Ayurvedic Insight
Issue #26, December 2003
In This Issue
Tips For a Peaceful Holiday Season
Fill your holidays with peace and joy this season by
following these simple tips:
- Adopt an attitude of gratitude. Find something to be thankful for each day.
- Take your inspiration from children by finding your sense of wonder.
- Be flexible. Do not be constrained by plans. Be present and go with the flow.
- Breathe deep. Schedule a five to ten minute yoga or meditation break each day.
- Follow your heart. Do not sacrifice your beliefs or exercise program to pressures from family or friends. Instead invite them to join you!
- Before you indulge, bring consciousness to your dinner plate by saying a simple prayer or offering 'thanks' before each meal.
- Take time to reflect on the spirit of the holidays and what it means to you.
- Honor yourself, your relations and the planet by choosing an intention of peace for the new year.
A Time to Relax
by Shannon Mooney
We live in an age when multi-tasking is not just the norm,
it is expected. In fact, we are rewarded for the speed and
efficiency with which we complete projects. But how many of
us can talk on our cell phones, shop for gifts and practice
deep diaphragmatic breathing at the same time? Especially
during the holiday season, many of us find it challenging to
support our own needs for relaxation and rejuvenation. In
Ayurveda, the Sanskrit word swastha is used to describe
health. It translates literally as being fully established
in one's Self, or soul. It is only through slowing down,
quieting the mind and allowing all stress to dissipate that
can we learn to know our true selves and nourish our bodies.
A balancing diet, medicinal herbs, yoga and meditation are
all important tools for achieving relaxation during the
holidays.
Although indulgence in rich food and drink is customary this
time of year, remember to respect yourself and your body's
capability to digest all that you take in. Remember it is
not just ‘what‘ you eat, but ‘how' and ‘when' you eat that
matters.
- Include warm, fresh, easy to digest, nourishing foods.
- Maintain a regular dietary routine. Refrain from late-night snacks.
- Avoid cold, dry, or raw foods.
- Moderation is key. Be conscious of quantity.
- Only eat when you are truly hungry.
- Eat in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere.
- Take a few deep breaths after your meal and before beginning any activity.
A digestive tea following a meal can improve digestion and
help to soothe the entire gastrointestinal tract. The ritual
of making and drinking tea can provide a relaxing time,
giving yourself a chance to show some devotion to agni,
digestive fire. Here is a simple recipe from Amadea
Morningstar's The Ayurvedic Cookbook (all ingredients are
available from Banyan Botanicals).
Digestive Tea
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
Bring water to a boil. Put all the seeds in a blender. Pour
in boiling water. Grind the seeds with the water; strain.
Drink after any meal. Very good digestive aid.
Mental stress can exhaust the nervous system and weaken
immune function. Sometimes, even when our bodies are at
rest, a million thoughts continue to race through our minds
making it nearly impossible to experience a sense of peace.
Banyan Botanical's Tranquil Mind formula can help to quiet
mental chatter while promoting sleep and relaxation. The
synergistic composition of Jatamansi, Tagara, Bhringaraj,
and several other calming herbs soothe the nervous system
and help to release excess vata from tissues. It may be the
perfect remedy for restless minds fraught with anxiety or
worry. Herbs are powerful medicine and in Ayurveda, they are
considered an integral part of bringing the body into
balance.
Yoga and meditation offer healing benefits in all aspects of
the body and mind. One of the best ways to slow down and
rejuvenate is to practice restorative postures, such as
Viparita Karani, or legs-up-the-wall. In this pose, you are
grounding, gently stabilizing your pelvis, the seat of vata,
while nourishing the nervous system through deep abdominal
breathing. If feeling overextended or overwhelmed, another
calming, quieting posture is Child's pose. This asana draws
the energy inward, helping to restore and nourish our inner
core.
During meditation, bring awareness to the breath. The breath
is the bridge between the body and the mind. One-pointed
focus of the mind helps to cleanse the mind of mental ama.
Just as we cleanse the body each day, we should cleanse the
mind of any thought that distracts from the present moment.
When the mind is clear, the body can reach a state of
profound relaxation. The mind sends a message to the body to
‘let go' and surrender to cosmic consciousness. When
beginning meditation, remember that it is a process. It is
the nature of the mind to be active, so do not become
discouraged when thoughts consistently pop in. Simply be
with them, allow them to pass, and begin again.
Honoring ourselves by making conscious, healthful decisions
and providing our bodies with the nourishment they need
enables us to cultivate a true sense of peace and joy this
holiday season.
Recipe: Ginger Snaps
- 1/2 cup ghee or unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup light (unsulfured) molasses
- 1/2 cup brown rice syrup
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tsp. dry ginger powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour (or 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour)
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream the ghee, brown rice syrup and molasses together well.
Beat in the egg. Add the spices to the liquid mix. In a
Separate bowl, mix the flours, baking powder and salt. Stir
the dry mixture into the wet one. Spoon onto a lightly
greased cookie sheet by the half-tablespoonful, leaving
plenty of room around each cookie for it to spread (they do
spread). Cook for 12 minutes or until golden brown around
the edges. Cool on the sheet, then remove.
Recipe reprinted with permission from The Ayurvedic Cookbook
by Amadea Morningstar with Urmila Desai, Lotus Press, P.O.
Box 325, Twin Lakes, WI 53181. ©1990 All Rights Reserved.
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