Shaunagh’s Kundalini Yoga Class Cancelled today Thurs 23rd May

Kundalini Yoga Class

Kundalini Yoga Class Cancelled

today Thurs 23rd May

7.30-8.45pm

Every Thurs

at

Body Bar Gym,
3 Jawatta Avenue, Col 5

Gym Tel: 0114515985

Cost: Rs600 per class
Tel: Shaunagh’s Mob: 0773022142

Kids Yoga at the Good Market 4.30pm 2 May

Join the Kids Yoga Class at 4.30pm Thurs 2 May at the Good Market, Waters Edge.  Payment by Donation.  Fun, Fitness and Relaxation all rolled into one! Kids aged 3 – 10 welcome.

Hibiscus Iced Tea, refreshing Cool Drink for these Balmy Hot Days

Hibiscus Iced Tea

Try this wonderfully refreshing drink which is both healthy and easy to make.  This was one of our hits during our detox and Yoga retreat in Guava House, Kegalle District last weekend.

Hibiscus Iced Tea

• Heatproof glasses or mugs (or, to make a larger quantity, use a teapot or jug)
• Red hibiscus flowers, organic and pesticide-free (one for each glass)
• Lemon or lime juice
• Boiling water
• Ice
• Stevia (natural sweetener available at the Good Food Market, Waters Edge, Battaramulla, Colombo- see below for details about Stevia)
• Kasa Kasa (Poppy Seeds) (available at all Supermarkets in Sri Lanka)

Method

Hibiscus flower

1) Remove the stamen from each flower. Remember to use hibiscus flowers that are free from pesticides (fresh hibiscus flowers are growing all over Sri Lanka). We picked them from the hedgerow near Guava House). Soak the Kasa Kasa seeds in drinking water.

 

 

After steeping the flowers

 

2) Place one hibiscus flower in a glass or mug, or for larger quantities in a heat proof jug, then cover in boiling water. Allow to steep. Stir (the water will turn a blackish-purple as the colour comes out of the flower). Remove the flower.

After adding the lemon juice

 

 

3) Squeeze the juice from a wedge of lemon or lime into the glass (watch how the colour turns an amazing bright pink!). Set aside, to cool.

Hibiscus Iced Tea with Kasa Kasa

 

4)  Add pre-soaked Kasa Kasa, a few drops of stevia to taste and ice.  It is a deliciously refreshing and cooling drink perfect for the balmy hot days we are experiencing at the moment.  Plus it is a very healthy drink, see the health benefits of Kasa Kasa and Stevia below.

Stevia

Stevia is grown in tropical regions. They leaves are used as a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia’s taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar.  It has up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar.

INTERESTING FACT – In Japan stevia has been widely used for decades as a sweetener.

Kasa Kasa (Poppy Seed) Health Benefits

Numerous health benefits can be derived from them:

• They contain many chemical compounds with anti-oxidant, health promoting and disease preventing properties.
• Around 50% of their total weight is composed of various essential fatty acids and volatile oils.
• They are an excellent source of oleic and linoleic acid.
• Their outer coats are rich in beneficial dietary fibers.
• These seeds are beneficial for the digestive system and help to relieve constipation.
• The seeds are rich in B-complex vitamins including pantothenic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic acid and niacin.
• They also contain high levels of copper, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium and manganese.
• Poppy Seeds are used in Ayurvedic medicine for preparing a moisturizer for skin. The seeds are soaked in water, made into paste and applied to the skin along with milk.
• The seeds are also beneficial for the human nervous system. They can cure nervous irritability.
• They are effective as pain killer.

Hibiscus Tea Health benefits

 

Drinking hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure  and can help to reduce hypertension.