Monthly Archives: April 2014

Mexican Superfoods

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©HaramaraRetreat

Separate from the taco trucks and nachos we all know and love, Mexico is blessed with some amazing, nutrient packed foods that add character to any dish. The simplicity of mexican food let the flavors of these awesome ingredients take center stage. Enjoy this small list of the components in Mexican food that have a positive impact on your health!

Cilantro. Like many herbs, this plant is especially potent, with strong antioxidant qualities. The chemical compounds in cilantro actually bind to the heavy metals, loosening them from the tissues, blood and organs and helping the body eliminate them. Get your daily boost of this super-herb in virtually all Mexican dishes!

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Superfood salad with cilantro, onion, and avocado

Amaranth. For hundreds of years Aztecs used this amazing grain for their religious rituals and as a staple in their diets. Amaranth is an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, mineral rich superfood that can even prevent prematurely graying hair!

Amaranth Granola ©HaramaraRetreat

Hot peppers. The spicier the pepper, the higher the antioxidant levels.  Hot peppers also have a similar effect as green tea or caffeine, boosting metabolism and curbing the appetite. Once you adapt to their zesty, explosive taste; these little plants produce happy chemicals like endorphins and were even considered by the Mayans and Aztecs to be an aphrodisiac.

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Avocado. Avocado packs an excess of 25 essential nutrients. Its delicious, creamy flavor makes it an easy way to get in your copper, iron, phosporus, magnesium, potassium, and many more. Guacamole all around!

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Lime. Scientists have observed that the antioxidant limonoids found in limes cause cancer cell death. Lime limonoids also stay active longer in your bloodstream, mopping more free radicals than green tea or dark chocolate. So enjoy your mojito or corona with lime!

Join us in Baja at Prana Del Mar (November 29-December 6) or at our Xinalani Retreat March 28-April 4 to indulge in these fresh, authentic superfoods in the heart of Mexico!

 

Mount Agung: Bali's Home of the Gods

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Mount Agung is an active stratovolcano (meaning layered with ash and lava) and is the highest point in Bali and has great spiritual significance in Bali. The volcano has been respected and feared because of its violent eruptions for hundreds of years.  Balinese believe that Mount Agung itself is a fragment of its sister mountain Meru, brought by the first hindus to come to Bali.

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 The Balinese believe their island is a sacred place that the gods have made their home, and they were put there to take good care of it. After all, Bali’s incredible landscape proves a hospitable home for divine beings.

One of the main attractions of Mount Agung is seeing the beautiful Mother Temple, or Pura Besakih. The temple is actually over 20 temples and shrines for visitors to respectfully experience. Always ask your guides or the locals if the temple is open, as it is closed to visitors many days a year for rituals and days of prayer. Hindus believe it is the center of the spiritual universe, affecting all things physical and metaphysical. The belief was reinforced during the 1963 eruption, which wiped out villages and killed many people, but miraculously spared the Mother Temple of Besakih built on the side of Mount Agung. The hike to the summit of Mount Agung is challenging but absolutely worthy of your efforts. Seeing the sunrise above the clouds of Bali in the home of the gods is a truly unforgettable experience!

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See the splendor of Mount Agung yourself, join us in Bali October 3-10 2015!

Earth Day Gratitude

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Thank you trees. For providing us shade on sunny days, for reminding us that growing tall begins with strong roots and a sturdy foundation. Thank you to the woods and the forests for teaching us to find the still place inside and giving us a spiritual experience with every step into your splendor. Thank you for proving that a grand forest begins with a single seed.

 Thank you ocean. For making us feel small, for giving us a sense of wonder. Thank you for the consistency of your waves that sooth us. Thank you for your refreshing flow that softens, smooths, and cleanses us like stones in a river.

Thank you sky. For sparking our imagination, for showing us your stars to gaze at pensively and reminding us that we are all connected, looking up at the same sun.

Thank you fire, sunshine, and heat. For warming us and making us feel ignited and alive. Thank you for your example of rapid, purifying change like a wildfire of transformation.

Thank you mountains and hills. For being the original, un-decaying natural monuments of our planet. Thank you for inspiring us to set higher goals and not be frightened of the elevation.

 Thank you for every living plant and creature that keeps the delicate balance of our planet. Thank you for providing nourishment, cleaning our air, and showing us that love and companionship is possible without words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Flight Survival Guide

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window-view2The key is to eliminate as many discomforts as possible. Sitting for 10+ hours can be extremely unpleasant, but there are simple ways to enrich your experience and add to your comfort.

  • Consider natural sleep aids, like melatonin or chamomile tea. Essential oils such as lavender or chamomile also calm the body. Always be mindful of the passengers around you as they may be sensitive to certain smells.
  • Don’t go into a long flight extremely tired expecting to sleep the entire way and wake up at your destination refreshed, because that almost never works for anyone. We all know that the sleep in Economy is not necessarily restful. There’s no way to emulate your bed in an airplane seat, but you can bring along a few things to help yourself rest easy. If you’re in a window seat, bring along warm socks and a blanke
    t to cover yourself with. Plan ahead to find a neck pillow or cushion that works for you. Wear comfortable clothing that fits well.
  • Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Being in the low humidity on planes for hours depletes the water in your body, and in turn dries your skin and respiratory system. The remedy is to hydrate from the inside out. It may make you have to ‘go’ a few times on board, but hey- it’s not like you have anything else better to do. In addition to this- lay off the booze! It may relax you temporarily, but the dehydrating effects on your body will quickly make you stressed and uncomfortable. Save yourself from expensive bottled water by carrying one or two empty bottles through security and filling them from the drinking fountain.
  • Eat a nutritious, water-dense (as in fruits and vegetables), low sodium meal beforehand to keep your stomach content for takeoff. Bring enough food so you wont go hungry during the flight, but stay away from heavy, dense foods. The food that airplanes provide -without getting into graphic detail- leaves much to be desired in terms of safety and nutrient content. Many airlines recall food every year.
  • Move! Many people have troubles with poor circulation and swelling in the lower legs during flights, so don’t be afraid to get up and stretch your legs on a flight of any length. You can conveniently take some cat/cow style movements and twists in your seat, and even a modified pigeon if you feel up to it!

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Keep your carry-on light, but be sure to include:

-toothbrush and toothpaste-entertainment, (electronics fully charged!)
-coconut oil or a light lotion if you have dry skin
-headphones
-sudoku, a book, crossword puzzles

 

*Be sure that all your liquids and gels are under 3oz (100ml) and in a clear ziplock bag.

Bon Voyage!

Why Koh Samui?

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Koh-Phi-Phi-the-beach

Of all of the beautiful islands, beaches, and resorts in Thailand, we chose the secluded island of Koh Samui for our fall yoga retreat. We make these decisions very intentionally in order to offer you a healing, eco-concious, peaceful, and diverse home for your retreat.

Koh Samui lies in the southern part of the Gulf of Thailand and is thought to have been inhabited for 15 centuries. Until the late 20th century, Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with mainland Thailand.

651_wThe people of Koh Samui are very much in rhythm with the natural flow of the seasons and let no resource the island gives them go to waste. It is still known for being self sufficient, with its residents using sustainable methods to make the most of the island’s resources. Nowadays many take advantage of harnessing the island’s constant sunlight for solar powered lights and heated water. They also continue the tradition of growing and harvesting much of their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs instead of importing them from the mainland. Southeast Asia’s ‘rainy season’ between May and November provides ample opportunity for rainwater recycling.

The name ‘Samui’ itself is mysterious in that it can’t be traced to a single origin (Ko=Island). It may be a variation of the Southern indian word meaning ‘waves and wind,’ or it may be named for a native tree, ‘mui.’ The most fitting explanation, in our opinion, is that the name is derived from the Chinese word, ‘Saboey,’ meaning ‘safe haven.’
The island was even without roads until the early 1970s, and nowadays can be circumnavigated by car in just a few hours. The island hosts gorgeous, well maintained beaches with crystal clear water- always a non-negotiable for our island retreats!

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Check out more info about our retreat to Koh Samui in Thailand the fall here!