Thai Coconut Corn Soup

Ingredients:
2 cloves Garlic
2 tablespoons Salad oil
1 Fresh chili peppers *note*
1 stalk Lemongrass
1 cup diced red onion
1 tablespoons fermented tofu (bean curd)
2 tablespoons salted yellow beans
2 ears Corn on the Cobb
2 – 11 ounce cans coconut milk
1 teaspoon Hawaiian sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup Cilantro leaves
1/4 cup Thai basil leaves
1 tablespoon minced Garlic chives

*note* use your favorite chili pepper to add level of heat that you enjoy.

Directions:
Pre-heat a thick bottom sauce pan, add oil and heat. Sauté garlic in oil until golden brown, then remove with a skimmer spoon to paper towels. Pour out most of the remaining oil (leave about a tablespoon to sauté with) and save oil for veggie stir frying. Return pan to heat. Add chilies, lemongrass, onion, bean curd and yellow beans, sauté over high heat until lightly browned. Add corn and cook in 1 minute. Add coconut milk, salt, pepper and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer about 15 to 20 minutes, until corn is soft. Ladle into bowls and garnish with cilantro, basil and chives.

About our Swell Chef- A stand out at our SwellWomen retreats is our very own private chef, Chef Phill DeMott. Chef Phill DeMott comes to us with over 35 years of culinary experience ranging from New Orleans to Thailand and everywhere in between.  If you are looking for private chef services, please contact Chef Phill DeMott at 808.283.1425. 

Believe the Universe is benevolent and looking out for your greater good. Start each day by asking and answering this question. What are the top ten things I am grateful for today?

Here is my list:

1. The power of creativity.

2. The feeling of tropical breezes blowing on my face.

3. The love of family.

4. The inspiration of friends.

5. The waves in the ocean.

6. The opportunity of free enterprise.

7. The ability to walk.

8. The air I breathe.

9. The scintillation of nighttime stars.

10. The harmony of children’s voices.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired, to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching.

1) Avoid eating white food- that means white sugar, white bread, white potatoes or white milk from a black and white cow.
2) Bye Bye Booze. Perhaps a glass of wine 2-3 times a month.
3) Sleeeeeeeeeep. All you have to do is lie down and do nothing for 8 hours.
4) Vitamin C: Vitamin C keeps the skin elasticy and unwrinkled. Also helps us manage stress.
5) Get loads of sunshine! Stay hidden during highest heat but I let that sunshine in!
6) Cut back on toxins on the skin. Look for non-toxic cream, moisturizer, makeup, or suncreeen. 100% edible products are ideal.
7) H20:  Hydration keeps the cells from turning into prune-like wrinkled sacs.
8) Eat what you need, not always what you want, most of the time. The more nutrient packed your meals, the less you eat in the volume- the better for your bod!
9) Breathe Deep. The deeper and longer and slower you breathe the less you age
10) Laugh Often: Laughing lifts stress!
11) Kick the caffeine! Cut back on sucking back those coffees and sodas.

About the Author:: Summer Peters lives on Maui and offers services in Yoga, Massage, Surf Lessons, and Nutrition.  For information visit Summer’s Green Smoothies.  Also, follow Summer’s blog as she travels, hosts seasonal cleanses and shares healthy vitality recipes.

These links are…..www.summersgreensmoothies.com
and the blog is….http://surfyogamaui.wordpress.com

Are you ready to transform your life? Release pain and suffering? Are you ready for joy? It’s easier than you might think. Even the most difficult of life traumas and challenges can be healed through the power of happiness meditations. The antidotes to unhappiness are compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, and humility. Grow these qualities through meditation practice while revitalizing and restoring your natural connection to your own happiness, health, and healing. Make a minute to be mindful every hour of each day to focus on happiness. It’s who you are. A rose is always a rose no matter its condition. Happiness is who you are, no matter your current state of mind or situation. A rose flourishes with attention, nutrition, and care. Grow your happiness with the care of forgiveness, nutrition of compassion, and the care of humility.

About the Author:: Alison Miller is a mind-body wellness expert and Hawaii-based healer who strategically coaches and consults individuals to create the health, relationships and career to which they aspire.  Check out Alison’s blog, Live Inspired, to receive the best information about holistic wellness. To schedule an office, phone or Skype session visit Alison Miller Consulting & Coaching.

You might think that surfing and yoga are far out from each other but that notion is incorrect. Both have similar concepts that really blend well to give you a better life. Here are five reasons why surfing and yoga is a great combination.

1.  Yoga and surfing have a common denominator. They are ways of life.

2.  Surfing without exercise such as yoga can have health repercussions.

3.  Yoga will teach you patience in surfing.

4.  Yoga will increase your strength and flexibility on the board.

5.  Yoga will help you improve posture and breathing.

Surfing and yoga is a perfect complement that assists in excelling each other to higher levels and that is why most women’s surf camps have yoga activities as well. The pair not only enhances your spirituality and physicality but also harmonizes your mind and body in perfect balance. So the next time, before you surf, practice a few minutes of yoga and breathing. Then you’ll realize that surfing is not only a purely physical activity but can have liberation effects as well.

Soft Tops are the best to learn on.

What to Expect
So, what should you expect for your first beginner surf lesson? First of all, surf lessons (and surfing) should always be fun! If you are able to laugh at yourself (even the naturally athletic may be humbled by a couple of not-so-graceful wipe-outs), you are right on track. Surf lessons are typically 2 hours and should be at a maximum ratio of 5:1 (5 students to 1 instructor.)

At the beginning of your surf lesson, your surf instructor will do a brief check-in and introduction. After the intros, it time for a land lesson. Your class time on the beach will include things like safety, ocean awareness, anatomy of a surfboard and last but not least, surf etiquette – all critical to having fun once you hit the water. On the land, you’ll also receive instruction on how to pop up on a surfboard, how to ride the surfboard, and how to safely end your ride.

After your land lesson, is the time you’ve been waiting for – time to hit the ocean! This is where the true test lies, so hopefully you have paid attention to your surf instructor. Once in the water, the surf instructor will corral you in a group and call you over one at a time. During your turn, your instructor will watch for the perfect wave, and once it is coming, he/she will give you a slight push (I call it a love pat) into the wave. This is when the fun begins! Once you feel the push, it’s time to pop-up and enjoy the ride. Nothing beats your first wave!

Welcome June 26th-July 2nd SwellWomen Guests!

Welcome Amazing Ladies from around the world!!

Beach Meditation

Tina enjoying her bliss!!

Ahhh! It feels so juicy! Opening the hips and hamstrings for an amazing surf session!

A refreshing and rejuvenating yoga session!

We think Mindi should just move to Maui… what do you think?

Smiling Pretty, Ms. Mindi!

Throwing down the Shaka.

Mindi ruling the hard top board. I think she may be ready for JAWS.

After a long day of surfing, Mindi exit's the water...always...with a Swell Smile.

Natalie, Genevieve and Jennifer joined us for our June 19th SwellWomen retreats and were immediately dubbed the Green Team due to their chosen color of Carve Designs rash guards.

All three of these ladies ripped! Natalie (mom) kept charging the big waves with a big smile on her face while Genevieve (daughter) and Jennifer (BFF) entertained us by their newly acquired surf tricks

Mahalo ladies for making our SwellWomen week so special! Oh, and did I forget to mention that Genevieve and Jennifer are College Hockey Players and amazing athletes too. Enjoy the pics of the Green Team!

Thanks Sergio Oliveira for the images.

Our June 19th SwellWomen Guests. Can you tell who the Green Team are?

Super Charger Momma was always catching the wave of the Day!

She took some spills but with a smile on her face.

Natalie enjoying a long ride in Maui.

Genevieve is not messing around.

Jennifer initiating her turn.

Genevieve and Natalie