What are the ideal circumstances for Ayurveda to find a seat in one's life?

What are the ideal circumstances for Ayurveda to find a seat in one's life? My humble opinion, so far, twenty years into teaching..

#1. Awareness and observation.

#2. It is looking like community support is a key for most.

#3. An understanding of how and why things work, so a person can become intuitive in the healing process.

#4. Agency, personal involvement- not a mystery understood by the other.

Explain explain, visualize energy, create allegorical stories, share narratives of our own healings with one another.

I‘ve been running my own business online for three years this spring.

Rather than setting out to “make an impact” with my business, I have always thought about creating the ideal circumstances for Ayurveda to make an impact.

I don’t think about reaching more people, but rather how the spread becomes inevitable once Ayurveda earns a seat in someone’s life- everyone around her sees it, wants it too, asks about it.

Word of mouth is the best, and I thank you all for sharing what you do, when you do. Being a writer and teacher kind of stinks when nobody’s reflecting it back. So grateful.

#ayurvediclivinginstitute #ayurvedalifeinstitute #ayurveda #ayurvediclife #ayurvedafood #ayurvedarecipe #healthandwellness #livingayurveda #kateodonnell #cleansing #detox #everydayayurvedacookbook #ayurvedaquarterly

Sattvavajaya

Sattvavajaya means “victory over the mind” and refers to a branch of Ayurvedic psychology that includes techniques for healing the mind and emotions. Therapies can be diet, herbs, bodywork, meditation and yoga, and lifestyle choices that foster connection between heart, mind, and self.

The seat of the mind is in the spiritual heart, and both mind and heart must digest and metabolize emotions to retain clarity in mind and moods.

It is said the most important quality in this process is patience, and the willingness to look within for the deepest truth in all matters.

Healing the mind may sound a bit lofty, but truthfully, Ayurveda will meet you where you are at. Changes to your daily routine can change both your body and your mind—transforming your overall health. From simple dietary changes to improve your physical wellbeing to managing irritability or sadness, it all counts. All realms of life are fertile ground for self-transformation.

Satisfaction. Desire. Sattva.

The #1 problem for humans...revealed!

According to the Yoga system, there is one basic problem that disturbs the mind: a compulsion to look outward, rather than inward, for satisfaction.

The mind attaches itself to a “sense object,” an object of desire: food, sex, money, power, cars and clothes, etc, in the false belief this object will deliver satisfaction.

The experience of happiness that depends on an object will ultimately come to an end. True satisfaction, the state of Sattva in the mind, is content and unmoved by desire.

THALI. What is it?

The word thali comes from the word for the circular plate meals are served on. A thali is usually served at mid-day, and refers to a meal that contains all six tastes. A thali can change depending on the region of India it is served in, varying in accompaniments and degree of spice.

A thali will usually contain a folded chapatti (whole wheat flatbread), perhaps a papad, a crispy-fried, disc-shaped tortilla made of lentil flour, and a pile of basmati rice in the middle of the plate. This base is then surrounded by any number of small metal cups holding dal, cooked vegetable dishes, freshly made yogurt or buttermilk, perhaps a sweet such as rice pudding, and a spoonful of pickle right on the plate.

Everyday ayurveda Cooking for a Calm, Clear Mind has all the recipes you see in this pohoto and how to assemble them, with homemade lemon pickle, into a thali meal!

Having a few friends over and making an authentic thali together is an excellent way to enjoy Ayurvedic cooking!

STRAWBERRIES!

It’s that time for the light, sweet, sour, and astringent friend: the berry. Moisturize it, mineralize it, and enjoy it.

Cook them into a hot cereal, eat them to hydrate and refresh in the AM before the big foods. Eat berries instead of chips and coffees in the pre-dinner slump.

Maybe not so much the mixing into salads, as they do digest faster than all the roughage and will nourish you better on their own, or cooked along with other friendly foods.

If you’ve got choices, never forget to eat the berries when in season, as they will inevitably go out of season. Time is now!

Healthy Menstruation

Today’s online workshop we are going deep into the topic of healthy menstruation.

What does that even look like? Feel like?

Common imbalances and simple remedies.

The sooner we start taking care, the smoother it all goes, from fertility to menopause.

A beautiful description of Vesanta, the spring season from one of the Ayurveda texts.

This inspires me to take pleasure in the swelling waterways, the delicate sun and clouds, and the glory of the Earth springing forth!

May we celebrate her glory every day, in every season!

TURMERIC HONEY!

Honey is THE sweetener for springtime because it is dry, astringent, and scrapes the channels clean. Amazing stuff!

Better not to use it hot, according to Ayurveda texts, but mixing with turmeric and a crack of black pepper makes an excellent medicine for sore throats and warding off allergies and colds.

It’s my GO-TO when I think I'm coming down with something. I always get the sore throat first.

🌶 The chili

Is spring a good time for chili peppers. Well, they are sharp and dry which opposes the damp and cool spring weather nicely. They melt mucous and can speed up a sluggish gut, as well as aid circulation.

Thing is the chili is not a very moderate friend. It’s an all it nothing kind of thing. If we take the so often followed road of more-is-better we can end up in a pickle. The chili is strong medicine and can be enjoyed in small amounts in damp cool weather it doesn’t need to be taken daily.

My first spring in Maine I completely overdid it. Then dealt with aggravated heat in the summer in the form of PMS, skin blemishes, and the occasional night sweat. Ah, my friend the chili your medicinal powers are not to be underestimated! I will be more moderate this year 😇. Will reach for ginger and cumin instead.