And just like that another fall is upon us! And with it brings warm drinks, cozy sweaters, carving pumpkins, apple picking, movie nights and the leaves changing. Since I’m New England born and bred, I can honestly say there’s no better foliage than on I-95 in Rhode Island. As a child, I spent hours in the passenger seat as my Ma drove us back and forth to visit my grandparents and on Sunday drives to see all of the colors of autumn. Here on the Central Coast of California, we are in the midst of an Indian Summer and a heat wave… very unusual for us. The heat is bringing hammerhead sharks to the beaches and I’m scared to take a swim even though it’s so hot out! Better safe than sorry.. aka.. Better alive than dead!

When the seasons change, I like to change too. Whether it be my hair color, clothing style or lunch, I like to do something different and outside of the box. I feel this last month has been exactly that. I’ve started working closely with the elderly teaching Chair Yoga and it’s proved to be more fulfilling than I would have thought possible. I love being around the elderly. Since a young age I always felt really comfortable with people who were much older, wiser and cuter than me! I used to visit a lady named Mildred Wood for years in a nursing home and continued doing so when I got my license and was able to go when I wanted. I also used to take a few older ladies grocery shopping every week and to the mall to do their shopping!

My Gram often tells me I’ll be a good little old lady because I’ll keep the people around me laughing with my yoga moves. She ran into an old doctor of her’s a few weeks ago and when Gram was telling me about it, she said “that’s the office where you did that headstand in the room while we were waiting for the doctor. Remember?” Yes of course I remember. It’s not everyday your Gram asks you to pop up into a headstand before an examination. She hates going to the doctor and I think it took her mind off of it. I aim to please!

The Chair Yoga group I teach meets every Tuesday at the United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande on Halcyon Road from 11-11:45 a.m. The class is $5 per person and is open to anyone who would like to come. Chair Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, or standing using the chair for support. I also incorporate meditation and breathing techniques so it’s a relaxing class head to toe. Bring a friend!

I’m also really dedicated to making this wine and yoga love of mine a trademark! I’ll be teaching the second installment of Vino & Vinyasa next Friday, October 2 from 4-5 p.m. at Baileyana Winery in Edna Valley. Along with a FREE yoga class, there will be a lululemon trunk show, food trucks and live music! The more the merrier and we will eat, drink and be merry after the yoga class!

One last change you should know about… I’m now teaching Cardio Kickboxing THREE days a week! You can catch me at Club Cardio on M/W/F from 9:15-10:15 a.m. and your first two classes are free so there’s no excuse not to come and at least try something new! The season is changing and so should you!

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You know what the best part of fall is? The food! Squash, squash and more squash! Right now I have a delicata, a butternut and a spaghetti squash just dying to be used. I’ll probably use them most as side dishes at dinner but if you haven’t tried using squash to make muffins or cookies yet, you can thank me later! The soft and buttery texture of cooked squash pairs well with the gooeyness of fresh cookies and it gives muffins a sweeter taste. Plus it’s an excellent substitute for flour so both these recipes below are gluten-free! I did use a gluten-free flour for the muffins but not for the cookies. These cook quick and they are great frozen and reheated as well!

Delicata Squash and Apple Spice Muffins- yields 15 muffins

Ingredients:

-1 cup gluten-free flour (I used Trader Joe’s brand)

-1 delicata squash

-1 apple

-2 eggs

-1/4 tsp each of nutmeg, cinnamon and apple pie spice

-1 tsp vanilla

-2 tsp baking powder

-1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

-1/2 cup of Niccola’s apple butter (applesauce or almond butter is fine too!)

-1/4 tsp salt

-1/2 cup walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray muffins tins and place aside.

2. Cut the squash in half, take out seeds (save them!) sprinkle with olive oil and place cut side down on a baking sheet for 20 minutes or until it is soft. Let cool.

3. In a bowl, mix the flour, powder, spices and salt together.

4. In another bowl, mix the eggs, vanilla and milk.

5. Scoop out the squash and place it in your mixer with the apple butter and puree.

  

6. Add the other wet ingredients to the squash mixture and puree again.

7. Slowly fold in the apples and flour and mix well.

 

8. Sprinkle walnuts on top and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 

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Delicata Squash Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies- makes 12 large cookies 

Ingredients:

-1 Delicata squash

-1 banana

-1 egg

-1 tsp baking soda

-2 tsp vanilla

-1/2 cup almond butter

-1 tsp each of cinnamon and nutmeg

-1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (my new fav)

-1/4 cup pecans, chopped

-1 handful chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Cut the squash in half, deseed and place cut-side down on an un-greased baking sheet for 20 minutes or until soft. Let cool.

   

2. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients except for the pecans and chocolate chips.

3. When the squash has cooled, scoop it out of its shell and add it to the bowl. Mix everything together.

4. Add the chips and mix. Add the pecans and mix again.

 

5. Place scoops of the mixture on un-greased cookie sheets.

6. Lower the oven temp to 350 and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on the edges! Enjoy without the guilt! Easy way to eat your veggies, huh?!

  

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Oh! The handmade mala beads I sell are back in stock and limited! I have a plethora of colors and you can wear them as a necklace, bracelet or as an anklet. They make great gifts and besides picking up some from me, you can find them at SLO Yoga Center, Yoga Shine, Spark Yoga and the Morro Bay Paddleboard Co.

Eat, love, pray and wear a mala!

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Don’t forget to join me for a complimentary yoga class on Sunday’s in September and October at lululemon athletica on Marsh Street in SLO. The class is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and everyone is welcome! Savasana never looked so good!