Gratitude

Planting positivity – what you need to know about the art of gratitude

In a world as unpredictable and crazy as ours, it’s easy to forget to be grateful. We go about living our lives the same way each day but did you know that actively practising the art of gratitude can change your life? 

Actively expressing gratitude has been proven to improve levels of anxiety, depression, stress and it changes your way of thinking where you no longer dwell on the negative but start to focus on the good in your life. However, having an attitude of gratitude is more than just saying “thank you”. 

What is the art of gratitude? 

The art of gratitude goes hand in hand with living a more mindful life. When you focus on being mindful, you are trying to be more present in all that you do. By being more present, you slow down your daily routine and you’re more cognizant of your life and the people around you.  

When you practise the art of gratitude, you also slow down and focus on the good in your life and the good in the people you surround yourself with. 

The art of gratitude, at its core, is simply living a happy and fulfilling life. It’s where you regularly take the time to be thankful for all that you have, to thank those around you and share in the abundance of life. The more you do this, the more good you start to attract and by just practising gratitude, you are planting the first seed of positivity. 

Related: Living With Gratitude: How To Make Every Day Count

How to practise the art of gratitude 

This isn’t a difficult task. There are no major changes you need to make. The main thing is to slow your day down and focus on what you have to be thankful for. You can do this by;

Journaling 

Create a gratitude journal, nothing fancy, a notebook will do just fine. 

Every morning or every evening, hide your phone away for a little while and sit in a calm and happy space (my favourite is outside on the patio with a cup of Rooibos tea). Now take the time to reflect on your life, the people in it, your achievements and write down a list of things to be grateful for. 

Some examples could be; your furry companion, your health, the job you have or even that you made it out of bed that day (this is a very important one if you’re going through a tough time). 

You can list as many things as you want to but we recommend at least listing 3-5.   

Saying thank you

This sounds obvious but have you ever held a door open for someone or let them into your lane during heavy traffic and not been thanked? It’s not the best feeling. 

Now you don’t have to throw a parade for every person that does something nice but simply acknowledging that someone helped you goes a very long way. Take the time to actively thank those who have made your day a little easier. 

If you have a friend or family member who has been a ray of sunshine in your life recently, send them some flowers or even a text letting them know that they’re appreciated. 

Making others feel good has a direct response to how you feel. 

Having daily affirmations 

You can use your gratitude journal or simply do this in front of the mirror but as much as you’re grateful for all that you have, you need to be equally grateful for all that you are. 

Some self-love can drastically change your perceptions and feelings. Be thankful that you are here, that you are an incredible person, a good friend and someone who is valued. 

In the same way that you’d take some time to write in your journal what you’re grateful for, take the time to pause and be grateful that you are you.

Meditating

Similar to being mindful, meditation and focusing on your breathing is a great way to practise being grateful. 

During mindful meditation, you are focused on the present moment without any judgement and often during this time while you focus on your breathing you think of a word or a phrase like peace or happiness. With the art of gratitude though, you can focus on what you are grateful for and let those beautiful thoughts manifest in your subconscious. 

Take a look at how to master meditation here. 

Planting Gratitude

How planting positivity can change your life 

Planting seeds of positivity and letting them flourish into multiple facets of gratitude can transform your life in a variety of ways. Listed below are some of those ways; 

Gratitude shifts your focus

You begin to see the positive rather than the negative and as you begin to master the art of gratitude, the negative in your life won’t have a great hold over you and you will navigate your way through it better. 

Being grateful makes you feel happier

The more grateful you are, the more you start to realise how good your life actually is. 

You’ll be less materialistic

This doesn’t mean that you won’t have the drive to acquire all that you want in life but you won’t be as focused on getting the next best thing. You’ll be satisfied and grateful for what you have been blessed with. 

You’ll be less likely to experience burnout

As you use mindfulness and the art of gratitude to navigate your way through life, you’ll begin to live a slower-paced life that will feel more manageable. You’ll begin to prioritise important tasks and work through them in a much calmer manner.

You’ll improve your physical health

You’ll start to sleep better and feel more in tune with your body and its needs, encouraging you to be more physically active (through yoga, going for walks etc) and have more time to focus on your and your needs. 

You’ll begin to develop patience, humility and wisdom

As you slow down and focus on the good in your life, you’ll begin to feel more at peace and more inclined to enjoy the smaller things in life and all it has to offer. 

The art of gratitude is another way of practicing self-love and getting more out of this life. Life gets busy and with all that we have faced during the pandemic, it is so important to actively seek the sprouts of positivity all around you.

September 21, 2021 Food for thought, Lifestyle, Wellness Comments Off on Planting positivity – what you need to know about the art of gratitude
Harvest Wrap

HARVEST WRAP

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 5 MINS
SERVES: 1

A filling and plant-based wrap option that’s quick and simple to prepare.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 large whole wheat or low carb wrap
  • 1/4-½ medium ripe avocado, sliced
  • 30g cheese of choice e.g. feta
  • 1 handful salad greens of choice
  • 1/4 medium cucumber, chopped
  • 6 baby tomatoes, halved
  • 2 Tbsp carrot, shredded
  • 2 tsp mayonnaise
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Harvest Wrap

METHOD

Prepare all ingredients and combine into a wrap. Swap out the cheese for 1 Tbsp chopped nuts for a vegan-friendly option.

DOWNLOAD YOUR HARVEST WRAP RECIPE HERE

June 24, 2021 Lunch, Recipes Comments Off on HARVEST WRAP
Oat Pancakes

OAT PANCAKES

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 15 MINS
SERVES: 1-2

Because who doesn’t love pancakes? This version is made with cholesterol friendly high fibre oats.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbsp plain unsweetened yoghurt
  • Splash of milk of choice
  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 2 heaped tsp coconut flour
  • 1 tsp ground flaxseed
  • 1/2 tsp each: baking powder, cinnamon and
    vanilla essence
  • 2 sachets sweetener or 1 Tbsp xylitol or honey

Toppings of choice:

berries, chopped fruit; plain yoghurt, honey, sugar free syrup, desiccated coconut, chopped nuts etc.

Oat Pancakes

METHOD

Blend all ingredients together (*batter should resemble thick-ish pancake batter). If batter is too runny, add in a bit more coconut flour). Heat a large non-stick fry pan on medium-low heat and add oil/butter Pour batter into the heated pan – you can either make 1 large pancake or a few smaller ones. Cook for +/- 2 mins on one side (or until lightly golden), then flip and cook for another 1-2 mins. Serve warm with toppings of choice.

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR OAT PANCAKES RECIPE HERE 

June 24, 2021 Breakfast, Recipes Comments Off on OAT PANCAKES
WALNUT BANANA BREAD

WALNUT BANANA BREAD

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 70 MINUTES
SERVES: 8-12

Both bananas and walnuts are great sources of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Walnuts are also rich in anti-inflammatory Omega-3’s.

INGREDIENTS

  • ⅓ cup r extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup honey or maple syrup
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 ½ medium or 2 large bananas, ripe and mashed
  • ¼ cup milk of choice
  • 1 tsp baking soda (NOT baking powder)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon, plus more to swirl on top
  • 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) whole wheat flour ½ cup chopped walnuts

WALNUT BANANA BREAD

METHOD

Preheat oven to 165C and grease a loaf pan.In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk. Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Using a big spoon, stir in the flour, just until combined. Some lumps are ok!
Fold in the chopped walnuts. .Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.
For a swirled effect, run the tip of a knife across the batter in a zig-zag pattern. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (+/- 60 minutes). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for at least 10 minutes. You may need to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen the bread from the pan. Carefully transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool before slicing.

DOWNLOAD YOUR WALNUT BANANA BREAD RECIPE HERE

 

April 29, 2021 Breakfast, Recipes Comments Off on WALNUT BANANA BREAD
BERRY COCONUT CHIA OVERNIGHT OATS

BERRY COCONUT CHIA OVERNIGHT OATS

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 10 MINUTES + OVERNIGHT

SERVES: 2

Chia seeds are a great source of health promoting Omega-3’s while coconut is a source of selenium, an important antioxidant that protects your cells.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup plain yoghurt
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • ¼ cup milk of choice
  • 2 Tbsp. shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • 3-4 large strawberries, sliced (or any berry or fruit of choice)
  • Additional sliced strawberries or fruit for layering

 

BERRY COCONUT CHIA OVERNIGHT OATS

METHOD

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine oats, chia seeds, yoghurt, milk, and coconut milk, stirring well to ensure that everything is fully combined. Add in shredded coconut and sliced strawberries, stirring a few more times before covering with plastic wrap (or transferring to a sealed container) and placing in the fridge for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight. When ready to eat, assemble parfaits by dividing oat mixture evenly between two bowls or glasses, starting with a layer of oats, followed by a layer of sliced strawberries, and topped with a final layer of oats.

DOWNLOAD YOU BERRY COCONUT CHIA OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE

April 29, 2021 Breakfast, Recipes Comments Off on BERRY COCONUT CHIA OVERNIGHT OATS
Chicken soup

CHICKEN NO-NOODLE SOUP

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 20 MINUTES
SERVES: 2

This light chicken soup with added cabbage is an immune-boosting power combo that helps improve hydration, reduce inflammation and ward off bacterial infections.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil or butter½ celery stalk, sliced finely
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1/3 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • ½ tsp each dried onion and parsley
  • A pinch of salt and ground black pepper
  • 225 ml chicken broth
  • ½ medium sized carrot, sliced into rounds
  • 120 g shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 2 cups green cabbage sliced into “noodle”
    strips
  • Slices of fresh lemon

 

Chicken soup

METHOD

Add the oil to a large pot on medium heat. Add the dried onion, diced onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms and garlic into the pot and saute for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant. Add the broth, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add the cabbage and simmer for an additional 8 to 12 minutes until the cabbage “noodles” are tender. Lastly add the cooked and shredded chicken and allow to heat through. Top with fresh lemon slices.

DOWNLOAD YOUR CHICKEN NO-NOODLE SOUP HERE

March 17, 2021 Lunch, Recipes Comments Off on CHICKEN NO-NOODLE SOUP
CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 20 MINUTES + 2
HOUR REFRIGERATION
SERVES: 6

The cocoa and berry mix offers a healthy hit of disease fighting antioxidants – all without a gram of added sugar in sight!

INGREDIENTS

  • 250g cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup powdered low carb sweetener
    (xylitol/erythritol)
  • 4 sachets sweetener (stevia/sucralose)
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder extract
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Fresh raspberries, strawberries or blueberries
    to garnish

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE

METHOD

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Mix in erythritol, sweetener, cocoa and vanilla extract until well combined. In separate bowl, beat heavy cream with mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold half of the whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until well incorporated. Fold in the other half of the whipped cream. Beat with an electric mixer on high until light and fluffy. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Pipe or spoon into individual serving dishes. Top with fresh berries or fruit of choice.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MOUSSEDOWNLOAD YOUR CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE RECIPE HERE 

March 17, 2021 Dessert, Recipes Comments Off on CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE

LOADED BAKED SWEET POTATO WEDGES

DIFFICULTY: EASY

TIME: 40 MINUTES
SERVES: 2-3

 

Sweet potatoes are loaded with gut friendly fibre as well as being an impressive source of immune-boosting Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1-2 Tbsp coconut or olive oil
  • 500 g sweet potatoes, cleaned and wedged
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Toppings/sides:

  • Mashed avocado
  • Diced tomato and red onion
  • Plain Greek yoghurt + sour cream blend

LOADED BAKED SWEET POTATO WEDGES

METHOD

Preheat oven to 230 C. Scrub the sweet potatoes clean. Cut the potatoes into wedges – first, cut off the ends. Then, cut the potato in half. Cut each half in half, lengthwise. Finally, cut them into 4-5 wedges, lengthwise again. Rinse the wedges with cold water for 10-15 seconds and pat dry. In a large bowl, mix the oil with the seasonings. Toss the wedges with the seasoned oil, using your hands to coat each one. Spread them out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet that has been lightly greased. They should have ample room and not be touching. Bake them for 20 minutes. Flip them over and bake for another 10-15 minutes. Watch them closely those last few minutes, they should be dark golden brown, not black. Cool a bit and enjoy!

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR LOADED BAKED SWEET POTATO WEDGES RECIPE HERE

March 16, 2021 Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Comments Off on LOADED BAKED SWEET POTATO WEDGES
Yoga & self love

The Link Between Yoga & Self-Love

When I talk to other people about yoga, more often than not I get a response similar to this – ‘I would love to try it but I’m just SO inflexible!’. And while I try my best trying to explain that this truly doesn’t matter, it doesn’t help that every picture we see online or in social media of ‘the modern yogi’ is someone doing the splits, or folding themselves like a pretzel.

There are enough ways we all judge ourselves and compare against others. And yoga isn’t another form of exercise we do to hopefully, one day, feel better about ourselves. Doing the perfect headstand, or a perfect backbend is not the end goal. And even if it was, it wouldn’t guarantee that we love ourselves anymore. 

As Judith Lasatar so aptly says – ‘Yoga is not about touching your toes, it is what we learn on the way down’. 

But what exactly are we learning when we show up on our mat to practice?

Yoga is an inward journey

Let’s take a step back and remember that the practice of yoga is believed to date back over 5,000 years. It truly is an ancient discipline, that was practiced to cultivate a strong and supple body so that one could be able to sit still in meditation for long periods. Having a strong core, supple spine and open hips was necessary to ensure the body stayed relaxed and comfortable, without being a disturbance or distraction.

The ultimate goal for the Yogi was to be still. To be able to master their mind, achieve inner peace, and ultimately – enlightenment. 

Western culture has glorified the physical practice, yet the heart of yoga remains – as a tool to guide us on an inward journey so we can find true harmony within ourselves.

In our fast-paced, distracted modern lives, wouldn’t it be a joy to interact with people who are calm, centered, and present? Who can navigate all changes and challenges from a place of grounding?

yoga self love

Lessons from the mat

Each time you step onto your mat, you show up for yourself. Although yoga is often practiced among a group of people, it is very much an individual practice. The focus is within your four corners of your mat. As you move silently, you are guided to tune into the sensations of your body and to move with intention. Where the body goes, the mind follows, and so by focusing and controlling the physical self, we, in turn, can experience calm and ease in our thinking mind.

Yoga means to ‘yoke or unite’. What are we uniting? Our body and our mind, through a focus on our breath. 

Every moment on your mat is a time to tune in and connect. In building strength through movement, we cultivate a stronger sense of self. As we stretch and lengthen our bodies, we also learn to expand our mindfulness and awareness. It is an all-encompassing practice that leads us on a path to our true self. 

And while we may not achieve enlightenment like few of those ancient yogis, with a real commitment to our practice, the lessons we learn on our mat impact who we become off our mat, and we begin to show up in our lives with greater compassion, empathy, self-acceptance, and joy!

A journey begins with a single step

If touching your toes is no longer a reason to hold you back, the only next step is to decide to start. I have a range of pre-recorded videos to follow along, for free, in the comfort of your own home. There’s something for everyone including beginner classes, guided meditations, yin, vinyasa, and more.

Whatever you decide, the joy is in the journey. You can start yours today.

 

www.joyfulyogi.co.za

February 23, 2021 Exercise, Fitness, Food for thought, Lifestyle, Wellness Comments Off on The Link Between Yoga & Self-Love
Food

MOROCCAN VEG & APRICOT TAGINE

DIFFICULTY: EASY

Time: 30 mins prep + 45 mins cook

Serves: 2

A plant-based meal option perfect for vegan’s and meat-eaters alike.

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 2 tsp garlic, crushed
  • 250 g butternut chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes
  • 250 ml vegetable stock
  • 1/2 tsp each cinnamon & cumin
  • 1 tsp each turmeric & paprika
  • Pomegranate seeds and chopped coriander to serve

Quinoa: 140 g quinoa + 40 g dried apricots, chopped + 10 g flaked almonds

Dressing: 2 Tbsp tahini + 3 Tbsp milk + splash of lemon juice and honey, whisked together

Food

Method

Heat oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion over medium heat for +/- 3 mins. Add the garlic and butternut and cook for a further 7 mins. Add the remaining vegetables and cook for a further 3 mins before adding the chickpeas, tomatoes, stock and spices. Season to taste. Simmer for 30 mins uncovered. Meanwhile bring 400 ml water to simmer in a small saucepan, add quinoa and cook for 20 mins. When cooked stir in apricots, almonds and a pinch of salt. Serve with pomegranate seeds, coriander and a drizzle of the tahini dressing.

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR MOROCCAN VEG & APRICOT TAGINE RECIPE HERE 

December 15, 2020 Lunch, Recipes Comments Off on MOROCCAN VEG & APRICOT TAGINE