Contributing Blogger: Monica Sackandy, Owner and Director of Little Yoga LLC Ellington CT
Last summer I bought a bottle of raw bee pollen at the farmer’s market on the recommendation of the bee keeper selling it. He said it would most certainly help with my horrendous seasonal allergies. It looked like actual pollen…yellow powder (like the stuff that coats your car in May)…but in little granules/kernels. It tastes very similar to honey.
Typical of me, I enjoyed it a few times in yogurt or granola cereal, then put it in the pantry in the fall and forgot about it. Two weeks ago in a surge of pre-baby nesting fever, I decided to gut my pantry and totally clean it out. Lo and behold…the raw bee pollen. If I had followed the bee keeper’s instructions, I would have remembered to start taking it 6 weeks before my allergies got bad, rather than 2 weeks before. But this would have to do! When you are pregnant, your list of allergy medications becomes much shorter, so I started supplementing a tablespoon of bee pollen per day.
The instant affect for me was that of more mild symptoms, which supposedly increases to almost no symptoms after several weeks of daily use. For the heck of it, I started googling bee pollen, and was floored by what I found out! Apparently, raw bee pollen is considered the world’s most nutritionally perfect food by many experts. There was a list of scientifically analyzed vitamin/nutrient contents, which included high levels of virtually everything-even B12, niacin, and thiamin. Many say that humans could live off bee pollen alone, and that the ancient Greeks and Romans referred to it as “the dust of life”. Some studies even say taking bee pollen daily as a supplement reduces risk of cancer and other diseases! Who knew, right?
If adding bee pollen to your diet for allergies or as a supplement interests you, here are a few things to remember:
1.Test yourself for an allergic reaction first. Place a few granules under your tongue, and increase each day until you think you can manage a teaspoon with no reaction. Eventually you will want to consume a tablespoon per day.
2. Raw is most potent, so if you decide to put it in your hot tea don’t add it until the liquid is under 118 degrees.
3. Know where your bee pollen is coming from, quality local pollen is best!
4. Enjoy it in iced tea, yogurt, on cereal, etc!
Happy Spring! Namaste.
Monica Sackandy, Owner and Director of Little Yoga LLC, is expecting her third child. “I am planning on having my first home birth and am looking to yoga to help manage the physical pain of birth, and to help release some of my fears about not delivering in a hospital.” Monica is a contributing blogger on Yoga Peach and Lil’ berry. Follower her onFacebook Little Yoga LLC!
For Mother’s Day I didn’t send my mom any gift this year. Some years I send her a card and other years a gift, but this year I just felt like sending mom a phone call. I did the same for my sister too. Maybe this sounds bad but really it isn’t. In my defense, our family isn’t really big into gift giving and in my second defense mom reminded me on our call that I took her to the DR for her bday last month. Mother’s Day is a special day set aside to honor your mother, which is a beautiful concept. But the gift giving part is where I sort of get stuck. If I sound cynical, please understand that I know my mom would fully agree with what I’m writing. I do enjoy getting little gifts for my mom, but usually when it’s just for no particular reason. I feel that it’s more meaningful when I see something that makes me think of mom and I send it to her as a gift for no reason. When I was little mom would call these “just because I love you gifts.” I loved receiving “just because I love you gifts” probably more than my birthday presents. They were usually small things that somehow meant a lot to me but I also remember at age 13 a special gift mom gave me for no occasion. We were sitting in the hallway right outside my bedroom and she handed me a small box wrapped in silver paper. She gave me some talk about being proud of me and told me that this gift was “just because she loved me.” That gold bracelet meant so much to me and I know it was because mom gave it to me for the reason she did. Growing up my mom taught me many life lessons that I hold dear to me. I’ve learned a lot from her throughout my life and even as an adult I continue to learn from both of my parents. It’s important to me to honor my mom and be grateful not just today but every day. Love you, Mom.
Keli
P.S. Maybe I’ll send you some pretty flowers next month
Tonight I made a healthy reptile for dessert. Yes, I’m a little bit of a nerd. This guy needs some work. I need to figure out how to make him twistier.
strawberries
bananas
two blueberries (or chocolate chips for the eyes)
Cut a slit into the largest strawberry to create the mouth on the snake’s head. Use a thin strip of strawberry for the tongue. Use two blueberries for the eyes and tiny pieces of banana for the eyeballs. You could also try chocolate chips with a tiny bit of frosting. Alternate strawberries and bananas for the body.
The Spring/Summer 2013 BELONG Magazine launch party and happy hour is coming up next Thursday, May 16! The Sporting Club Bellevue is Philadelphia’s premiere health and fitness club located at The Bellevue,the historic national landmark on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.
I’m especially excited for next week’s happy hour party although I can’t tell you why just yet! I hope some of my friends will join me there as this happy hour means a lot to me!
My favorite yogi, rockstar, voice coach, actor, and most inspiring celebrity entrepreneur continues to amaze me. Reports announced today that Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5, signed a development deal with NBC along with his producing partner Jordan Feldstein. Adam and Jordan will create scripted and other programming for NBC, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
By the way…did you know he launched his own fragrance in February? Love Adam Levine Fragrance!
How does he manage to keep it all together? ”With a centered attitude and a crapload of yoga” according to his interview with Mens Health.“I have a hard time sitting still,” Levine says. “I can be all over the map. Yoga has given me the ability to be more focused and make better decisions that come from a clear place.” Yes, it keeps his stamina up, his physique toned, and his abs ripped. But many forms of exercise can deliver superficial results like these. “Maybe more than anything else,” says Chad Dennis (Adam’s private yoga trainer). ”yoga teaches you to be still and calm under challenging circumstances.” menshealth.com
Congrats to the most handsome and inspirational rockstar ever.
It doesn’t get easier, you just get better. Unofficial: 1:37
I can’t think too much right now but figured now is the best time to take notes from the race. I just ran the 34th annualBroad Street Run, making it my second race in the last month.My lower legs and right hip flexor are sore and I feel a bit foggy. My brain is on a delay. I had no appetite for the first few hours after the race but now I’m finally enjoying sushi and chocolate milk, which is a bizarre thing to eat after a race. At least I think so.
post-race comida
I thought it was funny we were assigned a color group and each group started at different times. I was all set anticipating take off at 8:30 and it came as a surprise that my group wasn’t starting until after 9:00am. I had used half my iphone battery listening to music since 7:00am to get pumped for the race. I was freezing waiting for the race to start. Somehow it dropped down to 48 degrees this morning. By the time we finished it was mid 50s. It can’t be May.
9:08am. Horn sounds. Yellow group blasts off.
Pre-1 mile marker. At least I think it was. Where are the mile markers? Did I miss the first one? I think I missed the 1 mile mark. I took off way too fast and realized after the first mile or two that I had to keep myself under control in order to pace myself through the race. I remember the same excitement at my first race and I had to remind myself to slow down in the beginning.
Mile 2. Oh no. I totally have to go to the bathroom. This is going to suck. It really started to suck once I got to mile 8. The possibility of having to go to the bathroom never occurred to me before. This was the biggest downer of the race.
Mile 3. Seriously, we’re just at mile 3? Three miles is simple on a normal day. Why does it seem like I should be half way done already? I totally don’t know where we are on Broad Street and I’m looking forward to crossing a street sign that I recognize. I’m diggin’ the spectator signs, the funny bands, and large crowds cheering everyone on but this might get really old with 7 miles to go. I turn up my music, ignore my surroundings and focus on my goal. Then I pass these two patriotic guys and I’m slightly curious what their story is.
Mile 5. I’m happy to see City Hall and to be transitioning from North Broad Street to South Broad Street. I like the scenery better and know the area. I’ll be able to gauge how much of the race is left now. I’m approaching Broad and Pine…that’s where my very mini “fan club” is waiting to cheer me on. There are hundreds of people on each side of Broad Street and I don’t see my friends. They never see me. But just knowing they were there gave me an extra boost at this point in the race. And I won’t lie…I totally picked up my pace so I’d look like a cool fast runner whizzing by them. Hehehe, that turned out to be pointless.
Mile 7. I’m passing where I live on Broad Street. So tempting to stop and call it a day. Some of the spectator signs are motivational and others are just plain dumb. My least favorite signs were the ones that read something like “Run now, bacon (or cheesesteak) later,” “Run now, Beer (or margaritas) later” along with several dirty signs that were pretty rediculous…except for “Call me if you have stamina.” The signs that mentioned alcohol or food made my stomach turn and I totally dislike them. My favorite signs were the motivational ones. “Pain in temporary, pride is forever,” “Almost there, keep running!” “Strong mind, strong body,” “Run your ass off” and signs like that. They made my legs move quicker and I couldn’t slow down to take pictures of them.
Mile 9. My iPhone fails from boob sweat. It happened at the end of my last race too. It’s frozen and the screen does not function. Fortunately music is still playing, I’m just not able to chose what song I hear for my last mile. Note to self: don’t keep your phone in your sports bra. But wait…”Violet” starts playing and it’s probably the best song on the playlist. I start picking up the pace right as someone yells “ONE MORE MILE!” My last mile affirmation I kept repeating was “fire it up, fire it up…” Sweet. I got this.
Mile 9.5. Approaching the Navy Yard sign I’m able to start sprinting. I cross the blue Navy Yard sign which I was told was the finish line. Nope. Police officer tells me “half mile more to go!” Lame. I keep up with my quick pace until I cross the real finish line.
Mile 10. Relieved. Happy. Proud I ran the entire race without stopping. I clock myself at 1:37, but that seems impossible. Looking forward to official race times. (updated: 1:39:04) This race wasn’t nearly as hard as the half marathon and the races were completely different.
Post- race was chaos. I didn’t like the huge crowds and just wanted space to breathe. I wanted it to be quiet around me too. I had chills just after I finished even though it was sunny and warm outside by now. Why were so many people, including myself, coughing after they finished? Was it the air, the change of season, or what was it? Someone tell me, please. I couldn’t believe people were able to eat Philly Pretzels, bags of chips, cookies, yogurt, and bananas just minutes after the race. I grabbed a banana, took one bite and felt sick to my stomach. A small cup of gatorade was all I could consume. I know it’s best to load yourself with food immediately after a race but I’m just not capable of eating for 2 hours post-race.
How do I feel a few hours post-race? Happy and pleased with my outcome. I also feel energy depleted and crappy. I barely slept last night and kept waking up from nightmares unrelated to the race. I’ve never experienced “runner’s high” that so many runners seem to get excited about. What I experience is something more like “runner’s crabby.” Even though I feel happy with the accomplishment I also feel like I’m in a daze. I am lacking patience which is unusual and I just seem to get irritated by things after a race. I’m also feeling really chilly. Maybe I just need a nap or better yet I’ll just go to sleep really early.
I’ve learned something about myself today. I’ve always said I suck at running and that I’m not actually a runner. Great yoga attitude, right? Running has always been the one sport that I’ve considered myself weak at. But after completing this race and surprising myself with my time I realize I’m actually pretty normal. I’m not as slow as I thought I was or maybe I’ve recently progressed. Anyways, I’m gonna ditch the negative self talk about me and my running skills as of today.
I have this funny feeling after my second race. I feel something like “so now that I know I can do it what’s next?” Eak. Maybe this means I’ll work towards a time goal next time or maybe I’m almost ready for my triathlon and should sign up for one soon. I’m not quite sure what’s next but I’m looking forward to whatever it is.
lame for standing there with your lame-o sign.
Much better. Football guys cheering on the crowd. Muchhhhhh better.
Race anxiety… it’s here again! I recognize this feeling although this time it’s not as strong as last time. So long as you’ve been training for the race anxiety is all in the mind. You created it and you can chose let go of it. Pre-race anxiety is a normal part of racing for both the experienced runner and rookie runner. Here I am blogging about race anxiety as if I know what I’m talking about but truthfully I fit right in the “rookie” category. Exactly one month ago this weekend I ran my first half marathon which makes tomorrow’s 34th annualBroad Street Runjust my second race. I’ve been running for 10 weeks now and while I still haven’t grown to love running I have noticed significant progress and appreciate certain aspects of running. It’s also an important part of my triathlon training.
A little anxiety can add to the thrill of the race but getting over your racing hurdles is essential for good performance, keeping your confidence high, avoiding injury, relaxing your nerves and enjoying the race.
Overcome race anxiety
1. Focus on the breathe. Focus on the body.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that my first suggestion is yoga-based. It is important to be present and aware of how you are breathing, what your muscles are doing, and connecting the mind, body and breathe. Sit up tall with your legs crossed or take child’s pose. Close your eyes and take several deep breathes to ground yourself. Let go of any past or present thoughts and just breathe. If you find it difficult to let go of thoughts count up to five as you inhale and back down to one when you exhale. This will help your mind and body relax. Continue to do this for as long as it takes until you feel calm, relaxed and confident.
2. Trust yourself. Trust your training.
You have done all the training up to this point so trust that your mind and body are prepared for the event. Rather than wishing you had more time to prepare, celebrate your accomplishments on this important day. Don’t try to sneak in any more training or try something different at the last minute. Trust that your body and mind are ready to compete and do the best you can.
3. Focus. Visualize.
Stay focused. Do not allow distractions to disrupt your mind the night before the run or the flow of your run on race day. Paying attention to distractions around you consumes energy away from you. Stay on track and when something throws you off briefly close your eyes, visualize yourself running hard and fast.
4. Let go of worries.
Let go of things you can’t control. You can’t control if it might rain, who’s going to be on the sidelines watching, whether you might get a blister, leg cramp, or whether you’ll cross the finish line. Worrying about things out of your control is counterproductive, creates unnecessary anxiety and wastes energy. Focus on running sensibly. Let go of outside factors. The mind tells the body what to do. Push hard when you can and remember to ease back if you need to. You can do it.
5. Realize we’re all in the same boat.
Realize that most of your fellow competitors are feeling some nervousness and anxiety too. That alone should help you relax and focus on the race ahead. When you arrive the race be friendly, wish the people around you good luck, and be supportive of all runners. We’re all doing the same thing. Let go of fear and anxieties and have fun!!
Runners have different ways of dealing with stress and nervousness. Find out what works for you and develop your own pre-race formula. If you have additional suggestions I’d love to hear them.
GOOD LUCK TOMORROW TO ALL 30,000 BROAD STREET RUNNERS!XOXO Runner #26,254!
Contributing Blogger Monica Sackandy, Owner and Director of Little Yoga LLC Ellington CT
Those close to me know I did not practice prenatal yoga with my first two pregnancies. To be completely honest, with my first daughter I was living a different life, that of a newlywed with a very corporate job. I recall my free time after work being consumed by relaxing or going out to dinner with my husband. With my second child, everything was a blur. I was a stay at home mom with a one year old and an infant on the way. Needless to say, I was ALWAYS tired and my “workout routine” (if you can even call it that) suffered immensely.
With this current pregnancy, I have been practicing prenatal yoga since day one and generally make healthier choices than I did 5 years ago. Sometimes I get asked, “Do you really notice a difference from the yoga this time around?” I have noticed quite a few differences with this pregnancy, and I do believe they are directly related to yoga and lifestyle. Here’s a few things I notice most:
1. Weight gain:
For this pregnancy I seem to be gaining more “slow and steady” than before, and am about 10-12 pounds under where I was at 7 months with my first 2 children. With both of them, I admittedly gained 15 pounds more than what my doctor recommended. This time around I seem to be on track to stay within that recommended range.
2. Heartburn:
So far, this pregnancy is WAY better and I am suffering much less. Where I used to have horrible heartburn every night, now it seems to be less than once or twice a week. To be continued…
3. Flexibility& Strength:
It is 100 percent truth that your muscles have memory, and this remains true during pregnancy. After giving birth to my second child, I got much more involved in workouts and yoga, often hitting the gym for classes 5 days a week. Shortly after, I became certified to teach yoga and have been teaching classes ever since. Now about to enter my 8th month, I am no longer doing power yoga or vigorous cardio, however I still feel incredibly strong and much more flexible than my “pre-yoga” days.
4. Sleep:
Like a log.
5. Stress:
In general even though I have two small children and one more on the way, I actually feel more at ease in life than I did in my kid-free newlywed days. Less annoys me. Smaller things make me smile. This could be something that comes with age, but who knows (:
The true test of yoga’s contribution to this pregnancy will, for me, be measured in 3 ways: during childbirth to manage pain; mentally and emotionally adjusting to having 3 kids; and last but not least, my physical “bounce back” after baby. Until then, I will enjoy the positives so far and continue to teach until 37 weeks. Namaste (;
Monica Sackandy, Owner and Director of Little Yoga LLC, is expecting her third child. “I am planning on having my first home birth and am looking to yoga to help manage the physical pain of birth, and to help release some of my fears about not delivering in a hospital.” Monica is a contributing blogger on Yoga Peach and Lil’ berry. Follower her onFacebook Little Yoga LLC!
