What Yogis can learn from Christians…

Photo Courtesy of Lydia Wildes.

In one of my previous articles, I wrote about “What Christians can learn from Yoga.”  Basically my conclusion is that as a Christian, I know I am covered by grace and love, but that doesn’t mean I can be lazy and become complacent because Jesus Christ has already done all the work for me.  He DID die on the cross for my sins, but he still calls everyone to a life of servitude, and does NOT promise that it will be easy.  In this regard, Christians can learn from the Yogi’s the power of daily practice, ritual, and dedication. In order to fully live the life we’ve been called to, we have to dedicate ourselves to our “practice” of reading the bible, praying more, and spreading the news of Jesus Christ to all.

Since Christians have something to learn from the Yogi’s, its only fair that Yogi’s can have something to learn from Christians.  I am not here to try and debate which belief system is better, or to try and “shove” what I believe in my heart to be true to anyone else.  I am not smart enough or qualified enough to tell anyone one way is better than another.  All I can do is share my humble opinions and observances, and hope that something I have to say will resonate with someone.

Now, before I get into the nitty gritty of what I am trying to say, I need to clarify some things.  First off, we need to remember that there is a vast array of ways of “doing” Christianity.  There are about a gazzilion different denominations (including non-denominational), styles of worship, and church rituals out there. In fact, I don’t even like the word “Christian” because of some of the negative connotations that come along with it, as a result of some of the… interesting… ways that some groups, of “Christians” practice their faith. Humans are imperfect beings, and even the best of all Christians make mistakes sometimes.  Some people get turned off or burned by the Church because of the inevitable errors of some Christians, or because they have never experienced the true love and compassion that Christianity is really all about.  It’s not about going to church every Sunday, being nice, and saving yourself for marriage.  It’s not about having a religion or a label.  It is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, who died to set us free of all the stupid stuff we do, because of our imperfections.  Basically what I am trying to say is that while most all Christians believe in the same core fundamentals, there is some funky stuff mixed up in there too…

People interpret the bible in different ways.  And then, people find other people who interpret the bible or do things in the same way as them.  And thus, different types of churches are born.  Each doing things a little bit differently, but also the same in a lot of ways.  Yoga is actually not too different in this regard.  What started out as a practice for some gurus thousands of years ago to prepare themselves for meditation, has now morphed itself into about a gazzilion different types of Yoga.  There are those who swear by alignment, and others who scoff at those who practice or teach alignment based Yoga.  Some people really dig a kick-ass Vinyasa yoga practice, while some would rather just totally bliss out.  There are like these unspoken of divisions within the Yoga world, and I think it creates a lot of tension amongst certain circles.

While people do Yoga for all kinds of reasons, most “hardcore” Yogis would say that they practice to find more love within themselves, in order to find more love within others.  It is about being real, surrounding that awareness with more compassion, then taking that compassion, and spreading it through the world.

This is where I find a disconnect with in the Yoga community, in general, and where I think that Yogis can learn a little something from Christianity, in general.  One thing that Christians have got under control is the idea of selfless giving.  Church is free, because church members tithe faithfully.  Pastors and church employees are paid so that they can live and support their families, while doing full-time ministry and dedicating their lives to service.  I can think of countless stories of people stepping out and giving all they can in faith that God will provide and work through the money that they are giving.  But they give not because they have to in order to go church, but because they want to, in order to support something they believe in.

Yoga is about love, and spreading love, so my question is, why is Yoga so inaccessible to so many people? I realize that running a yoga studio is not a cheap endeavor, and in order to stay afloat, studios need to kick up the prices.  Yet, I also find it sad that there are so many people out there who don’t, or can’t, do Yoga because they can’t “afford it.”  I am not saying that all studios out there that make students pay for practice should stop charging and make it a free for all.  I realize that Yoga is also a business, and I love the studios I go to, even if I do have to pay.  What I do want to do is challenge the way things are done.

Just imagine. What if all yoga studios decided to make every class free, and invited everyone to come, because they believed Yoga was THAT important? What if they stopped charging completely, because they had that much trust that their yoga teachers would be supported.*  Think of all the lives they could impact, of all the potential students, who can’t go to Yoga regularly because of the cost, who would have a chance to really experience Yoga.  It works for churches, why not the Yoga studios?

Perhaps there is a bigger reason things are not like that, and honestly, I am quite content with Yoga being the way it is, because for me, Yoga is not a faith, but a tool/service that I am willing to pay for. However, I do think it is important to really question ourselves from time to time, and examine the way we do things, especially if we believe THAT whole-heartedly in a cause.  Even if Yoga never does get to the place being basically completely donation based, I think it is important for Yogis to find creative ways to spread Yoga to untouched communities, and work to make Yoga, in some form, accessible to all who want or need it. I don’t know what this may look like, but all I AM challenging yogis to examine whether they are really practicing out of selfish, or selfless desires.  Then, maybe do something just a bit crazy, something that could REALLY change the world.

*I don’t think that Yoga teachers should offer their services for free all the time, just as pastors are paid for a skill they possess, Yoga teachers should be paid as well.   Again, just questioning why things are the way they are.

Ten ways to be “happy.”

Below I have compiled a list of what I have learned/observed on what it takes to be “happy.”  Let me preface by saying that I don’t believe just being happy is the “meaning of life” but it does help when you feel purposeful and (key word) content.  The thing is, happiness takes work, and while easy happiness may last for a season, we all know that times will inevitably come when things aren’t so easy, and it is those times that we really do have to put in the extra work live our lives in a full, productive way.  In whatever way that means to you.

This is the basic list, in coming posts I will elaborate more fully on what each one is about.

1. Stop trying so hard.

2. Pray more.

3. Live your life in service to others.

4. Never stop learning.

5. Do what you love.

6. Love what you do.

7. Stop “stewing.”

8. Live in the moment.

9. Look for the good in everything.

10. Surrender.

Inspiration:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”—Phillipians 4:12-13

Reliable Information- Finding the Facts on Nutrition, and the Hoopla

With the rise of the obesity epidemic, as well as the organic and “natural” eating trend, a lot of different people with a lot of different ideas about what it means to “eat right” are trying to get their message across.  From those who swear by a gluten-free diet, even when they don’t have celiac disease, to others who will only eat only raw foods because “the nutrients are destroyed by cooking,” everyone seems to be looking for, or selling, the perfect diet for the perfect health. While there are some really good reasons to make some of these changes to your diet, these are not all or nothing approaches, and the average, everyday person can easily fall into the trap of subscribing to the notion that “it sounds good and works for them, well then it will surely work for me.” Then there are those who could care less what they put in their mouth, despite more and more effort by organizations, health nuts, and even the government to tell people: get off your arse, and stop eating fast food every day.  This is why the number one killer of Americans is cardiovascular disease (1).

So who can one believe, with so much information floating around out there regarding what is good for you, what will make you lose weight faster, live longer, ect. ect.,  This is no trivial issue!  If you listen to the wrong source, you could waste a lot of time, money, effort, and maybe even jeopardize your own health.  So, I’ve decided to come up with a few tips to get you started on your road to finding reliable information:

Is it evidence-based?

As I mentioned before, a lot of people have really lofty ideas about good health and nutrition.  We are constantly bombarded by TV Celebrities endorsing the latest diet craze, infomercials for the newest weight loss pill, and even “holistic” health trends and products.  People might have very good personal testimonials, but in reality, you can’t believe everything you hear.  Advertisers are in it for the money, and will therefore sometimes twist the truth to get you to buy something.  Duh, right? You also have to be careful of those who say they know what they are talking about, but in reality, don’t really know all the facts.

Case in point:  One trend that is becoming more and more popular is the “raw food revolution.” Whenever I go into the bookstore, I see more and more cookbooks toting that raw is better.  The idea is that you destroy important enzymes and nutrients by cooking your food.  While there is scientific evidence that cooking food can strip some foods of their nutrients, there is also science that suggests cooking certain foods actually enhances the nutrient content, and bioavailabilty of the nutrients in that food.  By limiting yourself to ONLY raw food, you are limiting yourself to an array of other food groups, and nutrients that you can only get from those food groups, or from those foods in their cooked form (2).  Not to say that there aren’t other benefits from eating a raw-food diet, but its not necessarily the best way to go about things.  Additionally, you could really do some damage to yourself if you don’t go about things in the right way.

Moral of the story:  Do your research, and look for the science-based evidence before you believe the source.  If you do choose to subscribe to a specific diet plan or trend, read up on it and find out what you need to do to maintain your health, and do it right.

So where do I go to ditch the hoopla and get the fact?

Despite all the crazy out there, there are also many good places to go to find out the best information for your health.  Before you start your search, ask yourself these questions:

1.  Has the research been done?

Has the information you’re hearing/reading been tested through the scientific method?  This is the only way to prove that something works, or is even safe for you (remember, there are random outliers that don’t fall within the “norm”).

2.  Do they have your best interests at heart?

Is the information coming from a commercial-based enterprise, or a reliable source that subscribes to ONLY evidence-based truth?  In general you can trust most government or education based resources, because they are not trying to get your money or scam you into anything. Look for the .gov, .edu, or .org at the end of websites, or the right credentials at the end of the name….

3.  Do they have the credentials to back it up?

When it comes to nutrition, many people can call themselves “nutritionists” or get a “fake degree” in nutrition, and the state allows it.  Even some doctors don’t know all that much about nutrition, and can provide you with false information.  The Registered Dietitian is the food-expert, and goes through 4 years of schooling, plus an internship, and is required to cite only the facts in their advising.  So, when you have a question, look for the RD at the back of the name, or at least read up on the schooling of whoever you are consulting.  Make sure the professional really IS a professional in that area of expertise (3).

Here are some reliable sources to get you started:

Websites:

www.eatright.org (The official website of the American Dietetic Association, the world’s largest organization of nutrition professionals)

www.cdc.gov

www.fda.gov

www.usda.gov

Magazines:

Reliability rated by the American Council on Science and Health:

Almost “Excellent”

Cooking Light
Parents
Ladies Home Journal

“Good”

Better Homes and Gardens
Good Housekeeping
Consumer Reports
Reader’s Digest
Redbook
Woman’s Day
Glamour
Self
Health
Runner’s World
Prevention
Shape
Fitness

“Fair”

Cosmopolitan
Men’s Health

“Poor”

Men’s Fitness
Muscle and Fitness (3)*

*Notice:  I cited my information… another hint as to whether or not something is valid…

References:

1. Heron MP, Hoyert DL, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Kochanek KD, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final data for 2006  [PDF–2.3M]. National Vital Statistics Reports. 2009;57(14). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.

2.  Ellgen P.  Cooked food versus raw food diet.  Livestrong.com. Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/117137-cooked-vs.-raw-diet/.  Accessed October 3, 2011.

3.  Garden-Robertson J. Finding the truth II: Are popular nutrition and health information sources reliable?  North Dakota State University. Available at: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn600w.htm.  Accessed October 3, 2011.

The Relationship Between Song and Soul

I have many fond memories of this band.  A Current Affair. 

I remember one day in high school when I was really like having a horrible day.  It was fall, and starting to get dark early.  But I needed to get out of the house.  So I took my iPod and started walking.  Aimlessly. I listened to ACA’s album Life in an Hourglass on repeat.  The other day while I was running I whipped out this album and was brought back to that day.  Funny how music has the power to transport you to another time, another place…

Sometimes the memories are good, sometimes they are too horrible to bear.

This song brings back a mixture of both.  In addition to that one autumn day, this song reminds me of headbanging in Kelley Dutra’s Volvo while stuck in traffic.  Those are good memories.

Whatever the case, the words to this song are so relevant.

The Relationship Between Heart and Mind

To listen click HERE. (It’s semi-hardcore, so be forewarned… btw I can’t wait to be able to use this type of music in some kind epic Yoga class.  lol.)

MAKE THIS HURT!

Your words were spoken loud tonight
just to hear to faintest whisper in my ear
and that’s all I needed
to get my heart and head on track
to sort through all these things I needed to rid of
to get where i belong

-oh!-
this mind will never be captive again
you’ll take my stoney useless heart of sin
-I can’t wait, I wont wait-
oh God you know what I’ve done
I got no place to hide
and nowhere to run

wandering lost and alone
you’re running the truth
that you so clearly know
but wont commit you’re life to
standing 3 feet from the door
key in hand held tight
your feet glued to this floor
so take a step of faith
a step of faith!

this mind will never be captive again
you’ll take my stoney useless heart of sin
-I can’t wait, I wont wait-
oh God you know what I’ve done
I got no place to hide
and nowhere to run

MAKE THIS HURT!

I won’t be there next time
to watch you fall face first
onto the floor again
AGAIN -again-
for you
I’ll pay it back for you tonight
I won’t be giving up the fight
this life is so messed up
this life is so messed up
this is our song that we sing to you all
this life is so messed up
this life is so messed up
reflect on everything you did
that leaves me back right where I’d stand

I’d say that my son has finally broken his sinful ways

-JESUS-
I’ve been blessed and now I’m a new man
-THIS IS WHERE I BELONG-
Jesus this is where I belong

Get Active!

With the beautiful autumn weather beckoning you, there is no excuse to not get outside and enjoy it.  Maybe this will inspire you to do something good for yourself!

Yoga!

It doesn’t matter what it looks like.

Running!

You may even get a medal, just for finishing. (okay I’ll admit it tho, this was a first place medal. )

Walking the dog!

They’re just TOO cute not to.

Hiking!

Nature is so inspirational.  Go stand on a mountain.

Bike Riding!

Join a bike gang.

Do it NOW before it starts to get gloomy out.

slow down and smell the tea.

Okay.  So any one who knows me knows that I LOVE TEA.  I drink it every morning, every evening, and a few times throughout the day.  I love tasting tea, and I love collecting it. I have a cupboard specifically for the purpose of organizing my tea.  There are shelves with little tea tins lining it, labeled with the names of their different tea contents.  In fact, as I sit here and type this, I am sitting in one of my local Peet’s store drinking a cup of Ancient Trees Pu-erh.  (okay, so side note… you totally meet/see some REALLY interesting people in the coffee/tea shop… a man totally trying to be a woman just walked in.  like, what really gave it away was the unnaturally perky butt that… it… has.  Like totally stuffing something down in there, anyways. No judgment, just thought everyone might like to know.  Tis a testament to the beauty of the experience.  Never know who you’re gonna see at the Tea shop!)

Anyways… Since I love tea so much, I also love talking about it and sharing with everyone all the tidbits of information I have floating around in my head about it.  I won’t bore you with too many specifics on the different kinds of teas… you can google that if you really care to know.  I will, however, share why I love tea so much, and some tidbits of info on how you can get the best tea around!

But you DO need a little bit of background info, so first, here is my schpeal on what tea is (if you want to get to the meat of the post, scroll down):

First thing everyone should know, is that not all tea is created equal.  The tea that comes in the little Bigelow tea bag is NOT the same as the actual leaf.  All tea comes from a plant called the Camellia sinensis.  Tea leaves are harvested in Asia or wherever they are grown, and from there processed into the different kinds of tea: White, Green, Oolong, Black, Pu-erh, which is black tea that has been aged, kind of like wine… (even Red tea, but that is a long story).

The kind of tea they become depends on how much they are oxidized, which also affects their caffeine levels.  However, Herbal tea, Tisanes, and Rooibos (not Red tea) are NOT made from the Camellia sinensis.  They are different kinds of plants that are blended together, and then steeped in hot water, to make “tea.”  Most of the time, these don’t have any caffeine, BUT there is also Mate tea, which is not really tea either, but does have caffeine, infact it has MORE caffeine than regular black tea, and thus is a great alternative to coffee.

Anyways, your typical bagged teas come from the bottom of the line tea leaves… they are liked processed and chopped up, then blended with different oils/flavorings to get a product that can be mass produced at a low price, and will always have the same desired taste/quality.  Not to bash bagged tea… I still drink it, but I just want everyone to know: THERE IS SOOO MUCH MORE OUT THERE.

Slow down and smell the tea.

Being a tea connoisseur is much like being a connoisseur of wine.  Tea tastes different depending on where it was grown and how it was harvested and processed.  And then, you have to make sure you steep it right.  Steeping your tea/ using the correct equipment can make the WORLD of difference.  You can drink tea hot, iced, or mix different kinds of tea/ingredients to get some uh-maze-ing creation.

So my favorite part about tea is that tea is about the tradition, which dates back thousands and thousands of years.  It is a way to connect to friends, by disconnecting to the busy-ness of life.  Proper brewing of tea requires you to slow down and taste the moment.  To spend some time smelling the leaves, then relishing in the different layers of flavors in a good tea.  Each infusion creates a different sensory experience.  Drinking tea invites you to slow down for a few moments, and just be in the moment.

This, my friends, is what we can all learn from the ritual of tea.  No matter whether you care to drink tea or not, we all need to step back and take a breath once in awhile.

Maybe what we all need is to do life like we do tea.  One sip at a time.

(and if you want some more information on where to get the best tea, visit my tea page.  I will be posting some links to the best spots to buy, drink, and enjoy your tea!)

What Christians can learn from yoga.

I feel like I am in an interesting position. I have been a dedicated follower of Christ for all my life, and have made it a point ever since I was old enough to understand God (in what little way I can understand God) to live every moment to glorify Him. And somehow, whether it has been God’s path for my life, or whether it has been the role of temptation… I have been led down the path of Yoga. Well whether or not I “should” be doing Yoga or not, it’s too late now because there is no going back. But alas, God can meet you wherever you are at… If you let Him. And I feel like God HAS met me, and is using Yoga to reveal some important things to me.

One thing that Eastern religion and yoga really emphasizes is the importance of the practice. The Yogis teach that in order to reach enlightenment (which is the whole goal of this path in the first place, right?) you must dedicate yourself daily to the different limbs of the practice. Then, once you have practiced long and hard enough, you eventually get all blissed out and everything is just fabulous.

I’m not here to place any judgement or say one way is right and one is wrong, cus really, who am I to say? All I have is what I know to be true in my heart, and that is that there is a living God who loves unconditionally, and who sent himself in the form of man to Earth, to suffer and die for the sake of the sins of the world.

Again,I don’t have all the answers, but learning more about, and practicing Yoga, has shown me a few things about my own relationship with God…

I think I fall into the same trap that I feel a lot of Christians fall into (whether they are aware of it or not. Do yoga and you become aware of a whole lot of things…). And this trap is also the very foundation of our beliefs: that we are saved by grace, and don’t have to do anything to make God love us more than He already does. Which is true. Yet somehow, in my mind at least, I let this give me permission to not do anything. Like to blow off reading my bible or praying or going to church or listening for that still small voice inside of me that, if I sit and listen to it, WILL totally guide me and give me everything I need to live a meaningful, joyful life.

And this is where Christians can learn so much from Yoga. Happiness takes work. The bible makes it clear that life is gonna suck, but the suckiness produces something inside of us that makes us stronger in the end (James 1:2-8). Meditation sucks. Yoga asana (the poses) suck. Practicing good karma can sometimes really suck too. But Yogis keep doing it because the end promise is better then any of the suck you have to go through to get there.

So what I have realized is how lazy I am when it comes to my spiritual walk, and how much this manifests in my life. Just believing is not enough. I know I am saved, and that is fine and dandy, but I am called to be the hands and feet of God. In order to do that I need to be plugged into Him. I need to choose one path, and stick to it. It is I, and I alone, who can make the conscious decision to do whatever it is I need to do to refocus myself on God. When I do this, every moment becomes purposeful and powerful, because I am walking in his promise that He will take care of me, and that is quite enough.

yoga:lifted

I just recently graduated from the Zuda Yoga Teacher Training Program, Phase 1.  Which was an amaaazing experience.  So now, I am officially a Yoga teacher!!!  WOOO HOOOO! *(save a few minor steps I need to finish up.)

I love yoga. And I love bringing it to other people.  I currently have one teaching gig, at a recovery center for people recovering from Alcohol/Substance abuse.  Which has been so cool to be able to offer something that really helps them with what they are going through.

But I am in the process of looking for more students/ somewhere to teach! Part of that process is marketing myself, so I had this AWESOME logo made for me by one of my friend’s friends.  It is totally me in the middle doing a headstand!

I decided to call my “brand” yoga:lifted for many reasons.  Which I will try and cover below.

1.  Yoga truly gives you a sense of “bliss” and a natural high.  No matter WHAT your ability, there is something beautiful and uplifting about this practice.

2.  I love inversions (handstands, headstands, forearm balance) and arm balances.  They’re just fun and cool.  And I believe everyone can approach these seemingly “crazy” poses and totally pull them off.  It takes courage, but it builds such confidence in the student when they finally get into crow pose, or kick up into handstand for the first time.  I want to be able to EVENTUALLY guide people to finding some of these poses, which I think is really a strength of mine.

3.  The whole point of yoga is the message.  And for me, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I want to share the message of grace, love and compassion, for ALL.  Thus the inspiration for a possible slogan for my “brand” is something along the lines of “The strength to soar” or “The strength to soar on wings like eagles.”  Coming from the bible verse Isaiah 40:28-31.

Anyways, I am still thinking about all this, and trying to set things up and start marketing myself SOMEHOW.  I do need ideas and some help though, so if you have any skills (website design, marketing, ect.) or connections (to teaching spaces, service projects looking for yoga…), or even if you just want some yoga, lets hook up!!

The design is way cool regardless of whatever comes of it….

Ishvara Pranidhana… Surrender.

So I recently have had a lot of changes in my life happen… all very unexpectedly.  I moved to Roseville/Sacramento area at the beginning of this summer to get my certification to teach Yoga, through Zuda Yoga.  Well… that experience was probably one of the most life changing things I’ve ever gone through, on many levels.

I was challenged to rethink my yoga practice, to question faith, God, and spirituality, and to change many things about the way I live my life.  What really stuck out through my whole yoga training however, was this idea of “ishvara pranidhana,” which can be translated to mean surrender.  Surrender to God, to life, or to just the flow of where things are taking you.

And let me tell you, this is NOT easy.  I am the kind of person who always likes to have a plan.  I plan and prepare for everything… from the big picture, to the very smallest details of the day.  It is like, gut-wrenchingly hard for me to move forward with out knowing what I am moving forward for.  I think that this is something most people struggle with, but lately this struggle has been brought to the forefront of my mind in so many ways.  Through this process of becoming a Yoga Teacher (and it was WAAAY more then just learning how to cue a class… lettme tell ya…) I realized a whole lot about myself.  One thing being that I don’t really know how to surrender, and just LIVE IN THE MOMENT.  I am always looking ahead and worrying about the next thing.  Which really, has gotten me no where, but right back to the present moment.  Because really, when you think about it, this very moment is all you have.  The past is gone, and the future is out of your hands.  Everything is impermanent.

Thus, upon the realization of how unhappy this constant worry, this constant grasping for something in the “big picture,” is making me, I had to make the decision to change SOMETHING about the way I am living my life.  I realize that I don’t really know what I want to do with my life, and all the things the I claim to “love” are really just escapes for me to not deal with what is real right now.  I took the semester off of school, for a few reasons, but one of them being the fact that school, while being “easy” and safe (despite how much work and worry it causes in my life), is not really serving me right now.  I have to much going on up in my head, and not in my heart.  What is the point of a fantastic career when your heart is not content?  I know that school will always be there for me when I am ready to go back, and that it’s not REALLY that big of a deal.  My “edge” is not getting good grades and succeeding, it is living with myself, without having a plan for the future, because I can’t really plan for the future.  All I can do is surrender to God’s plan for my life, and live with that.  And that plan is not always the easiest of them all.

So.

The conclusion is this:  Until I can learn to live and be with what is, rather than what has been or could be, I will never learn to live a joyful, fulfilling life.  It is only when you can learn to be content in any and every situation that you can fully surrender, and trust it will be alright, no matter where you go or what you do.  God will take care of me, and he will use me in an AWESOME way, if I let him.

The challenge is to wake up tomorrow, with no idea of what is to come, and to make the most out whatever life throws my way (including whatever emotions, feelings, fears, that I throw in my own way).

To surrender to the flow.

The Power of the SMoooOOOoooZIE!

So one thing I’ve been totally loving as of late is the Smoothie.  For not only its YUMMINESS, but also the versatility!  They are a great way to get in that power punch you need, with out feeling too full, or for those who have a hard time eating fruits and veggies, to get their nutrients and antioxidants without realizing that they’re doing something SOOO good for their bodies!

So now everyone is ready to run to Jamba Juice and drink to their hearts content yes?  Well before you start sipping it might be worth it to consider a few things:

1) Not all smoothies are created equal!  Find out what’s in your drink first!  Is it created from powder and milk?  Is it all ice cream or sherbet?  You want to order/make smoothies with as many whole foods as possible, because that’s where all the good nutrition is. They don’t have to be pure fruit, but you definitely want to stay away from something that is more sugar and food coloring than actual nutrition.  So alas, read the label folks.

2)  Its not just a drink… It’s a meal!  Most smoothies pack as many calories as a light meal (or even a not so light one…).  So unless you’re on a weight gain regimen, be careful not to just replace your afternoon coffee or soda with a smoothie just because its “healthier.”  Yes, it is a MUCH better alternative, but alas, calories in, calories out.  If you start drinking smoothies without compensating for the calories elsewhere… the pounds could creep on…

3) Be creative!  You can throw SO many different things into your drink!  It just depends on what you’re tastes and preferences are, and what your nutritional goals are…

So with all this in mind, here are a few ideas to get you started!  These are MY favorites… but make them your own and run with it!

Blueberry and Green Tea Antioxidant Goodness

1 cup fresh spinach leaves

1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries

½ banana

2 tbsp plain or blueberry yogurt (I prefer Greek, but you could use regular or soy yogurt if you don’t do dairy!)

1 tsp matcha powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp freshly grated ginger

as much green tea as you need/want to blend it all together

Throw it all in the blender and pulverize!  To make it more slushy-like, add some ice cubes until its as thick as you like it.

Pineapple-Coconut Dream

1 cup frozen pineapple

½ banana

¼- ½ cup lite coconut milk (or full fat if you want more of a treat) OR Coconut flavored yogurt

1 tbsp acai or cranberry juice, for the antioxidant kick

1 tbsp ground flax seed, for the Omega-3s (the ANTI-inflammatory fat, that we all need more of!)

As much regular or soy-milk as you need to make it blend

Then some ice if you want it thicker

Berry Choco-Mocha Freeze

1 cup frozen berries (I like a mix of something tart, like raspberries, blueberries, elderberries… whatever you like!)

½ cup chocolate yogurt

2-3 tbsp coffee or espresso, cooled (you can always add more if you want more coffee flavor)

2-3 tbsp acai juice

Extra Cacao powder or chocolate syrup if you need more chocolate flavor

Soy or regular milk to make it blend

Ice for thickness

As you can see there really is no exact rhyme or reason to making smoothies.  It is mostly personal preference.  If you want to make it a fuller meal, add your favorite protein/supplement powder, or some raw nuts (almonds are excellent).  If you wanna trim it down a bit, you can omit yogurt, use low fat versions of everything, or play around with all fruit.  Other additions that are great to add are leafy greens (like spinach or kale), carrot juice, steamed beets, ground flax seed, fiber one powder, ect. So start experimenting and have fun!