wellness

Self-Care for Foodies: A Breakfast Board

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Breakfast Board as self-care

The breakfast board is not my creation. But I do love the idea after reading about it on A Cup of Jo and if feels like self-care. Maybe it’s the next big trend for the picnic season? It would be kind of fun eating this outside.

Somehow if feels rather fanciful eating from a board. Maybe because it’s different. So it seems special. Like I ordered it from room service at a posh hotel, even though I made it myself.

While this is a normal breakfast, I did take more care with placement as I spread everything out — a boiled egg, a pear, a bit of avocado, vanilla Greek yogurt with granola, dates and walnuts.

As more of us focus on self-care, so that we can accomplish what we want in any given day, and remain happy, not just sane, we each find different ways of nurturing ourselves.

I think the breakfast board is a nice way. It’s probably not something we’ll do everyday, but it’s a nice change.

Sometimes we just need a change in order to be a bit more productive and creative. Last night, I attended a dinner meeting at the UMass Club. Dinner was wonderful and our group accomplished a lot.

UMass Club view of Mass State House

When we walked into our room and looked out the windows, we were all struck by the view.

While I’ve been in many tall buildings in Boston and seen plenty of gorgeous views of the city, this was not the same area as usual, so the view was different.

Umass Club view of Prudential and John Hancock buildings

I’ve walked around Center Plaza and Government Center countless times. But never seen them  from 32 floors above! The same for the Massachusetts State House. A change in perspective can gives us a new way to look at life. And sometimes, that’s all we really need.

Spring 2016: Free Yoga Classes in Boston

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duo yoga pose While it may not be officially spring yet, it’s so close and I feel like we made it through the winter. Plus, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, so let’s just go with it.

The Winter Schedule of free yoga classes needed updating, so might as well start my spring cleaning here.

Remember there are Meetups in the area to try out.

Hands To Heart Center Yoga – Yoga for the People provides free yoga classes for people living with poverty and trauma in Boston. Check out their website and Twitter for class schedules.

The Free Yoga Boston Community Page on Facebook is updated everyday. So be sure to check there for all sorts of yoga news!

Also, if you know of other free or donation based classes in the Boston area that are missing from this list, please let me know. This “Big List” is always a work in progress. There will be updates, so keep checking back. Namaste!

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MONDAY

Troops for Fitness Yoga
BCYF Cleveland Community Center (Dorchester)
7:15pm – 8:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes on different days and locations and seems to be a year-round thing. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

TUESDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
6pm – 7:15pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Complete Candlelight Flow
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)
8pm – 9pm

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this class designed for yogis to advance their practice through building a comprehensive understanding of yoga techniques and philosophy. Upon arrival, each student receives a candle as a symbolic token of union with the Self and with others. No experience is necessary. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

WEDNESDAY

More To Love Yoga
Yoga Series at the Ed Portal (Harvard Ed Portal, Allston)
7:30pm – 8:30pm

Rachel Estapa, founder of More to Love, is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and professional body image coach. The class offers practical pose variations and enhances body acceptance. Harvard Ed Portal’s Yoga Series offers different types of free yoga classes through the year. Eventbrite registration is encouraged due to space constraints.

Troops for Fitness Yoga
BCYF Cleveland Community Center (Dorchester)
7:15pm – 8:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes on different days and locations and seems to be a year-round thing. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

THURSDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
4:30pm – 6pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. The Thursday class starts at 4:30pm. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Children & Family Yoga/Troops for Fitness
Walter Denney Youth Center (Dorchester)
6pm – 7pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes on different days and locations and seems to be a year-round thing. Most classes last an hour and schedules change every couple of months. For updates and cancellations, check Twitter and Facebook.

Glow Yoga
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)
8pm – 9pm

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is an all-levels class incorporating black lights, glow sticks, dance music, and asana. You get fitness, fun and will get creative with neon body paint. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

FRIDAY

Beyond Beginner Yoga
Yoga Series at the Ed Portal (Harvard Ed Portal, Allston)
6pm – 7pm

If you’re comfortable with basic yoga poses and are looking for more sophisticated sequences and poses, this class draws on different styles of flow yoga and integrates some meditation to relax the mind as well as the body. Harvard Ed Portal’s Yoga Series offers different types of free yoga classes through the year. Eventbrite registration is encouraged due to space constraints.

SATURDAY

Winter Workout
The Liberty Hotel (Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Back in 2009, The Liberty was one of the first hotels in Boston, or anyplace in the area for that matter, to start offering free yoga classes in the summer. They set the trend and still offer free classes in collaboration with Equinox. Guests of the hotel and members of the community are welcome to take the class for free. Classes are year round. In the summer, classes are outside in the courtyard. In the cooler months, they are indoors. Check with the concierge to find the exact class location, since it appears to change.

SUNDAY

Reggae Flow
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)
9:30am – 10:30am

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this reggae-inspired yoga class. No experience is necessary for this class, where postures build through a progressive sequence, designed to cultivate total harmony in body and mind. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

Brewery Yoga
Night Shift Brewing (87 Santilli Highway, Everett)
11am – 12pm

These yoga classes take place at the brewery every so often. Take a look at their event calendar for confirmation and sign up! Kat O’Leary from CorePower Yoga teaches the vinyasa classes.

Yoga For Runners
Boston Marathon adidas Runbase (855 Boylston Street, Boston)
6:30pm

These free vinyasa yoga classes are taught by Liz Vail. A customized yoga flow will bring balance to overworked muscles used when running and will also provide strength to the areas of the body that are needed in order to run more efficiently. All levels of yoga experience are welcome, but it looks like you need to register each week.

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Image Credit: “Yoga Pose” courtesy of lobster20 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

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Quote of the Week: Brene Brown

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Brene Brown quote on creativityLast week I found a new favorite podcast, Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. I’m of big fan of hers in general and loved Eat, Pray, Love.

Her new book, Big Magic, is being added to my ever growing and impossibly long list of books to read.

Brene Brown is another favorite author. On this podcast from about a month ago, Gilbert interviewed Brown about her new book, Rising Strong. Also being added to the list!

The conversation was fascinating. When they were talking about creativity, they spoke about something that I believe very deeply. We are all creative. No exceptions. The issue is whether you are using your creativity or not.

In my life, I found that it felt stifling and self-harming to ignore my creative side. That is one of the reasons why I started blogging. Brown said, that unused creativity is not benign.

So much of the violence, turmoil and disease that exists in the world today could probably be at least somewhat alleviated if everyone took this to heart.

What creative thing have you done today? There’s still time to figure it out.  If we truly want to be well, we must. Unused creativity is not benign…

Autumn/Winter 2015: Free Yoga Classes in Boston

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duo yoga poseSummer is indeed over. But not the free yoga classes! There are many free yoga classes to choose from now that we are into fall and headed toward winter. This is the first year that I have noticed so many. Enough for me to compile a new list. I’ll be trying some of these classes too! There are Meetups in the area to check out.

Hands To Heart Center Yoga – Yoga for the People provides free yoga classes for people living with poverty and trauma in Boston. Check out their website and Twitter for class schedule.

Plus, free pop-up classes seem to be the rage! As this trend continues, I’ll add those classes as I find them to the Facebook page. New posts and listings go up there several times a day, so make sure you keep up!

Like the summer list, and Facebook page, this list will be a work in progress and there will be updates, so keep checking back. Namaste!

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MONDAY

Troops for Fitness Yoga
Ronan Park (Dorchester)
6:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering free yoga classes with U.S. Army Veteran Roxanne Hope Randall. Classes started at the beginning of October and go through November 30th.

TUESDAY

BPL Yoga: Intelligence for Body, Mind, & Soul
Boston Public Library (Central Library, Copley Square)
12pm – 1pm

Acclaimed yoga teacher, author, and entrepreneur Rebecca Pacheco will lead these yoga classes for an all-levels class to unplug and recharge body, mind, and spirit. You will be surrounded by books, history, and the library’s peaceful hush in the historic Abbey Room of the McKim Building. Classes start on January 12 and are held weekly until February 16. What a great way to start the new year!

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
6pm – 7:15pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

Complete Candlelight Flow
8pm – 9pm
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this class designed for yogis to advance their practice through building a comprehensive understanding of yoga techniques and philosophy. Upon arrival, each student receives a candle as a symbolic token of union with the Self and with others. No experience is necessary. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

WEDNESDAY

NTC Yoga
Nike Boston (200 Newbury Street, Boston)
7:04am – 8:04am

Nike+ Training Club offers this athletic vinyasa-style class taught by yoga and Pilates instructor Jacqui Mimno to target often overlooked elements of training. You’ll improve joint mobility, while simultaneously working on upper body and core strength. You need to register each week for the class on their online calendar, which updates on Sunday at 3pm. These classes are held indoors year round, so you can enjoy them even when summer ends!

Troops for Fitness Yoga
Ronan Park (Dorchester)
6:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering  free yoga classes with U.S. Army Veteran Roxanne Hope Randall. Classes started at the beginning of October and go through November 30th.

THURSDAY

Yoga Classes at Boston Medical Center
Moakley Building (830 Harrison Avenue, Boston)
4:30pm – 6pm

These yoga classes are not just during the summer and are open to community members in addition to BMC patients and staff. They are held indoors and part of the Program for Integrative Medicine & Health Care Disparities. Take the elevator or stairs down to the basement. The classes are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5.00. Currently there is a flyer online [click here], but it is old. The Thursday class starts at 4:30pm. If the online flyer is updated, I will link to it here.

FRIDAY

Troops for Fitness Yoga
Ronan Park (Dorchester)
6:15pm

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is offering  free yoga classes with U.S. Army Veteran Roxanne Hope Randall. Classes started at the beginning of October and go through November 30th.

SATURDAY

Winter Workout
The Liberty Hotel (Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Back in 2009, The Liberty was one of the first hotels in Boston, or anyplace in the area for that matter, to start offering free yoga classes in the summer. They set the trend and still offer free classes in collaboration with Equinox. Guests of the hotel and members of the community are welcome to take the class for free. Classes are year round. In the summer, classes are outside in the courtyard. In the cooler months, they are indoors. Check with the concierge to find the exact class location, since it appears to change.

  SUNDAY

Reggae Flow
9:30am – 10:30am
Pop Allston (89 Brighton Ave, Boston)

Yoga Hub, founded by Ali Singer, is offering this reggae-inspired yoga class. No experience is necessary for this class, where postures build through a progressive sequence, designed to cultivate total harmony in body and mind. Free mat rental is available. While the class is free, there is a suggested $5 donation.

Yoga & Beer; the Key to Happiness
Night Shift Brewing (87 Santilli Highway, Everett)
11am – 12pm

These yoga classes take place at the brewery every so often and there is one coming up on October 18th. Take a look at their event calendar for confirmation before you go.  Kat O’Leary from CorePower Yoga teaches the vinyasa classes.

Yoga For Runners
Boston Marathon adidas Runbase (855 Boylston Street, Boston)
6:30pm

These free vinyasa yoga classes are taught by Liz Vail. A customized yoga flow will bring balance to overworked muscles used when running and will also provide strength to the areas of the body that are needed in order to run more efficiently. All levels of yoga experience are welcome, but it looks like you need to register each week.

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Image Credit: “Yoga Pose” courtesy of lobster20 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Nourish Your Soul: Free Samples at Copley Square Monday, September 28th!

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Nourish your soul nutrientsNourish your soul smoothiesnourish your soul juicesDo you like fresh and nutritious juices and smoothies? Well, you’re in luck!

Boston’s first cold-pressed juicing shop, Nourish Your Soul, is opening a third location upstairs at Healthworks Back Bay (441 Stuart Street, Boston) in the heart of Copley Square.

Joining South Boston (15 Channel Center Street, Boston) and West Medford (17 Playstead Road, Medford), the new Back Bay location will be Healthworks’ primary café and is open to the public.

Also, for the first time, Nourish Your Soul will offer breakfast and lunch items, in addition to cold-pressed juice, made-to-order smoothies, cold-brewed coffee and snacks.

Susan Cabana, the company’s founder, is also a health and wellness expert. Her personal story is quite compelling.

At age 37,  she was suddenly widowed and left alone to raise her three young daughters. Then she lost her job. She explains how she started to heal herself and founded her business along the way.

I started running and then found yoga. It was on my yoga mat when my teacher asked the question, “What would you do if you had no barriers or fears?”

In that moment, I knew I wanted to pursue a career of helping people heal themselves through a healthy lifestyle that includes food, movement, meditation, gratitude, and, of course, juice.

The biggest transformation in my life was adding one green juice a day. Nourish your Soul is more than just a juice & smoothie shop.  Each juice and smoothie we create heals and nourishes the body.

At Nourish Your Soul, we empower individuals to achieve optimal health and happiness one breath, moment, and sip at a time.

Most of us are trying to find ways to live happier and healthier lives. Yoga, meditation and eating healthy all resonate deeply with me. Nourish Your Soul sounds like a wonderful place to regroup, refresh and nourish yourself. I’m looking forward to trying many of their offerings. For people into cleanses, they have those too.

If you’d like to try some free samples, head over to the new location in Copley tomorrow 5pm – 7pm for their Grand Opening. Also, enter for a chance to win giveaways like cleanses and gym membership discounts!

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Photos courtesy of The Moxie Agency.