- Category: bodhiBlog
Well....I have to admit Day 4 was hard. I was hungry and I couldn't find anything to eat that was appealing. I began my day enthusiastically at 6:15 a.m., rushing off to Kettlebell class. Bad move. I mustered every ounce of strength I had to make it through class, but by the end I felt really zapped. Now I realize I was definitely drawing on my reserves, and as a result I felt drained all day.
- Category: bodhiBlog
I'm still totally psyched to be doing this cleanse, which is a good sign. My chickpeas are sprouting finally today. I can't wait to make raw hummus. I've been wanting something hearty like that. It was easier today on the food scene because I had lunch at Body of Santa Fe, which features raw, vegan options on their menu. I had a raw lasagna made with sliced zucchini, spinach, olives, pine nut cheese and tomatoes. It was delicious. I even splurged on the raw chocolate ganache cake for dessert. It was such a delight to have such a beautiful meal prepared by someone else. I've been reading lots of raw recipes lately, and they can be extremely labor intensive. Since someone else was cooking, I decided to go all out.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Woke up at 5:45 am to get to my 6:30 Kettlebell class. I wasn't sure if I'd have the energy for such a high-intensity workout, but I am totally addicted to it so I decided to go ahead and do it. Surprisingly, it was only minorly painful. I definitely did not have the kind of energy I usually do, but it was ok.
- Category: bodhiBlog
I've decided to embark on a 4 week mega-cleanse. It's so hot out anyway that I don't feel like cooking much at all. Even though Ayurveda doesn't advocate a totally raw diet, especially not for us Vata types, I've decided that in the heat of summer it might fly.
- Category: bodhiBlog
When it comes to health and healing, I choose to put myself in situations that push the limits of the rational mind. Growth comes from taking ourselves to the edge of our comfort zone, both mentally and physically. Since I alway get sick when I go to India and Nepal, I'm given a great chance to be the patient and see what works. So when I heard some other travelers talking about going to see the Tibetan sucking lady, I didn't hesitate to tag along.
- Category: bodhiBlog
My kids love lemonade but I don't give them sugar without good cause. We've been using agave syrup as our sweetener of choice for a while now, and it doesn't seem to make the kids crazy. So I figured we could make lemonade with it too! We've tried making honey lemonade, but the honey just doesn't dissolve well. Our super easy way to make agave lemonade takes only 2 seconds. I just squeeze a few tablespoons of lemon juice into a glass, stir in about a tablespoon of agave, and add water! I make it as they ask for it, rather than keeping a pitcher in the fridge, but I suppose that would save me some time. Since the agave syrup doesn't spike their blood sugar, I pretty much make it every time they ask!
- Category: bodhiBlog
My Ayurveda teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, once remarked that here in the US, we make sure our cars are well lubricated, but we don't do that for our own bodies. Especially here in New Mexico, it is so important to keep our internal functions well-oiled. With all the allergy suffering here, the best thing one can do is to apply oil to the sinuses.
People are getting hip to the neti pot, and that definitely is a good thing, but some type of medicated oil or ghee is the best for soothing inflammation and clearing mucus. I recommend Super Nasya oil, which is a combination of lotus, basil, eucalyptus, sesame, rose, olive and sandalwood oil. It makes everything smell great, and it works amazingly for allergies and congestion.
- Category: bodhiBlog
Today, my six year old, Cobin, woke up with horrible stomach cramping and immediately launched into constant diarrhea and vomiting. I did, in fact, head off to work leaving him with Grandma. But I returned within 90 minutes after hearing him moaning and groaning by phone.
Grandma had already started giving Cobin the homeopathic remedy I'd prescribed -- Ipecacuanha 30 c, 2 pellets every 15 minutes. She'd also put a heating pad on his belly which he loves. He had fallen asleep after his first dose and awoke a little while after I got home.
I continued the Ipecacuanha and it appeared the vomiting had stopped, but when the diarrhea became more severe I gave him one of my favorite kids' remedies because they're funny and they ALWAYS work: Diarrhea Dinosaurs by KAL. I think the actual name is Dinosaurs Dinorrhe-X, but we call them Diarrhea Dinosaurs. They taste like sour apple and seem to have the same binding effect on the intestines that the sour and astringent flavor has on the taste buds. Cobin's face made a huge pucker, and so far so good.
These things just run their course, but I'll keep up on this regime unless things get worse! Cobin's in no mood for acupuncture....
- Category: bodhiBlog
With 4 hours to wait for my connection at the Tampa Airport, I’m left thinking about how to make this experience as Ayurvedic as possible. Travel, by definition, aggravates Vata dosha, the wind principal. Travel is movement, and air travel in particular, with the radiation exposure and high speed travel through space, sends one’s Vata soaring through the friendly skies. Dry, recirculated air wreaks havoc on Vata dosha as well. So what is an Ayurvedically-responsible traveler to do? Here are several handy tips that will keep you feeling firmly grounded even at 30,000 feet.