Autumn is a time of rest. The sun heads south and days get shorter. In the countryside you are aware of nature settling, as growth ceases and leaves decay. It is a beautiful time. In our concrete jungles we are not so aware of this. For too many people autumn is a busy time, after the relaxation of the summer. School restarts. New projects are begun, and night classes distract [...]
Registered Nutritionist & Ayurveda Consultant As the sun shines brightly and warm summer breezes beckon, it's the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, having delightful picnics, or going to the beach. Summer is the time to spend in the great outdoors. In Ayurveda, the principles of balance and harmony extend to all aspects of life, including food and activities. By incorporating Ayurvedic wisdom into your summer food and activities, you [...]
Index: Key recommendations Well begun is half done Development of consciousness Rest Exercise Diet and digestion Maharishi Ayurveda food supplements When to take your MAV preparation How much to take If you are taking more than one food supplement For how long to use the product Anupan or vehicle for food supplements Pregnancy and beast feeding Storage and lifetime Safety precautions Negative effects - side effects, adverse reactions and drug [...]
Registered Nutritionist & Ayurveda Consultant In Ayurveda, spring is considered the Kapha season, and it is important to maintain balance in this season to avoid feeling lethargic or congested. Today, I am going to share my top Maharishi Ayurveda dietary and lifestyle tips for spring and how to increase happiness through these ancient principles that can be applied to the modern life. In Ayurveda, food is considered medicine, and the [...]
Hasn't it been hot! With a high in London of 40 on July 19th July, experiencing heat waves is a reality to be managed as best we can. So, with this global trend being felt by many, here are some simple choices to help keep you cool! How to Use Your 5 Senses to Stay Cool Ayurveda explains that three principles of nature called Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas underlie [...]
Have you noticed a mental health hangover from the pandemic with people around you quietly worried about what the future will bring, feeling anxious, alone or isolated? Even though easing of restrictions has allowed us to reconnect with the people and things we love, the pace of change is challenging, especially with the current conflict in Eastern Europe. A mental health hangover occurs when the demands posed by the environment [...]
Depression has been becoming more common among the overall population today as the Covid-19 lockdown continues … Let’s talk about depression and how Maharishi AyurVeda helps prevention and recovery from depression. It is both enlightening and alarming to see how many young adults have started to talk about deteriorating mental health and depression which has been developing as the lockdown has progressed. So this week we thought to look at [...]
Back to school, we go! As parents and children alike prepare to return to the previous ‘norm’ of the busy morning routine on a ‘school day’, do you sigh with relief or feel an unexpected sadness? As Scotland leads the way, schools are now getting ready to receive their charges as children and teachers once again prepare to be together. As the heatwaves currently being experienced leave their impact, you may also have noticed a tendency for your child to be more reactive, expressing frustration and anger more easily. If so, the increased external heat has caused an imbalance of Pitta dosha within leading to signs of Pitta imbalance. There are other signs of Pitta imbalance that you may not be aware of that indicate a need to balance Pitta in the mind-body and your environment. Let’s consider them below.
As the days are becoming warmer, it is not too long until June 22nd when Summer officially starts. With a warm and dry start, a warmer than average summer has been forecast with near-normal rainfall. Along with the lifting of the lockdown restrictions allowing more time in nature and the ability to catch up with loved ones and friends in small groups while respecting social distancing, life has finally started to move in the direction of normal again.
Dr Arora Recommends: Navigating the Covid19 challenge and restoring health for ourselves and our communities. We asked Dr Arora what he would recommend people take to help at this stage and he replied “Clearly, people at this time need more support.” He went on to explain that the need is threefold: *To support and energise the immune system with immunity enhancing herbals. *To improve digestion as the digestive system is responsible for 70% of immune cell production. *To provide antiviral support and adaptogens support during this time of increased stress.
With the acknowledgement by the World Health Organisation that the Coronavirus has become a pandemic, let’s broaden the question on how to support your body’s healing mechanisms when a virus is circulating or when the body is fighting a virus. Let’s consider Key herbs and herbal combinations that have known antiviral and or resistance boosting properties to provide protective support or to aid recovery Aroma oils that have antiviral and or resistance boosting properties Everyday spices that have antiviral and or resistance boosting properties What you can do to support recovery if you get sick with a virus.
Ayurveda explains that your body can become so strong it is infertile to the spread of viruses and pathogens, that is they have no ground upon which to settle or propagate.
Unique amongst comfort foods the sweet potato also known as Kumara in my home land New Zealand is a sweet-tasting root vegetable which comes in three varieties, orange, purple or yellow. The humble sweet potato is very versatile and is widely used in many countries, particularly during winter..
Dietary Pointers for the Depths of Winter When it’s really cold, rainy and windy outside one can feel chilled to the bone. Keeping warm and maintaining energy and immunity and ability to stay focused can be challenging in the depths of winter and a winter cold can be harder to shift and also more debilitating. So here are some tips to help you thrive during the depths of winter! Before [...]
As you read this, take a moment to stop and reflect … what would you say are your most important resolutions for enhancing your wellbeing in 2020? Are your wellbeing resolutions pretty obvious to you? Or are you stuck not knowing what would give you the best result? To help you arrive at some key wellbeing resolutions to help make 2020 the best year yet, let’s ponder the following questions.
As the new year beckons with Christmas time providing some days of holiday, consider taking a moment to prepare for the new year.
As the new year beckons with Christmas time providing some days of holiday, consider taking a moment to prepare for the new year. Here are some tips to help you prepare:Attention is often given to the quality of our food. Ayurveda explains that the strength of our digestive fire ‘agni’ is also very important as it determines how much nourishment we will gain from what we eat and greatly impacts our health.
Do you usually have your main meal in the evening? I was brought up having my main meal in the evening and did not question it until I came across the health wisdom of Ayurveda.
Would you say you are naturally a happy person? Or do you find people who are merry and happy a little intense or over the top? Modern psychology groups people into two groups optimists or pessimists and say that optimists tend to be happier than pessimists. Maharishi Ayurveda takes it a little deeper and looks towards the doshas and mental qualities of Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas for further understanding of how to increase happiness.
Does your work provide challenges that motivate you into action? Or would you say your work is a source of stress giving rise to overload, feeling out of control or distressed? Let’s deepen our understanding of work stress and what you can do to wind back work stress when you need to.
Modern research is exploring ‘how’ aging happens with some fascinating research coming out about the ability of DNA to repair itself. Some question if the DNA have the ability to repair itself ad infinitum then why with age is the process of DNA repair less effective? Ayurveda explains that we age because we see others aging. The ancient Ayurvedic texts describe aging as a natural process whose effects can be reduced through the taking of rasayana - special formulas like the powerful Maharishi Amrit Kalash, along with a good daily routine. It surprised me to learn that Ayurveda also suggests a healthy life expectancy for this age to be 120 years!
With more heat waves predicted over the next weeks, it may be helpful to consider how to optimise your food choices to help cool and soothe your mind and body. In addition, let’s consider the Ayurvedic approach to nutrition.
Summer was always Maggie’s favorite time, but with two preschool children, temper tantrums were the order of the day during the hot season. There would be times when Maggie was sure the number of daily tantrums moved in perfect synchrony with the thermometer reading outside. Finally, Maggie discovered if she took her kids swimming once a day, peace was dramatically restored. She made it through the entire summer without a single incidence. Swimming is one of the activities that is very effective at soothing Pitta dosha...
Are you thriving or surviving? "I used to really push myself with 7 day weeks and no real downtime. It wasn't long before the crunch came. I started to experience extreme fatigue, panic attacks, low blood sugar, feeling empty, tearful and depressed. All coping mechanisms gone, I returned to NZ and had to exit the plane in a wheelchair. Learning how to balance my life, body and mind and having fun again have been very important lessons for me. Learning to respect my body's needs helps me to stay well." Louise, 38 years of age. When you read the story of what brought Louise to seek help, did you relate to the story in some way for yourself? Would you say Louise was thriving or surviving?
Has the increased heat at nights caused you to sleep more fitfully? Some people have noticed changes in digestion with occasional heartburn or hyperacidity in the stomach. Others have commented on their skin becoming more parched, or have an increase of acne or skin rashes. What effect has the extreme heat had on you? A heat wave can also effect your mind and emotions causing an increase of fiery or controlling tendencies.
Have you noticed that as the weather warms up you naturally desire different food and drink than you did during winter? You may like to try the Cooling Cucumber juice or Tropical Sensation recipes below. The change in your appetite and food choices during summer is guided by the increase of heat within you causing an increase of the qualities of Pitta dosha.
As the days get longer and warmer, do you find quite naturally the desire to be more physically active arises? Physical activity is a great way for the body to burn off the richer diet of winter, to celebrate the energy that comes with Summer providing increased vigour and to protect your health and wellbeing. Exercise helps to clear congestion and strengthen the metabolic channels (srotas) in the body while providing ‘sthiratva’, or stability to the body, mind, emotions and intellect.
Summer Solstice Great! Summer the warmer time of the year when Pitta the fiery dosha is strongest, is just around the corner. If you follow the guidance of a Meteorologist the hottest months of the year in Great Britain are June, July, and August. Some like to follow the movement of the sun through the sky and say Summer really begins when the sun is at its highest point in the sky on Friday, June 21st this year at the Summer solstice. How Does Ayurveda Mark the Change of Season?
Just as the kiss of a mother brings joy to the child's heart, so too the glimpse of the beloved creates a flow of appreciation within the lover's heart. A kind word of appreciation can lift a persons day into a great day. A walk with your family dog or time spent stroking your cat also cultures finer feelings.
No matter one’s age and stage feeling well resourced to meet the day when we wake and as we start our day, be it at home or in the office, really does make a difference. This I call being ahead of the game. Maharishi AyurVeda has a question that identifies if you are ahead of the game. In the morning do you wake feeling rested, clear and alert?
