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The Importance of Gut Health

24/8/2020

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A healthy gut is the foundation of good health.Ancient cultures all over the world new the importance of maintaining a healthy balance in the gut and fermented foods and probiotic foods have been used in diets for centuries. In Ayurveda ‘agni’ refers to digestive fire and this fire is essential to longevity, vibrant health and daily wellbeing. In Chinese Medicine, gut health is also prioritised and essential to the ‘chi’ energy in the body.
Gut conditions seem to be prevalent in modern culture and come down to a few simple things- stress, poor diet, lack of movement, poor sleep, abuse of acidic foods or antibiotics etc. Gut conditions can be found at the root of many seemingly unrelated imbalances – from allergies, to arthritis, to depression.
Taking care of the gut is actually relatively straight forward, especially when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. One of the easiest ways to incorporate more beneficial probiotics into your diet and help improve the ecology of your gut is by eating fermented foods. 
Fermented foods lead to an increase of antibodies and a stronger immune system; plus, they regulate the appetite and reduce sugar and refined carb cravings. Recent scientific investigations have supported the important role of probiotics as a part of a healthy diet and provide a safe, cost effective, and natural approach to protect against microbial infection.
Some of the top sources of healthy probiotics and friendly bacteria include:

  • Kefir
  • Kombucha
  • Pickles
  • Miso
  • Tempeh
  • Kimchi
  • Sauerkraut
  • Coconut Yogurt
 You may be familiar with sauerkraut which is a very ancient food that has had a resurgence in popularity over recent years! The same beneficial microorganisms that create lactic acid in our digestive system are naturally present in vegetables and these are responsible for turning raw cabbage into highly-digestible nutritious sauerkraut. The fermentation process increases the number of microorganisms dramatically. When we eat sauerkraut we reap the benefits of absorbing an entire ecosystem into our own internal ecosystem! Incorporating unpasteurized lacto-fermented vegetables into the diet on a daily basis makes for excellent digestion and promotes overall good health and vitality.

Making your own Sauerkraut is actually incredibly easy and fun to do. Try this recipe below at home. Sauerkraut can be added to any meal as a condiment, or it is delicious on top of toast with avocado.
SAUERKRAUT RECIPE
Ingredients:
  • 1 medium head green cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • purified water

Method:
  1. Remove three of the outer leaves of the cabbage and set aside.
  2. Very finely chop the entire cabbage (discarding the hard core) either with a regular knife on with the slicing blade in a food processor.
  3. Place the cabbage in a large bowl and add the sea salt.
  4. With your hands, massage the cabbage until it begins to break down. It will release its liquid and wilt in size. Keep massaging for around ten minutes until you have soft cabbage with lots of juice.
  5. Pack the cabbage into clean glass jars, pushing down as you go so that the cabbage
  6. remains submerged in liquid. Leave around 3 centimetres at the top of the jar then take the outer cabbage leaves you set aside and roll them up, inserting them into the jar to push down the sliced cabbage, ensuring all of it is underneath the liquid.
  7. Place the lid on loosely and set in a relatively cool, dry place for around 7 days.
  8. Over the days, the cabbage will bubble a little and appear cloudy, remove any scum that may appear with a spoon. When ready, remove and discard the outer cabbage leaves and keep the jar of sauerkraut refrigerated.
Add to any meal you like for an extra probiotic boost!

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Simple Tips for Meal Prepping

24/8/2020

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At the end of a long day, it can be hard to find the time and motivation to cook yourself or your family a delicious and nutritious meal. Often when life gets hectic, its our own self-care that can slide to the bottom of the agenda.
The good news is that setting aside just an hour or two one day a week can go a long way in helping you feel organised and prepared when it comes to meals. Not only does meal prepping ease stress, it also affords you more time and is better for both your bank balane and your long term health!
Sounds like a win win, right?!
Take a look through the tips below and b;ock out some time in your dairy for a kitchen date. Once you get into the habit of meal prepping you will never look back again! 

  1. Organization: Getting organized is the first step in meal prep. Keeping your kitchen clean and uncluttered creates a positive and inspiring space for you to work in and makes food preparation that much easier. Invest in some clear glass jars and containers to store your ingredients in so they are easy to see and you know when you need to res-stock. Keep staples on hand such as grains, nuts, seeds, pulses, superfoods, basic condiments, herbs and spices so that even if you come home exhausted, there are always good food options on hand. Stock up on fresh produce at least once or twice a week. A clean and well stocked kitchen is a key factor to your weekly meal preparation.
  2. Grains, Legumes and Nuts: Grains, legumes and pulses can take a little while to cook. But cooking up a batch on your meal prep day to store in the fridge will save you a lot of time during the week. Have containers full of cooked quinoa, cooked chickpeas or lentils, or cooked buckwheat or rice. These are easy to reheat and mix with other ingredients for quick stews, soups or salads during the week. Soaking nuts makes them much easier to digest. Try soaking almonds, cashews or seeds overnight, drain and rinse, then keep in jars in the fridge. They are great like this as a snack or ready to make nut milks or cheeses with during the week. 
  3. Fruit and Vegetable Preparation: Try roasting up a big tray of vegetables and storing them in a container in the fridge. Roast vegetables make a delicious addition to salads or added on top of your pre-cooked grains or pasta. Wash your leafy greens so they are ready to use for salads and smoothies. Try cutting up carrots, cucumbers or celery for easy snacks with fresh dip. Chop up fruit such as bananas, mango or berries and store them in the freezer for easy smoothies come breakfast time.
  4. Homemade Bread or Crackers: Having a healthy loaf of bread or crackers on hand during the week makes for easy breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Experiment with various topping options to keep things interesting such as avocado and lemon, almond butter and berries, or hummus and rocket. Homemade bread is simple to make and full of healthy fats and protein that will keep you satisfied  and nourished. There are lots of great recipes online for both bread and crackers that don't involve lots of kneading and rising time. Once you start making your own bread you will never go back to store-bought again!
  5. Dips and Dressings: Having a couple of healthy dips and salad dressings in the fridge enable you to jazz up a simple weekday meal into something flavorsome and fun. Try making a batch of hummus or guacamole, an easy tahini lemon dressing, or even just an olive oil balsamic dressing you can keep on the countertop. Store purchased condiments and dressings are often filled with preservatives, sugar and artificial ingredients, so homemade is always best. 
  6. Prep Some Ready-To-Go Meal: If time allows, have a few meals that you pre-cook that are ready just to reheat and eat. Things like soups, casseroles, dahls and curries are perfect for this- they are quick and easy to make and keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can even do double batches and keep them in the freezer. Simply pull them out at the start of the day so they can defrost ready for you at dinnertime
  7. Healthy Treats: Instead of reaching for a tub of ice cream or chocolate bar when sugar cravings hit, whip up some healthy treats that you can have at your disposal during the week. Bliss balls or simple energy bars are great to have on hand- they keep well, are versatile when it comes to ingredients, are good for you and tend to please adults and children alike!
  8. Use Time Wisely: You may not have time to fit in all of these suggestions, but chances are some speak to you more than others- maybe you have time to prep a loaf of bread, cook a batch of quinoa, make a soup and some bliss balls. Maybe just being more organised and having a stocked kitchen is enough for you to make the time to cook each day. Find ways that work for you. When it comes to shopping, try ordering online if that saves you more time in your week. There are lots of ways to make life easier when it comes to meal time which doesn't involve dialling up takeaway!
Have fun with your meal prepping so it doesn't feel like a chore. Get the family involved, be creative, get inspired by recipes online or dishes at your favourite cafe. Spending just a few hours preparing for the week ahead will save you a great deal of time, money, energy and stress. Once you discover how helpful meal prepping is it will become a highlight of your week! 
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Your Zenko Self Care Menu

12/8/2020

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Oftentimes, when life gets hectic, self care can be one of the first things we let slide. However, when we are busy, when our plate is full, when other people are relying on us to show up- this is when we need to truly make sure that we are prioritising time for self care. Remember that when our own cup is full, we have plenty to give, when our cup is empty, it becomes very hard to show up in the world as the best version of ourselves. 

For many of us, the idea of self care can even seem indulgent, something that you couldn't possibly allow yourself. In modern day life we tend to wear lots of hats, and these various roles each have their own responsibilities and obligations that can be demanding to say the least. Taking time out for ourselves and putting all of these responsibilities and obligations on hold can leave us feeling guilty or even anxious. 

The great news is, self-care doesn't need to take a lot of time. Self care also doesn’t need to look a certain way. While images of green smoothies and fancy facials may come to mind when you hear the words self-care, we are all unique and the things that nurture us all come in different guises. 

What self care does require is two things- mindfulness and commitment. You need to be able to tell when you're in need of some time out rather than simply pushing on through. You also need to be able to commit to setting aside time and really making the most of and enjoying that time when it comes.

Perhaps you're wondering where to start?! We’ve created a Zenko Self-Care Menu for you that can give you some ideas based on how much time you may have in the day or week to dedicate to your holistic wellbeing. Maybe you literally have one minute, or maybe you have one hour- either way, these practices and activities below are designed to help lift your spirits and soothe your soul.

Now, perhaps more than ever before, our wellbeing is so important. With mental health issues on the rise we need to prioritise the small ways in which we can truly care for ourselves and support one another to do the same. 

Take a look at our Zenko Self-Care Menu and use this as a reminder any time you need to fill up your cup. 

1 minute:
- Close your eyes and take 3 long deep breaths

5 minutes:
-Get up and stretch your body
-Enjoy a 5 minute meditation 
-Drink a big glass of water
-Step outside and stand in the sunshine

15 minutes:

-Go for a walk in nature
-Journal your thoughts and/or emotions
-Call a friend you makes you laugh
-Make yourself a cup of tea, juice or smoothie

30 minutes:

-Do a yoga class at home (Find a class at https://liveclasses.zenkoyoga.com.au/ )
-Make yourself a healthy meal
-Go for a swim in the ocean
-Embrace play- run, dance, sing, laugh

1 hour:

-Go to a yoga class
-Grab a juice with a friend and catch up
-Take a long hot bath
-Listen to a podcast
-Meal prep for the day or week ahead
-Explore somewhere new
-Get a massage, treatment or therapy (Try a Zenko therapy here- http://www.zenkoyoga.com.au/therapies.html )

Are you looking for new ways to nourish yourself and to create healthy routines to help you thrive in every area of your life? 
Join Lauren and Kelly for the first workshop in our new Zenko ‘Get Nourished’ series:

‘Creating Healthy Lunches and Routines’
Friday August 14th 11am - 2pm 
Zenko Yoga Noosa
$97 early bird price

Your 3 Hour Workshop Includes:
  • 45 minute yoga flow
  • 45 minute cooking demonstration
  • 45 minute talk with Lauren
  • Delicious Plant-Based Lunch
  • FREE Eco-sustainable lunch box kit (valued at $49) 
Book your place here.
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