TEST ELEMENTOR 2 - Ginger & Yoga

DID YOU KNOW AROMATHERAPY IS AN AYURVEDIC TREATMEN

DID YOU KNOW AROMATHERAPY IS AN AYURVEDIC TREATMENT AS WELL?

You probably think of Ayurveda as the system of medicine that uses herbs, spices and massage oils. But aromatherapy is an important form of treatment to balance the doshas.

There are essential oils that increase heat, cold, dryness, oiliness, lightness, heaviness, etc. When you want to balance doshas, you look for the opposite qualities of those that are present in excess. When Vata is aggravated, there is usually dryness, a feeling of weakness, instabilty, pain and nervousness, among other symptoms. Besides adjusting our routines and diets, we can simply work with essential oils by infusing them in our homes, using them in treatments with steam (swedana) or by simply adding them to our skincare products and massage oils.

Check out my top 6 essential oils for each dosha and how you can use them. Be sure to purchase essential oils that are pure, organic, and of good quality. Nowadays there are a lot of brands that sell essential oils that contain harmful chemicals or oils that have been dilluted with other oils. For tips on brands that I would recommend, feel free to send me a DM.

Do you use essential oils? Which ones do you use and how do you use them? 💆🏽‍♀️🧴👃🏻🌿🧖🏼‍♀️

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE TOXIC BUILD-UP IN YOUR

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE TOXIC BUILD-UP IN YOUR BODY? ❔🤔

In Ayurveda, when we evaluate someone’s health, one of the first things we do is look at the level their digestive fire. 🔥 Agni represents the fire element and involves everything related to transformation. The main functions of agni are digestion, absorption and transformation of food and sensations into energy, since everything we ingest is to obtain energy. If a person’s agni is strong and warm, he or she enjoys good health and mental and physical strength. On the other hand, when agni is out of balance, the opposite happens. Agni is energy and manifests itself as body temperature, digestive enzymes, amino acids and all metabolic activities.

Bad breath or strong body odors can indicate problems with one’s agni. 👃🏽💦 We can use all the perfume we want, the body has its natural scent governed by the digestive fire since agni maintains the natural balance between the doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. You might have noticed that when you are sick you suffer from bad breath, a white-coated tongue and transpiration that has a strong smell.

When I create nutrition & detox programs at G&Y, I first of all analyse the state of agni to determine which tools we need to balance it. It is important to introduce compatible lifestyle habits according to your Ayurvedic constitution, a diet with dishes that consist of all 6 flavors (sweet, salty, acid, spicy, bitter and astringent), apart from good routines in harmony with your direct environment, the area in which you live, the season and your circumstances.

But, you can already do several things ON YOUR OWN in order to remove toxins timely.. So, show you agni some sweet lovin' by following my 3 tips starting today! You might already know about some of them, like oil pulling. But it's so important to know WHY we do it. 💡💪🏾

Questions on the right cleansing method for you? Send me a DM! ✉💕

HAPPY WORLD AYURVEDA DAY MY DEAR FRIENDS, FELLOW P

HAPPY WORLD AYURVEDA DAY MY DEAR FRIENDS, FELLOW PRACTITIONERS, DOCTORS, NURSES AND STUDENTS OF AYURVEDA. 🌱💫💖🪔

Ayurveda Day was proclaimed by the Indian Government in 2016. On this 13th day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin called Dhanteras, we celebrate the birthday of Dhanvantari, the god of medicine and incarnation of lord Vishnu, right before Diwali (the Hindu light festival). 🕯🌼🪔

What started in India is now International Ayurveda Day, where all doctors, practitioners and students of Ayurveda honor and give gratitude to Lord Dhanvantari for his wisdom.

Dhanvantari is mentioned both in the Vedas and Puranas as the physician of the Gods. According to the Charaka Samhita, the wisdom of Ayurveda is everlasting and revealed in each of the cycles during the creation of the Universe. It is said that Lord Vishnu incarnates as Lord Dhanvantari whenever it is needed to bring back the tradition of Ayurveda to and to take away pain and suffering of living beings.

As you see on the image, lord Dhanvantari carries a disc, shell, leech (on some illustrations replaced by ancient texts) and a pot containing divine nectar (amrita). He is the representative of health, medicine and longevity.

Namani Dhanwanthary Aadi Devam
Surasura Vanditham Pada Padmam
Loke Jara Rugbhay Mrityu Nashakam
Datharam Eesham Vividhaushadhinam

Translation of this mantra: “I bow down in front of you Lord Dhanvantari. Your lotus feet are respectfully worshipped by the gods and demons. You have infinite powers to save the people from the miseries of diseases, ageing, fear of death and other sufferings. Oh Lord, please bless me with your grace and medicines so that I can also help the people with cures from their diseases.” 🙏🏾

I am grateful to walk this path of Ayurveda and I feel blessed to have come to know so many of you in this beautiful ancient system of medicine where we share, inspire and help each other learn and grow so we can help our fellow human beings stay healthy and happy. 🌿

Wishing you all the best in health, always. Happy Diwali to my dear Hindu and Indian friends across the globe. 📿💖🪔

Credits:
Image of lord Dhanvantari: Pinterest
Dhanvantari Mantra: Times of India

HAVEN'T WE ALL HAD AT LEAST ONE OF THESE SYMPTOMS

HAVEN'T WE ALL HAD AT LEAST ONE OF THESE SYMPTOMS AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES, LADIES? 🩸

PMS is a tricky thing. There is no one magic solution for all of us, because as you might already know, Ayurveda always looks for the root cause of the problem. And of course the root cause of the issue will be different for each and everyone of us.

Yet there are still some things we can all do to remedy our discomfort, despite whether your problem is more Vata, Pitta or Kapha related.

If you suffer from indigestion the days before your period, but you consume mostly fried or other heavy foods, refined sugary stuff, drink alcohol or lots of caffeine, you might add to the problem by doing that. Some small and simple changes can have a big impact on your health and how you pass your menses.

It is completely natural to give in to what your body needs at that moment, but remember it's important you feel you know how to distinguish between what you need vs. what you crave. Many times we know we make a choice that might not benefit us or that will cause health issues, but we do it anyway (this is called 'prajnāparādha', will come back to this in another post). The causes can vary, but you should know that physical, mental and emotional toxins will also bring cloudiness to the mind, impairing our sense of discrimination between what is compatible with us and what is not. A good and stable digestive fire ('agni') can transform all foods, even if you have a couple of days where you eat heavier stuff.

But it's important to know that your menstruation is a cleanse in itself, so in order to help your body cleanse itself in the best way possible, we can start by taking small steps, observing and evaluating how we feel and respond.

If you have any questions regarding your specific situation and you want to know what Ayurveda can do for you, feel free to DM me. 🙏🏾🌹

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE A PRETTY PICTURE OF SOME FANC

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE A PRETTY PICTURE OF SOME FANCY POSE WHEN YOU SCROLL THROUGH YOUR FEED, MAKING YOU THINK YOU CANNOT PRACTICE YOGA?

You might start having thoughts like 'I'll never be able to do that' or 'Yoga is not for people like me', especially if there is no story or message that goes with the photo. As a Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic Practitioner, I find that sad. Because I don't want people to quit even before they start. I want my clients and students to feel and understand Yoga is for everyone. Because it truly is. What one does on the mat, should have a positive impact on one's way of life off the mat.

When I started my yoga practice having severe scoliosis, I couldn't even keep a straight back leg in warrior 1 and 2 (virabhadrasana), and I would cry during my teacher training when at some point my teacher asked if the group could have a look at my back, to study the curve in my spine, because I felt hideous and deformed. And I couldn't even sit in a normal crossed-legged pose with a straight back without being in pain. I always looked for a wall.

What I am trying to say is that a pretty picture many times doesn't show the struggle, the journey or the constant practice. And that is precisely what we need, because yoga isn't about nailing a pose. Asanas come and go as we age, fall sick, injure ourselves, raise families, etc. But the journey to getting to practice a certain asana is the real teacher, like facing your fears in dropbacks and backbends or working on your anger in deep twists that purify your liver.

I never aimed to sit in padmasana. Of course, during my practice I 'aim' to do a pose with the right alignment, steady breathe while feeling relaxed but stable. But asanas are a means to deal with all other things in life, accepting the days you can do it, and also feeling content (santosha) on the days your body and mind don't let you.

When you do your yoga practice from the inside out, everything else will come. Just aim to be a good person in life and do whatever is possible to the best of your ability. But remember: yoga is also for YOU. The only requirement is for you to walk into the room and start. 💜📿🙏🏾

YOU MAY HAVE SOLID SLEEP ALL YOUR LIFE AND NEVER G

YOU MAY HAVE SOLID SLEEP ALL YOUR LIFE AND NEVER GET REST. Sleep (Sanskr. Nidra) is considered one of the three pillars of health in Ayurveda. It is an important cause of health problems in our modern world.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When you go to sleep, a regeneration process is set in motion, nourishing all your body tissues on the gross (physical) and subtle (mental and emotional) levels, promoting the elimination of metabolic waste. This had an anti-aging effect.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The hours of sleep you need differ according to your prakruti. In general, Kapha predominant types need less hours of sleep, whereas Vata predominant people will need more hours to get a good rest, given they are active by nature. Pitta predominant individuals have a need somewhere in between. The need for sleep also depends on factors like the season we are in. We need less hours of sleep during Summer than we do in Winter.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Here are 5 signs of a sleep imbalance:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. Waking up without being able to go back to sleep.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Disturbing dreams and nightmares.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3. Feeling tired or lethargic, even after many hours of sleep.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4. Restlessness during the night, moving around.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
5. Difficulties falling asleep, light sleep while still mentally active.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To fix this, you first need to find the cause ('hetu' in Ayurveda). Generally, we could state that Vata relates to worries about possible future scenarios, while Pitta is predominant during Pitta hours (from 10 pm to 2 am) possibly due to an upcoming deadline. Kapha predominant types may have sound sleep, waking up feeling heavy and slow.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Whatever your constitution, you can put into practice these 3 things today to improve your quality of sleep:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. Don't eat 2 hours before you go to sleep.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Avoid sleeping during daytime.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3. Work out in the morning and reduce your physical activity as the day progresses.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How is your quality of sleep? 🌙💤🛏

THIS IS ALL I'VE GOT FOR TODAY, BUT I HOPE IT SERV

THIS IS ALL I'VE GOT FOR TODAY, BUT I HOPE IT SERVES YOU.

It's so easy to think of what we don't have, that we forget about what we do have, and all that we are. Maybe it happens to you, especially when you find yourself in your darkest hour. It certainly happens to me. Being a holistic health practitioner doesn't make me immune to feelings of sadness, despair, anger or whatever emotions relate to difficult situations. In the end we all deal with 'stuff' during our lives, and even if social media might fool one into thinking the grass is greener on the other side, that's not the reality. This small template has helped me a lot, so I thought I would share it with you, hoping it can be of help to you too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I chose to study Ayurveda, Yoga and Reiki because I feel that all that has helped me to heal is universal knowledge that everyone is entitled to have access to. I don't own any of the wisdom that is out there. But I want to be the vessel through which the knowledge passes so I can give it to you in the best way possible and according to the best of my ability.

For example, many times you ask me how come my Reiki healing sessions are so powerful. The 'ki' is universal, it's not my energy. I am simply channeling it to give you whatever you might need at that moment. As a channel, I try to stay as 'clean' as I can for effective healing, using external tools that can help me achieve the best result possible (crystals, prayers and meditation on your behalf, talismans, etc.).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I am grateful to have so many of you choose me to learn about the ancient systems of healing. And I learn from all of you each and every day, even if it might seem as if only you are the one learning. Each consultation, pulse diagnose, massage... I assure you that every single session is unique, even with the same person sitting across from me or laying on my massage table.

What are you thankful for today? ❤👇🏽⌨✍🏽

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS NOT ABOUT DOING WHAT'S

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS NOT ABOUT DOING WHAT'S ON THE TO-DO LIST.

More than often we get so caught up in what we HAVE to do, that we actually forget about what we WANT to do. Caring for yourself also means giving yourself some headspace and saying 'no' to others. There is nothing wrong with taking a step back and keeping to yourself. Spending time alone can be rewarding for your body, soul and mind, to reflect on things and take moments to actually feel.

Last week I attended the funeral of someone who was dear to me, someone I knew since I was 3 years old and who was like family. Almost a week has passed and everything just goes on, at a higher pace than I want it to go. Naturally, life does go on. But I feel the need to take time, stare out of the window and bring back my childhood memories, so my sadness and grief can at some point make place for a feeling of gratitude and conversations about her to remember all the joyful moments we had over the years.

I don't know about you, but for me, being with a dear friend without having to talk, taking an extra long shower or bath, reading a book I love, watching a movie that warms my heart (in my case, these are usually movies from the 80's, The Karate Kid being one of my favourites), closing my eyes to just focus on my breath or eating my mom's Surinamese gritibana soup are ways to go back to basics and appreciate life as it is.

Because I firmly believe happiness is not something we need to seek and find externally. It's right under our noses in everything we already have and all that we are, if only we are willing to appreciate.

We didn't come here to complete a mission to become popular or famous, make millions of dollars and accumulate material things. Those are just byproducts.

We came here to wake up everyday and just live our best lives in harmony with everyone and everything around us. True abundance comes from within. And if I look around me, I feel pretty rich already by only taking into account how much love I receive from others. How rich do you feel today? And do you also take time and space for yourself? ❤

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SALT? 🧂🤔 Salt ha

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SALT? 🧂🤔

Salt has been used for thousands of years and it can be considered the oldest form of seasoning. It’s not only used in cuisine; in Ayurveda it’s widely used as medicine, being part of Ayurvedic formulas that have been described in the classical texts. An example is hingvastaka, a famous herbal formula used to both promote digestion and remove any congestion in the GI tract.

Ayurveda states the salty taste in one of the basic tasted needed to sustain life. Salt is necessary for our electrolyte balance, proper digestion, absorption and elimination of waste material (malas). Overall, the salty flavour pacifies Vata while increasing Pitta and Kapha dosha. It stimulates our appetite, increases the digestibility of our food, provides flexibility in the joints and aids digestion in such a way our digestive fire can clear our channels from toxins. At the same time, the salty taste calms the nerves and our emotions.

Ayurveda doesn’t recommend we refrain from using salt. The ancient texts state we need to use it wisely and in the right combinations, according to our prakruti and the living conditions we find ourselves in. The body and mind adapt to the environment all the time, so we need to be smart about how we combine and take in our foods, including salt.

Processed foods tend to contain chemical additives and the cheapest or most addictive types of synthetically produced salt. So I recommend you avoid processed foods as much as you can, or at least be aware when you once in a while have something processed. Once you get used to eating the natural way, you'll notice right away how bag of chips with chemical stuff added to it will leave you thirsty and craving for fizzy and sugary soft drinks. And that isn't a coincidence, if you know what I mean. 😉

Have you changed your salt intake recently? And how does it feel? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏽🧂✍🏽

For the full web article on salt, check out the link in my bio. 🔗📝

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