I’m so-o happy to be back home in warm Costa Rica. Spending time with family and friends in L.A. was great but dang it was cold!
It's always wonderful coming home and one of the many benefits of travel is you return with a renewed appreciation for things you took for granted. I missed warm rain, sun, monkeys, eye contact and smiles of strangers who remind me everyday Costa Rica is the Happiest Place on Earth. I missed bumping into friends everywhere you go and walking our dogs Frida and Diego on the beach while sharing their ecstatic joy with my husband, David.
Another joy is when our guests return to our Discovery Beach House. Cindy and Sal, featured in our Guest Video Spotlight, have visited three times and they've already booked their 2012 stay. Cindy and Sal - we look forward to seeing you again next year. Remember to bring your dancing shoes for a night out together wherever David is playing music.
Next, is my spontaneous video Cheeky Monkey Home Invasion, which is a perfect segue into the 10 Catastrophic Consequences of Feeding the Monkeys. An ongoing issue in Manuel Antonio has been tourists feeding the monkeys and it's the likely reason this one came into our Monkey House and snatched some food (hopefully this is the first and last time). He made off with the ingredients for my morning smoothie and I was pissed! I also recently noticed the monkeys were hanging out at our Discovery Beach House much longer than usual. Then we saw the guests next door feeding them even though there's a sign posted that says "Please Don't Feed the Monkeys." We explained to them why it's so very bad for the monkeys and it's explained here as well.
Which brings me to another good segue, Chef Desiree offers up her deliciously simple and quick recipe for Bananas Flambé. Next time you want to impress your guests – this'll do the trick.
Next, stay informed with the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy article by Shelly Workman Franco. Manuel Antonio offers a healthy lifestyle from fresh tropical fruits and fish to the many wonderful health and wellness services available here. We offer onsite treatments at our Discovery Beach House during your visit. Imagine going home from your vacation not feeling like you need another vacation but feeling better having worked on some of your stuff (and we all have "stuff").
Finally, thank you everyone for your kind comments and concerns about my daughter, Dawn. She's such a good person who's always there for everyone else when they need a little help or support or a ride home from the airport. It was so wonderful to watch everyone embrace her in a protective cocoon of nurturing love, attention and care. Best news is she's bouncing back like a champ and will be down here for a month-long stay of R & R next week. Can't wait to see you again my one-and-only-all-grown-up-baby-girl! Besitos.
Until we meet again…
Paradise Awaits!
P.S. A warm PURA VIDA welcome to each new reader since our last issue and a huge GRACIAS to all of our faithful readers - you make this fun!
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WHAT'S COOKIN' IN PARADISE?
Bananas Flambé
By Chef Desiree Brassert
This is by far one of my easiest and most entertaining desserts. It requires only 4 ingredients that are almost always present in every kitchen. It's a hit every time with children and adults alike who marvel at the great flavors that burst out of four items and a little fire!
Ingredients
1/2 stick of butter
2 to 3 very ripe bananas (butterflied)
1 shot of Rum
1 scoop of ice cream
Method
Melt the butter in a non-stick frying pan.
Add the carefully butterflied bananas and let cook under medium fire. They can burn easily so keep a close watch.
Now, get ready with a long igniter and the shot of rum. When the bananas are fully cooked and the pan has some heat, pour the shot in the pan and ignite.
Let all the alcohol burn out before serving with a scoop of excellent ice cream. I recommend vanilla, but use your favorite flavor or whatever you have on hand is just fine.
See you next issue with more What's Cooking in Paradise recipes!
YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS CONCIERGE
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy A body-centered therapy that helps people heal from trauma, addiction, emotional pain and limiting belief systems
By Shelly Workman Franco
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a highly effective body-centered therapy that relies on a safe, confidential and sacred space in which to work. This serves as a place to practice new ways to be in relationship with ourself and others. The principles of mindfulness are taught to show our mind how to calm itself, focus and become a witness to our internal environment, i.e.: physical sensations, emotions, images and memories, especially under the pressures and demands of outside stimuli such as noises, fears, stressors, chatter of the mind, pain, joy, celebration, etc.
As we have the ability to step back and observe how we take in information, metabolize it, and put something back into the world, we can then find ways to self-regulate, to feel, decide and stay more connected to all of our inner-resources. Also in this process of self-regulation, we stay in a zone where our overall being operates wholly and efficiently. If we are hyper-aroused or are shut down and hypo-aroused, we call on the emergency part of our nervous system to run the show and just drive and survive. This part of our nervous system was organically designed initially to engage for a short, quick bouts of time during threat and not to be engaged constantly to run our lives. As this therapeutic process takes hold, we get the opportunity to move into the driver’s seat and be an active participant in every moment of our days, and moreover, in our overall health and wellbeing. Then, it all becomes very powerful, empowering and personal.
The therapy is always customized and co-created with the client and therapist. Sessions may include any combination self-awareness using meditation, movement, self-touch, therapeutic touch and/or other forms of bodywork therapy. There also is quite a difference in the therapeutic approach if we are working to heal from a traumatic event or injury versus if there are many years of hardship that play out in the body in the form of chronic pain, TMJ, digestive issues, etc. Sensorimotor psychotherapy can work for anyone who also is at a crossroads in life and has big decisions to make. It's also highly effective to cultivate change and/or to celebrate the gifts and joys in your life.
For more information about Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and an appointment contact your Concierge, Susan.
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