Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose or Cobblers Pose)
I have been a yoga instructor for 5 years now and truly believe that my daily practice, even if it’s just for ten minutes a day, has significantly contributed to being able to get back in shape after having a baby.
If you have ever watched a little kid sit down into what we usually call “Indian Style” and then observed in aw as they maneuvered this way and that into flexible positions that you didn’t think were possible and thought to yourself, “wouldn’t it be great if I could do that”, then this is the pose for you. It’s a great pose for all degrees of flexibility, even if you’ve never done yoga before. This pose is also great for runners and bikers with tight hips as well because Baddha Konasana opens up our hips, groin, and inner thighs not only making it easier to sit on the floor and have tea parties with your daughter but help boost your athletic performance as well by lengthening the muscles that get ‘bound up’, from strenuous physical activities.
Baddha Konasana Benefits:
Lengthens and strengthens the spine, inner groin, hips and knees.
Stimulates and massages the internal organs of the abdomen, improving digestion and the function of the liver and kidneys
Continuous practice of this pose during pregnancy is said to help ease child birth
Creates flexibility in the hips
Helps relieve symptoms of menopause
Baddha Konasana How To:
Begin seated on the floor with your legs outstretched—placing a blanket underneath your tailbone if you have tight hips
Pull the navel into the spine, bend your knees, and bring your heels toward your pelvis
Drop your knees down toward the floor while keeping the soles of the feet together
Place your hands on the same-side ankle and lift your chest by lengthening from the sternum as you work your outer thighs further toward the ground, opening up the inner groin
Hold here for 1 to 5 minutes before slowly returning to the starting position
Baddha Konasana Caution:
Those with groin or knee issues should only perform this pose with a blanket underneath the outer thighs.
What is your favorite yoga pose? Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter!
It was inevitable that during the winter months a few of us (OK, more than a few) had adopted the natural animal instinct to hibernate and put on a few pounds. And now that Spring is here it’s time to get back in shape!
Here are a few tips on how to get your body ready for those bikinis or boardshorts safely!
Establish a plan and don’t over do it
One of the biggest mistakes is over-doing a workout plan. Get a notebook or open a new word document and write what your goals are.
Make sure your goals are realistic:
I want to lose 10 pounds in two months.
I want to decrease my caloric intake by 20 calories. A great iPhone app to track calories is Tap n’ Track
I will start working out 20 minutes a day, every other day.
A paced approach like these can largely help keep you on track and prevent getting burned out too quickly.
After setting goals, another important thing to understand is that you have to build flexibility into your plan. Don’t beat yourself up if you “slip up” a couple of days. This will only encourage an attitude of giving up. Plan ahead for holidays, birthday parties, and weddings so you know when you should allow yourself some extra slack and then get back on your plan.
Eat Fresh
Now that Spring is here you can eat the produce that wasn’t available during the winter seasons. Eat bright colored fruits and vegetables! The brightness is a great indicator for resources of nutrition and energy. I like to think, “eat bright, feel bright”.
Exercising can now be moved outdoors
There aren’t many things more motivating than getting outside after an entire season of indoor workouts. Here’s an article about moving from indoor workouts to outdoor workouts safely.
The hardest part about getting in shape for the warmer months is keeping yourself motivated. Check out this article on how to stay motivated!
From everyone here at 8th Continent Soymilk we wish you a happy spring and can’t wait to see you (and your Spring-ready body) out there!
Once a year we take time to sit back, appreciate the rainbows and imagine the pot of gold at the end of them. You may not find gold, but this is a perfect recipe for you and your kids to make together on St. Patty’s Day!
My friends over at CHOW provide an amazing recipe for Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Vegan Green Buttercream Frosting!
Beat the shortening and margarine together until well combined and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat for about 3 more minutes.
Add the vanilla and soy milk, and beat for another 5 to 7 minutes until fluffy. Softly fold in a few drops of green food coloring until you have reached your preferred color.
INGREDIENTS (Cupcakes)
1 cup 8th Continent Soymilk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder, Dutch-processed or regular
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
Whisk together the 8th Continent Soymilk and vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and other extract, if using, to the Soymilk mixture and beat until foamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are OK).
Pour into liners, filling 3/4 of the way. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.
Have any other recipes for St. Patty’s Day? Let us know! You can either leave a comment, hit us up on Twitter or post a recipe on our Facebook Page!
I have to admit it, I have been so caught up in training for the L.A. Marathon that I almost forgot that this coming Wednesday is St. Patty’s Day! YAY!
And we all know what that means right? That’s right- we can finally make some of our favorite dishes! ;0)
Here is a great vegan recipe for Colcannon Potatoes and Cabbage from About.com!
Colcannon is a traditional Irish side dish. Try making this recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, or any day that you are longing for a wee taste of Ireland.
Place potatoes in a large pot and add enough water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for at least 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
In a separate pot, boil the cabbage in water for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In another pot or skillet, cook leeks in soy milk until tender, about 15 minutes.
When potatoes are done cooking, mash them together with leeks, soy milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add cabbage and stir to combine. Add more salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
Do you have any other great recipes for St. Patty’s Day or any other traditions? Let us know in either the comment section below, or you can find us on Twitter and Facebook!
We have all had those spurts of energy that last one or two or even three days where we feel on top of our workout routine and we are full of sticktoitiveness. However, they are usually just that- spurts. What do you do when that feeling has worn off? You are training for a marathon! And you need to keep training. I teamed up with my friends over at Marathon Rookie to bring you some tips to keep you motivated and help you cross that finish line.
Visualization
Set aside a few minutes each day, or at least a few times each week, to relax and picture in your mind the runner you want to be. Picture yourself making a great training run or running the actual race. As you are creating that image, try to get other senses involved by trying to feel what it will feel like to achieve your goal or push through any obstacles you envision.
Affirmations Flood your mind with positive thoughts by talking to yourself every day. Tell yourself that you are a marathon runner. Our minds operate in the present so the more we tell ourselves something, even if it is not yet true, the faster our mind believes it and begins working now to make that affirmation a reality. Also, put an affirmation, race brochure, or inspiring quote somewhere you will see it every day like on your desk or bathroom mirror.
Block the Negative Be aware of negative thoughts creeping into your mind. When you catch them, stop them cold in their tracks by telling yourself the opposite. For instance, if you catch yourself thinking you are tired during a run, tell yourself several times, with emphasis, that you feel great or feel strong. Do the same for any pain during a run. By telling yourself the opposite, you are diverting your focus from the negative to the positive.
Change into that Running Gear Sometimes simply changing into your workout gear can get you in the mood to work out!
Get a Dog OK, by now you all know I am practically obsessed with getting a dog sometime in my near future. Make a promise to your dog that you will take him/her on a walk daily. You will play fetch with him/her every other day… which is a great workout especially if your dog has not learned the step of bringing the thrown object back to you.
A Little Friendly Competition Link up withe friends/co-workers/people online and start a little competition! Keep in mind everyone has different levels of running/exercising skills. But it isn’t about comparing apples to apples. It is about the improvement and progression! Knowing other people are going through similar challenges can help keep you motivated.
Over the course of training, you may find yourself lacking motivation at some point. This is very common. Maybe you get discouraged because unexpected events have caused you to miss a run, a few runs, or even a week or more of runs. Maybe something in your life diverts your focus from training and your goal. Whatever the case, do not let it stop you from achieving your goal!
Think of supporters cheering you on as you run with ease through the marathon or half marathon. Think about how rewarding it will be when you cross the finish line and reflect on what you have just accomplished.
Surround yourself with positive, motivating things. Watching running movies is great for marathon motivation. Find something that connects with you emotionally and you will find that your intensity and desire will grow to where you don’t just want to achieve your goal, you have to achieve your goal.
Take a step back and think about why you have set this monster goal for yourself and see yourself enjoying all the benefits you expect to have once you accomplish your goal.
So tomorrow is the big day! Do you have the present picked out and the plans planned? Keep in mind that the sweetest thing you can do on Valentine’s Day is show somehow that you care. This could be through a DIY craft, a homemade meal, reminiscing about experiences you have shared, or how about saying the most powerful phrase that exists?
That’s right- I love you.
Now what if mt significant other took the time to learn how to say it in Spanish and surprise me with “Te amo.” or “Te quiero.”? Well, let’s just say my insides would melt into a ball of goo- in a good way that is.
So check out the video below to see how to say those precious words in several different languages!
And if you still need a tip- hit me up on Facebook or on Twitter or you can go to all of the other posts I have been doing for this Vday Countdown!
We are now on Day 4… will he make it?
Is he foaming at the mouth?
Is he pacing around hallucinating about steaks and clouds of Porkchops?
Watch the video and see how the Carnivorous Killer is doing today!
Rub down the 2 Medium Sized Sweet potatoes with soy oil, stab with fork to allow ventilation, and wrap in foil. Bake in 400 degree oven for 45 minutes. (Depending on size of sweet potato)
Dice 1/4 clove of garlic and sautee in pan along with 1 Tsp of butter. Once hot, add sliced Portabella mushrooms into pan and cook on medium-low heat for 5 minutes on both sides.
Once sweet potatoes are finished baking, remove from oven and allow to cool. Unwrap the sweet potatoes and discard of the foil. Cut one sweet potato down the middle and remove 1/2 of the contents from the skin. Place the skinned sweet potato in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of 8th Continent Original Soy milk. Mash together to form somewhat of a paste.
Boil water and snap both ends of the fresh green beans. Once water is boiling, add green beans and allow them to boil for 10 minutes. Strain and set aside for complete dish.
Dip the cooked portabella mushrooms into the sweet potato paste and then coat with bread crumbs. Heat soy oil in a skillet and carefully set the breaded portabella slives into the pan. Allow to brown on both sides, flipping and paying attention to the frying and quickly move to a plate.
Dish the finished portabella slices, the cooked fresh green beans, and the baked sweet potato on a plate. Slice sweet potato to add salt/ pepper/ brown sugar to taste…
Day 2 of 8th Continent Soymilk’s Veg Out Challenge!
Today I made Vegan friendly Cinnamon French Toast with Fresh Apple Cinnamon chunks.
For lunch/ dinner I made a vegan friendly pizza that turned out to die for! Who would have ever thought living so healthy could taste so good?
Check out the video of Carnivore Killer and see how he is doing on his second day without meat!
Has we withered away yet? Has he gone mad and started gnawing on his arm? You’ll have to watch the video to find out! It’s like Meatless Madness! hehe
Cinnamon French Toast with Fresh Apple Cinnamon
This recipe replaces eggs with bananas so you can still enjoy your French Toast Vegan Style!
INGREDIENTS
2-3 ripe bananas
3/4 cup 8th Continent soymilk
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
bread, any kind is fine
vegan margarine
DIRECTIONS
Blend bananas, 8th Continent soy milk, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in blender or food processor and pour mixture into pie plate or wide dish.
Gently dip bread slices into the mix, coating both sides. Fry in vegan margarine in medium-hot skillet until golden brown.
Serve with maple syrup if desired, and, as always, enjoy your wonderful vegan French toast!
(via About.com: Vegan Food)
INGREDIENTS
One Medium Granny Smith Apple
Ground Cinnamon
Cane Sugar
Soy Oil
DIRECTIONS
Slice the apple into sections and de-seed. Heat Soy Oil in a frying pan and drop sectioned apple pieces in one by one. Scatter the ground cinnamon over the sectioned apples while they are in the pan. Scatter in sugar as well. After about a minute on medium high heat, you flip the apple sections and sprinkle cinnamon and cane sugar on the other side as well. Let cook for about a minute so that the apple sections start to pucker around the edges, but are still firm. Remove from pan- serve- and most importantly- enjoy!!
Vegan Mediterranean Pizza
INGREDIENTS
¾ cup warm water
1 envelope active dry yeast
1 T. honey
¾ cup whole wheat flour
1 ¼ cups white flour
¾ t. and 1 t. salt, plus more to taste
1 ½ T. and 2 T. olive oil, divided
½ cup nutritional yeast
¼ cup soymilk powder
1 T. Cornstarch
½ cup dairy-free soy mayonnaise
1 cup plus 2 T. plain 8th Continent Soymilk, divided
¾ cup pizza sauce, either homemade or store-bought
Toppings of choice, such as vegetables or vegan meat substitute- I used tomato, black olives, eggplant, Cheese Substitute and Mushrooms
(This recipe makes two 12″ pizzas)
DIRECTIONS
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, gently combine the warm water, yeast, and honey. Allow the mixture to set for about five minutes or until bubbles form on the surface. (This ensures that you, indeed, have an “active” packet of yeast.)Add the whole wheat flour, mixing with a wooden spoon until well combined. Cover and let rest in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Add in the white flour, salt and olive oil, mixing until forming a soft, but not sticky, dough. (Your dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl and should not “tear” or stick to your hands. If this is the case, add more white flour in small increments until your dough no longer sticks to your hands when you push down on it.)
On a dry (not floured) countertop, turn out the dough and knead until elastic, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add flour in small increments as needed, taking care so as not to dry out your dough. Place dough in a well-oiled bowl, turning once to coat, and cover. Place bowl in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, soymilk powder and cornstarch. Set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the oil, soy mayonnaise and 1 cup 8th Continent Soymilk, whisking until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and 1 t. salt to the mixture, whisking until lumps are dissolved (a few lumps will still remain but will dissolve while cooking).
In a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, heat the sauce mixture, stirring constantly until desired consistency. Salt to taste.
Preheat the oven to 500 F. Lightly oil a large baking sheet or pizza pan.
On a lightly floured surface, turn out the dough and divide it in half. Cover half of the dough while working with the other. Roll out the dough into a round about 1/4-1/2 ” thick and place on the prepared sheet. Make a crust by pinching up the sides of the dough. Repeat with remaining dough.
With a spoon, spread the pizzas sauce in a circular motion on each of the pizzas. Top with cheese sauce and toppings. Lightly brush the crusts with the remaining 2 T. of 8th Continent soy milk and lightly sprinkle salt. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
