Nothing like a green smoothie to start St. Paddy’s day off right – what you drink after that is none of our business.

untraditional irish breakfast

courtesy of SoHo store educator Dorry

ingredients:
• 2 cups of spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• a shake of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of natural almond butter (or peanut butter)
*the healthy fat and protein gives the smoothie staying power

optional:
• 1 scoop Amazing Grass
• 1 scoop protein powder (I like SunWarrior vanilla or chocolate)
* protein powder is perfect for post-workout muscle repair

toppings:
• a serving of granola (or other cereal for crunch)
• fresh berries

feeling lucky green smoothie

courtesy of Park Royal yoga ambassador Alex Mazerolle
note: alex is a pro guess-timator, follow her lead if you’re feeling lucky and experiment with measurements!

ingredients:
 • a handful of chopped kale and green chard
• a thumb of fresh ginger
• some frozen blueberries
• 1/4 of an avocado
• a scoop of green powder like Greens+ or Sun is Shining or just hemp protein
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
• a shake of cinnamon
• a few drops of Stevia to sweeten

o’range, banana and spinach smoothie

courtesy of  Steph, our head of recruitment here at the Store Support Centre
note: steph suggests using a Vitamix based on personal preference but believes any blender will do.

ingredients:
 • 1 frozen banana
• a heaping handful of spinach or kale (both delicious!)
• 2 baby cucumbers
• 1 orange (peeled)
• a handful of strawberries (frozen from the summer are my favourite!)
• 1 tablespoon E3Live BrainON
• a splash of coconut milk.

optional:
• 1 scoop of Vega powder (chocolate is my flavor of choice)
• 1 tablespoon of Omega 3-6-9 oil (keeps things lubricated)
• 1 tablespoon of liquid iron (IRONsmart is my fav)

Happy St. Patrick’s day! Perhaps we’ll see yah at yoga on Sunday.

Summer, if it's done right,  is alternating bouts of heating up and cooling down; and being so busy having fun that you've barely got time to splash water on your face. Summer is also about gorging yourself on the juiciest fruits that nature has to offer. I love the way fruit refreshes me - it's like a big drink of water and a shot of energy - combine that with a sharp cheese like feta or blue and you have a healthy and hedonistic summer snack.

watermelon and feta salad

• 8-ounce package baby arugula
• 4 cups watermelon  (cubed)
• 8-ounce package feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar glaze

Spread arugula on a large platter. Scatter watermelon and feta over the arugula.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze and pepper to taste.

(If you can’t find balsamic glaze in the supermarket, you can make it by reducing 3/4 of a cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan to 3 tablespoons)

fig and mozzarella salad

• 1 bowl of soft, green, salad leaves
• handful of basil
• 6 figs
• 6 medium bocconcini balls
• 6 slices of parma ham
• 6 tablespoons of oil
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of honey

This is a very visceral recipe to get your fingers into.  Tear up the basil, the bocconcini and the ham. Toss these with some soft green leaves and place the cut, splayed figs on top. Combine the oil, juice and honey and drizzle over the salad. Season to taste. (When choosing your figs, you want them soft and ripe - they don't ripen after they've been picked. Fig connoisseurs look for a droplet in the small hole at the bottom of the fruit.)

image: flickr-Dito

caramelized pear and blue cheese salad

• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 3 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 pears (quartered and cored)
• 1/2 cup of walnuts
• 4-ounces arugula
• 6-ounces blue cheese (sliced)

Heat the butter, vinegar and sugar in a fry pan. Add the pear and walnuts and cook over a medium heat until the pear is soft. Place the arugula in bowls and top with the pears, walnuts and blue cheese. Spoon the pan juices over the top.

Summer fruits and salads are more refreshing than that shower after hot yoga. We'd love for you to share some of the ways you maximize the summer crop and your favourite go-to summer salad ideas in the comment section below.

what else are we excited about this summer?

• the Vancouver Bust Out!
• Wanderlust festivals
• the return of our favourite tanks

I was wondering what is the best thing to eat before a power class. And how long before class it is safe to eat. - Jodi

danielle answers

Ideally, I suggest not eating for at least a couple of hours before practice but there are those days when you might have skipped a meal and need a little energy. On those days, I suggest either drinking a glass of water (which can subdue hunger), eating a piece of fruit, such as an apple or banana, or drinking a small glass of juice. If you feel you need a little more substance and can handle a little bit more (which I cannot), then I have known some yogis who like to eat a little peanut butter or almond butter along with a piece fruit. However, if you eat even just a little bit too much or too close to class, you might feel heavy and experience some stomach discomfort, especially in all the twisting poses.
Hope this helps!

Danielle

Read the first part of Ask a Yogi: How to Begin