Cupid Under A Time Crunch?

The mere thought of red roses and chocolates might send your heart aflutter this week, or make you wince at the contrived "Hallmark holiday" that they represent. Nevertheless, it is possible to embrace Valentine's Day in a way that celebrates who you are and who (or what) you love . . . even if you only have 24 hours to pull it off. The added bonus? The following ideas are cost-effective too!

7 Sweet Ideas For A Meaningful Valentine's Day

1. Nix The Gifts: Lots of couples opt to forego gifts and pen good, old fashioned love letters instead. Create an original twist by adding the stipulation that the letters must arrive in an unconventional and surprising manner. Tuck your heartfelt card into the cereal box of your sweetheart's choice for an unexpected treat over breakfast, retain Fido as your mailman, or sock it away in your honey's sock drawer. It's a small way of ensuring some spontaneity during an otherwise predictable day.

2. The Couple That Plays Together, Stays Together: This is a great option for friends as well as couples. Book an activity that you can enjoy together. Take a rock-climbing lesson, attend an Acro Yoga workshop, drop in at a swish health club to which neither of you belong, or make like Tom Brady and Giselle by throwing strikes at Kings.

3. If The Clichéd Day Bugs You- Pick A New One! Who says Valentine's Day needs to happen on Thursday? Dodge the flocks of lovebirds by opting to celebrate whenever suits your fancy. Make a day of it on Saturday by booking a bodywork session, followed by a relaxing lunch, a fun flick, and a cozy dinner at home. I once met a couple who had a falling out on Valentine's Day several years ago. Following the rift, he drafted a "press release" announcing that the holiday had, in fact, moved to another date of their choosing. Remember, if it's your relationship, you make the rules.

4. Extend The Love All Year Long: Magazine subscriptions and fruit, flowers, or wine of the month clubs are great ways to show someone you love them every day of the year, not just when the calendar deems it necessary.

5. Collaborate For A 3rd Party: Notice I didn't say "with" a third party! Enlist your significant other or a friend to help you double up on love for another. Pay a visit to one person's elderly parent or grandparent. Bake a niece's favorite treat together. Conspire to execute an anonymous act of kindness for a mutual friend.

6. Share Your Mug Shot: O.G.'s S.O. summited Mt. Rainier a couple years ago, but the picture taken at the top and framed as a gift is among the best presents I've received, ever.

7. Spread the Love: Donate to a charity close to your honey's heart. A few of Om Gal's local favs worth considering:

Artists for Humanity seeks to bridge economic, racial and social divisions by providing underserved youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts. http://www.afhboston.com/

ReadBoston is a children's literacy organization with the goal of making sure that children in Boston read at grade level by the time they complete third grade. http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/ReadBoston/JCSRB_Donation.asp

Dana-Farber provides cancer patients with the best treatment available. Its Boston Marathon running team is training in the rain, snow, and sleet during this time of year; supporting their mission will help keep spirits (and motivation!) high. http://www.dana-farber.org/how/gifts/

When The Yoga Teacher Is Wrong

To most Americans, the concept and practice of yoga is new; therefore, students are predisposed to believing that what a yoga teacher says is the absolute truth. In reality, yoga teachers are no more infallible than anyone else, and given my extensive exposure to both the yoga industry and more "traditional" industries, such as education and media, I can say, with confidence, that one is no more corrupt, dishonest, or hypocritical than the other. My intention is not to tarnish the yoga industry's image, here, but merely to shed some light on how you can get the most out of your practice and ensure that your teacher always has your best interests at heart.

To that end, do not let any yoga teacher, no matter how experienced, visible, or well-meaning convince you of the following:

1. Your life is miserable. This is a relatively new phenomenon, but I've noticed that it can be ubiquitous within certain teaching styles and in certain environments. Yes, yoga might be a highlight of your day, but do not let others convince you that you are miserable the other 23 and 1/2 hours of the day.

2. You are fat, old, and should become a vegan (or raw foodist or Scientologist- you get the idea). It's true that yoga is great exercise, makes one look and feel younger, and is best supported by a healthy diet; however, a yoga class should never be a platform for a teacher's personal agendas. Your teacher should be like a sherpa, leading you up the mountain toward a grander view; they should not be Old World explorers seeking to stake claim on you and your life choices. In an effort to make yoga more accessible, teachers, today, often tell anecdotes in class and share their ideas and spiritual inquiries (as I do in this blog); still, they should always do this from a place of advocacy for the student, profound compassion, and an understanding that life can be tough, and we are all doing our best.

3. People who don't do yoga won't or can't understand you. A true yogi should be able to recognize the essence of a yogi in everyone. Remember, the word yoga means "union," and that state of being doesn't discrimminate against non-yogis, relatives, in-laws, children, roommates, ex spouses, coworkers, etc.

[Author's note: if anyone figures out how not to discrimminate against Yankees fans, please let me know].

Om Gal Ventures North

I'm a big fan of Uggs and hot cocoa, but that's about as far as my affinity for the winter months goes. I don't ski, ice skate, snowboard, or snowshoe. I find curling laughable; although, I suspect I am not alone in this. I like snow as long as it happens on a Sunday morning, magically clears by noon, and doesn't usher in a host of parking bans, tickets, or feuds over spots in the meantime. I envy people who embrace the darker, shorter days with glee, planning trips northward and inviting their equally ecstatic friends to tag along.

Plenty of my friends over the years have extended such generous invitations to homes in lovely places like VT, NH, ME, and Tahoe, and while I am always appreciative and touched, I give these trips about as much consideration as a career in the circus, which is to say I don't consider them. Instead, I hunker down in my urban hermitage, scurrying out into the cold only when absolutely necessary. Please note, activities that warrant leaving home can typically be categorized as one of the following: attending a hot yoga class, luxuriating in the steam room at my gym, or venturing to the grocery store to stock up on Yogi tea and ingredients for soup.

Therefore, it is not without utter disbelief and shock that I share with you what I did this weekend . . . I went to Vermont. What's more, before my former self could protest, I fully embraced snow country. I went snowshoeing and, just this morning, tried snowboarding [insert gasp]. My hands went numb; my butt became sore; I traded in my sleek yoga clothes for outfits that consisted of at least two pairs of pants, several layers of fleece, and borrowed gloves that I might have earlier mistaken for well-insulated cooking mitts. Most importantly, I returned home feeling thoroughly relaxed and rejuvenated. It's even probable that I'll revisit the Green Mountain State in the future.

In the short term, however, I'll try to find ways to preserve the zen of the mountains within my city slicker life. Perhaps you'd like to give this a try as well?

5 METROPOLITAN WAYS TO MIMIC A MOUNTAIN RETREAT:

Turn Off The TV: Your nervous system will thank you.

Connect to Nature: City living makes opportunities to do this less obvious, yet there are plenty of ways to appreciate nature EVERY DAY. Perhaps you could start small this week by buying a plant or fish? Then, take care of either or both gingerly.

Challenge Yourself: Snowboarding was not easy, and it was even a little scary. Still, it made me laugh a lot- even in the face of complete ineptitude, which is infintitely healthy and important.

Be Quiet: No explanation needed.

Be Kind: Lend someone your gloves. You may be surprised to realize that it will be you who feels the warmth.

Speaking of Taking Action . . .

You may or may not know that the word "karma," which is so commonly used in the lexicon of pop culture lingo, translates to mean "action." People often misrepresent the concept of karma as being omipresent and, even, arbitrary. Omnipresent, perhaps, but arbitrary, it is not. Karma is not the equivalent of luck. You create and "burn" [or process] your own karma every moment of the day. Good actions beget good actions. Exercising bad karma inevitably brings bad karma into your life. Meaning, if you want good karma, you must take action and extend your own good karma to the world.

How can you change the daily habits of your day to include more good actions/karma?

Zen Master Tim Gunn: Make it Work!

Ideally, your yoga practice and, by extension, your life is a means of discovering, revealing, and honoring your truth, known in sanskrit as "satya." So, the truth is, I am watching Project Runway right now; yet, I think there's plenty of yogic insight available for the fashionista set to consider. OK, maybe not "plenty," but there's some insight.

Tim Gunn, the show's gracious, sophisticated, and oft-aped host, lives by the mantra, "Make it work!" It's not an original statement or a profound one, per se; however, it does represent the essence of yoga. It's about action- making something work as opposed to "thinking" it into working. I'll make my point quickly (or else I'll miss the rest of the show) . . . Stop thinking about your yoga poses while you're in them. Actively disengage from thinking about the yoga poses of the people around you in a class. Get acquainted with the action of your practice, right down to your toes. Make your toes an awakened part of your practice. Make the pose an active part of your day. Make it work. Make it come alive. Make it fun!

Having trouble quieting the constant internal analysis of your practice . . . and your life . . . and your to-do list? Focus your awareness solely on your breath and the physicality of what you feel. Create a connection with your feet on the floor or your palms against your mat. Spending time in meditation (yoga is classified as meditation in motion) will make you more inspired to create masterpieces and strut confidently down the runway of your life when you're not on your mat. Need the non-yogic application of this idea? Consider where in your life you might be better served to stop analyzing and start taking action?

"Auf wiedersehen!"

Vegan Muffins for the Mainstream

These muffins are easy, healthy, and completely delicious. They happen to be vegan but certainly won't tip anyone off on taste alone. Give them a try. Bring them to brunch with friends. Send them to school with the kids.

Ingredients:
2 c. whole wheat flour
2 tbs. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/4 c. water
1/2 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
1.5 cups chopped apple (peel first)

Combine dry ingredients. Combine water and applesauce. Add apples to dry ingredients and stir to coat. Add water/applesauce mixture. Spoon mixture into non-stick muffin tins (sprayed with vegetable oil spray). Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

Heavenly when served warm.

Weight Loss Starts with Awareness- And a Pen!

I've shared this tip with a few people seeking advice on how to get their nutrition back on track this week, so perhaps it will be helpful to a few of you out there. In general, I shy away from the word "diet," as it has a temporary connotation, as opposed to a revised, holistic, long-term approach to healthful eating, and tends to get a bad rap anyway. If you want to make changes to the way you eat and, by connection, the way your body looks and feels, the first step is awareness.

No practice is more effective for gaining a realistic perspective on your eating habits and distinguishing where you need to make adjustments than taking good old fashion pen to paper. For one week, write down everything that you eat and drink, including the coffee cake sample at Starbuck's, the candy bowl at the reception desk, the late night snack . . . everything. More importantly, do NOT judge yourself. Simply, write it down. No one will see this record, so the accuracy will only serve to help you achieve your own goals in the end. Next, try to keep track of when you are eating which foods. This attention to how time of day influences your choices will help you identify when you are most likely to derail. Do you hit the vending machine at the same time every day? Do you deprive yourself all day and then feel compelled to binge after dark? Once you notice troublesome patterns, you'll be better equipped to adapt. Can you pack a healthful snack as a substitute for the assault on the vending machine that you seem destined to make at 3:30 p.m. every day? Do you need more carbs by day, so that your dinner can be a little lighter and leaner in the evening? Do you crave sugar on the days you skip breakfast?

After keeping careful track of what you eat for at least one week, review it. What's extraneous? What doesn't truly fuel your body? Empty calories. Aimless grazing. Emotionally triggered binges. Before you worry about a glycemic index or villify carbohydrates, you need to figure out which foods and patterns are currently undermining your health. Remember, do NOT judge. Just take an honest look, and go from there. The fringe benefit is that you may even find that the act of writing down what you eat and, therefore, seeing it in black and white might be enough to discourage unhealthy choices. For healthy choices and easy recipes, continue to check in regularly with The World According to Om Gal. Bon appetite!

How To Heal A Broken Heart

It's probable that many of you are mourning the loss of the Patriots' perfect season at the Superbowl last night. I'm with you; it's devastating, shocking, and, like a sucker punch in the abdomen, painful. In this delicate situation, I don't think it's wise for me to breeze through it, wax poetic about how "nobody's perfect," or suggest that the defeat serves as a necessary example of staying rooted in the present moment, not gazing perilously ahead toward victory parades and commemorative books before, well, a victory.

Instead, I'll share the following simple antidotes for healing a broken heart (football induced or otherwise), and then, shove off to sleep, hoping that I'll awake to find that this is all an awful dream.

-Backbends (e.g. fish pose, wheel, upward dog). These movements open your heart. It's an important practice even if Eli Manning just crushed it. You might physically feel as though backbends are more difficult if you're carrying around a "heavy heart," so move gingerly. There's no need to overdo it.

-Meditation. Try 5 minutes a day to start. Sit comfortably, with your spine straight. Breathe deeply. If you get distracted, try counting your breathes. When all else fails, count the days until Red Sox spring training.

-No Pudge Brownies. They're made with yogurt but taste even better than the "real" kind. They're available at Whole Foods or in the health food aisle of most larger grocers. Trust me on this one. They're practically medicinal.

-Accupuncture. After a particularly painful breakup a few years ago, I sought this ancient Chinese treatment as a cure. It seemed to help, and being stuck with needles can't feel much different that losing to the Giants. (Ouch, it hurts just to type that).

-Humor. Try www.funnyordie.com.

Have any heart-mending advice of your own? Feel free to share. I may need it later (after sitting in meditation, having licked clean a bowl of brownie mix, while pressing featherlight accupuncture needles into my face).

The Buddha's Last Piece of Advice

The Buddha, in his lifetime, shared many eye-opening, heartwarming insights. He taught the world non-violence and moderation, a commitment to the truth, and the power of meditation. So, when faced with his final hour, what words could the Buddha impart on those around him? What could he say that might encompass his teachings and offer solace to the students that might miss him. Turns out, his last words were incredibly simple yet deftly comprehensive. Before his passing, the Buddha simply advised,

"Do your best,"

. . . which I find very reassuring. Truly, it's all that can be asked of us, ever. And, if we do put forth our best effort in any given moment (whatever level of effort might be available to us in that moment), then we can always rest easy. Some days, our best is filled with energy, enthusiasm, and an unmovable focus on our admirable goals; other times, it's mustering up the courage to leave the house in the morning. One is not better than the other- they just are. The Buddha teaches us that what's important is whether we can greet the moment we've been given with a willingness to do our best.

Fabulous Forearm Stand: The Inversion You're Overlooking

Headstand and handstand tend to get all the glory. They're beautiful and showy and, let's face it, fun. They're like the homecoming king and queen of asanas, drawing the envy of many and illustrating that popularity can open doors, in this case, to studios and yoga classes all over the world, where these poses are practiced, demonstrated, scrutinized, studied, and refined. Teachers and students, alike, feel an attraction to them; we want to show the world that we're acquainted with poses at the top of a percieved pecking order.

Less popular but equally as fun is forearm stand, which is more of a class president type, grounded and foreward-thinking; this pose maintains the benefits of the other two more conventional inversions but also accesses a deeper kind of strength in the upper back, shoulders, and abdomen. In reality, neither is better than the other; I just think forearm stand deserves a little more love.

To get started, familiarize yourself with dolphin pose (downward dog but with forearms on the ground). Then, set up against a wall (finger tips can just barely touch the baseboard of the wall). Be vigilant about the shoulder-width of your arms (do not let your forearms creep inward!). Kick your legs up to the wall; be gentle. Don't kick like a donkey. Activate your core, and wrap your shoulders away from your ears. If you want to attempt to balance, draw your gaze between your hands.

Notice how grounded you feel. Imagine drawing energy and power up from the floor. When you tire, rest convienently in child's pose. If this is too advanced, try facing the opposite direction and walking your feel up the wall; this way, you will experience the pose and generate power in your shoulders while still maintaining a stable connection with your feet against the wall (legs parallel to the earth, eventually).

Try it today; let me know what you think.