 The Exquisite Salade Nicoise This delicious salad is a traditional dish originating from the south of France more exactly from Nice. It is so delicious, nutritious and refreshing that it is a complete meal in one plate. Something that Anglo Saxon are use to but in France we rarely have one plate that will comprise of our entire dinner. Usually we will have 3 or 4 dishes, which will complete our dinner. I love this salad, it feels so Mediterranean and clean. You can also make it the easy way with canned Tuna fish but I highly suggest that you try it with fresh seared tuna as well.  Serve 4 - preparation: 20 minutes
Ingredients: 150 g mesclun or Romain Lettuce 100 g French green beans 2 or 3 Fresh heirloom tomatoes 20 black & green olives 20 piece anchovies 1/2 medium red pepper thinly sliced 1/2 medium yellow pepper thinly sliced 4 fresh tuna fish 4 whole large eggs boiled eggs (cook for 12min) 4 small boiled new potatoes cut in small pieces French Vinaigrette Dressing: 4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar (apple cider vinegar will work too) 8 or 10 Tbsp. olive oil 1 Tsp. of French Dijon Mustard (found at Trader Joe) please do not use any substitute.. 2 pinch sea salt 9salt to taste) 3 pinch white pepper Add all dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake it until completely homogenized. Or in a bawl and beat the ingredients with a fork until completely mixed. keep in fridge. Directions:
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  Your success are granted to you because of your effort in life and the good karma you have accumulated in this life or past lives, yet it isn't attained by your power alone.
I can almost feel the resistance coming from some of my readers as I am writing this. We have become such an egotistical society in the West that when we "acquire" success in our lives we think we did it alone! Oh really? On one hand it is true, we put in the effort to get to the point where we are today but on the other hand did we truly make it happen on our own? Luckily, I now know better and will emphatically say no. I didn't do anything alone in my life in any of the "successes" I have ever had. There has always been others in my vicinity that either believed in me, gave me tips on how to proceed, I have been mentored in what I teach today, and continue to be. I have had teams of people that worked for me that helped follow my vision to achieve success, I had the support of best friends and even strangers to get me to where I am today. Without them my "successes" would have been impossible and truthfully meaningless (but that's another topic). I have taught yoga in many different facilities and saw these places transform drastically because of what yoga will bring to a space spiritually. I have seen people thrive around these energies and recreate themselves riding the wave of spiritual creativity. Yet they seem to think it was their doing all alone. It surprises me when I see this but I have to let it be . These people's ego is so bloated they cannot see beyond it. Some do acknowledge that there is another power at work that is bigger than them. Yet if they didn't put in the effort in the first place nothing would have changed. It's a two way streets. We can't go in on any journey alone. Arrive a time when we start to see that a miracle is taking place because everything is changing and we have to accept that we have an invisible guidance, a helping hand that is at play in our life. When you have attended a group yoga class verses practicing at home alone, you know there is a huge difference in energy, don't you? We, as a group have created a space of energy that is beyond our current attainment alone. As a group we rise in awareness to a degree, with the teacher orchestrating the class and following his / her vision the result can be huge and even though it isn't seen with the eyes we can feel the change in us. We didn't do it alone, it was a "We" thing! To take it one step further. Some of you may have developed your own spiritual exercises every day whether meditation, spiritual contemplation, chanting, repeating a mantra, or praying,.. And you have noticed that after your practice you are completely different and after a while you know you are elated, more aware, more awake. You start Loving yourself more and in return loving others more easily. You accept the world as it is and are more interested in changing yourself than being an activist in the world. You know the change start with yourself and within. Was that you all alone that made this happen? Not at all. As you participated in these spiritual exercises, day in and day out, and whether you know it or not, you called upon a higher power to help you to see clearer, feel better about yourself, and uplift you from your mind's antics and negativity. Again we are not doing this all on our own there is a spiritual power that comes in and brings to us what we desire if we are pure/ sincere enough to receive it. Yes we actuate the first step into motion and have strived to get these gifts of spirituality, but we couldn't have made it happen without divine intervention. Creation and success is a "We" thing not an "I" thing. Come a time that we wise up enough to see this. And we look at the people in our lives as a gift, we don't have thoughts of discarding them because they are different or they seemed insignificant at one point to our success or having no part of it. Everything around us makes us who we are today. Success is a result of many components seen or unseen. Being inclusive is the better way and the bigger way. Recognizing and accepting that maybe people in our community have more to do with our success than we can see at this time, is an important step to becoming a better Yogi and finding our Truth.
4. Real life is nothing like we have been told; life is harsh and one wrong choice/move can change things forever.
5. Turn your tongue 7 times in your mouth before speaking; it will give you time to think about what you are about to say.(French expression) 6. No matter how you look at it and how full your life is; you are always alone. 7. People can't hear you nor see you; they only live within their own pains, and only hear their problems when you speak. What we see or hear is a reflection of our subjective imagery in our own mind. 8. Create time NOW for the things you always wanted to do; tomorrow is an illusion. 9. No one is interested in the truth because it is usually too painful to hear. 10. Life comprises of a variety of individuals with different opinions on life; don't let your differences of opinion with another make it a deal breaker. Instead keep an open mind and cherish their differences and the enriching experience it brings you. 11. Humility is the one remedy to the illnesses of the mind such as: - an over bloated ego - self-righteousness or feeling that you know better than another - the know it all syndrome - the superiority complex - not willing to be wrong - and many others that you can come up with yourself. 12. Your past creates who you are today, so don't discard it, be proud of what it has made you into. Marie-Aude Preau Your Health Coach / Yoga Instructor  Did you know that this relationship between student and teacher is crucial for optimum growth?
No matter what the subject, no matter what type of class is taught, no matter the environment or the location; the tandem between the two is what makes a student become what he becomes and gives the teacher matter to work with. When a student attends a yoga class they come under the teaching of that teacher for that particular class. The attitude of a student is everything and the teacher's approach toward the student will help one grow or stunt one's growth. Both can happen. That's why the student /teacher relationship is sacred and an important one to develop, particularly for the student. I teach yoga for many people weekly yet I see myself more as a student than a teacher. Through that matrix I can help my students even more as I remember what it is like to be in a class full of other students following the direction of a yogi teacher. When a new student comes into a class and under my tutelage, at first I like to observe them. Their behavior tells me their ability or willingness to learn and hear what is being instructed. By observing my students, and their way of moving through Asanas gives me indications on how I can help them. I look for their level of tenacity in difficult poses, their desire to learn, how much they hear of what's instructed, etc. When the student returns to class after a few days, it's usually because their initial experience was good and they want to repeat it. At this time, their attitude toward me has changed drastically. A level of trust is taking place. And the initial bond has been established by the student to his teacher. It is still a very weak one but trust none the less. The student is usually willing to let me teach them and learn without prejudice, without objections, and any reservations. They want to be part of this and here they are. Sometimes it takes students a little more than one class to be willing to be taught without any reservation. In that case I will wait and give them their space for as long as is necessary before I start giving them more direct instruction or adjusting their poses. The key ingredient here is "the student's attitude toward the teacher". That's where it all start. The teacher is here waiting for the student to respond positively and open up to the teacher. As weeks go by, there is a trust that starts implementing itself between student and teacher, which I call "the student teacher relationship". That trust overtime will grow and expend depending on the student's behavior toward learning and improving. That relationship is fragile and extremely delicate and can be altered or even broken at any time. If the teacher says something that the student may not like or approve of or even agree with, and if the student's attitude is one of cockiness, defiance, arrogance, know it all, or not receptive, that trust is gone in a blink of an eye! This happens to the best of us after we have gained a little bit of knowledge in one particular field, we start thinking we know, and we do to a degree yet there is so much ahead of us that remains to be discovered. When we spot one of these attitude of discord in ourselves it is important to put things back into perspective as soon as possible and re-establish this trust or level of love relationship between student and teacher or student and mentor. It is important to realize that we don't know it all (we never, ever, ever know it all) and need to change our attitude immediately if we want to safeguard the relationship we have developed with our teacher. Humility is key in this scenario. With humility one is willing to be taught, accept the possibility of "I don't know everything", therefore I am willing to learn more. A "know it all" has arrived to the summit of their learning and will not let anyone teach them anything anymore. How boring is that! If the student feels this way about their teacher, then fine. They should move on and find another teacher that will be more suited for them at this time. In some scenario it may be true that the student has learned everything there is to learn from that teacher. So when I see students with these kinds of attitude in my classes, I usually back off and let them learn on their own without my interference at all. Life always teaches us, one way or another. If you want to learn from someone, be respectful of them no matter what. Even if you don't agree fully with everything they say, there might be a time where you will understand what they truly meant and you won't feel at odd with what the teacher was trying to convey to the class. The Teacher-Student relationship is one very important one that is unsaid, untold, and very subtle yet very real. Protect it, nurture it, and keep a healthy attitude toward it if you want to learn. We all need a parent (teacher) to help us grow into an adult (student). Parent(s) give us all that they know, protect us, guide us, to become the full grown independent person we must become. Without them it would be practically impossible or we would learn the hard way the lessons we need to have to become accomplished and a healthy balanced individuals and make it in society. It wasn't until I turned about 25 years of age that I started to understand life, myself, my role in society, what the world, or the country I lived in was about, what my next step could be and at that time my choices were much better made it seemed. Before that I couldn't make sense of much yet I had a job and sustained myself since I was 17 and had already moved to a foreign country speaking another language. So I wasn’t exactly incapable but as we know the brain isn't fully developed until about 25 years old and it certainly felt true for me. Protect your relationship with your teacher or mentor. Whomever this is, keep a healthy attitude, respect it so you can thrive. From a Yogi to Another ~ Marie-Aude Préau  Even though life may be quiet a challenge to get through sometimes, a Yogi understand that complaining makes things worse for oneself.
Some of us whine, complain about our lives, blame others for our problems, and yet what we don't realize is that all that we get or don't get in our lives is dictated by the law of Karma or the law of "cause and effect", also known as newton's law. Nothing is amiss even if it looks unfair to our naked eye. And all our experiences serve the maturation of our own spiritual growth. Take a moment and look at how you were 20 years ago verses who you are today; can you see that all the events that have happened in your life, particularly the most challenging one have shaped you to the person you are today? Hopefully you like what you see and have used these challenges to push you forward and become a better human with more depth and wisdom. When we complain and whine about our life's dilemma and situation it is like asking the universe to give us more of the same. When we talk about our problems so much, think about them constantly, and react about what happened to us, we are setting up another scenario for the future to be the same as the one we just went through. It is a universal principle, a spiritual truth, it can't be changed. I was 20 when I realized that my parents were not the cause of my problems. I had move to America and they were not here anymore, yet my problems remained. How could that be? I had to do some digging and Soul searching to let go of my anger toward what my parents didn't do for me or what I thought they should have helped me with. When I did, it was a huge realization and very freeing. I was in charge of my own destiny not someone else. I felt liberated and I started to take responsibility for my own thoughts, my way of talking and my actions, including the things that happened in the past but were still plaguing me with guilt and shame because I hadn't resolved them nor understood my part in it. My parents were regular people, and after leaving the farm they were able to get comfortable government jobs. They were not making much money to provide for 5 kids but they knew they could count on the same salary each month no matter what. They did the best they could to raise all of us. Being the last of 5, I was mostly raised by my elder sister. By the time I came into this world, my mom was exhausted and left it up to my sister to do the job. I had many reasons to have grudges toward my parents, like many of us do. We think they are to blame for our ineptitude toward life, and in my case the lack of training they gave me as a young woman to prepare me into the world. When I moved abroad I had to fence for myself, no one to turn to, confine with my difficulties because my parents had no clue what life could be like as a young female entrepreneur in a foreign country. It was hard yet that's what I wanted. My parents didn't know any better than what they gave me. I had to learn the importance of survival as I lived my life. Once I let go of the fact that they were not to blame for my short comings or my anger issues, and even my emotional instability, I felt free and I could start creating a new me! At that time I started to take responsibility for myself. With the way I was, I knew I had to do some Soul searching to uncover the good and hidden gem within me (which we all have). If I didn't like what was in my life I could change it or change my attitude towards it and before I knew it, things would start changing, the "unwanted" would disappear. Raised as a Catholic, I had no knowledge of karma & reincarnation while growing up. But as a young adult I started to understand that there was no one to blame but me for my problems. As I delved into spirituality and the practice of yoga philosophy, I started to understand that we are born in the family we have because of our karmas from previous lives with them. We are here to pay our debts toward our family members or reap the benefits from our actions from previous lives. Hard to accept yes, but true none the less. So the fact we have all these difficult experiences with our siblings or parents is not because of them but because of us not seeing clearly, and having a distorted point of view about them. It can change anytime we take charge of our own thoughts, feelings, and actions. If we start whining and complaining about our problems we are just increasing the problem 10 fold and asking the universe for the same to be given to us again and again! But that's not what we want, is it? As soon as we stop this mechanical reaction, and we start being responsible or know that we are the creator for our lives, not only there are no more reasons for us to complain but we start to be able to see things as they are and see our part in it. As we grow in our human-hood, into a spiritual being, or into a true Yogi we stop complaining. We know it is futile, a waste of time, unbecoming, disrespectful to our higher self and our creator, and the path to "hell". Own your anger instead, even if someone triggered it. That anger lives in you not them! Apologize if when you have wrong someone and try to mend your ways toward them. No one is immune to make mistakes, but don't leave them as is or pretend they are not there. Be big and go to that person in humility to ask for forgiveness, even if they are right. Who cares who's right, what's important is that you amend your ways and do the right thing. Try to practice this: "A Yogi Never Complains" in one's life. Keep note of the changes that are taking place when you stop your old patterns. Keep in mind that anytime you make changes for yourself, you will be tested (or tempted) with a similar challenge to give you an opportunity to show that you really want this new you! And not return to the same old self you dislike so much, and show you truly want this change. Don't get discouraged. Keep to your promise and take on the challenge. From a Yogi to Another ~ Marie-Aude Préau 
My Secret Weapon for Healing Muscle Soreness, Spinal Misalignment, Sleepless night and Tiredness1/28/2016
 Pure Magnesium Flakes for bath
Even if I were to get the Flu, which I did Winter 2014/15 and it went on for 5 weeks…! BUT it had been about 15 years since I had the flu last.
We get naturally immunized when it is time to get up to beat with new viruses and their strength. No need to ever get a flu shot, nature is perfect. Our body has to learn to fight back and build its white blood cells to eventually win the contest! November 2014, I got nature’s immunization and I should be good to go for another 15 to 20 years. To get back to my secret weapon; I chronically deal with spinal misalignment from a childhood injury when I was 10 that had gone untreated and caught on to me over the years. It was finally addressed when I moved to New Mexico, 30 years later! Chiropractic care was an important part of my life to help “tell” my cervical spine, upper back and now sacrum, how it was meant to be, feel, and stay after each adjustment. Teaching one's body to be in proper alignment after having been “offset” for so many years can be done but it is a long and slow process to get it right. After 4 years I am only dealing with Sacrum issue. It’s important to be patient and stay with the program to reeducate the body with its new structure. Of course food is key to hold an adjustment long term and this has become one of my specialties; using yoga and nutrition as my medicine for a period of time until the issue clears out. I also will use supplement, herbal remedies to address dysfunction of certain organs that will prevent complete spinal recovery if not addressed, and of course Pure Magnesium Oil. This product has been life changing after a chiropractic visit to relieve me of muscle soreness, and also any other time such as; a slight muscle tear, when feeling tight in the hip or sacrum, neck being off, when lacking energy or just plain tired, when not being able to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep. Pure Magnesium Oil is one of the simplest natural topical remedy that everyone should have in their pharmacy. It is from the Ancient Zechstein Sea in Netherlands. It is 100% pure, a Super concentrate solution, full of magnesium chloride in its natural form and can even be used as a deodorant. We totally underestimate the value of Pure Magnesium in its natural form. The benefits are so many that I don’t think I will be able to list them all here but I’d like to mention that magnesium is one of the most needed minerals along with 72 other, to live a healthy life. As women age they go through the change of life known as peri-menopause and menopause, and during that time their need of Magnesium increases greatly as well as all other minerals. Men need it too for energy and wellness. Adding this to your arsenal of pure magnesium intake daily or several times a week would be a very good choice. Note that this form of Magnesium is far more absorbent by the body and assimilated than any tablets taken orally. Exchange it from your current supplement and see for yourself.
 Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil 8 oz
The benefits of Pure Magnesium Oil (topical form):
How do you know you are deficient in Magnesium?
How to use Pure Magnesium Oil:
Leave you comment below on how you find the Pure Magnesium Oil beneficial and how you use it. Thanks! 
 We can feel it in the air, see it the lighting over the mountains, and we can experience the cooler temperatures at night. Changes in the Fall Season is very apparent in nature but it is't the only place where it changes? "We" too are in the middle of a change.
The change resounds inside of us and calls us for newness, reorganization, adjusting our lives to match our heart's calling, preparing for the next step of our unfolding in our journey on the physical plane . Are you listening to your deepest wish that is trying to have you wake to it? Sometimes yes and sometimes not! For myself, I certainly know both side of the spectrum and always regret when I wasn't listening to the "nudges of change" as they were knocking on my door. I usually paid a dear price for that mistake showing themselves in a form of "hard knocks" or just having this sensation of not feeling in the right place and something is amiss. Let's try to "tune in" and be quiet for a little time to still the mind and listen to our heart. What is the message coming through? Are you making excuses for not doing what you know is calling you? Are you pretending that everything is the same and nothing needs to change? Are you insisting on being this other person when you know deep down inside that this old persona is not who you want to be or are anymore? Are you willing to change when the change is upon your door step? Why not take a chance and go for what can seem so impossible today, but is bound to be the future for you if you take the first step? Let's do it together. Use your yoga classes as a time to discover what's waiting to come out within you. Nurture and heal yourself with yoga class weekly to help you build upon more truth. Every time you come to class it's like taking a small vacation from your life, from the responsibilities you have, from the decisions you need to make, from the little burdens that add up each day, and can't seem to go away. And when you do take that time off to take care of yourself the result is always progressive; better clarity, getting the answers you were looking for, feeling ready to make those decisions, everything makes more sense. Yoga is the first step, you do the rest! |
AuthorOriginally from France Marie-Aude has lived in the USA more than half her life. Marie-Aude is the Health Coach who incorporates yoga and nutrition to gear her clients into a healthy path for optimum health. Archives
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