Poser is a yoga memoir written by noted journalist Claire Dederer. Her clever conceit is to use the different poses to help recount her tumultuous 70’s upbringing, and then parallel her practice with her life all the way up to the raising of her own children. Crow, Downward Dog, Pigeon – all your favorites are here and written about in a whole new context. As a newcomer at the start of the book, she offers a basic primer on the origins of yoga. What are the sutras and asanas? What is the Bhagavad Gita? Who was Rama? And her introduction is physical as well as mental. In hilarious detail, she describes her own adventures as a newbie on the mat. Barely athletic, and a new mom to boot, in the beginning the poses strike abject fear into her unwilling frame. Pose by pose, however, her practice evolves in some of the most unexpected ways. Luckily, she is guided through her yoga experiences by a series of great teachers, each one sharing a new piece of wisdom and instruction along the way. These gifted, hard-working, but often unheralded teachers are rare, and it’s nice to see them get some recognition. Dederer expertly depicts those gem-like sayings they are capable of: the ones that can make an average day of posing memorable.

What makes the book especially interesting is the fact that it is as funny, smart and literate about life as it is illuminating about yoga. Her reflections on her parents’ separation, for instance, and how it shaped her own marriage is particularly poignant. Her unique snapshots of Seattle over the last four decades are equally compelling. The details of her adventures growing up on some of the most remote islands of Seattle while working as a tugboat first mate make up some of the best passages in the book. All of these fun glimpses into her life make for a satisfying read that’s textured, fresh and genuine, and yoga is the ultimate thread that binds it all together. For every big moment in her life there is a corresponding pose. Her five chapters on Child’s Pose alone perhaps indicate just how much rest is needed to deal with our everyday challenges. For those, like Dederer, who see parallels between how our own individual practices help to enhance and shape our everyday lives, it’s a must read.

It’s National Oatmeal Month so we thought we’d share our favorite recipe!

No matter what form it takes, oats are a superfood whose health-promoting powers are truly impressive. Plus they’re delicious and great fuel for your morning yoga practice.

Megan asked her dad, Vince Griffith, to share his famous, no-fat-added granola recipe with the Flow Yoga community. Many a morning, the entire Griffith family has been welcomed into the kitchen by this incredibly satisfying and healthy treat.  Take it away, Mr. G!

I wanted my granola to be enjoyed, but did not want excessive oil, salt or sugar. This is the one that many people have enjoyed, and it could be added to in so many ways. I use Costco products as they are of the highest quality and very cost effective.

4  cups of old fashioned oats…..NOT INSTANT!

1  tsp cinnamon

zest of an orange… this really is best, but orange extract can be a substitute

1 cup of pecans chopped, not minced

5 or 6 oz honey

1 tsp vanilla

Thence: In a bowl

add oats

add cinnamon, and stir

add zest, and stir

Add pecans…the reason I delay this is to distribute the cinnamon and zest and not have them collect in the crevices of the pecans

At this point I have the honey and vanilla in a pyrex 2-cup, and use a whisk to mix them. Add the honey mix to the oats, and spend a bit of time mixing them so that they are incorporated. I use the spoonula Rubbermaid makes. It will be a glutinous mix. Spoon it into a 10×14 pan with sides, as you will stir it/flip it in a while.

I have settled on a 250-degree oven, and checking after 30 minutes. When checking you are looking to see whether it is overcooking on the edges. If it is, then use a spatula and move the edges towards the center and continue cooking until everything is approximately the same color. You want it to be golden or darker, but not burnt. 40 to 45 minutes seems a suitable cooking time to most of us.

I have tried substituting maple syrup for some of the honey, and it has a demonstrable effect, in that it doubles the price, but not the flavor! But you could try it. I’ll often double this recipe because it keeps and takes so long to make.

After you try it out, all of the amounts may be changed, but reducing the honey would be a mistake as it adds the perfect amount of flavor. (Once you add fruit, you would not want it sweeter.)  We put different additions out and let people add what appeals to them. We highly recommend Costco’s dried cherries. This great granola recipe can be eaten as is, or with yogurt, or milk but hurry, hurry, hurry, as crisp is best.

It’s that time of the year again:  time to sit down with ourselves and devise who we want to be in the year ahead. The making of a New Year’s resolution is such a hopeful act of creation. We look at our selves, our lives and our choices, and we decide the direction of growth we wish to take during the next 365 days or so. However, this wonderful, self-reflective practice is often tinged with negatives. We think of what we DON’T like about ourselves and build resolutions based on that. These negatives are what set us up for failure in many of our goals. This year, let’s think in a more positive fashion. Imagine for yourself the ideal YOU. It is about cultivating a healthy mind, body and soul.

Join me for a transformational class on New Year’s Day from 2pm-4pm. Class will include 2012 intention setting, a cleansing asana practice and more. Kick off your 2012 in a way that will change your perspective for a new year!

Love,

Tori

Check out this recent article in BU Today. We’re so proud of Yoga we can’t contain ourselves.

Namaste

http://www.bu.edu/today/2011/yoga-gets-into-med-school/