A huge percentage of people admit to having a sweet tooth, a little craving for that something sweet.  For that lucky small percentage who do NOT have a sweet tooth: GOOD ON YA!  But for those of us that do (this may sound familiar), you often “treat” yourself with something containing:

•    White or brown sugar (no nutritional value)
•    Honey or maple syrup (a little nutritional value)

This “treat” is really no treat at all.  You may experience a temporary energy lift, but then CRASH!  This upsurge in blood sugar level followed by a big plummet is particularly significant for those that don’t normally indulge; however, it is still felt by those who regularly consume these sugary sweeteners.

Effects of the “sugar blues” can include:

•    Anxiety or irritability
•    Low energy or fatigue
•    Feelings of depression

Long term affects of sugar indulgence has been linked mental illness, diabetes, hormonal and degenerative diseases.

Yikes!  So what is one to do to satisfy that sweet tooth without compromising one’s health and well-being?  Satisfy it the macrobiotic way: brown rice malt syrup!

Brown rice malt syrup is made by a slow, natural enzymatic process, as the whole grains are partially broken down into a thick liquid.  While providing that bit o’ sweet, it only contains 3-4% glucose (the substance that gives the quick hit sugar buzz).  Besides that, it contains complex carbohydrates, maltose and water which allows for a long, gradual digestion period.  That means that it's a prolonged source of energy that is calming as opposed to a sugar high then crash.  To boot, it contains many of the vitamin B and minerals found in rice and barley

Brown Rice Syrup has a simple taste that won’t overpower - add it to your kitchen pantry!

Want to bring the power of macrobiotic eating into your life, but don't know how to do it? Our macrobiotic master, Tanis Kohut, is offering a series of workshops at the studio. Get all the details here.

You can also check out the Macrobiotic Guide, a website chock full of macro tips and information.

Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Half Moon Pose Tip

This Bikram posture will change your life!  Your shoulders are likely to burn when you work hard, this will help to eliminate frozen shoulder, heal asthma, but you need to put the work in! Keep your thighs and hips (butt) contracted -  squeeze it! Keep always trying to put your arms behind your ears, and extend first up to the ceiling. Chin up, focus one point in the mirror, and always feel EXTENSION as you bring your body down and push your hips to the side...be patient, keep working, feel the changes. What an amazing posture!

Backbending in Half Moon

Make sure to INHALE (which lifts your chest/heart towards the ceiling) and then look back, stretch back, go back, (always pushing your hips forward towards the mirror) way back and try to touch the wall behind you!  As you are progressing in this posture, you will continuously be INHALING short breaths as you gain more back bending flexibility...The inhale is what helps you to lift the chest/heart...This awareness prevents too much compression and improves the opening of the spine and lungs!

We'd like to offer a very warm welcome to Miranda, who will be visiting our studio Sept 18th to Oct 15th.

Here's a little bit more about her and her Bikram journey...

"I started Bikram yoga when I was 14 in 2001. I brought my mom with me to my first class. She hated it!... I loved it!..but we both kept going. I had been suffering from low blood sugar-hypoglycemia and practicing this form of yoga immediately helped me regulate my blood sugar. Just one class and I was hooked! I practiced all the time and went to training in Spring 2005 with Miranda on the rightAmanda Ing. In 2009 I was in a serious bike accident with a truck and within the same year a second accident with a car.

Bikram yoga not only completely saved my life; it optimally restored my health. That's the trade 90 minutes of torture gives for 90 years of good life! I've been teaching full time since training and just recently started traveling across the country teaching. I am ever grateful for this amazing yoga. Thank you Bikram!"

~ Miranda Gatti, Montreal, Quebec

Start your weekend off on a healthy note this fall, with raw and macrobiotic dinner workshops at SSHY on Friday nights.

*raw* vegan* gluten-free* diabetic-friendly*

 Raw Food Dinners Instructed by: Amanda “Lily” Grant

http://orangelilyfoods.blogspot.com/

you can sign up with pay pal on Amanda's site.

Macrobiotic Food Dinners Instructed by: Tannis Kohut

tanniskohut@hotmail.com 

Pay required at least one-week in advance. Cost is $68 per meal. Cash or cheque only. From 6 - 9pm. (Fridays)

Macrobiotic Dinner Workshops

Heavenly Harvest  - Friday, September 30th

Tingle your tastebuds with this colourful, seasonal Cornucopia Miso Soup served with Ume's Kitchen's own toasted Love buns, followed by hyssop tea harvested in our garden served with a steaming macrobiotic style apple crumble!

Passion of the Pumpkin - Friday, October 28th

Pumpkin is a blessing, and it's ability to warm and satisfy the spleen and pancreas keeps us warm and satisfied throughout the colder months... Served Hot with fresh cornbread, and finished with a delicate aduki brownie and Bancha Tea

Love of the Lotus - Friday, November 25th

It's time to learn how to create amazing food from amazing vegetables! Join us and fill your bowl with some black soy and lotus casserole, served over a hot bowl of steaming brown rice. Join us in discovering the secrets of the lotus root!

Raw Dinner Workshops

Sept 23 workshop had to be cancelled short notice, sorry for any inconvenience...

Gratitude  - Friday October 21, 2011

This wonderful meal is created with patience and gratitude. Dishes prepared in this tasty meal include sun tea, Waldorf salad, mixed greens herbal side dish, and zucchini pasta with marinara sauce served with marinated onions and mushrooms. Dessert will be a satisfying nutrient rich pudding.

Holiday Delectables - Friday November 18, 2011

Prepare to experience some of the best “simple-gourmet” living and raw food dishes! This celebratory meal consists of frothy E-Nog, mashed ‘tatoes and gravy, marinated ginger-cayenne portabella mushrooms, sprout salad, and concludes with lip-smacking lemon-truffles.

Image source: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our new Fall / Winter schedule will come into effect this equinox, September 23rd.  See new times below in bold.

Monday, Wednesday

6am / 9:30am / 4pm / 6pm / 8pm

Tuesday, Thursday

9:30am / 11:30am / 5pm / 7pm

Friday

6am / 9:30am / 4pm / 6pm

Saturday

8:30am / 10:30am / 3pm / 5pm          (new times!)

Sunday

8:30am / 1030am / 5pm           (new time!)  (3pm coming soon, too!)