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Beautiful People Beautiful Rituals Healthy Food

Chef Toshio Tanahashi

is here from Kyoto to teach a class on 精進料理…SHOJIN cuisine.  Shojin cooking translates to “Devotional” cuisine which is at the foundation of Japanese cuisine.   Mr. Toshio Tanahashi, a well known star chef heralded from Kyoto will be giving private and public classes. His home page will profile this much celebrated chef who has devoted his life pursuing this art of Japanese cuisine – it’s not your typical idea of Japanese cooking – No, it’s not sushi, teriyaki and tempura…which in authentic Japanese cuisine would be considered more of convenience or fast foods.

Shojin cuisine is prepared at Zen temples and monastaries by and for the monks and consists of no meat, no fish, no dairy… not even honey – no living creature harmed in process of giving you the essential nourishment to live on … to thrive on …pure vegetarian cuisine but also unique and special from other vegetarian cuisine due to its little reliance on use of oil and little spices while still enjoying a burst of flavor.  What then does its flavoring depend on?  You will know when you eat it – amazing umamii – all natural source.  Beautiful presentation is so aesthetically pleasing to the eyes… little delicate plates and bowls hand made by ceramic artists, bowls and trays of lacquer… honoring the divine within us with the healthy foods we feed our body as offerings.  It would seem nearly impossible to adhere to such Shojin style cuisine but he will bring that world to the everyday households by teaching not monks but us ordinary folks.

What is Shojin cuisine?  This article may help you realize that it’s a whole art-form of food preparation by and for the Buddhist monks that’s been passed down for centuries. Buddhist monks are sworn to non-harm, non-violence which we who study yoga will relate very well to – it’s the whole concept of Ahimsa… that is the concept at the heart of Shojin cuisine.

Photos will follow … sure to be a “ichigo- ichie” experience…

 

Categories
Beautiful People Beautiful Rituals

YES…

“Banish the word ‘struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for.”
-— Hopi Elders

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Beautiful People Beautiful Places Yoga

San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference 2014 – Live!

Bo Forbes profiled:  “Yoga Therapy Today calls Bo  ‘a scholar, healer, and maverick’.  She is known as an innovator who bridges the worlds of yoga, yoga therapy, psychology, and neuroscience. Her workshops, teacher trainings, and yoga therapy trainings marry the yoga and mindfulness traditions with a modern, 21st-century context”.

Bo Forbes got her PhD at age 25 (when she looked 12 she jokes) and now she’s how old? Maybe in her 40’s… But still look to be 25… an ultimate proof of yoga at work.  She has won the endorsements and earned the respect from some of the best of the best teachers – I call masters – around. Here’s a positive feedback on Bo’s book on Restorative Yoga from Judith Hanson Lasater, herself the most well known expert in this field:

“After reading Bo Forbes’ book, I had the paradoxical experience of being excited and eager to get down on the floor and practice a deep relaxation immediately! I attribute this desire equally to Dr. Forbes’ expertise in psychotherapy and to the wisdom she has gained from her own mature yoga practice. While the simplicity of these practices belies their profound power and benefit, how wonderful if we all followed her advice and relaxed deeply every day. Yoga for Emotional Balance gives us a window into this possible and healthy world. Highly recommended for all levels of yoga students.”

Bo’s actual teaching style is therapeutic vinyasa yoga followed by restorative yoga which is what I practice at home!  Her workshop “The Fascial Web: Accessing the Sentient Wisdom of Our Connective Tissue Matrix” was simply fascinating because of my interest in anatomy – and mind/body interdependence… “The Fascial Web is a system of connective tissue that links every cell in our bodies. Far from merely a physical entity, this web is sentient and intelligent. It plays a key role in the health of our nervous system, emotional brain, and pain pathways. Come discuss why fascial health eclipses the importance of muscular health. We’ll learn why neurofascial integration is such an important element of mind-body health and explore the three main interventions that promote neurofascial reintegration. We’ll experience a variety of fascial release techniques to incorporate into our group classes and private yoga sessions.”  So many great teachers at one place one weekend – what a treat for anyone who wants to learn and experience from those teachers whose books you read.  Here’s a the chance for an actual privilege to learn directly from the masters. Great energy, great space, made possible by great yogis and yoginis whose love for yoga is infectious.

What did I learn here this time?

Fascial health eclipses the importance of muscular health & what’s needed for neurofascial reintegration.  

Fascinating stuff I shall share in my class someday:)   First of all – what’s Fascia?  Muscles, connective tissues, joints, ligaments… vertebrae … us humans are to be marveled at… We are made up of  estimated 50-100 trillion cells – and the human brain has approximately 100 billion neurons.  Its a whole cosmic universe within us.

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