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Month: December 2015

The Ayurvedic Guide For The New Year – New Year’s Resolutions

The Ayurvedic Guide For The New Year  With the New Year slowly nearing and with the holiday season already upon us, many of us are reevaluating some of our own personal life choices. The New Year has always provided a perfect opportunity to look back at the past and more importantly, to look forward to the coming year. According to ancient teachings of Ayurveda, every aspect of our life contributes to our overall health and well-being. In essence, Ayurveda considers good health as being a state of balance. By obtaining this unique state of balance and well-being we can resolve nearly all the common New Year’s Resolutions. Top New Year’s Resolutions 1. Eat Healthy 2. Lose Weight 3. Stress Less 4. Improve Relationships New Year Message From Sadhguru – Come Alive 1. Eat Healthy How you ...

The Ayurveda Guide For Winter Season

The Ayurveda Guide For Winter Season Winter is a time when nature’s energy withdraws back unto herself as nature’s many expressions begin to slow down. According to Ayurveda, a person is a miniature reflection of nature and winter represents a time for much needed restoration. Every season has certain attributes which may cause aggravation and imbalances of doshas. For example, winter is generally considered a “kapha season”. Therefore, colds and other kapha conditions [i.e. congestion] are more common as the heavy, cold, and cohesive qualities of kapha are predominant. However, a balanced lifestyle in accordance to seasonal changes helps to create the needed elements in order to maintain health and well-being for the body and mind. Winter Tips – How To Stay Balanced & Healthy Du...

7 Tips For A More Relaxing Evening – An Ayurvedic Evening Routine

7 Tips For A More Relaxing Evening It’s no big secret: for many of us, it’s extremely difficult to unwind — especially after a long day of answering emails, attending meetings, taking phone calls, taking care of kids or pets, and battling traffic on the way to and from our jobs. It seems increasingly difficult to find the “off” switch once we enter our personal sanctum — home, at the end of the day. The advent of technology and electronics that multitask our schedules is great in one way: they provide some efficiency and ease in checking off those ever-increasing priorities from our to-do lists. However, they can also spur a disconnect between mind/body/spirit, and aggravate Vata and Pitta — turning us into scattered, unfocused versions of ourselves (especially in the all-but-inevitable ev...

Deepak Chopra’s Timeless You. A New Year – A New You!!

Deepak Chopra’s Timeless You With the New Year slowly nearing and with the holiday season already upon us, many are reevaluating some of their own personal life choices. The New Year has always provided a perfect opportunity to reflect. To look back at the past and more importantly, to look forward to the coming year. Well, now’s your chance to prepare a list of important lifestyle changes you want to make. We will review Deepak Chopra’s Timeless You which is a series of practical steps combined with the teachings of meditation, yoga, Ayurveda, and other mind-body concepts to “maximize your energy, eliminate stress, and become the best you.” “For generations, we have been conditioned to believe that aging means progressive decline.” – Deepak Chopra Click Here To Purchase ‘...

A Healthy Holiday Treat [Seviyan Kheer] – An Indian Dessert Recipe

  A Healthy Holiday Treat The holidays are just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to bond with family, friends, and loved ones. It is also the season to enjoy your favorite foods. Is it possible to enjoy the holiday treats without the guilt of gaining weight? Yes – just indulge sensibly and consider more healthy holiday options. In fact, holiday foods don’t have to be unhealthy. Consider for the holidays, a simple and delicious Indian dessert – “Seviyan Kheer” which is often made on religious and auspicious occasions. First – Digesting Our Holiday Experience … Nothing brings out the holiday spirit more than eating amongst friends and family in a joyous and pleasant manner. According to Ayurveda, the act of cooking and eating in a positive atmosp...

The Mystifying Symbolism Of Ganesha & Santa Claus

Ganesha and Santa Claus In Hinduism and Vedic mythology, Ganesha is the elephant-headed boy with the big belly and (generally) jolly disposition. He has a lot in common with our own Saint Nick, and this time of year it’s fun to look at the similarities: Long trunk & long white beard – the trunk represents our spinal cord and nervous system, and the awakened kundalini traveling along its channels. It is the connection between our lower, ‘reptilian brain’ and our higher thinking centers, giving us self-control and wisdom. Ganesha lives at the base of the spine, but has access to the brain and higher centers. This means he is a complete being, and like him, we too can aspire to become fully-integrated humans, with control over our survival instincts, sexual impulses, drives, desires, spee...

Ten Health Tips For The Holidays

Ten Health Tips For The Holidays Ama, the toxic waste-product of inefficient digestion, can accumulate at any time of the year. During the holidays, we’re particularly susceptible to it. The bounty of festive meals and lots of sweets tempts us to overeat and eat at irregular times, and these are all triggers for the build-up of ama. If left unchecked, our body can become clogged and our immune system weakened by the accumulation of ama. Do you experience lack of appetite, stiffness in the joints, occasional constipation, respiratory issues, allergen reactions, or weight gain? Ama is the most likely culprit. So, what is the ayurvedic tool for conquering ama? Agni — our digestive fire! If we keep our agni strong, our bodies will be able to digest the food we eat without creating toxic by-pro...

Amalaki – The Most Nourishing & Rejuvenating Herb

Amalaki – The Most Nourishing & Rejuvenating Herb According to Ayurveda, Amalaki is considered one of the most nourishing and rejuvenating herbs. In fact, Charak – the ancient scholar of Ayurveda states “of all the Rasayanas, Amalaki is revered as one of the most potent and nourishing; Amalaki is the best among rejuvenative herbs.” Amalaki is a strong natural antioxidant containing high levels of vitamin C and acts as a powerful immune strengthener. Amalaki is one of the best sources of natural vitamin C and contains 20 times more vitamin C than an orange. Amalaki is commonly known as Indian gooseberry or amla, and the Sanskrit name “Amalika” means ‘sour juice of the fruit’. Interestingly, despite all the health benefits, Amalaki is also commonly known as the “poor ma...

Chakras – The Reservoirs Of Consciousness

  Chakras – The Reservoirs Of Consciousness The ascent through the chakras can be viewed as an upward journey of consciousness refined by a process of awareness. Chakra is a Sanskrit word which literally translates into a spinning wheel. According to ancient traditions of yoga, there are seven major chakras in the body. In essence, chakras can be thought of as reservoirs of consciousness. The chakras are not physical and are to be understood as being situated, not in the gross body, but in the subtle or etheric body. That said, the chakras do appear to interact with the physical body mainly through two major systems, the endocrine and the nervous system. Each chakra correlates to specific bodily ailments and physical dysfunctions. When we have a physical issue, it often creates ...

Ayurveda Oil Massage [Snehana & Abhyanga]

    Ayurveda Oil Massage The ancient Sanskrit word “Sneha” means compassion and the word “Snehi” refers to a loving friend. Daily oil massage [snehan] implies making a person loving by unfolding the healing qualities innate to the human body. In fact, Charaka – the ancient scholar of Ayurveda states that if you really want to bring happiness and joy to a client, don’t try to discuss their problems but do an oil massage and all the problems will simply dissolve. “Love is oily, soft, and gentle.” – Dr. Vasant Lad The skin provides the ability to heal through touch. The healing touch may include various modalities of healing such as massage. Ayurveda describes in great detail the benefits of daily oil massage. Not only is massage comforting to the body but essential for ...

Stress Free Holiday Travel Tips

  Stress Free Holiday Travel Tips Long delays and canceled flights – traffic jams – inclement weather – crowds – wrangling little ones…. all these factors and more can make traveling during the holiday season stressful. Yet, getting together with friends and family is a big part of what makes the season so special. Is it possible to travel stress-free? Once we understand what imbalances are caused by travel, we can take steps to protect ourselves and prevent them from developing. Imbalances Caused by Travel Vata dosha in general tends to get disturbed during travel. In particular, continuous sitting disturbs Apana Vata, which controls the downward movements of elimination and purification. Traveling in fast-moving vehicles and an unpredictable routine aggravate...

Ayurveda – Deep Rest & Blissful Sleep

by Jody Berger Ayurveda – Deep Rest & Blissful Sleep  There was no siren nor light nor gentle nudge that woke me up. Nothing external interrupted me and yet, suddenly, in the middle of the night, I was awake and my brain was racing. I wanted sleep; I needed sleep; and none was coming. All I could do was lie there, frantically making mental lists and composing what seemed to be brilliant and urgent plans that I would no doubt forget in the morning. I didn’t even need to look at the clock. I knew what it would say. It had said the same thing every night for a week: 2:30 a.m. “because your mind is going too fast…” “If you wake up between 2:00 and 3:00 and can’t go back to sleep because your mind is going too fast, that’s the hallmark of a Vata imbalance,” said Dr. ...