Leaf and Friends
Waking up early for meditation, a 10 minute or two- hour yoga sequence, cooking to eat healthy or deal with stress, or gardening his little veg patch. Join Leaf on his yoga teacher training journey.
Cooking with Leaf
We’re all in this together so we might as well be helping each other.
Leaf is either doing yoga or cooking. Oh, he likes to cycle as well but given the winter here in Canada is only just coming to an end, he’s not done much of that lately. He LOVES to attend farmer’s markets and since this year they’ll probably be postponed he is planning his own garden at the moment.
Today we’re using up what’s in the fridge. There were large pieces of bacon (yes, we eat bacon- let’s not focus on that too much) Ideally we’d like to be vegetarian but since I’m cooking for my parents during this epidemic, we’re all eating meat. Meat to maintain body mass should something terrible happen. I definitely eat less meat than most people but right now I’m on a hiatus from avoiding meat and dairy. I’m still off milk but eating cheese. Yes, yummy cheese. Especially locally fermented cheeses. Gut health is priority number 1. I also make my own Kombucha (get in touch if you want a scoby). I ferment it with immune boosting herbs and green tea.
Today is salad day.
Caesar Salad a-la-clean-the-fridge-out
Ingredients
romaine lettuce, anchovies, 2 eggs, parmesan to be grated, dijon mustard, olive oil, bacon bits, left over whatever ie small piece of fish or egg, or pork, cucumber, 1 lemon, salt and pepper, maple syrup
We’re making romaine caesar salad with large bacon bits (hmmm), parmesan cheese, left over salmon from a few days ago, Two soft boiled eggs and an anchovy vinaigrette. I’m salivating just writing this. I’ve got it on the stove cooking while we wait for Dad to come back for his walk. We each walk separately since too much time together can get a bit tense.
Crush 5 anchovy fillets in a measuring cups, add a squeeze of lemon or a tablespoon of vinegar (apple cider or wine vinegar preferred), a pinch of salt and stir. Slowly drizzle the olive oil and and continue until you have about 1/4 of a cup of salad dressing. Add a dash of maple syrup to blend the flavours. Rip up the lettuce into small pieces after a good clean. I like to wrap mine in a tea towel and place in the fridge to get a bit crispier before mixing everything for the salad. Boil the eggs for 6 minutes and run cold water over them. Heat up the bacon bits and then set aside. Heat up the salmon and especially the skin if you have it (to the point of crispiness). Set aside. Combine everything in a very large bowl and drizzle the salad dressing over and toss. Grate parmesan cheese the salad and toss again. Serve on individual plates. YUM
Whats My Pose
Daily yoga positions to help cope
We are experiencing an unbelievable level of stress globally. Its our job to stay positive and level headed. Since everyone I know is going ‘digital’ with their yoga teaching I thought I would make the time to simply teach one posture that will help you in some way. You can string them together or simply do one pose.
Viparita Karani - Legs up the wall
This posture rests your legs, cools the mind and centres you back to being a normal human (or bunny). Use a thin pillow under the sacrum, belt around the thickets part of the calves, a folded blanket under the head with the chin tucked in toward the chest and the eye focusing downward. Open the hands to the ceiling. One full inhalation through the nose and as you exhale, draw the thighs in toward the hips and feel yourself sinking into the floor. Stay here for a minimum of 5 minutes. Check out instagram for more information
Sundays in the Park
Relays with a few rays.
Sundays in the Park
Some days you just have to drop everything, find a friend and laugh. The healing properties of laughing good for your stomach muscles, emotional stability, facial muscles, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and released endorphins. So if you feel guilty about skipping your chores, just remember you are giving your body a much needed break.
A4 print for sale in the shop.
Adha Chandrasana
Half moon pose helps more than just your balance
Adha Chandrasana
After a hard and emotional week I just wanted to stay in bed and binge on TV. (9-1-1 reminded me that life is good but it was a great distraction all the same.) Adha Chandrasana is a challenging pose for me. It is part of my assessment in May and after three years of teacher training I still find the pose extra difficult. My weak leg from my back injury is stronger after each session but I still fall over if I do not have a tressler or a wall nearby.
A4 print for sale in the shop.
E-book
Leaf is coming to town
Leaf e-book
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Travel Guide: Ottawa
Be in the know…secrets of great travel
Travelling to Ottawa?
Leaf just got back from Canada. If he’s not doing yoga he’s hiking in Gatineau Park, visiting the farmers markets in Chelsea or Wakefield, eating yet another croissant or trying a local cafe.
When things are tough
ITs never as bad as it seems
Finding the light
As bad as a situation seems, Leaf likes to find a positive twist.