Sharon consults on healthy lifestyle practices based on ancient techniques found in Ayurveda.
Ayurveda - the "medical arm" of yoga - is a nature-based lifestyle practice that weaves together diet, breath work, and movement in a way that honors each individual's unique constitution (dosha) and inherent nature. It is very much an individual practice designed to compliment and enhance all the positive yet unique qualities found in each and every one of us. Contact Sharon today to learn more, or to schedule an appointment to review your dosha and receive recommendations based on that.
Dosha - Qualities found in nature, and in our bodies. Pay attention to the principle of "like influences like" when choosing approaches to health, well being and diet.
Here's a bit about how they show up:
For tips to support a healthy transition throughout the seasons, read on...
Windy and Cold - aspects of the VATA DOSHA. Fall and early winter are considered Vata times of year (or anytime in CO when it's very, very dry, cold and windy). As we transition through the fall season where the evenings cool down, the nights are colder, and in Boulder, at least, the winds seem to pick up, again... we want to slow down our day time activities, and take more time to add in warming foods and practices.
Here are some simple tips to help you adjust to the change of seasons:
Feeling anxious? This common Vata complaint is best supported through calming and centering practices that include alternate nostril breathing (click here for details), a grounding yoga practice that puts gentle pressure on the belly (colon is the seat of Vata in the body), and eating root vegetables. As well, its great to add a drop of two of grounding, calming essential oils to your massage oil, or diffuser.
Yoga Wisdom for fall/winter: Try some restorative postures with a block or bolster, allowing the energy of your body to anchor down toward the earth. Combine a simple forward fold and backwards reclining positions into a few minutes of quiet rest as you take time to connect with your breath and quiet your mind at the end of a busy day. Frog pose is another way to rest with gentle pressure on the belly...
Want more? Explore the following postures that target the large intestine and colon, the seat of the Vata Dosha:
* Apanasana (supine, knees to chest)
* Uttanasana (standing forward bend)
* Bhujangasana (prone, cobra pose)
* Matsyendrasana (reclining twist)
* Bananasana (reclining lateral stretch) and
* Setu Bandha Sarvangasana with a block under the sacrum (Supported Bridge Pose/Back Bend)
All of these postures provide great opportunities to root down and gently massage the abdominal area, helping to calm the restlessness of spiked Vata that is inherent in this cold, windy season. Try them at home, and come in with questions. I'm always happy to support you in finding what works best for your body on the path to greater health and wellness.
Remember, taking a few minutes out of the day to nourish yourself with oils, breathing practices and/or gentle movement and a healthy, seasonal diet can go a long way in making the transition through the fall and winter season an easier and more graceful experience.
Contact me with any questions or for advice on developing a nourishing and individualized personal practice. Namaste.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Moving into Autumn with Grace and Ease. The ancient practice of Ayurveda - the medical arm of Yoga - is based on diet and lifestyle. In our bodies we all tend to accumulate heat from the summer months. Taking care to eat more cooling, moist foods (cucumbers, melons, coconut, cilantro, avocado) toward the end of summer can help alleviate some of the dryness we experience. Massaging the body with Coconut or Sunflower Oil at this time of year can also be very refreshing. Do this about 15 minutes before you take a shower or bath and let it soak in through the skin (you can even rub it into your hair for a nice softening effect - use shampoo on DRY hair to remove). Not only does this benefit your skin - our bodies largest protective organ - but it soaks in and begins to nourish the organs on the inside of the body, too. Herbs can be used to spice up your meals without adding unnecessary sodium. Many of them have cooling properties, too. As we move deeper into the fall season - a Vata time of year - you'll want to add warm, cooked foods to the diet and phase out raw and cold foods. I am happy to share more tips from this ancient tradition anytime. Please ask in class, or schedule a private session to develop a home protocol designed especially for you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Spring is in the air! Read on for Ayurvedic tips for Spring Cleaning the body to feel, do and be your very best.
As spring unfolds, let your health blossom along with the bulbs you may have planted last fall, and the buds on the trees. Flowing with the seasons is easy when we follow a few basic principles. Right now, the variable weather and damper conditions signal a change from conditions inherent in the Late Fall/Early Winter which, in Ayurveda, is known as the Vata time of year (typically cold, dry and windy). For those of us experiencing "Spring Time in the Rockies" late winter and early spring have more of the qualities associated with the Kapha Dosha... cool, damp, steady.
Modifications to one’s diet, yoga practices and breathing activities that honor this seasonal change are in order and will keep you feeling your very best! If we move gently through the spring season and take care to clean out the accumulation from the winter season, our health can flourish all through the summer and into fall!
Recommendations for the Spring Ayurvedic Diet:
* Begin to add more bitter tastes (ie: herbs such as dandelion), as well as spicy (ie: fresh ginger herbal tea) and astringent (ie: all pulses) tastes. These tastes open the channels of elimination, clearing excess mucus and moisture from the body.
* Reduce kapha-aggravating sweet, sour and salty foods which could cause water retention at this time.
* Minimize raw and cold foods. It is still a good time to be eating warm, lightly cooked meals, as we do in winter. Exchanging lighter grains such as quinoa, millet and barley for some of the wheat or heavier rices in your diet is appropriate at this time of year, as they are all Kapha reducing. A salad is great at lunch time, when the digestive fire for most of us is at its highest but may not be so good for dinner at this time of year.
Recommended practices for Spring:
• Eat light, easily digestible meals and reduce snacking;
• Eat a kapha pacifying diet (more alkalizing ~ one that supports clearing out winter accumulation by emphasizing bitter,
pungent & astringent foods. Nature provides us with perfect foods in every season. Springtime sprouts, greens and berries provide an exceptional natural detoxifying power.);
• As we want to do in Winter, continue sipping warm water throughout the day. Consider drinking warming teas made with ginger, cinnamon, and/or dandelion;
• Use raw honey as a sweetener - Raw honey clears mucous and kapha due to its heating, drying and channel clearing effect. It is the best sweetener for kapha types and is good for all in spring. Never heat honey as it changes into a hard-to-digest toxic substance.
• Use the Neti Pot - rinse both nostrils with warm, salt water over a sink to help ward off colds and hay fever, and to keep nasal passages clear, supporting cleansing, seasonal breathing practices;
• Do daily yoga, pranayama & meditation and take a walk outside (Change up your yoga practice! Weave in some deeper breathing practices and some faster paced yoga flows are great while the weather is still cool (Sun Salutations are a great way to get mucus and lymph flowing now) to support clearing of winter accumulation.
*** Email me to schedule an overall health consultation or get help developing a home practice: mountainsmiles@msn.com.
In the event of a spring cold, help clear mucous by eating light, warm, simple foods as you rest. Soup is ideal. Avoid dairy products, sweets, fried foods and yeasted bread which increase congestion. Fresh ginger tea is excellent, especially with raw honey added once the tea has cooled down.
Have questions? Would you like more information? Care to make a suggestion? I welcome your comments ~ please contact me via the contact page.
Ayurveda - the "medical arm" of yoga - is a nature-based lifestyle practice that weaves together diet, breath work, and movement in a way that honors each individual's unique constitution (dosha) and inherent nature. It is very much an individual practice designed to compliment and enhance all the positive yet unique qualities found in each and every one of us. Contact Sharon today to learn more, or to schedule an appointment to review your dosha and receive recommendations based on that.
Dosha - Qualities found in nature, and in our bodies. Pay attention to the principle of "like influences like" when choosing approaches to health, well being and diet.
Here's a bit about how they show up:
- Vata - The dosha of movement is comprised of the air and space elements found in nature. Its qualities are light, mobile, drying, and cold. Think raw foods, crackers and chips, alcohol. These are hard to digest and trigger more of the same qualities in the body.
- Pitta - The dosha of transformation is comprised of the fire element with a bit of water. Its qualities are sharp, penetrating and hot. Responsible for knowledge and understanding. Be careful eating too many spices, spicy food, or bitter, pungent tastes which easily exacerbate this dosha in the body (ie: rashes).
- Kapha - This dosha brings steadiness and stability to the body/mind as it is comprised of the earth and water elements. An imbalance can result in an accumulation of mucus, especially in the stomach and lungs as well as a lack of motivation for the tasks of life. Late winter and early spring is the Kapha Season, associated with coldness, dullness and moisture.
For tips to support a healthy transition throughout the seasons, read on...
Windy and Cold - aspects of the VATA DOSHA. Fall and early winter are considered Vata times of year (or anytime in CO when it's very, very dry, cold and windy). As we transition through the fall season where the evenings cool down, the nights are colder, and in Boulder, at least, the winds seem to pick up, again... we want to slow down our day time activities, and take more time to add in warming foods and practices.
Here are some simple tips to help you adjust to the change of seasons:
- Add a few nourishing soups to the diet, made with fresh, organic vegetables.
- Modify the oils in your diet and add more to your food. Ghee and/or Olive Oil help calm and lubricate the tissues of the body. I love toast slathered in ghee for breakfast!
- Keep up with the self massage. Now is the time to switch from Coconut Oil (which is great on the skin in the hot summer months) to Sunflower Oil, possibly even adding in some Sesame Oil for self massage. Also, Sesame Oil rubbed onto the bottoms of the feet before bedtime helps keep the nervous system calm as the season changes. Pull on a pair of socks if you're worried about staining the sheets...
- Drink warm water ~ The wind and the weather at this time of year can easily dry us out, so in addition to adding in more oil to the diet and on the skin, be sure to drink lots of clear water in between meals. Room temperature or even warm water is easier on the body and hydrates better than cold water. Try it, you'll like it!
Feeling anxious? This common Vata complaint is best supported through calming and centering practices that include alternate nostril breathing (click here for details), a grounding yoga practice that puts gentle pressure on the belly (colon is the seat of Vata in the body), and eating root vegetables. As well, its great to add a drop of two of grounding, calming essential oils to your massage oil, or diffuser.
Yoga Wisdom for fall/winter: Try some restorative postures with a block or bolster, allowing the energy of your body to anchor down toward the earth. Combine a simple forward fold and backwards reclining positions into a few minutes of quiet rest as you take time to connect with your breath and quiet your mind at the end of a busy day. Frog pose is another way to rest with gentle pressure on the belly...
Want more? Explore the following postures that target the large intestine and colon, the seat of the Vata Dosha:
* Apanasana (supine, knees to chest)
* Uttanasana (standing forward bend)
* Bhujangasana (prone, cobra pose)
* Matsyendrasana (reclining twist)
* Bananasana (reclining lateral stretch) and
* Setu Bandha Sarvangasana with a block under the sacrum (Supported Bridge Pose/Back Bend)
All of these postures provide great opportunities to root down and gently massage the abdominal area, helping to calm the restlessness of spiked Vata that is inherent in this cold, windy season. Try them at home, and come in with questions. I'm always happy to support you in finding what works best for your body on the path to greater health and wellness.
Remember, taking a few minutes out of the day to nourish yourself with oils, breathing practices and/or gentle movement and a healthy, seasonal diet can go a long way in making the transition through the fall and winter season an easier and more graceful experience.
Contact me with any questions or for advice on developing a nourishing and individualized personal practice. Namaste.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Moving into Autumn with Grace and Ease. The ancient practice of Ayurveda - the medical arm of Yoga - is based on diet and lifestyle. In our bodies we all tend to accumulate heat from the summer months. Taking care to eat more cooling, moist foods (cucumbers, melons, coconut, cilantro, avocado) toward the end of summer can help alleviate some of the dryness we experience. Massaging the body with Coconut or Sunflower Oil at this time of year can also be very refreshing. Do this about 15 minutes before you take a shower or bath and let it soak in through the skin (you can even rub it into your hair for a nice softening effect - use shampoo on DRY hair to remove). Not only does this benefit your skin - our bodies largest protective organ - but it soaks in and begins to nourish the organs on the inside of the body, too. Herbs can be used to spice up your meals without adding unnecessary sodium. Many of them have cooling properties, too. As we move deeper into the fall season - a Vata time of year - you'll want to add warm, cooked foods to the diet and phase out raw and cold foods. I am happy to share more tips from this ancient tradition anytime. Please ask in class, or schedule a private session to develop a home protocol designed especially for you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Spring is in the air! Read on for Ayurvedic tips for Spring Cleaning the body to feel, do and be your very best.
As spring unfolds, let your health blossom along with the bulbs you may have planted last fall, and the buds on the trees. Flowing with the seasons is easy when we follow a few basic principles. Right now, the variable weather and damper conditions signal a change from conditions inherent in the Late Fall/Early Winter which, in Ayurveda, is known as the Vata time of year (typically cold, dry and windy). For those of us experiencing "Spring Time in the Rockies" late winter and early spring have more of the qualities associated with the Kapha Dosha... cool, damp, steady.
Modifications to one’s diet, yoga practices and breathing activities that honor this seasonal change are in order and will keep you feeling your very best! If we move gently through the spring season and take care to clean out the accumulation from the winter season, our health can flourish all through the summer and into fall!
Recommendations for the Spring Ayurvedic Diet:
* Begin to add more bitter tastes (ie: herbs such as dandelion), as well as spicy (ie: fresh ginger herbal tea) and astringent (ie: all pulses) tastes. These tastes open the channels of elimination, clearing excess mucus and moisture from the body.
* Reduce kapha-aggravating sweet, sour and salty foods which could cause water retention at this time.
* Minimize raw and cold foods. It is still a good time to be eating warm, lightly cooked meals, as we do in winter. Exchanging lighter grains such as quinoa, millet and barley for some of the wheat or heavier rices in your diet is appropriate at this time of year, as they are all Kapha reducing. A salad is great at lunch time, when the digestive fire for most of us is at its highest but may not be so good for dinner at this time of year.
Recommended practices for Spring:
• Eat light, easily digestible meals and reduce snacking;
• Eat a kapha pacifying diet (more alkalizing ~ one that supports clearing out winter accumulation by emphasizing bitter,
pungent & astringent foods. Nature provides us with perfect foods in every season. Springtime sprouts, greens and berries provide an exceptional natural detoxifying power.);
• As we want to do in Winter, continue sipping warm water throughout the day. Consider drinking warming teas made with ginger, cinnamon, and/or dandelion;
• Use raw honey as a sweetener - Raw honey clears mucous and kapha due to its heating, drying and channel clearing effect. It is the best sweetener for kapha types and is good for all in spring. Never heat honey as it changes into a hard-to-digest toxic substance.
• Use the Neti Pot - rinse both nostrils with warm, salt water over a sink to help ward off colds and hay fever, and to keep nasal passages clear, supporting cleansing, seasonal breathing practices;
• Do daily yoga, pranayama & meditation and take a walk outside (Change up your yoga practice! Weave in some deeper breathing practices and some faster paced yoga flows are great while the weather is still cool (Sun Salutations are a great way to get mucus and lymph flowing now) to support clearing of winter accumulation.
*** Email me to schedule an overall health consultation or get help developing a home practice: mountainsmiles@msn.com.
In the event of a spring cold, help clear mucous by eating light, warm, simple foods as you rest. Soup is ideal. Avoid dairy products, sweets, fried foods and yeasted bread which increase congestion. Fresh ginger tea is excellent, especially with raw honey added once the tea has cooled down.
Have questions? Would you like more information? Care to make a suggestion? I welcome your comments ~ please contact me via the contact page.