Search

Do your eyes feel fatigue or strain?  Add Ayurvedic self-care to take care of any eye weariness and to soothe tired eyes. Your eyes use the majority of your sensory energy.  They are the organs of sight, a source of connection and learning.  Vision is meant to be a gateway to beauty and inspiration. The eyes …

The internet proliferates with recipes for Ayurvedic foods. You can find ‘Ayurvedic’ recipes for everything from smoothies to popsicles to kale chips. What makes these recipes particularly Ayurvedic? Is it the spices, the ingredients or the combinations? How can you determine whether a recipe is Ayurvedic or not? Ayurvedic foods are not necessarily Indian—any cuisine …

Find the ability to connect with your inner self, listen to the voice of your body and ask yourself openly: Question #1 – How am I doing right now? While this may seem easy and obvious, we are often too busy and have too hectic lifestyles to truly listen to our bodies.  Let’s imagine a …

I live in Mexico half the year and spend a chunk of time each week on a paddle board. We have a fleet to meet the different conditions and opportunities. I’m studying paddle technique because I’m clearly not doing it in a sustainable way. My left piriformis is in a knot, my right trapezius is …

As we end this year and start a new one, I knew the way I could be of most use to you is to tell you what I’ve learned about habits. Habits – which are the un-sexy, un-scintillating backbone of their most illustrious comrade: goals. If you set goals in 2015 you didn’t reach, it’s …

Here’s the deal. I don’t smoke. I barely drink alcohol, apart from the odd light beer when I want to celebrate something. I don’t drink coffee. And, I’ve cut down on my cookie and chocolate habit. So, what have I got left on my list of vices?  Tea. Yep…. black tea with a little milk. …

Between 40-60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed directly into the body. Unlike the digestive system, however, the skin does not have the same lines of defense. Molecules small enough to be absorbed directly into the blood stream will pass right through. In the case of self-massage with certified organic oils, porousness can …

The principles of Ayurveda are very logical and comprehensive and can be easily applied to diagnose a person’s condition so that you can come up with an appropriate action plan. To do this, we need to look at Specific Symptoms & Signs. General appearance: A Vata body is one which thin, small bones, sinewy and without …

With aging it’s possible you may face memory loss. This is different from memory loss due to disease. Memory loss or forgetfulness may vary from mild to moderate and it is a normal part of aging. As we grow older changes occur all over the body including the brain. So forgetting a birthday or the …

Cooked pumpkin has many health benefits. As an Ayurvedic practitioner, it’s easy to advise you to give your kids pumpkin. As a mom however I understand it’s not such an easy task. So here are five different Ayurvedic pumpkin recipes for kids, all of which are healthy and tasty. But first let’s look at the benefits. …

Do you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night? If that’s you—to any degree—you’re dealing with insomnia. A main key to Ayurveda’s cure for insomnia is RHYTHM in your life.  And in most cases, your sleep rhythm is off because your foundational biorhythm or circadian rhythm is off. Ayurvedically speaking, insomnia is caused …

To me it’s children who make summer. Otherwise, you just have time passing by. But with children, there’s surfing, swimming, kayaking, biking, yoga in the park, picnics at the beach, aloe on the sunburn, shoulder rides, and a whole lot of salty hugs. Of course, there’s another thing that makes the season: ripe, juicy peaches. Since we have an …

Well beloved, as much as we might want it to be summer forever, it is surely fall. I am not sure what this means to people who live in warmer climates like Florida, but in Canada (and other such northerly places) this means it is a bit windier than usual. It’s a bit too cool …

Health in Ayurveda is having a symptom free body and, a happy and content state of mind. Many women struggle with a lack of happy and content state of mind prior to menstruation. Balanced menstruation occurs when the cycle is regular and predictable, you notice no comfort before, during or after the menses. It means …

Stress is a normal physical response to events that make us feel threatened or upset our balance in some way. When we sense danger – whether real or imagined – the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or stress response. The stress response is the body’s …

Turmoil and uncertainty fill the air these days. Seemingly irreparable divides fracture our politics. Folks on both sides of the aisle experience aversion to those they disagree with and inner peace is easily lost. Many of us are experiencing increased anxiety, insomnia and often times a boiling anger. Others are plagued with dread. Healthy habits …

Stop Exercising Wrong! Exercise for Your Dosha- I have an inspiring story and goodies about exercise for your dosha. This afternoon I felt super sluggish and just wanted to sleep. Being 8.5 months pregnant I suppose that’s not too odd. But the thing is, I wasn’t just tired, I was kinda…lifeless (I know my body …

I’m sure you’ve seen this movie cliche. It’s early morning; a couple wakes up in bed and immediately starts kissing and making out. It’s a staple of romantic comedies everywhere. The first thought I have when I see this: “Wow, they must have really good Agni!” Yes, I’m an Ayurvedic geek, because I watch movies …

Though dates are highly nutritious and delicious they are heavy on the digestion and may aggravate Kapha dosha. To pacify the aggravated Kapha and in order to make them light for digestion, dates can be pickled. Here’s a fantastic recipe for date pickle, as well as some great information about the nutritional benefits of dates. …

I am always amazed to read yoga teachers bios that go on about how peaceful and heavenly Yoga has made them and that they claim to exist in a state of perpetual bliss. Yoga Teacher Bliss. Really? For me, Yoga has been the most challenging path. It is a path of ruthlessness, tearing away what …

Herbs are like people in that they have unique personalities that can be understood through dravyaguna. Dravyaguna is the system of Ayurvedic pharmacology that was developed thousands of years ago before chromatography and mass spectrometry and so it relies on qualities deciphered through taste. This is the monograph for Vasaka. Vasaka, Your Saturnine Father Latin …

3 Crucial Healthy Habits So, you want to wake up every day feeling strong, energized, motivated for the day ahead, and to sustain that vitality through the day.  You want to look back at each week, month and year with satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment. What you don’t want is to keep feeling more …

Kapha Dosha’s got a bad rap these days. So I’m here to set the record straight on behalf of all Kapha women everywhere. Don’t deny your Kapha nature, embrace it! First, let’s start off by clarifying something very important about your kapha nature… Kapha is NOT defined as large & lazy like most people think upon …

In my forthcoming book Secrets of the Sacred, I introduce time-tested methods to connect with the God in you, quickly and effortlessly. In India, this is called sattva, a state of unbidden joy, purity and light. Sat means being, and sattva is being-ness: abiding in your essential, unsullied nature. There are methods for cultivating sattva, and below are 11 of the best. If you can do …

Last week we returned from a Holistic Health Cruise where a variety of presenters discussed a diversity of topics. All seemed to agree on one thing. With all the popular diets these days – Paleo, Vegan, Atkins, South Beach, Raw, one’s head could really spin. So what do all these diets have in common? Avoid processed, …

In most areas of the United States, early winter is the time when the dryness of fall meets the cold of winter. Many begin “winding up” for the holidays, bringing stress levels to an all time high for the year. Others will be outdoors skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Whatever your winter activity, dry chapped skin seems to be …

We willingly or unwillingly to suppress our natural urges as they are considered against etiquettes to relieve them in public and embarrassing as such. Also, due to the modern day desk oriented work culture and due to busy schedules some of these urges are suppressed or simply ignored. But according to Ayurveda, they subtly cause aggravation of …

A kitchen that is set up for fast and efficient healthy cooking makes a big difference, from cooking gadgets to wholesome bulk ingredients. It allows you to multi-task, something that is controversial in nature, but if the result of it is a healthy meal, it’s okay to compromise for this. A modern Ayurvedic kitchen needs …

When people first get into Ayurveda, they inevitably become a little obsessed with their body type or constitution… mainly because it is so much fun! But what starts out as fun can soon turn into utter confusion as we try to navigate endless food charts and work out what we should or shouldn’t eat for …

Boston Ayurvedic Practitioner Pratibha Shah, BAMS, MPH has keen insight into food as medicine. She can tell you what foods are best for you and which to avoid, down to the jam you put on your toast. She’s a true leader amongst the Ayurvedic community both here in the US and in her home country …

As the parent of two school-aged kids, I’m well practiced in battling the incessant stream of viral and bacterial invaders these kids bring home. At any given time, you can walk into a classroom and it seems at least a quarter of the kids have a runny nose or cough. So we use antibacterial goods, …

Massage, as you know, induces muscle relaxation and has a calming effect. Shirodhara, the pouring of a liquid over the forehead, induces a deep relaxation on the level of the mind. When shirodhara is done after Ayurvedic massage or abhyanga (shirodhara massage), there is a deep enhancement of the relaxing effects which occurs due to the sequential …

There is a lot of talk in the health world—including the Ayurvedic health world—about WHAT to eat. Eat this.  Don’t eat that.  Don’t eat that either! Do eat this for your dosha.  Try these supplements.   Oh, and this superfood! It’s overload, right?  You are consuming SO much information about what to eat, and a …

Bloating is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and a frequent complaint in people of all ages. Bloating is not a sickness in itself but a health condition which is the outcome of some other illness. People who have digestive issues often suffer from bloating. In this article we will learn about bloating …

Spring is a glorious time. You begin to emerge from your winter hideaway and find joy and ease in nature again. Resurfacing buds, blooms and the gradually increasing warmth of the sun inspires and delights your senses. And at the same time, warmth and dampness alternate in the air. In Ayurveda, spring is the season of Kapha …

When I start working with clients who have never cooked much (or at all) for themselves, they often respond with disbelief when I tell them that they will soon enjoy Ayurvedic cooking at home for three meals a day. This presents a change from the eating habits of many people in our modern times, with meals made up …

Ashwagandha For Energy Ashwagandha, also known as Winter Cherry or Withania somnifera is one of the most widely recognized and used Ayurvedic herbs. Here we take a look at ashwagandha’s use in Ayurveda, ashwagandha’s qualities and actions, and whether ashwagandha affects energy levels and fatigue. It’s names offer insights into its uses. Firstly, the Latin …

If you have ever consulted with an Ayurvedic Practitioner, chances are that they recommended abhyanga to you. Abhyangas are a prized therapy in Ayurvedic Medicine and can be received from a massage therapist or self-administered. Christine Tykeson, fellow Ayurvedic Practitioner and Massage Therapist in Lompoc, CA, has been doing extensive research into the use of …

We should get as close to nature’s clock as we can. Watch this video to learn more if you’re a night owl.

This five part series explores a ‘Guided Home Cleanse’ with Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor and Panchakarma Specialist Allison Bransfield Morse. Allison runs The Ayurvedic Center of Vermont just outside of Burlington, and offers traditional Panchakarma (PK) on site as well as at a distance. This series explores what’s involved with a home PK, why the guidance of a practitioner is needed, and what the benefits may be. Enjoy, and feel free to join in on the conversation.

Panchakarma (PK) is the cleansing process of Ayurveda. It’s purpose is to prevent disease, maintain health and reverse the aging process by removing toxins and accumulated wastes from the body. It is powerfully effective as well as safe and gentle. It should only be done under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

PK is a brilliant whole body cleanse. Toxins and accumulated wastes that the body has collected are loosened with specific processes. The toxins are then sent back to the gastrointestinal tract so they can be eliminated. All the while, you are nurtured nutritionally with a wholesome mono-diet of kitchari, a delicious rice, bean and vegetable ‘stew’.

Do you relate to those days when you don’t feel like getting up, ignoring the continuous blare of the alarm clock? Or do you remember that time when you desperately wanted to cancel that dinner party with your friends? Yes, all of us can easily think of a day or two when all we wanted …

3 Tips for Chronic Fatigue  Twenty years ago I was invincible! I rode my bike across Canada, was fit and healthy as could be with a strong body and stronger mind! Ten years later I found myself over-worked, over-trained, tired, stressed and burned out. I had burned the candle a little to bright, both on …

Ayurveda specializes in many areas and one of its greatest assets lies in the area of stress reduction and Self-care (as they tend to go hand-in-hand).  Stress is not called the “silent killer” for no reason. Stress and emotional imbalance is a leading cause of 99% of disorders including: Heart disease Arthritis Sleep disorders Eating …