Bloghttp://pravassa.com/blog/en-US2010-07-31T07:00:34ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/)How to Pick a Melonhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/7/12/how-to-pick-a-melon.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-07-12T12:53:58ZMelissa Petitto Pravassa cantaloupe farmers market grownyc melonDuring Pravassa's Sunday morning farmers market tour, Chef Melissa Petitto showed us how to pick a ripe cantaloupe. Check out the video below so you know what to look for at the market this week.

]]>Keeping the Kids Fithttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/7/7/keeping-the-kids-fit.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-07-07T22:54:03ZActive kids YMCA fit kids healthy kids playground swimmingAs a kid my friends and I loved to hop on our bikes and ride around the neighborhood or hit the pool in the dead of summer. In the fall, we'd toss the baseball with our dad or rake a huge pile of leaves to jump in. Little did we know that all this fun was actually good for us! As we become parents of our own, it's important to make sure our kids are staying active too. This can be easier if you live in a suburban environment with sidewalks and yards, but what do you if you live in a place like New York City or London where apartment dwelling is the norm?

The number one rule of exercise is to make it fun! Start getting active with your kids when they are young so it becomes part of their daily routine. If everyone is having a good time, what's not to love? Here are some great ways to get started that everyone can enjoy.

Family outing to the playground - Challenge your child to a how high can you go swing contest. You'll laugh together in delight and get an ab workout too! If you feel like cooling down in the heat wave, some NYC playgrounds offer sprinklers which we know is always fun for kids.

Check out your community center for classes - Some places offer Mommy and Me yoga sessions or you can find a family bike riding club. There is something out there for everyone's budget, but the YMCA offers everything from camping to scuba diving and doesn't turn anyone away. 

Head out to watch your local sports teams - Whether is baseball, soccer or volleyball you're child will get interested in the game and find some stars to identify with. Best of all, toss, kick or spike around the ball before you head out so that your child starts to understand the ins and outs of the game.

Swimming at the local pool - If you don't have room set up a sprinkler in your backyard, then check out what your local neighborhood has to offer. Swimming lessons get everyone in the pool and once your child progresses; you can hold races and time each other.

Image: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

]]>Vacation is good for your health - take one todayhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/6/28/vacation-is-good-for-your-health-take-one-today.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-06-28T22:47:01ZHeart Attack Vacation sick days stress workaholicI recently read a statistic that stated people who have upcoming vacations scheduled are happier than those that don't. So why do 34% of U.S. adults skip their vacation days? I'm pretty sure people who don't take vacations want to be happy too! Is that group finding other ways to release stress or are they badly in need of some time off?

 

To those workaholics that don't currently use your vacation days: You too DESERVE a vacation! Remember the last time you got to be lazy on the beach or had the chance to stroll the streets of a breath-taking city? Didn't you feel more creative and alive? You'll come back to your job more relaxed and rejuvenated. Not to mention time off can make you appreciate your workplace and the people in it, therefore decreasing your burnout rate.

 

If your employers are still not convinced, make sure they know vacations are good for your health. People who take annual vacations take less sick days during the year, are less at risk for heart attacks and make smarter decisions in the workplace. And let's face it; if you're really addicted to work, you'll be sneaking a look at your email while you're gone anyway!

Image: br3akthru / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

]]>The Largest Yoga Event was also the Shortest Yoga Eventhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/6/22/the-largest-yoga-event-was-also-the-shortest-yoga-event.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-06-23T02:32:56ZAlison West Elena Brower Heather Seagraves Ruah Bhay Sadie Nardini Siri Dharma Mittra Yoga on the Great LawnThe threat of rain did not stop 10,000 yogis from showing up to New York's Yoga on the Great Lawn, but it did send everyone home early. Crowds streamed into Central Park starting at 4pm on Tuesday and waited in line for hours to get their Jet Blue Yoga Mats and free snacks. As the Karma Crew made sure to everyone got in and secured spots, the bands entertained the crowd and yogis warmed up with stretches and partner assists. Yoga assistants such as YogaWorks' Heather Seagraves and Equinox's Ruah Bhay circulated and were ready to get hands-on. 

 

Elena Brower finally took the stage as the drops started falling. Up front master teachers Alison West and Sadie Nardini, among others, were ready to help spread Elena's words and demo the postures. One of the most fantastic scenes of the night was Siri Dharma Mittra, who is in his 70's and could out backbend most of the crowd. Unfortunately just as quickly as the yoga portion of the evening started, it ended. Noise from the helicopters hovering above made it hard to hear Ms. Brower's directions and rain pelting the yoga mats turned them into slip 'n slides.

 

Alas, 10,000 people made their way quickly out of the park in a nice yogic fashion. A rain date has been promised so that we can all try again! Hopefully this time the weather will pay attention. Visit our YouTube channel for some videos from Yoga on the Great Lawn.

 

photos - top right: line through the park; center: Alison West & Sadie Nardini, bottom right: Elena Brower and Siri Dharma Mittra

 


photos clockwise: Bent on Learning girls, Masters at the front of the stage, group down dog before the rain, waiting to begin, Mittra backbends.

 

]]>World Cup Feverhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/6/15/world-cup-fever.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-06-15T12:44:14ZESPN Maradona Messi Puma City World Cup 2010It's hard not to get caught up in the World Cup fever when you live in a place as international as New York City (and it's not just about catching a glimpse of Ronaldo). Even though I played soccer as a kid, (most U.S. kids in the suburbs do), it's a sport that has never seemed to grab this country's attention. Yet now, my neighborhood has transformed into Puma City.

I find myself waking up every morning and turning on ESPN to watch countries such as New Zealand and Slovakia battle it out on the field. Things get really exciting when my adopted home team, Argentina, is in motion and not just because of the Maradona/ Messi controversy. This weekend I watched a morning game at home, went to a bar with friends for one of the afternoon games and then went to Puma City to catch part of a third game. Even if I'm not rooting for a specific team, it's such a rush to watch the players open up for shots at the goal.

The World Cup 2010 is going on until mid July. Things will start to get quite heated when the quarterfinals get underway on the 2nd. I'm looking forward to the excitement and energy you can feel in the NYC air as the city comes together as a community to celebrate the largest sport in the world. 

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

]]>The Yogic Union of Brock & Krista Cahillhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/6/2/the-yogic-union-of-brock-krista-cahill.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-06-02T17:28:25ZAnusara Brock Cahill Elena Brower Krista Cahill Kula Yoga Project Schuyler Grant ViraYoga Yogitoes yoga workshopI first heard of Brock & Krista Cahill when they were asked by Schuyler Grant of Kula Yoga Project to host a weekend workshop in NYC. Unfortunately I was out of town and missed the big event, but I learned more about this high-flying married Los Angeles based duo online by watching some crazy cool video's where they show off their gravity defying style. I was enamored.

Imagine my surprise last month when I took Elena Brower's class at ViraYoga, an Anusara yoga studio in Soho and I wound up practicing next to her special guests, Brock & Krista Cahill. Elena announced that the following afternoon, there was going to be a special 3 hour workshop entitled Flight Club led by Brock & Krista. I signed up right away. Now was my chance to experience their hang time myself.

With only 9 other students in the workshop, I knew I was going to get some individual attention and the opportunity to improve my practice, plus Yogitoes gifts don't hurt! Opening sequence was no joke! With rock & roll blasting, Brock and Krista took turns leading us through everything from handstands into vasisthasana into wheel. Now that we were feeling warm, press handstands were on the agenda. While I'm not able to do one yet, this workshop gave me the opportunity to continue to play with the balance and learn that I am not getting my hips and shoulders far enough in front of my hands. 

I was beyond impressed with my fellow yogi's who were not as exhausted as I was at this point. To take it to the next level both Brock & Krista demonstrated our next challenge: Crow into Headstand, back into Crow. They gave us some tips for practicing against the wall, but even then I was at a loss. The 3 hours flew by and I was excited to take what I had learned and practice it at home. I'm still apply my shift in balance to my daily practice. Maybe when they return to NYC next year, I'll have improved enough to take it to the next level.

]]>Only2Degrees in cyberspacehttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/5/31/only2degrees-in-cyberspace.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-05-31T18:26:35ZBodrum Central America Florence Istanbul Kevin Bacon Milan Only2degrees Six Degree of separation South America Thailand Travel tips Villa rentalSix degrees of separation; we know the play, the movie and even the Kevin Bacon game (which he parlayed into a charity), but Darcy Jones and Lisa Vinton have a different theory for today's world. Since most of us spend at minimum 17% of our day online, the hosts of only2degrees, a weekly internet radio show, are aiming to close the gap. In cyberspace, people should be only 2 degrees away from each other and if you're reading this post, then you're already making it happen. Darcy and Lisa found Pravassa online and asked me to host a monthly spot on their show dedicated to travel. It has been my pleasure to share with them and their listeners my experiences. You can listen to each of the segments below.

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February 19th - Traveling Central & South America
There's little jet lag and it's cheaper than Europe, so why not? English speaking only, head to the coastline of Belize or Honduras. Want more adventure, hike a glacier in Patagonia or make your way through the jungle of Costa Rica. With 21 countries to choose from, you'll find something to keep you busy.

February 19th episode from only2degrees.com


or listen to the Quicktime version


*****


March 19th - Thailand
While the flight can be killer, 16 hours minimum from the West Coast, once you arrive in Thailand it's all worth it. From the massive city of Bangkok to the mountains of Chiang Mai to the stunning beaches all along the coastline, there is something for everyone. For me, I could have stretched my 17 days into months, but I'll just have to settle for another visit soon.

March 19th episode from only2degrees.com


or listen to the Quicktime version


*****


April 17th - Turkey
Partially in Europe and partially in Asia, this is your chance to visit 2 continents at once. Arriving in Istanbul, you'll want to give yourself a few days to explore this ancient city. From the Grand Bazaar to the Hagia Sophia, there is more than enough to see. If you'd rather relax and enjoy the stunning mediterranean coast, head to Bodrum, the holiday play ground for the weathly. Here a hamam and a swim in the ocean will wash away all your stress.

April 17th episode from only2degrees.com

 
or listen to the Quicktime version

*****


May 24th - Northern Italy
Milan, Florence and Lake Como, what a wonderful introduction to this culture which is filled with art and pasta! Whether you decide to explore the world-class stores, the famed museums or the friendly local wineries, you will wish you had a longer vacation. Taking the train inbetween cities will save you time and let you see the stunning Italian countryside. Just remember to bring back an extra bottle of wine for me.

May 24th episode from only2degrees.com


or listen to the Quicktime version

*****


June - Paris, France
July - TBD

]]>Integral Yoga NYChttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/5/18/integral-yoga-nyc.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-05-18T20:19:19ZGluten Free Integral Yoga Kirtan Natural Foods Yoga Nidra Yoga for VeteransI knew that today's level 2/3 Hatha yoga class with Swami Ramananda at Integral Yoga was going to be a challenge for me and I welcomed it with open arms. For me, the physical practice was not the challenge, but the keeping the mind completely quite while within this class is where I need to practice. The room was a complete mix of people: men, women, early 20's, late 60's, American and foreign. All of this added to the community feeling of the room, as we were all there to surrender to our practice. A little over an hour of asana practice gave way to breathing, meditation and chanting. I felt invigorated afterward and couldn't wait to check out the natural food shop next door.

As I walked the aisles of Integral Yoga Natural Foods, a vegetarian/vegan/raw food store, I was pleasantly surprised - I buy many of the items offered at the market close to my apartment and for a slightly reduced price. Props to me for being able to seek out healthy food on my own! Drawn to the juice bar, I ordered a "Green" juice freshly made of cucumber, bok choy, celery, kale, etc. while my friend opted for smoothie option: Berry Bliz made of fruit.

To balance out my good lunch I also grabbed a small treat: Kate's Baked Goods Quinoa Chocolate Chip cookies. Does anyone know about this company? I'm not kidding when I tell you the cookies are one of the best things I've ever tasted. I'm dying to know what else they make! The cookies are gluten and soy free with no refined sugar and best of all they are vegan.

If you're looking for a place to start your practice or deepen your spiritual angle, this is a great environment to explore. They have a multitude of offerings such as Yoga for Veterans, Yoga Nidra and Kirtan. I'll be back to Integral Yoga soon and after class you can find me next door discovering more yummy vegan food. 

Image: Suat Eman/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

]]>Creating your own vegetable gardenhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/5/12/creating-your-own-vegetable-garden.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-05-12T16:40:10ZObama White House compost organic pest management vegetable garden vertical gardenGardening was made chic again last year when the first family decided to plant the an edible garden at the White House . Something that had been missing since the days of the Roosevelt’s. In addition to educating the country on healthy food, which you can get from your own backyard, the White House garden feeds the Obama's family meals as well as provides for the formal dinners hosted at Pennsylvania Avenue. Everything from cilantro to kale was planted and while keeping the garden healthy and thriving has been a challenge, they are not giving up and more space was set aside for this year's garden.

In NYC it is a luxury to have space to garden. If you do have limited space and a roof spot or balcony, a vertical garden, which can foster tomatoes and cucumbers, might be the way to go. Check out these sites for tips and a quick video on how to start your vertical garden. If you live in a place that affords you to have a garden in your back yard, we count you as lucky! Gardening can be about trial and error so take some time to research what might do best in your area. Pravassa reader Valerie has some great tips to get you started:

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Visit your local nursery - You'll find local gardeners who know what grows in your area and can give you many great tips. Also, they tend to sell plant types that are grown locally.
  • Know your planting zone -  Get online to find the best planting dates and weather conditions.
  • Look into organic pest management - Nature is full of solutions! Ladybugs eat aphids and marigolds help keep pests away. There is a lot you can do without ever touching a chemical pesticide.
  • Compost  -  Learn to mulch your leaves and grass and kitchen veggie scraps. This is environmentally friend and best of all, costs nothing! 
  • Use the garden all year round - If you plan the planting properly, you'll be able to pick your spring veggies in time to plan the summer ones! Also, you can freeze excess items like tomatoes and use them for soups or sauces in the winter.

So pick a small place to experiment and have fun! Depending on your climate, you might be able to grow anything from onions to jalapeños! Don't be shy, send us photos from your garden and we'll share them with our readers.

]]>Body Rolling Table Treatment - my new addictionhttp://pravassa.com/blog/2010/5/4/body-rolling-table-treatment-my-new-addiction.htmlLinden Schaffer - Admin2010-05-04T23:29:41ZVicki Lorayne Yamuna body rolling canyon ranch massage

I've always been the kind of massage client that asks for the masseuse with the strongest hands and once I get in the room tells the practitioner I like it deep. Hello internal organs! Many times I ask for focus on a specific area or muscle group, but like many therapies, it takes multiple visits to unearth and loosen up the problem areas. 

 

Last week, I had the most amazing new experience, a Yamuna Body Rolling Table Treatment and now I'm hooked. I was lucky enough to be asked to be a demo body for a training session that was being held at Yamuna's New York studio. In a little over an hour, my body and my world opened up. The table treatment, originally made famous at the Canyon Ranch spa, is done on a massage table (see Vicki Lorayne demo in the photos) using the body rolling balls as an aide which help the practitioner get deeper and release the body's fascia.

 

This treatment gets so deep in muscle alignment and bone stimulation that I had to stop a few times as I was close to tears. I had no idea the area underneath my armpit and upper ribs was so compressed. Must be years of carrying those heavy handbags. This training session focused on shoulders and upper back, but to even me out, Vicki released my lower spine and hips so I could better feel the upper back work that Beth had done.

With parting advice to drink a lot of water and rest for the rest of the day, I was off. Walking down the street I felt completely relaxed and light on my feet. Throughout the day my body continued to open. My breathing became easier and problem areas that I had tried to open with stretching felt unblocked and at ease. I carried these feelings with me through the weekend. Then Monday came and I picked up my handbag. Man, I can't wait until my next session!

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