Nakd, sugar and a recipe

Sneaking to the fridge

I thought after posting all these anti sugar information on my FB page I must share this recipe.

I have stopped eating sweets completely last summer because they made me feel bad. Maybe the right word here is unwell. My head was spinning, and it felt something was racing through my bloodstream. Not easy to describe but you might get the idea. My husband always says I am illness obsessed, but I'm not, I am health obsessed. And food has a great impact on how I feel. Finding out that I was coeliac was a relief and all additional allergies explained, why food did not leave me feeling good at all.

Ten years later I still notice reactions after certain food but step by step I am eliminating those and probably end up raw or vegan or both.

So although I was not bothered about the lack of sweets I sometimes really want to eat something that is sweet and you can eat only so many apples or mangoes and you have to think of buying them and carrying them home. In this country you find Nakd bars in the gluten-free section and they provide a great snack. I had to hide my bars from my kids and defend them. Sometimes I would make chocolate chili energy balls at home but they have lots of ingredients and forming balls takes a long time, but that was a nice addition for my sweet tooth as well.

Now when you start going into one direction and searching all of a sudden other doors open. I brought my balls to a retreat and to my surprise the lady there offered similar ones as a snack. Then somebody else said she has that Nakd bar recipe. I did not ask for it but I thought why have I never thought about making them myself? So I found this recipe, it is easy and very good. Proud of my first batch I went back to that lady and we did a Nakd bar taster session.........

And now I thought it is time to share this recipe myself.
Basically I use the recipe mentioned above. But I am very bad at measuring and when it comes to cups even worse, so I do everything more freestyle.

I get a bag of cashews, for example 200 gr and I put them in the processor and grind them down to very small pieces. Then I put about a third more dates in. Now if you only have this amount of dates you have to work backwards because you need the right balance to get a dough. You can adjust a bit with adding oil, in case it is not doughy enough but the main ingredient is dates.

I always have a 5kg dates bag at home because there are many sweet teeth in my household and I do not stack chocolate in the cupboards. So this is an attempt to prevent chocolate cravings. Chocolate, of course is a very important ingredient in those bars too. Chocolate is just really nice and if you don't live in Belgium you probably have no idea how nice chocolate can be. Sadly in our supermarket aisles are only sugar bombs. For the recipe you also need chocolate powder. I have raw one at home, which tastes awesome. Add 2 tablespoons or more.

Now this would be enough for the plain version, which is nice, but....and now it comes, adding a flavor is even better!

Orange! Add the zest of an orange and a tiny bit of juice. Not too much because it needs to be a dough!!! Soooooo nice.

Organic Peppermint Oil! This I ordered it online and it came today, mmmmmmmmmmh. Add about one table spoon, depending on the amount of dough. 

I am sure I will create other flavors too (chili, matcha?), and will update it, but this is enough for a start.

After you processed it all into a dough, you can test it by forming a ball, and obviously you have to try it too. If the consistency is not right add more dates or coconut oil (not for the peppermint version). Put it all onto a baking paper sheet press together and using a rolling pin flatten it into a rectangle or square, about 7 mm high. Now this height came out as a good one, as it provides many snacks and it is thick enough not to break. Get enough paper to cover it when it is flat, like wrapping up a gift (book) and put it into the fridge this will make it easier to cut. I cut it into 1x2 cm pieces, about, what ever shape pleases you, but no forming balls or even covering them in toppings is necessary. You might have to wash the knife several times. Then place them into a sealed container and leave them in the fridge. Now this is the hard part. It is not easy to stay away from the fridge from now on (although you might have eaten them all together while preparing them?).

What I like about this is that I don't need many ingredients, I can order them in bulk and it takes about 5 minutes to make them. And compared to the ones from the shop, I must say, mine are better! And, I can buy high quality ingredients and know exactly what goes into my bars.

So thanks for posting that recipe in the first place and thanks for all the tasters.........
Peace.

Crisis Kit

When will I stop forgetting and learn!

I woke up with a sore throat. If I think back I can recall having a headache a few days ago. It could have been the weather, or that I ran around with wet hair, or that I did not drink enough water, so I ignored it. I can also remember feeling tired and cold. This one is very easy to ignore being busy and living in the UK. But what should have finally triggered all buttons was that I ate starchy sugary food, which I usually don't. 

I know exactly how a cold settles in my body, but still I ignored it. 

Why? I have asked myself this question many many times throughout my life. Why do I keep forgetting what I know is good for me? Why do I ignore signs that tell me, it is not good for me?

I had a similar experience a while ago. It was when the moon and mercury were busy and easy to blame, and I felt slightly off. From experience I know that in these moments, nobody answers the phone, that people around me are busy or say the wrong words, so I end up suffering and having to solve whatever is bothering me on my own. That's what I did, I opened the Crisis Kit and did the "Last Resort Meditation". Yeah, I am learning after all.

Yesterday, somebody said to me he would need someone to do a meditation with him or it is not happening. Then he paused and said but his phone could remind him.... So tell Gotana, post it on a spot of your wall that you are likely to pass or put it in your medicine cabinet, where ever you are likely to find it in case you need it.

It is a simple meditation. Easypose, eyes closed. Hands in your lap, palms up, right on top of left palm, thumbs touching. 

If you cannot keep your spine straight sit on the edge of a chair and place your feet flat on the floor hip width apart or use a cushion the same way, sitting on the floor. This will tilt your pelvis forward which will straighten your spine. (For tuning in and out before doing a meditation/kriya, please read here)

The mantra used in the Last Resort Meditation is Wahe Guru Wahe Guru Wahe Guru Wahe Jio repeated 8 times in one breath (breathing out). This might take a while to master. You will have to gently channel your breath so you have enough left for the last repetition. 

You will notice chanting this mantra makes it impossible to think anything at all. And using your breath to its full capacity is refreshing and calming. And 11 minutes will fly by....

Peace.

Beginners mind

How to start and end, an introduction

Kundalini Yoga is taught in a chain, called the Golden Chain. This means it is taught from teacher to student, you need a teacher. Saying that I did start on my own, a very long time ago, mainly because I did not know. And I find it to be true and obvious after having practiced with a teacher and experiencing the difference.

I know that there can be reasons why you cannot learn form a teacher right now and I don't mean not enough time. For example, I lived on a remote scottish island for some years. And true, it was tidal and I could have walked off but there was no teacher on the next island that connected our island, eventually, to the mainland.

Funny enough that is not entirely true either, as I actually met somebody much later that told me she held classes on that very island that connected us to the mainland, but that was not at my time.

So in a way it is possible to practice on your own for some time and you will get some benefits of it but if you start like this, I am sure you will also find a teacher sooner or later. If you can, start by taking classes or even do the teacher training yourself. 

In general, what is really important is to tune in and out and follow the given kriyas which means no adding or leaving out or changing, but you can shorten the times. Why would you modify something that made it all the way to our times!

If you ARE living on a remote island or there is another reason that makes it impossible to meet your teacher at this moment, this post is for you. There are many sources out there how to tune in and so on but as I am writing this blog I also think it is important to give a brief summary here or remind the one who reads it. But this can only be an introduction. And if you have practiced for a while it will come automatically, that wanting to show respect for the teachings.

As I mentioned Kundalini Yoga is handed down in a chain and before starting to practice we honor that chain by chanting ONG NAMO, GURU DEV NAMO, the Adi Mantra, in one breath if possible, 3 times. This connects us to this Golden Chain, and you will be guided throughout your practice by the Kundalini Yoga masters but it also means that you bow to the teacher that is within you.

It is important to focus upwards chanting this mantra, also as you call on the Infinite Creative Consciousness! The eye focus would be at the 3rd eye or Browpoint. You sit tall with a straight spine and your hands are together in Prayer position. This means the fingers are together pointing upwards and only the thumbs are apart from the rest of the fingers. The base of the thumbs is pressing into the sternum, at the Heart Center, into the notch of the breastbone (this stimulates the vagus nerve).

Breathe in and out a few times to center yourself and then you start with the ONG, chanted so the cavities of the sinuses vibrate and not chanted through the mouth. So basically you initially start the O through the mouth but the rest of the air and tone come through the sinuses/nose, not the mouth. Vibrating the cavity initiates vibration throughout the body and stimulates the pituitary gland, that affects other glands.

I would additionally continue with chanting 3 times Aad Guray Nameh, Jugaad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guroo Dayvay Nameh. This mantra is for protection and connects the speaker to Infinity.

If you have chosen a set, also choose some warm-up exercises. You would choose some that warm up areas concentrated on in the set or prepare other areas that are not being used. For example if the set is mainly seated, I might choose a warm-up standing. Or if a lot of arm movements are included I might choose to warm-up the shoulders to prepare them. There is a nice choice of warm-ups in the manual Transition to a Heart-Centered World. Choose 2 to 3 and do them each 2-3 minutes, don't swap the order though.

Then start your set. This means make a clear beginning. If you need to shorten times do this proportionally but otherwise leave it all as given. Here again, you will notice the difference between learning from a book or a teacher.

After your set you usually do up to 11 minutes relaxation. This is very important as you integrate all you have done and allow your body to relax which will also affect dealing with stress. So do not skip relaxation and really try to let go. To end relaxation you do stretch your body and rub hands and soles together and rock a few times along your spine to spread the energy.

If your set does not include a meditation, choose one that goes with the set. If it does not mention how to end the meditation you can generally end it like all exercises by holding the breath briefly and pulling the Mulhbandh. But sometimes it is advisable to shake hands above the head as well to ground yourself.

To end your practice you sit tall again, hands in Prayer Pose, eyes focused at the brows and chant 2 times 
May The Long Time Sun Shine Upon You 
And All Love Surround You 
And The Pure Light Within You 
Guide Your Way On.

And finally you end by chanting 3 long SAT NAMs, which means Truth is my identity, and bow your forehead touching the ground.

Please, for your own safety, get to know your body and boundaries and inform yourself about the Dos and Don'ts of yoga prior to practicing, and especially regarding pregnancy and menstruation.

Breathe it all away, a new set

About breathing and clouds

I know I said I would not write about every 40-day-set I go through. And I didn't, really. For example the last one, I even expanded to 90 days as it seemed so very special to me and I never mentioned it!

I was preparing a class, and I think my thoughts were to find a set that doesn't include Breath of fire or any other difficult postures, so it would be suitable also for beginners. And that is how I found this gem. If I want to teach a set I have to have done it myself. And it was one of those days. Maybe I was still stuck in a dream or something else was concerning me, I don't know, could have even been the moon..... I just didn't feel right and very restless. So that is when I first practiced it, it is called Preparatory Exercises for Lungs, Magnetic Field and Deep Meditation (Aquarian Teacher Manual, Sadhana Guidelines).

I am sure I went over this page a hundred times and never saw it, this happened before. And when I finally found it, it seemed like a blessing. Although it is very challenging, it doesn't last too long, the pain, and the results are great and immediate. I came out of the cloud that bothered me all day and it seemed on top of that I felt something like a spark turning into a flame. What is she talking about you might think. It is hard to explain Kundalini Yoga Magic, I am afraid you have to experience it yourself!

So now, as it was time to choose a new 40-day-set, and I find myself in a weird phase too, I thought this one is the one. Expanding the lungs and certain breathing patterns have such a great impact on how I feel and I am grateful to have such a great tool on hand.

First I found the first exercise uncomfortable but now I am really looking forward to whistle every day, and through tilting back the chest area opens up and this is a nice experience. Also in my experience, when I have committed to a 40-day-set, even the most advanced exercise is doable after a short time.

Then a sequence follows, arm pumps, a modified version of arm pumps and pulling the fists towards the chest, all without a break between them. This again is great to open the chest and as it has a certain rhythm it is quite meditative. 

The hands interlaced behind the neck, palms up exercise is not my favorite and I find it hard. But this changed already after a week of doing it and I can stretch my arms better and do it faster.

Torso twists can make me dizzy but again this one really turned into a meditation and works the belly area too. I can forget the time and where I am and it makes me feel good.

The following exercises are just nice and I can enjoy them. And it finishes with camel ride, which is like kissing your spine awake after working hard on arms and breath.

This set also includes a meditation, as the title says, it prepares for deep meditation. First I wondered why there is a meditation included doing nothing at all apart from holding an eye focus, as this is unusual. But after having practiced it, I must say it is great to go so deep. Actually it is so deep that I really have to shake my arms to end and even add a brief relaxation to integrate it all and come gently back. Ah, before you finish the meditation pull Mulbandh, and notice the energy rising!

As it is still a bit challenging and I am not quite used to keeping my arms up so much, I chose some nice music to get me through. The album of Simrit has very a very special song choice and the music arrangement is special too!

All for now, peace and light
Tej Inder

Kundalini Yoga in town

Sat naam! 

Time is a funny thing at the moment. I don't have the feeling I am on top of time at the moment rather somewhere in it or behind? This might be because I have a lot going on? I am not getting stressed about it but I thought it might be a good idea to start my Facebook Kundalini yoga page as well. 

So even if I have the feeling time is running somewhere, I can at least find a minute to post a link, quote or anything else that is happening in my Kundalini Yoga Life.....You can find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/kundaliniyogaintown