'Enlighten Up' a review

When I heard that someone was making a Yoga documentary I freaked out. I was so excited to think that maybe someone could show how cool yoga really is. Maybe even get some new interest from people. The movie was never released in theaters here in Oklahoma so I never got to see it till DVD. By that time I had heard a lot of other opinions about the movie. Usually mine isn't the same as everyone else's.

The movie was decent. It was a great idea but I think that Katie tried to hard to make a transformation come out of someone that really didn't give a damn about the spirituality of yoga and the process. It was almost as if she was trying to push him into it. Every famous Yogi that they sat down with said that it cant be forced. Katie even appeared to be mad at him at some points cause he didn't care.

I think Katie herself is looking for something and was hoping through their journey they could help each other get there.

A different subject would have had a different outcome too though. Maybe if she had gotten a student that had been practicing for about a year and was really curious about it would have had a more spiritual awakening or one at all. There was a few moments where you could tell that he was opening a little but yoga does that and it takes time.

Anyhow if you love yoga like I do then watch the movie. Its good to see major Guru's like Inyengar and Jois.

Metta

Metta Meditation
Blessing of Loving Kindness

May I be happy, may I be peaceful, may I be free from suffering.
May no harm come to me, may no problems come to me, may no difficulties come to me, may I always meet with success.
May I have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my family(name them aloud or silently)
May they be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my teachers(name them aloud or silently)
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my friends
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all my enemies
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.

May all sentient beings, seen and unseen, born and to be born
Be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.
May no harm come to them, may no problems come to them,
be happy, may no difficulties come to them, may they always meet with success.
May they have the wisdom, courage, and understanding to meet and overcome the inevitable difficulties of life.


I do this every morning before meditation. Then I do a few rounds of a mantra to help quiet my monkey mind.

Hopefully this helps you as much as it helps me. I got this at Yoga teacher training in January of 2009. I try to do this every morning at least. My swami does this every morning with his wife.

His wife wrote this one.

Namaste
AshD

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

Found this recipe and made these for my Cookie Exchange at work. I tripled them and they are fantastic.

makes 2 dozen


* 7 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate
* 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
* 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
* 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
* 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
* 1/2 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
* 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar


Directions

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Chop chocolate into 1/4-inch chunks; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cocoa.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and grated ginger until whitened, about 4 minutes. Add brown sugar; beat until combined. Add molasses; beat until combined.

3. In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in 1 1/2 teaspoons boiling water. Beat half of flour mixture into butter mixture. Beat in baking-soda mixture, then remaining half of flour mixture. Mix in chocolate; turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Pat dough out to about 1 inch thick; seal with wrap; refrigerate until firm, 2 hours or more.

4. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Roll dough into 1 1/2- inch balls; place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Roll in granulated sugar. Bake until the surfaces crack slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I love to bake and these were fun and very time consuming to make.. Baking is a mediation to me and I love to do it. The holidays just give me another excuse to do it.. Hope that you enjoy them too.