My Top 11 Tips To Ride Out "Vata Season" As Your Healthiest, Happiest You.

"Vata", "Pitta" and "Kapha" are the 3 energies or "doshas" recognized in Ayurveda that show themselves in all areas of our lives including our physical, mental & spiritual selves, time of day, foods, herbs and even the seasons of the year.  Vata Season begins from now until late winter.

Vata energy is erratic,  cold, dry, creative, kinetic, fast, changeable & excited.

We can see these elements in the environment around us in the Fall especially if you live in the North East as the leaves change, the breeze picks up, the temperature drops and the fast pace of the impending Holidays are inching our way.

In the physical body Vata rules the colon & elimination as well the nervous system. In the mind Vata rules creativity & love of knowledge as well as fear, anxiety & worry.


Each one of us has Vata energy within us, just in varying degrees. If you have a lot of Vata energy in your physical and mental make up, it may look like this:

You may experience:
*Sensitivity to sound
*Dry hair, skin & nails
*Cracking achy joints
*Tendency to rush from project to project, running late for appointments
*Aversion to cold
*Scattered thoughts & forgetfulness
*You love reading books & have 5+ books started but none finished...yet:)
*Forget to eat & skip meals
*Insomnia or poor sleep
*Tendency toward worry & fearful thoughts
*Gas, constipation, dry hard stools
*Painful, erratic menstrual cycles
*Muscular spasms

Whether you have a predominance of Vata in your individual make up or not, when we move into Vata season, "Vata energy" is heightened in all of us.

During this time  it's in our best interest to tame and balance our own Vata tendencies as best we can as we move through the Fall & Winter season.

How do we make peace with Vata?

Think all things warm, naturally sweet, cozy, grounded, easy, organized, well oiled, gentle, planned, peaceful...

1. Eat cooked food.

Put away the salad, get out the soup. Remember we are avoiding adding more of the cold, dry, raw Vata energy.
If you must have your raw greens, be sure to dress them with a good amount of oil in vinegar as this will make it easier and "warmer" for you to digest during Vata Season.

Naturally sweet, sour & salty foods are best for balancing Vata.

2. Turn up the heat.

Cook with warming spices: ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin & turmeric... Don't skimp:)

These herbs are packed with antioxidants, antimicrobials, taste great and will aid in circulation, detox, digestion and energy.


3. Nix the Ice & HYDRATE

Drink Warm (or at least room temp.) water with fresh ginger.
Add lemon or lime too if you like.

This is the perfect beverage to amp up digestion, metabolism and move waste from the body. If nothing else get at lease 1 8oz. mug of ginger tea in before for you have anything else in the AM.


Whatever you do keep hydrated 1/2 your body weight in ounces ya hear?



4. Oil Up.

Self massage is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Whether you can manage a quick head to toe oil rub down before hopping in the shower (any unrefined oil will do- warmed or room temp. is up to you), or if you can only manage to fit in a nice foot rub before hopping in bed at night- do it.

Abhyanga (self massage) soothes the nerves, strengthens the skin & aids in daily detox.

Eating healthy fats is also a key component in keeping your physical body well lubricated during the dry, cold vata season.

Focus on butter or ghee (clarified butter), avocados, olive oil, coconut in all its forms, hemp seeds, flax seeds, cod, mackerel, salmon and supplementing with Omega 3's.


5. Follow a Routine.

Your body wants a routine. Set alarms if you have to. Your most important meal is lunch- make it your largest and eat it before 2pm.

Our natural clock is at it's happiest rising no later than 7am and going to bed no later than 11pm.

This may sound wacky but give it a whirl.

Waking and retiring at specific times allows our bodies to detoxify & rejuvenate as we sleep.

Staying up past 11, is when we'll often get our "second wind". I know you know what I'm talking about:)
This "second wind" is really the energy our bodies need to allow our organs to detox- not have a night cap and answer a few more emails.

Eat consistently & sleep consistently. Try it you'll like it:)



6. Go Easy On the Caffeine. 

Drinking too much caffeine isn't great for anyone, but especially those who have high Vata.

Try switching to green tea or yerba mate a few days a week- or go super green and try one of my favorite herbal allies Nettle- She'll give you the energy boost you need without the caffeine- MY PROMISE.


7.Make Friends With the Neti Pot.

It's really not scary.

It's something you just have to try, and then you'll realize how simple and easy it is.

The neti flushes excess mucous, microbes & bacteria from our sinus & nasal passages keeping all those nasty bugs & flus at bay.

Try it you'll be happy you did-especially those of you who are "sinus" imbalance prone.


8. Try Yoga.

Yoga (there are lots of kinds- so try more than one!) is a wonderfully grounding, peaceful yet powerful and cardio pumping practice (if you do it right!).

 I find it particularly helpful for bringing more balance to the erratic, chaotic and sometimes crazy energy Vata can instill in our lives.

If you can't make it to class try a youtube video- it's free! And if not yoga, move your body in SOME way, any way for at least 15 min daily.

9. STOP and BREATHE

Whether it's a 30 minute meditation or 5 minutes upon waking or before you go to bed, intentional breath is of the utmost importance.

 Anytime you think of it, stop and breath with intention- especially when you're stressed waiting in traffic, in line getting groceries or when you're have a difficult discussion. It makes all the difference.



10. Go Green:

Here are my favorite Vata herbal allies:(found at any good natural food store)
   

*Ashwagandha: take 8oz of milk (any milk will do your pick) a tsp of ashwagandha, add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom & turmeric and bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat add a bit of maple syrup or raw honey to taste and drink before bed. This brew will relax you to sleep while it rebuilds your reserves as you rest.

 
  *Gotu Kola, Rose, Sacred Basil Tea: So to your natural foods store and buys these herbs in bulk. Add equal parts of each herb and mix together. Add 1 tsp per 8oz mug steeped at least 15min. This blend will ground, center & bring a peaceful disposition to your mind & body.

 
  *Triphala: Probably the weirdest tasting of all Ayurvedic herbs but one of the most powerful. If you feel really out of whack and need a "reboot", take 1/2 tsp of triphala powder in 4oz of warm water drunk before bed. It will cleanse you from head to toe & is a gentle laxative. Please only use triphala when you are thoughtfully eating as well ie: cutting out sugar, alcohol, processed foods etc. as it's meant to aid in a gentle detox.



11. Breathe & Ride the Wave


Fall is a crazy busy time- no doubt. The most important thing we can do is focus on enjoying it right?

The country fairs, the foliage, the holiday cooking, time spent with friends and family. Soak it all up, leave the stress behind and breathe.

The more we breathe with intention and surrender to the moment - whatever it brings the more we can fully enjoy our crazy lives to the fullest.  Focus on what's important and focus on what feeds your spirit. Forget about the rest:)


May your Vata Season be warm, cozy, peaceful, healthy and bliss-filled! xo Amanda


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*The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only.  If you are pregnant, nursing, have  serious health condition or are taking prescriptive medication please consult your healthcare practitioner before using herbal supplements. 

Bah. More Snow.

If you're like me, then you like snow- when you have no where to be and you can admire it safely from your couch, warm and cozy with a cup of tea.

Although snow storms can be frustrating (you'd think us New Englanders would get used of it!- We don't.) sometimes it forces us to stay home with our families- and hopefully make use of the "extra" time for self care & self love practices.

Here are some of my favorite things to keep warm, cozy and grateful during a snow storm (or anytime really!)

*Hot tea! Winter time can often bring us down emotionally from lack of sunlight, frigid temperatures... perhaps you'd like to try a mood booster: Lemon Balm, Rose, Holy Basil & Mint! Just buy about 1/8th to 1/4 cup loose herb at any natural food store. Grind them together in a food or coffee mill when you get home & store the blend in a glass jar. Use 1 tsp of tea ( in a fill your own tea bag) and steep for 15 min or more. Add some raw honey to taste and enjoy!

*Warm oil foot rub. Choose your oil of choice- coconut, sesame or even olive- heat a 1/2 cup of oil double boiler style on the stove top on low- just to make it warm to the touch- don't burn yourself:) Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil- perhaps mandarin, bergamot or lavender? Give those feeties a nice rub and but one some warm fuzzy socks and let all of that goodness and warmness soak in and calm & ground you.

*Make your favorite nourishing soup! Here's one of my favorite recipes (minus the fish sauce:)).

*Get out a piece of paper and take five minutes to write down some things your grateful for. This is also fun to do with friends and family over some tea. Just sit together and go around in a circle sharing those things that make us happy, bring us joy and make us grateful. Anything goes:)

Life is all about perspective. So rather than be a moody Judy about the weather (I'm guilty!) choose to surrender to it, make the best of it (and those snow days!) and look for the beauty that is in the Winter season but also surrounds you each and everyday if you'd just take a moment to notice it:)

XO AMANDA

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I Teach Because I Need To Learn Too.

I am always so humbled by the clients & students that I work with. I often learn more from them than any book I could read or any class I could take.
I was once told that teacher's teach what they most need to learn themselves. That's spot on for me.
If you ask any healthcare practitioner why they're so passionate about what they do, I bet they'll share a healing crisis story that they went through, which brought them to the healing arts.
That's how my story began. In fact without my own healing crisis, I don't know that I would have ever found Ayurveda, Herbalism or Reiki of my own accord. But going through the crisis, seeing how these modalities worked first hand AND seeing the amazing results was the best thing that could have happened to me.  That's why I look at disease and imbalance as a blessing in disguise. It's a teacher- one that won't let up until you listen.  Sickness and disease calls you out and makes you look at yourself, your life and asks you "What next? What do you want? It's your call- it's your choice, but something's gotta change." And of course we all answer those questions differently.
So, as I continue to learn and grow in my own personal life, my own healing path, I continue to teach. For me teaching isn't only a way to spread the word of self care and self empowerment for others, but also a reminder to myself- a check in on what I've let fall to the wayside in my own life.
I am by no means perfect. I have the tools and knowledge that I know "I should" do EVERY SINGLE DAY- but do I? No, not always. I fall off the "wagon" sometimes too. And that's part of learning as well. Knowing that health, healing and life is a journey and it's not always- or maybe even ever, perfect.
But every day is an opportunity to live your life in the way YOU want to live it, even if yesterday didn't go that well. The power is in knowing what to do, what tools are at your disposal to get you back on track. And that's what I have for myself and that's what I ABSOLUTELY ADORE sharing with others. I so desperately want people to know that it's ALL IN THEIR HANDS, HEARTS AND SPIRITS, if that's what they decide.  And each of us has to figure out what feels best to them- we all choose differently- and it's all good. We're all on our own path and it's a beautiful thing.
So I guess this rant is to really just take a moment to say THANK YOU to every student, client and drop-in that has ever crossed my path and asked for guidance. You are my mirror, my teacher, my ally and my strength to keep me on my own healing path and to help me to be an even better practitioner to help others. I'm forever grateful to be doing this work with all of you, as a team, as friends, as empowered human beings on this beautiful roller coaster of a ride called life. You fill my heart.
XO AMANDA

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Finding Your Truth and Doing the Best You Can

Organic vs.non-organic, paraben cosmetics vs. non-paraben cosmetics, sunscreen vs. no sunscreen, drugs vs. herbs vs. vitamins vs. whole foods, BHP-free plastic vs. "safe" aluminum/stainless steel, running vs. walking, breast feeding vs. formula, GMO foods vs. non-GMO foods,  hybrid cars vs. conventional, raw foods vs. cooked foods, Walmart vs. Target, local vs. fair traded, gluten vs.gluten-free, whole herbs vs. standardized herbs, science vs. nature, the heart vs. the head, whole fat vs. low fat,  sugar vs. splenda, republican vs. democrat, till gardening vs. no till gardening, Bikram yoga vs. Iyengar vs. Ashtanga vs. Kundalini , fluoride toothpaste vs. non-fluoride toothpaste, coffee vs. tea, disposable diapers vs. cloth, to vaccinate vs. not to vaccinate, made in the USA vs. made in China, bottled water vs. tap water... and on and on...ISN'T IT EXHAUSTING? Well, it can be, if you let it get to you. There is so much information out there, so many opinions,so many choices, so many versions of what is supposedly "right" and what is "wrong" and it can make living in this world pretty overwhelming sometimes.

If you know me at all, then you know I struggle with surrendering to the beautiful "grayness" of life and trying to find peace within it. You see, sometimes (more than I'd like) my critical brain gets the best of me and I want to know the "black and white" answers to, well, EVERYTHING. What's right?! What's wrong?! This is what my brain often shouts at me throughout the day and I have to gently remind it that there is no, one answer. Well, maybe with math, although I've never been very good at it:).  Even though I know the world is not black and white and it truly is made up of various shades of gray, I still struggle.  I find it even more difficult to come to terms with this, as I continue down my own path of personal growth, healing, as well as being a facilitator for health, in my practice. When I attend herbal seminars, classes and conferences, I am continuing to seek out more of the truth- looking for that absolute truth, so that hopefully, I can begin to understand it and then share that knowledge with others. Yet, as I continue to grow and learn as a practitioner, I become more and more aware that there may not be any absolute truths at all. The more classes and courses I attend the more I realize that I don't agree with everything that is shared during lecture- that perhaps I've even have had an opposite experience than of what was being shared by the teacher. And when I've shared my experiences or disagreements during a class, 9 times out of 10, the teacher replies "Wonderful, thank you for sharing! We all have our own experiences with herbal medicine, I am just sharing with you what I've experienced." So, what do we do? What is the truth? What is right? What are the best choices? How do we even know who to listen to, to trust? There is just so much to keep up with, and the information seems to be forever changing. And really, as a human race, haven't we come to realize that all we really know, is that we know nothing?! Sure, we've uncovered so much with science, discovered things we once thought were impossible and unimaginable. But, even Stephen Hawkins himself admits that some of the ideas he once thought to be an absolute truth, he now believes to be false. Information changes, new discoveries are made, mistakes are uncovered, sometimes information is just plain wrong. And the "black and white" truth, the truth we seek comfort in, turns into an ever changing shade of gray once again.
 "Facts"that come from the media/the news, doctors, scientists, me :), teachers, friends, family, dentists, practitioners of all kinds...what should we make of all them? How do we filter through it all? And how do we keep up with all of the "new information" constantly being thrown our way?  I said it before, and I'll say it again- find your own truth! What makes sense to you? What rings true or false in your heart? Do your own research. Don't take someone's word for it (even mine:)) if doesn't make sense or feel right to you. Even if it's a fancy scientific study- look further, dig deeper. Was it an independent study? Or paid for by some else? Details and further research may paint a better picture for you to find your truth with whatever topic it may be.

In the world of health and especially in the world of herbs, information and experiences are endless, and everyone is so individual- there are always guidelines but, there isn't just one answer for everyone. 
While some people may have a panic attack over this idea of no "real" truth, for others, myself included, it can feel liberating. Liberating because what this really means is that we can follow our own truth.  Not just with health and herbs obviously, but in all aspects of our lives. That being said, our truth can change too. Because really, what in life doesn't? Change is the only constant and to fight it, is just too tiring. So, keep learning, experiencing, digging deep and evolving your truth- it is yours to create, and it's not about anyone else but YOU. Change your truth as much as you like! And really, our truth is not about attempting to place our unique beliefs on others. Perhaps, it's more about  living our truth and leading by example, so that perhaps our truth will inspire others to follow a similar path if it suits them. And truly, if we are following our hearts, our spirits, our inner-selves, if we allow ourselves to be led by our pure intention of seeking bliss, happiness and spreading love, then our truth can be whatever we want it to be and it won't be harming anyone.

So, now that we've found our truth (for the moment:)) how do we make sure we are walking our truth, and doing the "right" thing for ourselves 24/7?
Sigh. Yet another personal battle I have yet to win with myself. Taking another peek at that rambling paragraph at the top of the page, we see many choices that some of us  try to follow on a daily basis.
In my field especially, people are constantly trying to do and teach all of the "right" things for their health, their family's health and the health of their clients and the world around us. And yet they will often hit a wall around every corner of trying to do that "right" thing. It seems to me, that we can only do what we can- and what we can do, is only so much.
We go into a health food store for the first time and buy an organic beverage but it's packaged in BHP plastic. We start buying yogurt to boost our intestinal flora, get home and realize the yogurt is packed with sugars that will actually promote candida and lower our immune system. We start buying "green" dish soap and cleaners to help the environment and then read the back of the label to realize the company is owned by Proctor and Gamble.  We buy seeds to start our own vegetable garden and find out the seed company is actually owned by Monsanto (the mother company of GMO's). After learning the dangers of anti-perspirants, we spend 7 bucks on a deodorant that is "all natural"  and read that propylene glycol (a form of anti-freeze) is a main ingredient. Sigh. It seems like we just can't win, even when we are putting out best intentions out there.
I'm not gonna lie, I personally struggle with this all of the time. But even more so, I struggle with being in a positition to make a decision that I just don't want to make- but sometimes I do anyway.  I'm at the Hannford because Dover Natural closes at 6pm. I really want to make tacos, but the Hannford doesn't sell GMO-free corn shells- but I really want those damn tacos (and believe me if you know how long it takes me to decide on anything, you'd understand)- so I buy the regular brand. I do my best to shop local, so I go to Agway to buy my all natural corn kitty litter but they're all out! So, I have to drive to PETCO.  I know plastic pots aren't the best containers to start organic seeds in because of the leaching possibility, but I do because that's what we have saved over the years and it helps my family save money for the garden in the long run.

There are so many decisions to make revolving around walking and standing in our truth, it can be just as exhausting as figuring out what the heck our truth is to begin with. So what do we do?  We have two options. 1. We can stress ourselves out and be sick to our stomachs when we can't make or don't make the decisions we'd like to make 24/7 and feel guilty about it everyday all day. Or 2. We accept that maybe we just can't do everything "right" all of the time.  But, we can do our best. We can let ourselves change our minds, we can do what we can, when we can, and we can take the the guilt and the "shoulds" we often put on ourselves and we lock them up and throw away the key. We can simply find our own ever-evolving truth and then follow it the best we can with love and intention each and everyday. I choose option 2. I hope you will too.<3

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