooms and lentils balance this dish out perfectly.
I was in Costa Rica last year and one of my favourite dishes was an avocado salad served on a yoga retreat and plantain chips which was readily available throughout the country. I was at the Subiaco market last weekend and they had some lovely green plantains so I got some to make my own chips at home. I made this zesty fresh salad to go with it for a South American inspired night. An abundance of basil in my garden was a blessing as it was key to create the perfect dressing.
My garden is overgrown in summer now with this aromatic fresh herb - basil is a wonderful herb to use in culinary dishes, as well as containing beneficial medicinal properties. The oils from basil contains antibacterial properties as well as provide anti-inflammatory effects, giving relief from rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. This simple oil dressing compliments any salad and incorporates all the benefits of this herb. Check out the avocado salad with this as a dressing.
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"I am not what happened to me,
I am what I choose to become" Carl Gustave Jung I'm Binny, a full time Bikram Yoga teacher and studio owner that lives in Perth, Australia.
I started this blog to share the things I love the best in the world: being healthy and happy, food (especially raw), yoga, traveling and most importantly, learning how to love and be true to myself. I suffered from severe digestive problems when I was younger, being gluten and lactose intolerant, and developed compartment syndrome and fibromyalgia in my teens. I have lived with constant pain for over 16 years now. Over the past 10 years, I've shifted to a mainly plant based diet and realised that being well and healthy is a way of life. I have been teaching Bikram yoga since 2011, in the US and Australia. Due to my health issues I've also had a lot of bodywork done as well as explored alternative therapies. I've become much more aware of myself as a result of all this - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Right now I love my life. In my career I love what I do and I do what I love. I have traveled to some amazing places around the world and made lifelong friends. In between working and traveling, I cook up a storm in the kitchen, especially raw desserts, spend time with the people I love the best, which now includes a yoga husband, a mini yogini Estell, and our dog! I try to listen to my body the best I can. I truly believe that we all have the power and the capabilities to heal our own bodies, to nourish the spirit and seek our own happiness and life's purpose. This my journey... Archives
August 2019
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