COURSES
What will I learn?

As time passes since I began this journey of teaching whole foods cooking, I have become aware of so much conflicting information regarding "proper nutrition" and what is really healthy for each unique person.
Some of the issues causing mass confusion that arise in every course are:
Some of the issues causing mass confusion that arise in every course are:
- Should I stay away from all grains; what is the difference between whole grains and refined carbohydrates?
- Should I eat carbohydrates? Some books say that carbohydrates turn into sugar in the system and should be minimized. What is a complex carbohydrate?
- What is appropriate salt use? Some say don't use any salt, or is some quality sea salt necessary in our diets and why?
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These are indicative of the many questions that come up for people making a dietary transition, and to further explain the type of information covered in the basic course taught at The Great Life Cooking School. The macrobiotic approach to life is more than just diet...it is looking at balance on many levels in one's lifestyle: Eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty, resting when tired, balancing work with relaxation, exercise with rest, socializing with solitude. Many of us are caught up in a hectic lifestyle and know now that it is the time to address our eating and cooking habits. We know intuitively that it is time to get this area of our life on track. Fortunately as this aligns many other things do as well. It is balance on all levels.

My aim in these courses is to ignite your spark for making a move towards balance and to learn to cook these vibrant and vital whole foods that are given to us by nature whole grains, vegetables, sea vegetables, beans and more... The goal is to gain a practical understanding of how to transform these foods into delicious and balanced meals leading to a new beginning towards health and vibrancy.
Through making the transition to whole foods, your own body and intuition will tell you moment-to-moment what are the right food choices for you. Understanding whole foods and how to cook them is the first step!
Through making the transition to whole foods, your own body and intuition will tell you moment-to-moment what are the right food choices for you. Understanding whole foods and how to cook them is the first step!
Who should take these courses?
- Anyone who is interested in recovering their intuition and common sense knowledge about what to eat & how to cook to create health and happiness.
- Anyone who is currently eating a healthy diet but would like to expand on steamed veggies and rice to make whole foods delicious and varied.
- Anyone who has signs of low energy, lethargy or yo-yo mood swings, and they sense that it is due to an unbalanced diet.
- Anyone who has been diagnosed with some 21st century dis-ease and wants to begin the journey toward self-healing recognizing that diet is one important part of the big picture.
- Anyone who is a carer/cook for someone on a special diet (i.e. low-fat, diabetic, Pritikin, etc.) and would like to expand their cooking expertise.
- Anyone who would like to have some fun experimenting with new tastes and new foods in a playful yet informative way.
BASIC WHOLE FOODS / MACROBIOTIC COOKING - 6 weeks
In this course, we will cover the basic foods of macrobiotic cooking and different ways of preparing them. This includes grains, vegetables, beans, soy products i.e. tofu , tempeh and miso, sea vegetables, sourdough bread, soups and naturally sweetened desserts.
We will also learn about the yin/yang qualities of different foods in order to balance them for optimum health of body/mind and moods.
We will learn to make a wide variety of grains, land and sea vegetables, sourdough bread and sourdough pancakes, tofu patties, delicious soups using miso, Mexican Beans, Chickpea Pate, Cous-cous Cake with Fruit Sauce and Apricot Mousse to name a few, plus several healing drinks. We will have a yummy meal, naturally, at the end of each class.
We will also learn about the yin/yang qualities of different foods in order to balance them for optimum health of body/mind and moods.
We will learn to make a wide variety of grains, land and sea vegetables, sourdough bread and sourdough pancakes, tofu patties, delicious soups using miso, Mexican Beans, Chickpea Pate, Cous-cous Cake with Fruit Sauce and Apricot Mousse to name a few, plus several healing drinks. We will have a yummy meal, naturally, at the end of each class.

The course runs once a week for 6 weeks and class lasts approximately 3 hours. The cost for the six weeks is $420.
All ingredients will be organic and bio-dynamic unless unavailable. You will need to bring a bread tin for one of the lessons. You will also receive a notebook of notes and approximately 120 recipes.
This way of eating as well as the course is 95% gluten free by nature - the few times we do use spelt (for example in the sourdough bread), there will be an option presented for gluten-free.
Basic Course Dates:
NOVEMBER 7th - DECEMBER 12th, 2015
Saturday mornings, 9:30am-12:30pm
Perfect way to make genuine life changes to start off 2016 with a direction
towards more health, more vitality, more joy
All ingredients will be organic and bio-dynamic unless unavailable. You will need to bring a bread tin for one of the lessons. You will also receive a notebook of notes and approximately 120 recipes.
This way of eating as well as the course is 95% gluten free by nature - the few times we do use spelt (for example in the sourdough bread), there will be an option presented for gluten-free.
Basic Course Dates:
NOVEMBER 7th - DECEMBER 12th, 2015
Saturday mornings, 9:30am-12:30pm
Perfect way to make genuine life changes to start off 2016 with a direction
towards more health, more vitality, more joy
Just felt I wanted to say a final thank you for such a great course. You always are so enthusiastic and passionate about what you do, it affects us all, and we are inspired.
Thank you, thank you, thank you
~Susan, physiotherapist June, 2011
Thank you, thank you, thank you
~Susan, physiotherapist June, 2011
RESET THE BALANCE BUTTON and JOURNEY FROM SAD TO GLAD - 6 weeks.

An invitation to a transformational 6-week journey.
Sometimes the body/mind/soul ask to press the reset button in order to return to balance - a detoxification, clearing out the old, placing new healthful habits in motion. An invitation to a transformational 6-week journey for those who would like to have an experience of the healing, regenerative dimension of wholefoods/macrobiotics. This is designed for those who would like to experience a genuine, shift in their health through balanced eating - no gimmicks, no shortcuts. Alchemy in the kitchen! Careful instruction in cooking, meal planning, food selection as well as guidance in lifestyle changes based on
traditional principles of balance, harmony and simplicity. We will customise food choices for each person’s individual condition.
Sometimes the body/mind/soul ask to press the reset button in order to return to balance - a detoxification, clearing out the old, placing new healthful habits in motion. An invitation to a transformational 6-week journey for those who would like to have an experience of the healing, regenerative dimension of wholefoods/macrobiotics. This is designed for those who would like to experience a genuine, shift in their health through balanced eating - no gimmicks, no shortcuts. Alchemy in the kitchen! Careful instruction in cooking, meal planning, food selection as well as guidance in lifestyle changes based on
traditional principles of balance, harmony and simplicity. We will customise food choices for each person’s individual condition.
This course is designed for:

- those who have been dabbling in whole foods but are now ready to create a solid foundation of balanced, healthy eating
- those who are dealing with any degenerative health condition and want to make a transition quickly and effectively
- those who are dealing with overloaded systems whether it manifests as excess weight or excess symptoms i.e. hayfever, allergies, digestive problems etc.
- those who want to learn to cook in the most simple and natural way without the need for excessive salt, oils or spices to create the most delicious, nutritious food ever!
- those who have completed Sahaja's basic course but want a more comprehensive experience of macrobiotic diet and lifestyle
This course costs $420 and it runs for 3 hours once a week for 6 weeks. Ongoing notes and recipes are provided.
Follow-up dinners continue to happen, organized by the students to keep up the support and comraderie that was established during the course.
Follow-up dinners continue to happen, organized by the students to keep up the support and comraderie that was established during the course.
RESET THE BALANCE BUTTON Dates:
TO BE ANNOUNCED 2016
Saturday mornings, 9:30am-12:30pm
If you want to register your interest for this couse next year, let me know. I will ask for a $100 deposit to hold your place. Group limited to 10 people.
TO BE ANNOUNCED 2016
Saturday mornings, 9:30am-12:30pm
If you want to register your interest for this couse next year, let me know. I will ask for a $100 deposit to hold your place. Group limited to 10 people.
SEASONAL CLASSES: SUMMER COOKING
Summer cooking is quite a different experience than winter cooking in the world of wholefoods - longer cooked soups and stews make way for more raw food, quick stir-fries, lighter creative salads using wholegrains, yummy beans and lots of crispy, crunchy organic vegetables.
This is a short 3 week course to get inspired for the New Year and to create fabulous balanced, delicious meals for the hottest months of the year downunder.
Dates: TBA
Cost: $240
This is a short 3 week course to get inspired for the New Year and to create fabulous balanced, delicious meals for the hottest months of the year downunder.
Dates: TBA
Cost: $240
SOCCA TO ME SOCCA TWO WAYS! A gluten-free delight!

I am so excited that last time I was in America, I came across someone who taught me about Socca, a traditional Italian food that ranges from pancakes to crepes to pizza base - the perfect wrap for gluten-free people. Delighted now that I have now spent time perfecting this to teach it to you!
We will do the Socca two ways - one as a pizza base with caramelized onion topping plus a variety of other traditional pizza toppings, mushrooms, capsicum, my macro "gorgonzola" sauce - definitely will become a family favourite. The other way will be as a wrap with a delicious kale and pine-nut filling with sweet/savoury balance.
Socca is easy to make, completely gluten-free and has no limit to the creativity that can come from one concept.
CONTACT FOR FUTURE DATES
Cost: $80
Call 9414 9992 to book in or email sahaja@thegreatlife.com.au
We will do the Socca two ways - one as a pizza base with caramelized onion topping plus a variety of other traditional pizza toppings, mushrooms, capsicum, my macro "gorgonzola" sauce - definitely will become a family favourite. The other way will be as a wrap with a delicious kale and pine-nut filling with sweet/savoury balance.
Socca is easy to make, completely gluten-free and has no limit to the creativity that can come from one concept.
CONTACT FOR FUTURE DATES
Cost: $80
Call 9414 9992 to book in or email sahaja@thegreatlife.com.au
POTLUCK MEALS

An opportunity to come and share a meal with others making the change to healthy eating. Potlucks are traditional in macrobiotic communities all over the world, and we are starting our own traditions here in West Australia. It's a lovely opportunity to sample a variety of tasty dishes and each person prepares only one dish.
There is the opportunity to share experiences with others, browse through the library of books and have a celebration of whole and natural foods.
Sometimes life gets busy and we don't have a potluck scheduled for sometime, however if there is the desire for a few to come together then let me know and we will set the next date soon. And if anyone wants to host the next potluck and/or offer their space as the venue , that is wonderful also - we have been to the hills and by the sea and across from the bush.
There is the opportunity to share experiences with others, browse through the library of books and have a celebration of whole and natural foods.
Sometimes life gets busy and we don't have a potluck scheduled for sometime, however if there is the desire for a few to come together then let me know and we will set the next date soon. And if anyone wants to host the next potluck and/or offer their space as the venue , that is wonderful also - we have been to the hills and by the sea and across from the bush.

Sometimes people feel quite alone on their journey towards healthy eating - what does that say about the society we live in right now? An opportunity to see that you are not alone in your commitment to change is always supportive and inspiring.
It is necessary to book in as each person will be given a category from which to choose his dish i.e. a bean or a grain or a vegetable dish. That way we are guaranteed to get a wide variety and not just a table of noodle puddings (although that might not be too bad!)
TBA
Contact for venue address
It is necessary to book in as each person will be given a category from which to choose his dish i.e. a bean or a grain or a vegetable dish. That way we are guaranteed to get a wide variety and not just a table of noodle puddings (although that might not be too bad!)
TBA
Contact for venue address