Isle of Capri, Italy

Two years ago I had the good fortune of being on an Italian tour that went down the Amalfi Coast. Home base was the beautiful city of Sorrento.  From there our group travelled to several wonderful places including Capri.  We got to Capri after a 40 minute ferry ride.  There are ferry and hydrofoil services from Naples, Amalfi and Positano too.

It was a beautiful sunny day to visit a spot that has been a resort getaway since Roman Emperor Augustus had a villa built at the top of a hill.  When you arrive at the Grand Marina, there is a lot of hustle and bustle at port level but it is obvious, you need to go up.  Taxis, if you got the money, is the most convenient.  Most popular would be the funicular for a small charge.  If you are fit, there are a couple of paths up lengths of stairs that will get you to the top.  I suggest the funicular up and try the stairs down.  Signs say 10 minutes to port but it took us 30 minutes.  Parts were steeper that what we were use to.

Once at the top, the town of Capri is an elegant setting of cafes and shops.  Do walk to the ruins of Augustus' villa.  It is in a lovely park setting and there are wonderful views of the southside of the island where many yachts are moored.  It was a hot day and I needed a cold drink.  There was a vendor just a we approached the  park.  Best Lemon Slushy Ever!

Healthiest Meal EVER

Found an interesting news tidbit on Yahoo this morning.  Yahoo Trending gave the menu for the healthiest meal ever.  Scientists from Leatherhead Food Research in England conducted a study on superfoods and foods of great nutritional value.  They studied 4000 health claims used by supermarkets and food companies narrowing their list down to 222 foods based on scientific fact.  The following menu comes from that list.

Fresh and Smoked Salmon Terrine
Mixed Leaf Salad with Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing
Multigrain Bread Roll
Chicken Casserole with Lentils and Mixed Vegetables
Live Yogurt-based Blancmange with Walnuts and Sugar-free Caramel Sauce

Recipes were not given but I suspect items can be found in UK supermarkets.  If you like to cook, you can probably find a good salmon terrine recipe and figure out the chicken and lentil casserole.  I'd go with Greek yogurt with walnuts and a drizzle of honey for the dessert.  Mixed berries would be good too and are a recommended snack.

Article can be found at:
Daily Mail Healthiest Meal Ever

Sukhasana - Crossed Legs

Another basic yoga pose.  Many of us sat crossed legs on the floor as kids.  Fewer people attempt this as adults.  Chairs are just too convenient.  I’ve been lucky.  Sitting with crossed legs on the floor is something I’ve always been able to do even when my weight was at its heaviest.

A basic point about sitting crossed legs on the floor, your knees should not stick up above the top of your hips.  You need to sit on enough height so your knees are level with your hips.  Iyengar Yoga studios have firm foam blocks and cotton blankets for students to use.  I like to use two folded blankets at the studio but at home I  use folded beach towels.  Once you are comfortably seated on your perfect height, cross your legs at the calves/shins.  Some people cannot get to the floor due to bad knees or hips.  Sit on a chair and cross your ankles.

The next step is to sit up properly.  An easy tip is to take your hands to your knees and press gently.  This will straighten your back and lift your chest.  Remember to restrain your ribs so they don’t pop forward too much.  Relax your shoulders down and keep your head in a neutral position.  Release your hands and rest them on your thighs.  Close your eyes and allow your mind to stop chattering.  That can be work all on its own.

Sukhasana is a very common pose to start an Iyengar Yoga session.  With practice, it becomes easier to sit up straight and work on opening the hips.   It also gives you a chance to clear your mind so your will be ready for your practice.

Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake

This recipe is courtesy of Imperial Margarine

Crumb Topping:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup margarine

Cream Cheese Layer:
½ lb. cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cake: 
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups coarsely chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tbsp grated orange rind

Crumb Topping: Blend flour, sugar and margarine together and set aside

Cream Cheese Layer: Beat ingredients together until fluffy and set aside

Cake: In large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt
Stir in juice, margarine, vanilla and egg
Fold in cranberries and orange zest
Pour batter into prepared 9"springform pan
Spread cream cheese over top of batter
Sprinkle with crumb topping
Bake at 350F for 65-75 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched in centre
Let cool on rack for 15 minutes
Remove outside ring of pan and let cake cool completely

Makes 12 servings

Quote from B.K.S. Iyengar

"Illuminated emancipation, freedom, unalloyed and untainted bliss await you, but you have to choose to embark on the Inward Journey to discover it." ~B.K.S.Iyengar

Paris, France

I’ve come across several references to Paris in the last few days.  Is the Universe speaking to me?  I hope so!  I love Paris and the country of France.  Kind of funny because it was never my intention to travel there until my step-sister asked if I was interested.  Her daughter planned a nine week stay (mostly in Paris) to study French.  Sis spent one week with her daughter and I came for a three week car tour.  We picked up a car in Chartre, went up to St.Malo (the Channel coast) and drove down to Grasse (just inland from Cannes on the Mediterranean).  It was a heck of and adventure and I loved every part of France I saw.  Paris was particularly delightful.  Very friendly and very beautiful.  My first trip was in 2005 and I got to go back in 2009 as part of the 65th anniversary of D-Day (WW II).  There is so much more I want to see so here’s hoping for a return trip one day.  Yoga is Paris?  Yes, checkout Yogateau from my Blog List.

Parisien Memories

Opera de Paris Garnier
LaFayette department store
Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle
The Seine and the Batobus river taxi
the Tuileries Quarter - Musee du Louvre to Musee de l”Orangerie
Musee d’Orsay in St-Germain-Des-Pres
Champs-Elysees, Rue du Faubourg St-Honore
sitting outside at cafes and bistros, bakeries
The Eiffel Tower, day and night

Tadasana - Ta Da!

Tadasana (Mountain Pose) looks like you are standing at attention.  So, why is this a yoga pose? What you are working on is aligning your body so the bones line up from skull to the bottom of your feet. You are practicing good posture.  As you practice this seemingly simple pose, you will realize how many parts of your body are out of place, weak, and stiff.

Below is a picture of me (Yikes! What was I thinking.  Susan took some pictures of me after class so I am flushed and wearing pink.  Oh well, it is what it is) in Tadasana.  Classically, your feet are together and your weight is slightly focused on the heels.  Roll thighs in, gently tilt front of pelvis up.  Sternum up but restrain ribs so they don’t pop forward. Shoulders roll back, arms are by your side with fingers actively pointing down and your head is neutral.  There are a lot of instructions to work on.  When you get it right, it feels as though you are weightless and could stand for a long time.  One really good article is “Surreptitious Subway Yoga” , May 30, from “Daily Cup of Yoga”.  You can find that on my Blogroll in the right-hand column.

Tadasana is one of the most basic poses and is used as a neutral position in between a series of standing poses.  When in doubt, Tadasana!