Judgement or the lack of it

It's Sunday morning, and for the first time in a very long time, I'm alone.
I have lately taken on a Prenatal Teacher Training that has surprised me for the better. The main focus on the course, aside from all the technicalities of pregnancy and yoga applied to it, is to learn how to not judge. The only way you can be helpful to your students is to be present and non judging, walking the road with them without giving advice or opinion. Even if they ask....interesting, isn't it?
It kind of make sense though. We are all in a journey of our own, we need to learn things by ourselves in order to grow. How cool and how true.
I'm trying to apply this new concept in my daily life too. Man it's hard! From my daughter in her daily hair-do choice to my mum's crazy smoking habit. So difficult. I'm used to judging and being super opinionated about everything and everyone...but who am I? Super wise oracle or something? ahahhaahhaha
The thing is if I stop judging others I will also stop judging myself. :)

Food for thought my friends, Happy Sunday!

Glow Girls!

With the Full Moon approaching , all women have the instinctual need to be and feel beautiful. To shine like the moon. The best way to be beautiful is, as we all know, be super happy, but an all natural boost for your skin always does the trick.

Glow girls!

Step 1 CLEANSE

With a soap less formula lather your skin and get bubbly. We all have dust and residues on our skin and , even if you don't do it normally, having a good wash with a sls & paraben free product is a must from time to time. Use VERY cold water ...your skin will LOVE it.

For those of you who have VERY dry skin avoid this and cleanse as usual.

Step 2 EXFOLIATE

Prepare yourself a wonderful face all-natural scrub!

1. In a small bowl mix:
*2 tablespoons or raw brown sugar,

*2 tablespoons of olive or coconut or sesame cold pressed organic oiL
*1 tablespoon of raw organic honey

2. Sing or hum while you mix it ;) joy's the key ingredient!
3. Scrub your face & neck, not too hard, drawing circles, for about two minutes.

Step3 TONE

Mix two tablespoons of lemon (oily skin) or organic apple cider vinegar (combination/ sensitive/dry skin) with mineral very cold water. Soak a cotton pad with it and tap all over you face and neck. Let it dry.

Both lemon and vinegar are antibacterial agents and will tighten your pores, leaving your skin ready for the next step.

Step 4 NOURISH
Get a couple of Evening primrose oil capsules and burst them into your cupped palm. Add a couple of lavender oil drops to it .Smear the oil all over your face and neck, including eye area. Let it sit for 15 minutes. With a tissue remove remaining oil.

Evening primrose is a wildflower that grows throughout North America, Europe and some parts of Asia. The seeds of this plant, whose flowers open in the evening, contain oil that is rich in essential fatty acids and is touted among nutritionists for its healing powers.
One of the most proven benefits of evening primrose oil appears to be its ability to treat dry, scaly, or itchy skin conditions, such as rosacea, acne and atopic dermatitis. It appears that the prostaglandins produced by evening primrose oil contract blood vessels that become inflamed with these skin conditions. Evening primrose oil may also help prevent pores from becoming clogged, and it may reduce reliance on corticosteroids by patients with certain skin conditions as well.

There you go girls GET GLOWING!

Let Joy fill your life

My friend Carolina inspired me to share one of my favourite poems with u...enjoy!

Little Stones at My Window

Once in a while
joy throws little stones at my window
it wants to let me know that it's waiting for me
but today I'm calm
I'd almost say even-tempered
I'm going to keep anxiety locked up
and then lie flat on my back
which is an elegant and comfortable position
for receiving and believing news

who knows where I'll be next
or when my story will be taken into account
who knows what advice I still might come up with
and what easy way out I'll take not to follow it

don't worry, I won't gamble with an eviction
I won't tattoo remembering with forgetting
there are many things left to say and suppress
and many grapes left to fill our mouths

don't worry, I'm convinced
joy doesn't need to throw any more little stones

I'm coming
I'm coming.

Mario Benedetti

Raw Almond Hummous

Super nutritious and raw!

- 1 cup soaked almonds or cashews or a mix of both
- 2-3 Tablespoons tahini
- 2-3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- The juice of 1-2 lemons or 3 limes
- A pinch of sea salt
- 1-2 cloves of garlic

Process all ingredients in a food processor, adding the oil slowly together with enough water to make a smooth paste. You can also add chopped celery and dulse.

Sooo nice :)

New Moon Tea & Ritual

Tea recipe

A great tea to calm and nourish (use organic stuff only)

1 tablespoon of dried lavender flowers
1 tablespoon of raspberry leaves

1 tablespoon of chamomile

Let the tea brew for 10 minutes only.

Ritual

The waning moon cycle it is one for reflection and calmness. This is a great way of honoring the natural cycles and yourself as a woman. It doesn't need to be complicated. This is a great simple ritual to bring mindfulness into our lives.. Set yourself a time to have this ritual, best at night. Make sure that no one disturbs you, and if you have kids wait till they're asleep...

*Start by stepping outside and moon gazing for a bit.
*Fill a bucket with warm water and leave it outside, where the moon can reflect on it.

*Prepare your New Moon Tea (instructions above). Let it brew.

*Now lay down on a comfy place, like a bed, a sofa or a yoga mat. Close your eyes and breathe into your tummy. Place your hands on you lower belly to create awareness. Breathe into them for 10 minutes approx.

*Remove flowers from the tea, light a candle for yourself and also burn some incense or essential oil that appeals to you today. Drink your tea in peace, alone if possible.

*Take a nice bath or shower (for those of you, that like me don't have one)using the moon water too! Rub some oil that you fancy, like coconut or a lovely lotion.

*Go to bed & sleep...

Morning Flax Shake

I'm a total routine person. Cyclical routine person, I would say. I have a routine for months, then I switch and so on...With food, same thing.

Lately I have been drinking this shake as breakfast every morning...it makes me SO happy (and full)!.

Flax seeds are an awesome source of essential fatty acids, mostly Omega-3, which is really effective in preventing coronary disease, cancer and arthritis. It is also a great source of protein and fiber, to keep things moving (really works)....But it's also rich in lignans. These are anti-cancerous, anti-viral and anti-bacterial and flax seeds have up to 800% more of these than any other veggie or nut...something to think about. On top of all this it also has loads of vitamins and minerals. You're gonna love this and your body too!

For 1 person (two servings):
Please, use organic stuff when possible.

• 2 cups of soy milk, or your favourite milk
• 1 big ripe frozen banana
• 2 tablespoons of previously grounded flax seeds
• Cinnamon to taste

Blend and enjoy!

Power

Celebrating the Full Moon's week has to mean celebrating our own power as women.
A source of power can be something very little like lighting a candle for yourself or something big like graduating from university. Or giving birth. Or getting a tattoo....
It's a different thing for everyone but there's a phew things that make us all feel powerful and that is what we based our last night's circle...food for thought :)

‘One is more authentic the closer one gets to what one dreamt one would become’ - La Agrado, “ All about my mother”

uniqueness
Look back in your life…all the back to your childhood…Recall a moment that you felt special & important.
What made you feel that way?
Write down ten things that make you you.

synchronicity
Think about some point in your life when you really wanted something that seemed far away for you at that moment and that ‘magically’ happened.

empowerment
Write down something you have achieved in the past week?
Now write down something you have accomplished in the last month?
Now in the last year?

self pride (the good kind)
Think about something that you have done in your life that makes you really, really proud.

other tasks
1) Think about something you have been putting off for ages, maybe because it’s a little bit scary, maybe because of mere apathy…
DO it! No excuses or delays, just make it happen…when you do it you will feel totally empowered and will want more!

2) Set yourself a goal for this week.
Visualize that goal already achieved. Think about it. See it. Observe what happens…

Tropical Tabouleh

Another of Rebecca’s famous recipes.

This delicious tabouleh it’s so easy and nourishing.
Great for pot-lucks and having friends over

· 2 cups of chopped parsley, mint and coriander leaf in equal parts
· 1/2 small red onion, diced
· 2 small tomatoes, diced
· juice of one lemon
· 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
· pinch of salt
· 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut (or cooked millet or quinoa if coconut is not available)

Mix it all in a bowl and enjoy!

Yoga Nidra

Since I did my Yoga TT in 2006, I am a great fan of 'Yoga Nidra' that literally means 'Yogic Sleep'. Ancient yogis used a very deep guided relaxation technique to create this amazing meditative state; a state of total mental awareness while the physical body remains asleep...

What we teach and practice (mostly) now a days is the relaxation to achieve that state. In any case it's SUPER powerful. After a session (20-60min. approx) you feel extremely relaxed and with renewed energy.

It also has healing properties. It is known to aid the healing process in conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, fibromialgya, depression...as well as help with quitting smoking, stop drinking... If it's used properly and regularly.

I've recorded a CD with my voice guiding 3 different Yoga Nidra sessions...it's not on sale yet, but will be soon! Will keep you posted.

Bangkok Adventures

Yesterday I had to go to Bangkok to renew my passport. The thing is totally broken, not sure why. I was good and didn't do much shopping..only some cosmetics...:)

I found this amazing face serum, 7 Pollen Face Serum ($76.49)

It's totally effective, 100% natural and also smells yummy. You can buy it online at http://www.erbasia.com.au/

Check out all their products...they are good!

Pumpkin mash

Pumpkin, Squash or
Sweet Potato Mash

My friend Rebecca, who’s an amazing cook, recently made dinner for a bunch of friends and shared the recipe of this delicious mash. Great for the little ones too!
Use organic produce when available.

- 2 cups of pumkin, squash or sweet potato
- ½ a tablespoon of grated ginger
- A handful of fresh coriader
- The juice of two limes or one lemon
- Cocunut milk/oil to taste. Extra virgin olive oil is also ok.
- A pinch of sea salt
- Nori sheets

Steam the pumpkin, squash or sweet potato.
Mash in a large mixing bowl and then . Add the ginger, chopped coriander, juice of one lime or half a lemon, coconut milk (or coconut oil, or olive oil) .Add sea salt to taste
Serve it with salad and wrap it all up in a nori wrap.

Enjoy!

Fear

Last night's Wise Women Circle was great.

We talked about Fear...what it means to us and also creative ways of dealing with it by adventuring ourselves into things we want to do but are scared of. ...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson

*Activity 1

FEAR..What are we scared of ?

- List 3 things that you are fearful of
- Now read what you wrote down and try figure what you are really fearful of …

By pinpointing our fears and writting them down, they already feel less scary :). Also our subconscious gives us guidelines on what we need to work on.

*Activity 2

IMAGINARY LIVES

If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each one of them?
Write a list. What ever occurs to you, jot it down, no matter how crazy, do not rethink this exercise. The point in these lives is to have fun in them…maybe more fun that you are having in yours at the moment.
Now go over the list and select one. Then do it this week.
(ex. You would love to be a flamenco dancer, then get some instructional YouTube videos and learn a bit of flamenco!).

This is a really fun exercise to do. Actually doing things that you're scared of, makes you feel really powerful and alive...totally the opposite of being scared. It also shows you the way of dealing with your deepest rooted fears in a practical way.

I really do hope that you shine as bright as you can, I am trying to :)

Peace Out

A

Thanks for joining the circle!
You’re doing amazing good to yourself and the people around you by allowing a specific time to be with your feminine. It’s cool and it’s about time.
I had been thinking of starting a women’s circle for a while but as usual, found some excuse not to.
One morning, I woke up feeling kinda down and lacking in sense and direction. Lost in my own Spanish drama I opened my email inbox and there I found a forwarded e-mail, those that are sent to loads of people. It was an interview to J.S. Bolen, a really cool Jungian psychoanalyst and author. In that interview, she basically said that women need to unite and create women's circles to support each other and create sisterhood.So I did. Last Sunday I held the first Wise Women Circle in my Chiang Mai home. It was great. It was really cool, and I'm super excited because this is only the beginning.