HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Let's fill the new year with love, nourishing food and yoga.

This year we spent Christmas in France and went to Stockholm for New Years Eve. We have been spoiled with amazing food and I was excited to finally teach yoga to my French and Swedish family. In France, we rolled out a large bedspread and practiced a hip opening routine. It was the day before Christmas and a magic hour . 

In Sweden I first practiced with my mum and sister, then with my enthusiastic grandmother, followed by my mum again and at last I practised a core strengthening routine with my dad. I am still amazed by how each of these moments were so special and I feel so lucky to be able to share this knowledge with them.

After being spoiled with delicious food - I even got to try oysters in France, I was happy to share some of my latest  favourite recipes with my family in Sweden. When I travel, the main thing I miss is having a green smoothie for breakfast. It increases my energy and it makes my skin glow and my belly happy. To my pleasant surprise, my family loved it. So let me share it with you, too. 

When it comes to smoothies I really like it simple. In my experience, a few simple ingredients makes the most refreshing flavour.

Creamy kale smoothie with ginger and lemon
Serves 2

2 cups (100 g) curly green kale, stems removed
2 small or 1 large sweet red apple(s)
1 orange, segmented
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 avocado
1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
1 1/2 cup cold water

Wash the kale and remove the stems. See how I do it here. Chop the apples and put them at the bottom of the blender. Top with the segments of an orange, the juice of a lemon, avocado, chopped ginger and the kale. Lastly pour the cold water into the blender. Start on a low speed and then blend on high speed for two minutes. 

Serve cold in a nice glass. Drink as it is or why not top it with some granola and eat it with a spoon. 

This is a "let's feel great" - kind of smoothie! 

I have a new favourite grain; millet! When prepared right, it is just delicious. The key is to toast it slightly so that it releases its nutty flavour. I have found ways to sneak it into dishes with roasted vegatables, soups or served with warm coconut milk. The latter being the predecessor of this recipe. 

Millet is an ancient grain that is both nutritious and naturally gluten free. It is highly alkalising and contains protein, fiber, B-vitamins, iron, potassium and magnesium. 

Made with coconut milk and tahini this is a filling breakfast. Great before a busy day full of work, shopping and other christmas preparations.  

Coconut porridge with quinoa and millet
Serves 2

1/4 cup (70 g) millet
1/4 cup (70 g) quinoa
2 cups (480 ml) boiling water
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp coconut cream (top section of a can of coconut milk)

Toppings
1 tbsp tahini
desiccated coconut

Add the millet and quinoa to a dry pan and toast over medium heat until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. This is recommended to avoid too much steam from adding water to a hot pan. Trust me, I have tried!

When the pan has cooled a little, place back on heat and add the boiling water. Then add the salt and simmer on low under a lid for 12 minutes until soft. When the water has absorbed, add 2 tablespoon of coconut cream and stir for another minute. Remove the pan from heat and pour the porridge into a bowl. Stir through the last tablespoon of coconut cream to get the perfect creamy porridge.

Top with tahini and desiccated coconut. Sit down somewhere quiet and enjoy!

Throughout my yoga teacher training we returned to the question of defining yoga many times. With different teachers. From the perspective of different teachings. We also compared definitions from different points in history. 

The simplest definition of yoga is the origin of the word itself. Yoga derives from the word yuj which means to join. That is, yoga unites the body and the mind through the breath. This is represented by joining the thumb and index finger in meditation. It can also be thought of as the union of the the individual conciousness with the universal consciousness.

World famous yogi Indra Devi once said: 
"Yoga is the uniting of the consciousness in the heart". 

Humans like to define things. When someone is asked the question "are you a feminist?" the answer (especially when the answer is yes) most often includes a definition of the word itself.

I like the challenge of defining of yoga. The richness of the word. This is no competition for a more correct definition. Only different ways to express an experience. Thanks to yoga being so personal and different for each person, there are endless amounts of yoga poetry out there. I never get tired of discovering new ones. There is such a great variety. Some are especially beautiful.

One of my personal favourites has long been this one by Erich Schiffman:
"Yoga is a way of moving into stillness in order to experience the truth of who you really are."

However, just recently I think I have found my favourite one so far.
Thank you Geeta Iengar.

"Yoga is the union of the soul with the eternal truth, a state of unalloyed bliss, arising from conquest of dualities. The study of Yoga discipline sharpens the power of discernment and leads towards understanding the true nature of the soul which cannot be fully comprehended by the senses or the intellect alone. The study of Yoga enables one to attain the pure state of consciousness and to realize the Inner Self.

Yoga frees one from life's sorrows and from the diseases and fluctuations of the mind. It gives serenity and composure, an inward unity amidst the diverse struggle of life. It is the art of knowing oneself and knowing the eternal truth. Yoga is the study of the functioning of the body, the mind and the intellect in the process of attaining freedom. It is the experience of one's self-acquired knowledge, and not the result of book-learning,of battling with logic, or of theoretical argumentation. Yoga is a philosophy, a way of life, wherein art and science meet."