Why do you practice yoga?

What gets you onto your mat in the morning? To that class? Sitting down on your meditation cushion?

During my initial foray into yoga, it was magical. The honeymoon period of loving every down-dog, pranayama practice, and new weird thing I would learn, like uddiyana bandha, was thrilling to me.

Eventually after years of practice things became stale—dried up—boring. Mechanically, I would get up and do my sadhana, more out of obligation than passion. My commitment to my practice was strong, but my heart had waned.

In the beginning, it was all heart for me. I was passionate, not only about the physical aspect of yoga, but even more stoked about the esoteric, subtler practices and experiences that were available through these ancient teachings. A series of serendipitous events led me to the Bihar School of Yoga in India, the world’s first yoga university and ashram.

My heart burst open there as I participated in the daily karma yoga, and kirtan. Every night after dinner, all 400 or so of us living at the ashram would file into Jyoti Mandir where we would sit down on the cold marble floor and be led through kirtan chanting.

A swami would start the kirtan. Slowly. Sometimes out of tune. But always with the sweet sound of devotion that seeped into my bones and lifted my spirits.

The drums would begin, hitting my solar plexus and awakening the fire within.

Before long my heart was picked up in a frenzy of ecstatic love and joy. The vibration of the chanting was the master key. Without fail, it cleared out any stagnation in my mind and body.

There were nights I found myself on the lawn outside of the kirtan hall, dancing to the sound of the chanting. Or rather, being danced. This was pure bliss. This was Yoga.

Yet…how come I couldn’t sustain my enlightened, blessed-out state all day long?

Chanting is one of the doorways in, for me.

So is skiing, scuba diving, dancing and laughter.

A taste of perfection. A glimpse of the Divine. So fleeting, so elusive, so transient.

Or is it?

What I have come to understand and surrender to is that in every mundane and boring moment of my life, it is filled with the essence of the Divine.

When feeling down, agitated or unsupported, it is I who has disconnected, who is looking for a certain flavour or feel to “how things should be”.

I return to my breath. I feel into my body. I allow my awareness to funnel down into my heart. This is where Divine connection lies. It is not outside of myself—that is the illusion.

When all of the pathways of mind and heart are clear, the essence is love.

Love IS.

Yoga has provided us with wonderful tools to clear what is in the way of experiencing our true nature, love.

Chant, sing, dance, chanturanga, whatever…just don’t forget that the love is within, waiting to burst forth.

Our job is to let it.

Resistance may be a defence mechanism, an inner knowing of something being “off”, a means by which we protect ourselves, or an expression of wanting something to be different.

What I have observed regarding my own inner resistance is that it is very automatic, depending on the person, situation, or experience. It is a red flag to me that I am not present.

In the present moment there is no need to resist what is.

This does not mean that we won’t consciously choose to remove ourselves from a situation, but any inner resistance is worth getting curious about and is certainly a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth.

As a yoga practitioner and teacher trainer I have the privilege of guiding students through many asana, pranayama, and meditation practices. It always amazes me how much resistance is stored in the physical body (that undoubtedly receives commands from manas, the mind).

For example, when we try too hard during an asana, the result—muscles contract, prana gets blocked, and the nervous system is stressed. More tension is created despite our greatest efforts to relax through our yoga practice.

Sometimes we even resist the relaxation.

Savasana, the practice of corpse pose at the end of a yoga class, is the ultimate surrender. Resistance here is futile. “Let go” is such a cliché. We hear it all the time, but what does it really mean to let go?

How do we truly surrender into savasana, or better yet, into our living, waking life?

This is the ultimate mastery in yoga—to yield into an experience of grace where we are not resisting whatever is happening, thus allowing the prana, the life force to glide easily through our body and mind.

Peace, stillness, and love dwell beneath the surface of fear, anger, sorrow, agitation, and resistance.

The breath is the key to unlocking resistance. When we resist, a contraction occurs. The Yogis and Martial Artists have known and understood energy and how to manage it for thousands of years. Therefore, they yield at times of great force, challenge, and attack. This ability to soften and yield is often the most powerful move.

Deep, calm, soothing breaths allow the prana to continue to flow properly, subsequently presence is illuminated and clarity prevails. Clarity connects us to understanding and compassion.

There is no room for resistance to breed when love, compassion, and curiosity reign.

There is much to resist in everyday, modern life: the red light, the line-up at the grocery store, the great disappointment, a broken heart, something a family member says, or the way we are feeling. Yet, whatever we are resisting, we are not accepting.

Non-acceptance leads to, or is led by resentment, frustration, anger, and pain.

Connecting to the breath opens the heart and clears the mind.

Suddenly the red light turns to green, another line-up opens at the grocery store, a loved one makes an apology, or we are able to witness the current experience without judgement.

When we allow all of life and the experiences it brings to flow through us, we can move on from hurts and pain more easily.

When we resist something or someone, we’re holding onto the past or fearing the future.

Take a deep breath and let your muscles and mind relax when you feel yourself bracing against the world.

Tap into your inner mastery, stay present to your life, and allow that really annoying driver in as they cut ahead of you on the highway.

Let’s face it ladies…there are more demands on us now then at any other time in history.

Working. Going to school. Being Mom Of The Year. Having a Relationship. Looking good. Staying healthy. Being conscious. And trying not to ruin the planet while we are at it.

Quite frankly being a Superwoman can be quite exhausting, don’t you agree?

How do we have it all and be the greatest we can be and simultaneously remain grounded and happy in the midst of all of the striving? We can’t.

Something has to give and that’s ok (insert exhalation here).

The acceptance of who we are and how we are is key to the happiness we seek through all of the go-getting.

It’s time for a revolution and we are the ones who must initiate and support the shift of paradigm—of focus—from self- improvement to self-acceptance.

We must put self care and joy back in the driver’s seat and ask our scared, competitive, struggling, victim self to step back and watch how self-mastery is done. That is The Way of the Superwoman!

10 Ways to Unleash Your Inner Superwoman:

1) Say NO to people, projects, requests, invites, or demands that are not unbounded YESSES! By aligning your energy with what is true to you, you will conserve energy for the things that really make your heart sing, sans resentment or guilt.

2) Take time to be by yourself everyday. Quietly, silently, peacefully. Continue to develop your relationship to your self as it is the most important relationship of all.

3) Move your body. Do yoga, dance, swim, ride your bike, walk, whatever groove you like to move. Do it.

4) Be in nature. Be very present with your surroundings. Soak up the sounds, sights, smells, and energy of the great outdoors. Allow nature to restore your prana.

5) Eat fresh whole foods cooked with love, organic when possible. Treat your body as your temple. Keep it clean and nourish it from the inside out.

6) Keep your mind clear. Empty out the trash of your mind. Observe and understand your current beliefs and motivations behind them. If they are not serving your highest good, question why you’re holding onto them.

7) Give back. Keep the flow of energy moving. Giving back can be simple like smiling at a stranger, helping someone in need, or doing karma yoga.

8) Celebrate you. Be proud of who you are and all of the small things that you feel good about. Shifting your perception of what is worth celebrating brings more delight and satisfaction. You are worth celebrating.

9) Celebrate another. Give a genuine compliment, a thank you, a card, an e-mail, a hug. Sharing love and kindness is infectious.

10) Have gratitude. Focus on what you are grateful for now. Watch the world shower you with goodness.

I wish that I could offer you a tiny magic pill so that you would automatically feel younger, look sexy first thing in the morning even after a bad sleep, and always have your ideal body weight.

I can’t do that, but what I can offer you is a way to eat, live, and understand both food and nutrition that will provide you with the foundation for a lifetime of health and balance.

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic health systems still in use on the planet. When you understand your individual constitution or body type and what foods are most appropriate for you to stay in balance you will return to your ideal weight by following some guidelines and tips for keeping those extra pounds at bay.

The issue of excessive weight and obesity is important not only for having vibrant energy, sleeping well, and living a balanced life. Dealing with this issue is crucial for preventing more serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

Weight issues are much thicker then the skin (or the subcutaneous fat, I should say), therefore mental and emotional aspects cannot be ignored for long term-balanced weight to be achieved.

Firstly, let us begin to erase all of the female supermodel, impossibly “perfect”, airbrushed, I-spend-my-whole-day-at-the-gym-type body images that we are constantly bombarded with. Striving to achieve the body someone else has sets up a roller coaster ride of inevitable self-criticism, frustration, and disappointment.

In Ayurveda, the three doshas or constitutional types of vata (air and ether), pitta (fire and water), and kapha (earth and water) all have very different bone structures, physical attributes, and metabolic function. We are born with a particular constitution and must live according to what brings our constitution—or prakruti—into balance.

Vata: Thin frames, tall, lanky, light, tend to underweight, variable digestion.

Pitta: Medium frames, muscular, medium build and weight, strong digestion.

Kapha: Stocky, solid frames, soft, voluptuous, tend to overweight, slower digestion.

The tendency to put on extra pounds is most often related to those with a kapha constitution, as it is harder for kapha types to lose weight because of the weaker cellular fire that turns excess calories into adipose tissue instead of burning them up.

However, anyone making poor food and lifestyle choices such as eating late at night, consuming processed foods, eating junk food, emotional eating, and not getting enough exercise, will inevitably go out of balance.

10 Tips to lose those sticky pounds that are weighing you down:

1) Eat your largest meal in the middle of the day when the digestive fire is the strongest.

2) Eat three proper meals instead of snacking all day long. This will give your body time to begin burning up adipose tissue. If you are always snacking the body never gets to the point where it needs to consume fat.

3) Don’t eat anything at least three hours before bedtime otherwise you won’t fully digest the food and you will gain weight.

4) Sip warm water with lemon and ginger throughout the day to detoxify and stay hydrated.

5) Avoid cold drinks, fried foods, sugary foods, dairy foods, red meat, alcohol, and too much wheat.

6) Spice it up! Add lots of warming spices to your meals to burn away the adipose tissue such as ginger, cinnamon, garlic, cumin, coriander, fennel, cayenne, and garam masala mix.

7) Make your own meals instead of eating out. This way you know exactly what goes into the food you are eating. Often meals that appear “healthy” on a menu are full of stuff you don’t want to be eating such as processed dressings on salads.

8) Mindful eating. How you eat is as important as what you eat. Seriously. Make sure you eat in a calm, relaxed setting with gratitude for your food and your body.

9) Move it! You’ve got to exercise, there’s no way around it. Daily walking, dynamic yoga, jogging, swimming, dancing, weight–lifting, any form of movement you choose. Get consistent and stay committed. Get a friend to join you to keep up the routine and make it more fun.

10) Learn practices to de-stress and relax. Often we hold onto excess weight because the body-mind believes it is in survival mode. Yoga, yogic breathing practices such as nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), and meditation are great ways to retrain the nervous system to operate in a more relaxed way. Engaging theses practices will help digestion, assimilation and elimination automatically improve.

Ayurveda always looks at the individual on a holistic level. Consequently, self-love may be one of the most integral components of losing weight and keeping those pounds from returning over and over again: This is one reason why most diets don’t work.

Cravings spike and we grab a donut, a cookie, some ice cream or chocolate, something sweet to fill a gap. It is not true hunger but emotional starvation. Ask yourself, “What am I really craving?” Attention? Affection? Recognition? Security?

Looking at the underlying issues resulting in emotional eating will help to get to the source of what is causing the string of events that lead to overeating, lack of exercise, or making inferior food and lifestyle choices over and over again.

Love your body, no matter what shape, size, colour, or dosha. Your body is your temple, a gift from the Divine to carry you through this life.

Take good care of it, honour it, and adorn it with beauty.

No matter what…feed it love. Daily. Always. Now.

We’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” While this is certainly true, an even deeper level of examination reveals that we are what we think. For thousands of years the great Yogis and Vaidyas (Ayurvedic physicians) have observed the nature of the mind-body relationship. What they analyzed, understood, and taught was the direct, undeniable, interconnected matrix of our thought process creating either health or dis-ease. Fast forward approximately 5000 years to today…here we are in a fast-paced, technologically- driven, goal-oriented, productivity-based society; striving to get ahead, make more money, look younger and feel more relaxed. Stress has an impact on our well being, on our nervous system, blood pressure, and every system of the body, not to mention it ages us faster and can leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and depressed.

Is there another way? I talk to many people who believe that this is just the way life is and there isn’t much to do about it unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery or get an upgrade on your DNA.

Let us imagine for just a moment that we are creating the reality that we see, feel, and interact with. Let us suspend our disbelief for a tiny second and imagine that we manifest our life by sending out signals and invitations through the thoughts that we think and feelings that we feel. What if these thoughts and feelings set up an energetic loop that reflects back to us our “reality” based on the vibration that we are experiencing? For example when we are in a negative state of mind we look though the lens of negativity and see everything around us conspiring to make us suffer (so we get more suffering). Conversely, when we are in a positive, loving resonance our perspective is different and even when adversity comes we can navigate and deflect it more easily and gracefully (so we feel more love, gratitude, and peace).

In Yoga and Ayurveda, the mind is called manas and is said to have a functional relationship with the entire body. The mind is not the same as the brain here. Manas has a presence on a cellular level, existing as an intelligence that is affecting all of the dhatus (tissue layers or systems) and chakras (energy centres), thereby giving information to the entire body about how to function.

Every thought we think has power. Most of our thoughts are habitual and repetitive, they are old programs from the past, running the show. This happens without us even realizing it. We believe we are thinking new thoughts yet we wind up creating the same situations, experiences and circumstances over and over again. It may be a new relationship but over time we realize we’re dating the same guy, or are involved in another altercation with an unfair boss, or have another friend dumping all of their problems on us. Can you relate?

At this point it may feel like life is happening to you, however life is a reflection of what signals are going out from your own personal generating station (the channel of the mind, manovaha srota). So time to observe and take charge! If you want to change anything in your life start by looking within by observing the subtle thoughts, reactions and feelings created from your thinking patterns. Ask yourself:

1) Is there another perspective or point of view that I could take?

2) How am I contributing to the outcome of a situation (positively or negatively)?

3) What else is possible?

4) What would love do/ say/ think?

Don’t lollygag in a negative rut, as it will only bring you down and down and down.

Notice any resistance you may have to thinking or feeling positively about something. I’m not talking about suppression here. Ahamkara is the sense of “I Am”, loosely translated as the ego. Whenever the sense of who we think we are is threatened, (i.e. moving beyond an old paradigm of thinking or being) the ahamkara will rear it’s ugly head, dig it’s heels in and convince you that it’s not safe to love, forgive, trust, relax, or accept. This is the crossroads of transformation. You may choose to stay small, stuck, and feel like a victim or you can choose to blast through the ceiling of suffering by embracing a new way of thinking, feeling, and looking at the world. This is incredibly empowering and puts the reins of your life back in your hands. Giddy-up!

Yogic asana, pranayama, meditation, and chanting practices are also great tools to reprogram the neuro-pathways of your brain and influence the nervous system to operate from a more relaxed place. Personally I love kirtan and chanting mantras as they have the power to bypass the intellect (buddhi) and go directly to the heart. Also, humming bee breath (brahmari pranayama) and alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) are at the top of my list for shifting out of a negative place and into a more centred and clear state of mind.

Choose your thoughts and feelings wisely for they will create your future. As Allen Ginsberg said, “You are what you think about all day” and I’m going to have to say I think he might be right!

Maybe I’m enlightened or perhaps we’ve just had more then two consecutive days of sunshine in a row, (not a small miracle here in Vancouver) or could it be that I’m changing my perspective to see things through a different lens? Riding my bike through the city, along the seawall, looking out to the ocean, stopping to eat sushi and tapioca pudding whilst soaking up the sun and vibe of summer, I am overflowing with gratitude. I can’t help it. I’m bubbling over, bursting forth, sprouting new buds of enthusiasm and excitement not only for what lies ahead but also for right now. Right friggin now! Seeing obstacles as miracles in disguise, as gifts, as protection from the Universe who knows better then me what will help me to grow and evolve in this crazy life.

I have always been quite disciplined, growing up training in dance and various other sports and art forms. I excelled in school and always wanted to do my best. However as I got older a shadow of heaviness came over me, it was called responsibility and I didn’t know how to dance with it. My life became lopsided. I was running a yoga studio, trying to recover from a seven-year illness and struggling to pay the rent. Life felt hard and I wasn’t having any of the ‘f’ word. Fun that is!

Fun, play and joy are integral aspects of healing and living. Without them enthusiasm wanes, struggle sets in and the weight of the world weighs heavy on our shoulders. Can you relate? Fun is light, enthusiastic, creative. In Ayurveda these are characteristics that describe vata dosha, comprised mainly of the elements air and ether. When too much heaviness takes over our mind or body a kapha imbalance may manifest. Kapha is made up of the elements earth and water, which are very good for sustainability, consistency and resilience yet in excess can show up as dullness, lethargy or depression. Pitta dosha consists of the fire and water elements and can be the spark that seeks out fun and play or out of balance can be the taskmaster and no-fun-Netty because everything is goal oriented and result based. Fun for the sake of fun, that’s what I’m talking about. No agenda or need to check it off the to-do list (although if you’re very goal oriented I would suggest putting this at the top of your to-do list and checking it off everyday).

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek word “entheos” which means to “have the God within”. When we can’t connect to our inner spark, when we’ve become flat, bored with life, overwhelmed or depressed we’ve lost our connection to Spirit. When we lose this connection this is fertile ground for dis-ease and illness to set in. In Ayurveda it is said that the primordial cause of disease is forgetting our true nature as Spirit. I have always found this a profound statement and basis for looking at dysfunction within the mind-body-spirit paradigm. We cannot separate what’s going on in the body from what the mind and emotional bodies are feeding it. Our prana, our life force loves joy and happiness, it thrives in an environment of flow and ease and becomes depleted or stuck in a stressed out, angry or depressed state.
So don’t let the f word be a dirty word anymore. Make a list of the things that make you feel alive, lift your spirits and make your heart sing. What does fun look like to you? Are you having enough genuine fun in your life? Does your idea of fun revolve around drugs and alcohol, devices to avoid or are there aspects of your life and experiences that are spontaneous and childlike?

Here’s my list of fun things that I love to do:
~Ride my bike
~Kayak
~Blast Adele and sing at the top of my lungs
~Dance around my living room
~Colour
~Hoola hoop
~Take a book and read at the beach
~Have pot-luck dinners with friends
~Go to new places/ travel

Inviting more fun in your life increases the feel good hormones in your body, makes you smile more and is contagious. The world needs more joyful people. Your life needs you and desperately wants you to be happy.

Since I’ve consciously been bringing more fun into my life and seeing Spirit infused in everything I have felt my energy rise, my shoulders relax and wouldn’t you know it, the sunshine has come out. I keep reminding myself that life is now. Maybe I’ve brainwashed myself to the point of delusion but hey, if it’s a good delusion then why not? If this apparition of seeing Spirit everywhere in everything will one day come crashing down and squish me like a little toad on the evolutionary sidewalk, then so be it. This life, this breath, this very day is worth marvelling. Don’t you agree?

The above ‘decrease pitta in the summer season’ is true, however I would eat this anytime of year because I love it! It’s been a staple in my diet the last little while and I think it should become it’s own food group.

Pitta is the fire element and governs the summer season. In Ayurveda this is the time of year to eat foods that have a more cooling nature, especially if you are an individual with a pitta/ fire constitution. Avocados, maple syrup and coconut are all cooling in nature and will keep the fiery emotions such as irritation or anger at bay. Besides who can be upset when they’re eating chocolate avocado pudding?

Not only a delicious dessert, this delicacy is packed with Ayurvedic goodness. Avocados are filled with healthy fats and vitamins A, C, E, K and B6, cacao is a great source of anti-oxidants and maple syrup is rich in zinc and manganese that support the immune system.

Ingredients
2 avocados
4 tbsp maple syrup
4 tbsp cacao powder
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp dry ginger
1/4 tsp vanilla essence

1 tbsp shredded coconut as topping
1 tbsp broken pistachios/ pecans/ almonds/ walnuts as topping

Preparation
Only takes a few minutes so all of you pitta types can get back to your to do lists and conquering the world ASAP!

Cut your ripe avocados in half, scoop out the pits and scrape the avocado flesh into your blender. Add all the other ingredients minus the toppings and blend. Sprinkle on toppings of your choice. Voila!

Servings
Depends who you’re talking to…if you love this you may be able to enjoy the whole recipe yourself however there is enough to share with a friend if you’re feeling generous.

How often do you wash your body, brush your teeth, floss, or get your haircut? How often do you consciously cleanse your liver, stomach, small intestine, spleen, your blood and so on? What is visible to us is often what we take good care of yet what is behind the scenes, in the closet, out of sight becomes less of a priority. Interesting, isn’t it?

What I love about cleansing is the conscious connection that is created between what we put into our body and how we feel (mentally, physically and emotionally). This concept translates into absolutely everything in our lives; our environment, thoughts, emotions and then manifests as our life. The age-old saying, “How you do anything is how you do everything” invites mindfulness at every turn, from how we make our bed, greet a stranger and eat our lunch.

As you begin to cleanse the body you may notice things getting stirred up mentally, emotionally and energetically too. This is normal. We cannot separate the mind and body. Old wounds or grievances may surface; anger, sadness, fatigue-anything at all that is stored in the body (and we store everything that is undigested in the body, from toxins to emotions and experiences). To support yourself with your holistic cleanse here are some of my suggestions:

1) Daily meditation.
The practice of meditation has the purpose of clearing out the subconscious garbage of our mind. Sitting quietly focussing on the breath may possibly be one of the most challenging things for us to do because there is nowhere to go and we are left with the constant chatter of the mind (and once in awhile a moment or two of no-thing). A daily practice, even if it is just 5-10 minutes has great value in establishing a relaxed state and releasing the build up of mental toxins.

2) Unplug.
Are you addicted to checking your phone or e-mails? Addicted to talking, texting or tweeting? Perhaps you wouldn’t say you have an addiction but can you imagine a day or more without being plugged in to anything electronic? So much of our mind gets cluttered up with external stimulation, information and advertising. We are literally consumed by technology and information daily. During your cleanse, unplug. See how much time opens up for you in a day and how you feel without being on call 24/7. If this brings up stress or anxiety for you may very well have an unhealthy relationship to your gidgets and gadgets.

3) Journal.
Journaling is a fantastic way to clear out mental clutter and also gives you a voice to express anything that you’re feeling. Get a notebook, pen and timer. Choose how long you would like to journal for and set your timer (I would suggest 5-10 minutes). Write continuously without lifting the pen from the page. Don’t think too much about what you’re writing, just let your thoughts flow onto the page even if they don’t make sense. You will begin to lighten up mentally and emotionally!

4) Spring clean!
Yep, good old-fashioned cleaning of your home will make you feel great! Once you are done, smudge your space to clear out any old energy. You can do this with sage or any natural incense that you love. Mindfully walk through your home and direct the smoke into the corners and throughout the room to cleanse the environment.

5) Relaxation.
The antidote to stress is conscious relaxation. In Yoga we call this savasana or corpse pose. Yoga Nidra or Yogic sleep is another deeply relaxing practice (you will need the use of a CD for this). Take some time everyday to lie down on your back on a firm surface with palms facing up and legs about 18 inches apart. Close your eyes and take slow, calm and steady abdominal breaths in and out through your nose. That’s it! Continue this for some time until you feel incredibly relaxed and peaceful.

Doing a cleanse is far more then just changing the foods that you’re eating or cutting out coffee and alcohol. When you choose to cleanse you are choosing to take time out of your busy schedule to honour rest and rejuvenation. It is essential to do less, work less, talk less and ‘unplug’ to gain the full benefits of restoring the mind and body throughout your cleansing process.

Why? Well, we’re all on over drive and most of us are so stressed out that we don’t even realize the impact that a non-stop action packed life is having on our nervous system, organs and mind. Partly because it is considered ‘normal’ to live like this. It may be ‘normal’ but it sure isn’t natural. Cleansing allows you to press the reset button and provides insight into living and feeling differently.

Soooooooooooooooooo, here are some of my daily self care tips for you to use not only throughout your cleanse but even beyond!

1) Your day begins the night before.
You know how crummy you feel after a bad night’s sleep, right? How you’re feeling today is influenced tremendously by what time you went to bed last night and how well you slept. Getting to bed by 10pm will allow your body to restore and heal very important organs like the liver and spleen. Plan ahead and get a good night’s sleep to ensure that you’re fully rested and make the most out of your day tomorrow.

2) Set an intention.
Living intentionally is a sure-fire way that you’re launching yourself along the trajectory that you want to be on, not ending up somewhere you really didn’t want to be. Everyday set an intention for yourself first thing in the morning. State it. Declare it. Be clear and confident with it. Keep reminding yourself of your intention throughout the day. Your intention can be whatever feels appropriate for you that day or something you would like to cultivate more of in your life. If you can’t think of anything, start with (and say it with feeling), “Today is a great day!”

3) Scrape your tongue immediately upon waking.
Before you drink anything in the morning, get up and scrape your tongue (either buy a tongue scraper or use the back of a metal spoon for now). Take the tongue scraper from the back of your tongue to the tip and gently pull off any goopy gunk (known as ‘ama’ in Ayurveda, which are toxins). Do this a few times. Notice the thickness, colour and consistency of the ama. It will change everyday depending on the state of your health!

4) Daily self massage.
In Ayurveda we call this ‘abhyanga’ and it is the application and massage of oil into the body. This is wonderful to calm and relax the nervous system, boost immunity and strengthen the body.
Choosing your organic oils…if you tend to feel cold, anxious and overwhelmed easily choose sesame (cold processed, unrefined) oil. If you tend to feel hot, irritable and anger easily, choose coconut oil and if you tend to be on the heavier, lethargic side choose sunflower oil. Warm the oil up a little bit (baby bottle style works well) and then apply the oil from the extremities towards the heart. Work long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes on the joints. You can even apply oil to the soles of your feet and crown of your head. Wait at least 10 minutes before rinsing off in a warm shower or bath (don’t use soap as it disturbs the ph balance of the skin). You’ll be amazed at how much oil gets absorbed into your skin as your pores open up in the shower to drink up the oil!
Avoid doing your oil massage on your menstrual cycle.

5) You time.
It is essential to have some quiet time to yourself everyday. You may choose to do your own yoga practice, meditate, journal or walk in nature. It doesn’t matter what you decide to do but be consistent with your daily ‘you time’ so that you can pause, reflect and stay connected to yourself and what matters most to you in your life.

Being an Ayurvedic Practitioner, I see the world through the eyes of Ayurveda. Everyone is unique and needs something different according to their personal prakruti or natural doshic make-up. By understanding someone’s natural state and their current state of imbalance (vikruti) I am able to discern exactly what treatment protocol would be most appropriate. Other things to consider are the mental and emotional states, type of job, stress, family and anything else that is influencing one’s life situation. If a client were going through a divorce, moving house, changing jobs or having any other major transition or stress in their life, it would not be a good time to cleanse.

Knowing the basics of Ayurveda will help you to understand your unique approach to cleansing but the most important gauge is awareness of and listening to your own body. Ayurveda literally means the knowledge and wisdom of life. It is the holistic healing system, originating in India over 5,000 years ago and is still actively being used today throughout many parts of the world.
Ayurveda views health and disease as the end result of how we interact with the world, in terms of our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts and feelings, which then ultimately determine our actions. Actions in harmony with our inner nature create health, while those dis-harmonious with our inner nature create disease. Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our internal and external environments.
Your inner nature is called your constitution or prakruti and is a unique blend of the three doshas: vata (ether + air), pitta (fire + water) and kapha (earth + water). Your constitution was determined at the moment of your conception and is with you your entire life. It determines what is in harmony with your nature and what will cause you to become out of balance, sick and diseased. Knowledge of your constitution is essential to developing optimal health.
Ayurveda assists us in journeying back to optimal health by balancing the five elements in the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromatherapy, lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation. When we follow diet, food and lifestyle choices that support our unique dosha then we will be healthy and have less of a need to cleanse in any drastic way. However once there is a build up of ama or toxicity in the body that cannot be eliminated, a cleansing process is essential. Traditionally an Ayurvedic cleanse called Pancha Karma (Five Actions) would be recommended and the patient would go to a Pancha Karma hospital or centre for a period or weeks or months depending on the severity of the disease to undergo the cleansing treatment.
Cleansing for Your Dosha.
Vata is comprised primarily of the ether and air elements therefore the qualities of vata are light, cold, rough, dry and changeable. Vata types are naturally slender with long, fine bones. They tend towards feeling cold, anxious, scattered, overwhelmed, under-weight and may suffer from symptoms such as constipation, dry skin, insomnia or nervous system disorders.
As vata is on the cold, light side and doesn’t do well with fasting, it is important that cleansing is gentle and nurturing otherwise fear, worry, constipation and stress will all increase. The focus needs to be on ensuring that the immune system is strong and digestion balanced.
Pitta consists mostly of the fire and water elements. The main qualities of pitta are hot, sharp, oily, mobile and spreading. Pitta types are medium in build, often athletic, driven, hot, competitive and intense. They tend toward feeling hot, irritated, angry and critical and may suffer from rashes, inflammation, acid reflux, ulcers or burning diarrhea when out of balance.
Pitta’s fiery mind and body drive them towards success and goal oriented activities. For pitta it is key that they learn to listen and feel their body opposed to deciding logically what the body needs. Subsequently, cleansing must not become another thing to check off the to do list but really be something that is honored (thus slowing down, lessening activities and intensity during this time). Cleansing of the liver and blood can be very beneficial for pitta.
Kapha is made up mainly of the earth and water elements. Some of kapha’s qualities are heavy, unctuous, slow, dull, smooth, soft and cool. Kapha types have a more solid frame, soft smooth skin, large eyes, are slower moving and tend to feel the damp. They may be predisposed to lethargy, excess weight, congestion, depression and symptoms in the chest and sinuses.
As kapha is inclined to congestion and a mucousy build up, cleansing in the spring (also the kapha time of year) is most optimal. Kapha types can benefit from cleansing, less food and even some forms of fasting as they often have an excess of fat stores and slower digestion.
No matter what your dosha is following a daily routine of waking, eating and sleeping at the same times everyday is beneficial. Eating the Ayurvedic super food known as ‘kichari’ and sipping on CCF tea (cumin, coriander, fennel tea) are wonderful ways to cleanse your digestive system (in Ayurveda we always look to the state of the digestion and ensure that it is functioning optimally, otherwise all other systems will be compromised). Kichari is a complete protein and is packed full of nutritional value while being easy to digest and therefore cleansing the body. A kichari diet can be observed for a day, a week or even longer depending on your individual health concerns (it is recommended to consult with your trusted Ayurvedic Practitioner to get more specific details on cleansing for your individual state and dosha).

No matter what your dosha is the spring is a wonderful time to press the restart button, ensure that you are in rhythm with the season and allow a healthier, happier version of yourself to blossom!

Cumin-Coriander-Fennel Tea
Take 2 tsp of each of the seeds of cumin, coriander and fennel. Add to boiling water. Turn the heat down and let simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Strain and sip warm tea throughout the day (put it in a thermos and take it to the office)!
Kichadi! (Also called kichari)
A simple and quick to make one pot meal with a bunch of benefits…
Recipe by Spice Mistress Glynnis Osher. www.themysticmasala.com
Kichadi is the core of Ayurvedic nutritional healing and cleansing. A balancing, grounding dish of split mung beans and basmati rice with the right spices and herbs, Kichadi not only nourishes the doshas but is also the preparatory diet for Pancha Karma (the five actions-of cleansing). The transition of the seasons is the ideal time for these Ayurvedic cleansing therapies that help to reset the body clock, rebalance the doshas and remove ama from the system. Ama is an accumulation of toxins that can form in the body from poor diet, undigested foods, stress, lack of appropriate exercise and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Pancha karma is best practiced under the care and guidance of an Ayurvedic practitioner and involves many facets, however Kichadi is a food easily made at home and very easy to digest for any meal especially during the transition of the seasons.

Kichadis take on endless variations depending on the herbs, spices and vegetables used. They are very sattvic (balancing to the body, harmonious to mind) and easy to digest.

TRIDOSHIC SPRING KICHADI

4 tablespoons ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
Half a medium onion finely diced
1 inch fresh peeled ginger, finely diced
1/4 teaspoon hing (asafoetida) (reduces the gaseous nature of beans)
1 cup split mung dal
3/4 cup white basmati rice
1/2 bunch spinach (alternate with 1-2 cups of other greens or veggies such as asparagus, zucchini or a combination)
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt/rock salt
4 1/2 cups water (may add more water for a more watery soup kichadi or less for a drier stew)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the ghee on medium and add the onions and ginger to sauté until tender. Add the cumin, fennel and coriander seeds, sauté for 2 or so more minutes. Add the hing and stir in. Wash the dal and rice until the rinse water is clear, drain well and add to the mixture. Sauté for a few more minutes and add the cold water, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir, lower heat and simmer on low until tender with the lid on, about 20 minutes. While the kichadi is cooking wash and chop the spinach/greens. Add the greens to the top of the mixture and replace the cover. Allow to ‘steam’ on top for 5-8 minutes. Stir in and add salt and mix in. (If you are using veggies that take longer to cook than greens (like squash), add to mixture 10 minutes before done).
Garnish with a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro or parsley, a small dollop more of ghee and toasted sesame seeds.