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Illuminartyoga E-News
Issue # 16: January 10, 2005
Painting by Sue-Anne
East meets West
While visiting Rishikesh, in India, I came across some children playing in
the sand on the banks of the Ganges river. When I asked them what they
were doing, they gave me an interesting answer. They weren't building
'sand castles,' like most children I had encountered on beaches in the West.
These children replied that they were building 'temples and meditation caves.'
To me this is a perfect example of how even at a young age there is a completely different
way of thinking between East and West. During my travels, I found that the Indians had a
deep spirituality and usually seemed very happy living with very little. We can learn so
much from them.
After watching the news reports of the Tsunami disaster, one young survivor's comment stays
etched in my mind. When an Indian girl, perhaps 12 years old, told how she was able to swim
back to land after being swept out into the ocean, she said, "I had the God-given gift of
swimming."
She hopes to be reunited with her mother and father who are tragically still missing.
In their absence she shows gratitude toward God.
For her, it was completely normal to think of her ability to swim as a gift. For us in
the West, it is so often completely foreign to think this way. How very much we take
for granted and how little we think of how fortunate we are for what we have.
Gratitude
Often when I take a yoga class I feel thankful and think that there is no place on earth I would
rather be than right there, doing yoga.
I know some people who keep a gratitude
journal, writing down five things for which they are grateful every day. Many believe
this to be a life transforming exercise.
As one of my favorite artists, Phil Collins,
sings, "Oh, think twice, it's just another day for you and me in paradise."
Winter Yoga Session
Classes begin January 11th.
Please call to reserve your place, 577-1963, or e-mail me at harmoni@cam.org.
If you know anyone who might be interested in yoga, please
forward the URL for this newsletter to them. If you no longer wish to be on my
mailing list please send me an e-mail, with unsubscribe on the subject line.
I look forward to seeing you!
Sue-Anne
Vegetarian Recipe
We often serve this for brunch and it's always very popular with non-vegetarians
as well as vegetarians. It comes from Fast and Fun Food For People on the Go!
by Karen Claffey.
Tofu French Toast
1-10.5 oz package Silken Tofu (Lite)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1-2 cups soy milk
8 slices whole grain bread
corn, safflower or sesame oil as necessary
1. Purée all the ingredients, except for the bread,
adding enough soy milk to achieve a creamy, smooth,
pourable, thick consistency.
2. Place the bread in a shallow dish such as a large rectangular baking dish.
Pour the batter over the bread to cover completely. Poke holes in
the bread using a fork so that the batter absorbs all the way through to the center,
otherwise the bread will still be dry inside after the frying.
Turn the bread slices over and pour more batter on top if necessary to coat the bread completely.
Poke again, set aside to soak. Soak the other slices while you cook the first ones.
3. Heat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat.
Brush the skillet with oil and fry the battered bread for 3-5 minutes on each side,
or until golden brown and a crust has formed.
Serve immediately or keep warm in a low oven.
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