Autumn Energy Booster Smoothie Recipe

As we all start turning our central heating up, stoking the fire and layering up the woollen jumpers in preparation for the chilly season, it's natural to start feeling a bit under the weather. Keep your energy levels high and your immune system strong whilst making the most of the remnants of the blackcurrant season with this delicious vitamin C packed smoothie. This delicious drink is also stuffed full of beta-carotene, biotin, B vitamins and lots of trace minerals too. Yum! If you're struggling to find blackcurrants then just use canned ones (check to make sure they're in their natural juice). It's good to keep a few cans of these on standby in the cupboard during the colder seasons!

Ingredients

2 bananas

2 heaped tbsps blackcurrants

10 tbsps apple juice (or blackcurrant juice, if using canned)

Method

Whizz together in a blender (you can also use a hand blender for this one - use a tall cyclindrical container to avoid splashing yourself with purple goo though!) Sip and feel that lovely Autumnal glow lighting up your face! Not luxurious enough for you? Why not add a sprinkling of dark chocolate shavings or raw cacao? Wow.

Get to Know Camyoga Teacher: Rachael Moore

Name: Rachael

Age:  38

Occupation: Mum and yoga teacher

What brought you to yoga?

As with many people, I first came to yoga as many people do, to help combat 'stress' as a result of my job. I worked as a speech and language therapist for children with profound medical and learning difficulties and although hugely rewarding, it was also at times highly emotional and stressful. Yoga helped me find a way to deal with the challenges I faced in a calm and grounded manner, reacting to situations in a more balanced way.

As a teacher what is Yoga about and not about?

Oooh how long have you got!!!! It is probably easier for me to say what I personally think it is not. Yoga is not about being the best in the room, yoga is not about being competetive (even with yourself), yoga is not always the glossy images you see in the magazines, practising yoga, does not  mean that you no longer experience hardship or tough times (unfortunately). The practice of yoga is far greater and deeper than all of that. Yoga gives you the tools for everyday living, it helps you on every level of your being. Yoga releases your tired stiff body from sitting at a desk all day helping you re-find that childhood softness and agility. In helping you re-claim physical flexibility, this flexibilty then leads to greater flexibility in the mind and how we react to life situations off the matt. It leads you towards a truer more honest you! Wherever you are in your life, yoga can be there for you . It can transform the body physically, energeticly and emotionally. It can energize, detox, heal and nourish you . It can be a soft landing when you fall.

What do you do when you are not doing yoga?

Being mum to my three gorgeous daughters and being taken for a walk by my two huge labradoodles Molly and Floss! What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Wow! It's almost impossible to choose one as depending where I am on any particular day will determine my favourite pose!. Generally though, I absolutely love and standing balance, especially Natarajasana for its openness and grace and Garudasana for that beautiful feeling of opening up the shoulders.

What is your least favourite yoga pose and why?

I know it sounds cheesy and a bit of a cop out, but I really don't have a least favourite pose. If pushed though, I probably shy away from strong core work a little more readily than I should do!

What is one quality you have taken off the mat and incorporated into your daily life? Patience

An interesting fact about Rachel that you may not know is:

I used to do synchronized swimming as a teenager!!

To book into Rachel's classes click on link

Finding Your Dosha

Ever wondered why you are attracted to a style of Yoga? It might be your dosha! What is a dosha?

Yoga is key for our mind, body, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.  Ayurvedic medicine is  sister to Yoga and from the five elements three dosha's are formed.  They are Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth and water). They form physical, mental  and emotional characteristics. You are born with a dosha for your mind and for your body.

Your temperment is a good indicator to your dosha, for example if you are lively and enthusiastic by nature and like to change you may be Vata, if you are purposeful and intense and like to convince you may be Pitta and if you are easy going and like to support you may be Kapha. You may be a combination of the dosha's.  If you want to find out more click through this link for the Deepak Chopra Quiz.

Like any super power they are best used for good and not evil! If they become out of balance we can head towards the more negative aspects. To keep them in balance is not always instinctive as we tend towards what can make us more. For example you might be very attracted to dynamic Yoga, perfect.  The watch out is if you find yourself going from dynamic, enthusiastic and kind into aggressive, elbowing your way into class, sighing heavily and snarling at the person who took 'your spot'! time in a restorative class or a more meditative class would help to restore lovely you. If you are cerebral by nature and more sedentary then try Ashtanga and Flow, the dynamic classes will help to energise you. So when you next book into your weekly classes, book into what you love and need!

Name: louise lloyd Age: 41 Hometown: cambridge Training Background: BWY Foundation Course with Tara Fraser. BSY teaching diploma. Camyoga teaching diploma. (Distinction Ed.) How long have you practiced yoga? 10 years

One Yoga Philosophy that means a great deal to you and why?

Mmmm hard to choose one, I would say that both satya (truth) and ahimsa (non harm) are both something that we could all spend our entire lives learning. If we all worked on just those two the world would be a far better place.

What brought you to yoga? 

Crazy as it sounds, I used to meditate regularly and around 2002 every time I sat to meditate I just kept getting 'teach yoga.' After quite a bit of resistance, and the fact i didn't even practice asana at that time, I eventually gave in and went to my first yoga class and here I am!

What does teaching on the Foundation and Diploma course mean to you?

I love teaching on these days.  Seeing students deepen their own enquiry into yoga is so inspiring whether they are doing the courses for their own interest or to go on to be amazing teachers.

What do you do when you are not doing yoga?

I love spending time with family and friends - usually involving eating nice food and drinking nice wine. I also love being outside, occasionally running (have entered the cambridge half marathon so better be a bit more regular now!) and I have just come back from skiing which I really loved!

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Ardha Chandrasana - I love the feeling of being grounded, centered and open and in this pose I feel all of these and truly expanded beyond the physical body.

What is your least favourite yoga pose and why?

I can honestly say I don't have a least favourite pose - there are loads of poses I can't do myself but I get to enjoy them anyway by seeing students practice them with ease.

What is one quality you have taken off the mat and incorporated into your daily life?

Self enquiry - the more I learn about myself the more I can make better choices to become more loving, open and generous. I try to see my own insecurities in life where I may act from a place of fear rather than love - it is a working progress of course! ;-)

An interesting fact about Louise that you may not know is…

Before yoga I rode horses for a living and hold my HGV driving licence as I used to drive a 40ft horse box to competitions - this skill definitely helps parking in the central centre's carpark!

As well as classes and teaching on the Diploma and Foundation Courses Louise also leads workshops and retreats for Camyoga

Louise's Classes

Diploma Courses

Apply Now For Diploma Course

Foundation Course

Apply Now For Foundation Course

Retreats

Workshops

Are you considering Yoga but not sure yet if it is for you?  There must be scope for a t-shirt with this statement on the front and on the back answering ‘This Makes you Perfect for Yoga!’’ Some-one considering  Yoga might be concerned  they would not fit in a class of nimble adepts and in a worst case scenario they imagine it would be more like an audition for Cirque du Soleil.  In reality there is a very wide range of people that practise Yoga and in class the teacher will help you to focus on your own practise so that you very quickly forget what is going on around you.  If you are starting out a beginners course and then a basics class is a great place to start. Every pose has an accessible version and the teacher will offer modifications and props and ways of building up. After the course try out a number of different classes and teachers to find one that works for you. The key is to ask yourself  did you feel better after the session than before? Yoga is for every one and Every Body.

Beginners Courses and Classes that you can attend:

Yoga for Beginners

Ashtanga for Beginners

Yoga Basics

Hot news, our Great Shelford studio will open on Friday 19th October! In celebration of the new opening, we are giving away three 30 day unlimited passes for the Shelford studio. There are 16 classes a week to choose from, in every style from beginners to Jivamukti.

This competition was also featured on Star radio today. Competition closes on Sun 9th Oct at midnight.

All you need to do is answer this very simple question: Where does yoga originate from? Is it: a. Africa b. India c. Russia

Please email your answer along with your name and phone number to: info@camyoga.co.uk And you could win 30 days of free yoga!

Yoga Stops Traffic Videos

Did you miss the global event, Yoga Stops Traffic?  Take a peak at the Camyoga students doing their part in 108 sun salutations.  We raised money for the charity, Odanadi Seva Trust in an effort to stop human trafficking in India.  Thank you to all who donated money, time, and sweat.

http://youtu.be/0AReriHdBpU

http://youtu.be/PgmvVFwQNfw

http://youtu.be/gUctt1zOXEc

Camyoga is excited to be hosting an art exhibition by Susi Watson launching Saturday April 17 from 19:00 - 21:00 and lasting till April 24. In this art series, Remembering What We Know, Susi explores questions and insights that she has encountered over the past year, during her transition from America to the UK and her practice at CamYoga. 'Remembering what you know' is all about transformation, embracing change and following your dreams.

Many of us in Cambridge can relate to the transition of moving to a new place and taking up life in new surroundings. Camyoga itself has become a hub for transformation  and exploration into deeper self-knowledge.

The series is an opportunity for us to reflect on questions and images, in the hope that it may: - ignite an intention during practice - encourage nourishing conversation - inspire us to visualize our own questions, answers or ideas - further our own practice, whatever our passion may be.

Find out more about Susi at her website

Stemming from a discussion the other day about what part of the head you use for a headstand, Pilar and Ellie decided to make a few videos.  Below you will find Sirsasana A with Pilar and Sirsasana B with Ellie.  These videos are of course in addition to learning in class with your teacher present. Headstand is wonderful inversion that can stimulate the brain, energise the body and mind, and help you feeling strong.  It requires strength, flexibility, and practice.  So don't get discouraged if you don't come right up the first time you try.  When the body and mind are ready, the pose comes.

Typically we learn Sirsana A, before moving on to a tripod headstand.  Here it is:

http://youtu.be/UrpUmWwAeQ4

Here in Sirsasana B, Ellie answers the question of what part of the head rests on the floor, and how to find it. In pressure point terms it is Du 20, the top of the head just up from the ears. Check out tripod below!

http://youtu.be/51QM6IWu0J0

Ellie Coats is our Yoga for Athletes expert starting your day right on Tuesday mornings at 7:30.  Pilar teaches headstands and more inversions in her 2/3 classes.  Come along and have fun!

If you have just tuned in to the blog, check the many other videos we have made here at Camyoga under the video blog section of the site, and Subscribe on youtube.

Camyoga's Dandelion Cafe has unveiled there 2012 menu with a whole new array of juices and smoothies. You will recognize some familiar favorite's such as heart-beet juice (beetroot, apple and ginger) and Pilar's detox juice (apple,cucumber, mint, and ginger). But you might not be expecting the Green Gremlin (mixed berries, banana, and organic spirulina) or the Breakfast Booster (banana, strawberry, organic maca, and hemp protein), two new smoothies.  I had the breakfast booster twice last week and felt great in the mornings.  Maybe it's the maca? Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable that packs a punch of energy and nutrients.

You can now pep up any of your juices and smoothies with a boost: Echinacea or Ginseng for 50p & wheat grass, spirulina, hemp protein, maca, omega oils, or superfood for £1

There are many new juices and smoothies to choose from, check out the full menu in Camyoga's dandelion cafe. All smoothies are made with low fat cocunt milk and agave syrup. Here are just a few:

Juices:

Allergy fighter: apple, pear, & melon

Immune booster: grapefruit, orange, ginger, & liquid echinacea

Kidney cleanser: apple, & melon

Energiser: carrot, apple, ginger

Smoothies:

Tropical: banana, mango, & a dash of lime

Summer Banana: strawberry & banana

You can always get creative and make your own!

And in case you didn't know the entire month of January our wheat grass shots are only £1.50 and fresh juices £3

Detox Special for the entire month of January!

£3 Fresh Juices

and

 Wheatgrass Shots are back

only £1.50!

Happy New Year

from 

Camyoga!

Next Thursday 29th, and Friday 30th December, in celebration of the New Year, Jennifer's hot yoga classes will be by Candlelight. Jennifer will be back to teach her regular classes. Enjoy the heat in the candlelight for a post holiday detox. Also, not to be missed, our two hot yoga classes on Saturday the 7th of January for Donation Day.

Happy Holidays!

We now have in stock the Yogitoes Prism skidless towel.  It is made from 50% recycled polyester and has beautiful brilliant colors to radiate and represent the chakras. This towel aims to be about an elevated state of consciousness. So yes, it is good to sweat on and it is also good for the environment. And at the forefront of this campaign is Yogi, Brock Cahill.  Looks like it will not only work for hot yoga but just about anywhere. We still have in an assortment of other colors in the Yogitoes Skidless towel.  Check the Prism out next time you are in the cafe...

Camyoga is happy to welcome Sam from Mouth Music Catering.  She has been whipping up vegetarian delicacies for the Cambridge area and now we get a bite of the action. Sam's catering is contemporary, fresh, and imaginative, not to mention delicious.

"We'd like first to dispel a pervading myth... Vegetarian food is not just about vegetables. Or tofu. Or lentils..."

It's all about the food, but not just how it looks on the plate.  It's about how and where it was grown, the packaging, and how it gets to your plate.  Mouth Music Catering is a business with the big picture in mind. And here at Camyoga we like to support mindful practices.

We hope you will stop into our cafe, or stay after class, and take time to enjoy food that was made with care and love.  We are always serving our Illy coffee, yogi teas, and fresh juices as well. om nom nom...

The transformational breathing workshops with Alan Dolan continue to be a sellout success.  If you missed out this time around join us Sunday October 2 for his next workshop.  Book here.  Watch the brief video below for a little more info on this life-changing breath technique. Transformational breathing offers the potential for rapid healing and a transformation of your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

Are you ready for more?

Camyoga is now offering the  Transformational Breathing Personal Development Programme with Alan Dolan and Angela Leake.  This program is open to all.  Should you choose, it is also the first stage of professional training. Level 1 kicks of February 18, 2012.  Find out more here

http://youtu.be/9OxpHYQ_lV0

Find a moving energy through your postures.  Link breath with movement to find your fluid form.  This is the second in a fluid vinyasa video series with Paula.  She weaves through warrior poses with music and breath. http://youtu.be/9rDeCKXH52c

Find a moving energy through your postures.  Link breath with movement to find your fluid form.  This is the second in a fluid vinyasa video series with Paula.  She weaves through warrior poses with music and breath. http://youtu.be/9rDeCKXH52c

Find a moving energy through your postures.  Link breath with movement to find your fluid form.  This is the second in a fluid vinyasa video series with Paula.  She weaves through warrior poses with music and breath. http://youtu.be/9rDeCKXH52c

Find a moving energy through your postures.  Link breath with movement to find your fluid form.  This is the second in a fluid vinyasa video series with Paula.  She weaves through warrior poses with music and breath. http://youtu.be/9rDeCKXH52c

Find a moving energy through your postures.  Link breath with movement to find your fluid form.  This is the second in a fluid vinyasa video series with Paula.  She weaves through warrior poses with music and breath. http://youtu.be/9rDeCKXH52c