November 2007
Volume 2, Issue 11.

Yoga, Anyone?
Food Focus: Cranberries
Recipe of the Month: Cranberry and Orange Relish
Upcoming Events
Don’t Worry, Get Healthy 12-Week Program is Coming in February!
 
Quick Links 
 
Yoga Finder – Find a yoga class in your area!
Yoga Resources
Your Community Yoga Center – Hamden, CT
Cranberry Recipes from realsimple.com
Register for Dec 5 Workshop – Outwit Holiday Overeating and Overspending!
Healthy Endeavors

Dear Wendy,  
 
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. For me, it marks the start of the holiday season and festive occasions with family and friends. It’s also a chance to reflect on all the things for which I’m most grateful. Because things tend to be hectic, I often plan downtime into my schedule to create a degree of balance.

I hope that you’ll have the chance to not only be with the people who are most important to you, but also slow down, relax and enjoy the simple pleasures that the holidays bring. This month’s articles are designed to help you do just that.

Here’s to a wonderful holiday season!

In great health,
Wendy

Yoga, Anyone? 
 
Imagine if you could feel calm, focused and energized as you start each day, able to easily navigate life’s challenges with confidence and ease. Imagine if you could boost your body’s immune system and help prevent winter colds that can sideline you. And imagine if you could help prevent the onset of debilitating or chronic diseases and prolong your life by taking simple steps that don’t require expensive or harmful drugs.

All of these things are possible through the practice of yoga. Yoga originated in India and has been practiced for centuries. Simply put, yoga means “union.” It’s the intersection of mind, body and spirit and gives us the ability to tune into our bodies and improve our health.

What can yoga do for you? There are literally hundreds of benefits to yoga. It increases strength and flexibility and is especially helpful for people who suffer from arthritis. It’s immensely calming, reducing stress and anxiety and quieting the mind. Think you need caffeine to get energized? Think again! Through the practice of deep breathing, yoga naturally energizes you and helps to remove energy blocks in your body. In addition, it’s been linked to the prevention and cure of numerous disorders including heart problems, back pain, obesity, migraine headaches, and hypertension just to name a few. In essence, it’s great medicine to keep you healthy, vibrant and in optimal shape.

Read your local newspaper and you’ll probably find a variety of yoga classes and studios in your area. The truth is, there are numerous forms that you can practice. Some forms of yoga are more meditative and spiritual such as Hatha and Kundalini yoga, while others are more intense and athletic such as Power, Forrest and Vinyasa yoga. The key is to experiment and find the type of yoga that feels right for you. And if you can’t get to a class, experiment with a yoga DVD that you can do from the comfort of your own home.

Above all, try yoga and get started on the path to better, more vibrant health.

Food Focus: Cranberries 
 
Seems like it wouldn’t be thanksgiving without cranberry relish. A staple at holiday dinners, cranberries can easily be cooked and whipped into a delicious side dish. But did you know that cranberries contain a plethora of health benefits?

Often associated with preventing a urinary tract infection, cranberries contain proanthocyanidins which adhere to bacteria and prevent them from sticking to cell walls. But that’s not all. Cranberries, like many other berries, are full of antioxidants that help prevent cancer. Research also shows that they can help to reduce bad cholesterol, are important in anti-aging and in the prevention of heart disease.

The beauty of cranberries is that they freeze well so you can use them for Thanksgiving dinner and save a bag for later use. Since they tend to be tart, you usually need to add sugar to make them more inviting. But instead of using white sugar, I like to substitute agave nectar or pure maple syrup, natural sweeteners that are more gentle to your system.

Recipe of the Month: Cranberry and Orange Relish 
 
I love this recipe from Real Simple because it’s so quick and easy, yet has an interesting flavor with the addition of fresh ginger. Substitute a natural sweetener for the brown sugar and you’ll feel even better!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1 Hour

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup orange juice
16 ounces cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 to 3/4 cup orange marmalade 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:
1. In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the ginger and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
2. Add the sugar, orange juice, and cranberries. Cook until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes.
3. Stir in the marmalade to taste (depending on desired sweetness). Turn off heat.
4. Stir in the pepper and cilantro just before serving.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make Ahead: Prepare the relish up to 5 days in advance, omitting the pepper and cilantro. Cover and refrigerate. Warm it to room temperature, then stir in the pepper and cilantro before serving.
 
Upcoming Events
 
For a full list of events, see the Healthy Endeavors website. Here are a few highlights:

Outwit Holiday Overindulgence: Free Teleclass!
Tuesday, November 27, 8:00 – 9:00 pm

Are you dreading the holidays because you’re convinced you’ll gain weight just by looking at food? Are you interested in learning simple steps to prevent holiday overindulgence and the often frustrating after effects? Then join us for this free teleclass designed to give you simple strategies for healthy holiday eating and living. Stay tuned for more details and sign up information!

Can You Get Your Abs Flat Again After Having a Baby? – Free Workshop
Tuesday, November 27, 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Balance Fitness for Women Studio, 363 Whalley Avenue, New Haven

Just had a baby? Join us for this post-natal fitness workshop where you’ll learn: why crunches won’t make your abs flat, what is really causing the lower abdominal “pooch” and how you can get the body you’ve always dreamed of, even after baby five! To register, call 203-624-9999.

Outwit Holiday Overeating and Overspending: Save Your Sanity, Watch Your Waistline, and Protect Your Pocketbook
Wednesday, December 5, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven

Join Wendy Battles, Optimal Health Coach, and Debra Cronin, Certified Financial Planner for simple solutions to help you enjoy the holidays without the stress of physical and financial overindulgence. New Haven Public Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven. Register at www.guidezilla.com/nhfpl or call 203-946-8835.
 
Don’t Worry, Get Healthy 12-Week Program is Coming in February! 
 
Imagine starting the new year bursting with energy and resolutions you actually can keep.

Join us for a fun, informative and engaging program to help you get and stay healthy all year long, all via the telephone! You’ll learn such things as how to set realistic goals, how to lose weight in a healthy, natural way and how to create a way to eat that’s right for you…and much more!

Stay tuned for details about the Don’t Worry, Get Healthy 12-Week Program coming soon! 
 
Forward to a Friend It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it.

Sincerely,

Wendy Battles
Healthy Endeavors

email: wendy@healthy-endeavors.com
phone: 203.641.0653
web: http://www.healthy-endeavors.com 

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