The other night I was hanging out with a bunch of yoga teachers, red wine included, and we started talking about some of the hilarious students we’ve had over the years. Just like when we were yoga students, and not yet teachers, we would chat about the teacher who always smelled like vodka or the one who wore way to much patchouli or how about the teacher who would wear a Speedo while instructing, we tend to do this now with students. And I kid you not, someone actually wore a Speedo. My friends/colleagues were laughing about how, over the years, we’ve seen the same students be habitually late, or the ones who always do something totally different than what you’re teaching, or the ones who take three pee breaks a class, or students who blow their nose on their yoga towels (gross!) and the ones who refuse to chant OM. But the one habit amongst students that we kept harping on over and over again was the lack of respect from those who bring their cell phones into class. 

If you’re a “normal” yoga student or person for that matter, you’re probably thinking, “people do that?” Yes, and on a day to day basis. I will point out that I have students who are ACTUAL doctors, not just ones who play one on TV (and yes, I have those) and who ACTUALLY save lives on a daily basis and are on-call constantly. This I get. You are ACTUALLY important and NEED to keep your cell phone, beeper and whatever else next to you, on vibrate of course, because I know in my heart that you truly do NOT want to get called away from your yoga practice. You doctors don’t have enough time for yourselves, let alone your families, and you really need your yoga. No problemo!

The rest of you though who think you are super important, are actually not. I see you checking your Facebook, and looking at how many “likes” your pictures got on Instagram. I even see you texting your friend asking where she wants to meet for brunch when you are done with the class you are “supposedly” participating in. Ten years ago I tossed a student out of class because her cell phone kept ringing in numerous classes of mine throughout the week, and she would run into the bathroom (which was conveniently located IN the studio, NOT in the lobby) where I, and the other students, could hear her blabbing away on the phone. The owner of the studio called her and asked her never to come back and practice there and I believe that was the right thing to do. If you can’t unplug for 60 to 90 minutes I honestly feel very bad for you.

As my Ma would always say growing up, “There’s a time and a place for everything” and yoga class is neither the time, nor the place for a cell phone. People use yoga as a time to be selfish, to turn the outside world off so they are allowed to go inward and onward without distractions. That usually means they want to pretend like it’s 1988 when no one had a cell phone and car phones were all the rage. They want that hour for themselves, so they can get completely lost in whatever they seek from their practice; flexibility, spirituality, strength, awareness, or “whateva” as my Grandpa used to say!

Oh! And how about when you’re in Savasana, that last juicy pose where you get to almost fall asleep, and someone’s cell phone starts ringing; whether it be in the cubbies inside the studio, where they forgot to turn it OFF, or stashed away in their yoga mat bag which is conveniently located to the right of your head? Awesome, right?!!!!!! So the next time you head inside to class, take one second, because that’s all it will take you, to turn it off and leave it outside the studio or in your car’s glove box… wherever! Just not in my class please… for yoga etiquette’s sake! I’m so glad I got that off my chest… now onto food!

I’m always looking for new brunch ideas because I tend to eat a light snack in the morning and then I have a bigger meal for lunch consisting of salad or soup or a Yummy Yogini concoction. So today I used a little of everything that I have at home to create this Quinoa Brunch Bowl, that will take you less than five minutes to prepare and cook! I love quinoa and I use it for pasta, salads, and burgers too. It’s healthy, filling and compliments just about anything you pair it with. Enjoy!

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Quinoa Brunch Bowl- serves one 

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup dry quinoa

-1/2 cup yogurt (any kind)

-honey

-rasberries (or any fruit)

-1 T sunflower seeds

-basil or mint

Directions:

1. Follow the instructions for cooking the quinoa. I used this 5-minute quick cook kind.

2. In a bowl, add the yogurt and drizzle some honey on top.

3. Add the seeds and the quinoa.

4. Top with the raspberries and a sprig of mint or basil! Easy peesy!

Fresh, clean, green! 

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We’ll end with books like we usually do. If you enjoyed Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, or saw Sean Penn’s adaptation on the big screen of hiker Chris McCandless, who died in Alaska in 1996, you will love this honestly written book by his sister Carine called The Wild Truth. She answers so many questions most readers, like myself, had after reading Krakauer’s book about why exactly her brother left his family and friends for a life in the wilderness. Carine is careful not to talk for her brother and instead relies heavily on letters and memories that she and Chris exchanged throughout his short life. The pair have an unusually close bond for siblings and I am sure the book was just as hard for her to write as it was for me to read but I am so very glad I did.

Oh! And look who’s the newest member of the Arroyo Grande Library! It’s me! It’s me!