 Winter is here, and you’re probably fighting the urge to turn into a cozy little hibernating animal. There’s this craving for rich, hearty food (all the stews, breads, and sweet treats!), staying snuggled under the covers, and moving as little as humanly possible. It’s a season that invites rest and indulgence—and let’s be honest, some of that feels really good. But Ayurveda, the beautiful science of life, teaches us that even in winter, balance is key.
So how do we honor this season’s natural slowing down while keeping ourselves light, bright, and healthy? Let’s talk about finding that sweet spot—the middle path—where we nourish without stagnating and rest without slipping into a full-on winter slump. 
Thanksgiving is hands-down my favourite festival. I love the ritual of giving thanks and celebrating the abundance of nature. Who wouldn't? However, over-eating rich foods has never agreed with me. My agni, or digestive fire, just can’t handle it.
Not surprisingly, many people are in this boat. It’s just not talked about. People think digestive discomfort is a part of life (Ayurveda says otherwise, of course). If you don’t have this issue, I bet you know a friend/family member who does. Over my many years of living Ayurveda (25 years now) and working with my delicate digestion as a vata girl, I’ve leaned how to adapt these traditions of indulgence and make them feel more supportive to me. Here is my quick guide to anyone who, like me, struggles with big celebratory feasts. Use these simple tips to celebrate without destroying your digestion. Please pass this on to anyone who needs to read this. 
As a health coach, I often have hard conversations with people. One of the hardest ones I have is on making the leap to investing in one's own health.
(This is a super honest piece. Be prepared) I think there are many things in play when one is challenged by cost even despite knowing full well that the product or service in question is going to help.  Sitting in silence (aka meditation) is a powerful practice. This practice is not based in any one religion; rather its a tool employed by all traditions, in one form or another, to gain control over our monkey mind, and enhance self-awareness.
However, a sitting practice can be elusive for many people. Sometimes the mind is too active, or else the body is restless, or we are just in a pattern of distracting ourselves. Also, the benefits of meditation are subtle, so it's hard to actually feel them, which makes it demotivating (and even frustrating) to stay with the practice. This is all very normal, and we can work with it. So let's talk about how we can gently prepare ourselves for cultivating a sitting practice. Small steps towards breaking the incessant pattern of "doing" and pausing the mental busy-ness can go a long way in avoiding the frustration a beginner can encounter when first trying to meditate. I call this creating spaciousness. Spaciousness of mind is an excellent pre-cursor to meditation. Hear me out. 
Each of the three Ayurvedic doshas come with with their own predominant mental qualities. Vata, made of air and space, brings creativity and intuition. Pitta, that is predominantly the fire element, comes with intensity and passion. Kapha which is earth and water, carries a predisposition towards love and peacefulness.
When in balance, these qualities can serve us well, and support our dharma, or purpose and chosen work. When they are pulled out of their natural state of balance, these same qualities can manifest in a negative way and harm our inner well-being. Vata, when out of balance, creates scattered-ness, overwhelm, and anxiety. Vata people get pulled into future possibilities and lose touch with the present. Kapha imbalance manifests as attachment, mental heaviness and being stuck in the past. Pitta, when heightened, leads to fiery qualities like anger, an over-critical mind and explosive emotions.  As a family, we have been recently enjoying this very simple Ayurvedic version of a milk shake. My two daughters who usually love all things cold and sweet (ice cream, milk shakes, smoothies...!) are now hooked to this filling and invigorating milk drink.
First of all, let's talk about milk. Ayurveda is a big fan of cow's milk for its ojas increasing properties. The word ojas in Ayurveda refers to the overall glow or vitality of a person. It includes a person's strength, immunity, energy and contentment. If you digest cow's milk well, then it is an incredible medicine for your system. Milk also helps cultivate the quality of sattva in the mind - that of calm, wholesomeness and bliss.  Be Radiant, my health coaching program, is based on the wisdom of a traditional naturopathic philosophy called Ayurveda. If you are new to Ayurveda, read on to learn a bit more about Ayurveda and how I use it in my work
Ayurveda is an ancient health science from the east. It dates back to over 4000 years, and is possibly the oldest traditional system known to us today. It is more than a medicine, really, it's a way of life. Ayurveda is also recognized as the sister science to yoga, and traditionally is used in tandem with it for enhancing the vitality of the body, mind and spirit.  There are foods and drinks in every traditional culture that are good for maintaining beneficial bacteria in the gut. In Ayurveda we use buttermilk. The ancient texts say "The one who drinks buttermilk regularly will never suffer from disease". Now, do we need any more incentive than that??
Buttermilk is an excellent tonic for anytime of the year, and for every body type. It promotes appetite, calms the digestive system, and helps with assimilation of nutrients. 
I am excited to share this guest post from one of my favourite Vancouver yogis, Maitreyi. Its a recipe that every Ayurvedic practitioner knows and loves; and a drink that adults and children can both enjoy equally. Its is a great alternative to tea and coffee, with the same pick-me-up quality, and unlike regular chai, no cost to your life-force levels. Enjoy!
Chai chai recipe...And the Tantra of Tea Chai means tea in Hindi and masala chai means spiced tea. My grandmother never let the kids have chai because tea and coffee according to ayurveda are habit forming. Plus both are said to increase pitha and acidity , which increases grey hairs. No woman wants that! 
Khichari or khichadi is a simple one-pot dish that is used in Ayurveda for healing, cleansing and rebuilding. It is very nutritious, easy to digest and balances all the ‘doshas’ or constitutions. Ayurvedically speaking, its good for anyone to use, anytime! Khichari is a complete food. It has a unique combination of rice and dal (protein and carbs) that contain all 20 amino acids for maintaining and building your body. It has the essential fats you need for everyday health and if you add vegetables, it officially has all the daily food groups.
Khichari is one of those dishes that, once you try it, you can’t help but make part of your weekly meal plan. It’s just so satisfying, and also ridiculously easy to make. I often put a pot on while I eat breakfast and then pack into thermoses for our family’s lunches 20 minutes later. Here is the recipe I use. |
Hi! My name is Muneera. I love sharing the wellness tools that I have discovered.
In this blog, I give you tricks and tips for applying the tried-and-true wisdom of Ayurveda in simple and practical ways. Categories |