Carly Dorendorf | San Diego Homeowner | May 2023 Digital Newsletter

Presented By Carly Dorendorf

Glacier National Park

Montana

Yoga Your Way

Did you know practicing Yoga can actually increase your brain function? Yes, you read that right – studies have shown that the areas of your brain responsible for attention, neuroplasticity, executive function and motivation are all activated when practicing yoga. Depending on the type of Yoga you practice, there are other benefits as well. It can improve your posture, your cardiovascular function, balance, reduce anxiety, boost your immunity, reduce inflammation and improve your overall quality of life. Yoga isn’t just a workout, it’s a lifestyle, and one you can practice just about anywhere.

Glacier National Park is a breathtaking display of spectacular lakes, carved valleys, alpine meadows, and melting glaciers. Featuring over 700 miles of trails throughout the park, this amazing wilderness is packed with human history.

Glacier is an adventure seekers paradise, where you can relive past times via historic chalets and lodges. The famous Going-To-The-Sun Road is a must-see for any nature loving traveler!

Source: nps.gov/glac

If you are a beginner, you might want to consider joining a yoga studio. Having that community can really build your confidence and help create a safe place for you to really focus. When you feel more comfortable, you can take your mat on hikes for a quick mountaintop session or stop at a park on your lunch break for a winddown before heading back to the office.

There are several different types of yoga. Try to find a style that best fits your intentions and desires for the moment. For example, if you’re looking to reduce stress and anxiety, Yin and Restorative are both good places to start. Yin yoga is one of the most relaxing styles. It focuses on bringing balance to your life by calming your mind, body, and spirit with quiet and reflective meditation. Restorative is very similar but focuses a little more on relaxing and soothing your nerves. Both of these will ignite your parasympathetic nervous system sending you into deep relaxation and leaving you feeling restored.

Hatha yoga is a great style for those just starting out. It teaches you the basics on breath, posing, relaxation and meditation. It is very popular and will help to build a foundation so you can easily transition to more skillful styles with continuous flow between movements. Vinyasa would be your next step up – incorporating both basic and advanced poses for a more athletic style. Vinyasa can also be called power yoga and can be quite the workout.

Many also enjoy the experience of Kundalini. This unique style focuses on the spiritual and emotional side of health. Breathwork adds to the rejuvenating effect of Kundalini, because the movements are most often synchronized to your breath, sometimes by using a mantra or chant. While some exercises are sure to be a bit of a physical challenge, the goal is to find a meditative space of peace and comfort.

With all the benefits Yoga has to offer and the fact that you can easily practice in your own living room, what’s stopping you from giving it a try? It might just change your life.

Chances are you or someone you know has finally taken the plunge and purchased an electric vehicle. Bravo! Better for the planet and now possibly better for your pocketbook, too. Demand for EVs is growing, with plug-in cars expected to make up 23 percent of all new passenger vehicle sales globally in 2025. Experts predict that by 2030, 40 percent of all cars sold will be electric and by 2035, the number will reach 80 percent. Seems everyone will soon be going electric.

Tesla and Toyota, of course, have been the leaders in the electric and hybrid markets. But virtually all automakers are now increasing production of EVs. BMW is set to introduce a dozen new models by 2025. Honda and GM are joining forces to produce millions of more affordable EVs in 2027. Mercedes has stated that all of its newly launched platforms will be electric-only beginning in 2025. With all this new competition comes a decrease in prices. Good for the consumer! In addition, Congress recently announced tax credits of up to $7,500 on electric car purchases that sell for less than $55,000, spurring Tesla and Ford to drop prices.

But just how convenient is it to charge an electric vehicle? Charging your EV at home at night is the easiest and least expensive option. EV owners do need to learn charging station locations and plan out road trips, plotting out charging stops along the way (there are apps for this). There are currently more than 160,000 EV charging stations in the U.S. and more and more are being built. Tesla has recently agreed to open up its system of chargers to non-Tesla EVs broadening the charging landscape. An effort is also being made to standardize the plugs at stations.

The yearly cost of owning an electric vehicle may even be less than half the cost of owning a gas-powered car, considering lower EV maintenance costs and rising or fluctuating gas prices, according to Energysage.com. The cost for a full charge can vary greatly, as can the time to charge, from the fastest of 20 minutes to an hour, to 4 to 10 hours, to the slowest of 40 to 50 hours from empty. Overall, decreased price, increased production, and easier access to charging stations has made electric vehicles more and more appealing to consumers. Now may be the time to check one out if you haven’t already.

FLAVOR FUL

SEASONED COWBOY BEANS

INGREDIENTS

1 lb dried pinto beans

1 pkg (5.5 ounces) hickory & sage bacon

1 lg onion, chopped

6 tbsp chili powder

2 tsps Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS

1 tsp hot pepper sauce

1 bay leaf

2 cloves, minced garlic

1 jalapeño, minced

salt & pepper to taste

Place beans in heavy large Dutch oven. Add enough water to cover by 3 inches. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain.

In a lightly oiled skillet or pan, heat all 8 slices of Benevolent Bacon™ for 2 to 3 minutes on each side (bacon should not be too crispy), pull from skillet when still slightly ‘limp’ then chop into ½” pieces and set aside.

Return beans to Dutch oven after sitting for 1 hour. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Add all remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until beans are tender and liquid thickens, stirring frequently, about 3 hours. Discard bay leaf. Season beans with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving.)

Ladle into bowls and serve as is or over rice, with or without cornbread. ENJOY GoodNes.com