Why Live A Healthy Lifestyle?

Let’s be real; living a good, healthy lifestyle takes a lot of hard work for a long time. Then that lifestyle kicks into habit. When it becomes habit, you still must choose consciously, but the degree of difficulty minimizes over time, as it becomes second nature. The personal rewards for living a healthy lifestyle are so incredibly enjoyable and essential to a wonderful life that it’s worth the hard work it requires. First Corinthians 9:24-27 describes what it takes when it comes to experiencing the rich rewards received by living a truly healthy lifestyle:

“You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about it and then missing out myself.” (MSG)

I hear the words “healthy lifestyle” tossed around a lot. They can mean something different to everyone. So, for the sake of clarity, let’s use these characteristics for our definition:

The Ideal, Healthy Lifestyle:

• Living a life grounded in Christ

• Growing emotionally mature in Christ and The Word

• Living in fellowship with family and friends who love and trust you and whom you love and trust

• Practicing Christian yoga at least six days during the week

• Eating mostly fresh, raw, organic, vegan foods

• Living (or seriously working on being) at your ideal weight; strong and toned, regardless of your age

• Cultivating awesome, real, enjoyable relationships

• Glowing and shining for God to those around you

• Feeling alive

• Looking at life and trials with a positive, God-focused approach

• Enjoying your work immensely

• Working toward financial security

• Taking time to relax and pray each day

To me, a truly healthy lifestyle is about living a life where mind, body, soul and health unify to produce a peaceful, thrilling life of love, richness and deep fulfillment…a life led by heartfelt focus, obedience and a desire to shine our best for God and give Him the glory. Sounds yummy, doesn’t it?

The thing is… it’s hard to live this way. At first, it’s very hard and it never really gets easy, but living a healthy lifestyle is the best goal in the world, in my humble opinion. Being happy in your own skin, experiencing vibrant health and living for God according to His Word is the happiest life anyone can live. That’s why we should live a healthy lifestyle.

One of my favorite yoga teachers, Sentra Brown, said, “If it’s not hard, why are you doing it?” I learned a lot from her. Work on something hard, make the shift and enjoy your life. It takes all you’ve got. Are you willing to give it? That’s the real question. Because there is no question about this…you have what it takes to be vibrantly healthy if you’re willing to work hard at it.

Beginning to live a healthy lifestyle all begins in the battlefield of our mind. Start by filling your mind with the information and inspiration you’ll need to change your lifestyle. Our website is a good place to find good information. If you haven’t read my first Healthy Living article(s), I invite you to do so here on the website, under the “Healthy Living” section. I also strongly recommend that you purchase and repeatedly listen to Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind CD and/or DVD set. It will help you make “the shift” in your mind toward living a healthy lifestyle.

So, does a healthy lifestyle mean that many, if not all, of your pleasures: favorite things to think, say, eat and drink will have to go by the wayside forever? No. But it does mean you have to do what Scripture says and “go into strict training” after you have reached your goals, then moderation is good. Moderation is an important principle of living a healthy life. Are you ready to go into strict training and sacrifice your unhealthy habits until you reach your goals and finally make “the shift” to the new you, God wants you to be? It’s entirely up to you. No more excuses. The former is gone. The new is approaching. Each day is a new day.

If you want it, you can have it. It’s up to each one of us. I’m with you all on this. Let’s pray for each other and get better and better each day, by staying close to the definition of healthy living I’ve described. It’s not easy, but we’ve got what it takes. Let’s do it for Him! Shine brightly on this earth, my brothers and sisters!

Peace, Love, Joy,

DeAnna

A Perfect Raw(mostly)/Vegan Food Plan for Radiant Health

By DeAnna Smothers

I’m beginning to view pursuing radiant health as something that is really fun and challenging, instead of “work”. Being radiantly healthy is much different that being pretty healthy, it makes you literally glow from the inside out and that means we shine more for Him.

I’ve been so taken lately by Matthew 5:13 which says “Let me tell you why you are here.  Here’s another way to put it: “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world . I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine”.

Additionally, my friend and I have been studying Joyce Meyer’s The Battlefield of the Mind. I am seeing that we allow the enemy to entice us with strongholds such as focusing on toxic thoughts and human “reasoning” of the flesh first,  then actions of the flesh that continue to help us destroy ourselves..you know, eating too much, drinking too much, judging too much, not trusting enough.

I love Joyce Meyer’s statement “I had exhausted every way I knew of to destroy myself” when describing the shift that happened for her when she realized she didn’t have to believe every thought that dropped into her head - that if the thought didn’t align with scripture, then toss it. If the food and drink weren’t something that would upgrade her health, she didn’t want to partake. That she finally realized to shine her brightest, she had to exercise and take care of her physical form. We have free choice, such a gift especially when used wisely. The Book of Proverbs is the book of wisdom in the Bible, whatever is there is the way to live in order to experience the best possible. By the way, have you seen Joyce Meyer lately, she looks better than ever!

My big Ah Ha moment was when I realized after studying Proverbs that if I choose not to live that way, that I am being disobedient, something that hurts my soul because I know it will not please my sweet Savior.  The mind shift I have had is motivated primarily by a desire to be obedient at a higher level. Have you seriously read Proverbs and what it has to say about eating and drinking too much?  It’s pretty clear that our mind, body and soul health are seriously important to God. No guilt now, He wouldn’t like that. I just want to move forward to brightly shine and glow for Him and it’s fun seeing what thought patterns, foods, drink and activities help me do that best. Right now I’m kinda glowy, but I have some serious room for growth and I’m excited!

God’s Word instructs us to shine, it even goes so far as to say that that’s why we are here. I realized a year or so ago  - finally wonder of wonders, that I could not shine  radiantly for God, myself, my family, friends, profession with a toxic mind, body and soul AND that I had them all! Not to an extreme mind you, for I have been progressing to a healthier mind and mostly raw for a while now and lost about 30 pounds and started feeling amazing! But then I got complacent for a while and stayed where I am, now I am ready for the next level.

Anyhow, I realized that for me living a mostly raw 90%/Vega Lifestyle helped me shine more radiantly for God, drop unwanted pounds fast and the lifestyle itself delivers a glow that cannot be achieved with a diet of toxic thoughts not in agreement with scripture, cooked foods and animal food and dairy no matter how you cut it. But it’s organic meat you say, yes so it doesn’t have hormones and pesticides that’s good, but it still clogs your arteries, sorry.

Here’s how my radiantly glowing friends typically live their lives each day and when I do it I am radiant too!  I’m trying to do this six days a week.  It’s a fabulous lifestyle and with delicious food and you have all kinds of energy.

• Go to bed early enough to get 8 full hours sleep.

• Awaken early enough to have some alone time and unhurried morning tea/coffee at least 6 days per week

• Practice Christian yoga in any form 6 times per week, Rest & Restore, Gentle, Flow, Power…mix it up if you like.

• Read and listen to inspirational music/messages on CD/Dads by Christian people they admire in the car, home, walking, Christian yoga.

• Hang around other like individuals.  Joining a Christian yoga studio/group is one way to do that.

• Have no more than 2 cups of coffee/tea in the morning…organic, of course

• Have a vegan Pea Protein drink in fresh home made almond milk with berries each day preferably 45 minutes after practice or working out, this is key. Vegans need protein and creamy taste, this was the missing link for me to move ahead.

• Have two large fresh organic green juices per day, or one juice and one green smoothie..best juicer for fast preparation and clean-up - Breville

• Eat a delicious greens salad with some raw goat cheese, organic sunflower seeds, avocado, tomatoes, any kind of veggie you like, everyday!

• Find restaurants that are organic and dressings that you like there.  After a meal at the restaurant, bring home some side orders of dressing for your week’s salad.

• Most radiantly healthy people don’t eat bread very much at all but if they do Once In A While,  it’s Ezekiel

• Most love chocolate and learn how to make the recipe below for yummy raw dehydrated chocolate macaroon’s.

• I also love making Popsicles with fresh organic almond milk/raw organic cocoa powder/coconut/stevia or other negligible insulin spike sweeters, this makes very yummy Popsicles; just get yourself a set of Popsicle holders, put ingredients in a blender, pour into Popsicle holder, put in freezer 4 hours and voila’! You can also just juice any fruit and pour it in the holders.

• Drink 6-8 glasses of reverse osmosis water or pure water everyday. This keeps toxics moving through and out your body.

• Once a week, my very radiantly glowy friends pretty much eat what they want, but not to extreme as toxics get you to crave more toxins. So if you are going to indulge, do it lightly and be mindful that you want radiant health and too many toxins will quickly steel your radiance.

• Read a book you like before bed, dare to just read for enjoyment.

• Be obedient to Scripture, take the time to learn it better. The Book of Proverbs is the book of wisdom in the Bible.  Just start there.  Whatever it says is true and righteous.

• My radiantly healthy friends all have their vitamin k2, B12, Thyroid, D3 levels checked annually and if they need these commonly needed supplements, they purchase them from Life Extension because they are the cleanest around and they are reasonable in price. You can get your blood tests there too.

Thinking of you all, sending love and peace your way.

DeAnna

Recipe:

Delicious Raw Chocolate Macaroons

• 3 cups unsweetened organic dried coconut

• 1 1/2 cups raw organic cacao powder

• 1 cup raw organic light agave or raw organic yacon syrup or Stevia to taste

• 1/2 cup raw organic coconut oil

• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Mix, roll into balls, dehydrate at 115 degrees for 12 to 24 hours

Lower the temp or shorten the time for softer macaroons

For those without dehydrators place on lowest temp in oven for several hours

They are good even without dehydration, just fresh!

Nut Milks…so delicious!!

Nut Milks…so delicious, better for us by far and simple to make!

Hello Friends,

Before discussing the amazing benefits of nut milks I would just like to say hope you are all doing well and to thank you for all your comments and notes on the new Healthy Living section. I was really touched by the fact that some of you have been listening to The Joyce Meyer’s “Battlefield of the Mind” CD/DVD series for a long time; I was touched because I realized that those of you who have and continue to listen almost daily to this day, even after a long time, are people I love, greatly respect and look up to, people who set the bar of intimacy with God for me. Some of you said you are planning to purchase “Battlefield of the Mind” and listen to it over and over and over again, that made my heart smile, thanks! Choosing healthy thoughts, foods, drinks, actions and words all begins in our mind.

One of my friends said that her goddaughter and her mother listen to this series regularly at breakfast and the other day they hadn’t turn it on in a few days and her goddaughter said “Hey mom, I think we need a little Joyce”!  I point out once again that making a permanent shift to a super healthy lifestyle begins in the mind, it doesn’t matter if you know nut milks are great for you, if you do not choose to prepare and drink them, it’s not going to happen.  It all begins in the battlefields of our minds. It’s a constant discernment of what is toxic or non toxic to the mind, body and soul and whether or not to choose toxic thoughts, foods, drinks, actions, words to be our choices in life. Battlefield of the Mind helps you make this shift, promise!  I’m just going to keep bugging you until you do it because I love ya!

Okay so Nut Milks! One of my raw food teachers tells me that our senses need different types of tastes and one of those tastes is creamy. Here’s a great way to get your creamy taste buds fed in a healthy and delicious way.  Animal milks vs. Nut milks.  If you search the web for “summary of scientific studies on harm of animal (primarily cow) milk”, you will see harmful side affects like: Liquid Meat; allergies, anemia, arthritis, asthma, cancer, cataracts, diabetes in children, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, autism, heart disease and the list goes on.  So why would anyone drink animal milk when they could drink absolutely much more delicious nut milks, which has none of these side affect and tons of benefits?!?  I encourage you to do your own fact finding but here’s what one search http://www.care2.com/greenliving/nut-milk-in-a-minute.html has to say about it:

Here’s something I think you and your family will LOVE! Nut milks taste beyond yummy and are quite beneficial for our health and they are really easy to make (hardest part is getting the nut bag so just choose to order one already:) Try blending some purified ice or organic frozen strawberries, some fresh organic strawberries, pea protein and a couple of dates to a cup of nut milk and give it to your children as a malt, you can even put raw organic cocoa powder and organic banana’s in it to make it chocolate instead, or vanilla or all of the above…they will love it and it will be very nutritious for them. You will love it too, it gives solid peaceful energy for hours, while feeding your cells…mmmmmdelicious!

Almonds are members of the Rosaceae (Rose) Family and a relative of peaches, cherries and apples. They have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, demulcent, emollient, and tonic properties. They help alkalinize the blood and relieve chi stagnation in the liver. They are used to lubricate the lungs, relieve asthma and coughing, clear phlegm, improve energy and memory, strengthen the nervous system, and increase strength and sexual vitality. They are known as brain and bone food.

Almonds contain about 18 percent protein and are a good source of vitamin E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They also contain amygdalin, otherwise known as laetrile, an anticancer nutrient.

In Ayurvedic medicine, almonds are used to strengthen ojas, the essence that exemplifies intellect and spiritual receptivity. Yogananda, Indian guru and author of Autobiography of a Yogi said almonds foster “self control and calmness of the mind and nerves.”

A milk made from almonds or other soaked nuts can be a great substitute for dairy, soy or asceptically packaged products. I look for really raw almonds (most American almonds, even those marketed as raw are pasteurized), so either Spanish almonds, those you shell yourself from companies such as LivingNutz.com, farm.com or rawfromthefarm.com.

Almond Milk

Why settle for a product in an aseptic package that has a shelf life of three years? Choose vitality instead!

• 1 cup raw organic almonds, soaked overnight

• 1 quart  purified water

• 1 tablespoon organic raw honey or 2 dates, soaked 20 minutes

Rinse the nuts in a colander to remove enzyme inhibitors

Combine all ingredients in a blender and liquefy. Then strain through a nut milk bag you can get at http://www.rawguru.com/store/raw-food/nut-milk-bags-buy-3-get-1-free.html Pulp can be saved to add to casseroles, cookies or other dishes.

Note: These same directions can be used for making cashew, hazelnut, pine nut, sesame, sunflower, walnut, or pumpkin seed milk. Makes 1 quart

So dear friends let us remember our beloved Father says in Scripture..

3- John 1:2 American King James Version

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.”

Four Bible Food Groups

1. Organic Trees whose edible yield is bearing seed or is seeds.
2. Organic Plants whose edible yield is bearing seed or is seeds.
3. Organic Field plants , herbs, roots, leafy vegetables.
4. Organic Clean Meat

Here’s to our Godly health my brothers and sisters,

DeAnna

Making “The Shift” to a Healthy Lifestyle

Making “The Shift” to a Healthy Lifestyle

by DeAnna Smothers

Treasured Friends,

For years healthy living has been a passion of mine, yet it took years for me to actually make “The Shift” to permanently live a healthy lifestyle.  During these years I have studied and gained much knowledge about what real health actually is according to state-of-the-art experts I admire in the fields of health. I also cured myself of breast cancer naturally, without surgery, chemo, drugs and the like by implementing what I learned and now as I approach my 67th birthday this September, I am in the best shape and health of my life and I am often told I look a couple of decades younger than I am. As a Christian yoga teacher I regularly kick-booty of people in their 20’s.  I share this with you not to boast, but to hopefully be an inspiration to help you attain your health goals.

Everyday in my classes I see people struggling to make “The Shift” to a healthy lifestyle and this new Healthy Living section of our website is dedicated to helping those who want to make “The Shift” a reality in their lives.

As Christians, it is important to understand the motivation for wanting to live a healthy lifestyle.  If it’s to “look hot or younger” I don’t believe anyone will actually make it. Excellent health automatically produces a more attractive physical body, but if that is the motivation, it lacks depth and importance.  Here’s a Scripture that reflects my personal motivation and perhaps it will motivate you too:

Matthew 5:13-16 (The Message)  “Let me tell you why you are here.  You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.  Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.  If I make you light bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket do you?  I’m putting you on a light stand.  Now that I’ve put you there - SHINE!”

In my view, it is impossible to SHINE when your mind, body and soul are toxic. If you are overweight, your mind, body and soul are toxic, plain and simple.  Even if you are confined to a wheel chair, you can SHINE with health.  For true health is a combination of mind, body, soul radiance. It is miraculous to watch people in wheel chairs go for and attain Olympic Gold is the Special Olympics.  Everyone can SHINE if they think, eat and exercise regularly with God at the center of their lives.

Mind, body, soul health is what we will be focusing upon in the Healthy Living Section for they are all inter-related. If you have a toxic mind, you cannot be healthy as it affects your peace and your body; if you eat toxic food, you cannot be healthy as it affects your mind and you cannot enjoy peace and/or a healthy body. If you do not trust 100% in our God, you cannot have peace nor would you understand your purpose for being alive is to SHINE for HIM. If you do not exercise for your own physical level, you cannot be healthy as the body needs to be moved and circulated daily.  For me, of course, Christian yoga is a huge answer to prayer and a fundamental component for a healthy life as it is a mind, body, soul practice that encourages, biblical thinking, eating fresh foods and building a strong body…the necessary ingredients for SHINING for HIM and being an instrument of peace on this earth.

So, here’s lesson one:  Please go to www.joycemeyer.com and purchase The Battlefield of the Mind CD or DVD series. It’s only around $30.00 including shipping.  Listen to it over and over and over until you totally understand it.  You cannot really loose weight, get strong, exercise regularly or eat well unless you mind is healthy and your decision to do so is always firm (naturally on very special occasions we party). The fundamental problem with people not succeeding in making “The Shift” to a healthy lifestyle is that they do not have a convicted mind to do so. Choosing to eat, drink and smoke toxic substances, not exercising regularly and feeling badly about yourself for a lack of self-control all begins in your mind and heart. When you truly study and understand The Battlefield of the Mind series, it will lift you up and give you the mind set you need to stop making toxic choices.  You will never succeed in making “The Shift” until your decision to do so is real and firm. This requires having a healthy godly mind that will be the bedrock to help you make excellent choices almost all the time, which is foundational and fundamental to making “The Shift” and to finally living and enjoying a healthy body and lifestyle.

Here’s to Healthy Living…a special easy recipe for you to enjoy.  One thing for sure, organic fresh foods are the quickest way to begin detoxifying your mind, body and soul (more on that to come). Remember in The Book of Daniel, God clearly shows us that for the most clarity of mind and strength of body, eating vegetables and drinking water is where it’s at. Otherwise, why would God have put that story in the Bible?

Quick, delicious Tacos - serves 4 (2 tacos each)

• Package of Ezekiel Sprouted Tortillas (these are alive and clean and actually digest as a protein)

• Organic Goat Cheese

• 4 - Organic Avocados

• 1 - Jalapeno (optional)

• 1 - Organic Lime

• 1 - Bunch Organic Romaine Lettuce

• 2 - Organic Roma Tomatoes

Sprinkle Organic Goat Cheese on 8 tortillas

Place tortillas under broiler until cheese melts

In a bowl, combine avocados, lime juice, tomatoes and jalapeno and mix together

Spread this mix on your tortillas

Cover with Romaine lettuce

Enjoy!  Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Peace and love to you all.  Please let me know subjects you would like me to cover in Healthy Living and I will be happy to do so.

DeAnna

A letter from DeAnna: My Personal Transformation During our Recent Teacher Training

Hello Dear Yahweh Yoga Family,

As I write this, it is the first day after our January, 2010 Christian Yoga RYT Teacher Training graduation. During the ending days of the training, many students used the words “personal transformation” to describe their teacher training experience.

As I was reflecting on what students had to say, I realized that I too experienced personal transformation and deeper appreciation of daily life as a result of my role in our last class.

Hard work and the Word of God

Twenty-three students participated in our teacher training experience this month: they were Christian women from all over the world, from all backgrounds, and of all ages and fitness levels.

This was the first session of our revised RYT program where we cut back from 22 eight-hour days to twelve- to fourteen-hour days…for 15 days straight!

By the end of those long days, we came to realize that we had all grown close in heart and fellowship as we filled our minds and bodies with education about God, health and yoga. We pushed our bodies to the limits in terms of strength and endurance, and relaxed together over healthy eating and drinking.

Having this entire experience tethered in the Word of God was truly amazing for me personally.

Why this course was different from other sessions

I was asking myself, what was so different about this course and why did it impact me so intensely?

I won’t sugar-coat it, we worked long – and sometimes grueling – hours. Yet all the women, from ages 20s to 70s grew in their confidence and ability to teach Christian Yoga.

As my first yoga teacher told me once: “If it’s not hard, why are you doing it?” I realized that pushing myself to my limit was invigorating and I believe everyone else felt the same way. We were proud of ourselves (and it wasn’t like we went beyond good sense and/or safety), but we did push ourselves and it felt great to do so.

Overcoming the challenges of long days with the blessing of being able to serve both God and these wonderful women with my co-instructor (and precious daughter) Courtney, was life-changing for me. It helped me to see that God loves me so much that He has placed this purpose in my heart to help build strong, skilled, Christian yoga teachers to serve others worldwide. I know Courtney feels the same way.

How the students transformed

All 23 students could feel the presence of God each and every day and they radiated His love as they encouraged their classmates to reach their goals. We all saw first-hand how people of different ages and fitness levels can teach some form of Christian Yoga. I truly believe that all of the students came away with a new awareness that they can personally serve others through the gift of health and fitness.

Time to chill

Honestly, it may take me a week to process and recover! But an important part of my personal transformation is a renewed realization deep in my heart of the importance of living a balanced life that offers time for personal quiet time with God each day, my own personal fitness time, caring for my home, visiting with my friends and of course…relaxing at the spa.

Our thanks go out to you

I know that there were many of you praying for the students and Courtney and I during training; thank you sweet friends. His presence was felt at all times and we thank you for your encouragement.

To all of our Yahweh Yoga teacher training students that were there…we love you forever and eternity.

To all the YY staff teachers…you rock! Thank you for the memorable classes.

To all the YY studio students…thanks for your patience during these two weeks, we love you!

To Julia and Star Lynn…The plant-based menu was truly delicious and inspired us all to appreciate a more natural and healthy lifestyle. Thank you for the sacred yet fun flavor of each meal.

To our families…We love you! All of us —students and teachers— involved in the training couldn’t have excelled without your love, help, encouragement, and support during this time and always.

To God be the Glory!

Love,
DeAnna