Ayurveda: The Art of Being

In this amazing documentary. Ayurveda is explored and explained in great detail.

I should warn you, it’s a full length documentary, but it’s sooooo worth the time to watch it.

Enjoy!

Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

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Originally posted 2008-05-16 08:22:21. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Dosha Diets (Part 3 – Kapha)

Generally speaking, it is important for all doshas to allow time for each meal. To sit at a table, chew food thoroughly, and relax to allow for good digestion.

While this is obviously not typical of the American lifestyle, the more you can do to achieve this, the better off you’ll be. ________________________

Kapha doshas: here are some guidelines to get you started. Keep in mind, however, that for a true evaluation of what is good for you as an individual, you should see an Ayurvedic practitioner.

• Cook with ghee in very small quantities. Overall, you need to stay far away from most fats. You do need some for general health, but for Kaphas, a little goes a long way         

• Eat broth based foods such as vegetable soups         

• Eat lots of veggies         

• Stay away from all sugars, including indredients ending in “ose” (i.e. sucrose, fructose, etc.). Also avoid corn syrup. The only allowable sweetener for Kaphas is honey. But this should also be used in small quantities         

• Flush toxins from your body by drinking warm water all day long

Food list – This list is a general overview. Some foods listed here may not be appropriate a Kapha dosha simply because of an individual’s current constitution. Please see an Ayurvedic practitioner for an exact list of foods that appropriate just for you. 

Dairy: Margarine, mayo, ghee (in moderations)

Oils: Olive oil (in moderation)

Drinks: coffee, lemonade, mineral water, tea and wine

Meats: Chicken, goose, lamb and pheasant

Again, this is just a loose description of what you should eat. Each person will be different and unique. But it will give you a place to start.

To your health
Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

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Originally posted 2008-05-07 22:59:18. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Yoga for better sex

Yoga is a fantastic form of exercise and tool for health and fitness. But did you know that certain yoga poses can improve you sex life?

Here is an article on just that topic. It discusses specific poses that can be used to improve this area of your life.

Also, here is an article entitled “Your Sexiest Body” by Prevention Magazine. It also goes into some exercises you can do to help you feel more confident about your body.

Namaste,

Tiffany
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Originally posted 2008-07-22 16:32:48. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Exercise for your dosha

People with different doshas should approach exercise differently. Exercise is not a “one-size-fits-all” activity. Your approach to exercise will very depending on your disposition.

Find out what you dosha is - here.

Once you know which dosha you are, here is what you need to know about exercising appropriately.

Vata doshas - If you are a Vata dosha, you should keep your exercise calm and light. You have a natural tendency to be thin anyway, so rigorous exercise is not necessary. But exercise as a whole, is vital for everyone. So do exercise, but try things like yoga, walking, and gentle exercises of this nature. They will suite you best.

Pitta doshas – Pitta people tend to be very passionate. This includes being passionate in competition. Competitive sports are right up your alley. Join a league, or find a tennis partner. Just be sure not to be a sore loser if your partner wins. It’s all in good fun.

Kapha doshas – If you are Kapha, your first obstacle is getting off the couch or out of bed. As comfy as those spots are (I’m a Kapha, myself), you won’t get rid of those extra pounds by sitting around. And I can tell you from personal experience, that once you do get into an exercise routine, you feel great!

You want to make sure your exercise is rigorous. Lift weights, run, and do activities that really get the heart pumping. While your biggest obstacle to overcome is to start doing these things, once you are exercising, you actually have great stamina. So keep it going. Make sure your workout is thorough.

For all three doshas – Overall, the best exercise is the one that you will actually do. Make sure that exercise is fun and keeps you focused on your end goal, whether it be general health, weight gain or weight loss. Whatever keeps you motivated and exercising is typically what is best.

Please consult a health care provider prior to beginning any workout regimen.

Originally posted 2008-04-21 15:50:08. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Yoga devotees on the rise!

Yoga Journal recently did a study on “Yoga in America”. It shows that Americans spend $5.7 billion a year on yoga classes and products. An 87% increase from 2004!

The study went on to say that of all the people who practice yoga, 72.2% are women; 27.8% are men. 40.6% are 18 to 34 years old; 41% are 35 to 54; and 18.4% are 55 or older.  28.4% have practiced yoga for one year or less; 21.4% have practiced for one to two years; 25.6% have practiced two to five years; and 24.6% have practiced more than five years.

One trend to take notice of, is the use of yoga for therapy. 14 million Americans, say that a doctor or therapist has recommended yoga to them.

This brings us full circle, back to Ayurvedic healing, which has been prescribing yoga for centuries. It’s amazing how natural healing manages to pop up in western medicine over and over again, yet our medical system keeps “pooh-poohing” the idea. Wake up western medicine! There’s more to the human body than pumping it with drugs to get rid of symptoms, while systematically ignoring the cause.

It just goes to show you, the good stuff usually prevails in the end. Thank goodness for that!

What kind of yoga do you practice?

Originally posted 2008-03-05 18:29:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Yoga for Beginners

Not for the faint of heart, yoga is a true contender for getting fit and finding balance.

While not specifically for weight loss, yoga helps to tone and tighten the body. But where should you start if you’re a beginner?

The best way to get started is to take a class, according to Allison Kruse of World Yoga in Walnut Creek, CA. An instructor can guide you and help you achieve the correct posture and alignment when doing each pose. They can also help you assess which type of yoga is best for your specific goals.

While you won’t be able to bend yourself into a pretzel after your first class, you’re guaranteed to feel great afterward. So give it a try! It’s a sure-fire way to keep fitness fun and interesting.

Happy Pretzeling!
Tiffany
Personal Alchemy.com

 

Originally posted 2008-03-05 05:48:11. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Yoga for your dosha

Yoga has long been practiced in Ayurveda. It’s so much more than exercise. It’s  a daily discipline, and it can help restore your health.

But did you know that there are yoga poses which are particularly appropriate for your dosha?

Here is an article by Lissa Coffey that tells more about the specific poses.

Namaste,

Tiffany
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Originally posted 2008-07-28 07:46:36. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Personal Rituals

Personal Rituals are a very individual thing. You may not realize it, but you have your own personal rituals already. From your routine in the morning, to the order in which you do things when going to bed at night, personal rituals are already a part of your life.

The trick is, to change those rituals just a bit, so that they are helping you to reduce the stress in your life.

One important change is in the way you care for your body. You may exercise and eat right, but there is always more you can do here.

One very important personal ritual that is often overlooked, is self massage. Massage in any form lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, and has many many other positive effects on the body, including stress relief. We often feel we don’t have time for this type of personal ritual. But the trick is to just make the time. It doesn’t have to take an hour out of your day. Try rubbing your feet with a nice lavender oil before going to bed, or moisturizing your body with an invigorating eucalyptus oil in the morning to get you going.

Meditation is also an important personal ritual, with many positive effects (similar to massage!) on the body. Just ten minutes a day can have a wonderful effect on your health. The same benefits can be had from a daily yoga practice.

The idea here, is to take the time to do these things, even if that time is just a few moments out of your day. The more you care for yourself, the better you’ll be able to care for those around you. So give it a try. What do you have to lose except your stress?

Do you have any personal rituals that help you unwind at the end of the day? I’d love to hear about them. email me, or post a comment! Either way, I love to hear from my readers.

Namaste,
Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

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Originally posted 2008-05-14 07:20:24. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Dosha Diets (Part 2 – Pitta)

Generally speaking, it is important for all doshas to allow time for each meal. To sit at a table, chew food thoroughly, and relax to allow for good digestion.

While this is obviously not typical of the American lifestyle, the more you can do to achieve this, the better off you’ll be.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Pitta doshas: here are some guidelines to get you started. Keep in mind, however, that for a true evaluation of what is good for you as an individual, you should see an Ayurvedic practitioner.

• Eat juicy fruits, as they tend to “calm the fire” of Pittas.       

• Use Ghee to cook with, as it is cooling to pitta doshas       

• Stay away from really spicey foods       

• Drink “smoothie” type drinks, such as milkshakes, fruit smoothies and mango lassi’s       

• Eat your foods cool, but not cold. Let very hot foods cool before eating       

• Eat healthy fats in moderations.

Dairy: Milk, ghee, goat’s milk, ice cream and soy milk

Oils: Ghee, sesame seed oil and vegetable oils

Drinks: Mineral water

Meats: Chicken, duck, goose, lamb, turkey and venison

Again, this is just a loose description of what you should eat. Each person will be different and unique. But it will give you a place to start.

To your health
Tiffany
Personal Alchemy

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Originally posted 2008-05-06 23:14:07. Republished by Old Post Promoter