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Ayurvedic Insight

Issue #26, December 2003

In This Issue

Tips For a Peaceful Holiday Season
“A Time to Relax” by Shannon Mooney
Recipe: Ginger Snaps

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.