by bringmebliss | Aug 18, 2015 | Fun Food
Super Easy Egg Muffins
There’s nothing like being able to grab a quick and tasty protein meal on the go and these muffins provide the perfect, convenient mini-meal.
Ingredients
6 eggs
Chopped, sauteed veggies
(I used mushrooms, zucchini, red onion and spinach. I added a tiny bit of fresh basil leaves.)
Salt, pepper or any seasoning of your choice.
Shredded cheese (optional – I did half with cheese.)
See below for Mexican variation!
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 325; grease a 24 count mini muffin pan or two 12-count pans.
Sautee veggies, whisk eggs separately. Add veggies to eggs and mix. Add seasoning.
Spoon in mixture to muffin pan to just under the top edge of the pan. The egg mixture will puff up a little. Place in oven for 15 minutes. Remove quickly from pan and place on a cool plate to keep the muffins from cooking further in the hot pan.
Here’s a twist on the above recipe…cook up some chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage), throw in some green chiles, chopped sauteed onions and shredded cheddar/jack cheese. Serve with cubed avocado – yum! These are so good!
Put your muffins in a baggie and store in the freezer or refrigerator for use all week long. Simply microwave for 20-25 seconds to heat and pop in your mouth for a quick and yummy protein breakfast. Add some fresh fruit like blueberries or raspberries and a greens drink to round out your nutrition for the day!
by bringmebliss | Aug 2, 2015 | Fun Food
I like my beans spicy and these are best with sesame-ginger glazed salmon or chicken. If you want a vegetable packed with flavor, spicy green beans will accompany your main dish with pizazz and good nutrition!
Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin K. They are a very good source of manganese, vitamin C, dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin B2. In addition, green beans are a good source of copper, vitamin B1, chromium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, choline, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), niacin, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. Green beans have also been shown to contain valuable amounts of the mineral silicon, and in a form that makes it easier for us to absorb this bone-supportive and connective tissue-supportive nutrient. Green beans have also been shown to contain valuable amounts of the mineral silicon, and in a form that makes it easier for us to absorb this bone-supportive and connective tissue-supportive nutrient.t makes it easier for us to absorb this bone-supportive and connective tissue-supportive nutrient. (source: whfoods.org)
Ingredients for this recipe
Bunch of green beans (depends on how many servings)
1 Teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
1 Teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 drop Ginger Essential Oil (or grated ginger if you don’t have the oil)
Spash of Soy Sauce
Dash of Curry Powder
Dash or 2 of Red Pepper Flakes (depends on how hot you like it) or Mongollian Fire Oil
Toasted Almonds (optional)
Directions
Blanche green beans in boiling water for 2 minutes (or steam); drain.
Heat non-stick cooking pan and pour in oils (Sesame, Olive and Essential oils).
Toss the beans in and start frying.
Drop a splash of soy sauce, curry powder and red pepper flakes and continue to toss in the pan while it’s cooking. Don’t cook too long. Just enough to have that charred look on your beans and for all the flavors to mix.
Add toasted almonds and toss once more. Keep warm until serving time. Enjoy clean eating and cooking with Spicy and Delicious Green Beans!
by bringmebliss | Jul 23, 2015 | Self-Care Strategies
You Might Be Surprised At What This Ancient Healing Art Can Do
by Dr. Bruce Eichelberger
"Your body knows how to heal… it just needs the proper reminder of how." ~ Dr. Bruce Eichelberger
For thousands of years, the Chinese have known acupuncture works.
Now, modern research shows how. These studies come from Johns Hopkins. They have found ways acupuncture creates change in the body. Here is a quick summary of their findings.
Acupuncture:
Triggers electromagnetic signals. Acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. Stimulating them enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at greater-than-normal rates. These signals can start the flow of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins. They can also release immune system cells to specific body sites.
Activates the body's natural pain killers. Acupuncture releases opioids. These are naturally-occurring chemicals in the brain that reduce pain. They can also induce sleep. These chemicals are part of acupuncture's pain-relieving effects.
Stimulates of the hypothalamus. This part of the brain controls many body functions. Among them:
Hormone balance
Temperature regulation
Basic functions like thirst, hunger, sleep, mood and sex drive
Metabolic balance
Stimulates the pituitary gland. This is often called the "master gland." It supplies some of the body's most crucial hormones. These hormones regulate many aspects of your body, including:
Growth hormone
Thyroid function
Sex hormones
Blood pressure
Energy metabolism
Alters brain chemistry. Acupuncture changes brain chemistry in a positive way. It changes the release of neurotransmitters. These are brain substances that stimulate or inhibit nerve impulses. It also changes neurohormones. These are natural brain chemicals that can change the structure or activity of organs.
As you can see, there is more to acupuncture than most people think. These studies show the physiological effects it triggers. But of course there is also more to it.
In fact, Classical Five Element Acupuncture is famous for working at multiple levels. Of course it helps the body function better. But it also improves emotional balance and mental balance. I've even seen it be a catalyst for important spiritual growth.
So when you think of acupuncture, don't just think of pain relief. There is so much more it can help.
Dr. Bruce Eichelberger is the founder and producer of Alternative Medicine Blog "Balance Point": http://www.balancepointblog.com/
by bringmebliss | Jul 21, 2015 | Mind/Body
by Steve Price
Mindfulness is usually not associated with personal empowerment. In fact, the mind itself tends to assume that the opposite is true: that mindfulness is passive, a process of simple observation. But when one begins to practice mindfulness, one can experience, firsthand, how it can be a rich source of personal power: the power of consciousness itself.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), defines mindfulness as "paying attention to the present moment, with intention, while letting go of judgement, as if your life depends on it."
Tha last part, "as if your life depends on it," is a radical but profound truth, which makes sense if one looks deeply into three phases that precede it.
Attention to the present moment.
Getting stuck in the past or worrying about the future are mental activities by which one gives away one's personal power. The past is over and the future hasn't happened yet. The only place where personal power is available is in the present moment. Only in the here-and-now is it even possible to resolve the past or create the future.
Being present empowers us to be more responsive and less reactive, and to have a closer, more fulfilling relationship with ourselves, others and life in general.
With intention. An intention is different than a goal. A goal is external, achievable only in the future. If one sets the goal, "I will get an A on the exam," the power in that statement is compromised because of the future tense. An intention is internal, and achievable right now.
An example of an intention would be, "My mind is clear and radiant." An intention is a conscious, deeply planted, internal commitment. Intention is the "why" beneath the goal. Goals are instrumental, but it is the power of intention that will keep one on course toward a goal, and beyond.
Letting go of judgment. Judgment, because it is often unconscious and unintentional, is an activity of disempowerment. It is the projection of the past (assumption) or the future (expectation) onto the present moment. This coloring separates us from the reality that is right here, right now, and keeps us from all of its opportunitites and blessings.
The root cause of all judgment is self-judgment. This is the stress through which one sees and experiences life. As there is less judgment of self, there is less judgment of others, and less stress. Hence, the qualification, "as if your life depends on it." Of the three, letting go of the judgment is often the most difficult, and arguably the most critical. The mind is constantly assessing and analyzing. That is why mindfulness practices are empowering. Whether it's meditation, prayer or gardening, it's helpful to devote time each day doing something that calms the mind.
With practice, one can observe even one's own judgments, and those judgments over time, lose their power. And when one reclaims one's own power of mind, life becomes a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.
Steve Price manages and teaches at A Mindfulness Life Center, in Scottsdale, AZ.
For more information, visit www.AMindfulnessLifeCenter.com. Reprinted from Natural Awakenings.
by bringmebliss | Jul 2, 2015 | Mind/Body
During a yoga class the other morning, my teacher mentioned that there were many layers of bliss. It caught my ear because I promote bliss as something to strive for in the sense of Self-Care. So I asked my teacher to explain what she meant. She obliged but her answer makes sense in the context of yoga. If you haven't tried yoga yet, it might not make sense. But I can tell you that this morning in another class I was taking, I discovered bliss in many ways from tuning into my breath, learning new sequences and finding strength I didn't know I had. I also felt extremely blissful when the teacher played a tune during savasana (final resting pose) that I often play myself when teaching. It was so soothing to my soul. Anyway, here is my teacher Barbara Adams of Yoga Village explaining the "Many Layers of Bliss" which I absolutely loved!
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"In yoga we often hear about an 'ultimate experience' called peace, bliss, ecstasy, samadhi, absorption, harmony, union. It is a state of perfection and the result of impeccable thought and living – and so, often sounds unattainable for us ordinary people.
I do think being in this state as a steady condition is a lovely intention, but quite beyond me. However my practice has caused me to realize that there are many moments of harmony and that those moments can be nurtured and grown. With mindfulness, it is possible to notice these moments and with intention it is possible to open to and embrace them. Life provides the offering of many moments of harmony in which we experience truth. There are teachings that ask us to open our minds so we can grow.
I love how the physical practice gives us a tangible tool for exploring this expansion towards harmony, truth, bliss. We come to our asana (postures) with our views of what is true about our bodies and the poses yet will find out we are often mistaken. One layer of bliss is simply to realize a mistaken thought or to see where something is blocking progress. Another layer is becoming aware of options for discovery and growth. An important layer is believing in our strength that allows us to let go of old thoughts and habits so we can be open to truly new awareness. And then there are all of those moments where we feel something that is True. These moments can also be considered layers, like perhaps the first time you understand how pressing your hands into the floor changes everything that is happening all the way to the shoulder or how lifting up out of the pelvis can relieve hip pain, or really understanding how the yogic philosophy is fully present in the physical practice.
Experiencing bliss can be thought of as a seed that can come to life, taking root and expanding. And although we can envision an ultimate experience, we are experiencing bliss as we progress towards our fullness."
Barbara, ERYT-500, has been the owner of Yoga Village Fountain Hills since 2003 and Yoga Village Scottsdale since 2006. She has studied and practiced several styles of yoga, but has enthusiastically embraced Anusara Yoga since 2003 and is Anusara certified. Barbara loves ALL that yoga offers and has especially focused on alignment and therapeutic approaches in her studies. She is deeply appreciative to her fellow teachers for daily inspiration. Barbara has a MS in Counseling and Human Development and worked in behavioral health for 15 years – she is delighted to see how yoga can bring contentment to so many hearts and how the yoga philosophy weaves seamlessly with her Counseling studies.
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There are many moments of bliss in our lives, like when we're holding a brand new baby or watching a beautiful sunset or kissing our lover. Yoga allows us to enjoy these moments even more because it teaches us to be more aware – more mindful – of the beauty around and in us. If you've had yoga on your bucket list…don't hesitate another day! Get to a class now!
