Feel The Love

The rain came down so gently all day Saturday, which encouraged us to snuggle a little closer indoors with those we love. Our February From Mat to Table experience, Feel the Love, involved lots of snuggles, loving, touching and squeezing.

Beautiful white roses were scatted throughout the house amongst dozens of tea candles. The smell of lavender and peppermint oils hung in the air. And, the gentle buzz of conversation commenced as our community started to gather for their next adventure on a single mat, ready to dive right into the ancient practice of Thai Massage.

We started with some standing partner poses, mirroring warrior two and triangle pose together, and gently opened up the heart space. On the floor, we flowed in and out of some hip openers and breathed our way through some spinal twists.

When it was time to dim the lights and start the massages, we played rock-paper-scissors for who would get to go first. With our partner lying in Savasana, we began with the calves and slowly compressed our way to their quads. It wasn’t long before we intentionally moved our way up to the crown of the head. We offered some guidance through a few gentle neck elongations and suggestions for rubbing the temples, forehead and scalps. With assistance, we flipped our lovers on to their stomachs. Here tender loving care was paid to their shoulders, feet and hands. The practice ended with both parties feeling equally refreshed, aligned and more connected than ever. 

After a lot of physical touch, each couple exchanged a kiss, a few words of affirmation and two-by-two they flowed From Mat to Table.

In the kitchen, Karli had a the ovens, stove, slow cooker, and grill rolling with aphrodisiacs. Nothing makes a Valentine’s Day more complete than oysters and champagne. One hundred fresh Blue Point Oysters were shucked and served three ways: Raw, on the half-shell with lemons, cocktail, hot, and a mignonette sauce; Rockefeller style, with country bacon, spinach, and shaved parmesan; and, Frenched, yes…just like the kiss, and just like the soup! 

Our second course was a field greens salad with candied walnuts, an assortment of berries and homemade dressings. Some enjoyed a red-wine vinaigrette with chopped Italian herbs, and others drizzled the gorgeous pink Cupid's dressing onto their salads, a Greek yogurt-base, emulsified with roasted beets, shallots and garlic.

Our main course was homemade fusilli pasta served with a light Fra Diablo Rose Vodka sauce. The accompanying meat included a side of two different fresh stuffed sausages: spicy Italian and country-style. Herb encrusted hot buns and butter were passed, and the groups bellies were filled with so much goodness. We ended the evening with chocolate covered strawberries, espresso and a few whipped cream body shots! 

There was magic and love and so much togetherness. The more gratitude we feel, the more we realize there is an infinite supply. Namaste to each of the beautiful people who joined us, the local markets that help support our dreams, and the universe for all of the blessings we continue to receive. 

-Molly & Karli 

Share the Love

After the last guest left the cozy, candlelit house our eyes reconnected. A simultaneous, deep breath of gratitude for another amazing experience. A mutual agreement that each event is truly our new favorite.

The night started with a toast to celebrate coming together to share the love. The couples who joined us were about to embrace some magic. Some partners more apprehensive than others about what the evening might hold. A wonderful mixed group of talent, including a few virgin yogis. 

Our hope for each From Mat to Table experience is to create a comfortable environment that encourages every level of talent on the mat and in the kitchen. 

The group made their way to the basement. As they reached the bottom of the steps, they were warmly greeted with a crackling wood-fire, a lingering aroma of lavender and a variety of massage oils. Sharing a mat, each couple snuggled in close to each other and started to enjoy some acoustic vibrations.  

The gentle flow began with some partner stretches as we opened our bodies to each other. Sweet words were exchanged, along with a little laughter and giggling. Everyone opened their minds and hearts to this shared experience. Applying coconut oil, lavender and some eucalyptus, the connections started to grow deeper between the partners. Each couple took turns gently massaging their partner using ancient Thai techniques. Molly acquired this knowledge through her own studies and from some of the amazing mentors she worked with on her spiritual journey. 

By the end of the 90 minute yoga session, everyone looked as though they come out of a long winters nap. Hungry like the wolves, the group quickly became attuned to the scent of thyme and rosemary permeating through the floors. We closed the practice with a gentle kiss, and gracefully flowed to the kitchen. 

Upstairs, Karli and her husband were busy with the meal. The table was set for fourteen.  Dozens of delicate candles were placed throughout the dining area. And one hundred oysters were underway, being shucked from their gorgeous iridescent shells. 

One of the ways we wanted to share the love with you was to serve you an entire aphrodisiac meal. Aphrodisiac foods literally increase blood flow, spark creativity, and boost hormones that stimulate excitement. 

We started the evening serving oysters, two ways. Raw (on the half-shell) and Rockefeller-style (broiled with spinach, bacon and parmesan cheese). One hundred oysters later, we think we successfully boosted everyones dopamine and libido. If Cleopatra and Casanova had one thing in common it was their love of oysters! 

The second course was a luscious spinach salad, smothered in a silky vinaigrette and topped with candied nuts. It was certainly getting hot in the kitchen, but we politely reminded our guests to please keep their clothes on. (See attire section on our FAQs page.)

For the main course, we rubbed down some naughty pork tenderloins in fresh herbs and garlic, and then put those bad boys in the oven. They were gently drizzled with a lovely cherry compote. (Who doesn't want a plump cherry on top?) Cherries are loaded with potassium, directly linked to our sexual hormones.

Everyone enjoyed a hot side of broiled asparagus, as they tried not to get too excited about its sexy shape. This vegetable is packed with vitamin B and folate which aids in the production of histamine. (Why did our guests care about Vitamin B, folate and histamine? Because they promote a healthy sex drive!) This meal was snuggled right into a soft bed of whole grains. And for some, thrown on the bed of grains, because they liked it that way. 

The night ended with a beautiful tray of chocolate covered strawberries. Cacao contains a super chemical called phenethylamine that increases excitement and well being. Yes, we did a little more than just satisfy a sweet tooth or two. 

We gathered, we got vulnerable, and the entire event was so magical. We are grateful for those adventurous enough to bring their partners to share the love through this experience. 

Namaste Loves.

(From Mat to Table is not responsible for potential growth of the human race nine months from now.)