nilambu Yoga Suggests Books and Treats for Holiday Gifts

In nilambu's product gallery, I recommend and annotate the best yoga books available. You can choose from the rich history and literature of yoga, beautiful yoga books for your (or another's) coffee table, yoga living, healing and meditation and last but NOT LEAST - technique.

Check it out for some gift ideas or subscribe a friend to the e-newsletter above or forward this nilambu notes to a friend as a not-so-subtle hint!

Explore the nilambu product gallery...

Give the Gift of Yoga

This year, give the gift of yoga to someone you love. Sometimes, a free lesson is all one needs to get started and hooked. Do you know someone who might benefit from yoga?

And flexibility is NOT a prerequisite!  I often hear that one "can't" do yoga because he is not flexible. (It's mostly guys I hear this from.)   In fact, some who are flexible need yoga to build strength; others who are strong need yoga to promote flexibility. It's all about balance. And well, most people can benefit from the awareness that yoga brings. Special holiday rates for gift certificates or first time customers are now available...And current clients can give a gift to themselves too!

Just check out the rates and contact me to order.  Note that these gift certificates will NOT expire (unless I move, which is not foreseen), and will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time as soon as requested. You can also sign up a friend for nilambu notes, this e-newsletter, by filling out the box above. 

Ginger Clove Tea Can Warm You and Your Home

This tea is a favorite of mine, and more days than not, I've got it brewing on the stove. The first few sips can be strong.  The ginger is an anti-inflammatory and can sooth stomach ails too.  The recipe is an adaptation from the Ginger Tea I drank at my first yoga retreat at Parrot Cay.  And I drank it constantly.  For more on the benefits of ginger, click here. And my home always smells wonderful, too.  

Here’s how I make it –

Ingredients:
A large piece of ginger root (a little larger than the size of your hand)
5 or 6 whole cloves
A gallon of water
2 limes
Honey (optional)

Instructions:
First, wash the ginger root.   Don’t peel it.  It's difficult to do and not really necessary.   I dice up the ginger into about half inch pieces (about the size of a pinky nail) and put them in a pot with the water and the cloves.  Sometimes as I'm dicing the ginger I find some more dirt in the , and I just rinse the piece off again. Then simmer and reduce the liquid until the brew is a nice caramel color.   After you make it a few times, you’ll figure out what shade provides the strength of flavor you prefer.   Adjust the amount of liquid or ginger accordingly.  Sometimes I add more water when I’ve left it too long on the stove and start the reduction again (but by then my home smells wonderful).   

  

To serve, I either use a French Press to filter out the ginger pieces and cloves, or I scoop out the liquid, avoiding the ginger, directly into a mug.   I add the juice of one half lime per mug.   You can add honey to taste.  I used to add the honey, but I don’t any longer.  Agave syrup or maple syrup is fine to use as a sweetener if you prefer as well. 

And voila!  A winter drink that’s healthy and yummy.      

Free Holiday Yoga Classes  

This month, nilambu yoga is offering free classes in gratitude to my clients for their patience during this time of mourning and recovery. In the spirit of the season, I'll be offering classes to alleviate the noise and stress of these dark winter weeks. Such quietness is hard to achieve amid contemporary commercial clutter.   Traditionally, these weeks before the holidays are a time of watchful preparation, calm and quiet as well as a time of heightened awareness that dovetails well with yoga's year-round goals.  

The following classes will be offered.  Each will have a physical focus and a philosophical focus and, of course, all will start with

• a guided meditation to transition away from our busy lives and into our class (see below)
• sun salutations as we should worship what little we have this time of year!; and
• standing postures to provide a foundation and prepare the body for twisting, balancing, sitting or backbending.  

I will teach as few as one person or as many as four. Current clientele will be given priority.  Email me to reserve your place.  I look forward to seeing you.     

Monday December 3rd Twist             Not Grasping (5th yama) 
5:30 - 6:45 pm
7:00 - 8:15 pm  

Tuesday December 4th Balance         Compassion (1st yama) 5:15 - 6:30 pm

Thursday, December 6th Balance         Compassion (1st yama)
1:30 - 2:45 pm

Monday, December 10th Seated           Not Stealing (3rd yama) - also known as not consuming too much. 
5:30 - 6:45 pm
7:00 - 8:15 pm  

Tuesday, December 11th Backbending   Purity (1st niyama) 1:30 - 2:45 pm
5:15 - 6:30 pm