Balanced Living Ayurveda

Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimers Remedy

2012-02-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

Check out the video below on coconut oil and enjoy this amazing and tasty oil!!!
Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimers Remedy

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2011-12-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

Ryan Foran of Livng the Run radio (ESPN 1280) interviewed me about Ayurveda on Wednesday night, and above is the YouTube link. I didn't expect to see a camera in the room, so it was a little disconcerting, however I think it turned out pretty good. Of course, listening back, I always think of points that I wish I made, but all in all, I think it's a pretty good overview of Ayurveda!

New Year's Tips the Ayurvedic Way

2011-12-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

New Year, New You the Ayurvedic Way
Ayurveda, the ancient system of health and wellness from India, recognizes that balance in all areas of our lives is essential for well-being and longevity. For those looking to realize their New Year’s resolutions for a healthier body, mind and spirit,

For Weight Control and Detoxification: Wholesome Foods and Established Eating Routines•

Enjoy your largest meal of the day at lunch – Our digestive fire mirrors the sun; it is highest at noon, meaning we burn more calories during our mid-day meal than any other time. According to Ayurveda, eat enough breakfast to get you to lunch; make lunch your largest meal of the day whenever possible; and eat enough dinner to get you through until the next morning’s breakfast. To maintain or lose weight, finish dinner by 7 p.m., allowing three hours between dinner and bedtime.
•
Pay attention when eating – Stay focused on your meal, eating slowly and with attention. Not only will you appreciate your food more, but you will feel satisfied quicker. Avoid eating in front of the computer or TV, or during a stressful conversation.
•
Eat wholesome foods – Avoid packaged, processed and frozen foods, opting for fresh produce, dairy and light meats, which are loaded with easy to absorb nutrients, packing a powerful energy punch. Try shopping at your local farmer’s market, or shop the “outside” aisles of your grocery store for the freshest options.
•
Drink water, and lots of it! – Drinking half your bodyweight in ounces of pure water daily (i.e. a 150 lb. person should drink 75 ounces) will not only remove toxins, but help you to feel full. Many times you may think you are hungry, when you are actually thirsty, so drink up! Avoid ice, sodas, sugary drinks and coffee.
Helpful RUVED Herbal Formula: Good health begins and ends with digestion, and Triphala is one of the best-known and most revered Ayurvedic formulas for supporting it. The herbal combination in Triphala has been considered the secret to longevity and robust health in Ayurveda for centuries.*
For a Trim, Strong Body: Appropriate Exercise
•
Exercise between 6-10 a.m. or around 5-6 p.m. – Ayurveda recognizes daily cycles, and within these cycles, times that are best for various activities, including exercise. Your body will make the most of exercise if performed between these hours.
•
Exercise frequently, and in nature– Find a type of exercise that you are passionate about and participate four to six times a week. Setting reachable goals with activities that you enjoy paves the way for success. Ayurveda says we soak up the most “prana” or life force, when exercising in nature, so if the weather is agreeable get outside for a hike or bike ride.
•
Practice Yoga –Yoga -particularly a slow and focused practice - creates a state of peace and relaxation for mind, body and spirit, while keeping the body strong and flexible.
Helpful RUVED Herbal Formulas: For muscle and joint support, try CoCurQ or Paingon for a healthy inflammatory response *.

For Stress Reduction: Just Breathe, Meditate and Massage•

Meditate daily – Meditating as little as five minutes every morning can help you center, allowing you to respond (rather than react) to the day’s challenges. Busy mind? Most of us experience this – just a few seconds of a quieted mind can positively influence your entire day! There are many books, websites and meditation organizations to help you find a path that works best for you, regardless of religion.
• Practice breathing techniques - The ancient sages from India recognized the breath as important for balancing and de-stressing one’s body, mind and spirit. One simple technique is simply to take a minute, three times a day, to breathe through your nose into your belly to the count of ten, and then slowly exhale through your nose to the same count. (For more breathing techniques, click here.)
• Give yourself a daily massage - A massage a day can keep the doctor away, and according to a recent Dr. Oz Show, “abhyanga,” or a simple self-massage, is an excellent daily ritual to boost immunity. Abhyanga can make a remarkable difference in de-stressing, nourishing and detoxing the body, as the skin is our largest organ and deeply absorbs what we apply to it.
Helpful RUVED Herbal Formulas: For self-massage, try RUVED Ayurvedic massage oils with medicinal herbs that balance one’s unique constitution, or “dosha.” *
For stress relief, ashwagandha is one of the most highly regarded herbs in Ayurveda, supporting a stable mind function and a restful state. Memoren™, also contains well known Ayurvedic herbs addressing the nervous system, stress-relief and memory support. *

For Sleep: Early to Bed, Early to Rise•

Go to bed at 10 p.m. and wake at 6 a.m.– Follow the rhythms of nature: hit the sack by 10 p.m., and wake up at approximately 6 a.m. Sleeping during these hours facilitates the best rest and healing functions of the body. The later you go to bed, the more difficult it will be to fall asleep, as you miss the body’s prime time for shifting into sleep.
•
Make sure your bedroom is free from distractions such as television and excessive light in order to support solid sleep. Invest in an eye mask if outside lights shine into your room.

Helpful RUVED Herbal Formulas: Again, try ashwagandha to help calm a busy mind.
Following these daily routines will bring you back to a harmonious and energetic state in no time, allowing you to put your best foot forward in 2012.

2011-09-30T12:20:00.001-07:00

Here's an easy recipe for making your own ghee. Save a few bucks by doing it yourself. It's really good to add more ghee to your diet during the fall...

Oven-made Ghee
Makes about 2 cups
It is critical to use organic, unsalted butter to make ghee!
1 pound organic, unsalted butter
Preheat the oven to 215 degrees F. Put the butter in a 1½ to 2 quart casserole or oven-proof pot. Place the butter in the oven without a lid and allow it to clarify, undisturbed, for 2 hours. As it boils and foams the water content vaporizes and if you open the oven you'll hear tiny, sharp crackling noises.
The ghee is ready when it:
• Changes from a cloudy yellow to clear golden color
• Develops a popcorn-like aroma
• Stops foaming and making crackling noises
• Milk solids form on the bottom of the pot
Pour the ghee through a fine sieve or through several layers of cheesecloth into a clean, dry glass storage jar, so that you straining out the milk solids, which you will then discard. When the ghee is completely cool, cover tightly and store in a dry place away from direct sun light. It doesn't require refrigeration. Always use a clean spoon to dip into it.

Easy cleanse for September

2011-09-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I've procrastinated long enough on my cleanse, so am officially jumping into the detox routine today! I'm doing an easier cleanse than I usually do (I tend to go to extremes) with a lot more "allowed" foods. Items that are a no-no include alcohol, black tea and coffee, red meat, wheat, dairy, potatoes, bread, pasta, etc. (Oh, and sugar...) In other words, I'll be eating lots of veggies. It's actually not that different than I normally eat, so it won't be too hard. I get tempted by the sugary treats and bread, so it will be good to eliminate those. If anyone is interested in trying this cleanse, let me know and I will share the details with you! Happy Labor Day :)

Kitcheree recipe

2011-09-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

I thought I had posted this recipe a long time ago, but it looks like I haven't! The Ayurvedic dish "Kitcheree" consists of mung beans and rice primarily, with spices that assist with digestion and overall cleansing. Now that I am on a simple cleanse for the month, I will be making lots of this, and thought I'd share it as well. Enjoy! (post any questions that you may have)

KICHADI RECIPE

Great for balancing all three doshas!

• 1/3 C white basmati rice
• ½ C split mung beans (available at the Natural Foods Coop in San Luis Obispo)
• 5 C water, or use a veggie stock
• 1 tsp to 2 T fresh grated ginger root, less with high Pitta
• ¼ tsp. cumin seeds or ½ tsp. ground cumin
• ¼ tsp. mustard seeds (can omit if high pitta)
• ½-1 tsp coriander seeds or 1 tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp. fennel seeds
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1 clove garlic (omit if Pitta)

Heat up spices on the bottom of the pot, stirring constantly for about 1 or 2 minutes, until aromatic. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes, and then reduce heat to medium-low. As rice and beans are cooking, chop and add vegetables such as:
Carrots
Zucchini
Broccoli

After bringing water to a boil, simmer for approximately 30 minutes – until most of the liquid is absorbed, but the consistency is smooth, not mushy and sticky.

When done, take the pot off the heat and add ghee or salt/braggs liquid amino acids to taste!

It is better for your digestion to use split mung beans (and even better if you soak them overnight. However, you can use whole mung beans; however you will need to adjust the cooking time to about 45 minutes

Esalen Kale Salad

2011-08-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

As promised on Facebook, here's my absolute favorite recipe for kale, from one of my favorite spots in the world, Esalen in Big Sur. And, because it is summer, eating it raw is fine for all doshas, especially pitta! Kale is highly nutritious and really good for cleansing the digestive system. Really, I can't get enough of this salad - enjoy :)

1/3 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos or tamari soy sauce (I like tamari better)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup flax seed or extra virgin olive oil ( I use olive oil)
1/2 medium- sized red onion
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (you can cheat and get these already roasted, unsalted)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds (I didn't have sesame seeds the other day, so just used more pumpkin seeds)
1 lb. fresh kale (or about 2 big bunches)
1/2 cup sunflower sprouts
1 avocado, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (optional)
1 cup thinly sliced shiitake or crimini mushrooms (optional - I typically don't add these))

Combine the Bragg or soy sauce and lemon juice in a blender or whisk in a bowl. Slowly dribble in the oil as the blender turns or as you whisk vigorously. Slice the onion into thin half-moons and marinate in the dressing as you prepare the rest of the salad.

Toast the seeds in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat until seeds are just golden and fragrant (cast iron skillet is the best). Toast each seed type separately as their size requires varying roasting times. Cool to room temperature.

De-stem the kale. Stack the kale leaves and slice or tear into 1/4 inch ribbons. This is the most important step so make sure that you take your time. The success of this recipe lies in cutting the kale into small ribbons and in completely massaging the kale with the dressing.

Toss the seeds, sprouts, and kale together in the marinated onions and as much dressing as necessary to lightly but completely dress the kale. Massage the dressing into the kale with your hands. Add the avocado and mushrooms if using and toss again with your hands.

Serves 4-6!

Getting a Pulse on the Action

2011-07-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

This morning my friend and fellow Ayurvedic practitioner Jean and I did Ayurvedic pulse readings following a yoga class at Smiling Dog Yoga in SLO. I really enjoyed getting my hands on several different pulses, and think I would like to do this regularly after yoga classes. I studied pulse reading with the esteemed Dr. Lad back in 2007 and find it a very valuable diagnostic tool - although it takes getting your hands on lots of pulses in order to be an expert at it. I'm looking for volunteers who will offer their wrist to me!

Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

2010-10-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!
There’s nothing like a crunchy, fresh apple on a crisp fall day - I've been eating at least two a day, really, for the past month! Fall is the perfect time to enjoy apples, either raw or cooked, depending on your dosha. Apples detoxify the body, cleanse the intestines, and alleviate any accumulated pitta from summer, essential for keeping your body balanced as you transition into fall.
Please make sure the apples that you purchase are free of pesticides and preferably organic, as apples can be high in pesticides if not otherwise specified. The local farmer’s markets are a great source for fresh, healthy apples.
If you tend to be more Vata in nature, or are feeling a bit cold and dry, try the below stewed apple recipe for a sweet and healthy treat.
Stewed Apples
(Two servings)
· 2 apples, diced
· 1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
· ½ teaspoon powdered cardamom
· ½ teaspoon fresh ginger or ¼ powdered
· 1 teaspoon ghee (you can omit if you'd like and just use a little more water)
· 1/3 cup water
Melt the ghee first, and then place all ingredients in a skillet and cook over a medium to medium-low flame until the apples are soft, about 10 minutes. Enjoy alone, over oatmeal or as dessert. I must say... Yum :)

2010-05-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

Have a little more time this summer for reading? There are literally hundreds of Ayurvedic Books available; however here's a list of a few to get you started on your journey towards better health and wellness:

AYURVEDIC BOOK RESOURCES

· The 3-Season Diet, Dr. John Douillard

· Perfect Health, Deepak Chopra

· Ayurveda, The Science of Self-Healing, Dr. Vasant Lad

· Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners, Amadea Morningstar

· Yoga for Your Type, Dr. David Frawley and Sandra Summerfield Kozak

· The Path of Practice, A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing, Maya Tiwari

Summer Workshop coming up

2010-05-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

For all you Pittas out there, or anyone who gets a little "out of sorts" during the summer: I'm offering a class on Ayurvedic Tips to Stay Cool and Calm this summer. It will be at Central Coast Yoga, on Saturday, June 12 for 1-3 p.m. Here's a link to the flyer. Hope to see you there!
http://www.balancedlivingayurveda.com/files/bla_flyer_june12.pdf

2010-02-23T16:20:00.000-08:00

The Ayurvedic Cleanse and Yin Yoga retreat is filling up quick, with only a few spaces left! (March 11-14) Click on the retreat button for details...

2010-02-18T15:33:00.000-08:00

We've all heard that it is important to drink more water. These tips below bring it to a whole 'nother level! (courtesy of Maharishi Ayurveda)

Healing Waters
Well water, pond water, rain water -- there are many types of water described in ayurvedic texts, and each has a therapeutic value, just as food does.
"Water represents soma, the nourishing, cooling quality that is associated with lunar energy," says The Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians. "It helps with digestion, cools and balances Pitta dosha, supports Kapha, and counteracts the dryness of Vata. It nurtures, lubricates and also detoxifies when it flows out of the body as urine."
Water, when properly absorbed by the body, has several healing qualities:
1. Helps to remove fatigue (Shramnashana)
2. Enhances glow of skin
3. Prevents constipation
4. Increases stamina
5. Provides satisfaction
6. Helps the heart by pacifying Sadhaka Pitta
7. Helps digestion
8. Cooling
9. Always helpful to the body
10. Easy to assimilate
11. Life-giving
12. Antioxidant
Vaidya Mishra explains how the healing effects of water can be enhanced using ayurvedic methods.
Water for Cleansing
"Sometimes people have dry skin and unquenchable thirst even though they drink lots of water," says The Council. "The deeper physiology is not getting enough moisture."
The Council explains that this occurs when the person's agni is low and ama blocks the microchannels (shrotas) which carry water to the cells. In order to cleanse the channels and enhance moisture absorption, ayurvedic texts recommend boiling the water for various lengths of time, creating a therapeutic water called ushnodaka. Another method is to add spices or herbs to the water after boiling.
Why It Works
"When the water boils, it gets charged with heat, becoming sharper in quality (sookshma)," explains The Council. "This sharpness allows it to cleanse the channels and penetrate deeper levels of the physiology."
Spices create an added therapeutic effect by interacting with the water on the molecular level. Spices create different effects on the body through aroma and taste.
"It becomes easier for the body to flush out toxins and impurities because of the sharpness of the agni (heat) in the water and because of the sharpness of the spices," explains Ayurvedic Expert. "Over time, it cleanses the channels so the water is unobstructed as it travels into the body to hydrate the tissues, and travels out carrying waste."
Ancient texts talk about the difference in the rate of absorption of regular water vs. boiled water:
regular water -- takes about 6 hours if every channel is clear
boiled and cooled water -- takes about 3 hours to be absorbed, and helps open the channels
hot herbalized water -- takes about 1 1/2 hours, due to sharpness of agni and herbs and spices

2010-02-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

Here's a hand out I give to my clients on Healthy Eating Guidelines. I'll keep sharing!
Guidelines for Healthy Eating

How you eat your food is even more important than what you eat. In fact, Ayurveda
understands that eating is one of the most sacred experiences we have. After all, when we eat our food, we are taking in the atoms and molecules that have been around in different forms since the beginning of time and asking them to become a part of us. If we eat our food properly, with awareness and respect, the food joins well with our bodies. If we do not, the food has difficulty joining with our bodies and causes gas and other digestive disturbances. The end result of poor digestion is ama (toxins formed from poor digestion) and this leads to disease. Hence, in Ayurveda, we try our best to make eating a form of meditation (to eat in peacefulness and with awareness) and sadhana (taking ordinary activity and approaching it with spiritual awareness).

The Five Major Rules
· Begin meals with grace or by simply taking 3-5 slow breaths with eyes closed. This prepares the body to receive the food.
· Eat in a calm environment where there is little distraction. It is best to avoid having the television or the radio on. Avoid excessive conversation and all conversation about emotionally intense issues. Avoid reading.
· Chew your food until it is an even consistency. This requires your attention to be on the food in your mouth. There is no magic number of times to chew food. Chewing properly improves digestion and absorption of the food.
· Eat at a moderate pace and until you are 75% full. Overeating is one of the major causes of disease in our society. When we eat too much, digestion becomes difficult. When we finish eating, we should not feel heavy and we should not feel hungry. We want to feel satisfied. This is what is meant by 75% full.
· Following your meal let your food digest some before going on to the next activity. It is best to wait 15-20 minutes for food to digest. During this time engage in light conversation or read a light book. You can also go for a slow walk. If you are rushed, take at least 3-5 slow breaths to close the door on this sacred experience.

Additional Tips
· It is best to drink only a little bit of liquid with meals. One-half cup of room-temperature water is average. Dry meals may require more. Moist meals, like soup, require none at all.
· Take all water and drinks at room temperature or warm. Cold drinks destroy the digestive fire and decrease digestion. This is true not only at mealtime, but also throughout the day.
· The body’s rhythms mirror those of the universe and digestion is strongest around noon when the sun is at its peak. Therefore, it is best to eat a larger meal around noon and have a lighter meal in the morning and the evening.
· Allow three hours between meals for food to digest. This allows most people 3-5 meals per day. Those with a vata nature or imbalance should eat 4-5 times per day.
· Eat food prepared with love. The energy of the cook is always in the food. Avoid eating food prepared with resentment. We eat not only the food but also the emotions of the cook.

Recipe!

2010-02-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves recipes! As promised, here's one of my favorites...

Red Lentil Soup (courtesy of Melanie Sachs)

1 onion chopped finely
Carrots – two or tree, chopped small (same amount as onion)
Celery – 2 stalks chopped
One cup red lentils, rinsed well
½ teaspoon tumeric
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 ½ teaspoonds coriander powder

Saute onions in ghee or oil (olive or another vegetable oil) then add the tumeric, cumin and coriander. Add the carrots and celery next.
Add the lentils and 4 cups of vegetable broth, or 4 cups of water and a vegetable stock cube instead of the veggie broth.

In a pressure cooker, bring to pressure, then simmer for 20 minutes.
If you don’t have a pressure cooker, probably cook for about 45 minutes (however long it takes for red lentils to become tender.

Blend until smooth (with blender or hand puree tool) and squeeze in a bit of lemon or lime juice.

Enjoy!

Delicious J

2010-02-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

My friend Jean and I will be holding a workshop on Ayurveda for "Women of a Certain Age." Ayurveda really helps with the symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. If you are in your late thirties, a women, and starting to feel a little off balance, you may be experiencing menopausal symptoms. Come join us and learn some tips on handling this transitional time! Here's a link to the flyer and details:
http://www.balancedlivingayurveda.com/6-0-events--classes.html

Whole Food Multivitamin +Plus Vital Minerals Nutritional Supplement

2010-01-28T09:46:00.000-08:00

Whole Food Multivitamin +Plus Vital Minerals Nutritional Supplement

kichadi recipe

2010-01-25T19:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a recipe for kichadi that I use all the time. Whenever I feel out of balance or don't know what else to cook, this is my standby meal!

Great for balancing all three doshas!

1/3 C white basmati rice
½ C split mung beans (available at the Natural Foods Coop in San Luis Obispo)
5 C water, or use a veggie stock
1 tsp to 2 T fresh grated ginger root, less with high Pitta
¼ tsp. cumin seeds or ½ tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. mustard seeds (can omit if high pitta)
½-1 tsp coriander seeds or 1 tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp. fennel seeds
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 clove garlic (omit if Pitta)

Heat up spices on the bottom of the pot, stirring constantly for about 1 or 2 minutes, until aromatic. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes, and then reduce heat to medium-low. As rice and beans are cooking, chop and add vegetables such as:
Carrots
Zucchini
Broccoli

After bringing water to a boil, simmer for approximately 30 minutes – until most of the liquid is absorbed, but the consistency is smooth, not mushy and sticky.

When done, take the pot off the heat and add ghee or salt/braggs liquid amino acids to taste!

It is better for your digestion to use split mung beans. However, you can use whole mung beans; however you will need to adjust the cooking time to about 45 minutes. Split mung beans are easier on the digestion and very healing in nature.

Ayurveda for the winter

2010-01-18T16:21:00.000-08:00

A few quick tips:

- Eat warm, cooked foods;
Examples: Oatmeal, stir-fried veggies, squash, sweet potatoes
- Drink warming liquids, including warm water

Dress warmly
Stay in a routine
Take regular baths
Give yourself an oil massage several times a week

Herbs:
Ashwaganda, especially for Vata
-