A lunch cooked for day one of Michael Rossoff‘s three day workshop Basic Alchemy, hosted by the Concord Institute. We created a delicious Puy Lentil, Pea, Mint & Lettuce Soup, followed by a plate of Rice & Barley, Age Dashi Tofu with a rich Mushroom Gravy, Carrots slow cooked in Sesame Oil with Chives & Butter and a Watercress Salad with Daikon, Granny Smith Apple and a Tahini Orange dressing. To finish, an Almond Cookie dessert served with Oatly Vanilla Cream.

Excuse me for banging on. But there’s a course happening on May 20-22 called Basic Alchemy, held by a guy called Michael Rossoff. Not just any guy, he’s one of the pioneers of integrated health, incorporating Eastern and Western health and nutrition in a readily accessible and very powerful way. Its no exaggeration to say that my time spent with him has helped to transform my relationship to health and wellbeing. I also had a personal consultation with him, which provided some tools for me to address my approach to nutrition,  shed some light on my constitution, and happened to give me a full and comprehensive breakdown of my personal history and current challenges based on an examination of my face, tongue and eyes, and by drawing a quick sketch. Bargain.

When we are engaged in regular workshops and practices where we are seeking to advance ourselves, there is a danger of everything merging together to appear to be of a similar nature, and perhaps benefit. I have taken part in a whole array of things, as perhaps you have too. But if you want to explore the very core of our Being in a fundamental way,  our relationship to health and the idea of ‘illness,’ then Basic Alchemy is simply the business.

If Basic Alchemy appeals to you, or  a private consultation with Michael while he is here, please contact him directly by email.

Details about Basic Alchemy. Michael’s website.

I had been learning about macrobiotics on a more practical level, having participated in some cooking intensives and thought I had a pretty good idea of the energy of food, how to balance a plate out with grains/greens/proteins etc, that was, until I sat down on the Friday morning of Basic Alchemy and met the course leader Michael Rossoff.

I had a couple of specific health issues: My liver and kidneys had taken a bit of a bashing over the years but mainly I wanted to be a healthier human being, and as a side thought I wanted to see if I could start to harness the mass amount of energy that I have into a more focused direction instead of frittering it away. After spending 3 days with Michael I was more than equipped to start a life time’s journey into taking real care of these issues.

I wanted to share part of my story with you as Michael only comes to London once a year. I wholeheartedly recommend anyone to spend three days in this workshop.

Michael is booked to teach Basic Alchemy at the Concord Institute on May 20-22. Here’s what he has to say about the course:

“This 3-day intensive will give you a solid foundation in the art and practice of self healing. You will gain insights into the connections between your body, mind, emotional and spiritual consciousness. You will learn how to use the simple tool of yin-yang thinking for understanding health and sickness; you will gain practical information on foods and other approaches to healing. I will guide you in understanding many issues from the perspective of both oriental medicine and contemporary western thought about food and health. There are many ways to discover and explore a new way of seeing. I will also teach powerful acupressure points, basic shiatsu massage techniques and simple qi gong exercises. You will receive useful handouts and there will be ample time for discussions.”

Zoë x

Course details
Fee: £350 (deposit: £100, non-refundable)
A wholefood lunch will be provided each day

2011 dates
May 20, 21 & 22: 10am to 7pm

If you would like to register please call 020 7607 1140 or 07818 231 298

This is an invitation which goes out to one and all. Basic Alchemy is a wonderful overview of Eastern medicine, explored by a Westerner (Macrobiotic Healer, Counselor & Teacher Michael Rossoff) who manages to bring the two worlds together, within an incredible grounding of traditional Macrobiotics. That’s the philosophy, not the ‘diet’ which exists, an interpretation which veers towards a weird sort of health and healing fanaticism. I recommend the course fully. You’ll be introduced to ideas both new and yet vaguely unfamiliar. If you’re prepared to go in leaving your preconceptions at the door, you are likely to leave inspired and empowered in your relationship to health. The course takes place on May 20,21 & 22. Contact the Concord Institute for details.

Jean Torné & Michael Rossoff, two pioneers in the art of Macrobiotics, in the kitchen of Concord Institute, during Michael’s Basic Alchemy workshop.

A Spring Vegetable Consomme, Millet cooked with Onions, served with a light Mushroom & Onion Sauce, Blanched Carrots and Asparagus Spears, a side plate of Rocket with Tempeh chips with an emulsified Wholegrain Mustard and Balsamic Vinegar dressing.

Followed by a delicious fruit Tart, using Wholemeal Flour, Coconut and Safflower Oil. A Blind baked Pie base, filled with a Apricot and Strawberry puree, and topped with Summer Fruits.

See Michael in action here: The Power of Natural Healing (video link)
For more programme details, please contact the Concord Institute on 020 7607 1140.