Gomukhasana and Sugar Cookies

Gomukhasana ~ Cow Face Pose

Go: Cow
Mukha: Face

Somehow this pose looks like a cow face; the arms are the ears? The legs the lips? Boobs the eyes? If anyone knows... please shed some light on this for me, it has long been a source of wonderment.

Kelly Wearstler's Hue is my latest book love. 

J and I have a busy summer lined up and so, of course, when we don't have our feelers out for, or, at least, have loosened our grasp on 'career/future/money' the propositions are pouring in. Between the two of us, we have been offered four jobs in less than one week, and turning them down in a time where most of us will take anything we can get. The elusive butterfly: chase it and it eludes you, sit still and it will land on your shoulder.

Aparigraha is the yogic term for non-grasping. While opening your hips and shoulders in Cow Face Pose take big exhales out of your mouth and meditate on the concept of letting go.

Use the mantra "so hum," "I am that," repeating out loud or silently "so" on the inhale and "hum" on the exhale. (If you know the "So Hum," chant you are welcome to repeat that.) A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of creating transformation.

If you like, you may fold forward in this pose and place your head on the floor beyond your knees or on a block, but please be sensitive to your shoulders. I recommend holding for about 5 minutes after warming up, and do both sides equally.

"Super Market" Sugar Cookies

These are fluffy like the ones you would get in the store, but sans additives and preservatives. They are certain to impress your friends. They are not very sweet and after taking this picture I glazed them with a simple powdered sugar + milk + vanilla extract mixture using a paint brush. A sugary topping of some sort is a must.

4 cups Flour
1 tspn Baking Powder
1/2 tspn Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 tspn Nutmeg (I only had and used pumpkin pie spice.)
1 cup Butter, softened
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 Egg
1 tspn Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Sour Cream (I only had and used plain yogurt.)

1. Sift together first 5 ingredients.
2. Cream together butter and sugar.
3. Beat in egg, vanilla, and sour cream.
4. Combine dry and wet ingredients.
5. Wrap in saran wrap and chill overnight.*
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6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
7. Roll dough out (I used a wine bottle) on a floured surface.
          -Work quickly.
          - Leave a little thicker if you would like the store-bought cake-like effect.
8. Cut into desired shapes.
9. Bake on un-greased cookie sheet for 7-10 minutes.
          -The perfect amount of time to meditate or try a yoga pose. 
10. Cool. Decorate.

*Make the dough into a cutable roll like Mr Pillsbury if your not much for rolling or don't have any cookie cutters. Or make balls and flatten... anything is possible. Also, you do not need a mixer or fancy equipment. Elbow grease will get you where you want to go and burn some cookie calories in the process.