Pranayama Primavera

March 4, 2015

“You may have the Universe, if I may have Italy.”
~ Giuseppe Verdi

Spring will soon be here, the time of new beginnings.

After the exhale that is the fall season, and the pause before inhaling that winter symbolizes, spring is the time of the year when we begin to draw a new breath.

Spring is potential.  Spring is possibility.  Spring is the first expansion of Pranayama.

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word combining prana, meaning “breath” or “life force” and ayama, meaning “control”.  Conscious breathing, the practice of Pranayama, is fundamental, not only to the practice of yoga, but to the practice of being alive.

Primavera is the Italian word for spring.  Can you imagine taking a breath of fresh, spring air while sitting atop a hillside in the heart of beautiful Italy?

Imagine practicing Pranayama Primavera.

June 4th – 10th, as well as June 11th – 17th, I will be teaching yoga at Sunflower Retreats in beautiful Casperia, Italy, an idyllic medieval hilltop village, located just one hour outside of Rome.

Sunflower Retreats has been offering yoga holidays for the mind, body and soul since 1998.  Yoga classes are held on an outdoor deck surrounded by trees.  Guests can also enjoy the sauna and book massages and other holistic therapies.  Nearby restaurants serve delicious food made from locally-sourced ingredients.  Available activities include bicycle riding, swimming, therapeutic hot springs, mountain walks, cooking classes, painting classes, and more.  Spending a week at Sunflower Retreats will be a chance to escape, unwind, enjoy, relax and renew – an opportunity to draw a fresh breath of inspiration.

The word inspire derives from the Latin inspirare, a combination of in, for “into” + spirare, “to breathe”.  Although the modern definition of the word is given as, “to affect, guide or arouse, as if by divine influence”, the original meaning was “to breathe into or blow upon; to infuse life by breathing”.

The timeless and breathtaking beauty of Italy has inspired great painters and sculptors such as Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Bernini; composers such as Verdi and Paganini; the poetry of Dante and the films of Fellini and Sorrentino.  What could inhaling the spring air of the Italian countryside inspire in you?

To imagine the possibilities of spending the end of this year’s spring season with me in Casperia, Italy, visit the Sunflower Retreats website at sunflowerretreats.com

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Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies are a scrumptious way to celebrate the Sun and a delicious alternative cookie for those with peanut allergies.  This recipe is a favorite selection from my book, Cooking and Mysticism: Year One of the Philosopher’s Spoon Blog.

Sunflower Seed Butter Cookies
Sunflower Seed Butter is just like peanut butter, only made with sunflower seeds instead of peanuts.  You can find sunflower seed butter at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, other health food stores and online.  You can also make your own using sunflower seeds, oil, salt, sugar and a food processor or blender.

1 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 & 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, softened
1/2 cup organic granulated sugar
1/2 cup organic brown sugar
1/2 cup sunflower seed butter
(stir well before measuring)
1 large organic egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375°F

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Set aside.

In a larger bowl, cream butter, sugars and sunflower seed butter until smooth.  Beat in the egg and vanilla.

Gradually add flour mixture into sunflower butter mixture.  Beat until combined.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes.  For big cookies: use two tablespoons dough and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.  Remove cookies from oven and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.  Then remove cookies from pan to cool on a wire rack or clean sheet of foil.

Makes 2 or 3 dozen cookies.

 

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