Quote from B.K.S. Iyengar



"In order to find out how to reveal our innermost Being, the sages explored the various sheaths of existence, starting from body and progressing through mind and intelligence, and ultimately to the soul. The yogic journey guides us from our periphery, the body, to the center of our being, the soul. The aim is to integrate the various layers so that the inner divinity shines out as through clear glass." ~B.K.S. Iyengar –Light on Life

Edinburgh, Scotland

I think this is an incredibly beautiful city.  I was there is mid-September when the roses were just past their peak.  August must be a glorious month.  There are green spaces and parks in central Edinburgh.  During my visit there were many painted, pre-fab, animal sculptures on display that were to be auctioned off as a fund raiser for endangered animals.

The historical centre of Edinburgh is its castle on top of a hill (a series of extinct volcanoes).  This is also where the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held every summer during the month of August.  The city cascades down from the hills to the Firth of Forth to the north.  There is no lack of stores, shops, pubs and restaurants of every description.  A lovely city to walk through on a pleasant sunny day.

  

                 

               

            

        

               

                     

                                 

Message From Anna at CurvyYoga.com

Cow-face Pose (Gomukhasana)

So, you sit hunched over a desk clicking away and its keyboard.  When you
are cold, you hunch your shoulders up, for some of us that’s for several
months through a hard winter.  On top of that, there are those annoying
little pulls from lifting something too heavy or over stretching while
reaching up to a top shelf.  Stiff sore shoulders are incredibly common in
western cultures.

Cow-face (cow-head) pose will help open up the should joints and stretch the
muscles across the chest.  For some, it is and easy pose but for most, like
myself, it is a long process to achieve.  I can now touch my finger tips on one
side (right arm up, left arm down) but it took four years to get there.  You will
need a belt.  I use a cotton belt like those used in yoga studios.  Other props
I’ve used are luggage straps and jump ropes.  Whatever you use, it should not
stretch.

Place belt over your right shoulder.  Raise your right arm and gently pull it
back just passed your ear (if you can).  Bend your elbow so your hand
touches somewhere between the bottom of your neck and between the top
of your shoulder blades. Your left arm is down. Stretch it back a bit, bend
the elbow and have your left hand go up the back aiming for your right hand.
If your hands to not clasp, grasp the belt and wiggle your fingers to try to get
your hands closer.  Gently pull on the belt and hold pose for 30 seconds.
Release grasp and shake your arms to relax.  Drape belt over left should and
repeat steps of pose with left arm up and right arm down.

Repeat pose cycle one or twice more.

Lemon Bars

I got this recipe off an old show on the Food Network quite a few years ago.
The show was about favourite recipes made by regular folks.
This is a very good standby recipe and is better if you make it a day ahead.

1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1 - 1/4 cup rolled oats
juice of 3 lemons
zest of 3 lemons
zest of 1 orange
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (I use 2 x 300 ml cans)

Make crumb mixture of butter, sugar and flour.  Stir in oats.
Make filling by blending juice, zests and milk.
Press 2/3 of the crumb mix into greased 9" x 13" pan.
Pour filling over base and cover with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes until golden.
Cool, cover and refrigerate.

Recipe cuts better if you make it one day ahead.
I’ve also done this recipe with limes and lemons.

Tai Chi 

About two years ago the Reh-Fit Centre in Winnipeg starting offering Tai Chi and QiGong classes.  I had heard of them and was curious enough to try them out.  Both classes were excellent.  The QiGong I only needed to take once and then practice, practice, practice.  Our teacher, Peter Yeung, gave all his students a workbook as back-up.

Tai Chi was more complicated.  I took the class twice and still had a lot of practicing to work on.  Peter taught us a beginners 8-Form Tai Chi.  Movements needed to be very exact to get the full benefit of Tai Chi.  If you are looking at it as a good physical fitness practice, Tai Chi works on your co-ordination, hips and legs.  If you become very proficient at it, there are longer forms to learn.

Unfortunately I was taking too many practices at once and had to give up the Tai Chi for now but it is my intent to return to it one day.  Fortunately Peter had made a great YouTube video as a teaching tool.   It was filmed in front of the big mirror in Studio A at Reh-Fit.

Gocek, Turkey

A lovely small town of some four thousand inhabitants, Gocek is situated on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.  It has become an international centre for yachting enthusiasts.  We spent an idyllic day cruising out to the spot where Antony and Cleopatra once swam in the blue-green water. Afterwards we stopped for a late lunch at one of the many local restaurants and then checked out the local shops down Gocek's pedestrian mall taking us back to the lovely D Marin Resort.