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Some years ago when I was just a teen, my friends and I were at my parents’ house while they were out of town. Although the party was definitely rich with people and playthings, we decided that we wanted to take the show on the road. There were two vehicles in the garage ready to take us anywhere we wanted to go, except for one thing… my parents took the keys with them so I could not use their cars. I remember staring at the cars thinking, “what good are they without the keys, they can’t move”.

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Years later I came across a similar and a much more global issue, New Year’s Resolutions.  They cannot get you very far without knowing what are the keys to success.  A few weeks into the New Year, many find they are slipping back into old patterns, even after swearing to themselves, family and friends, that things are going to change.

Here are 3 steps to help you uphold your New Year’s Resolutions:

1. I Can’t, We Can:  We all must realize that a resolution comes from an understanding that something must change.  Although it may have been just discovered, there is a history with whatever it is you are wanting to resolve.  If you were able to make that change, you would not be reading this and you certainly would not have made it a resolution. Nothing in this world is done alone.  I would not be writing this blog without my iPad. Someone built the chair I am sitting in and the desk I am typing at. Whatever you are looking to start or stop, learn or unlearn, will not be accomplished without help.  Ask for help!  Be willing to become an expert on whatever it is you are trying to do or not to do. You will need a village of friends, family, experts, support groups, as well as intensive study.  You may even need to plant yourself in a conducive environment for your change, for an extended period of time.  Point being, you must be ready to do whatever it takes.  All change takes a lot of help and education. Remember, only you can do it, but you cannot do it alone!

2. The world does not need to change, you do.  One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in pursuit of their own change is blaming people, places and things for change being difficult.  Yes, the environment can make things easier or harder, but in the end as a human, you are designed to rise above environmental influences.  You must not waste a moment trying to change others, or wishing things to be different.  You must use that energy on yourself!  If you put the amount of time looking outside yourself, into looking at yourself, all will be well. No one completes us and no one defeats us, but us!  Look around the world.  Do your research and you will find an unrelenting law: “You are the architect of your own fortune and misfortune.” – (A. Parthasarathy).  It is you that has choice.  It is you who has taken yourself out of and into everything you have experienced. Know deeply that no matter what is happening around you, you are responsible for what is going on within you!  You are fully responsible for your New Year’s Resolutions.  You chose them and now it’s up to you to deliver.  Refer back to Step One now and get help.

3. Work: Now it’s time to do the work. You will make mistakes.  You will relapse.  You will struggle.  New Year’s Resolutions can be set-ups for failure simply because change takes time and an unswerving commitment.  They do not go far on impulse.  Working on changing is change itself.  Understand what you are really trying to do and be realistic with the results.  Many of us have a nasty habit of unrealistic expectations, which come from a lack of understanding or education on what our resolutions entail.  I hear every year from countless people wanting to stop drinking or, of course, wanting to change their eating habits. These kinds of changes do not just happen and if they do, they will not last. You must educate yourself on the subject. Changing habits, arresting addictions are big time ventures that take incredible amounts of time and energy to see them through. They can involve job and relationship changes and much, much more.  Resolutions such as watching less TV involve a bigger “picture”;  with a deeper, underlying issue.  One of your resolutions may have to be to transform your relationship with self-work. Without a healthy relationship, working on yourself will quickly become strenuous, and stressful. Once in that state, the mind is looking for relief and guess where that relief comes from?? Yep, the very thing you were trying to give up, the mind will find a new habit that you will one day need to stop!  Learn to love the struggle, the challenge of change and you will set yourself free. These are the bare essentials for making good on your NYR. In most cases resolutions are truly about taking a personal inventory.  Once that inventory is taken, we are left with a deeper awareness on how we wish to improve ourselves.  There is no creature alive that can live and love like a human being.  You have won the “creature lotto”.  However, in order to open the treasure, you have dig deep within yourself to unlock it. The keys to unlocking your treasure are essential.

Sacred fire

I have designed a 10 day program, Eric Paskel Life and Teacher Training to do just that. Learn more about this dynamic program.  Once you jump on the road of transformation, the need for resolutions is no longer there, because every day you are already doing the work.  Here’s to your greatness!

Cheers,

EP

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1 small sweet potato
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1 portobello mushroom cap
1/2 small zucchini
1 small shallot, finely diced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup cooked quinoa
3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 sandwich rolls, split, toasted
Guacamole, sliced tomatoes, and sprouts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°

Prick sweet potato all over with a fork, rub with 1 tablespoon oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Roast directly on oven rack until tender, 30-45 minutes. Cool.
Remove and discard skin , mash flesh with a fork. Set aside.
Remove stem from mushroom, discard.
Pulse cap in food processor until finely chopped.
Coarsely grate zucchini on large holes of a box grater.
Place in a kitchen towel, squeeze out excess liquid.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat.
Cook shallot and red pepper flakes, stirring often, until shallot is soft, about 2 minutes.
Add mushroom and zucchini, cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to release their juice, approximately 2 – 4 minutes.
Transfer to a large bowl.
Mix in quinoa. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
Add breadcrumbs, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup reserved mashed sweet potato to quinoa mixture. Mix well.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
If mixture is too loose, add more mashed sweet potato to bind.
Divide mixture into 4 portions and form into patties, pressing firmly together with your hands.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Cook 2 patties until golden brown, approximately 2 – 4 minutes per side.
Season with salt and pepper.
Repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 2 patties.
Place patties on toasted sandwich rolls.
Add guacamole, sliced tomatoes and sprouts (optional)

Serves 4

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SolitudeWho does not want an “easy path” to enlightenment; a “minute meditation”; a “quickie” to take the stress away? We are all down for that! Yet, is it really possible? Can I hear a “hell yeah”?

Here is all you have to do: Click your heels together three times and say “I wish I was home. I wish I was home”. It’s what the great Oz told Dorothy to do in the story, The Wizard of Oz, and it worked!

Meditation, as it was described by those that perfected themselves as human beings, cannot be accomplished in one minute. In fact, it’s not the first step in our quest for peace. It is the last step. However, if you are looking for a smile rather than a frown, a laugh rather than a cry, or a thank you, rather than a f*** you, here is what you can do…

– Have a go-to word or phrase that sums up who you want to be, how you want to feel, and ultimately the attitude and energy that you wish to exude every day. This “mantra” needs to be repeated both out loud and silently throughout the day. The most important times to do this are as soon as you wake up in the morning, and right before you go to bed at night. Do not be stingy with this. Repeat your “mantra”, even when you are not feeling it, throughout the day.

– The Manic Meditation: We have been exposed to only a small piece of what meditation looks like. It is a mere shadow of what is described in the ancient yoga scriptures. Therefore, allow me to use the name as the title for its “catchiness”, not what its operating definition or intent is supposed to be.

We think meditation should look and feel a certain way, such as sitting in a cross-legged position silently with our eyes closed. This type of meditation is impossible for many and is not helpful for those who are a bit more expressive.

The Manic Mediation is just as it sounds. Take a few minutes to go nuts! Yes, you have to be nuts! Seriously, scream, yell, swear, dance, hit the floor, jump up and down. Having a controlled breakdown helps to prevent having an actual one.

– Breathe! Even taking a Xanax is no match for the soothing, grooving qualities our own breath has to offer. It does take a little more effort than swallowing a pill, but not much more.

Take a seat or stand. Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. Close your eyes. Breathe in through the nose and out through the nose. Focus on filling the belly (like you ate too much) on the inhale and emptying the belly on the exhale. Try to not push anything away or to hold anything in. Do not worry about what you are thinking, just breathe! After ten or so breaths, which is about a minute at the most, you will already feel different. This is 20 minutes less than the time it takes for a Xanax to kick in.

Our troubadour

Meditation is ultimately not something you just do. There are prerequisites. Meditation does not calm the mind. One needs a calm mind to meditate! However, it is a “state” of mind. It is the effect of making good choices. Choices that support who you are and who you wish to be. Choices that are consistent with your own morals and ethics. Choices that support health and well being for all of humanity.

The above exercises are quick, easy, and yet so powerful. The Buddha said “you will struggle on the path of enlightenment not because it’s too difficult, but because it’s so simple you won’t believe it can work”.

If you want to know the true benefit of meditation you must off load desires, withdraw from your senses, and learn to concentrate by taking the three fold path of Karma, Bhakti and Gnana yoga. This is a mammoth undertaking and there are no short cuts. However, there are many different starting points. Begin by starting to practice my simple program and you will be well on your way.

Peace,

EP

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Tart Filling
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 large pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
lemon zest from one lemon
Dash of salt
1/4 cup orange marmalade (for glazing)

Tart Filling Directions
In a large bowl, add the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, lemon juice, lemon zest.
Mix to combine.
Add the pears and toss to coat. Set aside.

Tart
No-Fail Pie Crust recipe, or your favorite recipe, chilled
1 tablespoon non-dairy milk
1 tablespoon amber agave syrup
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, add the non-dairy milk and agave syrup and whisk together.
In another small bowl add the sugar, cinnamon and ginger.
Mix to combine.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled pie dough into a 13 inch x 10 inch rectangle.
Place dough on baking sheet.
Place the pears in two shingled rows across the tart to cover the tart completely.
Roll 1-inch of each side of the tart upwards and fold into the center.
Brush the edges of the pie dough with milk/syrup mixture.
Dust with cinnamon-sugar-ginger mixture.
Bake at 425ºF for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven to 350ºF.
Continue baking for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven to a baking rack and allow to cool.
While still slightly warm, brush tart with orange marmalade.

Serves 4-6

Note: Can substitute apples for the pears.

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2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
28 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, minced, or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Rinse the green beans in cold water.
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Add onions and garlic, cook until onions are soft.
Add green beans, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot and cook 1 hour, stirring once or twice.

Serves 6

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3 pounds cooking apples, unpeeled, not cored and cut into quarters
1/2 to 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
1 cinnamon stick

In a large saucepan, place apples, apple cider or apple juice and cinnamon stick.
Cover and simmer, stirring often, over medium-low heat until soft, but not mushy, about 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Using a food mill, placing it over a large bowl, pour apple mixture (remove cinnamon stick) into the food mill and process.
Chill applesauce.

Serves 4 to 6

Note: Use a combination of sweet-tart apples like Gala, Fuji, Jonagold, McIntosh, Golden Delicious for a great tasting sauce.

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Dressing:
2 tablespoons plain yogurt, or plain non-dairy yogurt
1 tablespoon shelled raw pistachios or raw cashews, finely chopped
1 tablespoon green tea, steeped and cooled to room temperature
1 tablespoon green onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon red wine or balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
3/4 cup frozen, shelled edamame
1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/3 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
1/4 cup radishes, thinly sliced

Dressing Directions:
In a small bowl stir yogurt, pistachios, tea, onion, parsley, vinegar, and garlic.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Salad Directions:
Defrost edamame in microwave according to package directions.
Cool to room temperature.
In a medium-size bowl, toss edamame, celery, artichoke hearts, and radishes with dressing.

Serves One

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2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) frozen strawberries
2 frozen sliced bananas
4 tablespoons acai powder
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or any other non-dairy milk
2 tablespoons nut or seed butter
1/2 to 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
Honey or agave nectar, to taste

Toppings
Fresh fruit, sliced
Granola, optional
Unsweetened coconut flakes, optional
Dried goji berries, dried cranberries, dried cherries, optional
Chia or hemp seeds, optional

Using a high-powered blender, blend the frozen fruits, acai powder, almond milk, nut or seed butter and honey or agave nectar.
Blend until creamy and smooth, adding more almond milk as needed to keep blender running.
Consistency should be thicker than a smoothie.
Spoon acai mixture into bowls.
Top with sliced fruit and optional toppings, if using.

Serves 2

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I am a child of the earth. I am connected to all life; to animals, to trees, to rivers, to seas.  We tread lightly upon the earth.

May we all support life in all the choices we make and then all of our lives will be worth supporting.

This collection of vegan/vegetarian recipes began, when students in our yoga life training programs asked for help in changing their diets to a more healthy, caring one.

Eating with compassion is the ultimate display of our powers to rule over our senses, to exercise our ability to identify with other creatures, and to sacrifice our pleasures to support life in one another.

Knowledge is a key component in maintaining a healthy diet.  Make sure the foods you are eating promote good health.

Whether we are in a yoga training program or not, we all can benefit from these recipes.  Our goal is to live the best, most caring, life we can!

Bon Appetit!

Barbara Terner

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4 cups vegetable broth
4 cups tomato juice
1 can (28 oz.) organic diced tomatoes, undrained
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium celery stalks, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried
2 garlic cloves, finely diced
1 1/2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
Shredded vegan Parmesan cheese, if desired

In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients, except pasta and cheese.
Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
Stir in pasta.
Increase heat setting to High.
Cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes longer or until pasta is tender.
Sprinkle each serving with cheese.

Serves 4