Ojas & Ayurveda – The Importance Of Recharging Your Vital Fluids
Ojas is the essential energy reserve of the body. It literally means vigor in Sanskrit.
When speaking in terms of ojas the word vigor relates to having physical strength, mental energy, power and vitality to carry on with all creative and spiritual pursuits in ones journey to self discovery.
In Ayurveda, Ojas is also refereed to being the sap of our life energy and exists on a subtle level in the heart chakra. From the heart center it circulates to and recharges the entire body.
When Ojas is sufficient, there is health and when it is deficient there are disorders and diseases.
Ojas is the subtle essence of all the Kapha or water in the body, and specifically the essence of the reproductive fluid.
Ojas in Ayurveda is the ultimate product of nutrition and digestion, thus it is the prime energy reserve for the entire body.
It is extremely important in the function of all tissues in the body and has a direct effect on the nature and quality of physical, mental and emotional well-being. Continue reading
Healthy & Delicious Chai Recipe – What’s In Your Cup This Holiday Season
Chai is authentically Indian and contains a whole host of benefits. I have a saying “drink one cup of chai day to help keep the doctor away”.
If there are 2 drinks that I promote for health & wellness, they are Chai and Kombucha – stay tuned to an upcoming article on the super healing komucha beverage.
Chai has a delicious smooth, milky and creamy taste – infused with exotic Indian Ayuvedic spices.
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to use diary for your Chai; you can use almond milk, soy milk or my favorite – cashew milk.
Right now I want to share with you the health benefits of Chai, and also my personal recipe.
The health benefits of Chai are derived from the synergy of the spices and herbs.
Here is what I find are the most important and healthy Ayurvedic spices to be included: ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and fennel seeds.
Ginger - is the spiciest ingredient and also extremely flavorful. Ginger is a known to be one of the most sattvic (harmonizing, balancing) of all spices. Ginger is widely used in aiding digestive and respiratory conditions. It is also good for arthritic conditions and it is a tonic for the heart. Ginger relieves gas and cramps in the abdomen and relieves all types of stomach aches.
Cinnamon – is a herb for strengthening and harmonizing the flow of circulation. It is an excellent diaphoretic and expectorant for colds and flues. Cinnamon is also a pain reliever for toothache and muscle tension. It promotes a healthy digestive fire, strengthens the heart, and warms the kidneys. Cinnamon is Sattvic (balancing) for almost everyone. Continue reading
Are You Feeling Stuck?
Ever feel heavy, sluggish, tired or just plain stuck?
Your not alone; the average person will have in their daily lives several occasions of little or no bowel movements.
But, what about prolonged days of no or stuck bowel movements.
This can be a little frightening because constipation indicates retention of waste material or ama (toxins) in the body.
Constipation is the main digestive system disorder and reflects problems in the digestive tract which can lead to other more severe diseases.
It promotes build up of toxins in the digestive system and causes the colon to become unhealthy, which if not corrected, ultimately leads to health problems.
Only through proper elimination can we be healthy, fit and energetic.
The signs of a healthy colon are as follows:
- No coating on the tongue
Easy passing of stool immediately upon waking in the morning
Stools will float and
having 2-3 stools daily.
Signs of an unhealthy colon are as follows:
The back third of the tongue is coated with a white, brown or black film
Stools will sink
Breath will smell foul
0-1 bowel movement daily
Healthy Delicious (Not So Vegan) Chocolate Zucchini Cake
What can I say … the title of this blog post says it all. The Ayurvedic Diet doesn’t always have to be strict, without room for some yummy desserts.
You can enjoy this wonderful moist chocolate zucchini cake with a cup of warm milk & ghee and call it a meal. A healthy, nutritious and delicious meal that is.
In Ayurveda and in a a lot of Ayurveda recipes, we do use dairy as it is considered nutritive, healthy and tissue building.
Sorry, for all you vegans out there. You could however replace the yogurt and buttermilk with a soy or almond substitute.
Enjoy 
Ingredients
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup fat-free plain or vanilla yogurt ( I like the Greek yogurt with probiotics)
1/2 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup raw cane sugar or sucanant
2 eggs or 1/2 cup of apple sauce or 1/4 cup of flax gounded flax seeds with some water
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 small zucchini, grated (with skin)
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)
* Top off with some fresh whipped cream
*Use fresh organic ingredients if possible.
Prep time: 10 min Active cooking time: 55 min Total time to make: 65 min
Serves: 6 to 8 people
Preparation & Cooking Procedure:
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Grease any size cake pan with a little coconut oill and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together coconut oil, yogurt, maple syrup, cane sugar, eggs or substitute , vanilla, and buttermilk.
Add dry ingredients and stir together until moistened. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.
Pour batter into your cake pan and bake in oven for approximately 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted and comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before cutting and eating.
The Power of Color – How And Why To Choose The Right Color For Yourself
Have you ever thought what the world around you would be like without color? It would probably be quite boring and lifeless.
The eyes are a very powerful sense and the essence of life is almost unimaginable without color.
Color is a powerful tool for attracting your attention, shaping your mood and communicating your emotions.
Color therapy can easily be observed my studying the mind. Imagine sitting on a golden beach in front of the bright blue ocean on a sunny day and take note how you feel.
Then conversely imagine sitting outside on a grey, gloomy, cold winter day? Take a note of how you feel now?
Although you may consciously not be aware of it, choosing colors, such as your clothes, your vehicle, the walls of your office or home can have a great effect on the way you think and feel. Continue reading
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