Three late nights and one full day (with helper as pictured below!), but the cupcake stand turned out alright 🙌😅🌈
We recently celebrated Lake turning 5 and Banks turning 2 with a rainbow themed party, I googled every possible avenue and search word humanly available, but no one (NO! ONE!) sold cupcake structures shaped as a rainbow.
Business opportunity, people! 😜
I was highly conscious of the fact that parties weren’t an option for many of you for some time so I held off posting the cupcake recipe, but the requests kept coming...
Sooooo, here you are.
For the dry ingredients
1.5 Cups (180g) GF Plain Flour
3/4 Cup Raw or Demerara Sugar
1.5 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Salt
For the wet ingredients
1 Cup (240g) Full Fat Coconut Milk from can*
1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
*Ensure the can has been kept at room temperature and shaken really well. If you open the can and coconut milk is still separated into clear and creamy parts, then transfer the lot into a blender and blend to combine.
METHOD
-Preheat the oven to 180C.
-Whisk all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, making sure to smooth out any lumps. In a separate bowl, whisk all of the wet ingredients.
-Slowly pour the wet ingredients over the dry while whisking gently or stirring briskly. When the mixture is smooth, scoop it evenly among 12 muffin cases. Better to fill with less and slowly add spoonfuls at a time, than to overfill some cases and not others. You will notice that each case looks only about half full, but don’t be tempted to overfill it, because the cupcakes will rise A LOT! In fact, this mixture was enough for me to fill 14 muffin cases, since I was restricted by height and really couldn’t have it rise above the muffin case or it wasn’t going to fit into my rainbow sculpture.
-Bake for 13-14 minutes. I ended up having to bake 7 x 12 muffin trays for the rainbow to be complete and set the timer for 13 minutes each time which was perfect for my oven. Just make sure they are golden on top.
1/2 Cup Icing Sugar
2 tablespoons Cashew Cream*
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
2-4 drops natural Food Colour
Optional: Hot Water**
*To make cashew cream, I soak 1 cup of cashews in hot water for 1 hour or in cold water overnight, rinse them and blend with 3/4 cup of filtered water until creamy.
**Only add if your icing is too thick after mixing really well and only add 1 teaspoon of hot water at a time.
-I made 5 different colours for my rainbow, so I used this recipe 5 times within separate bowls, the only variant was the food colour. I mixed everything using a spoon and got a beautiful thick glaze.
-Once the cupcakes were completely cooled, I then poured a small spoonful at a time over each cupcake. Use the back of your spoon to glide the glaze over the top of the cupcake to cover it completely. Leave to set for 2-3 hours.
I also thought I’d post the step by step pictures of the sculpture incase it inspires you to make something similar with your kids. Lake had the time of her life helping me paint it and if she was a bit older, I would’ve had her manning the PVA and the glue gun too.
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Our final 21 Day Intermittent Fasting Challenge for 2020 has completed and it was EPIC!
I'm looking to run it all over again in the New Year, so if you're interested in joining a whole tribe of Intermittent Fasters on a fun challenge to burn fat, shrink the waistline, feel confident and radiant, improve sleep, strengthen the immune system and look seriously insanely good… all while eating your favourite foods...
...add your name to the list below and you'll be the first to get all the details of the upcoming course:
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Here's what you'll discover:
I hope you're excited, because I seriously can't wait to share some powerful stuff!
xTanya
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Amazing friends,
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Honestly, it is our customers, I am missing the most. I just love you guys so so unbelievably much!
I’m not going far myself (well I suppose NZ is as far as it gets, LOL, but I mean I'm still online connecting with you all) and will continue to post whatever inspires and serves you.
Speaking of which, what sort of blog posts would you like to see more of...
Family updates? Recipes (raw or cooked vegan)? Inspirational quotes? Kitchen hacks? Food prep tips? Videos? Cleanse ideas? Nutritional facts? Wellness coaching? Glimpses into my every day life?
I’d love to know what’s interesting (or not interesting) to you!
It would be so so so amazing if you could please add your thoughts in the comments section below...
Thank you.
I love you.
Stay well,
💚 P.S. I’ve started coaching on Skype again and it’s keeping my broken heart in one piece.
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Sometimes I cleanse because I want to give my digestion a break, other times I want to shake off some holiday weight, but all the time I cleanse because only this sudden influx of nutrients (and simultaneous avoidance of indulgences) is what gives my immune system a strengthening boost, clears up my skin and makes me feel light and energised.
Detoxing is something I do periodically anyway, but each time it can look somewhat different depending on the time of year, my work load and my mood.
These are the cleanse plans I normally alternate between:
This time I was so fed up of my protruding belly and weird lockdown weight, that I was prepared to do a juice cleanse for as long as needed to feel like me again.
What I wasn’t prepared to do however was not to join my family for dinner and let my children see their mama 'on a diet'.
So, with the limited supply of ingredients in our small beach town of Pauanui, our planned trip to Auckland and all the socialising that was to be had there, equipped with my Big Why on doing the cleanse plus knowing what I wasn’t willing to compromise, here is what I decided on:
And inspired I remained! Just look at this amazing quote from the book:
“The entire time you’re eating, your insulin levels are elevated and your body is stuck in fat storing mode. Only after a few hours of fasting is your body able to turn off the fat storing and turn on the fat burning mechanisms. So if you are continually nibbling, your body will just continue storing fat, resulting in obesity and liver damage.”
This was my morning. Every morning. To get a 500ml (1 pint or 2 cups) glass of celery juice in the UK, I'd have to juice 1.5 bunches of celery from Waitrose or Ocado. There was just such a demand for organic celery (all thanks to the Medical Medium!:)) that it couldn't grow fast enough and was far too thin. Here in NZ, one bunch yields 1 litre (2 pints or 4 cups) of juice!
These are literally the exact ingredients and amounts I used for my lunch-time juice. It's always best to drink the juice immediately after making it, so that the nutrients aren't oxidised away, but the opportunity cost of time spent juicing and cleaning up for me won over the small percentage of nutrients lost, so I prepared my lunch time juice right after the morning one and left it waiting for me in an airtight bottle.
Dinner is the only thing that varied from day to day, but usually looked something like these Mexican burritos from the 'Family Meals' section of the Nurtured eBooks series. It wasn't always gluten-free either, but I did stick to dairy-free, because dairy showed up as a sensitivity in my food intolerance test I've done at LMS Wellness.
Differences Juicer and Blender (Source:examinedexistence.com)
Juices vs Smoothies. Juicer vs Blender. What is the difference? This question is so popular, I wrote a separate post here: tanyasliving.com/blogs/tanyas-blog/smoothies-vs-juices-what-is-the-difference?
Choosing a juicer with all the choices out there can feel like a minefield, especially if you've never juiced before!
Do you go for the cheaper centrifugal juicer and is the more expensive cold-press juicer really better?
But better how? - better to use or better for the juice quality and therefore nutrient density?
And once you settle on a cold-press variety, where to here?.. do you go for the masticating, triturating or a hydraulic press?
Not to worry, I have you covered...
If you've followed me for some time or done my Acid Alkaline Breakthrough program, you may remember just how many juicers I've tested and experimented with in the past (I'm up to 14 and counting).
You may also recall that every single time, I kept coming back to the Green Star Elite. It was always the quietest, it was always very straight forward to assemble and to clean, the pulp came out super dry and there was very little of it (in other words - there was A LOT of juice!), and maybe it's just me but I always felt that my green juice or celery juice always tasted much more pure and refreshing made in a Green Star. This was the only machine I decided to feature in my book, The Uncook Book.
If you too decide to go for my beloved Green Star Elite, the good people at Inspired Health are offering my subscribers a MASSIVE 25% saving on their machines! Use this code at check out:
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This is good news for most, but definitely not the time to lose sight of your nutrient intake.
We’ve all been self isolating without exposure to the outside world (a.k.a vital germs that keep our immunity muscle flexing and getting stronger) for far too long.
This means that once we are free to roam, we are ALL more vulnerable to diseases (that’s all diseases, not only the virus) than ever before and the only real protection we have is the confidence that we’re consuming immune boosting foods every chance we get.
I’ve put together a selection of seven recipes for you to get you started.
Enjoy and be well!
DRINK: Feijoa & Pineapple Smoothie
BREAKFAST: Pumpkin Pancakes
DIP: Spiced Pumpkin Dip
MEAL: Борщ - Raw Russian Borscht
CAKE: Blueberry Cheezecake
FROZEN SNACK: Ice Lollie Wedges
BAKING: Vitamin C Cookies
Just 3 feijoas account for over 50% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, only 1 kiwifruit has 100%+ of RDI of Vitamin C and pineapple has more Vitamin C than oranges (plus a whole added bonus of manganese which helps to suppress coughs and loosen mucous). If you can’t get feijoa, either use guava or extra kiwi.
1 cup Feijoa/ Guava pulp (approx. 10-20 feijoas)
1/4 pineapple, peeled and cored
2 kiwi fruits, peeled
1 banana, peeled
Optional: handful of kale leaves
Pumpkins and squashes are loaded with immunity boosting goodness. For one, they’re seriously high in beta-carotene, which your body turns into Vitamin A. It’s this vitamin that strengthens the immune system and helps fight infections. There’s also lots of Vitamin C, which increases white blood cell production and helps wounds heal faster. Even if you’re not a pumpkin fan, you’d enjoy these soft delicious pancakes, which are practically identical to everyone’s favourite ‘Best Ever Sweet Potato Pancakes’ from Nurtured Books.
1 cup (240ml) milk of your choice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 egg or 1 vegan egg (1 tbsp flaxseed and 3 tbsp water)
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp Himalayan salt
1 cup (150ml) gluten free flour
1 cup pumpkin dip (or 1/3 pumpkin, peeled and boiled)
coconut oil for frying
Refer to notes above because the pumpkin benefits are worth reading about twice :) I’ve made this dip more times than I can count over the lockdown period... it’s been incredible as a warm dip with pita breads (kids’ favourite!), as a soup blended with extra mylk and veg stock and of course as pancakes (recipe above).
For roasting:
1/4 pumpkin, peeled and seeds scraped out
1 apple, peeled and cored
4 large garlic cloves
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
For blending:
1/3 cup milk of your choice
2 tbsp lemon juice (approx 1/2 lemon)
2 tbsp olive oil
Optional: 1-2 tsp camu camu powder
This absolute beauty is a recipe from The Uncook Book, and since it’s jam packed with Vitamin C and Antioxidants among many countless other benefits, it belongs on the list of immune boosting recipes! I was never interested in Borscht while growing up in Russia, and now watching my own children put up their nose to it, I was determined to find a way to get even a little of this nutrient powerhouse into them. That’s when I started to blend it with avocado which they love to drink like a smoothie or mash it with boiled sweet potatoes which they can easily finish a whole bowl of.
For the liquids:
1 beetroot, peeled and chopped
1 red pepper, de-seeded and chopped
1 stalk celery (about 100g), chopped
1 inch ginger
2-3 garlic cloves
1 cup orange juice (about 2-3 oranges)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
Optional: 1 avocado or cooked sweet potatoes
For the solids (optional):
Sauerkraut (another recipe in The Uncook Book), herbs and walnuts, or carrot, beetroot, cabbage, herbs and walnuts
Blueberries are no rookie to the superfood scene. In fact, they were the original superfood, that’s how potent they are in their health, healing and immunising properties. I also used honey here instead of other sweeteners and if I had access to manuka honey when I made this recipe, I would’ve totally used that! This is a decadent dessert, which happens to be nutritious enough to eat for breakfast! (And all the equipment you’ll require is a basic blender).
For the base:
1.5 cups shredded coconut
3/4 cup oats
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp runny honey
For the Cheezecake:
2 cups dry cashews, soaked overnight (will yield 2 3/4 cups)
3 punnets (375g) frozen blueberries, thawed
1 cup coconut oil, gently melted
1/4 cup runny honey
1 pod or 1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
How adorable are these frozen treats?! They are so easy to make and kids of all ages (read: 70 year old kids included) looove them! Plums are packed with Vitamin C and also contain phytonutrients, particularly phenols, which have antioxidant effects. Antioxidants prevent cell damage that may lead to every disease including good ol’ covid.
3 oranges
3 plums, de-stoned
3 tbsp manuka honey
1 banana or papaya, peeled
1/2 tsp cinnamon
We don’t go anywhere without superfoods (top faves include Cacao powder, Spirulina powder & Algarroba) and since we couldn’t go anywhere at all during the lockdown, Lake and I have been doing aaaaalot of baking with superfoods. Whatever we baked, I made sure it contained a good amount of camu camu powder during these days. This magical powder is made from Amazonian berries which are ultra high in Vitamin C. So high in fact that only a 2.5g spoon provides 375% of the RDA. Here is a simple cookie recipe, which everyone in the family will love whether you keep it plain or add choc powder.
1/2 cup milk of your choice
3 tsp chia seeds
1/2 pod vanilla or 1 tsp vanilla extract
1 + 3/4 cups flour (I used a mix of coconut flour and standard flour)
1 cup coconut or brown sugar
3/4 cup dairy free spread or coconut oil, soft but unmelted
2 tsp camp camu powder and/or 2 tbsp cacao powder
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You may have heard about Dr Masaru Emoto’s work.
He is the awesome dude who showed us that although all molecular composition of water is H2O, it is the structure of all water which is different.
He took water from various sources and demonstrated it to us under a microscope to reveal snowflake-like structures, he then uttered various words to the water and demonstrated what happens to these structures.
Here’s an example:
Dr Emoto did an experiment which blew everyone’s minds and got us all trying this at home. He distributed the same amount of rice and water from the same source into identical jars and put them near each other in the same room. Then, every day for a month, he uttered the words ‘Thank you’ to one jar, to the middle jar he said ‘You’re an idiot’ and the last jar- he completely ignored.
After a month, the rice that had been thanked was fermenting and giving off a pleasant aroma; the rice in the second jar turned black; but it was the rice that had been ignored which shockingly was the most ‘damaged’. It started to rot.
Dr Emoto believed that this is the same as how we bring up children. We should converse with them and give them attention. Indifference does the most harm.
Deepak Chopra took this experiment even further and showed us how the same principle applied in the work force, where to be criticised is actually better than to be ignored. Your rate of disengagement falls to a whooping 42% when you are ignored, 25% when you are criticised and just 1% when you are supported.
Deepak Chopra also showed us that when we experience love, our brain goes into a healing mode.
And the same goes for all water.
Kind words such as ‘I love you’ or ‘Thank you’ or ‘You’re beautiful’ uttered lovingly to your glass of water even when it comes out of a tap can transform the pH of it from acid to alkaline.
That’s some powerful stuff!
Can you even imagine what else you can do with such simple techniques if you only knew what they were?
Can you imagine having the key to shedding off the weight which is bothering you, improving your digestion, healing your skin, increasing bone density, awakening your consciousness and deepening your relationship with the Divine?…
Deepak has all the answers! Not even kidding.
Listen to his lesson for free now, as it expires shortly>>
If he’s good enough to be Oprah Winfrey’s No1 advisor/guru/mentor, then he’s good enough to be my teacher too! So good in fact, I happily paid hundreds just to hear him Live for a couple of hours when he was in London and paid thousands to hear him present only one lecture on my Nutrition course. So now that there’s this insane opportunity to hear from the man himself and for absolutely nothing, I HAD to share this with you…
Hay House is at it again! They’re bringing you another World Summit to empower, heal and transform your life with the world’s leading experts.
You Can Heal Your Life summit kicks off TODAY!
Today, you can watch 15 lessons to help you Reconnect with Your Spiritual Roots, from Gabrielle Bernstein, Deepak Chopra, Rev. Iyanla Vanzant, and more.
Until May 2nd at 4 PM PT, you’ll learn…
All 15 lessons are free to watch for 48 hours. They expire May 2nd at 4 PM PT, when a new free series begins, featuring lessons from Dr. Joe Dispenza and Gregg Braden—Ignite the Power of Awareness.
We could all use the boost these lessons offer. When our spiritual roots are fortified, everything else in our life blossoms.
See you there!
xTanya
P.S. If you won’t have time to enjoy all 90 You Can Heal Your Life Summit lessons—take $50 off the normal purchase price on a Summit package and receive $1,296 in bonuses until May 2nd at 11:59 PM PT. Learn more here >>
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Pay what you can.
£15 ($18.50) £27 ($33) £39 ($48)
And if you can’t afford anything at all right now, but would love to make delicious nurturing meals for your family to keep them well, I have 2 options for you too:
I know how devastating these times are for so many, so you don’t even need to explain yourself in the email, just write to me and I’ll be honoured to play a small part in keeping your family nourished.
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xTanya
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Wow what a trip.
I haven’t yet connected with a single person that this ‘big pause’ is not having an effect on.
Not. One. Person.
As for myself... two Wednesdays ago, my husband (who is also self employed) had the worst day of his adult life as every one of his clients froze all business.
Then moments later, I was urged to stop producing and ordering anything new for the deli and to try rid of any current stock immediately.
While I was in a bit of a state to think straight, my level headed husband suggested we take the kids to NZ ‘because who knows what will happen - London could go into lockdown and we’ll be stuck in a small flat for months’. (Literally his words while everyone else (including Boris Johnson) were saying no way is a lockdown something being considered).
So on Wednesday lunchtime, we checked out flight prices which were at their all time low. Whoop whoop something positive!
By Wednesday night, they were 4, 5 and even 6 times higher.
And even then, we couldn’t seem to book anything!
We attempted to book with 4 different airlines, 2 of which took our money and all 4 of which said our booking is not confirmed.
We spent many hours trying to reach customer services, playing the ‘you’re on hold’ tunes from both of our phones while we packed.
We were at Heathrow first thing Thursday morning.
We didn’t land in Auckland until Monday.
Four whole days!!!!
The entire experience was truly the most surreal thing either of us have ever partaken in...
Terminal 4 packed like sardines in a can, queues to Nam, rows of white space suits everywhere, masks of every variety on faces, cash not accepted within the premises even for a coffee / especially for a coffee, flight after flight cancelled on the departures board, but the craziest and oddest of all is the deadly silence surrounding us.
There’s no arguing, no pleading, no bargaining, no abusing, no questioning, no rushing.
It just was.
For four long long days.
Team NZ (aka Elliot’s amazing family) made miracles happen and took the stress out of every step past the boarder security to support our mandatory 2 weeks of self-isolation.
There was a spare car waiting for us, keys in ignition, instructions about our self-isolation house printed, kids car seats installed, snacks for the road, cold-pressed juices and dinner for first night packed, plus not to mention a mountain of groceries already waiting when we arrived.
Needless to say, I was pretty emotional throughout, but you should’ve seen me when I discovered buckwheat, kombucha and coconut flour while putting the groceries away!
Then 2 days later the whole of NZ reached emergency level 4 and ended up in lockdown for a month minimum.
Looks like we’re stranded on the beach for even longer than expected. It’s a tough life for these kids of ours :))
Jokes aside, the ‘tough life’ bit is very much a reality for many right now...
A few of you have already written to me asking whether I could discount the eBooks any further so you could make nourishing meals for your family during lockdown, so I’ve been thinking hard about how best to do this and I reckon I got it!!
Pay what you can.
£15 ($18.50) £27 ($33) £39 ($48)
And if you can’t afford anything at all right now, but would love to make delicious nurturing meals for your family to keep them well, I have 2 options for you too:
I know how devastating these times are for so many, so you don’t even need to explain yourself in the email, just write to me and I’ll be honoured to play a small part in keeping your family nourished.
Be safe and keep well.
I love you and yes ‘We will meet again’!
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Want to try some simple and scrumptious plant-based gluten-free recipes, which families all around the world are cooking today?
I pulled 2 most popular recipes from each of the eBooks in the ‘Nurtured - Plant based recipes for kids’ series and now 10 divine recipes can be yours totally FREE!
Just tell me where to send them for free instant access now:
Not even kidding... our interview began with poo talk.
I just couldn’t help myself, could I 🤪
Well, that chat took place almost 3 whole years ago and this longevity megastar is soon to return to London for one day only (Saturday 30th May 2020) so I figured it’s time you have a listen...
For most of you reading this blog post, David Wolfe needs no introduction.
Some of you only know him as the health guru who’s got 12 million Facebook fans.
Some of you know him as the go-to superfood expert for celebs like Woody Harrelson or Tony Robbins.
Or maybe even the nutrition master that got Novak Djokovic back to no.1.
The rest of you may be hearing of him for the first time right now.
Perhaps even hearing of me for the first time!
(For you guys, I include both of our bios, below 🤓)
Whatever category you fit into, you’d enjoy watching our chat and you would be stoked to hear that by using the promo code TANYAPLUS, you could get £10 off your ticket to David Wolfe's upcoming event in London!
(I’ll be there with my salads and treats again, so definitely stop by for a cuddle!)
[If the video isn't playing here, watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kjlNezP8tNY]
David Wolfe is one of the world’s most active peak performance coaches, nutritionists and lecturers. As the son of two medical doctors, David has had the unique experience of seeing the mainstream medical profession from the inside-out since infancy.
David has written numerous books including, Eating for Beauty, The Sunfood Success System, and his latest book which partly informs this very Masterclass, Longevity Now.
A highly sought after health and personal success speaker, David has given over 2000 live lecture events all over the world during the past 20 years. Today, David Wolfe continues to share the stage in the company of Anthony Robbins, Mark Victor Hansen, John Demartini, Jack Canfield, Deepak Chopra, Buzz Aldrin, T. Harv Eker, John Gray, Les Brown, Barbara DeAngelis, Brian Tracy, and many more.
Tanya Maher (pronounced Marr) is a leading pioneer in the world of ultra-nutritious and energising plant-based foods for the whole family.
Tanya co-founded 'Tanya's,’ a high-end raw cafe in 2014 and merged it with her established wellness company 'Better Raw' in 2017.
She is the creator of the Amazon #1 best selling DVD 'Raw Food 101' and author of Hay House's 'The Uncook Book' (available to purchase worldwide, here).
Born in Russia, raised in New Zealand and now raising her own family in London, Tanya has been hailed as one of the most recognised experts in the world of gourmet raw food by the likes of Vogue, Daily Mail and Women's Health.
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You might remember that I began this journey almost 6 months ago now, 1 week before my 35th birthday, 7 months after baby #2 and 223 days of sleep deprivation and adrenal fatigue later, when I felt at my very worst.
What I didn’t mention is that when my birthday rolled around, I was struck with the most simple yet profound message that would stay with me every single day since...
I was inside the LMS hyperbaric oxygen chamber, breathing in 95% pure oxygen (there’s only 21% oxygen in the air we’re breathing now!) to help all the goodness in my IV drip absorb effectively into all of my cells, when I noticed a book.
This book was called ‘ikigai’ (loosely translated as ‘your reason to jump out of bed every morning’.)
I flicked to the summary points of ‘the Japanese secret to a long and happy life’ and there it was... the message that affected me to the very core... the words which have played over in my mind every day for the past 6 months:
“Get in shape for your next birthday”.
It wasn’t that I needed to see this message to eat better or go to the gym.
It wasn’t that I needed extra motivation.
It wasn’t that I read it on my birthday and liked the coincidental surprise.
It was that for the first time ever, I understood that lasting change needs time;
...that Metamorphosis doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t even happen in a month.
...that sculpting a body is a process. A gentle, steady, loving, careful process.
I understood that if I want something enough, I must commit not 2 or 4 or 8 weeks to something on an intensive basis, I must commit a year and take small DAILY steps.
It may seem basic to you, but for someone that [before babies and never since] only needed to go for a run in order to immediately produce calf muscles or skip only one meal to be rewarded with a flat stomach, this message was a revelation!
“Get in shape for your next birthday”.
The message consumed me.
My patience grew roots.
My appreciation for the human body amplified.
I felt inspired like never before.
It felt as if I was solving a puzzle for 35 years and it was finally in front of me - whole, completed, solved, accomplished.
I finally got it!
“Get in shape for your next birthday”.
It is the exact message which comes to mind now each time I look in the mirror, about to drown in the disappointment of my results.
I am reminded that these things take time.
I remember to be kinder to myself.
I feel motivated to carry on.
I fill with gratitude and appreciation for my health, energy, determination, patience, gift of time and privilege to be (and to feel) alive!
I continue to make healthy choices (something no one regrets ever!) and I actually enjoy myself in the process.
I enjoy the cold/hot/cold showers.
I enjoy the hourly alarms I set up for myself, like the 12:22pm ‘my posture is amazing’ reminder or the 3:33pm alarm called ‘the universe rewards my actions’.
I enjoy the workouts in my living room and feel an energy rush when I break a sweat! I wish I could find more time than just twice weekly, but still feel grateful that because I only do them twice weekly, I am skipping with excitement to get cracking when the wait is over!
I enjoy my daily 500ml pint glass of pure celery juice. Actually, I’m addicted now! And the benefits from the first time I did my 21 days of it in December were so obvious to everyone, now Elliot joined me on round 2! More on my experience with it in another newsletter, but if you already know that you want to join me on my round 3 starting end of March, then register your interest here: mailchi.mp/tanyasliving/celeryjuice
I enjoy being woken up early by my babies and getting started with my day without a snooze button.
But best (and weirdest) of all however is that I enjoy cleaning now.
All sorts of cleaning! Deep cleaning, decluttering, sorting, folding, ironing, floor scrubbing, dish washing, dusting, wiping, polishing, vacuuming, soaking, you name it - I relish in it, even washing out the rubbish bin is a joy!
And you know why?....
When the whole “Get in shape for your next birthday” invaded my consciousness, I immediately became disinterested in anything to do with the couch and looked for ways to move my body any chance I got.
I wanted this exercise to be good for my body, as well as my home and my brain, so I (once again) enrolled myself into IIN, the online nutrition school, downloaded lectures and started listening to them while I cleaned.
Holy. Wow.
Everything is so much more interesting the second time around!
Maybe it’s because the wellness information has really evolved since I took the course 7 years ago.
Maybe the doctors and gurus delivering this info are even more awe-inspiring now.
Maybe my own mindset has shifted, because now I’m not merely listening to lectures for a certificate, I’m absorbing them for my and my family’s wellbeing and longevity.
I’m surrendering to the universe and accepting (with gratitude) my divine right to feel fricken amazing!
When wellness information travels through my ears, it absorbs into my brain tissues, my nerves, organs, every cell of my body and out to my aura.
I transform into a beacon of wellness and I literally feel everything within me (including my choices, cravings, energy levels and even stubborn fat cells) shifting in order to get me to my “Get in shape for your next birthday” intention.
The power of the wellness information within the IIN curriculum goes far beyond helping you become an incredible health coach.
It literally changes you forever.
And honestly, I often avoid sending emails or publishing blog posts, in fear of coming across as too ‘salesy’, so I just keep quiet.
BUT I genuinely believe that this course is magical, powerful and addictively interesting... and now that the price of tuition is going up from 1st March, I know I’d regret not giving you the heads up!
So even if a portion of you was once interested in studying wellness for a year (only 5 hours per week!), perhaps this is your sign to go for it?
Here’s what my friends at IIN say:
“On March 1, 2020, our tuition will increase from $5,995 to $6,795 for the Health Coach Training Program. While most schools regularly increase their tuition as they update their curriculum, we have not increased tuition in years. Since 2013, we have honored our commitment to keeping tuition costs down to allow as many people as possible to receive our life-changing education.”
So in order to avoid this US $800 price increase AND still receive $1,500 off the current/old price, call one of these numbers to enrol before Sunday 1st March!
(877) 733-1628 from US
+1 (212) 730-5433 from outside of US
Remember to mention my name (Tanya Maher) so you get all saving.
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IIN is the world's largest nutrition school with over 130,000 graduates around the globe.
You don't need to quit your job or change your whole life to do the course. Your life will change on its own and in the most magical ways and all you'll be doing is listening to eye-popping lectures a couple of hours per week.
It's the only course I recommend. Here is how it works>>
Now is the perfect time to enrol as tuition is increasing from 1 March 2020!!!
Right now you can avoid the USD $800 price increase and still save $1500 on THE OLD PRICE by mentioning my name (Tanya Maher).
A few of you have recently written to me asking whether I could discount the NURTURED eBook bundle (was £67.50/$85.50) any further so you could make nourishing meals for your family during lockdown, so I’ve been thinking hard about how best to do this and I reckon I got it!!
Pay what you can.
£15 ($18.50) £27 ($33) £39 ($48)
And if you can’t afford anything at all right now, but would love to make delicious nurturing meals for your family to keep them well, download my FREE eBook ‘Nurtured - 10 Most Popular’, which is a little pdf full of your favourite recipes from the entire #NurturedBooks series!
Welcome to my tasty collection of plant-based recipes, which my kids and their little friends have enjoyed over the years.
This isn't a guide on going vegan.
The eBooks aren't designed to change anyone's diet or views.
What you get is simply my very best plant-based recipes that are loved by my entire family.
They are easy to make, many include step-by-step images, all are mega delicious without any animal foods or processed ingredients and I developed them using ingredients available from a supermarket.
We all want our children to be healthy. We all dream of getting extra veggies and nutritional goodness into them without having to beg and bribe. We all deserve a meal-time, which results in empty plates and compliments.
And I believe it’s possible with the recipes within the 'Nurtured' eBooks.
They just happen to be healthful, refined sugar free, gluten free and plant-based :)
"Tanya leads the way in vegan food and by the look of her healthy gorgeous children she knows how to create delicious recipes children will eat"
Natasha Corrett, Cookbook Author & Creator of Recipe Community MumsKnowBest.com
“Tanya makes delicious food filled with nutrients that nurture your wellbeing”
Novak Djokovic, Professional Tennis Champion
“As a huge fan of plant based eating and a big fan of Tanya, I’m more than excited about this book. Introducing kids to plant based food can seem overwhelming but Tanya’s recipes are delicious, nutritious, uncomplicated and bright and colourful. Perfect for parents and kids wanting to go more plant based.”
Fearne Cotton, Author, Broadcaster & Happy Place Founder
“If you're looking for recipe inspiration that the whole family will love, Tanya's recipes are the perfect place to start - they're simple, tasty, and completely dairy and gluten free! They are also super healthy and full of nutrients. I love finding great ways to use food as medicine and what better way to start our kids young on this philosophy also!”
Laurentine ten Bosch & James Colquhoun, Founders of FoodMatters.com
“My children have attended all of Tanya's kids parties and I can testify that her birthday cakes are utterly DELICIOUS, for kids and adults alike! They taste as good as they look.”
Caroline Scott, Publisher, Baby & Little London Magazines
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On January 17th my baby turned 1.
On January 19th we threw them a joint birthday party with a [party] animal theme.
Meanwhile I was working at all hours after both kids were in bed to complete my eBooks ‘Nurtured - plant based recipes for kids’.
January was nuts.
That party though!!
Lake said it was the best day of her life. And we’re pretty sure it was too!
We hired a bouncy castle for Lakey’s gang, a soft play area for Banksy’s baby crew and incredibly it all fit inside The Living Room of My Chelsea/Tanya’s!!
The entire buffet spread was 100% vegan and nut-free and the sweets were also gluten-free and refined-sugar-free in addition to that.
We ordered all the savoury yummies from My Chelsea and I did all the baking.
Lake’s grown up cake was Chocolate with Strawberry Frosting and Banksy’s baby cake was Carob with Apricot Frosting, because a). I wanted them to match and b). there’s no stimulants or caffeine in carob.
Here’s our plant based menu...
Vegan Pizzas
Vegan Pasties
Vegan Sausage Rolls
Vegan Nuggets
Hummus + crudités + pita breads
Beetroot falafels
Creamy Pea Dip (Dips & Party Foods eBook)
Blueberry Ice Lollies (Shakes & Ice Creams eBook)
Breakfast Popsicles (Shakes & Ice Creams eBook)
Banana Cake Bites (Dips & Party Foods eBook)
Baked Doughnuts (Dips & Party Foods eBook)
Chocolate Cake & Strawberry Frosting (Birthday Cakes eBook)
Carob Cake & Apricot Frosting (Birthday Cakes eBook)
Lake specifically requested a Chocolate and Strawberry Cake, so that’s exactly what she got.
The end result went down an absolute treat and was very popular among all the parents as well as the kiddos.
It’s also a great staple cake recipe to keep handy and any one of your favourite frostings will go amazingly here, so have fun with it!
Aaaaand if you're looking for the perfect recipe to bake on the upcoming Love Day (Valentine's Day is this Friday people!!), then you've just found it...
For the cake:
(This recipe is enough for two 7-inch cakes just like you see in my pictures. Or you can make two slim 9-inch cakes instead.)
3 cups (440g) GF self-raising flour
3/4 cup (65g) cacao powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Himalayan pink salt
1 1/2 cup (420g) agave nectar
1 cup (200g) coconut milk from tin
1 cup (200g) light olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
1 tbsp vanilla extract
For the icing:
2 cups (250g) ground xylitol
1/3 cup (70g) vegan butter or a non-dairy spread
280g jar of sugar-free strawberry jam
3/4 block (150g) creamed coconut or 1/2 cup coconut butter
optional: 2-8 tbsp coconut flour
METHOD
If you think this recipe is pretty special, I have many many more in my new eBook series 'Nurtured - plant based recipes for kids'.
And the Launch Special 'Buy 2 eBooks, Get all 5!' is still on... check it out:
tanyasliving.com/pages/nurtured-plant-based-recipes-for-kids
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Here are Lake and Banks enjoying a dairy free ice cream in Santa Barbara just weeks ago:
I’ve had a fascination with SB ever since my childhood in Russia because of a famous soap opera of the same name.
But this post isn’t about any of that.
It’s about Australia.
As we were driving to SB, we witnessed a tiny snippet of the aftermath of the Californian bushfires.
It was so heartbreaking, so depressing.
My whole heart hurt for anyone that was part of the devastation.
And then Australia. OMG.
We have so many friends that live there. My sister in law lives there. Elliot and I lived there for almost a year ourselves!
Our kiwi friends are now posting pictures of what their skies look like in NZ because of the blaze in the atmosphere.
The smoke is so thick, it can be seen from space!
25 people already lost their lives.
An estimated 1 BILLION animals - gone!
2000 homes - destroyed!
The 2019 Californian wildfires were severe and vicious, but the size of Australian land burned is now over 80 times that. EIGHTY!!!!
There are 2,700 firefighters battling this war and many are volunteers.
And, worst of all is that the fire season in Australia is far from over with an estimated 8 weeks still ahead.
And, maybe worse still is that I feel so powerless and whatever I’ve recently donated feels so silly.
Then I asked the question on social media regarding how we can best help from afar and one comment remained with me ever since:
“Thank you for sharing our situation, please do not forget us in the months and years ahead as that is when we will need your support the most.”
I’m now reading updates about how recent rainfall gave relief to some areas but all I hear is the sad reality of the comment above.
And I really really want to do more!
So, until this Saturday 25th January, I’m holding a sale on all of my ebooks and physical book (The Uncook Book, which I will sign and send to anywhere in the world) and sending all proceeds to animal rescues that are working tirelessly to save the most helpless creatures.
My heart is broken.
I’m still undecided as to which animal rescue, so if you know of a small one that’s calling out for support, please let me know below in the comments section of this post.
Hopefully, together we can raise enough cash to send money to several.
Please please please donate!
Buy a book for yourself and your health!
Buy multiple books as gorgeous gifts!
Every penny of profits in this sale will go to Australia 💔
Here's the link again:
https://tanyasliving.com/collections
Thank you,
xTanya
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Take some time in late December or beginning of January (now is the perfect time:)) to write out all the big, small and tiny accomplishments of the previous 12 months. There is nothing as thrilling, motivating, inspirational, fun, eye opening, gratifying, healing and self-appreciating all at the same time. The state of gratitude you create within your being will send signals to the universe that you're ready for more!
Read more detail on this method here: tanyasliving.com/blogs/tanyas-blog/the-most-important-thing-i-do-all-year
Write down your greatest wishes and desires for the new year. Read them over, breathe them in and imagine as though everything on that paper is already yours right now. Fold it up and set fire to it. You've just released all attachment to the outcome and gave your creator the nod that you're trusting Him to guide you there.
Read more detail on this method and how I knew a little girl was coming before I was even pregnant, here: tanyasliving.com/blogs/tanyas-blog/how-i-knew-a-little-girl-was-coming-before-i-was-even-pregnant
Cut out images and words in magazines and print-outs, which inspire you and represent all the things, feelings, desires, goals and wishes which you truly dream of. Place the cut-outs on a large clipboard and arrange them until the complete picture feels right, then glue them in place. Now that your vision board is ready, place or hang it where it can’t be ignored. Take it all in, see it as a whole, see it as individual parts and then breathe as though they have already happened. Give it a little attention daily and celebrate with deep gratitude each desire that is coming true for you. Remember that you’ve done your job, so become an observer, let go of any attachments to it and let the universe do its job.
See what I ticked off my vision board and read what got me into starting this annual ritual, here: tanyasliving.com/blogs/tanyas-blog/revealing-my-personal-vision-board-for-the-very-first-time-steps-to-create-your-own
This is a brand new edition to my wishing ritual since my mum posted the steps to this practice recently, so I'm simply translating it for you from Russian...
During the New Year transition period, it is customary to make new plans and dream of a beautiful future. And everyone really wants these dreams to come true. I can share with you one practice that will help.
Make a wish and release your balloon..
a. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath, exhale. Send a smile to the whole world. Make a wish. Now imagine the wish as it if is already realised - in your mind's eye picture your exact surrounds in as much detail as possible, include the scent, what you might hear, how you might be breathing and how you might be feeling.
b. Open your eyes and without hesitation, select a balloon in the picture. Remember that the first choice comes from your Higher Self, and the second and subsequent ones are a derivative of logical thinking. So, looking at your magic balloon, mentally infuse it with your desire and its complete picture you've just created. When you are ready to let the balloon go, say to yourself: “I am sending my important balloon to the Creator for consideration and to fulfil my wish!”
c. Blow this balloon from the picture, clap your hands joyfully and do not look at it anymore so as not to delay its flight.
You can make three wishes daily, especially around the New Year and your birthday. Just don’t tell anyone about them. Let your desires gain strength and reach the divine miracle makers.
Know that if you infuse your balloon with a desire to get revenge on someone or to do a nasty deed, then that balloon will burst before it reaches the sky and the contents of it will land all over YOU. I did not make this up, they are basic cosmic laws for us Earthlings. Therefore, my advice to this scenario would look something like this: if you have enemies, then mentally create and send a wish into the balloon in which your ill-wishers will live long and happy lives.
Wish, wish, wish away and everything will return to you :)
BIG LOVE,
xTanya
P.S. I'd love to know if you've tried any of the above or whether you have a wishing tip of your own. Please share with all of us in the comments below...
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We were the first ever plant-based tea in history to make it all the way to the finals of Afternoon Tea Of The Year 2019.
I published our recipes, shopping list and a whole hour-by-hour schedule of how to recreate this very same experience, in an ebook, which is now owned by over 500 people worldwide: tanyasliving.com/collections/tanyas-ebooks/products/in-the-wild-afternoon-tea-recipes
Quotes like this are received after every single event:
“Tanya has taken vegan desserts to a completely new level. The chocolate peanut butter mousse, blueberry & lemon ‘cheesecake’, doughnuts, scones, truffles, sandwiches! Just wow. 10 STARS! Talking with my better half, he too agreed it was the best Afternoon Tea we’ve been to." - @theturbanedchef (Cee), London
And this entire experience is single-handedly organised, prepared and brought to our amazing diners by just Chris and I. Chris Bowen is our F&B manager, who also happens to bake the vegan scones fresh every morning of the event :)
Saturday 14th December + Tuesday 31st December = Just 2 more Afternoon Teas before the end of the year! Before 2020! Before a brand new decade!!
We only have the smallest handful of spaces left for both dates and if that's not enough to make you hurry to us, I'll just leave these customer posts from last week's tea, right here for ya...
Have you booked yet? Here's the link again: tanyasliving.com/collections/workshops-and-events/products/in-the-wild-afternoon-tea
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Maybe it’s got something to do with this Xmas being the last one of this decade!
Maybe it’s got something to do with having little children (that help you to become aware and be in awe of every little thing).
Maybe it’s because I don’t have a giant 8.5 month preggie belly like I did last year and in 2015 (so I can do cool and ‘dangerous’ things like ice skating!)
Maybe it’s the giddy thought of our forthcoming flight to California and spending Christmas Day the American way with my best friend, aka Lake’s Godmama.
Maybe it’s the ecstatic feeling of making New Year’s Eve plans with my sister and the thought of seeing more of her in 2020. (A very Russian belief says that the people you’re welcoming in the new year with are the people you’ll be spending a lot of time with over that new year. It may be superstitious but I’ve always enjoyed choosing my NYE crew thoughtfully- you’re guaranteed a great party if nothing else).
Maybe it’s because I finally feel like I got my health back and I’ve lots of energy and extra hours in my day to enjoy being alive! (Thanks to LMS Wellness for all the advice and to my fellow Hay House author, Medical Medium for all the info on celery juice, which I’m now drinking for the forth week in a row).
Or maybe it’s all because of our Christmas tree in The Living Room.
Or the fact that this is the only month of the year, that we're holding not one, not two, but three Festive In The Wild Afternoon Teas.
Or maybe it's the fact that I had a stall at my first ever (which also happens to be my favourite ever!) Christmas Market this year. Walton Street Market was seriously the best! Reindeer, camels, owls, jazz, traditional organ grinder, the Xmas carols quire, hot kombucha, my cheezecakes not melting, festive vibes for dayzzzz!
Or maybe it's because 1st of December landed on a Sunday this year and we kicked off the 2019 festivities at a Christmas lunch with special friends.
I made this nut-free Mango Chai & Lime Cheezecake on a Gingerbread Base and it was a hit and a half! Now you too can make it...
(nut free, dairy free, gluten free, raw)
GINGERBREAD BASE
1 cup (90g) jumbo oats
1 cup (100g) desiccated coconut
1 cup (150g) pitted dates
1 tbsp grated ginger root
1 tsp cinnamon powder
pinch salt
1 tbsp maple syrup
-Process all the ingredients except maple syrup until completely broken down.
-Add maple syrup to the food processor and process some more until a large ball develops.
-Transfer to a 7 inch springform tin and press using your hands or the back of a spoon.
GINGER LIME LAYER
1 cup (240ml) hot boiling water
3/4 cup (135g) xylitol
1 block (200g) creamed coconut
3/4 cup (155g) extra virgin coconut oil or vegan butter, melted
1 ripe avocado (150g of flesh)
1/4 cup (60ml) lime juice, approx. 2-3 limes
2 tbsp grated ginger root
1/2 tsp spirulina powder, optional
-Dissolve xylitol in boiling water, inside a blender jug. Chop up the block of creamed coconut and add it to the blender, then blend on high using a tamper rod.
-Add all remaining ingredients and blend again until creamy.
-Pour over GINGER BREAD BASE and smooth out the surface with back of spatula.
MANGO CHAI LAYER
1/2 cup (120ml) cold water
1 tbsp agar-agar flakes
200g ripe mango flesh, approx 1 mango
8 soft pitted dates or 3 medjool dates, de-stoned and soaked if too dry
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp spice mix (mine had cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom)
-Pour water into pan, sprinkle with agar-agar flakes and heat without stirring until boiling. Reduce heat, simmer and stir occasionally for 5-10 mins until flakes are completely dissolved.
-Transfer the agar water and all remaining ingredients into a blender. Blend using a tamper rod until smooth.
-Pour over GINGER LIME LAYER and smooth out the top with the back of a spoon.
-To set, transfer to the fridge overnight or to the freezer for 4 hours. Store refrigerated at all times and serve cold.
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Therefore it receives information and holds on to memories, events and experiences of whatever you’ve been going through.
There are even intuitive hairdressers and psychics out there who can read your hair and suggest what length you need to cut off as that period of your life no longer serves you and may have been about trauma or heartache which you are still walking around with.
If you consider the fact that cats receive information via their whiskers and a whole lot can be revealed about a person’s DNA when studying a single strand of their hair, it doesn’t seem so wacky or wild )
I find it mega fascinating. Don’t you?
I also love loooooove getting hair cuts.
It’s incredibly freeing and feels so good to ‘let go’ and ‘release’.
Over the years of my journey as a wellness coach, I’ve learned loads about attachment, so it feels extra good to free myself off of it whenever my hair is chopped off!
Soooo, on Monday I got 12 inches taken off the length of my locks and not a single regret.
I did actually estimate that the hair which is now gone was from a period of my life when I became a mama for the first time and fell pregnant for the second time.
That’s a lot of joyful memories in there.
Also during that time, I experienced breastfeeding trauma, the difficult period of letting go of my restaurant (and all my staff) and the exciting redevelopment of it into a deli, followed by a lot of criticism.
There’s also been a few dark days dealing with family stuff, my mum’s horrific accident and many many tears.
Although the joy of those years outweigh the negativity, I still didn’t want to pass on any of my ‘stuff’ onto another going through their own journey, especially another undergoing a healing course...
I energetically detached myself from the hair and filled it with love, vibrancy and a speedy recovery for brave amazing mini people and sent it off to Little Princess Trust again (below is a pic of me doing this in 2014) to be made into a wig for sick children that have lost their hair.
If you’re interested in the technique I used to transform the energy of my hair, it’s below...
💚
Affirmation I said out loud when holding the hair in my hands:
“May the unwelcome energy and information contained within this hair dissolve and transform into Divine Healing Light.
“May every memory of low frequency, dark and negative events contained within dissolve and replenish with Divine Healing Light.
“May the frequency of every cell and emotional structure in every strand of this hair re-calibrate and rise to high frequency of Divine Powers and Miracles.
“May each strand act like a magic wand that shines pure Divine Healing Light which touches and heals its new owner.
“Thank you, so it is. Thank you, so it is. Thank you, so it is”
💚
Tanya
I spent a couple of months in baby haven bliss, elated that breastfeeding was working out this time, focusing on consuming all the calories so the milk keeps flowing, running on love and adrenalin, getting out as much as possible to see what I can accomplish as a mama of 2, not resting when I should’ve been resting, not taking such great care of myself with all focus redirected to the kids and feeling guilt-overload when I’d go beyond the basic grooming, like spending ‘unnecessary’ time to straighten my hair.
Then three months of this sleepless-restless- guilt-packed buildup started to take its toll.
My placenta pills ran out.
My hair began falling out like I’ve never experienced before.
The postpartum night sweats seemed to be getting worse.
The daily headaches were debilitating.
My energy was almost non-existent.
My mood swings became irrational.
The snacking got out of control.
The constant reaching for quick sugars was exhausting.
The sugar cravings were uncontrollable.
I couldn’t exercise due to excruciating pain in my joints.
I was so so unbelievably tired.
And despite what everyone told me about the weight loss when breastfeeding, it didn’t seem to apply to me. I was slimmer 2 weeks after birth, than 2 months after.
Then the weight gain accelerated.
The bloating became frequent. And painful.
I developed a gut.
The day my baby boy turned 7 month was the last day of our breastfeeding journey and [interestingly] the first day of my returned period since getting pregnant.
It was also the day I decided to make a drastic change and to devote all focus to MY personal wellbeing.
I wanted to see the best in the industry and because I kept a close eye on LMS (London Medi Spa), who are Tanya’s deli’s neighbours within My Chelsea Hotel, over the many months they were building their state-of-the-art wellness department, I had no doubt they were the right fit.
That’s when I saw the LMS Wellness team and the journey to #TanyasMegaWellness began.
If you’re interested in regular updates, what tests I’m getting, how my body is changing, what results are starting to happen, etc etc - follow @tanyasliving on IG and FB or catch up on previous updates by searching the #TanyasMegaWellness hashtag.
Here’s everything I’ve done so far:
Here are some screen shots from my IG stories where I've been showing you what supplements I've been taking over the past six weeks:
I’m only 1.5 months in, but already feel transformed, like I have a new lease on life!
The weight hasn’t changed (even went up slightly), but my body fat is less and muscle mass is more.
No more bloat.
Almost no more gut.
No more joint pain.
No more sugar cravings or snacking.
No more hair loss.
No more mood swings.
My energy is back! And I’m feeling so good again!!!
I still have the results of my genetic test to study and to report to you and am yet to do a stool test, plus try Cryotherapy and complete the full course of Nystatin, Adrenal Support supplements as well as all the other supplements and now that I have more energy, I want to run more too!
So watch this space for updates.
And watch the videos on @tanyasliving IGTV plus IG stories- I get pretty raw and real there!
Do you have any questions or would you like me to connect you with the ‘by invitation only’ LMS Wellness team?
Let me know in the comments!
Always happy to spread the healthy vibes, especially now that I have my energy back to do so :))
xTanya
P.S. Keep an eye out on your inbox too, as very soon I’ll be opening doors to a handful of new clients for my Wellness Coaching consultations. Sign up to my newsletter here if you're not on the list >>
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We’ve already given away £1000’s worth of raw cakes, organic salads, cold press juices and dehydrated snacks.
Plus we’re planning to give away EVEN more!
Pop by Tanya's deli at My Chelsea Hotel on any or every Friday and ask about our offer that day.
Finally, I’ll be able to share the collection with other parents in the form of eBooks, videos and coaching, very very soon.
Nothing can take away this focus now.
I’m seriously motivated to watch more children grow up super well and healthy and to witness more parents feel confident and well informed in their decision making when it comes to feeding their children.
So motivated in fact that I’ve recruited the most amazing intern to help me launch these projects and for Summer we've been busy testing and typing recipes in my kitchen as well as photographing kids of all ages enjoying them (so you can see proof that it's not only Lake's tastebuds :))
All this awesomeness will be ready to launch very very soon!
Make sure that you're subscribed to our newsletter to be the first to know once we're LIVE >>
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In The Wild Afternoon Tea.
We stick to the vegan, half-raw-half-baked, gluten-free, dairy-free, healthful-comfort-food, plant-based, handmade, devilishly-delectable-goodness theme, but each month is a little different.
Last month, a friend came back from visiting my parents in Ecuador and brought back a parcel from them. One of the things inside was a box full of stunning rose petals that my parents grew in their organic high vibration garden, picked, washed and dehydrated over low heat and many hours.
I was immediately inspired to create something beautiful and sharable.
That’s how my raw white chocolate macadamia blondies were born.
We served them with the award winning teas at our March event and they were such a big hit, I thought you’d enjoy making them at home for everyone you love, so I’m sharing the recipe below.
The next In The Wild Afternoon Tea is happening tomorrow, but if that’s too little notice for you, check out all future planned dates, here>>
(BTW that link above stays Live and every time more dates are announced, that's where you'll find the details. Keep the link bookmarked for later!)
For the blondies
2 cups (280g) almonds
50g coconut sugar
1 tbsp (10g) maca powder
1/2 tsp vanilla powder
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
2.5 cups (300g) pitted dates*
1/8 cup (30g) cacao butter, gently melted
90g macadamia nuts
For the dipping chocolate
Dark vegan baking chocolate or this recipe here, grated
*If your pitted dates are quite dry and hard, soak in boiling water for 1 hour, then squeeze the water out well before using in recipe. You are after soft (almost sticky) dates.
METHOD
-Place all the ingredients, apart from dates, cacao butter and macadamia, into a food processor with an S-blade. Process till all the almonds are broken down to a fine powder.
-Add the dates and melted cacao butter. Process till the entire mixture forms one big sticky ball. You may need to stop your food processor several times to scrape down the sides and back onto the blade.
-Using a wooden spatula, break up the mixture to evenly cover the blade. Sprinkle macadamia nuts all over and pulse the processor till nuts are slightly broken down and folded into the ‘dough’. You’re looking for nice chunks here so they are visible when you score the final slab into many blondie bites.
-Get a decent sized container (mine was 17cm/ 6.5 inch square), line it with cling film so it sticks out the sides of container and transfer the mixture inside it. Using your fist, really press it into the container so it won’t crumble later. Transfer to the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours or freezer for 1 hour.
-Holding onto the cling film, pull out your set slab of blondies and score into equal sized squares. You can then slice each square in half to form rectangles like I’ve done with mine. Transfer to the freezer if you are going to dip yours in chocolate and leave there until the moment you’re ready to dip.
-Gently melt down your grated chocolate in a double boiler, remove from heat. Take out the blondie bites out of freezer and dip a corner, edge or one half of each piece into your chocolate. Dip and remove each piece quickly, so the entire chocolate mixture doesn’t begin to solidify inside the bowl from the coldness of frozen cake. Store in a cool dry place inside a sealed container.
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I’d be devastated if you were yet another person asking to be added to the waitlist of a future Ecuador retreat, which will never happen.
And if this May simply doesn’t work but you were still keen to retreat with me somewhere epic, pencil in Sardinia for September!
Details for that one will be revealed right after Ecuador.
Read all about our May adventure here>>
THREE THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MOST ON THIS RETREAT:
1. Having my mandala drawing interpreted by a shaman. Before I had kids, this drawing from my own subconscious told him that I’m waiting for a child and the work which needs to be done first. I did the work and got pregnant with Lake :)
2. Our cacao ceremony. Getting naturally high and dancing (or drumming) all of your worries away is a pretty epic feeling. But getting high on chocolate which grew on the land we’ll be on must be experienced to be believed.
3. Our road trip to dip in the wild waters of the Amazon, which is the most invigorating and healing experience you can imagine.
Wanna know more? Here's more>>
Wanna know where Vilcabamba is, what flights to get or what weather to pack for? Here are all the A's to your Q's>>
It was always at the same time and always for a minimum of an hour till I massage, rub, tap, bounce, sing, feed, cuddle, skin-to-skin, rock, ride and sway all the techniques Google had to offer.
Then throughout the day, I’d busy myself searching and eliminating food groups to see what makes a difference the following night.
Four weeks later (the boy is now 9 weeks), we seem to have the worst of this painful stage behind us, but only if I stick to the below protocol. The day I sneak in a little ‘no no’ food will follow by the night we both pay for it.
Here’s everything I learned over this time…
Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink in a day and take note if the nightly episodes are worse after some days. I personally don’t usually consume everything on the below list, but I now know for a fact that when I avoid everything entirely, that’s the night he doesn’t suffer.
Focus on the abundance of foods you CAN eat and both you and your baby will feel so much more relaxed. It’s also important to note that if your baby is NOT showing any signs of tummy troubles, you’re better off eating all the food groups in moderation. The reason for this is that maternal diet restriction during lactation may increase baby’s chances of developing allergies later in life. -American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Your baby will be way too upset and too tense from pain, so you’ve gotta be patient and strong here. Remain calm, our little humans feel everything and the last thing they need is the additional nerves from their dearest person. No single remedy will likely work on its own (and what worked yesterday may not work today), so try out as many of the below tips as possible, in any order, as many times as needed.
Since no-one actually knows what colic is, the root cause of it is even harder to establish. However, all of the below methods have worked for both of my children, minimising the fussiness at the very least.
This time is so fricken hard. No parent wants to hear their baby crying inconsolably, but a baby screaming in pure agony can be too much to handle.
Do you have a tip of your own or heard of a method that worked? Please share in the comments below, I'd love love love to hear it and I'm sure that parents going through this painful time would too!
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The almond cookie crust, the salted caramel, the vanilla coconut cream, ripe bananas.
It's the most perfect combo and definitely going into the Kids' Recipes eBook which I'm currently working on.
To be the first to know when the eBook launches, make sure you're on the list>>
So without further ado...
For the crust
1 cup (150g) pitted dates
1 cup (140g) almonds
1/2 cup (45g) GF jumbo oats
5 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil, melted
3 tablespoons coconut palm sugar
optional: 1-2 tablespoons cacao powder
For the caramel layer
*1 cup (150g) pitted dates, soaked 4-6 hours*
1/2 cup (105g) extra virgin coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup (65g) coconut palm sugar
1/4 cup (60ml) hot water
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
For the cream layer
*1 can (400ml) coconut cream*
1 vanilla pod
optional: 2 tablespoons xylitol, powdered
For the topping
3 bananas
Optional: dark chocolate, roughly chopped
*Some prep time is required here. Read the method below at least 12 hours before starting on recipe.*
METHOD
You will need a 7 inch/ 18 cm tart dish for this recipe. Ensure it has a removable base so you can lift the whole pie out.
Begin with the crust. Process almonds, oats, coconut sugar and cocoa powder (if using) in a Food Processor, using an S blade.
Add the dates and continue to process until fully broken down. Finally, add the melted coconut oil and process until the crust is no longer crumbly and has a consistency of mouldable grainy play-dough.
Transfer the full mixture into your pie tin, distributing evenly. Using your hands, bring the mixture up the sides and press gently, squeeze the excess around the rim back inside or remove it and use to make the base thicker. Place in the fridge.
Start on the caramel layer by squeezing excess water out of soaking dates. (Retain the sweet water for another recipe like a smoothie). Put all the caramel ingredients into your Food Processor and process till you get a gooey cream without any chunks. (You may need to open up the machine and scrape sides down once in a while). Pour into the prepared pie shell and transfer into fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to set or speed up this process by transferring to a freezer.
To prepare the cream layer, you must first ensure that the can of coconut cream hasn’t been shaken for at least 8 hours. You might already have a can in your pantry, so carefully open it, scoop out all the set cream into a soup bowl and discard the liquid. (Note if the can has recently been brought home from the shops, it may have been shaken on the way and the creamy part would have become too runny. Stand it up in a cool place overnight before opening).
Scrape out the seeds from a whole vanilla pod. To do so, slice the pod in half lengthwise, then use a teaspoon to literally scrape all the seeds out until the inside of the pod is dry. Add the seeds as well as powdered xylitol, if using, to the bowl with cream in it. (The purpose of the xylitol is the same as of icing sugar- to make the frosting sweet and to help it set. This additional sweetness however is not needed here so if your cream isn’t super runny, then feel free to leave out xylitol). Stir with a fork till well combined. Make sure to press out all the clumps so the cream is as smooth as possible.
When the caramel is set and you’re ready to serve, remove the pie from its tin and onto a flat dish which would allow for easy slicing. Top with coconut cream, spreading it to the edges. Slice the bananas and fan them in a spiral starting in the middle. Sprinkle with optional chocolate shavings.
So now that you officially have the best recipe for raw Banoffee Pie there is, there's only three things left to do:
1. Make it!
2. Comment below squealing just how much you loved it!
3. Reserve your spot on one of our famous Afternoon Teas, where I show case a new raw dessert every month. Check for availability>>
Oh and just because I couldn't resist that light and 4 week old Banksy couldn't resist a milky smile after he too sampled that very slice...
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It’s got that hypnotic power over me and my soul which longs for adventure.
Luckily, my parents just so happen to live in this magical corner of the world called Vilcabamba, Ecuador. So if the need for purification awakens, I only need to get on a plane.
It is entirely surrounded by mountains.
It runs on super charged living spring waters, provides the most healing organic produce, supplies exceptional air quality and has the potential to transform you forever.
The vibrational frequencies of its sacred land are very high and not everybody is ready.
I know that it has spoken to me to invite you this year.
And, I couldn’t be more honoured and thrilled for the opportunity.
But, you don’t need a local in order to experience the true essence of what pulls so many enlightened beings here.
You do need a local (and a well informed one at that) to introduce you to the best spots, take you on mind blowing hikes up the majestic mountains, or wild water swimming in the Amazonian jungle, to lead a ceremonial steam bath in a Sweat Lodge, to introduce you to meditation secrets that shamans and healers practice, and to show you how to re-balance and rejuvenate with the power of locally grown highly-vibrational raw foods, yoga and sound healing massage.
Over the years, we’ve handpicked just the locals that have devoted their life to mastering a certain practice, and they will share it with you.
Well not only do I already have flights booked for myself and the kids, but I want to offer an intimate group this life changing experience too!!
My parents and I are officially hosting another retreat in paradise.
It’s happening!!!!!!! Applications are now open>>
I co-founded 'Tanya's,’ a high-end raw cafe in 2014 and merged it with my established wellness company 'Better Raw' in 2017.
I'm the creator of the Amazon #1 best selling DVD 'Raw Food 101' and author of Hay House's 'The Uncook Book'.
I was born in Russia, raised in New Zealand and now raising my own family in London, where Vogue, The Daily Mail and Women's Health have hailed my work to be top of gourmet raw food.
This ‘Soul Adventure’s with Tanya’ Retreat is my life’s work.
I can’t wait to share the experience with you too.
If you’ve followed me for some time, you already know my standards, you’ve probably made my recipes and perhaps even tasted my raw gourmet organic meals, elixirs and desserts at Tanya's.
As you cleanse your palette and your level of consciousness begins to lift, your taste buds won’t know what hit them.
What’s more is that Elena, my super talented mama and creator of 'Sungate 11:11' Raw Living Restaurant will be preparing some of her most raved about living food meals for you to experience...
I say ‘experience’, because we will guide you to get food working for you, your digestion and any physical or spiritual ailment you may have, as well as excite and satisfy all five of your senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.
It also happens to be authentically Ecuadorian, when it comes to nature, peace, creativity and beauty.
I believe there is always a need for a little luxury in your life, however expect to be spending more time with the land, than in your room all day long and then retreat to your cosy nest for the evening.
When you spend time at the resort, you will be treated to privacy, clean and spacious bedrooms, tasteful decor, your own bathroom, and outdoor lit up swimming pool, revitalising sauna, relaxing spa and the most stunning vast natural walks and gardens for resting, walking and bringing out your inner Yogi.
You'll be staying just a 5 minute stroll away from town square and a 10 minute stroll away from my parents' citrus garden where plentiful lunches will be held.
Every day as you slowly rise to bird song, you will have the opportunity to rejoice in Yoga.
Your beautiful teacher has a true gift to glide through a group and help each individual appreciate Yoga for the immense pleasure, rather than a chore (if you’re in this space currently).
If you are a long time Yogie, you will fall in love with the teacher's style and energy.
And that’s only a start! Your days will be filled with nature walks, picturesque hikes and wild swimming.
By now you may have gathered that your week in Vilcabamba won’t be short of meditation.
It is a big part of my family’s spiritual journey and we will introduce you to various techniques, so that you can choose what works best for you and feel inspired to include it in to your regular regime for many years to come.
I ran a survey of what may interest you the most in a destination retreat and from the hundreds of people who’ve responded, a trend was more than obvious.
You are a nature loving spirit and you want all the mountain hiking, trail exploring, wild plant foraging, local veggie market visits and water fall trips, which Vilcabamba has to offer.
I promised you an opportunity to create your ideal retreat, so we’re including all of the listed excursions to our week together.
This is a retreat that requires investment in you.
Anyone can visit Ecuador and enjoy its many resources at any time, but I insist that you are not here looking for a quick fix to your health concerns and that you apply only if you are truly willing to make the effort, are serious about getting involved and keep an open mind to new ideas.
If you are game, here’s what you need to know…
We have arranged a special rate for any additional nights that you may decide to stay.
We recommend that you arrive on Monday 29th April and spend two nights on your own, adjusting to Vilcabamba’s energies. The retreat will kick off at 4PM Wednesday 1st May and conclude at 11AM Tuesday 7th May.
1. Own private deluxe room with en suite | £1,350 after 1st April | Early bird £1,147
2. Shared double deluxe room with en suite | £1,150 after 1st April | Early bird £997pp
3. Shared twin deluxe room with en suite | £1,150 after 1st April | Early bird £997pp
Pricing is in GBP and all rates are per person
(Please note the Ecuadorian currency is USD)
6 Nights lush accommodation
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 May)
6 Daily buffet hotel breakfasts including freshly made smoothies, local organic fruits, free range eggs and homemade cheese.
6 Gourmet three course lunches, including multi layered lasagna, marinated and pesto stuffed mushrooms, creamy soups with onion bread, gazpacho with garden picked vegetables and fermented sauerkraut, sun burgers, energising snacks, decadent chocolate cakes and digestion aiding green smoothies.
(Please note that dinner is your free time to explore Vilcabamba’s cafes and restaurants, which all have raw food offerings on their menus. This is a key time for you to soak in the day’s activities and learnings, as well as digest the vitamin rich foods that you won’t try any where else. Many people prefer to skip dinner and meditate, rest, sauna or enjoy a pampering session, while others take the opportunity to order a cooked vegetarian meal, so not to experience detox symptoms on their holiday.)
2 Days of Tanya Maher Academy with some of my top recipes.
60 min combination massage including shiatsu, old Slavic therapy, conscious touch, Tuning Folks, deep tissue, Tibetan bowls and sound therapy.
Road trip to Podocarpus, a waterfall at the border of the Amazonian jungle, with stopovers at authentically Ecuadorian food markets.
Sweat Lodge ceremony.
6 Invigorating and enlivening Yoga sessions.
90 min taxi transfer to and from Loja airport.
(Please note that this is covered if you arrive no more than 2 days before your retreat and depart no more than 2 days after. Outside of these days the taxi is an additional $40 each way)
Local fees and adventure excursions.
Numerous simple, yet life changing techniques.
Hanging out and creating lifelong friendships.
SPACES ARE VERY LIMITED AND YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE APPROVED IN ORDER TO JOIN US.
IF YOU ARE READY FOR THE MOST LIFE ENRICHING WEEK IN THE SACRED VALLEY OF LONGEVITY, APPLY TODAY>>
Got more questions? Here are some answers>>
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If there’s something I haven’t yet covered, please ask in the comments below and I’ll make sure to add your query to the post. Check in for an updated version from time to time :)
Vilcabamba is a small village in the southern region of Ecuador in South America. Its nearest town is Loja (45km/28mi away) and it’s nearest airport is LOH: Ciudad de Catamyo Airport, formerly known as Camilo Ponce Enríquez Airport (80km/50mi away). However small the village is, it is surrounded by majestic mountains, such as Mandango, known to protect against natural disaster. Vilcabamba is often referred to as ‘The playground of the Inca’, ‘Raw Food capital of the world’ and ‘The Valley of Longevity’.
It may be a long way from home, but luckily it is so frequently visited by tourists and health explores, that getting there is now easier than ever. There are two main airports in Ecuador: Quito and Guayaquil. When looking up international flights, you'll be booking for one of these destinations. From there, look up return flights to Loja. Loja is the nearest town and the airport in the Loja province, flights from either Quito or Guayaquil take 45 minutes and can be purchased via www.tame.com.ec Then, it's a 1.5 hour taxi ride to Vilcabamba. The taxis need a spacial licence to operate from the airport, so they are usually reliable and respectable. If you are arriving upto 2 days before the retreat and leaving no longer than 2 days after the retreat, we will organise a local Vilcabamba driver to pick you up.
It all depends on where you are coming from and when you are booking. I recommend that you sign up for price alerts on www.kayak.com or www.skyscanner.net to get the best deal. I've flown to both Guayaquil and Quito for under GBP£600 return from London before and for under US$500 return from New York, but the price can vary. Generally, the earlier you book, the better your chances are for a good price. Return flights from Quito/Guayaquil to Loja can be anywhere from US$80 to $200. Do check www.tame.com.ec for those domestic flights simultaneously to checking international flights, as you might find that leaving from Guayaquil is not an option with their limited weekly schedule. The taxi from Loja (LOH: Ciudad de Catamyo) Airport is US$40 one way. This taxi is provided for you free of charge if you arrive upto 2 days before the retreat and depart no longer than 2 days after the retreat, however flights are your responsibility. We'll do everything we can to look after you as soon as you get to Loja!
Yes. We will be sending our local taxi drivers from Vilcabamba to pick you up from LOH. The driver will wait inside the airport (it is tiiiny, don't worry) with your name on a sign, please look around for a driver and check that they do indeed have a record of your name. Closer to the retreat, please double check that we have your correct arrival times in the Retreat Facebook group.
The taxi fare is included in your retreat fee and we're paying the drivers on your behalf. Please note that we will arrange everything for you if you arrive/depart upto 2 days on either side of the retreat. If you choose to arrive/depart more than 2 days outside of the retreat, the taxi fee and booking will become your responsibility.
May is usually the end of a rainy season in Vilcabamba, and even though it is mostly nights that get rainfall, while days are sunny, it isn't uncommon for there to be periodic rain throughout the day. Night temperature could drop down to 10degrees C, while day temperature stays close to 25degrees C or higher. Double check that you've packed light clothing, yoga or easy movement clothing, long sleeve shirts and long leg trousers (mossies love newbies), a warm top, a rain jacket, swimmers, a sun hat and comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Just think of what would make you most comfortable if you were to walk up a hill and take a seat on the ground.
Definitely and definitely! Please bring your favourite mosquito repellent. I would refrain from chemical use if possible and bring essential oils. Mossies despise aromas of Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Cedarwood, and various oil blends, which you can read about here. If you happen to forget, there is a shop in Vilcabamba called Juice Factory, which sells pretty much anything a raw foodie might need, I'm sure you'll find a natural mossie repellent there.
Vilcabamba is a small village and has nearly all of its cafes located in the Central Square. I will print a map for everyone on arrival, but to give you an idea of distances- my parents' house where lunches and workshops are to be held is a 10 minute walk away from your hotel, while the main square is a 5 minute walk away. There you'll find Juice Factory (mentioned above), which is a well known 'gringo' hangout and you can get fresh juices, smoothies, snacks, lunches and raw food options. It's a good spot to meet other expats, who have made Vilcabamba their home. A big restaurant favourite of ours within the square is called Sambuca Cafe. There is always a choice of freshly made juices and smoothies, yummy salads and some great vegan options. Friends Cafe and French Cafe have salad and vegan options and Vilcabamba Pizza Factory serves amazing raw food pizza on Sundays only. Please note that Vilcabamba is ever evolving and these cafes change hands, menus and event plans all the time. We will have an updated list for you upon arrival, which may still change over your visit. It's all about staying flexible and welcoming change as it happens- such a creative and natural place as the 'Playground to the Inca' demands nothing less.
The usual hotel rates are $65/single and $95/couple and include a basic buffet breakfast of fruit, juice, coffee, fresh local cheese and eggs. This breakfast will be available for you over the retreat and outside of your retreat dates, as any hotel guest, even though you'll benefit from discounted accommodation. No other meals are included in this price, but the resort has a restaurant should you wish to eat there. Only during the retreat, a three course organic gourmet lunch will also be included, but dinner is your free time to explore, enjoy Vilca evenings and its offerings from local cafes.
Ecuador is one of the few Central+South American destinations, which does not require vaccination proof when you enter. I suggest that you do your own investigation and see your GP for your own peace of mind, especially if you are travelling to other countries at this time. I've never had vaccinations for Ecuador and I know that in Vilcabamba they are rather frowned upon. Your personal choice though, we don't judge!
No, you can stay in Ecuador for up to 3 months without a visa. HOWEVER a majority of you are travelling via USA, where a visa waiver is required or you won't be able to fly. You must also apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before flying. The application is very straight forward and costs only about £25, so do this ASAP if you are going via USA: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/getting-into-the-country/us-visa.html
Absolutely not. It is also upto you to decide on how much you'd like to take part in. I called it a Soul Adventures Retreat, because it will be both full of adventure for your spirit, meditation for your soul and raw food for your wellbeing. There will be hiking, sound meditations, sweat lodges, raw food classes, road trips for wild waterfall swimming and much more. It is all pre-paid and included in your retreat, however you will be free to choose whether you'd rather relax by the resort pool or join in the adventure.
It's not an easy task and each time there more than 100 applications for an 18 person retreat. This year, I want to make it even more special and intimate, so make sure that you apply here right away. Generally, it's first in/ first served, however I make sure that I tune in and read your application carefully to check how you fit into the group vibe, how we can best serve you and how ready you are for Vilcabamba. You might've noticed that I don't ask for age/ gender/ nationality on the form, because none of that matters in the Valley of Longevity. All that matters is that you answer everything truthfully from your heart and if you need to join us, you most certainly will.
Some of you may like to connect ahead of time and even arrive together or share a taxi upon arrival. That's why there is a Facebook group for every retreat. I'll be sending you an invite upon confirmation of booking. Please join the group for your retreat and don't be shy posting questions or sharing your queries, insights and plans there :)
Prepare for USA. Everything from USD as currency and US power plugs.
The yoga mats will be provided, however you are very welcome to bring your own. I know what it's like when you have a favourite personal mat, so it's entirely your call.
If you prefer to book ahead, here are four different places to stay near new Quito airport as recommended by readers of expat forum http://www.gringotree.com
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Bed & Breakfast Tumbaco, La Ceramica
Lovely personal home in a gated community about 15 minutes from the new Quito Airport, with 3 or 4 “cabins” for guests. Each has its own bathroom and kitchenette. Breakfast is served in the home’s large kitchen and dining area. The grounds are gorgeous with a pool area, volleyball court, a large vegetable and fruit garden, tropical birds, and wonderful flora. Hotel will arrange for personal pickup at the airport (we needed 2 taxis due to all our suitcases!), and also arrange for taxi back to airport when you are flying elsewhere. We loved the gorgeous flowers and shrubs all around the huge complex and the owners were so friendly and welcoming to us. We will return.
Contact: 1-855-662-5048
http://www.tingo.com/hotel/B-B-Tumbaco-Quito-Pichincha-Province/1466568?nl_cs=GXHte4n6QrqkB1–_t3ndA
Recommended by Sarah Canez, sarahgcanez@yahoo.com
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Su Merced Casa de Hacienda near Quito Airport
First-class Quito accommodation 10 minutes from new airport. If you are looking for a really really nice place to stay after arriving from the U.S. and waiting for a flight the next day this may be the place for you. The owners and their totally renovated Hacienda are truly first class (but with a reasonable price). They will meet you upon arrival and return you to the airport. Accommodation and facilities are totally renovated with Ecuadorian antiques in a beautiful secured quite comfortable setting very close to the airport.
Along with other friends in Cuenca we totally recommend Rafsel, his family staff, and their hacienda as a great hotel that is really convenient to the new Quito airport.
Contact: Rafael Andrade, 098-536-0545, rafael@sumerced.com,www.sumerced.com Calle Julio Tobar Donoso Casa @12 Puembo
Recommended by Bob Pirtle, repirtle@gmail.com.
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Quito Airport Suites
We tried it. Pleasant surprise. Beautiful very clean new units 5 minutes from the new Quito airport. Single $49, double $55, with breakfast. 24-hour airport transportation $7-$8. (If you take a taxi, write down address; no sign on building.) Quiet, walled in location. We loved it. Young owner Dominic will treat you royally.
Make reservations at quitoairportsuites@gmail.com.
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Hostería San Carlos, Quito Airport
For a great place to stay if you’re flying out of Quito and don’t want the hour-plus ride into the city, try Hostería San Carlos in Tababela, just 7- 10 minutes from the new airport. It is clean, comfortable, and reasonable, and the owners/staff are helpful and considerate. When we found out our flight was delayed, they let us stay onsite for the entire afternoon and served a delicious lunch. They also provide a free shuttle Service from the airport (even at midnight when the flight from Houston gets in).
Recommended by Greg, gregboydcaveart@gmail.com
You did indeed. This could very well be my final retreat in Ecuador! The energy portal, the AirBnB property, the 100's of fruit trees and crops, the purpose-built family home with stunning views... it's all for sale. Here's more info on the property if you're interested: https://tanyasliving.com/blogs/tanyas-blog/for-sale-spiritual-home-in-the-valley-of-longevity-ecuador