April 2013
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Archive for April, 2013

Accidental Lunchtime Zing

Posted by terrepruitt on April 16, 2013

One day I was having my Chai Tea Latte (you can check out that recipe I got from a fellow Nia Teacher here: Venting Gets Me Good). Even though the tea needs to be stirred constantly, the spoon I was using to stir the tea ended up on my plate with my turkey sandwich. Some of the ginger from the tea came off the spoon and I ended up taking a bite of sandwich with ginger on it. “Oooooo!” I thought. That was good. So I got up and sprinkled more ginger on my sandwich. Right now the lunch meat we have is sliced turkey breast from Costco and it is a sweet flavor so it was nice to have the little bit of spicy from the ginger. I don’t know if other sandwich meats would taste as good.

Since then I have been making our sandwiches with ginger on them. I don’t know if my hubby has even noticed . . . .well, in all fairness, I have not been doing it on his everyday lunch sandwiches. Just on the weekend sandwiches. I know the poor guy eats a sandwich every day for lunch and then on the weekend I make him yet ANOTHER sandwich. Ahh, but yes, thank you for the reminder (I heard your future thoughts, he COULD make something for himself). But since I am making a sandwich I just make two so we can each have one. With each sandwich I make I get a little more bold and add more ginger. So far I have not made it too hot or spicy for me.

I really like the little drama that the ginger adds to the sandwich. This is really funny to me because two years (maybe about that long) ago if you would have asked me if I like ginger I would have said no. But then again, I always thought of that pink slimy stuff that comes on a sushi and sashimi plate as ginger. I mean, it IS ginger, but it is PICKLED ginger. I hadn’t known that fresh ginger or even powdered ginger can add just enough of a zing to food to make it a nice change of pace.

Like many things I post, some people might be reading this and wondering why I am doing an entire post on adding ginger to my sandwich and it is for the others saying, “Oh, I would have never thought of that. I bet it IS good. I’m gonna give it a try.” I can’t take for granted and/or assume that everything I know other people know. That is ridiculous. And just because it is simple doesn’t mean that it is not worth sharing.

And here is a picture of my lovely half eaten sandwich. There is turkey, cheese, mayo, bell peppers, and ginger on the sandwich! Pretty good.
Remember that ginger is a digestive aide and can help relieve nausea. It is also considered an anti-inflammatory root/herb/spice. So in addition to adding a little zip to your sandwich ginger could add some health benefits!

Are you a ginger fan? What do you put it in? Have you tried it on a sandwich?

Posted in Food | Tagged: anti-inflammatory, bell peppers, Chai Tea Latte, digestive aide, drama, ginger, ginger root, health benefits, lunchtime, Nia, Nia Teacher, sandwich, sashimi, sushi, turkey sandwich | 4 Comments »

Multiple Planks In A Day Challenge – Check In #2

Posted by terrepruitt on April 14, 2013

For me, checking in every day helps me remember to do it. I have forgotten to do it one day. One day I did only one plank, I forgot to finish with the other two. Another day I pushed the day, as in I remember at five minutes after midnight! It really helps to have that extra thing (checking in) to do. I don’t know why I can’t remember to do a plank three times, but I can remember to do something once when I have to check in. Must be that accountability thing. It helps. 🙂

I started this challenge as a way to help us keep planking and I was thinking my friend who always participates in my challenges would have a better time of it if she didn’t have to check in every day. I was thinking that the three minutes it would take to plank — either all at once or throughout the day — would be easy. She was on vacation and I was thinking she would have a lot of time to get some planks in. Not so. Vacations are so busy. It seems as if LESS gets done because there is no schedule. So she might be joining us after she gets settled. I will continue to be challenged to do it three times a day.

So far today, I have done two. Now I have to remember to do the other two!

Well, it is called a challenge for a reason, right?

Posted in Planking | Tagged: accountability, check in #2, day 14 of challenge, Multiple planks in a day challenge, plank challenge, planking, vacation | 1 Comment »

Chakras And Single Essential Oils

Posted by terrepruitt on April 13, 2013

In my post Balancing The Chakras With Essential Oils I shared a technique for balancing chakras that was adapted from a specific essential oil company using their specific blends. It seems like most companies that sell essential oils have their own blends with their own cute little names. As I stated in that post, I have a sample of one of the blends and it smells terrific, I really like it. In case you are not interested in buying the blends that are named in that post I did a little research on the internet about single essential oils that associated with balance and/or unblocking the chakras. Just like with pretty much everything there is a ton of information out there. I am not an essential oil expert nor a chakra expert. I created this list off of various websites. I picked the oils that I saw associated with each chakra on multiple websites.

As all oil is not created equally I would use these oils topically with a carrier oil or diffuse them.

• Crown chakra: sandalwood, lavender, jasmine

• Third Eye chakra: sandalwood, frankincense, sweet marjoram

• Throat chakra: bergamot, chamomile

• Heart chakra: peppermint, eucalyptus

• Solar Plexus chakra: peppermint, ginger, coriander, rosemary

• Sacral chakra: sandalwood, bergamot, ylang ylang, orange

• Root chakra: sandalwood, frankincense, ylang ylang

As you can see sometimes one oil can help with multiple chakras. So that is helpful in itself. Instead of buying seven different blends you can buy one oil, say sandalwood, and use it for four of the seven chakras. Using that formula, you could buy peppermint for another two, and then bergamot or chamomile for the last one. That would be only three oils. Since good quality essential oil can be expensive, to me it helps to figure out a way to get more uses out of one oil! That is just an example. I am sure there are many more combinations.

Of course, you might find that you use one oil more than another and you just want to have it on hand. There are many ways to use essential oils so I am sure you can find other uses.

Here is a little bit of information on the oils, herbs, scents, etc. listed:

Sandalwood is actually fragrant wood from specific trees. Thought to have a calming effect.

Lavender is a plant used both as a flavor in food and a scent. It is believed to have a calming, relaxing effect.

Jasmine is also a flowering plant, that is very fragrant. It is said to help relieve tension.

Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia (from Wiki). It is claimed to help many things including over all health.

Sweet marjoram is an herb, I use in cooking quite often, the oil is said to relieve pain.

Bergamot is a type of orange the color of a lemon, good for treating skin ailments.

Chamomile a daisy like flower that is commonly used for tea. Especially tea that is promoting relaxation and even sleep.

Peppermint, most people are familiar with this flavor or scent. Peppermint has an invigorating effect.

Eucalyptus from the Eucalyptus tree, very aromatic and believed to promote healing.

Ginger, this root is used often in helping with motion sickness and nausea and digestion.

Coriander to me are the little seeds used for cooking . . . doing the research for this post, I learned that the LEAVES are what I know as cilantro! It has a calming effect.

Rosemary an herb used for cooking. Kind of like tiny twigs. It’s oil can be used to stimulate and help with concentration.

Orange, a fruit that which the oil is from the skin. Orange sent can be uplifting!

Ylang ylang, this oil comes from the Ylang Ylang tree/plant blossoms. Thought to help relieve stress.

Do you use essential oils? What do you use them for?

Posted in Chakras, Essential Oils | Tagged: 100% Pure Essential Oils, balance the chakras, begamont, chakras, chamomile, chamomile tea, coriander, essential oils, eucalyptus, frankincense, ginger, jasmine, lavender, marjoram, orange, peppermint, Plant Therapy, rosemary, sandelwood, ylang ylang | 6 Comments »

Goodie Jar – Check In #11

Posted by terrepruitt on April 12, 2013

Well, most people would say that it being Friday is a good thing. So that could go in the Goodie Jar, right? Sure why not. Often people have plans for the weekend so that could go in the Goodie Jar as a good thing. Weekend plans might be a “two-for” because it can be noted and put in the jar BEFORE and then after a good time was had by all it can be noted and put in the jar again! Ha! Two for one!

I recently checked in with my friend who had posted this idea of a good things jar on Facebook to see if she was still doing it. She had forgotten. I kind had a feeling that would happen. I thought I would forget too. So that is why I have the Friday check in so we can be reminded at least once a week.

So how is your Good Things Goodie Jar doing?

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: check in, Facebook, good things jar, Goodie Jar, happy Friday, weekend plans | 2 Comments »

Balancing The Chakras With Essential Oils

Posted by terrepruitt on April 11, 2013

We have energy running through our bodies. I mean literally we have electric currents in our bodies. Some people believe there are specific points where these energies converge and concentrate. The points, called Chakras, “correspond to vital points in the physical body i.e. major plexusaes of arteries, veins and nerves.” (According to Wiki.) Energy flows through our bodies and often with the belief of these energy points or chakras there is the belief that they can be blocked or imbalanced. With the belief that the flow of energy can be blocked or chakras out of balance there are beliefs that they (the chakras) can be cleared or put back in balance. I believe that there are at least as many beliefs of ways to open the chakras as there are the cultures believe in this type of thing. There are exercises one can do to get energy moving again. There are meditations one can do. I wrote a post about sounds one can make to help heal and open the chakras, you can see that post by clicking here. Another way to deal with imbalances is with essential oils.

There are many ways this treatment can be done. The one noted below can be done on oneself, it is an adaptation of the one in the doTERRA Spa Manual. The oils used in this treatment are blends from doTERRA, but there are single oils that can be used in association with each chakra. That will be my next post.

I feel steps one and two are optional when performing this therapy on oneself. You might not feel the need to find out which areas are blocked and may not be concerned with vulnerability since the treatment you are about to do will help with that. The same goes with step four.

Chakra Balancing with doTERRA Essential Oil Blends

60 minutes

Create chakra balance by applying specific oils to assist and support spiritual development and awakening of the chakra energies.

Step 1: Start by lying face up. Check your chakras by using a pendant over each of the 7 chakras. Look for movement of the pendant:

Clockwise circles = an open, balanced chakra
Counter clockwise or oblong circles = imbalance
No movement = blocked

Step 2: Apply OnGuard on the crown for protection, as you are creating some vulnerability by working on chakras.

Step 3: (To avoid mixing the oils use a different finger with each oil application.) Apply oil directly to chakras in clockwise motion. For the Root chakra apply the oil to the feet.

1.   Crown (#7): apply Elevation
2.   Third Eye (#6): apply Serenity
3.   Throat (#5): apply Whisper
4.   Heart (#4): apply Breathe
5.   Solar Plexus (#3): apply Digestzen
6.   Sacral (#2): apply Citrus Bliss
7.   Root (#1): apply Balance

Step 4: Check the chakras. If they are not in balance, apply Purify to the chakra that did not clear, then apply the oil for that chakra again. Repeat until chakra clears or consider other options, such as discussing the emotions or relationships associated with that chakra or doing the exercise associated with that chakra.

Finish by sitting cross legged and just hold your feet and close your eyes until you feel ready to move into your day/evening/night.

This might be something that could help you if you are interested. I am interested in chakras and essential oils. I hadn’t really thought of them together until one day when Marlies came to one of my Nia Classes. After class several of us were discussing essential oils and chakra balancing came up. She sent a copy of this treatment to me and I immediately asked for permission to share it on my blog. I thought it would be something of interest to my readers.

As I stated the oil mentioned in the above are blends from doTERRA. But a little bit of research on the internet and I found several sites that had lists of oils associated with the different chakras. I am sure you could order the blends or the individual oils from Marlies. I am preparing a list of individual essential oils associated with each chakra for my next post.

When Marlies attended my Nia class she brought me a sample of Elevation. She also gave me another sample but I don’t think it is a blend. I love the way Elevation smells. I have the little bottle in my living room and I pick it up and sniff at it all the time. It is such a lovely scent. If I had a diffuser I would definitely enjoy having that aroma fill my home. Other than that, I have not yet tried these other blends.

Well? What are your thoughts? Do you have any thoughts on chakras? What about balancing them with essential oils?

Posted in Chakras, Essential Oils | Tagged: blocked chakras, chakra balancing, chakra treatment, chakras, doTERRA, Elevation, essential oil treatment, essential oils, Nia, Nia class, seven chakras | 9 Comments »

Beef, Beans, Mushrooms, Zucchini, And Cheesy Tortillas

Posted by terrepruitt on April 9, 2013

My cat has been on a “bland diet” of beef and sweet potatoes. I keep thinking “today is the day” — meaning, today will be the last day, but until “things” have gotten back to normal I am not comfortable putting her back on her cat food. Part of the prescription of the bland diet was “very lean” beef. So I am feeding my cat lean beef. One day I was about to cook two dinners. One for my cat and one for my hubby and I. Then I realized I could just cook one. So I put away what I had originally planned for my hubby and I and just cooked up some beef for us too. As I was cooking the meat I was thinking of what veggies I had in my fridge . . . yeah, my door note does not always get updated. Of course I couldn’t remember but when I opened the door I spotted the mushrooms . . . cool, I decided to put the meat on/in tiny tortillas with some mushrooms and cheese. Then, I decided that in addition to mushrooms I would add some garbanzo beans. As I was putting something in the fridge I spotted the zucchini and I decided to grate some of that into our mushrooms. I was making this dinner up as I was cooking it! (I can do that when I don’t have a Nia class.)

I have to cook the cat’s meat without flavoring, so I figured I would just salt the meat after and put some raw onions on it. I figured that would be enough flavor. But then I took hers out to prepare it and I left ours in the pan and I added cumin and garlic salt. I am starting to add cumin to different things now. Ever since I used it in my adjusted version of Bobby Deen’s Red Beans and Rice recipe. It was not a spice I was accustomed to cooking with. I like it.

We ended up with a pretty tasty dinner, I think. I think the raw onions on the topping it all off really gave it the perfect finishing touch.

Beef, Beans, Mushrooms, Zucchini, And Cheesy Tortillas

small wedge of onion, chopped
1 tsp olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
four shakes of garlic salt
half of a zucchini, grated
four shakes of garlic salt
1 can of garbanzo beans
four shakes of garlic salt
1/4 of a pound beef
four shakes of cumin
four shakes of garlic salt
10 small thin slices of cheese
five tiny corn tortillas

Heat the oil and onion (save some for garnish), then put the mushrooms in, add garlic salt. Cook them until they are almost done, then put the grated zucchini in, add garlic salt. Cook until it looks done almost done, then add the beans and the garlic salt. In a different pan, cook the beef with the cumin and garlic salt.

When the mushroom mixture and beef are almost done, heat the tortillas, melt the cheese on the tortillas. Spoon the beef onto four of the cheesy tortilla, then spoon the mushroom bean mixture. Top with raw onions. (One tortilla was meatless!)

I had to cook the meat separate because of my cat, but if I were just making this for us I would cook the mushrooms first . . . I like my mushrooms caramelized, then I would add the beef . . . and I would use more so that it would work for all five tortillas. I would add the cumin to the meat. Then I would add the zucchini, then the beans. I don’t like the beans to get to cooked so I add them last. With each ingredient I would add garlic salt.

I have an electric grill/panini press I used for the tortillas. I grilled them.

This was very good. I will be making this again. But since we rarely have ground beef (we are only eating it because the cat is!) I will use our regular ground turkey.

I like cooking with cumin!

I know I don’t come up with very inventive stuff, but we like it and sometimes all you need is an IDEA of what to cook for dinner. Maybe this will help you.

What do you think? Any ideas on what you might add?

Posted in "Recipes" | Tagged: beef, Cheesy Tortillas, cumin, easy recipe, Garbanzo beans, mushrooms, Nia, Nia class, quick dinner, zucchini | 4 Comments »

Multiple Planks – First Check In

Posted by terrepruitt on April 7, 2013

Ack! Ok, I really thought I could do this challenge, but considering we are seven days in and I have already forgotten entirely on one day and only did one on another, it is more difficult than I thought. What is happening on my end is I think to do it as I am leaving so then I only do one because that is what I have time for. I know three minutes doesn’t seem like a long time, but apparently it is! 🙂

Yesterday I remember on the way out to the 52 Nia Moves Class so I did one. And while we did a long plank in the class it was a straight-armed plank so I am not counting that. I remembered I had two more to do, but when I remembered I had a cat on me. In my house that is a special thing so we don’t move! Then once she moved I had forgotten and I didn’t remember until I was going to bed after midnight.

I will do better with the rest of the month. This week I am going to try an actual schedule and see if I can remember to get them all in.

And next week I will post the check-in in a more timely manner!

Cheers!

So, how many days did you manage to get three planks in?

Posted in Planking | Tagged: 52 moves, 52 Moves class, cat furniture, first check in, Multiple Plank a Day Challenge, multiple planks, Nia, Nia class, Nia's 52 Moves, straight-armed plank | Leave a Comment »

Fifty-Two Movements – It’s A Class

Posted by terrepruitt on April 6, 2013

You might have read my post about a couple of Nia Celebrities coming to the San Francisco Bay Area (for that post, click here) and around this month (April 2013). Well, they arrived this week and have been doing classes since Thursday. Today was the class in Palo Alto at the Equinox (Gym). The classes are scheduled around the North Bay, East Bay, and Peninsula. The class was great. The 52 in the title refers to what the classes was about. All of the classes in this series are based on the 52 moves of Nia. I have posted about the Nia Moves before. They are not uniquely Nia moves, but Nia has compiled them and bases our routines on them. Nia has also set guidelines as to how they are to be done. As I have also mentioned in my posts about the 52 Nia Moves, when they are included in a dance sometimes they are not done exactly to specifications. Anyway . . . this class was definitely interesting. I love the gathering of Nia people. And when a celeb is in town the energy is astronomical. There are – as of today, April 06, 2013, a few chances left to take a class with Debbie Rosas (one of Nia’s founders) and Nia Trainer Kevin VerEecke. If you can make it I recommend it.

As I just mentioned it is always fun to gather and dance with Nia people. This time was really great for me because several of my students were in attendance. I love that they were able to take a class with Debbie. She is like many successful company leaders . . . dynamic and a force of her own. I think that when you can be in the presence of the person who started something (whether it be a fitness craze, a company, a restaurant, whatever) you get a different understanding of the workout (company, restaurant, etc.). Even if you are just in the same space as the person and you observe them without even talking to them . . . you get a better sense of things. Being able to be in a Nia class led by the founder of Nia is really an education.

This type of class is a different direction for Nia. It is not a dance exercise class it is an exercise class where we do a move from the 52 moves for a minute. The moves and the timing is not based on the music they use a timer. Most moves were done slow, then fast, and then as fast as you can. They are calling it Interval Training, but it seems to copy the “Intermittent Training” formula that Zumba uses. So it reminds me of a Zumba class without the dancing. It is truly an exercise class with loud music and a lot of sweat!

It is easy to do all 52 Nia Moves in an hour especially if you are doing one a minute. With nineteen of the 52 Nia Moves being movements done with the arms, hands, and/or fingers they are easily combined with foot and body movements. So we were even able to do a few of the moves for more than one one minute cycle. But not all Nia routines have all 52 moves so this is another way to get a great workout in!

I am usually torn at a Nia event because I want to dance . . . . I don’t want to miss a moment, but I also want to take pictures to document the event. This exercise class was a little easier to break away from because they were either doing the move slow or fast, so I could jump right back in and be right on the mark.

Here are a few shots that I took. As you can see everyone is happy, sweaty, and having a fabulous time!

Have you ever met the creator of something you love? Did you find it exciting? Are you going to make it to one of these Nia 52 Moves classes?

Posted in Nia | Tagged: 52 Nia Moves, April 2013, California Peninsula, Debbie Rosas, East Bay, Francisco Bay Area, Intermittent Training, Interval Training, Kevin VerEecke, Nia celebrities, Nia class, Nia education, Nia founder, Nia Moves, Nia pictures, Nia routines, Nia students, Nia trainer, North Bay, Palo Alto Equinox, Zumba | 4 Comments »

Goodie Jar – Check In #10

Posted by terrepruitt on April 5, 2013

So how is your Goodie Jar filling up? Well? Do you have a lot of good things that you are putting into it?

I can think of many things that some people might consider Good Things. Here are a few:

Basketball
March Madness
Baseball
Hockey
Spring Weather
Rain
Easter
Resurrection
Passover
Hard Boiled Eggs

So, how about that? This list might help you if you need it!

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: Baseball, Basketball, Easter, hard boiled eggs, Hockey, March Madness, Passover, Rain, Resurrection, Spring Weather | 4 Comments »

A Good Thing To Do Before Bed

Posted by terrepruitt on April 4, 2013

I have such wonderful Nia students. One day I was talking to one of my students and she shared with me something she and her husband are doing before bed. She said that they each share THREE good things that happened throughout the day. Now this is just like the good thing jar idea in that the “good thing” is up to the person doing the sharing. It can be anything you think of as a good thing. You could say you heard your favorite song on the radio, saw a hummingbird, had a door held open for you, held a door open for someone else, you attended a Nia class . . . . whatever you want. The “Good Thing” is up to you. The idea is to help the day end on a positive note. And it could lead to a nice conversation with whomever you are doing it with. If you are doing it by yourself it could allow you to remember more good things about your day. Whatever the situation it is a nice positive way to end the day. Three good things is a beautiful thought to fall asleep on.

It could be particularly helpful in a stressful time. Often when something is causing stress we tend to think about it a lot. For me the quiet time as I am falling asleep is prime thinking time. Is it for you? With thinking time the mind can easily go to the stressful thought. But if you have spent a little time with three good things maybe the good has pushed the stress off to a corner. Falling asleep on a positive note seems like it would help you have a good sleep. Sleep is a great tool in handling stress. It could be you are happily thinking about your good things as you drift off. Could be, if you have a partner you are talking about good things with, your partners good things are on your mind.

It also seems like this fun exercise would be good for people who tend to think of the negative instead of the positive. This would help direct the negative attention to positive and shift the energy. We all have things going on in our lives that we could dwell on and conduct negative thoughts and energy, so having to think about positive and good things that happened throughout the day and talk about three of them . . . that can really get the good stuff flowing. Not thinking about the negative side of things can really work wonders.

I really like this idea. I am looking forward to reading all the good things at the end of the year that I have document throughout the year, but this is a way to keep that “good thing” idea at the forefront. This can provide “instant” gratification and help shift energy from negative and stressful to positive and peaceful.

Manifest the positive by sharing the good things!

What do you think?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: energy shift, Good Thing jar, good things, negative energy, negative thoughts, Nia, Nia class, Nia students, peaceful thoughts, positive energy, positive thoughts, sharing | Leave a Comment »

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Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

I teach yoga, Nia, and stretch online!

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Archive for April, 2013

Accidental Lunchtime Zing

Multiple Planks In A Day Challenge – Check In #2

Chakras And Single Essential Oils

Goodie Jar – Check In #11

Balancing The Chakras With Essential Oils

Beef, Beans, Mushrooms, Zucchini, And Cheesy Tortillas

Multiple Planks – First Check In

Fifty-Two Movements – It’s A Class

Goodie Jar – Check In #10