On mixing fruits and other types of food

When I was at Yoga Thailand last summer, I often hear my colleagues and some guests saying that fruits shouldn't be mixed with other fruits or food.  Or you shouldn't mix it with milk or yoghurt. 

"But I like my muesli + yoghurt + mixed fruits breakfast!"

Living in a busy city can be very detrimental to one's healthy eating habits, especially when you don't have a yaya to prepare your meals for you.  I usually eat 3 full meals a day and as much as possible, I'd like to make sure that I get most of the nutrients from my food.  Thus, breakfast is standard and heavy.  One full bowl of muesli-fruit-yoghurt combo.

"Eat fruit alone, or leave it alone."  But if you only have three 30 minutes in a day to eat, how can you eat the recommended 5 fruits a day?  Plus, you're not supposed to mix it with other food.

Yeah, yeah, yeah... you can have one for morning snack, and another one for afternoon snack.  There are other behavioral recommendations on how to address this but I'm not about to discuss it here.

What I want to share I guess is that we should listen to our bodies.  Certain types of fruits are not good for some people according to ayurveda.  And using some common sense, some are not really good together.  Durian and mango?  Hmmnnn... no thank you.

If you feel bloated after eating fruits and yoghurt, then stop mixing them.  Listen to your body and listen carefully.

The digestive fire is strong and I'm grateful for that.  Maybe I was doing a lot of kapalabhati in my previous lives.

***

The other day, a friend was in some forum and she texted me saying that one of the speakers said that the reason why a lot of Filipinos don't eat fruits and vegetables is because it's expensive.  A lot of Filipinos are living below the poverty line and they simply cannot afford to buy fruits and vegetables.

Maybe if we teach them how to grow their own vegetables and stop patronizing processed foods, they'd be eating healthier.  A study conducted in the UK reported that access and affordability of fruits and vegetables isn't really the main issue and suggested that interventions should focus on people's motivation to eat fruits and vegetables.

Why won't Filipinos eat fruits and vegetables?  Maybe because there was so much focus on eating protein, in the form of meat, poultry, or fish, to address the problems on underweight and malnutrition.  Then it is already ingrained in the consciousness of most Filipinos that a meal should consist of kanin at ulam (rice and viand).  And that viand means meat.  Gulay (vegetables) is optional and maybe used simply as garnish.  Fruits can be eaten as a snack but never as a meal.

I don't really know.  I'm just writing my thoughts.

Anyway, have a blessed sunday everyone. 

May there be peace and healing here and everywhere.

Om.

Sabai dee mai?

Sabai dee khrab!

Lunch last week.  Tofu Burger.  Didn't have chips on the side though.  Would have been perfect.

Then finish the meal with strawberry milkshake.  Heaven.

Buffet brunch and dinner are back today because more people are coming for Paul's retreat.   It was good to have a la carte for two weeks but the buffet has been missed.

Eat, Sleep, and Pray

For the last 4 weeks...

I eat...

I sleep...

I pray...

Faith and Service

My mother was a bit worried that Johann won't be able to continue his education in a normal school because of his disability.  Some schools didn't even bother to check his mental abilities when they saw him on the wheelchair which got my mother really upset.  


Johann is a bright kid and even speaks English better than some of his teachers.


A couple of weeks ago, my sister informed me that Mama was really happy that Johann got accepted at the Brokenshire High School in Davao.  An exciting high school life awaits Johann this June.  

Sometimes, all we need to do is have a little more faith in the universe.

***

Kino left right after the morning led class.  I feel really blessed for the opportunity to assist her.  It's like assisting Freddie Roach as he trains Manny Pacquaio for his next fight (Ok, I'm not really a boxing fan but you get my point.)  Assisting Kino Macgregor!  Shut up!  Struck by the brightness of her star, hehehe.

"Have faith in the method," she said to the group yesterday.

***

Fides et sevitum.  That is the motto of Brokenshire College.  Isn't it very yogic?

***

It's pizza day!  Had 4 slices and a bowl of stir-fried noodles topped with stir-fried asparagus. 

Now off to take a nap by the beach and under the coconut trees.

Not!  I'm just making you envious.  I'm actually at home and will take a nap on the sofa bed with the fan on.  This photo was taken a couple of days ago when the sky wasn't that clear.  I have to make sure that I'm properly dressed as my housemate arrived yesterday with me flat dead on the sofa bed with my running shorts only.  I was too tired to even notice her coming in.  Another embarrassing experience to be added on the list, hehehe.

Zzzzzzz...

Full Moon in Samui

Only if I had a better camera.

The moon was beautiful last night.  

It's been a busy but wonderful week at YT.  

I actually have to be sleeping now as I will need to open the shala for the 6am led class.

Om.

Ashtanga Yoga: Love it and grow

Be inspired.



Read about Kino's retreat at Yoga Thailand here.

What have I been eating in Samui?

Breakfast (standard)

Muesli or granola with fresh fruits and home-made yoghurt

2 toasted brown bread with home-made peanut butter and banana, 

drizzled with honey (ok, sometimes I have 3 pcs)

Fresh fruit juice

Coffee with brown sugar

Lunch (today)

Taboule

Organic mixed green salad

Felafel with tahini dressing

Grilled veggies (yellow capsicum and asparagus)

Chapati

Dinner (last night)

Lentil soup

Vegetable casserole

Rice pilaf

Steamed veggies with spicy carrot dip

***

Om.

Thai Coconut Soup: Gourmet Version

I love tom kha but I couldn't find a vegetarian version on youtube.  This video came close.  Enjoyed vegetarian tom kha with brown rice at dinner.  Shared dessert with YT colleague and friend.  Nice.

Songkran Festival... Sawatdee pee mai

The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, from Sanskrit saṅkrānti, "astrological passage") is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. Read more from Wikepedia here.

***

Just came back to the house from the center and I've been blessed.  It's new year in Thailand and everyone is throwing water at anyone they see on the street.  At the center, the staff are pouring water with flower petals on guests' shoulders and applying baby powder (I think mentholated powder as I can feel the heat on my face and arms).

Here are the lovely staff of Yoga Thailand in their traditional costume.

with Rung (on pink) and Taan (on green).  Sorry didn't get the names of the other two. :-(

with Thre the HR manager.

The Buddha at the reception.  We had to pour water on the Buddha for good luck and blessings.

***

New year... new life.  The future shines brightly.  But for the meantime, the sky is clear.

***
Also, Govinda is in Manila.

Gratitude...

Photo from Yoga Thailand website.

Opening the day with gratefulness...

Thankful for the opportunity to be here...

Spending a moment to contemplate on healing and forgiveness...

Asking for guidance...

Clarity of mind...

And peace within.

Om.

New Yoga Thailand now open

Dear Friends,

We hope you are well and that this new year is opening up nicely for you.

We opened our new center in early December, picking up where we left off. We went straight back into teaching and practice, paying close attention to recreating the wholesome, nurturing atmosphere that gave the original Yoga Thailand its character and authenticity.

We have built our structure and fine-tuned our operations over the last year, with the purpose of keeping alive the spirit of yoga and healthy living while, at the same time, raising the standards of yoga education.

We urge you to take a look at our website, so you can see what’s already in place. Our new shala, with its bamboo wood floor, has received all the energy of the old place and multiplied it. Our food is as tasty and easy as ever but with even more choices and options. We are also adapting a more holistic approach in our Wellness offering, so that you can easily combine your yoga practice with specific treatments and cleanse-detox programs. Alternatively, you may choose to focus more on detox and be lighter on the yoga practice. Either way, you are welcome to join us at Yoga Thailand.

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“The very purpose of spirituality is to control yourself, not to criticize others. How much am I doing about my anger? About my attachment, about my hatred, about my pride, my jealousy? These are the things which we must check in daily life.”
- Dalai Lama

Well, it’s not easy. The real answer is to develop the stability within. This is what yoga offers, but of course it can only be earned and you must make an effort.

Take care of yourself. Clean up the body, strengthen it. Develop your breathing. Calm and focus your mind. All this affects every part of your life. It’s not just about time on a yoga mat or a healthy holiday. You must take charge and invest your time and energy in increasing your wellbeing, thereby affecting the welfare of everyone else you come in contact with. It’s both a personal and social responsibility. Allow us to encourage and help you.

- Paul

All forms of life have evolved out of the oceans and on to land, and despite millions of years of evolution the human body is still 70% to 80% saline solution. It is therefore imperative that we adequately hydrate the body throughout the day.

Amazingly, most people are dehydrated and don’t even know it. The quality and quantity of the water you drink is important. Ideally, your water should have a high pH value (from 7.0 to 9.5), and it should be living ionic water full of natural minerals—the way Mother Nature intended. The water cluster sizes should be small, and they should be mobile to penetrate the body’s membranes and reach the cells to be hydrated.

The average person needs to drink between 1.5 to 2 liters of water, not all at once but throughout the day. The more tea, coffee, and carbonated beverages you drink, the higher the body’s requirement for healthy, vibrant, living water.

Recognizing the importance of good quality water and proper hydration, Yoga Thailand has installed on its premises a seven-step filtration system that alkalizes, ionizes, and reduces water’s cluster size, increasing its bioavailability and hydrating properties.

- Neil

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Some news – please view our website for more details.

Yoga Thailand upcoming programs
Yoga and the Importance of Healthy Living with Sara and Lorraine: March 7 - 14
Yoga Practice Keys, with Neil: March 28 - April 5
Yoga Retreat over Easter, with Paul, 7 or 10 days: April 5-15
Yoga and Detox, with Dr. Graeme Bradshaw & Carole Warren: April 18-25

Centered Wellness news
The wellness center at Yoga Thailand is adding a fully equipped professional colonic machine and a nurse hired to administer it. This along with the treatments and far-infra red sauna completes an offering for detoxing.
We are also introducing a few options of cleanse and detox programs to cater for people at different levels of toxicity and metabolism, from a mono diet to full on fasting. Our programs are primarily grounded in ayurveda with the addition of modern advances in science and nutrition.

Centered Yoga trainings
We are accepting applications now for our foundation program from November 5 to December 5.
There are advanced programs with both Neil and Tiwariji in august and another course with Neil in December.

Paul’s international workshops first half of the year

March 13+14	Taipei	Space Yoga (with Tiwariji) www.withinspace.com
April 18 - 24	Vienna	Pure Yoga , www.pureyoga.at
April 25 + 26	Geneva	Natalia Reynolds, natalia_reynolds@mac.com
May 4 - 12	Ireland	Clare Island retreat centre (with Tiwariji) , www.yoga-ireland.com
May 13+14	Glasgow	Siobhan Fitzgerald
May 15+16	Dubai	Zen Yoga, manager@yoga.ae
June 11 – 14	Hong Kong	Asia Yoga Conference (Tiwariji will be the key note speaker)

Thank you for your time.

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