Community, Chicken Chops and Hot Sauce

G'Day, G'Day, It has been over 4 weeks since we arrived back in Australia...and already my kids are starting to change their Canadian accents to reflect that of their Aussie comrades. They are so adaptable and resilient as they adjust to all the recent changes in their life. Now, if I could just keep up with their flexibility and lightness of heart...they are definitely my greatest teachers! This morning I had met with about a dozen other pregnant Byron Shire Mum's at a pregnancy support group. The meeting was held at the Red Tent, in Byron Bay Industrial Park. For any of you inspired by and interested in women's health, and creative approaches in community to serving women at all stages of their lives, check out the Red Tent's website to see how they roll: http://www.redtentyoga.com.au. I am excited to learn more about this community. Also offered at the Red Tent, as well as the Heart Space in Mullum, are Acupuncture Community Clinics. The clinics are being provided by forward-thinking, community-minded acupuncturist who believe acupuncture treatments should be accessible to all, not just those with a spare $80 lying about! The charge is $20 for a 45min session, and basically a group of people are served all at once by several acupuncturist, GREAT! I am attending my first clinic tomorrow afternoon. Anyhow, back to the pregnancy support group. Today we had a Bodywork class led by a belly dancer who specializes in teaching women the art of using basic belly dancing moves to prepare for birth, as well as to use during labor. She also touched on different belly dance moves and positions to help get your baby into a better birthing position, and so on! It was great, incorporating tantra, breath, music, mantra and so on! Following the belly dancing was a morning tea and then a guest speaker. The speaker today spoke about the first few days after baby is born (from the moment baby is born onwards to day 7 after delivery). Even though I already have my two beautiful boys, I found this talk really helpful and insightful...especially as Johan and Amren are now 9 and 8 years old. The rest of my day included some yoga at home (mainly passive inversions and gentle backbends, as I was quite tired), a visit with a new friend and her family (with Johan and Amren), and then dinner at home. Tonight for dinner I baked chicken Chops in a tomato, basil and chardonnay sauce. Once they were done I finished them with grated parm and cheddar cheese. The chicken was served with a layered eggplant bake (layered with the same tomato, basil sauce and cheeses), and with steamed broccoli. On the side we used up some old, dry sourdough baguette; frying it in butter and drizzling in olive oil (watch out arteries!). I must say, the dinner was very yummy...all were satisfied and happy! I also started a batch of homemade hot sauce, which after tasted by Lindsay he promptly turned red in the face, guzzled a bunch of water and commented that it was the hottest hot sauce he's ever had...and that's saying something! So...hot sauce is a success! That's it from Yoga In The House in Brunswick Heads for May 22nd, 2012. Happy Trails 'till next time, Jenelle