Ayurveda discusses the “Man and Universe” theory which gives us insight to the unique reflection we share with Nature itself. While it can be obvious that ingesting certain qualities in foods and other sensory channels have the potential to increase dosha, or vitiate the body and mind through accumulation of substances it can be overlooked that the same thing can happy due to the qualities in Nature itself. This is why around the junction point of the season cleansing is a recommended practice to essentially wipe out any doshic imbalances created either by intake through the 5 Senses or the Nature we live in and prepare the body with a clean slate for the next season and experience to come.

Shirodhara always raises interest as the mystical Ayurvedic therapy that often people sway between thinking it’s luxurious and others confuse with some some of slow drip torture. Surprisingly it could be either and we will tell you all about the benefits of shirodhara, what its recommended for and who may not want to step up to the table to receive this magical treatment.

Ayurveda offers a unique lense of evaluating food that explains not just the what or when but clearly the why. This helps us navigate the wide and sometimes wild world of food that can seem overwhelming and confusing with conflicting information and new tips and tricks popping up everywhere you look. We have already talked about the 6 Tastes in Ayurveda, foods best for Summer and understanding how to evaluate the Qualities of foods themselves. But what about how you cook it? Is grilling good for you?

What happens when our environment becomes challenging, as if Mother Earth herself is unleashing her wrath?  While the interplay of each element rising will produce various planetary shifts today we will focus on the impacts of the quality of air and detoxing from air pollution. In even the most challenging times, we can lean into simple Ayurvedic practices for support. The Five Element Theory of Ayurveda provides comprehensive insights on how we can balance these elements within ourselves. Similar to understanding the dosha, or vitiation within ourselves we can identify where an excess or deficiency of an element can offset the equilibrium.

The fad of Ayurveda is fast moving through the Western world and unfortunately calling something “ayurvedic” whether it’s a super food, super skincare blend or delicious herbal tea simply IS NOT “ayurvedic” without the consideration of the individual using the products at play. Many of these presentations and combinations are actually not recommended in Ayurvedic practice and much of this is playing with Indian herbs instead of understanding how these herbs work.

Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for maintaining optimal health and well-being. We all notice the difference between the feeling of rest and rejuvenation and being drained from lack of proper sleep and overwork or exertion. The Ayurvedic scholars recognized this with deep regard thousands of years ago when they listed sleep as one of the three pillars of health in Ayurveda. Alongside food and energy control it was clear that nourishment, rest and rejuvenative practices created the foundation for a life of health, happiness and stability.

Food is a HUGE topic in Ayurveda with an emphasis on digestive health. What and how we eat create the building blocks of whole body healing along with the understanding of personal constitutions and specific outlines for each individual. The jump from personal care to family care often solicits the question: what does Ayurvedic cooking for the whole family look like? How do we approach this individualized dietary presentation when feeding someone else or an entire family?

If we were to give one single recommendation for you to jump start your healing practice, self-oil massage would be it. Modern living invites excess Vata dosha into the body from excessive travel, irregular schedules, screen time, fast paced living and overall feelings of being stretched often beyond our limit of personal comfort. While it is indeed lovely to get a massage from someone else, incorporating application of oil and giving yourself the opportunity for self-healing and a multitude of healing benefits to go with.

Healthy Moon Cycles are important! Discomfort and pain may seem quite “normal” these days, but they are actually far from natural. Ayurveda encourages us to notices the signs of our cycles to help generate a greater understanding of the process and consider what elemental qualities are predominant in our body and mind as currently reflected in Nature.

Agni, our digestive fire is a huge topic in Ayurveda and when we consider what health actually means the ancient scholars includes the status or function of our digestive system as one of the main points in its evaluation. Observing our own digestion can help us to understand the status or state of jatharagni and support determining which foods and herbs can support us right now!