Marvelous in My Monday #4 & September Foodie Penpals Reveal Day!

Hello friends! How are you feeling today? I trust you're all doing marvelous on this beautiful Monday morning :] I'm feeling quite marvelous myself because today is October 1st, which means that I officially completed my Be The Change: 30 Day Mind. Body & Soul Challenge yesterday!

During the month of September, I was fully committed to a 30 Day Health and Wellness Program that I believe helped transform my life while raising funds and awareness for the Global Seva Challenge India-Off The Mat and Into The World. Together, as a group of just over 40 participants, we collectively raised $10,297 in just 30 days. Amazing!

Last night. we all joined together for one final yoga class/KARMA Party.

Here's a photo that Manon took of some of the lovely ladies in our group:

After class, we enjoyed a celebratory dinner at The Table Restaurant, one of Ottawa's healthiest, vegetarian restaurants. I even snapped a photo of what was on my plate:

If you'd like to learn more, you can read more about my experience with the Be The Change Challenge here.

And that, my friends, is why I'm feeling so marvelous today in my Monday!
Super, big, warm hugs to the marvelous miss Katie, The Healthy Diva for this marvelous idea! xo

Something else I'm feeling quite marvelous about is that today is the day for me to reveal my September Foodie Penpals package to all of you. Yay!

The very first month I participated in the Foodie Penpals program, I sent a box full of goodies to the lovely miss Michelle, a beautiful blogger over at Push.Pump.Progress. Well, guess what?? This month, Michelle picked my name out of the hat and returned the favor and sent me this glamorous box:

When I picked up my box at the post office, I immediately fell in love with it <3 I mean, what girl doesn't love something flashy and pink? AND, there were glittery stickers too!

That's not all!! Check out the surprise I found underneath all that good stuff:

Disney Princesses! That's right!

Now...The moment you've all been waiting for:

The Big Reveal...

Feeling like a little girl again on my birthday, I carefully unwrapped my present to discover this elegant photo memory box:

After untying the pretty little bow, this is what I found inside:

A nice handwritten note from Michelle. I love getting little notes and letters with my package. I truly believe that this makes everything come together perfectly.

Organic Dijon Style Mustard-Wheat and Gluten Free: I haven't opened this yet but I've found a few recipes online that I'd like to try. Secret ingredient style.

Sharkies Organic Sports Chews: these are tasty little fishies which were the first item I opened. I've actually bought these a few times before ("The Taste Tester remembered them) so, naturally we munched on them together. Sooooo much better (and healthier) than your average Gummi Bear!

Jasmine Tea: is the bomb! I've never had jasmine tea before this but I totally understand why this is Michelle's favorite. Soooo good! "The Taste Tester" even had a few sips, which is rare because he never wants any other tea I've offered him before.

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts: I love hemp hearts! They are a staple in my pantry. I've never had this brand before because I usually buy them in bulk from Bulk Barn. As soon as I opened the package I could tell that these hemp hearts are of a much higher quality than the ones I buy. I put them in my breakfast smoothie and they blended just perfectly.

COCO Coconut Water: I love coconut water (and all other things coconut) but there are so many different brands I've tried and I really don't like any of them. Coco is one of the better ones I've tried and if I see it in stores I will definitely be buying it again!

Taste of Nature Organic Nut Bar: "The Taste Tester" looooves any healthier-than-your-average-granola bar that I give him and this bar was the perfect afternoon snack for him to eat while we were out shopping one day. I forgot to mention that peanuts are the only nut that I stay away from (oops!), but "The Taste Tester" was perfectly fine devouring this bar all on his own. He loved it!

Pure & Natural Soap: not technically a food item but what a wonderful addition to add in to the mix. These bars happen to be the ONLY soap I buy. "The Taste Tester" and I both have extremely sensitive skin and this is the only brand of soap I can use. Ha!

This was such a MARVELOUS Foodie Penpals experience. MARVELOUS treats, MARVELOUS eats! Thank you so much Michelle! xo

If you'd like to join Foodie Penpals next month, and whether you're a blogger or a reader, CLICK HERE to sign up.

Share something that you're feeling marvelous about today :]

Be The Change Challenge: 30 Day Mind, Body & Soul Challenge

"Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen." ~Shakti Gawain

It seems like only yesterday when I signed up for my first 30 day yoga class at a high school down the street from my house. That was five years ago.

I stopped practicing after that and joined a gym instead. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing or what working out should look like. I was motivated by the wrong reasons though: my underlying goal was to lose 25 pounds of baby weight that still clung to my body. After giving birth to my son, I was definitely lacking in discipline and self-worth. I just wanted results. I started training pretty hard at the gym, sometimes five or six times a week. I had amazing instructors who I connected with and who supported my dream about training competitively. I never anticipated all the challenges I would encounter along the way.

2 years into my training, I had a rollerblading wipe-out incident which literally knocked me out of my body and back into a whole new world of self-discovery: I wasn't able to walk. I couldn't go to the gym. Depression hit me hard and stayed with me for a very long time. I was outraged, "Why me?" "What is the reason for this?"

I did not know that a beautiful path lie before me where I would have to confront and struggle to find my true self.

Yoga magically reappeared in my life for a brief moment in 2011 when I stumbled upon a free yoga event taking place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Curious George in me decided to give it a try.

This was my first encounter with the lovely miss Megan Campbell, who happened to be teaching on the hill that day. Megan's loving, selfless, carefree presence hooked me with an instant affinity. I felt rejuvenated and energized. I was truly inspired.

Yet, I did nothing about it. This feeling was quickly dead and gone.

Still, I made a connection with Megan online, with a Facebook and Twitter follow, and a subscription to her newsletter. I read about all of the amazing work she's done and continues to do and I felt inspired to do something about it.

So, on a very last minute whim, I decided to participate in the 2nd Annual Ottawa Yogini Yogathon where I officially met Megan for the first time and saw the superstar that she really is.

Really.

A few weeks later, I began my weekly sessions of Parliament Hill Yoga. Although I was still very much a beginner, I felt so humbled to be there taking part in something so magical. Once school was out for the summer, my 7 year old son joined in on the fun and was exposed to the practice of yoga for the first time in his life, an experience that we will cherish forever.

When the last session of Parliament Hill Yoga ended on September 12th, I was already on Day 12 of my 30 Day Be The Change Challenge. After class, I finally listened to what my heart was telling me and I decided that I could do more.

You see, for the first 12 days of this challenge, my daily exercise consisted of walking my son to and from school every day and practicing yoga at home (thanks to the awesome YouTube videos that Megan put together for the group). Combined with healthy eating, daily affirmations, healing mantras, chakra work, meditation and random acts of kindness, I figured I had it all covered.

Truth is, I hesitated.

Even though the offer was out there, I didn't want to take part in the unlimited yoga classes at Pure Yoga Ottawa because I was scared. I felt that I didn't have enough courage inside myself to walk through the doors of a yoga studio. It was something that was completely out of my comfort zone. My inner voice wanted me to stay where I was, where I was comfortable. Up to this 12 day mark I actually listened.

I finally stopped listening to my inner critic and attended my first ever class inside the studio. It was a Wednesday evening class with Ichih Wang. I kinda sorta already knew of Ichih from "The Big One" on Parliament Hill. It was definitely the biggest yoga session I'd ever been to, with almost 2400 people in attendance.

Now, here I was, in a small but cozy hot room for the very first time, not knowing what to expect. As soon as Ichih started talking, I felt completely comfortable and I soon realized that I had nothing to fear.

After powering through Ichih's class, I decided that I still wanted more. So I joined in on the next class, also led by Ichih, which was a softer, slower yin yoga session. Bittersweet!

After that experience, I finally began to listen to what my mind and my body wanted and I treated myself to more yoga. A total of 15 sessions in the studio, which is alot for me considering I was used to doing only one session a week.
You see, there's something special (almost magical) about being in the hot room. Something happens. Something healing. Something transformative.

During my 30 Day Be The Change Challenge journey, I realized that on and off the mat, I still have a s*?! ton of work to do on myself. I feel like I'm struggling to find my genuine self as I continue to question myself as I know myself.

I now know a bit about what a genuine yoga practice looks like though:

A genuine practice does not come easily.

It isn’t about increasing your flexibility or losing weight.

A genuine yoga practice does not give ego a boost.

Instead, I feel humbled at my own limitations as I practice my poses.

I have become more aware of how acts of kindness (donating a pair of shoes to an impoverished child) do not change the system (the child still lives in poverty).

I've confronted some of my own demons on the mat.

I've realized that I have unforgiveness stored in my heart chakra.

I'm learning to love myself more and, in the process, to love others as I slowly release pain from this life and (at times) the pain from previous lives.

I still have so much to learn, yet I always feel like I have accomplished something worthwhile after a practice. I bring this energy and sense of achievement home with me where it has a positive effect. I am very selective with the elements I add to my life and yoga is one of those welcomed additions. It has already enriched my life so much, far beyond the time I spend practicing the poses.

Yoga inspires me. It makes me more fun to live with and it awakens my mind. For me, yoga is about making peace with myself and others and embracing who I am-both on and off the mat.

Now I what yoga does and what it’s used for;

Healing. Transformation.

Exactly what I've been looking for.

“Healing is not, after all, the same as curing. Healing does not mean going back to the way things were before, but rather of allowing what is now to move us closer to God.” — Ram Dass

Be The Change Challenge: 30 Day Mind, Body, & Soul Challenge

Letting Go

There are periods in life when we need to look back, examine everything that happened, release what's no longer serving us and renew commitments that are still important. 

When I started this 30 Day Challenge on September 1st, I was afraid of letting go. I was more concerned with perfecting each yoga pose rather than embracing the natural process of yoga. I think most of us have been conditioned to "continually strive for improvement". We are taught to be competitive, not only with other people but also with ourselves: "Winners never quit, quitters never win", "Strive for the best", "Go for the gold", "No pain, no gain", "You can never win if you never begin". I've noticed that when I place too much emphasis and focus on the outcome (which hasn't even happened yet), much of the enjoyment is taken away.

Just for a moment, I'd like you to think about something that you really love to do.  Whether it's a love for cooking or writing, running or painting, even if it seems like something small and trivial. Now, take a moment to think about all the rewarding aspects of this activity. Like, if you win a race you have a ribbon or medal to show off, or a beautiful piece of artwork to display on the wall. Bittersweet isn’t it?  But when you really stop and think about it, these tangible items are only just simple reminders of the pleasure you get out of actually doing.

Taking this approach to the yoga mat has made all the difference. When practicing yoga, I've realized that there are certain poses that can humble even the strongest ego. Take Vrikshasana (Tree pose) for example. Looks simple enough, right?

The yogis I've seen in pictures on the internet or in magazines always look so blissful, balanced on one leg with their arms extending toward the sky. Okay, but when it's my turn, I certainly don't look like a model in a magazine. I still wobble and roll. Sometimes my face is all scrunched up in fierce determination.  Oh no! I just toppled out of the pose anyway. But, guess what, I've executed the pose, achieved balance, relinquished control, remained in the present moment, and, above all, managed to laugh at myself.

The one thing that's even more beautiful than the poses themselves is the transition from one pose to the next.  For me, the transition from upward facing dog to downward facing dog has become more enjoyable than the actual end pose itself.  I notice that when I bring more of my awareness to the "in between” poses, I understand where the word “flow” comes from. The poses are no longer separate, they are part of one giant fluid movement.

The same thing happens when I focus on the now in everything I do.  If I try to find enjoyment in the act of performing, the idea of a goal becomes almost irrelevant.  Guilt pokes me from my past and fear creeps in from the future. Yet, the only thing present is me.

What I Ate Wednesday #5

Fun, Food, & Fitness

I love Wednesday's! 

I love What I Ate Wednesday! 

I love Parliament Hill Yoga! 

I love Fun! 

I love Food! 

I love Fitness!

Sending big hugs and warm fuzzies to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons for hosting this wonderful weekly blogging event.

Here's a look at what "The Taste Tester" and I did for fun this week:

Sunkisses and Sandcastles

It was a perfect sunny day to spend Wednesday afternoon doing yoga on Parliament Hill.

930 yogis and yoginis joined Amber Stratton, co-owner and teacher and her amazing team from Pure Yoga Ottawa for another incredible session.

"My Little Taste Tester" joined me once again this week and really impressed me with his determination to strike the perfect pose.

Ottawa photographer Bill Juillette snapped this photo of us.

I also found a few nice photos of us on my local Lululemon Athletica Facebook page. 

Thank you Lululemon Athletica for facilitating this magical event!

Thank you Amber Stratton and your wonderful team at Pure Yoga Ottawa for leading us through this weeks sunny session ☼

Here's a look at what I ate:

Breakfast: Simply Raw's Sun-Filled Smoothie-freshly pressed orange juice grapefruit juice, water, banana, sunflower sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, kale, spinach, parsley, and chia seeds + E3 Live

Mid-morning: 2 TBSP Bee Pollen (not pictured) and homemade Maple Cinnamon Sprouted Buckwheat cereal topped with fresh Blueberries.

Late Lunch + Leftovers for Dinner: "The Taste Tester" and I ate at The Green Door Restaurant, "Ottawa's oldest and best-known vegetarian restaurant".

I love this little restaurant because of its "pay-by-weight", cafeteria and buffet style of eating. Plus, everything on the menu is organic and vegetarian with many gluten-free/dairy-free options.

On my plate I had: Green Bean & Dill Salad, Marinated Beet Salad, Avocado Salad, Mung Bean Noodles, Vegan Sushi, Organic Kalamata Olives, Marinated Bell Peppers, Cauliflower Salad, Zucchini Salad, and Marinated Cherry Tomatoes. 

I also had a slice of raw vegan pie but I forgot to write down the name of it. It was heavenly! I was tempted to buy a second slice to bring home with me but I didn't.

Evening Snacks included a delicious Ginger Cinnamon Buckwheat snack and some Pink Salt Sacha Inchi seeds.

Happy WIAW! That's all, folks!

xo Maria

What I Ate Wednesday #3

Although I missed out on a few editions of What I Ate Wednesday, I'd like to try to continue posting about what I eat during the week.

I am so grateful to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons for hosting this weekly event. If you'd like to learn more about What I Ate Wednesday, or if you'd like to see what other bloggers are eating, please visit Jenn's blog.

Pre-Breakfast: Lemon water every morning without fail. I may also add a dash of cayenne pepper (helps with elimination and is an excellent liver tonic). Other mornings, I like a shot of E3Live (followed with water). Both are a great way to start the day!

Breakfast: I've been eating homemade G"raw"nola with fresh Almond Mylk. I like to top it off with half a banana and a bunch of blueberries. 

Workout Snacks: Fruit Smoothie and/or fruit juice or a Green Smoothie or Green Juice or an apple and a handful of almonds.  I also love Vega Whole Food Vibrancy Bars.  

Lately, I've been doing alot of fast-paced walking. "My Little Taste Tester" likes to ride his bike while I speed walk and try and catch him.  He's usually stuck waiting for me though because he's faster than fast and quicker than quick!

He's LIGHTNING!

KA-CHOW!

Powering through my Vinyasa Flow class

Lunch: On days when I have yoga practice in the late morning or afternoon, I'll take along a mixed green salad or guacamole or a collard green wrap and eat sometime after class.

Dinner: I love eating large mixed green salads with sprouts and nut pâté or lightly steamed vegetables (sweet potato or broccoli). It may not seem like much but it is...and it's soooo satisfying!

Evening Snack: I've been munching on slices of Raw Cherry Cheezecake all week☺I also made a nice chocolate sauce for the perfect topping. Cherries and chocolate...these are two of my favorite things this week!!

My final thoughts? Take time to learn about nutrition and Practice healthy lifestyle choices too.  You deserve it!!

Parliament Hill Yoga

with the Magnificent Megan Campbell

On Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, I joined 916 yogis on the lawn in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa for another free yoga class organized by Lululemon Athletica...and I'm soooooo very happy I did.

This week's yoga session featured my favorite Ottawa yoga instructor, the lovely Megan Campbell. Megan's specialty is Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Yoga For Women.

Megan was recently named "Best Yoga Teacher in Ottawa" at National Capital Fit Day 2012, Ottawa's largest Health & Fitness Expo. Naturally, I voted for Megan and I had absolutely no doubt in my mind that she'd win!

Megan is by far my favorite Ottawa yoga instructor and the founder of Journey of the Yogini, which features yoga workshops, retreats, and events for women all the while raising awareness and money for charities that empower women and girls worldwide.

Megan also organized the Ottawa Yogini Yogathon, which I attended for the first time in May. Read more about my experience at the 2nd Annual Ottawa Yogini Yogathon here.

917 People gathered together for Parliament Hill Yoga in Ottawa.

One of the things I love most about Megan is that she is always telling us that "yoga happens not only on the mat but off the mat as well...to carry it with you out in to the world."

Thank you for the warm sunshine and smiles!

Hugs to the beautiful Megan for another amazing yoga experience. Namaste!

The Girl Who Does Yoga

Oh What A Beautiful Morning!

Wednesday's are turning out to be my favorite day of the week. Every Wednesday during the summer months from 12-1pm, Lululemon Athletica offers free Parliament Hill Yoga.

I stumbled upon this event last year when I saw hundreds of people practicing their yoga poses on the lawn in front of the Parliament buildings while being guided by a talented local instructor. Participation of each individual is celebrated as everyone is welcome to join in on the fun. All you need is a yoga mat (there are a few extra ones if you need to borrow) or you can go barefoot on the grass and let the earth energize your body (referred to as earthing or grounding).

Oh What A Beautiful Day!

Yesterday, 598 people joined Claire Cameron, instructor at Bikram Yoga Ottawa as she guided the class through a series of 26 bikram yoga poses (asanas). Claire had fantastic energy, compassion, and a touch of humor that shone through the entire time. I felt peaceful, strong, and joyful.

I've Got A Wonderful Feeling...
Bikram yoga benefits both the mind and body. It's an amazing detoxifier, eliminating massive amounts of toxins from the body, primarily through the body's largest organ-the skin. As your body cleanses itself, your mind becomes sharper, leading to improved mental clarity. There are a few crazy forward bends that send blood rushing to the head but Claire said "this is a fantastic way to clear out the brain fuzz."

This was my first experience with bikram yoga and I powered through each pose (asana) beautifully. Afterward, I felt like I could do almost anything! My skin was glowing and I felt incredible. The most significant benefit I noticed was my increased connectivity with my body. I felt like I was in a meditative state for most of the class. My mind and body were so intently focused on surviving together through this experience, there was no room for my usual wandering thoughts to float around in my head.

Everything's Going My Way!
So...what did I learn about myself from Claire Cameron and Bikram Yoga? Do something you know you won’t excel at and do it for reasons that are bigger than your need to be the best. Give yourself a chance to explore and be someone new. I have a feeling you will be both surprised and pleased with yourself.

Do you have a favorite yoga class?
What's your favorite yoga pose?

What I Ate Wednesday #2

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for me to post my 2nd edition of What I Ate Wednesday, hosted by the lovely miss Jenn over at Peas and Crayons.

If you'd like to see more deliciousness, click here to see what other bloggers have been eating.

This week, I decided to post what I ate on Sunday, when I participated in the 2nd Annual Ottawa Yogini Yogathon. This was an exciting day filled with yoga, exclusively for women! Together, we put yoga into action by coming together outside studio walls in order to support empowering women and girls throughout the world.

The Yoga community is one of the strongest in North America, and as a community of 101 like-minded powerful women, we collectively raised $20,000 for 3 amazing local, National, and International causes: CARE Canada, Off The Mat, Into The World and Pact Ottawa. How awesome is that?


That's me in the back row with the yellow flower around my wrist :)

I listened to my body and nourished it when I was hungry. This is a representation of what I ate that day:

Instead of starting my day on an empty stomach, I took a shot of E3 Live followed by a simple Green Juice made with a few handfuls of Spinach and 2 Apples. YUM!!

A healthy, light lunch catered by The Nourished Self consisted of a Sprouted Lentil & Quinoa Salad (quinoa, sprouted lentils, bell pepper, carrot, celery, sulfate free cranberries, parsnip, and coriander) with a chai infused orange dressing (apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, olive oil, Bragg's Liquid Amino, orange juice, maple syrup, ginger, cloves, cardamom & cinnamon), Raw Vegetable Balls (carrots, celery, beets, sunflower seeds, onions, flax seed, parsley, pepper, mustard, and umeboshi), with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (chickpeas, red peppers, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil).

The food was delicious and it kept me energized for the rest of the afternoon!

For dinner, I made some Freestyling Garden Chickpea Fritters, a wonderful recipe I found over at The Daily Raw Cafe. I guess they're similar to a falafel, however, I've only tried falafel once before, and I had to spit it out because I didn't like it at all! I also sliced, seasoned, and dehydrated a few Sweet Potatoes for a simple side dish. Scrumptious!

Dessert was this lovely mini Berry Cheezecake, topped with blueberries. It was adapted from a recipe for Raw Cashew Dreamcake posted by Sarah Britton at My New Roots. This was absolutely heavenly!

My final thoughts: Keep changing, keep learning, keep evolving, keep growing! Namaste ☼