HEALTHY DESTINATIONS

Yoga Retreats

UNDER $1500

By Shirin Mehdi

“TO THE MIND THAT IS STILL, THE WHOLE UNIVERSE SURRENDERS.” – LAO TZU

Do you long for moments of peace and quiet where you can find yourself and be one with nature?

Set in nature, yoga retreats help strengthen your connection with yourself. They give you the opportunity to find your true purpose. You find the space to heal and clear the clutter from your mind thereby finding a renewed sense of peace and calm. You bounce back feeling rejuvenated. Convinced? Then take a look at these beautiful properties that offer some of the best yoga retreats. ROLLING MEADOWS YOGA, MEDITATION & BREATH WORK RETREATS 100 acres of countryside landscape offer a complete spiritual renewal with yoga and meditation. There are gardens full of flowers and organic vegetables. There are sheep grazing around the farmhouse-style accommodation.

You’ll have large living rooms, libraries, sun rooms, swimming ponds, walking paths and well-lit meditation rooms at your disposal. In the cold months, you can go skiing and bask in wood-fired saunas.

This retreat provides vegetarian food and they cater to special diets. The center conducts silent retreats that allow you to disconnect with the world so you can completely reconnect with yourself. Their retreats start at $725.

83 Sullivan Road, Brooks, Maine 04921 888-666-6412 rollingmeadowsretreat.com

WHITE LOTUS FOUNDATION MOUNTAIN RETREAT CENTER

Set in Santa Barbara, California overlooking the spectacular Pacific Ocean, you can surrender to the wonders of nature in the sprawling 40 acres of the resort. You can choose from campsites in wilderness, yurts or indoor accommodations with state-ofthe-art amenities.

The White Lotus offers at least six different retreats year-round. They mix it up with yoga, Thai massage, meditation and Pranayama (breathing). The property is a treat for the soul offering spring water, swimming holes and isolated spots where you can spend quality time with yourself. There are also hiking trails, hot tubs and saunas with incredible views around the area. The resort takes a holistic approach. You get gourmet meals (all vegetarian) as a part of the package.

Their exclusive spiritual retreats are sure to entice your inner being. Weekend retreats start at $700.

2500 San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara, California 93105 805-964-1944 whitelotus.org

KRIPALU CENTER FOR YOGA & HEALTH

Kripalu offers a wide range of yoga retreats for both individuals as well as groups. Here, you can widen your awareness and learn more about yoga and holistic living. Their large campus rambling across 150 acres has a plethora of different landscapes, ranging from lake fronts to hilltops.

You can choose from different programs that include yoga, integrative weight loss, mindful eating, detox for health and healing, creation of a resilient life and more. Pick a level that suits you best - ranging from beginner to advanced. Kripalu also offers restorative courses for those suffering from diseases like Parkinson’s and cancer.

With a variety of different activities available at their campus, their basic weekend stay starts at $95 per night.

57 Interlaken Road, Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01262 866-200-5203 kripalu.org

Yurt at White Lotus Foundation Mountain Retreat Center, Photo By: Paul Ober /Taschen

Slow Cooker Slow Cooker beef bourguignon beef bourguignon

Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 45 Minutes Total Time: 1 Hour 6 Servings

The slow cooker can be a blessing to a busy family. Hearty fall meals can be prepared during the day and ready for the table when your crew gathers around for dinner. An abundance of fall vegetables makes it easy to come up with new ideas. This recipe is an easy take on Julia Child’s famous Beef Bourguignon which has made its way to thousands of high end restaurants across the country. Now, you can make it at home while you work. WHAT IS BOURGUIGNON?

Bourguignon refers to food that’s made the way the people of the region of Bourgogne, France, make it. Which, like all things you might associate with “burgundy” essentially means with red wine. Therefore “beef in the style of Burgundy” means beef that is braised in red wine, alongside other ingredients like mushrooms, onions, bacon, and potatoes.

The key to this dish though is the sauce, which is made with not only the wine, but the drippings from the bacon and beef, as well as the broth and flour, which create a roux or thickening agent to make the broth not so soupy and more easily mopped up with a big piece of crusty bread. WHAT IS THE BEST MEAT FOR BEEF BOURGUIGNON?

Since this dish is really a beef stew at its core, what you want to get a cut that works well being cooked slow and low. I used regular stew meat.

This is important to know ahead of time. This isn’t a “dump it and leave it” crock-pot recipe. There is a little prep cooking required, so allow about 15 minutes for the prep cooking. It really makes a difference. INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp coconut oil • 6 slices bacon–roughly chopped • 3 pounds lean stew meat–cut into 2-inch pieces • 1 cup red cooking wine–may sub chicken broth • 1 tbsp Roasted Beef Better Than

Bouillon • 2 cups water • 1 tsp Roasted Garlic Better Than

Bouillon • 1/2 cup tomato sauce • 1/2 cup flour • 1 tbsp herbs de Provence • 1 tbsp Montreal Steak seasoning • 2 large carrots–cut into 2-inch pieces • 1 yellow onion–sliced from stem to stem • 1 tbsp minced garlic • 2 tbsp fresh thyme–chopped • 1 pound gold baby potatoes–halved • 8 ounces fresh mushrooms–sliced • 1-2 tsp salt–or to taste • 1/2 tsp pepper • Chopped parsley for garnish INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a bowl, mix the herbs de Provence and Montreal Steak seasoning in with the flour. 2. Dredge stew meat in the flour mixter, coating all sides. 3. In a measuring cup, mix two cups of water and the Better Than Bouillon mixes. Whisk to blend. Set aside. 4. Turn slow cooker to high and place it close to your stovetop. As you prepare the ingredients on the stove, you will add them to the slow cooker. 5. In a separate pan on medium heat, drizzle with oil and sear bacon 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to add bacon to the slow cooker. 6. Add beef to pot and sear 3-4 minutes, stir occasionally to brown all sides of beef. Use a slotted spoon to add beef to the slow cooker. 7. Add remaining flower to the pan of bacon drippings and stir constantly until light brown. If there aren’t enough drippings, add a small amount of oil. This will make a roux with the flour and oil. 8. Gradually add beef broth to the hot roux, stirring constantly to remove lumps. Pour your sauce into the slow cooker, scraping all bits of bacon and beef from the bottom and sides. 9. Add red wine, minced garlic, tomato sauce, carrots, potatoes, onions, thyme and mushrooms to the pot. 10. Set to high for six hours, then turn down to low until serve time. 11. Give it a good stir and taste before adding salt and pepper if needed and garnishing with chopped parsley. (the Better Than Bouillon is well seasoned with salt, so taste before you add salt).