Spring In Bloom Around The World

Is there anything more beautiful than flowers freshly blooming, birds singing, and nature reawakening? Take in these marvellous images of spring in bloom around the world!

  1. Texas Bluebonnets

Even just looking at them you can imagine how fresh and fragrant these must smell!

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  1. A Flower Speckled Valley in British Columbia

Don’t you just wish you could run through this field?

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  1. Cherry Blossoms Awakening in Japan

Such a calm and inspiring view! Aren’t cherry blossom gorgeous?

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  1. A Sleepy Stream in Herefordshire

This would truly be the perfect place for a springtime picnic!

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  1. A Lush, Green Barn Yard Scene

Looks incredibly idyllic

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What is your favourite spring hallmark? Share it with us in the comments below! Become your best self and rediscover wellness with a QRay bracelet.

5 Basic Yoga Asanas for Beginners

Asanas are the names given to the many different yoga poses. If you’re looking to jumpstart your yoga experience, but are unsure where to start, consider this your cheat sheet!

  1. Setu Bandh (Bridge Pose)

Ensure your feet and hips are equal distance apart and lift your body upward.

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  1. Nauka Chalan (Boat Pose)

Keep your legs straight (no bent knees!) and keep your knees together!

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  1. Vakrasana

Keep your back as straight as possible and attempt doing this asana in the opposite direction as well.

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  1. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

Ensure your palms are tucked under your shoulders before pushing up off the ground.

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  1. Paschimottanasana

Don’t let the difficult name fool you, simply do your best to touch your toes and collapse your body into your knees.

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What was your favorite asana when starting off as a yogi? Share with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page!

How To Take Your Yoga Outdoors

The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the snow has melted, so why keep your yoga practice indoors? Yoga is about embracing and becoming one with nature. Take a look at some of our advice on how to take your yoga outdoors!

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  1. Lose the mat!

Yoga mats can be difficult to place outdoors on uneven surfaces. Opt for a towel so that it can actually hug the surface of the earth, thereby giving you a better surface to practice on. Additionally, if your towel gets dirty wherever you’re practicing, you can simply toss it in the wash afterwards!

  1. Ditch the iPod

As mentioned, yoga is not just about connecting with yourself, but also connecting with nature. Don’t dilute the experience by tuning out nature. Embrace your environment, whether it is a babbling brook or the wind whistling through the branches.

  1. Bring a Sweatshirt

Not just for chilly weather! We suggest that in the final phase of your practice, Savasana, to place a sleeve of the sweatshirt over your eyes to block out the sunlight. This will help you to concentrate on centering yourself and really concentrate on your breathing.

  1. Practice Posture

One great thing about practicing outdoors is the unevenness of the ground. This provides a fantastic platform to practice your stability. The uneven surface, as opposed to a perfectly flat hardwood floor, will challenge your balance and give you a better workout.

  1. Skip the Vinyasa

While the uneven surface of outdoors is fantastic, the Vinyasa can be incredibly hard on your wrists. Opt for your other favorite poses and flows, but save the Vinyasa for an indoor session!

What’s your favorite way to take your yoga outdoors? Share it with us in the comments or on our Facebook page!

9 Mouth-Watering Healthy BBQ Recipes

It’s almost summertime, and that means BBQ season! While burgers and hotdogs are classic BBQ staples, why not take a healthy approach? A healthy BBQ doesn’t have to mean a sad salad and some wilted veggies; there are somany delicious alternatives to grill up! Here are some of our favorites:

 

  1. Quinoa and Edamame Salad with Basil, Mint, and Lemon

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Let your Aunt Martha down easy when you tell her to not bring her ‘famous’ ambrosia salad to your next family BBQ. This delicious salad is a healthy and delicious addition to your veggie burger!

 

  1. Sweet Potato Burgers with Edamame Guacamole and Portobello Buns

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This recipe is sure to impress anyone. Talk about a new take on burgers!

 

  1. Beets with Tahini

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A sweet and simple side dish that not only adds a punch of color, but flavour as well!

 

  1. Moroccan Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

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An alternative to an alternative, these stuffed peppers are sweet, spicy and tangy!

 

  1. Vegan Asian Style Coleslaw

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A lighter take on a classic BBQ favorite! You won’t even miss all the mayo!

 

  1. Apple Fennel Seitan Dogs

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If you’ve been shying away from veggie dogs, this recipe will definitely change your mind!

 

  1. Sweet Zucchini Relish

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The perfect BBQ topping – zucchini relish! This yummy alternative to regular, boring relish will soon become your summer go-to!

 

  1. Watermelon, Mint and Feta Salad

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Is it a side dish? Is it a desert? It’s both! Though an unusual combo, we promise that this salad is sure to please any BBQ attendees!

 

  1. Homemade BBQ Sauce (Sweetened with blueberries)

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That’s right – blueberries! This homemade BBQ sauce is gluten free and paleo! This summer you’ll be putting this stuff on everything!

 

Do you have any favorite summer BBQ recipes? Feel free to share them with us on Facebook!