Get To The Point Already

In the spirit of accommodating those that want conclusive information now, I'm working on summarizing each path taken, be it the cleanse, ayurveda, yoga, meditation etc.


I've been asked repeatedly to please get to the point, with questions needing answers: "Now that you've done this cleanse Sam, how do you feel? Would you recommend it? What were the pros and the cons?" At the same time, I want to write the stories. How to pull this off effectively is a question of providing good content with clarity, hence design.


I've started this blog, hounded a few friends and family for support and the content is slow to come. I'm working on the design (kinda technically challenged) to have the information  come out in a streamlined fashion, so I can separate the facts from the journalling.


Which reminds me of a story...(!) When I bought my first car, it was standard. I didn't know how to drive standard, so I leaned on a friend or two to teach me how to drive it. This is how I learn best.


Please stick with me! I am dedicated to getting this info out for your needs and want very much to tell the stories. I encourage the critiques, the questioning and your candid remarks in emails. Keep them coming!!

Celebrating Food in a beautiful place (pre detox cleanse)

In Minden Ontario, on Bob Lake, Sam and Martha sneak away for a September weekend escape to the cottage and its all about the food. Martha and I deviously shop separately with care, texting to make sure all the details for each meal are covered.

Freshly baked pain au chocolat, ripe organic berries, fresh roasted coffee…

Cheese trays and chilled roses…

Marinated, grilled lamb and more fine wine… 

Listening to good tunes, we discussed (among many other subjects) how we were both feeling out of touch with our bodies. For me, a few years of regular yoga and meditation practice proved to be very helpful to work through phases of depression, random waves of anxiety, relentless stress and various physical ailments from simple muscle tension to recurring respiratory issues. We enjoyed the rest of our beautiful meals, swam in the chilled water and cruised the (finally!) quiet lake…

On the sunny drive home (listening to more good music) we decided to act on a few approaches. I would look into pranayama (breath) classes, Martha was open to a consultation with my Ayurvedic doctor Shanthi (see link under Healers) and to experiment with some regular meditation ‘buddy’ sessions. I was experienced just enough with my daily sitting practice that I could guide her through some brief foundational sits to get the ball rolling. These were all avenues to calming the mind and getting further in touch with the body. We were determined to do something to keep eachother motivated. 

To come soon: the dialogue to eachother through texts and emails.

Clips of Indulgence

Work In Progress

Hello friends and supporters,


I have had interest expressed via email in the specifics of the cleansing detox and people wanting further information.  It is vital that you hit 'Join this site' under Journal Follower to support what I'm doing here. If you do not have gmail or yahoo, please, please click on the 'create a google account' and follow the steps. I have also just added the comments section under each post so please comment about your needs and your thoughts when it feels right.


Much Love,
Sam

The Fall Cleansing Detox

Depending on who you ask, three weeks of eating no sugar, caffeine, meat, dairy and alcohol could seem daunting or maybe not such a big deal. For my dear friend Martha and myself, it was like taking the toy out of the baby's hand and watching her wail away for the entire duration. As each day passes from the finish line of last Sunday, I have new insights as to just how powerful this experience was for both of us. Day after day of steaming vegetables, cooking rice, taking the prescribed tincture and downing large glasses of flax soaked water, all at precise times of the day with specific intervals between liquids and solids, I now feel like a wild child left to her own spoiled devices. What does that say about me and my relationship to food? What is the big deal here? I cannot imagine having done that on my own. Codependence got me through the hardest parts. We ranted, screamed, whined, freaked out and complained in texts, emails and phone calls as our bodies were subjected to releasing just the surface of years of tightly held 'things' deeply rooted in the body's tissues. There is much to express about this profound experience. Ahead will be a diary of our dialogue, some pictures of the food we ate and thoughts on how a simple every day thing like food has changed the way I see myself and the world I live in. 

Fall: renewal and reflection

Fall is rapidly coming to a close.  Fall, the most precious, valuable time to create change. A powerful, beautiful time to take on new challenges with enthusiasm and close chapters with peace of mind.

I experienced my first marriage last year amongst the captivating fall colours of the Gatineau Hills. This fall I moved through my first cleansing detox in and around the seductions of this vibrant, polluted, alive, beloved city of Toronto. I've spent exquisitely peaceful time watching the fall leaves reflected on our Ontario lakes just north of the city and worked tirelessly in many a corner, alleyway, highway and rural location that a production could find to shoot a tv scene, whatever the season. 

The biggest challenge throughout these years has been to find a quiet ground within, trying to live a life with meaning, while doggedly working away and being just plain busy living life.

I hope here to share solid information, resources, stories, documentation and ideas on natural ways of enjoying life and healing the exhausted body-mind, so we can thrive with vitality wherever we live, whatever we're doing. I have struggled with balance all of my privileged, joyful life. I will take stock of what I have experienced and learned and express it through words and pictures. We shall see what comes of it.

Ohm Shanthi, Right On

Sam