Grow your own wheatgrass with these steps.

Wheatgrass has long been used to help blood flow, digestion and general detoxification of the body. Online you can find all kinds of wheatgrass growing “kits”, but this is a tried and true step-by-step process that the Yax family uses to grow their own wheatgrass.

The first thing you need to get is a juicer. We have an Omega juicer, and it’s great. It doesn’t matter if it’s hand pump or automatic, but with the automatic you can juice other things like carrots, etc a bit easier.

Second, you need to buy wheat grass seeds. They can be found online.

Also, make sure you have the following on hand: soil, paper towels (the thinner the better because you don’t want them to soak up all the water), a growing tray (plastic tray with holes in the bottom), and a tray to catch the water that will leak out from the bottom of the growing tray.

Our tray is about 2’x1’, so we use 3 cups of the seed for one batch. If your tray is larger or smaller, you will need to add or subtract seed. 

We wash the seeds then soak them in filtered water for 24 hrs.  After the allotted time, wash the seeds again. Fill your tray with about 1-2” of soil and spread the seeds on the top of the soil.  Spread them evenly across the soil and leave them on the surface (don’t try to plant them). Cover the seeds with 4 layers of paper towels and water thoroughly. Continue watering every day leaving the paper towels on until the wheatgrass pushes up about 3-4” tall (this will make them stronger). Remove the paper towels at this point.

Keeping air movement around the growing grass is important. Some mold will build up at the base of the grass. This is natural but can be lessened with a fan or if it’s set next to an open window.

When your wheatgrass has grown about 6” or so, it is time to harvest! Cut the grass at the base and wash thoroughly.  A one ounce shot is usually about a 2”x12” plot worth of cut grass from the tray.  Put the grass through the juicer tips first. Drink immediately and swish before you swallow (it’s good for your gums). The first batch will be the tastiest. After that, somehow it has the opposite effect of a “beer tolerance”. Enjoy! 

Eating Tips for Yoga Class

Here are some helpful tips on how and what to eat before and after your yoga class. Sometimes it’s difficult to know what to expect when trying something new, and even how to prepare for a new exercise routine.

While many forms of exercise suggest that you grab a bite to eat beforehand, yoga is a little different; try not to eat about 2-3 hours before stepping onto your mat. This recommendation is due to yoga’s deep breathing and postures which together can cause undigested food to bother your stomach. However, when it comes to eating after your yoga class, feel free to replenish your energy.

Here are some pointers to consider for your next post-yoga meal.

1. Hydration: Rather than reach straight for some food, drink some water! This is especially true if you are doing hot yoga or power yoga. These forms of exercise will cause you to sweat, and sweat a lot. Don’t forget to rehydrate before you assess your level of hunger. Try your best to avoid sugary sports drinks.
2. Nourish rather than Feed: Using yoga to curb emotional eating or prevent over-eating is an effective way to capitalize on the calming effects that yoga has on your mind and emotions. Instead of running through the fast-food drive through or grabbing what’s easy, continue to listen to that inner awareness that you had while on your mat. Listen to what your body needs, not what it wants and choose a snack or meal that honors what your body is seeking. Try whole foods with an emphasis on a more natural diet, staying away from processed food.
3. Chew your food: chewing food thoroughly is a widely recognized healthy eating habit. Try to take it slow, approach your food mindfully and enjoy. Doing this will aid your digestion, which your yoga practice did as well. Help your practice spill over into your everyday life and begin small by approaching everyday things, like eating, mindfully.

Should you have any questions about what your yoga instructors recommend eating or even what they eat themselves to maintain a healthy balance on and off the mat, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Try this RECIPE for Quinoa and spring vegetable pilaf (in picture) from Epicurious.com for a healthy meal option.

Eating local benefits mind, body, spirit and Earth

The concept of eating local is as old as humankind itself, when hunters and gatherers would naturally eat plants and animals that grew or lived nearby. Fast forward to the onset of Industrialism and the advent of the big box supermarket, where absolutely NO food is “out of season”; we’ve grown accustomed to having whatever we want, whenever we want. But, a growing number of people referring to themselves as “locavores” are going back to their roots (no pun intended) and committing to eating locally-grown food or locally-made food as often as possible.

Here are some reasons why:

Most of the food we eat travels an average of 1,500 miles to get from farm to supermarket:

People are more aware of their impact on the Earth, knowing that this transportation requires ground or air transportation; they are making the choice to not purchase food that requires a large amount of gas to get where it’s going.

Not only are we talking a large carbon footprint, but what are you consuming? This food has to stay fresh in transport. Costa Rican bananas stay ripe until the hit the shelves in New England, and this is possible because of the preservatives and preservative techniques used. Foods that are grown locally travels less therefore it’s fresher, tastes better and is more nutritionally dense.

Eating local is about harvesting the energy of the food:

Think about the last time you saw a blackberry. Do you know how one grows? Where it’s grown? From a consciousness and spiritual standpoint, knowing exactly where our food comes from makes us more awake and aware.

Community support:

It’s important to give back to the community in which you live. Eating locally does just that. You support local farmers to help keep them in business, the farmers reap more profits selling direct to consumers than to big supermarkets. It also helps slow suburban sprawl, staving off real estate developers.

Of course eating locally means a focus on fruits, vegetables and other whole foods, this encourages us to eat more healthfully. The most difficult part is planning, but the connection between you, the food and the local farmers is rewarding. The most important part is to buy local when you can, and otherwise be mindful about where your sustenance is coming from.