Oldie, but look damn goodie Sunday

In memoriam of genius Alexander McQueen:

http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2009/11/brass-knuckles.html

Week in Reveiw Feb 21 to 26, 2010

Anusara Yoga Back Bending Workshop with Noah Maze:
http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2010/02/noah-maze-yoga-workshop.html

Tangy Cottage Cheese with probiotic content: http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2010/02/nancys-organic-cottage-cheese.html

Interval timer for instense workouts: http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2010/02/gymboss-interval-timer.html

What happens if genetically modified alfalfa is approved: http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2010/02/roundup-ready-alfalfa.html

Jeans for fit, curvy gals: http://damn-ilookgood.blogspot.com/2010/02/pzi-jeans.html

PZI Jeans

Working out, doing yoga and eating right has mayjah benefits like looking and feeling damn good.

These activities can also lead to a tiny waist, a trim, flat stomach, curvy hips, a strong booty and powerful thighs. The combination of which - can make it difficult to find jeans that fit properly.

If a pair fits in the thighs, it likely gapes at the waist. Ummmm ... not attractive!

PZI jeans has come up with an entire line of denim geared toward women with curves in all the right places, what they like to term, "curve appeal!"

It's amazing to see a fashion line design FOR a woman's natural body shape, instead of women feeling inadequate and trying to tailor themselves to the latest fashions.

I haven't actually slithered into a pair of these yet, but I am really excited to try on a couple pairs!

You can see the whole collection and learn more about PZI here:
http://pzijeans.com/index.html

(image from pzijeans.com)

RoundUp Ready Alfalfa

Today's post is on a more serious note, as the subject of it definitely has implications to not only looking and feeling damn good, but to the environment and general health and wellness.

My local food co-op, Great Basin sent out a call to action that opened my eyes to some issues I had not been aware of.

The most alarming of which is the USDA's plan to approve RoundUp-Ready Alfalfa (RR) into the state of Nevada. Alfalfa is Nevada's #1 cash crop and the fourth most widely grown crop in the US.
This would be the first perennial crop approved for genetic modification and release.

RR Alfalfa is genetically engineered to be resistant to Glyphosate, an herbicide farmer's use against broad leaf and cereal weeds. (wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphosate)

So what's wrong with it?

According to http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8153.pdf,"it is the primary feed for dairy production, and is commonly fed to beef, cattle, sheep and horses." Therefore RR Alfalfa will make it's way onto our plates.

Further, there is the risk that the RR Alfalfa will cross pollinate with organic crops, compromising their organic integrity.
Further ramifications include the future of more crops, ones that WE humans consume, becoming next on Monsanto's list to genetically modify.

I totally understand how genetically engineered crops help farmers do their job, but there has to be a better way without jeopardizing the food supply for those who want to eat organically grown, natural foods.

Learn more about both sides of the issue from these links:

Anti-RR: http://www.cornucopia.org/2010/02/action-alertgenetically-modified-alfalfa-threatens-organic-agriculture/

Pro- RR: http://www.roundupreadyalfalfa.com/

Visit the Great Basin Food Co-op here: http://www.greatbasinfood.coop/

(image from: istockphoto.com)

Gymboss Interval Timer

The Gymboss Interval Timer is a gadget I have no idea how I lived without for so long.

I found out about The Gymboss from Zuzana Light's great website: http://bodyrock.tv I purchased the timer by following the link provided on her website, as she is an affiliate. I have no connection to her or the Gymboss company - I just think this is a must have product, and for $19.99, a great value for the workout fanatic!

The timer is super useful for Zuzana's interval, often tabata style workouts that demand focus on what your body is doing, not on keeping track of the time. But, the timer complements any regime that includes repeating intervals of work and rest. The packaging also suggests, "Boxing/Martial Arts, Weightlifting, Running/Sprinting, Cardio, Crossfit and Kettlebells.
Additionally, the Gymboss can be used as a stop watch and count down timer.

The tiny unit is only about 2 inches by 1.5 inches, is lightweight and easily clips onto your clothing.

You set the timer for one or two intervals and for the desired number of rounds, press start and you have accurate perfectly timed intervals denoted by a pleasant beep or vibration.

No watch on the wrist to interfere with upper body work and no glancing up and down, sometimes impossibly during an intense interval workout.

You can find out more about the Gymboss and purchase one here:
http://www.gymboss.com/?src=IAP

(image from: gymboss.com)

Nancy's Organic Cottage Cheese

After the four hour yoga workshop on Saturday, I faced a 45 minute drive home with only an organic apple in my possession.

That wasn't gonna cut it.

I was starving and my muscles were screaming for protein.

I rolled into the local Truckee, CA natural foods store, New Moon Natural Foods.
http://newmoonnaturalfoods.com/

They were about to close, so the pickins were slim in their prepared foods case that usually has salads, raw food meals, veggie sushi, etc ...

I wandered over to their refrigerated cases and noticed a very convenient, single serving size package of Nancy's Organic Cottage Cheese.

I picked it out of the cooler and examined the label on the perfectly cute 8oz serving cup. You can view the details on the label above and see why I was impressed. This organic cottage cheese is a stellar way to get post workout protein.

Plus, a serving is really only 1/2 cup, so each "single" serving container gives you two shots of high quality, mostly slow absorbing casein protein.

$1.89 bought me my fix. Not bad for a whole food protein source when you consider the price of a serving of protein powder - which is highly processed no matter how you try to spin it!

I cracked open the container and discovered the thickest, creamiest, tangiest, tastiest cottage cheese I've ever devoured. The tangy taste comes from Nancy's old fashioned culturing process which loads this cottage cheese with probiotics! BONUS!!

I was full after half the container and satiated well past my 45 minute ride home.

Nancy's also makes an entire line of cultured soy and dairy products.

You can find a retailer of Nancy's products here: http://nancysyogurt.com

(image from: nancysyogurt.com)

Noah Maze Yoga Workshop

I took an "active rest day" in the most literal sense of the phrase on Saturday in Truckee, CA at an Anusara Back Bending Workshop presented by Noah Maze at Tahoe Yoga.

The four hour workshop was part of an immersion being presented by Noah to about thirty area yogis who packed into the intimate studio.

The workshop began with Noah playing the harmonium - a sort of Indian version of the accordian, chating OM three times followed by the Anusara invocation three times. Basking in the sound of thirty voices singing words I am not familiar with - as I am not a regular Anusara practitioner, it really struck me at that moment how closely knit the Anusara community is. There was a feeling of familiarity and comfort between these yogis that was absolutely lovely to observe and be a part of.

Noah then spoke for about a half an hour about "kleshas" and "lakshmis" as they appear in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and in the Tantra.

I am going to briefly summarize what he so eloquetly discusssed: He explained kleshas as "afflictions/stains and/or the absence of something that should be there" on the character. "Lakshmi" are "beautiful, auspicious, helpful traits." He related the two by inviting us to turn our kleshas into lakshmi. The idea of turning our liabilities into our strengths completely resonated with me.

We then put this lecture into our bodies ... for the next three and a half hours. No FOOLIN'!! There were no breaks ... just three and half hours of thick, focused yoga practice.

We began with a slow, standing series to warm up the body for the forecoming backbends.
Noah is a gentle, yet precise technician with the way he presents anatomy, making yogis able to adjust themselves with his specific cueing. He uses much Anusara verbage like, "inner spiral," "outter spiral," but he puts his own spin on the language and demonstartes with such anatomical clarity in his own body that it makes the words translate extremely clearly.

We moved on to just about every backbend imaginable from an early focus on Bhujangasana (cobra,) to Ardha Bhekasana (half frog,) to Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge) and Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel.) We then took a moment to work laying supine with a block on it's wide side placed under the shoulder blades and on the tall edge between the shoulder blades while working the arms over the head for an almost restorative, heart opening, relaxing back bend.

A huge lightbulb went off for me in this workshop during Noah's instruction of wheel. He was very specific about plugging the arm bones back and opening the upper chest which created more room in my upper body than I have ever experienced in back bending.

Then the real meat of the workshop came ... working Two legged inverted staff pose (Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana,) by itself then transitioning into headstand and the inverse - head stand into Dwi Pada Viparita Dandasana. Intense.

Continuing with dissecting Vrschikasana(Scorpion Pose,) using the wall and a chair to walk the legs over.

Culminating with Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana)we played with opening both shoulders with a strap and without.

Thouroughly "cooked" as Noah (a former pastry chef) likes to liken a yummy, deep practice, he concluded the workshop with seated postures than included forward bends (paschimottana,) twists, wide leg forward bends and twists and finally a deep shavasana (corpse pose) during which Noah once again played his harmonium.

The chest holds quite a lot of emotion and therefore backbending practices can release pent up feelings. I actually found myself a bit agitated afterwards, but in a good way, like something had been released and stirred within me.

I expected to wake up on Sunday morning sore in unlikely places, but Noah's instruction was so spot on, I experienced no residual discomfort at all (at least upon writing this), just a refreshed, energized more open body. The "agitation" I experienced had totally disappated and left behind a more open, newly sculpted upper body that I will continue to cultivate.

Learn more about Noah Maze here: http://www.noahmazeyoga.com/

And be sure to visit Tahoe Yoga: http://tahoeyoga.com/

(image from: istockphoto.com)