PeaceLab Yoga's Favorite Summer Drink Recipes

I'd like to welcome a new yoga studio in Grandville, PeaceLab Yoga.

I met my friend Melanie and her husband Jim in class at a wonderful yoga studio on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids called From the Heart Yoga and Thai Chi Center, run by teaching masters, Behnje Mason and Rick Powell. 

Melanie McQuown has been a student of yoga for many years, and has been teaching for many years, as well.  This spring, she felt that it was time to bless the town of Grandville with this wonderful thing called yoga, and opened PeaceLab Yoga at 5570 Wilson Ave., Suite M, in Grandville, MI.  I've had the privilege of attending a few classes this month, and to attend the free community appreciation class that she held last Friday.  The class was packed and the students soaked in her joyful, knowledgeable approach, and even relished the crazy abdominal work with a mix of moans and glee. PeaceLab has a variety of class types, including those focused on core, and the gentle, restorative class that is super restful as well as effective.  I've been practicing yoga for about 12 years and I learn some new technique or outlook that helps my practice and by bod after every class.  The core and restorative classes are favorites so far, but there are even hot classes for those of you who like to double or triple the size of your sweat.

After the community appreciation class, Melanie served two drinks that got rave reviews from grateful and sweaty students.  I asked her what her recipes were, and she sent me the sources, plus her modifications.  

So try these drinks, and try a little yoga.  Yoga has poses specifically designed to aid digestion, regulate the immune system, help support the thyroid, liver and other organs, as well as develop strength and flexibility.  PeaceLab might help you feel like a new human. 

Lavendar Lemonade

Original Recipe:  Amy's Lavendar Lemonade from All Recipes.com  

Ingredients

1 tray ice cubes
1/2 cup dried lavender
2 cups boiling water
Agave nectar to taste (start with 1/4 and add till you like it) - for those of you who are agave adverse, honey would work well.
8 lemons
5 cups cold water, adding water if you need it

Directions

1. Place ice cubes into a 2 quart pitcher. Place the lavender into a bowl, and pour boiling water over it. Allow to steep for about 10 minutes, then strain out the lavender and discard. Mix the sugar into the hot lavender water, then pour into the pitcher with the ice.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the pitcher, getting as much juice as you can. Top off the pitcher with cold water, and stir. Taste, and adjust lemon juice or sugar if desired. Pour into tall glasses, pull up a lawn chair and a good book, and relax!

Watermelon Aqua Fresca

Original Recipe:  Whole Foods Market

Here is the watermelons fresco recipe.  I added mint leaves to the actual watermelon  in the blender, then strained everything together.  If you do not want any pulp in the drink, you may want to strain it twice.  I also doubled the amount of lime juice, just cuz.   Enjoy!

Melanie McGowan

Ingredients

6 to 8 pounds seedless watermelon, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 cups cold water, divided
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar or honey (more or less to taste)
Handful of mint leaves
Ice cubes
Lime slices and mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions

Cut the watermelon flesh from the rind. In a blender, process half the watermelon pieces and mint leaves with 1 cup of water until smooth. Pour through a strainer into a pitcher. Repeat the process with the remaining melon and water. You should end up with about 8 cups of juice. Stir in the lime juice and agave. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with lime slices and mint.