Energizing Massaged Kale Salad

When the weather heats up & the body starts to feel a bit sluggish & lethargic, nothing tonifies & detoxifies quite like a kale salad. This one is packed full of summer veggies straight from the local farms, massaged with a flavorful mix of roasted garlic olive oil, tahini, lemon juice & sea salt. Perfect for summer!

This is my last Deep Yoga Teacher Training Intensive weekend & we pack about 20 hours of yoga practice, meditation, presentation, demonstration, group work, dancing & more over a 2 1/2 day period. There is a wonderful juice bar next to the studio, but I limit myself to one juice a weekend to keep within the budget. I try to pack myself a hearty lunch that will fuel me through the long afternoons. Kale salads are perfect because they hold up well to being pre-dressed, & actually get better over time.

This weekend, each of us is teaching a 20-minute sequence to the entire class & our master teachers. Nerve-wracking? A little bit! But I’ve been practicing my heart out - with fellow students, friends, & family, even walking around the house, standing in the shower, driving in the car verbally walking through my routine. If I could teach yoga, to my dog I would! Three months ago when I embarked on this journey I was TERRIFIED to get up in front of people & teach. It’s just yoga, I know, right? What’s so scary about yoga? Nothing at all. But it’s been helpful to know that others in my training are facing the same fears. Slowly over the months, I’ve begun to conquer my silly fear, let go of self-judgment, & stand in my power. I’ve pushed myself far beyond where I would normally limit myself. I’ve wanted to quit a hundred times. But I challenged myself, & I am so proud. I am not sure exactly when I will teach my sequence, but I designed it to be a gentle, yet energizing flow that would be most appropriately practiced in the morning. By the time this post is published, I hope that I had gathered up enough courage to step into the teacher’s spot during our morning practice on the bay, & that the butterflies have subsided so I have an appetite to enjoy this beautiful salad. I’ll let you know how it goes.

ENERGIZING MASSAGED KALE SALAD Author: Melissa, Honey Bee Vegan Recipe Type: Salad Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 2

INGREDIENTS

• 4 handfuls of chopped kale

• 1 Tbsp roasted garlic olive oil

• 1 tsp tahini

• juice of ½ a large lemon

• pinch of sea salt

• 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced

• ½ cup grape tomatoes, halved

• ½ avocado, cubed

• ¼ cup red onion, small dice

• 1 Tbsp raw pepita parma (link below), or store-bought vegan parmesan

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Shred kale into bite-sized pieces, then place 4 large handfuls in a mixing bowl.

2. Add olive oil, tahini, lemon juice & salt, & begin to "massage" the kale with your hands for 2-3 minutes until the kale begins to break down

3. Add the remaining veggies & toss to combine

4. Dust with a bit of vegan parmesan

Click here is a link to my Pepita Parma. It is one of my favorite ways to add a dash of

more flavor to a dish! It was wonderful sprinkled on this salad & gave it just a bit more of a savory bite. Enjoy!!