Astronaut Victor Glover, who was one of the 4 Artemis II astronauts to travel around the moon quoted this about the earth: “You have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.” In the infinite space of the universe, here we are on this little blue planet. It sustains us, it protects us and allows for us to explore this existence as a human being. Not only do we exist together as human, we exist together with the earth. I truly believe what is happening between us as people, is reflected in how the earth is reacting and how it is stressing our Oasis. There are many ways we can respect and protect our Oasis. For me, I focus on eating organic whole foods, local when possible, shopping with reusable bags and avoid pre-packaged foods. On vacations, I've been known to do a trash pick-up on the beach. These are a few small ways. How do you? Extra credit - Share a recent picture of you in the oasis near you. Schoolhouse Falls, Cashiers NC

Thank you for your patience! It took me a few extra days than usual to upload our March Yoga and Cooking classes to the classroom. Both are now ready for you! If you've tried making the flatbreads, let's see your pictures!! After class, I cooked up the extra dough and had some great puffing action with the Chapatis. If you're interested in yoga classes, recipes and instructions, all are found inside the classroom. Upgrading to Premium can be done at any time.

Spring is fully upon us and it's common place to see cleanses being promoted at every turn and I'm not talking about cleaning out your closets. I'm talking about those one-size-fits all cleanses that many organizations and practitioners are touting with kitchari, ghee and triphala. In this month's live class (April 19th), we'll address -ways to stay grounded during a season of variable swings -why and what we cleanse from our mind/body in spring -how to customize practices and food for safe and gentle cleansing So, let me know, what type of cleanses have you done in the past? Share your experiences with us.

The number PI (3.141592653589793238...... ) is a infinite, irrational number that calculates the circumference of a perfect circle divided by the distance across that circle. Regardless of the size of the circle, the number PI is the answer. In vedic philosophy, PI represents the infinite and eternal nature of the cosmos (Brahman). For fun, today is also celebrated with PIES, which ironically are also circles! In December's cooking class, we made mini Mince Pies for the holidays, which were so cute and tasty. Tell me...what's your favorite pie?

The food you eat can affect your mood and your mood can affect what you choose to eat. The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 17, Verses 8-10) shares how food influences our consciousness, moods, and mental health. The qualities (Gunas) of the food is categorized as Sattvic (pure/calm), Rajasic (agitated/passionate), and Tamasic (lethargic/dull). The core principle is “jaisa ann, waisa mann” (as is the food, so is the mind), emphasizing fresh, nutritious food to maintain a balanced, peaceful mind. 1. Sattvic Foods (Goodness & Peace): These foods promote longevity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. They are juicy, smooth, substantial, and pleasing to the heart. - Examples: Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, milk, and ghee. - Mood: Calm, clear, and peaceful. 2. Rajasic Foods (Passion & Agitation): These foods are excessively bitter, sour, salty, pungent, dry, and hot. They cause pain, grief, and disease. - Examples: Excessive spices, caffeine, strong tea, coffee, and highly processed or salty snacks. - Mood: Restless, agitated, and emotional. 3. Tamasic Foods (Ignorance & Lethargy): These foods are stale, tasteless, putrid, decomposed, or impure. They cause dullness and laziness. - Examples: Meat, fish, alcohol, leftovers, and heavily processed or fast food. - Mood: Lethargic, depressed, and confused. In addition to WHAT foods we eat, the HOW, WHERE, WHEN and WHY also affect our Food and Mind. - Mindful Eating: Eating with gratitude and without being in a rush, treating it as a spiritual act. - Offering Food (Prasadam): Offering gratitude and pray for the food, gifting it to the Divine first transforms it into prasadam, which purifies the consciousness. - Moderation: Neither overeating nor starving supports a balanced mind, which is essential for meditation and productivity. - Freshness: Eating freshly cooked food maintains prana (life force), while reheated, old food is considered to be dead or dumb.