Calm in a busy world
Summer is a time of light and warmth. Cultivate opposite environment on inside of the body – cool and calm.
Pitta is the dosha of summer – driven by solar force (high energy, heat) so we can balance pitta energy – create lunar current within the body – by choosing foods and activities that are cooling.
Cooling yoga poses
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed more than 3000 years ago in India and is the sister science of Yoga. It is a system that aims to create equilibrium in the body by balancing our three body types, qualities or doshas.
The doshas are derived from the five elements and are in combination as follows:
Vata- Ether (Space) and Air
Pitta- Fire and Water
Kapha- Earth and Water. Continue reading “Calming the Winds of Vata”
Winter is a time when energy of the Earth is drawn inward. Animals hibernate. We, too, can use this time for introspection and restoration as our energy is drawn inward as well.
Ayurvedic medicine tells us that winter provokes kappa and vata doshas. With decreased digestive fire we are more prone to colds, poor circulation, joint pain and even negative emotions. Yoga can help. We choose poses to balance the doshas creating our own inner fire, increase energy levels and promote wellness.
A few suggestions are listed below:
Dietary Suggestions:
SLEEP
According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night and adults over 65 require 7-8 hours. However, it is important to pay attention to your own needs by observing how you feel on different amounts of sleep.
Are you healthy and productive on 7 hours or do you need 9 hours of sleep to get you into gear? 
Scientific studies have shown that just a very small group of people require less sleep than mentioned above.
We sleep for many reasons:
As we have discussed elsewhere, many of us suffer from chronic pain. For example, arthritis can cause stiffness and pain in the joints. Pain can result from various inflammatory conditions, post surgery, etc. Research tells us that the intensity of the pain can be reduced or modified in various non-pharmaceutical ways.
Pain is modified by taming the unpleasant feelings and thoughts associated with the pain. Some ways to accomplish this include a mindfulness practice, guided relaxation, healthy eating, gentle exercise, massage and yoga to name just a few. Continue reading “DRINK, SLEEP, LOVE – Introduction (Part 1 of 3)”
In the yogic tradition, breath is considered energy medicine. Conscious breathing balances our emotions and calms the mind.
Breathing deeply and mindfully helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to trigger the relaxation response, which decreases blood pressure and slows the heart rate. In yoga we inhale to create length in the thoracic spine. This expands the lungs bringing oxygen (prana) to the respiratory organs. Continue reading “OPENING YOUR HEART: METTA MEDITATION”
Many of us have broken our New Year’s resolutions already.
A Sankalpa is different; it is a positive, sustaining vow.
“When you say something with your whole being… it can change the world.” ~ Thich nhat Hanh
Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word meaning connecting to your heartfelt desire. San refers to connection with the highest truth and honoring the meaning of one’s life. Kalpa is a vow. Thus Sankalpa is a “vow and commitment we make to support our highest truth”. ~ Rod Stryker Continue reading “The vow of Sankalpa”
In ancient times, Patanjali, the codifier of Yoga formulated a set of ethical guidelines (yamas), the first being Ahimsa, which means “non harming”. The person practices the virtue of Ahimsa in thought, word and deed. This person will emit harmonious vibrations.
Globally, the practice of Ahimsa can foster world peace. In medicine, Ahimsa can be compared to the Hippocratic oath: “First do no harm.” Continue reading “The virtue of Ahimsa”
Photo of the Buddha in a store window in Great Barrington, MA