Feeling Groovy--If Not Guiltless

There's a place on Valley Road in Upper Montclair that I've passed many times but never visited until today. It's called Asana House Juice Bar. The neon sign out front says SMOOTHIES.


Magic Carpet 
Turns out it's a very cool, inviting little spot with a carpeted yoga space up front, reasonably priced yoga clothing in the back [hip, tie-dyed pants and a sparkle-dusted, from-India-looking, sheer, hot pink top that ties in front] and a raw food bar. The moment I walked in the door, I felt like I had traveled to another place--maybe Wellfleet or Provincetown, or a health food store in Vermont.

You know me well enough by now to know that I do not subsist on raw foods. But I'm sure I'd be healthier, happier, more at peace and much lighter if I did. Why, I might virtually float through life, impervious to stress, and beautiful, radiant, clear-skinned, bright-eyed and shiny-haired. Taken care of.

The young man and woman whipping up their wares in tandem at the counter were raving about the raw food soup they'd just made. Best ever, they said, presenting the bowl to the pretty yogini* who was waiting, spoon poised. She agreed. I have to say, it did look inviting.

Drink It in
I was planning on getting my iced coffee in town today before heading back to the condo, and that would have been $3 at my cult favorite, Beans. So I thought today I'd duck in and try a smoothie.

Gosh, it was totally, totally delicious. I got the Guiltless Pleasure, made with peanut butter, soy milk, banana, raw cacao and honey. I think it was the honey and cacao that took it over the top. But it wasn't a cloying honey taste....I hate that. It was pleasure perfect.

But. It was $7.94--with tax, $8.50. Yet here's the kind of place it is: I was a dollar short, and the nice, raw-soup-eating woman at the bar offered to give me the extra dollar so I could try it. I was scanning the board for something that cost less. Always get the extra dollar to have the better one, she said. I really appreciated her giving vibe, but found my pride and six quarters back in my car, in the baggie with the dried apricots. The coins were a little sticky, but that's okay.

Pangs of PB Guilt
But the other truth is, instead of slurping that yummy smoothie, I could have fed a family of four with that $8.50: small pack of boneless chicken to saute, fresh veggies, couscous. Punch and her Mommy, or H., Figgy, Punch and I could have had a simple dinner for that cost [though H., a vegetarian, would not eat the chicken and would have a Boca burger from our freezer stash instead].

On the other hand, you can easily drop $20 per person to go see a movie, between ticket, drink, shared bucket of popcorn.

So though it was called the Guiltless Pleasure, it was not that for me. Pure pleasure, yes. Guiltless, no. But if your money flow is healthy, I highly recommend this place. Other tempting Super Smoothies include the Espresso Blast [soy milk, banana, cinnamon, honey, cacao and nutmeg, yum] and the Young Thai Coconut [with mango, pineapple, mint, lime and ginger]. They even offer 3- and 5-day juice cleanses for $45/day.

I might also take a yoga class there one day. Drop-ins are 20 bucks. The website is: www.asanahouse.com.

Peaceful dreams.

The amazing photo above is from getfitjourney.com. It accompanies a breakfast smoothie recipe. I am getting in the mood to start making them at home. :) I used to.


*Is it true? I used the word yogi first, but just read that yogini is the term for females.