Hier ist mein neues, reizdarm-freundliches Risotto Rezept – besänftigt Vata und ist wunderbar cremig und bekömmlich!
Cremig, wärmend und wohltuend!
Mit dem Reizdarmsyndrom ist es in den ersten Monaten schwierig, sich in der Welt der Ernährung zurechtzufinden. Gewohntes muss plötzlich eliminiert werden, viele alltägliche Zutaten dürfen nicht mehr gegessen werden. Das kann ganz schön frustrierend sein – leckeres, wärmendes und gleichzeitig heilendes Soulfood aus dem Ayurveda ist da genau richtig!
Hier darf wie immer der eigenen Verträglichkeit entgegengekommen, und variiert werden. Durch Asafoetida können Zwiebeln und Knoblauch in Gerichten wunderbar ersetzt werden, Kurkuma wirkt entzündungshemmend, Fenchel, Kardamom und Koriander unterstützen unsere Verdauung.
Bei chronischen, entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen kann ich jedem und jeder Ayurveda nur ans Herz legen! Dieses Rezept ist entsprechend erprobt und für bekömmlich empfunden worden! Lasst und kochen!🙂
Zutaten:
Unsere Zutaten! 🙂
Zubereitung:
1. Bereite einen großen, beschichteten Topf mit Olivenöl vor. Bringe 1,5 Liter Wasser im Wasserkocher zum Kochen, schöpfe das Wasser in einen Topf und gebe 1 Teelöffel Meersalz hinzu. Wiege 250 g Risotto ab, wasche dein Gemüse.
2. Schneide zunächst die Karotten in kleine Würfel und beginne den Topf mit dem Olivenöl langsam zu erhitzen. Gebe den Reis, in das erhitze Öl, rühre gründlich. Gebe nun auch die Gewürzmischung hinzu und lasse den Reis mit den Gewürzen unter stetigen rühren leicht glasig werden.
3. Schneide die halbe Aubergine in Scheiben, lege sie auf einen Teller und bestreue sie mit Salz. Lass sie 10 Minuten so liegen und tupfe sie anschließend mit einem Tuch ab. Schneide die Zucchini auch in kleine Würfel und lege sie beiseite. Gebe mit einer Suppenkelle deiner Reis-Gewürzmischung 3 – 4 Kellen deines Salzwassers hinzu. Lass die Mischung auf kleiner Hitze köcheln.
4. Schneide deine Aubergine dann auch in kleine Würfel. Wenn dein Reis beginnt langsam aufzuquellen, gib zunächst die Karotten würfel hinzu. Füge inzwischen abwechselnd das warme Wasser und Gemüse hinzu. Orientiere dich hier an deinem Gemüse und der Garzeit – zuerst Karotten, dann Auberginen, anschließend Zucchini, wenn diese gar ist den Spinat. Lass das Wasser immer leicht aufquellen, deine Mischung sämig und cremig werden. Füge dann wieder neues Wasser hinzu. Rühre häufig und vermische so alles gleichmäßig.
5. Gebe die Hefeflocken hinzu, schmecke mit Pfeffer und ggf. noch mit mehr Gewürzmischung ab. Hacke deine frischen Kräuter. Rühre als letzte Zutat den Parmesan unter.
6. Serviere eine kleine Bowl mit frischen Kräutern und vielleicht noch ein wenig Parmesan on top! Ich habe hier noch Gewürzblüten für ein wenig schärfe verwendet. Diese sind mit Sesam versetzt und schmecken leicht scharf und bitter – was super für unsere Geschmacksknospen ist!🙂
Frische Kräuter, Gewürzblüten und/oder Sesam on top!
Tipp:
Wer es etwas schärfer mag, kann noch eine kleine Prise Chili beim Kochen hinzugeben. Bei einer empfindlichen Verdauung solltest du dies aber ggf. weglassen.
Den Parmesan könnt ihr natürlich auch selbst herstellen – der Simply V auf Mandelbasis ist jedoch IBS-freundlich getestet und es ist manchmal ganz nett dann auch fertige Produkte kaufen zu können!🙂
Esst bei IBS/Reizdarmsyndrom nur eine kleine Bowl und lasst euch zwischen den Mahlzeiten mindestens 4 Stunden Zeit, um die Verdauung zu entlasten.
Ich habe euch einige der verwendeten Zutaten verlinkt!
Lasst es euch schmecken und habt einen schönen Wochenstart! Nächste Woche berichte ich aus Sri Lanka von einer Panchakarma Kur, ich hoffe euch möglichst viele interessante Eindrücke mitbringen zu können und Besserung für mein Reizdarmsyndrom!😉
Was ist denn eigentlich „Self Care“ und warum brauchen wir das?
Self Care bedeutet – für mich zumindest – dass ich mich um mich und meine Bedürfnisse kümmere, um mich ausgeglichen, zufrieden und erfüllt zu fühlen. Es ist nicht zu verwechseln mit Wellness – im Ayurvedischen Bereich demnach Ölmassagen, Dampfbäder und ähnliches. Es ist die Zeit, die wir uns schenken. Die meisten von uns leiden aufgrund der Schnelllebigkeit unserer Zeit unter permanenten Stress und manchen von uns fällt es nach einer Weile schon gar nicht mehr auf, wie gestresst sie eigentlich sind.
Ohne nun auf die physikalischen Ursachen, Wirkungen von Stress auf unseren Körper und Geist einzugehen – wenn die Belastung irgendwann permanent zu hoch ist und war, zeigt uns unser Körper dies. Besser wäre, einen achtsamen Tagesablauf zu entwickeln, um diese Form von „Dauerstress“ gar nicht wieder aufkommen zu lassen. Hier kann man mit Ayurveda einige einfache Formen von „Self Care“ in den Alltag integrieren, diese im Blick zu haben und somit Stressmanagement zu betreiben. Das macht nicht nur mehr Spaß, als nur zu arbeiten und gehetzt von A nach B zu rennen. Es hilft uns auch unsere Mitte wiederzufinden, uns selbst zu finden und Pausen bewusster einzufordern und wahrzunehmen.
Hier sind die 7 Säulen zu einem bewussteren Alltag:
1. Gesunder, erholsamer Schlaf
Wir sollten 7 bis 8 Stunden Schlaf finden. Am besten ist eine Ruhezeit von 22 Uhr bis 6 Uhr, die man möglichst täglich einhält. Das Smartphone sollte nicht im Schlafzimmer aufgeladen werden und am besten nicht mit ins Bett genommen werden. Bettwäsche aus Baumwolle, die atmungsaktiv ist, ein bequemes Nackenkissen können helfen, den Schlaf zu verbessern.
2. Eine gute und Doshabasierte Ernährung
Eine gute Ernährung zeichnet sich in der Regel dadurch aus, sich die Zeit zu nehmen diese frisch zuzubereiten. Mit natürlichen Zutaten, frischem Gemüse und Obst und Getreide, am besten in Bioqualität. Da unsere Körper individuell sind, ist eine Doshagerechte Ernährung ein Plus für unser Wohlbefinden, da wir unseren Organismus auf natürliche Art und Weise unterstützen. Dies schenkt uns zusätzliche Energie!
3. Stressmanagement
Nimm dir Zeit für 15 – 30 Minuten Yoga am Tag, wenn dein Tag sowieso schon sehr durchgetaktet ist – diese Zeit kann man eigentlich immer unterbringen. Wenn du dich sehr gestresst fühlst, mache eine Pause und atme tief ein und aus. Lege dich auf den Boden – wenn möglich – die Beine leicht erhöht und schließe die Augen für einen Moment. Tagesmeditationen gibt es auch in einigen Apps. Finde so Ruhe und besänftige den ausgelösten Fluchtreflex deines Körpers.
4. Verbringe freie Zeit mit deinen Liebsten
Nimm dir mindestens einen Tag die Woche vor, deine Eltern zu besuchen, mit deinen Freunden zu essen oder spazieren zu gehen. Date deine*n Partner*in und vereinbart einen festen Termin. Du wirst deinen Kopf frei bekommen, kannst dir alles von der Seele reden und wieder auftanken. Wichtig ist, dass du Zeit mit Menschen verbringst, die dir helfen abzuschalten und die dich inspirieren.
5. Finde genügend Ruhepausen in deinem Alltag
Wer lange im Büro oder auf der Arbeit ist, kann versuchen in den Pausen nach draußen zu gehen, um Abstand zu gewinnen. Auch das gemütliche Essen mit Kolleg*innen in der Mittagspause kann entspannend wirken, vorausgesetzt es sprechen nicht alle permanent über den Job. Atemübungen und kurzes Innehalten lassen sich auch während der Arbeitszeit einbauen. Auch im Bad morgens kannst du mit Zungenkratzen und einer Massage mit deiner Lieblingslotion bereits eine kleine Ruhepause für deinen Alltag schaffen.
6. Tägliche Bewegung
Noch besser ist es, täglich für eine kurze Zeit das Herz-Kreislaufsystem hochzufahren und zu schwitzen. Aber Bewegung in Form von Yoga, einem Spaziergang schenkt uns bereits wohltuende Glückshormone und Ruhe. Die Kontinuität macht hier den Unterschied!
7. Trage Klamotten, in denen du dich wohlfühlen kannst
Baumwolle, Leinen, Hanf – am besten sowieso aus natürlichen Textilien, damit deine Haut atmen kann. Sie sollte nicht zu eng anliegen und bequem fallen, zudem sollte sie der Jahreszeit entsprechen und du dich darin schön und wohlfühlen – ohne Zwicken oder Zipfeln!
Perfekt für die anstehende Pitta-Jahreszeit und die heißen Sommertage!
Manchmal hat man noch etwas Reis vom Vortag übrig, weiß nicht so genau, was man damit anstellen soll. Meine Lieblingsverwertung ist dabei dieses Rezept für Kokos-Chia-Milchreis. Ich bereite das Gericht meistens mit braunem Reis zu, es lassen sich Beeren und Früchte dazu kombinieren und kann den Milchreis gut kalt essen, zum Frühstück oder als Dessert.
In der heißen Jahreszeit funktioniert unsere Verdauung tatsächlich weniger gut als im Winter – daher sind leichte Gericht, die Pitta reduzieren, jetzt genau richtig. Kokosnuss hilft die Verdauung zu beruhigen, gleichzeitig fühlen wir uns erfrischt und gesättigt. Reis ist leicht verdaulich und reduziert Gasbildung im Darm. Mit einem leckeren Topping aus Beeren, die zum größten Teil entgiftend auf unsere Leber wirken, sind hier der Kreativität keine Grenzen gesetzt – um ein erfrischendes, süßes und dabei gesundes Gericht zu zaubern!
Zutaten:
1 Tasse gekochten Reis vom Vortag
3 EL Chiasamen
1/2 Vanilleschote
1 Prise Salz
1 Prise Zimt
Etwas Pflanzenmilch, bevorzugt Kokos, Soja oder Mandel
Toppings:
2 EL Kokosflocken
1 TL Kakaonibs
1 TL Mandelplättchen
Beeren oder Früchte deiner Wahl – Himbeeren und Mango passt besonders gut!🙂
Zubereitung:
Bringe den Reis mit der Pflanzenmilch in einem kleinen Topf zum Köcheln, schau einfach mal das der Reis mit der Milch leicht bedeckt ist, da er in dieser Variante ja schon gekocht sein sollte. Lass den Reis auf kleiner Flamme etwa 5 Minuten und unter ständigem Rühren mit der Pflanzenmilch aufquellen.
Gebe die Chiasamen, Salz, Zimt und das Mark der Vanilleschote hinzu. Wenn die Flüssigkeit fast vollständig aufgesogen ist, kannst du den Herd ausmachen und die Masse noch auf der Resthitze nachquellen lassen.
Wenn die Masse abgekühlt ist, in zwei Gläschen oder Schälchen umfüllen und mit dem gewünschten Topping belegen. Dazu zunächst den Reis mit den Kokosflocken bedecken. Anschließend die Beeren oder die Mango auf die Kokosschicht setzen, mit Mandelplättchen, Kakaonibs bestreuen. Gleich genießen – oder über Nacht noch im Kühlschrank ziehen lassen, schmeckt beides toll!
Wenn man Yoga für sich entdeckt, ist man schnell überfordert mit der Vielzahl von Haltungen, Stilrichtungen, Begrifflichkeiten. Aus Ayuryogischer Sicht ist es sinnvoll, sich an seinen Konstitutionen zu orientieren. (Mehr dazu erfährst du hier: https://wiki.yoga-vidya.de/Ayuryoga) Um anzufangen eine Routine in den Alltag zu integrieren, braucht man aber gar nicht viel.
Deswegen stelle ich heute drei essenzielle Übungen vor, nämlich den Sonnengruß, den Baum und das Hündchen – mit diesen drei Übungen etablierst du Yoga mit wenig Aufwand aber viel Effekt in deinen Alltag. Die Übungen eignen sich super, um morgens in den Tag zu starten, in der Mittagspause kurz einmal in Bewegung zu kommen oder Abends vor dem Schlafen gehen. Sie bringen deinen Kreislauf in Schwung, wärmen dich auf, helfen dir Balance zu finden und dich ausgiebig zu strecken.
Beim Yoga und Ayurveda ist eine gewisses “dran bleiben” wichtig – die erhofften Wirkungen lassen dann nicht lange auf sich warten.
Der Sonnengruß
Der Sonnengruß ist tatsächlich eine Übung für sich, besteht aus 12 Übungen, die in einer dynamischen Reihenfolge wiederholt werden. Hier kannst du dich aufwärmen und einmal alle Bereiche des Körpers beanspruchen – das bringt den Kreislauf in Schwung! Mit 6 Runden kannst du dich gut einstimmen:
Atme ein, nimm deine Hände vor deiner Brust zusammen und atme aus.
Atme ein, strecke beide Arme nach oben, zieh deine Schultern und Schulterblätter zusammen, beuge den Oberkörper leicht zurück.
Atme aus, beuge leicht deine Knie und beuge deinen Oberkörper nach unten, die Hände landen, wo sie landen.
Atme ein, strecke das linke Bein nach hinten, setze dein Knie auf dem Boden ab und setze den rechten Fuß vorne zwischen die Hände. Der Oberkörper bleibt aufgerichtet, Brustkorb ist nach vorne ausgerichtet.
Atem anhalten und das zweite Bein nach hinten stellen, für den “Yoga-Liegestütz.” Die Arme durchstrecken.
Atme aus, sende Stirn, Brust und Kinn auf den Boden, lass deine Arme dicht am Körper.
Atme ein, hebe den Oberkörper an und komme in die kleine Kobra.
Atme aus, komme für den herabschauenden Hund mit dem Becken hoch, strecke die Arme durch, Gleichgewicht gleichmäßig auf deinen Händen verteilt, Rücken in die Länge gezogen, Kopf in Verlängerung der Wirbelsäule.
Atme ein, stelle deinen rechten Fuß nach vorne,
Ausatmend, mit dem linken Fuß nach vorne kommen, die Beine leicht durchstrecken, die Hände landen wieder da, wo sie können.
Atme ein, dabei beide Arme über den Kopf strecken, leicht zurückbeugen
Ausatmen und beide wieder vor dein Herz führen. Den Sonnengruß wiederholst du immer links/rechts.
Der Baum
Der Baum sieht aus wie eine sehr leichte Übung, hat jedoch wunderbare Wirkungsweisen, denn der Baum schult deine Balance im Außen und kann deine innere Balance harmonisieren und ausgleichen. Der Baum verbessert zudem deine Körperhaltung. Atme ein paar mal tief ein und aus, lass dich wie ein Baum im Wind von deinem Körper bewegen und schenke dir ein Lächeln!
Stelle dich an den Anfang deiner Matte, Füße sind leicht geschlossen, Fersen zeigen zueinander. Atme tief ein und aus.
Verlagere dein Gewicht auf das rechte Bein, hebe langsam den linken Fuß an, und versuche das Knie nach außen zu drehen und den Fuß auf deinem anderen Fuß, deiner Wade oder deinem Oberschenkel abzulegen. Finde hier dein Gleichgewicht.
Arme seitlich ausstrecken oder die Hände vors Herz nehmen – wer sich fordern möchte, streckt die Arme leicht angewinkelt nach oben und zieht die Schulterblätter hinten zusammen. Spanne deinen Bauch an.
Halle die Übung bis zu 10 Atemzüge lang und wechsle dann die Seite.
Extended Puppy Pose
Die Schultern, den Rücken nach einem langen Tag oder früh am morgen strecken tut unglaublich gut – und so kann die Hündchenhaltung auch deine Haltung verbessern, hier werden die Wirbelsäule und die Schultern gedehnt. Die Übung beruhigt zudem deinen Geist und hilft dir, dich zu fokussieren.
Begebe dich in eine Position auf deinen Knien auf deiner Matte. Deine Handgelenke sind dabei in einer Linie mit deinen Schultern und die Knie in einer Linie mit deiner Hüfte. Diese Stellung heißt “Vierfüßlerstand.” Atme tief ein und aus.
Mit der nächsten Ausatmung wanderst du mit deinen Händen Schritt für Schritt nach vorne und streckst deinen Rücken und deine Arme in die Länge. Lass dabei deine Hüfte über den Knien und senke den Brustkorb nach unten. Lege deine Stirn auf der Matte ab, wenn das nicht klappt, lass deinen Nacken in der Verlängerung der Wirbelsäule und den Kopf zwischen den Oberarmen.
Atme tief ein und aus, halte die Position für mehrere Atemzüge.
Um aus der Stellung zu kommen, kommst du mit deinen Händen wieder achtsam zu deinem Körper und richtest den Oberkörper langsam auf.
Diese Woche möchte ich mit einem leckeren Brotrezept beenden!
Knuspriges Kastenbrot mit Saaten
Dieses Buchweizenbrot ist glutenfrei und ballaststoffreich, kommt ohne Hefe aus und eignet sich in der Zusammensetzung auch für eine Fodmap-freundliche Ernährung. Die Kruste wird unheimlich kross und verfeinert durch eine Menge Saaten, die sich beliebig variieren lassen!🙂
Innen saftig und fluffig, außen mit Kruste und leckeren Saaten! 🙂
Zudem ist dieses Brot unkompliziert zuzubereiten. Klingt alles gut bisher? Dann lass uns backen! Ich habe euch das Mehl das ich verwendet habe hier einmal verlinkt:
Die Saaten für den Brotteig zunächst in einer Schale abwiegen und mit 200 ml Wasser aufgießen, verrühren und eine halbe Stunde quellen lassen.
Den Ofen auf 170° C Ober-/Unterhitze vorheizen und eine längliche Backform vorbereiten, diese ggf. mit ein wenig Öl fetten – ich benutze gerne Backformen aus Silikon, da diese nicht gefettet werden müssen.
Die trockenen Zutaten in einer Schüssel abwiegen und gut vermengen. Dann achtsam zuerst das Öl eingießen, gefolgt vom Wasser – gleichzeitig mit einem Löffel anfangen zu rühren, damit sich keine Klümpchen bilden können.
Nun die gequollenen Saaten untermischen und die Masse zu einem klebrigen Teig verrühren – du brauchst hier wirklich keinen Schneebesen oder kein Rührgerät, der Teig sollte nur ganz kurz vermengt werden.
Den Teig in die vorbereitete Backform füllen und an der Oberfläche glatt streichen. In der Mitte mit einem Messer etwa einen Zentimeter einschneiden und das Brot mit den Saaten für das Topping bestreuen. Hier kann natürlich variiert werden – auch Mandelplättchen, Chiasamen, Mohnsaat ist möglich! Nimm was du am liebsten magst und zur Hand hast!🙂
Das Brot in den Ofen schieben und für 1 Stunde und 20 Minuten backen. Nach einer Stunde mit einem Holzstäbchen in die Mitte piksen, wenn kein Teig mehr an dem Stäbchen hängen bleibt, kannst du den Ofen ausmachen und das Brot noch in der Restwärme nachbacken lassen.
Nimm das Brot dann zum Abkühlen aus dem Ofen und lass es noch eine halbe Stunde in der Backform – am besten kühlt es auf einem Gitter aus. Dann kann das Brot aus der Backform gelöst werden – es duftet verführerisch und schmeckt leicht warm und knusprig, super lecker!🙂
Das Brot bleibt bis zu vier Tage frisch, dann sollte es im Kühlschrank aufbewahrt werden, am besten in einer Tupperdose. Getoastet schmeckt es dann wieder frisch und hält insgesamt eine Woche.
Lass dir das Brot schmecken!
Genieße dein Brot frisch und warm aus dem Ofen mit einem leckeren Gemüseaufstrich!
Wenn dir das Rezept gefallen hast, lass gerne einen Kommentar hier und verlinke mich unter @fromayurvedawithlove auf Instagram! Teile gerne deine Verbesserungsvorschläge und Variationen mit mir, damit wir alle etwas davon haben!
Hab noch ein schönes Pfingstwochenende und einen guten Start in deine neue Woche!
Bananenbrot kann so viel mehr – denn es enthält Bananen, die deinen Elektrolyte Haushalt ausgleichen, dir Energie schenken und Blaubeeren, die deinen Geist beruhigen.
Auf die Zutaten kommt es an!
Aus Ayurvedischer Sicht sind Blaubeeren gut für die Leber, wirken entzündlichen Prozessen entgegen und sind echtes Brain-Superfood! Bananen können dir wieder neue Energie schenken, haben im Sommer die Eigenschaft dich zu kühlen. Kokosöl wirkt sich besänftigend auf Vata und Pitta aus, und hat ebenso wie Blaubeeren wertvolle Eigenschaften für deine Nerven und dein Gemüt. Mandelmilch erdet dich, schenkt dir ein Gefühl von ausgeglichener Kraft und Energie.
Wir backen also ein Wunderbrot! 😉
Bananenbrot ist ganz schön lecker – spätestens seit der Pandemie kennt jeder dieses einfache und köstliche Gericht. Während manche Rezepte Weizen und Zucker verwenden, das ganze dann also eher einem Kuchen ähnelt, kommt dieses Rezept ohne aus. Ohne Zucker, Weizen, Eier – ohne geschmacklich etwas einzubüßen. Das Rezept ist zudem FODMAP-freundlich und natürlich vegan!
Die Zubereitung ist ganz einfach, du brauchst nicht mal einen Mixer!🙂Heute habe ich einige Zutaten der Produkte die ich gerne verwende, für euch in der Zutatenliste verlinkt!
Fluffog, saftig und köstlich!
Los geht´s!
Zutaten:
170 g glutenfreier Mehl-Mix (ich hab diesen hier von Bauckhof verwendet)
Deinen Ofen auf 180 Grad Ober-/Unterhitze vorheizen und eine Kastenbackform vorbereiten- bei Silikon benötigst du nichts weiter, bei einer Form aus Metall, ein wenig mit Kokosöl einpinseln.
In einer Schüssel die geschälten Bananen mit einer Gabel zerdrücken. Die Haferflocken, den Mehlmix und die Mandeln hinzugeben und grob mit einem Löffel mischen. Das Backpulver mit dem Zimt, dem Vanillemark hinzufügen und gut vermengen.
Nun die Pflanzenmilch mit dem Kokosöl und dem Apfelessig zugeben und mit einem Löffel weiter vermengen, bis ein gleichmäßiger Teig entsteht – dieser sollte nicht zu trocken und nicht zu flüssig sein. Das Kokosöl ggf. in einem kleinen Topf kurz schmelzen – im Sommer geht es meistens ohne!🙂
Die Blaubeeren – je nach Bedarf unterheben und gleichmäßig vermengen.
Den Teig in die Kastenform geben und glatt streichen und in den Ofen geben.
Backe das Bananenbrot 30 Minuten bei 180 Grad, reduziere dann auf 150 Grad für weitere 10 Minuten. Du kannst mit einem Zahnstocher nach 30 Minuten einmal in den Teig piksen – sollten keine Teigreste auf dem Zahnstocher hängen bleiben, kannst du den Ofen schon ausmachen und das Brot 10 Minuten nachbacken lassen.
Brot anschließend abkühlen lassen, am besten auf einem Gitter, damit es nicht schwitzt. Nach einer halben Stunde bis Stunde kann es vorsichtig aus der Form genommen werden.
Das Brot schmeckt frisch besonders gut und ist 3-4 Tage haltbar. Am besten packst du es in eine Aufbewahrungsbox und hebst es im Kühlschrank auf. Es kann auch leicht getoastet und mit Mandelmus oder Erdnussmus gegessen werden.
Mit Mandelplättchen bestreut 🙂
Genieße dein Brot, lass mir gerne einen Kommentar da, wenn du es ausprobiert hast! Einen wunderschönen Sonntag noch!
Sommerliche Temperaturen von 30 Grad und mehr – und das bereits im Mai? Dieser Sommer scheint trocken und heiß zu werden. Mit Ayurvedischen Gerichten, kann man seinem Körper helfen die Doshas auszugleichen. Das heißt auch, dass man die Möglichkeit hat sich mit Nahrung abzukühlen! 😉
Der Sommerliche Quinoa Salat ist perfekt für die wärmeren Jahreszeiten, eignet sich insbesondere für Kapha-Dosha und Pitta-Dosha. Der Salat wirkt sich positiv auf die Verdauung aus und ist entgiftend. Er kühlt, erfrischt und schenkt uns neue Energie!
Sommerlicher Quinoa Salat
Du brauchst dazu lediglich ein paar Zutaten:
1 Tasse Quinoa
1 Apfel
1 Grapefruit
1 Stück frische Fenchelknolle
1cm frische Ingwerknolle
Saft von 1/2 Zitrone
3 TL Olivenöl
1 Prise Salz
Frische Minzblätter, eine Handvoll
Und so geht´s:
Den Quinoa zunächst mit heißen Wasser waschen, um die Bitterstoffe zu entfernen. Dazu einfach mit dem Wasserkocher etwas Wasser heiß machen, den Quinoa in einem kleinen Topf damit übergießen und 2 Minuten stehen lassen. Dann mit einem feinen Sieb absieben. Quinoa nach Packungsanleitung kochen: in der Regel nimmst du hier die doppelte Menge Wasser, ich habe hier eine Tasse Quinoa genommen und zwei Tassen Wasser. Quinoa zum Kochen bringen, auf kleiner Flamme köcheln, nach 20 Minuten ausschalten und quellen lassen. Lass den Quinoa hier ruhig etwas abkühlen.
Die Grapefruit schälen, von den weißen Fasern befreien, in mundgerechte Stücke schneiden.
Den Apfel halbieren, entkernen und auch hier mundgerechte Stücke schneiden.
Die Fenchelknolle sollte von der Menge nicht den Apfel oder die Grapefruit übertreffen – also ungefähr die Menge eines halben Apfels betragen. Den Fenchel in feine Streifen schneiden, die du dann noch mal in kleinere Würfel schneidest.
Minzblätter halbieren und dann in feine Streifen schneiden. Grapefruit, Apfel, Fenchel und Minze in eine Schüssel geben und zur Seite stellen.
Für das Dressing den Ingwer schälen, fein hacken und die Zitrone auspressen. In einer kleinen Schale den Ingwer, Zitronensaft mit drei TL Olivenöl mischen, eine Prise Salz zufügen. Über die Obst-, Gemüsemischung in deiner Schüssel gießen und vermengen.
Den abgekühlten Quinoa hinzugeben, noch mal alles durchmengen – in einer Schale anrichten und mit einem frischen Minzblatt garnieren.
Wunderbar erfrischend und sättigend, findest du nicht?🙂 Mach eine größere Portion, um am nächsten Tag etwas mit zur Arbeit nehmen zu können, oder wenn du am Wochenende mit deinen Freunden grillst! Der Salat ist simpel in der Zubereitung, jedoch beeindruckend im Geschmack. Und jetzt ab in die Küche – mach deinem Bauch und deinem Gaumen eine Freude!
Die aktuell schönste Art und Weise, den Stress loszuwerden und wieder Ausgleich im Alltag zu finden:
Ob es Wandern, Waldbaden oder Yoga sind – Menschen suchen einen achtsamen Ausgleich zu ihrem hektischen Alltag. Das ist wenig verwunderlich, wenn man zunächst aktuelle Studienergebnisse zu Stress näher betrachtet.
Die Stressstudie der TK »Entspann dich, Deutschland« zum Beispiel, hat 2021 ergeben, dass sich knapp 64 % der Erwachsenen gestresst fühlen, 26 % der Befragten sogar häufig. Natürlich hatte zuletzt auch die Corona-Pandemie Auswirkungen auf unser Stressempfinden. Die Symptome von Stress können hierbei vielfältig ausfallen, einig sind sich die Experten jedoch alle: Stress macht auf Dauer krank.
Auszeit in der Natur kann hierbei Linderung verschaffen, uns helfen wieder mit uns selbst, unserer Atmung und unserem Körper in Verbindung zu treten. Hier sind die drei schönsten Möglichkeiten und Aktivitäten, um wieder entspannt durchzuatmen.
Wandern
Ob durch Weinberge, sanfte Hügellandschaften, Wälder oder im Gebirge: beim Wandern in gemäßigten Gelände bewegen wir unseren Körper, ohne die Gelenke zu belasten und dabei trotzdem unser Herz-Kreislauf-System anzuregen.
“Regelmäßiges Wandern unterstützt dabei, die Atmung zu vertiefen, den Brustkorb zu mobilisieren und die Atemmuskulatur zu trainieren. Dies trägt dazu bei, Ihren Körper besser mit Sauerstoff zu versorgen (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung).”
Auch beim Wandern zählt die Kontinuität, also die Regelmäßigkeit. So dauert es vielleicht etwas länger fit zu werden, dafür ist es nachhaltiger für unseren ganzen Körper.
Geführte Wanderungen oder Fastenwanderungen sind ein schöner Freizeitausgleich, wenn man nicht alleine losziehen möchte.
Waldbaden
In zauberhaften Wäldern den Duft von Nadelholz einatmen, magische Lichtungen entdecken die mit ihrem sanften Licht dem Auge schmeicheln, weicher Laubboden unter den Füßen. »Shinrin Yoku« oder grob übersetzt: Waldbaden. Waldbaden ist ein Stressmanagement System aus Japan, dass auch hierzulande großen Anklang findet. »Shinrin Yoku« wurde 1982 von der staatlichen japanischen Forstbehörde eingeführt, um einen gesunden Lebensstil zu fördern. Durch das »eintauchen« in den Wald, den bewussten und achtsamen Aufenthalt in der Natur lassen sich Stress und Hektik des Alltags besser beseitigen und lindern.
Im Gegensatz zum Wandern ist Waldbaden eine sehr entspannte Art den Wald zu genießen.
Foto: Jasmin Remiorsch
Laut der Naturwald Akademie ist der Wald heilsam und heilend: »Das Rauschen der Blätter, die Duftstoffe der Bäume, Vogelgesang und Bachgeplätscher heilen den Menschen und stärken seine Gesundheit (Naturwald Akademie).«
Lokale Anbieter für Waldbaden finden sich mittlerweile in fast jeder Stadt. In der Gruppe lassen sich die Ereignisse bei einem Gespräch im Anschluss vertiefen.
Yoga
Sanfte Bewegungen in Kombination mit der Atmung, Pausen zwischen den Asanas (Haltungen) helfen uns beim Stress-loslassen und wieder mit uns selbst in Kontakt zu treten. Yoga ist schonend für unseren Körper, dehnt unsere Muskeln und trainiert die Wirbelsäule. Es gibt viele Gründe und positive Effekte, die eine regelmäßige Yogapraxis haben kann.
Yogastunden sind nach einem bestimmten Übungsmuster aufgebaut, und somit werden in einer Einheit so gut wie alle Muskelpartien im Körper angesprochen und beansprucht. Dadurch, dass wir keine abrupten Bewegungen durchführen, ist eine Unter-/Überbelastung des Körpers in der Regel ausgeschlossen.
Design: Jasmin Remiorsch
Yoga hat laut Minimed.at im Wesentlichen folgende Wirkungsweisen:
»Physiologische Wirkung: Bewegungs- und Atemübungen wirken sich ausgleichend auf den Körper aus. Die Muskeln werden gekräftigt und gelockert, Verspannungen lösen sich, Haltungsmuster verändern sich.
Psychische Wirkung: das vegetative Nervensystem wird mithilfe von Atem- und Entspannungselementen stimuliert, gezielte Übungen beruhigen und bringen den Körper wieder in Balance. Wirksam wird dieser Benefit durch den Ausgleich von Sympathikus und Parasympathikus: diese beiden Anteile des vegetativen Nervensystems steuern unsere unwillkürlichen Vorgänge im Körper. Der Parasympathikus senkt u.a. den Herzrhythmus, die Atemfrequenz und die Ausschüttung von Stresshormonen.«
Yoga kann aktuell auch draußen praktiziert werden, viele Yogaschulen und Lehrer*innen bieten Stunden im Volkspark oder auf Dachterrassen an.
Wofür auch immer du dich diesen Sommer entscheidest: ich wünsche dir viel Spaß beim ausprobieren und eine erholsame Zeit im Grünen!
Jetzt haben wir bereits über zwei Jahre Pandemie hinter uns gebracht.
Eine Pandemie, die insbesondere Selbstständige auf die Probe gestellt hat. Auch im Wellness Sektor gab es einige Hürden zu meistern. Unterrichten, massieren, beraten – all das, scheint langsam wieder möglich zu werden, ohne größere Einschränkungen.
Erschreckt hat mich während der Pandemie, die erstarkende Querdenker Szene – vornehmlich innerhalb der Yoga-Szene. Diese war bereits vorher da, im Wesentlichen unbedeutend und wurde von vielen belächelt. Die Ausmaße wurden so abstrus, dass ich mich von der Szene “Yoga,” und “Ayurveda” scharf abgrenzen musste und wollte. Auch nach zwei Jahren kann ich nicht nachvollziehen, wie all diese Ansichten und das Demonstrieren mit der rechten, menschenfeindlichen Szene in das Weltbild oder die Philosophie des Yogas passen sollen. An unterrichten war nicht zu denken – was, wenn genau diese Menschen meinen Unterricht besuchen?
Meine Hoffnung für dieses Jahr ist, dass einige wieder ihre Ratio finden, wieder den Kern des Yogas begreifen und sich nicht in Verschwörungsmythen verlieren. Damit sich Yoga zu unterrichten wieder gut anfühlen kann, das Besuchen von Yoga-Seminarhäusern nicht mehr bedrohlich. Die Verantwortung für andere Menschen, die ein*e Yogalehrer*in nun mal hat, realisiert werden, die Vorbildfunktion wieder positiv konnotiert. Insbesondere vulnerable Gruppen, die in Yogazentren ihren Halt fanden, sollten durch diese Menschen nicht gefährdet werden. Dazu ist aber die Haltung der Yogalehrer*innen und Studioinhaber*innen gefragt. Wem gebt ihr Raum und wem verwehrt ihr diesen? Seid euch der Konstruktion eurer Realität bewusst.
Es ist schön, wieder hier zu sein. Jetzt lasst uns etwas leckeres kochen und uns zauberhaft und wohl fühlen! 😉
It´s been a while now. I am very sorry about that. But how can you write inspiring posts, when your whole life is a mess? After the month of December, everything went wrong, now August is over, and I finally have some muse to sit down on my desk and reflect on the past months of my life.
I am still not sure if it is the weird year 2020 itself, that brings so much craziness and sadness to so many of us or if I have a worse year for myself. But the last days of my vacation, traveling a bit through the Netherlands, watching a sunset at the beach, seeing the night sky, and visiting Rotterdam pulled me out a bit out of my rabbit hole.
My dog died very unexpectedly in February, and the whole world was closed down the end of March because of a deadly virus. I work from home most of the time and meet rarely people because I moved to a new place. So being alone, super broke because some crazy people just stole from my bank account, at a new place, without my dog. I even lost my lust to cook and ate just vegan junk food all over.
The only constant line is still my Yoga practice. And my love for music and maybe also my sunshine mind, that always holds me above the deepwater somehow. But now. Today. I felt it again. I am longing to go back to my Ayurvedic routine and healthy decisions. And I also think I finally pulled myself out of that rabbit hole. I am on a waiting list for a street dog from Hungary, and I walked around in nature lately a lot. I started to work out again and move my body regularly.
But – the topic of my text – is that I also understand in general how hard it is for so many of you, to start over with your strenght. To find the strenght and motivation to do something healthy for you and your body and get rid off old routines. (Old habits die hard is a thing, huh?) And that even some healthy living person like me, can have weak moments. I really would love to support and inspire so many of you to find a path to change, what you want to change. Especially in these crazy times, I think – Ayuvreda and Yoga are great tools to help us, to find our center again. (If we lost it or if we never had the feeling that we found it.)
But what is also important to me is, that we take slow steps on our way. Because we struggle enough in our day to day life and our brains are full, maybe in 2020 even our pockets are empty. We lost friends, we maybe even lost loved ones because of a disease and maybe because we didn´t agreed on what is right or wrong about the Covid topic. But what is important to me, what is a wish deep down from my heart, is that we all can pull us out of the sadness and chaos and find peace of mind.
I will start with blogging again regularly and share easy and affordable recipes and will upload Yoga videos, meditations – and maybe we can all thrive together and make the last months of 2020 a bit more magical and peaceful for us.
Because you are worth it. I am worth it.
You are a wonder and everything will be alright at the end.
According to Ayurveda our life force energy and vitality come from Ojas, which is a Sanskrit term that can be translated as „essence of vitality.“ Ojas is what gives us energy, a glow, a healthy look. It is the energy that keeps our immune system running, which gives us strength, balance, and happiness.
Ojas will be created by your body through the proper and healthy digestion of food, it is linked to Prana which some Yogis might also hear about, and Tejas, which is the essence of fire. Prana is the essence of air and Ojas is the essence of water. Ojas is the seat of Prana -Tejas creates Ojas, Ojas is in charge of Prana, the vital force.
Qualities that every one of us would like to have in abundance, right? For many of us, our Ojas feels lower, and so we feel sad, weak, tired. We dream about what we all want to achieve and do but we are lacking the energy to step out there to live our Dharma.
Related to the Doshas, Kapha is normally very high in Ojas, while Vata is maybe lacking Ojas the most, easily. Signs of a balanced amount of Ojas are for example:
Glowing skin and eyes
A fit and healthy body constitution
A healthy amount of energy
Healthy and sharp senses
A strong immune system
Lack of pain or aches
A happy and positive mood and light mind
A creative, focused and clear mind
Overall well-being
While the lack of Ojas is manifesting in many imbalances you might already know, like cold hands and feet, dry skin (Vata), a heavy body feeling or slow mind (Kapha), being sick often, combined with infections (Pitta), a lack of focus, depression and so on.
Ojas can be restored through our diet.
Food is a simple way to keep our body healthy and balanced – even when so many are doubting it first. The qualities of Ojas are also the qualities you can search in your food to maintain more of this life force energy. Sweet, heavy, smooth, cool and fresh – foods like Avocado, banana, dates, and almonds. (A win for every day!)
We should eat fresh, locally grown and seasonal fruit and vegetables. Not too much raw food, food that is helpful for our own constitution. Organic foods. Whole foods.
We should avoid alcohol, drugs, stimulants, refined sugar and flour, microwave food and processed foods, canned, frozen, fried foods.
Foods that are building Ojas are:
Whole grains (preferred gluten-free)
Avocados
Bananas
Apples
Apricots
Mangoes
Grapes
Blueberries
Sweet potatoes and Yams
Pumpkins (Hokkaido)
Dates
Figs
Tofu
Soy milk
Soy yogurt
Almond milk
Almond yogurt
Zucchini
Spinach
Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts)
Mung beans
Leafy greens
Olive oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil
Ginger, turmeric, Ashwagandha, licorice, Amalaki
There are also some Ayurvedic recipes like Chyawanprash, which is a medical jam with herbs and fruits – Amla fruit, Ashwagandha root are some ingredients and are highly Ojas building.
Also, some tonic milk which you can drink daily can help you to build up Ojas, find my recipe here:
Grow The Glow Milk
Ingredients:
1 cup of almond milk
10 almonds, soaked overnight
2 dates, soaked overnight
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. cardamom
¼ tsp. ginger
¼ tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. Agave juice or Maple syrup
Instructions:
Add a tsp. of coconut oil into a small pot and warm with the spices, roast them for 5 minutes on medium heat. Pour the milk and agave juice, add the dates and almond and warm up lightly. Put your warm milk in a blender and mix until everything is blended well. The mixture will be creamy and foamy. Pour in a mug and add a pinch of cinnamon or cocoa on top, enjoy!
Also a healthy lifestyle and Ayurvedic routine are helpful – it is all about the balance! A regular sleeping schedule, cleansing techniques, meditation and Yoga, movement, fresh air and self massages with herbal oils are a good foundation to build Ojas.
Ojas is what we all should put first on our New Year´s resolution list!
Have a wonderful transition from 2019 to 2020 and don´t miss to subscribe to my Blog:
Christmas is just around the corner and you may ask yourself what to prepare this year for you and your loved ones? I always disliked the feeling of being stuffed and sluggish after even the most vegan Christmas Dinner recipe variations. Ayurveda got some creative, delicious options we can prepare easily, without stress and hours at the kitchen. And, believe me – to impress your guests on another level!
Let´s just head directly into the recipes and happy kitchen time for all of you!
Entree
Walnut – Soup with Curry butter and Crispy Parsley Leafs
Creamy, unique and impressive!
Walnuts are rich in healthy fat, which may aggravate Kapha. But the herbs and ingredients balance this inspiring and delicious soup evenly out. The alcohol leaves the dish while it is heated. If you don´t want to use it, take some more soy cream.
Ingredients:
2 Cups of Walnuts
½ onion
½ celery bulb
2 Cups of potatoes
2 Cups of carrots
2 garlic cloves
½ stalk porree (you will only need the white part)
600 ml vegetable stock
200 ml soy cream
200 ml white vine
2 tbsp. lemon juice
Salt and pepper
Curry butter:
Sesame oil
1 tbsp. maple syrup
½ tsp. Curry
1 hand full of Fresh parsley
Instructions:
1. Chop the walnuts and roast them under medium heat in a saucepan without any oil. Set a half cup aside.
2. Chop the onion, celery, potatoes, carrots in even pieces. Slice the porree thinly and mince the garlic.
3. Heat sesame oil in a big pot and start to fry the onions, the garlic until transculent. Add your veggies and roast on medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add vine, vegetable broth and walnuts and let all cook until soft.
4. Add soy sauce and simmer fort wo more minutes.
5. Blend the soup evenly in a blender or food processor and taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
6. In a small pan, start to heat sesame oil with maple syrup and add the curry powder and parsley leafs. Add the other walnuts and spread over the Walnut soup in a bowl.
One of my favorite Christmas recipes this year!
Main Menu
Mashed Chickpea – Potatoes with Thyme Carrots and Hokkaido Patty Stars
Delicious, simple and creative!
Pacifies Vata and Kapha, the chickpeas bring in some light qualities into the earthy,mashed potatoes. Pitta peeps could make the patties in the oven without any oil to make it more digestible.
Ingredients:
Mashed – Chickpea – Potatoes
1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight with plenty of water and cooked soft – you can also use one can of already soft chickpeas
4 big potatoes or 6 smaller ones
1 parsnip
1 tbsp. chickpea flour
sea salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
black pepper
½ tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. ginger, powder
chopped parsley
sesame oil
plant milk (Soy or Almond)
water
Instructions:
1. Chop and peel the potatoes and bring water to boil in a medium large pot. Add the peeled and chopped parsnip and cook with potatoes until soft, with a pinch of salt.
2. Add chickpeas, chickpea flour, pepper and salt, turmeric and ginger and mash all evenly together.
3. Pour in one cup of water and mash until the whole mixture is getting creamy. Add now almond milk or soy milk, until you become a super creamy consistency and stirr well.
4. Add one teaspoon of sesame oil and start to warm up the potatoe mash.
5. Chop the parsley and serve sprinkled with parsely and fresh pepper.
Thyme Carrots
Pacifies Vata, Pitta and Kapha – an easy to digest side dish with a whole amount of flavors!
Ingredients:
1 kg small carrots
sesame oil
4 cloves of garlic
a bunch of fresh thyme or dried thyme
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions:
1. Trim the leafy green stalks off the carrots, and peel them.
2. Heat some sesame oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Crush the unpeeled garlic with the flat side of your knife and add your garlic to the pan. Change sides after one minute and be careful the garlic don´t get burned.
3. Add your thyme sprigs or dry thyme and pour your agave juice over. Add one cup of water.
4. Add the carrots, season with sea salt and black pepper, and let your carrots be covered evenly with thyme and your liquid.
5. Cover your pan, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until your carrots are soft.
6. Remove the cover, and let simmer for another 5 minutes, until the glaze has reduced. The carrots are going to be sticky and caramelized when they are done.
Hokkaido Patty Stars
Ingredients:
½ Hokkaido pumpkin, chopped
1 potato, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 white onion, minced
1 cup cannelini beans, canned
1 cup oat flour
2 tbsp. ground flax seeds
2 tbsp. buckwheat flour
1 tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. coriander
½ tsp. paprika
Sesame oil for frying
Instructions:
Serving: Place a small amount of every dish on your plate, drizzle a bit thyme sesame oil and chopped parsley over the plate. A pinch of fresh black pepper is also pretty.
Start to boil the pumpkin with the potato and carrots in a medium sized pot, until soft. Set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onion.
Mash your beans with a potatoe masher in a big bowl and add your pumpkin mix to it. Add all the other spices and dry ingredients and mix it evenly together. The misture should be sticky enough and not too wet. Use water or more oat flour if you aren´t sure.
Taste if more spices are needed. When the mixture isn´t that hot anymore, start to make thick and round patties. If you have a huge star cookie stencil, you can start making star patties, use the rest to make another patty at the end. If not, make round patties.
Fry the patties in a medium sized pan, and don´t use too much sesame oil at first. It don´t have to swim in oil, just fry them evenly brown from every side.
The patties can be in a beautiful shape with simply using a cooky stencil!
Dessert
Lavender – Orange – Pudding
Calming, grounding, and all the flavors! Mmmhhh….!
This raw vegan dessert comes along with some interesting flavors and the cashews are balancing the dry and aetherical qualities of lavender a bit to serve Vata, while dates and oranges are gifting Pitta and Kapha with an adventure for your taste buds!
Ingredients:
2 peeled oranges
1 cup of cashews, soaked overnight
1 cup of dates, soaked overnight
1 tbsp. of agave juice
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers or a drop of lavender oil (natural one!)
1 pinch of organic, orange zest
Instructions:
Blend all the ingredients in your blender or food processor until the mixture is smooth.
Scoop into small, single serving bowls and place in your frigde overnight.
Decorate the pudding with orange zest, and more lavender flowers before serving. Serve at room temperature.
I am wishing you a beautiful, healing, loving Christmas time!
Tag me to your posts if you tried my recipes! And if you don´t want to miss out on any other delicious recipes, subscribe to my Blog! 😊
Beetroot meets Hummus – and they are such a Dream Team! Find today this easy and delicious Ayurvedic recipe and make your new week grounding and delicious!
I used cooked chickpeas from the day before and also prepared the beetroot one evening before I made the Hummus. So it´s a super quick side dish you can even prepare when you are short on time!
Flamingo pink for good mood food!
That´s all you will need:
Ingredients: ⠀
1 small, cooked, peeled beetroot ⠀
2 cups soaked, cooked chickpeas⠀
2 garlic cloves⠀
1 tbsp sesame oil⠀
1 tsp cumin⠀
1/2 tsp ground coriander ⠀
1 pinch ground ginger ⠀
2 tbsp Tahini ⠀
1/2 lemon, juiced⠀
1 tsp seal salt ⠀
1 pinch black pepper ⠀
1 cup of water, maybe more (go slow!)⠀
Parsley and sesame oil as topping ⠀
Black sesame seeds on top are also perfect!
Instructions: ⠀
Blend chickpeas, beetroot, tahini, garlic, spices with water in your blender until the consistency gets creamy. You may use more or less water. ⠀
Add Hummus to a bowl and top with minced parsley, a bit Sesame Oil (Kaphas skip that part) and black pepper. ⠀
This hummus is perfect for steamed veggies and Quinoa, as well with gluten free or raw bread! 😋👌🏼
Warming spices and balanced ingredients make this recipe an easy and nurturing side dish with grounding and warming qualities! ⠀
Did you ever tried beetroot hummus? 😋☝🏼⠀
Never miss any delicious recipe and subscribe to my blog!
Nowadays many people struggle with a good night´s sleep. We sit in front of screens all day long, we are stressed and our head has a hard time to calm down. Ayurvedically speaking, we have excess Vata and we live a lifestyle that doesn´t help us with that. So for our brain, it is impossible to relax.
Besides a general morning and night routine, there are some other helpful things you can do to release stress and find a calm and peaceful night. With that topic, I want to share a Magical Ayurvedic Moon Milk recipe with you. It´s my number one sleep remedy treatment and my clients love it!
A healthy evening Routine can help you to release stress and find better sleep. Your sleep quality will also increase the quality of your day, so try to change some habits and invest time into YOURSELF! Find here my top 4 hacks for a sweet night time:
A hot bath with a relaxing oil massage before bed is helpful to stay away from your TV and phone, but also is grounding down your senses. A hot bathtub with candles, lavender or Jasmine scents will help you to find your center.
Massaging your feet with warm oil is another perfect evening ritual when you don´t find time to take a bath. Our feet have a tremendous amount of nerve endings, massaging them will relax your whole body for good.
The Magical Ayurvedic Moon Milk with Ashwagandha and nutmeg is also working in a vegan version. Nutmeg is a natural sleep remedy and Ashwagandha is calming and balancing our brain chemistry. The ritual of drinking a warm cup of delicious milk (almond milk is my favorite) will relax you and put you right to sleep.
A gentle Yoga practice and Pranayama practice in the evening. I always try to get stuff done until 7 p.m. and take some time on my mat. Alternate nostril breathing technique and Yin Yoga are wonderful to find peace.
Let´s start our way to a healthy sleeping routine today. Start this evening with my magical milk receipe and maybe you will also find time for a hot bathtub on this rainy and foggy November evening. Here is my recipe for you:
Magical Ayurvedic Moon Milk
It tastes like a good Chai Latte! Promise!
Ingredients:
· 1 cup plant milk of choice
· ¼ tsp. cinnamon
· ½ tsp. turmeric
· ¼ tsp. ground Ashwagandha
· 1 pinch of cardamom
· 1 pinch of nutmeg
· 1 pinch of black pepper
· ½ tsp. virgin coconut oil
· 1 tsp. agave juice or maple syrup
Preparations:
1. Warm up the coconut oil in a medium-sized pot over medium-low heat.
2. Whisk in turmeric, cinnamon, ashwagandha, cardamom, and nutmeg, and a pinch of fresh black pepper. Let the smell of spices fill up your kitchen and stir a bit until everything is a nice paste.
3. Add the plant-based milk and let simmer for 5 minutes up to ten while stirring. Add the sweetener of choice. The longer you let the spices cook, the more helpful your sleep remedy is going to be!
4. Pour your magical moon milk into your favorite mug, enjoy calm piano music and a good night´s story from an inspiring book. Ground down all your senses and have the best night´s rest!
Don´t forget to subscribe to my blog! And tell us in the comment section below how good you slept!
VedaWarrior is combining Ayurvedic wisdom with plant medicine and got some wonderful personalized CBD supplements for you!
As they are launching their new page, we teamed-up for a little contest and giveaway! Find here all the infos and follow up on Instagram!
Entries will close at Midnight on November 20, 2019. Winners will be announced Sunday Nov 24, 2019 We will be choosing one local NY participant & one nationwide participant (US residents only, we can’t ship out of country…yet!). 🌟Enter to WIN to following Giveaway Packages:🌟 NY PACKAGE: ▪️ 3-month supply of our Personalized Ayurvedic CBD Focus + Balance Supplement ▪️ Ayurvedic Nutrition Consultation w/Jasmin @fromayurvedawithlove ▪️ doTERRA Past Tense Roll-on & Balance Therapuetic Grade Essential oil blend from @lovemusicyoga US PACKAGE: ▪️ 3-month supply of our Personalized Ayurvedic CBD Focus + Balance Supplement ▪️ Muse 2 Meditation Headset @_HannahMatthews ▪️ 90-min Movement & Mindfulness Session with our in-house Certified Yoga Instructor Jen HOW TO ENTER:
Post a photo doing your favorite warrior pose (any movement or pose where you feel powerful & grounded) in your natural/wild habitat (which can be at home amongst your houseplants & kids or in nature, & everything in-between).
Follow & Tag our sponsors in your post: @vedawarrior @fromayurvedawithlove @lovemusicyoga @_HannahMatthews
Use the follow hashtags in your post: #vedawarrior #wildwarriorcontest #tryveda
For an additional entry, tag 3 friends who would love to join in the Wild Warrior fun!
Please DM us with questions and happy Warrior-ing!
You may be
read in every article about Ayurvedic daily routine, to use basic oils like
sesame oil or almond oil for your daily Abhyanga massage. Even when they have
some small effects on your health:
What if I tell you now, that it is just (nearly) the same as using a lotion?
The magic and healing quality of Ayurveda can´t be experienced by using basic oils but it is a good start to start a daily self-care routine. There is so much more possible! And I am not talking about the use of essential oils!
Medical oils are used traditionally in Ayurveda
The perfect oil is lubricating, soothing, moistening, and calming the body and your senses and mind. In Sanskrit, the word oil is called ‘Sneha‘.
Sneha is also a term for love and therefore holds a special place in the Ayurvedic tradition. Sneha will nourish your body and mind with it’s loving, soothing and properties.
Applying medical oils will balance
your doshas, can help you to heal different symptoms caused by imbalances and
can help your body to gain strength and a calm state of mind. In fact,
Ayurvedic oils can go down so deep into your tissues, that it is even possible
to support your body after a broken bone or operation to heal properly!
The skin is our largest organ – so we
can take in here a much bigger amount of herbs than in any other possible way!
Ayurvedic therapeutic oils are prepared sacredly – the amount of herbs used for
one liter of oil is a game-changer!
Every good Ayurvedic Health Coach or
Therapist will find a specific oil for you and use it for your booked Ayurvedic
massage. And also – suggest one for using at home! Don´t settle for less!
Find here today some interesting and
helpful oils for your Dosha and some specific imbalances. You can buy oil
online, worldwide – give it a try! Going three months of a daily Ayurvedic
massage routine with therapeutic oil is not just preventive, but will also
reveal the true power of Ayurvedic healing art!
Vata Oils
The most balancing oil and perfect for
a daily self-massage is called:
Dhanvantaram Thaila
Dhanvantaram Thaila goes with coconut
oil and is also helpful before and after pregnancy, rheumatism, arthritis,
strengthen muscles, dementia.
We can say, that Vata oils are helpful
to balance several Vata caused diseases or imbalances.
Watch also out for:
Bala Thaila, Karpasyadi Thaila, Chukkadi
Thaila, Mahanarayana Thaila (especially for adrenal fatigue and burn out
syndrome).
Pitta Oils
Chandanadi Thaila
This oil can cool down every Pitta
imbalance. Thaila is coconut oil-based and can be best used on the head as well
to balance Pitta Dosha.
It is helpful with mental disorders,
anxiety, stress, and depression.
Watch also out for:
Bringaraja Thaila, Eladi Keram
(infections of the skin, acne), Eladi Thaila.
Kapha Oils
There is not much oil for Kapha Dosha
available, because we work with the opposite qualities of each Dosha to
maintain balance. Kapha peeps should prefer dry massages with herbs. But there
is some good Kapha oil available as well:
Sahacaradi Thaila
When you feel stagnant and slowly,
your bones feel heavy – this one can help with rheumatic issues, blocked
shrotas, mental disorders, pain in different body parts and metabolic diseases.
Watch also out for:
Curnas for dry massages can help to
balance Kapha. Brahmi Curna, Bhringaraja Curna, and Haridra Curna can balance
Kapha caused symptoms.
How to apply therapeutic oil?
You can find my guide to a self-massage at home here:
For therapeutic oil, it is helpful to warm them a bit up in their bottle. I use a baby bottle warmer, as it goes quickly warm while I am brushing my teeth.
Rub the oil stronger into your skin than you normally would, to bring the herbs deeper to your tissues.
Therapeutic oils smell a bit different
than wellness oils. I use specific pants and a shirt to sit with the oil for 20
minutes or overnight before I shower it off. Use mild soap to shower it off.
Pour a hot cup of water afterward you
in your bath sink to avoid clogging from the thick oil!
I love to let the oil sink in
overnight – I sleep better, I wake up rested and I feel amazingly balanced. I
also helped my body with Vata oil against cracking joints, a really fragile
upper spine and eczema!
It is a self-experienced practice. Hit me per Mail or comment if you have any other questions about therapeutic oil or supplier!
Where to find oils? DM me if you need help!
I am wishing you the most beautiful Sunday and a pretty good start into a new week! Don’t forget to hit the button and subscribe to my blog!
A recipe for calming our Vata horses, warming up cold and rainy days, and happy colors to light up the dark time of the year!
While the days are getting colder and darker, I am craving warm and hearty food! Pumpkin soup is a classic fall dish and here you will find my Vata pacifying recipe for the season. I also add the adjustments for Pitta and Kapha as well down below! Have a beautiful Sunday, and enjoy my warming, comforting soup!
A classic Ayurvedic recipe for fall season! And soooo good!
Ingredients:
1
Hokkaido Pumpkin 🎃, chopped
2
Potatoes, chopped
2
Carrots, chopped
1
red onion, chopped
1
garlic clove, minced
1
tsp. ginger, minced
1
can of coconut cream
2
cups vegetable broth
1/2
tsp. Black pepper
1
tsp. Salt
1/2
tsp. Turmeric
1
tsp. Curry powder
1/2
tsp. Cumin
1/2
tsp. Coriander
1/2
tsp. Paprika
1/2
tsp. Chilli
For topping:
Fresh
coriander or roasted pumpkin seeds
Sprinkled with roasted pumpkin seeds is even better!
Preparation:
1. Start boiling the pumpkin pieces, potato pieces and carrots all together in slightly salted water. (Chop them all into even pieces and just use as much water that the veggies are covered.) When soft, set aside.
2. Chop onions, garlic, and ginger. Over medium heat, heat sesame oil in a large stock pot and add onions, garlic and ginger. Sautee for about 2 minutes, until onions become translucent. Add the spices and sautee for one more minute. Add pumpkin, vegetable stock and coconut cream, let simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool down.
3. With a slotted spoon, add the mixture and blend carefully. Transfer blended soup back to your pot. Stir well when all your soup is back in your pot and start heat the soup slowly.
4. Serve warm and sprinkle pumpkin seeds or coriander! A little bit of fresh pepper is also nice! Enjoy! 🙂
Pitta: Leave chilli and garlic away, use sweet paprika and Asafoetida to replace.
Kapha: Leave potatoes and coconut cream away, just use vegetable broth instead.
Eating and cooking healthy doesn´t have to be expensive or complicated! Subscribe to my Blog to receive my delicious, plant-based vegan recipes just in time!
Here are my Top 9 vital substances to stay healthy during the cold season!
Vital substances are the key to a strong immune defense, besides balanced nutrition and lifestyle. Here are 9 key vital substances for the upcoming colder months.
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is essential for our immune system, if you are
lacking in Vitamin C intake, the risk to catch a cold is high. But even when
you already caught something – Vitamin C can have a positive impact and will
help to reduce the duration and severity!
You can find Vitamin C in fresh fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits and black currants, Kiwi, Acerola, and Aronia are high in Vitamin C. Sweet bell pepper and cabbage as well.
2. Vitamin A
Vitamin A and carotenoids (which are built in our digestive system and
transform into Vitamin A) will keep your skin and mucous membrane healthy and
are so a natural defense system against germs. Vitamin A is also building cells
of your immune defense system.
You can find Vitamin A and carotenoids in colorful vegetables which are in season. Carrots, sweet bell pepper, broccoli and kale for example. Vitamin A needs also a bit of oil to unfold. Sesame oil and olive oil are perfect for the Winter season.
3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D or also cholecalciferol is one of the most important parts of our
immune defense system. Your body can build this incredible vitamin by itself
but needs sunshine for it!
You can find Vitamin D in Avocados, mushrooms like champignons, porcini, oyster mushrooms. Vegan butter is also enriched with Vitamin D. Spinach, kale and cauliflower have also Vitamin D amounts.
4. Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that works on many metabolism functions in our body. He
is helping the immune system cells to defend our system. Also when you already
caught a cold, a proper amount of zinc will help you to get back on track more
quickly!
You will find zinc in nuts, different kinds of wheat, brown rice. Buckwheat, corn, oats, and linseeds are zinc supplier!
5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E or tocopherol is THE defense system for our cells and is
destroying cell-destroying substances! It inhibits as well as inflammatory
processes.
You can find Vitamin E in plant-based oils and seeds and nuts!
6. Vitamin B
The Vitamin B group contains riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6) and niacin
(B3). B vitamins are essential for our mucosa and are building a barrier
against bacteria and virus infections. Vitamin B 6 also supports the formation
of immune cells in our bodies.
You can find Vitamin B in many legumes and leafy greens, vegetables. The more colorful your food, the better for your immune system!
7. Iron
Iron deficiency leads to a decrease in immune cells! Also, our gut bacteria
need iron to survive and stay balanced!
You can find Iron in fennel, green vegetables, herbs, and legumes!
8. Selenium
Selenium is a trace element and helps to destroy harmful radicals. Cells with
a supportive function to our immune system deficiency are also low when we
havenßt enough Selenium in our diet!
You can find Selenium in brazil nut kernels, legumes, mushrooms, and grains.
9. Probiotics and Prebiotics
The main part of our immune defense system is sitting – in our intestines!
Our intestinal flora grows billions of microorganisms and needs prebiotics to
feed those! Probiotics are helpful to keep the intestinal flora balanced and
healthy.
What is your secret to stay healthy and balanced during the cold season? Let us know in the comment section below!
Tell us your secret to stay healthy and balanced! Is it Fresh air? Is it juice? Share in the comment section below and get a chance to be featured on Instagram!
Don´t miss out on the other delicious recipes, Wellness tips and inspirational articles and subscribe to my blog:
When I talk about soul food, I mean exactly food LIKE THAT!
Find here my favorite Autumn Porridge bowl that comes along with creamy chocolate oats and Ashwagandha! Spices like cinnamon and cardamom will keep you warm and cosy during your day, while toppings like almond butter and cashews will help you to ground and nourish yourself.
Ingredients:
★ 1 Cups of Gluten-free oats/Oats, soaked overnight
★ 1-2 Cups of plant milk of choice
★ 2 Tsp. raw cocoa
★ ½ Tsp. Ashwagandha
★ ½ Tsp. Cardamom
★ ½ Tsp. Cinnamon
★ ½ Banana, 1 small apple, frozen raspberries, chias, gojis, cocoa nibs, cashews, almond butter
Instructions:
★ Soak the oats again overnight and add your plant milk in the morning and start slowly to warm it up!
★ Slice your banana, apple and add them into a small pan. Heat them slowly and add raspberries at the end. You can add maple syrup to sweeten it more.
★ Add the spices to your warm oats and mix and stir well for another five minutes. Add maybe more plant milk if needed.
★ Put your oats in a bowl and top with the warm banana and apple slices and raspberries. Add almond butter, gojis, chias and cocoa nibs.
★ Eat and enjoy warm and melting again. Ashwagandha will give your extra energy and takes your stress away!
I hope you enjoy the fall Season as much as I do! And I hope you like this recipe for sure. Please tag us when you tried our recipe on Instagram or Facebook and leave some love in the comment section below!
If you want more amazing Ayurvedic recipes, please subscribe!
Ayurveda has a history of more than 5,000 years, originated in the Indus Valley region of India. First, it was passed orally from family to family and generation to generation. Later it was recorded in the ancient Vedic books. The knowledge was spread along the silk road and influenced Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM is originated in China. As the origin of history got lost, written records are available from 2,000 years ago. Acupuncture points history can be followed way back to Stone Age.
As you can see – there must be some similarities between Ayurveda and the ancient way of TCM. Both systems are holistic for sure and see the human as a whole. Let´s have a closer look!
1.) Connections to the tongue
Ayurveda and TCM both use tongue diagnosis. In TCM the tongue is a map to our organs. In Ayurveda, we also use cracks, color, coat of the tongue to have a closer look at the imbalances of our patients. TCM also recommends to brush the tongue and avoid certain drinks or food before having a tongue diagnosis.
2.) The theory of elements
Here is another common thing – TCM is separating the body in 5 elements. Ayurvedic theory is separating the body into 5 elements as well. In Ayurveda, we call it Vata (Ether & Air), Pitta (Fire & Water), Kapha (Earth & Water). In TCM it is Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
And both systems have a similar way to find those elements in the human body. Here is a TCM description:
Solid structures such as bones, flesh, skin, tissue, and hair represent earth form.
Water forms saliva, urine, semen, blood, and sweat.
Fire forms hunger, thirst, and sleep.
Air takes care of breathing like expansion, contraction, and suppression.
Space takes care of physical attraction and fear.
3.) Pulse Diagnose
Both Ayurveda and TCM use Pulse diagnose to find imbalances.
Ayurveda describes the Doshas in our Pulses, while TCM describes 29 different Pulses in the human body. The goal is the same: to have a closer look at the individual and its imbalances to find a unique treatment.
4.) The causes of illness
In TCM the evils are external in origin but can penetrate deeply into the body, as they do in Ayurveda.
The Six Evils are:
Wind
Cold
Damp
Heat
Summer Heat
Dryness
In Ayurveda Dryness and Wind and everything that is aggravating Vata is the root of 60% of all illnesses. 30% are related to Pitta Dosha and just 10% can be found related to Kapha Dosha.
5.) Tastes and properties
TCM describes different tastes in herbs and nutrition as well. Sweet, Spicy, Bitter, Sour, Salty, Astringent and Bland. In Ayurveda, we describe Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter and Astringent.
6.) Dietary and Nutritional guidelines
Just have a look at the common TCM guidelines for eating habits and what should be avoided:
General Eating Habits
Eat in a calm and relaxed atmosphere and do not rush your meal
Avoid intense interactions at mealtime, including television and reading
Chewing food thoroughly supports spleen qi
Don’t eat meals late at night
Avoid overconsumption and excessive fasting
Avoid:
Raw, cold food, and iced beverages
Excessive dairy
Oily, greasy, and fried foods
Refined sugar and limit overly sweet foods like fruit
Refined carbohydrates
Excessive alcohol intake
Excessive meat consumption
I am sure you can find here all the nutrition facts, you already read about Ayurvedic nutrition!
What do you think? What do you prefer? What do you practice? I would like to read some of your personal experiences in the comment section below!
If you don´t want to miss out on our next posts, subscribe here:
Let me tell you something about Korean food habits and Ayurvedic facts!
A travel blog about traveling Korea and exploring the similarities about TCM nutrition facts and Ayurvedic nutrition
I am back from my trip to Seoul and Jeju-Island and had a thriving September and time there! There was so much to explore – and one of my most favorite things is for sure – exploring food! Korean food got a delicious and unique taste, so very different from other Asian food combinations. But I also found some interesting things about Korean food and Ayurvedic nutrition facts – especially when it comes to the six tastes of Ayurveda.
Being vegan or vegetarian in Korea is possible, but sometimes challenging these days, as the Korean food is now mainly prepared with meat and fish compared to the traditional temple kitchen for example. It was even more, thriving to search and find those little vegan food spots, meeting other Korean vegans and make a difference as a vegan traveler.
Vegan in Seoul is easy!
Restaurants in Seoul often had one dish which is vegan, or vegetarian, so there it was kind of easy to find something. Some Kimbap restaurants which prepared fresh Kimbap rolls in front of your eyes, just made the rolls you would wish for. But what about the small and beautiful Island of Jeju-Do?
Vegan on Jeju-Do is adventurous
Jeju-Do is famous for sea animals, black pigs and even horse meat – when I was getting it right. So I guess many tourists are coming there for exactly those „specialties.“ But even on Jeju-do, there are small and thriving vegan food spots!
At first, it is simple at most temples to find temple food which is vegan and vegetarian. Here I can recommend to check their online pages, look for registration or opening times before you get there. Temple food with all it´s little traditional side dishes is about TCM components, which are perfectly fitting the six tastes of Ayurveda. After a meal like that, I was fulfilled, rejuvenated, not tired and sluggish, I had also no cravings at all.
The Loving Hut on Jeju-do
My favorite place on Jeju-Do was „The Loving Hut Jeju“ which is run by two amazing women. The chef is vegan for 23 years now and is saving stray dogs (and I also saw cats) from the Island. She said to me that she is doing it for the animals. Her food was like a homecoming. It was like coming home to your „Omma“ after a long and stressful week at work and so tasteful, delicious, that we went there twice in our short stay.
Kimchi Jigae
The menu there is changing with every season, which is form e even more Ayurvedically! Beautiful small, and comfortable place. I will come back for sure!
So if you are looking for a stay in Korea and you are vegan and vegetarian – prepare yourself with researches. If you haven´t any local and native speakers around, it could get challenging – but it is still possible!
Korean travel tips for you:
1. Be curious to try something new and try all the leaves to wrap your meals up and try all the side dishes! (So many Kimchi flavors! I loved it! )
2. Search the internet for vegan and vegetarian-friendly spots, you will find some but maybe you can´t sit down in every restaurant or place on your way. But the searching was always worth it!
3. Go and try temple food because those places were the most beautiful ones and the traditional Korean flavors are something you will mainly never taste in European restaurants or US places.
4. Not every dish is super spicy (I was warned that it is), also not every Kimchi was hot as hell – I was able to eat a balanced, on Ayurvedic tastes related, delicious diet there!
5. Most restaurants offer water for free and many are serving warm water or tea – this was amazing and also is an Ayurvedic principle for sure! As warm water is helping us to keep our digestive fire running and to digest properly.
6. I would also recommend trying as many dishes as possible. There is so much to explore in Korea!
So if you are planning to go there and feel a bit helpless, please feel free to mail me at any time. I can name some places for you and also have my brother there which can also help out with questions where to go and what to eat!
What do you think? Are you now in Wanderlust mode? Leave a comment in the section below and if you don´t want to miss the main principles of TCM nutrition and Ayurvedic nutrition next week, subscribe!
Peeps, I can´t believe it´s already September! We are
heading now straight into a new season and so this weekend I would like to
celebrate with you the September harvest month and transition into fall with
this delicious raw cake with plums and figs!
Yes. Raw cake. Raw cake is a passion of mine I can´t hide.
Once I tasted a raw cake I never had any cravings for normal cake again. But
raw cake got also some cooling qualities, because it must be served a bit cold
– so it is perfect for summer and the beginning of September! This cake is also
a win for Thanksgiving folks!
As we have so many plums now, I thought this is the perfect
way to start into the new month!
Also find my reccomendations today for a perfect September/Autumn diet! If you change your nutrition now a bit, you will have a smoothe transition into the cooler seasons! Promise. Find the post here:
Let´s get started to prepare that cake!
Fresh and creamy with a fruity touch! 😋
Ingredients:
For the bottom you will need:
1 cup of almonds, soaked in water overnight
1 cup of Medjool dates, soaked overnight
4 tbsp. raw cacao powder
1 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 pinch of cardamom
1 pinch of himalayan pink salt
1 pinch ground nutmeg
For the Cheesecake you will need:
2 cups of Cashews, soaked in water overnight
1 very ripe and frozen banana
6 very ripe plums, chopped
4 tbsp. melted coconut oil
5 soft Medjool dates, soaked in water overnight
1 pinch of cinnamon
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or fresh vanilla (1/2 teaspoon)
2 tbsp. fresh orange juice
½ cup of water fort he consistency, eventually more – but start with less!
For the topping you can use:
4 thinly sliced plums
1 hand full of chopped hazelnuts
1 big ripe fig, thinly sliced
I drizzled also a raw cacao chocolate spread on the cake
Preparation:
Soak all the necessary ingredients over night in
small bowls, covered and room temperature.
Drain the cashews and add them into your
highspeed blender. Add plums, the banana, maple syrup, water, orange juice ,
cinnamon and vanilla and dates and blend the mixture until it´s very smooth.
Eventually you will need more water. The consistency should be creamy and
sticky and not too liquid! Set aside.
Bring now the dates, almonds, vanilla, cacao,
turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg and salt into your blender or – food processor. Add
a little bit of water and pulse until you have a sticky mixture – it shouldn´t
become a paste, their should be little pieces of almonds be seen.
Press the crust now into a small springform and
make it even with a tablespoon. On top, our cheesecake filling! Also tab here
with a teaspoon evenly.
Place your cake in the freezer overnight. Before
you eat the cake, let it sit outside for 15 – 20 minutes and garnish with the
figs, plums and hazelnuts.
Enjoy!
I hope you will also like this one! If you try out any of
our recipes, feel free to make a picture and tag us in your social media! We
also are happy about comments and love in the section below and for sure
subscribing to our blog to don´t miss any delicious recipes!
Days are getting shorter, mornings and evenings getting colder…✨
As you might recognized, since the last week of July the mornings and evenings are cooler, and since the beginning of August the days got shorter, sometimes the sun is glowing already golden in the evening hours. Vata season starts exactly around that time of the year and so we are heading into a new season – autumn is close!
Our body starts to get cravings for warm and grounding food by itself and instead of your leafy summer greens, you might think about a bowl of mashed poatoes for lunch instead. Your body is telling you that it is time for a shift and need carbs to build layers of fat in your body.
This change of your metabolism can cause dry skin, especially when your Dosha is Vata! Daily oil massages before bed will keep your skin nourished. I suggest sesame oil or another warm, nourishing oil. The vitality of your skin will fade in autumn and so your sensitive face skin needs extra love and attention!
Get yourself an
oil cleanser, fermented foam cleanser and a nourishing toner before you apply
lotion onto your skin. It will let your skin look healthy, glowing and not so
pale.
How does it come that your skin get dry now so quickly?
Your body protects
itself from heat loss and is reducing the blood flow – especially in your legs,
arms and skin. But with massages, oil and extra love you can support your skin
and body to don´t feel freezy and dried out.
Lifestyle & Nutrition tips for late summer and early fall
Start to wear layers of clothes and warm socks. Keep your body warm at night and if you experience cold feet, wear socks to avoid insomnia. To keep your circulation up, start your morning with dry brushing and a warm shower. Use a nourishing lotion or dry oil. And for sure…the biggest part – change your diet into a fall friendly one!
Your stomach gains now more blood and you will feel a natural cravings for
ingredients like garlic, potatos and with a smart nutrition change you can
prepare your body for flu season which starts around November.
Prefer now food and recipes with the following ingredients:
Sweet potatoes, potatoes, porridge and overnight oats
Beets, carrots and pumpkin
Mushrooms
Garlic, ginger and onions, turmeric and salt
Lemons, apples, pears, grapes, plums
Almonds, cashews
Avoid dry food and cold food like:
Walnuts, hazelnuts
Celery, parsley
Asparagus
Cracker, Chips, Popcorn
Granola, Muesli
And last but not least, support your body with herbs!
Chyvanprash can help your immune system to stay balanced
Ashwagandha is calming your mind
Amalaki to cool down your Pitta in late summer and feel more balanced
Licorice root – helps you to soothe dryness
I also love to start September with a week of Kitchari cleansing – I mostly eat a big bowl of Ayurvedic porridge for breakfast, Kitchari with warm sesame oil instead of Ghee for lunch and a small bowl of warm soup in the evening. I prefer here soups with vegetables like potatoes, squash and Miso soup! Kimchi Jigae is also something that works for me and my Vata clients as well!
Find here two of my recipes which are perfect for this season:
A warming and nourishing soup:
Start your day with this delicious and grounding porridge:
You can join my free and exclusive Facebook group end
of September if you want to detox, lose weight or just want to start a new
healthy way of eating and lifestyle! The group is limited to 10 peeps so that I
have enough time to take care of all your individual needs!
More infos coming soon,
when you read this, I am already traveling and this blog will be silence for two weeks! 🙂
August and September are harvest months! Plums are ripe,
apricots are super sweet, blackberries are on peak, new and fresh pears are
already available. We also have got all the summer berries available. It is as
you can see – the perfect time for fruit salads!
This chakra salad comes along with an Ayurvedic dressing
made of tahini and lemon juice.
Let´s enjoy the last hot days with this refreshing and
nourishing, rainbow colored salad!
Ingredients:
Strawberries – red/root chakra
Apricots – orange/sacral chakra
Peaches – yellow/sloar plexus chakra
Kiwi – green/heart chakra
Blueberries – blue/throat chakra
Blackberries – indigo/third eye chakra
Plums – violett/crown chakra
& hemp hearts for topping the salad
Ayurvedic Tahini Dressing:
2 tbsp. of tahini
1 tbsp. maple syrup
2 tbsp. orange juice
½ tsp. Cinnamon
pinch of ginger, cardamom, sea salt
½ cup of water (eventually more if needed)
Preparation:
Wash and chop your fruits. You can replace the
fruits according to the colors for sure! 😊
Place in a bowl and start to mix the dressing –
I used my little blender bottle for this one. Add all the ingredients fort he
tahini dressing in your blender, mix it and drizzle it over your salad.
Garnish with the hemp seeds.
Enjoy this beautiful salad with your familiy and
friends!
I hope you like this recipe! This is also
possible in a savory way with fresh veggies! Want to know how? Then please
subscribe to my blog and stay tuned for the next post!
I am sorry that I am not the food blogger which takes 500 pictures from my creations! I am simply too hungry when I am making food! ⠀
But I am the food blogger which shares with you this mouth watering “Late Summer Porridge” recipe – and this! Is going to serve your taste buds!
This Porridge recipe is perfect for breakfast in August and beginning of September, it is also Pitta – Vata friendly! Done with water and without the banana, using quinoa instead of oats it can also serve you Kapha peeps!
So here is this delicious bowl of mine! I hope you will love it! I was spooning it so slowly this morning because I loved how the tastes melted together on my tongue…
This bowl reminds me on late summer, August evenings – the evening light is glowing golden and the days are getting shorter
Ingredients: ⠀
1 cup of gluten free oats⠀
1 tbsp of tiger nuts porridge ⠀
1 – 2 cups of water⠀
1/2 cup of frozen berries ⠀
1/2 ripe banana ⠀
1 tsp of raw chocolate ⠀
1 tsp of chias ⠀
1 tbsp of coconut flakes ⠀
1 tbsp of agave syrup ⠀
Easy, peasy preparation in 10 minutes!
⠀
Preparation: ⠀
1. Bring water in a small pot to boil, reduce heat and add the oats. Stirring is recommended a whole lot! 🤗⠀
2. Start to heat the berries in another small pot together with the agave juice. ⠀
3. Add tiger nuts porridge to your oats, stir well and turn off the heat, remove from plate and set aside. ⠀
4. Chop banana into slices, chop raw chocolate into pieces. Add the porridge to a bowl and start topping: first the banana slices, then the warm berries on one side of your bowl, now the chocolate and everything else on top! ⠀
It’s one of the most delicious combinations I ever tried and I hope you will love it too! The choclate melts on your hot porridge and the wild, warm berries and chocolate are tasting together so vibrant and grounding!
I used here @lovechock_official chocolate because that’s my favorite raw chocolate around! #notsponsored
Try my recipe, make a picture and post it on your Social Media, tag our page @fromayurvedawithlove to get a repost or story feature! And let us know how much you liked it for sure!
When it comes to Ayurvedic treatments, many people are a bit lost in all those terms in a foreign language. Before their busy minds are even open to read a flyer so far, they decide to book a classic massage. I will try to break down some amazing Ayurvedic bodywork treatments the next weeks and also tell you about their benefits and why they are something you should experience at least once a lifetime!
Warm oil is poured on your third-eye-centre to release tension on a deep level
One of those „you have to do this once a lifetime“ treatments, and also highlights of my Ayurvedic Health Coach training, was this sacred and effective healing technique, called Shirodhara, which is best placed right after an Abhyanga massage (which is a full body massage).
Ayurvedic bodywork related to traditional Wellness treatments
Ayurvedic bodywork offers us a great and powerful tool to bring our body, mind, and soul back in balance. Traditional massages, like the well- known Swedish Wellness massages are working also onto a level of relaxation, but more on a physical level.
Ayurvedic treatments are different on that point – they have a massive impact on multiple layers of our body. They have already a long history of emotional – well being, soul connecting elements as well, as physical health benefits like moving lymphatic fluids, helping to release tension in the muscles, releasing toxins – but also helping to open the third eye center, the center of your intuition.
Deep relaxation and outer body experience
The first time I had a Shirodhara, I was spaced out completely! I forgot about the time, about location, about my thoughts. Yes – exactly – my Vata mind was able to shut down completely. I never experienced such a deep relaxation before this treatment in my whole life. Many customers of mine experience similar things and are surprised about the highly effective way to find balance. I literally felt like a monkey in space, but a very satisfied one!
Relaxation is sometimes hard for beginners…
In many relaxation techniques of Yoga and meditation, the first times are crucial to many beginners and people who are highly stressed. The overwhelming day to day lives of so many people with hours of screen time, busy scheduling and problems are giving them a hard time to shut down their minds. They feel often encouraged after trying Pranayama, meditation or Yoga Nidra – because of course – their mind is still noisy and wandering at the beginning.
People which are burnt out and can´t even make the connection to themselves, or even have a negative mindset like „I can´t relax twenty minutes of doing nothing“ are best treated first with a full body massage and a Shirodhara experience.
The direct effect of relaxation kicking in is going to open a new mindset for them towards Yoga and other relaxation techniques. Because sometimes you just need some successful moment to start something new and healthy. Like „Oh wait, I can also relax!“ That they can´t ever relax is something many people believe when they first show up at my practice.
Classic Shirodhara pot
Benefits of Shirodhara:
Shirodhara is also part of any Panchakarma detox program and got many benefits!
At a Shirodhara treatment, a steady flow of warm oil is poured onto your forehead between your eyebrows, which is known as the „Third Eye Centre.“ You might know this from some Wellness catalogs. This practice is not just a „fancy Wellness technique,“ it also can awaken your intuitive self and activate the third eye center.
More benefits are:
Treatments at imbalances like headaches and migraines, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
It can improve your sleep quality, balance your Vata in the best possible way, relaxes your whole nervous system and improve even your cognitive abilities.
This is not just something which can help many people with chronical struggles like migraine, this is also an amazing first step into a more conscious lifestyle. Yoga teachers, health coaches, and meditation teachers can help their clients with Ayurvedic bodywork.
For example – You have a nice client who is highly successful in his or her job but comes to you to find peace and relaxation. But this person is so stressed out and out of balance, that he or she is already telling you after the second session, how hard it is to change their lifestyle, even when they know it would be better for them.
A tip for visiting an Ayurvedic health coach, doctor or center and getting treatment could motivate them to stay your client and want to work with you! Sometimes people just need a little step in the right direction to start a more healthy and conscious life.
And I think as health coaches, Yoga teachers, and mindful people, we want that as many people as possible make the experience to live their best life and find relaxation and happiness. Even better when the little step is such a sacred and wonderful life-changing treatment like Shirodhara!
Let´s dive next week deeper into Abhyanga massages! I booked my next Abhyanga and Shirodhara for the first week in September and will share this experience for sure with you! Hope you enjoyed this little insight and also inspiration if you work with clients!
Have the most beautiful week, from my heart to yours,
Today´s interview is as I promised –
about Project KRISH – which helps to offer education, meals and a safe space in
India for underprivileged girls. With love, Pitta drive and compassion a group
of Devotees created a beautiful village and started to work their Dharma.
I talked to Balarama Das from Project KRISH and it was one of the most inspiring interviews. Balarama Das and me are connected in another way as well, as we both come from the Hardcore Straight Edge Scene and so this collaboration comes truly from a deep connection and the bottom of our hearts! It is also a talk where you can see how connected all the fields of Yoga and Ayurveda are.
Find out for yourself and get inspired
and motivated this Monday!
From Ayurveda With Love means compassion and finding our Dharma in life, so can you tell us what you are compassionate about?
Since I got involved in the HC Punk scene in the early 90s, the compassionate spirit within my heart was gradually reawakened.
Moreover, when I was introduced to the Krishna Bhakti culture, which is the path of selfless love and causeless compassion, the spirit of compassion became considerably manifested.
I’m trying my best to be compassionate to myself, other people, especially the helpless, to animals, to mother earth and other living beings.
Tell us where do you come from, what you are doing and what your plans look like? Where do you teach/work/heal actually?
I am from the Philippines and I
grew up there. Right now, I’m trying to live here in Vrindavan, India. I came
here in 2016. I am working/serving in one NGO which provides free education to
the underprivileged girls in the village of Vrindavan.
My plan is to live here in Vrindavan and serve the Brajabasis as much as Srimati Radhika allows.
What do you know about Ayurveda? Do you practice it already?
Ayurveda is an ancient secret of living in harmony with each individuals‘ nature of existence. I’m trying to practice it.
What are your thoughts about Ayurveda?
Ayurveda
is the antidote to modern hyperconsumerist-materialistic-self-destructive
lifestyle.
The modern world is pulling out human beings away from their natural environment of quality life. By practicing an ayurvedic lifestyle it will gradually help each individual to uncover their real self and will unmask the artificial and unbalanced impositions.
It is a great science of understanding how the human body works within and without.
Do you know which Dosha you are?
I’m predominantly Pitta.
How does your perfect morning routine looks like?
Usually, I get up at Brahma Murta hour, about
one and a half hours before sunrise, sometimes, earlier than that. I do some
basic stretching and recline positions.
Then I drink 1-2 glasses of lemon water with black salt (no sugar). Then I will take a bath. I will do some mantra meditation for a few minutes and will start serving my Govardhan and salagram silas. After that, I will take early morning breakfast, usually fruits/nuts and some nice hot Indian rice porridge. This is my daily morning routine here in Vrindavan.
How do you integrate Ayurveda into your day to day life?
I guess I’m unaware that I’m living half of my life in the principle of Ayurveda. I became a vegetarian 20yrs ago and prefer to buy vegetables from local farmers or community markets. Avoiding all the artificial canned or manufactured stuff. Spending more time on meditation and serene environment. Walking, Yoga, cycling, and nature tripping.
Every time I buy stuff, I usually choose natural, fresh and genuine Ayurvedic products. When I get sick, I prepare to make my own medicine from herbs and make an Ayurvedic tea. Since I’m In Vrindavan now, it’s more natural to live it. But I still need to work on some aspects of it.
I would like to hear more about the n4s zine! Can you tell us what exactly our zine is about?
I started the n4s zine in 1996. It’s an account of our life (those who are involved in N4S) especially our adventures and travels. When I was involved in the anarchist movement, I usually featured anarchist punk bands and different pieces of information on autonomous movement and collective.
The n4s zine becomes an unofficial manifesto or guide to DIY lifestyle in the local HC punk scene in the Philippines.I stopped writing the zine when I started to take the path of Krishna Bhakti at the beginning of 2000.
But I realized, if some individuals were inspired by the contents of our zine, then it would be better to encourage them into something positive that will uplift their consciousness and life. So I revived the zine and took it in a new direction and started to feature bands that are Bhakti oriented and into a sober and positive lifestyle. Not just bands, but different individuals that will help inspire other people.
You are also involved in a project called „KRISH“ – what is this project all about?
Project Krish is about giving hope to the underprivileged girls of India. Currently, we are working on Vrindavan village. We established a school, the Braj Gopika Vidya Mandal in Nandgaon. This school provides free education, free meals, and free school supplies to poor girls. We also give them weekly skill development training.
Basically, it’s about women empowerment and educating the girl child. You may ask why girls? In India, especially in rural areas, women are still considered the low class. Most of their basic rights are being denied and violated, and they experience tremendous abuse, exploitation, and harassment. Child labor, child marriage, child prostitution, dowry system, violence, poverty; these are some of the problems the young girls of India are facing today.
Most parents prefer to have a boy instead of a girl child. Female infanticide is a very common practice here, they killed the baby girl after birth or even inside the womb. It’s not surprising to see a girl fetus in a trash bin or thrown into the drainage in India…. Our attempt to save the girl child and to make a change is very insignificant, but we need to start somewhere.
These horrible things are not just happening in India, but in other countries too. So we must do something about it.
Where can we reach out to you and support this project?
Support our campaign for Girl Child Education and Women Empowerment, please call us at +91 8979999497.
What are your goals the next months according to Project KRISH and your Zine?
I’m
planning to release the next issue of my zine next month and will try to
continue writing for the zine so I can regularly publish it.
About
Project Krish, we will continue our activities in school whatever we’d started.
And we are looking forward to more admissions and expansion. We wouldn’t be
able to pursue our goals without the help of our supporters. We only depend on
you. So please help us in any way you can. If you can sponsor a girl, please
donate. You can also send books and school supplies. If you will visit
Vrindavan, you can come to our school and spend some time with the girls, talk
to them, play with them, teach them and inspire them. There are so many ways we
can do, you can simply share our social media pages. That would be enough. We
need to reach more people. Thank you so much.
Is there any final quote you find inspiring and want to share with us?
“In a world full of hate, violence, destruction, and degradation; being kind and staying positive is an act of rebellion.” –n4s-
Radhe Radhe, Balaram Das! Thank you so much for finding time
for this interview and making the world to a better place.
If you liked this interview, go and also like their Facebook and Instagram page, share their content so spread the project as far as possible to reach many people which could help!
Also subscribe to “From Ayurveda With Love” if you want to make a connection with us and don´t miss interesting projects, healers and so much more! You can also write for our blog if you want to!
Today I want to share a project with a good cause! It is about women´s and children´s rights and is originated in India, the home country of Yoga and Ayurveda.
The team of
project KRISH believes in a social change, in education for every child and is
on the way to make the world a better place.
They get free education, meals and skill training
They
established a village in Nandgaon, named “Braj Gopika Vidhyamandal.” Here have
young, underprivileged girls the opportunity to get free education, meals and
also skill training to get more confident and get a chance to improve who they
are and what they want to be. In India it is still very common to send female
children to work or marry them early away. Also there is often no school around
which they could go to – especially in rural areas of the country.
Education should be accessible to every child
The team
believes that education should be accessible to every child because it can be
such a big help to uplift families and communities to get out of a circle of
poverty. It creates more chances for everyone when children are educated!
There is
also an elevating effect out of child labor, childhood marriage, prenatal
deaths, sexual harassment, abuse or exploitation – by proper education social
issues like that can be avoided.
Confidence, self-esteem and finding themselves
The possibility of skill training is helpful to develop women´s self-esteem and grow confidence. The girls have the possibility to train every Saturday with volunteers from an underprivileged background to find their talents and skills by making new experiences. They also build up a sense of pride within themselves and culture by trying martial arts, mehndi, cooking classes, drawing, handcrafting, singing, playing musical instruments and more. They also learn Yoga and the Orissa dance, drama playing.
I make a wish….
If I had a birthday wish for this year, I would wish that as many people as possible donate to this project and help all the girls who deserve education and a better life. I decided to provide regularly donation based Yoga classes to send there some money. I also want to grow my business so that I can provide more help to awesome projects like that!
This is Dharma-Doo in it´s purest form! If you want to know more, feel free to write me or the peeps on Project KRISH – we are more than happy to answer all of your questions.
Tune in tomorrow for an inspirational interview with Balarama Das from Project KRISH! 😊
Thank you so far for your attentention and have a
beautiful and inspiring start into your new week!
Practicing Yoga in our busy day to day lives can be challenging with Job, Kids a dog and our daily schedule. Ayurveda is recommending to start the day with Yoga and Meditation to feel more stable, awake and grounded.
I really enjoy it to start my day the “Ayurvedic way”, because it gives me lots of strength, energy and creativity but also more balance.
A gentle morning Yoga practice got many benefits
In the morning hours our brain is still in it´s “theta waves” status, which is similar to the status you arrive in deep meditation. We are deeply in contact with intuition and creativity – practicing to make a slow transition from sleeping to being awake can help you to improve your whole life.
This is also the reason why in India and Ayurveda the
morning hours are sacred and important for our spiritual progress. It is a
sacred space to make the connection to your highest self, to the Universe.
Here is a short sequence I love to practice in my morning hours – it can be done in 15 minutes, if you find some longer time on your mat, it is also possible to stretch it to 30 minutes. But it will help you to start your day in a calm and gentle way!
Bananasana
It is allowed to feel at ease
1 minute each side
Lay on your back. Walk your feet
to the right side of the mat, your hands to the right side, arms stretched over
head. Place left foot on the right and grab with your left hand your right
wrist. Stretch into the side and breathe deeply. Change side after a minute.
This posture helps to relax the area around your bile and will let you feel less anger throughout the day.
2. Crocodile Twist
Breathe deeply into your heart and try to connect with your intuition
1 minute each side
Place your feet now on the mat
and cactus your arms – let your legs sway gentle from side to side. Massage
your lower back, close your eyes. Let your legs now fall to the left side. Place your foot on the other leg and
try to ground your right shoulder as far as possible. Breathe deeply into the
area around your belly and enjoy the side stretch and twist. Change side after
a minute.
This posture helps you to relax the Psoas muscle. This helps to breathe more deeply and relax our nervous system.
3. Shoulder Bridge
Connect to your inner peace
hold for one minute
Open your heart for the new day. Plant
your feet on the ground, hip distance apart. Press through your feet and lift
your hips to the sky. Externally rotate your arms so your palms face the
ceiling, then interlink the fingers behind your back. Open your chest and press
into your forearms and hands.
This posture helps you to encourage strength and to walk throughout the day with an more open-heart.
4. Legs Up The Wall on a pillow or block
Feel happiness and balance
2 minutes
Bring now a pillow or block underneath
your sacrum and begin to stretch your legs towards the sky. Hips and legs are
in alignment. Cactus your arms again to open your chest and feel your shoulders
waking up from the night. Flex your feet and make circles to wake your whole
lymphatic system up. Breathe deeply into your belly and close your eyes.
The posture helps your spine to start regenerative into a new day and will leave you awake, energized and will give you a happy mood boost.
5. Reclining Bound Angle Pose
You already start to feel awake
2 minutes
Now bend your
knees. Bring your feet together with the outer edges of both feet on the floor.
Place your heels close to your groin.
Let your palms lie next to your hips, palms facing the earth.
Exhale, and ensure that your abdominal muscles contract as your tailbone
moves close to your pubic bone. Feel the elongation in your lower back and the
stability of your spine as your pelvis tilts.
With the next deep exhale, let your knees open up such that it creates a
good stretch in your groin and inner thighs. Feet are touching. Let shoulders
and head relax.
Bring your hands in prayer position to your forehead and let your thumbs
rest on your third eye centre.
This pose will bring you a deep relaxation and open up your third eye. The morning hours are perfect for this practice.
6. Gentle side stretches
Make space for yourself
1 minute each side
Come to a seated, cross-legged position. Bring your right hand on the floor close to your hip area. Draw your right shoulder now down, bend the right elbow a tiny bit. Focus on your shoulder here, breathe deeply in and move the left arm now in front of you and above your head. Stretch the left arm and upper body now while you lean towards the right. Change sides after one minute.
This posture will help you to get rid of stiffness in your shoulders and neck.
7. Crossed legged forward fold and side stretch
Everything is allowed to flow throughout you
3 minutes
Sit tall and straight. Breathe deeply in and out and start
slowly to walk your hands away from you. Find your back straight, shoulders
open, neck long and relaxed and focus on the stretch of your back. Stay here
for 10 – 15 deep breaths.
Start walking the hands now to the right (later left) and focus more on your shoulders and side. You should feel here a good stretch in your side body. Bring your hands close to one another and start tot wist gently. Your chest wants to open up to the sky. Relax your neck.
Walk your hand back in the middle and stretch the other
side.
This posture will help you to open up and get rid off tightness in your side body and shoulders.
8. Seated spinal twist variation
Listen to your breath and let it come and go like waves
1 minute each side
Sit tall again and let your spine grow long. Inhale and bring up both arms, palms facing one another. Exhale and twist with your upper body to the right. Bring your right hand on the bottom behind your back and the left hand onto your right knee. Your neck stays long and you can look towards the right if your neck allows it. If not, let your neck rest above your collarbone. Change sides.
9. Clear the air Pranayama and gratitude practice
Make space and let go – clear the surroundings around you
1 minute up to five minutes
Sit tall, bring your hands onto your knees. While inhaling you bring your arms up slowly and let the palms touch above your head, look slightly up to your hands and pause for a moment. While exhaling, you bring the hands in prayer position slowly to your heart. Inhale through the nose and exhale with a sigh through your mouth. Inhale new space, energy – prana. Exhale everything, you want to let go off. Take 10 of these deep breaths. When finished, bring your hands in prayer position to your heart. Close your eyes.
Let your heart open wide
What are you grateful for today? Can you invite gratitude
into your morning?
Here are some helpful gratitude affirmations:
Thank you for this new day.
Thank you for all the blessings this day will
bring.
I invite gratitude to my heart.
I am grateful for who I am and what I have.
I am thankful for simply being alive.
When you found your affirmation, stay a moment with it and repeat it in silence. Let it sink to the bottom of your heart. Bring your hands in prayer position to your third eye center.Bring your hands to your mouth. Bring your hands back to your heart and bow your forehead slightly down towards your fingertips.
Gratitude towards yourself. For showing up. For taking time.
For your practice.
This new day is full of new possibilities. Let it be your
best day yet.
It´s warm outside and all those fruits and salads are nourishing and fine but in the evening hours you are craving somehow, something grounding and warm?
Got you!
My Vata Dosha is actually aggrevated a bit as well, on hot days delicious salads and more raw foods than usual are making me feel really good. But a warm dish in the evening which is easy to digest (and even easier to prepare) gives me that grounded feeling I need! (And let me sleep way better)!
Why is it a summer Dal recipe?
I used yellow lentils (which are easier to digest) and ingredients that are growing now in my garden and are also in season. You will see that the balance of herbs and veggies in this recipe are fitting perfectly into summer and you will also feel – how good it is for the hot season!
Dosha specific informations about ingredients, will also follow after the instructions! This recipe is Tri-Doshic but when you struggle with balance, you will find some useful tips how to adjust the meal for your specific needs!
Here is my delicious easy peasy vegan summer Dal recipe:
I also added some carrots! Be creative! 🤗
Ingredients:
2 cups yellow lentils, soaked in water overnight
4 cups water
1 can of coconut milk
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 cup of fresh or frozen spinach
1 red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp himalayan salt
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 pinch black pepper
fresh cilantro and parsley
Gomasio (optional)
Instructions:
Wash the soaked lentils and prepare a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring it to boil and cook the lentils until close to soft.
In the meanwhile, chop the garlic, onions and zucchini and wash and prepare the fresh spinach leaves. Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil into a medium sized pan and start with the onions, add the garlic when the onions begin to glaze.
Add the other spices until you have a nice paste before you add the zucchini. Stir well on medium heat until everything is coated evenly. Drop some water in if needed – but stay low with the fat!
Add coconut milk to your lentils and stir in the spice – veggie mix from your pan. Let simmer for another 5 – 10 minutes.
Chop the cilantro and parsley.
Serve Dal with basmati rice, flatbread or quinoa! Top with cilantro and parsley and Gomasio.
Enjoy! 😊
Easy peasy Ayurvedic Dosha hacks:
Vata: If Vata is aggrevated a lot and you don´t feel heat at all, use sesame oil and add some cinamon into your spice mix or use Vata Churna (which I also do a lot)!
Pitta: You could eat the Dal with a fresh salad instead of rice and stay away from the spinach if you feel super hot – you could simply replace it with carrots.
Kapha: You can make this dish without coconut oil and glaze your veggies in a non stick pan by simply adding water after roasting it on medium heat and add water, in small amounts to it. You could also make it like a soup and stay away from the carbs like rice or bread!
So I hope you will like my vegan summer Dal! I will also have a
big potion of it this evening – by the way, adding less salt into your dishes
and adding more fresh herbs and spices can help you to lose weight if wanted or
needed. I like to top with Gomasio which is a mix of sesame seeds and high
quality salt for the extra taste!
Have a beautiful week ahead! If you liked this recipe, leave some
love in my comment section below! And tag us on Instagram with your creations!
We would love to repost that!
I remember a time when
I felt like I should giving up on Yoga teaching, Wellness and stick with my
office 9 – 5 Job.
I felt there were already enough teachers, massage therapists and Ayurvedic health coaches.
Right now you maybe
might be feeling the same and alone on your journey to make your money with
what you really want to do and love, your Dharma!
I have been there
too.
But there is enough
space for all the health coaches, wellness fairies, massage therapists, Yoga
teachers. We all can make it. And so I love to share here from time to time
powerful and inspiring people which already live their Dharma, their purpose!
There are so many different ways and possibilities!
I share those interviews with you so that you know: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
If you ever feeling alone on this journey to become your own boss and finally do what you love and what is truly fullfilling you, come back to this blog and get your daily dose of empowerment!
Today I want to introduce you to a wonderful scientific skilled lady and friend of mine – her name is Erin, she is known as Uniquewellnesscodes on Instagram! What she exactly does, you can read here below! Have a great start into your new week and let´s raise the vibes out there, wellness warriors of light! 😉
Erin, „From Ayurveda With Love“ means compassion and finding our Dharma in life, so can you tell us what you are compassionate about?
I am compassionate about the struggles people have with finding optimal health and living their best life.
Tell us where do you come from, what you are doing and what your plans look like for the rest of 2019?
I am from Pittsburgh, PA and have lived in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and San Francisco. I recently moved to Boulder, CO and expanding my online wellness business into some in-person work. I am looking to teach Yoga and practice Reiki part time as well.
Where do you teach/work/heal actually?
I work mainly online but can see people in person in the Boulder/Denver area as well.
What do you know about Ayurveda? Do you practice it also besides Yoga?
My Integrative Health Training provided education on Ayurveda, but it is not my strong suit. I know details about the Doshas. I practice tongue scraping, dry brushing, and try to reign in my Pitta-ness with cooling diet and exercise. I like to make kitchari in the winter for cleansing.
What are your thoughts on Ayurveda?
It is a great resource for health and healing and overlaps with other modalities I use.
Do you know your Dosha constitution?
Yes, I know that I am Pitta-Kapha!
How does your perfect morning routine looks like?
I like Reiki while still in bed, tongue scraping and brushing my teeth, go to the bathroom. Have lemon water and celery juice. Meditate and/or go for a walk and/or journal. Eat breakfast.
How do you integrate Ayurveda into your day to day life?
By tongue scraping and dry brushing.
Is there some Ayurvedic practice you would like to try but never had the chance?
I would love to try an Abhyanga massage!
Are you into Yoga or practicing it?
I love Yoga! I practice Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga and Buti Yoga. I am also certified to teach.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
With a thriving wellness practice and teaching other practitoners how to incorporate genetics/nutrigenomics into their practice. Hosting wellness retreats with Yoga and Reiki.
What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?
Being impatient and overly direct. (I’m an Aries and Pitta!!!!) I am so aware of these innate qualities and have really learned to trust the timing of life and soften my demeanor and words.
How did you found the path you are on right now? Was there a key moment?
Everything I have done has led me to this moment. I started as a genetic counselor in 2005 after getting a Bachelors in Biochemistry and a Masters degree in genetics. I worked with patients for 10+ years and 3 at a genetics lab creating content and leading the clinical oncology product line. Through my own health struggles, I learned and was in the functional medicine system and became very interested in holistic healing through food and lifestyle
How important is meditation to you?
I meditate daily. It helps to keep stress at bay, gives me a lot of clairty and gets my mind quiet. I do mostly guided meditations and quiet meditations in nature. I love binaural beats and sound baths at night.
What is your philosophy and spiritual path?
I believe that everyone is truly unique when it comes to what works best for them health wise and in life. Modalities I think everyone can benefit from are mediation, inner child and shadow work, and journaling. I also resonate with Astrology, Human Design, energy healing, and Psych-K.
What have you done into the last year to improve yourself?
I’ve done a lot of inner work and emotional work. I used to be a workaholic, perfectionist and total relationship avoidant. Through the help of a fanstastic life and human design coach and online reparenting course, I have cleared a lot of blocks and I am much more emotionally stable and not reactive.
Who has been your greatest influence?
There’s really not one person I can think of. I have been fortunate enough to have mentors and expanders in different areas of my life.
What is your greatest strength?
Taking very complex medical information and making it digestive, relatable and actionable.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
I rarely get stessed anymore. When I get stressed or overwhelmed, I recognize the feeling and use some of my skills to work through it. That could be breath work, going for a walk, asking for help, or just doing one thing at a time. Daily mediation and Yoga practice helps. Getting into water or nature is a huge stress reliever for me. I also support myself with lots of fruits and veggies, B- Vitamins, Magnesium and Ashwagandha/Holy Basil/Reishi when needed.
What are your favorite self-care practices and rituals?
Yoga, Kundalini, Mediation, New and Full moon rituals, Reiki, salt baths, saging, being in nature, enjoying good food with friends, and quality timewith myself and to rest when needed.
Are you into Wellness?
Yes! I believe wellness is so much more than diet and exercise. It has so much to do with your well being, mental health, relationships and what is going on inside the body at a biochemical level.
What are your thoughts about the Zero Waste movement and do you also try to reduce your waste?
Yes! Living in Boulder makes it easy to compost, recycle and really think about packaging and any plastic use!
I’ve also been trending towards a more minimalist lifestyle when it comes to clothes and material possessions.
Where do you find your ideas for your creative content? Is there also a “outer” life besides posting and blogging, like painting?
Luckily I have turned my hobbies into a career. My creativity comes in stillness, from writing. I also love to photograph colorful food and nature scenery. I have a love for personal fashion and asthetic as well.
Where can we find you on Social Media and in the World Wide Web?
Do you have got a favorite quote you would like to share with us?
“If everyone likes you, you are doing something wrong.”
This made me realize I am not for everyone, but the more authentic and aligned I am, the best people for me come into my life.
Give her a like and some love on Insta! ❤️
Thank you so much for your time Erin! I hope to host a retreat with you in future and to meet you in person!
If you don´t want to miss on the next interviews, and believe me, there will be many! You can subscribe hereand leave love in the comments! You want to be interviewed? Message me!
What can we do to make smoothies a bit more „Ayurvedic friendly?“
As you might know, Ayurveda is not the biggest fan of smoothies because we mostly drink them too cold, don’t use Dosha friendly ingredients, the right season is also a key and with a low Agni we do more harm than good.
I have got some tips that can make you feel better
and let you enjoy those delicious and vitamin packed, alkaline prana
foods:
Add ginger,
turmeric or cinnamon to boost your metabolism
Use less and
more seasonal ingredients
Drink them at
room temperature and in the warmer seasons – autumn and winter smoothies could
be prepared with a bit warm water
Don’t go crazy
with too many mixed fruits
The perfect time
for smoothies isn’t the breakfast, it’s the Pitta time around 10 a.m. and 2
p.m. – Agni works here actively!
Use Dosha friendly ingredients
Vata peeps should use mild, nourishing and heavy ingredients like cashews, banana and mango. Pitta peeps should use sweet and bitter ingredients which are also cooling, Kapha peeps are good with subtle, alkaline and dry ingredients!
Mix it: Soymilk and water, Acai powder, chlorella or spirulina, Kapha Churna
Pro tip for vegans: Amalaki powder is a great replacement for Amla spread, which is hardly available veganized. Mix it with mango, grapes or pomegranate to have all it´s rasayana benefits!
Smoothies can be awesome to
nourish children and elderly people as well – children sometimes don´t enjoy
eating veggies, elderly people have problems to chew fresh fruits and veggies.
And
now – let´s head to my promised recipes!
On my research for this article I have found those delicious
smoothie recipes and also tried them all! I am addicted to one already! 😉
Guess which one?
They contain digestion stimulating ingedients – fruits,
veggies, spices, herbs. And as described below – water or plant based milk at
room temperature. Start to switch your smoothie recipes a bit and minimize any
potential harm for your health. Stay balanced, fit and get the best out of your
smoothie!
„Purple Smoother“ Smoothie
For all the berry lovers out there!
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
½ cup of blueberries
½ cup of strawberries
1 teaspoon agave juice
One pinch of cardamom powder
1 cup almond milk
Instructions:
Blend all the ingredients until smooth.
Fill in a jar and top with fresh berries and
cocoa nibs!
Close your eyes. Feel gratitude. Taste a sip.
Make an „mmmhhhh“ sound.
Day goes on perfectly!
„Mango Tango“ Smoothie
Vibrant green and energizing ingredients!
Ingredients:
1 apple, chopped in pieces without the cores
½ cup fresh pineapple
½ cup fresh mango
1 cup fresh spinach
1 tsp of chlorella or spirulina
1 cup of coconut water
Instructions:
Blend all the ingredients until smooth and
vibrant green.
Pour in a jar.
Sit down, watch the birds outside of your
window, feel gratitude and take a sip to feel refreshed.
Now you can go on energized with whatever you
have done before your smoothie!
„Melonade“ Smoothie
Melonade! No more words needed!
Ingredients:
½ lime, juice
2 cups of watermelon
1 teaspoon of raw, brown sugar or coconut sugar
Instructions:
Blend all the ingredients until evenly mixed.
Fill the smoothie in a glass.
Take a sustainable straw, chill yourself in your
hammock into the sun, put on your sunglasses and have a great book close to
you.
Sip on that smoothie, make an „mmmhhh sound“ and
feel the summer from the head to your tippie toes.
Read a great book and chill!
I hope you will love these smoothie recipes and that they will bring you some delicious selfcare moments this summer! If you don´t want to miss the next upcoming recipes,you can subscribe here:
The day I decided to stop damaging my body through drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and change my lifestyle was a no-brainer.
For sure I had to choose a path where I can wake up in the morning and
feel rested, balanced and happy.
For sure I had to choose health, well-being and less stress caused by stupid decisions and drama.
I was on a very dark side and had all the effects an unhealthy lifestyle could bring – dizziness, sickness over and over again; sleep deprivation, hair loss and an unhealthy skin.
After starting a Yoga teacher training I began to see clear – and after a while, a path of sustainable health made the most sense for me. I was vegan already forever on that point of my life – but you can also live an unhealthy vegan life as you might know! During my YTT I have made the connection with plant based wholefoods and after a while I felt awesome on a SOS-free high carb vegan diet.
I started to practice Yoga regularly, later daily. I worked out a bit to strengthen my body. It had a huge effect on my mind, body and soul.
Why am I telling you that? Because I made a choice. And you can also
make choices. Every day of your life you can decide in which direction you want
to evolve. Choose the path for a life you desire and you feel awesome with.
You are here on earth for a special experience. Choose a positive
mindset. Choose a happy you. Break cycles which obviously don´t make you feel
great.
Step out there. And shine. If I can, you can do as well. Commit to your Dharma. I believe in you! 💫🙌🏼
Ayurveda saved my life
If you want to thrive and evolve with me, you can subscripe here:
An important topic of Ayurvedic lifestyle is food and
nutrition. When it comes to summer, we will feel an increase of Pitta Dosha and
can balance here with a specific diet.
In summer it is okay to eat more raw leafy greens to keep Pitta cool and this is also a wonderful side effect to balance Kapha. Light and cool vegetables balance Pitta and Kapha. As it is hot outside, we will not cool out that quickly and can even eat with our Vata dosha more refreshing dishes!
My Ayuredic summer diet is also Acid/Alkaline balancing – People with a Kapha-Pitta Dosha can also benefit from the recipes I am going to share with you today. I am inspired by plantbased, highcarb, lowfat recipes, which are perfect for summer and Kapha and Pitta friendly!
The recipes are plantbased, gluten-free and have zero oil,
less spices and you can find the Ayurvedic tastes for every recipe at the end of
the instructions!
I will please your taste buds today with:
A delicious and cooling coconut bowl recipe
A healthy and grounding potato salad recipe
A creamy low fat pasta recipe to feed your soul
I hope you will enjoy every single one of my recipes! I am actually eating them a lot! 🙂
Ayurvedic Meal Plan – High Carb Low Fat inspired
Breakfast
“When life gives you a coconut…make a bowl out of it!“ – Bowl
Refreshing, nourishing and pretty!
Please have this bowl not as the first thing in the morning. Start with a warm fennel tea a half hour before you eat it! Some say coconut joghurt is joghurt and can´t be eaten with fruits, others say it is also a fruit and can be eaten mixed with other fruits. I go very well with my sensitive digestion with coconut joghurt and fruits – try and see how your body is feeling about it! 😊 I think when we don´t eat a bowl like this every morning, we will be fine!
Ingredients:
1 cup of Coconut Joghurt, room temperature
1 ripe peach, cut in pieces
½ banana, cut in slices
1 ripe banana, mashed
1 tbsp blueberries
1 tbsp strawberries
1 tbsp gluten free muesli
1 tsp cashews
1 tsp chia seeds
Instructions:
Mash the banana in a bowl and mix with your
coconut joghurt
Cut the peach into peaces and mix under the
coconut – banana mix
Slice the banana and then just top everything on
your bowl – I always start with the banana slices, go on with the other fruits
and sprinkle muesli, cashews, chias at the end over everything!
Pro-Tip: Peaches are Vata pacifying but aggravate Kapha and Pitta. You could replace here with apricot (Kapha and Vata) and Strawberries instead of peaches (Pitta).
You can also skip the banana and cashews when your Kapha is aggravated a lot. 😊
Potatoes and Avocado are helpful for losing weight!
Ingredients:
„Potato Salad“
2 big potatoes, cooked, peeled and diced
1 small red onion, diced
2 stalks of green spring onion, diced
2 stalks of green cellery, diced
„Clean Mayocado“
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
1 tsp dijon mustard
¼ tsp himalayan salt
½ tsp maple syrup
1 tsp fresh or dried dill, minced
1 tsp lemon juice
1 pinch black pepper
½ cup water
Instructions:
Chop your potatoes into cubes and place in a
medium sized bowl. Chop the onion, the cellery and the green spring onions and
mix with your potatoes. Set aside.
Peep the Avocado and pull it into another bowl.
Mash with a fork until creamy. Mix with mustard, lemon juice, salt, maple syrup,
dill and add black pepper and a bit water into your mixture. It should be a
creamy consictence which can coat your potatoes evenly.
Mix everything together and top with green
spring onions if wanted.
I served black bean patties to it which is also awesome when
you have a bbq with your friends! I also love to just have leafy greens
underneath the potato salad – so we can feed our taste buds with bitter and
astringent!
Pro-Tip: Use warm potatoes and serve also the salad with lukewarm potatoes.
What is Ayurvedic about this recipe? We have here all six tastes according to Ayurveda included:
Sweet – maple syrup, avocado, onion
Sour – lemon
Salty – salt
Bitter – celery, dill
Pungent – celery, onion, dill, mustard
Astringent – potatoes
Dinner
„Soulfeeding Pasta“
Creaminess will let you melt away!
Ingredients:
Gluten-free Pasta of choice
1 cup of spinach, diced
1 red onion, diced
2 cups of cauliflower
2 garlic cloves
½ cup of soaked cashwes
1 tbsp of hemp seeds
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
½ tsp salt
1 pinch black pepper
A bit water
Instructions:
Cook your cauliflower in a bowl or steam it,
until soft. Chop in the meanwhile your spinach and onion, heat a bit water in a
small pan and start to sautee the veggies. Set aside.
Start boiling water for your noodles and mix all
your sauce ingredients in a blender: the cauliflower, the garlic cloves, hemp
seeds, cashews, yeast, lemon, salt and pepper.
Mix until creamy. Place your noodles in a bowl
and top with sauteed veggies, pour sauce over and mix well.
Enjoy and don´t eat after 6 p.m.! 😉
What is Ayurvedic about this recipe? We have here all six tastes according to Ayurveda included:
Sweet – hemp seeds, cashews
Sour – spinach, yeast, lemon
Salty – spinach, salt
Bitter – spinach
Pungent – onion, garlic
Astringent – spinach
Takeaways:
Plantbased wholefoods are perfect to nourish our body, in summer we can help to stay cool with specific foods
Ayurveda recommends to eat 6 tastes with every meal – this is not even that hard as you can see!
During the Pitta season it is okay to eat raw fruits and cooling foods – important here is to find a balance to not aggrevate one specific Dosha a lot
Pitta and Kapha go well without any oil in their dishes – let yourself inspire by delicious SOS-free recipes
Start your morning always with warm water, eat never too cold and make the experience that this alone can help your mind-body-soul wellbeing a lot!
If you liked my recipes, let me know in the comment section,
tag me in your pictures on Facebook and Insta!
Let´s start into a new week, get nourished and energized!
Wishing you all the best!
Just imagine: you wake up early, the sun rises, everything is calm and quiet. The birds sing outside. You feel rested, relaxed and calm. You just sit one moment longer in your bed and breathe deeply in and out, thinking About your dreams and how you feel…no stress. No rush. You are present, you are in the here and now. You head over to your bathroom for a morning routine with cleansing your teeth and tongue, a shower and a self-massage.
You make yourself some cup of hot water with ginger or a
fennel tea and sit down on your meditation pillow for a few rounds of Pranayama
and a short meditation to reflect on your day ahead. Maybe you wake your body
up with some gentle sun salutations and stretches.
Can you feel the bliss?
To keep this blissed-out feeling all day, I am going to
share with you today some easy ways to start your day in a new and fresh way. You
will increase your energy level, helping your body with preventive movements,
cultivate balance and peace. You will even boost your metabolism and enhance
your digestion.
Sounds good? Let´s make it real!
Beginning your day conscious and mindfully will give you the possibility to create your ideal day.
Why morning routines are important according to Ayurveda
Imagine now one of those days: Hitting the snooze button too
many times, rushing out oft he bed for a quick shower and running out oft he house.
The traffic drives you crazy, you arrive the office too late and everything is
just super annoying to you right away.
Your colleagues are asking stupid questions, your boss is so
mean to you – in the lunchtime you head over to calm yourself with fries, a
burger and a milkshake „because you deserve that.“ After your meal you feel
worse than before.
Sound familiar to you? Don´t worry, I have been here before.
A bad day caused by a rushed morning without even had the feeling that
everything will „suck.“ But things sometimes start to fall in place and
everything works against you.
Keep up the reality modus for working people!
I know that all of this sounds super nice but you don´t know how to integrate it in your short and busy day routine. The first situation I described up there was my routine for days off and the weekend. Because yes, I feel you – I had an office job with frequent office hours and know that we need to keep things realistic here.
But there is a way to start a balanced morning routine even without waking up at 4 a.m. in the morning. Because that was what I thought about Ayurvedic routines first – “how does anyone who is working in a normal job, have time for this?!” It was Kind of overwhelming.
Let me teach you how we can bring more peace and bliss into your day 😊
Wake up 30 minutes earlier than normally – I will promise
you, even when this sounds harsh at first because you maybe have to wake up at
5:30 and now you need to wake up at 5:00 a.m. – you will make space and more
time for your during the day. You will be more focused, relaxed and productive.
First step is for sure to sleep earlier. Did you really need
to watch that Netflix episode in the middle of the night and feel worn-out the
other day? 30 minutes earlier to bed, waking up 30 minutes earlier. Sounds like
we all can do this, right?
Set up a morning routine
My morning routine for busy work days:
Wake up 30 minutes earlier – ideally according to Ayurveda around 6 a.m.
Rise from your bed and stretch gently your body, stretch your spine looooong ~ 1-2 minutes
Make your way to the kitchen and warm up water for a tea or ginger water ~ 3 minutes
Go tot he bathroom and wash your face with luke warm water, splash it six times into your face ~ 1 minute
Sit down on your mat for a second and meditate and reflect up to 5 minutes ~ 5 minutes
Two rounds of sun salutations and gentle stretches will wake your body up ~ 10 minutes
Take a shower and get ready for your day ~ it´s up to you! 😊
Before you head out, have a warming breakfast which you prepared the night before so that you just need to warm it up ~ 10 minutes
So with those extra 30 minutes we have here roundabout 40 minutes, including breakfast – it depends if you are a breakfast person or not, but if not, you should start to cultivate it. 40 more minutes that will make your day amazing!
Besides meditating you can also write a gratitude list or a journal and set up a positive mindset for your day, or start with Pranayama !If I feel more like Pranayama on some days, I don´t meditate and raise my vibes with „Breathe of fire“ and „Alternate nostril breathe.“
When you are a mom, try to time it before your kids wake up, or you wake them up. This will not work 100% everyday, but you will also profit from a routine like that a lot!
On the weekend, I take some more time for my meditation and Yoga practice.
Tomorrow is Monday and a blank new page starts. Won´t you try and let us know how your day have been after setting up an Ayurvedic morning routine? Post in the comments below and let´s share a good day! Let´s have our best new week, new month and thank you so much for your attention!
Climate change brought us last year some challenging summer in Europe and it seems that is will continue this year. As we have Sahara winds this week and upcoming days, I would like to call out to you that you pleeeeease stay safe and hydrated.
Watch out for elderly people and animals as well. Offer help when you see someone is suffering during the heat – homeless people have often no chance to hide before the sun as good as we can.
Stay compassionate, stay conscious. Here is my SOS guide to make the hot days safe!
Dr. Vasant Lad is writing in his book ‘The Complete
Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies’ that “Summer is hot, bright and sharp,
the season of pitta. Thus, it is recommended to keep cool and not
allow pitta dosha to become aggravated.”
Here are the most effective ways to stay cool during the heat period and this summer
Gentle Yoga or Tai Chi in the early morning hours
Do not excersice like crazy
When you want to practice Yoga or sports, do
it in the early morning hours and do it more gentle than you usually would.
Don´t stress your body more than the heat already does. A gentle flow, and followed
by gentle stretches, a short and calm jogging session would be the best way to
move your body in a safe way.
Practice Pranayama to cool you down!
Pranayama got some amazing possibilities to
cool down the body temperature. Imagine that in some parts of India it is
naturally super hot – for sure Yogis had some ideas how to stay cool and
relaxed for meditation!
Beat the heat with Sitali:
Sit in a comfortable seated position with the head, neck, and spine in alignment.
Close your eyes, breathe even and deep for several minutes, then open the mouth and form the lips into an “O.”
Curl your tongue lengthwise and stick it out of the mouth about ¾ lenght.
Inhale deeply across the tongue and into the mouth as if drinking through a paper straw.
Focus your attention on the cooling sensation of the breath as the abdomen and lower ribs expand during your inhales and exhales.
Withdraw the tongue and close the mouth, exhaling even through the nostrils.
If you can´t curl your tongue, try Sitkari:
Sit in a comfortably seated position with your eyes closed.
Press your lower and upper teeth gently together and separate your lips as much as you comfortably can, so your teeth are exposed to the air, feel like the cheshire cat!
Inhale slowly through your teeth gaps and focus on the hissing sound of your breath.
Close the mouth and slowly exhale through the nose.
Repeat this up to 20 times.
Close your mouth and breath evenly in and out.
Calm your Pitta horses!
Eat Food that is Pitta pacifying
Forget your Dosha for one moment and focus on
a heat reducing diet. Summer is Pitta season and so it is awesome to follow a
Pitta friendly diet anyways!
Water-rich fruits like Coconut, pineapple, watermelon, peaches, berries will taste even better these days. Watery veggies like cucumber, asparagus and broccoli will be perfect alongside leafy greens. Salads are cooling, especially for dinner time.
Avoid food that is causing heat into your body
– tomatoes, chilies, but also citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, beetroots and
carrots have warming qualities.
Avoid excessive consumption of meat. Do not skip meals – this will aggravate your Pitta Dosha. Do not overeat.
Coconut oil is perfect to calm Pitta and also got cooling qualities
Apply oils with cooling qualities
Coconut oil is – like you might know – a
perfect match in summer, but also Sandalwood, Jasmine got the ability to cool
you down. Apply in the evening and leave the oil over night onto your skin,
coconut oil is also great into your hair to keep it nourished from the dry
weather and sunlight. And – it will help to keep your head cool!
Shower in the morning. And feel fresh!
Cucumber water with mint will Keep your head cool
Drink at room temperature
Avoid drinking ice cooled drinks, also stimulating drinks like coffee, alcohol, and sugary soda.
Opt for homemade lemonade or cooled-down herbal teas like peppermint.
Water at room temperature with some cucumber
slices will be perfect during the day to keep yourself hydrated and cool your
system.
Stay away from the sun and try to relax in the shades. During the hottest time oft he day, try to avoid being outside. Wear light and loose natural fabrics that allow your skin to breathe, a hat and sunglasses will give you extra shade when you need to be outside anyway. Use a organic sun lotion to stay safe and don´t get sun burned!
I will keep myself cool with green smoothies! 😎
And: keep it simple: If something feels too hot, stay away. If it feels cool, try it out for the summer season! Especially me as a Vata person love to drink smoothies all day now! 🙂
A healthy, glowing skin is something many of us want to achieve, but imbalances and modern lifestyle causing often the opposite of it. When you already tried everything that is available, go on to read this article and find some helpful secrets here – and maybe the skin you were always wishing for!
Having a healthy skin is not a fairytale, it is also not hard work and it does not have to be expensive. But there are some changes you have to make when you want a change and have bad skin conditions. You have to do the work.
Nature is key!
How your lifestyle is connected to your skin condition
According to Ayurvedic skin Routine, it is not enough to just apply something onto your skin. The core philosophy is here: A healthy inside is a healthy outside. Skincare is a tool to balance our Dosha – makes sense, as the skin is our largest organ!
What causes bad skin conditions?
Lifestyle, natural tendencies and diet. I also would add a
special hygiene routine for sensitive skin!
Instead of labeling our skin now to oily, dry, and T-Zone problems, let´s analyze the skin the Ayurvedic way. Maybe you will find your Dosha and yourself in the following description:
Vata skin is mostly thin, dry, sensitive, fine-pored to large pored when skin tendencies went to overdry, delicate and got wrinkle prone skin.
Pitta skin experiences the most rashes, breakouts and got a tendency to rosacea when it is out of balance, here is also the tendency for sensitive skin.
Kapha skin is often oily, got a tendency from prone to enlarged pores, blackheads and pimples, and is commonly suffering from eczema when out of balance.
As you know we have all Doshas inside of us – in a different
amount. You don´t need to fit here in ONE skin type, many of us have a mixed
Dosha and so our imbalances can show up in different ways. But it is good to
take a closer look on the tendencies to help our skin the best possible way.
Your Dosha and skin can change also with the specific seasons. Ayurvedic skincare goes with seasons, constitution – lifestyle, habits, diet – and elements. The best thing about it – you can use your kitchen to prepare and help your skin and make it glow!
A good skincare is something you should be able to eat as
well.
Let´s concentrate mostly on our face today and besides a
self massage with oil before bedtime, which is awesome to balance your Doshas,
the skin of our face is a sensitive area that needs a different treatment.
Here are some spices, herbs that are key in Ayurvedic skincare philosophy:
Turmeric – is not also just awesome in your
food, because of it´s antiseptic,
anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It can be also be used in
treatments for Acne breakouts as a mask.
Ginger is another one which is packed
with anti-inflammatory properties that can be helpful to reduce acne breakouts.
Prepare a mask by mixing dry ginger powder and holy earth with a small amount
of water to a paste. Apply this onto your face and wash off with lukewarm
water.
A moisturising, anti-inflammatory
ingredient that’s great for reducing sensitivity is Oatmeal. Right. You got me.
That oatmeal out of your kittchen. Blend a half cup of Oatmeal and mix it with
almond joghurt and one tablespoon of rose water. Apply onto your skin and feel
the release…
Neem and Vetiver – as a mask with holy earth, two times a week
can help to reduce acne breakouts overnight. Neem can be very overdrying, so
keep your skin nourished after that.
Spicy tea with ginger and lemon –
will help your digestion to work and will also help your skin quality.
Cultivate a daily skin routine for your face
7 steps to glowing skin
A skin routine should also be
integrated into your day, the 7 steps of Korean face routine is perfect here to
keep your skin clean, glowing and nourished. There are many Ayurvedic brands
which have what you need when you are not into a DIY lifestyle. I know, life
get´s busy nowadays.
Wash your face with an oil cleanser
and a gentle skin soap such as neem soap in the morning and evening.
Apply next some toner to nourish
and hydrate your skin.
Apply and tap a liquid or essence onto your
skin.
A dry face oil or moisturizer to finish the
layering, just in the morning. Leave your skin overnight some space to breathe!
Instead of Make Up, try to use BB creams and
lotions – Dr. Hauschka got a very gentle one, also Dado Sense. Those brands use
natural ingredients only.
Face masks twice a week for cleansing if
necessary and apricot oil treatment twice a week to nourish your skin. Leave
the oil overnight.
Gentle scrubs once a week. Two tablespoons of oat
flour, one tablespoon of aloe vera jelly, one tablespoon of aloe vera water
mixed with almond joghurt. Apply on your skin and massage gently. Leave it on
your face for ten minutes and wash off with lukewarm water and massaging
movements.
My favorite brands for skincare routine are Whamisa, Dr. Hauschka
and Maharishi Ayurveda. None of those brands are sponsoring me – but with a sensitive
acne skin, I had the best experiences with their products!
There would be so much more to say, but let´s stop here! 😉 So much
information again! If you have got any other kind of recipes, tips and ideas for
an holistic-ayurvedic skin routine, let us know in the comments!
I will also publish SOON an “Acne SOS guide” which will contain recipes, a diet plan (Kapha diet is the key!), recipes for skincare treatments and more informations on the specific doshas and skin conditions.
Have a beautiful Sunday and a great start into the new week and
feel loved! Namaste!
There is always a bit of a sceptical opinion when it comes
to Ayurveda and vegan nutrition. But there is no point why Ayurveda and
veganism shouldn´t be working together.
Ayurvedic nutrition is complex and a health care system.
Ayurvedic nutrition is also very individual and holistic. The advice of
Ayurvedic nutrition is mostly to skip fish, meat and eggs – because they are
heavy to digest anyways. Cheese and sausages are also nothing any Ayurvedic
nutrition plan would suggest.
But wait, what´s with all the animal based ingredients in ayurvedic recipes?
But milk, batter, honey and joghurt are part of many recipes
and health care tipps. The traditional diet is here more vegetarian, but
obvisously not vegan.
The vegan philosophy and ethics are perfectly fitting
together with Ayurvedic nutrition. From a spiritual perspective, we have the
topic of Ahimsa – which can be translated as a form of non-violence. The old
vedic texts are saying that the killing of animals is giving the soul a dark
shade and eating meat, fish and eggs is increasing negative emotions, thoughts,
lazyness and attachment.
You might know this philosophy from your Yogateacher training
or any Yoga book, which talks about the spiritual texts and basic philosophy.
Traditionally, Ayurveda got more a scientific point of view on diet and separates food in 12 different parts – even meat, fish, eggs and milk got kind of medical effects when we use them. But when it comes to illnesses and stress, there is always the suggestion to don´t eat any of those ingredients. Or to be clear – there is – depending on the kind of illness – the decision, if your diet is going to be vegetarian, mixed or vegan to heal. And – what I learned from Ayurveda over the years is for sure – there is no right or wrong, no black and white.
Many vegans are vegan for the animals. Ethical reasons are the main key here.
For vegan nutrition it would be important to eat enough
plant-based healthy fats and proteins. Good oils, nuts and seeds, grains and
legumes in any form should be on your daily plate. As you might know, Ayurveda
uses specific herbs which will help to digest the legumes in an easy way and
don´t leave you bloated. Cumin, Asafoetida and Himalayan Salt is a mix that
works fine with lentils, beans and soy protein.
Vegan fast food is also just fast food according to Ayurveda. You want to eat fresh, healthy food to keep your spirit up high!
The best way to eat ayurvedic and vegan, is to eat on a
regular basis lentil curries, rich soups with peas, fresh veggies and grains
and add to your daily nutrition plan seasonal fruits, herbs, seeds and nuts. You
should support your Agni, your digestive fire with foods which are easy for
your body to assimilate, break down and absorb. That means you also have to
look at your specific constitution! 😊
Tips for your Ayurvedic constitution and a vegan diet:
Vata
Vata peeps are often bloated from raw veggies and too many
legumes. It will lead you to dry and rough skin, feeling exhausted and being
bloated a lot. A good combination of healthy fats can help you to feel balanced
– eat many nuts, sesame oil, try my coconut porridge and warming spices like
cinnamon, pepper and ginger. Vata Dosha peeps are mostly into a healthy holistic
diet anyways, because it speaks to their qualities so much – which are sublte,
dry and cold. Eating raw salads, drinking smoothies is increasing our ether
energies, so we feel inspired, high vibing and spiritual.
Pitta
Pitta peeps have a grounded metabolism and can eat many
grains, legumes and even cold and raw food and digest it well – especially according
tot he other Doshas. A vegan diet can be very easy for this dosha when it is
mainly based high carb and low fat, without many spicy dishes. Sour, spicy and
meat are increasing the acidity of your digestion so much that it leads to
irritated skin, infections of the nerves and even heartburn. Coconut can cool
you down, also chickpeas, mungbeans and leafy greens will make you feel super balanced.
Kapha
Kapha peeps can also benefit from a vegan diet because they
can easily reduce their fat intake. Animal based proteins are also causing the
feeling of heavyness and increasing the mucus production – which is not
supportive for this Dosha anyways. Veggies, spices and fruits who spice up your
life and energy level are perfect! Ginger, pepper and eggplants or pineapples
will help you to digest plant based proteins. Spices which are keeping your
metabolism going like pepper and ginge rare perfect for you! Kapha Dosha can
benefit a lot from a vegan diet, but also should avoid to eat raw foods too
much.
As you can see, a vegan and ayurvedic diet are pretty
compatible! It is a very young movement and there are many options not
available yet but I am sure also ayurvedic-vegan products are increasing in the
future. Today I just found one company which seels Chyavanprash vegan and
without Ghee, so I decided to work on a nice recipe now for my own (and you for
sure!) 😉
To keep it short here for you:
Ayurveda and veganism got a lot in common, also based on the ancient philosophy about „doing no harm.“
Ayurveda and veganism can be a huge benefit for some Dosha related characteristics.
Ayurveda and veganism are working great on your health, when you watch out for a balanced diet with healthy veggies, grains and fruits, also healthy fats.
Ayurveda and veganism are a younger movement and there is much to explore right now according to recipes and treatments.
I hope you have the best Sunday! Stay compassionate and humble! Namaste!
It is strawberry
season and berries have wonderful qualities we all can benefit from now in our
nutrition! I am all addicted about those little, red berries…full of flavour
and freshness!
I want to share one of
my most favorite porridge summer recipes with you today. Find tipps for your dosha
down below!
„Strawberry Coconut“ Porridge
Dream Team: strawberries and coconut flakes!
Ingredients:
½ cup gluten-free oats
½ cup of shredded
coconut, unsweetened
2 Mejdool dates,
soaked over night
3-4 cups of plant
based milk
Pinch of Himalayan
salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
1 handful of fresh strawberries,
stems removed
1 tbsp natural maple
syrup or agave juice
Chia seeds or flax seeds
How to make Strawberry Coconut Porridge:
Heat the plant
milk and add the oats and salt. Stir until nicely cooked, on low heat for about
5 minutes. Chop the dates in small pieces. Add the spices, the shredded coconutand
the dates and continue stirring.
Chop some strawberries
in small cubes and add them for 2 minutes to your porridge, stir well and let
them get warm a bit. If you need more creamy consistency, add more plant milk
if needed.
Add the porridge to a serving bowl and top with fresh strawberries and the syrup. Sprinkle with flax seeds or chia seeds!
For the extra vacation feeling: Put your porridge into a coconut bowl and spoon it with a wooden spoon, lay down in a hammock and enjoy it there – to have all the tropical summer vibes you need!
Easy, holistic, vegan!
Vata: This recipe is for you during the summer months, but coconut and strawberries have cooling qualities – be mindful here!
Pitta: This is your breakfast recipe! You could also use coconut milk to get more oft he coconut-cooling qualities during the summer months!
Kapha: Leave the shredded coconut and dates away. Add more strawberry cubes into the porridge and use no or less sweetener. Double the oats.
Ayurvedic facts about strawberries:
They pacify all three doshas
Strawberries have a taste of sour, sweet and anstringent
They are high in fibre, Vitamin C and anti-oxidant – Antioxidants neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals
They are anti-inflammatory and make our skin glow
Do you like
my Porridge recipe? Let me know and share your experiences in the comment
below! I also love tags on Instagram!
Enjoy and
have a beautiful start into the new week!
I headed over to Madrid last Friday to have a nice Weekend trip and meet my friend Natty from NCY. I had a super busy week and so I decided already on Tuesday to pack my bag, everything planned, organized – nothing bad could happen. My mom dropped me off at the trainstation in Mainz after work and as I was sitting there, waiting for the train…I realized that I left my smartphone at her car.
Madrid May 2019
Whoops.
No time to rush somewhere and call her, or no possibility to
call her (without a phone it´s hard, right! :D) I am a paper loving person and
so I had my ticket stuff and hotel reservation printed out in my bag (lucky
me)…And the experience traveling in 2019 without my smartphone just begun.
What is a digital detox holiday…?
For sure, nothing I have planned lately. As an long year experienced Yogi and Ayurvedi, I was for sure sitting there and didn´t flipped out…resetting mindset and thought about what is going to be possible and what is not. The trip was still safe and there was just no need to get anxious, Laptop in my bag and besides of haven´t any camera with me, and can´t contact peeps so easily…it was just not a „I have to freak out situation“ for me.
At the trainstation, everyone was looking at their screens….I was looking at the sky and birds and was happy about the beautiful sunny weather…but also sad that I can´t listen to any music now.
In the train. Everyone playing with their Smartphones again. I was sadly listening to some conversations around me and starring out oft he window. I did not even had any book with me.
My mind was running around between „buying a cheap
smartphone at the airport and „buying at least a cheap camera for the trip.“ As
you can guess….I didn´t found any of those items at the Airport in Frankfurt.
“Okay. Let´s try in Madrid tomorrow morning.” As I said to myself.
Flight went well, pick-up-service in Madrid went well..I
booked an super fancy driver for accident and he said it was maybe the best
possible situation to forgot my smartphone and don´t be a zombie like the
others.
At the hotel everything went well. Getting the laptop out
and write my parents, fiancé and Natty that I am here, landed, safe, fine. At
least not super analog in a digital world.
The first hours I felt super nervous and it was creepy how
often the word smartphone crossed my mind. I would say, I am a conscious
person. I am not perfect, but I am on a good way. But I just realized that I am
slave to my little smartphone every day in some way.
Being so addicted to something small and let it structure our day, is for sure some kind of unhealthy issue. I was a bit concerned about my own mind and how it reacted to a situation like that. I was even convincing myself that it would be best to have a cheap smartphone to don´t get lost in Madrid. As if we couldn´t live without navigation system in our Hands anymore nowadays.
The benefits of a digital detox….
Exploring Madrid the next morning was awesome. I enjoyed all
the busy places, the architecture, went to places I just found by accident. Was
getting myself a map at the tourist information and had a nice afternoon in the
botanical garden. Without a phone. I felt more free. I felt more confident. I
felt more present.
Beautiful museums I found – by accident!
We need more breaks from our phone. We need to be more
present in the here and now. We should stop being so distracted all the time by
a little device. The time on the phone holds us back from so many great
experiences, views, feelings, conversations and creativity.
But for sure – it is also a great way to capture moments,
share with friends who aren´t there and stay in contact.
At the end, the daughter of my Hostal´s owner gave me her
old Smartphone to take pictures and use the navigation system. It was a healthy
way to use my phone, without great connection ist was more like a camera. I
explored so much on my own and just let my heart decide where to go.
I wrote like I didn´t wrote in a long time in my diary and
felt my passion for art at museums rising so high. Natty and me made it to a
meeting anyways, and all together it was such a productive weekend with many
impressions and inspiring moments.
I decided to switch off my phone more often now. Digital detox. That´s what we read a lot nowadays about, huh? Switch the phone off. Take some time and walk in nature. Or just sit there and read. Do you still know how it is just to be here, right now? Just be?
“Just be.”
My goal for the rest of this year is “just to be.”
Did you ever thought about a digital detox lately? Let us know in the comments and share your experiences with us!
Erotic is all about energy! How is the principle of erotic and sex working from an Ayurvedic perspective? We will find out today!
Vitality, energy and charisma are qualities we call in Ayurveda “Ojas.” Ojas is our vitality; it is the most etheric metabolism product our organism is able to produce. It is no material we can grab, but it is also not intelligence in it´s purest form. It is what makes us vital, alive. It is the connection between body, mind and soul and the purest form of life energy.
And now ask yourself what makes a human
attractive.
Isn´t it
the vitality, energy and charisma we find hot?
Ojas as a product of our metabolism is deeply
connected to our nutrition
But all
that “feeds” us is food. Nice food, a hug, a compliment, or beautiful music, a
sunrise we watch on a beach. Whatever we feed to our five senses – our metabolism
will process that.
Agni is the
principle that breaks down what we eat – the rice, the asparagus, the berries.
When our Agni is working well, it will turn the food into subtle qualities. Food
and what we feed our senses. In fact: when we eat the right food and our
metabolism can work as it´s best, we will have all the Ojas!
Creativity,
vitality, optimism and radiance are what people will see when they look at us
and find attractive about us.
How is this attraction been created?
Our food will break down in seven Dhatus which
are our bodily tissues:
Rasa
(Plasma)
Rakta
(Blood)
Mamsa
(Muscles)
Meda (Fat)
Ashti
(Bones)
Majja
(Nervous system)
Shukra
(Reproductive Tissue)
Shukra is
the most subtle form of tissues we have in our body which can create Ojas
itself. Let´s say you are high in Shukra – translated that means your libido is
high, as well.
When you
are a man, you will lose Shukra during the sexual act and ejaculation. The old
Ayurvedic texts recommended drinking milk after sex, so that you can build up
Shukra ASAP. Today the milk quality is poor so that we don´t recommend that. 😉
The
Ayurvedic medicine will teach us that it is important to be sensitive with our
Shukra, because it means vitality and influences our whole energy level. The
idea of Tantra is to practice sex so conscious, that you don´t lose your Shukra
during it.
Does that now mean you are not allowed to have lots
of sex or even – no sex?!
It means
that you should try to have a conscious way of sex and it depends also onto
your Dosha!
Vata
constitution is about a low libido, Pitta is about passionate libido, Kapha is
high in libido. Kapha Dosha stands for strength, robustness and endurance. When
it comes to the amount of sex, the ayurvedic texts recommend also noting age,
the seasons and the climate. When it is hot in summer we shouldn´t have as much
sex as in the winter season, where we build Shukra throughout vigorous food.
The principle of Brahmacharya, which many Yoga peeps should be familiar with, teaches us to avoid sex. But in Ayurveda it is one of 13 natural needs we have as humans. The avoiding of those needs or the excessive practice of them, are bringing our Doshas to imbalance. Which also means – it could lead to illness!
Finding your own “truth”
It should
be our goal to find a balanced life and that can also be very unique. Ayurveda describes
this philosophy with two words – Satmya (compatible) and Asatmya (intolerance).
Satmya means translated through the old texts “My Truth.” Not everything is
good for all people in the same amount!
We try to
find out what is the best for us and our organism is going to tell us what is
good and bad for us. All the disciplines like Yoga and Ayurveda are helping us
towards this step.
Increasing your sexual attraction and libido
Is it even
possible through Ayurveda to increase attraction and libido? Sure. The key is
to have a conscious relationship with your vitality. Breaking the topic down, from
an Ayurvedic perspective, that means:
Every kind of energy that you consume, like liquid, food, air, light, experiences can be transformed by Agni in Shukra (the magical life force) and Ojas (the bodily tissues) in the best possible way.
Take care of your Agni, eat for your Dosha constitution, eat nutritious, light and not too heavy food, don´t eat late in the day.
Everything that you feed your body with, should be “sattva” – the cleaner your food, your experiences, your music, your thoughts, the more Ojas your Agni can produce!
The more “tamas” you will consume, the more unhealthy stuff, less Ojas your Agni will rock!
Your attraction is your energetic radiance, the vitality and joy you send out there. When you are balanced, you can be truly yourself! And that´s also the secret to a fulfilled sexuality!
Ayurveda is the way about balancing our life in the best possible way, and as you can see it is not as complicated as some old texts may seem to in the first moment. Isn´t a more conscious way of sexuality a beautiful theory, to practice and integrate in our society? All is about performance and bringing the best results nowadays – what when we make a change here?
What are your thoughts on Ayurveda and Yoga and Sex? Let us know in the comments!
Read you hopefully next week and wishing you the best possible day! Namaste!
Yes, yes, yes! I have here a Korean approved vegan Kimchi recipe I want to share with you! What about Ayurveda and Kimchi? I will talk shortly about that!
Want to calm your Kimchi cravings? Let´s go!
Do you know about the benefits of Kimchi?
Fermentation is the key
Perfect
fermented food is not just delicious, but also healthy to the guts! Vitamins in
fermented food stay alive and all the microorganism which are the reason why
this tastes so damn good, are helping your digestive system to stay healthy and
active!
Now let´s make some Kimchi!
Classic
Kimchi is fermented Chinese cabbage with radish, spring onions, garlic, ginger
and lots of paprika and if you want it spicy – chili!
Chinese
cabbage is a bigger vitamin bomb than kale – I am not lying to you about that!
And after that fermentation, the word superfoods get a whole another meaning!
Easy preparation and just a few ingredients
With my 5
simple tricks, your Kimchi is going to be easy peasy made:
You can verify the recipe with the
veggies – I just give you here an idea for how it can taste like! Carrots make
it more refreshing, you can also add radishes, pak choi and you could also
ferment zucchini! You can use less garlic, or more. Find YOUR Kimchi!
The glasses you are going to use
should be always being clean and the best thing is to clean them up with hot
water before filling the Kimchi in.
Your Kimchi should always have
liquid on top, and the liquid will get up in the jar after two days. Just push
the Kimchi down in the jar with a clean spoon.
If you don´t like the fermented
taste so intense, 2 days of fermentation are okay. I like it 7 days outside and
set it in the fridge after that.
My “No-fish sauce” recipe to adding
the “fishy” taste is optional – you can do it without as well! (There is also a
“No-Fish Sauce” available from the organic brand “Arche.”)
You will need:
Preparation time 20 Minutes
Time for the whole process 30 Minutes
Ingredients for “No-Fish-Sauce”
1
Tablespoon Miso paste
8 dried
Shiitake mushrooms, soaked in water overnight
Wakame, dried
Nori, dried
Soy sauce
for “the taste”
Preparation:
Wash the mushrooms under rinsing
water and place them with the dried seaweed in a small pot. Add water to half
of the pot (4 cups of water at first). Start to heat the mixture and when the
water starts cooking, you add another ½ cup of water to it. So we will keep the
Umami flavor in our liquid!
Do it up to three times. Let then
simmer on low heat and add the Miso paste and soy sauce to it.
Place aside and let cool it down. I
like to prepare it in the evening before making Kimchi. Throughout it´s higher
salt content it is also okay to keep the sauce a few days in a jar in the
fridge!
Ingredients for your Kimchi
Just try which ingredients serve you the best!
1 small
Chinese cabbage
4 teaspoons
of sea salt
6 garlic
gloves
1 tablespoon
of ginger
2 tablespoons
of soy sauce
1 small
radish
1 small
carrot
3 spring
onions
1 teaspoon
of Gochujang paste
(Alternative:
6 teaspoons of paprika powder (sweet) and 3 teaspoons of chili powder mixed to
a paste with 2 garlic gloves and soy sauce)
6 teaspoons
of sweet paprika powder
2 teaspoons
of chili powder
1 teaspoon
of turmeric
1 cup of our “No-Fish-Sauce” or simply water
Preparation:
You will need a big bowl to drain
the cabbage in some water. Chop the cabbage in mouth-friendly pieces and add
the pieces to a bowl. The water should be a generous amount, so that your
cabbage swims a bit. Add the 4 teaspoons of salt to it and let sit for 2 – 4
hours!
In the meanwhile, chop the radish
and carrot into thin slices. The green spring onions into thin rings. Set
aside. Mince the garlic and ginger and put them separately in a small bowl.
Prepare now the marinade in a mixer.
Add garlic, ginger with the sweet paprika powder, the garlic, the soy sauce,
the Gochujang paste if you use some and the cup of “No-fish-sauce” and blend
it. The texture should be creamy. Set aside.
Rinse the cabbage under water and
let dry a moment. Put the cabbage back to the bowl. Add your chopped veggies
and mix all. Add now the marinade. Be careful! Use now disposable gloves to
massage the marinade into the cabbage-veggie mixture, until all is evenly
covered.
Prepare your glasses now with hot
water.
Fill the Kimchi in your jars, let
space to the top of the jar, the liquid will rise and that can be annoying if
the jars are too full. Press the Kimchi a bit, so that there aren´t any space
bubbles left.
Set the jars beside; cover it for
two days just half, so that a bit air can flow to your Kimchi. After two days,
close the jar. Let now sit for more days, when you like it intense. Set in the
fridge when you are already happy with the taste! 🙂
Try to eat Kimchi once a day! If you are high in Vata and have struggle with any kind of Kimchi, there is another great Zucchini Kimchi recipe I am going to share the next weeks. Let´s end this post and watch out for my Ayurvedic benefits of Kimchi and how to make Dosha specific Kimchi post! 🙂 It´s a science!
That is how I cut my Kimchi 🙂
Did you tried my recipe? Let us know and share a pic and your experiences in the comments! What are you eating with you Kimchi? Did you prepared it different? Let us know!
Don´t miss a post and subscribe here if you liked this:
Full of flavor, easy to prepare, filled with holistic and nourishing ingredients. My muffins are the perfect start into the summer season! Use fresh rhubarb, so that you can get it´s full amount of ingredients!
It is rhubarb season and we need to eat this delicious veggie which is pacifying to all three Doshas in the best possible way! As a muffin. A muffin that is so healthy that you can have it for breakfast!
Just a few ingredients and easy to prepare when you own a blender! So here we go:
You will need:
Rolled Oats
Baking
Powder
Buckwheat
flour
Flax and
Chia Seeds
A ripe
banana
Sweet dates
or figs
Plant based
milk
Almond
butter
Vanilla and
Cinnamon
Rhubarb
Coconut
sugar or Agave juice as a sweetener
As you can see, those ingredients are full of nutrients and plant based goodness! At the end of the recipe I explain a bit to the qualities of the ingredients and balanced it out, so that the recipe is Tri-Doshic, means – it is save for all three Doshas to eat! But now, let´s get in the kitchen!
Get the recipe here now:
Preparation
time 30 Minutes
Baking time 30 Minutes
Servings 12
Muffins
Ingredients:
½ cup of
rolled oats (gluten-free is optional)
2
tablespoons of buckwheat flour
½ cup of
plant based milk
1 banana
(very ripe)
7 dates or
figs, soaked in water overnight
2 small stalks of rhubarb
1 teaspoon of baking powder
2
tablespoons of almond butter
1
tablespoon of chia seeds
1
tablespoon of flax seeds
1 teaspoon
of cinnamon
1 teaspoon
vanilla
(Alternative:
there are some vanilla sugar mixes available – organic ones with raw sugar are
awesome to replace it).
2
tablespoons of your sweetener of choice
Preparation:
Cut the rhubarb into small cubes and
set aside.
Mix the rolled oats, the flaxseeds,
the chia seeds, baking powder, buckwheat flour, vanilla and cinnamon in a
blender and make flour out of it. Set in a bowl.
Preheat the oven at 200 degrees
Celsius.
Add the almond butter, the banana,
the sweetener, and the plant based milk.
Chop the dates in small pieces
(maybe the most exhausting process of the whole recipe) and add them to the
cake mix. Mix all with a hand mixer or a spoon. You want a batter type
consistence. Not too liquid, not too sticky. Mix now the rhubarb cubes under.
Pour the batter into an oiled muffin
pan (but also use papers) and place two tablespoons of batter into each form.
Bake for about 30 minutes at 180
degrees Celsius.
Enjoy when it cooled down a bit!
You can even have them for breakfast !
Ayurvedic facts:
Rolled oats and oats in general
pacify Vata and Pitta Dosha, their taste is sweet.
Buckwheat is pacifies Kapha because
of it´s dry ingredients, the taste in sweet and pungent, astringent.
Flax seeds are oily and gooey and
support our digestion. It pacifies Vata and Pitta.
Chia seeds are sweet and gooey and
so also very Vata and Pitta friendly! They are also full of nutrients!
Rhubarb is a tri-doshic veggie! It
pacifies all Doshas and is very detoxing!
Bananas pacify Vata and Pitta as
well, because there are so gooey and heavy, they are not perfect for Kapha
Dosha!
Dried Dates are pacifying Pitta
because of their heavy, dry and cold qualities, but the taste is sweet, which
is nice for Vata. Dried figs (but a bit less) are pacifying all three Doshas.
Almond butter gives the taste here.
It is heavy and oily and so perfect for Vata and Pitta!
If you liked this recipe, or even tried it out, make a picture and send it! And leave some love in the comments or on Instagram! 🙂 Namaste!
Interested in some more delicious and healthy recipes? Subscribe to my blog to don´t miss some!
There are people who are talking about Yoga and Ayurveda, and people who are living Yoga and Ayurveda. Angela Perger from the “Simple Ayurveda” Podcast is one of the most authentic people I have met around the last year at the Internet. Her simplicity to explain Ayurveda and make it fit into our day to day life is mesmerizing. How she is teaching her kids the Ayurvedic lifestyle is adorable. Her Podcast is like listen to a dear friend while you are having tea together. Her Instagram is full of aesthetic and minimalistic impressions. And just by looking at her, I feel so grounded. Just convince yourself with this Monday Motivation interview…let´s get the week started… 🙂
1. From Ayurveda With Love means compassion and finding our Dharma in life, so can you tell us what you are compassionate about?
I feel so much compassion for Mother Earth, for plants, for animals and for fellow human beings. I believe dharma is about being our true selves and understanding where we are able to shine our inner light out. I see dharma as a path, rather than something to be achieved. For me, my path has evolved from elementary school teacher to Yoga teacher to mother to someone that shares Ayurveda. I hope to make Ayurveda easy to understand and apply to anyone and everyone’s daily life.
2. Tell us where do you come from, what you are doing and what your plans look like for 2019?
I was born in Florida and my husband is from New Jersey. We split out our time between the two and currently we’ve been living in an RV with our children, ages 2 and 6, for the past few months in Florida. My plans for 2019 are to continue studying and teaching Ayurveda through various workshops and trainings, both in person and online. I am also really excited about hosting The Simple Ayurveda Podcast!
3. Where do you teach/work/heal actually?
I started Simple Ayurveda in 2018 as an online resource. After years of teaching continuing education courses for Yoga teachers in person, I am excited to offer them to distance learners. The first session of Simple Ayurveda for Yoga Teachers had students from Canada, the United States and Europe. It was so awesome to connect with like-minded people from around the world. I will offer the course again in September 2019.
4. What do you know about Ayurveda? Do you practice it already?
Ayurveda has absolutely changed my life. After years of trying every diet and healing protocol I could find to heal from diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and a rare liver condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis, Ayurveda has offered not only relief, but a deep understanding of “why”. Rather than feeling like a victim, I feel empowered to be in charge of my own health and well being.
5. What are your thoughts about Ayurveda?
I look at Ayurveda as a lense in which to view life. I don’t think that we have to follow every recommendation perfectly to get the benefits of Ayurveda. I use the principle of like attracts like and opposites to create balance to make everyday decisions. For example, when I am feeling easily irritated I ask myself questions like “Have I been consuming caffeine or other stimulants? Or have I been on my phone too much?” It’s such a gift to be able to get the root cause of any imbalance.
6. Do you know which Dosha you are?
I am primarily Pitta Dosha, although it took me a long time to realize it. For years I thought I wasn’t athletic or competitive enough to fit the typical descriptions. I now see that for me competition shows up more as self-doubt or the need for perfectionism rather than the urge to compete with others. As I’ve become more balanced I’ve gotten better at the physical activities I enjoy like SUP and surfing.
7. How does your perfect morning routine look like?
My morning routine is usually meditation in bed without waking up the kids, tongue scraping and oral care, sometimes Abhyanga followed by a shower and then making breakfast. My perfect morning routine would include Yoga too, but for now that usually happens later in the day.
8. How do you integrate Ayurveda into your day to day life?
One of the biggest ways is through following a daily routine. I try to wake up, eat and go to bed at the same time every day. Another big shift was switching my heaviest meal to noon. Mindful eating practices and paying attention to my Agni are a continual effort.
9. Is there some Ayurvedic practice you would like to try but never had the chance?
I still haven’t tried neti yet.
10. Are you into Yoga or practicing it?
I’ve been practicing Yoga for 11 years. I started teaching Yoga to adults and kids 8 years ago at a campground. Since then I’ve taught it to children in Costa Rica, Mexico, Philadelphia, in schools, preschools, and a studio. I’ve also taught prenatal, mommy & me, Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. I’ve held a daily practice through two pregnancies and believe it’s the most powerful thing any of us can do.
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
I’ve stopped trying to plan out my life, but I definitely see myself teaching Ayurveda and Yoga. I would love to grow Simple Ayurveda into a network of Ayurvedic practitioners with diverse offerings. My kids will be seven and twelve and that’s sort of wild to imagine.
12. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?
I can be impatient (Pitta). I tend to get a lot of ideas and be really excited but then sort of lose interest (Vata). I am focusing on being present and creating boundaries for myself so that I can cultivate a little bit more grounding, sustainable energy (Kapha).
13. How did you find the path you are on right now? Was there a key moment?
There were a few key moments along the way. As an inner city school teacher in Philadelphia I fell in love with Yoga for the stress relief. I signed up for Yoga teacher training with the intention of only teaching to children, never adults. The seed of Ayurveda was planted in that training as well as the confidence to teach adults.
Years later I worked with an Ayurveda health counselor after trying a naturopath, a top university doctor and countless other experts. When the health counselor wanted to refer me to someone with more experience I realized no one could solve my health imbalances for me. I decided to study Ayurveda for myself to get the bottom of everything. Again, I had no intentions of becoming a coach or a teacher but once I felt better I felt like I couldn’t keep the information to myself so I started a website and podcast.
14. How important is meditation to you?
It is essential. I practice every day in some way or shape. Sometimes it’s a walking meditation. Other days it’s a Yin Yoga practice. Many times it’s seated first thing in the morning, still in my pajamas in bed. I don’t believe meditation has to look a certain way.
15. What is your philosophy and spiritual path?
I love the quote by Yogi Bhajan, “Be the lighthouse.” I feel like this sums up my philosophy on life. Our Dharma is to be our true selves. The spiritual path falls into place when our everyday actions line up with our higher selves.
16. What have you done into the last year to improve yourself?
In the past year I have stopped consuming caffeine and alcohol. My energy and emotions are much more even which affects everyone around me. I’ve also worked with an intuitive healer to let go of some ancestral trauma.
17. Who has been your greatest influence?
Over my life it has been the strong women in my family including my mother, grandmothers and aunts. Over the past decade I have had some amazing Yoga teachers.
18. What is your greatest strength?
I have been told my superpower is the gift of transformation- that I can turn any situation into something better.
19. How do you handle stress and pressure?
In the past I had the tendency to feel overwhelmed and run away from it. Through Yoga I am working on patience and surrender. Yin Yoga has been extremely helpful with this.
20. What are your favorite self-care practices and rituals?
I love Abhyanga or Epsom salt baths with essential oils based on my mood or what I need for that day. Some of my favorites are lavender, frankincense, sweet orange, cedarwood and jasmine.
I celebrate the new moon each month with my kids. We use The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck to draw a card and we set intentions/draw pictures for the upcoming moon cycle. Another favorite ritual is creating a vision board inside my planner every year. I love being able to look at it anytime throughout the year.
21. Are you into Wellness?
Yes! Feeling well and happy is the best way to enjoy this precious life.
22. What are your thoughts about the Zero Waste movement and do you also try to reduce your waste?
Simplicity and minimalism have been my gateway into the Zero Waste movement. Although I’ve always cared about the environment (I used my allowance to join the Save the Manatees club as a child), it was really the overwhelm of clutter that led me to reducing my possessions and to stop using shopping as an activity.
Life is just easier when things are simple- a mason jar has so many uses and I don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of different kinds of containers. Cooking and focusing on fresh, organic food has helped me to (mostly) give up the takeout habit that contributes to so much waste. I’m still a work in progress but I believe it’s better for all of us to be doing something rather than giving up because we aren’t doing it perfectly.
As a mother, I work really hard to reduce all of the waste that comes along with everything offered for kids. We skip balloons and goodie bags for parties and ask for no birthday gifts. They still get presents from family, but they don’t need a bunch of stuff from everyone they know. As every parent has experienced, this is a constant struggle but a lesson that I am willing to work on with them for the sake of our earth.
23. Where do you find your ideas for your creative content? Is there also a “outer” life besides posting and blogging, like painting?
I love the beach and simple, neutral colors so my creative content reflects those interests. I feel like it’s important for people to know Ayurveda doesn’t have to look a certain way. At its core, Ayurveda is about connecting diet and lifestyle with nature’s rhythms. It’s about honoring the sacredness of everyday life. I hope that Simple Ayurveda’s aesthetic invokes feelings of easefulness and relatability.
My outer life revolves around being a mother and spending time in nature. I don’t sign my kids up for activities- we spend our free time chasing each other at the park, exploring nature trails, making sand animals at the beach, swimming, cooking, reading and playing.
When I have time to myself I’m either curled up with a book (always nonfiction) or walking at the beach.
24. Where can we find you on Social Media and in the World Wide Web?
The Simple Ayurveda Podcast is available on Spotify and iTunes.
25. Do you have got a favorite quote you would like to share with us?
“Our journey is about being more deeply involved in life and yet, less attached to it.” ~ Ram Dass
Thank you so much Angela for taking the time to answer in such a beautiful way! Wishing you a nice Mother´s Day on Sunday and a Beautiful week!
Show Angela some love and give her pages a view, tune into her Podcast with a cup of tea and have the best possible start into the new week!
If you liked this Interview and don´t want to miss the next ones, you can subscribe her to my blog – and also leave some love in the comments! Namaste!
Unique, delicious and healthy – we teach you how to start your day powerful and satisfied! Tips, facts and recipes for the most important meal of the day!
Imagine you wake up and start your day like that….Right!?
According to Ayurveda, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To activate your agni, your digestive fire, your body needs food. Without any breakfast, our body will respond quickly to stress, our blood sugar level is low, concentration won´t come easy and our metabolism need more time to “start.” We will be tired quickly and have binge eating habits for lunch or cravings for sugar and sweets.
The Ayurvedic way to start the day!
The important point is to eat right for your Mind-Body-Type, your Dosha. The needs of your body for your diet are very unique! Pitta Dosha is all about fire, and so you need grounding but cooling food to don´t overheat your agni, your digestive fire.
You will help your unique Body type to activate your agni, breaking down the nutrients, feel grounded but energized and more healthy. If you never tried this before, I highly recommend a few weeks of Ayurvedic breakfast – the effects are there after a few days. Promised!
Ayurvedic breakfast for Pitta
When you like smoothie bowls, plant based yogurt or raw fruits and veggies and you are mainly Pitta Dosha – congratulations! You have such an easy Dosha and can eat all the delicious food! (As mainly Vata I would love to eat my smoothie bowls more often….).
So you have here a great variety but also need to avoid some ingredients which can trigger your Pitta fire. As Pitta Dosha, your metabolism works fast and so you also need food that energizes you but also keeps you a long time satisfied.
The Qualities of Pitta Dosha
The qualities of your food should be cool, sweet, juicy and dry. The main qualities of your Dosha are hot, oily sharp and pungent – so always think about the opposite qualities again!
Ayurveda does not recommend cold food, but with this Dosha you can eat raw foods. My ayurvedic teacher Janavallabha das always said that this Dosha is the only Dosha, who can digest raw food and fruits well. But start your morning routine still with hot lemon water oder fennel tea! (It is all about balance)!
For a optimal digestion your breakfast ingredients could be Smoothie Bowls with bananas, apples, berries, mangos. You could also have coconut yogurt, because coconut yogurt is cooling down a lot. You could have a Chakra salad with a variety of fruits like apricots, berries, figs, dates melons and papayas. For toppings you can also use dry fruits and coconut shred, granola and raw fruits and nuts.
Get inspired by this easy and cooling Pitta breakfast recipe:
Refreshing Bananarama Chia Bowl
Bananarama Chia Bowl to cool down your mind!
Ingredients:
½ cup of coconut yogurt
1 ripe banana
1 teaspoon of protein-based protein powder
2 Tablespoons of chia seeds (I used white here)
1 pitted date or 1 tablespoon agave juice
A sip of plant based milk of choice
Toppings:
½ cup of strawberries
1 handful of blueberries
1 teaspoon of chia seeds
1 handful of almonds, raw
1 tablespoon hazelnuts
1 teaspoon of dried Goji berries
1 tablespoon of coconut granola
1 tablespoon of maple syrup
Here we go:
Mash the banana in a bowl with a fork, mix your yogurt to it and add the chia seeds, the protein powder, the plant based milk and sweetener of choice. Stir well and place a little plate on top, let that mixture sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes – but you know I like to prepare things in the evening to have a nice breakfast done. I suggest to leave it overnight into your fridge and just chop your fruits in the morning onto it!
In the morning when you prepare your hot water and get ready in the bathroom, get your bowl out of the fridge and set aside – you have cooling ingredients, but you do not have to eat the bowl super cold, as it is the first meal of the day.
Chop your fruits over it and place the granola, nuts and Gojis as you want to. Decorate it with a positive mind and loving attitude. Your eye also eats with you and will be easily satisfied when your bowl looks like heaven. But for sure – it will taste like it!
For making little strawberry flowers I simply use cookie stencils! 🙂
Doesn´t this sound perfectly to start your day with? Here are some pro-hacks to save time in the morning:
Prepare the bowl overnight so that the chia seeds can get mushy.
Chop your fruits and nuts in the evening and add them in a small bowl into your fridge, or the nuts outside.
Wake up 15 minutes earlier to find time to prepare and eat a moment in silence before you have to leave the house.
Go seasonal with your toppings to find more variety! The Farmers market can inspire you!
Drink a warm cup of water in the morning first – 30 Minute before you have breakfast. At this time, get your bowl out of the fridge, so it will have room temperature when you eat it.
Already cooled down your mind? Let me know and leave some love in the comments section below!
And if you don´t feel airy and aetheric at all, you might have more of a earthy Kapha Dosha – and will find here next week some delicious and easy, vegan recipe to start your day with and tips and facts about what to eat and what to avoid! Don´t miss the post and subscribe here if you liked this post! 🙂
Join 210 other followers
Beautiful Sunday to you and have a beautiful start to your new week!
Unique, delicious and healthy – we teach you how to start your day powerful and satisfied! Tips, facts and recipes for the most important meal of the day!
Could this be your new morning Routine?
According to Ayurveda, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To activate your agni, your digestive fire, your body needs food. Without any breakfast, our body will respond quickly to stress, our blood sugar level is low, concentration won´t come easy and our metabolism need more time to “start.” We will be tired quickly and have binge eating habits for lunch or cravings for sugar and sweets.
Eat Right for your Mind-Body-Type
The important point is to eat right for your Mind-Body-Type, your Dosha. The needs of your body for your diet are very unique! Vata is all about air and aether, you remember that it is mobile, rough and dry? And that we should eat the opposite? Great. This week we start with breakfast ideas for Vata Dosha. This Dosha needs food for grounding, food that is moisture, nourishing and warming!
You will help your unique Body type to activate your agni, breaking down the nutrients, feel grounded but energized and more healthy. If you never tried this before, I highly recommend a few weeks of Ayurvedic breakfast – the effects are there after a few days. Promised!
All About the ingredients
Porridge in every variety is perfect here – it is simple to prepare, it got minerals, protein, carbs and fibers to get your digestion going! But it don´t have to be just oats. You can use Quinoa (perfect for Vata because high in protein), rice (can be also prepared sweet with plant milk) and Tigernuts! Toppings like berries (also warm), banana, cinnamon, cocoa nibs, agave juice or maple syrup are grounding and calming your Dosha. Prepare your breakfast in the evening, when you run out of time in the evening. So you can just warm it up quickly and put on some mouth watering toppings!
Get inspired by this easy and mouthwatering Vata porridge recipe:
“Strawberry-fields-forever” Porridge
Ingredients:
½ cup of gluten-free oats
2 cups of plant based milk
1 pinch of salt
½ teaspoon of cardamom
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of sesame oil
Toppings:
1 Cup of fresh or frozen strawberries
1 Hand full of blueberries
1 teaspoon of chia seeds
A handful of almonds, raw
1 tablespoon of maple syrup
Here we go:
Heat the sesame oil in a small pot and add the spices there. Enjoy the smell and add plant milk of choice. When it is slightly heated, you can put your oats into the milk. I always use a fist full of oats, cause that is the size of my stomach. Start it slowly in the morning and don´t over eat it! Let simmer on a medium heat and stir well. Add the salt.
In the meanwhile, you need another small pan or pot. Chop your strawberries into halfs and start to heat them slowly with the blueberries and the maple syrup on medium heat. (Agave Juice works also well!)
The texture of the Porridge should be creamy and not too sticky, if needed, add a bit more plant milk. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
Put in a bowl and add the toppings: Start with the berries and the delicious juice, add the chias and the almonds.
I had warm cocoa also this morning, spiced up with cinnamon and cardamom as well! Enjoy!
Doesn´t this sound perfectly to start your day with? Here are some pro-hacks to save time in the morning:
Prepare oats and other grains overnight, your porridge will be much creamier and also faster done!
Chop your fruits in the evening and add them in a small bowl into your fridge!
Wake up 15 minutes earlier to find time to prepare and eat a Moment in silence before you leave the house.
Go seasonal with your toppings to find more variety! The Farmers market can inspire you!
Try to drink a warm water in the morning first – 30 Minute before you have breakfast. I do this always in the bathroom when I prepare myself for the day.
Can´t wait to share with you some amazing Pitta facts and recipe next Sunday! We will also talk About Kapha and all mixed types! And what about a chart on ingredients for the Doshas? I dive myself now in endless creativity and productivity and wishing everyone a Beautiful start into the new week! Namaste!
Get to know one of my loveliest friends, far away from Motivation Monday this week, but a truly inspiring Wonder Woman and Yogini, fighting for women´s rights, spreading love and beautiful art! Sassy is such a unique person – read more about here! And promise me to watch her page! 🙂
From Ayurveda With Love means compassion and finding our Dharma in life, so can you tell us what you are compassionate about?
Pretty much every living being on this earth, humans have become so selfish, values are all confused, and for me compassion is the only way to make a real change, compassion to the earth, the animals, to other human beings and yourself. The world is upside down, but I have so much hope that there are so many people that want a change, and that change starts with love and compassion, no other way. And I consider myself one of those persons that want a change.
Tell us where do you come from, what you are doing and what your plans look like for 2019?
I am from Mexico, I am a freelancer at heart, so I don´t have a particular job. I work in so many fields, and my plans for this year is to open an online jewelry store. I am a firmly believer to the power of crystals, amulets, symbols, and I want to finally give life to that project.
Where do you teach and work actually?
As I mentioned before,I have different types of jobs, I work as a Yoga teacher in workshops for women empowerment. I work as an English and Spanish teacher. As I do some work as a model.
Tell us more about your latest project on Instagram – you work there on a project on domestic violence. What it is exactly about and how did you get started about this one?
At some point, social media became so confusing, even toxic in some way, although it has lots of beautiful benefits, as reaching out to amazing people but the dark side, is pretty dark. April is my birthday month and I had the need to make something meaningful, more than just upload photos. So I contact this group, and as April is the month of domestic violence awareness, and I know they do an amazing cause helping men, women, even children and persons with trafficked background to heal through Yoga practice, I decided that was going to be my birthday present.
You also donate for this project; tell us where people can help with and how!
The campaign is called #healmetoo, the groups name is @exhale2inhale and you can find them on Instagram with that name and they have an ongoing fundraising, and this April you can go to my Instagram account @sassyyogagirl and there’s a direct link to make a donation. Going back to the first question, its all about compassion, even if you don´t feel related with the subject, you are a human, same as them, and the fact that people support them in the healing process through Yoga is so meaningful. Because they are humans, as you, as me and we all deserve compassion.
You represent a strong female character in your art and social media accounts, what are your thoughts on feminism?
Feminism for me means equality, equal rights, and equal opportunities, stop that conception that women are either fragile things that need to be protected, or whores and sexual objects, for doing exactly what men can do and they are not condemned.
Do you think that the Yoga scene is also a problem with it´s mostly white, skinny, privileged role models they show on magazines and social media?
This is such a deep question, I mean I love to see beautiful images but it´s sad at some point that social media is projecting Yoga as wearing matching outfits, that are ridiculous expensive, doing super advance postures, and so many girls are so obsessed to become part of that movement, it seems sometimes that the practice becomes to get to a posture and post it with certain outfit, and that´s so far from the Yoga wisdom. I fell into that pattern for sure, giveaways, challenges, likes, followers, and that’s when I realized how toxic this could be. I am very open with my followers about dealing with depression and anxiety and how much Yoga has helped me in the darkest moments, but there´s so many people that look to those photos with crazy postures and beautiful sets and the trendiest outfits in super skinny bodies and they just feel like Yoga is not for them, because they don´t fit with that images. The world needs more Yoga, I can´t imagine what could happened to me without it, and this image of perfection can create so much confusion for people that, as in my case, Yoga could save their life. What do you know about Ayurveda? Do you practice it already?
I am just opening to it thanks to Jasmine, and it’s such a huge world of wisdom, mind, body, soul, and the importance of balance and interior work. I am just starting to learn about it, and how can I open myself and integrate it to my life, moreover with the disease that I deal with, I think it will be so helpful.
I am curious…What are your thoughts about Ayurveda?
As I think about it ´s like programing your mind to work for your benefit, to use the great power of it to live your best version.
Do you know which Dosha you are?
I don’t, but I will.
How does your perfect morning routine looks like?
Begin the day with a gentle Yoga practice, a deep meditation, and I take a lot of care of my skin, since I started with mental issue I developed cystic acne so my routine takes a while, but I like to give myself those couple of hours, before I start with my obligations.
How do you integrate Ayurveda into your day to day life?
I am so interested in the relationship with the food, and I would love to know more about it.
You obviously practice Yoga – what is your routine?
Yeah I practice pretty much everyday and I try to have a morning and night practice.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
You know that´s a question I really avoid, when you have a mental disease the first person you have to be compassionate is with yourself, some days you are a functional person, you can even go out and have a social life and suddenly you are afraid to even get out of your room, and you feel so much pain, and loneliness, and because of the huge stigma around mental disease, you isolate yourself from the world. And is really something that you have to take day by day, so I rarely thing about anything but the 24 hours ahead of me, and set goals for the day and try to accomplish them, if I can´t I don’t beat myself anymore, tomorrow it´s a new opportunity.
What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?
My disease. Understand that it is a disease, that it can be cured, and that I am taking the correct steps, and moreover and what really changed the game is becoming really compassionate with myself.
How did you find the path you are on right now?
I always have been very active, and I use to practice Yoga but not really getting into the whole world of it, but Yoga is so magical that even if you don´t realize it you get the benefits! When my condition began to be something I was not controlling anymore, I wasn’t eating or sleeping and I went from alcohol to meds, and things just got so out of control. I ended up in the hospital- and that day I decided, I need to do something, or I am going to die. And that same day I enrolled to my first 200hrs of teacher training and literally it saved my life. And it gave me the need to share how amazing it is.
How important is meditation to you?
So important, before I started to practice it, and understood it, which is not easy -and I had panic attacks the first time, which is something I really don´t wish to anybody – meditation has become my hand break, when I feel the first symptoms, I just stop everything and do some meditation, and it definitely works.
What is your personal philosophy and spiritual path?
Love is the only way, and you are in this world for a purpose, trust your path, and let your spiritual self guide you, let go of control.
What have you done into the last year to improve yourself?
I know I have repeated a lot, but I learned the importance of self love and compassion, when you deal with this type of diseases you always feel guilty, ashamed, a burden to everybody, and it´s not easy, but I practice compassion towards me all the time and the fact that through my experience I have reached people with the same issue in a positive way, that means the world to me.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My mother, she´s such a special human being and do so much for so many people, and is always fighting for the indigenous people rights that sadly in Mexico they are so mistreated, she practice equality and love. And I know I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for her and her unconditional love.
What is your greatest strength?
I would like to believe that I have opened channels that allow me to impact lives in a positive way.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
I don’t hahaha, but I guess I avoid falling into destructive patterns with Yoga, meditation, time and self-love.
What are your favorite self-care practices and rituals?
My skin care routine is a most, I am always searching and trying different natural mixtures that improve my skin, and also my crystals cleansing techniques are such an important moment for me, as the practice of Yoga itself.
Where do you find your ideas for your creative content?
I am very lucky to have very close an out of this world artist, such a genius, and for me creating different characters for photo shoots is like therapy, and I embrace my sensuality with no guilt or sense of look at me. It’s my body, my rules, my ideas, and in that area I don’t care much about criticism or the opposite of men thinking you are that way to give place for them to be disrespectful, I really have learned to be myself and don’t let anybody make me feel bad about it.
Where can we find you on Social Media and in the World Wide Web?
I am working on my website, which I intent to blog and open the subject of mental health, so many people live with this condition in different ways and the stigma is so big, if I can reach one person and make them feel they are not alone, I will feel so fulfill, moreover if I can get to more people. I have my Instagram account @sassyyogagirl and YouTube channel with the same name where I want to share so many things but I haven´t really develop it as it should be, as I said sometimes you feel that little things that you really want seem like a marathon ahead, but I will make it, and in Mexico I have a Facebook page with the same intention and spread positivity and Yoga.
Do you have a favorite quote you would like to share with us?
“Life is a journey not a destination.”
Thank you so much
With love, Montse
Thank you so much Montserrat for taking all the time! And now – let´s donate for a great cause and watch Sassy´s page on Insta! I am sure we all have some extra money left after the Easter holidays! Spread some love and see you on Sunday,
Nutrition is one of the fundamental principles in Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a preventive science and how can we be more preventive than with the food we consume daily? Every substance we can eat got specific qualities, these qualities have the ability to cause a reaction. So we can use every substance to a unique, individual person or animal and use so the healing qualities – Food is therapeutic in Ayurveda.
Another fact is, there is no dogma in Ayurveda, no “THAT DIET IS THE RIGHT DIET” – we see the human as a individual. What good is for you, can for another body type be really poisonous. For every therapy in Ayurveda, we switch the diet for the patient.
One basic about the understanding of Ayurveda is, that we use the opposite qualities of food – we balance the doshas with antagonistic qualities. The six tastes play here a big role. Let us dive now deeper into that concept!
There are 6 qualities of food according to Ayurveda, we start with RASA which is the taste. It is the taste we experience when we eat a specific food. It is exactly what our tongue perceives during the chewing. The 6 tastes of Ayurveda have effects on our organism and our Doshas.
I also was in my garden this morning – I found every plant to our six tastes! Just to show how easy the concept is, even when it is at first strange to us! 🙂
Sweet (Madhura)
Strawberries have the quality of sweet
The qualities of sweet taste are oily, cold, heavy, moisture. It is delicious and nurturing and highly addictive. It will raise Kapha and reduce Vata and Pitta. Make here the connection to the qualities! Vata is dry and light – sweet is moisture and heavy! Get it, right? The elements are earth and water.
The effect of sweet food is that will make skin soft, will help to gain weight and muscles, give strength, nourish you. It can give you more energy and can help to clear your sense organs. It is also important for digestion.
Sweet foods are for example
Sweet fruits
Starchy vegetables
Grains
Wheat products
Sweeteners
Sour (Amla)
Rhubarb got the quality sour
The qualities of sour taste are moisture, hot, light and oily. It comes with the elements of earth and fire, which you can find also at Kapha and Pitta. It will raise Kapha and Pitta and calm Vata. The effect of sour food can improve your digestion, reduce flatulences (airy Vata people are now like – aaaaaaaahhh! 🙂 ), it is stabilizing the sense organs, increases saliva, gives you that hungry feeling, increases also sweat.
Sour foods are for example:
Grapefruit
Limes
Lemons
Apple Cider Vinegar
Salty (Lavana)
Stinging Nettles got the quality salty
The qualities of salty taste are moisture, hot and heavy. The elements are water and fire. And so it will increase Kapha and Pitta and calm Vata. Salty food have the effect to make soft, get rid of stiffness and tenseness. It helps your digestion, and increases the secretions.
Salty is something many are craving for – the enhance of the flavour of food is the reason.
Salty foods are for example:
Salt in every form
Seaweed
Tamari and Soy Sauce
Miso
Celery
Pungent (Katu)
Sage got the quality pungent
The qualities of pungent taste are dry, heating, sharp. Don´t mess this one up with spicy. It is more a taste experience we have without even knowing it, but spicy food is also part of it. The elements are fire and air. It will reduce Kapha and increase Pitta and Vata. The heating qualities can be experienced as super nice by Vata peeps.
The effect is the amazing ability to strengthen your digestive fire, your Agni. It also helps to kill bacteria, parasites, fat, is opening your body channels, can reduce tissue, will increase saliva.
Pungent foods are for example:
Ginger
Onions
Garlic
Mustard
Radishes
Black Pepper
Bitter (Tikta)
Dandelions got the quality bitter
The qualities of bitter taste are dry, cold and light, comes along with the elements of air and aether. Kapha is the only Dosha who benefit from this one in small amounts and can even handle coffee. It is increasing Vata and Pitta. The effects are all about the vata dosha. Antibiotic, antiparasitic, liver cleansing and they are perfect to clean your body. It will make the muscle tissues firmly and is the all appetizer.
Bitter foods are for example:
Cacao
Coffee
Turmeric
Bitter herbs
Leafy greens
Zucchini
Eggplant
Astringent (Kasaya)
Lavender got the quality astringent
The qualities of astringent taste are dry, cold and heavy. The elements according to astringent are earth and aether. The effects are all about Vata! It can make your head clear and light (think about the aether qualities!), but it can also make stiff, your tongue dry (Vata again!). It can lower the blood pressure, is also anti-inflammatory. It Is with the cooling effects perfect for Pitta Dosha.
Astringent food are for example:
Turmeric
Green beans
Legumes
Pomegranates
Cranberries
Artichokes
Raw broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus
So, on the go for you:
To balance your Doshas you should try to eat all six tastes every day, every meal. But try to avoid the tastes in big amounts that will increase your Doshas.
The six tastes will help you to understand the nutritional qualities of food.
Each taste have mental, physical effects on your unique Dosha and body.
If you have a highly predominant Vata Dosha, try to eat less food with the taste of bitter, pungent and astringent and eat more with the taste of sweet, sour and salty.
If you have a highly predominant Pitta Dosha, eat more sweet, bitter and astringent tastes and avoid sour, salty and pungent.
If you are mainly Kapha try to eat mainly bitter, pungent and astringent and reduce the intake of sweet, sour and salty.
Try to take a walk outside today and find different plants! Some wild herbs and flowers got qualities you already know – what kind of taste do they have?
I am wishing everyone a beautiful Easter Weekend! Read you here tomorrow again – let’s start the week together with a Monday meditation! 😋❤️
Kevin is a wonderful Yoga teacher from Vancouver in Canada. He is sharing his journey for a while
on Instagram and I also can not wait to work with him. Let your Monday and new week get inspired by
some gentle Shiva energy!
From Ayurveda With Love means compassion and finding our Dharma in life, so can you tell
us what you are compassionate about? I help a local animal rescue by fostering and delivering dogs. Tell us where do you come from, what you are doing and what your plans look like for 2019? I live in west Vancouver, Canada. I own a design build construction firm called reVISION Custom
home renovations. In 2019 my Yoga plans are teaching more Yoga, take a Bernie Clark Yin Yoga
training and serve a 10 day Vipassana. Likely I’ll add a thing or two.
Travel a bit – I’ve got some plans, but things are being added as I write this. Where do you teach actually? I actually teach at “Studio 202” in North Vancouver. What do you know about Ayurveda? Do you practice it already? I was introduced to it in a Yoga teacher training years ago. I don’t practice it yet. What are your thoughts about Ayurveda? Thought it was interesting but don’t know a lot about it. Do you know which Dosha you are? Someone told me they thought I was Pitta. That’s about all. (Kev, we need to change that!) How does your perfect morning routine looks like? Wake at 5 am to shower etc, go to yoga at 6 am, leave about 8 am, eat the breakfast I bring with me. What kind of Yoga do you practice actually or mostly? I practice Ashtanga Yoga at a local Mysore Shala. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? Living half the time in California and traveling. Likely still working in my business.
Perhaps some special building in California! What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it? Micro management…I’m doing nothing about it. How did you find the path you are on right now? Was there a key moment? I don’t know if there is a key moment. It’s been a series of exploring my curiosity and interests. How important is meditation to you? It is as a daily thing and the yearly retreats are key.
Tell me about your Yoga Teacher training! I trained with a traditional Tantra Yoga teacher for a while then I moved to a Vinyasa program
and completed my RYT200 there. What has helped you to improve your classes since your first started teaching? Experience and being willing to try new things. Maintaining a strong personal practice.
Getting feedback has helped too! What is your Yoga philosophy? I don’t know if I have a specific philosophy. I believe it has many tools to clean the mind and body.
A strong asana practice helps create a space for the other Yoga tools to work. Why do you want to be an Yoga instructor? I love Yoga and sharing. It is fulfilling. Plus – I love the Yoga community! What is your philosophy and spiritual path?
Don’t have anything concrete. Also Gautama Buddha teachings I’ve learned in Vipassana and some
I observe and adopt some of reading. What have you done into the last year to improve yourself? Applied more discipline to the personal practice. Who has been your greatest influence? Not sure. I’ve had many influences but there is no one that I follow. That being said Vipassana
retreats have pivoted my life in a very meaningful way. What is your greatest strength? I would say team building and leadership. How do you handle stress and pressure? I try get ahead of it with my practice. Work on not not being attached to the stress and
letting it go as good as possible.
What are your favorite self-care practices and rituals? Yoga, retreats, intermediate fasting. Are you into Wellness? Yes! Where do you find your ideas for creative content? Is there also a “outer” life besides
porsting and blogging, like painting? Creative ideas are everywhere. I’m a curious person so I find inspiration in many things.
I love discovering independent and emerging bands. Love collecting records and going to concerts. Where can we find you on Social Media and in the World Wide Web? At Instagram it is @kevinparenteau and you can find my Homepage
here: http://www.revisionrenovations.com/ Do you have got a favorite quote you would like to share with us? “You can accomplish anything in life providing you don’t mind who gets the credit.” (Harry S.Truman)
Thank you so much Kev and see you soon! 🙂
I also hope you enjoyed this little chat and have a perfect start into the new week!
Next Monday we will have some Monday Meditation together! (Yaaaay! A video!)
Ama – undigested metabolism toxins and why it is important to focus on them
You might have heard or read the word Ama now several times. But what exactly is Ama? Ama is according to Ayurveda the main reason for all diseases. Why? The philosophy of Ama and Agni are one of the fundamentals in Ayurvedic Health Care. With a strong digestive fire, your body can digest everything in a perfect way. With a weak, digestive fire the trouble starts. Here is the point about having a special diet for our Doshas, our body constitution which is very unique, and keep our bodies balanced!
The beginning of Ama
Imagine a digestion that is poor and weak, all the nutrients you feed your body throughout food can´t get absorbed well and multiply in your digestive tract. They literally ferment – but not in a good way. Toxins develop and can lead to different problems with health. Sickness, allergies – your body is out of balance. These toxins is what we call Ama. This principle is also food for microbes, which are living naturally in our digestive system. Microbes can breed in a morbid way, which is in other health philosophies and sciences also a way to describe the development of diseases. According to Ayurveda we see them more as a symptom, which is caused by toxins.
Ama can make a connection to the Doshas and start to cause diseases. It can connect with weak doshas, stick to tissues and the lymphatic system, clogging the arteries – a way of disease development which is called “Sama.” All sicknesses that are caused like that, need a specific way of detox – and are mostly not easy to heal. They need a cleansing process to get rid off all the Ama in our bodies – this is how we support the immune system and start to heal. But there are also diseases which aren´t caused by Ama – those are easier to heal and we call them “Nirama.” There are many types of toxins and they also have different qualities, most of them are in the beginning easy to eliminate.
The qualities and different types of Ama
The qualities of Ama are similar to Kapha qualities, but we would describe it more sticky, mucous, with a bad smell. Those qualities help to block body functions and clog the metabolic process. In the early stages Ama is on the tongue – as a white to grey coat, it is a heavy and tired feeling in the body and also bad transpiration, bad breath and so on. The connection to the Doshas bring different types of qualities to Ama.
Vata type Ama is for example caused by caffeine, fermentation in the gut (make the connection to bloating!), or a very unsteady lifestyle. This kind of Ama make you feel more hyper, scattered and anxious.
Pitta Type Ama is more hot and fiery (make the connection to infections!), here it is mostly caused by liver excess, fermentation in the gut. You would feel more irritated, itchy, inflamed.
Kapha Type Ama is caused by heavy and oily food, your metabolism is slow. And that is also how you feel – tired, sluggish.
There are factors which are supporting Ama, the most important are food – not compatible to your body and dosha, food that is heavy to digest, eating too much, food that is causing bloating. Eating habits, like eating at night, too much stress and intense emotions. But also moving to a new place and the change of season are developing Ama, because our metabolism get mixed-up and need a time to get used to the new climate, bacterias.
You can also see the first symptoms of Ama and experience them in your life – not just the coated tongue, but what about being bloated after food and tired and feel sluggish? Strong cravings for fast and junk food? Acne, skin breakouts like red points and allergies? Even clouded thoughts, a unsteady feeling or a lack of motivation is a sign for Ama in your body.
Summarized we can say:
To understand the development of diseases it is helpful to understand the principles of Agni, our digestive fire and Ama, the toxins our body can´t digest. (Also emotionally!)
Ama can have different Qualities, according to Doshas and can also connect to the different Doshas and cause diseases.
Habits in our lifestyle and food decisions can feed Ama but we can also see the state of plaque on our tongues, body and feel it too.
We can get red off toxins by balance our diet and also with Detox and cleansing techniques.
The next connection is to understand the Shrotas, which could be translated as the whole metabolism process of our body. From the air we breathe in, to our bones – Ayurveda sees all the small parts and puzzle them together. So that will be the next step on our Ayurvedic journey! Have the most beautiful start into the new week and see you tomorrow with a special guest on Motivational Monday, to keep us inspired and creative! A beautiful male Yoga teacher from Canada will tell you a bit about his way and journey! Namaste!
From Ayurveda With Love