The Yogini

I LOVE food. There’s just something about healthy, wholesome, beautiful food that is deeply satisfying.

The Hungry Yogini is my creative space, a collection of all the things I am “hungry” for and a way for me to share my passion for simple, healthy, beautiful food that will hopefully inspire you to make some healthy choices too!

Who’s the Yogini?

My name is Courtney; full-time student, daughter, sister, and mother to Raleigh, my four legged daughter…

I am a 21 year old college student working towards my B.S in Finance and have plans to attend culinary school at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City post-graduation.

 

In the past, I have struggled with finding the right balance between eating right and exercising. I  either ate too little, or exercised too much! It has taken a few years to find the right balance and to make peace with food.  When I realized that some of my habits were unhealthy and causing unneeded stress and unhappiness in my life, I didn’t even know what foods I thought tasted good. I really only looked at food for it’s caloric value or what the latest “fad” had to say about it. Over the past few years, it has taken a lot of effort to reevaluate and to establish what is important. Food was not going to come between me and a full, happy life!

 

I have come a long way and am still learning more everyday. I am proud of where I am now, appreciating food for it’s ability to nourish my body as well as be a source of enjoyment. I now look for foods that are whole and nutritious, but most importantly taste delicious. Life is too short to eat food that doesn’t taste good! I strive to eat everything in moderation, and the same goes for exercise. I love walking and practice yoga daily. I have learned more about myself and my body through yoga and am thankful to have the ability to practice.

The Food

I like to use natural and organic ingredients for optimum health and most importantly…deliciousness. I try to use as many fresh ingredients as possible and avoid packaged and processed products, or “healthy junk food.”  Think lots of fruits and veggies!

 

I love cooking with the seasons, changing my tastes from light and sweet in the Summer, to comforting and nourishing in the Fall. The local Farmer’s Market and produce stores are my inspiration for an ever changing menu.

 

Food is a source of pleasure and enjoyment! While health is my ultimate goal, I also aim to “let loose” and enjoy myself! I LOVE chocolate and sweets and indulge in moderation, the key to having it all! Food shouldn’t be a means of punishment or restriction, but a way to explore yourself and your creativity. Who says health food can’t taste good!?

All Things Yoga

I have recently completed a 200 hour teacher training program through Yoga Alliance and the Asheville Yoga Center. I’m so excited to be at the beginning of an amazing journey, one that has already inspired me to stand in my truth, and live with strength and grace everyday.

They say when the student is ready, the teacher appears, and let  me just tell you it’s true! I began dabbling in yoga a while ago but was never serious about my practice until this past year. Something just clicked. I can still vividly remember my very first yoga class at the studio here in town. I walked in with a skeptical mind, not knowing what to expect and left feeling euphoric, glowing with newfound joy and passion. It was the push I needed to move towards a healthy mindset.

For me, yoga is all about letting go. Letting go of the rigidity that I have held onto in the past, and learning to go with the daily flow of life. It has brought compassion and joy to my life and I’m so thankful that yoga “found” me when it did. I am excited to share my practice with you and the lessons learned along the way.

So hop along for the ride my friends. Who knows where it will take us…

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a current moving in you, a joy.”
- Rumi