August-

I can say with great certainty, that August has been absolutely AWESOME! For those who don't know, myself and a few other lovely ladies ran our 'Feel Awesome August #FAA 21 Day Challenge’. Each day we dedicated to a certain task, that was designed to make you feel good, positive and inspired. If you missed the challenge, then dont worry you haven’t missed out, as I put together a little PDF document (available on my Facebook page), of all of the challenges so you can try them out for yourself! I have also now changed the name of the group that I made, to Happy & Healthy Living: Yoga, Recipes & More (click here to join). Where I will continue to post feel good content, to help us to become our best and happiest selves.

Asides from #FAA, it was a pretty busy month! I had my dad and step momma visit me from the UK which was super nice! They also came to one of my yoga classes for the first time ever (which I never thought my dad would be doing yoga-but he was great). Then there was the whole having to go to Hamburg to find a flat, which we so luckily managed to do so within a few days (despite 20-40 people turning up at one time for the open viewings). We move in to our new place in just two weeks! I'm pretty gutted that I'll have to be leaving all of my amazing friends and yoga community, but I guess that the universe has even bigger plans for me now!

Since I'm leaving Düsseldorf so soon, I've really been trying to be as social as possible (usually I’m quite happy to stay home and spend early evenings in bed). So that mean's I've had lovely dinner and coffee dates with friends, picnic's overlooking the Rhine, movie nights, lots of yoga classes, and Kira and I arranged another community vegan picnic, with a clothes swap and acro yoga jam! Damn I'm really going to miss these guys!

Also some other huge news (how could I forget), in August next year (2019), I will be hosting my very own Yoga & Meditation retreat (get this), sailing around the beautiful islands of Croatia on a luxury boat!! Beyond excited hardly even describes my emotions right now! If you are interested in joining me in Croatia next year, check out my events page where you will find all of the details. We have an early bird special until the 30th October, so make sure you secure your place while spaces are available!

Anyway, enough of me now, let's get into my August Favourites!

Favourite Recipe of August: Banana Oat Cookies (GF)

I was inspired to make these after Kira had given me something similar that she had made herself. Since then, throughout the whole month I have been making these oat cookies at least twice a week (whenever I come across ripe bananas)! They are so damn yummy, and also super easy and cheap to make (as the main bulk of the ingredients are literally just banana and oats). 

These oat cookies make a great lunch time snack, or even breakfast, as the oats provide a nice slow release energy, keeping you focused and energised throughout the day. I have provided the recipe in a new format this month, as it is a snippet from my new and upcoming eBook: 'Gluten Free Vegan Recipes for Vitality'. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please feel free to leave some comments of how you get on with baking these!

​For some more vegan gluten free inspo, check out my latest food diary vlog, including my daily breakfast and some yummy Asian style dishes!

Favourite Read/s of August:

1. Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

If you're looking for a feel good read, which will make you laugh and feel a deeper appreciation for yourself, then the 'Year of Yes', is definitely a read for you. I'm really not one, to often read other people's life stories, especially as I didn't even know who Shonda Rhimes was (she's most famous for writing the Grey's Anatomy TV show in case you didn't know). However despite this, I was immediately drawn into her world, and laughing along at her her succinct and amusing words.

Shonda describes her tale of initially being the classic extremely introverted writer, who despite becoming extremely famous, wanted nothing to do but stay home and hide away from the world in her pyjamas, whilst eating chocolate cake. However a certain event happened, that allowed her to take the steps towards changing her her entire life around; by saying YES to everything (that basically scares the shit out of an everyday introvert).

This book was so light hearted and uplifting to read, and Shonda's story is an inspiring one at that. Definitely pick it up if you feel you also make some changes in your life, as it's great inspiration to stepping outside of our very cosy comfort zones.

Favourite Homemade Beauty Product of August: Natural Teeth Whitener

I absolutely love this teeth whitening trick, as bicarbonate of soda is a safe method to removing service level teeth stains, without any nasty chemicals involved! The peppermint essential oil is not actually essential (no pun intended) for the whitening process, however it does give a nice minty flavour. One caution to give, is not to do this whitening too regularly (stick to no more than 2/3 times a week), to avoid potentially weakening tooth enamel. 

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

• 1 drop of peppermint essential oil

• 1 teaspoon of water

Method:

1. In a small container, using a tea spoon, mix the ingredients together until you form a smooth paste (you may need to add more water if it is too thick)
   

2. Either apply the taste to your toothbrush, and brush over your teeth (leaving the paste on there for a couple of minutes)
   

3. Or, if you don't have the peppermint essential oil, you can apply list paste on top of your toothpaste and brush over the teeth and leave for 2 minutes
   

4. After 2 minutes, brush the paste off with water (and/or with your normal tooth pate)

Favourite Yoga Flow of August: 30 Min Get Up & Go Yoga Flow

Since I’m moving away to Hamburg, I thought it would be good to try and make a few short yoga classes, so that my students can still practice with me even when I’m gone! I really tried to draw in the different elements of Hatha yoga, and combine it all with a nice Vinyasa flow (I really enjoy mixing the two styles-not so traditional I know, but it’s more fun for me and my students love it).

In this class, we will take a strong focus on the fluidity of our movement with our breath. I really enjoy incorporating fludity in the postures, rather than simply holding static asanas. I hope you enjoy following along, and don’t worry as this class is suitable for beginners (with intermediate options). I would love to hear how you get on! 

Favourite Quote of August: 

 "If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things"

-Albert Einstein

There are definitely way too many quotes by Einstein that I love, particularly in relation to the value he places on creativity, and that it is another form of intelligence or “intelligence having fun” in his own words. The reason that I love this quote however, is because of the simple truth that it expresses.

We all forget that we came down to this dense planet for a reason. We came here to learn, to grow and to fulfill our life mission. Some of us succeed in staying on track, and most of us get caught up in life's material treasures and earthly drama. We begin to form attachments that don't serve us, and we slowly but surely drift off path.

This is why it's so important to realise that we are the only source of our own happiness. Not other people and not other things, happiness simply comes from within. And I'm not saying that people can't make each other happy, of course they can, as long as they are sharing their own happiness with each other and not allowing their happiness to be dependent on another. 

So let's continue to harvest our very own happiness, and use it as a tool towards accomplishing our passions, goals and sole purpose here on this planet.

Bio:

Maddie holds a strong place in her heart for holistic health and well-being. She is a psychology graduate, yoga instructor, reiki practitioner, nutrition adviser and world traveller. Maddie loves reading, writing and exploring new places, meeting new and interesting people and enjoying the wonders of everyday life.

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