All of our April showers have brought us some delicious May fruits and veggies.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Red Sorrel Lettuce.  From my very own garden, this leafy green is surprisingly tangy, packed with vitamin C and shares my red- headed gene. A winner in my book!

Strawberries.  This superfood is my absolute favorite fruit of all time. It is super sweet, full of antioxidants and, to top it off, cute as a button!  Some fruits just have it all.

Asparagus. A major contender for the title of “My Favorite Spring Vegetable”.  Steam it, add a dash of salt and pepper and I dare you to tell me you’d rather have potato chips for a snack.

Why should I eat these cookies, you ask?

1. April 9th is National Chinese Almond Cookie Day.

2. According to Chinese tradition, eating these cookies will bring you luck and prosperity.

3. They are a delicious treat!

Happy National Chinese Almond Cookie Day!

3. Grow, renew, and redefine

Spring brings us new life and it restores vigor and energy for our hopes and dreams. You can probably already feel it. When you step out of your house into the first 60 degree day after a long winter and a smile springs to your face- you are experiencing the energy of spring. Use that energy to revisit any resolutions you made earlier in the year. Try something new. Learn a new skill. Say “Hello” to the new neighbor you have been meaning to meet. Whatever it is, now is the time to go for it.

Have a happy, healthy Spring!

2. Stretch

Did someone say practice yoga? Or was I just thinking out loud? According to TCM, the season of spring has a direct relationship with the tendons and sinews of the body. Keep yours supple and injury free by attending yoga classes or by committing to stretching after a run or bike ride. Still not interested? Do some stretches when you’re watching TV or a movie.

Winter asks us to conserve energy, rest, in essence, hibernate. Spring encourages growth and renewal. It is a time to redefine ourselves.

Do you want to be happy and healthy this spring? Check out my next 3 posts for some easy things you can do. Happy Spring!

1. Eat green

No, the green beer you drink on St. Patrick’s day does not count. Delicious, nutrient packed green veggies and fruits are what will keep your health on track this spring. And don’t be afraid to eat them during the rest of the year, too.

Reason #5: You need to unplug.

Just for a moment, try to imagine it- 60 glorious minutes free from:

1. Ringtones
2. Arguing children
3. Email
4. Social media
5. Phone calls
6. Demands from your boss
7. Negative news broadcasts
8. Annoying commercials

 Is this scenario even possible? You bet it is! Come to my yoga class at Charm City Yoga Works and experience 60 blissful minutes of time just for yourself. Unplug and recharge. Practice yoga.

Reason #4: You want to meet new people

During the practice of yoga we turn our gaze inward and take time to connect with ourselves. As we connect with ourselves more deeply, we connect with our community more deeply. Connecting with ourselves and connecting with those around us (and even with the rest of the universe) is one and the same. We are the universe. The universe is us. Deep, I know. Whether or not you believe that we are all connected in an energetic way, I guarantee that through the practice of yoga you will inevitably meet new, fascinating people. In a yoga community as large as the one at Charm City Yoga Works, you will see faces you recognize from places outside of the studio and finally have a chance to say “hi’. Or you will always happen to set your mat up next to the same person. Maybe you park next to one of your fellow yogis or yoginis and as you walk to class you realize you have oh, so much in common. I have met so many people who have enriched my life in so many ways simply by showing up for my yoga class. Would you like to do the same? Practice yoga.

Reason #3: It costs $6!!

How much would you pay to:

1. Feel relaxed, happy, and content 
2. Increase your lean muscle mass and flexibility
3. Lower your blood pressure and improve your sleep
4. Decrease your pain
5. Improve your posture
6. Keep your immune system strong and your allergies at bay
7. Look and feel vibrant

In America, we spend billions of dollars every year to look and feel great.  We spend large amounts of money on plastic surgery, weight loss programs and prescription medications to look and feel our best. Well, I have a secret that you can add to your arsenal and it costs about the same as a Starbucks Frappuccino. To experience the health benefits listed above, come to a Community Yoga Class at Charm City Yoga Works.  Practice yoga.

Reason #2:  Your brain feels a little lopsided

Did you know that you have a certain amount of control over the shape of your brain? It’s true!  Let’s say, for example, you are a professional tennis player who practices your sport for several hours a day. The part of your brain that has to do with eye/hand coordination will grow larger and become more efficient.

The same is true if you think stressful thoughts all day or if you expose yourself to hours of stressful news stories on television or your computer for many hours a day.  The parts of your brain that respond to stress and negative thoughts will grow larger as the parts that are under utilized (those that deal with calming thoughts and relaxation) will deteriorate from under use.

A vicious cycle is created.  The parts of the brain we need to relieve stress have deteriorated and are too weak to be effective.  The parts that respond to stress grow stronger and stronger over stimulating our fight or flight response. Click here to read what Dr. Marchant has discovered about how we can re-balance our brains in a culture that constantly stimulates our stress response.  I’ll give you a hint: (spoiler alert!!!) Long, deep, measured, mindful breaths. Practice yoga.

Are you on the fence when it comes to trying yoga?  Or maybe you have practiced yoga in the past, but have not been on your mat lately.  Check out the following five reasons to come to my yoga class which happens every Friday from 2-3pm at the Towson Yoga Works studio.

Reason #1: You want to get high- yoga high, that is!

I am constantly amazed and in awe of the human body. This passion to learn as much as I could about the human body early in my life led me to a background in biology and neuroscience. With that background as my springboard, later in my life I leapt into less understood and accepted (at least in this country) models of the human body through the study of Chinese medicine and yoga. I’m pretty sure you’re wondering, “What does this have to do with getting high, Heather? Get to the good stuff already.” Okay, so here’s the good stuff.

Inside each of us, there are 12 pairs of cranial nerves. The 10^th cranial nerve is named the vagus nerve. Science tells us that when this nerve is activated several things happen:

1. Anxiety and depression are alleviated
2. Mood is lifted
3. Our levels of endorphins, which are responsible for bringing about positive feelings in the body and reducing the sensation of pain, are increased.

Essentially, turning our vagus nerve “on” makes us feel happy, free of anxiety and worry and reduces pain. You may be thinking “Great! Now tell me which pill will activate my vagus nerve”. No pill necessary. The best way to access all of the benefits the vagus nerve has to offer is to take long, deep, conscious breaths. Really, that’s it. You don’t need a prescription or to worry about potential side effects. You don’t have to wonder if your insurance will cover it.

So, there you have it. Do you want to feel relaxed and free of worry and anxiety without a single negative side effect? Take long, deep, conscious breaths. Practice yoga.