Things you'll need before starting your brew: - Wooden or plastic stirring utensils. - 3 - 4 litre glass jar - Tight weave cloth or paper towels - rubber band Ingredients: - Water - White Sugar - Tea Bags or loose tea - Active Kombucha Scoby - 1 Cup of pre made Kombucha Steps to take: 1. The first step is to brew your choice of tea. How I like to do this is by adding one cup of sugar into my 4 litre glass jar along with the 8 tea bags of my choice. If you want to use loose leaf tea for brewing your kombucha it is ok to use a metal tea ball as long as it is removed before adding your Kombucha scoby and does not come into contact with the scoby. I like to leave my tea to brew over night as the tea and jar will need to cool to room temperature before adding the scoby into the brew. Note: The tea bags or tea ball can be left in the jat while it cools to room temperature over night if you want a stronger flavoured tea or can be removed after 10 - 15 minutes for a lighter flavoured kombucha. 2. Remove the tea bags or completely strain the loose leaf tea from the liquid. 3. One the tea has completely cooled to room temperature add your cup of pre made kombucha to the mix. You can add anywhere from one cup to a half litre of pre made kombucha. I would recommend using up to a half litre in a 4 litre batch especially if it is your first brew of kombucha. Note: Choose a flavor that will compliment your chosen flavour of tea. 4. Add your active kombucha scoby to the tea brew. 5. Cover the jar with the tight weave cloth and secure it with a rubber band. If you do not have any tight weave cloth I have used a doubled over paper towel secured with a rubber band which works just as well. Note: The scoby needs to breathe so that it can grow during the fermentation period. It will likely expand and grow into a larger scoby which can then be cut into two scobys which can be used to make extra brews or can be given to others wanting to make their own brew. 6. Allow the mixture to sit undisturbed in a warm dark place for 7 - 30 days. Taste test along the way. The longer the brew is left to sit in the fermentation period the less sweet and more vinegary the taste will be. 7. Remove the scoby from the mix and distribute it into glass bottles or jars. 8. Keep the scoby with some kombucha juice in a sandwich bag and place it into the fridge or start another batch to keep it alive. 9. To make your kombucha fizzy try leaving it out of the fridge with the lid on to let it carbonate. Taste test each day to see if that flavour is right for you. Note: To create more advanced flavour notes try adding fresh ginger or your choice of fruit to the bottled kombucha while you let it sit and carbonate without the scoby. 10. When you are happy with the flavour and amount of fizz put the bottles in the fridge to cool and prepare for drinking! If you have any questions please contact me or there are so many other great advanced blogs out there about making your own kombucha. I just wanted to put the simple steps down to show just how easy it is to make your own probiotic rich drink.
Enjoy :) Alana xx
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After 7 months of travel through third world countries, all I wanted to do was leave and return to a place I felt had professional healthcare systems, western food and clean water. I was over the sweltering, humid heat that through illness made me dizzy and even at one point faint – there were times I was walking through streets with absolutely no idea where I was or what I was doing. I was completely over the constant grabs for attention and requests for selfies – sometimes standing just smiling for half an hour while families lined up to take a selfie with me (obviously not because I’m famous but because of my skin/hair colour). I was over moving around with 30 kgs of extra weight on my back and finding a new place to sleep every night or so – not to mention the countless times you open and close your bag to find simple things. I was desperate to get on the plane to Japan and then Vancouver. So desperate I spent my last two days in Delhi, India hiding in my air-conditioned hotel room with a queezy sick stomach ordering food to my room and napping in between day dreams of departing the intenseness that is India.
So why now is it that all I want to do is return to India/Thailand/Cambodia/(not so much Vietnam)? I have so many stories to tell from 7 Months of travel, experience and adventure. So many that whenever I get the chance I’m always bringing something up. And I mean whenever I get the chance, I have become one of those annoying travelers who is always going on about that time I spent 2.5 months in India and raised money to feed street dogs or driving through the Himalaya mountains on one of the worlds most dangerous roads or staying on the most gorgeous private island in Cambodia or completing my 200 hour YTTC in Thailand. I just can’t stop. But now I understand those annoying travelers. I often look back at the photographs I took while traveling and even though at the time things were sometimes rough eg, illness, unpreparedness, difficult people and countries, loosing cameras ect all I think back on is the good memories and as for the bad memories - well most of them become really, really good jokes and really, really good life lessons; however definitely not all of them. Travel is good. It’s good soul food, it’s good for our minds and expanding our consciousness and it’s so good at helping us grow, understand others without harsh judgement and connect with people and places on a level that steals a piece of our hearts. And sometimes just sometimes even the bad things can be good for us. Maybe things didn’t work out the way you planned because it just wasn’t part of your journey and life had another lesson for you to learn that day. If travel taught me anything: Nothing is permanent, don’t take it personally and always remember the people who consistently have your back. Travel can teach us so much about ourselves too. I have always craved conversation that makes me feel connected, valued and involved and these conversations flowed with fellow travelers I met along the way. I learned that I really truly value my own company and my alone time, it helps me to reset and be alone with my mad mind – this is when I have my best and most creative ideas pop up. I learned so much more about myself but it would take too long to write it all here + most people wouldn’t be interested and that’s okay. Upon arrival in Vancouver, my new home for the next couple of years I couldn’t help but notice the lack of street dogs and overflowing garbage, the calmness as people drive down the road without beeping their horns a thousand times and the avoidance of eye contact – things you get used to after 7 months in heavily populated third world countries. Vancouver is gorgeous, clean, has good healthcare, has even better vegan food options and I’m getting used to the avoiding eye contact thing again. Every country has it’s problems, don’t get me wrong – but it feels so good to be able to drink water from a tap and not a plastic bottle. It feels so good to eat fruit and salad and have road rules so that I can feel safe crossing the road. But there is something so incredibly intoxicating about those countries that calls me back. I already can’t wait until I am able to return. until then I’m going to enjoy each day and save more money for more future worldly adventures. Alana xx Lost Lake: Lost lake is located only a 15 minute walk from Whistler Village and can be accessed by the Village trail. There is no parking at Lost Lake and you will not get closer than street parking with a 10 minute walk. To circle the small lake takes only 30-45 minutes walking giving time to stop and enjoy the scenery. There are plenty of stops along the way to enjoy the view of shimmery crystal clear water, alpine flowers and woodland. You will be able to find a private swimming spot by walking the trail or you can join people jumping from the jetty. Beware of bears in the area. Lost Lake July 2016. Photographer: Alana Hailwood-Winn. Alice Lake: Alice Lake is located off the Sea to Sky highway on Alice Lake road 2KMs North of Squamish. At Alice lake provincial Park there is plenty of free parking but you’ll have to beat the afternoon rush. If you arrive in the morning you’ll be able to choose the best spot on the grass seating area and claim it before the crowds flood in. There are three lakes to choose from and the biggest of the three has a scenic 20 minute walk completely around. You can rent Kayaks, SUP boards and paddle boats right on the beach. Alice Lake, September 2016. Photographer: Alana Hailwood-Winn. Alta Lake: Alta lake is off the Sea to Sky highway a few Kilometers before Whistler. Rainbow Park is where you will find plenty of free parking and lounging space on the grass. They have a dog specified area at the South end of the beach. There are three large docks walking out to the much deeper centre of the lake to dive from. Alta lake is surrounded by a busy bike trail and is a popular family spot with a wide beach entrance to the water and plenty of room for everyone. Trees shade the outskirts of the park and you can enjoy the view of mountains Surrounding the lake covered in thick pine trees. Alta Lake, August 2016. Photographer: Alana Hailwood-Winn. Buntzen Lake: Buntzen Lake is located in Port Coquitlam 30 minutes drive East of Vancouver city. When the free parking near the lake fills up on a busy day some local tenants offer their lawn space for parking $10 all day it just means you’ll need to walk around 40-50 minutes to reach the popular summer spot. Buntzen also has a dog specific area where dogs can be off leash and enjoy the beach with their owners supervision. Walking the full trail lake circuit should expect to take around 2-3 hours and there are other longer hikes available in the area. Beware of bears through the woodland surrounding the lake. To find a private swimming spot away from the busy beach take a walk around the lake and there are plenty of secret And quiet spots available. Buntzen Lake, August 2016. Photographer: Rhys Wren. Lynn Canyon Park: Lynn Canyon Park in Lynn Valley offers a range of trail walks through lush Canadian woodland. You will need to do more research to figure out which hike is the right one for you but a simple walk over the suspension bridge will show a selection of fresh natural rock pools filled with flowing river water. There are paths to walk alongside the river leading both upstream and down which both lead to gorgeous bathing spots if you can handle how cold the water is. Please follow the signs accordingly where it is unsafe to swim. Trek a ways off the beaten path in Lynn Canyon to find one of the regions most popular and best watering holes. 30 Foot Pool is popular with youth and families alike for it’s beauty, deep, pristine waters and yes, even for the trouble it takes to get there. Don’t expect to be the only ones with this great idea, but if you get there early it’s well worth the hike in. Lynn Canyon is a short 25 minute drive North of Vancouver city. There is plenty of free parking available but fills fast during the Summer months as a popular tourist destination. Beware of bears in the area. Lynn Canyon, June 2016. Photographer: Alana Hailwood-Winn. Sunset beach: Sunset beach is a short drive from UBC campus at the West End of the Seawall trail. There are large logs all along the beach offering a place to sit And relax. There are designated volleyball areas with nets set up along the sandy waterfront. There is plenty of free parking all the way along the water front and it is a really popular spot for lounging and sunbathing on a sunny day. With a Full view of Vancouver city and the North Shore as well as incoming/outgoing ships this swimming spot is different from all the rest. You may be lucky to spot whales or seals swimming together out in the ocean depths. At Sunset, sunset beach is truly stunning in or out of the water. Sunset at Sunset Beach, August 2016. Photographer: Alana Hailwood-Winn. Capilano Canyon: The river valley in North Vancouver boasts quite a few options for those looking to experience chilling glacial water. There’s something for everyone, from shallow, calm areas for children to cliffs and waterfalls for the more adventurous and experienced swimmers. It’s a popular destination, but the multitude of options makes finding a peaceful perch easier than you’d expect, plus the walk in is a site to behold. Parking fills up fast and is costly. You’ll need a credit card to use the parking meters. Capilano Lake at Capilano Canyon, August 2016. Photographer: Alana Hailwood-Winn. Half way to completing my 30 day challenge and I am feeling so much better than I was when I started this journey. Getting back into a solid and regular Yoga practice has made me feel inspired and I have already noticed a few differences in my body and small things that are actually big things in my day to day life. Some of the things I have experienced with 15 days of Yoga practice are: - Sleeping better than I have in months. After 7 months of travel and forever changing time zones I was waking up at 4-5 am in the morning even though I was exhausted when we first arrived in Vancouver. I could barely sleep but now I sleep a solid 8 hours sometimes more (I haven’t started work yet) without waking. - My muscles are stronger and more toned. 7 months of an on-off Yoga practice with intense illness meant that I lost a lot of tone and strength in my entire body. My core and hips had barely any strength when I started taking classes again but now I feel much stronger and have more endurance when holding asanas for longer periods of time and my arms, stomach, thighs and glutes all look tighter and have a more toned shape. As a response my posture has also greatly improved. - My mind feels calmer and I feel more connected to my breath. When I feel that something is getting on my nerves I instantly connect to my breath and take long, slow and deep inhales and exhales. It is a tool that can be used To help and calm you down instantly. As in Yoga practice we learn to breathe through asanas that may be difficult to hold for a period of time we learn to breathe our way through tougher situations. Saturday morning was my 7th day of Yoga completing one whole week of my 30 day challenge. I rose early and as everyone in the house was rising to start the day I snuck out the door and headed to Kitsilano studio. Half of West 4th was blocked off and being set up for the outdoor street party that most stores get involved with – selling items and hosting games and prize giving. I was too early to see everything break out and headed straight to Yyoga. Flow has always been my first Yoga class love and I am kind of sticking to the Flow classes at the moment so I decided my 7th day would start with a Flow class. I always work up a sweat in Flow without it being too over the top like a Hot class. Using your muscles and strength, twisting and turning into pretzel like positions and holding them for minutes on end definitely turns up the heat. Not only is it great for your body but it also challenges your mind in holding these uncomfortable and challenging shapes to remain calm in a stressful situation. Yoga is not easy but we never learn anything from situations so easily accomplished. My body continues to feel stronger with each class. My mind continues to soften to a calmer and more focused perception of life. I decided as my 8th day was a Sunday that I needed some soft Yin practice in my life after a day trip to Whistler. I did go in expecting some deeper stretches than those offered but decided not to let my perception of what I thought the class was going to be destroy my peace for what it actually was. Instead of getting what I thought my body needed I got what my mind needed and an hour of deep relaxing meditation. Perfect for a Sunday evening! Yin is a more focused meditative practice of Yoga as it is conducted 99% of the time completely on the floor in mild to deep stretches with much longer holds. Some asanas will be held for anywhere from 3-5 minutes so you get a lot of time to focus on your breathing and the sensations that this deep of an opening is giving the joints, muscles, tissues and nervous system of the body. Yin is a great practice for those of us with injuries or for people seeking more of a meditative mind altering practice. A sweet and simple healthy twist to my favourite Nacho dish. Feeds 3-4 people. Ingredients: 1 can refried beans 1 can mixed beans 2x avocadoes 2 tomatoes 1 mango 1 bag of organic red corn chips 1 bag organic whole grain yellow corn chips Daiya dairy free cheddar cheese Salsa: chop the tomatoes into small dice and put all into a bowl. Peel the mango and discard the skin. Dice the mango into small squares and mix with the tomato. Add a pinch of fresh basil leaves. Guacamole: slice open 2 avocados and mash together. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice. Mix together until creamy and smooth. Bean topping: use a separate pot for each can of beans. Add a little olive oil to the refried beans to avoid sticking to the pot. Use the whole can and heat over the stove for around 5 minutes on medium heat. Stir once each minute to turn over beans. Pour the mixed beans into a separate pot and add a spoon of olive oil. Fry beans until browning. Around 5 minutes on high heat. Finishing touch: Place a handful of each coloured corn chips onto a plate. Sprinkle grated Daiya dairy free cheese over the chips and place in the microwave or oven under low heat to melt cheese. Top off with refried and mixed beans and a big dollop of guacamole and sweet mango salsa. A fresh and delicious twist to my favourite nacho dish. My strength is increasing day by day and I can tell the difference in each class I attend. My mind is becoming calmer again and less frustrated with the goings on around me. Coming to Vancouver has made me realize just how much my whole life has changed through travel. When Rhys and I arrived here I was blown away by how clean the streets are and how the traffic is not insanely noisy. Canadians are Kings and Queens of small talk and polite conversation. I think after spending 7 months in 3rd world countries there is no other outcome than to see the world from a completely different perspective. I want to encourage anyone and everyone to get out of your comfort zone and see how other people in different countries live. Get as far away from your home as possible and stay away for as long as possible. Learn some valuable life lessons as you make your way through some of the most difficult countries in the world and then come home with knowledge and understanding and more compassion for the lives of others. I’m really feeling and loving the Flow classes at YYoga. Flow or Vinyasa was always my first love with Yoga classes. Vinyasa is what I teach as a Yoga teacher focusing on one breath per movement and moving with the ebb and flow of your breath. Today I went to another evening Flow class with Hiro as the teacher. Hiro doesn’t usually teach Flow but more Hatha and Yin focused classes. I thought he did fantastic for someone who doesn’t usually teach Flow. Flow classes are usually very focused on strengthening our core and the centre of our bodies. This is essential for building strength in other areas of the body as well as supporting our spine and nervous system in daily life. Flow classes with Up-ward dog back bending and core and spine strengthening can greatly help to improve our posture when walking or seated. By improving your posture you allow the energy channels or Chakras to connect and align properly creating balance and connection in the mind and body. Through Flow classes I am feeling more connected and aligned and more focused on the goodness that fills my life. My day started with another interview and some apartment hunting. Basically a few hours on the phone but it was productive and my interview went well. The day was followed by more to-dos like key cutting and grocery shopping. The benefits I have noticed over the past couple of nights is that I am sleeping far better each night than I have in a long time and I am feeling all around more relaxed throughout the day. My body has been craving lots of good fresh food and I’m so glad to be eating fresh salads, fresh rolls, fruit, smoothies and raw goodness. All of the stuff I have missed over the past 7 months of travel. I love feeling like I am getting myself back into a solid routine of doing Yoga each day and I am motivated to do more and practice more. I really want to tone my stomach and abs to the way they were previous to my departure of NZ. There isn't too much difference but I have lost strength and a bit of tone. I want to regain the strength I have lost in my arms and legs and just continue to work on them each day and stay consistent. I went to an evening Flow class at the West 6th Studio a smaller and more intimate studio than Kitsilano. Through my practice I noticed and drew my attention to how much stronger I felt even only after a few days of regular practice. My arms are feeling stronger in Chatturanga and I feel more focused on my practice as opposed to how much I might be struggling to get through. I flowed my way through by the sound of soft music and breath until Savasana when I relaxed into a peaceful and effortless state of complete bliss. That feeling of satisfaction at the end of a class, nothing beats it. After Yoga I always feel like I’m just floating my way home as I walk. I made it home just in time to finish the preparation of our fresh rolls for dinner. A light and refreshing but also satisfying meal. My absolute favourite at the moment! vegan 30 Days of Yoga: Day 4
As I have an interview this afternoon with lululemon I chose to go to a Power class early this morning. Leo was the teacher and throughout meditation and Ohm chanting at the beginning and end of class he played a wonderful tune on a piano accordion. The first time I had ever experienced this and it was so relaxing and grounding to listen to in Savasana. Power flow is always very core focused which is what I really need after so much time off my regular practice. It was a tough class but very strength building and I really enjoyed it. I love to be challenged in my practice and this only happens for me when I actually go to classes as opposed to practicing myself and only focusing on the Asanas that I really like doing. Yoga is a never ending learning journey and I have to learn to love the things I don’t love so much in practice. I am so grateful to be back into my consistent daily practice. After class I connected with Leo and we chatted about the possibilities of becoming a teacher in Vancouver. He actually has started up a support group for new Yoga teachers who meet once each week and get to know each other. The group is focused on making each new teacher realize that we aren’t alone in this and actually there are others out there who might be feeling the same. Maybe a little daunted and intimidated by the thought of teaching in front of a large group of people which is really common and just to have people there for you is always helpful and confidence boosting. I’m looking forward to connecting with the group and learning what everyone is about. My short term goal is to find at least part-time work teaching yoga once or twice per week in a studio and then my long term goal is to be running vegan Yoga retreats on a beautiful tropical island. It will all come with time, baby steps for now :) Alana xx This morning Rhys went to his first Job interview in Van city. We have been in Vancouver 1 week now and are slowly making progress, I have a couple of interviews coming up this week which I am really looking forward to. Rhys returned home and he got the job with A1 Plumbing. Extremely proud girlfriend moment! We went out to lunch at Sejuiced in Kitsilano to celebrate with some delicious and nutritious vegan food and smoothies. We searched around the Salvation Army for treasures to put into our new apartment- when we find one. By 3pm I was ready to walk the 20 minutes to YYoga Kitsilano studio for an intensive Hot class. I always like to arrive early to class to give myself time to meditate and do any stretches that are on my mind to help my muscles and joints warm up before the class, especially with a Hot session. I entered the room and the heat was bearable but even without moving my body around I was already starting to drip sweat, just lying down. The heat reminds me of India in that way and the room gets humid really fast with so much body heat and so many lungs turning all the oxygen into carbon dioxide. I ebbed and flowed through the class. Some parts were a real struggle and I was feeling overly emotional and surprisingly filled with frustration during my practice. I accepted the feelings of discomfort and carried on. I held postures longer and stronger than on Day 1 in the Hot class and felt like I had a bit more energy. At least I didn’t feel faint or sickly and have to leave the room! I sweat what felt like would have filled a bath tub and should have taken a better face towel. The teacher was petite, toned and tough and she made us hold intensive poses for longer than usual but I felt like what I did during class was great for my body. I drank a lot of water the whole way through and after leaving too, rehydrating is so important especially after a Hot class. I was able to keep up this time but toward the end of class I started to feel like I was suffocating on the hot air that the heaters filled into the room. I dreamt of opening the door and feeling the cool air brush over my skin. My lungs fill with fresh and clean oxygen. But I lay on my mat until the very end hoping for a fast escape. Savasana helped me to clear my mind but I was still desperately thirsty for cool air. I cleaned my mat as quickly as possible before diving out the studio door into the normal atmosphere gulping in oxygen and walking quickly toward the cool water taps to rinse my face. This has to be the hottest Yoga class and studio I have ever been to. I was happy to walk home in a gentle shower of fresh water falling from the sky cleansing my sweat covered body. I looked up to the sky feeling glad to be alive. I think I’ll stick to Hot Yoga just once every second day from here on in. |
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