Life is hard -- Just breathe!

This year, I really started to indulge myself in yoga. I found that having that hour and a half to myself was extremely relaxing and inspiring.



Yoga benefits anyone's mental health by helping them to relax and reduce anxiety and stress, therefore resulting in better mood and concentration throughout the day. It has been used for years to treat a wide variety of emotional and mental disorders including anxiety, depression and even those pesky mood swings.

Not only does Yoga benefit the mind, it also brings benefits at the physical level. Because yoga is all about movement, it increases flexibility. It has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really used let alone exercised. Trust me, after working those joints, you feel a BIG difference! It increases lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons and massages ALL organs of the body/ Yoga is the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner. By massaging all the internal organs, complete detoxification takes place. By gently stretching muscles and joints as well, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny! This lead to benefits such as delayed ageing, engergy and a better outlook on your day.
I personal having notice toning of my muscles. The only way to tone and create a healthy body is to work on the underlying muscles.

Here are a couple of my favorite yoga positions:

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)
This pose builds up strength in the upper arms and give space and opening in the back, neck, chest, hips and shoulders.



Balasana (Child's Pose)
This pose is a simple relaxation position.



Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
This pose strengthen the spine, chest and lungs, shoulders and abdomen. It stimulates abdominal organs and helps relieve stress and fatigue.


Utthita Ashwa Sanchalanasana (High Lunge Pose)
This pose strengthen and stretches the legs, knees, ankles, waist, groin, spine, chest and lungs. It stimulates abdominal organs and increases stamina and lung capacity.



Natarajasana (Lord of the Dance Pose)
This pose is known to stretch the shoulds, chest, thighs, groin and abdomen. It strengthens the legs and ankles while improving balance.

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Last year I found a delicious recipe for Iced Pumpkin Cookies and decided to try them out on my coworkers. OH MY did they flip over them!! I introduced them to my family and needless to say, they are always requested. So this season, I decided to share this amazing recipe with my friends! ENJOY : )

For the Cookies

2 1/2 C of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C softened butter (I use earth balance)
1 1/2 C white sugar (I use natural sugar)
1 C pumpkin puree (I use 2 C to make them extra moist)
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Glaze

2 C powdered sugar
3 tbsp milk (I use vanilla soy milk)
1 tbsp melted butter (I use earth balance)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degree

combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt into a medium mixing bowl.


Next, cream together 1/2 butter and sugar. Add pumpkin puree, egg and vanilla to butter mixture. Beat until creamy; then mix in dry ingredients.






After mixing the wet and dry ingredrients together, lightly grease a cookie sheet. Measure out approx 1 large tablespoon of the cookie mix (I use a large soup spoon) and put the dough on the baking sheet. Make sure the dough is in the shape of a round cookie : )





I usually fit about 12 cookies on a sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes until lightly browned.




After cooling the cookies on a rack, take the glaze and lightly (or more if you want!) drizzle over the cooled cookie. I usually make a mess of it and just coat the top.








ENJOY!!!