Macrobiotics at your fingertips

In Chinese philosophy, everything is made of Yin and Yang, the two fundamental energies which constitute the fabric of the Universe. There is no light without dark, no summer without winter, and no hot without cold. These balancing energies are distinct from each other, and yet cannot exist without the other. This applies to us, our bodies, Nature, animals, and, of course, food.

From Yin and Yang are born the Five Transformations, or the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Water, Tree, Fire, Earth and Metal. They constitute a wheel, transforming into one another in a continuum, each element being linked to organs of the body, seasons, emotions, foods and ways of cooking them.

Macrobiotics philosophy, born in Japan in the 1920s, borrows from these principles of Chinese philosophy and medicine, to create a beautiful, dynamic system. Its aim is to generate a wholesome, conscious body and mind for each human. Its founder George Oshawa was keen to bring this knowledge to the West, creating a bridge between East and West.

Macrobiotics promote a balanced way of eating, relying mostly on locally sourced seasonal produce, whole grains, vegetables, beans and pulses together with some animal foods. It invites us to tune in and listen to the body, such that we can feel directly the effects of different foods and activities on our consciousness and well-being. It invites the possibility of living in harmony with nature and with ourselves. Our aim is for you to be able to apply these basic principles in simple ways in your own kitchen – you will have a new set of tools at your disposal for taking care of yourself and your own well-being.

In this practical course, you will:

• Be introduced to the principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Transformations.
• Understand basic ways to balance a meal based on your body, your lifestyle and the seasons.
• Learn simple recipes that you can re-create and adapt easily to your day-to-day cooking (note that it will be cooking demonstrations only).
• Learn basic home remedies that can soothe and relieve minor health issues such as colds and tummy bugs, as well as foods which can help support these minor ailments.
• Go home with a booklet full of information from the course.

Note: We will not be serving lunch on this short course. We will be tasting the dishes cooked. Please come with a packed lunch so that everyone can sit down and eat together.

If you would like to learn more about this course, please contact: blandinebardeau@mac.com or call 07891 741045

Click here to visit our Facilitator Page and scroll down to read more about Blandine Bardeau who will be facilitating this event.

If you have any allergies or dietary requirements (e.g. Vegan or Gluten Free), please let us know upon booking. We can adapt all of our dishes to accommodate your requirements.