Shivani's Blog - Balanced Life Ayurveda

The Ayurvedic Way to Cultivate Self-Love

9/4/2018

If you are reading this, chances are you are seeking the deep peace and love that you sense exists within you. My latest blog post reveals how Ayurveda can help you on your journey to finding that part of you that knows it is perfect, because, well, it is.

Should I Do a Liver Cleanse?

7/24/2018

An Ayurvedic Perspective by Janet Shivani Chase

There are many types of liver cleanses and liver flushes promoted today. Would you benefit from doing a liver cleanse? As with anything in Ayurveda, it depends. As we are all unique, with specific health circumstances and constitutions, we need to look at our own situation before deciding.

Ayurvedic Tonics, Masks & Scrubs for Nourishing Your Skin

7/2/2018

Simple Tonics, Masks, & Scrubs for Nourishing Your Skin

Ayurveda provides us with a simple adage, “If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.” This is important to remember when choosing skin care products. The beauty and personal care market is worth more than $90 billion dollars annually,1 yet it is one of the least regulated industries in the United States. Often, off-the-shelf products contain a bewildering array of chemicals, many of which are known or suspected carcinogens, neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors, or harmful to our health in other ways.2 Even though we usually assume that products like shampoos, face creams, and toothpastes are tested and determined to be safe, it unfortunately is buyer beware. Thankfully, there are many companies that make wonderful, healing products, or you can easily create your own.

How to Fast the Ayurvedic Way

5/9/2018

Fasting is the greatest remedy - the physician within" - Philippus Paracelsus

There is a so much contradictory information available about fasting that it can be difficult to decide which, if any, method to try. What may be good for one person can actually be detrimental to another. Fortunately, because Ayurveda recognizes the uniqueness of each individual, there are tools we can use to help us choose what will be most beneficial for us at any given time.

Ayurveda has a long tradition of utilizing fasting from food as a vital practice for maintaining and regaining health. In our society, fasting is often viewed as a type of denial or deprivation, but you can instead choose to see fasting as a gift to yourself: a much needed rest from the constant barrage of foods and experiences you take into your body. Welcome to the Ayurvedic approach to fasting.

A Great Digestive Tea: Cumin, Coriander and Fennel

1/31/2018

Cumin, Coriander and Fennel tea, also known as CCF tea, has its roots in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. This trio of seeds is a great digestive tonic. They work together to cleanse the intestinal tract and create energy. Among other benefits, they support and strengthen digestion, reduce gas and bloating, and calm digestion.

The Only Tip You Need to Stay Centered During the Holidays

12/19/2017

This time of year we are barraged with constant images, messages, expectations and advertising to get us to do more, buy more and be more. After all, it is ‘the most wonderful time of the year.” Often though, we end up feeling overwhelmed, anxious or insecure. Not very jolly feelings, are they?
Here are my favorite ways for staying balanced, calm and content. They are actually variations on the same theme: be mindful and present. Pretty simple, right?

Top Tips for Vibrant Traveling

8/1/2017

I love to travel but travel can cause vata to increase leading to fatigue, constipation, gas, bloating, insomnia, dry eyes, dry skin, anxiety and foggy brain. Here are a few of my favorite tips that will make your travel as comfortable as possible.

Ayurvedic Self-Massage – A Little Bit of Loving

7/14/2017

Abhyanga –Ayurvedic oil self massage is an excellent way to be in touch with your body and mind. It is a great way to check in with yourself and finding areas that need special attention. Besides leaving you feeling warm, cared for and refreshed, abhyanga soothes your nervous and endocrine systems, rejuvenates your skin, tones muscles, eliminates impurities, promotes youthfulness, reduces the effects of stress, is relaxing and just feels terrific. It's pretty wonderful.
Ideally, it is best to give yourself a self-massage every day. Choose organic oil appropriate to your body type. In general, Vata type skin tends to be dry, flaky, itchy, rough, and cold and easily becomes dull, wrinkled and tired looking. Here are my thoughts for you.

Easy Ways to Keep Your Cool this Summer

7/6/2017

As summer rolls around, the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, we naturally heat up as well. Some of us weather the heat better than others, but if you are naturally a fiery type, you are more prone to get overheated in both body and mind. Ayurveda is so wonderful because it reminds how to make choices so we can stay balanced and content.

It tells us that like increases like and opposites balance. Sometimes it is the simplest of things that can have the greatest effect on our health and well-being. Here are some Ayurvedic tips on how to stay cool, calm and collected this summer.

Why Practice both Ayurveda and Yoga?

6/28/2017

By balancing the body, mind and consciousness, we become happy and content which allows us to develop our highest potential in life.
Both Ayurveda and Yoga are profound sister sciences that are just as useful to modern life as they were thousands of years ago. They both have the same goal: to eliminate suffering. Together they give us the tools we need to gain self-healing and self-knowledge.