This year two wonderful women, one from Wyoming and one from South Dakota, attended class. Amy and Gina. They were young and lovely.
And retired art teacher Sue from Massachusetts. I'll never forget Sue. She's in her 60's - just a few years older than I am. There is so much to learn from others.
Sue was the quiet, confident one in yoga class, the one who thoughtfully sets up her mat in the very back, the one with a special twinkle in her eyes that tells me she's in touch with her own soul. Sue knows who she is and she knows how she got to where she is and why she's here.
On the last day of her vacation I told her about my blog. She said she'd check it out. She then told me a story that I think represents Sue's approach to agelessness.
Sue is raising a now 4 year old horse she named Mulan (from the Disney movie). Mulan is a Percheron/Quarter horse mix. This is how I picture Sue with Mulan.
They work with a horse trainer twice a week. They are using the Parelli Method.
The Parelli Program and Mission
The Parelli Natural Horse Training Method combines in-depth equine psychology and common sense communication techniques into the ultimate recipe for horse and rider success. It allows horse owners at all levels of experience (from trail rider to Olympic level Dressage rider) to achieve success without force, partnership without dominance and harmony without coercion. Our wider goal is to help create a better world for horses and the people who love them through the non-profit Parelli Foundation.
The Parelli Natural Horse Training Method combines in-depth equine psychology and common sense communication techniques into the ultimate recipe for horse and rider success. It allows horse owners at all levels of experience (from trail rider to Olympic level Dressage rider) to achieve success without force, partnership without dominance and harmony without coercion. Our wider goal is to help create a better world for horses and the people who love them through the non-profit Parelli Foundation.
Mulan is a PMU rescue horse. I had never heard of this program. Sue explained that PMU stands for "pregnant mare's urine". The urine of pregnant mares is used in the manufacturing of Premarin (the word came from it's source, "pregnant mare's urine"), the female hormone replacement. It is prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of menopause by substituting equine estrogens for those naturally produced by the human body.
IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT ANIMAL ABUSE, PLEASE DON'T READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BETWEEN THE ASTERISKS. BUT....DON'T MISS THE RECIPE BELOW AND THE CLOSING. IT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD.
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The pregnant mares used for Premarin production are confined to narrow stalls where they cannot turn or lie down for weeks at a time without release for exercise. They are hooked to urine collection harnesses. Regulations only require that the mares be turned out for two hours every two weeks.
The industry is located primarily in Canada, in the region of Manitoba, close to the Wyeth-Ayerst pharmaceutical company that manufactures Premarin. A number of years ago research showed a link between Premarin and cancer which has caused a decrease in the production of the hormone. As a result, over 300 PMU ranches have been closed. Only 70 remain.
Some PMU ranchers are in the urine production business and the breeding business and some are not. 60,000 foals produced in isolated central Canada have almost no chance to find homes as sport horses, working horses or pets. Slaughter is legal in Canada so there is always the fear that these foals and old mares will go to slaughter if they cannot find adoptive homes. The two to five month old foals are taken from their mothers in early September and sent to auction.
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There are several organizations that visit these ranches, photograph the horses in need of homes and post these photos on websites such as www.pmurescue.org. Many horses have found homes via this website. Mulan was one of them.
And here are three more. Meet Clyde, Moose and Siloh.
I think Sue has found great freedom in her 60's. Freedom to spend her time and love and energy on something she loves - horses/nurturing/helping. Sue has combined her abilities as a teacher, her passion for animals, and her hobby as an equestrian. She has made the world a better place by bringing healing energy and love to Mulan.
It's important to stop for a moment and honor all the innocent animal lives that have been sacrificed for our benefit. All the rats and dogs and cats and armadillos (for leprosy research) and lizards and frogs and horses and pigs. The list goes on and on. I was a research nurse at Hopkins, I know some of this science is necessary (some is not - I take wonderful, effective hormone replacement [prescribed by my fabulous longevity doctor Terry Grossman at Frontier Wellness in Denver] but mine is made out of yams, not pregnant mare urine). Take a deep breath in, shut your eyes and stop for a moment right there at your computer to honor all the animals that were used to test your cosmetics, to test the cold medicine you need, to produce the eye drops you use. Exhale and send out some love to these beautiful animals.
The point of today's blog got a little sidetracked with the info about the mares. The point of today's blog is to share with you Sue's passion. I don't want you to think my blog is turning into an animal rights focus (recent blogs have also included information about the whale industry and chimp research). It is not. It is a blog about how I feel turning 60 in 2012. One thing for me about turning 60 - life, all living things from cauliflower to horses, are more precious and divine than ever. This heightened awareness brings me to moments of pure beauty and appreciation.
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Wanted to share this recipe with you and some good info about cauliflower and tahini. Hope you enjoy.
Cauliflower -
This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Phosphorus and Potassium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Pantothenic Acid and Manganese.
Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2391/2#ixzz1mUtNv2B3
Such a beautiful veggie all snuggled down in those lovely green leaves
Tahini - (sesame seed paste - sounds wierd, but really full of flavor)
Tahini contains B Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B15. B Vitamins play an essential part in the running of the body. They promote healthy cell growth and division, including that of red blood cells, which will help prevent Anemia. They also support and increase the rate of metabolism, enhance immune and nervous system function as well as helping to maintain healthy skin and muscle tone. Recent studies have also shown that Vitamin B can help protect against one of the most deadly forms of cancer, pancreatic cancer, but only when consumed in food. It is because of this that you will now find tahini for sale in most health shops.
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/026409_tahini_calcium_cancer.html#ixzz1mUu8tYzf
Roasted
Cauliflower in Lemon-Tahini Sauce
1 large head
cauliflower, cut into 1 inch florets
4 tsp. olive
oil, divided
2 cloves or 2
tsp garlic, minced
2 T tahini
1 T lemon
juice
¼ t salt
1 T chopped
parsley
1 tsp toasted
sesame seeds
1Place oven rack in top
position. Preheat oven 425
Toss cauli with 2 t olive
oil and season with salt. Spread on cookie sheet and bake 12-15 min. or until
cauli is fork-tender and slightly browned
Meanwhile, heat remaining 2
t olive oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Saute garlic 1-2 min or until
fragrant. Stir in tahini, lemon juice, 5 T water and salt. Simmer over low heat
1-2 min. Remove from heat
. Drizzle sauce over cauli.
Sprinkle parsley and sesame seeds.
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For all you hard working folks -
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