Chinese Element: Water

According to the Chinese Five Element theory, winter is related to the element water. The human body and the earth are made up of 70-80 percent water. There has been the same amount of water on the planet since its beginning. This means that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, only transformed. Water is…

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Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

From Mountain (Tadasana), step the left foot back and turn it toward the edge of the mat at 90 degrees. The right foot faces forward. Intersect the arch of the back, left foot with the heel of the right. Press down through the pinkie edge side of the back foot and lift the inner arch….

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Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana )

I was walking down the street the other day with a friend and overheard this group of two girls and a guy walk by one of the yoga studios where I teach. One of the girls asked the group if anyone had done yoga. I didn’t quite catch the rest of the conversation except for guy saying,…

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Balasana (Child’s Pose)

Need to settle your mind or just pause during your class? Balasana (Child’s Pose) might be your ticket to freedom. You can take this pose at any point in your class to tune into your breath. Come to a kneeling position. Spread your knees wide, touch your toes together and sit back on your heels….

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Sukasana (Easy Pose)

This is pose is probably more known as “criss-cross-applesauce.” Sit in a cross-legged position. Place your hands down on your knees. They can face down to the earth for grounding energy or up to the sky for more uplifting energy. Root down through the right and left sit bones evenly. Press the pubic bone and tailbone…

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Confluence Kombucha

I walked into the restaurant and instantly felt at home. Confluence Kombucha, a gluten-free gastroLAB, located in the Grove area of St. Louis is absolutely phenomenal. The flavors, the atmosphere, the staff had my heart. The menu is odd, in a curious way. I had not heard of, let alone tasted, half the things I…

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Gingerbread Energy Balls

Gingerbread cookies are a staple for the holiday season. I thought it would be fun to make a healthier version of this traditional holiday cookie. Ginger is a helpful herb to incorporate into your diet throughout the winter because it is warming. It is used for colds, bronchitis, suppressed menstruation and fevers. Serves: 12-15 Hands-on…

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Nopales and Ground Beef Burrito Bowl

I had my first experience with nopales. They’re these cactus pads that taste sort of like a green pepper. One of my yoga students mentioned them to me so I swung into this darling Mexican grocery store next to Mirepoix Wellness Studio after one of my classes. I was craving a little burrito bowl and…

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How to Prepare Nopales

My yoga student at one of the corporations where I teach knows my love for trying new foods. He suggested I try these cactus pads called Nopales. They were outstanding. Nopales have a wide range of health benefits. They can aid in weight loss, prevent cancer, improve skin health, protect heart health, regulate and improve…

Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius

It’s that time of year again. Mercury Retrograde is about to occur. This happens about three times a year for approximately a three-and-a-half-week period. My mom seems to think Mercury is in retrograde more than it is not. This retrograde starts Sunday, December 3 at 2:34AM ET and goes until Friday, December 22 at 8:51PM…