Orange, Cardamom and Sesame Treats

There are lots of recipes around for raw treats like these. I'm always changing what I add.
I made this version for a yoga weekend recently.

Also, a lot of people are giving up sugar at the moment - or at least fructose. If you are, you can leave the honey out and rely on the spices for the 'sweetness' or you can use brown rice syrup which is made by culturing rice with enzymes to break down the starches, and is then cooked down to syrup. The sugars are maltose and a little glucose so no fructose.  Make sure the syrup you buy has only rice in the ingredient list. It isn't quite as sweet as honey but the same texture.

Please note this is a rough guide as I throw ingredients in as I go along! Add more nuts or seeds if it is too runny, and more tahini, coconut oil and honey/rice syrup if it's too dry and won't stick.

Orange Cardamom and Sesame Treats
1/2 cup of almonds
1/2 cup of sunflower seeds 
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1/2 cup of tahini
Zest of one orange
1 teaspoon of ground cardamom (Use pods and grind your own for the best flavour)
1 tablespoon of honey or rice syrup
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
Pinch of sea salt
Sesame seeds to roll. You can toast them or keep them raw.

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until combined and sticky. I like to keep it a bit chunky as opposed to really smooth.
Roll into bit sized balls and coat with sesame seeds.
Keep in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Nadi Shodana

Image sourced from daily health articles

Nadi - 'channel' or 'flow of energy'
Shodana - 'purification'

If you've been coming to my yoga classes you will be familiar with this pranayama exercise. I've been including it in most classes as it is so balancing.

Nadis are energy channels which flow through the body. There are three major nadis - one which travels along the line of the spine called shashumna, one which enters in the right nostril called pingala nadi and one which enters the left called ida nadi.  
Basically, pingala nadi is the solar nadi and is associated with extroverted, masculine, heat, fire, yang energy. On the other hand ida nadi is lunar and is responsible for the more introverted, feminine, cool, moon, yin energy of our bodies and minds. Nadi shodana works to balance these.

On a physical level, nadi shodana clears the nasal passages and sinuses allowing for a deeper, more full breath to enter the body. If there are blockages in the nostrils, use a neti pot first to help clear. If you have a cold or are particularly blocked, it is recommended not to perform nadi shodana.

Nadi Shodana.

Sit in a comfortable cross legged position. 

Using your right hand, close the right nostril with your thumb. The first two fingers can either be placed between your eyebrows on the third eye centre, or folded into the palm.

Inhale slowly through the left nostril.

At the top of the breath, release the right nostril and close the left nostril with the ring finger.

Exhale through the right.
Inhale through the right nostril.

Block the right nostril and exhale through the left.
Inhale through the left.

And so on.

Ideally, you would do nadi shodana for around 10-15 minutes every morning. Stay mindful of your breath and watch it closely. Once you have finished, pause and observe the calm feeling over your body. You may feel that your third eye centre is clear and open.

I have mentioned Dr Claudia Welch before here. In her book there a numerous examples of cases where nadi shodana was prescribed to assist in balancing hormones and therefore improving overall health.

The yoga text Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha states that nadi shodana ensures that the whole body is nourished by an extra supply of oxygen. Carbon dioxide is efficiently expelled and the blood is purified of toxins... It also induces tranquility, clarity of thought and concentration, and is recommended for those engaged in mental work.