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Yes, Vata Season is in full swing here in Colorado. The wind is blowing. The air is cold. And the ground is very, very dry. Many have complained of the wind over the past few days driving them (and their animals, too) nuts. If that's been your experience, too, you’re not alone. It is natural to feel unsettled, uncomfortable, or uneasy when conditions are cold, dark, and windy. Our skin dries out, our sleep becomes more restless, and it's hard to focus. The good news is… there are simple things you can do today to counteract the effects of the Vata Season. In order to navigate the first few months of the year well, and set yourself up for a great spring, you’ll be wise to implement a few of these simple self-care practices now. Here are my suggestions for how you can calm the unsettled effect the Vata dosha has.
Interested in learning more? Please click here and schedule a private consultation with me. I develop unique and individual wellness prescriptions that effectively address doshic imbalances. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and harmonious New Year. ~Sharon Harvey Alexander, C-IAYT Are you looking for a delicious and effective cold and flu remedy to have on hand during the cold winter months? Elderberry Syrup might just be it! Not only does it boost immunity, it is simple to make at home from just a few basic ingredients. Black Elderberries, or Sambucus berries, come from the Sambucus Nigra bush which grows widely across North America. The flowers are often used in the spring to make Elderberry wine. The berries, picked in the fall and often dried for storage, contain potent immune boosting constituents, including Vitamins A, B, and C. Remedies made from the berries provide great, natural support, in part because they powerfully disarm viruses associated with colds and flu. While you can buy products made from Elderberries in health-oriented grocery stores and pharmacies, you'll save a lot of money by making the immune boosting syrup at home. It doesn't take much time, and you can vary the recipe to your taste. For instance, I made five cups of the syrup just this morning by doubling the basic recipe, which I share below. I increased the amount of ginger (using fresh, grated ginger root), used much less honey, and added in some cardamom pods to give the finished product a bit of a kick. I will freeze the syrup in small batches, and pull out one jar as needed to add to teas or even take directly by the spoonful throughout the winter months. Consuming a tablespoon two to three times a day at the onset of a cold may help bring you back to health in no time! Yes, some do refer to me as Mary Poppins! :>) Here's a basic recipe for you. Elderberry Syrup Recipe 1 cup dried berries (available at Natural Grocers) 5 1/4 cups fresh water 3 tablespoons fresh ginger root (sliced thin or grated) 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon powder (or a medium sized cinnamon stick) 3/4 teaspoon clove powder 1 1/2 cups raw honey, or to taste (added after syrup has cooled) Add the first five ingredients together in a pot. Place on stove (no lid) and heat 'til boiling. Then simmer for close to an hour until the liquid has thickened a bit. Remove from heat and let stand. Once cooled, add in the honey and stir until well dissolved. Distribute into smaller batches to store until needed. May freeze. Add a spoonful to tea, pour over yogurt, or take straight up. I hope you'll give making this yummy, and health promoting syrup a try! Please leave a comment and let us know how it turned out for you! Yours, in health and healing. ~Sharon
A Delicious Fall Recipe to Help You Enjoy a Healthy Start to the Day: Ayurvedic Apple Yum - A simple and infinitely variable recipe crafted by Sharon. All amounts are approximate. Serves ONE person. * Take one organic apple, chop and place in water in a pan. * Sprinkle with a little salt (1/2 tsp. Salt helps break down fibers.) * Add dash cinnamon (1 tsp. Helps metabolize sugars.) * Add grated fresh ginger root (1+ Tbsp. Enhances digestion.) * Chop and add 5-8 dates (great added natural sweetener.) * Throw in a small handful of almonds (8-10. Extra fiber, protein and good fat.) * Top with a spoonful of GHEE (1 Tbsp. Adds great fat, helps body absorb vitamins and minerals, carries nutrition IN to the cells and waste products OUT.) Bring water to boil, then turn down low and simmer 10 minutes or so (until apples are mushy). Mash together and serve. Enjoy! A Delicious Fall Recipe to Help You Enjoy a Healthy Start to the Day: Ayurvedic Apple Yum - A simple and infinitely variable recipe crafted by Sharon. All amounts are approximate. Serves ONE person. * Take one organic apple, chop and place in water in a pan. * Sprinkle with a little salt (1/2 tsp. Salt helps break down fibers.) * Add dash cinnamon (1 tsp. Helps metabolize sugars.) * Add grated fresh ginger root (1+ Tbsp. Enhances digestion.) * Chop and add 5-8 dates (great added natural sweetener.) * Throw in a small handful of almonds (8-10. Extra fiber, protein and good fat.) * Top with a spoonful of GHEE (1 Tbsp. Adds great fat, helps body absorb vitamins and minerals, carries nutrition IN to the cells and waste products OUT.) Bring water to boil, then turn down low and simmer 10 minutes or so (until apples are mushy). Mash together and serve. Enjoy! A wonderful way to take charge of our health is to learn to head the signs and symptoms of seasonal affect. Dry skin? Fleeting sleep? Easily irritable or agitated right now? These are signs of either a Pitta or Vata Imbalance. Food choices may offer relief. So I offer you this recipe.
It's simple. It's yummy. There are numerous varieties of this recipe on the internet. Rather than recreating it, I've copied one from this site: https://naturallyella.com/chilled-avocado-soup/ Enjoy! Also, Feel free to adapt any way you'd like. And, please... leave me a comment. PS - if you're curious about additional, simple ways to navigate pesky health changes, schedule a consultation with me. Together, we can craft a self-care plan that is perfect for you! Soup:
Tips & Tricks: This soup works best with ripe avocado- they puree the best. Also, if you do not have a high-speed blender, dice the cucumber small before blending. Try these recipes if you're looking for a natural, good for you and good for the world around you repellant.
From Wellness Mama:
Here's their link for more information: https://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/Homemade Bug Spray Recipes That Work | Wellness Mama From Oh The Things We'll Make:From IFomngredient
And their website, for more info: https://thethingswellmake.com/essential-oils-mosquitos-homemade-repellent-spray-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-10221 6/29/2018 Breath – A Simple to Use, and Always Available Powerhouse of a Stress Management ToolRead NowStress management gurus tell us that unconscious breath restraint and short, shallow breathing—as in the case of a busy, frightened, or harried person who is hardly aware of her breathing—cause stress levels to elevate. Some people experience headaches, fatigue, anxiety, or depression as a result. Taking rapid, short, or shallow breaths is often inefficient, as air reaches only the upper lobes of the lungs. It causes you to breathe faster in order to collect the oxygen that your tissues need to function and your breathing rate increases, so that body tissues have little time to absorb the oxygen they need. And the negative effects of stress escalate.The key to minimizing this, and stimulating the relaxation response in your body so that you may sleep better, digest your food more efficiently, and feel more relaxed even when life around you seems crazy busy, is to slow down your breathing and move your belly as you breathe. Shallow breathing stimulates the sympathetic or excitatory nervous system. Cortisol and other stress hormone levels increase, resulting in a cascade of negative impacts. Over time, you may grow tired, lethargic, and perhaps even ill. In contrast, taking slower, deeper, and more complete breaths, and moving the belly as you breathe, will help you feel more vital and relaxed. In part, this happens because air is traveling deeper into the lungs and more oxygen is available for use by the body’s cells. Deep and easy breathing has a positive effect on the nervous system. It soothes the fight, flight, or freeze response of the sympathetic nervous system that is exacerbated by modern daily living. With greater amounts of oxygen coming in to the body due to deeper, slower breathing, the nervous system—brain included—has a chance to rest, and hormone levels even out. Balance, or homeostasis, then returns to all body systems. As this happens, health improves. A simple and effective tool for facilitating balance and homeostasis is conscious diaphragmatic breathing. In my book, Learning to Breathe, Learning to Live, I outline steps you may take to enhance the way you breathe. By learning to connect with your breath in a conscious manner, you will be better able to use your breath as an effective stress management tool. Breathing is an act we take for granted, because it continues whether we think about it or not. Why not take the time to learn how to breathe? It takes only minutes a day. This a simple to use, and always available powerhouse of a stress management tool can be your key to living a healthier, happier, more joyful life! Learn to breathe. Learn to live. If I can support you in any way, please reach out. Blessings of health and well-being to you, my friend. ~Sharon The Six Tastes of Ayurveda and Simple Tips for Adapting Your Activities and Your Meals to the Seasons and the Time of Day by Sharon Harvey Alexander, C-IAYT
The ancient science of ayurveda explains how our lifestyle influences our health. It also describes six tastes by which all foods may be categorized. These tastes are: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Pungent, and Astringent. When each one of them is present in the meals we consume, the combination of these tastes is what leaves us feeling satisfied. If, for too long, a certain taste goes missing, we may be left with the feeling of “wanting” or craving more than we really need. This is because of Rasa - our elemental nature – which the ancients trace to what we are (or are not) putting into our bodies. Seasons call forth specific tastes, too. While it’s best to consume every taste each day, as mentioned above, in the summer we are called to favor the sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes because of their effect in the body. Summer is also a time to enjoy more cool, liquid, even slightly oily foods. Consuming what’s in season, this is the time of year to partake of sweet berries and luscious green salads. And it’s also wonderful to indulge in the sweet taste of dairy products, if tolerated by your unique constitution. Enjoying an ice cream or gelato on occasion is warranted, because the heat of the season warms up your digestive fire, too, so there may be less trouble with these foods now. The key is to not overindulge. And to seek balance whenever possible. Too much “fire” and you run the risk of burning things down. Not enough fire – as in a fire that has been put out by heavy, cold, damp food or drink – is equally problematic. It’s wise to pay attention to your digestive fire, as things may go awry as a result of too much or too little heat at this time of the year. I call this the act of cultivating balance, or “the Goldilocks’ Principle”. We want things to be “just right”. Rasa is the Sanskrit word for taste. It might also be translated as “sap”, “essence”, and “fluid”. Rasa is the most subtle form of our physical being; that which we nourish through food and drink. By virtue of its subtle nature, it is the first of the dhatus, or levels of well-being, to go out of whack. This happens through incongruous lifestyle practices. On a spiritual level, rasa - or taste - refers to the essence of the human experience; the energy of human emotion that directly affects one’s spiritual and physical health. It is a generalization to say that foods and drink with heating qualities stimulate rasa, while foods with cooling qualities dull it. But for our purposes, this analogy is o.k. Refer back to the “Goldilock’s principle”. “Rasa”, or taste, influences the essence of who we are. Doesn’t it make sense, then, that the foods we eat, and how we enjoy our meals, has the potential to elevate the quality of our life? I find this to be a powerful concept. How ‘bout you? The practice of Ayurveda is built upon the theory that we are a part of nature. As such, we are comprised of the elements that are found all around us. They are in our food, too. Just like “nature” does, we benefit from attending to the changing qualities that each season brings. We may adapt or adjust our diet and lifestyle by consciously preparing and consuming various foods at different times of year. In the summer, the qualities of heat, light, and activity predominate. It is a time of vigorous growth in the plant world, and the longer daylight hours offer us plenty of opportunity to be outdoors, playing under the sun. Summer is considered the pitta season in North America. Due to an Ayurvedic principle that “opposites foster balance”, we are wise to cool things down as the environment around us begins to heat up. In Colorado, warm summer temperatures and our high altitude combine to heat up the environment around us, and to dry things out. As a result, joint pain, skin irritations, digestion challenges, and irritability - to name just a few of the draw backs of an elevated pitta dosha - may also increase. The good news is that nature provides us with wonderful remedies, too. For example, Aloe Vera is often used to soothe sunburned skin. Did you know that it is also beneficial in relieving heartburn, deterring the growth of harmful bacteria, and relieving bleeding or swollen gums? It influences blood sugar levels, aids digestion, and may also be used as a laxative. Of course, one would always want to check with their doctor before trying a new or unusual remedy like this for the first time, but this is one example of how we can use natural remedies to soothe seasonal imbalances. Other delicious ways to handle summer’s heat include crafting soothing beverages including sun tea made with rooibos and mint leaves, or adding cucumber or rose petals to your water. The practice of ayurveda suggests consuming room temperature or cool, but not cold, beverages in order to maintain Agni, an efficient digestive fire. There are many foods and spices that have a cooling effect, too. Some of them include watery fruits like watermelon, cucumbers, and coconuts. Fennel and coriander (or cilantro) are cooling spices, and avocados, jicama, and pomegranates can be delightful to consume now, as well. If all of this seems a bit overwhelming… yet you’re interested in upping your game, and believe that eating wisely and in tune with the seasons might help, please consider scheduling a private appointment with me. I can determine your unique wellness constitution, and together we can assess what YOU need, as an individual with sublime and beautiful traits. Taking time now to consider how you might establish a pitta pacifying summer seasonal routine, before the hot weather really settles in for a few months, is wise. Using actions to cool and calm your diet and your lifestyle will pay dividends later. If you want to sleep well, enjoy pleasant interactions with others, and feel comfortable all season long, implementing a few simple changes this summer may help to prevent the over-accumulation of heat in the body, mind, and emotions. The result may be an elevated ability to more comfortably enjoy the wonderful gifts that summertime has to offer. Thank you for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what I've written here. And any ideas you have for cooling the flames of summer... Please leave a comment below. May this season, and every season, unfold with increasing levels of joy and harmony for you, and the world around you. Namaste. Summarizing the Actions and Sources of the Six Tastes Taste Primary Actions Common Sources Sweet Builds tissues, calms nerves. Fruit, grains, natural sugars, milk. Sour Cleanses tissues, increases absorption of minerals. Sour fruits, yogurt, fermented foods. Salty Improves taste to food, lubricates tissues, stimulates digestion. Natural salts, sea vegetables. Bitter Detoxifies and lightens tissues. Dark leafy greens, herbs and spices. Pungent Stimulates digestion and metabolism. Chili peppers, garlic, herbs and spices. Astringent Absorbs water, tightens tissues, dries fats. Legumes, raw fruits and vegetables, herbs. Balancing the Doshas Through Taste Most Balancing Most Aggravating Vata Sweet, Sour, Salty Bitter, Pungent, Astringent Pitta Sweet, Bitter, Astringent Sour, Salty, Pungent Kapha Pungent, Bitter, Astringent Sweet, Sour, Salty Learn how to cultivate steadiness, even in tumultuous times.
Join us - a series of five classes over eight weeks. Begins March 23rd, 4-6 pm Participate Live! In the Mountain Wisdom Wholistic Health studio. Or virtually via Zoom! Email to register: mountainsmiles@msn.com mountain From the book:Learning to Breathe, Learning to LiveBy Sharon Harvey Alexander, C-IAYT Series begins March 23rd (March 23 – May 18) What is Mountain’s Rest? Part book club, part practice – it has roots in ancient wisdom and is backed by modern neuroscience, Mountain's Rest is a program that not only offers you a wonderful opportunity to develop a sense of community, it provides an opportunity to turn in and learn to cultivate steadiness, even when the winds of change are blowing. Tap into the power of intention and visualization, and be guided to the source of the deepest, most healing presence of inner peace, and you may clear out what stands in the way of living an inspired life. Explore in a supportive community the science and practice of breathing for relaxation and the process of letting go of stress and strain. Learn to enjoy drawing inward. Access the source of healing and your ultimate potential. www.MountainWisdomWholisticHealth.com
Ayurveda is the “science of life” and is considered to be the medical arm of yoga. Developed by the Rishis, ancient mystics from India, it explains that human beings, like all living things around us, are made up of a specific combination of each of the five basic elements found in nature. According to Ayurveda, the elements, which include Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space, combine in unique ways to form doshas. A dosha is a description of the way these elements, whose source is life force energy, animates each of us in a specific way. The elements are considered to be the building blocks of life. It is the way in which these elements combine that differentiates the organs, tissues, and cells in our body, and that creates each of us in unique ways. There are three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They perform different physiological functions in the body. Each of us have all three, in an individual combination. The practice of Ayurveda suggests that by balancing the doshas through lifestyle choices, specifically by how and what we take in to our bodies and minds, we have control over our health. By paying attention to such things as what, where, when, and how we eat; the thoughts we think; how we breathe, act, and exercise; and other things, we can pacify the doshas and enjoy good health on all levels: body, mind, heart, and soul. How do the elements combine into doshas, and how do we keep the doshas balanced to maintain good health? Here is a brief discussion. The Vata Dosha is comprised of the Air and Space elements. It is the energy in the body/mind that manifests as movement. The Vata Dosha influences the workings of our mind and our digestion (movement of food through the intestines). It affects the circulation of blood and lymph, the flow of breath, the blinking of your eyes, and the beating of your heart. And, due to it's light and subtle nature, it is the dosha that becomes most easily unbalanced, which may lead to an imbalance in the other two doshas.
The Pitta Dosha is comprised of the Fire and Water elements. This energy influences the body's metabolic systems, including digestion, absorption, and assimilation. It gives on the drive to achieve and to manifest transformation.
The Kapha Dosha is comprised of the Earth and Water elements. It offers a stability that results in growth. Like mud, the Kapha Dosha holds moisture in the body, nourishing tissues and supporting the immune system.
When you come in to see me for an ayurveda pulse reading and dosha assessment, you may request information about diet and lifestyle choices to support your unique constitution. In general, the Vata Dosha is pacified by eating warm, lightly cooked foods like stews broths, and nourishing teas, especially in the winter months. Using warming spices like cinnamon and ginger, or mustard seed and cumin, may facilitate good digestion. Keeping a regular schedule and including plenty of fluids in the diet is important. When cold, the movement that the Vata Dosha provides slows down. As a result, one may experience constipation, dry skin, anxiety, and insomnia. The Pitta dosha is balanced through moderation. A predominantly Pitta person will benefit from eating three hearty, well balanced meals a day. This gives them the energy needed to remain happy while making things happen in the world. Exercising adequately, and getting a good night’s sleep helps keep the Pitta person calm and focused, as well. The trick is to not overdo things. For those of a predominantly Kapha dosha, you will benefit from exercising every day and choosing foods that are light, warm, and spicy in order to boost overall activity levels in body and mind. Avoid heavy, oily, and sugary foods as they lead to the build-up of mucus in the body. Using spices such as black pepper, ginger, cumin, and chili and eating lots of bitter dark greens helps reduce mucus build-up, fostering healthy immunity. Questions? Schedule an appointment to discuss this in more detail. Or partake of the special that I am currently offering: Valued at $138, you may receive a pulse reading and dosha analysis, breathing assessment, and short reiki energy clearing session for only $47. The offer continues through Valentine's Day. To summarize, Ayurveda is the Science of Life and the medical arm of yoga. It uses the system of the three doshas, known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, to assess one’s overall health. The doshas are derived from the five elements found in nature. According to Ayurveda, health is defined as the dynamic state of balance between mind, body, and environment. An imbalance in one or more of the doshas leads to dis-ease. By balancing the doshas we facilitate healing and overall wellness. This is done through specific recommendations for diet, and lifestyle choices. Also known as mind-body types, the doshas express unique blends of physical, emotional, and mental characteristics. When you have a sense of your dosha personality, or how the elements combine in your body/mind to make you unique, you can make choices to support balance. To quote Deepak Chopra, “Just as every snowflake is unique in shape and form, every human has their own blueprint. It’s like a map of the body that’s made up of an infinite variety of shapes, behaviors, emotions, and appearances.” Learn how the elements express through you, and make choices that support a healthy expression, and you may live a life filled with greater levels of health, wellness, and joy. Begin today by scheduling a consultation with me. Yours, in health. ~ Sharon Harvey Alexander, C-IAYT |
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