First Post!

Wow! A new day, a new blog. I feel like I should say a little about my purpose, but I think I'll post my class schedule and granola recipe instead. Happy reading!

Class	Day	Time	Instructor	Location
Meditative Yoga	Tuesday	6:30- 7:45 pm	Christina	Blissful Heights
Resistance Stretching	Wednesday	8:15- 9:00 am	Naomi	Blissful Heights
Water Aerobics	Wednesday	9:00- 10:00 am	Christina	Trussville YMCA pool
Gentle Postures	Thursday	6:30- 7:45 pm	Christina	Blissful Heights
Water Aerobics	Friday	9:00- 10:00 am	Christina	Trussville YMCA pool

Blissful Heights Pricing: $15 drop in rate. One Month Unlimited $90. 4 Class Pack $55. 8 Class Pack $100.

YMCA classes are open to YMCA members.

Meditative Yoga. Moderate class appropriate for any level student. This experiential class encourages you really get inside the postures and feel your body on all levels. The focus is on muscle engagement and joint stabilization while maintaining full, oxygenating breaths. Last about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Gentle Postures. Great for beginners, appropriate for any level student. This class emphasizes gentle movements, stretches, and breath. Come prepared to relax. Last about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Resistance Stretching. Try this innovative form of stretching where the muscle is contracted, then elongated as far as possible until the muscle can no longer contract. Olympic swimmer Dara Torres utilizes this method as part of her training routine. Last 45 minutes.

Water Aerobics. Great low impact, cardiovascular, and strengthening workout for all fitness levels. Tired of getting sweaty and hurting your joints on land? Give this fun workout a try! Last 1 hour.

Great Granola

Dry Ingredients:

5 cups organic oats

¾ cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup sliced almonds

¼ cup sesame seeds

1 Tbs. poppy seeds

¼ cup ground flax seeds (I like golden, personally)

½ cup flaked coconut

2 Tsp. cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:

1Tbs. oil (I would vote for coconut , peanut, or safflower)

½ cup each applesauce, agave nectar or honey, and molasses

1 tsp. vanilla extract

½ tsp. almond extract

1 tbs. good cocoa powder

Dried fruit to add after baking: 1 cup each raisins and craisins

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Heat wet ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat until thoroughly combined (add cocoa at the end). Mix wet ingredients into dry and stir to combine. Spread granola out evenly onto two cookie sheets sprayed with nonstick spray or lightly oiled. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and stir, then reinsert and bake an additional 20 minutes. Remove and let cool. Once cooled, mix in dried fruit and enjoy! This makes a lot so keep some and give some away.