For better or worse, cold weather has finally arrived in the Northeast. I actually prefer the cool, crisp air of Winter over the hot and muggy days of Summer.

Still, I am not a huge fan of outdoor walks this time of year. So I was faced with the perennial question, “What can I do to keep moving this winter?” My favorite answer: Swimming! Indoors, that is. Probably not surprisingly, I shiver at the thought of joining one of these ‘polar bear’ clubs where some folks run into icy cold lakes in their skivvies!

I recently had a run-in with a tick that landed me on antibiotics. It’s one of the joys in living in a region with an AMAZING AUTUMN but a high incidence of both Lyme and Anaplasmosis. Now, to be fair, this is only the 4th time that I’ve taken antibiotics in over 30-years. I’m feeling confident in my body’s ability to both utilize these meds and heal from it all.

That said, I needed something handy to eat with my antibiotics to keep my tummy in check. Plus, who doesn’t need a quick treat that nourishes the brainy bits? Enter the Brainy Bliss Balls.

We all have a way to which we hold ourselves back. Ways in which we keep ourselves safe by settling for what is familiar. For example, try simply noticing that voice inside your head that gets very chatty whenever you are about to make a decision or do something new, especially something that could result in change. Is it telling you that you’re nuts to consider what you are thinking of doing? Does it say that you failed once before and will probably do so again? Or is your voice like a sly cat, sweetly seducing you to eat those fries and chocolate shake?

I didn't grow up eating fresh beets—only the ghastly canned variety at holidays. I absolutely abhorred every stinkin’ bite of those dirty, soggy excuse of a beet. It wasn’t until years later when I was working in fine dining that I experienced the divine flavor of perfectly roasted beets. Since that first bite, I’ve been hooked on beets. Roasting beets are still one of my favorite ways to prepare them.

I’ve been a little obsessed and bewildered by how many people really don’t know where their hip joints are. Now I get it. The hip joints don’t take up a ton of real estate in the ol’ sensory-motor cortex. They don’t require fine-motor skills or other subtle interactions with the world. Heck, they don’t even fully form until years after we are born.

This Curried Pumpkin Soup is one of those recipes that comes to you in a dream. Literally! I had a dream about this soup for two nights in a row. Finally, I could wait no more to experience it in the waking world. This soup is now a favorite in our home and a staple in the Fall months. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we do.

Omega-3s get a lot of notoriety — and for good reason! Not only is one of them essential for good health, but it can also be a powerful part of your chronic pain plan.

Pause right now and find one pleasant or neutral sensation in your body.

Got it? Find out why this is crucial if you live with chronic pain.

A friend recently requested a Quinoa recipe and I instantly thought of this super-duper yummy Quinoa Breakfast. In fact, this is my favorite summer breakfast meal. It is simple, and I always feel ready to take on the world after eating it. I hope that you do too!

A Few Quinoa Facts

Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is actually a species of Chenopodium grown as a crop primarily for its edible seeds. Yum! It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal as it is not a grass and its leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has officially declared that the year 2013 be recognized as "The International Year of the Quinoa." Yay!

This condiment is one of my trusty staples that I keep on hand for a dash of pizzazz. It’s one of those key ingredients that can make any meal delicious. If ya’ wanna know a wee little secret, I kind of pride myself on being able to make a fantastic meal when it seems there is nothing in the refrigerator. And this Chipotle Paste is one of my secret weapons! Plus, it keeps for 3-4 weeks in the refrigerator and longer if you freeze it.

Have you ever had a moment of subtle resistance? Well, of course, we all have. Here is a little trick I learned while exploring Awareness Through Movement and again while sitting on my cushion. To be frank, it has helped me in just about everything I do.

Recently I noticed I was reluctant to start dinner. Strange. I love to cook. I love to eat. I have a big beautiful box of fresh veggies from my local CSA. So, why on earth was I resisting this?

I really enjoy the cool quickness of a green smoothie during the summer months. There's nothing like gobbling down those enzymes and phytonutrients that you can only get fresh from the vine.

Recently a student approached me at the end of class and asked me if experiencing strong emotions while doing Awareness Through Movement was normal. My answer: “Yes.” Emotions don’t surface all of the time, but it does happen, and the intensity of the experience can vary.

When I first started reading Moshe Feldenkrais’ books nearly 25 years ago, I was utterly obsessed with the mind-body connections—specifically how I could shift my emotional base and perspectives by working with my body. I consumed his writings along with those of Ida Rolf, Alexander Lowen, and books like Emotional Anatomy.

I'm a big fan of the crustless quiche for a variety of reasons. First, it's easy. Second, it works well for those who are gluten-free. Third, and this is true of all quiches, you can bake it once and eat on it for a few meals. Often, I'll prepare my quiche in 4-6 ceramic ramekins. You can buy a set with lids so that you've got some grab-and-go breakfast or lunch options for a few days.

Forty years ago, my life was abruptly altered. It was my last year of college, and I woke up one night with so much pain in my ribs – both front and back – that I had difficulty breathing.

It continued to happen night after night, and I knew that I’d better get it checked out.

Chronic inflammation has been on mind. Why? Because recently, I’ve been working with A LOT of people who are struggling with chronic pain and depression. No surprises that those two who up hand-in-hand. But the truth is, they’re not alone.

The Year was 1994, and I was a bicycling dread-head with a desperate urge to grow my consciousness, heal my body, and figure out why the holy heavens I was here on earth.

I had not yet entered my 20’s, and although I had lived in at least five states, all of them were in the Midwest — which by the way, is awesome for oh-so-many reasons. But none the less, my belly ached with a desire to find something different — to be something different.

This is such a simple and delicious recipe! Recently I invited my partner’s mother over to teach me the ins-and-outs of making this classic Polish Soup. Once fall hits, I find that a mug of this nourishing goodness soothes my palate and warms my soul. I tend to make a batch of this every other week throughout the cooler months.

Are you moving through your day without fully living? It is easy to pass through daily activities and wait for something to happen — to wake us up and grab our attention. I have fallen into this mindless trap, caught in a place where I feel as if my subconscious was always preparing for something else.

One way to fully live today is by being mindful and practicing a bit of everyday awareness. I realize this is easier said than done — awareness is a habit that’s not easily picked up.  So, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite mindfulness rituals to help you appreciate the mundane and to live more fully into the moment.

A big part of aging gracefully is being willing to change how you think. One of the easiest facets of shifting our thoughts is to shift how our thinking about movement and to become a thinking body. Remember, how you treat your body is inseparable from how you cope with other aspects of life.