'Merica: Land that I Love!

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There's nothing better than an impending holiday weekend, especially when it involves firing up the grill, slappin' on a bathing suit and sipping an adult beverage among friends (preferably by a pool or other sparkling body of water). Really... is there anything better?

Fourth of July was ALWAYS one of my favorite holidays. I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta and Independence Day meant a few things... the neighborhood parade (basically, a good old-fashioned hayride sans the farm), mouthwatering BBQ from the local BBQ joint, a "family-appropriate" DJ (who spun the likes of Ricky Martin and The Backstreet Boys poolside... it was the 90's OK?) and a terribly competitive cannonball contest (which my brother won almost every year). The day was topped off with tons of fresh watermelon, a fireworks show (duh!) and usually a whoppin' sunburn (at least in my case). 

Man, just writing about it all makes me want to shout 'Merica!

This week, I'll be hitting the open road for a Midwestern Fourth as we visit Adam's family in Indiana. I have no idea what they have in store for us on this fine holiday, but I can pretty much guarantee it involves corn on the cob.

In honor of the holiday, I'll be taking a break from the blog this week, and I hope you too take a break from the computer!

There are much more important things at hand... like practicing your cannonball!

And now, a few pics from the weekend...

Our CSA share - holy whole foods, Batman!

Adam and Walter cutting some fresh herbs for dinner from our rooftop mini-garden.

The thyme smelled heavenly.

Adam whipped up a lovely brussels sprouts, radish and kohlrabi dish over quinoa.

Lounging in Prospect Park - my peaceful haven in the middle of the city.

Enjoy the holiday and I'll see you next week!

The Experts Weigh In: Hittin' the Road Yogi-Style!

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BY: FERN LANGHAM, CONTRIBUTOR

My clients often ask me for guidance around maintaining a healthy lifestyle while traveling. It is one of my favorite topics to talk about because there is an abundance of not-so-well-known ways we can prepare ourselves to flourish in a changing environment. These tips can help us all enjoy a smoother, healthier, more carefree vacation - which is exactly the reason we like to get away in the first place.

Are you feeling me?

While traveling allows us to get away and explore fascinating new destinations, our bodies often lose their natural rhythm in a changing environment. Ever wonder why airplane travel is associated with dry skin and sinuses, ear pressure and anxiety? Clearly, our bodies are reacting to changes in air, height and space. Even travel by car, bus, train and boat shake up our natural balance and we may notice changes in our energy, immunity and digestion. Time zone and temperature changes may confuse our bodies, especially our digestive systems, which may take a beating. Ayurveda, yoga's sister science (the science of life), explains that the key to keeping in balance is to sync up with the world around us. Here is a great article on just that!

In Ayurveda, there are three main doshas, or constitutions - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They are determined at conception and relate to your inherited physical and emotional traits. To find out your constitution, take this simple quiz.

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The Vata dosha, comprised of air and space elements, is particularly sensitive to changes in routine and space, and is prone to experience irregularities in the body and mind. While traveling, out of balance Vata can experience dry sinuses, coughs and sore throats, as well as constipation. Sesame oil rubbed on the inner nostrils during air travel is an excellent way to keep moisturized to prevent upper respiratory infections. To bring Vata back into balance, it is important to pack warming herbal teas with grounding spices such as cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon, along with Triphala, a natural digestive herbal supplement that serves as a mild laxative. A cozy scarf helps Vata to stay warm and comfortable in a cooler settings, which can be unsettling for this "prone to feeling cold" dosha.

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The Pitta dosha, comprised of fire and water elements, is in balance at home and in stable environments, and therefore can easily be disrupted when unplanned detours arise. Out of balance Pitta is prone to indigestion, impatience, excessive sweating and stubbornness. The company Traditional Medicinals makes a beautiful Easy Now herbal tea with cooling herbs to help alleviate feelings of irritability, anxiety, impatience and frustration. Lavender oil, which helps calm anxiety, can be rubbed on the temples, inner wrists and sternum. Oh, sweet relief, Pitta!

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The Kapha dosha, characterized by water and earth elements, provides lubrication to the joints as well as mucous to protect the sensitive tissues of the sinuses, lungs and stomach. While traveling, out of balance Kapha is prone to experience upper respiratory infections, allergies and constipation. To keep excess mucous at bay, daily Ayurvedic rituals such as tongue scraping, gargling warm saltwater and oil pulling with coconut oil are essential. Sipping on warm water with lemon and Smooth Move senna-leaf tea while traveling promote circulation and serve as a gentle laxative (safe to sip daily to promote smooth elimination).

All the doshas will benefit from the following Travel Kit, designed to restore inner harmony and move out toxins that may disrupt the body's natural balance in a changing environment.

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FERN'S AYURVEDA ESSENTIALS TRAVEL KIT:

1. HERBAL TEA - Traditional Medicinal's Smooth Move and Easy Now are my go-to choices for digestive stimulation and stress relief. I am also a big fan of Joyful Belly's Travel Tonic Tea to ease travel-related anxiety and indigestion. It contains Dashamoola Powder, Triphala, Trikatu, Ashwagandha, Cardamom and Licorice Root.

2. TRIPHALA - Triphala is a completely balanced energetic formula perfect for all three doshas. When taken regularly, it gently promotes the elimination of toxins that are residing deep in the tissues. Triphala has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, making it an excellent supplement to take daily, especially when on the road. Triphala comes in capsule or powder form. My personal favorite is Triphala for intestinal and colon health formulated by Organic India, which comes in capsule form. My clients have also had great success with Triphala in powdered form from Banyan Botanicals.

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3. TONGUE SCRAPER - Good morning, bright eyes! It's time to scrape your tongue! Tongue scraping dislodges "ama", which is the Ayurvedic term used to describe the undigested food, mucous and toxins that have accumulated overnight. Tongue scraping has been part of the Ayurvedic routine for maintaining oral health for thousands of years. I suggest using a stainless steel tongue scraper like this one. Follow up this routine with a saltwater gargle and coconut oil pulling.

4. HIMALAYAN SEA SALT - Gargle each morning in warm water after tongue scraping to expel mucous and soothe a sore throat. Gargling with Himalayan sea salt, in particular, draws out pathogens and kills bacteria and germs. Gargling activates enzymes in the saliva, which pull mucous out of the mouth and sinuses. Using sea salt in a neti pot is also a fabulous way to clear out the sinuses, whether you are traveling in a dry environment, recovering from air flight or just using it daily at home to maintain upper respiratory health.

5. COCONUT OR SESAME OIL - I bring coconut oil in a mini-Mason Jar for oil pulling each morning. Never heard of oil pulling? It is an Ayurvedic detoxification ritual that when done daily, expels toxins from teh body through mucous. Swishing the oil in your mouth from 5-20 minutes each morning attracts and expels bacteria, toxins and parasites that reside in your mouth and lymphatic system, while also pulling mucous from your throat and loosening up your sinuses. Just remember to spit the oil out afterwards, preferably into the garbage to prevent clogging up your sink drain! Don't swallow the oil or you will be ingesting all the toxins you are trying to expel. Rinse your mouth with warm water after oil pulling.

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6. BODY BRUSH - Dry brushing is immunity's best friend. A daily self-massage with a body brush before a shower stimulates the lymphatic system and boosts immune function. Already have a crammed suitcase? Not to worry! Buy a mini-brush like the Bodecare Mini Travel Body Brush and toss it in your weekend tote for a whole body, mini-acupressure workout. Remember to always stroke towards your heart in small, circular motions. Shower afterwards so you can wash off all the dead skin you just sloughed off!

7. LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL - The scent of lavender essential oil is extremely pacifying. During air travel, in long lines or before bed, a few drops on my inner wrists, temples and sternum provides tremendous relief. The lovely smell of lavender on my wrists as I sip a cup of tea is complete and utter bliss!

8. COZY SCARF - I've learned the hard way that many places are more than generous with their air conditioning (something the Vata in me is not a fan of, but my Pitta boyfriend loves!). Hey, opposites attract! Yet, when I forget to pack a scarf and am left shivering and uncomfortable, I have the potential to wreck havoc on a carefree dinner date. Vatas, always come prepared!

When you finally arrive at your destination, take time to relax, settle in, prepare a warm cup of soothing herbal tea and do a few grounding yoga poses (such as standing balances, forward folds or spinal twists). Finding a quiet place for meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) can help you find your inner calm and allow you to set the stage for a blissful vacation. Bon voyage!

In love and green juice, 

Fern

Fern Langham is a yoga instructor, cleanse specialist and blogger for Purée Artisan Juice. As a crusader for Ayurvedic nutrition and holistic wellness, Fern's intention is to guide you to tap into your radiant potential. After years of struggline with chronic digestive issues, food allergies and an autoimmune thyroid condition, she is finally glowing. Her passion is to help you find your glow too! For more Ayurveda, yoga, nutrition and holistic health inspiration, check out Yoga with Fern or connect with Fern on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.

Weekend Wrap-Up: Virginia meets New York!

This weekend, I had friends in town from Richmond. They wanted to make a spontaneous road trip to NYC, and of course, I was happy to have company for the long weekend. Actually... my weekend started a little early when Adam surprised me with tickets to Sound City Players to see Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Cheap Trick, Lee Ving and Brad Wilke at Hammerstein Ballroom. I am quite obsessed with Fleetwood Mac, so the thought of seeing Stevie again made my girly heart flutter. The show surpassed my wildest expectations! Then when my friend Kristen said she was coming to visit me, my week just got THAT MUCH BETTER!

Hope y'all had a wonderful President's Day weekend too! Here are some pics from the weekend!

Stevie Nicks and Dave Grohl... what a beautiful duo.

Brunching with Kristen!

My dish was amazing... thank you, Rucola!

...As was hers, a lovely combo of lentils and roasted carrots.

Then we hit up the Brooklyn Flea... a treasure trove of odds and ends.

For dinner, Adam showed off his culinary prowess...

...and it was a big hit with the crowd.

Who doesn't like a peppercorn-encrusted steak, brussels sprouts with radishes and herb roasted potatoes? Plus, the paper plate makes it extra classy.

Sunday started off with a trip to Jing Fong for dim sum. 'Mr. Man' (as I call him) was not feeling the crowd blocking the door. I envisioned him 'pulling a Soup Nazi' and throwing people out, so I stayed as far away as possible.

The look one gives when one has had too many dumplings.

Turns out, we finished brunch just in time for the Chinese New Year Parade. Time to shoot off some streamers!

The boys took it more seriously...obviously.

Look at that crowd!

There are no words for this float sponsored by the Chinatown Athletic Council ...  come again?

I was loving their festive garb!

Then off to the Chelsea Market for warmth, snacks and shopping!

Spotted some beautiful art by my favorite street artists - Os Gemeos.

Then shared a pizza at Lombardi's after church with some great friends.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The Haven That Is Hudson

I have the most restless legs in the world. It's an epic challenge for me to make it through a movie without leaving the theater and running laps around the parking lot. Apparently they make medication for this supposed 'restless leg syndrome', but I avoid it like the plague because I absolutely refuse to be the girl on crazy leg drugs. People would think I was loco, right?!?!

Now that you have a deeper understanding of my unruly legs, you'll understand that I can only take so many road trips without going certifiably insane. My legs prefer short, easy trips (3 hours tops) vs. the marathons to Indiana that Adam drags me on every Thanksgiving (Just kidding, Adam! I LOVE those trips!).

This past weekend we rented a car and took a short 2.5 hour drive north of the city to Hudson, NY. You've probably heard of the Hudson River or the Hudson Valley, but most people are pleasantly surprised to find that there's also a small Victorian-era town by the same name!

Hudson has become a haven for artists, antique dealers and city folk who have grown weary from the wear and tear of daily life in the concrete jungle. Downtown Hudson is very small but packed to capacity with shops and restaurants. There was even a weekend Farmer's Market... BINGO! We spent Saturday afternoon wandering through the shops while I made long mental wishlists of items to request from Santa (I'll probably need a house to hold all the stuff he's going to bring me this year).

After shopping 'til we dropped, we drove 20 minutes east to the Hudson-Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY, a small family-owned operation. They were having their annual Sangria Festival (yes, please!). After the parking lot attendant who looked like he was maybe 12 years old called Adam 'Christian Bale', we were pleasantly surprised to find that 'said' parking lot attendant and his buddy were the featured 'local band' listed on the afternoon's line-up. They played Johnny Cash's 'A Boy Named Sue'. They also had to stop and start over a few times to get their timing right. Need I say more?

For dinner, we made reservations at Swoon Kitchenbar on Warren Street. Swoon is a Zagat rated brasserie that prides itself on using food from local farms. The food certainly lived up to the reviews. We started with Matunuck Oysters on the 1/2 shell with a mignonette sauce and the Crispy Artichokes with black aioli. They both really hit the spot after a long day of shopping and sangria.

For our entrees, Adam had the Flounder over a colorful ratatoille, and I went with the Grilled Lamb Shank over Israeli couscous and sauteed greens with tahini sauce. Both were spectacular. Although I couldn't imagine eating anything else, we had a very hard time passing up the fresh blueberry tart with lavender icecream. When in Hudson, I guess...

Because we waited until the last minute to plan this adventure, we almost had to camp out after dinner (apparently, Hudson was THE place to be last weekend). Thankfully, the Front Street Guest House saved the day just in the nick of time. Front Street Guest House is a beautiful B&B-style cottage overlooking the Hudson River. The owners were extremely gracious and accommodating and the house had lots of charming Victorian-era touches. I highly recommend it.

New York City can easily become a bubble if you let it. Sometimes it takes a good road trip to remind you that there's life outside the city ...and nature at that!