Morning routines are like personal style; cultivated with artful self-awareness and speaking volumes about an individual’s truest nature. We’re constantly peeking into the AM habits of wellness pros we love, and one look at our morning with Julie Piatt, aka SriMati, will explain why we’re obsessed.
This vegan chef, mother, creative, yogi and spiritual wellness pro radiates with an energy that feels grounded, clear and wise — an achievement anywhere, but especially in LA. From naturally rising with dawn (and “downloading messages from the soul” while the sun catches up) to kundalini breathwork before an energy-activating breakfast, everything about Julie’s morning routine reflects her approach to wellness in the most authentic and inspiring way.
Lately, we’re obsessing over her new plant-based cookbook, This Cheese Is Nuts, where we scored this ridiculously delicious almond cheddar recipe and the dreamy vegan cheese sauce below. Do yourself a favor and dive in to a morning with Julie… No alarm – too violent for my system. I wake up naturally, usually very early before dawn. I can simply ask my body to wake me and she usually does with messages from my soul. Drinking a large glass of body-temp water all at once as a flush. It’s an ancient ayurvedic secret for health. This gets my system flowing and toxins that have accumulated in the night can be flushed out. Savory warm oatmeal porridge. This warm, grounding meal helps balance my adrenals by regulating my energy. I sometimes add in fresh herbs and Celtic sea salt, fresh soaked goji berries and walnuts, but they have to be cooked with the oatmeal or soaked prior. I can’t eat a huge portion, only a generous handful. Cashew cacao latte sweetened with dates. Striped dropped-crotch pants by Lucy Pinter for Superfine, Industry of All Nations T-shirt, rose quartz cuff by Lena jewelry, my own vintage cowboy hat punched out, worn and adorned with a local owl feather that I found on the trails. I am working on a line of ceremonial minimal clothing. A collection that will work for all timelines and dimensions. The state between sleeping and waking where I receive messages from my soul… it’s my most potent download time. Do an open-eye meditation on the sun rising over the hills, listening to nature waking up… and chanting a mantra to the sun. My work is creating, so I start creating by 10:00 or maybe 9:00 or maybe 7:00. It is always different… Incense, candles and pu’er tea from either Living Tea or Global Tea Hut, which is a donation-based tea subscription where I can join with other tea drinkers all over the world and connect through the messages from the trees. Doing my own vinyasa flow series… JAI Yoga. I teach this on retreat to all levels. It is a strong practice that is connected to the breath and embodying our physical vehicles as our own self-sustainable ecosystems. Guru Singh’s kundalini breath series. Just one set of breathing practices can shift your entire perspective and energy signature. It’s a go-to for clearing out the residue. Plant-based cheese, minimalism and curated ceremonial clothing. Ravi Shankar, Grizzly Bear or Feist. Rich Roll, my husband and beloved. Mesa Verde in Santa Barbara. And always mantra: I am love. My most delicious warm cashew cheese sauce for pizzas and nachos. Cashew cheese sauce 2 cups cashews Blend all ingredients in a blender.My alarm is set for…
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The recipe I’m making:
Ingredients:
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup miso paste
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
squeeze of lemon juiceDirections: