Reflections

Buddhist Mealtime Prayer

Today's reflection reminds us to be grateful for all our blessings. We sometimes take for granted the promise of a future meal. This simple prayer is made up of simple affirmations that we can recite every day. Remember that whenever we think we have it bad, there is always someone out there experiencing something worse. It matters not what religion or belief system we follow because we all have reasons to be thankful. And when we connect with this simple truth, I believe we can open our hearts and minds to others just a little bit more. We automatically begin to see more and more things that we can be thankful for. 

Try it. Write down a short list of things you are thankful for. It doesn't have to be complicated. Start out with the most basic things you can think of.  I am thankful that I have air in my lungs and two legs to stand strong on. I am thankful that I have a mother that calls me every single day. I am thankful for the beauty and change that Autumn brings every year. 

When we take the time to be quiet with ourselves, we can begin to really listen to our wants and needs. This will enable you to have a better picture of who you are and what you believe in.

Take some time to meditate. Lay down at the park and just enjoy the scenery. Be thankful for the rain. Take everything with a grain of salt and just be happy. 

Do any of you have a favorite prayer or quote that inspires you? Share it with us.

#livewell

" The best things in life aren't things. " ~ Art Buchwald

Eat Well with Janel

Last night, Berklee LiveWell hosted "Healthy Eating Habits for Musicians" 

with nutrition expert, Janel Ovrut Funk !

We had a fabulous time talking with Janel about how to stay energized and nourished despite our heavy schedules as both college students and musicians.

She provided awesome tips to choose healthy snacks and ingredients at every meal, and we even had tasty examples to choose from!

 Granola Bars, Fruits, Veggies & Hummus, Oh My!

Munching out after the meeting!

 Berklee LiveWell Team Member: Paige Califano

Janel's insight helped answer many different questions that students asked last night like,

"When is it too late to have dinner?"

"Are detox/juice fasts healthy?"

 or

"Should we go 'gluten-free'?"

We learned a wealth of information about food myths and marketing

 lies sold to us by big corporations every day. We also learned the importance

of always having something healthy to snack on to keep our energy 

levels up and to prevent being ravenous at our next meal.

If you're interested in learning more about making healthy food

choices, but you missed last night's presentation, DON'T WORRY!

Janel Funk will be coming BACK on October 10th for an even bigger presentation at the Loft!

Check our Facebook, Twitter , and this blog to stay connected with the great LiveWell activities that we offer year-round! Bring a friend, write some questions down, and come check out Janel Funk at the Loft in the 921 Uchida Building on the 3rd floor at 1:00pm. 

You can check out Janel's Blog to find out more about her and her approach to staying healthy and wholesome every time we eat. There is some great information there so be sure to look her up.

Have a great Friday and don't forget to mark your calendars for Janel Funk on October 11th!

Reserve Your Spot by emailing livewell@berklee.edu

Limit: 40 for this sessions

(students, employees welcomed)

BGood Lunch Served

#livewell

Ruminating Mind

Quotes, tips, and mantras to help your mediation practice

The following mantras, quotes and thoughts come from a self-meditation book, 3, 299 mantras, tips, quotes, and koans for peace and serenity,  by Barbara Ann Kipfer. 

It reminds us that the non-denominational meditation ritual uplifts all minds and souls across the board.  Enjoy.

* Relaxation is not something you "do." It is a natural response that you allow to "happen." Relaxation is what remains when you stop creating tension.

* Practice acceptance.

* Respect everyone's right to happiness.

* Heartbeat meditation: Place your hand over your heart or wrist. Count each pulse, starting over each time you reach four, or simply label each pulse "beat," without numbers. If you lose count, start again. Relax, breathe, and try to get a longer pause between each pulse, slowing and soothing your heart.

* Before leaving for work, meditate on the day ahead and reflect on the idea of life as a gift. You are being given a new day. The day is a gift. How can you best use and experience it?

* You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. ~ Joseph Goldstein

* Identify your happy colors

* Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hung -- May all be protected from harm, fear, and danger.

* There is good and bad, and that is good. There is perfect and imperfection, and that is perfect. ~ Tao Shan

* Affirmation: I am safe and at home in the world and in my body

How do you practice your mindfulness and meditation? What are some thoughts that inspire you? Share your responses in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Namasté 

Keeping the Beat

School has taken off...  Why not take a sweet study break?

By now most of us have fallen into a steady routine for the school week. You might be juggling gigs, practice/rehearsal schedules, homework, and a social life all at once. To keep our energy levels nice and high for such a rigorous lifestyle we have to remember to fuel our bodies on the DAILY.

This is a recipe for a delicious and satisfying Banana Almond smoothie that will help keep you full and energized even when you're short on time. (This isn't to say that you should substitute for regular meals!!)

Almonds consist of high protein levels that make them perfect energy boosters. Both almonds and bananas abundance of potassium enables the blood to efficiently carry nutrients throughout the body.

AND

Because these little bundles of joy come stocked with Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fats (read: Omega-3s; lowers cholesterol), almonds also help your body fight off heart disease! Win win.


This smoothie is a great option for a quick breakfast, study break snack, or even as a healthy dessert idea!

What kinds of smoothies do you drink?

Tag us in your responses at @BerkleeLiveWell & remember to tell your friends to "like" our Facebook page so we can keep the LiveWell conversation going!

Have a great rest of the week!

Meditation Monday

Join us for Meditation Monday at LiveWell!

Hope to see you there!

Fall is Here!

What better way to celebrate the first day of Fall 

than with a Pumpkin Spice Smoothie?!

              Ingredients:

• 1 cup non dairy milk
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 banana
• 1 tbsp raisins or 1/2 tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• pinch ground nutmeg
• pinch ground cloves
• pinch all spice
• whipped cream, if desired

Place all ingredients except the whipped cream into a blender (if you don't have a blender, a hand mixer will work just fine! Just make sure you slice the banana up!). Blend the ingredients until you have a nice autumn-orange color and smooth consistency. Pour and top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with extra cinnamon or nutmeg if you'd like!

Happy Autumn!

Going VEGAN: What's All The Fuss About?

Hey guys!

As most of you know, more word is getting out lately about adopting meatless diets and opting for a diet focused more around whole grains and vegetables.

You might be wondering, "What's all the fuss about??"

Firstly, there is a difference between a simple vegetarian diet and following a vegan lifestyle.

Vegetarians do not eat meat, chicken, fish, pork, or the like, but will still consume other animal by-products like dairy or gelatin.

Vegans avoid all animal flesh and animal by-products in every aspect of life.

Adopting these lifestyles may seem challenging or let's be honest, even CRAZY, for most of us that were brought up with meals basically centered around meat as the main course.

The truth is that because of the way animals are treated in factory farms and slaughterhouses, the quality of our meat has disintegrated over the years. Unfortunately, animals are pumped with antibiotics and hormones to make them grow faster, and this eventually makes it to our plates.

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has stated that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes." *

Below are some websites with more information on adopting a vegetarian diet and an info-graphic that may answer any questions about how vegans and vegetarians get their nutrition.

If you need some Vegetarian/Vegan inspiration, check out this list PETA put together of all the vegetarian celebrities out there! Peta Vegetarian Celebrities 2012

As with any lifestyle change, remember that it's important to take BABY STEPS.
Following a meatless diet can be very extreme if you're not careful to replace it with
better healthful choices. You can start by eliminating meat one meal a week and then maybe build to twice a week, three times a month, etc..

Is anyone out there vegetarian or vegan?? Would you be willing to try it if you knew what steps to take? Let us know in the comments! Tag us on Twitter @BerkleeLiveWell and remember to "like" our Facebook page!!



*EatRight.Org

Sources:

http://isveganhealthy.com/wondering-about-a-vegan-diet/

http://isveganhealthy.com/5-common-vegan-myths/

http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=1233#.UF0ZzI6lCr8

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/the-challenge-of-going-vegan/

http://thekindlife.com/

http://www.ellentv.com/categories/going-vegan-with-ellen/

5 Weeks To A Cleaner Diet

Hey Everyone!

Check out this great info-graphic on cleaning up your diet in just 5 short weeks.

If you have been looking for a straightforward & easy way to better eating, this is a great start!

Let us know what you think in the comments!

*Click on this link to see the whole story:
5 Weeks To Clean Eating by Franchesca Leigh

Welcome

Welcome to the Berklee LiveWell blog!

You can check here for recipes, tips and articles on staying healthy and sane throughout the semester.

Today's post is on a delicious Mean Green Juice! A great alternative to coffee, this green juice will help get you moving and going all day.

Tip** If your juice seems too chunky, try adding a little bit more water to smooth it out.*

Juice or blend all ingredients and enjoy !!