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Music makes a workout...

Remember Richard Simmons?
Sweatin' to the Oldies! How do you think he got all those people to get up and move? Music! Or maybe it was his shorty shorts...

Here at Doce Vida Fitness Inc. we are fitness apparel innovators. We do our best to bring you the best of the best in fitness wear. We want you to look your best. We also want you to have an out of this world workout. So, we bring you: Doce Vida Grooves - Music for your workout!
Working out to the right tune makes a world of difference. Sweating to a good beat is inspiring.... You know what I'm talking about when that amazing beat comes on in SPIN class...and you SPIN into bliss...

If you ever stop by our office, we have music going in the office during the day and it makes a world of difference - sets the good mood. Come dance with us.

Introducing Doce Vida Grooves
Music for any workout
Start Downloading HERE

Great Fitness Wear leads to amazing Yoga...& Vice Versa...

Doce Vida Fitness Wear offers Yoga classes in New York City! We are not just fitness apparel innovators we are advocates for a whole health lifestyle. Click on our Yoga schedule to learn more about class description, your Yoga teacher, rates, schedules etc.
STRETCH. BREATHE. YOUR HEART (and spine) WILL LOVE YOU.

Freedom and flexibility...that's what it's all about...

Om to the max...

Onions Galore!

I love onions. Raw. Cooked. Roasted. Yellow. Red. White. Green. Shallots... Leeks... I'm a fan of the onion! I love the way yellow onions glisten after being sauteed in coconut oil. I crave thinly sliced sweet and red onions in a hummus and cucumber sandwich. I savor white onions tossed in a Little Gems salad. The delicious onion flavor break dances on my palate to the tangy apple cider vinegar and oil dressing. No matter what I'm cooking I always add an onion. I do.

Some say onions were grown first in Ancient Egypt then eventually made their way to Rome and were given the Latin word UNIO which means, single, or one. Onions are hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. I say they have good circulation to be able to take those cold conditions! In fact, eating onions regularly can increase your circulation and lower blood pressure. Moreover, onions help reduce cardiovascular disease by lowering your total cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Our bulby friends are high in B6, B1 and Folic acid - eat onions to help fight the free radicals in your body. They are also rich in the trace mineral chromium which helps cells respond to insulin.

How to pick the best onion? Choose onions that are have a good round shape with dry crisp skin. Don't choose onions that have dark patches, as this may be a sign of decay. Stay clear of onions that are sprouting and have signs of mold. Basically, make sure the onion looks clean! Then,
store your onions in a cool, dry, well ventilated place. If stored properly, they can be kept for weeks.

And yes, onions have been known to make you cry...
My advice - chill...these are tears of joy! Or try chilling the onion for 30 minutes prior to cutting!

I cut up a sweet yellow onion into big chunks. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on top. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Then roast at 450 degrees for about 25 minutes. Roasted onions are a perfect compliment to any dinner!

Long live the Onion!

Vegan Banana Bread - Start the pot of tea...

Hey Vegan Fans - Go bananas!
Start brewing a pot of tea - the banana bread is just about hot out of the oven...

Banana bread is an old standby. My grandmother was famous for it. There was nothing better than going to grandma's on the weekends and enjoying a slice of her delicious recipe. I can still see her aging hands slicing up huge pieces for us. We would sit around her dining table and play gin rummy and by the end of the first round the loaf was almost gone...those were the days.

Banana Bread is one of my all time favorites. I've tried many many recipes. Vegan, non-vegan any which way... These days I opt for the vegan version of course. Here is a great recipe. Try it this week...you have nothing to lose. Delight your family and friends with a healthy treat!


Bake Time:
60 minutes

Here's what you'll need:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups unrefined cane sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 3/4 t. baking soda
• 3/4 t. salt
• 3/4 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup plain soy milk or almond milk - I prefer almond milk
• 1 t. apple cider vinegar - organic if you can
• 4 large very ripe bananas makes 2 cups mashed
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 T. maple syrup - from Vermont preferably!
• 1 t. organic vanilla extract
• Walnuts (optional)
Special Guest: dark chocolate chunks - yes they're vegan!

To prepare!

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a 9"x5" loaf pan

2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt and cinnamon - yum!

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk and apple cider vinegar. Let this mixture hangout for 2 minutes. Then... Add the mashed banana, canola oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, whisking until fully combined.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until just combined (careful not to over mix). Fold in the walnuts and dark chocolate - the aroma will make your eyes roll back in bliss!

Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake for about 1 hour, or try the old toothpick method - when inserted does it come out clean? If so, it's done!

Let the bread cool out for about 20 minutes...
Invite your friends over. Pour the tea. Talk until the sun goes down...or comes up!

This one is for you Grandma Molly!

Fun Loving Fennel

Don't be afraid of fennel! Otherwise known as anise, this lovely food has a mild licorice flavor that is perfectly delicious with almost any fish.

Native to the Mediterranean, Fennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum. Say that ten times fast!
All fennel varieties have feathery leaves and yellow flowers. The variety that we are most familiar with and you've seen the bulb in the produce section, is the Florence fennel, Finocchio.

Aside from the sweet bulb that is so tasty either raw or in your favorite stir fry, fennel is an herb, and every part is edible. You can use its leaves, seeds, flowers and bulb for cooking and for brewing teas and tinctures.

Fennel has many healing qualities. It offers support for digestion and indigestion, as well as, congestion in the chest and sinuses. If you're going out on a date, eat fennel beforehand, it will definitely give you fresh breath!

There are many many micro nutrients, digestive enzymes and vitamins in fennel and you will be a winner each time you eat it. It is high in antioxidants, phytonutrients and Vitamin C which we all need for immune system support. Plus, if you need fiber in your diet bring on the fennel...

Here are two quick and easy fennel recipes that you can prepare in the blink of an eye.

Simply saute sweet yellow onions and sliced fennel in coconut oil. Saute on medium heat for ten minutes. Add a little sea salt and cracked pepper. Serve with baked salmon and brown rice.

And the old standby...
1 large fennel bulb - Very thinly sliced
Avocado chunks (2 avocados should do it)
1 large orange peeled and sliced up beautifully.
Mix with your favorite dressing.
I use apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and Bragg Liquid Amino flavoring - in that order.

Store fennel in your fridge for no more than 5 days as it does begin to lose its flavor. If I have to, I find that keeping the bulb in a sealed bag is best, though I usually use my vegetables within one day of bringing them home from the store.

Prepare a fennel dish for your family this week! Why not...

Soup is Good Food!

I love soup. It's my food of choice. Give me a bowl of piping hot hearty lentil soup in the middle of a scorching hot summer and I'm one happy girl.

Not only do I enjoy eating soup, I fully enjoy making it. I love making soup from scratch - throw in a little of this and a little of that...add your favorite organic veggie stock and it's an easy road to making a pot of nourishing soup right at home! Bean soup is one of my favorites and it's super easy. I made a pot last night and today we have leftovers! Soup leftovers rule!

Get your favorite beans. Soak them overnight. Drain and rinse them good. Transfer them to your favorite soup pot. Add the stock. Doesn't matter how much. It just depends on whether or not you like a lot of broth for your soup! I do. Although, for about 3 cups of beans you'll need at least 4 cups of stock (in my experience). Medium heat is good. Let the beans get rolling in the stock.

Chop up: 1 large green bell pepper (red too if you like), carrots and celery (chopped up about a cup), 1 medium onion, 2 large garlic cloves. Then, I like to saute all of the delicious fresh veggies in coconut oil to an al dente. Then add them in with the beans. I add a bay leaf just so. Oh and about a teaspoon of basil leaves. Sea salt and pepper to taste. I chop up about 4 juicy red tomatoes and stir them in. If tomatoes don't look red and savory in the produce section, I opt for a can of organic chopped tomatoes (the 14 or 16oz size). Sprinkle in some good Thyme, Rosemary and Sage if you like. Let the soup sit on simmer for about an hour. My recommendation is to test it. I like the beans a bit al dente. I also like to splash in a little Bragg Amino flavoring. I garnish with flat leaf parsley. For those of you are not vegan, sprinkle a bit of Asiago cheese on top - adds that bit of salty zest that is oh so good...

Chill a bottle of your favorite white wine and catch up on your DVR recordings. This may not be for everyone but eating homemade soup, sipping on super chilled Sauvignon Blanc from Oyster Bay and watching old episodes of Mad Men is my kind of night...

Soup it up!

Twist into Bliss!

I was on Lanikai beach in Hawaii some summers ago - early morning. The quiet sounds of the water inspired me to take in deep cleansing breaths. The early morning slight breeze was magnificent. I was ready to practice my Yoga. I was honored to practice my Yoga in such a beautiful place. I sat on my mat gazing. I gently began to connect with my breath, soften my eyes and energize my spine. It was perfect. I started with a twist to energize. Left then right.
Then something amazing happened, after a final exhale to find just a little more space in my spine I felt complete. I felt grounded. I felt a ripple of pure love energy zip up my spine into my head and into my breath. Woa. What a feeling. What a release. Was one single twist all I needed? Yes! The twist was all I needed that morning... Then, I jumped into the ocean and floated. I let the salt water massage my skin. I listened to the breathtaking sounds of the ocean...Yoga rules. Yoga graciously gives you exclusive moments that are you and unique only to you.

The twist - a basic yoga pose.
Ardha Matsyendrasana - the basic twist.
(It's always good to know the Sanskrit term for the Yoga postures you practice often)

There is no doubt about it, the twist is a beautiful pose. There are many variations and they all offer amazing health benefits. Practicing twists regularly will massage and nourish the deep muscles in the spine and give it flexibility. Spinal twists promote extra blood to the spinal nerves, tone up sluggish abdominal organs and are great for the hips and waistline. When you practice the twist you will come to feel and know all of the above!

Here is one very simple twist for you to practice today! Why not right now?
12 Easy Steps

1. Sit on the floor - Stretch your legs out
Keep both buttocks connected to the floor
2. Sit up - make your spine feel long - don't puff your chest out - imagine your lower pelvis tucking under
3. Connect with your breath - just be aware of your inhales and exhales!
4. Step your right foot over your left leg
5. Right foot flat on the floor - Right ankle hugged near your left knee
6. Now - you can either hug the crook of your left elbow around your right knee
or simply grab your right ankle with your left hand
7. Gently wrap your right arm around behind you or if you're up to it wrap the back of your right hand around the lower left back
8. Twist to the right!
9. As you inhale find space in your spine
10. As you exhale twist.............................
11. Since you are twisting to the right, I suggest when you inhale be conscious that you are lifting your left side spine a bit more, then as you exhale you twist beautifully to your right side
12. Switch to other side!

There is no goal. Please twist into what feels good for you.
Just make sure you are breathing.
Stay relaxed.
Stay focused on your breath. After all, your breath is your life!

Any questions? Feel free to email: Lisa@DoceVidaFitness.com

Om.