by Brianna | Feb 28, 2024 | Healing Recipes, Simple Soup
Simple soup is the best. This mushroom soup comes together quickly and packs a flavor filled punch. The secret? Dried mushrooms.2 shallots, peeled and halved6 cloves garlic, peeled2 portobello mushrooms – stems removed, rough chop1 cup dried shitake mushrooms (rehydrate in two cups water for 15 minutes)4 cups veggie broth1 TBL of red miso (or another miso) – blended with 1/2 cup waterExcept for the miso add everything to the pot and simmer. When shallots are cooked through turn off heat. When it is cool enough puree soup with an immersion blender (or blend in a blender). Return the soup to warm and stir in the miso-water (once the miso is added be sure that the soup does not boil). Serve and...
by Brianna | Feb 18, 2024 | Postpartum
I want to be crystal clear at the beginning of this post that I am not talking about the practice of engaging Mula Bandha. I am discussing the practice of holding Mula Bandha for extended periods, as in for the duration of standing poses or for a whole class. Take a moment to set your intention, let yourself settle in to the here and now with a few breaths. Now pull up on Mula Bandha, inhale your arms up and around…. Although I haven’t cued this way for nearly twenty years – I did, because it was how I was taught. Most Yoga teachers only receive 20 hours of anatomical training. Compounding this issue is the fact that most anatomy in a yoga teacher training is typically taught by another yoga teacher (not all trainings but most). When I talk about this it raises a lot of ire within the yoga teaching community but it needs to be talked about all the same. Students should be aware of the level of training a teacher has received before personally elevating them to the level of an expert.When I first started in yoga, yoga pants did not exist and a Vinyasa practice was slow and mindful. Vinyasa teachers often cued an extended hold of Mula Bandha and I followed that practice. As years rolled by Vinyasa practices got faster and yoga pants became a staple. I stepped away from teaching Vinyasa because I felt students would get hurt trying to hurtle between poses – I wasn’t interested in teaching the fast paced (can it go faster?) classes that came into vogue....
by Brianna | Feb 5, 2024 | Perimenopause
In my early twenties I dealt with a lot of inflammation. It was the beginning of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which announced itself by me suddenly being reactive to almost anything I ate. And I mean reactive – Epi pen in my purse reactive. A good friend recommended a remarkable nutritionist Mark Mincolla and with his help and the help of many others over the course of years I rebuilt myself. At the time, in the late 90s, people thought I was nuts. Gluten free? Limited sugar? Probiotics? Who was this quack I believed in? But I knew Mark was right because I could feel the impact in my body and so I continued on. And continue on to this day with the many things he and others taught me. Recently my inflammation is up. Way up. I live in the body of the tin man. It is strange in that I still practice yoga every day but now my fluidity is gone. It is especially bad during parts of my cycle where my estrogen drops lower than low.This inflammation is not because of something I am doing wrong. There is no will to work. I already do the things to limit inflammation and have for decades it is simply my body trying to function with limited estrogen and it is not a fan.It helps me to know that joint pain, aches, even pain that mirrors arthritis is a part of the shift to menopause. I don’t suddenly have rheumatoid arthritis. I don’t have fibromyalgia. I simply have low estrogen which is a normal part of aging – and all...
by Brianna | Nov 21, 2023 | Healing, practice, Transformation
For years I have taught the need to shake and rock. The power of tremor to move the body back from a place of contraction to a place of ease. But the movement has always been consciously created not activated. Recently I discovered TRE and the power of the unconscious tremble.Dr. David Berceli has figured out a simple system of movements to trigger the bodies natural (NATURAL) autonomic ability to tremor and release stress. It is simple. It is powerful. It is effective. Do it. Organization:TRE and Dr. BerceliFurther Reading:Shake it Out by David Berceli and Dr. Robert ScaerVideos:TRE, Trauma Releasing ExercisesKalinda and Bonnie do a wonderful job breaking down and demoing the power of...
by Brianna | Sep 26, 2023 | Perimenopause
Finding a doctor who knows about perimenopause can be challenging. Many doctors do not know about the constellation of symptoms associated with it because they did not receive training during medical school. Medical Society The North American Menopause SocietyThis society provides specialized training to medical professionals for perimenopause / menopause and also has a searchable database of practitioners. This website offers a wealth of information on standard of care practices that are printable and you can share with your doctor.Physicians who are following the Galveston Diet method as taught by Dr. Mary HaverPhysician List Virtual Physician ResourceMidi This is a virtual point of service between you and and a clinician trained in perimenopause / menopause. It is not in every state. It does take insurance. FriendsThis is an often untapped resource. Ask your friends if they have a doctor they like and who listens to them – if you are uncomfortable having this conversation face to face send a text. Hey Girl: do you like your doctor?Do they listen to you? Do you ever feel dismissed? Have you talked to them about perimenopause? What did they say? Would your recommend them to me?If you do not have insurance:Planned ParenthoodYour local Planned Parenthood may be a great resource especially if you do not have insurance. Remember they are focused on female health not just pregnancy. Please note this is not medical...