Shivani's Blog - Balanced Life Ayurveda

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.

6 Tips for Healing Back Pain with Ayurveda

2/28/2017

Low Back pain is a fairly common problem today. The main culprits are poor posture, poor diet, poor digestion, weak muscles, stress, overdoing it and strong emotions. Fortunately, Ayurveda offers many solutions to soothe back pain. Here are some things that you can try on your own.

Easy Ways to Avoid a Cold or Flu

12/7/2016

If you put a group of people in a room and expose all of them to a cold or flu virus, not everyone will be infected. Wonder why? Getting a cold or flu is not just from exposure, but result when the body’s natural balance is off kilter. Chances are if you have a cold or flu, you just finished working long hours, ate on the go, and had little sleep. You were probably burning the candle at both ends.
In truth, resting deeply, eating healthful foods, following a regular schedule, moving at a gentle pace, exercising, and limiting stimulation are the basics of good health. There’s nothing exotic about these practices. What is unusual is that we live in a society where we have to make an extra effort to practice them and resist the pressures that lead us to neglect self-care.

A Story of Healing

10/4/2016

It all began when my daughter was four years old. She woke up one morning crying because her fingers and toes were swollen, purple and sore. I had no idea what was wrong. I took her to visit our general practitioner, who referred us to the rheumatologist, who referred us to a different rheumatologist, who referred us to a neurologist…you get the picture. No one could figure out what was wrong with her. Then a friend of mine suggested I see this guy who practiced Ayurveda. What the heck was Ayurveda? I had never heard of it but trusting my friend, we took the first appointment. The Ayurvedic Practitioner suggested I change what my daughter ate, give her an herbal tincture, and rub her fingers and toes with special oil. Within a couple of weeks, my daughter’s fingers and toes looked normal, and the swelling and pain were gone.

It was the beginning of my journey. I read everything I could find about Ayurveda and dove into this vast and wonderful ocean of knowledge. We moved to Albuquerque so I could study at the Ayurvedic Institute and I have been studying ever since. It is now in my bones and at home in my soul.

Ayurveda works. I have witnessed it make an amazing difference in so many lives. But I understand that habits and routines can feel difficult to change. Like Plato’s allegory of the cave, we get used to one reality and it can be difficult to see another. But Dear Ones, you have a choice. When you are ready, you can use Ayurveda to shine light on your habits, your routines, your relationships and your life. If you are healthy, you can learn how to stay that way. If you are out of sorts or sick, you can learn how to regain your joy, vitality and health. You can turn away from the wall of the cave. You can start with a candle and end up in the light of the sun. It is possible. It is wonderful. It is a gift. When you are ready, I would love to take your hand and guide you on your own path to wholeness, out of the darkness and into the light. One little step at a time.

Love, Shivani