- Category: bodhiBlog
Sometimes the signposts that re-direct our lives come in unexpected ways. We always have a choice – to acknowledge and follow those signs, or to ignore them because they don’t fit in with our “plan.” Especially when it comes to discovering our ultimate purpose in life, it’s never too early to pay attention and change the game plan.
Why wait until you’ve spent 30 years in the wrong job to discover what the universe has been trying to tell you?
I truly believe that we’re constantly being sent messages to guide us on our path, and we just have to look for them to know what our path is.
Sometimes these signs come in disguised packages.
One of the things I’m most grateful for in my life is that I discovered Ayurveda when I was 22 years old. Though I had planned to do community development work in South Africa, my life took a turn when I became introduced to Ayurveda through The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. Vasant Lad.
Here’s the juicy story:
- Category: bodhiBlog
It struck me this morning that Botox is one of those things that exemplifies American culture's determination to "band-aid" an imbalance rather than treat the root of the problem. We do it with everything, whether it's foreign relations, cleaning up the environment, or medicating kids with behavioral disorders. Outside of an emergency, long lasting solutions to any problem require addressing the root cause. This is the traditional approach to medicine in the Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions. Symptoms are treated by discerning the root cause and working to rectify that. Even in Europe, people have a broader perspective, and they approach a healthy diet and lifestyle as the best anti-aging medicine. The Italian homeopathic skin care program I've been writing about represents this different way of approaching health. Its "physiological regulating" method treats aging skin at the source - stimulating our own cells to initiate long-lasting repair.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Three weeks ago I began a journey to wipe years of sun damage and aging off of my face. A girlfriend let me in on a little secret, which apparently Italian and French women all know, and I jumped on it. "Innovative Italian homeopathic skin injections" was all she needed to say. I flew to the training, got my supplies and and am now well into the skin "drainage" preparatory program. Now that I'm trained to administer the injection program and am reaping the benefits of facial mesotherapy myself, I'll be blogging regularly about the amazing results and changes I'm noticing.
I'm not one to be obsessed with each and every wrinkle, but I do look in the mirror and notice fine lines, dark spots and other signs of aging. At 42 I know my natural production of collagen and elastin needs help, so I regularly spend too much money on my favorite, organic, anti-aging cleansers and moisturizers. I'm definitely guilty of being on the lookout for the next best thing when it comes to being healthier and looking younger. But I insist on doing things naturally, so you won't see me at the Botox clinic. I understand why women go for it, and let me say that I am 100% behind anything that makes a girl feel better about herself.
- Category: bodhiBlog
The art of reading omens is often considered the domain of shamans and fortune tellers. But the ancient science of Ayurveda teaches that understanding omens is possible for everyone; it simply requires that we open our heart and mind to the non-verbal communication from nature that has existed since humans evolved. In a recent class with the great Ayurvedic teacher, doctor and author Robert Svoboda, he explained how to perceive, without our externalized senses, the shadow cast by a coming event before its arrival.
Read more: Ayurveda and Omens: A Coming Event Casts Its Shadow Before It Occurs
- Category: bodhiBlog
I never thought I'd see my kids fight over kale. Everytime I make these kale chips, however, I wish I had made a whole bunch more. There's a million ways you can make them, and when I look around the Internet, I discover more combinations I'd never thought of. If you're not already on this kale bandwagon that's sweeping the nation, get on board right now and go make some!
- Category: bodhiBlog
These days it's trendy to sneak nutritious ingredients into kids' meals. While I'd prefer that my kids willingly and happily enjoy vegetables in their natural state, I also appreciate the versatility and convenience of a protein-packed sauce. I love sauces because they make everything taste better and can really complete a meal. This Yumm! sauce recipe below was introduced to me by friends in Eugene, Oregon where, for obvious reasons, it is all the rage. Try it over steamed veggies with rice, as a dip for raw carrots and cucumbers, or any other creative use you can think of. Your kids really will say "Yummmm!!!"
- Category: bodhiBlog
All of a sudden I know too many people with cancer. Years ago I worked in a cancer clinic supporting oncology patients with acupuncture and herbs. They were patients of mine, not friends and family. Prior to leaving for our summer road trip three weeks ago, five people close to me had cancer. Sadly, now there are only four. This is too many, and it leaves me sad and angry that our world has become so toxic that everyone from 6-month-old babies to 33-year-old women to 60-somethings can suffer from this epidemic. What can we do if the dreaded diagnosis hits close to home?
- Category: bodhiBlog
It is said that it takes feeling 50,000 pulses to get really good at Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis. After almost 20 years of practicing Ayurveda, I'm probably closing in on that huge number, but sometimes I still find myself doubting whether I'm really feeling what I think I'm feeling. Driving back to Santa Fe from my recent weekend Ayurvedic pulse seminar with Dr. Vasant Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute, I remembered the profound truth that when we trust ourselves to listen to our intuition, we access a level of knowing that is usually hidden from our over-thinking, analytical mind.
- Category: bodhiBlog
While stress gets a lot of press because of its harmful effects on your health, guilt is usually overlooked as being equally destructive. Whether someone tries to make you feel guilty or you succumb to it yourself, what good comes from feeling guilty? Remorse for hurting somebody is one thing, but oftentimes we feel guilty because we ate cake, or because we think we're not doing something well enough. What if we turned guilt around and practiced loving kindness toward ourselves, accepting that we are good enough and that we're all doing the best we can? We might finally experience a new level of well-being and breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Guilt-Free Eating
One of the worst things we can do during a meal is to feel guilty about what we're eating. Think of the mental stress we create if we're not enjoying our food, but rather feeling stressed about it? I'm not advocating that you eat junk food and feel good about it, but that you choose food consciously and then savor it. One of the explanations I like regarding why French people are generally thin is that they take time to really enjoy their food. In my blog post about learning this lesson with donuts, I share how I had to confront my desire for donuts so I could then let go of it and move beyond the guilt I had created around it.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Do you, or someone you love, suffer because of a past trauma or a current addiction? The two often go hand in hand with depression. The healing involved in such profound life situtations is very difficult and, unfortunately, often temporary. The powerful healing sciences of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation can actually change the mental, physical, and energetic patterns that keep a person in a state of post-traumatic stress, or depression, or addiction. Here's some insight into how a holistic recovery program in Santa Fe that incorporates these mindfulness practices can bring about genuine growth and healing.
Read more: Healing Trauma and Addiction with Ayurveda and Meditation
- Category: bodhiBlog
I think it was Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Live who once said "It's always something." Now it's hexane in my veggie burgers. Remember hexane? It's an air pollutant and neurotoxin that is a byproduct of gas refining. Before you start to feel overwhelmed and pessimistic, read on. There are a few ethical companies who make chemical-free veggie burgers that you can be happy to buy from, or you can take the bigger leap and make your own with this easy, awesome, protein-packed recipe below.
Hexane and Soy
A recent article in Mother Jones magazine publicized an investigation by the Cornucopia Institute into the use of the chemical hexane to produce non-organic soy protein isolate, texturized vegetable protein, and soy protein concentrate. Hexane became famous as an air pollutant associated with oil refineries and is also a neurotoxin.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? If we choose to have this faith, then even an accident is no longer just an accident. It can be seen as a warning sign that we're not paying attention to something important. I never thought I'd be thankful for an injury. But surprisingly, having a sprained ankle the size of a grapefruit has helped me to appreciate the power of slowing down.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Are you attracted to people who are exactly like you or exactly the opposite? Do you and your partner's different ways complement one another or are you like two peas in a pod? My husband and I have totally opposite Ayurvedic constitutions and astrological signs. But we also balance each other in a way that makes us glad we're not too much alike. Exploring your relationship dynamic through the lens of Ayurveda can help you appreciate your partner's similarities and differences in the context of the five natural elements. With a little honest introspection, you might just find that the biggest difference between you and your special someone is actually a healing force for both of you.
Read more: Opposites Attract - An Ayurvedic View of Relationships
- Category: bodhiBlog
If you think jewelry is meant only to be decorative, think again. According to Ayurveda, there are significant energetic effects of gemstones and precious metals. Depending on your particular Ayurvedic constitution and your astrological chart, there is a prescription as to which metals and stones you should be wearing in order to lead a healthy and successful life. Now that I finally have a yellow sapphire on my right index finger, I can tell you that there is definately a good reason to make your choice of jewelry an intentional one.
- Category: bodhiBlog
If you're one of the millions of people that suffer from insomnia, you know how trying to find an effective sleep remedy can completely take over your life. It seems like a biological necessity, but getting a peaceful night's sleep is rare for a lot of people. With so many technological distractions and a culture of over-stimulation, sometimes our nervous systems just can't calm down. Ayurveda may be 5000 years old, but it still offers several tried and true practices that even today can finally give you that restful sleep you've been looking for.
1. Don't eat or drink alcohol too close to bedtime.
Our body generates heat and energy in order to digest food. Our liver also works harder to process alcohol. Asking our bodies to do this close to bedtime is asking for interrupted sleep. The body needs to rest during the night, so it's best not to give it any extra jobs to do. A lot of people find that they don't sleep as well if they eat or drink late at night. For people who already suffer from insomnia, this can make a big difference.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Can we really solve the national health care crisis with these two simple words: Real Food? I don't believe I'm oversimplifying things to say that we can make a huge dent in improving public health by supporting and encouraging a return to eating real food. By real food I mean identifiable, beautiful, natural, unadulterated and easy to pronounce food. It's almost hard to find it anymore, but it's out there and it's making a comeback. Do you know the difference when you see it? Is eating whole grain bread the same as eating whole grains? Does your body tell the difference between taking Vitamin C and eating a grapefruit? I'll answer these questions so you can navigate through all the nutritional health information coming at you in the media and make choices that benefit your health and public health policy.
Read more: Solving the National Health Care Crisis With Real Food
- Category: bodhiBlog
Are you setting New Year's resolutions that are more dream than reality? We all have health goals we'd like to achieve, and it's important to be realistic about what we can change that's practical and easy! There are simple Ayurvedic ways we can improve our health that don't require massive sacrifice. Ayurveda is full of natural health tips that are actually very easy to integrate and that will totally change your life. Here's my top 5 Ayurvedic New Year's resolutions that will guarantee you a new level of natural health with very little effort.
Read more: 5 Easy Ayurvedic New Year's Resolutions That Will Totally Change Your Life