A delicious, gut-healthy, gluten-free, sugar-free, guilt-free and sunny excuse to enjoy chocolate, from the ebullient and adorable Melissa Ambrosini. Continue reading
Search Results for: kapha
Detox Tabbouleh
Bright, fresh, grain-free and clean, this simple tabbouleh is a great side, or seasoning, to brighten up any meal. Continue reading
The Summer Six: Cool Foods for a Cool Summer
Six foods I lean into during the summer: good any time, any day in summer, and any time, any season for summer people. Continue reading
Vegan Sushi
Whole food, plant based sushi for pitta-balancing (cooling, soothing) summer picnics and anytime meals. Continue reading
Spring in a Bowl: A Simple Six Piece Salad
After months of travel, my greatest joy today is the simple joy of Spring as it blooms in my little corner of the world right here, right now, offering these raw, fresh delights. Continue reading
Spring Cleanse
3 videos with easy recipes to ignite your Agni this Spring. Continue reading
Golden Milk: Sunshine in a Mug
A traditional medicinal from the Ayurvedic kitchen. Continue reading
Pumpkin Love: Poetry in a Pie
Pumpkin is a power food – full of fiber and rich with antioxidants to keep you young and vibrant. If made properly, pumpkin pie can be a healthy dessert, a great snack, and even a delicious breakfast. Continue reading
Spices: 5 Favorites for Fall
Did you know that spices can have up to 50 times more antioxidants than your favorite fruit, making them powerhouses when it comes to anti-aging? Here are my five favorites for Fall… Continue reading
Gluten free, Sugar free, No Bake Apple Pie
Two years ago at our Yoga Therapy Training, I served a gluten free, dairy free, no sugar added, homemade apple pie. The recipe was requested. It has taken me these years, but at long last, here, finally, it is. Unfortunately, … Continue reading
Sophia’s Sandwich Wraps
A guest post by Sophia Camper Emma Frattasio, with our recipe for Napa Cabbage Avocado Veggie Wraps. Continue reading
Power Foods: The Father’s Day 10
10 key foods to keep you, and your father, healthy. Continue reading
Your Dosha
Are you Air, Fire or Water? Which element are you?
What can nature tell you about your own unique nature?
Ayurveda is commonly described as the “Science of Life and Longevity.” It is considered the sister science of Yoga as they share many of the same philosophical principles and healing tools.
The Five Elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth, their interactions, fluctuations and rhythms, and impact on the body and to the mind are fundamental to Ayurvedic theory. These elements combine to make three bio-energies, called Doshas: Vata, Pitta, Kapha.
Every person has all of the elements and therefore all of the doshas, but everyone has these elements and energies in proportions that are unique to each individual. The goal of Ayurveda is to re-establish and maintain a person’s natural doshic balance so their own unique nature is supported, enhanced, celebrated, fulfilled.
* Learn How Each Element Affects You *
How to use this Blog for your Dosha
While this blog is designed to be relevant to everyone, each recipe has a dosha it targets to balance, reduce or pacify. To find recipes for you, type your dosha in the search box, or scroll down to see the “tag cloud” in the right column and click on the dosha of interest.
Since each season has a related dosha, it will benefit you to read about eating seasonally. You might even recognize yourself in the description of the seasons, or notice that there is one season in particular when you feel it’s more of a challenge for you to stay in balance. Spring is Kapha, Summer is Pitta, Autumn is Vata and Winter is Vata/Kapha.
I’ve organized recipes and articles by season, so once you know your season, you can do a search to find what works best for you. But, remember: the general guideline is to eat seasonally, and most of us can stay in balance simply by aligning with the rhythms of time and nature.
Mostly, we should eat according to the season, just tweaking or leaning in the direction of our Dosha when we feel out of balance. I hope that helps. If you have questions, or comments, visit the Facebook page and post it there, so we can share the wisdom.
Photo Credits: First and Third :: Margo Carrera Fine Art
How to tailor your Ayurvedic lifestyle to really suit your needs
“Understanding Ayurveda has helped me understand my family’s unique and individual personal dynamics in a way that has utterly transformed our family life. Where it was once chaotic and overwhelming, it nows feels peaceful and nourishing. We are, at last, a happy family. Thank you, Laura!” ~ Colleen
Ayurveda is a complete wellness system, supporting self awareness and self care. The effective application of Ayurveda leads to the empowerment of individuals to lead healthy, joyful, productive lives. Now that you know your Dosha, would you like to learn how to tailor a wellness plan specifically for you? Learning about yourself through Ayurvedic Consultations can help you realize your goals, and your dreams.
Thank you Margot Carrera of Margo Carrera Fine Art for the collage collaboration!
Immunity Spices
How are you handling this arctic blast? Are you staying warm? Is it a challenge or a welcome break for you? I would love to hear – unusual weather has a tendency to draw us closer, so please let us know how you are doing.
Meanwhile, I want to share with you something to help you stay warm and well.
But first a little background: In November, we taught on a Holistic Health Cruise, after which I posted this Immunity Spice Recipe as a thank you to those who attended my talk on Ayurveda & the Power of the Six Tastes to Heal.
Thing is, I posted it in a semi-private place since it was a gift to them… But it got out and around, and now people are looking for it here on this blog and writing me when they can’t find it. So, especially given the weather around the country, and the fact that winter is cold season anyway, I felt it should get a posting here.
I apologize if it is redundant for you, but maybe you’ll appreciate the reminder? I hope wherever you are, you are staying warm, sheltered, safe, and serene.
This Immunity Spice Mix is warming and purifying, with primarily the pungent, astringent and bitter tastes, considered so medicinal in Ayurveda. Try to have a teaspoon, as tea or cooked into your foods, every day.
The spices can be sautéed with ghee or coconut oil before cooking in vegetables, rice, or grains. You could also add it to boiling water to make a tea ~ As a morning tea, it will rev up your system, encouraging circulation. As a tea to accompany meals, add a splash of lemon juice and a touch of honey and sip warm to strengthen digestion.
You can also make it into a golden milk, with boiled coconut milk, or your favorite, plus a dash of cardamom, maybe a spot of honey. You could even add it to your smoothies with a date or two.
Remember: The sweet taste lubricates and tonifies which is important to balance Winter’s Vata. It also helps your body absorb the nutrients of the other tastes, so ghee, milk, dates are all part of the medicine.
A note of caution – this can be stimulative. It’s best to avoid taking near bedtime.
Immunity Spice Mix
- 6 parts ground turmeric
- 3 parts ground cumin
- 3 parts ground coriander
- 6 parts ground fennel
- 1 part powdered, dry ginger
- 1 part ground black pepper
- 1/2 part ground cinnamon
Mix spices together thoroughly. Store in an airtight container. Use within one month.
For Vata Dosha, add a dash of Himalayan pink salt, and a sprinkle of sesame seed.
For Pitta Dosha, replace the cumin with mint or cilantro. Optionally, use cardamom powder instead of black pepper.
For Kapha Dosha, it is perfect all year round. You could even add 1/4 part clove or cayenne.
In addition to this immunity spice, you might benefit from one of these make-it-yourself Ayurvedic healing recipes, like the ginger lemon honey cold remedy, pictured here.
***
Please take care. Mother Nature can be an overwhelming power, demanding our respect.
I wish you strong inner fires to can stay warm and healthy in this new year!
Sweet Potato Chai Smoothie
Sweet Potato Pudding or Sweet Potato Chai… You pick! Continue reading
Summer’s Garden Soup
Cucumber, Cilantro, Avocado in a creamy, cool soup for summer. Continue reading
Spring Green & Clean: Detox Protein Smoothie
For me, there is no better place to witness the lessons of Spring, and to learn about ourselves as dynamic and integral aspects of nature than in our own humble garden. Continue reading
Cardamom Cookies
Gorgeous, delicious, cardamom-speckled cookies to warm a wintry heart. Continue reading