Body work - An article on the technique of kalari massage by Rajeev Gurukal

Kalarippayat, southern Indian state Kerala's martial art form, aspires to spiritual transcendence, disciplining and stretching the combatant's mental and physical resources to ever-new limits. Combat situations demanded an extremely agile, strong and supple body, which would instantly obey the signals of an alert and sharp mind. For the ancient martial arts exponents, uzhichil orkalari massage was one way to prime the body and sharpen reflexes. Today, this form of massage is the focus of renewed interest as growing numbers of people are attracted to its healing and rejuvenating effects. There is a whole science behind the unique techniques employed by skilled masseurs trained in the art of kalari massage based in ayurveda. Ayurveda works at stimulating the self-healing mechanics of the body, using herbal medicines, medicated oils and massage. Kalari massage, not only affects the body but also the mind, and involves physical exercises, yoga therapy, pranayama and meditation. During kalari massage, skilled masseurs take into account an individual's age, needs and health problems. A massage in which the masseur applies varying degrees of force and weight with his legs, while holding on to suspended ropes for support, is known as utsadana. When the masseur works just with his hands, it is known as samvahana. When two masseurs work together at the same time, it is called suparithala kriya. The various methods followed are detailed in ancient texts such as Maipayattu. Uzhichil is a natural technique to prevent and cure diseases. It involves the movement of vital energies in the body. This is possible by applying pressure on the vital points, muscles and nerves using appropriate herbal oils with therapeutic value. Kalari massage includes techniques of balancing the chakras or energy centers and saptha dhatu (seven tissues in the human body; plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow and semen), stimulation of nadisuthra points (ayurvedic acupressure), working with marma or vital points, and the awakening of prana. Uzhichil, when accompanied by the balancing of chakras, effectively regulates the proper flow of vital life force through the chakras. According to yoga, disharmony on the physical, mental or spiritual levels can be corrected in this manner. The chakras can be balanced by placing the hands gently over them, a few inches above the physical body. In this process, you may be receptive to a flowing or warm sensation on your palms. This is actually the transmission of universal energy, which helps harmonize the biological system of the body. The masseur uses nadisuthra kriya to apply pressure with the fingers, thumb or palm of the hand at certain points on the body. These pressure points are areas where there is a high concentration of life energy. Pressure can stimulate blood circulation and the flow of vital force by relieving congestion in nerve endings and muscles.Based on Susruta Samhita, a very ancient ayurvedic text, marma therapy is a system of treatment of the vital points of the body, which are mainly the junction points of blood vessels, ligaments and nerve centers. Marma adi, which involves striking vital points on the human body, is one of the most refined and sophisticated technique of Indian martial arts. The marmani, a person skilled in marma therapy, has a thorough knowledge of the human circulatory system, the nervous system and every aspect of the human anatomy. The marmani, using varying degrees of force to strike the body at different vital points, can produce astounding results. When used in warfare by a skilled combatant, these blows can cause instant death, slow death, paralysis or great pain. The results vary according to the power and velocity used by the combatant. A marmani also knows how to revive a seriously injured person. A timely touch, a slap, the use of specialized massage techniques or a gentle blow on another vital point can save a dying man. This technique is called marukai preyogam. It results in the stimulation of impulse, the magnetic power and the innate human dynamism, and helps in recovery from injury or in the cure of a disease. Ayurveda postulates that everything is constituted of the pancha mahabhutas or the five elements; ether, wind, fire, water and earth. A living being has an additional element: prana. This energy gives life and animation to the living organism. Through food, drink and breathing, prana circulates through the body. Then it moves through energy channels, where it might meet with blocks. Nadisuthra kriya, marma therapy and massage remove these blocks and aid the circulation of vital energy in the body. In uzhichil, the masseur follows certain strokes with a sharp slap delivered with the flat of the right palm on the lower part of the spine. It is intended to awaken prana and the nerves that originate there. In the same way, the slap on the top of the head (crown) is intended to awaken the senses. The feet are the most responsive and sensitive area of the body. They are a mini map of the human body with every gland, organ and body part represented there. Along with massage, stimulating a specific point on the foot by applying pressure affects a specific part of the body, by releasing blocked vital energy. The blood circulation in the feet may be affected because gravity pulls toxins and waste materials downwards. Massage and stimulation of foot points can break up waste materials deposited there and improve circulation. Different ailments require specific massage techniques, which the masseur selects keeping the individual's condition in mind. The speed, force, number of repeated massage movements, the type of herbal oil used and the system of massage will vary depending on the patient's physical strength, age and ailment. Three types of kalari massage suksa, raksha and katcha thirummu are used for different purposes. The sukha thirummu massage affords relief from body aches and muscular pains, and provides physical relaxation and rejuvenation. In the raksha thirummu massage, specially prepared medicated oils are used. Patients suffering from ailments such as rheumatism, paralysis, headache, muscular problems, nervous weakness, back pain, disc prolapse, stomach trouble, asthma, anxiety, sexual disorders, irritability, obesity, feelings of insecurity and agitation can get relief with this massage. It is particularly useful in promoting sleep, for calming psychotic individuals, and for helping depressed people to relax. It is also recommended for drug or alcohol addicts on a rehabilitation program. The katcha thirummu massage, given to increase a person's body flexibility and physical endurance, is particularly efficacious for those who practice martial arts and classical dance. Combined with yogic postures, it gives pliability and suppleness to the body. Regular kalari massage increases body flexibility and reduces fat. The veins and arteries become more elastic, the skin begins to glow and the body becomes more efficient. Massage improves blood circulation and clears the body of toxins. Organs like kidneys, rectum, and lungs are strengthened and work more, efficiently, as is the case with digestive organs like liver and small intestines. Bone, joint, muscle and nerve centers also work better after massage. The inability to handle stress can cause a breakdown in the body's defense system, leaving one prone to illness and disease, By reducing tension and calming the mind, kalari massage can improve mental alertness and attention span, and by helping body organs function efficiently, it can keep one disease free and in a state of positive health.

Diwali at Downing Street

Wow! What's happening? First Barack Obama celebrates Diwali at the White House, and now the British PM follows suit. Must be something in the air, anyway I'm not complaining it's great news! In London, Diwali was celebrated for the first time at 10 Downing Street, amid chanting of Vedic prayers for world peace, with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown terming it a "historic event".

"This is a great day for Downing Street, a great day for us and a great day for Britain to celebrate Diwali for the first time in Downing Street. This is a historic event," a beaming Brown told the gathering.

Happy Diwali to all my friends around the world

Keep the lamp light at the door

Remembering who it is for.

Be the watch keeper through the night

And let the lamp burn bright.

Keep the stillness within, and crown the silent witness king.

Hari Bol!!

 

Hamsa The Transcendentalist Swan

Hamsa (or hansa) is the Sanskrit term for a transcendentally situated swan or goose. Considered by scholars to be either the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) or the Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus), the Hamsa is best known and loved as the vahana (sacred carrier) of Lord Brahma and the Goddess Saraswati.

'Vah' in Sanskrit means to carry or to transport. The vahana mount may be a bird or animal, or other type of chimera having divine attributes. A particular vahana carrier is closely associated with many deities and demigods. A deity may be iconographically depicted as riding on the vahana, while at other times the vahana is depicted at the deity's side, or as a symbolical attribute in iconography.

In many texts, Hamsa is extolled as the king of birds. One of the Upanishads explains that a Hamsa is said to possess the sacred knowledge of the Brahman. The Sanskrit word 'Hamsa' is cognate with the Latin "anser", the German "gans" and the English "goose", and is generally applied to water birds. But unlike mundane winged-ones, the Hamsa is known to eat pearls, and is able to separate milk from water in a mixture of the two.

Hamsa also has special connotations in the monistic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, which explains that just as the swan lives on water but its feathers are not wetted by water, similarly an Advaitin may to live in this material world full of Maya, but remain unsoiled by its illusionary nature.

The Hamsa are said to reside on Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, from where it migrates to the Indian lakes in the winter. Lake Manasarovar itself is the summer abode of the Hamsa. Poetical images are derived from the flight of these spiritual swans to that lake in the Himalayas.

During Vedic times, there was a strong association between Lord Surya and the Hamsa. With the emergence of the Upanishads, more attributes of Hamsa were described, including its characterization as a symbol of purity, detachment, divine knowledge, cosmic breath (prana) and highest spiritual accomplishment.

The Hamsa transcends the limitations of the material creation around it: it can walk on the earth (prithvi), fly in the sky, and swim in the water. The Hamsa was also used extensively in the art of Gandhara, in conjunction with images of the Buddha, and is therefore deemed sacred in Buddhism.

In view of the association of Hamsa with the transcendental attributes noted above, saints and other sadhus are often given the title of paramhamsa, that is, the supreme Hamsa. This title precedes the name and symbolizes that such a person has reached a very high level of spirituality and emancipation.

The Hamsa represents a perfect union and balance in life. Constant repetition of the word "hamso" changes it to "soaham", which means "That I am". Hence the hamsa is often identified with the Supreme Spirit or Brahman. The flight of the Hamsa also symbolizes escape from the cycle of samsara.

In Hatha yoga, the name of of Hamsa is annunciated as ham-sa. When inverted is spoken as sa-ham, which in Sanskrit means the oneness of human and the divine, i.e., union, or 'yoga'. During pranayama, yogic exercise of breath control, the inhalation is believed sound like 'ham', while the exhalation is believed to sound like 'sa'. Thus, a 'hamsa' came to epitomize the 'prana', or breath of life.

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Navaratri The Nine nights of the godess

"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter. During Navaratri, the Shakti aspect of God in the form of the universal mother is invoked, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed it's always there. This energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. Hindus believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because they believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.

Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power. It is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, the divine power is worshiped to bestow upon all, enough potent power to maintain ones physical and mental balance.

Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother are adored; hence, the worship for nine nights.

For the Love of Krishna

When I glanced at you I could see the whole universe through your eyes. In that instant I knew everything.The length and heaviness of time, the universe all compact and present at once.The history of what was and the future of what is, were all there together with you. Spread out before me was the cosmos painted like a golden cloth. And embroidered upon it were bright stars that shone and whorled out to space. The constellations and the galaxies were painted like huge murals that hung in the air. Your shy countenance and grace came to me through the darkness of the night. The dark formless transformed into beautiful divinity. My heart will soar in revelry calling out you name, then all my cares will blow away. Oh sweet lord my heart is full of wonder and praise for you. You have set my soul free and unbound my trapped mind, revealing the truth within and the bright stars beyond the heavens. Beyond time and infinity.

Hari Hari Hari.

The Yoga of Dejection by Dr Satya Narayana Dasa

Arjuna’s Dejection We all have suffered from temporary phases of dejection at some point in our lives. Dejection overwhelms us when the unexpected transpires over the expected, when the bad overcomes the good, and when the evil visits us instead of the righteous. Being human, it is very normal for us to have expectations from people and things around us. Expectation amounts to longing, yearning, desire, craving, or lust. Likewise, failure to attain the expected begets dejection, sadness, sorrow, morosity, gloom, and depression.The ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita are potent forces of knowledge and philosophy that can guide us in wiping out the root cause of dejection in order to live a happy, sanctimonious and noble life.Bhagavad Gita, arguably the most concise and systematic book of religion, ethics, philosophy and metaphysics ever written, delves deeply into the vexing intricacies of sorrow and grief. In itself it is but a single part of the Mahabharata, an astonishing tapestry of ancient Vedic history and philosophy told through the lives of several generations of the great Kuru Dynasty. Let me offer you a few drops from the huge ocean of knowledge that is Bhagavad Gita before we move on to discuss the Yoga of Dejection element ingrained in it. Bhagavad Gita is a discourse between Shri Krishna and his warrior disciple Arjuna, shortly before Arjuna takes part in the great war of Mahabharata on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Because the Gita was not written as an independent book, the characters, settings and circumstances mentioned in it are similar to the preceding episodes of the Mahabharata. The first chapter of Bhagavad Gita is called the “Yoga of Dejection”. It depicts a picture of the blind King Dhritarashtra sitting on his throne and enquiring about the latest happenings at the battleground of Kurukshetra from his charioteer Sanjaya, who has the ability to see distant objects through his divine eyes. Seated inside the palace, the King comes to know that the battle is about to begin. Warriors from both sides stand facing each other. The Kauravas are led by King Dhritarashtra’s eldest son, Duryodhana and the Pandavas are led by the eldest son of Pandava, Yudhishthira. Pandava’s other son, Arjuna, the greatest archer, too is poised to take the challenge and stands on his chariot driven by Lord Krishna.Arjuna sees all his kinsmen—sons, brothers-in-law, cousins, teachers (Bhishma, Dronacharya and others)—standing arrayed in battle and says to Lord Krishna, “My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body quivers and my hairs stand on end; the Gandiva (his bow) too slips from my hand. I do not wish to kill them even for the sake of the kingship of the three worlds. It is a great sin to kill my teachers and relatives. If I kill them, I shall be called the slayer of the family and will go to hell”. Arjuna is overwhelmed with grief and dejection. He throws away his bow and arrows and sinks down on the seat of his chariot. He shares his predicament with Lord Krishna. The rest of Bhagavad Gita is an elucidation of Krishna’s response to Arjuna’s despondency. This is the backdrop on the basis of which we shall try to find an answer to our own dejection. The Yoga and the Cause of Despondency There are several reasons for calling Arjuna’s despondency yoga in the first chapter of Bhagavad Gita, which is appropriately entitled Visada Yoga, or the ‘Yoga of Dejection’. Krishna says that four types of people surrender to him: the distressed, those who desire wealth, the inquisitive, and those who know the Absolute Truth. Of the four types of pious people who approach the Lord, the largest group belongs to the category of the distressed. So, in this sense, the distress which serves to bring one closer to the Lord is also considered yoga. Here, Arjuna symbolises the distressed and the desperate man. The word yoga is defined as, ‘a means’. Arjuna’s despair acted as a means that led him to the ultimate solution of the problems of his life and, therefore, it is rightly termed as ‘yoga’. Yoga also means ‘union with the Supreme Soul’. Because he approached Krishna when he was in despair, Arjuna received the Lord’s mercy and attained union with him. This is in contrast with lesser persons taking to drugs or other diversions when overpowered by dejection. They only become weaker, more delusional and degraded, and in this way, waste away their life. According to Bhagavad Gita, the cure for the debilitating plague of dejection, which is a mental affliction, lies in the ability to free oneself from material attachments by adopting the spiritual path. In the Gita, Krishna acts like a psychiatrist and guides Arjuna towards a resolution to his dilemma by teaching him how to detach himself from maya (bodily love and affection). Those who take to the spiritual path alone can expect to live a life without fear from dejection. They, however, face many trials and afflictions as they attempt to detach themselves from material life. If one remains within the grip of material attachment, one cannot function on the spiritual path. One falters like Arjuna  as he began to shiver at the thought of losing everything material, and his mind became confused and conflicted. He wanted peace but needed to fight and shed blood to attain it. He got torn between these two affinities, and the attachments that he held so dear presented obstacles to his progress. The same is the case with King Dhritarashtra, whose attachment for his sons had blinded him from seeing their mistakes and their ineligibility to ascend the throne. Overcoming Duality Bodily attachment always results in duality. Whenever there is love based on physicality there must be hatred, because liking automatically implies dislike for anything that is in discord with the object of love. Therefore, in the material world, love also implies hatred, and attachment indicates repulsion, as these two are always found together. For this reason, Krishna advised Arjuna to abandon material attachment. Although Arjuna argued that it was not proper for him to fight his elders, he was not actually worried about killing Bhisma or Dronacharya. Arjuna’s real problem was that he was faced with the prospect of killing his attachments. Even Arjuna took a long time to understand this point. For a while, Arjuna did not understand as to why Krishna insisted on fighting for his rights. It may appear that Arjuna was a non-violent man and that Krishna was trying to incite him to inflict violence upon his teachers. This, however, is a superficial understanding held by those who are also bound by their Material attachments. Arjuna’s material attachment was the real cause of his dejection, and one who has such attachments can not be non-violent. He will be violent towards only those who come in the way of his attachments. Therefore, non-violence in a materially-attached person will always lead to self-motivated violence somewhere in the future. That is why Lord Krishna rejected Arjuna’s seeming non-violence. Without understanding this fact, Arjuna’s arguments appear quite sensible, and Lord Krishna’s reply seems irrelevant. The same duality can be seen in the case of King Dhritarashtra as well. He was obsessed with the word, mamaka (“mine”), that signified his mentality. He had divided his sons and the Pandavas into two opposing groups although they all belonged to one family and grew up together. Because of strong attachment to his sons, he referred to his sons as “mine”. Therefore, the attitude of “mine and yours”, or “friends and enemies”, creates hatred and envy which, in turn, gives rise to duality. Overcoming attachment In order to remove the material attachment that impedes the living being’s spiritual understanding, Bhagavad Gita says that matter and spirit are different. From the very beginning, Krishna told Arjuna that he was not the body, but Arjuna failed to see the relevance of that knowledge to his predicament. He thought, “Why is Krishna stressing that I am not this body? I am pointing out the impropriety of killing my kinsmen, and he responds by saying, “The soul never dies…?” Arjuna did not understand the connection between his question and Krishna’s response. Therefore, Krishna had to speak on a level that Arjuna could grasp. Only after the fifty-third verse of the second chapter, did Arjuna realise, what Krishna was actually saying. So Dhritarashtra and Arjuna were blinded by the same condition—material attachment. In our spiritual life too, we are confined by the same infirmity and we have to give it up, otherwise we will not make progress. The basic principle that must be followed in one’s pursuit of happiness is that spirit is beyond the body, and the spirit is what we really are, regardless of whether one follows bhakti marga, jnana marga or yoga marga. People coveting and endeavouring for peace and happiness, but attempting to grasp them materially are merely chasing a mirage, which recedes ever further as we strive to approach them. Therefore, bhakti or devotion is the surest and easiest process by which one may realise the Supreme Soul and escape the vitiating cycle of dejection. This can be followed by anyone who understands that self is distinct from the body and reposes faith in the Almighty to attain lasting peace and happiness Dr Satya Narayana Dasa is the founder and cultural director of "The Jiva Institute" in Vrindavan India. Click here to get onto the Jiva web-page then culture and articles to find out more about his work.

Janmashtami- Happy Birthday Sri Lord Krishna Friday 14th August

Janmashtami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, one one of the reincarnations of Lord Vishnu born in the Dwapar Yug. The festival is celebrated throughout the country with immense zeal and gusto. Devotees of Lord Krishna all over the country observe fasting on this day. Though the celebrations of the festival differ a little in terms of rituals and traditions from place to place, the overall celebrations of the Janmashtami every where is full of zeal and enthusiasm. Colorful Pandals and temples decorated with beautiful idols of Krishna make the festival look like a beautiful celebration of joy all over the world.

Janmashtami commemorates the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, one of the most popular Hindu God also known as ‘Makhanchor’ and ‘Kanha’. Lord Krishna was born to King Vasudev and Mata Devki in the prison of Kansa, a demon king on a dark, stormy and windy night when moon entered the house of Vrishabha in the 'Rohini' nakshatram (star) to end the rule of ‘adharma’ (unreligious forces) and establish peace, prosperity and religion on the earth. His preaching in Bhagvad Geeta, the holy text of Hindu religion is still a guiding light for the followers of the religion.

Thus as per the birth of Lord Krishna, Janmashtmi is celebrated on the eighth day of the second fortnight, in the month of Sravana every year. According to Barhapatyamana, the month of Sravana corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha and the month of Mid-August to Mid-September in the Gregorian calendar. According to estimation by some historians, Lord was born in the year of Visvavasu, appx. 5,227 years ago.

Now the birth festival of Lord Krishna is celebrated for over two days as ‘Rohini Nakshatra’ and ‘Ashtami’ may not fall on the same day. So the first day of the celebration is named as Krishnashtami and the the second day is known as Kalashtami. The day of Krishnashtami falls on the eighth day after Raksha Bandhan, generally in the month of August.

The celebrations of Janmashtmi takes place only at the midnight of Krishnashtami as the birth Sri Krishna took place on the conjunction point of both the days. Lot of hymns, arti, bhajans takes place and the rocking the cradle of Lord is done as a sign of his arrival. His idol is then bathed with milk, ghee, honey and Gangajal. He is also offered ‘bhog’ i.e. all the scrumptious ‘satvik’ (pure) food item that have been prepared by devotees all day long. Later all this is distributed amongst the devotees as ‘prasada’. It is the time when devotees open their fast by consuming the holy prasada.

Janmashtami 2009 – Friday, 14th August. 

Janmashtami 2010 - Thursday, 2nd September

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi- Cosmic Law

"Cosmic law functions from a level between the absolute and relative planes of life. It harmonises the unmanifested eternal Being and the manifested field of diverse relative existence. It is the power of cosmic law which maintains eternal Being in the absolute state and at the same time maintains the ever-changing phenomenal creation in relative states of life. The unity of life in absolute Being and the diversity of multiple creation are both maintained in their proper spheres. This is the mysterious and all-powerful nature of cosmic law which has its eternal status on the plane of Being."
- Maharishi, Science of Being and Art of Living, 1963.

David Lynch & John Hagelin Talk World Peace & Unified Field

 I just love David Lynch, yes he's eccentric, I'm not sure I want to know what he dreams about  night, but he's right there with you, and the best thing that happened to the movement in a long time. And John Hagelin, well he's a man that can turn- on anyone to Quantum physics and make it exciting- a real genius. 

Tere Bina from the film Guru Music By A R Rahman

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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Tere Bin (LEGENDARY BEAUTIFUL SONG)

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Calming Meditation Music from India. Evening Raga

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Ida, Pingala, Sushumna and the Shat-Chakras By Swami Sivananda

Ida and Pingala

There are the two nerve-currents one on either side of the spinal column. The left one is called Ida and the right is known as Pingala. These are Nadis. Tentatively, some take these as the right and the left sympathetic cords, but they are subtle tubes that carry Prana. The Moon moves in the Ida and the Sun in the Pingala. Ida is cooling. Pingala is heating. Ida flows through the left nostril and the Pingala through the right nostril. The breath flows through the right nostril for one hour and then through the left nostril for one hour. Man is busily engaged in worldly activities, when the breath flows through Ida and Pingala. When Sushumna operates, he becomes dead to the world, and enters into Samadhi. A Yogi tries his level best to make the Prana run in the Sushumna Nadi, which is known as the central Brahman Nadi also. On the left of Sushumna is situated Ida and on the right is Pingala. The moon is of the nature of Tamas and the sun is that of the Rajas. The poison share is of the sun and the nectar is of the moon. Ida and Pingala indicate time. Sushumna is the consumer of time.

Sushumna

Sushumna is the most important of all the Nadis. It is the sustainer of the universe and the path of the universe and the path of salvation. Situated at the back of the anus, it is attached to the spinal column and extends to the Brahmarandhra of the head and is invisible and subtle. The real work of a Yogi begins when Sushumna begins to function. Sushumna runs along the centre of the spinal cord or spinal column. Above the genital organs and below the navel is the Kanda, of the shape of a bird’s egg. There arise from it all the Nadis 72,000 in number. Of these, seventy-two are common and generally known. Of those the chief ones are ten and they carry the Pranas. Ida, Pingala, Sushumna, Gandhari, Hastijihva, Pusa, Yusasvini, Alambusa, Kuhuh and Sankhini are said to be the ten important Nadis. The Yogis should have a knowledge of the Nadis and the Chakras. Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are said to carry Prana and have Moon, Sun and Agni as their Devatas. When Prana moves in Sushumna, sit for meditation. You will have deep Dhyana. If the coiled-up energy, Kundalini, passes up along the Sushumna Nadi and is taken up from Chakra to Chakra the Yogi gets different sorts of experiences, powers and Ananda.

Kundalini

Kundalini is the serpent power or sleeping Sakti, that has 3 1/2 coils with face downwards, in the Muladhara Chakra, at the base of the spine. No Samadhi is possible without its being awakened. The practice of Kumbhaka in Pranayama produces heat and thereby Kundalini is awakened and passes upwards along the Sushumna Nadi. The Yogic practitioner experiences various visions. Then the Kundalini passes along the Six Chakras and eventually gets united with Lord Siva, seated on the Sahasrara or thousand-petalled lotus, at the crown of the head. Nirvikalpa Samadhi ensues now and the Yogi gets liberation and all the divine Aishvaryas. One should practise control of breath with concentration of mind. The awakened Kundalini that is taken up to Manipura Chakra may drop down again to Muladhara. It has to be raised again with effort. One should become perfectly desireless and should be full of Vairagya before he attempts to awaken Kundalini. Kundalini is like a thread and is resplendent. When it is awakened it hisses like a serpent beaten with a stick and enters the hole of Sushumna. When it travels from Chakra to Chakra, layer after layer of the mind becomes open and the Yogi acquires various Siddhis (psychic powers). Shat-Chakras

Chakras are centres of spiritual energy. They are located in the astral body, but they have corresponding centres in the physical body also. They can hardly be seen by the naked eyes. Only a clairvoyant can see with his astral eyes. Tentatively they correspond to certain plexuses in the physical body. There are six important Chakras. They are: Muladhara (containing 4 petals) at the anus; Svadhishthana (6 petals) at the genital organ; Manipura (10 petals) at navel; Anahata (12 petals) at the heart; Visudha (16 petals) at the throat and Ajna (2 petals) at the space between the two eyebrows. The seventh Chakra is known as Sahasrara, which contains a thousand petals. It is located at the top of the head. Sacral plexus tentatively corresponds to Muladhara Chakra; Prostatic plexus to Svadhishthana, Solar plexus to Manipura, Cardiac plexus to Anahata Chakra, Laryngal plexus to Visuddha Chakra and Cavernous plexus to Ajna Chakra. Kundalini and Muladhara Chakra

Nadis

Nadis are astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry Pranic currents. They can be seen by the astral eyes only. They are not the nerves. They are 72,000 in number. Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are the important ones. Sushumna is the most important of all. 

Purification of Nadis

Pranayama is said to be the union of Prana and Apana. It is of three kinds—expiration, inspiration and retention. They are associated with the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet for the right performance of Pranayama. Pranava (OM) only is said to be Pranayama. Sitting in Padmasana (Lotus-posture) the person should meditate that there is, at the tip of his nose, Devi Gayatri, a girl of red complexion, surrounded by numberless rays of the image of the moon and mounted on Hamsa (Swan) having a mace in her hand. She is the visible symbol of the letter A. The letter U has as its visible symbol Savitri, a young lady of white colour having a disc in her hand, riding on an eagle (Garuda). The letter M has as its visible symbol Sarasvati, an aged woman of black colour, riding on a bull, having a trident in her hand. He should meditate that the single letter, the supreme light—the Pranava OM is the origin or source of these letters—A, U and M. Drawing up the air through Ida (left nostril) for the space of 16 Matras, he should meditate on the letter A during that time, retaining the inspired air for the space of 64 Matras he should meditate on the letter U during that time; he should then exhale the inspired air for the space of 32 Matras, meditating on the letter M during that time. He should practise thus in the above order again and again.

Having become firm in the posture and having preserved perfect self-control, the Yogi should, in order to clear away the impurities of the Sushumna, sit in Padmasana, and having inhaled the air through the left nostril, should retain it as long as he can and should exhale through the right. Then drawing it again through the right and having retained it, he should exhale it through the left, in the order, that he should draw it through the same nostril, by which he exhaled it before and had retained it. To those who practise it according to these rules, through the right and left nostrils, the Nadis become purified within three months. He should practise cessation of breath at sunrise, at midday, at sunset and at mid-night, slowly, 80 times a day, for 4 weeks. In the early stage, perspiration is produced; in the middle stage the tremor of the body; and in the last stage, levitation in the air. These results ensue out of the repression of the breath, while sitting in the Padma posture. When perspiration arises with effort, one should rub his body well. By this, the body becomes firm and light. In the early course of practice, food with milk and ghee is excellent. One, sticking to this rule, becomes firm in his practice and gets no Taapa (burning sensation) in the body. As lions, elephants and tigers are gradually tamed, so also the breath, when rigidly managed, comes under control.

By the practice of Pranayama, the purification of the Nadis, the brightening of the gastric fire, hearing distinctly of spiritual sounds and good health result. When the nervous centres have become purified through the regular practice of Pranayama, the air easily forces its way up through the mouth of the Sushumna, which is in the middle. By the contraction of the muscles of the neck and by the contraction of the one below, viz., Apana, the Prana goes into the Sushumna, which is in the middle, from the west Nadi. Sushumna Nadi is between Ida and Pingala. The Prana which alternates ordinarily between Ida and Pingala, is restrained by long Kumbhaka; then along with the soul, its attendant, it will enter the Sushumna, the central Nadi, at one of three places where it yields space for entrance through such restraint of breath, and in the navel, by the Sarasvati Nadi, on the west. After such entry it is that the Yogi becomes dead to the world, being in that state called Samadhi. Drawing up the Apana and forcing down the Prana from the throat, the Yogi free from old age, becomes a youth of sixteen. Through the practice of Pranayama chronic diseases, that defy Allopathic, Homeopathic, Ayurvedic and Unani doctors will be rooted out.

When the Nadis have become purified, certain external signs appear on the body of the Yogi. They are lightness of the body, brilliancy in complexion, increase of the gastric fire, leanness of the body, and along with these, the absence of restlessness in the body. They are all signs of purification.

Check out the India Divine link

Eternal Beauty by Dr Partap Chauhan Ayurvedacharya and Medical Director Jiva Institute Faridabad India

Consider for a moment the many beautiful people you have encountered during your lifetime.
Perhaps from childhood you recall a kind and nurturing grandmother or aunt who was the epitome of grace and love. Or maybe you had a special teacher who glowed with vitality and wisdom. You may remember a childhood playmate whose skin glistened with summer perspiration and whose eyes beamed with excitement as you played vigorous games outdoors.
During adolescence you may have adored the glamour of certain movie stars, athletic heroes or popular schoolmates. Perhaps in some cases you were later disillusioned to find that the real person was quite different from the projected idol.
In adulthood, you may have met someone of the opposite sex whose presence took your breath away and left your heart aching. Probably all of us have watched a dancer or an athlete whose movements were pure grace, strength and perfection. We sometimes meet someone whose face is so lovely that it is hard to look away. And we have all known those lovely people who bring smiles and laughter to everyone around them. Their sunny nature and goodwill are sources of enduring beauty.
Many people are fortunate enough to have found deep, abiding love with a compatible, faithful partner. Year after year, decade after decade, they continue to discover infinite beauty in each other's eyes. Age never dims that beauty.
Sometimes in the course of life, we meet older people, who do not seem old at all, but whose minds, bodies, and spirits are alive with energy and well-being. Their hair, skin and eyes shine and their spirits are buoyant. They seem forever young at heart—and youthful in appearance as well. You may have even met along the way a few people who had physical or mental challenges, but who radiated such a refreshing outlook that they appeared quite attractive and beautiful. And none of us can deny the exceptional beauty radiated by someone who attained spiritual heights, whose life is an example of unconditional love, humility and truth. No matter their age, such people are extraordinarily attractive.
When we think about the beautiful people we have known, both young and old, we recognise that beauty has many forms of expression. Kindness and understanding, a positive attitude, a healthy appearance, graceful movements, serene wisdom and a strong, loving spirit—all are aspects of beauty in the broadest sense.

The Essence of Eternal Beauty
Ayurveda, the most ancient medical system in the world, takes the holistic perspective that we are made of body, mind, and soul. We have a physical being, a mental self and a spiritual self. All three aspects work together to create this being that we are. Therefore, the deepest and truest form of beauty is an interaction of all three aspects of our self. The wisdom of Ayurveda provides methods that improve the health and well-being of our body, mind and spirit. Thus producing the deepest, most enduring form of beauty—eternal beauty.
If we compare the concepts of beauty uncovered by Western science, promoted by the media and beauty industry and found in Ayurveda, we will see, there are fewer agreements and more important differences among these different perspectives. This discussion will help to illuminate the significance of Ayurveda as a positive method for assisting each of us in attaining our own unique, natural, and enduring state of beauty.

Ayurvedic Concept of Beauty
The Western emphasis on outer beauty has been expressed by the well-known saying that beauty is only skin-deep. The Eastern perspective of beauty, now being gradually recognised in the West, is a holistic approach. One of the earliest systems of medicine that held this holistic view is Ayurveda.
When we speak of beauty in the context of Ayurveda, we are not referring to commercial, market-driven ideals. In Ayurveda, beauty of both the inner self and outer being is intimately related. The more we nurture our health and inner qualities, the more radiant our physical appearance becomes, irrespective of our particular body shape or proportions. In keeping with the general orientation of the Eastern philosophy of health and healing, beauty can be viewed as having three aspects: outer, inner and secret—or physical, psychological and spiritual.

Inner Beauty
Inner beauty relates to inner qualities, including emotional states and mental abilities. Like physical characteristics, our mental abilities and temperaments are largely determined at birth via our genes. Although physical characteristics (prakiriti) remain relatively unchanged (such as blue eyes or a large skeletal frame), mental qualities can be changed by food and lifestyle. The food we eat and our current lifestyle have a significant impact on our state of mind. Not only does our food influence our well-being, but so do all the things that we perceive through our senses. The things we watch, hear, smell, and feel affect our mental and physical activities.

The Mental Aspect of Beauty
A calm and relaxed mind, termed sattvic in Ayurveda, is essential for a healthy and beautiful body. Multi-tasking reflects an overactive (rajasic) state of mind and leads to mental stress and physical tiredness. There is a relation between the body and mind. Clinical studies have shown that meditation, which is a calm and relaxed state of mind, retards the aging process, whereas mental stress and multi-tasking deplete physical immunity and reduce efficiency. Reducing negative feelings and accepting positive feelings enhance inner beauty. As the well-known saying goes, “As you think, so you become.”

Beauty and Soul
The secret or hidden aspect of beauty refers to soul. Our soul provides the energy, insight and inspiration to balance the inner and outer qualities of our being. Developing ourselves at the level of soul takes time, patience and a focus on the spiritual aspects of life. This is the mark of real maturity or self-realisation that ripens into a deep, lasting beauty. It can be developed by anyone, no matter one's age or physical ability. Eternal beauty is experienced from within and seen by all on the outside.
Thus, it is clear that beauty must be seen as an expression of the overall health of the body and mind of the individual as opposed to a modification of external looks in the hope of creating inner health and happiness. Today, the meaning of beauty is often shallow and is considered to mean only good skin, nice hair and nails, a good figure and external good looks. We fail to consider internal beauty, which is fundamental to creating external beauty.
The Ayurvedic method intimately relates inner and outer beauty, the balance of which makes a person really beautiful. The wisdom of Ayurveda has always understood beauty to be the product of internal beauty plus general physical health and appropriate daily care rather than just a cosmetic façade. Caring for oneself and practising good eating and living habits will make us look and feel our best. Good health is the only route to good looks. Appropriate self-care and good health will help us mature with strength and vitality as we grow older.

Beauty is Sublime
Beauty cannot be confined to complexion, shape, form, and feel. It is akin to a feeling or quality that transcends physical form and texture to reside ultimately in the heart as love, purity, and bliss. A word of kindness, a selfless act, a smile of innocence or a little peep into the divine can give birth to beauty that becomes a permanent presence. This feeling of fullness and connectedness to life is a direct expression of our innate human nature, which is joy.
When this quality pours out of you, all existence resonates with peace and joy. All one needs to experience this serenity is to open up to the secret wonders of inner beauty and be blessed with the warmth of the vastness it symbolises. True beauty is actually an outward expression of positive and noble thoughts.
However much life may be beset with ups and downs, a tinge of beauty and grace is enough to squeeze elation out of misery. Although difficult to express, at its highest level, beauty is the essence of all that is. It is the intangible yet ever-present connection between the seen and the unseen, between the expressible and the inexpressible, between the nameable and unnameable.

Beauty is Divine
So inseparable is beauty from truth and divinity that, in India, we have described existence in three words: satyam, shivam, sundaram (truth, God, beauty). Truth is considered beautiful and divine. God is considered true and beautiful. Thus beauty is regarded as a significant aspect of both the ultimate truth and the divine. All reflect the state or quality of being positive and noble.Taken simply as the opposite of ugliness, beauty is imprisoned as a mere word evoking little sentiment. But when liberated from the chains of limitations, the word acquires a transcendent and expansive touch. Usually this touch is felt in unexpected moments when one is closest to the source of the bubbling, positive thoughts within. One's thoughts, words and deeds are what make one good or bad, an ugly or beautiful human being.

Perverse Beauty
Unfortunately, nowadays most of our activities are directed at enhancing only our physical pleasures, feeding the senses with an almost constant barrage of excessively loud music, television and sexual indulgence, all done to keep the consciousness occupied. Yet, despite the ever-increasing number of distractions, we still feel that something is lacking. At least once in a while, most of us sense this intangible deficit. And we think that starting a new activity will end this despair, so we begin anew, only to be led into the same vortex again, leaving little time for self-discovery and self-maintenance. This gives rise to a feeling of stress and incompleteness that is reflected in our physical health and appearance.
As mentioned previously, Ayurvedic wisdom promotes the idea that a human being is a combination of body, mind, and soul. And, true beauty springs from a combination of a healthy body, mind, and soul. Thus Ayurveda believes in a threefold concept of beauty—physical, mental, and spiritual.
Depression and anxiety are always reflected in a person's appearance. Cosmetics cannot mask the impact of stress. A person with a relaxed mind and happy soul will look beautiful even without cosmetics. In Ayurveda, therefore, it is believed that lifestyle characteristics, such as adherence to non-violence, truth, and benevolence, and spiritual beauty achieved through a positive attitude and the practice of yoga and meditation, are important contributors to physical beauty.

Living in Harmony with Nature
Ayurveda is a way of life. It teaches us to live in harmony with nature and in synchronisation with its cycles. Our natural state is good health. Living in disharmony with nature leads to imbalances in the body-mind unit and consequently, to faulty thinking, pain, and disease. To return to health is to simply return to our natural state of total well-being.
 Today, we tend to live our lives as if in a dream. Most of the time, we are oblivious to the inherent rhythms of nature such as those found in the seasons and days, as well as the cycles that occur in our bodies, such as hunger and thirst. How often has one found oneself skipping breakfast to get to work on time or grabbing a snack for lunch to meet the demands of a busy schedule? It is only at the end of the day that one realises that one has survived on little more than coffee and adrenaline all day. One feels stressed and unable to relax, even though one is mentally and physically exhausted.
Often, we spend long hours in unnatural environments with artificial lighting and air conditioning, be it in the car, office, home, or shopping mall. This detachment from a natural environment, augmented by improper diet and lack of self-care is the main cause of the general malaise and dissatisfaction we feel in our lives. The more we ignore the natural laws of existence, the more life seems to be a constant struggle. Hectic modernity takes its toll, stuffing our lives and minds with inflexible busyness. But we can change it for the better.
Literally, Ayurveda means the knowledge or science of ayu, which is defined as a combination of body, mind, senses, and soul. Ayurveda helps us to understand the world we live in and offers us the tools we need to live in harmony with nature. Ayurveda considers not only the physical body, but also the mind, senses, and soul. These are the four pillars on which the feeling of “I-am-ness” depends. Consequently, Ayurveda does not limit the scope of physical beauty to superficial, skin-deep beauty. It maintains that true physical beauty can be achieved only in a healthy body with a healthy mind and a realised soul.

(This article has been adapted from Dr. Chauhan’s recently released book, Eternal Beauty—the Aura of Ayurveda. You can get your copy of the book by ordering by phone on +91-129-4088152 or by email on info@jiva.com)

Eckhart Tolle - The Space in which Life happens

Some of you I'm sure are already familiar with Eckhart Tolle's best selling book "The Power Of Now." The book which was published ten years ago sold millions of copy's world wide. Since then Tolle has continued to lecture and talk to audiences all round the world about being in the now, or acting in the present. Essentially he is speaking the supreme knowledge of  Pure Consciousness or Vedanta, the same truth as many spiritual teachers before him have taught. I think of my own Guru the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought the knowledge of Vedanta along with Transcendental Meditation to the attention of the west back in the sixties. Maharishi gave us this technique of meditation, for us to go beyond conscious thought and connect with pure consciousness and ultimately bliss. Regular transcending increases and stabilises that quality of pure consciousness, and once that is enlivened and established in the individual consciousness, everything we do comes from that field of pure consciousness. It is what we ultimately strive for, whether we know it or not. 

Yogosta Kuru Karmani  (Established in the self, perform right action). 

 The thing that makes Tolle different is that he is a western teacher, born in Germany, who had no spiritual guru, who woke up one day and was self- realised after many years of struggle and unhappiness. His knowledge is easy understand, without the use of words which many people in the west find confusing. His approach is simple and straight forward, he doesn't prescribe a method of meditation to help us be present in the moment.

 "So what does he say ?" Well if you are ready to listen to him, click on to this clip and find out. Or click onto the Eckhart Tolle TV 

The Realisation of the Absolute a treatise on Vedanta Philosophy and it's methodology by Swami Krishananda

An Extrract from Chapter One

Integrality and Aspiration The Attainment of Perfection is the Conscious Integration of Being. This is the central theme of the Upanishads. The Upanishads are intuitional revelations, and intuition is integral experience. Their declarations cannot fail to include within themselves the absolute scope of the diverse methods of approach to the one Reality, for integrality excludes nothing. No two individuals think alike, for thinking, which is the objective movement of the Spiritual Force, differs in its mode and impetus in different points of stress in integral existence. But, then, in spite of this separation of beings through their modes of mentation, all individuals have to aim at the attainment of a common Goal, the achievement of a common purpose, for, the truth of them all is one, and all their paths must but meet at One Perfection. Perfection or truth cannot be two, and there cannot be two absolutes. Hence, the methods of approach to Reality must all inherit certain fundamental natures or qualities which belong to the eternal nature of pure Existence. It is this undeniable fact that goes to prove the logical consistency that must exist and that exists among the multitudes of the methods employed by the relative individuals to experience Truth as it really is.

Happy Guru Purnima 7th July

Mantra to the Guru

"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshvaraha,

Gurur Sakshaat Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha."

Hindu's attach paramount importance to honouring their spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus.

What is Guru Purnima

The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.

Significance of Guru Purnima

On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day.The period 'Chaturmas' ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.

The Role of the Guru

Swami Sivananda asks: "Do you realize now the sacred significance and the supreme importance of the Guru's role in the evolution of man? It was not without reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva. It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of the Reality."

By Subhamoy Das, About.com

Lassi a cool Ayurvedic health drink

Lassi is an Ayurvedic yoghurt drink, which not only tastes wonderful but also helps regulate the digestion and balances all the three doshas.Yogurt and lassi are not considered the same thing in Ayurveda. Lassi is best taken after lunch or late afternoon rather than evening. Lassi is light and contains lactobacilli, which are necessary bacteria that lubricate the intestines to help digestion go smoothly. It also helps to reduce wind and bloating. It's a tasty drink and makes your meal delicious, nutritious and more satisfying. 
Some of you have asked why is Lassi ok to drink for pitta types and yoghurt not. Well it's all down to simple chemistry. The way we prepare and combine food with other ingredients changes the qualities of the food. Yoghurt appears to be cool and light, but it's heavy and oily and quite hard to digest, and because it is fermented and sour it increases pitta (heat). It's final effect on the digestive tract is heating or vipaka, so it should be avoided by individuals with aggravated or excess pitta or those suffering from colitis, or other inflammatory bowel conditions. By adding water and whisking air into the yoghurt changes the qualities, increasing vata,(airy and light qualities), and reduces the pitta (hot) and kapha (heavy) qualities. This makes the the drink easier to digest and the final heating effect on digestion is reduced

Recipes for Lassi Sweet Lassi 1/4 cup fresh homemade yogurt  1 cup room temperature water and  Sugar to taste Few drops of Rosewater and 1-3 crushed cardamon pods. (optional) Blend it for one minute in the blender and drink fresh, don't add ice. Salty Lassi 1 cup room temperature water 1/4 cup fresh homemade yogurt  1 pinch ground ginger (optional)  1 pinch ground cumin 1 pinch ground coriander  1 pinch salt  Blend for one minute. Drink after lunch. It helps trapped wind and bloating.

Cool tips for Summer

Namaste friends, I can't quite believe that we have at last been blessed with a warm summer here in the UK, the first in years.  I keep pinching myself as I ride out on my bike in the morning and evening, enjoying the long warm days. We always seem to have a slight breeze here near to the coast, which really helps. Some of you though, might not be enjoying  all this heat especially if you are strong pitta dosha, or if  you live and work in London or other big cities. So here are a few tips to help you through the heat wave.

1. Reduce caffeine intake it only heats you up. try fresh mint tea instead.
2. Drink more water and sweet fruit juices, like apple, grape, mango or pineapple.
3. Lassi yogurt drink is best for it's cooling effect. Drink mid- morning or around 4pm instead of tea. 
4. Oil massage in the early morning before shower with coconut oil really has a cooling and balancing effect on pitta dosha. Start first with the head and use a hair oil, Bhringraj oil if you can find it.  Jiva's Bhringraj hair oil is my favourite one, it has a lovely sweet fragrance, reduces heat and promotes hair growth, and prevents greying of the hair. Then use coconut oil for the rest of the the body, work down to the feet. Try to use good quality coconut oil, Parachute oil is best and smells great too. 
5. Don't over do exercise, remember heat saps your strength, so take it easy. If you can include some yoga asanas in the morning, they will set you up for the day.  If you enjoy running  then go in the early morning or just take a walk, or bike ride. The aim is to relax and be outdoors but not to overheat.
6. Close the curtains and blinds during the day to keep the house cool.
7. Try to include swimming once or twice a week, or take a walk near water. 
8. Reduce salty, sour and hot-spicy foods, and alcohol they all heat you up.
9. Favour sweet, bitter and astringent tastes e.g; grains like barley, basmati rice, wheat, and pasta, oats.
10. Most Beans- and pulses aduki beans, kidney beans, mung beans and mung dal, black- eyed beans and chickpeas. 
11. Dairy- unsalted butter, ghee, milk, cream cottage cheese and paneer. 
12. Oils- olive oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil. 
13. Nuts- almonds and coconut. 
14. Seeds- pumpkin and sunflower seeds. 
15. Eat more Sweet and astringent fruits- apples, apricots, avocado, berries, cherries,  melon, date, figs, grapes, pears, watermelon.   
16. Vegetables- Alfalfa, asparagus, cabbage, artichoke, cooked beets, green beans, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, leafy greens, kale, lettuce, okra, peas, pumpkin, cucumbers, fennel and courgette.
17. Herbs & spices-Aloe-Vera juice, basil, cardamon, dill, fennel, ginger, saffron, turmeric, parsley, coriander, mint. 
18. Wear loose fitting clothing, natural fabrics such as cotton and linen are best. Exposing more of yourself, makes you feel hotter not cooler.
19. If you are outside in the sun wear a hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.
20. Choose light pastel shades of blues and greens, pinks, or white. Silver jewellery is also cooling, Strong reds and orange will also fire you up!
21. Visit an art gallery,  "The Summer Exhibition" is still on in London at the R.A.  Or  even look at a beautiful  art book.
22. When you get home take a cool bath with rose and sandalwood or lavender essential oils and put on fresh clothing. 
23. Go into the garden, or park listen to the birds, mow the grass and water the plants.
24. Pick a vase full of flowers, or buy lots of scented flowers and fill the house with them.
25. Burn  sandalwood incense, or diffuse essential like lavender, rose, geranium, frankincense, jasmine, ylang-ylang. vetiver, sandalwood and patchouli and spearmint.
26. Listen to relaxing music: Indian raga's are so soothing there are even rain melodies. Flute is particularly good.  Hariprasad Chaurasia is one of the all time greats.
27. A walk in the moonlight before bed. 
28. Avoid hot baths, take a cool shower instead.
29. Sleep in cotton or linen sheets avoid artificial fabrics, open windows and create a through draft. If it's noisy outside sleep with ear plugs for a perfect nights sleep and sweet dreams.......zzzzzz

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

Dear Michael,

I grew up with you and the Jackson 5 at youth club; Got to be there and ABC, to my favourite albums, Off the wall and Billie Jean and one of the best music video's 

Thriller. Thank you for all the memorable songs and moves you gave to me and the world over the last forty years.  Your music will live on in all of us.  God bless you, Love Tanya.

Saffron can improve vision and prevent sight loss

As I was flicking through the Sunday papers yesterday I came across an article in The Sunday Telegraph, written by Richard Gray the Telegraphs science correspondent. Scientists at University of L'Aqula in Italy and Sydney University in Australia, have found that saffron the Indian spice which we use in rice and pilau dishes to be beneficial in strengthening the retinal cells in patients suffering from macular degeneration, the most common form of blindness in the elderly. Tests in animals also showed that saffron protected the eyes against bright sunlight and slowed the progress of retinitis pigmentosa a genetic disease. Prof Silvia Bisti, from the university of L'Aquila said: "Saffron seems to possess a number of properties that are protective to vision." 

"We are now trying to understand the mechanism, but it appears to block cell death. Saffron components have strong antioxidant properties."

Macular degeneration affects more than 500,000 people in the UK. About two per cent of people over fifty years of age suffer from the disease, which is caused by gradual damage to the cells in the retina at the back of the eye.

Ayurvedic Workshop 11th July 2009 -How to create health and happiness in your life

Maintaining health and creating a happy and disease free society is one of the aims of Ayurveda. Looking after our physical health and well-being is something many of us strive toward. We exercise and try different diets, and look for ways to care for our physical body without much regard to our psychological and spiritual health. In this workshop we will study the Ayurvedic approach to maintaining health and balance in Life.

Topics will include:

• The mind-body constitution and the correlation with the disease process.
• Are your favorite foods damaging your health- The role of digestion and nutrition.
•  Is your lifestyle scrabbling your mind.
• Cooling routines for the summer- How to balance Pitta dosha.
• Simple home remedies from your kitchen garden and cupboard. 

Ayurvedic Workshop 

The Harmony Centre, Walpole, Suffolk, IP19 9BB

Saturday 11th July 2009.  

Tel: 01986  784500

Start: 9.30 am Finish: 5.30 pm

Refreshments included: please bring a vegetarian dish for lunch to share and wear comfortable clothing as we will will start the day with some simple yoga stretches and meditation.

Cost: £70.00

Teachers: Janette Rice and Tanya Bradbury.

For more information please e-mail Tanya on this link.

Talk on Ayurveda at the Harmony Centre

Ayurveda - The Science of Life
How can Ayurveda's Eternal knowledge help you to know yourself?
Be your own Life Coach! and learn how to connect with your inner intelligence.
Improve your health, relationships and quality of life.
Come and hear more about this beautiful knowledge, with Tanya Bradbury and Janette Rice. 
Thursday 11th June 7. 30 pm till 9.30 pm at The Harmony Centre, Walpole, Halesworth, Suffolk. Tel: 01986-784500

Indian Wedding

I've recently returned from India, after attending the fabulous wedding of my friend Dr Partap Chauhan's niece Neerja. It was great fun and a real thrill to be be part of such a close family event. There were about four different official celebrations all leading up to the wedding day.I finally got to wear a sari, which was a divine experience. On the Sangeet evening, the whole family performed singing, dancing and even made a short film which was presented to the bride and and other family members and guests  It was an amazing event! The Mendhi evening is where the bride and other lady guests have their arms and hands painted   with henna. It was great fun as the rest of the evening was dedicated to some serious dancing. All the wedding functions take place in the evening, which is just as well because daytime temperatures were in the mid 40's! On the eve of the wedding the school were the wedding was held was transformed  into a magical wedding village, large enough to feed and entertain the 2500 people who were expected to arrive.                                                     The bride and groom arrived separately and were then led to a raised dais. They approach from different sides then stood together. The dais turned, and as it turned rose petals blew out all over them. It was a fairy tale event, they were like Rama and Sita. I was quite overcome with emotion, having never seen anything like that before. For many hours after, the bride and groom receive guests on a large stage. Then much later into the early hours of the morning the religious ceremony takes place. In another area a fire pit is prepared, a  priest chants Sanskrit rituals and the bride  and groom circle the fire seven times. These are sacred steps, each of which prepare the couple for there life together and ensure a strong and lasting marriage. Finally in the early hours the couple leave and the bride says farewell to all her family. This was a poignant and emotional time for everyone. The next day I could reflect back on the whole event. The main thing that stands out for me is the way the whole family comes together to care and support the bride leading up to the wedding. Sometimes she may be feeling happy, then sad, but there is always the love and support to help her through this transition. And not to be forgotten the groom is also welcomed into his new family by the male members of the brides family. Marriage in India is much more of a rite of passage into a new life and a new beginning. I feel really fortunate to have been part of such an occasion.                                                                                                                                                  

The Seven Steps of Marriage

May the first step lead to food that is both Nourishing and pure.

May the second step lead to strength, on the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual level.

May the third step lead to prosperity.

May the forth step lead to all round happiness.

May the fifth step lead to noble and virtuous children.

May the sixth step lead to a long life.

May the seventh step lead to a true companionship forever.

 

Traditional Indian Recipes from the workshop for spring

Here are some delicious recipes which are beneficial for kapha season and for balancing kapha dosha. I cooked these on our workshop a few weeks ago, some of you on the day didn't pick up the recipie sheets so here they are.

Roti,Chapati- Indian Flat bread makes 4 flat breads

• 1/2 cup of flour
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup of warm water

Method

• Make into soft dough five mins before you need them
• Apply a few drops of oil to the fingers to stop dough sticking
• Divide into 4 parts and roll into smooth balls between the palms and flatten on top.
• Heat an iron skillet
• Roll out to rounds of  5 inches, use some flour to stop them sticking
• Test heat with couple of drops of water if it sizzles then it’s right temperature
• Put roti on skillet, wait until it starts changing colour, it will also bubble  on surface
• Should be light golden brown
• Use spatula and lightly press on the surface, as they puff up
• Turn over and do the same on other side
• Spread with a little ghee
• Keep roti warm in a basket while you are making the rest of them.

  Kichadi (serves 4)

Kichadi (translated as “food of the gods”) is a classic Ayurvedic dish that provides a complete protein and is both cleansing and easy to digest.  Not only is it yummy but it is also the quintessential bowl of nourishment!  You can’t beat that! There are many variations of kichadi, as the spices used may vary according to season, taste, and health conditions. It is recommended to use organic ingredients when possible.  

•  1 cup basmati rice 
• 1 cup split mung beans (found at health food stores & Indian markets)
• 1 tsp. cumin seed
• 1 tsp. mustard seed
• 1 tbsp. ghee (clarified butter found at health food stores & Indian markets)
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 6 cups water
• 1/3 cup freshly chopped coriander

Rinse the rice and the mung beans together,several times until the water is clear from starch. If you use whole mung bean, you'll want to soak the beans overnight before cooking. Split mung doesn't need to be soaked, but, you can soak for half an hour before, too long will increase their alkalinity and they'll taste soapy!

Heat ghee, cumin and mustard seeds in saucepan over medium heat until the seeds begin to pop. Add the rice, turmeric, and cinnamon. Stir to coat and then transfer to a larger pot. Add the split mung beans and the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain simmer. Simmer until beans are soft and rice is cooked (about 25-35 minutes).  Serve hot and garnish with freshly chopped coriander. 

N.B. You may chop up vegetables (asparagus, green beans, squash, carrots, onions, or whatever you fancy) and add the to the kichadi about 15 minutes into its simmering process.

Cabbage with Peas (Bund Gobi and Matar)

 INGREDIENTS:

• 4 cups of cabbage slice into fine long shreds (discard the stalk and thick stems)
• 1/4 cup frozen peas
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Pinch of asafetida (hing)
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds (rai)
• 2 green chilies half the way slit
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric (haldi)
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (lal mirch)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1tblsp lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped coriander (hara dhania)

Method 

•  Heat saucepan on medium heat.
•  Add oil (take one cumin seed and see if it crackles) then oil is correct temp.
•  Add cumin, mustard seed,  hing, cook for 1min.
•  Add green peas and chilli.
•  Add cabbage, turmeric, cayenne pepper, salt and sugar.
•  Cook and cover for about 10mins and reduce heat.
•  Check after 5mins, stir then add lemon juice and corriander.
•  Seve with mung dal and roti.

 Chola- Chana Masala serves 2

• 1 can of chickpeas
• 3tblsp  vegetable oil
• 1 pinch hing
• 1 tsp cumin seed
• 1 tsp gram flour
• 1tsp ginger paste
• 1tbsp tomato paste- made from 1 large tomato
• 1 tsp green chilli finally chopped
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp chilli powder
• 3 tsp coriander powder
• 1tsp of salt
• 1/2 cup of water

Method

•  Heat oil in pan over medium heat.
  
• Add pinch of hing and gram flour.
• Cook together for a few seconds until golden brown.
• Add tomato paste, green chilli, turmeric, chilli powder and coriander powder.
• Cook together until oil separates from mixture.
• Then add chick peas.
• 1tsp of salt and water.
• Simmer for 10 mins.
• Press some of the chick peas to squash them, just a few.
• Stir in garam masala.
• Garnish with sliced tomato and coriander.
• Serve with roti, chapati or dal.

 

 

 

Feedback and pictures from our Ayurvedic Workshop on 21st March

Our introductory workshop on Ayurveda was enthusiastically attended by a small but select group on a sunny Saturday At Janette's lovely house in Flixton. The main theme of the day was to introduce the concept of Ayurveda in relation to the three doshas, the five elements and the three gunas; then to expand further into daily and seasonal routines with particular emphasis on spring. We all enjoyed a delicious ayurvedic lunch of kichadi, chana and chapati, which wasn't half bad if I say so myself. In the afternoon Janette demonstrated Nasya treatment which is ideal for helping with upper respiratory congestion, particularly in the spring season. All in all it was a good day Janette and I both enjoyed it and we hope to make it a regular monthly event.  

 Here are some comments from our course participants:

" Just to say a big thank you and Janette for a very inspiring workshop last Saturday! I thought ther the workshop was well organised, loved the setting and the food was delicious!! You both did an excellent job on your presentations which made it very interesting, the day flew by and left me wanting to learn more."D.Padfield.

" Hello Tanya, just a qiuck message to say how much I enjoyed last Saturday, both learning about Ayurveda and meeting Janette and all the folks- what an interesting bunch and how different we all are! The lunch was absolutely delicious and a particular thank you for creating  all that for us, not an easy task to cook for seven and deliver a day- long seminar." S. Passingham. 

Hi, just a quick thanks, for a most enjoyable and illuminating course. It was brilliant to meet you both and all the others too. Really learnt a lot and look forward to more courses and perhaps some treatment." V. Donovan.

Easter Special 20% saving on all treatments

The Dr. Hauschka facial treatment is a unique experience, unlike any other facial. It helps to balance the natural rhythms of the body and gently stimulates the lymphatic system; to cleanse, tone and rejuvenate the skin. You are warm, relaxed, wrapped in soft white towels and cocooned from the outside world. There is no music, all you can hear is the sound of the birds singing and the breath of your being. You leave refreshed, with glowing skin and an innate sense of well being.  Your two hour treatment is usually £85.00  email me now and receive a  special 20% discount for Easter or call 07779 583 123. 

Exercise the Ayurvedic Way

Exercise has been an important part of the ayurvedic routine for thousands of years before it became a modern fad. Exercise gets rid of heaviness and stiffness of the body because it burns ama (digestive impurities) and creates more flexibility, lightness, smoothness and easiness.
Other benefits include enhanced firmness, endurance, and ability to do work. It pacifies all three doshas and creates balance when suitable for the body type and season. It enhances the digestion, and if done properly, it dissolves impurities in the tissues. Exercise enhances immunity and capacity for food. It banishes fatigue, stops early aging, and retards weight gain.
But too much exercise can be damaging. Fatigue, lack of glow in the skin and face, Pitta and Vata aggravation, and strain on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems result from too much exercise. Modern research confirms that too much exercise can create free radicals and damage the body. Excess free radicals have been linked to over 80% of degenerative disease as well as premature aging. According to Maharishi Ayurveda, you should not use more than 50 percent of your total capacity. And that capacity depends on daily fluctuations of energy, change of the seasons, age, and body type. This is the ayurvedic principle of balaardh-- using half your capacity and conserving the other half. Exercising beyond one's capacity can create imbalance in mind and body, and do more harm than good from the ayurvedic perspective.
Vata types need less exercise, so lighter activities such as walking, yoga and Pilates are best. Pitta types need a moderate amount of exercise so, team sports, swimming and skiing are good.  Kapha types can benefit from more intense exercise, such as working out in the gym, jogging and aerobics, in order to stay in balance. The seasons follow another pattern: if you want to increase your exercise, winter and spring are the best times. In hot weather, you need to decrease exertion and stay out of the hot sun. As for age, children have more capacity for exercise and older people need less, although daily exercise is essential at any age.
How do you know if you're doing the right amount of exercise? As long as you feel energised and blissful, you are not going beyond what your physiology can sustain. If you feel strained and exhausted, you're doing too much. You can continue to exercise until you notice one of the following two signs of over exertion:
Difficulty breathing through the nose. If you have to open your mouth to gulp in air, that's a sign that your heart is overexerted, the circulation system is taxed, and the coordination of heart and lungs is disturbed. Stop immediately.
Sweating on forehead or tip of nose. It's fine to sweat elsewhere in the body, but when you notice sweat in these two places, it's a sign that you are overexerted and should stop.
If you're not exerting enough, you can exercise for a longer period or with more intensity. You could start with a walk, but each day you could increase the intensity of exercise (by walking faster). Or you could walk for a longer time (increasing the duration). Start out slowly and gradually increase the intensity and time. Stop when you note signs of overexertion.
Yoga asanas are the ideal form of exercise for all body types and ages, because they balance the three doshas, tone the muscles, and rejuvenate all the organs in the body. Pranayam, or breathing exercises, are also good for restoring balance to mind and body.

To increase endurance, eat more sweet, juicy fruits, and more proteins such as milk, paneer (a fresh cheese), soaked almonds and cashews. Make sure your bowel movements are regular, and if not, incorporate more cooked prunes, figs and raisins in your diet.
Exercise every day, as part of your regular daily routine. If possible, exercise in the morning before 10:00, as your body has more strength, stamina, and coordination during the Kapha time of day. Exercising at this time also energizes you, preparing you for the day ahead. Exercising in the late evening or towards bedtime is not recommended, as it can elevate body temperatures and disrupt sleep rhythms. A light walk in the evening is fine. Also avoid exercise from 10a.m. to 2p.m., the Pitta time of day when the digestive fires are burning high and it is time to eat the main meal of the day.

Start the day the Ayurvedic way

Spring or Kapha season is the perfect time to start all of those new years resolutions that you made, but were unable to start or keep up because it was just too cold, and the mornings and evenings were too dark. Now the days are lengthening there are more hours of sunlight, so you can spring out of bed earlier and give yourself an extra hour in the morning to get yourself in to shape. The way we start our day is really important, it can affect our mood for the rest of the day. Make some time to follow a few simple routines. In Ayurveda great emphasis is placed on personal hygiene and daily routine.

•  Get up and go to the loo, if you can't go try drinking hot water with lemon and small amount of honey to facilitate a bowel movement, walk around for a bit to help the peristaltic action.
•  Instead of using toilet paper try washing with water, or use moistened toilet tissues. If you don't have bidet use a plastic jug, fill with cool water and  pour with the right hand and wash with the left. Using water cleanses the area thoroughly and doesn't irritate the delicate tissue there. It also closes the rectal plexus and brings it back into balance.
•  Wash hands afterwards.
  
• Fill the mouth with cool water then gently splash  with water to clean the eyes.
•  Suck up  warm up water through the nostrils one at a time to cleanse the nose. A neti pot with warm salt water is also good for clearing congestion.
• Clean the teeth with herbal toothpaste, then scrape tongue with tongue scraper.
•  An light oil massage with warm sesame oil, nourishes the skin and tones muscle tissue and calms the nervous system. Mustard oil is also good for Kapha types  because of it's warming nature. Use an old towel to stand on, then wrap it around body to keep warm.
• Start at the head and  massage into scalp if you are intending to wash hair. Use long stokes on the long bones and circle round the joints, include the feet as well.
• An alternative to oil massage for Kapha types, or those who have an aversion to oil, is to use silk mitts or (garshan). These mitts stimulate circulation and lymph flow, and a simple massage can be performed before bathing. You can also use a body brush or loofah.
• Leave oil on for 15- 20mins then remove with 2tblsps of gram flour, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder mixed with hot water and make into a paste. Stand in bath or shower and carefully Apply all over body, try to leave on for a few minutes, then shower off. 
• Use old towel to dry as turmeric can stain. This little ritual leaves your skin feeling silky smooth your body warm and your senses soothed.
• Next you can perform some yoga asanas, the sun salute is ideal as it strengthens all the major muscle groups in the body. 
•  Then follow with pranayama, alternate nose breathing for 5mins.
•  Last but not least meditation. Personally I think it is best to learn meditation from an experienced teacher. I have practised Transcendental Meditation for many years and have found it to be very beneficial.Now you can dress and have breakfast, then go to work! It may seem like quite a lot to incorporate into your daily routine, but you will find that after a while it's just like cleaning your teeth, you do that twice a day and don't give it a second thought. Oil massage can be done when you can make time, at least 2-3 times a week is beneficial. If you want to perform some more demanding exercise like running or team sports it's still beneficial to do the oil massage before as it warms the muscles and prevents injury. Exercise before 10am in the morning. 

Combating Cellulite according to Dr Hauschka

Cellulite starts as a weakening of the metabolic processes in the connective tissue of the thighs, upper arms, hips and buttocks. Because of their exposed situation, these areas of the body generally have a lower temperature than the internal organs, with the result that metabolic processes are slower here. In addition, the processes of warmth generation, oxygen supply and fluid circulation become more sluggish with age or if we get cold. The outcome is peripheral circulatory disorders and venous congestion, leading to the formation of spider-burst and varicose veins which shimmer through pale skin. The fibres which make up the connective tissue become thinner or even dissolve completely. The connective tissue itself loses elasticity and becomes visibly congested. Individual fat cells and fat cell chambers increase in size and are clearly discernible: the familiar “orange-peel skin” develops.
Measures to combat cellulite

 Only if the skin's metabolism is fully functioning will the tissue receive the nutrients it requires and waste products be rapidly carried away. In order to fight cellulite in the long term, therefore, we need to keep the metabolism fit. Of especial benefit are measures to stimulate the skin's blood supply and processes of fluid circulation.
Regular alternating warm and cold showers tone the tissue, as do gentle massages in the direction of the heart with the new Dr.Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil (75ml-£16.00). This fruity-fresh combination of sunflowers, jojoba oil, lemon peel, mistletoe, horsetail and lemon grass tones the skin and strengthens connective tissue.
A massage with a flannel or silk mitt in the shower is another possibility: in the morning, pour a few drops of Dr.Hauschka Rosemary Bath (150ml- £16.00) on to the wet mitt to stimulate blood flow and metabolism. If your skin is not too sensitive you may find a brush massage helpful.
But it is important to realise that massages or warm and cold showers will only make a difference to cellulite in the long-term if carried out regularly.
A balanced whole food diet is equally beneficial in stopping cellulite forming. Eating raw vegetables, keeping your intake of coffee and sugar low, and having a millet, rice or barley once a week can help the body dispose of waste products. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids. Spring water (not carbonated) and horsetail tea are ideal for this.
Endurance sports – for example running, swimming or cycling – will help stimulate the circulation and aid tissue metabolism.
Warm, breathable and wherever possible loose clothing helps to keep the skin of the thighs, hips, bottom and arms warmed through and thus improves the supply of nutrients to the connective tissue and the removal of waste products.
Thanks to its relaxing, detoxifying and decongesting qualities the Dr.Hauschka Holistic Body Treatment offered by Dr.Hauschka Estheticians can support cellulite treatment. The best results are achieved if the treatment is given twice a week over a period of seven weeks. A rewarding pleasure! Treatment time is 1hr 45mins and costs £ 78.00. Book now for a Special Spring detox course and receive 25% discount email:tanya@priyaspa.com

Spring into Ayurveda - Workshop Sat 21st March 09

We are offering a one-day introduction into the science of Ayurveda. The intention of this workshop is to introduce the concept of appropriate health regimes according to seasons, age and health. It will offer information and solutions to the specific health problems that can occur at this time. Spring in Ayurvedic terms is referred to, as “Kapha” which is damp and heavy, consisting of water and earth elements, so promoting a health regime, which encourages dry and light elements, will help to create balance.

Start:  10.00 am
Introduction: Invocation to Lord Dhanvantari.

A General overview of Ayurveda Introducing:

• Pancha maha bhutas - Earth, water, fire, air and ether
  
• Tri- dosha - Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  
• Rasa (Tastes) - Sweet, sour, salt, pungent, astringent and bitter
  
• Tri-guna - Sattva, rajas and tamas
  

Ayurveda considers healthy regimes, classified below, as essential to health:

• Dinacharya - Daily regimes
  
• Rtucharya - Seasonal regimes
  

 The relevance of these will be explained and appropriate techniques will be taught.

Lunch: 12.00 to 2.00 pm - As a part of the course a delicious lunch will be prepared.  The meal is specifically chosen to include the concepts of the course, explaining the quantities and qualities of the ingredients and relating them to Ayurvedic principles. You will all have an opportunity to help in the preparation of the meal and to learn more about the blending of spices and their therapeutic qualities.

Demonstration - Ayurveda promotes a variety of treatments for different diseases and different parts of the body. A treatment particularly suitable for the spring is called Nasya. This treatment will be demonstrated and an opportunity given to all attending to experience the benefits it promotes.

Questions: 4.30 pm - Janette Rice and Tanya Bradbury are both passionate about Ayurveda. They want to share this eternal knowledge with you so that you will be able to incorporate it into your daily life. Time will be set-aside at the end for any questions relating to the course and for any health issues highlighted during the day.

The cost of the workshop is £45.00 and spaces are limited to only 10 participants; so to reserve a place and to find out more details please email us or call 07779 583 123

We welcome any feedback, which could help us to improve future courses.

Thank you for interest and we look forward to welcoming you.

Tanya and Janette 

How does Ayurveda relate to modern life?

The familiar scenarios of modern life - excessive travel, late nights and general over stimulation of the mind, all contribute to what we in Ayurveda, the oldest form of natural healthcare in the world, call vata imbalance. Vata is one of the three doshas- the fundamental rhythms that occur in all of nature, including our own physiology - and the trouble is if vata goes out of balance it pulls the other two - which are called pitta and kapha- with it.
Vata, being airy governs all movement in the body. Pitta fiery is responsible for digestion and metabolism, while Kapha, earthy is the structuring force that holds everything together. Each dosha has differing qualities and functions and reflects these within both the physique and personality. We are a combination of all three doshas, but one predominates in each of us.
When all three doshsas are in balance we enjoy good health, but when this balance becomes disturbed then a general loss of vitality and enjoyment, and eventually ill health, is the result.
A vata - predominant person in balance has a clear, alert mind, is enthusiastic and creative, and enjoys excellent health and vitality and sound sleep. But once out of balance, vata predominant people get easily tired, restless and anxious, and have a tendancy to worry and insomnia. An imbalance in vata can make a person prone to illnesses such as arthritis and rheumatism. Fear, grief and fasting all aggravate vata, as do cold weather, cold foods and salads. Skipping meals and suppressing natural urges add to the problem.
Balanced pitta-predominant people are ambitious and focussed and they have soft lustrous skin, good digestion and a keen intellect. These are the achievers in life, and if successful they are content with themselves and those around them. But once out of balance, they can be physically prone to heartburn, hyperacidity, ulcers and skin diseases, and premature hair greying or loss. Impatience or anger are sure signs of imbalance in these characters. So what irritates them? Well, too much heat, strong sunshine, hot spicy food and irregular meals for a start. And alcohol.
What about kapha predominant types then? At first sight these may seem the most attractive personalities - relaxed, easy- gong, strong, stable and calm. But once out of balance, kapha can manifest as a tendency to be lazy, inflexible, stubborn and possessive. An imbalanced kapha has only to look at food to put on weight, and that relaxed nature you found so sympathetic may turn out to be hiding a confirmed couch potato! Out of balance kapha types also have a tendency to all diseases of the chest and lungs - asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis; they are evn more prone to the common cold that other dosha types.
Whatever our particular dosha type and our particular imbalances, we will all benefit from adopting a good routine, regular meals with food that is unprocessed and fresh, taking enough exercise and getting enough rest. Added to these general treatments, a diet and lifestyle tailored to your specfic dosha type will act to redress imbalances and return you to normal good health.
The beauty of Ayurveda is that not only is it 100 per cent natural, it is also effective because it is tailored to each one of us individually. By taking into account our body, mind and surroundings, it locates us as a spiritually participating part of the wider cosmos, and aims at unfolding our full poential in the light of this connection. This ancient science of life thus extends the concept of good health far beyond any current allopathic paradigm, while forming a perfect antidote to the pressures of modern living.

Dr. Hauschka - Where Science and Spirit meet

Dr. Hauschka is not just another commercial cosmetic company. In their dedication to provide purely natural medicines, they have always worked to the highest moral standards and care passionately about the health and well being of both people and the environment. They use no artificial ingredients or preservatives, do no testing on animals, organically farm all the ingredients for their products and plough all the profits from the organisation back into research.
Dr. Rudolph Hauschka, [1891–1969] first developed his herbal remedies in the 1930’s. As a physiologist and pharmacologist working for WALA Heilmittel to produce homeopathic medicine, he was inspired by the anthroposophical teachings of Rudolf Steiner. Hauschka set about examining the rhythms of nature as the basis of a system of entirely natural medicine, which aimed to create a botanical extract from a plant that carried not only its physical essence but its life force as well. By incorporating this life force into the pharmaceutical process, the healing potential of any substance would be maximised. Realising that the most powerful and effective remedies would result from working in accord with the laws of nature in this way, he founded the biodynamic gardens of WALA Heilmittel that are the source of Hauschka products to this day.
All the plants and flowers used in Hauschka products are organically and biodynamically grown, planted at specific phases of the moon, and harvested at sunrise when the vital energy in the plant is at its highest. The care and attention employed in the lengthy and painstaking processing of the plant ingredients is unique.
The resulting products work through the skin, to nourish and rebalance our physiological rhythms, thus allowing the natural beauty and glow of the skin to unfold.
If you would like to know more about Dr. Hauschka preparations and treatments, please call me, or mail

An extract of Maharishi's discourse on Love transcribed by Shri Guru Dev

Love is the sweet expression of life. It is the supreme content of life. Love is the force of life, powerful and sublime. The flower of life blooms in love and radiates love all around.Life expresses itself through love. The stream of life is a wave on the ocean of love. Life is expressed in the waves of love, and the ocean of love flows in the waves of life. What a comfort love brings to the heart.
The heart tickles with the thought of love, and waves of life begin to roll on the ocean of love. Every wave of life is full with the ocean of love. Yes, such a life is worth living. Every wave of life, full with the ocean of love. Such a life is life, such a life is worth living. And who lives such a life of all love, of bliss, of power, and of peace? The fortunate ones, and the fortune is open to all to design their destiny and begin to live life in all love and joy. The fortunate one uses the instrument of deep meditation, and probes deep into his heart,. Then the waves of love gain the depth of the ocean, and the ocean of love fills the heart and fills every particle of being. Every wave of life then flows in the fullness of love, in the fullness of divine glory, in the fullness of grace, in bliss and peace. The stream of life then flows on the tidal waves of bliss, and the ocean of love permeates every wave of life.
Love is highly sensitive. It is the most delicate power of life. And life is a most dynamic expression of love. Love is delicate, and at the same time, it is most vital and strong. A tiny, tender wave of love rocks the boat of life. Love takes life from the pangs of separation, to the bliss of eternal union. From the insurmountable pangs of separation, to the unlimited joy of eternal union, swings a tiny, tender wave of love. What a miracle God has created in love. Let us live it. Let us be in love, and live in love with one another, and say to ourselves, quietly, let thy will be done.
A soft impulse of love is the sole life of a melting heart. A tiny hope of love brings the light of dawn through the darkness of the lengthy night.

And love, even as a twinkling of the faintest star, keeps the light at the altar shining.

And in that faintest light of love, someday the individual finds his way, and creeps on in silence, in quietness, drawn by the tiny, tiny love which kept the door open in the hope of fulfilment.

In the hope of fulfilment that someday, and sometime, the darkness of the night would give way to the brightness of the midday sun in a clear sky.

Jai Guru Dev.

How to post a message

Hi Friends,

Many of you have e-mailed to say how much you like the blog, but aren't sure how to post a message. So here's how to do it.

1  Click onto comments and write message in post a comments box.

2. Click onto comment as: scroll down to name/url and type in name. Ignore url, and press continue.

3. Click onto post comment.

4. In word verification box type in the characters as shown, then click finish.

And that's all there is to it! Don't be shy, I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Why Roses really are an expression of love

For thousands of years roses have been grown for their beauty and their scent, they were probably one of the first flowers to be made into an essential oil. They have been the perfect gift to express love and devotion. Their use in ritual, medicine and skin care has been well documented and continues to this day. It is said that roses were Lord Krishna's favourite flowers, indeed if you visit a Krishna temple there are always roses used in offerings, and even today altars in India are washed with rose water. In ayurvedic teaching it's no coincidence that roses are associated with romance and love. This is because rose balances sadhaka pitta, the subdosha of pitta that governs the emotions and their effect on the heart. Pitta's quality is hot and passionate, the action of rose is cooling, calming and astringent. Rose reduces inflammation and heat in the body, and has a particularly affinity with the female reproductive system. Rose also balances the mind, enhancing the co-ordination between sadakha pitta and prana vata, the subdosha of vata that governs the brain, head, chest, respiration, sensory perception, and the mind. So rose literally soothes the heart and mind, and although it is cooling it enhances agni, the digestive fire, which makes it balancing for all three doshas.

Essential oil of rose used to relieve nervous tension, grief, depression, PMT, anorexia, frigidity, insomnia and sore throats. In skin care it helps broken capillaries, wrinkles and puffiness and enhances the beauty and lustre of the skin. 

If you would like to find out more about how ayurveda and aromatherapy can help you please call or mail me.

Treat your loved one this Valentines day

Are you wondering what to buy your loved one this Valentine's? -  Look no further, why not treat your loved one to a special Valentines day gift voucher at Priya Spa, The Swan Hotel, Southwold Suffolk. All my gift vouchers purchased before the 14th February will receive a special 15% discount on the brochure price. To find out more  email me or call 07779 583 123.