what Vegas leaves in its wake

The Daily Doodle: No amount of stretching and not drinking can ensure you won't return home with stale breath and bothered eyes. I am currently nursing my Vegas hangover.

1. Yoga in-room at the Encore – the Wynn sign is actually reflecting in from the building next door. 2. The Bellagio's fountian show is every fifteen minutes. We watched it twice while waiting for "O".  3. Golden pear decorations 4. Spa at the encore. Gorgeous! 5. Nevada welcome City of Primm shot from the drive in.

pre-turkey surf

The Daily Doodle: When in Palm Beach I like a pre-feast tennis match, in Cleveland a brisk walk, and in Cali a before stuffing surf. Let it be clear, this is all in addition to, not in lieu of, helping out in the kitchen! It's also not about "work-out so I can gorge myself", but rather "appreciate and give thanks to my healthy body and mother nature before enjoying a bountiful family meal". This year, I am not able to make the coast-to-coast trip to join my mom, so instead I will drive through the desert to the city of sin where my husband, brother-in-law and I plan on kicking ass and taking names. Thanksgiving in Vegas, baby. 

Monkeying Around

The Daily Doodle: I'm loving protein-y, chocolate-y, peanut butter-y smoothies... with an espresso shot or two!

See-Monkey-Do Smoothie:

Serves 2

4 scoops vanilla protein powder

2 Tbspn peanut butter

1 large banana

2 cups almond milk

2-4 shots cooled espresso

three handfuls ice

Blend thoroughly. 

Seriously, walk away, let it run a few minutes. 

Your neighbors will forgive you.

I'm sick of spoiling myself! I didn't mean to make a big deal of it, but I guess that's when the crazy always gets unleashed: this 'Birthday Month' of decadence included, but was not limited to, buckets of pink roses, a lively Mexican dinner, out-of-town visitors, a five-star brunch, and a day at the spa. Sounds like a dream? Honestly, I'm exhausted. But expect more excess (perversion, corruption, gluttony...), because in a few days I head to Vegas! Thereafter, though, it's back to basics: more yoga, please.

What kind of sparkling water will you be serving this season? 

Bvlgari S. Pellegrino, of course. 

Ode to Ugg

The Daily Doodle: I know I shouldn't, but I love Uggs. I simply can't help myself. I even wear them with shorts. Oh, the shame. A few days ago I got into a fight with a dining room chair, and the chair won. It was a sturdy chair, so I am happy to have a small collection of furry booties with which I can now encapsulate my bruised foot. Soft Ugg soles also muffle the distinct sound of my 3-days-and-running limp.

Apres-Ski Stretch

The Daily Doodle: Stretching in apres-ski attire. One of my favorite yoga classes to teach was 'Apres-Ski Stretch' at O2 Yoga in Aspen, Colorado. At 4pm, sandwiched between a rigorous-heart-pumping-exhilarating-day and a party-like-there's-no-tomorrow-night, this class always had a magical feeling of stillness and calm. I look forward to heading to Telluride for a one-week family vacation this winter, where the class setting may be a carpeted condo floor with a fireplace instead of a glistening, open studio and the clientele will likely not be the paying kind, but the flushed faces, long-johns and feeling of freedom and serenity  in the Mountains is always the same. 

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana: bridge pose

Setu: bridge

Bandha: lock

Sarva: whole, complete

If you can stay in the pose 30 seconds to one minute, a stress-free (powder) day is sure to follow. 

I like to daydream and eat In-N-Out

The Daily Doodle: I'm married to a man, so yes, I do eat highly questionable, edible food-like substances now and again: an In-N-Out double-double, double order of fries, and neapolitan milkshake... Mind you, these are sometimes foods. I tagged this as 'inspiration,' because the doodle looks like she is about to be (inspired,) and I think her outfit, especially those shoes, already is.

Rainy days are great for yoga, Salambhasana

The Daily Doodle: On rainy days in Cali there are not many options (even our malls are outdoors.) Having already seen the decent box-office hits, I re-read Iyengar's "Light on Life," while waiting out this Saturday's persistent showers. And lo and behold, it could not be a sunnier Sunday.

Salambhasana: locust pose

Salabha: grasshopper, locust

This seemingly simple pose is much more powerful than it looks. But do not take my word for it: lie face down on your mat, press your pelvis into the floor, spread your low back long, reach up and out with your toes, and lift your chest. You will be relieving fatigue, flatulence, constipation, indigestion and lower back pain as well as strengthening your spine, buttocks, backs of the arms, and backs of the legs. You are also stretching your shoulders, chest, belly, and thighs. 

"By persistent and sustained practice, anyone and everyone can make the yoga journey and reach the goal of illumination and freedom... A yogi never forgets that health must begin with the body... Patanjali said that asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, and compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond... Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence, and and benevolence of spirit." -B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life. 

winky headstand Salamba Sirsasana

The Daily Doodle: Salamba Sirsasana

Salamba Sirsasana: Supported Headstand

Salamba: with support

Sirsa: head

Asana: pose

In this pose the 'support' is your forearms... because, get this, Sirsana is standing on your head with your arms by your sides.

Mr. Kirschenbaum's favorite pose, Salamba Sirsasana

Purvottanasana

The Daily Doodle: Open your heart! This pose will diminish your fatigue. 

Purvottasnasana: upward facing plank

Purva: east, front of body

Uttana: intense stretch

Asana: pose

Chia pet drank my birthday Kombucha

The Daily Doodle: A 'birthday' greeting card is in the works along with a 'bridal' card, featured in yesterday's post. To  be mass produced I hope. The yoga deck girls will also make their debut on paper soon. Meanwhile, I have rekindled my love for Kombucha. We are so into the Chia Kombucha at the Krischenbaums' that the elixir is purchased by the case! The man behind me in the co-op check-out line gave me the down-low: chia seeds do not need to be ground, but simply swallowed in order to be absorbed by the body. He mixes chia seeds into his almond milk with a little agave and soaks it over night for a tapioca-like pudding. This is certainly next on my list to try. It also makes me think of this drink as a healthy version of the ever-so-fun boba teas popular in Asia. Chock full of omega-3s, fiber, and protein as well as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin and zinc, why not give chia seeds a whirl?! 

Blissful Bride

The Daily Doodle: working on a 'bridal' greeting card...

First thing's first salamba sarvangasana

The Daily Doodle: Salamba Sarvangasana followed by sites from a (relatively) foggy morning jaunt on Mission Bay, San Diego.

Salamba Sarvangasana: Supported Shoulder Stand

Sa: with

Alamba: support

Sarva: all

Anga: limb

If this is an inversion you enjoy, work your way up to holding this pose for 3-5 minutes a day. With this daily asana, any anxiety will fall by the wayside. This is a wonderful pose for the thyroid, as you can see on the doodle, the glands in her neck are being stimulated with the fold of her chin against her chest. 

a look to match this rainy day

The Breakfast Tree

The Daily Doodle: What I had for breakfast this morning: eggs, spinach smoothie, Nespresso cappuccino, apples with almond butter, and a Think Thin bar. Think Thin bars are probably not the most sustainable of sustenance, but, man, am I a fan. The Tai Chi class and Hubby's back-side are snapshots from my morning bike-ride vantage point.

Shop Lunch Tan

The Daily Doodle: Shop Lunch Tan not Tan Lunch Shop because I like to hit the stores first thing, when the parking lot is still empty, the help is still helpful and the goods on display haven't been thrown about in disarray. It's always a good idea to break for lunch, and when sunning do not forget to accessorize your swimwear! PS: Yes, this is the weather in San Diego today.