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On Being Sensitive.

8/8/2017

113 Comments

 
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You feel everything. You always have.

From the itchy tag on the back of your shirt to the emotional state of the stranger sitting next to you on the train. Taking it all in like a giant porous sponge.
You notice the tiny cracks in the paint that resemble the shape of an alien's head. Nobody else seems to notice the sound of the refrigerator's hum, or the ticking of your friends watch. Your left palm is often itchy and there is a mild achy pain in your upper left abdomen. When you walk by the smelly sewer spots in the city, it hits you harder than most. The almonds that were stored in the cooler with cheese now have a slightly cheesy taste that nobody else seems to notice.
It’s not easy feeling it all. In fact it can be incredibly isolating. You may have been told that you were “too much” more than a few times in your life. Feeling like nobody can hold you is scary. It can get exhausting to live life with the belief that you have to hold it all. Processing the emotions of every person in the room and filtering them through your fragile system is rough. It especially hurts when you feel other people's negative emotions towards you.
I have spent countless nights wondering why I was different. Wishing I could just be like one of the "cool girls" who could sit bare-legged in the grass and not be bothered by the pokey blades. Praying that I could somehow shut down the part of my brain that was constantly analyzing what everyone was thinking.
Being sensitive can be challenging on so many levels… but what we often forget, is that it is also a gift.
Because we feel so much, so deeply we are able to experience life in all its vibrancy. We get to appreciate the full range of complexity that this world has to offer. From being the first to notice the subtle smell of the night blooming Jasmine that grows in summer to detecting the boysenberry undertones in your glass of Pinot Noir, we are able to detect life’s delicate nuances that may have otherwise been overlooked.
We have the capacity to experience deep empathy and compassion for those in pain and allow others to feel seen and heard in their suffering. Because we feel so much ourselves, we are able to feel for others, and are able to offer them the most beautiful gift of all... our loving presence.

113 Comments

Camping Ayurveda Style

6/1/2017

35 Comments

 
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Who doesn't love fancy camping hacks? These are my top 3 favorite Ayurvedic tricks that you can use on your next weekend getaway!

1. Make your own mosquito repellent that actually smells good!
Directions: Just add the following ingredients to a small jar, cover with a lid and shake well.
  • 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
  • 1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel
  • 10  drops of rosemary essential oil
  • 10 drops of lavender oil
  • 10 drops of lemon balm oil (citronella)
Application: Just dab it onto your skin and watch those mosquito's run (or fly) for the hills!
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2. Quick and Easy 10 minute Coconut Chai (serves 4)

Ingredients: cinnamon powder, cardamom powder, fine ground black pepper, fresh ginger, black tea bags, optional: maple syrup or natural sweetener of choice
  • Before you leave for your trip, mix equal parts cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper in a small jar.
  • Add 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of the pre-made spice blend, and 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger to a medium size pot. Boil for 3 minutes.
  • Add 4 tea bags and boil for 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove tea bags with a spoon and add 1 can of coconut milk. Heat until it starts to boil stirring occasionally.
  • Sweeten to taste and ENJOY!
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3. Skip the S'mores and Try making these delectable Stuffed Dates instead!

Coconut Cardamom Stuffed Dates

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Ingredients:
  • Medjool Dates (10)
  • Coconut Butter (sometimes it's called "coconut manna" NOT coconut OIL... You can find it at your natural foods store) (1/2 cup)
  • Unsweetened shredded coconut (1 cup)
  • Ghee (1 tablespoon)
  • Lime (1)
  • Cardamom Powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon)
  • Himalayan Pink Salt (a pinch)  

Directions:
  • On low heat- Warm up 1/2 cup of coconut butter with1 tablespoon of ghee. Only warm until soft. Just needs to warm up enough to melt… then let it cool to room temp in a separate bowl
  • Squeeze the lime juice into a separate bowl and strain pulp/seeds if there are any.
  •  Add the cardamom, cinnamon, salt, and lime
  • Dry toast about a half cup of unsweetened coconut shreds on medium heat until golden brown (this happens fast, so keep a close eye!) Then remove from heat and put in a separate bowl so they don't continue to cook.
  • Open dates and remove pits- split in half with your fingers and make little boats.
  • Slowly add the coconut shreds to the coconut butter mixture until you have reached desired firm “stuffable” consistency.
  • Stuff the mixture into the date boats and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon if desired.
Please like and share if you enjoyed this post!
All the best,
Britt
35 Comments

Green Mung Soup- Natures Cold Medicine

2/9/2017

22 Comments

 
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What do you do when you start to feel that scratchy throat and stuffy nose? Everyone has their own cold prevention remedies and recipes, but in my humble opinion, green mung bean soup is the winner!

First thing first, it's incredibly delicious! It may look a little funny if you aren't used to it...but it tastes amazing. The caramelized onions and garlic and cumin seeds give it a rustic and comforting and appetizing aroma and the mung beans have a very pleasant creamy texture.

Not only does it taste like heaven, each ingredient is incredibly healing. When I was healing from Ulcerative Colitis, green mung bean soup was one of my staples because each ingredient is so medicinal. Now I just cook it when I want something that I know will digest well, or if I would like to do a little cleansing.  If I feel like I am getting sick, I just make a pot of green mung soup and eat it throughout the day. Works like a charm!

The key is that it's warming and nourishing, but not too heating and also light and easy to digest which makes it ideal for people who have compromised immunity. The green mung beans are high in protein, but they are very light and also have a mild scraping action to help pull out impurities from the body. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and helps to purify the blood. Cumin seeds, mustard seeds, garlic and onion all help to stoke your digestive fire.

The best part about this soup is that you can keep all of the ingredients on hand at all times so you don't have to make a special trip to the store if you feel like you are getting sick. You even add any vegetables that are in your fridge and make it even more delicious. I like adding greens and carrots to mine, but you can add any kind of vegetable that suits your fancy!

Ingredients:
1 cup whole green mung beans (must soak at least 5 hours)
3 1/2 cups water
1 Tbsp Ghee11/2 tsp ginger - chopped
1/2 tsp garlic - chopped 
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds 
1/2 tsp Turmeric          
1 small pinch of hing (asafoetida- available for purchase at the Indian Store)                                              1 tsp Himalayan Pink Rock Salt or to taste (available at Trader Joes or Whole Foods)


Directions:
1. Soak the mung beans overnight in water. 
2. Finely chop ginger and garlic. 
3. Drain the mung beans, rinse them and put them in pot with 3 1/2 cups of water.
4. Add salt and turmeric and bring to a boil.
5. Cook Mung beans fully stirring occasionally. (they are not fully cooked until they are breaking apart. Will take approx. 45 min unless you use a pressure cooker in which case it will only take about 20 minutes)
6. Heat ghee in a separate pan. Add hing, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Wait until you hear the cumin seeds pop. Then add garlic and ginger and let simmer for a few minutes until garlic becomes golden brown.
7. Add ghee mixture to cooked mung beans and stir.
8. You can add greens like kale or spinach to this for some added texture. If you want to add other harder veggies like carrots or potatoes, add them after the mung beans have been cooking for 10 minutes, always add greens at the very end.
9. Enjoy :)
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22 Comments

Up Your Sleep Game: Ayurveda Style

11/3/2016

34 Comments

 

By: Molly Russell |Daily Ayurveda Affiliate Practitioner |  molly@dailyayurveda.com

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I am here to spark an honest check in with yourself. How are you sleeping?

Cultivating solid and satisfying sleep is something we are all craving. We all try to get more. We all want more. And we all have had those days in the middle of the week we wish we could stay in bed for just a few more hours, if not all day. As we transition into fall, the nights are getting darker, the air is getting cooler, and it is a natural time for us to all hunker down and get cozy. Yet, we still struggle with sleep.

Sleep is when all the good stuff happens in our bodies. Sleep is the time for the body and mind reset, detoxify, and rejuvenate. Sleep allows for our memory and creativity to grow and restore.

After, we are bombarded with a full day getting input from all directions, going to work, caring for our families, running errands, feeding ourselves, trying to get in a working out, checking our Instagram account, refreshing our Facebook feeds, watching the most recent presidential uproar video, trying to keep up with what is happening around the world, staying connected and on the ground to the efforts of so many people doing good in this world in a time of so much inhumanity…we can be left feeling burnt, exhausted, depleted, raw, done.

So where is the respite? We always have sleep to reboot us and refresh us. But what happens when it is not? What happens we stay awake staring at the ceiling for hours, wake up at 3am and can’t go back to sleep, get woken up by sirens just after dozing off, or simply stay up on the computer or phone to get “caught up” and our racing mind keeps going long after the lights are out?

I am here to offer you some inspiration and reminders on nightly self-care. Perhaps some you know, perhaps some you forgot, and perhaps one will inspire you.

Before going to bed tonight, try one of these, two or even all four...

Warm Water
Let a warm shower or hot bath calm your nervous system, release tension in your body, and quiet the mind.

Golden Spiced Milk
Over a flame steam ½ cup whole milk (can start by replacing with nut milk if you are not a drinking dairy), ¼  cup water, and a pinch of turmeric, couple saffron threads,  fennel, cardamom, black pepper, and NUTMEG (induces sleep), with a bit of raw sugar or maple syrup to taste. A little night cap, if you will.

Massage Feet and Scalp
Warm the massage oil to a comfortable temperature either on an electric cup heater, or over a candle flame. Take a spoonful of oil, and rub it into the soles of your feed, and then cover with socks. Pour a tablespoon of oil onto the crown of your head and lightly massage the oil in a circular motion. Put a cap on your head, or a towel on your pillow to protect your linens. Perhaps offer this sweet treatment to your partner, child or family member.

Screen-less hour before bed
Just put them away. It feels awesome. If you must hold your phone, for fear of detachment, try downloading a calming meditation app and practice a 10-minute guided breathing meditation on HeadSpace, which offers a 10-day complimentary trial.

_________________


Molly Russell: Molly has joyfully practiced Ayurveda for past 6 years and offers individual counseling, group classes and cooking workshops around the Bay Area. She graduated from a 3-year intensive Ayurveda Health Counseling program from Vedika Gurukula in Emeryville. After changing her diet and lifestyle, and seeing the effects of cooking with foods that were balancing to her body and mind in changing seasons, she is inspired to share this awesome toolkit of Ayurveda with her community.


Want to learn more? Stay connected for more information about personal consultations with Molly.


34 Comments

Ice Water V. Hot Water

5/19/2016

15 Comments

 
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Do you ever feel dull, heavy or lethargic after you eat?
This may happen because you are eating foods that are too heavy for you to digest or perhaps you are eating too much food at one sitting. There are many reasons this could be happening, however, there is one cause for this post-digestion heavy feeling that is often overlooked. It is not connected to the food that is on our plate, but rather what is in our drinking glass. The first thing they give you when you sit down at a meal in most restaurants in the US is a large glass of ice water. By the time our food comes we have already consumed one or two glasses of cold water. According to Ayurveda the 5,000 year old holistic system of medicine, when we drink cold water we weaken our digestion by dousing out our digestive fire (agni). Imagine that you are sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows and someone comes by and dumps a bunch of wet logs over the flame. The fire would get smothered and become very weak or disappear. The same thing happens to our internal digestive fire when we drink a lot of cold water.

I used to think I needed to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. I would carry around an enormous bottle of cold water with me and chug it throughout the day. Of course, I was just trying to do what I thought was best for my body. I thought I was flushing out the toxins in my body with every glass. I had no concept of Ayurveda at this time in my life, however, now I can see why the digestive disease I had suffered from for so many years was just being aggravated by my excessive water intake. I was literally drowning in all of the water I was drinking. Now I understand that in order to destroy ama (toxicity), one must kindle the agni (digestive fire). Toxicity cannot be "flushed out", it needs to burn.

It can help to think about it like water flowing through a metal pipe. Cold water will cause the pipes to contract, and hot water will cause the pipes to expand. If we want to keep all of the channels (srotas) in our body open and flowing, it is important to not constrict them by drinking ice cold water.

I never imagined that changing the way I drink my water could have such an impact on my physical health, but over time I have witnessed the effects first-hand. Try sipping a small amount of warm or room temperature water during your meal instead of drinking excessively before or after. According to Ayurveda, it is best to sip water throughout the day as you are thirsty as opposed to drinking a lot at one time. Its helpful to carry around a thermos with you, so you can enjoy hot water throughout the day. I also ask for room temperature water or order hot water with a lemon when I go out to eat. Be your own judge, try changing the way you drink water for a week and see how it makes you feel. You may be surprised at how amazing you feel after making this simple change.
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Delicious Springtime Green Soup- 6 simple steps

2/28/2016

12 Comments

 
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1. Heat one T. of ghee in a large pot on medium heat.
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2. Add one t. mustard seeds and stir until you hear them pop in the pan.
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3. Add one chopped onion and one chopped leek and cook for about 5 minutes until they start to caramelize.
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4. Add washed and chopped asparagus (1 bunch), kale (1 bunch) and 2 zucchini.
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Any type of kale is great!
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No need to chop it perfectly because you will blend it all at the end.
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5. Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1.5 teaspoons of Himalayan pink salt. Stir well.
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Pink salt is better for blood pressure.
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6. Add 3 cups of hot water to the pot and boil for 5 minutes. Then pour soup into a blender and blend until smooth.
PictureI usually add a dollop of whole plain yogurt on top. So good!
 As the seasons change it is important that we change our diet to help keep our bodies in balance with the shifts that are occurring in our external environment. It is ideal to consume more bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes in springtime because these tastes help to reduce the excess kapha (earth and water) that has accumulated over the chilly winter months.
Please feel free to share this recipe with your friends!
Love,
Britt

12 Comments

5 Amazing Health Benefits of Drinking Water out of a Copper Vessel

1/23/2015

69 Comments

 

Why Copper?

  1. Scientific studies have shown that copper removes bacteria and impurities from water due to what is called the ‘oligodynamic’ effect- the antimicrobial properties of certain metals.
  2. Copper is an essential trace mineral that our body requires for metabolic functioning
  3. Since the human body cannot synthesize copper, we need to obtain it from dietary sources. Foods such as nuts, legumes, leafy greens and seafood can be great sources of copper. However, they only provide small amounts of copper, leading us to find the balance from other sources like drinking copper infused water.
  4. Copper helps neutralize toxins, ionize and balance the pH in water making the water fit for consumption. 
  5. Other benefits include: reducing inflammation, improving digestion and boosting immunity

Facts borrowed with permission from Vasanti Health
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Photo Courtesy of Vasanti

How Do I Get Started?

  1. Buy a copper vessel from Vasanti ( They are the most, pure, most beautiful, and the company donates to charitable organizations.) https://www.vasantihealth.com/products
  2. Clean your vessel using a half of a lemon. I like to squeeze the juice out and then use the rind like a sponge to gently scrub the vessel. Rinse well. (I clean mine every 2 days or so) It is like a meditation practice in and of itself.
  3. Store your vessel on your altar or other clean sacred place in your house. Fill it with fresh filtered water every evening and let the copper infuse into the water as you sleep. If there is a full moon, place the vessel under the moonlight. The water will become ultra charged with cooling and nourishing moon qualities. 
  4. Sip this water throughout the day.  Personally I like to start my day off with a cup of hot lemon water in a separate mug, and use the copper water as my room temperature special drinking water. 

A little back story...
When I started studying Ayurveda, my teachers had me purchase a copper vessel to use for drinking water. At first I was nervous that my water would taste funny, like the way pennies smell. But I gave it a shot anyways, not fully understanding how or why, I just trusted that it was somehow more magical and sacred than drinking out of an old mug, so I gave it a shot. 

To my surprise, it didn't taste like pennies. To be honest, it only lasted about a week, and then the novelty wore off and I got too busy and just forgot about it.

Then a few months ago, I received an email from a beautiful stranger named Mantreh Atashband. She had been following my blog for sometime and noticed that I never mentioned the medicinal value of using copper vessels for drinking water. She offered to send me one of the beautiful copper tamba cups that she sells on her charitable website, VasantiHealth.com. 
When the package arrived, I was blown away by the sweetness and care that went into the packaging. There was even a handwritten note from Mantreh herself! The tamba was so bright and shiny, it was not like the old dingy one I purchased at the Indian store. It was bold and beautiful and had amazing energy. Once I started using the Tamba I noticed that my water started tasting fresher, and full of life. 

I have been using the cup on a regular basis for over a month now, and can honestly say that I am hooked. It is such a special practice, and a wonderful way to increase mindfulness and show your self a little extra love. 

Cheers to your health! 
With love,
Brittany
69 Comments

Resolution Hurdling- by Yogi David Schlussel

1/13/2015

21 Comments

 
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There is a tradition here about setting New Years resolutions, and a trend of people not even bothering because: who keeps them anyhow?  People have made enough broken promises to themselves, why make one more?

WHY BOTHER?
Because we know there is an opportunity for growth for us, and to affect that change it’s going to take some dedication and determination.  As humans we are creatures of habit, and most everything we do is habitual.  Our morning routine, the way we tie our shoes how, many times we chew before we swallow, how often we check email or facebook, whether we walk on the inside or outside of our feet… the list goes on forever.

The habits we have create our reality.  The habits we have point our lives in a direction that determines an almost certain future.  If looking at that future feels good to you, then fantastic! On your jolly way.  If looking at that future has some room for improvement, it’s time for a course correction, and the thing about course corrections is: the sooner you make one, the smaller the change you need to get to your desired destination.

To grow in the way we want to grow, we can create a habit that points us in that direction.

MAKING IT WORK
So you have a vision for a positive future, a habit pattern from the past, and here you are, always in the ever changing present, with a choice between going to the past or the future.

Put your attention on the now. The present is where you can make decisions.  Leaving your decisions in the past is habit.  Making decisions in the future is procrastination.

Making decisions in the present is power.  Sieze your power.

FACING THE HURDLES:
Following through on these changes takes determination, like running hurdles.  In the hurdle races there is an end goal, and a number of obstacles. If you miss a hurdle, it hurts and slows you down, but does not disqualify you or cost you style points.  The worst thing you can do is look back at the missed hurdle and regret missing it.  That almost guarantees you’ll smash right into the next one.  Look forward for the next one and do your best to clear it, keep running, looking forward.  The natural consequences of missing the last hurdle was penalty enough.

This is the subtler habit to shift to enable the bigger changes.

INTEGRITY: RECOMMIT, RENEGOTIATE, AND/OR CONSEQUENCES
The problem people face with these changes is when they miss one commitment they tailspin out.  They feel they’ve broken their integrity and don’t want to proceed out of integrity.

There are three basic ways to restore integrity:

  • CONSEQUENCES:
    Normally the natural consequences of missing a commitment are enough, but sometimes adding a consequence that one can complete quickly – as running out of time for the commitment is often the cause, and we don’t want the excuse for the integrity commitment.  Something like a cold shower, a donation to a cause, or publicly confessing on facebook can serve.  This works because the commitment was to either complete the task OR do the commitment.  If either is done we are in integrity.
  • RECOMMIT:
    Okay, so we’ve missed something.  Do we still want to do it the same way?  “90 minutes of yoga six days a week?  Yes!  I still want that!  I feel the consequence of missing that and I recommit to that moving forward.”
  • RENEGOTIATE:
    Sometimes we realize we’ve overcommitted and need to renegotiate.  “I was overzealous.  I think what would actually serve me is 15 minutes 3 days a week and 90 minute practices 2 days a week.  I can keep that one for a week and see how it goes”
YOGA TIME:
Yoga is the practice of getting present.  In the hatha form that I teach and practice, we move into our bodies, which are always and only ever in the present.  We face the places where we habitually store tensions, and instead of taking that as a permanent reality, we make choices around how to deal with them.

Patanjali (author of the yoga sutras ~0AD) said one of the forms of ignorance is misidentifying the temporary as permanent.  You were not born with your habits, you will not die with your habits, they are temporary visitors.  Acknowledge them as such, and let them go if they do not serve you.

To leverage yoga to help your life, make use of “Sankalpa” (intention setting).  Take a moment at the beginning of each practice to get quiet and remember the changes you are looking to make.  Get a sense of the kind of person who would make that changes.  Allow yourself to be more like that person.

When in the flow of your practice, you’ll want to add in some warrior poses, and set a timer for 2 or more minutes – increasing over time – noticing when you want to leave the pose, but staying in your commitment unless you feel like there would be tissue damage.  Feel the power as your strength sustains you well beyond what you thought you’d be comfortable doing, guiding you towards the fullness of your capacity, and reminding you of the quality of persistence you have that you can achieve what you set out to do.

Written by: David Schlussel
www.yogilifecoach.com
21 Comments

13 Health Benefits of Ginger

11/19/2014

33 Comments

 
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For the 10 years prior to studying Ayurveda, I didn't feel consistent hunger. Along with my naturally high vata (air & space), I also lived a very erratic lifestyle which only added to my digestive troubles. Somehow I discovered that a small cup of tea made of grated ginger before meals would help me feel hungry enough to eat. Not ideal to rely on all the time but it worked and it was all that I knew at the time. Years later, it was enlightening to be able to spend a lot of time studying the properties of ginger.

There is a funny thing with ginger. In Ayurveda, fresh and dry ginger have some different medicinal properties due to the drying process. It’s quite remarkable. Fresh ginger is actually considered to be more drying for the body and dry ginger is said to be more unctuous. I've listed some of the common and best uses for each type of ginger below. Some of these can be interchanged with each other but you will have overall better effect by following the breakdown on this list.


13 Health Benefits of Ginger:


Fresh Ginger



  1. Acts as an appetizer  
  2. Digests aam (deep-seated toxins) 
  3. Reduces fever 
  4. Reduces chilliness by increasing heat and circulation in the body
  5. Eliminates nausea 
  6. It’s a mild laxative


Dry Ginger


  1. Helps relieve joint pains from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
  2. Beneficial in edema and other swelling
  3. By reducing vata, it relieves pain in back or neck
  4. Stops diarrhea
  5. Helps treat some forms of IBS, abdominal pain and hemorrhoids
  6. Reduces respiratory tract ailments such as cough, hoarseness of voice, rhinitis, asthma, etc
  7. Acts as an aphrodisiac 


Tips:
  • Before meals - slice a little fresh ginger, add a sprinkle of rock salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime to enhance taste and nutrient absorption
  • Can make a paste of dry ginger and water for local application in cases of swelling or also on sinuses and forehead in cases of cold (not for those with very sensitive skin) 



Note: 
Ginger should be used sparingly in summer, early fall and for anyone with vitiated pitta. 


Warmly,
Lisa Lesser

33 Comments

A Well-oiled Machine: 5 Benefits of Abhyanga (plus instructions) 

11/7/2014

32 Comments

 
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Abhyanga is the Sanskrit term for the ancient Ayurvedic practice of full body oil massage. It is just one part of the morning Ayurvedic routine known as dinacharya that is recommended for all healthy individuals, kids included.  The skin is the largest organ of the body, so it makes perfect sense that it would be used as another tool for better health. Sesame seed oil is the oil that is the most effective for the majority of people and seasons although other oils are used as well. For me, abhyanga is one of the most important practices that I do daily and it sets the tone for my entire day. Along with the benefits that I mention below, taking 20 minutes to check in with every part of my body shows where I need to focus on or be extra gentle with as the day goes on.


Five Benefits of Abhyanga:

  1. Sesame seed oil possesses antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. This means it will help protect against common skin pathogens such as staphylococcus, streptococcus and athlete’s foot.

  2. It keeps the skin supple and soft. It also aids in healing minor cuts and abrasions.

  3. Sesame seed oil helps joints keep their flexibility and builds strength in the body. With the ability to nourish the joints, bones and muscles, it can give relief for those with osteoarthritis.

  4. It is very soothing to the mind and nervous system. It gives more mental clarity and improves sleep. Research has proven abhyanga’s ability to decrease stress hormones in just one session.

  5. Daily morning massage improves blood circulation, lymphatic flow and removes any stagnancy that occurred during the night. Proper functioning and movement of these systems is important for a robust immune system.

How To Do Abhyanga

  • Start by buying organic sesame oil.

  • Heat gently in a small pot, crockpot or you can even use a small bottle under hot running water (I have a small crock pot I keep in my bathroom used for only this purpose).

  • Prepare an area with a towel or mat on the floor.

  • Sit down and start by rubbing oil on your feet.

  • Work your way up the body with long up and down strokes. Rub the joints in a circular motion.

  • Take a warm to hot shower so that the steam opens up your pores and the body can absorb even more oil.



When To Do Abhyanga

It should be done on an empty stomach, ideally after you have eliminated your bowels in the morning, or before you eat dinner in the evening. It is especially important to do during the hot, dry months of summer and the cold winter season. Try to oil yourself daily, or at least three times per week.

Abhyanga Contraindications

Never apply oil when you have active indigestion, fever, diarrhea, colds, coughs, flu, etc. Do NOT do Abhyanga when menstruating. Avoid abhyanga when it is raining or extremely cloudy outside. If you have oily wounds or rashes then avoid those areas or don't do it at all.

Enjoy,

Lisa 




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"There are so many gifts that I received from working with Brittany as my Ayurvedic Counselor. She has an amazing ability to see people and was able to help me express exactly what I was feeling but had no idea how to articulate. From the big life themes to the slight yet profound adjustments to the way I live my life, I am feeling more vibrant and healthy than ever! I feel blessed to have worked with Brittany and strongly recommend her."
- Audrey J. San Francisco Ca.


"In just a few sessions, Brittany helped me feel healthier, calmer, and more alive. She has the warmest heart and spirit of anyone you'll ever meet plus she gives you helpful information so you get the results that you want. She really listened to my needs and helped me create changes that worked for me and continue to work for me to this day. Throughout all of our sessions, I felt very taken care of and listened to!"
- Lindsay C. Berkeley Ca.
Photos used under Creative Commons from A. Strakey, Care_SMC
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