Curing the Incurable with Food

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Ana

I love inspiring stories!

Which is why I was so grateful when my friendly “bulk department” guy at the local Whole Foods pulled me aside the last time I was shopping to share with me his recent transformation. He was so excited, and yet a little sheepish.

He began by telling me about the shame he felt for having worked at a place like WF all these years and NOT cluing in to the medicine right under his nose.

I assured him that nobody’s perfect, and that it can sometimes be human nature to get so caught up in our own routine that we don’t see the opening to what we desire – even when it’s right in front of us.

In his case this desire was to heal the chronic pain and inflammation in his back, which had been labeled as “incurable arthritis”.

I’m hoping to get a video of him telling his story, but that may be a little too much notoriety for him, so here’s the gist and what I learned:

This poor guy had been suffering for years, taking toxic medications, spending thousands on all kinds of treatments and getting no relief. That’s ZERO relief. Yikes!

So, 2 weeks ago, a rep had come in to demo the Vita-Mix (my most beloved machine!), and he was sold. My Whole Foods friend promptly brought his new toy home along with a load of fresh produce from the store, and committed to a new habit: Making green smoothies and whole food veggie juices daily. That’s my guy! : )

Well, when he pulled me aside to share his story, his eyes were wide (as if he still didn’t believe it) as he told me that he was TOTALLY pain-free after only a week. Woo hoo!

Now, I know that health doesn’t always sell. We often gravitate towards what will bring us more money, or the promise of money. But my friend was looking at having to leave work because he had gotten to the point of being in too much pain, and then “POOF!” . . . after a week of adding Vita-Mix juices to his diet was cured with a new lease on life (and work!).

I was touched and humbled.

I sometimes question whether what I teach and share is really that valuable. Because it is now years after my “spontaneous recovery” from my various ailments, I can sometimes take for granted the power of what is now just joyful habit for me.

My hope is that this story can inspire you no matter where you are on your health journey.

If you are struggling with health issues, may this light the fire under your bum to TAKE ACTION!

Take a moment to journal on why you’ve been putting things off. What’s standing in your way (is it financial, emotional, relational). Usually, these blocks aren’t as solid or real as they seem, and can be removed. (Stay tuned for more on this in my next post).

If you are well-drenched in your healthy lifestyle, I invite you to APPRECIATE this gift – really appreciate it! Acknowledge yourself for “making the effort” (and it’s really no effort once it sinks into joyful routine), and for valuing yourself and your loved ones enough to understand that this really IS your #1 priority.

It has to be! Otherwise if you lose your health, EVERYTHING crumbles. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about because you’ve experienced this.

Here’s to staying open to healthy inspiration and living your most divine life creation in amazing health!

If you’re feeling stuck on what to do, or feel like you need a little inspiration, support or plan, let’s talk! I’d love to see how I can support you in moving forward  in a powerful way that works for YOU (not someone else).

Click here to schedule a complimentary Body Transformation Breakthrough Session and make this the summer you step into your divine self. : ) These slots are limited, so if it speaks to you, dive on in.

If you’d like to learn about Sarah’s journey to a new pain-free, “normal” life after working with me, click here.

I would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below and let me know where you are on your journey or what you liked about this post.

love and health always,

Ana

PS – if you click the links to the Vita-Mix in this post, you will automatically qualify for free shipping on your order (normally $25). Happy day!

Posted in disease prevention, Energize Your Life, extra income, food allergies, getting healthy, gluten-free, health, healthy eating, healthy holiday recipes, holistic health, immune health, increase energy, Inspiration, longevity, natural medicine, nutrition, smoothies, Vita-Mix, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Staying True to your Inner Compass

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Ana
Following Inner Guidance

Your heart always knows best

I had an “aha” moment the other day when talking to my mother about a recent separation I initiated from my sweetheart of 7 years.

I realized that I have the ability to make really difficult decisions, and take uncomfortable action in the name of supporting what’s best for my higher self.

In those sticky moments of taking action on these difficult decisions I have often felt horrible. Knots in my gut and my throat, quivering insides, sadness, guilt, fear of the unknown . . . but at the same time, there has always been a knowing, a very deep knowing that I need to do something DIFFERENT.

I had this experience when I flat out left a dance career of almost 20 years . . .

And again when I moved to Italy (not knowing ANY Italian!) for a summer to do some soul searching during a difficult time . . .

And again when I took everything and moved out West . . .

And yet again when I made an enormous financial investment in myself and my business last year . . .

And then again when I recently initiated a separation with my sweetie of 7 years . . .

Whew!

None of these were easy. In fact, most of them were heart-wrenching.

Even just writing this, I can feel the emotion welling up.

So, why am I sharing this with you?

Well, for one, I want to be as transparent as possible, and  let you to know that we ALL face difficult decisions.

I also want to share the gem that I got from all of these experiences, which is that to follow your true heart, and do what is really best for your higher self usually DOES NOT feel good in the moment.

It almost always requires stepping outside of what is comfortable.

But if you are really and truly able to be true to yourself, WOW, the gifts can be beyond what you imagined.

Facing what is difficult while staying true to yourself is a muscle you need to flex a bit and hone. It takes practice, patience, and being open to the unknown.

But I can tell you that in each of these difficult decisions came enormous gifts.

  • A  new career that I love and meshes perfectly with my lifestyle.
  • The opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
  • A business that is giving healing to people all over the planet, while growing and thriving.
  • And opening up the lines of communication between myself and a person I love very much in a way that we never could have imagined.

Mmmmm, some tears again . . ..

Your “Higher Self” Assignment:

Being that it’s spring time now, we are in the full energy of transformation, of creating change, of taking action, and of shedding our “skins”.

What I want to encourage you to do (and encourage myself to continue as well) is to practice listening to those clues inside. Those little voices, those physical cues, those “gut feeling”, those intuitive hits.

Listen AND follow up with ACTION!

You might feel a knot in your belly or throat when you speak with a particular person. You may notice an excitement about something that seems “crazy” to your rational mind. (I know this one well)

If you’ve been ignoring the inner voice for too long, you may be having health issues often that seem kind of “mysterious”. Anything from digestive problems to cancer.

Truth is these are not mysterious at all, but your higher self crying out for attention.

So, I invite you to take a big deep breath right into your belly . . . And now again, right into your low belly . . . And one more time, this time letting out an “ahhhhhh” on the exhale.

If what I have been sharing with you sparks a little something inside, then ask yourself the question:

“What do I REALLY need right now?”

Then just wait.

You can ask again as many times as you want, but only after taking at least 3 deep breaths into your belly.

Then journal, walk, meditate, dance, draw, paint, cook, sing – whatever!

Keep asking until you get the answer.

Oh, and remember, the answer may scare you a bit. It may feel uncomfortable.

But it will also offer a tinge of excitement, a feeling of “rightness”.

Here’s your promise mantra to yourself:

“I WILL take action”.

Know that I’m doing this right along with you! : )

If you need support, PLEASE get it.

It’s there for you, you just need to ask.

Know that the tribe of Yoga Body Nutrition is here to support you fully.

Stay tuned, as I will be sharing more on this and on what has happened on my personal journey when I have honored my higher self.

One more request:

We continually get emails here from our blog and ezine readers who tell us how much they LOVE our newsletter. I believe in sharing the love, spreading the word and creating as much of a supportive community as possible.

If you enjoyed this post, please forward it on to others you feel would enjoy it or benefit. Make sure to suggest they subscribe to our newsletter (and do so yourself if you haven’t already!).

And as always, leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of this post, I love to hear from you!

with much love,

Ana

Posted in detox, digestive disorders, disease prevention, finding joy, happiness, Inspiration, longevity, prayer, reaching your goals, spiritual transformation, stress reduction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Eduard’s Green Smoothie (breakfast of champions)

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Ana

So, I had a question on our facebook page regarding a recipe for a green smoothie. I thought, “well, I can just direct them to my blog for a green smoothie recipe”, but was shocked (no appalled) to see not a formal green smoothie recipe in sight!

Oh my!

So although I had other things to take care of in this moment, I dropped everything to try to remedy this situation right away. Here is a fabulously spontaneous and totally yummy green smoothie that I made with “what was in the fridge” when my friend Eduard came down for a visit. : )

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Eduard’s Green Smoothie (breakfast of champions)

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk (add more if you need)
  • 1 fuji (or other kind of) apple, chopped
  • 3 leaves kale (I like the dino or Lacinato the best)
  • handful spinach
  • about 6-7 leaves Romaine lettuce
  • 3-4 honey dates (or Medjool)
  • juice of 1/2 an orange
  • pinch ground cardomom
  • small piece fresh gingerroot
  • 1 tsp. extra virgin coconut oil
  • Optional: scoop high quality protein powder and/or 8-10 raw cashews

Put all the ingredients into the Vita-Mix (ideal, but you can probably do an OK job in a regular blender)* and blend on high until smooth. If the dates are kind of hard, it can work really well to soak them before blending.

Now pour the gorgeous concoction into a beautiful glass, sip slowly and enjoy the buzz!

* The Vita-Mix IS most definitely an investment, but sooooo worthwhile. I put it off for years, burned out blenders, enjoyed slightly “chunky” smoothies, then finally made the leap. I never looked back. : ) It pulverizes produce (and other ingredients) to such a fine degree that makes them more digestible and helps release all the phyto-nutrition. It also makes velvety smooth concoctions using ingredients that a regular blender could never touch. Ok, that’s the Vita-Mix plug for today. Use my link and you can get free shipping ($25 value). Vita-Mix free shipping offer

Oh, and we have 50 more wonderfully delicious, nutritious and EASY recipes in our eRecipe book: Quick. Healthy. Delicious. 50 Favorite Recipes to Feed Your Life!

Get your copy instantly right here. : )

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Raw Pizza Pate

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Ana

I made this pate not at all expecting it to taste like pizza, but ingredients came together in a very pizza-esque flavor sensation.

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of vegetarian zinc, a super-mineral that helps with immune health, digestion, healing acne, wound healing and much more. And for the guys, these tasty little seeds are great for the prostate. : )

Tweak the flavors as you need to find your perfect pizza pie pate.

Pizza Pate

  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, soaked 6-8 hours and drained
  • ½ cup rough chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup soaked and drained sundried tomatoes
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning (or 2 tsp. dried oregano, 1 tsp. thyme, ½ tsp. rosemary)
  • Celtic sea salt to taste

Mince the parsley, garlic, tomatoes and lemon zest in the food processor (stopping to scrape down sides as needed).

Add the rest of the ingredients and continue to process until you reach the desired consistency. You may need to add a small amount of water if it’s too “dry”.

Enjoy with flax crackers, in nori rolls, atop cucumber slices, stuffed into tomatoes, rolled into lettuce leaves . . . whatever your imagination inspires!

Most of all, enjoy, because it’s YUUUUUMMMY. : )

Posted in beauty, disease prevention, gluten-free, gluten-free recipes, healthy eating, healthy recipe, holistic health, immune health, increase energy, longevity, nutrition, pumpkin seeds, raw foods, recipes, Superfoods, vegatarian/vegan nutrition, weight loss | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons learned from my 93 year old Yoga Student

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Ana

I have a student that has been coming to one of my weekly yoga classes for at least 7 years. She stands on her head, breaths deeply, twists, lunges and soaks up the healing of savasana (corpse pose) every Wednesday  morning in my Carmel class. She’s been dedicated to her yoga for decades, and makes the commitment to keep showing up.

Oh, and she happens to be 93 years old.

Yes, you heard right  – 93.

As I was out on a gorgeous and inspiring morning hike, I passed a woman on the trail who was probably in her late 70’s or early 80’s, and knew that I too wanted to keep hiking the steep mountains I love until at least that age.

This led me to think of Harriet, and all that I learn from having her amazing spirit in my class.

First, let me say that Harriet does her headstand everyday, published her first book last year (Harriet Shanner’s Little Green Book), has more of a social life than I do, and has this sassy spunk about her that makes women half her age look lifeless.

What I know of her “don’t haves” is that she lost her husband over 40 years ago, doesn’t drive/have a car, and does not have the youth we so worship in Western society.

But she “lives” more that most people I know, isn’t afraid to ask for help and refuses to get in her own way or have others tell her what she “should” do.

All the time I have clients, potential clients, students and potential students much younger than Harriet tell me how they’re “too old” or “too inflexible” to do yoga, or to start something new, or make changes, etc.

And I always tell them about Harriet.

Seriously, this senior fireball inspires me to keep showing up to my yoga practice and in my life.

She inspires me to take care of myself and my body because it’s the only one I have in this life (and I want to be that spunky at 93).

She inspires me to keep expanding outside my comfort zone. Afterall, she could just settle into that comfort zone of being a “little old lady” and stop coming to yoga or going out to parties.

She inspires me to “get over it” when I buy into some kind of supposed limitations, as I realize she could easily see being 93 as a reason to stop coming to yoga class.

She inspires me to ask for help and get support. She doesn’t drive and lives alone, but she never hesitates to ask for a ride from those she knows, and sometimes those she doesn’t know.

She inspires me to follow my dreams NOW and not make excuses. If she can publish her first book at 90 something, I can certainly write my article or book chapter NOW.

I share this with you to show you that pretty much anything is possible if you get over yourself and just show up! Oh, and to always ask for help and support if you don’t know how. : )

6 Sacred Lessons to learn from Harriet:

  1. Just show up. When you show up magic always happens. First, you need to show up for yourself. Then you can show up for others.
  2. Get out of your own way. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, stop making excuses and start taking action towards the health and the life you want, even if it’s baby steps.
  3. Stay out of your comfort zone. You don’t have to stand on your head everyday, (although it wouldn’t hurt), but you can do things in a new way, let go of what doesn’t serve you, and enjoy the freedom that flows when you embrace that uncomfortable newness and expansion.
  4. Don’t buy into the myth. Whether it’s that getting older = getting sicker, stiffer and more medicated; or believing that as a woman you can’t do this, or as a son of a doctor you can’t do that . . . whatever that myth or story (your own or someone else’s) – Don’t buy it!
  5. Stay sassy! It keeps you agile in mind, body and spirit. Plus it makes EVERYTHING  more fun. : )
  6. Ask for help. Want to climb a mountain? Get a trainer. Want to start a new exercise program? Enlist a friend to hold you accountable. Want to change your diet? Get a nutrition coach. Want to go back to school, but don’t have the cash? Get a loan or talk to your family or friends. Whatever your need or desire is, getting help will generally get you there faster,

Most of all, what I learn from Harriet is to not let life pass me by. To stand for what’s important to me and keep rocking my life by living from my best self – my true self.

“You have hit on the secret to true success, which is living one’s life the way one wants to live it.” ~ R.F. Delderfield (from Harriet Shanner’s Little Green Book)

Posted in anti-aging, disease prevention, Energize Your Life, getting healthy, health, healthy habits, immune health, increase energy, Inspiration, longevity, natural remedies, reaching your goals, Yoga | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments