Sunday, December 8, 2013

Healthy Holiday Breakfast ~ "Three-Cheese Souffles"


Ingredients

         1/3 cup butter
        1/3 cup all-purpose flour
         2 cups milk
         1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
         1/4 teaspoon salt
         Dash hot pepper sauce
         1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
         1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
         1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
         6 Eggland's Best Eggs, separated
         1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions

    Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in flour; cook for 1 minute or until bubbly. Gradually add milk, mustard, salt and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat. Add cheeses; stir until melted. Remove from the heat and set aside.
    In a small bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup cheese mixture. Return all to the saucepan stirring constantly; cook for 1-2 minutes longer. Cool completely, about 30-40 minutes.
    In another bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Fold into cheese mixture.
    Pour into ungreased 1-cup souffle dishes or custard cups. Place in a shallow pan. Pour warm water into larger pan to a depth of 1 in. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Serve immediately.And thoroughly ENJOY IT !

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 40 min. + cooling Bake: 40 min.
MAKES: 8 servings


Note: Souffles can be made ahead and frozen. Cover each dish or cup with foil and freeze. To bake, remove foil and place unthawed souffles in a shallow pan; add warm water to a depth of 1 in. Bake at 325° for 60-65 minutes or until tops are golden brown.

Thank you for 'Country Woman Mag.'

HAPPY HOLIDAYS !

Lydie Ometto &
INNERSEAYOGA.COM

Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Effects of Gratitude on Your State of Mind



By Drs. Blair & Rita Justice

Here are some reflections on what science has to say about gratitude, which has been called the “forgotten factor” in happiness research.

Psychologists Robert Emmons at the University of California at Davis, and Michael McCullough, at the University of Miami, are foremost researchers in field of gratitude. What they have learned so far is that gratitude is good for you, really good for you.

In an experimental comparison, people who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). It doesn’t end there.

Participants who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based). And there’s more. Young adults who practice a daily gratitude intervention (self-guided exercises) had higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy compared to the group that focused on hassles or thinking of how they were better off than others. The researchers keep adding to the list benefits that come from practicing gratitude.

Given all the benefits, how interesting it is that we designate only one day to giving thanks.

Heart and Soul
Researchers have found that when we think about someone or something we really appreciate and experience the feeling that goes with the thought, the parasympathetic – calming-branch of the autonomic nervous system – is triggered. This pattern when repeated bestows a protective effect on the heart. The electromagnetic heart patterns of volunteers tested become more coherent and ordered when they activate feelings of appreciation.

There is evidence that when we practice bringing attention to what we appreciate in our lives, more positive emotions emerge, leading to beneficial alterations in heart rate variability. This may not only relieve hypertension but reduce the risk of sudden death from coronary artery disease.

The more we pause to appreciate and show caring and compassion, the more order and coherence we experience internally. When our hearts are in an “internal coherence state,” studies suggest that we enjoy the capacity to be peaceful and calm yet retain the ability to respond appropriately to stressful circumstances.

Neurobiologically, gratitude is nested within the social emotions, along with awe, wonder, “elevation” and pride. It can be both practiced and experienced.

Soul and Serotonin
An example of practicing gratitude is volunteering to help others in return for having been helped. As an experience, it is felt in the same frontal regions of the brain that are activated by awe, wonder and transcendence. From these cortical and limbic structures come dopamine and serotonin, the chemicals for feeling good inside.

Gratitude, then, can be a total body experience and beyond – meaning the deepest and widest gratitude comes from the soul and that part of the brain – the amygdala – that registers “soul” experiences.

So when we look at snow-capped peaks or golden swatches of changing aspen or the Milky Way at night from high in the Rockies, our souls sing and our bodies are suffused with streams of dopamine and serotonin, the gifts of gratitude. In short, feeling gratitude and appreciation on a regular basis helps heal us at every level of our being.

"MAY YOUR HEART FINDS GRATITUDE IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND ACTIONS"

~In Gratitude
Lydie Ometto
innerseayoga.com

Chai Recipe

Ingredients:
Spice ingredients for one pot of tea:

    1/2 of a star anise star
    10-12 whole cloves
    6-7 whole allspice
    1 heaping teaspoon of cinnamon bark (or 2 short sticks)
    6-7 whole white peppercorns
    1 cardamon pod opened to the seeds

Other ingredients:

    1 cup water
    4-6 cups whole milk
    2 heaping tablespoons of a high quality full-bodied broad-leaf black tea (Ceylon, or English Breakfast if a broad-leaf Ceylon is not available) Sugar

1 In a 2-qt saucepan, add spices to 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil; remove from heat; let steep for 5-20 minutes, depending on how strong a spice flavor you want.

2 Add 4-6 cups of whole milk to the water and spices. If you don't have whole milk, you can also use non-fat or low-fat milk, just add some cream to it, a few tablespoons. Bring the milk and spice mixture just to a boil and remove from heat.

3 Add the tea to the milk and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes to taste. (Option at this point - reheat to a simmer and remove from heat.) You can add sugar at this point, or serve without sugar and let people put the amount of sugar in they want. Traditionally, sugar is added before serving.

4 Strain into a pot. Serve. Add sugar to taste.

5 Let yourself fully enjoy it :)

Prep time: 30 minutes  ~   Makes one pot of tea.

Much light and beautiful Holidays
w. Love ~ Lydie Ometto
Innerseayoga.com


thank you for Elise Bauer :)

Thursday, November 14, 2013

A Healthier Edge - Oatmeal Crunchy Apple Pie

This decadent pie is loaded with juicy apples and adorned with a streusel-lover's crunchy topping. The pie is best served the day it's made. If you're short on time, skip making the crust and look for a ready-made whole-wheat pie crust in the freezer section of a natural-foods store.

Ingredients
    1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup(s) whole-wheat pastry flour
    1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
    4 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
    2 ounce(s) reduced-fat cream cheese, (Neufchatel)
    2 tablespoon(s) canola oil
    3 tablespoon(s) ice water
    3 Granny Smith apples, medium, peeled and thinly sliced
    3 medium McIntosh apples, peeled and thinly sliced
    1/2 cup(s) light brown sugar, packed
    1 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
    1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
    2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup(s) whole-wheat pastry flour
    1/3 cup(s) old-fashioned rolled oats
    1/4 cup(s) light brown sugar, packed
    1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
    1/8 teaspoon(s) salt
    2 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
    2 tablespoon(s) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
    1/4 cup(s) walnuts, coarsely chopped

Directions

    To prepare crust: Whisk 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Cut in 4 tablespoons butter and the cream cheese using a pastry blender or a fork until the mixture is pebbly. Add oil; stir until evenly moistened. Sprinkle water over the mixture; toss with a fork to combine. Knead the dough in the bowl a few times. Gather into a ball, press into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
    Roll the dough into a 14-inch circle between 2 large pieces of parchment or wax paper. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Peel off the remaining paper. Press the dough firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Tuck the overhanging dough under, forming a double-thick edge. Crimp the edge with your fingers. Using a fork, prick the dough in several places. Refrigerate the crust for 15 minutes.
    Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 375°F.
    Bake the crust for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool, about 30 minutes.
    To prepare filling: Combine apples, 1/2 cup brown sugar, lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour over the apples and toss again; mound the filling into the cooled crust. Coat the crust edges with cooking spray, return the pie to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
    Meanwhile, prepare topping: Combine 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour, oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or a fork until evenly distributed. Stir in orange juice concentrate and nuts.
    After the pie has baked for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven and scatter the topping over the apples. Return it to the oven (covering the edges of the crust with foil if they're browning too quickly) and bake until the topping is golden and the juices are bubbling around the edges, 20 minutes more. Cool for at least 1 hour before serving.  

* from Eatingwell.com

"Happy ThanksGiving"

with love, Lydie Ometto

www.innerseayoga.com

Thursday, September 5, 2013

She amazingly pulled off the incredible feat!



The long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad took close to 53 hours non-stop to swim the 103 miles between Cuba and the Florida Keys, becoming the first ever to do so without a shark cage and at the young age of 64 years old.
Sharks and jellyfish are no match for sheer determination.


Diana Nyad has had attempt this journey several times in the past.
Her first attempted for this swim was in 1978 in a shark cage.

In 2011 she attempted the swim twice with no shark cage, but had to stop because of shoulder pain the first time, and jellyfish stings on the second.
Her last unsuccessful attempt ended in August 2012.

This time, Nyad does not swim in a protective cage, so she has no real defense against aggressive sharks or, the more likely threat, jellyfish - which have stopped her in the past by inflicting so many stings that she simply couldn't continue.


Surely Nyad had to realize that she would face the same danger this time, but she didn't let that stop her. A special silicone mask is designed to ward off jellyfish stings.



On this successful time, with just two miles to go, according to her blog, Nyad stopped briefly in the water to thank her crew (a team of about 35 in boats) and she said:

"I am about to swim my last two miles in the ocean. This is a lifelong dream of mine and I'm very very glad to be with you. Some on the team are the most intimate friends of my life and some of you I've just met. But I'll tell you something, you're a special group. You pulled through; you are pros and have a great heart. So let's get going so we can have a whopping party. Thank you, all of you, thank you for your generosity."

Congratulations, Diana! and Thank you for sharing the 'inspiration'
  
    What a great example she sets for anyone who wants to achieve something difficult in life. Surely the politics with Cuba hardly seems to matter her. Danger doesn't stop her. Age doesn't stop her.

   May you get inspired by her beautiful example of persistence, commitment, perseverance  and strength to achieve whatever is calling in your heart, since we all have the amazing Divine potential within.

In Love & Inspiration
Lydie Ometto
www.innerseayoga.com

~ light ~

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

What a 'Pressure Washing Experience' taught me about Yoga & Life !

Earlier this past week, I found myself embracing in the 'duty' of giving a 'face lift' to the steps and porch leading to our Yoga Studio through the magic of pressure washing.
Wow... what a precious time I found myself in!

I started 'the job' right after guiding a very precious group of students on our morning 'exploring our bodies yoga flow' needless to say, I was already in a high. Plus happy to be around (and many times enveloped in) all that delicious water in a day when the outdoor temperature was around 89F.
Patiently I began to watch the tired green mold from the long gone winter and last transformed spring move away and disappear through the fierce jets of water leaving behind the happy and bright wood face from underneath it. As the jet kept on uncovering that true wood essence, I observe in myself, how many times I needed a good and committed push to uncover my own self from the many debris I had acquire with time.

The cool thing about this process was that the pressure necessary for the 'debris cleansing" was directly related to the well-being of the wood, in other words, if I was unfocused and held too hard in one place, I would hurt the wood, but as I was precise, motivated and patient, the result was impeccable.This can surely serve me in a daily basis.

As I got the groove of it, I found myself in this beautiful meditative experience, where the mind was totally one focus and the body was guided in a magical flow. But then again, was I fully present in the whole experience or just hypnotized by it? The answer came when I felt a little side jet of water coming from an obscure place... opss, the water hose touched the pressure washer motor and a melted spot was showing its face, so time to re-connect with the 'whole picture'.
The gift of this moment was on re-checking the times I had disconnected from the overall focus in search of the one point experience and the beauty of knowing that true balance is a dynamic scale.

Another jewel of my pressure washing experience was observing the Divine gifts and nudges we all receive in a daily matter towards the awareness of taking care of our own bodies, oh well, I was soooo into the moving of the water, the flying of the mold, the shinning of the wood, that over two and a half hours had pass when I realized I had not stopped to hydrate my own inner body and the message came through the pressure washer needing desperately some extra fuel, hummmm.

Then on my next set of two and so hours, I made sure to stop off and on checking in within my own 'inner motor' and admire the surroundings, as more beauty was being expressed through each dance of the waters, as the tiny little particles were forming rainbows here, there and all around. And once more the reflection on the many moments in which I stop the go go of life and embrace the surrounding around me embracing the rainbows of nature, friends, family, love, joy, peace, music, dance, laughter, silence, beauty and much more!

Well, thank you for listening a bit of my pressure washing experience and looking forward to see or hear you enjoying the new 'stairway to yoga' either here at the studio or in your own inner stairway to Self.
May the moments of clearing, cleansing, moving, washing and transforming be joyful, productive and insightful.

In Yoga
Namaste
Lydie Ometto
www.innerseayoga.com


innerseayoga

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

PARTS OF OURSELVES.....

"There are parts of ourselves we try to hide because somewhere along the way, we created the idea that 
we are alone in our flaws".  ~  A BEAUTIFUL POST BY LIZ ARCH  (lizarch.com)

We flip through magazines and see gorgeous models with perfect bodies, then we look in the mirror and feel less than. The photo above shows much more than I would ever normally feel comfortable displaying, but I share it today with the hope
 that we can stop comparing ourselves to others and start loving ourselves for the
 beautifully flawed masterpieces that we truly are.

A photographer once told me that even the models on magazine covers wish they looked like their own images.  As a yoga teacher who has appeared in my own fair share of photo spreads and magazines, I can vouch for that. I have been told not to “overindulge at the salad bar” before big shoots and I’ve often wondered why I suffer through last minute juice cleanses and spray tans, when the final images are always photoshopped to erase my imperfections.

Sure, my ego loves looking at these “perfect” photoshopped images of myself, but these images aren’t the real me.  I have cellulite and stretch marks and days when I skip my yoga mat for the couch and a pint of ice cream. But in our social media driven world, where everybody’s life seems so much glossier than our own, we’ve managed to convince ourselves that real is not beautiful and every photo needs a filter. I’m definitely guilty of editing my public life down to a handful of inspiring quotes and photos on Facebook that only show my best sides.

I never really thought much about it, until I started receiving messages from people telling me how “perfect” my body was. The thought of other people lifting me up only to put themselves down broke my heart, especially since perfect is not a word I would ever use to describe myself. So I called my dear friend, photographer Robert Sturman, and asked him if he would shoot the “real” me.

One of the reasons I have always admired Robert’s work is because he doesn’t do a lot of retouching. He might adjust the exposure of an image or play with the background, but you will never see a size eight woman photoshopped down to a size four. As a skilled photographer, he knows the body’s angles and when angles are not enough, he leaves all unflattering photos on the cutting room floor.

This shoot wasn’t about flattery though, so we threw the old rules out and created a new set: 1. No photoshopping of my body or face would be allowed. 2. All angles would be fair game.  3.  I would show up to the shoot as myself (translation: I would not starve myself, workout excessively, spray tan, or do any of the other absurd things models do before a shoot).
Here is the result. The real me is someone with a normal, healthy body—and yes, a normal, healthy body has cellulite on the back of her thighs and a belly that folds instead of lays flat.

“Everybody has a part of her body that she doesn’t like, but I’ve stopped complaining about mine because I don’t want to critique nature’s handiwork…My job is simply to allow the light to shine out of the masterpiece.” ~ Alfre Woodard

 Robert and I had set out to capture both the beauty and the beast, but a strange thing happened that day. Out of over 400 photos we shot, there ended up being only a handful of images that showed my flaws. Ironically, after years of being in front of the camera hoping I delivered the “right” shot, I was actually starting to panic that we hadn’t captured enough of the “wrong” shots. I had set out to reveal the ugly sides of myself, but in shot after shot, all I could find was beauty.  It occurred to me that I could easily take a photo of myself at my worst—we all could.
But even on my worst days, while ugly is how I might feel, it is never who I am.

Doing an “ugly” photoshoot would be just as distorted as doing a shoot where my “beauty” was photoshopped in.

The beauty of this shoot is that it captured all sides of me and while some sides admittedly made me cringe, others absolutely took my breath away (see full slideshow below). For the first time ever on a shoot, I was able to completely let go of all self-consciousness and get really comfortable in my own skin. It dawned on me as I posed unabashedly next to a soft and curved statue of Venus, that my flaws were part of what made me an exquisite work of art.

“People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder.” ~ Salma Hayek

The next time you look in the mirror, adore yourself from every angle. Accept your flaws so you may identify with your beauty.  Let go of the obsession with your outer self and allow your light to shine from deep within.

THANK YOU LIZ FOR SO ELOQUENTLY BRING THIS SUBJECT ON....

MANY BLESSINGS
LYDIE OMETTO

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