My First Training Session!

So, I did it. I went to my first training session, sort of.... I'm not yet certified as a Hot Power Yoga teacher, BUT..... the studio where I hope to be teaching is very interested in having me teach there, so they are doing something really cool. Basically, 1 hour every 2 weeks I go to the studio and we work on 'being a teacher'. So, for the first session - I had to get up and teach for 3 minutes while being filmed! A) I was freaking out B) I've never taught before, so I was like all over the place with my downward dogs - I think I did like 3 in a row once b/c I couldn't think of anything else to do! I was telling the 'pretend' students to exhale when they should have been inhaling! And then they actually pushed rewind and made me watch it back. OMG! I really need some training and thank God I'm getting it! But it was really great b/c the feedback was constructive in the processes. First, I had to say what I felt, then I had to say what I heard, then if it was real and then if it was clear. So, let me spell it out for you:
FEEL, HEAR, REAL, CLEAR. The other 3 teachers (who were actually real teachers) had to do the same thing - ie how did they feel when I was teaching, what did they hear me say, was I being real and was I clear in my instructions. So it wasn't about giving advice it was really constructive feedback! I sucked at it, but I learned and took notes. So I'm back there in 2 weeks and will of course post how it all goes......

But today, I went to Whole Foods on Ken High Street to really get myself into the veganism of it all. I could seriously work there, or better yet please can I live there! 2 hours felt like 10 minutes. I needed the entire day! I got so many lovely vegan things for me and my kids that I came home (after the zillion school runs and drop offs to activities and then pick ups and then back home) and started to cook supper. (PS - As you know I am a mom of 4, but I don't have any help of any kind. And I'm not trying to sound like, 'wow, look at me, I do it all by myself!' no, that's not it - I basically lost my nanny at Christmas and my cleaner and that is the worst time to try and hire, so I had to do it myself and actually found that I preferred it that way! But more on that choice later!) So, where was I ... yes cooking vegan for my kids. Well, I just made it up and it was GOOD! So good that my 3, 5, 9 and 11 year old ate every bite! So, here is the made up recipe:

Magimix 2 courgettes and 2 carrots and one onion very finely (I do this b/c then my kids eat and don't know that it's actually courgettes and carrots and onions!) Add to large saute pan and cook until a bit soft. Then add 1/2 cup pearl barley and slowly add in vegetable stock (mix 1 liter of hot water with 4 tsp of Bouillon low salt powder) Pour the stock in like you would with a risotto - about 20 minutes into it add the Quorn Chicken pieces (obviously not chicken!) and then cook on low heat for another 15 minutes. Add some sea salt and voila! Once the stock has pretty much all been absorbed you are done. It looks and tastes just like a very veggie/chicken risotto! Then i went really nuts and made Banana Oatmeal Cookies for Breakfast! No dairy, no sugar and no gluten! They are yummy!!!!! If anyone wants this recipe, let me know and I'll post it. But I gave my kids a nibble tonight and they couldn't wait to wake up and have them for breakfast.

So, i'm now about to take a bath but here was a recap of my day....

Wake up and get kids ready for school. Take the 3 boys to 2 different schools while daughter takes train to school. Head off to my pottery class until noon and then live and breathe in Whole Foods for 2 hours, pick up boys from school, take to activities, pick up again and bring home. Listen to Alison Krauss and Robert Plant while making supper and sipping cup of liquorice and cinnamon tea... yum! Get boys in bath - read stories while older 2 are doing homework, then make breakfast cookies, clean kitchen, start my second blog. Phew! Another good day.