Rituals and the rhythm of life

I love rituals—not extravagant ones, just simple, mindful activities that comprise the rhythm of daily life. One such ritual I've always loved is the process for properly cleaning greens, especially if they are sandy like the kale I purchased today and wilted with ginger, chile and a beautiful Himalayan sea salt, said to be the purest salt on earth (Recipe by Alice Waters).

The final step in the cleaning process is to roll the washed and spun greens gently in a clean dishcloth and allow them to fully dry.

Upon finishing this process, I noticed I felt extremely calm. No surprise, since working with beautiful, whole foods always relaxes me and is an important ritual in my daily life. In fact, whenever I feel stressed, I do one of two things: cook or do asana practice. For me cooking is like yoga and yoga like cooking—both have the ability to bring me right smack into the present, sweet rhythm of life.