As a Type A personality, though I may appear calm and relaxed on the outside, my mind is usually a constant whirlwind of thoughts, wants, ambitions… that godforsaken to-do list and must-accomplish-by-this-age list.

Recently, I have been having trouble finding balance in my life. I have neglected writing on this blog and keeping up with reading your blog posts on my Google reader. When I start neglecting this blog, that only means that things at dotdot have been keeping me busy. And boy have I been busy, with launching Imperial Fez’s website, working on Sprig Restaurant’s marketing collateral & photography and branding a new mobile yoga studio business.

All very exciting stuff, but I have missed writing and photographing for this blog dearly.

I need to find balance in my life.

Enter yoga.

Yoga is something that I need. Not only to prevent injury, but to also give myself the time to center my thoughts and calm my mind.

And to bribe myself into going to more yoga classes? I got myself a snazzy new yoga bag.

I have been lusting over this lululemon tote ever since Alison posted about it on her blog. Being the frugal person that I can be (especially when I don’t need something), I held off buying the tote since it was a bit pricey and I already have a gym bag that I was okay with. But, earlier this month I saw that the tote was on sale so I snagged one.

I’m in love already. It fits all of my yoga clothes, swimsuit and gym shoes… and my laptop. Heck yeah! If a bag can fit my laptop, it’s pretty much a winner in my book.

After a yoga class, refueling is a must. And since I have been on a smoothie streak, I’m continuing it with a Green Tea Coconut drink this week.

Matcha powder, have you heard of it? It’s this expensive Japanese green tea powder that is packed with antioxidants. It exceeds green tea in nutrients because instead of brewing the green leaf, you are ingesting it.

And if you’re like me, I prefer cold drinks especially after a workout. So, here is a quick cold matcha drink recipe that you can whip up in about 3 minutes.

Green Tea Coconut Drink (serves 2)
1 1/2 cups Coconut Dream drink
2 tsp matcha green tea powder
1 banana
1 tbsp agave nectar (more if you like your drink sweeter)
4 – 5 ice cubes

Instructions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender, then serve and enjoy!

The weather has finally turned cold, then warm, then cold again.

Oh the perks of living in Georgia.

Thankfully, I joined a gym back in December, complete with whirlpools, steam rooms, sauna and spa. Not to mention the complete yoga and Pilates studios. Who am I kidding? I joined a resort.

In spite of all of this, some days it’s tough to get myself out and to the gym. Winter workouts that have been inspiring me to get my booty to the gym lately.

1. Kickboxing – There is no better way for me to workout my stress (and burn some major calories) than with kickboxing. With my current tendonitis (aggravated by our recent car accident), not having pressure on my hands has been great. Not to mention the great music and always energetic instructors.

Note to self: I need to figure out how these ladies constantly have this much energy.

PSA: If you don’t look where you are kicking when doing a back kick, you look like an ass donkey.

2. Swimming – A good swim does wonders for my cardio and stress level. I am a total water baby and just love being in the water. Plus, swimming is really great for cross training, and my favorite way to work on strengthening muscles.

3. Cycling – Have really only been to one spinning class… because I can’t hoist myself up on a hurt wrist. But working out on the stationary bikes has been great for me, especially if I do a swim first and then head into the fitness area for a 30-40 min session of stationary cycling.

4. Yoga – For the Type A part of my personality, making myself go to a yoga class, calm down and center myself is a challenge. I would much rather be in a martial arts class, swimming in the pool or riding away on the bike. However, balance is important in fitness, as well as flexibility, so off to yoga classes I go.

Replenishing your body after a workout with nutrients and protein is just as important as the workout itself. A great smoothie usually hits the spot.

And this particular one may be my new favorite post workout smoothie. It contains clementines, bananas and ginger – a wonderful winter combination that also reminds me of the beach.

Citrus Ginger Smoothie (1 serving)
2 clementines, peeled and divided into sections
1 banana
1/4″ piece of fresh ginger, skin removed
1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tsp agave nectar
4-5 ice cubes

Instructions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender, pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.

I started this blog almost two years ago as a not only a way to archive my family’s recipes, but to also explore eating health benefits of Asian cuisine and staying fit and healthy.

I have always prided myself on being more on the athletic side, from cross country in middle school to varsity tennis in high school to dancing in college. (Yup, that’s me)

When we moved to the suburbs 2 years ago, I stopped dancing but took up kung fu. After almost a year of training in kung fu, and working my way up to a brown belt, I quit because I realized that I was more of a lover than a fighter.

Over the past year I have relied on my own will power to stay in shape, with my only form of exercise being when I am able to somehow convince myself to go for a run (I hate running) or when I take the dogs for a walk. (I did manage to complete a half-marathon though.) This, combined with an incredible amount of stress from work, not treating myself well and eating like crazy (a side effect of having a food blog).

I finally came to the realization that the reason I was feeling so crappy was because I was slowly gaining weight, pants were getting tighter and I was just was no longer feeling healthy anymore. Even though I think we eat relatively healthy foods in our house, not working out was starting to take a toll on me, both physically and mentally.

So, while this is not exactly a New Year’s resolution (I started a membership at the gym in early December), I am on a quest to get myself back to my high school weight (have about 35 lbs to lose). And I decided that if I share this goal with all of you… you can help hold me accountable for my actions.

Never fear, this will remain a primarily a food blog. Food is one of my great passions, and it is also such a big part of staying healthy and fit. I will throw in a bit of…
- Thoughts about working out… the blood, sweat and tears,
- Workouts that I am currently obsessing over,
- Any races or events that I’m training for,
- What foods and recipes I’m working on that are both healthy but yummy.

It’s only been a month, but I am already feeling happier and much less stressed now that a regular workout schedule has been put in place.

Glancing over at my 101 in 1001 list, here are a few goals that I’m working towards in the health section:

1. Get back to my high school weight
2. Go on a yoga retreat.
3. Go without soda for a month
4. Complete a sprint triathlon

I hope you join me on my journey. I’m excited to see what’s in store this year!

In the meantime, I will leave you with this easy tilapia recipe that incorporates the Chinese cooking “holy trinity” if you will: green onions, garlic and ginger. This dish is easy enough to make for a quick and healthy lunch, but fancy enough for a weekday dinner.

Tilapia with Green Onions, Garlic and Ginger (2 servings)
2 tilapia fillets
1/2 tablespoon canola oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 thumbsized piece of fresh ginger, minced
1/2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
4 green onions, cut into 1/2 inch long pieces

Let’s Cook:
Rinse and pat dry the tilapia fillets, then cut each fillet into 7 or 8 pieces, about 2 inches long.

Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add the tilapia fillet and let cook for about 2 minutes until the side is slightly golden. Then flip the fillets over and add the garlic and ginger to the skillet, sprinkle evenly over the fillets. After cooking for about 1 minute, add the soy sauce and let cook for another minute.

Finally, add the green onions and flip the tilapia fillets again. Let cook for another minute, then remove from heat.

Serve with jasmine rice and enjoy!

This article was contributed by Barry Edwards, 1st degree black belt Shaolin Kung Fu.

The study of traditional Shaolin Kung Fu has the potential to greatly enrich the lives and well-being of its practitioners. I have observed the development of my abilities and those of my peers who are everyday men and women like you. Many began with no prior marital arts experience. However, through diligence and hard work, their once latent abilities have begun to blossom. There is no magic formula. Persistent effort over time, and the willingness to invest that time, is enough to enable you to enjoy the mental and mental benefits that Shaolin Kung Fu can offer you.

The following will discuss some of the physical and mental benefits that Shaolin Kung Fu has to offer:

Physical

Explosive Power: Many of the forms in our discipline require explosive movement in order to execute the techniques properly. Through continuous repetition your body will adapt and your muscles will begin to strengthen. As a result, you will be able to generate more power with your movements.

Balance & Coordination: I would consider this to be of great importance to any athlete, particularly a martial artist. Over time, through the practice of forms and sparring, you will develop better body mechanics. In short, you body will learn to move itself more efficiently. This can be attributed to improvements in balance and core strength. The exercises and forms allow you to utilize a large number of muscles that you probably are not accustomed to using. With time, techniques that call upon the use of extremities on opposing sides of the body, like Lohan Short Form #11, are executed with greater ease and precision.

Muscular Endurance: As you progress, you will learn material that is longer in length and requires a higher degree of physical exertion. Inevitably, your stamina will increase and you will be able to execute older material with greater ease and a higher level of output.

Mental

Confidence: Confidence has the potential to improve every area of your life. This is, perhaps, the greatest benefit of your martial arts training. The challenges that you overcome in your training reveal that there is little that cannot be achieved once to put your mind to it. With that knowledge, you begin to feel less vulnerable to the outside world. As a result, you are able to remain calm in stressful situations and assess them more effectively.

Discipline: Nothing great can be attained if you lack this virtue. As you progress, you will soon realize that structure, and order, in your training regimen is a requisite if you expect to see the gains that you hope to achieve. By adhering to a systemic approach to accomplishing a self-determined goal, you begin to cultivate the kind of discipline that will allow you achieve anything, no matter what obstacles stand in your way. The virtue of disciple cannot be emphasized enough. From it, comes patience and self-control.

As with all things, the rewards that you reap from something are directly proportionate to the amount of time and effort that you put into it. This is especially true with Kung Fu. I encourage anyone to become a practitioner of this art. Do it, give it your all, and enjoy the many gifts Kung Fu has to offer.

Have you ever thought about trying yoga, but felt too intimidated or unsure whether it’s something that you can do?  Or if doing yoga will actually benefit you in any way?

When I first started doing yoga (years ago), I thought: well this looks easy enough, but why am I doing something that isn’t really pushing me to my limits (like running)?   After a few weeks of practicing yoga, I started noticing changes – not to mention the soreness after my first few classes.  Yoga has really helped me build my balance and increase my flexibility.  Which, of course, has helped tremendously both when I used to dance and how in my kung fu/tai chi training.

We caught up with our dear friend Kristen Leigh of Sweet Escape Yoga during one of her fantastic outdoor yoga classes.  Kristen Leigh is a Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-240) in the Metro Atlanta area.

Q. What is Sweet Escape Yoga?
Kristen: Sweet Escape Yoga organizes yoga classes and events in natural (i.e., outside) and creative (i.e., cool, hip, or artsy) spaces in the Metro Atlanta area.

Q. What influenced you to start practicing yoga?
Kristen: Honestly, I was just curious.  I had seen yoga cross my path in various random ways from celebrities practicing to wellness professionals recommending it, and thought I’d give it a try.  Just like a lot of people, I didn’t really know what to expect, but thought maybe it was going to make me stronger or healthier somehow.

Being a big chicken to try it out in public, I bought a DVD instructing on the basic yoga poses.  It didn’t take long before I felt comfortable with my minimal knowledge and starting trying classes at a variety of gyms and studios.  After practicing for about five years, and telling those who would listen about the benefits of yoga, I decided to get my teaching certification and launch Sweet Escape Yoga.

Q. What health benefits (mental, physical, emotional) have you noticed from practicing yoga?
Kristen: A regular yoga practice can help reduce stress, improve overall physical health, and increase strength and flexibility.  In addition to each of these benefits, I have truly become more aware of my body and breath and know when to push things a little further and when it’s time to rest – both on and off the mat.

Q. Why do you think some people feel intimidated by yoga or avoid trying it out?
Kristen: Often we’re intimidated by the unknown.  Will I be participating in some strange religion?  Do I have to be able to twist my body into pretzel-like poses? Will I look silly if everyone else knows what to do, but I don’t?  The answer to all of these questions is “no.” Though, yoga has a history with some eastern spiritual practices, poses and breathing can easily be incorporated into anyone’s routine in order to compliment your existing fitness and spiritual practices.

One of the great things about yoga is that it’s all about a practice that works for you – and that can be different from day to day.  You can increase strength and flexibility and become more adept at the postures, but even still there are days when just a little is okay.  If you can’t stretch as far today as you did yesterday — it’s okay — you may go farther tomorrow.  It’s about noticing the tiny advances and appreciating each phase you’re in.

“Being green” or purchasing “organic” produce is all the rage these days.  However, you don’t have to move out to the country, become a vegan or bike everywhere to begin to reduce your ecological footprint.  You don’t have to make a drastic change to your life – small, seemingly insignificant actions can really add up.

1. Bring your own reusable bags
I love bringing my own bags when I go grocery shopping.  Aside from the “good for the environment” bit, I love my reusable bags because they are so much easier to carry than those plastic grocery bags, especially when they get heavy and start digging into my hands.

When you cook as much as I do, those plastic grocery bags can really start piling up around the house.  Clutter!

Also, some retailers (like Target) will give you a slight discount per bag that you bring.  I believe it’s 5 cents per bag.  It’s not much, but pretty cool.

There are some really cute reusable bags out there, check these out:

Left: Reusablebags.com  Right: FlipandTumble.com

2. Buy local
The average supermarket produce items is shipped hundreds (if not thousands) of miles.  So, if not to reduce the carbon emission created from the transport of the items… at least check out your local farmer’s market for the fun part of it.  An afternoon spent with your family browsing and sampling tasty, fresh local treat at your local farmers market is sure to be more fun than the routine grocery store run.

Look up your local markets! Most of them should be starting in the early summer.  Here is a small list of the ones in the Atlanta area:

Dekalb Farmer’s Market
3000 E. Ponce De Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Whistle Stop Farmer’s Market of Historic Norcross
Located along side Thrasher Park on Buchanan Street in Historic Norcross

Morningside Farmer’s Market
1393 N. Highland Ave,  Atlanta GA 30306

3. Pay and receive bills online
Not only does make it easier and faster, especially in this age of technology, it also saves on paper and trees.

4. Plant a tree
…or some plants.  Seem really simple doesn’t it?  And fun!  Just one tree can offset tons of carbon in its lifetime.

5. Skip bottled water
Yes, water is great for you.  But buying bottled water is both expensive and creates waste.  Buy a filter and filter your own water, the filter will pay for itself in no time.

I know I’m guilty of this: When life gets busy  – I immediately resort to eating out at fast food restaurants instead of cooking a healthy meal.

Cooking for yourself and your family is one of the most effective ways to achieve and maintain good health.  But in this modern world, it’s not uncommon to fine yourself working 50 to 60 hour weeks and not having the time or energy to put together a home cooked meal.

As with most things in our lives, fitting cooking into the schedule is just a matter of priority, planning and organization.

1. Plan out recipes/meals for the week
I love trying out new recipes.  Every new recipe I try is like a new adventure.  One of my favorite things to do is to go to my local asian supermarket and pick out a “strange” new vegetable that I’ve never cooked (or sometimes heard of) before and figure out a new recipe to cook using it.

2. Schedule time to go grocery shopping
Once on the weekend and once midweek will usually suffice.  If grocery shopping at your local supermarket get tedious, try out new spots – like a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or H Mart during the winter.  Then during the summer, try visiting your local farmer’s market.

3. Use crock pots or slow cookers
Slow cookers and crock pots work by adding all of your ingredients into a pot on low heat and cooking them slowly for many hours (typically 8 hours) until the meal is ready.  On my very busy days, my crock pot is my best friend.  I’ll just do all the prep work and then toss everything in the pot, turn it on and go about my day.  When dinnertime rolls around, I just take off the lid and serve!

4. Build up your list of quick & easy meals
Just because you’re cooking a great meal doesn’t mean that it needs to take hours to make.  Some of my favorite recipes are those that take 15-20 minutes to prep and cook from start to finish.

5. Buy a rice cooker
Mine is my favorite appliance in the kitchen.  It takes all of the guesswork out of cooking rice, and if you cook Asian meals as much as I do – a rice cooker is virtually a necessity.

6. Stock up your pantry
Keep your pantry well stocked with pasta, tomato sauce, rice, herbs and any other ingredients that are a part of your favorite recipes. Pasta with tomato sauce is generally our fall back meal when we are low on groceries and aren’t feeling up to grocery shopping.

7. Cook for two or more
It’s much easier to cook for two people than it is cooking for one.  It’s also just more fun to cook for more people than just yourself.

I hate running. There, I said it.  My body isn’t built for running. But don’t get me wrong, running does wonders for your cardio training and is one of the fastest ways of whipping your body into shape. Even with my martial arts classes, I’ve felt that I’ve needed to continue running because I’m not getting enough of a cardio workout during the training sessions.

For me though, I get bored too quickly with running and need to feel that I’m working towards something. So, in order to excite myself into running, here are a few tricks that I use:

1) Sign up for an event - sign up for a race that is a couple months away. I’ve found that this is the best (only) way to motivate myself into running regularly. Start out with a 5k, then build up to a 10k. I’m currently training for the Shamrock N’ Roll (5K) in preparation for the Peachtree Road Race (10K).

2) Run outside – Running on a treadmill bores me to death, I can barely go one mile before my mind really, really wants to stop.  So instead, I prefer to run outside.  My favorite places to go run are on trails, you tend to get more of a scenery change, with water, trees, animals, etc.  This is also a nice time to zone out and just appreciate the world around you.

3) Get the right gear – It’s amazing what a great pair of running shoes will do for you. Find a local running store (Big Peach Running Co. for us Atlantans) that will evaluate your gait and recommend the best running shoes to support your feet and ankles.

4) Don’t take your run too seriously – Make sure you are comfortable while you are running.  If you work yourself too hard or are in pain, the running will not be fun.  If you need a break during your run, take it.  Slow down and walk for a few minutes.  When you’re comfortable again, resume running.

5) Find a running buddy – Some people enjoy running with other people.  Having a fun conversation is always nice to distract from the running itself.  Personally, for me, I don’t really enjoy running with other people (that is, I don’t enjoy having conversations while running)  Running is my time to zone out from the rest of the world.  So, my running buddy is my German Shepherd-Husky mix, Roxie.  Now, she is a runner.  And somehow manages to push (or pull) me to go harder.

Where are the runners out there? What are some of your tips?