YogaDinner&AMovie

Yoga, Dinner & a Movie: The Secret Garden

2010-04-28T17:07:00.000-04:00

YOGA, DINNER & A MOVIE: The Secret Garden

A lonely child, raised in India comes to live in the English countryside in a dismal old manor house. She is orphaned, disagreeable and completely out of her surroundings in a home that seems to have many secrets. But, an old rusty key, a sly fox and a communicative robin seem to guide her to a hidden locked garden gate behind overgrown hedges. This movie is adapted from the delightful children's book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, created by children of all ages. It brings us into the garden of hope that Mary discovers and as she begins to save it, it truly saves her and all around her, transforming the dark, dreary world into one of beauty, light and life. There's some good old fashioned mystical Indian magic too! There are many versions of this timeless tale, each one slightly different, all perfectly peachy. The last line in the Time Warner version is something like this: "If you look at things just right, you'll see that all the world's a garden".
And below is a special recipe from an old Yoga brother of mine which for this issue I'm naming:

MUKUND'S SECRET GARDEN CURRY

Ingredients:
1/4 cup approximately of olive oil
2 cups of green peppers, chopped
2 large green onions, chopped
2 carrots, cut into pennies
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 cups, cooked chick peas

Spices:

1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon red pepper powder
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

1. Into a large pot, cover the bottom with olive oil
2. add in the mustard seeds and let stand on low heat until seeds pop.
3. add in the chopped onions and cook for a few minutes until starting to be tender
4. add in the vegetables except the tomatoes, and chick peas
5. when liquid starts to form from the vegetables, add in the dry spices.
6. add in the tomatoes
7. simmer for 1/2 hour, then add the grated ginger and chick peas
8. simmer for an additional 15 minutes, then remove 1 bowl of it and mash, then add back in.
9. add in the basil and simmer, covered for 10 more minutes.

* notes from Mukund: keep the pot covered in between additions of ingredients and always hold the cover sideways when lifting over the pot so that the essence and stream are able to drip back into the pot to preserve the flavor. If finding all of the spices is difficult, substitute good old, never fail Curry Powder of the mild variety.

Our Candle Gazing Meditation for helping you find your Secret Garden:

Using a white tapered candle that is placed so that it is just below eye level, dim the lights in your room and place yourself so that you are about an arms length distance from the candle. Gaze into the flame deeply for about 2 minutes. If your eyes tear, that is normal and actually good for your health. Close your eyes and try to affix the after image of the flame at the point between your eyebrows. Hold this inner image until the flame dissipates. Good for eyesight, good for activating the Yang energy in the body and good for learning how to deeply meditate.

Buy a monkey a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun with it

2010-04-07T02:35:00.002-04:00

Hello All,

This fun little phrase is part of a verification proof for me to joint venture with PayPerPost.com

Look forward to a new movie, recipe and Yoga move in a couple of weeks.

Buy a monkey a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun with it

Yoga, Dinner & A Movie: The Magnificent Obsession

2010-03-29T17:00:00.001-04:00

Yoga, Dinner and a Movie

March 2010 The Magnificent Obsession

Our movie opens with a spine tingling scene as a car speeds along a high mountainous cliff. You can just feel the palpable danger as you anticipate the crash that subsequently happens to the driver. A young and beautiful woman played by Miss Jane Wyman. Fortunately, she is not without wisdom and good friends, one of which is her doctor, who isn't lacking for his own brand of wisdom. Soon, he helps her by applying not only his medical expertise, but his spiritual expertise as well, with something his calls, "The Great Obsession". What is the Magnificent Obsession? It is about the law of Karma. It's also about things coming full circle. Such as in this movie when our beautiful blind victim falls in love with the man, played by Rock Hudson, who caused her accident. As for the secret of the Magnificent Obsession, we must open the pages of the ancient book of wisdom known as the Bhagavad Gita, where a millennia ago Krishna taught that we are not to expect anything in return for our good deeds and certainly not to perform any task with the idea of gleaning the fruit of the action, since all action is performed through the auspices of a Divine force. Talk about white knuckling it out on your Yoga mat while you watch the plot unfold in this gripping tale of love, danger, and cosmic forces and discover the secret of the Magnificent Obsession for yourself. You'll need something delish' to eat and a calming Yoga pose to settle you back down again. Read on.......

Potato And Pea Bhajia
Khadi's version of an old recipe from the 1950's
The American Woman's Cook Book

2 cups peas
4 medium potatoes
1 chopped green pepper
2 Tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons Curry Powder

1 package of Pita bread

salt and pepper to taste

Boil the peas and potatoes separately. When the potatoes are done, drain and let cool until cool enough to handle.
Drain the peas.
Heat the oil in a frying pan.
Slice potatoes and saute' with the peas and Curry Powder. Season. Top with chopped green peppers.
Serve with warmed pita bread.

Keep a copy of the Bhagavad Gita available in case the going gets rough while viewing and don't forget this month's Yoga pose:

Vajarasana: The Firm Pose

Another of the static asanas, this pose is excellent for improving good circulation through the legs and stimulating the pancreas for improved function. It doesn't look like much, but in the realm of Yoga, it is very powerful and must be practiced cautiously and properly.

Make sure you are on a comfortable surface. Sticky mats and hard floors, particularly tile flooring are very bad, as the dampness is detrimental to your bones. Get onto a nice, thick, comfortable blanket or mat in several thicknesses and sit very straight on your feet, which are behind you. Sit on your heels with your toes turned back, not curled. Place your hands on your thighs, palms upward. Hold for 2 minutes while breathing through your nostrils and deeply into the lower lungs by pushing your abdomen outward with each incoming breath and relaxing the diaphragm with the exhalation. You may close your eyes and visualize a point of white light at the center of your forehead if you wish for a mini-meditation. After 1-2 minutes, slowly slide off of your feet, lay down on your mat and relax for a moment or two until your circulation equalizes.
Sending you a little Yoga Bling,
Acharya Sri Khadi Madama
Recipient of the Jewel Of India Award
TV Host of Yours Truly, YogaSpecializing in Yoga Media Conceptualization& Choreography
732-341-1657
Visit www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com or
http://totyoga.com
Author of "Finding Shangri La: Seven YogaPrinciples for Creating Success & Happiness
www.twitter.com/yogacelebrity
The Yoga Diva On The Flying Carpet!

Episode 6 The Jewel In The Crown

2010-02-19T01:51:00.001-05:00

YOGA, DINNER AND A MOVIE

The Jewel in the Crown, a novel written by Paul Scott after his retirement from India in the 1960's, was beautifully filmed by the BBC in the 1980's. It is the story of old myths, undying love, betrayal, hope and utter despair played out against the backdrop of Mother India on the verge of independence and partition. One golden thread runs through the whole epic film and that is the incredible panorama of Indian sunsets, fishermen on the breathtaking lakes, old palaces fallen to ruin that capture the eye with unforgettable, yet now lost splendor. Watching this fabulous epic will take hours and will create an epic appetite to go along with it. And, what could be more suitable than a recipe that is dated as being possibly the first recorded recipe of India; Khichuri. Make a huge pot of this and it will last until the Jewel in the Crown is complete.

Khichuri; A One Pot Meal of Ancient India
created by Bela Banerjee

Serves 4

1 cup long grain or Basmati rice
1 cup lentils or yellow split peas
1 Tablespoon oil or butter
2 dried red hot peppers, leave whole to remove easily before serving
1 large onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed or minced
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 Bay leaves, whole. Remove before serving
1 8 oz pkg frozen mixed vegetables or peas.
4 cups of cold water
1/2 cup of Ghee
Salt and Pepper to taste.

1. Wash rice and lentils, drain thoroughly.
2. Heat oil in a 4 quart pot, fry hot peppers, then add onions, garlic, tomato. Fry until onions are light brown.
3. Add rice and lentils.
4. Continue frying for a few minutes then add salt, pepper and turmeric, bay leaf, cumin. Mix spices in well.
5. Bring to boil on high heat, cover and reduce to medium heat, cooking for about 1/2 an hour.
6. Stir 2-3 times.
7. Add in the frozen vegetables.
8. Cook another 8-10 minutes on medium heat until the vegetables are heated through.

Serve by pouring Ghee in a swirl on top.

* optional toppings can be crispy papadams broken up and sprinkled on top, scrambled eggs, fried eggplant, or boiled, sliced potatoes with fresh, minced coriander leaves.

Yoga for the Movie: Sukhasana-The Tailor Pose

While you are watching Jewel in the Crown and waiting for your Khichuri to finish cooking, clear a spot on the sofa to practice our pose of the month, Sukhasana. This pose is simply, the cross legged pose that most shop owners in the bazaars sit in while creating their wares. Carefully seat yourself into a loose cross legged pose, straighten your spine, relax your neck. Now, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth, join the index fingers to the thumbs and take several deep breaths. Do you smell the aroma from the kitchen yet? Great! Carefully unfold yourself, grab a plateful and click the remote onto Play.

Yoga, Dinner & a Movie
by: Acharya Sri Khadi Madama
and SrimataJi Bela Banerjee

Sending you a little Yoga Bling,Acharya Khadi MadamaRecipient of the Jewel Of India AwardTV Host of Yours Truly, YogaSpecializing in Yoga Media Conceptualization& Choreography732-341-1657Visit www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com or http://totyoga.com Author of "Finding Shangri La: Seven YogaPrinciples for Creating Success & Happinesshttp://publishamerica.net/findingshangrila www.twitter.com/yogacelebrity The Yoga Diva On The Flying Carpet!

2010-01-29T01:36:00.000-05:00

Yoga, Dinner And A Movie

When They Met In Bombay, Clark Gable and Rosalind Russel were both thieves in high pursuit of the Star of India, a beautiful jeweled necklace owned by the Duchess of Beltravers. He, charmingly portraying a detective on the scene to protect the jewels, she, a captivating 'Baroness'. Both set out to dupe the Duchess and purloin the jewels, and then to dupe each other in this romantic, adventure comedy.

Through some very exotic plot twists and Gable's style, they wind up aboard a steamer headed for China with none other than Peter Lorre--who else?!-as the two-timing captain. Who could resist falling in love under these circumstances. They jump ship as the authorities are about to board and also because there is absolutely NO room to practice any Yoga on board! Needless to say, Gable saves the day, joining an old army regiment and saves lots of lives in his pursuit to evade the authorities. By movies' end he is transformed by his love for Rosalind and her love for him....everything...well....you'll have to watch it yourself to find out what happens. I will tell you that in my version, they return to Bombay, join an ashram and start the first Yoga retreat there for lost Hollywood actors. Now you know where they all go! Don't forget to have our appropriate treat to eat while watching this fabulous romp.

HUNZA BEAN AND VEGETABLES PIE, by Bela Banerjee

To make this easy as pie, use whole wheat pita bread to stuff with the filling.

Here's our filling:

6 oz of red kidney beans
4 potatoes, cooked and cubed
1/2 cup of spinach, cooked
8 oz of tofu (Bela is extremely big on Tofu these days)
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion ,diced
2 T. tomato paste
1 teaspoon of Curry Powder
*optional: 1 pat of butter for each pie

1. Combine beans, potatoes, spinach, tofu, tomatoes and paste, onion, Curry Powder, and a dash of salt and pepper. Heat until warmed through.

2. Stuff into pita breads and add 1 pat of butter, if desired. Cover and warm in the oven to warm the bread and heat all of the way through.

Our Yoga Movie Move

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply get onto the floor, on a cushioned surface. Draw your knees loosely up to your chest, hug yourself and roll side to side, keeping your neck relaxed. Next, let your legs out, keep your knees flexed and rock your entire body side to side to press out tension and sore muscles. Stop, drop and roll right onto your mat and into Yoga.

Episode 4 The Rains of Ranchipur

2009-12-24T01:37:00.003-05:00

Episode 4

by Acharya Sri Khadi Madama

The Rains of Ranchipur

Get on board and don't forget to pack your umbrella because we're heading off to India where a lot of rain is expected in The Rains of Ranchipur. In the movie, made somewhere in the early 1950's, we find ourselves aboard a train with a stellar cast of characters. Michael Rennie as Lord Esketh, the noble but financially deficient husband, Lana Turner, as his cold, indifferent glamour queen wife, Lady Esketh. With that combination there is big karma, indeed! They are traveling to the palace of the Maharani of Ranchipur, who is a very charming yet shrewd woman who likes to sneak cigarettes and gamble a bit too. Her shrewdness is partnered with good sense! Sir Richard Burton plays the part of the mysterious man who has a "rendezvous with destiny", the exotically turbaned Dr. Safti. Naturally, Lana Turner is attracted to him and the attraction is mutual sparking off a dangerous romantic affair. Lana gets the boot from the Maharani for her less than stellar behavior, but other cast members offer delightful bits of enjoyment in Fred McMurry, playing the disillusioned engineer out in India, who learns that there is more to himself left than what he thinks he has lost. Mother nature has a lesson for each of these characters with unrelenting monsoon rain. Remember I said to pack those umbrellas! The monsoon has begun, not only in the weather at Ranchipur, but in the lives of the colorful characters. Add to that Cholera and death defying mudslides! You'll need a terrific dish to eat while watching the twists and turns in this karmic screen event. Something to crunch to relieve the tension evoked while watching. Afterwards, you'll need a good stabilizing Yoga pose for bringing you back to civilization. The film footage of me striking this great Yoga pose in the palace unfortunately never made it to the final cut, but you can perform it yourself and feel like a Maharaja or a Maharani anyway.

Maharani's Palace Chat For Two ( A Chat is a crunchy, tasty snack!)

created by SrimataJi Bela Banerjee-The Cooking Queen of Calcutta

Bela says that you don't have to contort yourself into any kind of serious Yoga pose in order to make this dish, which is a delicious and nutritious snack she created just for us to watch the Rains of Ranchipur. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 medium potatoes, boiled, peeled and cubed. (don't over cook)
1 16 oz can chick peas, rinsed and drained
8 oz of plain yogurt
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped mint or parsley
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 T lemon juice
1 cup of Rice Krispies, Chinese noodles, or broken potato chips (we use the baked variety)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix the Yogurt with a little salt and 1/2 T. of the lemon juice and taste for flavor. Add more lemon juice if tartness is needed.

In a 2 quart bowl place the potatoes, then the chick peas, then the tomatoes and onion in layers. Top with Yogurt mixture and the mint or parsley and your preferred crunchy ingredient.

Serve at room temperature in front of the TV. Not even the Maharani of Ranchipur got to eat like this. I know, I was there!

TADASANA: STANDING MOUNTAIN POSE

This is, perhaps, the most forgotten pose of all. Because it is so simple. It is very unassuming and yet is the very core of all Yoga stance training and body aligning work since all movement should arise from it. It helps to root you to the ground, aligns the spine and centers your gravity. It does this by standing absolutely still. Stand with your feet a few inches apart, hands down at your sides lightly touching your outer thighs. Make sure that your back is straight and your hips are not tilted backwards. Your shoulders are down and slightly allowed to relax forward, yet the upper spine is erect. Now take a few deep breaths as if breathing up from the soles of your feet and draw the breath up to the top of your head. Do this for a few minutes the next time you feel very scattered or fatigue sets in. You'll feel more focused and energized. This is also great to do if you're sitting too long watching old movies, if that were possible.

Bela and I are so happy to announce that the movie that inspired us to launch this blog, Julie & Julia, about one of our favorite cooking icons Julia Child has just been released on DVD and Blu-ray December 8th. If you haven't seen this more than fabulous movie, for goodness sake, get out there and buy or rent it, but don't miss it.

"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." Julia Child

Editors Note: Bela and I are both vegetarians who grapple our Tofu, however, we get Julia's drift in the quote above for it's deeper meaning and this simply, eat good food and only scimp if you're waiting for one of those delicious meals you've created to come out of the oven.

Episode 3 Elephant Walk

2009-11-22T01:55:00.001-05:00

Picture a beautiful, plush, immense plantation on the island of Ceylon, circa 1940’s. Now add the characters; Elizabeth Taylor as the new young wife who must tough it out in the shadow of her deceased father in law who still rules Ratnagalla from the grave, through the ominous portrait of him that hangs for all to see in the great hall. Her husband, a number of years her senior, is haunted by the dark cloud perpetuated by his dead father. Then there’s the mysterious servant, Apuhami who constantly creeps around the house. It’s a story of holding onto the past, something that we in Yoga practice try never to do. In this case, holding onto the grim past is robbing the future happiness of the newlyweds and almost destroys it, even though the characters are rich and living the good life. Another metaphor. There are loads of lessons in this classic film, filmed on location, about what is truly important in life. The cast includes many great elephant actors, who do a lot of stomping about the plantation to teach us the final lesson. A must see and great to watch while eating our recipes below:

Elephant Ear Grilled Cream Cheese & Chutney Sandwiches

2 slices of Rye bread
2 oz of cream cheese
Butter for toasting

Choice of filling: Bela’s Raisin Chutney, your favorite jam, or any favorite deli pickles.

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Spread the cream cheese. Add your choice of filling and grill away to perfection. The rounded halves of the Rye Bread look like Elephant ears, but taste a whole lot better.

Bela’s Raisin Chutney

1 c. raisins 4 Tbsp. water
1 hot green chili (optional) 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Salt to taste 2 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. grated ginger 2 Tbsp. grated coconut

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until it forms a paste. This chutney will keep in a refrigerator 2-3 weeks unless you make a lot of Elephant Ear sandwiches and eat it all up quickly.

Bela’s Plantation Carrot Salad

1 pound carrots, peeled and diced 2 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp. white vinegar 1/2 tsp. paprika
4 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cumin 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

Boil carrots in salted water until crisp tender. Drain immediately. Whisk the oil and all ingredients in a
large mixing bowl. Add the carrots to the dressing and stir well to coat. Let the salad cool to room temperature, then serve.

Standing Relaxation Pose or Standing Elephant Pose

Stand with your feet about 1 1/2 feet apart. Take a deep breath and upon exhaling, let your head fall onto your chest, while slowly lowering yourself bending forward towards the floor. It is not a goal to reach the floor, merely to hang free to relieve tension in the shoulders and neck. Keep your knees flexed for leg comfort and let your arms dangle loosely. At some point you may clasp your hands loosely together and swing them so that they look like an elephants trunk swaying to and fro. Practice for a few moments then release hands and slowly begin to come back up to a standing position, moving one vertebra at a time and keeping your head relaxed onto your chest until you have completely straightened up. Open your eyes, then slowly lift your head and correct your posture.

This pose is excellent for improving facial appearance, loosening the spine and relieving tension from neck and shoulders.

Happy Eating!
Khadi & Bela

Episode 2 The Razors Edge

2009-11-22T01:51:00.002-05:00

“The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say that the path to salvation is hard” (From the Katha-Upanishad) When William Somerset Maughm went to India in the 1930’s he had an unusual experience that not only served as the catalyst for a new book, but it changed his life forever. Back in those days not too many people knew what the Upanishads were. In fact, the practice of Yoga was not going to take root in America until the late 1950’s where it would be on the back burner for almost another decade. So, when The Razor’s Edge was written and subsequently made into a movie, which I watched on Million Dollar Movie in the late 50’s, much like Lost Horizon, it too, changed my life, as being in India changed that of WS Maughm. The hero of our story bashes off to India where all sorts of mystical things start to happen. He says in a memoir, “By accident, it was when I was in India. I’d been suffering from insomnia and happened to mention it to an old Yogi that I knew,(ever notice that anytime anything sage is referred to, it’s always by an “old” Yogi? What about we ‘young’ Yogis, don’t we count? ed. note) and he said that he’d soon settle that. He did just what you saw me do with Gray and that night I slept as I hadn’t slept for months. And then, a year later, it must have been, I was in the Himalayas with an Indian friend of mine and he sprained his ankle. It was impossible to get a doctor and he was in great pain. I thought I’d try to do what the old Yogi had done, and it worked.” This is such a fun old film. If you haven’t seen it, try to get a copy and make an event out of it. If you have seen it, watch it again with an eye geared toward learning how to mesmerize others, as this could be a lot of fun at the next party you may have to attend, or if you are marooned somewhere and someone needs relief from pain. My favorite part is the “old” Yogi (here we go AGAIN) who is really a light skinned actor, with his face darkened under his turban to make him look Indian. (wait until I review The Rains Came with Richard Burton for more on that subject). This is upstaged only by the Indian-ish stage set of the ancient temple where they meet. This film is about going on a journey, discovering that something exists outside of your average every day experience, something that pushes your mind past its workaday limits, and to being open to expanding the mind so that one can reap the rewards and achieve things that are extraordinary in an otherwise ordinary life. If you watch the movie closely, you too will learn how to perfect the ability to overcome pain and other minor complaints. During the 1980’s Bill Murray did a re-make of The Razor’s Edge and it was really quite good. My favorite part is where he gives a child a little money. Afterwards, you see Bill approaching the top of a hill from which you cannot see behind him. But, in moments he starts to run like the Dickens and you don’t know why. He’s running like a madman, because as the camera pans behind him, about 200 other children are running to catch the man who has the money. Great scene and very funny to watch. The movie will go really well with what Bela’s got conjured up from her kitchen;

RAZOR’S EDGE TOFU & POTATO CURRY-A Mesmerizing Dish

1 package of extra firm Tofu
6 small potatoes, boiled and peeled
3 tablespoons of oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1″ piece of ginger, grated
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 t. turmeric
2 Italian green peppers, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 box frozen green peas (10 0z box)
1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala or ground cinnamon (Khadi would love this with good old Curry Powder-but it’s Bela’s recipe)
Salt and Pepper to taste
In a large skillet, add onion, garlic and ginger. Fry until onions turn golden. Add the Tofu and potatoes, continuing to stir fry until the potatoes are slightly golden. Add the tomato sauce, turmeric, and green pepper. Fry for a few minutes on high heat, then add the water. Cover and cook in medium heat until the sauce starts to bubble. Add green peas and your choice of the Garam Masala, Cinnamon or Curry Powder.
Serve with rice or bread. Serves 4

CLOSING UP THE LOTUS (Great to do if you do even if you don’t get marooned) Sit comfortably in a chair or on the floor on a soft surface. Close your eyes and begin to breathe quietly through the nostrils. Imagine that you are welcoming all of the people you love most into your life as you inhale and raise your arms up to shoulder level. As you exhale, fold your arms inwards, bringing your palms down as chest level as if pushing a beach ball beneath your waist. Inhale again bringing your arms up as before, this time focusing on all of the abundance and good health that you enjoy. Exhale with arms as noted above. For the last inhalation, repeat the actions as above but this time, but this time, remember to focus daily on the beauty in yourself and others. Exhale with arms as noted above. What we focus on the most is what we expand or create in our lives. Try to remember that you are a special jewel, closing yourself up in the Lotus–the metaphor of perfect being–remaining free of harmful energies from the outside world.

Episode 1 Lost Horizon

2009-11-22T01:49:00.001-05:00

This Episode was originally posted on weebly.com, in honor of my mothers birthday on September 17, 2009. Happy Birthday Gracie!
“Haven’t you ever dreamed of a place, a place like no other. A Shangri La. A place where there are no cares, no war, or sickness? A place hidden, perhaps, in a secret valley high atop the world, above the clouds, beneath a blue enchanted moon?” These are the opening words from the novel “Lost Horizon” from which the movie was made. I have chosen this as my launch movie because it captures the very essence of what I tried to create for my viewers on the set of Yours Truly, Yoga during its 4 years on cable.
The thing about Lost Horizon the movie is that it is such a wonderful metaphor for viewing our own journey and the people we meet along the way who can show us where we are stuck in our own development. And it teaches us through the main character, Robert Conway, how to handle difficult, even seemingly impossible circumstances with grace and through it, reaching our highest potential.
Robert Conway’s brother is a wonderful teacher for us. Through him we learn about our own lack of faith, our own impatience, lack of self-responsibility, selfishness and a host of other large personality flaws. Here’s George in Shangri La. The most perfect place on Earth. He never has to work again. He gets to wear perfectly tailored oriental clothing,Delicious organic food prepared for him every day. Beautifully appointed rooms in a palace with servants and on top of that a beautiful girl who is willing to hand roll cigerettes for him, which smoked, won’t ever age him or make him sick. The kicker is that George still isn’t happy. He sets off to leave paradise and dies in an avalanche buried by the snows of time. I don’t know about any of you, but it sure gave me alot to think about AND it gave me a walloping appetite. As you pop in the dvd to enjoy this time honored venerable movie that changed my life forever, set up the ingredients for this months recipe and get ready for some Yoga to help you recover from George’s childish and annoying behavior.
The Pose of the Sun
Stand, feet together. Inhale through the nostrils as you raise your arms up over your head and interlocking your thumbs, fingers extended. Imagine that you are facing the sun, with it shining upon your forehead. Keep your posture straight as you continue to breathe deeply, about 5 times. Now, interlace your fingers and move them down to the back of your head. Continue to breathe imagining that the sun is shining on the base of your neck again for another 5 times. Inhale, open your arms, moving them outward and down with the last exhalation. When weather permitstake your practice of The Pose of the Sun outside where you can actually feel the sun’s powerful energy flowing into your body.
Bela’s Rice and Vegetable Pullao Shangri La
2 cups of Basmati or fine rice, washed and soaked in cold water for 1/2 hour. Drain.1 tablespoon oil1/4 stick of salted butter.3-4 cardamom pods3-4 cloves
1 stick of cinnamon
1 medium onion, chopped1 teaspoon Chili Seasoning powder1 10 oz package of frozen mixed vegetablesSalt to taste3 cups of boiled, hot water.
Heat the oil and butter in a heavy skillet on medium heat. Add the cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Stir fry for a few seconds. Add the onions, and fry until soft. Add rice, salt, Chili Powder and stir fry for a few more minutes. Add 3 cups of the hot water. Bring to a boil once on high heat. Stir once, cover and cook on low heat for about 20 minutes.
Add the vegetables on top of the rice. Cover and cook another 10-12 minutes. Before serving, fluff rice with a fork to avoid breaking the rice. This way it resembles the fluffy snow of Shangri La where you too, will be transported to the enchanted Valley of the Blue Moon.
Sherpas not included.
* As with any exercise, please consult your physician before trying the Pose of the Sun if you are under medical or therapeutic care.

Prologue: Yoga, Dinner And A Movie

2009-11-22T01:46:00.000-05:00

Coming in September, we’ll be launching the Yoga, Dinner And A Movie blog. During the time that I hosted and taught Yoga to hundreds of thousands of viewers who watched my show, Yours Truly, Yoga, my friend and favorite Indian Cook, Bela Banerjee was teaching Americans how to cook authentic Bengali food. Bela had been a frequent guest on local TV, including my show teaching about not only the cooking of India, but the fashion as well. Viewers wanted more, so we decided to create a live presentation that we called, Yoga, Dinner And A Movie. It was a fun and action packed event as I would bring along a classic feature film that I purported to contain Yoga film footage of me that had surrepticiously found it’s way to the cutting room floor, but that I would teach the audience. I’d cue up the Movie, add some comments, then defer to Bela at each cooking stage so she could teach the audience each step in the dish she was preparing. Then back to me with a little more Yoga and more comments on the movie. These events were always fun and eventually wound up in my monthly Yours Truly, Yoga newsletter for my viewers. Julia Child had connections to India as did her husband, which is how I wound up with a hand-written recipe of Bombay Duck, jotted down while watching The French Chef on PBS, and how I learned to love mashed potatoes with toast, after watching a much more gourmet version of it taught by Julia. Julia was a kind of icon for Bela and I, and after watching Julia & Julie, I just had the idea to bring Yoga, Dinner And A Movie back to life and so, here we are in the new world of blogs and hoping to bring some fun into your life. Here’s to Yoga, eating, cooking and classic films, and of course, to Julia. See you in September when we’ll officially launch on my mothers birthday, September 17th.

“If you’re afraid of butter, use cream.” Julia Child
www.yourstrulyyogatv.vpweb.com