Karate Chops, Columns, & Kernels
Welcome to Nourish! A newsletter where I (Gina Beach - yogi, writer and plant-based foodie) offer bite sized mindfulness tips, art recommendations and a recipe to try. I’d love to hear what you think or recommendations you have for future newsletters so hit me up!
Mindful Movement
EFT Tapping
Emotional Freedom Technique (also called EFT or tapping) is a self-administrated stress reduction practice involving using the fingers to tap acupressure meridians. It keeps coming up in my life, so I thought I’d give it a try. Founder of the technique Gary Craig says that emotional issues are at the root of physical pain and stress and that EFT can balance the energy flow and relieve physical and psychological symptoms.
How to Tap
Focus on an intention, issue you’re facing or negative emotion you’re feeling and define it specifically and concretely
Create a mantra or reminder phrase about the issue to silently repeat throughout the tapping sequence focused on self love and acceptance such as, “Even though I [insert issue], I completely and totally accept myself”
Repeat your phrase as you tap along meridians (energy centers)
Karate chop the side of your hand
top of the head
eyebrow close to the nose
side of the eye
underneath the eye
between the nose and lips
chin
collar bone
underarm on the bra line
More info can be found online and there are plenty of videos that show how to do it in detail. I’ve added tapping into my mindfulness and meditation toolbox and I do think it helps with stress management and anxiety.
Art + Culture
I was sad to read about the passing of larger-than-life pop artist Claes Oldenburg’s death on July 18. He’s famous for his pubic artworks depicting everyday objects at a giant scale. I am most familiar with two of his pieces that feature prominently in Cleveland (the city were I grew up) and Chicago (where I spent my 20s teaching entrepreneurship and fine art.)
The Free Stamp was installed at Willard Park near Cleveland’s city hall in 1991. It was originally commissioned by the Standard Oil Company of Ohio but when the company was bought out by British Petroleum they did not want to go through with the commission. Protests led to a change of heart by BP and a new site was selected for the sculpture. It’s just down the street from the County Courthouse and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and Lake Erie can be seen behind the red stamp.
Batcolumn is less true to life and less colorful than some of Oldenburg’s other work. (I’ll admit I was surprised to learn the latticed metal bat was his when I first saw it in 2009.) Sitting erect in front of the Social Security administration building, it pays homage to the many impressive skyscrapers in a city where the crosstown rivalry pits the Cubs against the Sox. Oldenburg grew up in Chicago
Oil-free Vegan Cooking
Popcorn
I love popcorn, it’s my favorite snack. My whole life I thought the only way to cook perfect stovetop popcorn was by heating oil in a pan. Not true! I was flabbergasted when I found out that popcorn not only pops perfectly fine in a dry pan with a lid, but there are fewer unpopped kernels and no burnt kernels stuck to the bottom of the pan with this method.
Ingredients
1/2 c Popcorn kernels (the fresher the better, old ones lose their moisture and are less likely to pop)
Topping suggestions
Nutritional yeast
Salt and pepper
Hot sauce
Herbs de provence (thyme, basil, rosemary, tarragon, savory, marjoram, oregano, and bay leaf)
Maple syrup
A few spritzes of cold-pressed Flax oil or extra virgin olive oil using an oil sprayer
Method
Preheat a nonstick pot with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat. When it’s hot enough to sizzle water add the popcorn kernels. Shake every 30 seconds or so until the kernels start to pop, then shake continuously until you can’t hear any more popping. Transfer the popcorn to a mixing bowl and add your toppings.
Popcorn is the best and this recipe is a game changer, thank you! I always shudder at the amount of oil - so amazing I can go without.
P.S. someone once suggested a few small splashes of soy sauce on my popcorn as the topping and it is delicious!