I consider myself a purist yogi. I have never been a fan of gimmicks that are brought on the yoga mat, such as goats and puppies. 
 
​However, while attending my regular Sunday morning Yoga Flow class, our teacher informed us that she had a surprise for us, and that our class would be formatted a little differently than usual. I absolutely love her classes, so I simply prepared myself for another physical practice, infused with soothing music and words of wisdom.

​Hard to believe that it's been six year since I had to move my live classes to virtual ones. At that time, I really thought it would be temporary. Overnight, I had to learn the technical aspects of teaching on camera, on-line. That process was not always smooth and I have to admit that I lost my "zen" a few times. I was glad, during those times, that my clients are understanding and supportive! 

I recently attended a 10-day meditation course which to me, felt like a hardcore boot camp for the mind. To be honest, I almost left on the fourth day. Since so many of you were curious about my experience, I thought I would share a few bits via this blog. It is a long one so grab a beverage, and enjoy!

​Although I enjoy all four seasons, autumn has a special place in my heart. Apart from its colourful landscapes, I enjoy the shift in light, and the anticipation of the darker months ahead. I sleep better, and enjoy transforming the bountiful harvest into warm and nourishing meals. 

Here are my tips to sailing thru the fall season with a sense of balance and overall wellbeing:

I am officially addicted to this salad!

​Easy to put together, it is full of flavours, and high in nutritional value. This recipe celebrates the fall season and it is made regularly in our household! 

It can be modified based on your taste so be creative and enjoy!

I just came back from a wonderful trip to Martinique where I spent the majority of my time staring at the beautiful blue ocean. The view was spectacular and by day one, I could feel the positive effects of being so close to the sea. 

​Curious as to why many people feel relaxed by the ocean, or by a large body of water such as Lake Ontario, I decided to research how it impacts our brain. I found out that a few things are at play.​

2024 is a leap year, granting us an additional 24 hours! Time is a precious resource in our modern day society. 

​​I read an article last week where prominent figures from different professional and cultural backgrounds shared their wishes for 2024. All of them, without any exception, wished for more time. ​

In this blog, I am sharing with you one of my favourite breakfast recipes. Easy to digest, it is packed with healthy nutrients and helps me stay satiated until lunch.

This is my go to when I teach back to back yoga classes in the morning or before a round of golf. It is quickly put together and taste so good!

​Hope you enjoy it!

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​What a paradoxal statement: anger on the yoga mat. This is what I witnessed recently as I was preparing to lead a Gentle Yoga class. A student came in already pretty grumpy, and as she was settling on her yoga mat, she started complaining loudly and forcefully about something she had absolutely no control over.

​Her tone and negative energy was obviously affecting the other students. This went on for a few minutes so I decided to slowly step toward her and tried to address her concerns. 

We all know that sleep plays an important role in our overall health. Poor sleep can make us feel sluggish on the course, and can hinder our ability to focus.

​The good news is that there are a few simple steps we can take, on a daily basis, to improve the quality of our sleep so we can perform at a higher level on and off the golf course.

I trust that this post finds you well, rested and ready to tackle 2023! 

This year, my personal intention is to trust that I am where I need to be, and to continue nurturing my body and soul so I can continue to learn, and guide you on your yoga journey.

Part of this nurturing process includes eating nutrient packed foods, moving my body everyday, and meditating daily. As I plan my year, I complete the following sentence, which I find quite helpful:

For me, there is nothing more comforting to sip a cup of warm broth, especially when it tastes as delicious as this one I am sharing with you today. The key to a good bone broth is to let it simmer for hours. Be patient...​

We all know how important it is to "eat your greens." Although this expression refers to all types and colour of vegetables, fresh herbs, such as cilantro, basil, and parsley pack as much nutrition as leafy greens, such as kale and spinach. They contain large amount of vitamin A, C, and K, and many of them have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities.

​If I had a penny for every person who asked me if yoga can fix their back pain, well, my piggy bank would be delightfully full!
 
This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I have suffered from back pain most of my life. I am certain that without yoga, my life, and the state of my back, would be extremely different today. Can yoga fix all back pain? Probably not. It is however effective in managing the pain and preventing further injuries.

Have you ever experienced elbow pain? If so, the video featured in this blog may be of interest to you. I personally have experienced discomfort in my lead arm, specifically around the elbow, which brought me to explore ways to restore the area.

​From our wrists to our shoulders, we are looking at mobilizing, stretching and strengthening the muscles that may be tight, weak, and potentially causing disfunction and pain. 

Photo by Dex Ezekiel on Unsplash

That you are a golfer or not, lower body strength has a direct impact on our longevity as well as on the health of our knees and lower back.  A typical yoga class (that it is focused on golf or not) incorporates standing postures which improve lower body strength and stability. 

For golfers, lower body strength has a direct impact as to how efficiently we can connect to ground reaction force and increase our club head speed.

In this blog, since our winter Yoga for Golfers™ program focuses mainly on building strength and stability, I am proposing a short leg strength assessment, which includes a video.

​Let me start by wishing you much happiness for the new year. May we all stay healthy and thrive!

As I was brainstorming a few creative ideas for the year ahead, out of curiosity, I searched the significance of the number 2022. Apparently, in numerology, 2022 indicates that there is hope and healing ahead... How fitting and uplifting for these unstable times!

Nuts and seeds are packed with protein, fibres and vitamins. They are also a great source of healthy fat which we all need to function optimally. For example, on the golf course, a handful of nuts can provide you with sustained energy, and help you keep hunger and fatigue at bay.

Although I am not a vegetarian, I do prefer eating meals that are plant based and try to add nuts and seeds to my diet as often as possible. 

​Are you hydrating enough on the golf course? If not, you may find yourself having difficulty finishing the round strong and focused. Sipping a little bit of water before teeing off, at every hole, is a good practice to have.
 
On extremely hot days however, plain water may not be sufficient to maintain proper electrolytes level in the blood stream. In other words, we need to replace the sodium we lose as we sweat. 

Instead of grabbing your favorite sports drink (which most likely contains tons of sugar and other ingredients not necessarily good for our health), try the following recipe.
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Accountability is something that I have been working on a lot these past few months. For example, remember when I shared my "Pandemic Weight Gain" post? Well, it was a way for me to be accountable, and follow-thru with my weight loss plan. On that note, I am happy to report that the steps I have put in place paid off! I have lost 7 pounds since January 2021 and feel great about it. 

​I don’t know about you, but I gained a few pounds over the last year! Some refer to this as COVID weight. Not surprisingly. Our life, as we knew it, came to a halt last March and since then, some of us have been developing coping mechanisms such as learning how to bake! Seriously, I am no baker. However, in the last year, I have baked more than ever.
 
When I stepped on the scale on January 1st, 2021, and saw 146.7 pounds, I was shocked. This is the heaviest I have ever been. At 55 years old, my ideal weight, considering my level of activities and lifestyle, is 135 pounds, give or take a couple of pounds. That is where I feel at my best. 11 extra pounds in less than a year… how could this be?