Category: Uncategorized

MID-SUMMER TIDBITS

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter, Uncategorized
“I love how summer just wraps its arms around you like a warm blanket.”
— Kellie Elmore

I’m keeping it short and savory this July. I’ve just returned from an eight day trip to visit my best friend in my old home town. The road was long, the visit was relaxing, and the temps were just perfect for mid-summer. I think I will always find summer in the high-desert to be comforting. Summers for me, when I was growing up, were all about basking in the sunshine, jumping into sparkling swimming pools, and spending time in cool, cool libraries filled with amazing stories that I would get lost in.

But, I digress! The last half of July will be focused on slow and steady vinyasa flows, cooling breath practices, and a few of my go-to somatic releases for tension in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

This month’s delicious recipe is a tasty spin on chicken tacos, that gets its inspiration from the heart and brain healthy Mediterranean Diet. And, finally, I’ve put together some fun facts about the birthstone for the month of July. Find them HERE. I had a lot of fun creating some ruby pieces for my little shop–MadeWithMantra!

If you ever have any questions about my classes, wellness coaching, private sessions, or anything gemstone or mala related 😃, drop me an email: claudia@physiquebyfountain.com.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN TACOS

The Mediterranean diet has long been praised for its heart healthy benefits. Think of it as the gold-standard for all diets. This plant and whole-food based diet has been shown in a new batch of 2020 studies, to lower the risk of impaired cognitive function by 45-50%. The Mediterranean diet is big on fruit, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil. Moderate amounts of dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood are included. Enjoy a Mediterranean spin on chicken tacos!

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thigh
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/3 cup sliced kalamata olives
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
2 tbs tahini
2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 garlic clove, grated or minced
3/4 cup prepared hummus
8 tortillas, warmed
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1/3 cup chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Stir together Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Rub mixture onto chicken. Place chicken on a greased baking sheet and roast until meat reaches an internal temperature of 165 F, about 20 minutes. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes and then slice. In a bowl, toss together tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives and jalapeno. Stir in balsamic vinegar. In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. To serve, spread hummus on tortillas and top with chicken and tomato mixture. Drizzle on tahini sauce. Sprinkle on feta and parsley.

Got that fresh Spring feeling….

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Uncategorized

It’s been raining here in central Oregon, off and on over the last two weeks. Listening to rainfall has to be one of my most favorite ways to meditate, unwind, and just be. Really, anything that involves water in its many forms will move me, speaks to me. The grasses are green, the trees chartreuse, flowers a kaleidoscope of candy colors. Birds are nesting over the garage door, and frogs are singing the songs of their people in the pond. It’s fresh, new, and so energizing.

“We are living in what writer and cultural critic Daniel Quinn calls the Great Forgetting. Many of us have forgotten that we’re a part of an ecosystem, a watershed. We’ve forgotten that we’re kin to all the other animals. We’ve forgotten that we need each other. We have forgotten what I call the “commons of the soul.” –Francis Weller

Let Spring remind you that we are all part of an ecosystem of connection, gathering around the fire or table, sharing meals, dreams, and fears with those close to us. Go walking in the rain, let it soften you, drench you. Dare to open up like a flower budding in the sunlight.

This month I invite you to connect with me on my new teaching platform–Arketa. I continue to offer two yoga classes a week; and, if you are looking to jumpstart a summer of better wellness, I also offer online coaching sessions. Drop me an email, and we can discuss options! 

Meanwhile, in this month’s newsletter I am offering a zesty fresh gazpacho recipe, and the newest exercise video of the month–Bridge to Leg Curl using a stability ball. Scroll down for recipe. 👇🏿👇🏾👇🏽👇🏼👇🏼👇🏻👇

“Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.”
–Lilly Pulitzer
🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🙏🏽🙏🏾🙏🏿

CHILI-PEACH GAZPACHO

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute in Cleveland found that people who regularly eat chili peppers may be 26% less likely to die of heart disease and 23% less likely to die of cancer than everyone else. It’s thought that capsaicin–the compound that gives peppers their heat–can lower inflammation in the body. This Chili-Peach Gazpacho recipe is a good hit for your heart! 

  • 2/3 cups water
  • 1 lb peaches, pitted & quartered
  • 1 orange bell pepper, seeded & quartered
  • 1/2 English cucumber, peeled & chopped
  • 2 scallions (green onions), sliced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (de-seed to cool it down)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint or basil
  • 2 Tbs red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

Add the first 11 ingredients (thru black pepper) to a food processor or blender container. Blend together until well combined. With the machine running at low speed, slowly pour in the olive oil through the top feed tube. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Love Actually

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter, Uncategorized

“How you love yourself, is how you teach others to love you.” –RUPI KAUR

So treat yourself well in word, thought, and deed–especially in thought. This is where I fail to love on myself the most. Critical, judgmental thoughts I would never say to anyone else! Why is it that we are sometimes our own harshest critics? It’s a complex issue that includes playing the comparison game, thinking that failure in any way dooms us, and believing every thought our mind churns out as real and true–especially those thoughts that keep us up at 2:00am (hint: thoughts are just thoughts–noise, like the TV on in the background).

Here are some ways to be more kind–and loving–to yourself:

  • Acknowledge negative or critical thoughts, and realize that their source is from early painful experiences. Turn the ‘inner critic’ into a villain, someone that makes you smile and shake your head.
  • Allow yourself to make mistakes. It’s okay to make mistakes, which are opportunities for learning in disguise.
  • Stop comparing comparing yourself to others. It’s natural and part of being human Now, shift that energy, make it productive by focusing on yourself and your journey.
  • Learn to face your fears. Instead of pushing them away, try to understand them. Tame the roaring lion into a kitten.
  • See beauty in the simple, every day, experiences and things around you. Try to notice one each day, and feel grateful for it. 🙏🏼

Make every day a love note to yourself by fueling your body well, moving it daily, and treating yourself as though you are worthy of love–because you are!

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU

What’s new this month:  

FINAL NOTE: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUBSCRIBING TO MY LIBRARY OF YOGA CLASSES (90+) AT THE INTRODUCTORY RATE OF $18/MO — PLEASE DROP ME AN EMAIL FOR THE PRIVATE LINK!

thanks-giving

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter, Uncategorized

Ah, November. The month that doesn’t contain Halloween, or Christmas/New Years.  November can often feel like it’s just an extension of the holiday season, kind of run over by the semi-truck that is Christmas!  But for me, November is about appreciating all the small and big things in my life like the love of family and friends, a warm home, and purring cats. It’s a reminder to me to give thanks, to express gratitude, to gather around a bountiful table, and share what I have with others. 

SMALL ACTS OF THANKS-GIVING
🤲🏼 Tell someone you’re thankful for them. 
📦 Give a care package.
🙌🏼 Offer a compliment.
🦃 Give a turkey to a family in need.
🛒 Help someone with their groceries.
🍪 Bake cookies for someone.

This month is also a smart time to make sure that you have a good handle on your stress levels, or have a plan for good self-care and managing your mental health (this includes stress, depression, and problems with emotion)–before the holidays take their toll.

The really good news is that there are very accessible things we can do to that help.  Getting good rest, having a regular meditation practice (as little as 10 minutes a day is very impactful), and exercising 3-5x per week.  In a large 2018 study**, an analysis of 852,068 adults (out of 1.2 million surveyed) associated exercisers with 43.2% fewer self-reported mental health burdens per month than non-exercisers. All types of exercise were impactful. Mindful exercises such as yoga were associated with a 22.9% reduction in mental health issues.  The optimal amount of sessions per week were 3-5x, and vigorous exercise was more favorable than light or moderate.

In closing, I invite you to try a yoga session with me (virtual yoga classes – HERE). If you haven’t tried the Insight Timer platform  (it’s free and filled with thousands of short to long guided meditations).  I have two offerings available, with more to come.  Find them HERE. This month’s EXERCISE VIDEO OF THE MONTH: ‘SWIMMING’ is up and ready for you try.  And, last but not least, The Giving Sale is now live in my shop–25% off (almost) storewide!). 

In Peace,
Claudia

**(Chekroud, S.R., et al. 2018. Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1.2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: A cross-sectional study. Lancet Psychiatry, 5 (9), 739–46.)  

SUMMER POTPOURRI

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter, Uncategorized

How is your summer coming along? Mine has been full of learning, creating, cheering, and occasionally stumbling.

While this year’s annual fitness conference was once again on the virtual platform, I still received vast amounts of new ideas and inspiration. I am so thankful for all the presenters who continue to share their knowledge, experience and expertise, under continuously shifting circumstances. And, I truly look forward to sharing new concepts and exercises in my classes, videos, and client sessions!

Going through my mom’s collection of raw semi-precious gemstones, agates, and petrified wood has stoked my creative passions, and I have had fun hammering silver and gold wire, and polishing stones in my new rock tumbler. It’s good to have a hobby that inspires questions like, “what if” and “what happens if I do this”. Do you have a hobby, and does it make you smile?

  • Word of the Day:  lapidary [lap-i-der-ee] 1. A lap-i-dist: one who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones.

The Olympians who came together to challenge themselves and each other on the world stage inspired me through their collective effort and courage just to get there. I cheered for each and every one of them! Is there someone in your life that could use a little cheering? (It could even be you. Hint: High five yourself for something you accomplished today!)

I’ve also found myself stumbling into moments of frustration, anger, and despair over the ongoing global pandemic (there was hope for a vacation out of the country, once I had my vaccine—not so now), and dire reports on global warming. These are the moments I lean heavily on my personal fitness program (a good, sweaty cardio session does wonders for moving negative energy), and my daily meditation sessions (absolutely essential for finding balance).

If you find yourself in similar states of emotional quandary, I highly recommend my two above 👆 ‘go-tos’ (cardio and meditation).  But, I also came across this wonderful piece on how to have difficult conversations.  As a society, “If we’re to make any progress, we need to actively foster a culture of good faith and honesty, based on the knowledge that we all have the same fundamental desires.” In essence, “We will sink or sail together, and we ignore this fact at our own peril.”  The article is about how to “Star-man”, and argue from a position of compassion. Find it HERE.

This month I am SO excited to announce my new meditation ‘channel’ on 👉 Insight Timer! 👈 I have two sessions available currently: ‘Finding Ground’, and ‘Breath Practice’.  They are the first two in the “My Morning Meditation” series. You may be familiar with ‘Finding Ground’, but the second one–‘Breath Practice’– is brand new created exclusively for the Insight Timer platform. I will be adding to the series every few weeks. I hope you take the opportunity to check them out. 😊 

Beginning this month, I am also adding short (FREE) exercise videos of the month to my VIMEO video library. This month’s video is a set of hand and wrist therapeutic exercises, designed to improve mobility and strengthen the wrist joints. Find the link below. 👇

In closing, I would like to leave you with an excerpt from Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem, entitled “Breathing”:

Breathing in,
I have become space
without boundaries.
I have no plans left.
I have no luggage.
Breathing out, I am the moon
that is sailing through the sky of utmost emptiness.
I am freedom.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH: Hand & Wrist Therapeutic Exercises

P.S. Exclusively for YOU my readers, 20% off ($25 minimum purchase) in my shop: MADE WITH MANTRA SHOP

Fluidity

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter, Uncategorized

As a child, my summer days were spent playing at the pool, or swimming in lakes and rivers. It was that perfect blend of energy (fire) and fluidity (water). Being in or near water balanced out the hot, dry desert heat of my childhood home. Something about the sparkle of sunlight on water, both above water and below water, appealed to my soul–still does to this day.

The summer solstice marked the longest day of the year, and ushered in the joys of summer: fruits and flowers in the garden, the warm sun on our shoulders, vacations and road trips–just to name a few. Summer is the season of growth, its energy causes action and outward movement. My hope is that we are inspired to be out in nature–gardening, hiking, bicycling, swimming, or any other outdoor sports and recreation.

Now is the perfect time to get out and “recharge” your battery. Your body is like a car. It needs to be taken out of the garage, washed, polished, and driven. It can be a leisurely drive, a fast one, or something in between. But, it needs to move, otherwise it rusts. Loosen it up, fuel it with fresh fruits and vegetables, big salads and whole grains, and lots of water–balance the fire with water, inside and out.

This month, in my classes, we will be immersing ourselves in the rhythms of breath (both HEATING and COOLING) and the moving body (think FLUIDITY). Find my virtual teaching schedule here: YOGA and FITNESS.

Session 9: Loving Kindness – Self & Loved One, in the “My Morning Meditation” series is now available. This session is about cultivating (GROWTH) metta, loving kindness for ourselves, and a loved one. A loving kindness practice helps us plug into compassion and our innate connection to all beings. A regular practice provides many benefits that begin with increasing our own peace and well-being. As our own well-being is intrinsically connected with the well-being of others, practicing for ourselves also benefits others. According to the Buddha, benefits to a regular practice include:

1. You will sleep easily.

2. You will wake easily.

3. You will have pleasant dreams.

4. People will love you.

5. Devas (gods and angels) and animals will love you.

6. Devas will protect you.

7. External dangers will not harm you.

8. Your face will be radiant.

9. Your mind will be serene.

10. You will die unconfused.

11. You will be re-born in happy realms.

In closing, I will leave you with these words from Tyler Knott Gregson:

“Point me at the living,
the soaked green life
pulsing for the sun.
Point me forwards,
into growth,
into that slow advance
into more.
Bury me in life.”

Summer is just around the corner….

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Exercise, Fitness, Uncategorized, Yoga

Can you feel it?

As the possibilities for getting outside begin to truly open up, I hope you take the time to go out and wander. Take a day trip to the beach, a stroll under some ancient redwoods, or explore the shoreline of a lake (could be in hiking boots, or a kayak!). What speaks to you? What in nature plugs into your soul? Maybe it’s as simple as sitting in your backyard, or tending to a garden. For me, it’s equal parts walking on a beach, or hiking under a forest canopy. What’s most important is getting -o  u  t  s  i  d  e- for a good dose of sunshine vitamin D, fresh oxygen, and movement medicine (exercise!). Pack sunscreen, water, fresh fruit, and some energy fueling trail mix (find a yummy recipe below!).

This month I have some changes to my teaching schedule.  I am taking a hiatus from teaching live meditation classes.  As always, you can access my collection of guided meditation videos on Vimeo–I have a NEW one up! 

My Tuesday and Wednesday yoga classes continue. They can be found on the Moxie.xyz platform. Moxie is best accessed via your laptop/PC. If you are looking for a lower, slower, a bit more introspective class, try YIN YOGA. If you are interested in more creative, flowing vinyasa classes, try  GLOW FLOW VINYASA.

And, I am excited to be adding back into my teaching schedule two 30 Min Cardio Dance classes! These classes go back to my early roots of health and fitness. You can count on thirty minutes of low-impact, old-school, dance aerobics and jams guaranteed to bring on the sweat! No equipment needed. Just clear a little floor space. The Monday (9:00-9:30am PST) class is hosted on Moxie.  The Thursday (9:00-9:30am PST) class is hosted on Salut–this platform is for tablets/smartphones (iOS & android) only. Find me listed: Claudia Fountain.  

The best news–if you can’t make the LIVE classes, you can subscribe on Moxie, UNLIMITED VOD, and take the classes at a time that fits your schedule.  The subscription includes all video collections:  yoga, meditation, cardio dance, and bonus content.

Truly, my goal this month is to share my love of movement–whether it’s doing something out in nature, taking a yoga class, or getting my cardio on. It’s good for body, mind, and soul. One of the best ways I know of lifting a heavy mood (be it in mind, body, or emotions) is to MOVE it–literally. It’s all energy–and instead of letting it simmer and sink, I shift it through movement.

In closing, may June bring you much sunshine, many opportunities to connect with nature, and movement medicine.  🙏

Trail Mix Recipe

  • 3/4 cup raw pecans (Option: toast in the oven for 10 mins at 350 degrees F)
  • 3/4 cup raw cashews (Option: toast in the oven for 10 mins at 350 degrees F)
  • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened, unsulfured cherries
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened, unsulfured raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped 82% dark chocolate
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Store in a ziploc bag or mason jar. Will keep for up to 1 month.  Yields: 4-5 cups

[Recipe by: Davida Lederle – The Healthy Maven]

Finding Equilibrium

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter, Online Offerings, Uncategorized, Yoga

“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.”
–Rumi

I suddenly realized yesterday morning as I was wrapping up a guided meditation class I had just taught, that it has been almost exactly a year since I taught my last live yoga, cycling, or meditation class.  The first week of SIP was a bit of a scramble–do I wait for it to end, do I jump into training and teaching virtually, how long can I sustain this, what equipment do I need? The questions were endless. Eventually of course, as it happens with all new things, a new pattern, a new rhythm was established.  I continued to work privately with clients, albeit in a new way. I was thrilled that they were still there, and willing to continue working with me in the new paradigm. What didn’t stay were the yoga, cycling, and meditation classes. What also fell away were my visits to the sport club for my own personal workouts.  Yikes!  Somewhere along the way I needed to find equilibrium again. 

Over the past year, through (some BIG) changes, I’ve slowly begun to find the sweet spot.  I think, in many ways, this process of managing balance in my life in all ways–mentally, emotionally, physically, creatively, spiritually–is actually fun.  Yes, I said fun!  I believe quite a few of us would agree that new things are fun (like traveling, new house, new job, new car, ……). The challenge is to find that sense of positivity, and fun, in those events or moments we would ordinarily not consider fun. It’s like a “Road Closed” sign.  Instead, go this way, or that way, or turn around, or go up, go down. There’s always another way to get where you are going.  Stop, pause, find center, and feel your way into the next step.

And so, circling back to the loss of group classes, I have finally stepped back into the teaching world.  (It can take me quite a while to make decisions some times!)  Last month, I started teaching my first series of yoga vinyasa classes on the Moxie.xyz platform.  It was a soft launch, and to my complete JOY it has been FUN for me to teach yoga again. Next, I added a guided meditation class (20 minutes, short and sweet).  This month, I am adding a Yin Yoga class to my schedule.  (If there is interest, I am thinking of adding a strength/core conditioning class also.  More to come on that.)

In short, I have missed connecting with my yoga peeps, and those who used to take my classes at the YMCA, and other locations.  I am inviting you to drop in and connect with me, either on your yoga mat or on your meditation seat, for FREE!  Click this link for a 1-Class Pass: https://moxie.xyz/claudiafountain/subscriptions?t=2712-19a9079f-3e9c-47e8-9829-246167418805
Use the link for access to my Wednesday Glow Flow class, or the Yin Yoga class when it begins (launching 3/16/21).  My Morning Meditation is a “Flex Pay” class–it’s FREE (skip the payment portion at end of class), or pay if you feel moved to!  If you have any questions about how the MOXIE platform works, please don’t hesitate to drop me an email:  claudia@physiquebyfountain.com

In closing, I would like to leave you with this poem by John O’Donohue:

For Equilibrium, a Blessing

Like the joy of the sea coming home to shore,
May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.

As the wind loves to call things to dance,
May your gravity be lightened by grace.

Like the dignity of moonlight restoring the earth, 
May your thoughts incline with reverence and respect.

As water takes whatever shape it is in,
So free may you be about who you become.

As silence smiles on the other side of what’s said,
May your sense of irony bring perspective.

As time remains free of all that it frames,
May your mind stay clear of all it names.

May your prayer of listening deepen enough
To hear in the depths the laughter of God.

Don’t Look Back

by Claudia Fountain, posted in New Beginnings, newsletter, Uncategorized

“You’re not going that way.”

It’s all about being here now.  And, making plans for the future.  This new year is about forging a new path–a new way of being, because the old ways no longer work, or are dropping away.  “Normal,” as we knew it is illusionary and unsustainable–environmentally, economically, socially, morally, ethically.  

How do we move on to a better future?  By listening, creating, committing, doing, believing, and inspiring.  

“Do more than exist—live.
Do more than hear—listen…
Do more than grow—bloom.
Do more than spend—invest.
Do more than think—create…
Do more than decide—discern.
Do more than consider—commit…
Do more than dream—do.
Do more than see—perceive.
Do more than read—apply.
Do more than receive—reciprocate.
Do more than choose—focus.
Do more than wish—believe…
Do more than encourage—inspire…
Do more than reach—stretch.”
–John Mason

So! In the spirit of stretching, creating, and committing to something new, I am in the process of setting up monthly subscriptions and private sessions on the Moxie platform (https://moxie.xyz/claudiafountain).  My plan is to offer weekly yoga (and possibly fitness) sessions.  I hope to see you there soon!

In closing, the fourth installment in the My Morning Meditation series is up and waiting for you.  Let yourself be taken away to a warm, sunny beach as you rest in the flow of your breath. As always, these videos  are FREE.  

My Morning Meditation 4: Sound. This session continues to build on the foundational sessions of grounding and breath awareness. Here we will expand the focus of our attention to include sound. Noticing sounds, resting awareness on the flow of breath and the gentle susurration of waves rolling on and off shore. Imagine yourself resting on warm, white sand on a sunny beach. Nothing to do but breath–and listen.  
Find it here:  https://vimeo.com/497091923

May 2021 be filled with things both quietly and gloriously new! 🙏🙏🏼🙏🏽🙏🏾🙏🏿🙏🏻

Earth-Air-Water-Fire-Space

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Meditation, newsletter, Self Care, Uncategorized

Last week was spent wandering amid ferns and ancient redwoods, bathing in foggy mist and salty sea air, and meditating on the dancing flames of a campfire (mindfully and responsibly cared for). There was no cell reception, electronic distraction, or 24/7 news for the vast majority of the trip (thank goddess). For me, there is no better way to restore and replenish body, mind, and spirit than being in nature.

Walking as close to the earth as possible (bare feet, oh yes) is utterly grounding. Breathing the fresh air under a redwood canopy–deeply refreshing. Burbling water, crashing waves and salt spray–so cleansing (those fabulous negative ions, yes please). The deep, radiant warmth of a fire felt, sinking into bones and soothing the soul. Spending time watching the flames dance, and letting all else fall away–a recipe for clearing the mind and creating space to simply BE.

I believe, deep in my soul, this is how we were designed to live. Connected with all other beings, and to this beautiful blue planet that sustains us and supports us. During times of chaos it is imperative that we remember life is more than just our small selves. We are made of stardust, and to stardust we shall return.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”― Nelson Henderson

I am in the midst of creating a meditation series that reflects what my meditation practice looks like. The first one is up and ready for you! (Find it here: https://vimeo.com/468731804) This first meditation is about learning to ground ourselves in the present moment through somatic body awareness. It is an invitation to rest, breath, and connect. Carve out 15 minutes in your day, find a space where you can be uninterrupted, plug in your ear phones, and drop in.

In closing, I wish you many, many opportunities for connection, grounding, and replenishment.