Breakfast

Spring Detox

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

He, friend!

I am enjoying the last few weeks of Spring and I wanted to share my detox plan that works for me to get my body boosted with fresh spring nutrients and slowly challenge my digestive system to digest fresh nettles and dandelion greens. I love all the spring herbs green onion, cilantro, parsley, garlic mustard. The best morning juice is green and spicy and gets my digestion fired up and ready to digest lunch. I also get to re-evaluate what I’ve been doing the past season and analyze what needs to go and what can stay or be tweaked. I include things I’m reading, listening to, and watching on TV. I absolutely adore my much-needed Spring detox.

Alëmatae- flower beginning to bloom🤩

Morning Routine

I find the morning time to be the best time for me to get my heart rate up and my body moved. I also get my daily steps completed before 8am. For my morning nutrition, I get the kettle going and make a big 32 oz hot tea with lemon and ginger. I will sip on this throughout the morning. I typically make 2 big batches of juice, one is a green juice with cucumber, celery, green apple, spinach, kale, ginger, lemon. The 2nd juice is beets, oranges, turmeric, ginger. I will choose either juice for my breakfast while I work and get through my morning. I make sure I get moving during my morning break if I’m working. Or get outside and water my garden.

Fresh green juice beams me up with nutritional power and gets my tummy grumbling💝

Lunch

I love a green lunch! My body craves the bitter greens and I even allow a small, sweet dessert when my digestion is at its peak. I have been loving a good buddha bowl. The Sunday before my work week, I will cook lentils or beans that have been soaked for 24 hours. I roast a mix of veggies I am craving that week. I love a good lemony tahini sauce and/or a pesto (garlic mustard, mustard greens, or beet greens). I will see what herbs I have ready in my garden and place them in my fridge in a plastic bag covered jar. This is the quickest throw together lunch that keeps me in check and temptation to eat processed foods at bay. I even make big batches of Spring soup with nettles and freeze leftovers in individual bags I can defrost in a pinch.

I make sure when it’s time to eat that I am centered and focused on me eating and tasting every bite and fully chew, chew, chew. Mindful eating is amazing. I mean, when is the last time you ate in silence and ate intentionally? Try it on and see what changes for you.

This is not my typical meal, but I sat under this oak tree and ate in silence, enjoying the view🥹 mindful eating wins every time!

Dinner

I like to make sure I am eating while it’s still daylight. I also make sure I am eating small. I know, I know. It’s so different how Americans are taught to eat. We have a huge dinner meal and make sure everyone is seated to eat at the table. Iced drinks, wine, beer, too much water. We get stuffed and watch TV or find something to run to instead of allowing our body time to digest. I get it, I have so much I love to do but I have to honor myself. What isn’t completed by dinner time can wait, if not, see what you can do before the sun goes down and eat dinner outside while watching the sun disappear. I enjoy a salad or soup or both! I just limit the portion and eat until I’m content. I like to eat around 5pm. I used to run straight to yoga but since my yoga is done in the morning recently, I have time to slow down.

I like to connect with my plants I water at night. I love to enjoy my backyard and read in my hammock swing. I find nature to cure me from my typical boredom of not doing anything. I allow myself this time to do nothing. I schedule it and find comfort in my backyard.

Yogi Outro

I feel the heat of the summer getting closer. I will be busy moving my body and keeping my mind in check. Digesting thoughts and experiences of the day are crucial to keeping me open and flowing in a flourishing state. I have fell off my daily journalling and I plan on getting my habit back in motion. I find as the seasons change, so does my digestion and what I need to eat. It’s always best to eat in season and that is exactly what my body craves. I feel my digestion kick start and I can feel when the food leaves my stomach! It’s amazing to be so intune with my body and learn what happens when I slow down and digest. Happy Spring cleaning!

Namastè!

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Fall Edition: Yogi morning routine for self-empowerment💖

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

Hi, yogi friend!

I am thrilled to share my Fall morning routine. It will always include my well-rehearsed “start your day right” routine.  This is my best chance at grabbing control of my day before someone or something else does. This will prove to you how much control you truly have over you, yourself, and YOU!!

Greeting the sun!

First things first, I will eliminate, by the way, Triphala works wonders if you need help to get that started. Don’t continue carrying yesterday’s shit into today! Then, I brush, floss, and scrape my tongue. Next, I wash my face and apply my homemade oil concoction and will begin a quick Gua Sha session. I will dry brush my whole body with long strokes creating movement towards my heart. I will finish with my oil and pay attention to my body. Lots of long strokes and circle rubs on the joints. This all can take 15 – 20 minutes but so very worth it!

Nature shows is resiliency to exist in every season well🥰

Now, I can begin my Reiki session and I just bought a new healing bowl. It has seven metals to represent the seven planets. It has nine chakra signs and it’s one of a kind…literally. These healing bowls are made by hand in Nepal. I absolutely love how low the sound is and the vibration it sends to my body is so amazing! I show it off to all my visitors and I cannot wait to learn our powers together! I am in awe with this new partnership.

My first healing bowl💖

After, Reiki I need to move. I will begin my yoga session for 30 – 60 minutes depending on my time constraints. This has been a curious thought to begin early morning walking or even a weightlifting session. We’ll see how this manifest as we carry on through the season. I know my body well and movement first thing is very important to me.

A bit late but always on time.

By now, it’s time to wrap up my self-love and self-intention morning to take a shower and rinse off the oil. I try to end my shower with the last minute being COLD! It’s meant to increase endorphins and increase blood flow. There a so many more benefits but I just do it because it makes me feel good and increases my focus every day. Win!

After I dress, I get in a meditation. Lately, I love a great prana bath in nature and a meditation while the sun rises. This is the best self-love I can present myself. This is my RX. I will also journal to wrap up my ah-mazing morning love fest.

I got to journal next to this beautiful doe❤

I will get my breakfast ready which has been cold cereal or yummy stewed apples lately. I also make myself my yummy chai cacao with Brahim/Gotu Kola and Moringa powder. These help me with my focus concentration. Another win! I typically begin work.

Yummy stewed apples!

I hope this inspires you to start or tweak your morning routine to celebrate YOU! Let’s get in a mindset to get up early and care for ourselves before we have to present to the world. I love a good love fest especially in the morning!

Namastè 🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Circadian Rhythm

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

What is it about time that makes our bodies crave a scheduled cycle? There’s a feeling of necessity for me and I crave a schedule even though I fight it sometimes. My bedtime is 9:30 pm everyday. I wake up at 4:30 am most days. My schedule rarely changes except during daylight savings time. We fall back an hour. Here we go…

Night, night, Sunflower. Enjoy the full moon gaze tonight. 💗

Last year, I stayed in bed until 5:30 am most mornings. I get all kinds of emotions about getting up into the cooler air to get my bathroom habits done and get my day started. I am very aware of my patterns so planning ahead is imminent. My morning routine is still in infancy so I need to define it into fall and winter so it doesn’t get lost. I love my morning routine. It is so imperative to start your day right!!

My morning meditation and journaling routine😍

The weather outside is getting slower. The weather is getting chilly overnight. My basil harvest is over and I put them in my compost. I feel myself longing for a slower schedule. Who am I to not listen to my intuition or my body. I am learning to respect myself on all levels of being. I put complete trust in myself unlike before. I am ok with this because I put in a lot of work into myself over the summer. I wish I found more time to be on my paddle board. I still have a month or so, so there’s still time to slow down and be in my head.

My medicinal garden is abundant and I have all the goods to prepare for winter! St. John’s Wort studies indicate assistance with seasonal depression…of course, Disclaimer: this is not proven to treat, diagnose, or cure anything.

Typically, I eat dinner around 5pm. I ate too late last night and what I notice about myself this morning is sluggish. I also ate grease and sugar which is 1,000% what I expect. I had a healthier alternative in the fridge I completely forgot about until I reflected on it this morning writing my blog. Ha! I am lucky to have a clear understanding on what works and what doesn’t. It makes decision making easier if you know the outcome. I plan on having brunch with my parents this morning so I’ll look for a very light helping of fruit or green juice. This will give my body time to digest last nights bad decision😝

Some kind of hybrid pepper😂 I have been roasting, dehydrating, and grounding my peppers for chili powder. I have so many Serrano peppers too😍

My biggest meal is usually lunch. This is when digestion is most fiery. Get in my belly! I am making sure it’s balanced with bitter, astringent, salty, sweet, pungent, and sour. I miss being creative in the kitchen. I’ll have more time as I will crave being home more in the winter and as it chills outside. Do you notice your seasonal habits? I mean I’m lucky in a sense because I experience 4 seasons. It’s beautiful! I have a maple tree in my backyard and as it gets fiery colored it is a gentle reminder to let my fire slow or risk burn out. I am so kapha so I understand why fall is my favorite. Don’t get me wrong! I love summer and all her heat! I detox and sweat and move in my life with all the love! Summer is freeing! Let your hair down, no bras…stay real💖

Jalapeño lemonade season

Another huge habit to keep in any changing season is to move. I love my yoga in all seasons. I especially love restorative yoga and all of its healing intentions. Walking is especially important to me. I love exploring nature and my neighborhood. There are a lot of walkers and that’s beautiful. We have a walking/running group. I love my community. I have to get ready for my yoga session. Stay mindful and stay in your knowledge. You’re the only person on the planet who knows what you need. Get in your head and stay mindful and pay attention💝 stay gifted✌🏽

Namastè 🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Self Care is Love ❤️

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

Hi, my yogi friend!

My best days are the days full of attending to my needs. I know. Why a full day? Have you ever needed a moment? Some time to wind down and process your wins of the week? I think even an hour is time well invested. I’ll take you on my typical day of healing for inspiration only purposes.

I love to heal my body using any modality necessary💝 even if it’s 11 needles to the crown.

I will awake and spend time in bed stretching and gathering my morning plans in my head to get me prepared. Lately, I’ve been getting ready for a long nature meditation at the lake where I will journal and use my tarot cards. I enjoy my alone time to get my headspace right and get ready for work or my day depending on the day. I am working  up to 5 min of stillness. I truly enjoy this practice and it heals my soul. Deep healing.

I am amazed every night and morning I can witness the beauty of the moon. This smiling moon is amazing😍

I will get home in time to get changed for work and get my breakfast ready which is usually oatmeal and peaches or Raisin bran with plant milk. I’m usually starving by this moment which is the summer digestion, all fiery unlike any other season. My kapha slow digestion is a thing of the past in these fast moving days of summer. I appreciate a powerful digestion.

Balance😆

Lunchtime can be crazy. I sometimes have appointments, meetings, all the things at noon. I’m also supposed to eat something that will sustain my high energy levels and keep me from making too many bad decisions. I try to get in a yoga session or at least eat my meal with intention and know I’m ingesting beneficial medicine for my beautiful body.

When in doubt chop it all up and mix with citrus juice, salt and pepper. It’s summer salad season!

By the time I’m done with work my body is ready for movement. I mean a juicy, fluidity, bendy yoga with lots of Pranayama. Yummmm! I am trying to get into a habit of moving atleast 30 min in the morning. I’ll either move to what feels good to my body or practice to a video. I also have 4 yoga classes Monday- Thursday at 5:30 pm and Friday at 5:30 am.

Uttanasana- forward fold. A delicious back stretch❤

I am craving my Ayurveda basics of earlier, lighter dinner. My plan is to eat before yoga but I won’t fret too much about it. I’m sure to eat dinner before the sun goes down. I also am mindful on what foods do good to my body versus bad. I know my body doesn’t like dairy. It’s loud with gas and I can be constipated after. I have to weigh the benefits. I typically like a smooth operation.

Spicy beef birria nachos which utilized all 6 tastes of Ayurveda.

My most prized ritual is my nighttime love fest. No, not that. Lol! I typically begin at 8 and will bathe or shower and moisturize with my homemade herbal oils and crawl into bed for reading, learning, getting tomorrow planned and I get to cuddle with my husband and discuss our day. I will make sure my facial skin is properly pampered for. I’ve been so diligent and creating new facial oils and body creams. I love creating these decadent creams. So luxurious!

My yarrow six week infused oil will make a great body cream🥰 I’ll also keep it around to stop bleeding.

My most prized self care ritual is journaling. I get to reflect on my day and digest it fully. I can list my gratitudes and see how many days in a row I can journal. I’m on a two week roll and it’s great to be so intune with myself. I try not to take any moment for granted. I’m here to learn and take away the lessons to apply in my life. In my circumstances. The growing process is forever changing for me. I’m learning what it takes to feel my best and this routine is so, so, so good for me. Establish yours and be gentle with yourself. Kaison. Small steps.

Me and my journal witness the best sunrises🥺

Namastè🙏🏽

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Chocolate Chunk Banana Rum Muffins

/ Self-Diagnosed Yogi / Leave a comment

You know the name got you all tangled up in knots not knowing how to get these in your life. Don’t worry….I got you 😉

I know sometime this week you will be having some dark, on the verge of being gross bananas on your counter. What better way (other than freezing for smoothies or frozen banana cream) to use those overripe bananas than to turn them into a delicious muffin?

Plus, I put them in my small muffin tin, so they are bite-sized muffins.

I begin by chopping my chocolate because who doesn’t like chocolate chunks in their muffin?

I add flour, baking soda, salt to my melted butter, eggs, sugar, and rum extract.

Then, I add my chocolate chunks and walnuts.

Mix well and add to the designated muffin tin and top with chocolate granola.

If you’re using the small ones (like me) it’ll be approximately 15-18 minutes at 350 degrees.

You will not regret making these and you’re welcome to interchange as you please! This is what I like! Make it yours.

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Chop 1 chocolate bar. Keep aside.

1.5 C. all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

Mix well; set aside.

Mash 3 medium bananas with 3/4 C. sugar.

Add 2 whisked eggs.

1 tsp. rum extract

Slowly add the dry ingredients and incorporate without over mixing. Add walnuts and chocolate chunks.

Place in prepared muffin pans and top with 1/2 C. of chocolate granola.

Bake 15 – 18 min or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy!!

**Take note with how you feel and journal. Remember food is an experience and taste is so super important. If you don’t like an ingredient I shared then replace it with your favorite(s). Food is personal and if you can tweak this to fit your tastes then I have done my job. I love to share my experiences and most importantly if what I’m eating will pay me and my body back with health and nourishment then I will try it all!**