–>SPOTS ARE FILLING, RESERVE YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT BY EMAILING US!

As a yoga teacher and lover of all things yogi, I attempt to bring this mentality to everything. I’m also a certified raw food chef and create amazing cleanse experiences for my clients and host raw uncooking classes, continuing this mindful practice in all areas of my life.
A sadhana is a type of mindfulness practice, a way of fully participating in something. Yogis believe everything has its own sadhana, including eating and cooking (or ‘uncooking’!). Here are some suggestions to get the most out of the food you eat and to promote optimal digestion.
“there are some people who eat an orage but don’t really eat it. They eat their sorrow, fear, anger, past, and future. They are not really present, with body and mind united.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

*Get a good night’s sleep. Research shows that not getting enough sleep is as bad as unrelenting stress. Aim to be in bed by ten o’clock and up by sixish.
*Eat foods that are high in fiber and low in fat and contain plenty of omega-3 fatty acids-for example, wild salmon, ground flaxseeds walnuts chia seeds, or hemp seed.
*Add fruits and veggies rich in antioxidants to help stimulate your immune system.
*Walk, jog, ride your bike 0r any exercise will increase immune function and make you feel happier.
*Go upside down every day. Include headstand, shoulder stand, plough pose, or downward-facing dog in your yoga practice. Strong immunity depends on good circulation; inversions are yoga’s fight to your immune system.
*Get outside. Listen to birds sing; watch a sunset; take a stroll in the park. Being in nature can be calming and nurturing.
*Practice loving-kindness toward yourself and others, count your blessings, and don’t forget to laugh out loud-every day!
WHAT IT IS: We prepare organic, vegan whole foods cleanses and deliver them to your door. Three days of pure foods that will satisfy and fill, while aiding in weight-loss and energy gain. Not a big time commitment for 5 lbs, is it? It’s really that simple. And for further cleansing and lifestyle maintenance, we send you home with a packet complete with recipes, tips and meal plans to continue your transition into the new year and the new you.
Here’s a new one. As if the dude that ate nothing but fast food for 30 days wasn’t enough, now a knowledgeable nutrition professor eats noting but Twinkies to prove a point. Yes, we get it. If you eat less calories than your body uses each day, you will lose weight.
Mark Haub, a professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University, ate one of these processed, sugary snacks every three hours, instead of meals. To add variety in his steady stream of Hostess and Little Debbie snacks, Haub munched on Doritos chips, sugary cereals and Oreos, too.
His premise: That in weight loss, pure calorie counting is what matters most — not the nutritional value of the food.
The premise held up: On his “convenience store diet,” he shed 27 pounds in 10 weeks.
For a class project, Haub limited himself to less than 1,800 calories a day. A man of Haub’s pre-dieting size usually consumes about 2,600 calories daily. So he followed a basic principle of weight loss: He consumed significantly fewer calories than he burned.
His body mass index went from 28.8, considered overweight, to 24.9, which is normal. He now weighs 174 pounds.
That’s what the news was covering anyway. They forgot to mention that he also ate vegetables and salads every day in addition to a smoothie he made himself and a multi-vitamin pill. I in no way am saying a person doesn’t lose weight by eating less calories. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons this country is obese: we eat too much. The problem with this twinky man though is that the issue that arose is that surrounding NUTRITION, not weight loss.
His experiment proved true: he lost weight. When your body mass goes down, health issues diminish. When your body mass increases, new health issues such as cancer and stroke arise.
“There seems to be a disconnect between eating healthy and being healthy,” Haub said. “It may not be the same. I was eating healthier, but I wasn’t healthy. I was eating too much.”
Our country’s obesity rate will hit 42% this year. Stop making excuses. I think it’s important for people to get the main point, that if you are overweight and poor, you still have a chance at getting to a healthy weight. You don’t need a Whole Foods near you or a huge food budget to be a healthy weight. You can literally shop at a convenience store for energy, just keep the portions small and be smart about it. Everything in moderation. Eat healthy MOST of the time. Treat yourself in moderation-now and then. Be active. Eat less calories than you consume when you want to lose weight and don’t exceed what you burn when you want to maintain. Nutrition is vital: make sure you get enough REAL foods, not packaged, processed poison. You are what you eat.
more info: http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/04/study-u-s-obesity-rate-will-hit-42-percent/
Superfood is a term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content that may provide health benefits as a result. For example, blueberries are often considered a superfood (or superfruit) because they contain significant amounts of antioxidants,, vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber. You don’t need specific foods for specific ailments. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of the following superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. One thing they all have in common: Every superfood is going to be a ‘real’ (unprocessed) food, you don’t find fortified potato chips in the superfood category.
go to the grocery store and buy superfoods from the following list:
* Beans
* Broccoli
* Oats
* Oranges
* Pumpkin
* Salmon
* Soy
* Spinach
* Tea (green or black)
* Tomatoes
* Walnuts
* Yogurt
if you click on the words above I offer other posts I’ve written with more info about the wonderful superfoods and also a few recipes to use them in!
other superfoods that you can buy at a health food store:
*maca *spirulina *goji berries *acai berry *tocos *hemp seeds *chia seeds *bee pollen
I add all of these into my smoothies at different times depending on what I’m needing that day.
And Finally, the Yummiest Superfood Yet … Dark ChocolateNew research has shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and can lower blood pressure. It’s recommended that you look for chocolate with 60% or higher cocoa content; the darker, the better! In addition, the darker it is, the lower the fat and sugar content. Now that’s my kind of health food!
here are two recipes using dark chocolate/cacao (chocolate in it’s most raw form):
1. Peppermint Patty (raw, vegan, gluten-free, superfood rich)
2. Chocolate Cake (raw, vegan, gluten-free, superfood rich)
Here’s an awesome breakfast I’ve been making lately–super filling and superfood rich!
*1 Cup Steelcut oats (follow instructions on the box)
*2 Tbsp flax seed or chia seed
*1 Tbsp maca powder
*1 Tbsp goji berries
*1/2 Organic Canned Pumpkin
*2 tbsp almond butter
*2 Tbsp Agave or Honey
*Cinnamon to taste
*Nutmeg to taste
1. follow instructions on box for cooking steelcut oats.
2. The last minute or so, add the pumpkin, maca, flax/chia seeds, goji berries and spices. Stir all ingredients until mixed.
3. After you take the oats off the heat, add the agave and almond butter and mix well. Save the rest in tuppaware containers for easy power breakfasts in the next few days!
Hi Philosophie Lovers! For the Holiday Season, I challenge you to stay HEALTHY and FIT versus pack on a new layer of warmth!
How you may ask?
With consistent help, advice, pointers and recipes of course! It’s so much easier to achieve your goals with a support system in place. We will also have a private Philosophie Holiday Health Challenge facebook group where we can all talk about challenges we face, exchange recipes and tips and converse about living the Philosophie lifestyle!
I will send out daily email tips, feedback, questions and advice along with NEVER BEFORE SEEN recipes, workouts and techniques exclusive to this program to aid in your weight loss vs weight gain!
If you sign up NOW (within the next 48 hours) your Challenge price will be $48. (after 48 hours it will be $75)
To commit to this Holiday Health Challenge and stay TRUE to your best self, email: Sophie@thephilosophie.com with the subject line: I COMMIT TO MY HEALTH!
Why wait til after New Years to drop that extra weight? Let’s all start 2011 feeling fresh, rejuvenated and LIGHTER than when the holidays began!
TO HEALTH AND BALANCE!
Sophie
*the only requirement is that you have a blender, access to fresh veggies and fruit and daily internet connection!
I’ve had this book, The Four Agreements, for over 10 years now. I’ve given it to every person I love to read- either the physical copy or suggesting them to go buy it for themselves. If everyone had a copy in their bedside table (like I do, my bible!) I think the world would be a prettier, nicer, more mindful, kind place to exist. I have a small mini copy I keep in my car for quick reminders when I get discouraged. It’s a beautiful, simple read and I highly suggest it for anyone and everyone.
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.”
– Don Miguel Ruiz in The Four Agreements
Ingredients
Adapted from MarthaStewart.com
1 Large Butternut Squash (about 1-2/3 cups to 2 cups)
2 eggs worth of Ener-G or Smash up a banana and 1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 Cup Softened Vegan Butter (earth balance)
1 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pumpkin Spice
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
2 Cups Gluten-free Flour (I suggest something neutral like brown rice flour or regular flour if you’re okay with gluten)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400º degrees. Wash, dry and cut the squash in half length wise and remove seeds and place on a baking sheet. Brush on some extra virgin olive oil. Bake for about an hour. Check to see if the squash is done by piercing it with a fork.
2. Scoop the squash out, allow to cool and puree in your food processor. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, chia seeds, baking soda & powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and pumpkin spice and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the agave, vanilla, eggs substitute and butter. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Then whisk in the butternut squash puree. My batter was a little dry so I added a little almond milk and Organic canned pumpkin.
5. Prepare your muffin pan and add the batter a little over halfway. I made 12 cupcakes, you can make more. Bake at 350º for 18 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center and check to see if it comes out clean.
That’s it! Allow to cool and then smother with pumpkin butter, almond butter or just eat plain! Enjoy!!!

The full interview can be found on the Inspiral website, where I designed their new raw and vegan full menu! I wish they were closer!!! I miss their desserts BADLY
(vegan tiramisu anyone!?! eek!) Full Interview: Click Here