Tall Ones & Small Ones-Pictures at Studio Z

Amy and Jet Imboden "Nursery Rhyme Namaste"
(Little Boy Blue is napping under a bale of "hay"!)

Jackson Louthain and Nisa Jorgenson doing a heart opener "Yoda Yoga"

Bodin and Carrie Jorgenson "Yoda Yoga"

Becky and Emre Lieland "Yoda Yoga"

These two moms have been with me since my first "Tall Ones & Small Ones" class and are my most  ardent supporters!
I love the bond of friendship yoga brings.  Thank you-you two beautiful souls!!

Thanks to my own yoginis Jackson and Eliza -we always have a great time! 

Vicki and Adelaide "Pizza Party"

Nisa and Grandma Donna "Pizza Party"-you are never too old to begin to have fun with yoga.

Pizza Party at Studio Z

Most times I read a book or incorporate children's literature somehow into the practice.
Reagan just wanted to read the book after class.

Pizza Party at Peace Through Yoga Studio

After class I often will let kids do "show & tell" for those who have done yoga or gymnastics before and want to show me advanced moves they can do.  

Check out Ella and Kinsey! I know I can't get my body there yet!! Ahh...to be young again.  This is one thing I love about teaching kids yoga, it gives them a tool to KEEP that flexibility and suppleness. Let your kids join me every third Saturday of the month at Eagle Creek's Peace Through Yoga Studio. 

Tall Ones & Small Ones: Current Dates & Themes

Currently taught every every quarter at the 

Plainfield Library for FREE!



List of a few possible themes: 

“Little Blue Truck”

-A routine about why it is important to be a friend inspired by Alice Shertle’s instant classic.

Pizza Party Yoga

-What’s a party without popcorn & pizza?  Learn about eating right and leave this party healthier!

Surfin U.S.A.

-Let’s surf the waves of Hawaii together and search life of the ocean floor.

Nursery Rhyme Namaste

-Stimulate your mind, body & soul with classic rhymes & timeless poses.

Halloween Hatha

-We have a howling good time with this holiday inspired routine!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…Yoga!

-We are all interconnected-learn how the 3 R’s pertain to you and the Earth.

African Safari

-Take a trip to Africa and check out the local wildlife, learn about symbiotic relationships and more!

Sunrise Hike

-Take a "hike" with me up one of my favorite moutons & learn about nocturnal animals, echolocation. 

Yoda Yoga

-Who better to learn wisdom from than the Jedi Master himself!

10 Health Benefits of Green Smoothies

1. Green  smoothies are very nutritious. The ratio in them is optimal for human consumption; about 60% ripe organic fruit mixed with about 40% organic greens.

2. Green smoothies are easy to digest. When blended well, most of the cells in the greens and fruits are ruptured, making the valuable nutrients easy for the body to assimilate. Green smoothies literally start to get absorbed in your mouth.

3. Green smoothies, as opposed to juices, are a complete food because they still have fiber. Consuming fiber is important for our elimination system.

4. Green smoothies belong to the most palatable dishes for all humans of all ages. With a ratio of fruits to veggies as 60:40 the fruit taste dominates the flavor, yet at the same time the greens balance out the sweetness of the fruit, adding a nice zest to it. People who eat a standard American diet enjoy the taste of green smoothies. They are usually quite surprised that something so green could taste so nice.

5. A molecule of chlorophyll closely resembles a molecule of human blood. According to teachings of Dr. Ann Wigmore, "consuming chlorophyll is like receiving a healthy blood transfusion". Many people do not consume enough greens, even those who stay on a raw food diet. By drinking two or three cups of green smoothies daily you will consume enough greens for the day to nourish your body, and all of the beneficial nutrients will be well assimilated.

6. Green smoothies are easy to make, and quick to clean up after. In contrast, juicing greens is time consuming, messy, and expensive. Many people abandon drinking green juices on a regular basis for those reasons. To prepare a pitcher of green smoothie takes less than 5 minutes, including cleaning.

7. Green smoothies have proven to be loved by children of all ages, including babies of six or more months old. Of course you have to be careful and slowly increase the amount of smoothies to avoid food allergies.

8. When consuming your greens in the form of green smoothies, you are greatly reducing the consumption of oils and salt in your diet.

9. Regular consumption of green smoothies forms a good habit of eating greens. After a few weeks of drinking green smoothies, most people start to crave and enjoy eating more greens. Eating enough greens is often a problem with many people, especially children.

10. While fresh is always best, green smoothies will keep in cool temperatures for up to three days, which can be handy at work and while traveling.

The ten health benefits of green smoothies was fist published by Victoria Boutenko & The Raw Family as Ode to Green Smoothie in January 2005.

Remove the Obstacles

(Doing the following will help you detox your system-which in turn helps you lose weight and feel better. All the below is from "CLEAN" by Dr. Junger, p.150-153)


The below are things that I have been trying to do in small increments over the last year or so.  It is easy to get overwhelmed when you think about changing your whole diet. So try implementing a little at a time.  The more you know about why you are making the changes the better.  So get out there and get informed!!


Again I've spent the last year or so trying to learn what works best for my body.  It is an ongoing process and I am not perfect at it.  But I remind myself when I "go back two steps because of unhealthy eating choices-that I have come 10 steps forward" it is a journey, not a race!!
So don't stress yourself out.  All natural, all organic food tends to not fit with many allotted grocery budgets-but even small changes make a big difference.  So decide what changes are most important to you and start there.


1. Remove packaged and processed foods and drinks that contain additives, preservatives and other chemicals.  This includes condiments and sauces. (I have been trying to do this is baby steps for about a year. Replacing packaged stuff with homemade means more time spent on your part for prep. Do not get overwhelmed!)


2. Reduce potential irritants and allergens in the diet.  Find out if you have any food allergies or food sensitivities…some common ones are tomatoes, peanuts, strawberries, shellfish, potatoes etc…

3. Reduce acidity and create a more alkaline inner environment.  Red meat, milk products and excessive grains such as wheat are acid-making foods (SEE pH CHART ON PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY).  There are also "mucus-making" foods that cause the stickiness in the intestines that is counter to healthy nutrient absorption and elimination.  The more you can switch acid forming food for alkaline forming ones the better.

4. Remove foods that have an inflammatory effect on the body. Simple carbs like sugars, grains-especially refined grains like white flour & white rice, cause the body to release greater amounts of insulin into the blood to regulate absorption of the sugars int othe cells. Insulin is a pro-inflammatory hormone. The hydrogenated cooking oils known as "trans fats" also cause inflammation.  (Cold pressed oils are not hydrogenated.)

5. Fill the diet with anti-inflammatory nutrients: omega-3 fatty acids from fish, polyphenols (plant-based compounds) from berries and many plant-based compounds that boost liver detox.

6. Remove foods that tend to suppress certain reactions in the liver detox function, like grapefruit.

7. Remove foods that tend to have fungi on them like peanuts or that feed the yeast in the intestines causing dysbiosis like sugars, alcohol and dairy products.  Alcohol is made by fermenting grain or fruit sugars into ethanol, and contains a mix of preservatives and is a depressant-it should be on the eliminate list.

8. Remove caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes-all of which tax the adrenal glands, negatively impact liver detox and create free radicals that can damage cells…particularly when used on a daily basis.

9.  Remove the most pesticide-kladen crops and hormone and antibiotic-filled meat, dairy and egg products.  Remove the main sources of genetically modified foods, especially in the soy, corn and wheat supply stream. These go unlabeled so look for non-GMO labels or avoid products with soy, corn or wheat.
(This one is the toughest on the budget in my opinion.  Organic, all natural produce and products tend to always be more expensive-I think doing the best "we" can is better than giving up all together.  At least this is what I tell myself when leaving Aldi's with cart full of produce!)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Poem

(I wrote this poem this week to go along with a yoga routine for my "Tall Ones & Small Ones" Yoga class.  If you are interested in the asanas (poses) that go along with the poem email me-or better yet bring your kids to my class!!)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-You can be earth’s super hero starting today.

The 3 R’s help our earth- like the mountains, the trees or the parks where you like to play. 

Wherever you look-there is something that can be done. 

So pick up litter and trash next time you’re out for a run! 

You don’t have to sit and think about it too long. 

Obviously, a hero flying through polluted air is just wrong! 

You help the air when you carpool or ride a bike instead of drive. 

It’s the little things we do again and again that will make our earth thrive. 

Because flowers, plants, animals and insects alike need us…

To fix our currents problems, you don’t have to make a big fuss. 

Little acts help little animals like crab and fish in oceans far away 

Conserve their water-even in a shallow bath you can still play! 

Us tall ones can learn a lot from you- don’t ever doubt your super power. 

Remind others to recycle so our garbage doesn’t tower! 

Looking through your old clothes, don’t throw away-donate! 

In this way, your clothes help other kids look great! 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-You can be earth’s super hero that is for sure. 

Then plant and ocean and animal alike-clean and healthy will endure! 

What is pH?

What is pH?

pH is an abbreviation for "potential hydrogen." It is the measurement of hydrogen-ion concentration.

 The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. The middle reading of 7.0 is considered to be "neutral." A reading 

below 7.0 is acidic while a reading of 7.0 or above is alkaline. The lower the pH reading, the less oxygen 

is in the fluid you are testing whereas the higher the pH reading indicates more oxygen.

How does pH affect my body? Human blood pH should be slightly alkaline ( 7.35 - 7.45 ). A pH below 7.0 

means that the body is acidic, making it prone to ailments, fatigue and disease. When the pH in body tissues

 are overly acidic, a state called "acidosis" occurs. Acidosis is one of the basic causes of many diseases

 as it creates a burden on the liver, kidney, digestive tract, heart and affects every cell in the body. 

A healthy body stores large alkaline reserves to meet emergency demands if too many acid-producing foods 

are consumed. However, these normal reserves can be depleted. Balanced body chemistry is of utmost

 importance for the maintenance of health and correction of disease. When the body is in an alkaline state 

of 7.0 or above, diseases cannot gain a foothold.

What happens when my body is acidic? Acidic conditions in the body often result in health problems

 such as cancer, chronic fatigue, Candida Albicans, depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, 

osteoporosis, viruses, ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease), weight gain, skin conditions and more. Acidosis 

decreases the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients, decreases the energy production in

 the cells, decreases its ability to repair damaged cells, decreases it's ability to detoxify heavy metals, 

allows tumor cells to thrive and creates fatigue and dis-ease. Cancer and most diseases cannot exist in

 an alkaline body. 

What causes my body tissues to become acidic (acidosis)? The body can become

 acidic due to a number of reasons, generally from a combination of the following. Eating a diet of mainly

 acidic foods can create a high acidic pH in your body. All foods are "burned" or digested in the body,

 leaving an ash. This food ash can be neutral, acidic or alkaline, depending largely on the mineral composition

 of the foods.   The reason acidosis is rampant in our society is mostly due to the "Standard American Diet"

 (SAD), which is high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and relatively low in

 alkaline producing foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.   In addition, most foods are laced with

 chemicals that begin during the growing process of the plant or animal and continues through transportation

 and before being placed on the grocer's shelves. These include herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, growth 

hormones, ripening agents and retardants, insect repellents, etc. Most people do not get enough minerals

 in their diet due to the loss of mineral content of the soil where plants are grown. When the body becomes 

acidic, it will do all it can to balance itself. In order to do this, it will use the alkaline minerals found in the body.

However, if the body does not have enough of these minerals in the blood or stored in the tissues,

 the acids will build up in the cells, creating acidosis and setting the stage for a variety of maladies.

Emotional stress also creates acidic reactions in the body.

Daily meditation or quiet time, exercise, releasing negative emotions such as anger, frustration

 and despair will help to increase your overall well-being and assist in balancing your pH levels to a more

 alkaline state. Lack of oxygenated blood  due to shallow breathing, lack of exercise and dietary factors 

also inhibit proper pH balance. Toxic overload creates acidic reactions in the body, these include but are

 not limited to the following: Environmental Pollution: industrial waste, air and water pollution, chlorine 

and fluoride water additives, plastic wraps and leaching plastic water bottles, herbicides, pesticides, 

chemtrails, exhaust fumes, (first and second-hand), X-rays Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: these 

products abound with chemicals Two other areas of concern are mercury in seafood, vaccinations and

 amalgam tooth fillings and aluminum from cookware, baking soda, toothpaste, deodorant and many food 

products.

What can I do to balance my pH level? DIET The rise of cancer, obesity, malnutrition and disease 

is sky-rocketing. Proper nutrition can help combat . It is vitally important

 to maintain a proper ratio between acid and alkaline foods in the diet. To maintain health, the diet should 

consist of 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid forming foods. When the pH balance is maintained,

 the body has a strong resistance against disease. To assist in the curing of any disease, the higher the

 ratio of alkaline elements in the diet, the faster will be the recovery. Alkalis neutralize acids. Therefore, in

 the treatment of most diseases, it is important that the diet includes plenty of alkaline foods to offset the 

effects of acid-forming foods. Animal products are highly acidic and lower in protein than many green leafy

 foods. Consider adding green leafy vegetables, spirulina and hemp protein powders as a natural and alkaline 

meat replacement. Read packaging labels and become aware of substances that are masked as food such

 as chemical sweeteners like NutraSweet, Sweet 'N Low and Aspartame that are added to many foods, 

especially diet products. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and soda pops, for these substances are 

highly acidic. Did you know that to  neutralize a glass of cola that has a pH of 2.5, one must drink 32 eight

 ounce glasses of alkaline water with a pH of 10? The benefit of eating raw, organic foods is the ability to

 avoid ingesting chemicals added during normal farming practices of both animals and plants. These include 

herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, preservatives, growth hormones, chemicals to slow 

and/or speed the ripening process, food additives and msg, to name a few. In addition, organic farms grow 

in mineral rich soils, which enhances the mineral content in the plants you eat. Every phase of processing

 affects the nutritional value of foods. These include, chopping, packaging, bleaching, dehydration, chemical 

alterations, irradiation, homogenization and microwaving,   Heat processes such as pasteurization and

 cooking kills the natural minerals and enzymes, rendering many foods into toxic, acidic non-food products.

The avoidance of harsh medications, whether they are prescribed or "over the counter" is another factor to

 consider. Once you are armed with information on how to balance your body through proper nutrition, many

 ailments will heal themselves. As our herbalist friend, Brian Hornbeck, says when asked how to get rid of

 health problems, "We have herbs for that!" MINERALS When the body is acidic, there are always significant

 mineral deficiencies. There are a number of ways you can add minerals to your diet. Fruits and vegetables

 grown in soils that are mineral rich can provide all the minerals one needs, if a variety of plants are eaten

 on a daily basis. Unfortunately, due to modern farming practices, the vast majority of soils are mineral 

deficient. To make matters worse, the soil and plants are continually bombarded with pesticide, herbicides, 

fungicides and chemical fertilizers which all leads to genocide of the minerals normally found in live soil. 

Growing your fruits and vegetables in rich humus and supplementing what you don't grow with produce from 

organic farms will increase the amount of minerals in your diet. Minerals are destroyed when subjected to heat,

 which means any plants you ingest that are cooked are likely to have lost their mineral content. Salt is a 

wonderful mineral supplement, unless it has been bleached and processed. There are several natural salts

 available that are tastier and more nutritious than toxic table salt. Himalayan salt contains 84 essential 

minerals whereas Celtic salt contains 72 essential minerals. These salts can be obtained at most health

 food stores or better yet, ask your grocer to stock them. Do not cook with the salt, since heat destroys

 minerals; add it to your food after serving or place some crystals under your tongue any time during the day. 

You can also purchase minerals in tablet or liquid form.

EMOTIONAL STRESS (this is from ISHAGIRL)

           How we handle stress, fear, worry, trauma, sadness, anxiety etc effects our physical bodies. That is why 

           reading and pondering the scriptures daily and aligning our will and our understanding with God's will and

           knowledge is so vital.  He gives us the inspiration to combat negative emotions, He helps carry those burdens 

           for us.  Making time to BE STILL daily or in other words, doing daily meditation is crucial to a healthy mind 

           and well body.  The mind is everything, so as corny as it sounds, positive affirmations and

           mantras can make a powerful difference in your physical health.  

         

OXYGENATED BLOOD Every cell in the body needs an adequate supply of oxygen to function properly.

 The air we breathe today is not as purely oxygenated as it was before the advent of technology. Shallow 

breathing, lack of exercise and dietary factors that inhibit properly oxygenated blood also causes acidosis,

 less oxygen in the blood. Deep breathing, physical exercise and proper diet can help to eliminate many of 

the problems associated with low blood oxygen count.

I almost hesitate to mention where I pulled the above info from because articles on the site 

are a bit "out there", but I thought it explained a general overview in a  concise manner.  Again there 

to search. This is just a place to start...so www.t-a-d-a.com...don't laugh.