I recently sent our nutrition expert, Jo Dombernowsky, an email. I was simply telling her how great her food is, and how wonderful it is that she has a vision and wants to share it. As well as being delicious, it changes lives. Last month was the opening of our latest retreat experience in Southern California, and as with any new venture it required extra hours and lots of additional energy. The Paleo bread recipe included in this blog is perfect for that.

What a fantastic week! I was feeling super lucky to be able to sit down and enjoy Jo’s ‘truly healthy, truly delicious’ experience, cooked up by the amazing Stella Hutson. I was chatting with my wife, Karissa, and we were both amazed at how much energy we had sustained throughout the week. No matter what the day had demanded of us, we had never once felt a drop in our power reserves. It was obvious to us that we could put this down to our nutritional intake for the week. This made me think a little about the practicalities of adopting a nutritional regime such as Jo’s. I know for many of our guests, returning back to work after a week at the retreat with us, lack of time and the demands of day-to-day life makes implementing change difficult. So I figured that perhaps like many goals or aims we have in life, the same advice can apply to making positive changes in our diet. Simply start with small steps, make a few small changes at a time and allow ourselves the space to notice the effect. Unless you have an amazing nutrition epiphany like past guest Mat then perhaps, just try one recipe and add it to your weekly routine. Pretty soon the items on the shopping list and the flow of putting it all together will become second nature.

We thought that with winter really beginning to take hold we would help you along with this and give you a simple and delicious recipe from Jo’s secret stash to give your energy levels a boost into the holiday season ahead. I hope you enjoy this Paleo bread recipe. High in protein, its reassuring that a Paleo diet can also be vegetarian. Feel free to contact us and share your experiences with making this, or even any tips that you would want to share that work for you in making positive and healthy lifestyle changes.

Peace, 

Jamie Isaac

Paleo bread (gluten free, yeast free, dairy free)

Ingredients

200ml sesame

200ml flax seeds

100ml pumpkin seeds

200ml sunflower seeds

100ml almonds

100ml hazelnuts

100ml coconut or olive oil

3 carrots

1 small courgette

4 eggs

1 tbsp salt

Method

• Chop the hazelnuts and grind the seeds and almonds in a coffee grinder or blender.
• Peel and grate the carrots and grate the courgette.
• Mix the nuts and seeds with the carrots and courgette.
• Add the eggs and the salt. Mix well.
• Roll out the dough between two baking papers in a 2cm layer. Place on a baking tray and take the top paper away.
• Cut into diamond shapes or squares.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes on 170°C.

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About the authors

Jamie is an International Pilates teacher and wellbeing specialist. Jamie teaches from his studio in Southern California, as well as workshops all over the world, including weeks in the USA, England and Fuerteventura. A former international trampolinist and a graduate in Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Jamie practices and teaches Pilates as more than just a set of physical exercises. By incorporating body and mind he finds the Pilates method benefits all aspects of life. Jamie is passionate about passing on his knowledge of Pilates, helping others to relax and progress, and teaching in specialist areas such as injury rehabilitation, specialist referral and coaching other sports professionals and enthusiasts. Jamie is the founder of Azul Yoga & Pilates Retreat and Fluid Art Pilates.

Jo Dombernowsky is the resident chef and nutrition advisor at Azul Yoga & Pilates Retreat. She runs nutrition workshops, detox retreats and special nutrition holidays and is the author of the highly acclaimed cookbook ‘Truly healthy, truly delicious’. The second edition of the cookbook (with new chapters on dairy and gluten) was released earlier in the year and the book has now been published in Spanish. Jo is also an inspirational nutrition expert and Pilates teacher and her all-round healthy approach to life is clear to see. Jo has her own food blog where she posts her delicious recipes, keeping you up to date on all the wonderful new food coming out of the Azul kitchen.