Burst.

I didn’t need another person telling me to ‘ground’, meditate, think positively, practice mellow yoga, rest, or shroud myself in self-love. I already knew the psycho-somatic-spiritual perspective; I live and breath it…teach it!… for crying out loud. When enlisting the help of professionals when it dawned on me earlier this year that I felt just-not-myself despite my mind-body practices, Dr. Emily at Roots Natural Medicine was a breath of fresh air.

Of course, the above contribute to healing.  However, I needed a Natural Doctor opposite to my air-y, head in the clouds at times, stoked on teaching and practicing mellow + vinyasa flow yoga-self. A fire-y Cross Fitter with two feet on solid ground, she approached my situation from her practical perspective. She immediately suspected adrenal fatigue, a lingering mononucleosis-ish virus, perhaps picked up from my travels, and a gluten/dairy intolerance. Dr. E ordered labs, and prescribed the following:

• High doses of Astralagus herb, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A to treat the virus (yuck).
• An herbal blend and trace minerals to support adrenals and energy.
• An RX to keep up the grain- and dairy-free Wild Woman ways of eating.

…and the most recent RX to stimulate immunity and balanced energy?

• Five minutes of, in Dr. E’s verbage, “balls to the wall” cardio within ten minutes of waking.

I call my new rx,

burst.

Bursts, when performed within ten minutes of waking, I repeat,

• fire up your metabolism,
• balance hormones,
• and trigger the body’s healing mechanisms.

Only five minutes. Ten if you’re in the flow.

So grab a jump rope, drop down for push ups, sprint around the yard, try plyometric squat jumps, and dance with flailing limbs. Oh, and make a high-energy playlist.

My playlist includes upbeat yoga jams, M. Ward’s “Chinese Translation”, Lady Antebellum’s “We Owned the Night”, Florence and the Machine’s “Shake it Off”, Nashville’s “Telescope”, Crosby Stills Nash + Young’s “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, The Givers “Up Up Up”…

I love the way bursts makes me feel. Moving first thing in the AM gives me a chance to check in with myself before taking on the world: “Hello me! How am I doing today?”. I’ve even adopted these little cardio-dance parties at any low-energy points throughout the day.

 Bonus? Mental focus + ripped abs.

Try it out. Only five minutes that get your day off to a clear, energized, and balanced start.

Follow with another five to twenty minutes of yoga or stretching, plus a tall glass of water.

Resume your normal activities throughout the day.

peace, burst, + love,

Beach Girl Abroad

burst accessories:
jump rope.
super thick yoga mat.

Eat: Balance the Minerals Broth

Trace minerals are important in keeping our nerves functioning properly.

An excellent source of TM’s? Veggie broth.

During my year living in South Korea, a broth-based soup was served with every meal, including breakfast.

Let me tell you, I’ve never felt healthier than during that year.

Try making this easy broth on a Sunday evening to keep on hand so you can sip throughout the week.

Pour into a mug on the way to school or work, add the broth to a heartier soup for a meal, or sip as a warming tea in the evening.

Bottoms up for Trace Mineral Balance!
courtesy of Chef Beach Girl

To boiling water add:
Chard leaves and stems
Celery stalks
1 white sweet potato
1 red sweet potato
1/2 onion
3 clove garlic
A few carrots and their greens
1 Beet
1 turnip
Whatever other veggies you’ve got on hand!
Herbs from garden (I used rosemary)
Optional: Himalayan Pink Salt to taste
Optional: chicken or chicken bone for protein and/or flavor

Simmer for a few hours and voila! Mineral broth. Eat with veggies for extra fiber or without. Mmmmm.

Capturing Your Essence: Asian Superfood Soup

Continuing to channel the good juju cultivated during my stay in Asia, I’ve created another Asian dish. Superfood veggies such as red cabbage, chard, and kale make up the bulk of this soup. Dried black fungi are a cancer-fighting superfood well-known in Chinese Medicine. Fermented Miso gives a little protein, satisfying umami taste, and healthy probiotics. Avocado and toasted sesame oil add omega-3 fats for a happy brain, and a whole egg adds additional satisfying protein and choline for brain health.

You’ll need:

1 cup dried black fungi (find at Asian market)
1 egg
2 cups-ish Swiss chard, chopped
1 cup-ish Kale, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
1/2 avocado
4 tbsp miso
1.5 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil

Bring water to a boil, add chopped veggies (including dried black fungi) and let veggies cook until tender.

Add egg, allow to boil until egg looks cooked through (can leave whole or break it up in pieces).

Turn stove off. Add miso and sesame oil to pot and stir. Serve in bowls, add avocado to top of soup.

To your health! 🙂