It's been a fun and busy beginning of the year here at Lotus Garden. February flew by and now Spring is just around the corner.
For many of us, this time of year prompts deep cleaning of the home, tidying up the yard from all the winter debris, and planting flowers in our gardens.
It's also the perfect time of year to deep clean and detoxify our bodies, which naturally kick-starts getting in shape for summer as well! With this in mind, we have planned some workshops and classes to get you on your way...
This weekend, we welcome back Nicole Wilkerson of New Leaf Ayurveda, who will facilitate an introductory workshop on the basics of Ayurveda. Nicole is truly passionate about what she does and is dedicated to helping each individual make the lifestyle changes they are seeking. We have a few spaces left, so call soon to reserve your spot.
On April 10, join Destiny Goldsberry for a "Detox Yoga Flow" workshop. Release tension and toxins and get the energy flowing in this fun and invigorating class. See our "Upcoming Events" section for more details.
Our next cooking class in April will focus on introducing raw foods as a great way to 'spring-clean' the entire body. Exact date is still to be determined, but keep your eyes open for the announcement!
We sincerely hope our classes and programs enrich your life spiritually and physically and assist you in achieving your wellness goals.
Patience is power. With time and patience, the mulberry leaf becomes silk.
~Chinese proverb
The search for wisdom is a great challenge; to act on wisdom is an even greater challenge.
~Siddha
Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing afright thee, all things are passing, God changeth never.
~Saint Teresa of Avila
Yoga Cleansing
Yoga Cleansing: At the Cellular Level
It's amazing how refreshed you feel after you've been regularly practicing yoga asanas and deep breathing for awhile. This is because of the squeezing and stretching, twisting and flushing processes, which rejuvenates the body deep down into all the cells.
Like the wringing out of a dish sponge followed by saturating it with clean fresh water, yoga helps to rid your body of toxins, and replace the cells with fresh blood. Through the different yoga asanas, cells get twisted, squeezed and stretched. The deep yoga breathing then floods the cells with oxygenated blood.
It's natural for the body to need to cleanse itself. The process of cell metabolism creates waste products that continually need to be flushed away. However, if through unhealthy lifestyles, stress, eating habits, etc., we make more waste products than we can effectively deal with, we get an accumulation of toxins and impurities in and around the cells. The resulting strain put on the bodily systems paves the way for all sorts of diseases, parasites and dysfunctions - or even just that sluggish feeling we have now and then.
No matter what state of health we are coming from we will always feel much better with the deep cleansing power of Hatha yoga. However, to get optimal cellular cleansing we need to lead a healthy lifestyle of eating, drinking, thinking and acting as purely as possible.
Upcoming Events
Ayurvedic Workshop: Practical and Modern Basics
Interested in improving your overall health and well-being? Learn the holistic science of Ayurveda and how to apply it to your own life.
Coming up on March 6th and 7th, we welcome back Nicole Wilkerson of Newleaf Ayurveda for an informative, 2-day workshop on the basics of Ayurveda.
Originating thousands of years ago in India, the teachings cover lifestyle, diet, exercise, herbs, and other natural treatments.
Ayurveda is a time-tested natural approach that reveals our fullest lives, provides natural energy, and works to prevent disease.
Give your digestive system a natural boost with this twist and detox practice!
Using breath, sweat, and asana, we will flush out toxic waste that gets trapped and stagnates within our bodies, improving overall well-being. Explore how to make conscious and responsible choices to help purify the body and mind.This is an invigorating vinyasa class, open to all-levels, and a great entrance into spring cleansing.
About Destiny:
With over 2000 hours of hands on training, Destiny is one of Northern California's most sought after Yoga Teachers. Practicing since 1999 & teaching since 2001, she has completed trainings with Doug Swenson, Shannon Wells, Yoga Works, John Friend, and Ana Forrest.
Since 2005 she has completed Ana Forrest's 200 hr Foundational Training, 50 hr CET, 70 hr Advanced, and completed the first Forrest Yoga Mentorship Program. She has assisted Ana Forrest's Continuing Education Course and The Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco.
Destiny has also written for Living Life Magazine, created 200 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings for multiple yoga schools, and produced a Yoga Instructional DVD for Yoga Teachers.
Ongoing Events
Kirtan and Bhagavad-gita class:
Fridays 7-8:30pm
Meditation Classes:
Wednesdays 7-8:30 pm
Thursdays 5:30-7 pm
Saturdays 3:30-5 pm
Sundays 11-12:30 pm
All programs free of charge
Health Tip
Transitioning to a Vegetarian Diet
Many people wonder how they can make a transition from a diet of animal products to essentially no animal products in a period of time. What do you eat ? Salad ?
Well, vegetarians don't need to eat salad all day ... there are so many wonderful, tasteful foods which are part of the vegetarian diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Meat alternatives include seitan (wheat meat) and a huge variety of products made with soy beans such as tofu, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tempeh and miso.
For those who prefer not to eat dairy - milk, cheese, yogurt, butter - there are so many dairy free (vegan) alternatives on the market, from soy, rice, almond, to hemp milk; soy, rice and nut cheeses; soy yogurt; tofutti better than cream cheese; Earth Balance butter substitute, and the list goes on.
Here is a simple table to help you make the transition effortlessly. For more help and advice, please feel free to join us for our cooking classes, where we introduce different ingredients and suggest substitutions for common ingredients.
HOW TO MAKE MEATLESS MEALS
SUBSTITUTE
WITH
Meat
Beans, cheese, seitan, tempeh, TVP, tofu
Meat/seafood stocks
Vegetable stock, water in which beans, pasta or vegetables have been cooked, vegetable bouillon cubes, miso diluted with water. Also try mock "Beef" or "Chicken" Style Instant Broth & Seasoning" made by McKay's or sold in bulk at health food stores.
1 cup soymilk mixed with 2 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Cheese
Soy, rice and nut cheeses
Cheese or ricotta cheese
Crumbled tofu
Eggs
Ener-G Egg Replacer, 1 mashed banana or ¼ cup applesauce per egg (for baked goods), 1 Tb agar flakes whisked into 1 Tb water and chilled 5 minutes (for egg white substitute), 1 Tb ground flaxseeds simmered in 3 Tb boiling water for 2 minutes
Mayonnaise
Soy based mayonnaise
Milk
Soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk
Recipes
Spicy Three Bean Chili
A delicious protein-rich vegetarian chili that the whole family will love!
Ingredients:
1 1-pound eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes Olive oil 2 yellow onions, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 medium zucchini, diced 2 large red bell peppers, cored, seeded, diced 1 to 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely minced (Taste and check the heat of the jalapeños. If very hot only use one, if mildly hot, use two. Wash hands with soap and water after handling. Do not rub eyes.) 1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes 1-2 Tbsp chili powder 1 Tbsp ground cumin 2 Tbsp fresh chopped oregano or 2 teaspoons dried 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 1½ cups cooked white beans (1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed) 1½ cups cooked kidney beans (1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed) 1½ cups cooked pinto beans (1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed) Zest of one lemon 3 Tbsp lemon juice 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place cubed eggplant into small, shallow roasting pan. Toss with 2 Tbsp olive oil. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, stirring once. Remove from oven, set aside.
2. Heat 3 Tbsp olive oil on medium heat in a 5-6 quart Dutch oven. Add onions, cook for a few minutes. Add garlic, cook for a minute more. Add zucchini, red bell peppers, and jalapeños. Cook 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Coarsely chop the canned tomatos, add to pot with their liquid. Add cumin, oregano, and fennel seeds. Add chili powder to desired heat. Gently stir in reserved eggplant, simmer for 20 minutes over low heat.
4. Add beans, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, and cilantro. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Serve with fresh bread, sour cream or vegan Tofutti Sour Cream, dairy or vegan grated cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions.
Serves 8-10.
Yoga Asana
Pigeon Pose
Level: Easy/Moderate
Benefits: Sciatic and lower back pain, opens hips
Cautions: Knee and hip problems, serious back problems
How to:
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
1. Kneel in the cat position and bring your right knee to your right hand and your right foot towards the left hip.
2. Sink your hips and lengthen and broaden the chest into the Proud Pigeon (fig. 1)
3. Keep your lower back lengthening too. Stay for 5 breaths then release forward bringing the forearms to the floor.
4. Keep the spine lengthening. You can rest here or lower the trunk down to the floor and stretch your arms out in front of you.( fig. 2)
Modifications:
If your hips are tight place a folded blanket under your front thigh.
If your head doesn't reach the floor in the sleeping pigeon fold your arms under your head and rest on folded arms.
To Deepen:
From the Proud Pigeon raise your back leg and take hold of your foot with your left hand.
Gem of Wisdom
"Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul." ~ Bhagavad-gita Ch 2, txt 17
New Student Special!
14 Days for $14
(pay $14 at your first class then come to as many classes as you like within the following 14 day period)
New student introductory special valid at Lotus Garden Meditation Center for first time students, includes Yoga asanas and Tai Chi.
Dear Friends, 
Gopala Govinda Rama
Like the wringing out of a dish sponge followed by saturating it with clean fresh water, yoga helps to rid your body of toxins, and replace the cells with fresh blood. Through the different yoga asanas, cells get twisted, squeezed and stretched. The deep yoga breathing then floods the cells with oxygenated blood. 
Using breath, sweat, and asana, we will flush out toxic waste that gets trapped and stagnates within our bodies, improving overall well-being. Explore how to make conscious and responsible choices to help purify the body and mind.This is an invigorating vinyasa class, open to all-levels, and a great entrance into spring cleansing.
With over 2000 hours of hands on training, Destiny is one of Northern California's most sought after Yoga Teachers. Practicing since 1999 & teaching since 2001, she has completed trainings with Doug Swenson, Shannon Wells, Yoga Works, John Friend, and Ana Forrest. 
Ingredients: 
"Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul." 