Monday, October 11, 2010

Astanga

I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find a vintage Thanksgiving greeting with a *living* turkey on it, but Google and I are good friends.

Behold, the rugby playing turkey, proof that these birds are more fun alive than dead!



I'm enjoying a genuine day off today - no teaching at all for two days!

Yesterday, I took Princess Fur for a long walk in the Really Big Park. It was the perfect sunshiny autumn day and the park was busy with people and other dogs. We stayed for almost three hours, including a long interlude in the middle of the woods, staring up at the colourful leaves and brilliant blue sky.

Unfortunately, most of today was spent feeling somewhat under the weather. I'm not sure what's going on, but I've been sidelined with a headache and I was grateful for the opportunity to rest.

I practised in the morning and it was terrific. What a difference a week can make! I don't think my binds have ever been this deep. As I was finishing up my Intermediate poses, a headache struck. I went into bigtime futz mode, so my backbends were not great.

But I tried my best and I didn't skip anything. Dropbacks were good, stand-ups, not so much. I ended up dropping and standing from the cushion today. The prospect of crash-landing on the futon frame was too much for my silly brain to handle.

Ironically, the most interesting part of the whole practice was Urdhva Dhanurasana. I haven't tried to 'rock up' from the floor in awhile so I gave it a go. It feels totally different to me now! I'm coming right up onto my fingertips and staying there for a micropause and...I don't know. It just felt indescribably different. Less scary, or something.

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I decided to have my Thanksgiving supper today (in Canada, it's common to have the meal anytime during the holiday weekend). Back in my university days, I remember the grocery store selling a 'Thanksgiving-in-a-Box' for singles who wanted a holiday meal, but they were all meat-based.

Yesterday, I found the vegan version of Thanksgiving-in-a-Box!


So, of course, I had to buy it! It contained two Tofurkey breasts, ingredients for stuffing and a packet of instant vegan gravy.

I supplemented the meal with my favourite zucchini dish, brown rice, kale salad and my famous vegan version of 'American-style Candied Yams' (which have been a consistent surprise favourite at all of the 'Orphan's' Thanksgivings I've attended over the years). Dessert was vegan 'carrot cake' muffins.


It looks eerily authentic to my eyes. I haven't eaten 'real' meat in years, so I have no idea what it really tastes like.

The Tofurkey was 'okay' and I've had better stuffing. The best part of that deal was the plastic storage container included to hold the leftovers!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

3 comments:

Christine said...

Yum! Would you share your recipe for the vegan "carrot cake" muffins?!

:)

Michelle said...

Is your not eating meat because of yamas and niyamas? If not,... eat some, its yummy and good for your body.

Kaivalya said...

@Christine
The base recipe is actually the same as the recipe listed on this site, replace the apples with a cup of shredded carrot, use half a cup of raisins and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (and a half-cup of walnuts).

@Michelle
You're crossing a line when you start telling me what to put in my body. This is a topic I have VERY strong feelings about. I've been a vegetarian/vegan for over 20 years and the reasons go far, far beyond the ethics outlined in the Yoga Sutras.

I could write an entire post on this topic.

I like you far too much to get in a tizzy over this, so let's make a deal: I'll promise never to post vegan activist stuff in your comments when you serve meat for supper, and you can refrain from commenting about my diet. Deal?