Halotherapy: Take it with a grain of salt.

**For you gamers out there, not that kind of Halo therapy.

My local newspaper recently advertised that the newly opened Salt Spa on my street was giving free trial sessions. I love trying new stuff, especially free stuff so I called for an appointment right away.

Online, this looked interesting.

"Salt Therapy or Halotherapy is a 100% drug free therapy that utilizes dry aerosol of salt micro particles and minerals to treat a bunch of respiratory and joint issues."

I don't think a hangover counted as respiratory and joint issues, but I booked my appointment for the morning after K&S's wedding. I walked into the Spa, which had typical 'spaliness' to it...low furniture, scented air, the CD's you listen to from the sampler at the drug store. I began to relax already.

The owner took me for a tour of the salt cave rooms. When she bought this property, she had people come in, hotglue the wall and threw a bunch of rock salt on it. Whatever stuck was then baked on with lamps, then voila - a salt cave.

This is somehow meant to resemble the beach. Apparently this is the new it thing in Eastern Europe. I guess in Siberia, this is what the beach would look like.

I first got a glimpse of the children's cave. How to describe it.......a solitary confinement cell on the moon with Ikea furniture. In seeing my expression of sheer horror, the owner smiles and assures me that Halotherapy is even safe for newborns.....riiiight.

She then sets me up in the adult salt cave. I took off my shoes. The floor was crunchy with rocksalt. 'Like the beach' the owner giggled. Riiiiiight.....like the beach. Is that blood on my ankle?
I was seated in one of the eight Muskoka chairs along the room. I was glad I was the only one in there. Before she scurried away, the owner asked me if I had any musical preference.

'I wouldn't mind any Pet Shop Boys'

I guess that wasn't what she had in mind because she countered that with, Bells, Faraway Lands and Rainforest.

I felt like a nerd. I got Faraway Lands.

The Muskoka chairs reclined. They were comfy. I only had 3 hours of sleep, so it was nice. Green lights danced around the walls like fireflies. I'm horrible at relaxation. It's part of the reasons I suck at yoga. The booming subway below was making it even harder to settle down. So I sat there. Watching green lights. Trying to feel, smell or taste the salt. Wondering if salt was penetrating into my skin. Musing about doing a tequila shot on my own arm.

I didn't taste or smell a thing.

25 mins later, I emerged from the room. The owner asked me how I felt. Well, I told her the subway was a little disruptive. 'Think of it as your personal tsunami and work it into your meditation.' Nice try lady. Good cover for picking a bad location for a business.

Overall, I did feel somewhat more relaxed, but that was due to the music, reclining chair and dark room more than the rocksalt wallpaper.

I don't buy it.

i heart Zuko Light

When I was in Mexico, I discovered Zuko Light. It was a bit of a random find actually, much like my Green Tea flavoured Trident gum of which I bought a case.

Zuko light is like Crystal Light, except like, a thousand times better. The same way the Diet Coke/Pepsi tastes better in Mexico. I think the artificial sweetners they use are different - unless it's all really sugar and they're f**ing with us 'cause we don't read Spanish.

I bought a few packs of Zuko in Cantelope, Mango and Pina Colada. And tonight I finished my last pack ;-( I'm very sad about it. I may have to risk H1N1 to get some more. It's that good.

Blow your mind BBQ Potatoes.

BBQ season is here! I am getting lots of requests to make my BBQ potatoes. I'm a little tired of making them, but the requests don't stop. My friend's sister made them at a cottage 4 years ago, and I regret asking her how, because now that I make them, people don't stop asking. They're that good.

Here's the recipe.

Now stop bugging me and make them your damn-self!

Micki's BBQ Potatoes

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Dijon Mustard
Vegetable Oil
Minced Garlic

Wash the potatoes and slice them into 3rds. (Do not peel) Put them on a plate and microwave them until soft (8-10 mins). Let cool for 10 mins. In a small bowl, mix the dijon, oil and garlic. You don't really have to measure. Coat the potato slices in the mustard mixture. BBQ on medium heat until crispy on the outside.

Rockin' the Dollar Store Bling

If I won the lottery tomorrow I would quit my day job and spend the rest of my life doing crafts (and cooking). Until that day comes, I spend what little free time I have making my safety pin bracelets. Seed beads are very in this season, and I'm thrilled because it gives me a reason to make and wear these funky accessories.

These are fun and super easy to make. I got the idea 7 years ago, when Stef bought one of these for $15 in Wasaga beach - and I thought - I could make this for way less, and I do.

You need:

• 2 different colours of seed beads. It works best when 1 of the colours of beads has a glossy/shiny/sparkly finish and the other colour has a matte finish.


• 1 pkg safety pins, all the same size (silver or gold, whatever you prefer)


• 2 pieces of elastic - the kind you can buy to wrap gifts (usually silver or gold in colour) usually works best. Ensure that the 2 pieces are the same length, and are a little longer than your wrist circumfrence.
  

Here's what you do:

1. Thread 1 pin with beads from colour A. String the head of the pin through 1 of the elastic pieces. String the tail of the pin through the other elastic.

2. Take a naked pin (no beads) and thread it the opposite direction. So thread the tail of the pin through the other elastic, with the head on the opposide side of what you did in step one.

3. Thread 1 pin with beads from colour B. String as you did in step one.

4. Repeat step 2.

Repeat these four steps until you've filled both elastics. When it fits all the way around your wrist, tie the two elastic pieces together, and thread any excess thread through the back.

This is the back.

Stinking sinking ship

Although not technically part of Passport to Prana, I did have an opportunity to sample the Yoga offered at the Yorkville Club Uptown. For all the hype, I have been thoroughly unimpressed with the gym. I was excited by the number of classes offered there, but after a spin class which was attended by me and one other person, and the bootcamp class - again, me and one person, I started thinking this place was a joke! A fancy expensive joke, but a joke.

What caught my attention was that the Yoga was presented by a well known Yoga studio. Today, I gave the Hot Ashatanga class a try. First, the gym has been experiencing a sewer issue all week, so the place has been stinky. Hardly a serene feeling for practicing yoga.

The studio itself was small, had a basement/spacecave feel to it. It reminded me of the boozecans I used to frequent after clubs - minus the cocaine and prostitutes.

I was generally impressed with the class. Johnny was a good instructor - offering five minutes of explanation before we started the exercises. He answered questions in my mind like...why? what's the point? etc.....He went into the benefits of breathing into different postures and why he follows the traditional Ashtanga series, as it is taught in India. Johnny was great in assisting classmates. Those who were close to perfect headstands and binding with opposite elbows. Those who were 95% in the pose and just needed that extra push. It wasn't a surprise that he skipped right over me. I wasn't offended, we know I suck at yoga.

Although definitely challenging, the class moved quickly and was interesting. The good Yoga just may save this gym, but I doubt it.

"You still suck at yoga...Namaste!"

My search for Prana continues. This time I rode the rocket to the Yonge and St. Clair area to visit Moksha Yoga Uptown. This studio is nestled besides the Delisle Court, famous for Brunos Fine Foods and Xococava - home of the chorizo chocolate truffle. It's amazing how I start talking about yoga and I invariably lead to chocolate. Every time.

So back to yoga. I arrived at the studio, removed my shoes - as Yoga Studio etiquette dictates. I detected a bit of 'tude from the lady at the front desk and wondered if she learned her customer service skills at the Delisle Club gym across the street.

Oh boy, I thought...here we start. The change room was small and cramped with no lockers. Again. The thing that really caught my eye was a sign posted on the wall by the showers:

"Showers are intended for a quick rinse only. Please leave the lengthy beauty routines for home. Thank you. Namaste."

Now I don't know about you, but I think that was inappropriate usage of Namaste. It's like when people say "No offence but..." before they're about to say something really hurtful. If you want to write your bitchy sign, go ahead but leave Namaste out of it. I should put up a sign in the bathroom at work "If you piss on the seat, wipe it up. God Bless." Sometimes just ending with a period will suffice.

So the front desk girl and the sign in the shower was giving me tone. Then I entered the hot studio itself. It was quite lovely. The sunlight was streaming through the ceiling high windows. Either I'm getting used to heated yoga studios or it wasn't as hot as previous studios because I felt it quite comfortable. I could see Xococava from my Yoga Mat. Being a new student of yoga studio ettiquete, I have learned that it is customary to enter the room silently and to lay on your mat and meditate while you wait for the class to begin.

I guess I meditated well in the sunny heated room...because I fell asleep. And not just shut my eyes...I mean a deep, REM sleep. I don't know how long I was out. Roz, the instructor woke me up as she walked in. Not only was I groggy and confused, now I had to excercise too. Crap.

I must say once I got my barings I really did enjoy the class. Roz had a very soothing voice and she explained things well. She did draw the blinds though (bye bye Xococava). The one thing that was terrific about this studio was the abundance of yoga props. Stumpy yogis like me rely on props.

The class did seem to move quickly, and was over before I knew it. I didn't seem to be the most worst in the class, but I'm also not ready to pose for the cover of Yoga journal...I know...I know...there's no comparing or competing in yoga...but still.

More and more I am seeing the restorative benefits of hot yoga. It does help me sleep ;-)

It's a Pizza Cake

This dessert delights adults and kids alike. I looks impressive and it's really easy to make. I'm very proud to say I came up with it myself! First, you make the cookie crust.

1 Box white cake mix

3/4 cup melted butter

Mix the two together to create a dough. Press into pizza pan. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Let it cool.

Then top it however you want. I used:

canned raspberry pie filling

cheesecake filling (1 pkg cream cheese, 1/2 can condensed milk, 1 egg yolk blended)

sliced strawberries and kiwis

sliced almonds

skor bits

Broil for 10 mins et voila:

Present this in a pizza box and you come off looking like a champ! Next time I will include chocolate covered almonds to look like olives.