Salad Season & Re-emerging

Since summer solstice and the quiet explosion into July, I’m definitely feeling the buzzy energy of summer, big time!

I don’t know about you, but transitioning to summer after a year in quarantine has been a tricky bit of brain scramble.

Though, as I reflect back upon summers past, I’m realizing my transitions into summer haven’t ever really been typically smooth!

So yeah.

Truth is, the past 5 years have been really tough on us individually and collectively as a country and global community. Tyranny + Pandemic = post traumatic stress.

So here we are.  A post quarantine, post traumatic summer & season where much of daily life and routines naturally have a dramatic shift. From visitors, travel, heat, family vacations, schedule overhauls, activities, kids home, new obligations and lots more time outdoors-it’s no wonder we may feel a little fried, frazzled and fatigued.

You are so not alone!

What am I doing to help ease into the buzzy energy of summer and stay centered?  Besides my regular morning ritual and yoga practices,  I’m making a deeper effort to slow down. To listen & observe how choosing to re-emerge out of quarantine intentionally and with purpose is the key to staying grounded.

Every morning before I get out of bed I place my hand on my heart and I listen for what and how I need to BE. What will I quietly and intentionally cultivate so that my day is anchored in a purpose beyond the planning, teaching, doing, and buzyness that will certainly dominate most of my waking hours.

If you’re feeling challenged navigating this new terrain while trying to stay cool and calm,  I wanna share a few things that are helping me right now:

☯︎Restorative Body Rests (savasana)– Lie down on a flat surface for 5 -20 minutes of complete stillness. (on a yoga mat, cool floor, grass, or rug)  Relax your whole body and just be. This simple act has a hugely restorative effect on our mental, emotional, energetic and physical state, and is proven to refresh! Best done in the late afternoon. (elevate your feet on a pillow, or legs up the wall on hot days)

☯︎Cooling straw breath (sitali pranayama)– roll your tongue like a little taco, and if you can’t do that, simply pucker your lips and breath in through your ‘straw”. Before you exhale, close your mouth, then breathe out your nose. Do this 3-5 times and you’re sure to cool down quick. Best done when overheated and/or irritable.

Here’s a demo of this practice I recorded a few years back

☯︎Stillness in shady sanctuary-go to your favorite tree, sit & enjoy her shade, her peaceful calm and centering energy. giver her a hug before you go.

☯︎Hibiscus Sun Tea & Yummy Salads! 

Any type of tea can be made into sun tea. Fill a large jar with water, toss in 3 or 4  teabags (or fill a cloth tea bag with your fave loose tea), set out in direct sunlight for a few hours and ta-da-tea!

Add ice to a glass & enjoy your refreshing iced tea with a sprig of mint, lavender or orange peel twist.

?SUMMER SALAD RECIPES!!

Here are 2 summer delights we enjoyed at July’s Open House at the Home Retreat Studio:

Chickpea Fresh

2 English cucumbers, diced

1 large punnet cherry tomatoes diced

4 spring onions, chopped (you can also use half a red onion if preferred)

1 large bunch of curly parsley, chopped

1 small bunch of mint, chopped

The juice of one lemon

1 can chickpeas (*spiced )

1 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp coriander

1/4 ground cardamom

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp chili pepper

1/2 tsp chili pepper flakes (I love Aleppo chili pepper)

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground clove

a few twists of fresh ground pepper

*To spice the chickpeas, first drain and dry them. In a separate bowl, add the spices and mix, them toss the chickpeas into the spice mix until fully coated. Heat a frying on the stove, drizzle a little olive oil and when hot, add the spiced chickpeas and cook at high heat until a little crispy on the outside.

While the chickpeas are cooking….

Add all the chopped vegetables & herbs into a large bowl, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the mixture and let sit until chickpeas are cooled to room temp. Once cooled, mix the chickpeas into the salad and enjoy!

 

Nectarine Delight

6-8 semi-ripe fresh nectarines (you don’t want them too soft), chopped into your preferred bite sized pieces

2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

10-15 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped into strips

2-3 tbls coconut sugar

juice of 2 limes

Combine all the fruit in a large bowl with the basil and mix together. Then squeeze the lime juice over the top, sprinkle the sugar and mix again. Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to eat.

 

☀️Let’s enjoy summer and our re-emergence at a slower pace so we may stay present to enjoy all the season has to offer.

And may you gather safely, move intentionally and keep being the whole and complete self that is perfect just as you are.?