Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 16, 2016

9

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 16, 2016 


THE JOY OF YOGA


ENCOURAGEMENT

Encouragement is 
the action of giving 
someone hope, 
confidence and inspiration. It’s one of the most 
important tools in personal development. Everyone 
needs it! In my yoga practice, I literally count on the 
encouragement from the teacher. Most times it is 
soft and straight forward, like “hey, great job, keep up 
the hard work” or “wow, you’ve come a long way. “ 
Other times, the support, or encouragement 
comes from different places. Personal and spiritual 
growth isn’t always sparked by doing the easy thing. 
It takes perseverance, and at times, painstaking effort. 
I’ve continuously received hope and confidence, by 
completing a hard task or some awful tedious job that 
I never wanted to do in the first place. It’s an unlikely 
source of accomplishment and development. 
Sometimes encouragement can come from within. 
We all need friends and mentors in our life who 
know us well and can lend support, but I’ve also 
found that I don’t get to choose from who or where 
the encouragement comes. Teachers are everywhere! 
The best kind of support is one that fosters 
growth. Our yoga practice is a perfect platform 
for growth in all areas. Some of us may do more 
asana, others more service or meditation. At each 
stage, we need to receive and give encouragement. 
But, don’t shy away from embracing the harder 
lessons, as they may bring the greatest inspiration. 


Namaste, and see you in class! 


FOOD AND DRINK

THE MAI TAI 

Do you remember when I told the story 
of Dom Perignon tasting stars and calling 
for his brother monks to come quickly to 
taste this wonderful champagne? Many 
dishes, drinks, and even the Sunday 
brunch have come in question. Just the 
other day I asked Paul Little, President of 
the Chamber of Commerce of Pasadena, 
if the cheeseburger was really invented in 
Pasadena. Time has a nice way of making 
stories better; let’s not muddle the truth with the facts or something like that.

The Mai Tai is one of my favorite drinks - done right it is the perfect afternoon drink. It is said to have 
been invented in the 1940’s in Tahiti by trader Victor Bergeron (Trader Vic’s Restaurant). Vic’s story 
of its invention is that while his guests were sipping his drink, one of his guests yelled “mai tai!” which 
loosely translates to “wonderful” in Polynesian, but others have also taken credit for this rum-based 
drink. 

So, where can one get the best Mai Tai in our area? I’m glad you asked. My friend, actor Jesse James 
Youngblood, swears that Panda Inn restaurant on Foothill in Pasadena makes a good one. Jesse goes 
one up and orders a Black Tai - I have had one of those, and they aren’t for the faint of heart (here’s a 
tip: check out Panda Inn’s Sunday Brunch - for $26.95 you can eat kung poa chicken and other Panda 
favorites, and drink Mai Tais, to your hearts content). To me, Canoe House in South Pasadena has one 
that is pretty close to perfect as it can get - crushed ice and a float of Meyers rum, and I feel I’m on island 
somewhere. They have happy hour on Monday nights, and for $5 you can’t go wrong. Damon’s on 
Brand in Glendale has been serving their “famous” Mai Tai for many years. Like McDonalds’ french 
fries they have probably mixed the most servings out of my picks, but like McDonalds’ french fries, 
I don’t know if they’re the best, even though city slicker and Glendale Development guru Dan Bell 
confirms it to be the “legit” Mai Tai. Islands does make my list with a stand-out Mai Tai, no fancy glass 
like the Canoe House, but it is right on the mark! 

Did I miss one of your favorites in the area? Email me at diningwithdills@gmail.com and tune into 
my radio show at 5 PM Sunday KLAA AM 830 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com