According to my friend and author of "simply seasonal" Michele Rusinko, "The peppery taste of fresh arugula enables it to stand on its own." However, I like to add garbanzo beans and red onion to this salad which adds some protein and pizzazz.
This salad is so refreshing and delicious! I also add a dash of Himilayan salt and freshly ground pepper. A dash of cayenne wouldn't hurt either!
Serves 2-4
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
6 cups arugula
freshly grated Pecorino-Romano cheese, optional
1/2 can garbanzo beans (or fresh if you want to soak them)
sliced red onion to taste
In the bottom of a large salad bowl, combine the oil, lemon and garlic well with a fork.
Add the arugula and toss well.
Top with the garbanzo beans, red onion and cheese and serve with a crusty bread.
She knew it was coming – a financial collapse of extreme magnitude – and no one listened. This was the start of a devastating loss that propelled Denise Hatch to re-build. Listen to her story here and let it inspire you to know that you CAN start over if you have to with a little help from the universe and some of your own chutzpah!
Denise is the founder of Yoga Sports Performance, a licensed hypnotherpist, certified Anusara yoga teacher and she leads the way for the Global Feminine Potential Movement. Her clients are high-level professionals who want to operate at their greatest potential. She currently works with elite athletes in the NFL, Major League Baseball and motor sports as well as business executives, creative writers and artists – people who want to find and listen to their soul's calling and thrive outside of a conventional system. Her mission is to align her clients to their full brilliance so they can put it to work to create a better world by living a more purposeful, joyful and healthy life.
Denise studied finance, nutrition and exercise physiology at UNC. She earned All-American honors in springboard and tower diving and competed in the world championships in outrigger canoeing. She has also worked at the Mayo clinic as an instructor in a pilot program that explored the healing effects of yoga on sleep disorders and anxiety.
Denise is currently living in upstate New York where she offers a 200 hour yoga teacher training at the Lakshmi Institute. Her most recent passion is helping the feminine to find purpose and prosperity.
Enjoy this audio recording of my interview with stroke survivor Erica Tucci. Please check out her bio and links below!
Erica Tucci is a certified life coach, licensed massage therapist, Reiki master, author and Tarot reader. She also was a corporate manager at a Fortune 500 company until she had a stroke in June 2011, which turned her world upside down. Since then, her focus has been to help provide inspiration and encouragement to others who face their own life-challenging experiences. She also continues to do the work she was doing before her stroke, helping women find their "yin radiance" through their authentic voice and their own healing. She has been interviewed numerous times on international radio shows and blogs, and her book Radiant Survivor: How to Shine and Thrive through Recovery from Stroke, Cancer, Abuse, Addiction and Other Life-Altering Experiences has been endorsed by renowned figures. She has a program for women called “Yin Radiance: The Journey to Inner Balance” that she developed shortly before her stroke, and is developing a trauma recovery program based on her book Radiant Survivor.
Erica is a 50something-year old woman who had led a very fulfilling life as she knew it. She was a corporate manager at a Fortune 500 company, the owner of a healing arts business and an author of three books. All that came crashing down on that momentous day, June 10, 2011, when she had a stroke! Needless to say, her life was changed dramatically. She went from running as fast as she could on the treadmill of life to scooting along at a snail’s pace. During her recovery, she has gained much wisdom about what’s really important in life and she has re-entered the world with a new mission in life.
Her mission is now to help other women heal and find their true feminine power.
I met Erica in Houston, Texas in 1967 while visiting my father and step-mom. Our dads were both orchestra members of the Houston Symphony and we had many occasion to hang out together during my summers there. We lost touch over the years and reconnected through facebook. She is the same smart and sweet person I remember when we were young and I'm super delighted that she agreed to share her story with all of us.
Need a boost of energy? Here are 3 simple and quick exercises that will increase your energy levels:
1. Walking
When you are feeling tired, the last thing you probably think about doing is exercising. However, exercising can actually increase your energy levels. Walking is a very simple and powerful way to stimulate energy production at the cellular level. The mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell, and aerobic exercise increases energy production. Most people find that an early morning walk or a walk during a lunch break gives them a boost of mental clarity. A late evening walk, perhaps, helps to calm and regulate energy. There are many technical devices that can help you track and calculate your walking throughout the day. Having these visual tools not only helps you get moving, but also motivates you to have walking goals!
2. Downward Facing Dog
If you practice yoga, you know this is one of the most recognized poses. Downward facing dog is a forward bend and inversion stretch in which your palms and feet touch the floor and hips are shifted toward the ceiling. This position is excellent for helping to stretch the back, hips, arms and legs. It helps to relieve any muscle tension and to move blood and oxygen throughout the body. The easiest way to perform this stretch is to get into a kneeling position with palms touching the floor. The palms should be beneath the shoulders and the knees beneath the hips. Next, stretch the hips towards the ceiling, making a V-shape with your body. Move the chest toward the knees and make the feet flat on the floor. Now you are in downward facing dog, and hold this pose for 30-60 seconds. You can repeat this stretch as needed throughout the day, and you will notice your energy, productivity and muscle tension improve!
3. Qigong (pronounced Chi-gong)
This is an ancient, Chinese practice that means “life energy cultivation.” Qigong is a mind-body therapy in which gentle movements and breaths are used to regulate the body’s qi (vital energy). Qi is composed of two elements, yin and yang, and is responsible for our natural energy within. There are physical, mental and spiritual benefits to practicing qigong. The slow, gentle movements are adaptable to even those who are physically challenged. To start, try an exercise commonly known as “shaking the tree,” and begin to rhythmically bounce up and down in any way that feels comfortable to you for 60 seconds. Next, swing your arms side to side and twist at the level of your waist, known as “swinging hands.” Use your body’s momentum to help swing your arms from side to side for another 60 seconds. This helps to make the body feel loose and free, to increase and circulate good energy and cleanse the body of bad energy. End by closing your eyes and tapping your fingers on your face, forehead and down your arms to your hands. Open your eyes, and take three, deep breaths. This exercise can help pick up your energy level and boost your levels for the rest of the day.
Dr. Linda Khoshaba received her Doctorate from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Her main areas of focus include women's health, pediatric medicine, diabetes management, and prolotherapy. She completed her Master's Degree in Health Promotion and Public Health where she focused mainly on patient self management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. She attended the University of Western Ontario, Canada where she was awarded an Honors Degree in Health Sciences.
For a cleansing and refreshing beverage, try drinking this Sassy Water by yourself during the day…OR…serve at your next Spring or Summer party!
Recipe:
Filtered water
Sliced lemons
Sliced cucumbers
Sliced and partially peeled ginger
Mint leaves
Stir and enjoy!
For more healthy food and beverage recipes and mind/body tips, become a bliss buddy! Enter your name and address on the home page of this website and get some great freebies!
A delicious, refreshing salad!
