AprilCrowell.com

13/11/2025

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12/11/2025

This creamy Pumpkin Soup recipe from 1651 is simple and definitely worth a spot on your Thanksgiving table. Full recipe at tastinghistory.com

12/11/2025

Brotchán Roy or Brotchán Foltchep is a traditional Irish soup made from oats, leeks and often parsnips and carrots. It’s a simple, inexpensive food and a staple in many Irish households. Oats and barley were the primary grains of Ireland before wheat started running amok. Likewise, parsnips and carrots were the dominant roots before the humble potato appeared. Like so many soups, feel free to alter this recipe, try adding in leafy greens or young nettle tops. Though many recipes call for adding milk (as a part of the total liquid) I prefer to leave it out and allow the creaminess to come from the oats breaking down. The oats are sweet in nature so don't hesitate to use more leeks. A wonderful warming comfort food.
🥣
Ingredients
4 -5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup uncooked organic rolled oats
2 - 4 large leeks sliced and cleaned
2 Tbsp butter
2 large parsnips peeled and sliced
salt and pepper to taste
fresh parsley
cream or milk optional
🥣
Instructions
In a medium pan or medium heat, bring the stock to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and spring in the oats. Stir well to keep the oats from clumping. In a skillet, melt the butter. Add in leeks and cook over gentle heat until soft. Add leeks and roots to stock and simmer for 30 - 40 minutes or until roots are soft. Season with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with parsley, maybe a little cream and chives. Garnish with parsley.
Recipe highlights - Oats are sweet, warming and nourishing. They are one of the grains high in iodine and therefore they help regulate the Kidneys and thyroid. Also high in silicon, oats calm the nervous system, and they moisten the intestines. Warming and comforting they anchor they root the spirit. The leeks are mildly pungent and help drain damp, aid digestion. The roots are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates providing a long steady energy level. They nourish the digestive system and aid the Stomach and Spleen.
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12/11/2025

Yes, you can still join my Evergreen Group!
Today's live session is Welcoming Winter. Wednesday, November 12th, 11-11:45 (MT) via Zoom.

This is an excellent way to start learning Chinese medicine, holistic health and seasonal living without committing to a long program. Bite sized treasures. Follow along in the ebook as we explore the seasons and more.

The membership also includes --
🍀☯ Pop-ins. 1 quick reel a month. I will pop up a quick reel for the group in between live session that will be a relative topic or direct answers to questions.
🍀☯Exclusive blog and recipe content
🍀☯Enrollment into select courses such as Surviving Summer's Heat
🍀☯Q & A
🍀☯You will have unlimited access to content while you are enrolled.
🍀☯10% discount on any courses not included in this membership.
🌲🍃🍀☯
What's covered?
🍀Introductory level Chinese medicine theories and principles — Yin & Yang, 5 Element, Organ/Channel theory — and how you can apply them in your life from the physical realm to the psycho-spiritual realm and current events.
🍀Self Amma and point work for common patterns of disharmony.
🍀Food as medicine and seasonal recipes.
🍀Why you may want to plant yarrow.
🍀Simple sustainability steps you can make around the home and garden.
🍀Kitchen remedies and practices.
🌲🍃🍀☯
There is no scheduled end date, join anytime.
Walk through the seasons with me in light and delight.
Learn more! https://aprilcrowell.com/courses/evergreengroupblog

11/11/2025

“Experience life in all possible ways --
good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light,
summer-winter. Experience all the dualities.
Don't be afraid of experience, because
the more experience you have, the more
mature you become.”
― Osho

11/11/2025

Yes, you can still join my Evergreen Group!
Tomorrow's live session is Welcoming Winter. Wednesday, November 12th, 11-11:45 (MT) via Zoom.

This is an excellent way to start learning Chinese medicine, holistic health and seasonal living without committing to a long program. Bite sized treasures. Follow along in the ebook as we explore the seasons and more.

The membership also includes --
🍀☯ Pop-ins. 1 quick reel a month. I will pop up a quick reel for the group in between live session that will be a relative topic or direct answers to questions.
🍀☯Exclusive blog and recipe content
🍀☯Enrollment into select courses such as Surviving Summer's Heat
🍀☯Q & A
🍀☯You will have unlimited access to content while you are enrolled.
🍀☯10% discount on any courses not included in this membership.
🌲🍃🍀☯
What's covered?
🍀Introductory level Chinese medicine theories and principles — Yin & Yang, 5 Element, Organ/Channel theory — and how you can apply them in your life from the physical realm to the psycho-spiritual realm and current events.
🍀Self Amma and point work for common patterns of disharmony.
🍀Food as medicine and seasonal recipes.
🍀Why you may want to plant yarrow.
🍀Simple sustainability steps you can make around the home and garden.
🍀Kitchen remedies and practices.
🌲🍃🍀☯
There is no scheduled end date, join anytime.
Walk through the seasons with me in light and delight.
Learn more! https://aprilcrowell.com/courses/evergreengroupblog

10/11/2025

Are you ready to learn Amma?
I will take on 2-6 apprentices in late January or early February. We are in the planning stages. This will be a hybrid course with some classes taught live online, some recorded with follow up Q & A sessions, and technique classes in person.
If you are interested in learning this incredible form of Asian bodywork, join us via Zoom.

☯☯Tuesday, December 2nd, 5:30 PM (MT).☯☯

Amma therapy is a classical Asian bodywork style that predates acupuncture. Amma, literally push-pull, is the oldest known Chinese words to describe bodywork. Highly specialized, Amma combines deep rhythmic, circular digital pressure and acupressure point stimulation with Asian medical principles for accessing and treating imbalances in the energy system. Like acupuncture and other Asian bodywork forms, Amma focuses on the balance and movement of Qi (energy) within the body. The acupuncturist inserts needles into the energy pathways to stimulate and move the energy, while the Amma practitioner relies on sensitivity and strength of the hands to manipulate the client's Qi. Treatment is individualized addressing each person's specific needs.

Amma Apprenticeship 2026 -- 500 Hr Program At A Glance

☯Foundational Theories (100 hrs)
☯Amma Tech 1 & 2 (80 hrs)
☯Applied Tech 1 & 2 (80 hrs)
☯Student Clinic (70 hrs)
☯Western Anatomy and Physiology (100 hours) — acquired elsewhere
☯Others (70 - 80 hours)

☯Program curriculum
☯Scheduling — We have several different options to consider.
☯Fees
☯Some students may have already acquired portions of the curriculum — I will review on individual basis.

All course material is applicable to meet AOBTAⓇ (Asian Bodywork Therapies of America) requirements and may fulfill CEU’s/PDA’s for NCCAOM and NCMTMBA.

I look forward to teaching you. Please share the word. Click the link below to send me an email that you plan to attend and I will send out reminder emails before the meeting.
https://aprilcrowell.com/courses/ammaapprenticeshipmeeting

10/11/2025

If you're determined to think of yourself as limited, fearful, vulnerable, or scarred by past experience, know only that you have chosen to do so. The opportunity to experience yourself differently is always available.
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

09/11/2025

😴
I am a firm believer in the benefits of naps. Cat naps, long naps, even the occasional pj day, where you may drift in and out of sleep - or a hurkle durkle day as the Scottish call it. There are hundreds of creditable studies that attest to the numerous benefits of napping during the day. Rest, sleep, and quiet times restore, reduce stress, and heighten awareness. ..ah....
For some, a short nap - maybe just 15-30 mins. Others may find an hour long nap is best for their system. It's individualized and can shift as your body's needs vary.
😴
I regularly recommend naps for my clients - young and old. It's interesting to note that many of my senior clients are the ones who feel guilty or lazy for taking an afternoon repose. I have to chalk some of this up to generational and cultural conditioning. It is true that our society places emphasis on productivity, go, go, go - contribute to the gross national product -- a conscious mindset shift may be in order to help you find the benefits of napping.
😴
In Japan, the practice of "Inumeri" dates back for millennium. Translated as "sleeping while present" is considered an act of diligence. It's not quite napping, and it's not really considered sleep. Rather it is similar to daydreaming. It's a state of waking sleep that you are free to indulge in so long as you can return to the social situation at hand. They may doze at their desk, on the subway, in stores, cafes, and many work places have spaces set up to encourage a little inumeri. You've probably experienced it - drifting off while your baby slept, maybe in a class room, it's not uncommon for caregivers. You are relaxed but can quickly come back to awareness as the situation demands. You are still on duty.
😴
Feeling like a little snooze yet? See if you can slip a few more into your life.
Visit Aprilcrowell.com for recipes, blogs and more. Sign up for my newsletter.

09/11/2025

08/11/2025

Apologia
While cleaning out old records, I stumbled on something that still hovers over me. Let me start by saying, I should have been more transparent in regards to my split with my old business partners, and that I committed no crime, took no money or goods.

In reflection, I did not clearly communicate to some family, clients, alumni, and members of the community what had happened. I am aware of the rumors and false accusations that are still milling about, so it is time to clear the air.

In March of 2019, I submitted a written notice of my intent to leave the partnership at Pulse. I gave them a year’s notice and was committed to staying on in the acting partner role to help them make whatever transitions they chose. Perhaps I would stay and rent, it all depended on a number of factors. By January 2020, the pandemic hit and I stopped treating clients and it became very apparent to me I was not aligned with my partners anymore. In March of 2020, I let them know that I would not be returning to work at Pulse.

This brought up more contention and conflict. They refused to remove me from the lease, other accounts, or to take down my intellectual property from the website. They removed all of my belongings from my room and I was told to come pick them up immediately and surrender my keys — which I did.

In August of 2020, I filed in small claims as they still had not removed me from the lease. That was settled out of court in mediation in October of 2020 with them having to remove me from all leases, contracts, removing all my intellectual property from their website, and they had to pay a small amount in damages.

During the summer of 2020, they accused me of embezzling money from the company. I did not steal any money and the police report shows that the allegations were unfounded and that I had committed no crime.

Both of these legal matters are in public records and accessible.

I hope this creates greater clarity. It took time, contemplation, counsel, and it was difficult to decide what to share and how much to defend myself in this matter.

I am grateful to family and friends who offered support, wise counsel and love.
Thank you.
Onward,
April