Breaking CBD News: CBD Wellness Drinks Arrive in Massachusetts!

Golden CBD Latte

CBD just may be the big trend of 2019. Many, myself included, use CBD infused products for pain relief. More and more, it’s being added to foods and beverages as well in order to facilitate other desired health benefits.

NOCA Provisions, a Cambridge café, has launched a Wellness Drink Menu featuring lattes infused with CBD, an abbreviation for cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabis compound. Even though they have similar chemical structures, it doesn’t produce a high like THC, the intoxicating ingredient in cannabis.

The Golden CBD Latte is made with coconut milk, steeped with turmeric, ginger and black pepper. The Calming CBD Latte is made with chamomile-lavender infused oat milk.

Both drinks are steamed to order with 5mg of CBD oil and are priced at $10.00 each. Guests can also add 5mg of CBD oil to their favorite coffee for an additional $5.00 each.

Calming CBD Latte

Along with many other states, Massachusetts has legalized the sale of marijuana. The Cannabis Control Commission oversees the laws in the Commonwealth. This legalization has contributed to the increasing popularity of CBD.

In June 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex for the treatment of seizures associated with two forms of epilepsy. Other than that, no other health claims have been proven. But you know people. We’re curious and want to try different things.

Melissa Malamut wrote an article about how she tried CBD coffee for a week to see how it impacted her anxiety. Her reaction seemed to vary day by day depending upon a few factors.

Overall, I enjoyed the coffee and can see myself giving it out as a novelty gift. But it’s not something I’d drink every day, and I’m not convinced I prefer it to regular coffee.

I think when it comes to CBD, it may take a few tries to find the proper dosage that works for you. Talking to your doctor could help.

When I first heard claims about CBD oil, I was skeptical. But after using an oil infused salve, I’m a believer. The FDA may not agree with me, but it has made a real difference in alleviating pain in my back, neck and shoulders.

I love a good latte and am a turmeric fan as well. So I would definitely try these wellness drinks at NOCA Provisions, if in the area. What about you?

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Photography: Courtesy of Image Unlimited Communications, Ltd.

Free Yoga Boston (October 2018 – May 2019)

yoga Boston

There aren’t as many free yoga classes in the Boston area during the fall, winter and spring. But there are still quite a few!

Since this list covers so many months, it will be updated as I have more information. The current list has classes that are year round and for the winter. Please let me know if you have any corrections and/or tips!

Click the links for details about current dates, etc. The Marathon Sports Sunday classes seem to not happen each week. The lululemon Sunday classes may not be yoga every week.

Many branches of the Boston Public Library have free yoga classes on different days. Take a look at the website for details. The Hands to Heart Center classes listed below are ongoing.

Enjoy!

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MONDAY

Hands to Heart Center/Yoga For The People
(BPL Charlestown Branch, 179 Main Street)
1:30pm – 2:30pm

TUESDAY

Hands to Heart Center/Yoga For The People
(Union Capital Boston, aka UCB Building, 1544 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury)
6pm – 7pm

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

WEDNESDAY

Good Vibes Yoga
(Hyatt Regency Hotel, Downtown Boston)
5:45pm – 6:45pm

THURSDAY

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

Hands to Heart Center/Yoga For The People
(BPL Mattapan Branch, 1350 Blue Hill Avenue)
6:30pm – 7:30pm

FRIDAY

None that I know of at the moment.

SATURDAY

Saturday Seasonal Yoga
(The Liberty Hotel, Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Hands to Heart Center/Yoga For The People
(Level Ground, 527 Columbia Road, Uphams Corner, Dorchester)
11am – 12pm

SUNDAY

Yoga at the Pru
lululemon (776 Boylston Street, Space 6B, Boston)
10am – 10:50am

Yoga For Runners Community Class
(Marathon Sports, Norwell)
6:15pm – 7:15pm

Summer 2018: Free Yoga Boston

*9/21/2018*
The list has been updated to remove some classes that have ended. Many classes continue through the end of September and beyond. Click on the links and then look up future dates.

yoga

Hopefully better late than never! Here is the 6th Annual listing of free yoga classes for the summer.

Take a look at the Introduction to the 2017 list, for general information and suggestions for taking free yoga classes.

This list is streamlined, so click on the links for more detailed information about dates, etc. Some classes will be ending soon and dates can vary. Enjoy!

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MONDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Mother’s Rest at 4 Corners, Dorchester)
6:30pm

TUESDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Chair Yoga
(Symphony Park, Fenway)
10am

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Medal of Honor Park, M Street, South Boston)
6pm

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

Patagonia Yoga Tuesdays
(346 Newbury Street, Boston)
7:30pm – 8:30pm

WEDNESDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Chair Yoga
(Elliot Norton Park, Chinatown)
10am

Complimentary Yoga at Hyatt Regency Boston by YogaHub
(Downtown Boston, 1 Avenue de Lafayette)
5:45pm – 6:45pm

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Brighton Common, Brighton)
6pm

Seaport Sweat
Yoga with Jenna (Seaport Common, 85 Northern Avenue, Boston)
6:30pm – 7:30pm

THURSDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Gentle Yoga
(Christopher Columbus Park, North End)
10am

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

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Boston Common, Beacon Hill)
6pm

Free Summer Yoga
Boston Common Frog Pond (Downtown Boston)
6pm – 7:15pm

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Marcella Playground, Roxbury)
6pm

FRIDAY

Seaport Sweat
Yoga with Jenna (Seaport Common, 85 Northern Avenue, Boston)
12pm – 1pm

SATURDAY

Complimentary Yoga at Hyatt Regency Boston by YogaHub
(Downtown Boston, 1 Avenue de Lafayette)
8:30am – 9:30am

Yoga with Linda Wellness Warrior
Franklin Park Coalition (School Master Hill, Franklin Park)
9am – 10:15am

Island Om: Yoga on Spectacle Island
Boston Harbor Islands (Spectacle Island, Boston)
9:45am

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Healy Playground, Roslindale)
10am

Saturday Seasonal Yoga
The Liberty Hotel (Charles Street, Beacon Hill, Boston)
10am

Castle Island Yoga (Castle Island, Boston)
10:15am – 11:30am

SUNDAY

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Kids Yoga
(Jamaica Pond, Jamaica Plain)
11am

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Winthrop Square, Charlestown)
12:30pm

Boston Parks Summer Fitness Series ~ Yoga
(Jamaica Pond, Jamaica Plain)
2pm

7 Favorite Podcasts

Do you listen to podcasts? I love them! They are such a great source of inspiration and information. Plus, listening to them at work helps time fly.

I’ve also found that the more podcasts I listen to, the more I find. So here are seven podcasts, in no particular order, that I’ve been enjoying recently.

If you have any favorites, please share them in the comments. I’m always looking for more!

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A Hungry Society with Korsha Wilson

The Make Light Show with Karen Walrond

The Lively Show with Jess Lively

How I Built This with Guy Raz

The Creativity Habit with Daphne Cohn

Black Girl in Om with Lauren Ash and Deun Ivory

Patriarchy the Podcast (Hiding in the Bathroom) with Morra Aarons-Mele

Homemade Harvest Bowl

This was my lunch today — leftovers from my lunches during the week. It’s healthy, filling and tastes good. I have become obsessed with these harvest bowls.

I’ve been making a concentrated effort to eat more greens and to getting my protein without soy.

Over the course of my blogging, I’ve gone back and forth between eating and drinking soy products and not. I’m back to not and don’t think I will be going back.

A favorite lunch is the Power Bowl from B.Good. I’ve never forgotten the Squash and Farro Salad that I helped make at a food blogging event a few years ago. I loved the taste and texture of the farro. I also started buying the Harvest Bowl at Sweetgreen.

These three favorite dishes are variations of the same thing. Lots of greens, sweet potato or squash, nuts, fruit, a protein like chicken or egg, cheese, a grain and other vegetables with a dressing.

I’ve been experimenting with making my own version and loving it. I make my own salad dressing and keep it on hand.

The ingredients in the salad pictured above are: baby spinach and kale, boiled egg, farro, sweet potato, trail mix, feta cheese.

Though I love this meal, I’ve been having it virtually everyday for two weeks. This coming week, I’ll be giving it a break. Variety is the spice of life after all.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! Not a football fan, but I’m in New England, so Go Patriots!