Terre Pruitt's Blog

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

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Archive for June, 2013

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Swiss and Chicken Casserole

Posted by terrepruitt on June 11, 2013

Ok, the thing about recipes is you sometimes have to adapt them for your family’s tastes, but it is nice to have the idea, ya know the starting point.  I love the ease of canned soups, but I have decided to work through my present supply and then no longer use them because I don’t care for the ingredients in them.  Yeah, I could just throw them out but I have issues with wasting “food stuffs” and money so I am working my way through what I have.  It is taking me a long time too because I keep finding recipes for which I concoct my own “soup” or, like the recipe in this post, not use soup, but still get the creamy soupy taste and texture.  The following recipe is from the blog Rantings of an Amateur Chef.  If you have not visited the Ranting Chef’s blog, you might want to.  It is full of all kinds of recipes.  He even has a cooking competition that you might want to participate in.  Go check it out . . . . after you read my post first, of course!

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaI changed the ingredients to work for what we like.  I’ve swapped out the Miracle Whip for mayonnaise.  We DO NOT like Miracle Whip so that was switched out no doubt.  I used the chicken option, as stated in the recipe.  I made my own “croutons”.  To assist in avoiding some of the “extra” ingredients in store bought croutons.  Celery is in a lot of recipes.  I don’t know if I have ever mentioned that I do not like celery.  If I make this again, I might use celery, but this first time, I used fennel.  I know I have mentioned how much I love fennel.  Originally I was going to use ground turkey.  You may have read a post or two about how much I love ground turkey.  I have a Turkey and Fennel recipe.  I love the way those two flavors marry.  But I decided that if I used turkey in this it would be too much like my other meal so I opted for the chicken.

Original SWISS ‘N TURKEY CASSEROLE from the Ranting Chef

Ingredients:

1 cup Miracle Whip
4 cups chopped cooked turkey (or chicken)
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
2 cups croutons
2 cups sliced celery
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped onion

Directions:

Mix all ingredients. Spoon into 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with croutons if desired.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, or until thoroughly heated.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaMY version: (this time)

Swiss and Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise
4 cups cooked and chopped chicken
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
2 cups croutons
2 HEAPING cups fennel, chopped
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
a few turns of the pepper mill

Directions:

Mix almost all the ingredients together, save some of the cheese for the top, if you want. Spoon the mixture into 2-quart casserole dish.  Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F.  Then sprinkle with the remaining cheese and extra croutons if desired.  And bake for 20 more minutes.

So this was a really good treat!  It really taste like warm chicken salad.  I can see myself using less mayonnaise when I make it again or maybe even something else (stayed tuned for THAT post!).  Some may argue that casseroles are not a very healthy meal, but to me, it beats fast food and sometimes they are a nice change of pace.  Maybe not something you have all the time.  And in fact, I will say this is a pretty rich casserole.

Do you like Miracle Whip?  Are you a mayo family or a Miracle Whip family?

Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Sense Your . . . . .

Posted by terrepruitt on June 8, 2013

In Nia we often say while dancing, “Everybody sense your . . . ”  (For more see: Nia White Belt Principle #13  Teaching What You Sense.)  This is to help bring attention to specific body parts.  It could be because we are doing a specific move and we want to have the student’s attention on that body part.  It could be that we feel a body part just needs attention.  It could be that we want the students to move in a different way.  Sensing a body part though does not require movement of that part.  If I were to say right now, “Everybody sense your hand.”  I wouldn’t necessarily mean for you to move your hand.  I mean for you to sense it.  Recently on Facebook I posted, “EveryBODY sense your trachea!!!!!! Breathe . . . . . . . .” and one of my friends asked HOW?  Fabulous question.  How do you sense your trachea?  No, really how do YOU sense your trachea?  How do you sense any of your body parts?

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaAs I said, sensing a body part does not necessarily mean moving it.  It could, if that is how YOU bring attention to a part and if that is how YOU sense it.  It could mean you LOOK at it.  Maybe looking at it helps you sense it.  It could mean you touch it because you want to cause it sensation so that you can sense it.  There are many ways to sense a body part and we all have different ways of doing it.  Some might start with closing their eyes and picturing it in their head.  Some might just think of it and be able to sense it right away.  Part of the practice is the discovery of how we sense different body parts.

For sensing your trachea I thought that one way an individual could do it was by breathing.  That might help you sense your trachea.  Sensing your breath coming in and out might help.  Maybe coughing would help?  Maybe meditating on it?  Maybe touching it?  There really are so many ways to do it and it is up to the individual.  Sensing body parts could even take practice.  Maybe each body part is different.  Perhaps you can easily sense your hand without looking at it, moving it, or touching it, but since you might not often “sense your trachea” it could take a little bit of thought and practice.  Again . . . . the wonderful journey that is Nia and sensing your body.

Often times we don’t even give a second thought to a body part, unless it is in pain.  Unless it SCREAMS at us for attention we might never stop to listen to it.  We might never stop to sense it.  There are so many reasons to sense your body . . . I have already stated just a few that might come up while in a Nia Class.  I am sure you can think of many others.

This is one of the things we do in Nia that can be carried out into life and as we like to call it as we “dance through life”.  This is one of the things you can do that makes Nia “practice”.  You can practice sensing your body parts throughout the day.  Back to the “pain” part of attention . . . say you have pain in your knee, you are going to want to sense it as you move throughout your day so that you can move in a way as to not cause more pain.  Another example if you’re wanting to straighten up your posture a little bit you might want to practice sensing your spine or your shoulders during your day.  As I said, many reason to play with and practice sensing your body parts.  And it really is an individual thing.  You do it in your own way.

Starting with body parts you can see and touch might be a good place to start if you are needing a suggested starting point. That way looking or touching can be the beginning of the sensing journey.  Either way, if you let yourself be open to it, I am sure you will find a way.

So how do YOU sense your trachea?

Posted in Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Goodie Jar – Check In #19

Posted by terrepruitt on June 7, 2013

Goodie Jar – Check In #19  Hellooooo . . . . anybody there?

I’m still working on my jar.  I think I might not need to empty it to make it last the year.  I have so many different sized papers I bet the whole will fit.  It is a big pitcher!  Even if I have a lot of good things.

I hope that even if you aren’t commenting, that you are still thinking of good things that are happening in your life and making a note somewhere!

Cheers!

Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Conscious, Ink

Posted by terrepruitt on June 6, 2013

A few months ago I was finding myself with a sense of anxiety.  I was feeling STRESSED.  I was just really out of sorts.  I was worrying about things some of which I could do nothing about.  I was just feeling frantic.  Finally one day I said, “What is up with this anxiety?  Why am I on edge?!”  I was just tired of that on-the-edge feeling.  I stopped and examined what I was allowing to cause me anxiety.  I decided to take a few steps to relieve that anxiety, but I also realized that I was not trusting.  I felt that I had the faith, but I was not allowing myself to TRUST in order to let my faith that things would be ok, actually carry me through.  Now, I know they might sound the same, or you might think it was faith I was lacking and we could argue the semantics and the difference, but in my opinion it was trust that I needed to have.  So I started looking for “Trust” symbols. I was hoping to find a piece of jewelery I could wear or a temporary tattoo.  I found this beautiful bracelet that I found myself wanting, but while I was lacking in trust I was not lacking in intelligence.  Spending $150.00, when having enough money was one of the things I was worried about, would not be smart.  I kept the webpage as a tab on my iPad, and would look at it.  I felt that was a good enough reminder.  Then a friend of mine posted a link to Jennifer Pastiloff’s website on Facebook that led me to Conscious, Ink.

Conscious, Ink is temporary tattoos of sayings or things you might want to remind yourself of or manifest.  And they have “Trust”.  A beautiful slightly green Trust.  Trust on top of each other and inverted so you can read it from either side/angle.  And one long T R U S T.  They also have packages where you can buy 30 days worth of one tattoo.  So you can just keep the tattoo ongoing for 30 days.  I bought all the different versions of “Trust”.  I bought 1 of the long one, 2 of the double one, and a month’s worth of the “fancy” greenish one.

So far I am wearing them on my forearm so that I can actually SEE them and be reminded.  I mean that was really the whole point for me.  But you, of course can do whatever you want.

They have packs of series of tattoos, for example a “Healing Series” which contains different color tattoos stating:

EVERY CELL IN MY BODY IS IN PERFECT ORDER
I ENJOY OPTIMAL HEALTH & VIBRANT ENERGY
MY BODY HEALS IN EASE AND GRACE
SOURCE Nourishes & Loves ME I AM Light
I TRUST Myself I AM Peace & Joy
I LIVE In Joy & Unity I AM Alive

The “Be Present Series” contains “Just Breathe”, “Be Present”, “Let Go” and three more tattoos all in fancy script.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaThey have a large assortment of different types of tattoos all made to help “solidify intentions and affirmations” and help you manifest your own destiny.  For me personally it is perfect.  I need a reminder.  Things around here are cause for questions and since there are no clear answers the only thing I can do is TRUST.  I think with tattoos reminding us of things; Appreciation, Believe, Forgive, Gratitude, Listen, Be Bold, Acknowledge, Expect Miracles, Let GO Let God, I am the source of my abundance, Do it now, Follow Your Bliss, quotes from Rumi, and many more — we can actually make things happen and manifest them.  Conscious, Ink even has a few pregnancy tattoos.

I also have to say that I am a sucker for free gifts.  I love when businesses include free things with an order.  Silly as it may sound it always makes me feel special . . . even though I know I am not the only one that they do that for!  And my free gift was a “Gratitude” tattoo.  A free gift and THAT particular tattoo made me very happy.  There was even a little hand written note from the owner.  AWESOME!  I think all of that is a great job of manifesting a returning customer!

Tattoo anyone?  What would you like to manifest?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Nia Routine Training Packages

Posted by terrepruitt on June 4, 2013

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaI have written a series of three posts describing what is contained in a Nia Routine Training Package.  I was reminded by a comment on one of recent posts about Nia Routines (Nia Routines I’ve Learned) that in 2010 I stated I would explain more about what we receive on a teacher routine DVD.  Because the package put together by Nia Technique is so packed with information and learning material, my explanation took up three posts to summarize all that you receive in a Nia Routine Training Packages for Teachers.  This post is just a quick summary and “map” so to speak of the three posts.  I hope all of this information helps you understand that “with love, we [Nia Technique] have carefully crafted this ‘body of work'[meaning each routine] to offer you an in-depth body, mind, emotions, spirit experience.”**  They do that so that we may pass on music, movement, and magic to our students.

When I RECENTLY mentioned I would write up a description I didn’t realize it would take so long and so many posts.  But back in 2010, I must have known on some level that it would be more than one post because it has taken me three years to do it!

Nia’s Routine Training Packages for Teachers consists of a Music CD, a DVD, and a pamphlet.

The first post – Nia Technique’s Outstanding Routine DVDs – explains the CD, the components of the DVD, and two of the components on the DVD, the Focus and Move the Move

The second post – DVDs Nia Teachers Learn From, Nia Technique’s Outstanding Routine DVDs (Part 2) – explains the last three components on the DVD.  DVD Components: Learn the Move, Energize the Move, and the music.

The third post – Nia’s Routine Pamphlets, Nia Technique’s Outstanding Routine DVDs (Part 3) –  explains the pamphlet.

Each post while a full post in itself still only briefly describes things.  I could write so much more and do many more posts, but I think I summarized it well enough to give you an idea of the training.  I hope that those of you that are interested in teaching have a good idea of what type of training you get when learning a routine.  If you are fortunate enough to live near Nia Headquarters in Portland, OR then you know that they often have workshops and things to even further your education regarding routines.  Sometime in my basic area they have immersions where two days are spent learning a routine.  We all learn differently and I am convinced that no matter how you learn, with all the different ways available to learn a routine there has to be something that will do it for you.

There is an annual license renewal required to teach Nia.  The fee includes four Nia Routines.  You get to choose the routines you want.  For more information see:  Nia Livelihood Membership for Body + Life Education

If you have any questions please ask.  If you are a Nia teacher or one that receives these wonderful training gems and you want to add anything please do.

**this is copied from the back of the CD/DVD holder.  It is just a portion of the paragraph.

Posted in Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Nia’s Routine Pamphlets

Posted by terrepruitt on June 1, 2013

Nia Technique’s Outstanding Routine DVDs (Part 3)

Nia Classes are led by Nia teachers who learn routines.  It is kind that we are only obligated by license to learn four Nia routines a year, because if we dive into the depths of a Nia routine it could easily take three months.  The training information they provide is incredible.  It is multi-faceted and multidimensional.  Three years ago I mentioned in a post that I would specify what came in Nia’s Routine for Teachers DVDs.   Well, in the three years there has actually been changes in how the information is presented.  I am using three posts to explain what I have in the routine packages that I have purchased and I am also sharing to the best of my knowledge what is in the newer ones.  At the basic level you receive a CD and a DVD and a pamphlet is available online.

This is the third post in this series.  In the first post I talked about everything that you get in the package and the sections on the DVD.  I made it through two of the sections:  the Focus and Move the Move.  The second post took us through: Learn the Move, Energize the Move, and the Music.  Here in this post I am taking a quick look at the pamphlet.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaIn addition to the wonderful Nia Class and explanations on the DVD there is a pamphlet.  As I said in post one of this series, the pamphlet used to be included in the routine package.  But now I believe you have to download it yourself.  I am not certain if the older ones still come with the pamphlet or not.  But if you look at the pamphlets online (must be a member) you can see how the material has changed.  I am certain that along with the morphing of the DVDs there has been a greater change over the years than I have even seen.  The routines that I own with pamphlets that came in the package have the focus and intent stated along with the “Routine Description”.  It also contains “Suggested Alternative Foci”.  It lists the 7 Cycles.  Under each cycle is gives a little information.  The cycles in which there is music it lists the song that is in that cycle and information on what it teaches you.  As an example the routine I am looking at states:

“Track 1: Sexy Teaches You To —

Move through the stances of Closed, Open, A, and Riding to ground, warm up the back and core and move from the inside out”

That is one bullet, as you can see each track has more than three bullets with information regarding what the choreography teaches you.  A lot of information!

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaThe next section in the pamphlet gives you the 8BC’s.  Just the bars of the 8BC’s.  There is indicators as to what the sections are in the song, but no flowering, no dressing, no choreography.  Just the bars.  There is a lot left to still do with the bars.

With the new routines, the pamphlet is a bit different.  In addition to what I’ve previously mentioned and a lot of information reminding us of what we learn in the Nia White Belt Intensive there is new information.  Such as “Working With the Focus” and that the 7 cycles remain the same, but there is differences within each cycle depending upon different things, say the focus for example.  There is also a section with the shorthand for Nia’s 52 moves because now the bars come with choreography notes.

Now the bars are in color which is used to show the different sections.  The same colors taught in the Nia White Belt Intensive.  And as I mentioned, they have choreography notes.

The pamphlet also states that as of 2012, “videos include on-screen 52 moves choreography text. You will see this appear at the beginning of each new choreography sequence, and repeat throughout the routine.”  Which is great and news to me.  At the time of this writing I have obviously not learned a routine that was created and filmed in 2012 because I have not seen the text on the videos.  Cool.

The last thing that one of the “old” versions of the pamphlet had that I am not seeing on the new ones is the Music Credits.  The ones I have list the name of the number of the track, the name, the artist, and information about each song.  I find some of that information kind of interesting.  For instance the track 1 on Oshun is Sexy, by Illumine which was actually recorded Live at Studio Nia.

So maybe now you can see why the description of a Nia Routine Teacher Training DVD needed to be three posts.  There is a lot of training in each package.  There is a lot of information to absorb in learning a routine.  I will confess that I have not done all of this on all of the routines I lead.  My intent is as I go back and complete more of these steps as I revisit the routines.  Now that I basically know the music and the moves, I can watch the other portions of the DVD and I can read the pamphlet information.  With each section of time I lead the routine I can add something new to my learning.  Nia routines are very multidimensional.  The training has many aspects.  There is so much to learn and so many different ways to do it.  Just like Nia.

I hope this gave you some information you might need or like to know in regards to Nia Routine DVDs for Teachers.

Do you have any questions?  Is there any additional information you would like?

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