Save $118? Yes Please! Unbelievable Yoga Deal at Namaskar!

Whether you’re a wild thing who loves to shake your asana or a warrior on a mission to conquer your meditative breathing, there’s always room for different personalities in the yoga studio. But here’s something all yogis can agree on: Nothing beats that blissed-out Zen feeling you get after finally reaching savasana (a longer, leaner bod doesn’t hurt either). So take a deep breath in, and discover the power inside you with today’s Swoop: $32 for one month of unlimited yoga classes (a $150 value) at Namaskar Yoga.  Click here for the deal!

The Farmers' Market Only Has Green Garlic... Perfect!!

So, the weather has been too cold to support much of the delicious spring produce we all look forward to. But have no fear-- I discovered this amazing recipe to use all the fresh green garlic I've been buying. Enjoy!

Braised Chicken with Green Garlic
Adapted from  Weir Cooking in the City by Joanne Weir

1 large chicken (I went to Butcher and Larder and just had them butcher one for me, because there was just NO way I was going to do it!)
3 T butter
S and P
1 cup water
3-5 stalks green garlic, trimmed and cleaned as you would a leek, and chopped
1 1/4 cups white wine
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 lemon cut into wedges


Melt the butter in the olive oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add the chicken, season with S and P, and cook until golden brown on one side, 6-8 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown on the second side, another 6-8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter; cover with foil, and keep warm.

Reduce the heat to medium, add the water and garlic, and cook until the garlic is soft and the water has almost evaporated, about 20 minutes. Add more water during cooking if necessary. Puree in a blender on high speed until very smooth; reserve.

Return the chicken to the pan and increase the heat to high. Add the white wine, chicken stock, and garlic paste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover , and simmer until the chicken can be easily skewered, 20-25 minutes. Season with S & P.

Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover with foil. Over high heat, reduce the sauce until slightly thickened. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve. Garnish each plate with a lemon wedge.

Serves 6.

Awesome Deal! $29 for a MONTH of Unlimited Yoga!

What's better than an awesome yoga class? An awesome yoga class that's OUTSIDE! Chicagoans, take note: we get approximately 30 days of nice weather in this damned city, so make the most of them!

Yoga Boutique is offering one month of unlimited outdoor boot camp and yoga classes for just $29.

Check it out! Thanks Living Social!

 

Miso: The Spring Superfood

I’ve been cooking with miso fairly compulsively lately, and not just because it’s delicious. It’s also an extremely useful food. Here is a brief list of some of the benefits of fermented miso*:

• May reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
• Lowers LDL cholesterol
• It's probiotic-- meaning it helps to improve intestinal health
• Helps reduce menstrual crams (I KNOW!)
• Is high in anti-oxidants, and is often called the "anti-aging" food

What’s not to love?? In addition to all of its benefits, it’s also a really easy food to keep around. I just keep it in a ziplock container in my freezer and toss it into salad dressings, marinades, or soups when the mood strikes me. YUM.

 

Miso Marinade:

¼ cup white miso

½ cup water

1 inch ginger root, minced (I just use my microplane)

3 garlic cloves, minced (again, microplane to the rescue)

Chopped shallots if you’ve got them

I’ve used this on chicken, shrimp, calamari, and scallops—but I’m guessing it would also be awesome on tofu or pork. You can sauté , bake, or even grill. It’s AMAZING.

*While naturally fermented soy is extremely beneficial, unfermented soy, or chemically-fermented soy is another story. Make sure to read the label!

94% off at Tejas Yoga!

Gracious this is a deal. Thank you very much, Living Social!

15 yoga classes in 15 days for $15, or 30 yoga classes in 30 days for $30! Tejas, Jim Bennitt and James Tennant's south loop studio is an amazing place to practice, and for this price you could go only twice and still save money. If you work in the loop, it's probably an easy hop, skip and jump from your office.

Restorative (Gasp!) Yoga

Listen, I get it. You feel like if you’re going to commit to 90 minutes of yoga, you should sweat and burn calories and stand on your head. And most of the time, I feel that way myself.  But sometimes you really, really owe it to yourself to practice something gentle, soothing, and healing. And that, my friends, is where restorative yoga comes in.

Restorative yoga is a type of therapeutic yoga that utilizes props, gravity, and stillness to help yogis surrender into protected and integrated postures. That is a really complicated way of saying that it is a really relaxing, safe, and yummy type of yoga.

If you’ve never taken a restorative class, I highly encourage it. And if you suffer from weird, puritanical American workout guilt, just run around the block before you go in or something—whatever it takes.

If, however, you don’t have access to restorative classes, or you don’t have time, here are a few poses that are really simple to do at home that you will absolutely love. (trust)

Viparita Kirani

We do this one in my class a lot—for good reason. It’s technically an inversion, so you get all the great benefits from doing handstands or headstands, but it’s much more relaxing. And, really, you don’t have to wear a green full body leotard. Just scoot your bum as close as you can to the wall and swing your legs straight up. If you have a bolster or cushion around, slide it under your butt and relax...

 

Supta Baddha Konasana

This is a variation on bound angle pose that uses a strap and (optional) cushions for your back. In seated baddha konasana, loop a strap around your lower back, over your knees, and under your feet. Then lay back and enjoy.

 

Supported Savasana

This posture is great in general, but especially if you’ve ever felt any low back discomfort during savasana. You can use a cushion, a rolled up mat, or even a rolled up blanket to elevate the knees. Mmm….

Save $105 on Yoga at Imagine Studio!

Well, I guess when it rains, it pours here in Chicago! (And I'm talking about deals, not this hideous weather!)

Imagine, A Yoga Studio is offering one MONTH of unlimited yoga for just $35! Check out their groupon, and act now. This deal is going fast!

Special thanks to Rebekahjo for pointing this out!