Pause, Breathe, Notice.....

Our half day retreat in beautiful Laguna Canyon at the Blue Heron Portal Studio felt wonderfully restorative and nurturing!  The morning started off with a restorative two hour meditative yoga session that reminded me of what I had been forgetting to bring into my own life.  I had been forgetting to bring the "pause button".  I realized that I had not been living in a 'A Living Balance' mode for the last couple of months and I was feeling it!  

 How did this happen?  I was lulled into it.  Probably like many of you, I had been running hard and fast since Thanksgiving, caught up initially, with all of the holiday visiting, family, extra cooking, all things that I love to do!!! I had mindfully cut out many things that I used to do for the holidays, so I thought I was managing things well, but I still got caught!   

After the holidays, I hit the pavement running, excited to bring new webinars, classes, and new recipes, etc to all of you!!  I've been filling up every nook and cranny of time, with very little down/quiet/meditative time. The only time when I was really stopping was when I was sleeping.  I had forgotten the importance of stopping to just be present.   I had been slowly lulled into a mindset that I know is harmful and is not sustainable,  And guess what, my body finally took over my silly head and forced me to hit the pause button by getting sick. I felt betrayed!!  I had not been sick in years and had forgotten what it even felt like.  It was a wake up call for me!!

We all need to be reminded that there are simple ways of hitting the pause button and what it actually does on a biochemical level. Meditation and restorative yoga are two very easy and wonderful ways to do this.  They both lower stress and cortisol levels which help to keep our immune systems in fighting condition and waistlines from bulging. Who doesn't want that!   And when we lower stress and cortisol levels our bodies become less acidic.  Disease, including cancer grow in acidic conditions.  

We need to hit the pause button at least once or twice every day, even if for only 5-10 minutes each time. This is as easy as stepping away from our phones and computers and stepping outside and noticing what is around us.  It's as easy as breathing deeply and noticing how our breathe fills our bodies which can slow it down and make us feel calmer.  

Maybe none of you do this but, I am guilty of checking my emails and texting when I'm stopped at red lights, returning phone calls when I'm driving, even reaching for my phone within minutes of waking up-yikes!!!  When I remember, it is actually nice to look up and notice what is around me, to be present. It's funny, but just doing that, I will often feel gratitude seeping in.  And when the gratitude comes, I can feel my whole body soften.

Pause, Breathe, Notice........

30 Day Whole Body Detox

Join me on a life changing 30 Day Detox to Reset your Body and Your Brain.  

Detox, Lose Weight, Glow, Have Energy and a Happy Brain.

    There are 3 phases to this detox  and will take a total of 5 weeks which includes an introduction week. The three phases of the actual 30 day detox process consists of a Pre-Cleanse, the Actual Cleanse and a Re-entry phase.  During the 5 weeks, you will learn how your body works and how to support it to lose weight and be happy.  You will learn how to support a healthy digestive system, balance hormones to have energy, experience fabulous sleep, and have a brain that is calm and focused.

 This 5 week, life changing program, includes weekly support and education with webinars and a facebook page for discussions, a binder including, a workbook, self test for easy assessment of where your body needs the most support, easy healthy recipes, and an eating plan for the 4 weeks that will help you to lose weight, detox, and reset your metabolism.  All this and a tremendous amount of support as well.  

I am offering this course in a Webinar format so that people all over the world can benefit. It is very easily accessed from where ever you are and a recording of a session will be available for 2 weeks if you miss one.

This journey, starting Thursday, February 27th, will help you to understand why it is so important to heal key body systems in order to get your body working the way that it used to or the way you'd like it to work but maybe never has. You'll learn why the standard formula of fewer calories in and more calories out, often does not equal weight loss and how to step up your metabolism.

 I have led this class for 5 years and I have seen so many people get their lives back again, which truly makes me very happy!

Webinar Class Particulars:

When: Thursdays 5:00-6:30 P.M. PST starting February 27th through March 27th.

Cost: $97 -this is a $100 discount off of the regular price.  I am offering this session at a discounted rate, this one time only in hopes that more people will be try out this new to the Webinar platform. Bring a friend (we always work better as a team) and receive $10 off.

• Your payment reserves your spot which are limited so that you will be able to receive personal attention from me. Payment needs to be received by February 19th to get your notebooks to you in time for the first session. 
• Visa and Mastercard are accepted, This class qualifies for HSA and FSA allowed spending.

(The Detox shake that is recommended but not mandatory and supplements that you may need are not included in this price) 

To enroll or for more information please call (949)370-9843 or contact cindy@alivingbalance.net

 A personal note from me: This 5 week class is close to my heart because of the transformation and healing that anyone who comes will experience.  I am able to give a tremendous amount of support, information, guidance and tools inexpensively and I get to watch transformations occur that are amazing and uplifting.  I love supporting, teaching and watching participants understand their bodies and helping them to make lifestyle changes.  And because of the format, it allows a person to receive so much for a fraction of the cost of private consultations.  My clients pay me up to $750 to be guided through a program like this if they came to see me on a one on one basis.  I am very excited to finally be able to make it available to anyone, anywhere with this Webinar format 

Much of what is presented in this program is based on the book by Dr. Mark Hyman, The Ultramind but there is much, much more as well.

Experiences of previous clients/participants:

• There were so many firsts for me during this class. This was the first time I could function off of my anti depressants, the first time I've studied the effects of nutrition on my brain, the first time someone has listened to my particulars and had suggestions that actually worked. You are so fun and I enjoyed our class so much. Thank you for leading us.” Shannon

• I feel better than I have in years. I have lost the ugly belly fat….I feel happy-I can’t remember when I was just happy. My cholesterol drop 30 points. EH

• You provided me with a space to try different things that I would never have done on my own. And I didn't even realize how much I benefited from everything that I did and learned until some months down the road, after the class, when I began to feel sluggish and anxious again because I was no longer incorporating any of what I had learned. It works!! If was a gift to myself!

• I had been struggling with food allergies for years with stomach distension and cramping as a result and have tried many different remedies with little to no result. Then I had the opportunity to participate in your Broken Brain Program and for the first time in my life experienced relief and healing of my stomach and intestinal track. I would highly encourage anyone to take the opportunity to go through the program and heal their system and gain an incredible amount of knowledge in the process. Thank you Cindy for putting together such an in-depth educational program you made a huge difference in my life. Michael Buskey Jan 2012

Gluten Free Chocolate Graham Crackers

Gluten Free Chocolate "Graham" Crackers 

from the Kitchen of Kerry Mack

(yields approx. 3 dozen crackers)

This recipe is easy and fun...get your kids to join you!
1/4 cup Almond Meal/Flour
1/4 cup Flax Seeds*, ground into a meal/flour**
1/4 cup Organic Sprouted Quinoa, ground into a meal/flour**
1/8 cup Unrefined Date Sugar + extra for sprinkling
1/4 tsp. Real Salt
1/4 cup Filtered Water
1/8 cup Raw Organic Cacao Nibs

See Notes ** below before proceeding:

Mix first 5 dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl. Gradually add water and stir together until dough-like substance forms. Place dough onto a sheet of parchment paper. Using a spoon, flatten the dough out slightly. Place another sheet of parchment paper over the dough and using a rolling pin (a glass works just as well if you don’t have a rolling pin), roll the dough out until it is relatively thin. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and sprinkle the rolled out dough with the Raw Cacao Nibs and a little extra Date Sugar. Then place parchment paper back over dough and roll out a few more times. Remove top layer of parchment paper and transfer parchment paper with rolled out dough onto a baking sheet. Using a knife, score the dough into squares (or whatever shapes you prefer). Place baking sheet in oven heated to 225° and bake for approximately 1 hour to 1 hour & 15 minutes. Crackers will harden upon cooling.

This delicious little cracker packs a boatload of fiber and way more protein than your average cracker.  With just a little sweetness, it is a great snack or dessert.  Thank you Kerry for bringing this recipe to me/us!!!

A little bit about Raw cacao nibs: They are roasted cacao beans often made into raw chocolate and pack a good amount of antioxidents and polyphenols which are great for protecting your heart.  They are a on the bitter side but are easily sweetened with with a little bit of coconut or date sugar or succanat. 

*I prefer Trader Joe’s Golden Roasted Flax
Seeds, as the roasting process enhances the
flavor of the flax, producing a more nutty flavor.


**A coffee grinder works best to produce an
evenly textured finely ground “meal/flour” or if no grinder, then purchase the flour.

30 Day Detox-Free Webinar to Reset Your Body and Brain

Join me for a Free Webinar on Tues, January 21st. Learn how a 30 day detox will reset your body and brain.

•  Reach Your New Year’s Resolutions In No Time

• Lose 5, 10, Or more Pounds – Without Feeling Deprived!

• Detox Your Body And Reverse Sugar Cravings

• Sleep Deeply And Have More Energy (That Lasts ALL Day)

• Feel At Home In Your Body Again

Far too many women (and men) go through life feeling fat, worn out, overwhelmed, and ashamed about the way they look and feel.

If you’re tired of fad diets that leave you hungry and miserable, medications that don’t work, and detoxes that leave you feeling worse than when you started, then this webinar is for you!  Click on the link below to register for this free webinar, Tuesday, January 21st at 5:30 P.M. PST.

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5353615929837304834

No worries if you can not attend this designated day and time.  A recording will be available for one week after airing.  You will need to register for the webinar to have access to the recording.

Discover the easy system to Stop Sugar Cravings, shed Pounds, Boost Energy, and Feel Great in 2014!

Skinny Vanilla Dessert

Serves 4

1 Vanilla Bean *
1-2 tsp. Succanat or Muscavado or cane sugar
2 Pink Grapefruits, peeled and thinly sliced
1 Pint Raspberries
1 sliced Mango
Mint Leaves (optional)


Split 1 Vanilla Bean in half lengthwise. run dull side of a knife down the length of each half, scraping up the seeds. Combine the seeds with sugar. Add 2 grapefruit, raspberries, and mango. Toss, let stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with mint leaves (optional)

* The whole Vanilla Bean can be a bit pricey-between $5-$11 for 2 beans.  Sprouts has organic beans for $5.00 and is found in the spice section.