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Five simple tips to calm Vata this fall
Vata is the force that governs movement within our bodies. Vata is at play when we take in food, and when we eliminate. It is present in the constant movement of our breath, bringing air in and out of our lungs, and in the synapses of our nervous system moving thoughts, emotions and sensations through our awareness. When Vata is in balance, creativity is flowing and enthusiasm for life is strong. Those with a healthy balance of Vata in their constitution tend to be spiritually-minded, free-spirited, and artistic. When out of balance, excess Vata can cause anxiety, fearfulness and depression. Because Vata is movement, those with excess Vata often have…
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How to come off a cleanse: the next steps for a spectacular seasonal transition
So you’ve finished your Ayurvedic cleanse, you’re feeling great, and you’re ready to eat something other than kitchari – the only question is, what do you eat now? In my own experience, and for many I’ve talked to, coming off a cleanse can be the hardest part. When you’re cleansing, you have rules to follow. You know exactly what you will be eating everyday, and you have a routine. But at the end of your cleanse, if you aren’t prepared, it can be easy to slip into old habits or just feel a little lost. It’s easy to find information on how to do an Ayurvedic cleanse, but it’s harder…
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How to get ready for your Ayurvedic cleanse
The first time I tried an Ayurvedic cleanse (or any kind of cleanse, for that matter) I was 23 and had just come home from spending six months traveling in Europe. My digestion was a wreck from all the travel, and from subsisting mainly off various forms of bread products. When I came home I met with an Ayurvedic doctor for the first time, who suggested a Vata-balancing diet — this means lots of warm, moist, cooked foods! I told her I wanted to do a cleanse, and she handed me a piece of paper with a recipe for kitchari (an Indian porridge made from rice and mung beans), and…
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Less is more: five areas of your life to simplify for greater health and joy
This week I’ve been reading Maya Tiwari’s book A Woman’s Power to Heal and was struck by this sentence: “Using Wise Earth Ayurveda to help thousands of women heal from the ravages of cancer into good health, I can say the single most significant factor in their healing had to do with simplifying their lives.” Now, this is quite a remarkable claim, but it doesn’t surprise me in the least. The more I study and work with Ayurvedic principles, the more I understand how stress and overwork are huge contributing factors in so many ailments. I’m certainly not making any claims about severe diseases such as cancer. (Although I trust…
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Top ten reasons to do an Ayurvedic cleanse
An Ayurvedic cleanse is a simple, nourishing practice that can be done safely at home. If you’re new to Ayurveda, it’s a wonderful way to quickly feel the benefits of Ayurveda in your own body! I practice a cleanse twice a year and find the benefits to be both physical, mental and energetic. Here are the top ten reasons you might want to consider practicing your own Ayurvedic cleanse! 1. Connect to the cycles of nature Many of us live lives that are out of sync with nature these days. We do little to mark the changing seasons or passage of time. Our holidays are disconnected from a deeper meaning…