AYURVEDA: Love & Wisdom

Tune in to your natural intelligence

Now the public are fed up with hearing constant coverage of doom and gloom about the economy – the swine flu pandemic brings another old favourite news theme to the fore – death and destruction.  I was once a reporter and so I am perhaps more aware than most that - fear sells.  It is fear that is often the “hook” which draws us in to the wall-to-wall news we are bombarded with.

Whether we watch it, listen to it or read it – the conscious or subconscious bottom line is often fear – what about me?  What if it happens to me or my family?  Am I at risk?

Nowadays news organisations have to find enough material to fill every second of every day and night with a fresh, exciting, eye-catching headline – it is increasingly challenging for them to keep the ratings up and hold on to your attention.  Summer too is traditionally a time when there isn’t much news about – we are all too busy having a lovely time on holiday or being with our loved ones.   Now with the declaration of a flu pandemic, imagine the excitement in news rooms as it allows them to legitimately whip up the fear-factor a little more; find new angles to the same story.

Whilst it is correct that we should be informed and know how best to take precautions against this virus - with this incessant news coverage of our time - it is difficult to keep the scale of the problem in focus without getting swept away by the fear tsunami. 

(The Department of Health is a direct source of advice and information:  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831)

When you next watch a news item or feel afraid or anxious about something, anything – recognise and accept your emotion of fear; put it in to perspective.  Meditation and prayanama (yoga breathing techniques) helps us to increase our awareness and clears the clutter from our minds.  From this place of increased awareness, truth, love, compassion and kindness comes clarity and the ability to take more intuitive positive steps and decisions in your life.  Knowing yourself allows you to separate the facts from the hype – to tune in to your higher energetic forces that operate in our Universe – to connect with Nature and the Universe itself by embracing the interconnectedness of all things.  Pranayama will helpyou tune in to your natural intelligence.

 

My new pranayama workshop will be starting again on Tuesday evenings.  It would be great to see you there.  Details will be posted on the new look website in the next few days: www.loveandwisdom.net.

Next time, I shall write a few practical tips you can apply to boost your day-to-day immunity with Ayurveda.

The Big Picture

Hello a warm welcome to Ayurveda Love and Wisdom.  Thank you for reading my blog.

I am totally disappointed with the recent BBC 2 TV programme called Professor Regan's Medicine Cabinet.  No doubt a distinguished scholar, Professor Regan applied a typically narrow-minded opinionated perspective on the power of herbal medicine and homeopathy.  Her view was further entrenched by so-called experts the programme makers had chosen to support this restricted outlook. 

There is a typical arrogance generated in some academic institutions who believe their way is the best way, they are always right and their way is the only way.  This blinkered vision often applies to the world of medicine.  It is through this limited ideology and approach that we the people of the world miss out on the potential to develop, expand and share knowledge for the benefit of mankind and our Universe as a whole.    

The scientific dependence on empirical evidence can often be taken to such an extreme it becomes detrimental to the potential for new discoveries, ideas and the welfare of humanity.  (When you have studied a small area in great depth it is easy to understand why you might think you know a lot because you do.  Even with this weight of knowledge you do not know it all.)

To dismiss homeopathy outright is insulting to all the hundreds of thousands of people it has helped.  To say it is nothing but placebo because its efficacy can not be measured by today's technology and evidence based research is total nonsense. 

I remember meeting a very clever Astrophysicist from London University whose research showed that water has a "memory" and was working on the mathematical model to illustrate the finite extent of this memory. 

I was slightly relieved that Professor Regan did acknowledge the power of some herbal medicines. 

Ayurvedic Practitioner Sebastian Pole explains the problem of evidence based medicine elegantly in his book "Ayurvedic Medicine - The Principles of Traditional Practice: "...Evidence based medicine requires ethically dubious double blind trials and animal experiments with a heavy dependence on single active ingredients, synthesised medicines, separate chemical pathways and a reductionist methodology that has lost the holistic view. "

Herbal medicine, in particular often uses the whole plant or part of a plant as it is found in nature.  This is because the whole plant contains a complex mix of active ingredients which work together in a particular way which is beneficial.  Simply by isolating one component does not give you the whole picture of how this plant might work within your body.  It is the sum of the ingredients that is perhaps more important than the individual constituents - the big picture.

Based on Professor Regan's outlook, why should we bother eating fresh foods when we can get all the scientifically proved active ingredients - we might as well rely on synthetically produced or isolated compounds altogether!

For hundreds of years all cultures across the world have learnt to use native plants for healing.  It is easy to forget many of our modern medicines come from these traditions and practices and many new and exciting drugs are emerging from Nature.

Ayurveda has got a wealth of knowledge to share and boasts a growing pharmacopoeia of well over 100,000 herbs.  The drug companies have tried to patent many formulas - even Turmeric - the cooking spice which has numerous positive health benefits.  Thankfully a lot of this traditional knowledge and formulas can not be patented and will remain available to all.

Ayurveda has it all.  It really is a complete system of healing based on science, surgery, medicine, and so much more.  It is constantly evolving and growing.  Ayurveda looks at the whole picture.  It is all encompassing - all embracing.  It welcomes all discoveries and advances in science, philosophy and understanding - Ayurveda is all about the knowledge of life itself.

To find out more about Ayurveda check out my website, www.loveandwisdom.net

 

Relationships

Hello!  A big smile and hug. I'm Neena Nerkar, thank you for reading my blog.  It's been a while since I wrote and I hope this long entry will make up for my absence in the last few weeks.  I've been busy updating my website, please have a look as I would really appreciate your feedback: www.loveandwisdom.net.

I went to a marketing seminar last month where a charismatic speaker talked about the importance of first building good relationships in order to build up sales.  I instantly recognised what he was talking about; he even quoted Deepak Chopra which heightened my interest even more.  However my pitha dosha mind inquired did he actually believe this rhetoric himself as a way of living and being or was he just following his own advice in order to get results or sales?  He was obviously a very good salesman because all the people in the room were hooked; we'd taken the bait.

A few days later I was talking to a woman who I'd I met at that seminar and I smiled when she later said she was just interested in "building relationships".  Oh dear, that pitha questing mind of mine raised some doubts once again as to the authenticity of the words. (According to Ayurvedic science, people like me with a dominant pitha dosha constitution tend to be a little too quick to judge at times).

In my opinion, all too often people quote or latch on to some jargon they have heard for many reasons - perhaps because they feel clever by repeating it as their own, they feel clever because they are able to quote the text and the source or maybe they feel they are saying what the other person wants to hear in order to try and force some kind of connection. 

Great poetry and speeches have an amazing way of summing up what we have all experienced at some time in our lives.  We connect with this succinct poetic notion because these are words spoken from the heart not from the mind.  These proverbs, parables, poetry and the like are indeed inspiring when respectfully remembered and recited at the appropriate hour.  However, I feel uneasy with people who frequently quote the words of others because this form of regurgitation generally comes from their intellect and not their hearts.  Why I ask myself, can they not find their own words to convey what they are feeling or thinking.  Inside them is the ability to come up with classic quotes of their own from a place of truth, from honest heart-felt emotion.

In truth good relationships are built on shared values.  This applies to all relationships - our partners, our friends, our business colleagues - they are the people we generally want to spend time with.  We get on with them because underneath it all we share some of the same core values and that's why we feel we can trust them.

Often many relationships break down because we have fallen for people as we admire and respect some of their special qualities we think we do not possess ourselves. However the very fact we recognise that trait means we have the quality ourselves and can develop it further if we choose to.  The same can also be said for qualities we do not like in others because these are attributes we recognise in our own personality.

A break down of communication based on opposing values was clearly demonstrated with the demise of a relationship between a friend of mine and his former employee.  Like many companies he had to re-organise his business in accordance with the current economic climate.  He had given up his own holidays for years, put his house up as collateral and made other sacrifices to keep this employee in a job for almost 2 years.  Eventually he could not afford to do so any more and he reluctantly had to let her go.  To his surprise her actions since her departure have revealed the extent of their differences in their core values and to date she has not been able to see or acknowledge the sacrifices he had made to help her.  

At work their diametrically opposing values would often clash uncomfortably.  Underneath his rough manner lay a man who has a gentle approach to relationships; an astute diplomat who looks at the long term picture, a generous man who put the needs of his staff and others before his own as he strove to make his company green, sustainable and professional; he wanted his business to be built on honest relationships, loyalty, sincerity, openness, attention to detail, friendliness and trust. 

The employee put up with the difference of values, sometimes even attempting to warm to some of the ideas to get the job and to cling on to it for far more years than she should.  Perhaps because she was not true to herself and her values this led to feelings of frustration, anger and as this dissatisfaction raged within her, she became increasingly unhappy.  With hindsight, her dissatisfaction with the work she had been paid to do, should have sent alarm bells ringing on both sides.  Set free of the shackles of the job and her employer's values or codes of conduct, she chose to deal with the relationship by applying her own values and attitudes to business in an aggressive, confrontational, accusatorial manner - in so doing burning the bridges behind her.

Too often we are too quick to blame others for our apparent misfortune or unhappiness.  When what we should be doing is looking within ourselves for the reasons why a relationship went wrong or did not work out the way we would have liked.  We cannot change others, we can only change ourselves and the way we approach challenges in our life.  So many people are unhappy because they do not act on their instincts; they are not true to their values.

Both sides in this story have important lessons to learn about themselves from this experience.  The employer learned that qualifications and other factors which initially looked impressive on paper were clearly not as important as an employee's attitude and values; he was reminded that shared values are the foundation of all good relationships and teamwork.  As the old saying goes, "no matter how you try, you cannot fit a square peg in a round hole." The employee might say what you want to hear in order to clinch the job; by fooling you, she is also fooling her work mates and ultimately fooling herself.  Next time he will look at the values and attitudes of potential new recruits more closely; it will be a key factor which he will not overlook again.

At this time when she is looking for new employment, some quiet soul searching would be beneficial.  To stop for a moment and ask herself what job would really make her happy and, does the potential new employer share her values?  We all need money to live but if monetary reward is your sole objective then you are doomed to unhappiness in your working life which will have a knock on effect on your home life, health and wellbeing. 

You might think you get away with lying or hiding the real reasons or your intentions for wanting the job; in reality by doing so, your selfish action will affect your relationships at work and beyond and in time will also impact on your long term job satisfaction.

Ayurveda recognises that different personalities or doshas shine in particular roles.  Vatas like and need to be creative; they don't like routine and thrive on change.  They make excellent musicians, artists, composers and radical thinkers.   Pithas are very head strong and opinionated, they tend to be good orators and leaders but out of balance they easily get frustrated if things aren't done their way.  Kaphas feel happiest in a steady job; they don't respond well to change and are at their best in un-taxing 9 to 5 jobs without too much responsibility.

Be true to yourself, your values.  Enjoy honest relationships.  It is not an "us and them" battle in the world of work between employers and employees.  Nor is it an "us and them" battle in your personal relationships and friendships.  Better communication and happiness comes from good, honest relationships, shared values and living life in accordance with your values. 

The Joy of Giving ...

Every day, every moment…small acts of amazing kindness take place all over the world.   Christmas and other festive celebrations in every civilisation are really all about the joy that comes from giving and sharing.   (It is not about the commercial exchange of goods that it has become.) Giving should be done with a pure heart, without a selfish or hidden agenda. When we give and want something for ourselves in return – such as fame, a good reputation, ego, money or prestige – then we are not really giving – we are actually taking, no matter how noble the cause.

 

Tragedies, disasters, criminal behaviour and greed generally occupy most of the news agendas across the globe.  Take the recent terrorist bombings in my ancestral home of Mumbai in India or the aftermath and continuing ripples as we rebuild after 9/11 bombings in New York or the 7/7 bombings in London.  In some ways the fact that the vast majority of the human population is deeply shocked and saddened by these events are a positive sign; a light in the darkness.  Let us not forget that these actions are of the few mis-guided individuals who seem to put no value on their own lives and consequently no value on life itself.  I am sure if we were able to meet the common man or woman in Pakistan, Afganistan or other so-called terrorist strong holds – we would find the vast majority of the locals would not support the killings and violence – they just want to raise their families and provide them with the basic human necessities.  It is a few cruel individuals who are the product of fear and lack of compassion or love that are behind these wicked acts.  The more we pander to this fear, the more it festers and the more we the majority of good, decent, honourable people in this world get sucked in to negative emotions of hatred, bigotry, revenge and power that is behind the harm and devastation.  As the Great Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”

We can change the balance – we always have a choice.  We can choose to focus on the wonderful, magical, extraordinary good things that exist in the peoples of every race, every religion and every civilisation.

 

One of the most touching memories for me and the power of giving took place on a visit to Pune in India.  I was feeling very fed up and tired and was suffering from a dodgy tummy.  I sat on a wall outside an internet café on a busy street while waiting for the generators to power up the computers following the 3^rd power cut that day.  The lorries and traffic roared by throwing the dust all around.  A beautiful young woman came to the pavement near where I was sitting and brushed the broken glass away with her ragged sari.  She then lay a small blanket on the floor and gently and lovingly lay her baby on it.  She then smiled and gestured to me – sit here on my comfy blanket – no need to sit on the cold wall.  It still makes me cry when I re-count this tale and the tears are falling down my face now.  That beautiful lady, who had so little, was willing to give so much to a total stranger.  To share without wanting anything in return – except maybe a smile. I was instantly humbled and ashamed to think I was fed-up when there are so many less fortunate people in this world.  There is real suffering out there and no matter who you are and what your circumstances, there is always someone who is worse off than you. 

 

This brings me to recent observations.  I have been saddened that at this time of “Credit Crunch” many people who perhaps understandably have had to tighten their belts a bit – seemed to feel excused from stopping giving to those less fortunate than themselves.  Why is it that the poorest amongst us are always the most generous?  I remember as a journalist and at the time of natural disasters, more money was raised from the least well-off communities.   The poorer members of my family who survive on meagre rations always share with a visitor what little food they have.

We are never too poor to give.  Spare a thought for those less fortunate.  One day – the tables could be turned and your fate could be dependent on the kind act of another. 

 

Have faith in yourself.  Have faith in the goodness of humanity.  Do something kind, something wonderful – no matter how “small”.  It is these acts of kindness that bring a giant amount of joy and happiness to all.  When you see a smile or do something that really makes a difference, then you have experienced the magic that comes from giving.

Complex Simplicity

Hello! A warm welcome to Ayurveda, Love and Wisdom.  Ayurveda, is a Sanskrit word which is often literally translated to mean “the science of life”.   Indeed Ayurveda has its foundations firmly in the realms of science; philosophy, spiritualism and art also have valuable parts to play in this all encompassing system of healing.

 

I was explaining the three doshas and how they manifest themselves in to different metabolic types on a trip recently.  As I talked about what it means to be Vata, Pitha or Kapha predominant a colleague cheekily remarked he was more Pisces…perhaps suggesting it was all hocus pocus.  (Indeed Vedic astrology also has an important part to play in Ayurvedic sciences but that is something I don’t know much about.)

What a lot of Western people who have jumped on to the Ayurvedic bandwagon, particularly in the Spa Industry, don’t realise is just how much science is behind it.  It is as infinite as the Universe itself.

The beauty of Ayurveda is its simplicity and ease of understanding.  The fantastic thing about this simplicity is it actually is made up of a complex system of knowledge which appeals to all levels of intellect – whatever level you wish to approach it from.  Throughout history the simplest inventions have always been the most popular – a wonderful mix of genius and craft – the same could be said for Ayurveda.

 

To keep some intellectuals happy (I will share with you some knowledge passed on to me by my guru Prof. Dr. P.H. Kulkarni in India), let’s talk about some chemical messengers in the body and their potentially exciting links with the three Ayurvedic doshas:  Vata, Pitha and Kapha.  These doshas have a part to play in all cellular functions.   They also reflect chemical messengers and perhaps also the predominance of these messengers in our metabolic types.  The job of chemical messengers, particularly neurohumours is to tell the brain what we need and how best to establish homeostasis or balance on a moment to moment basis. 

Let’s start with Acetylcholine (often abbreviated to ACh) because it is probably the most important and senstive chemical messengers we have.  It is a neurotransmitter working hard in both our peripheral nervous system and our central nervous system.  It is released in the cerebral cortex of our brains and from all the nerve endings of our spinal nerves and other nerve centres.  It has a lot to do with the communication of our brain with the rest of our body.   Acetylcholine, is thought to be linked with all Vata doshas or all movement as well as communication in the body.  For example, lack of this chemical in the brain has been associated with Alzhiemer’s Disease – a typical Vata related disorder according to Ayurveda.

 

Another group of chemicals in the body to consider are Catecholamines.  I always remember them as “Catch-me-if-you-can hormones” – because their lifespan is very short and they are involved in the so-called fight or flight response we have in stressful situations.  Catchecholamines are chemcial messengers released by the adrenal glands due to pyschological stress or low blood sugar levels. The group of chemicals are water soluble and are able to attach to proteins found in the blood stream.   Pitha dominant people, according to Ayurveda have a tendency to be a bit firey and hot tempered when out of balance.  In other words it could be said they can get more hot and bothered and release more Catecholamines.  In Ayurveda, the Pitha dosha is linked with all chemical changes (especially enzymes) that take place in the body.

 

If you are allergic to something such as pollen or have asthma you will be familiar with Histamine.  The chemical is present in cells throughout the body and released during an allergic reaction, it is also one of the substances responsible for the symptoms of inflammation.  Histamine is released to help your body stay alert however its production is also triggered by allergens.   It causes fluid to be released in to the skin (which causes swelling and hives), and when released into the sinuses can cause a runny nose and watery eyes.  Histamine is thought to be linked with Ayurveda’s Kapha dosha.

Vata =    Acetylcholine

Pitha =   Catecholamines

Kapha = Histamine

These three neurohumours like the three doshas are present all over our body;  the brain is their main co-ordinating centre.  They control the functions of the various organs and tissues.  Research in India is being carried out on this area to establish a correlation between neurohumours and Ayurvedic doshas.  So now it may be easier for you to understand in Western Scientific terms when there is too much stress and strain in your life, Vata dosha is the first to be disturbed and it leads to a chain reaction upsetting other functions in the body.

In Modern Society every day we are subject to time restraints and pressures which aggravate Vata:  Stress, skipping meals, travelling, deadlines, anxiety all aggravate Vata.  The wonderful thing is through yoga lifestyle, postures (asanas) and pranyama (breathing techniques) as well as meditation we can learn how to go beyond the physical and begin to enter our own spiritual world of harmony, love, peace and joy.

 

Thank you for your interest.  Please check out my website: www.loveandwisdom.net. Bye for now, Love Neena

Questions, questions...

Hello dear friends!  I’m thrilled to say the last article about the Ayurvedic perspective on what being healthy means and the need to address imbalance by change, has got you thinking and debating.  Disease doesn’t just happen because you are unlucky.  Disease and indeed any imbalance occur due to a build up of a number of factors.  It can take days, weeks, months but usually years to unfold and emerge as a symptom or symptoms.  Often by the time you see your doctor, the patterns of bad habits or destructive attitudes have taken their toll.  The pain and discomfort you are experiencing are almost certainly the tip of the iceberg…they are the consequences of a chain reaction that has been allowed to build up until they reach a crescendo.

Some have said to me what about the common cold?  They say surely colds just happen, they must be due to a bit of bad luck, having a cold has got nothing to do with my lifestyle or how happy I am.   I say I disagree because simple changes; lifestyle choices can also boost our immunity and help to prevent us from catching a cold.  The happier we are, the better we tend to eat and the better we tend to sleep - so the less likely we are to get a cold.  It’s true there are zillions of bugs out there, and there is an element of luck or rather risk, but why don’t we get all of these bugs all of the time? 

 

Ayurveda first establishes your natural body constitution which is called dosha (that is your individual genetic type) and examine where the imbalance lies.  We then look at the factors which led to that imbalance.  So if you have a sore throat for example, Ayurveda also asks what were the steps or circumstances that led to that cold and why were your immunity levels particular low at that time?  Were you overstretched at work or doing too much at home?  Were you cramming too much in each day without proper food and rest?  Were you talking too much?  What sort of stress were you under?  Have you been happy with your relationships?   Is anything or has anything been upsetting you, are you suppressing your emotions?  Are you an environment such as high pollution areas, or living/working in a stuffy environment with air conditioning and poor air flow which can breed bugs?  Do you not wash your hands regularly especially before eating food?  Has the weather changed suddenly?  Going back in time, were you breast fed as a baby (and so did you get all the right nutrients to kick start fighting infections from the moment you were born)?  These are just a few questions we consider.  There are many factors that lead you towards having the cold.  So it is your choices that you make moment-to-moment that led to the cold.  Ayurveda advises you of what positive choices you can make right now to prevent you from getting colds and other serious conditions in the first place.   It is this increased awareness which makes us more in tune with our bodies and therefore better able to listen to its needs.

I remember this point being illustrated perfectly when I was on a wonderful aromatherapy study trip in the South of France.  One of my beautiful, funny, amazing friends had worried that laryngitis would curtail her adventures and she would be too ill to enjoy the trip.  She was in quite a bad way and had the courage to take the flight.  A wonderful charismatic French naturopathic doctor explained to her and all of us that it was a chain reaction of events and emotions that led to this poor throat.  A busy mum she had been running around, getting everything ready to go away and as a result she was pretty exhausted.  In France, doctors can prescribe and supervise essential oils to be taken internally (this is not the case in the UK where such a practice is against the law).  He gave her an essential oil to gargle and within days her throat was cleared.  Now as in Ayurveda, this fabulous doctor recognised that particular doshas or genetic types have a predisposition to certain ailments and therefore also tailored his choice of essential oil to suit this particular woman and her condition.

This brings me nicely on to another point many of you have raised with me.  What about our genetic makeup?  Surely if you have a hereditary illness or a defective gene there is nothing that can be done about it?  I say, it is certainly correct our genetic blueprint predetermines what ailments we are likely to suffer from.  However we are not powerless in these situations.  We can choose to live a lifestyle and adopt other practices as advised by Ayurveda which will maximise the quality of our life, minimise the risk and therefore prevent the onset or severity of the condition.  Take myself, for example.  I am at some point going to have to wear glasses for reading and eventually glasses to correct my sight.  Both my parents (including my late mother) required glasses and my ayurvedic dosha (genetic type) is pitha/vata.  It means I am a very visual communicator (for you fans of Neurolinguistic programming or NLP out there) and I am prone to get eye problems and skin irritations when out of balance.  My poor food combining choices of liking to eat cheese and apple together and banana milkshake affects my digestive system.  My body cannot digest this combination, the food curdles in my stomach and these undigested foods become a poison in my body and wreak havoc eventually passing through the blood stream and settling in to tissues they shouldn’t go.  This ultimately gives me sensitive skin and can lead to blood shot eyes (especially after drinking alcohol).  Pitha dominant people like me tend to be intellectuals; we love reading and can be too analytical at times.  All the reading, watching television, and watching the world around me – along with poor food combining in my diet leads to tired eyes.  The tiny muscles which move the eyes will eventually wear away –as some become weaker than others it leads to a change of the natural shape of the lens in my eyes.  This ultimately will lead to me needing glasses.  So the beauty of Ayurveda is it looks at the individual and shows how the individual can best prolong the onset of their genetic condition, how to slow down the progress of the disease or keep it under control.  For me, simply cutting out poor food choices, making sure I read in good light, watching less television, meditating, doing pranayama are simple ways I have applied in my daily life to prevent the onset of wearing glasses.  (I have also had my eyes bathed in medicated ghee – which had helped to reverse the deterioration in my eyes.  That is another story.  Another wonder of Ayurveda and how we can decrease the number of the lenses people wear through simple non-invasive detoxification techniques which are part of a branch of Ayurvedic medicine called panchakarma.)

There are some obvious factors we can all relate to as causing ill health.  Take a long-term smoker for example, who has become so addicted with this lifestyle choice that even when he is in hospital with a stroke or collapsed lung, he continues to smoke.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to advise him that he must change, must engage his willpower or the Healing God Within, to somehow break the cycle and stop smoking in order to turn his life around for the better.

Other factors such as emotions are often the hidden factor behind many illnesses, especially terminal conditions such as cancer.  The West finds this concept difficult to accept.  It is well known nowadays that stress plays havoc with our bodies and minds.  I say our emotions can even be responsible for allowing the common cold to set in.  Emotions are the result of thoughts and feelings which trigger chemical messages to and from the brain.  When unhealthy emotions are suppressed their chemical messengers or neuropeptides tend to accumulate in certain tissues and organs.  According to Ayurveda different negative emotions collect in different spaces in the body.  For example, the emotions of fear, anxiety and insecurity particularly find a home in the kidneys if suppressed.  Over time kidney problems will result.  Any one who has had a broken heart, like me, will know that the negative emotion of rejection along with that of dishonour lies in the heart.  (When I was a journalist I made an error which led to a big fine, although I fought my case and the fine was later overturned by the courts – I was deeply hurt that I had unintentionally upset a young man I felt great empathy for). 

It leads me to once again to sing the praises of pranayama and return to my pranayama classes.  Pranayama breathing exercises can reach the deeper parts of your soul where no medicine or counselling can reach.  Pranayama liberates these toxic emotions and cleanses them away.  Pranayama flushes out all impurities and boosts your immunity.  Pranayama brings freedom and joy;  freedom of disease; freedom that is pure awareness, freedom to observe your thoughts with innocent observation, freedom to celebrate who you are - right here, right now – this very moment.  You are special, you are unique, you are wonderful.  

 

It's great to ask questions.  I live in the academic city of Cambridge where great minds are constantly asking questions.   For just a moment, let go, be ruled by your heart, your intuition, seek the natural intelligence which is contained in every cell in your body, in every particle in space.  Allow yourself to stop for a few moments...stop asking, start doing...just long enough to try this amazing series of breathing techniques and experience the wide ranging benefits for yourself.

To remind you once again, my pranayama workshop starts soon.  There are many other good pranayama classes to be found near you.  www.loveandwisdom.net

Change is Going to Come...

Hello!  A big hug and smile are coming your way.  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and share some Ayurvedic love and wisdom with me.  This topic has been on my mind for quite some time.  I hope you will find the article inspiring and evoke the change necessary to make sure you are making the most of this precious gift of life. Ayurveda recognises to be healthy means so much more than to be free of disease or more precisely free of the symptoms of disease.

The image is of Dhanvantari.  (Thanks to www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/drem/july2000/article1.htm).

Ayurveda believes to be truly healthy all our organs, tissues, body systems, bones, skin, teeth etc. have got to be working efficiently with ease.  To be healthy, our digestive fire and processes of elimination should also be in excellent working order.

Health in Ayurveda also incorporates how happy we are.  The happier we feel from within, the more we attract good relationships – people want to spend time with us; happiness brings better relationships with our family, our friends and work mates (nobody wants to spend quality time with a miserable, grumpy and critical grouch). The happier we are, the better we tend to do our job in the work place because we are more focused on the job in hand; when we feel more confident we tend to get things done much faster.  Efficiency and happiness at work means we can afford to spend more time with our family and friends – making us even happier.  Conversely if we are unhappy with ourselves or suppressing emotions for whatever reason – our relationships suffer, our work suffers, our concentration suffers and ultimately our health suffers.  That is why Ayurveda also considers health can only be achieved when you also have a healthy state of mind.  A mind that is calm, relaxed, full of awareness; the calmer we feel the better able we are to fulfil our goals.  This clarity leads us to be able to focus on our priorities in life, assess our values so we are able to make the most of all the talents and skills that each one of us is blessed with.   A happy and healthy body and mind also leads to a clearer sense of purpose, prosperity, harmony.  After all, the aim of life is all about finding out more about who we are; it is our life’s journey and our purpose. The more we connect with our true self, the more we connect with the Universe, with Nature and Our Higher Consciousness; the more joyful and optimistic we feel.

In the West we are accustomed to getting a quick fix when we feel unwell.  The common cure for all illnesses is to find a way of suppressing the symptoms, usually by taking a pill or some sort of medication including herbal remedies.  Although the symptoms may be gone, often the underlying reasons have not and other problems will bubble to the surface.

Ayurveda has something more powerful than a quick fix – we have a long term remedy that takes a few seconds to implement and a life-long practise to carry out.  Our fix requires you to do the hard work.  It requires you to take responsibility for your health and to change the factors that are leading you to poor health or imbalance.

So when someone comes to me and says they are relatively healthy but have a bit of a bad back or a touch of arthritis or more serious conditions - it is immediately obvious to me, if not the individual concerned; they have not been willing to change.  They have not been listening to their own bodies and have some how lost touch with who they are, with Nature and the Universe. 

You see, pain is a wonderful thing.  Pain is our body’s way of shouting out loudly enough for you to take notice that something is wrong.  The body has been quietly telling you for some time but you have ignored it.  Often when we continue to ignore pain, it becomes dull.  We learn to live with it.  We do our best to ignore it and try to put it out of our minds.  Our body struggles on the best it can and we continue to function in this state of poor health for many years or even decades.   Often it leads to a chain reaction where other parts of our body also struggle to maintain homeostasis. The body has a fantastic natural intelligence of finding ways to re-balance itself.  But if you don’t change and continue doing all the things that makes you unwell, you will continue to have pain, illness, sadness; no matter how much medication you take you can not be truly healthy, happy and fulfilled.

Take someone who doesn’t eat a proper balanced diet for their unique body constitution, devoid of vegetables and other nutrients.  They are somehow surprised when their body rebels.  The body simply doesn’t have the equipment needed to fix itself and so tissues, muscles and ultimately the bones get week.  Over time other systems will degenerate, bones will break and the body will continue to weaken further, their concentration and mental clarity will suffer.  Their stamina and agility will be affected and therefore their ability to do simple tasks, to take part in sports, hobbies and other fun activities will suffer and this will make them unhappy.  Through this spiral of no-change, the cycle of poor health continues to worsen.

Someone else has arthritis.  Just a dodgy knee they say to me, nothing to worry about.  No need to change.  I say, simple changes will improve that knee, will make you lighter on your feet.  But if you have ignored the signs for so long, then there is no way to reverse the trend.  The good news is by grasping change even in the eleventh hour, it can radically prolong the severity of a condition even if is too late to reverse it completely.

Take a look at your life.  Are you truly healthy?  Are you in a comfortable but potentially life-threatening pattern of behaviour which continues to fuel poor health? Are you genuinely happy? Are you truly healthy in all the wonderful facets encompassed by Ayurveda?  Are you eating well?  Are you living well?  Are you getting enough of the right exercise?  Is your mind calm, clear and focused?  Are you sleeping soundly? Is your body telling you to embrace change?  Are you listening?

We all have the ability to heal ourselves – in Ayurveda we call this Inner Healing God, Dhanvantari.  Each one of us, has the power to change things for the better.  Ayurvedic therapists and practitioners like me are here to guide you towards how best you can achieve balance.  We tailor our programs to look at all aspects of your life using the principles of Ayurveda.  Our prescription is a life long-fix encompassing many things from simple dietary advice and herbal tonics to exercise as well as spirituality and meditation.

No matter how much I might want you to change, until you decide you need to grasp it with both hands, there is nothing I personally can do about it.  It is very frustrating as a healer to watch someone suffer, when just taking a few positive choices and embracing change can make a world of difference.  You and you alone have to be ready to embrace change.   Please don’t leave change until it is too late and allow terminal illness to set in.

Ayurveda therefore primarily encourages prevention and rejuvenation methods by embracing change; by taking responsibility for our health, by harnesses our Inner Healing God.  Why delay?  It is so much better to act now, to be healthy, happy, and prosperous in every sense for the rest of your life.  Happiness and peace of mind is far more rewarding than all that unnecessary stress. 

So please, listen closely to what your body is telling - embrace change.  Don’t leave it until it is too late.  Even in the eleventh hour change can bring about rewarding results.

One of the best ways to bring about positive change is pranayama.  My new pranayama workshops will start in November.  You’ll find the details on my website http://loveandwisdom.net.

Pranayama to the Rescue

Right now it seems an epidemic of fear, anxiety and pessimism is sweeping the world and I am driven to do my bit to dispel this cloud and release the sunshine and optimism in us all through the beautiful yoga breathing exercises known as pranayama.  More details on what pranayama is all about in a moment.   

The Credit Crunch is biting hard.  Unregulated-capitalism fuelled by greed and selfishness has been allowed to run havoc and as a result stock markets all over the world are suffering.  Millions of pounds, dollars, yen and other currencies are being wiped off the value of shares, pensions and savings.  Whole countries are being brought to their knees by the bankers who've put their individual interests and huge bonuses above society and humanity as a whole.  It's as if these financiers have been living their lives from the line I remember from the film Wall Street: "Greed is good."  We are now finding out that greed is not good.  Not good at all. 

I have had to stop watching the news as I cannot help but be sucked in by the fear frenzy and worry for my own family and the plight of millions of people across the globe that have inadvertently been caught up in this financial tsunami.  However, we are not as innocent as we'd like to think - while our brothers and sisters in the Third World have been starving - too many of us have been living the high life in our throw-away, get-rich-quick society.  We've been borrowing huge sums of money to live our dreams - buying properties, cars, fancy holidays and other material possessions we cannot afford.  What happened to the wisdom from our grandparents' generation?  My grandparents were very careful with money; they never borrowed anything and only spent what little cash they earned.  Yet still through their love, hard work and toil they sent my father and his 6 brothers to university and so to a better life.  They managed their money wisely and never seemed upset if they couldn't afford the latest designer goods or go away for an annual family holiday.  They had more respect for the planet and would naturally recycle most things, throwing away very little.  All of us will now have to re-examine how our grandparents did it and learn from them about how to live within our means.

Last week a great enlightened teacher, Dr Vasant Lad, reminded me of the ancient Vedic method of dispelling this dark cloud of fear by pranayama and prayer.  I am so grateful to him for reminding me of this powerfully uplifting and healing discipline which has been tried and tested over many thousands of years.  I and the rest of the world need pranayama right now, this moment.  To be honest, I had lost my way and got so caught up with the minutia of existence, my concerns for my patients and family were so great that I forgot to look after myself.  I used to practice pranayama twice a day, every day when I broke my leg in a skiing accident.  It helped me to heal very quickly.  Once you get the hang of it, it can take as little as half an hour every morning and evening to radically change your life for the better.  If we practice these divine breathing exercises we can easily overcome all of life's obstacles and become light, joyful, optimistic and so healthy we can live for a hundred years.

I am so thrilled to be doing pranayama regularly again; I am going to start giving lessons to all my patients, family, friends and the neighbourhood. It is so positive, so wonderful.

Pranayama helps us to understand the beauty in all things and be appreciative of all the divine gifts we have been blessed with.  There is too much to celebrate rather than be gloomy about.  (I wish I could teach it to the boys and girls in the City as we all need them to be more calm and relaxed then ever before.   All our collective nervous energy is making things worse with every passing day.)  Yoga is a way of living; if we lived by its principles there would be no greed in the world today only kindness, love, compassion and laughter.

I am sure you are asking by now, what exactly is this mystical wonder that is pranayama?  Well pranayama is a totally beautiful series of breathing exercises.  When practiced regularly it brings feelings of joy, clarity and love.  The Sanskrit word "prana" refers to the energy that moves the Universe; it IS our Universe.  It manifests itself on many levels - on a simple level prana is the act of breathing.  We do not have to think about breathing, we just do it;  even as we sleep we continue to breathe. Breathing is essential to life.  Prana is also pulsating in every particle in our Universe.  So prana is the life force of our Universe. 

Prana is also the bridge between our body, mind and consciousness.  By practicing it we forge greater links with our spiritual nature and fulfill our life's objective of knowing and understanding ourselves better and ultimately joining with the Higher Consciousness that connects us all. 

The Sanskrit word "yama" means to manage.  To put it simply therefore, pranayama is the art of managing our emotions through our breath.

By doing pranayama regularly this cloud of fear in our world today will disappear. Anxiety will vanish along with self-doubt.  Your health will be reviltalised.  You will be re-energised.  All the ailments that harm your body will be controlled and I promise you will feel totally at peace: calm, happy, relaxed, content and full of optimism and love.  Yes, all of life's obstacles will be removed and you will live blissfully for your remaining years.

So do not delay.  Do pranayama now.  If you cannot attend my pranayama classes there is good news because you will find many wonderful teachers near you who are ready, willing and able to show you the secrets to a long and happy life through pranayama. 

If you can, please come to my pranayama classes.  Details of how to sign up are on my website: www.loveandwisdom.net

 

Moving...

Dear Friends.  A big smile and hug coming your way.  I hope you are all well.  I have some news, please check out my new website www.loveandwisdom.net because my main blog has moved there.  I look forward to keeping in touch with you more often.  Love and Light, Neena x

Sweet Surrender

Hello.  Welcome to Ayurveda:  Love and Wisdom.  It is wonderful to be in your fine company again.

It has been a beautiful weekend.  The sun was shining and I felt its magic drifting in to my whole being; my spirits and my thoughts felt so alive and so much lighter as I awoke to the sunrise and felt the warmth of the rays on my skin.  The cold, dark nights are wonderful for many reasons not least because they help us to fully appreciate the Great Sun God.  The sun is the fire that burns away negative energies and is justifiably worshipped by all native cultures in our Universe.  It is the transformer of life.

When we forget ourselves and our hang ups and simply listen to our body…our hearts …our very soul, then we surrender to our true nature. I had the pleasure of surrendering – letting my hair down and enjoying myself in the rather non-ayurvedic past-time of drinking a bit too much wine and eating too much good food in the company of one of my best friends!  One of the reasons I love this friend of mine is that she always spreads a little magic wherever she goes.  She never judges people and simply accepts everyone for who they are.

It felt good to surrender even though my head was a little bit fuzzy the next day and I hoped it wouldn’t jeopardise my mission that weekend to learn more about Ayurveda and to mingle with some of the movers and shakers in this field in Europe.

At one point I felt the critical eye of a Yoga teacher who probably could not believe I had attended the amazing Iyengar Ashram in Pune and regularly practiced the philosophy and poses she had been kind enough to talk about and demonstrate. 

(This is the photo of the great BKS Iyengar from www.yanus.org. I thank him for sharing his wisdom with the world)

I think she was aghast when I said I was a bit hung over and that a normally relaxing pose was not as comforting as it should have been. I did not feel guilty – just a little foolish and naughty – inside however I was still radiating from my happy evening full of fun, laughter and gaiety.  What did make me feel uncomfortable is when she dismissed out of hand a question about if we could attune ourselves to the lunar cycle.  There was no reference for it in the books, she said.  So how can it be? 

A bit later at the event, I realised I too had closed my mind to some wonderful insights.  A light shone from a great and kind soul; and his light lit me up like a powerful beacon inside. I was like the sun, bursting with inner warmth as he spoke.  “Surrender” he said in a gentle and quiet way….and as he said it, I did. It made sense.  My doubts melted away.  I had explained to him why I thought I might be going a bit crazy…because I often feel like vast chunks of knowledge that is Ayurveda and Yoga is within me.  I wake up in the morning or emerge from a meditation session feeling as if I understand something new, something I can’t remember ever actually reading about.  Yet when I glance at a book on the subject it feels as if I am with a good friend….an old friend that I feel totally at ease with.  A friend I don't have to make any effort with.  I just have to be.

I have been struggling with these feelings, questioning them, doubting them.  Then I remember what this light and the light of my Guru has said to me in the past – the Vedas is within us all.  We are all born with this knowledge that is the natural rhythm and consciousness of the Universe – it is common sense, intuition and more, call it what you will.  It doesn’t matter.  This is the knowledge we do not get from books.  This is the truth and love of our higher self.  It is a knowledge untainted by judgement or emotion – it is purity and our connection with the Super Soul.  This IS what Ayurveda is all about.

  The West is so much in the head – logic, reason, and scientific explanation.  Tests, data - more tests.  We want all the answers and we want them now.  We want to read about it.  We want to see learned men and women right papers on the subjects and then we will open up our hearts to the possibilities. 

How amazing it is that the answers are within us – they are in the consciousness of every cell in our bodies, in every particle in the universe…all we have to do is open up our hearts and let the sun shine in.

From now on, I will embrace this knowledge that comes to me like an old friend.  I will enjoy its company, bask in the light and simply surrender to it. 

(Beautiful photo from www.samadhi-puja.ch)

Ohm shanti, shanti, shanti…

The Yoga of Our Actions...

Hello.  A very warm welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  I hope your New Year has got off to a great start.

I was in for a bit of a shock for me today…I discovered the distributor of a new organic preservative called "Bitter Orange Extract" had fraudulently diluted the product before selling it….the consequences are just beginning to unravel.  What prompts someone to take such a thoughtless action?  I suspect it was greed.  But this isn’t like diluting spirits or wine - the implications are far more wide ranging.

I had used the natural preservative in 3 of my new baby skin products.  It means the products have gone off far sooner than they were meant to; their lifespan should have been well over a year but mould has been found in some containers just weeks after they were made.   I have been busy recalling the products and trying to contact people who bought them.  I feel so sad that the products I have made with love have been affected this way, through no fault of my own or my supplier who had bought it in good faith.

As a journalist I would often come across many cases where greed had ended in tragedy. 

(Picture from www.veggiehealth.org)

I remember investigating Mad Cow Disease and the devastating effect of eating contaminated meat had on too many innocent people.   There had been attempts to cover up the number of humans who had died from CJD (Creutzfeldt Jacobs Disease).   One brave family opened up their hearts to me and I hope that their sad story and subsequent campaign following the untimely death of their beautiful son would change things for the better.  It certainly put the matter on the political agenda and improved safety regulations governing the sale of meat in the UK and Europe.  I believe the root cause was profit and greed were put before human welfare – animals were cannibalised and fed their own species or other animal carcases to fatten them up quicker and the problems were compounded by unscrupulous farmers and traders who sold the diseased meat to the unsuspecting public.  The actions of a few greedy people led to death and the devastation of many livelihoods – such as the hard working decent farmers who cared for their animals or the honest people in the industry who were just trying to make a living.  How can you compensate for the loss of your loved one is such an unnecessary way?

I guess when you put your own individual interests above all else, “I’m alright Jack”, “Why should I care about anybody else?” is where the trouble starts.  No thoughts are given for how your actions could affect others.

This brings me on to Yoga because Yoga is about so much more than postures – the perpetrators of the crimes above would not have done what they did if they practised yoga.  Yoga is all about of way of living, a philosophy or code of conduct.   Last year I told you a bit about the history of yoga and how it means a union with our higher self or God (whatever you want to call it.). 

Yoga is all about showing us ways of how we can live a life free from pain and suffering. 

Imagine asking God for an end to suffering – a pretty tall order! According to Yoga, there are eight paths that lead us towards this great goal.  (I will go in to them in more depth over the coming weeks, but for now the ones that are at the forefront of my mind :)  The first is Yama – which outlines what good behaviour is all about or the code of conduct for living in a harmonious way with yourself and others; then there is Niyama, which is about the disciplines you need in order to be a better person.  The Yamas and Niyama go hand in hand in daily life and are basically highlighting the importance of social and ethical discipline - our individual responsibility.  I guess they are sort of Yoga’s Ten Commandments for a healthy and responsible life.

Put simply, there are five Yamas:

1.      Ahimsa - Non-violence.

2.      Satya – Telling the truth.

3.      Asteya – No stealing from others.

4.      Bramacharaya – Self control

5.      Aparigraha – Not to be greedy.

There are also five Niyamas:

1.      Saucha – Cleanliness

2.      Santosha – Contentment

3.      Tapas – Doing your very best at all times; 100% effort and nothing less.

4.      Svadhyaya – Self study/Reflection

5.      Ishvara pranidhana – Devotion

Each one of these paths has its own stories to illustrate their importance to our happiness and wellbeing; I shall share them with you over the coming weeks. 

Basically if we lived by these codes of conduct set out in the philosophy of Yoga, there would be much less suffering in the world.  Children in poor countries like Africa would not be dying from starvation and lack of basic human rights.  We would not be faced with global warming, horrible acts of terrorism and terrible acts of cruelty that we witness on our daily News reports; and there certainly would not be the desire to make a quick buck at the expense of safety and care.   

I am so sorry to any one who has bought any one of these products affected:

Love Your Baby Nappy Rash Soothing Cream

Love Your Baby Shea Butter & Calendula Body Lotion

Love Your Baby Shampoo Chamomile & Calendula Shampoo

Please contact me and I will gladly give you a refund or exchange.  My email address is neena@loveandwisdom.net

Happy New Year!

Hello.  A very Happy New Year!  I wish you much happiness and love in the days ahead.

It has been a while since I last wrote, so much has happened.  Some good news, I have launched a range of Love Your Baby skin and hair care products.  Love Your Goddess (for women) and Love Your Man products are coming this year.  Also with the help of some very talented friends, I am re-doing my website and you will soon be able to buy things on line.

As another New Year begins, I have been reflecting on some of the key moments that have helped to make 2007 such a special year.

I was on a study weekend in the autumn with a great teacher I have admired for many years.  I have read most of his books and was delighted to finally meet the man himself.  It was a wonderful experience, exceeding all my expectations.  He was even more amazing in person - so kind, so loving, so articulate, so fun, so generous, and so incredibly clever.

He was teaching the group the art of pulse and face diagnosis.  I joined the class in fits of laughter when the tip of my nose indicated that I could have internal hemorrhoids and not as I had suggested the result of an accidental burn while making Ayurvedic oils!

The art of tongue diagnosis followed.  The instant the great teacher saw my tongue he said I have had a broken heart and endured suffering in my life.  I thought I was well over all that, it was ancient history; today I stand a happy, fulfilled woman.

Some memories flashed back that moment he gazed in to my eyes and as he held my hands with kindness and empathy regarding my past.  It is true I have had a turbulent childhood.  I remembered the hardship my main tormentor subjected me to and how I grew up determined never to allow the things she would say or do break my spirit.  When she became very ill, ironically I was the one who ended up at her side in her last few days.  Caring for someone who had caused me much pain and suffering showed me that forgiveness is indeed a great healer for all involved.

 

I racked my brains for another explanation; my tormentor never broke my heart no matter how hard she tried -I would always wake up happy, positive and full of hope.  It didn’t take long for another memory to emerge from the recesses of my past.  I remembered I really did suffer from a broken heart.  It seems so long ago, but for a moment I felt that pain again; at the time I felt as if my heart was physically breaking after a relationship had ended.  (I have always been a bit of a drama queen especially in relationships, thanks to a diet of early Bollywood movies.)  However this heart ache was different.  It was not the fact it was over that really upset me, it was the fact that I had no explanation for why it was over and the pain was compounded by his attempts at covering up the truth for fear of hurting me.   Why didn’t he understand, truth is always easier to bear because you cannot argue with it, you just have to accept it.  Had he told me the truth at the outset, I would have got over him so much sooner and today maybe we would still be friends.

 

How could the great teacher see all this on my tongue?  This heartache happened ages ago and I am well over it.  I am now enjoying a happy, loving, relationship with a wonderful man and feel very content.

The answer in Ayurveda is simple; every thing that happens to us is literally etched all over our faces and body.  We can not hide our facial expressions nor can we hide our experiences; these events, thoughts, emotions become lines on our faces and if they persist they can even lead to illness or imbalance.  They shape more than our character. 

It makes me think of a young man I once knew who did his best at keeping his life private and defying these laws of nature.  I even joked with him saying he should be some kind of secret agent.  He tried his very best to keep his face and behaviour as expressionless as possible, a bit like a mask.  He would try to hide as much as possible.  On the outside he was calm and cool but on the inside there was a riot of pent up anger and frustration probably fuelled by insecurity.  He didn’t realise that everyone around him could see it.  Could feel it.  Could almost touch it.  We may not have been able to put our finger on exactly what was wrong but everyone around him could sense something was not right.

Thanks to the great teacher and my guru Professor Kulkarni, I now have a greater understanding of how to read faces, eyes, tongues and pulses.  The lines of our face all tell a story.

The wonderful thing is when we have dealt with the issues these lines can actually disappear.  Pranaymana or breathing and the art of awareness are the way to mend a broken heart and so many other ailments in our bodies.  Perhaps that is one reason I have few lines on my face, now I have to really deal with the heartbreaker and lay that experience properly to rest.

I hope next time I am privileged to meet the great teacher; the signs of a long forgotten heartache will have totally disappeared.

Maybe I have unwittingly hurt others.  What if my actions are written on a face somewhere?  So let us start the New Year by raising a toast to all the people we have hurt by an unkind act, deed, or even thought. Let us ask for their forgiveness and show them and ourselves the love we deserve.

Let our faces from this day onwards be the resting place for the lines of joy, laughter and contentment .... Happy 2008!

Cambridge Special Offer

Hello!  A very warm welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  Just a quick reminder about a special offer.  I am offering all members of the Cambridge Organic Food Company (COFCO) a love token - 5% discount on all Love and Wisdom Ayurveda and Aromatherapy treatments.  See www.loveandwisdom.net for more information about the healing and beauty treatments you could try.  The offer applies to the Arjuna Clinic only which is above Arjuna Health Food Shop, 12A Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AD. 
I have been a loyal supporter of the organic box scheme since I moved to Cambridgeshire and want to pledge my support for all the magnificent, hard working, local heroes - organic farmers in Cambridgeshire.  You can contact them on www.cofco.co.uk.

Ayurveda believes food is much more than nutrition - food can heal us.  Eating locally produced organic food made with the love and care of local farmers is good for our health and for the planet.  Ethical, sustainable and a wonderful way to reduce our carbon footprint.  Organic box schemes operate all over the UK and other parts of the world.  Why not check out who is growing what in your area.

Of course better still is to have a go at growing your own organic fruit, vegetables and herbs.  If you don't have a garden there is always the option of having an allotment.

I'll continue my talks on yoga next time.   

 

Inner Goddess

Hello!  A big hug and smile.  Welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  I promised you more on yoga, I have not forgotten. I hope the following thoughts will become a gentle introduction to some of the philosophy that lies behind the practise of yoga and ayurveda.  Yoga is about bringing unity to our mind, body and soul and shows us ways we can achieve this spiritual harmony.  Its all about finding your Inner Goddess.
Recently I was talking to a fellow therapist about one of our friends who, like me is making skin care products .  I was told she was doing very well. I was really pleased for her success.  Her joy, was my joy.  My friend asked me, “Are you really happy for our friend – aren’t you jealous, not even a tiny bit?”   When I confidently replied, “Yes, that's great news” she raised her very lovely eyebrows disbelievingly as if to say, “Yeah right”.

I am not saying that I do not have a competitive nature (it’s down to my Pitha dosha which lets rip every now and again).  For example, I recently was on a practical course when I had to laugh out loud to myself because I wanted my team to be the fastest, most efficient and most happy bunch.

Competition can be healthy and fun.  It helps us do better and achieve things in our lives.  Competition doesn’t have to be an ugly thing infused with feelings of superiority, dishonesty and bitchiness - we can do well and shine without all that crap because when we harm others, even in the form of an unkind thought, we are actually harming ourselves.

There may have been times in the past when I have let fleeting feelings of doubt or insecurity come over me on this issue.  I confess to thinking for a split second, “I wish I had done that.”  But then I quickly realise I had not – my friend has achieved this goal and I put in every effort and so could not chastise myself.  I can do the best I can, with the best intentions and continue on my path.  That is why I have always helped and encouraged those around me to excel even in the extremely competitive media world. 

I guess I have always believed that we all are blessed with unique talents or gifts.  I have always believed in my Inner Goddess.  We all have our own strengths that should be embraced. In Ayurveda we say it is our “Inner Divinity” or that special-ness which shines in each and every one of us.  It is our true nature.   As an Ayurvedic Practitioner, my purpose is to help you find your Inner Divinity and celebrate it.

In Ayurveda it is said that our journey to recognising our true nature (Inner Divinity) begins when we are true to our purpose in life.  When we follow our life purpose with love, kindness, honesty, compassion, non-greediness and non-harm to others (and ourselves) then we become content.  This contentment means we take care of our bodies and feel good about ourselves.  When we feel good about ourselves, we make time to enjoy with our family and friends.  Our relationships blossom and that makes us even healthier and happier. When we reach this level of contentment in our lives, we are then able to begin to connect with our spirituality - to get to know ourselves and our Inner Divinity.  The more we connect, the more happiness we find and our Inner Divinity radiates like a bright light within us.  Meditation and attention to our breath helps us to connect with the spiritual side of our being.

What does all of this mean?  Well, when we are content with who we are; when we have joy and happiness within and are able to unleash the power of our Inner Divinity – it is only then can we genuinely celebrate and bask in the joy, success and happiness of others. 

I am flattered when my friends sign their name like I do, “Love and Light”.  I hope this entry in my blog will give you a tiny insight into the meaning and philosophy behind the phrase.  There's a lot more to your inner Goddess and I shall discuss this with you in the near future.

So let go of any jealousy, insecurities and fear – love yourself, celebrate your Inner Goddess.  Happiness comes from within.  It is your Inner Divinity or Inner Goddess.  Happiness is your birthright, so go on and claim it!

Don't forget to check out my website, www.loveandwisdom.net.  It would be lovely to meet you.

History of Ayurveda

Hello friends.  A big smile and warm welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  I recently was asked to write a few words on the History of Ayurveda.  I got very excited and started typing furiously.  Then my guru Prof Dr P H Kulkarni delighted me with his presence in the UK.  We discussed the topic and I would like to share with you the amazing story of how this ancient love and wisdom came into being.

The history of Ayurveda is shrouded in the mists of time.  No one really knows for sure how it began.  It is timeless like the universe itself.  Hindus believe that Bramhadev, the Great God of Creation himself passed on his knowledge to mankind. We do know however that this ancient wisdom originated in India and is over five thousand years old. It has survived despite countless invasions and very little being written down because for generations it has been passed on by word of mouth from guru to disciple in the divine language that is Sanskrit.  Like a sheet of music becomes alive when it is played by musicians, so it is believed that the Sanskrit words are energised when they are spoken.  When I hear the sounds they release their vibrational energy which transcends into my heart and soul like a symphony of love, joy and healing.  It is a poetic language, where vast volumes of work are contained in simple short verses or slokas.  In these poetic extracts, enshrined in the religious rituals, are the pearls of wisdom on which Ayurveda, as it is practised today is based.

Legend has it that many thousands of years ago long before the Vedas (the ancient Hindu scriptures) were written, the people who lived near the Ganges and Sindha rivers suffered from diseases of the body and the mind.  There was no release.  Disease and unrest was increasing.  The people approached the great God Brahmadev and told him how his people were suffering from chronic disease for which they had no remedy.  They asked the Great God, “Please help us to cure disease” they said, “help to make us healthy for a long time.”  Brahmadev heard what the people were saying and closed his eyes for a moment, and remembered.  He knew this knowledge by heart, it was etched in his soul.
 

If you want to read more click here - Download history_of_ayurveda_may07.pdf

Please don't forget to check out my website www.loveandwisdom.net. Bye for now, Neena

Cambridge Special Offer!!

Hello!  A very warm welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  Just a quick reminder to tell you about a special offer.  I am offering all members of the Cambridge Organic Food Company (COFCO) a love token - 5% discount on all Love and Wisdom Ayurveda and Aromatherapy treatments.  See www.loveandwisdom.net for more information about the healing and beauty treatments you could try.  The offer applies to the Arjuna Clinic only which is above Arjuna Health Food Shop, 12A Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AD. 
I have been a loyal supporter of the organic box scheme since I moved to Cambridgeshire and want to pledge my support for all the magnificent, hard working, local heroes - organic farmers in Cambridgeshire.  You can contact them on www.cofco.co.uk.

Ayurveda believes food is much more than nutrition - food can heal us.  Eating locally produced organic food made with the love and care of local farmers is good for our health and for the planet.  Ethical, sustainable and a wonderful way to reduce our carbon footprint.  Organic box schemes operate all over the UK and other parts of the world.  Why not check out who is growing what in your area.

Of course better still is to have a go at growing your own organic fruit, vegetables and herbs.  If you don't have a garden there is always the option of having an allotment.

I'll continue my talks on yoga next time.   

 

Yoga Sutras

In the coming weeks I want to tell you more about yoga and how the postures, breathing, meditation and philosophy have enormous benefits for each and every one of us.   To get a true feel for yoga, I think is important to take a brief look at its history.

The origins of yoga are lost in the eons of time.  Excavations in the Indus basin in the 20th century uncovered intact ceramics about five thousand years old which had yoga postures on them.  Holy men in India will tell you that yoga has been a part of the nation's culture for about the last 10,000 years.  For most of that time the wisdom has largely been passed on by word of mouth from teacher to student for generations.

Descriptions of yoga methods are found in the sacred ancient works of the Hindus such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita and the Tantras. However, it was an Indian saint called Patanjali who lived between 500 and 200 BC who finally put pen to paper and wrote a definitive guide.  Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras which outline the science of yoga in four chapters and are made up of 196 sutras or aphorisms (short statements that can easily be remembered).

Sutra in Sanskrit means thread.  So the sutras are like the thread that links prayer beads (japa mala) – linking each pearl of wisdom. Although the Sutras are brief, they are a bit like modern day “sound bites” you hear on the news – short, sweet and to the point.  Patanjali would have been the great journalist of his time.  His enormously influential work is just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today as it was when it was written.

The sutras or statements are quite awesome and scholars take many years to study them in detail in order to unravel the wisdom jam packed inside each one.  Each sutra contains the essence of a thought but I think Patanjali intended the Sutras to be a reference manual and in order to truly understand each of them it helps to have a teacher or guru. 

Like any good book, the Sutras for me, come alive when I use my imagination and put my own spin or interpretation on what the words mean.  It never ceases to amaze me how these sutras are just as relevant in today’s life as they were when Patanjali wrote them long before the birth of Christ.

Who was Patanjali?  How did he come to write the Sutras? It’s a wonderful story, so I hope you are sitting comfortably…

Legend has it that he was the incarnation of Adishesha a great King Cobra whose body was a seat for Lord Vishnu (the god of preservation). One day Lord Vishnu and other dignitaries were invited to see a famous dance called the Tandava Nritya.  When the dance started Lord Vishnu became totally absorbed with it and his entire body began to vibrate, he felt as if he was doing the dance himself.  As he become more engrossed with the dance his body become very heavy.  The King Cobra struggled under the increasing heavy weight of Lord Vishnu and started gasping for breath.  As soon as the dance was over Lord Vishnu became light again.   The Cobra wanted to learn this dance himself but he was told that he would have to wait as he had be chosen for a special assignment on earth, however once there he would also be given the opportunity to learn this magnificent dance.

While he waited to be given his task on earth, the King Cobra learned the art writing and grammar.   Meanwhile, on earth a clever, devout and loving woman called Gonika knew her life on earth was soon to end and wanted to pass on her knowledge but no one suitable had come to her.  So she took some water in her hands and closed her eyes as she prayed to the rising Sun and asked for the knowledge to be returned to whence it came.  As she opened her eyes she saw a tiny snake in the folded palms of her hands which immediately took a human form. She took the baby and called it Patanjali (pata means fallen) and (anjali means palms folded in an offering).

Gonika was a wonderful mother and she loved the child and gave him all the knowledge and wisdom she had learned.  Through her guidance he learned various other disciplines including the great dance.  He grew up to be an extraordinary person famed for his learning and wisdom. 

Patanjali wrote 3 classical books

1.      Mahabhashya on Sanskrit Grammar

2.      Charaka Samhita on Ayurveda

3.      Patanjali Yoga Darshana on Yoga.

Yoga teaches unity of all life and sets out a programme of practical exercises to show us how to achieve it.  Absolutely anyone and everyone can benefit from yoga.  Next time I shall tell you more about some of the benefits of yoga.  Take this thought with you; yoga is like a dance – the great dance of life.

Don’t forget to check out my website: www.loveandwisdom.net

Spring into Life

Spring is often thought of as a time of new beginnings.  Lambs frolicking in the fields and new flower buds burst into bloom as nature puts on its vibrant firework display.

In the run up to Easter I have experienced both the sad loss of an elderly loved one and the joyful emergence of a new life - my cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby girl called Tanvi seen here.  Both of these events are perhaps new beginnings.  A similar philosophy perhaps is illustrated at Easter time with the death and resurrection of Christ.

Ayurveda believes that our physical bodies are just a manifestation of our souls. Every living being has a soul with prana or vital life force without which it cannot exist.

The ‘Gita’, which is the holy book of the Hindus, states that we actually only exist as souls. Life and death are the same thing because it is only our bodies which are living or dying. Our soul is permanent. If our soul is alive we cannot die; and if we cannot die then how can we live? In a complex narrative to Arjuna, Lord Krishna gives out the philosophical discourse, which is the very foundation of Hindu religion and Ayurveda – the soul is true being. The body is merely the physical manifestation of the soul.  Hindus believe that the soul is re-incarnated.  Buddha did not concern himself too much with the big question of what happens to us when we die but preferred to consider what happens to each of us when we live in the moment.  Buddhists believe however that our soul's cycle of birth and death continues until we have reached a state of peace with ourselves or "nirvana".

Whatever religion you follow, our existence is so much more than our physical bodies.  Our soul or spirit is actually the essence of who we are.

In other words our bodies are "on loan" to us for the duration of our lives.  So if we look after them they will serve us well.  This thought brings us back to the definition of Ayurveda which is made up of two Sanskrit words - ayur meaning "life" or perhaps more precisely it means the journey from birth to death and veda meaning "knowledge".

Enjoy life as it explodes all around you this spring.  Observe the flowers as they unfold their beauty and magic. Take joy from these simple pleasures and make the most of every moment life has to offer. 

A Mother's Love

Dear lovely friends, a big smile and hug - welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  Wishing all Mothers and would-be Mothers a very happy Mothers Day, each and every day.

I remember a touching central theme in the Harry Potter books; Harry's scar was a testament to his mother's love.  She loved him so much that her love would always protect him, even from the evil Lord Voldemort.  Well that sort of protection can be given by all mothers, not just to Harry Potter but to to all children everywhere, because the happiest food any one of us can get and the gift that protects us throughout our lives is our mother's milk.

Breast milk gives us all the nutrients we need to grow up big and strong as well as the immunity we need to fight off lots of infections in our later life.  It is amazing how this gift can and does protect us.   According to Ayurveda, this milk contains our vital "Ojas" or our ability to fight infections. 

My mother was a busy doctor working on-call in hospital and did not have time to breast feed me. I was amazed that as I stood as an adult before Ayurveda guru, Professor Dr. P.H. Kulkarni, he was able to spot almost instantaneously that I was not breast fed as a baby!  Now as my knowledge grows I too can recognise adults like me, who have not been breast fed because their "Ojas" doesn't shine as brightly. (I can't help feeling a little guilty as my baby face was used to advertise baby powder and I hope that I unwittingly did not help advertisers dissuade Indian mother's from giving their babies breast milk.)

Luckily bottle milk is the next best thing.  It isn't as good as breast milk but it does give babies and children a lot of the nutrients they need.  Prof. Kulkarni says milk "travels on the Number 1 Highway" and provides many essential nutrients for our immunity even as adults.

Milk has got a bit of a bad name recent years - perhaps it has  something to do with the hormones or other rubbish that intensive farmed cows are fed with these days? Or perhaps it is the influence of nations who traditionally do not drink milk or eat dairy products in adult hood such as the Chinese?  Given that Chinese Traditional Medicine has had an influence on Naturopathy and Acupuncture - maybe as these therapies gain popularity, drinking milk becomes less popular?  Or perhaps it is because increasing numbers of people are led to believe they are lactose intolerant?  Or is it because the "fat" in milk is no longer desirable as we head for no-fat foods? I know many people are drinking Soya milk instead.  I do not know the Ayurvedic properties of Soya Milk and keep meaning to see if any research has been done in the area. 

What I can say is this: as far as boosting our immunity goes there is nothing better than drinking a glass of organic milk made from happy cows.  Modern science says milk gives us calcium and other basic nutrients.   According to Ayurveda, milk nourishes each and every level of our bodies.  It is the earth element in our bodies.  Drinking it helps to give us peace of mind and happy thoughts alleviating depression.  Drinking milk also nourishes our sexual organs and helps to make us more fertile.  Like the breast milk our mothers may have given us, milk gives us some of the vital "Ojas" we need to protect our bodies from disease and infection.

The best way to drink organic milk is warm...I prefer semi-skimmed with a pinch of saffron and cardamom for flavour.  This is one of the happiest foods your body can get...so love yourself unconditionally like your own mother would. Protect yourself from disease and depression...drink a cup of milk every day from now on.

If you are interested in finding out more about Ayurvedic healing then check out my website: www.loveandwisdom.net

Happy Fats

Hello. A friendly hug and warm welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  Don't forget if you want to know more about Ayurveda and healing check out my new website: www.loveandwisdom.net.
Now, more on happy foods and in particularly happy fats.The word "fat" has got a bad name.  Say "FAT" and immediately many of us think of a fat pig like this rather cute one, or lard, our love handles or obesity.  I agree that too much fat is not a good thing, we all have our own optimum body weight.  However, not all fat is bad, in fact some fats are GOOD, very good for us because we cannot live without them.  Fats are the building blocks of our body, they insulate, add bulk and protect.  Fats are the Earth element in our body. 
Let's take a quick look at the science bit first to understand more about them.  Fats are basically made up of molecules called fatty acids and depending on their structure they are known as saturated, monunsaturated or polyunsaturated.  Fats rich in saturated fatty acids usually come from animal sources such as lard or suet - they are solid at room temperature.  Most fats from plant sources are usually monunsaturated or polyunsaturated - except for palm and coconut which are high in saturated fats.   The important thing to remember is saturated and monounsaturated fats are not not needed in our diets because our body can make these building blocks.  However, some polyunsaturated fats are known as essential fatty acids.  They live up to their name, they are essential because your body cannot make them, so you have to eat them in your diet.  In your body polyunsaturated fatty acids are important for maintaining the membranes of all cells; for making prostaglandins which regulate many body processes which include inflammation and blood clotting. Another requirement for fat in the diet is to enable the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K to be absorbed from food; and for regulating your body's cholesterol metabolism. 

Research released last week suggested that increasingly numbers of women in developed nations are becoming infertile because they are not eating enough "good fats in their diet".  The desire to be slim is pushing many women in particularly into no-fat foods.  This is having long-term effects on their minds, bodies and fertility. 

Two polyunsaturated fatty acids that cannot be made in the body are linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).  We must include them in our diet. Within your body both can be converted to other polyunsaturated fatty acids.  Omega 3 and Omega 6 are two very essential fatty acids.

Western medicine determined that essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 and Omega 6 were vital for our wellbeing as late as 1930.  However Ayurvedic Physicians have been aware of their importance for thousands of years.

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are found in cold water oily fish such as wild salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and some grains.  If you are vegetarian like me, you can get Omega 3s from flax or hemp seeds.  Walnuts are also particularly good source.  The natural source is far more beneficial - I don't believe in artificial supplements. Chemicals might try to mimic nature but we don't really know how efficiently our bodies can process them.  A word of caution - again my advice is everything in moderation.  Eat a little of these things every week.

Omega 9 is not classed as a fatty acid, it is actually a monounsaturated fatty acid.  It is not essential as our bodies can make it but it is nevertheless a good thing to include in our diets. You can get Omega 9 in Olive oil.   

That's enough of the Western perspective for now, back to the easy to understand Ayurvedic view.  According to Ayurveda the food we eat is broken in stages into the 5 Great Elements; the earth element is needed to give our body strength and a framework. It also enables our mind to have peaceful or satvic thoughts and alleviates depression and anxiety.  These essential fats are needed for the proper functioning of our sex organs which produce the "ojas" or immunity needed to prevent disease.  So I return now to that research on fats and female fertility in particular because Ayurveda has known the link for a very long time.  This wisdom may be as old as the hills but is being proven accurate again and again.  There is so much more Modern Medicine can learn if it embraces traditional forms of healing like Ayurveda and discovers there is indeed a solid science behind it.

Last and by no means least some dairy (where the livestock has been fed on grains) can also produce milk and eggs that are rich in the essential Omega fatty acids.  Next time I shall discuss milk - another happy food.

 

Water, water, water

Hello!  A big smile and hug.  Welcome to Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.

Now I mentioned last time that drinking a tall, glass of WARM water first thing in the morning and last thing at night was "The Number 1 Medicine".  I should add that Ayurveda recommends that we do not drink lots of water or alcohol at the same time as we eat our meals.  This is because by doing so we dilute our body's enzymes and make it harder for them to do their job.  The best time to drink water is either about half-an-hour before meals or half-an-hour to 45 minutes after food.  It is quite a difficult concept to put in to practise in the West, as we are used to drinking wine or something with our meals.  I find it a little difficult to do too, especially if I am out having a meal with friends.  However it makes sense. 

Many of you have asked about the alternatives as you do not like the taste of warm water.  This is because your palette isn't accustomed to it. With a bit of perseverance you will eventually learn to love warm water. You could add a couple of slices of fresh ginger to it - that helps to blast out toxins from the body, or soak some coriander seeds in the water overnight - this is great for the proper maintenance of your kidneys. 
What about herbal teas you ask?  Again, drinking herbal teas is better than drinking ordinary tea or coffee and better than drinking nothing at all.  At least the drink is warm and contains water.  Herbal teas, coffee, wines, beers and other natural drinks and juices all have a place in our lives.  Green Tea, for example is rich in anti-oxidants - these are the soldiers who help to fight off infections and boost our immunity.  But too much of Green Tea and it becomes a diuretic - encouraging you to go to the toilet and loose water.  If you are going to drink alternatives to delicious water, my advice is to do so in moderation.  Ayurvedic teas are available which help to balance your individual body type and condition.  It is best to get professional advice to find out which Ayurvedic Tea is best for you.

Plain, fresh water is best.  It is what your body needs.  It makes your skin lovely and clear.  It helps the enzymes work efficiently.  It helps your brain work properly and improves the communication between all the billions of cells inside your body.  So go on, be brave, take the plunge.  Drink water - make it warm and pure.  Feel refreshed, re-vitalised and re-energised.

More on Happy Foods next time.  You can find out more about Ayurveda on my website: www.loveandwisdom.net

Happy Foods

Hello a big smile and hug.  Welcome. Some news, I have just started a website called loveandwisdom.net, please check it out. 

Now last time I promised to tell you more about Happy Foods according to Ayurveda.  Let's start with the most important one - Water.

We often don't think of it as a food although it is vital for our health and wellbeing.  It is one of the Five Great Elements we must take daily in order to survive.  My Guru, Professor Dr Kulkarni says drinking a tall glass (about 350ml) of warm water first thing in the morning and last thing at night is the "Number 1 Medicine".  He is absolutely right because it helps to keep our body processes going (homeostasis) and keeps us alert. The current medical advice is to drink about 2 litres of water a day (and quite a bit more if you are sporty or in a hot climate). It is surprising how many of us know this but still fail to drink enough water. An easy way to know if you are drinking enough is to look at the colour of your urine, if it is a pale straw colour - well done, you are drinking enough water, if it is dark yellow or greenish yellow you are not.

Why warm water? Drinking warm water is so much better according to Ayurveda because it doesn't have to be heated to our optimum body temperature and therefore it gives our enzymes and other chemical reactions in our body a head start.  In Ayurveda we say ice cold water can literally reduce our digestive capacity by quoshing our digestive fire.  Warm water also helps to flush out the toxins better.

If you are addicted to coffee - it is best to drink at least the same volume of water every time you have a cup.  Coffee, in particular, is a strong diuretic which means it makes you go to the loo and encourages your body to lose water.  So imagine what it is doing to your body when you are not drinking enough water!  This basic rule is even more important when you drink alcohol.

If you don't drink enough water basically your body has to cope with the same old dirty water, again and again.  You wouldn't wash your dishes or clothes in the same dirty water for days on end - so be kinder to yourself.  Love yourself.  Drink water, lots of it.  We are so lucky in the West to have a plentiful supply of water, it makes me sad to think of others on our planet who are deprived of this basic necessity.

Next time some more on Happy Foods.

Sweet Valentine

Hello!  A big Valentine hug and a warm welcome to Ayurveda - Love and Wisdom.  It is the time of year when love is in the air - or if you are a little cynical - it is what the advertisers, florists and card suppliers want us to think! In the wonderful philosophy of Ayurveda, love is always in the air (makes me want to sing for joy!!); love to our fellow man, love to the plants and animals we share our planet with, and last but by no means least, love to ourselves. 

I want to say more about loving ourselves and about being our own Sweet Valentine. 

We need to love ourselves more - look after ourselves and nurture ourselves.  I don't mean this in a narcissistic way.  This subject has been praying on my mind quite a bit recently after a friend of mine revealed that she hates (strong word) cooking - if she gets hungry she will only make herself some toast.  She says it is not because she cannot cook but because she cannot be bothered.  If it wasn't for the kindness of her close friends who often cook for her, I wonder how long she would survive?  This friend is a beautiful, slim, kind, clever woman and good company.  Those who love her, like I do, can see her many special qualities, so why can't she see these qualities in herself?  Her self neglect and eating disorder makes me sad; why does she not love herself enough to care for her body, long term health and future?  I believe that, not to love healthy, wholesome food is not to love oneself. 

On the flip side, another wonderful person I know, thrives on sugary snacks, cakes and junk food rich in hydrogenated fats, salts and additives galore - some sweets have so many Es that they read like a heady toxic cocktail and then there's a daily dose of sweet fizzy drinks that add even more additives to the list.  She too is a remarkable and very capable woman who doesn't like cooking much either - well unless it involves copious amounts of sugar or chocolate. I think the American fast food culture is threatening world happiness!!! Killing the "have too muches" with obesity and depression and depriving the "having nothings" even more.  While some of us are dying for a burger or a sweet fizzy drink - others on our planet are dying because they cannot get the smallest scrap of food.

Most of us are not happy with our bodies in some way - too fat, too thin, too tall, too short. These things ultimately don't really matter.  What we should be asking ourselves is: Am I eating healthy, wholesome foods?  Are these foods loaded with Es, salt, additives, pesticides and other stuff that is killing me slowly? Are these foods produced in an ethical way? Am I doing enough exercise?  Am I living in respectful way?  Am I eating in a mindful and respectful way?  In other words, am I making the most of this wonderful gift of life? 

It is true what they say, you really are what you eat.  What we affects not only our body but also our mind.  How we think and our attitudes to food also affect our psyche and our long term happiness.  It is common sense.

All cultures recommend a balanced diet, or at least most things in moderation.  The foods will vary depending on where we live, our culture and traditions and what is available seasonally. This wisdom has been passed down for generations.  But our instant culture and prepacked ready-made foods is strangling this tradition and our positive relationship with food, preparation and cooking.

Ayurveda as I have mentioned at the very beginning, believes in the Five Great Elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) being the building blocks of the Universe.  We need air to breathe and to live.  Our bodies cannot synthesise some of these elements so we need to take them in in the form of food - these are the building blocks of our bodies and minds.

Ayurveda uses food as a medicine.  It is food for the mind, body and soul.  Different body constitutions need a slightly different combination of the Five Great Elements.  I'll give you some general Ayurvedic happy eating guidelines next time. 

For now, if you do not already .... start loving yourself.  Happy Valentines xxx

 

Oops again...

Hello friends.  If you have signed up for email updates you will recently have experienced a case of deja vu.  Well spotted, you have received some of these posts before.  Typepad which runs this system had a bit of a clean up recently, as a result a lot of my previous entries were lost and needed to be loaded again.  I am not a whiz with all this technology as you might have gathered...so there could be more emails coming your way...perhaps it is because you are all so lovely that I like to keep you posted.  The good news is every action has a positive side - so at least it is all good revision until we meet again. Big smile and warmest wishes... 

You Are The Five Elements

A very warm welcome to the truth, love and wisdom that is Ayurveda. If it is your first visit, it is best to start reading the entries from “What is Ayurveda?” upwards until you reach this one.

Ether or Spaces exists between our organs, in our respiratory and digestive systems, in our capillaries, lymph, tissues and cells.  If it wasn’t for space there would not be anywhere or anything to put stuff in.

Whenever there is a movement in space it is governed by the air element.  Our ability to run or jump depends on movement of our muscles and bones and therefore air.  The beating of our hearts too requires movement.  Tiny movements also happen within every single one of our cells.  The transportation of messages to and from the brain involves movement and therefore air.  Our entire central nervous system is controlled by air and it is why we are able to detect and respond to changes both inside and outside our body.  So if ether is the dominant element in your make-up then you will tend to be very active, darting here and there.  So you will be naturally thin.  Too much of it and you would tend to get a bit nervous or anxious.

Fire in our solar system the source of light or fire energy is the sun.  In our bodies the fire or transformation of energy comes from our enzymes and their ability to metabolise food and turn it into energy.  Fire works when we eat something.  In the grey matter of our brains it helps us interpret things and is responsible for our intelligence.  It also activates our eyes so we can see.  In other words it is thanks to our fire element or enzymes that we can maintain our body temperature, the thinking processes of our mind, our sight and indeed fire is needed to maintain all our bodily functions.  If the fire element dominates your character then you will tend to have a fiery, passionate nature.  You will have a sharp intellect. Too much fire and your vision may be affected or over active digestive juices can lead to a sensitive stomach.

, is as you know, essential for life.  If we don’t drink enough of it we get dehydrated and ultimately we can die.  Water makes up over 70 per cent of our body.  It is found in our blood and lymph plasma, the secretions of our digestive juices, in our saliva. 

Water

Life is possible here on Earth, because our planet because it holds and gives a place for all the living and non-living materials we need to survive.   In the body the earth element is also responsible for all our solid structures – our bones, muscles, tendons, skin hair and nails.  If earth is your dominant element in your make up you will tend to be strong, well-built and stable.  Opposite of the air element, you will tend to be slow and steady.

The five great elements also play a big role in our senses – our ability to touch, to see, to hear, to taste and to smell.  More about the five great elements and our five senses next time.

A quick re-cap.  You may remember I said that according to Ayurveda the Universe is made of five elements and that we too are made up of these five elements.  Let’s look closer at the five elements and our bodies:

Oops...

Hello friends.  If you have signed up for email updates you will recently have experienced a case of deja vu.  Yes, you have received some of these posts before.  Typepad which runs this system had a bit of a clean up recently, as a result a lot of my previous entries were lost and needed to be loaded again.  I am not a whiz with all this technology as you might have gathered...so there could be more emails coming your way...perhaps it is because you are all so lovely that I like to keep you posted.  The good news is every action has a positive side - so at least it is all good revision until we meet again. Big smile and warmest wishes... 

   

Tridosha

A hug and big smile - welcome to this site.  If it is your first visit, it might be best to scroll down the left hand side and read "What is Ayurveda" up to this entry.

The concept of the Tridoshas is unique to Ayurveda and has the potential to revolutionise health care in the West.  We have so far learned that there are three doshas in the body - Vata, Pitha and Kapha and they control our minds, bodies and consiousness.  There are seven combinations of these doshas (Vata, Pitha, Kapha, Vata+Pitha, Vata+ Kapha, Pitha+Kapha and Vata+Pitha+Kapha).  Most of us are a combination.  The dominant dosha is the one which has the biggest effect on our physiology and psychology. 

Vata (Ether and Air elements) controls all movements in our body from our beating hearts to the blink of our eyes.  It also controls the movments within a cell and between cells including our nerves, lymph and blood.  It also controls all secretions and nerve impulses.  The feelings and emotions controlled by Vata are things like anxiety, fear and pain.  Vata in the body's organs mainly lives in the central nervous system, large intestines and bones .

Pitha (Water and Fire) controls all transformation or enzymes in the body. It governs our digestion, metabolism, body temperature, skin colour and lustre, intelligence and understanding.  In our minds Pitha is linked with anger, hate and jealousy.  In our bodies Pitha controls the small intestines, sweat glands and eyes.

Kapha (Earth and Water) gives our bodies strength and a framework.  Kapha is the energy that makes up the body's structure - the glue that holds it all together.  It also supplies the fluids that our cells need.  In other words, Kapha rules over all the mucous surfaces of the body.  Kapha is responsible for the solid nature of our bodies, strength and sexual power.  In our minds Kapha is linked with patience and love.

Each of these doshas has three states.  When they are in equilibrium our health is maintained.  Too much or too little of any of these doshas leads to imbalance and ultimately disease.  Ayurveda works by returning our bodies back to their own unique natural equilibrium.  Luckily our body's are programmed to try and return to equilibrium, for example sometimes when we have a hankering to eat a particular kind of food - instinctively our body is sending us the right signals to return to a healthy equilibrium.

I remember talking to my partner over the phone when I was last in India.  He was feeling unwell but there was not much I could do hundreds of miles away.  I asked him to describe his symptoms and I gave him a list of foods he should try to eat over the next few days.  Amazingly he had just been to the supermarket and bought most of the foods I had suggested. Great, his body drove him to buy the correct choices.   

My tip to you is to listen carefully to your body. What do you really desire to eat or drink? 

A word of warning though - if it is junk food you desire then your mind has been fooled.  Hyrdogenated fats and additives trick our senses and confuse the messages to the brain.  They make our brain believe we want to eat more of the junk when are bodies are actually crying out for us to stop.

A few more tips on healthy eating next time.

Resolutions

Hello friends.  Happy New Year!  I have been busy with exams for the last couple of months and am back again with even more enthusiasm to tell you more about the amazing world of Ayurveda. 

It's at this time of year we can't help make resolutions as we reassess our lives.  (Although the Ayurvedic or Hindu New Year has already happened, as it works on a more accurate lunar calender.

I remember placing a candle on a holy river in India and watching it drift away.  The waves were ever threatening to blow the flame out.  I guess resolutions are a bit like that too.  It seems as if the elements are against you and that it is inevitable that all those good intentions will get washed away.  However it is up to us to keep those intentions inside us strong and burning bright - whatever obstacles come our way.  As we practise yoga, mindfulness and meditation it becomes easier to keep our inner light shining brightly and to live the way we have promised ourselves.

Seasonal routines - the time we get up, the time we eat and sleep, the time we rest is extremely important in Ayurveda.  Each dosha or body type has its own natural rhythm which helps us to finely tune our lives with the rhythm of the Universe.  The plants and animals have their own doshas and rhythms too.  I will tell you a bit more about that next time.

For now, sit quietly and imagine your resolutions floating in the river and use your inner strength to keep the flame burning.

  Let your good intentions and joy flow....enjoy.

 

   

What's Your Dosha Baby?

Hello.  A warm welcome to the fascinating world of Ayurveda – truth, love and wisdom.  If it is your first visit it is best to scroll down the left hand side of the screen and read from “What is Ayurveda” up to this entry.  Thank you.

“What’s your dosha baby?”  It may sound like a “Yeah baby” cheesy chat up line from Austin Powers…which would be fun.  It is however, not such an absurd chat-up line, as you will soon discover - because if we knew our prospective partner’s dosha it would be a simple and profound way of quickly finding out if we are compatible from the start.  We often rush in with our hormones raging only to find out later that our values, interests and attitudes to life make a longer-term relationship unsustainable.

“What is your dosha?” might actually be a very sensible question to ask or at least think about.  So what is a dosha and what does it mean?  A dosha describes the way the five elements manifest themselves in your body. They control the complicated biological and psychological instructions given in our genetic blue-print.  They help to explain the way our tissues act – how they are made, grow and die.  They also are responsible for our likes and dislikes such as the foods we find tasty or the type of weather we prefer hot/sunny or cold/crisp.   Knowing your dosha will also give you a clue to as to your aptitude for learning, creativity, understanding as well as your attitudes to love and desire.

What’s really amazing about this concept is it is extremely easy to grasp.  Basically there are three doshas that operate in our body and they are called Vata, Pitha and Vata.

• Vata is made up of the ether + air elements.
• Pitha is made up of the water + fire elements.
• Kapha is made up of the water + earth elements.
• In other words if ether and air dominates in your unique make-up then you will be a Vata type of person and will move like the wind and will love to be active – running here and there.  All this movement means you’ll probably be quite thin and lean.  Like the wind, your opinions will be quick to change.  Vata often dominates in creative people.  Vata also means you are more likely to worry a lot as all that movement of air and ether in your mind leads to churning thoughts.

Earth and water is all about stability and heaviness.  A Kapha type is opposite to Vata. They have their feet firmly on the ground, they are reliable and steady.  They are more stout and well-built and love food.  Their fondness for food means they love entertaining and their kitchen cupboards are always full of treats.  Kapha’s therefore have a tendency to over eat and put on weight and then get a bit gloomy about being fat. 

If you are a Pitha type of person then the water and fire elements will be your masters.  You will tend to be hot-headed, firey and passionate;  getting angry quickly but cooling down just as quickly.  You will have a sharp sense of what is right and wrong and be very opinionated.  Pitha people are quick to transform information and make great orators and leaders.  But that ability to quickly transform enzymes means they tend to have sensitive stomachs.

The doshas are so wonderfully simple.  The more you learn about them the more this simplicity is in fact incredibly clever.  It is the key to unlocking some even more profound and complicated knowledge. In the coming weeks I’ll show you how you can work out what your dosha is.  Most of us are a combination of more than one dosha although one will usually dominate our personality.  Next time more about the tridoshas....

5 Senses = 5 Elements

Hello.  A warm welcome to the wonderful world of Ayurveda: Love and Wisdom.  If it is your first visit, it is best to start reading the entries from “What is Ayurveda?” upwards until you reach this one.

The five great elements are also linked to our ability to perceive our external environment.  They are the tools with which we need to survive.

Ether = Sound.  Sound waves travels through space, enters our ears and our brain interprets the noise.  We express ourselves through sounds or speech.  So Ether governs the sense sound and our speech.

Air = Touch.  It is the movement of air on the tiny hairs and receptors on our skin that allow us to perceive touch.  The skin on our hands is particularly sensitive.  Air plays a part when we hold something, when we give or receive a gift.

Fire = Vision.  This is energy which is converted to colour and light by our eyes.  So fire governs our eyes but also gives us direction when we are walking or moving.  A blind person can walk, but without eyes it is difficult for them to sense which direction they are moving.  So fire also controls our feet. 

Water = Taste.  Without water our tongue would not be able to taste anything.  It’s easy to understand why water governs taste.   It also governs our sexual organs and makes reproduction and fertilisation possible.  It is said that "a person who controls his upper tongue, naturally controls his lower tongue." (Can't help giggling at that gem!)

Earth = Smell.  Chemical receptors in our nose pick up signals and our brain inprets the smell.  Smell is one of our primevil senses and is linked with our memories and emotions (the limbic system of our brains).  In Ayurveda smell is also linked with excretion.  For example, someone with constipation will generally have bad breath and their sense of smell is reduced. (Which is just as well!)

Next time we'll find out how the elements also define our physical, biochemical and emotional personality.  

I'll Be Happy When...

A big hug and welcome to my blog.  If it is your first visit, it is best to start reading the entries from “What is Ayurveda?” upwards until you reach this one.

When will you be happy? Would you be happy when you get the next big job?  When you run your own company?  When you retire?  When you win the lottery?  When you are successful and can buy lots of nice things? Too many of my friends are judging their happiness on the “success” word.  In the coming weeks I want to challenge their definition of what it means to be successful.

Perhaps for you it is not about money. Perhaps you’d be happy when you have found your Mr or Miss Right?  When you have children?  When you have grandchildren?

Or is it about the physical?  Maybe you’d be happy when you are slimmer?  When you can look younger by having plastic surgery?  When you wear the latest pair of designer shoes or clothes?  When you can afford to buy into the brands?  Or is it all about location?  Would you be happy living in another country?  When you are with the “in” crowd?  Or is it more to do with Ego?  Will you be happy when you are famous?  When you are somebody? 

I used to fall into the - I’ll be happy when I am a bit thinner - trap.  Anyone who has chased some of those aspirations above realise that even when they have gotten hold of their object of desire, they are still not much happier and are left feeling a sort of emptiness. 

It is easy to get sucked into the quick fix society.  Everything from instant coffee to instant fame and sex.  We want it all and we want it now.  We buy the latest brands, we think success is about being better than any one else.  By surrounding ourselves with the things money can buy.  We succumb to the advertisers dream and are fooled into thinking they are our own hopes and aspirations.

The Beatles got it right with their hit, “I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love…” because we already know the truth.  It is easy.  We know how to be happy.  The answers come from inside us – from our instincts.  The answers come from the love, wisdom and intuition from our Super Soul.

The first step to being happy is to accept who you are.  Accept is a big word.  It is good to strive for a better life; to be healthier, to take care of your family, to be a better person and achieve your goals.  But believing happiness can only be achieved by status, material things and ego can only lead to disappointment and poor health.

The good news is there is an instant fix to being happy.  Happiness according to Ayurveda is simple:  It is a state of mind.  It is a light that can be switched on whenever you want.  It is all about living in the moment.  It is about being grateful for what you have - right here, right now.  Happiness is not something we can get from anyone else. It comes from within.  It comes from thinking harmonious, peaceful thoughts.  It comes from doing acts of kindness with an open heart and not wanting anything in return.  This state of mind is the Satvic, peaceful and happy one.

The foods we eat, the thoughts we think, the state of our bodies and exercise all contribute to our wellbeing and happiness.  In the near future I’ll tell you more about happy foods.  But next time I’ll return to the five great elements and how knowing which ones dominate in your body can help you maintain the balance necessary for your long term happiness.

If for whatever reason you are feeling unhappy, go and write a list of all the things you are thankful for.  Gratitude is a great healer.  Every moment is precious, make the most of every single one of them.

 

It's All in the Mind...

Instead of the Big Bang theory of how it all began, Ayurveda believes in the Gentle Vibration theory; It was the subtle sound of Ohm which awakened our Universal Consciousness and gave rise to both organic and inorganic matter. This awakening created the five great elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth)…and so Mother Earth was born. From her all of matter and nature was created.

The male energy is eternally enchanted by her and as they embrace, his spirit fuses with matter to create life. It is their love that creates the Universe as we know it. Their union also passes down some of the Universal Consciousness or Wisdom to you and I…in fact to all living and non-living things. Our Super Soul connects us to everything in the Universe today, yesterday and all our tomorrows.

The tiny bit of the Super Soul that breaks away, becomes our Soul. It enters our body the precise moment the sperm fuses with the egg. It’s first job is to create our intellect or inner computer chip which governs the processes of growth and differentiation of our cells. As the cells divide and grow, a sense of Ego or Self Identity emerges… setting out a blue print of not only what we will look like but also how we will think and act. That is why every baby born has its own unique personality not just from the moment of birth but right from before the moment of conception….the very moment the male and female energies begin their dance of love. I think the expression is,”from the glint in your mother’s eyes”. What a wonderful thought!

The Ego or Self Identity also gives rise to three states of our minds:Creation, Protection and Destruction.

Our creative potential in our minds is called Satva. It is still and blissful. It is love and light. We feel it when we are calm and happy, when we think positive thoughts, when we act with unconditional love for nothing in return.

Our kinetic protective force in our minds is called Rajas. It is movement, it is all about our ability to get up and go. When we don’t just think about doing things, we actually do them. This part of our mind is engaged when we do things for others but we still want something in return.

Our destructive force in our minds is called Tamas. It is the dark side. It is the couch potato of our minds.  This is the part of the mind that comes to the fore when we act with ignorance and hatred; when we live in a "me, me, me" world and our motives are just to help ourselves at whatever cost.  When we are depressed, Tamas is responsible.

Meditation and being in the presence of the vibrations from the sound Ohm is perhaps the most powerful force to lift us out of depression and fear. It reawakens our Cosmic Consciousness and brings our minds away from the dark side and into the light - back to the Love and wisdom from where we all began…

With so much Tamas and greed in the world today, it is no wonder we are destroying the planet. We are destroying the very things that give us life and happiness by our selfishness. A way we can all help to redress the balance is by being closer to nature; like when we feel the healing energies from trees, flowers, or from the sea.

Next time, I’ll tell you more about how Ayurveda can help us all to achieve a happy state of mind.

In the Beginning

In the Beginning...there was nothing and God created Earth in six days, on the seventh day he rested....this is the Christian point of view.  Very interesting.  (Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong).

In the coming days, I will tell you more about your natural body constitution or Prakruti and how knowing it can be an invaluable tool to help you to heal yourself and understand what makes you tick.

Back to what happened in the beginning...

A bit more metaphysics and some more thoughts for you to ponder over (meta=beyond, physics=the physical).  Don't run for cover please...(laugh)... I’ll try not to be too heavy.  It’s important to grasp the nuts and bolts stuff before we move on.  As you will discover later, these concepts are the keys to understanding how our bodies and minds work.  It will also give you a valuable insight into how and why many “Complementary” health systems in the West work so well.

The wise men who created Ayurveda pondered about the meaning of life and how the Universe came in to being. They came up with a rather beautiful concept.  They said in the very beginning there was Consciousness;  And it was gentle vibrations from the sound Ohm which energised the five great elements and gave rise to life itself.  (More about Ohm in the near future).

From these first vibrations came the ether or space element.  As it began to move, air was created. The movement caused friction and heat.  This heat energy gave off light and so the fire element was created.  Through the fire element certain matter dissolved and liquified to create water. As the water solidified it formed molecules which became earth. 

The clever wise men, went on to explain that all existence on earth was due to Universal Consciousness.  It is eternal, immeasurable and timeless (remember time does not exist in the Universe).  It is made up of both male and female energies. 

Consider Yin (female energy) and Yang (male energy) in Chinese traditional medicine.

Prakruti is female energy.  She dances the dance of creation and from her all matter and everything in nature is born. Parusha is male energy.   He is the lover, the primal spirit.   It is their love that created the universe – the fusion of spirit with matter.

Enough for now, a bit more metaphysics next time and how the joining of male and female energies give rise to our intellect and our ego which gives rise to our sense organs, motor organs and the thought processes of our mind.

Hope all this information hasn’t hurt your head too much….laugh!  Soon everything will be much clearer.

The beautiful images above are from www.freeimages.co.uk

Soul

Firstly a big hug to all my friends who have logged onto the site.  I appreciate your love and support.  Thank you. 

For as long as Man has been around, we have asked the questions: Who am I?  Why am I here?  Some of those answers become clearer when we understand our souls.

Ayurveda says that our Soul or "Atma" lives in the spaces between the cells of our body.  It is believed that the soul enters our being, the very split second the sperm fuses with the ovum to create a new life.  At that moment the balance of the five great elements (earth, fire, water, air and ether) is in the exact proportion for our wellbeing.  This is the perfect balance for each one of us and is called our "Prakruti" or natural body constitution.  The proportion and expression of the five elements at this precise moment is unique for every single one of us. (It is amazing to think that my forefathers understood the concept of DNA, our genetic blue print, all those thousands of years ago!)

The moment when our Soul joins the five great elements of the universe and assumes life in Ayurveda is called Parusha.  It is the spark or light of life.

To understand our Soul a bit more, think of it as a sort of computer chip.  It stores vast amounts of information, memories, experiences.  Data cannot be erased from this chip. As one dies, another is born.  So the soul passes from one life to the next.  The information it holds is passed on for generations.  For in the universe, time does not exist. Time is something that we humans have created.  The soul is timeless.  It is pure unconditional love.  It is truth.  The information on this chip is our emotional, physical and spiritual blue-print.  So perhaps now you can understand why our soul shapes who we are and what we will be.

Luckily when we are born, the memories on the soul's computer chip is not accessible.  So we can grow up and gather new experiences;  So we can learn the lessons, we have been destined to learn.

More about our natural body constitition or Prakruti next time.

Thank you to Adam for his beautiful comment on inner light.  I will expand on his thoughts and about light energy in the near future. 

 

Space

Space or Ether exists, between solar systems, between buildings, between you and I, between the cells in our bodies.  Rather than separate us, this space unites us all. It is what is known as the "Super Soul" - others may call it God.  It is a greater force than our own.  A force by which we are all inextricably linked to each other, to animals, to the rocks, to the trees, to absolutely everything in our amazing universe. 

As a friend of mine correctly said, "Separation is an illusion".

This space between our cells in Ayurveda is thought to be the place where our soul lives.  It infuses every tiny part of us and shapes who we are and what we are destined to be.  This connection is what we often refer to as our instinct.  It is why we understand what a complete stranger or a pet is feeling, without having to say a word. 

Buddhists have a wonderful belief that your joy is my joy, and your pain is my pain.  Truth and true happiness cannot be achieved if we do harm to others or watch and do nothing as others suffer.  We are all connected and therefore not immune.  When we help each other, when we do things for our community, when we act with unconditional love in our hearts - for nothing in return, then together our happiness is stronger and brighter.  Our Super Soul shines in us all.

Next time more about the soul ....

5 Great Elements & The Univserse

The universe is made up of five great elements, according to ayurveda - earth, water, fire, air and ether. 

Earth is the solid matter, it is the earth's core. in us, it is our bones, tissues and muscles - the things which give us strength and stability. 

Water is essential to life as we know it. on earth it forms the oceans, rivers and polar ice caps.  In you and I, it is our blood plasma and other the fluids in our bodies.

Fire is the energy needed for heat and transformation.  It is the light energy we get from the sun.  In our bodies the fire is our enzymes which allow transformation of energy to take place.

Air on our planet is, as you know, made up of various gases included oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is vital for all life forms.  We need it too and of course in our bodies it is the air that we breathe in and out.  The Sanskrit word for this is "prana" or life force.

Ether is space.  It is the space that exists between planets and solar systems.  It is the space that is between you and I.  Ether exists on the minutest level too, it is the spaces between an atom and even nanoparticles.  In us it is the spaces between our organs and tissues and even between our cells.

More about space next time and how space doesn't separate us but actually links us together... 

 

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda connects our life with the universe.  The ancient healing system has been practised for over five thousand years.  The wisdom has been passed through generations by word of mouth. 

Literally translated the Sanskrit word means "the knowledge or science of life".  through the observations and experiments of wise men or "rishis", the aim of ayurveda is to show us how we can all live a long, healthy and happy life. 

It encompasses everything from herbal medicine, surgery, yoga, psychology, philosophy, religion or spiritualism and everything we say in the west as being complementary from massage to beauty therapy.  Ayurveda is about truth, love and wisdom. 

Join me on my journey as every week I share some of this fascinating knowledge with you.