Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-09-27
Posted by Mary on Sep 27, 2009
- You've heard about the different "doshas", but what do they really mean? I've posted a quick tutorial on "kapha"… http://bit.ly/4oTBtL #
- You've heard about the different "doshas", but what do they really mean? I've posted a quick tutorial on "vata"… http://bit.ly/3oOHJs #
- Would you like some Paneer, Dear? http://bit.ly/vkyDZ #
- Did you know that ghee is considered rasayana-a? If you don't know what "ghee" or "rasayana-a" means then you need… http://bit.ly/HEoDJ #
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Twitter Updates for 2009-09-26
Posted by Mary on Sep 26, 2009
- You've heard about the different "doshas", but what do they really mean? I've posted a quick tutorial on "kapha"… http://bit.ly/4oTBtL #
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You’ve heard about the differe…
Posted by Mary on Sep 25, 2009
You’ve heard about the different “doshas”, but what do they really mean? I’ve posted a quick tutorial on “kapha”… http://bit.ly/4oTBtL
Ayurveda – Doshas – Kapha – What Is It?
Posted by Mary on Sep 25, 2009
Kapha is made up of the two elements water and earth.
The most revered ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, defines the characteristics of Kapha dosha: heavy–both water and earth are heavy elements (guru); cold (sheetoha); soft (mridu); unctuous, offering lubrication (snigdha); sweet (madhura); stability, offering immunity (sthira); and slippery (tikshila).
People with more Kapha in their constitutions tend to be of larger proportions, with a robust frame and padded joints, thick smooth skin that may tend towards oiliness, and rich, wavy hair. They are stable and calm in thought, speech and action, and are easy-going and supportive in relationships. There is an element of steadiness to their step, a quality of serenity in their smile. Loyalty is usually their second name. They are long, heavy sleepers and uncomfortable in damp, clammy environments. Calm and sweetness of disposition are hallmarks of balanced Kapha.
If your prakriti or original constitution has more Kapha in it, you will exhibit many of the characteristics and qualities of Kapha when you are in balance than people who have more Pitta or Vata in their make-up. And that’s natural. But if the qualities become extreme, or more pronounced than usual at a given time, then the Kapha in you has in all likelihood become aggravated or imbalanced, and needs to be brought back into balance. And if a predominantly Vata or Pitta person starts exhibiting many Kapha qualities, that indicates a Kapha imbalance in that Vata or Pitta body type. In both cases, it is then time to follow a Kapha-balancing diet and lifestyle to help restore the level of Kapha in the physiology to its normal proportion.
Factors that can cause Kapha dosha to increase in the physiology include a diet that contains too many deep-fried, sweet or heavy foods, over-consumption of ice-cold foods or beverages, exposure to cold and damp, daytime sleep, and lack of exercise.
Signs that you need to balance Kapha
Do you gaining weight easily, even though you feel like you don’t really have an appetite?
Do you feel tired even though you are not performing any physical activity?
Do you find it difficult to awake even after long hours of sleep? Do you wake up feeling unrefreshed, tired?
Does your skin feel oilier than usual, with breakouts?
Is your hair oily and streaky even with regular shampooing?
Are you heavy and congested in your throat, head and chest?
Is your digestion slow? Do you feel heavy and lethargic after a meal?
Do you feel like you just want to sit and be a spectator?
Do you feel withdrawn? Is it difficult to deal with change? Do you constantly feel the need to “cling”?
Do you feel mentally umotivated?
If you answered yes to many of the questions above, following a Kapha-balancing diet and lifestyle can help restore balance to Kapha.
Twitter Updates for 2009-09-25
Posted by Mary on Sep 25, 2009
- You've heard about the different "doshas", but what do they really mean? I've posted a quick tutorial on "vata"… http://bit.ly/3oOHJs #
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You’ve heard about the differe…
Posted by Mary on Sep 24, 2009
You’ve heard about the different “doshas”, but what do they really mean? I’ve posted a quick tutorial on “vata”… http://bit.ly/3oOHJs
Ayurveda – Doshas – Vata – What Is It?
Posted by Mary on Sep 24, 2009
Vata is made up of the two elements space and air. The most revered ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, defines the characteristics of Vata dosha: dry and rough (rookshaha); cool (sheetoha); light–lacking weight (laghuhu); very tiny, penetrating molecules (sookhshmaha); always moving (chalota); broad, unlimited, unbounded–akash means unbounded space (vishadaha); and rough (kharaha).
People with more Vata in their constitutions tend to be thin, with a slender frame and prominent joints, delicate skin that is naturally dry, and dry voluminous hair. They are quick and lively in thought, speech and action, and make friends easily. There is an element of airiness to their step, a quality of lightness in their laughter. Change is usually their “second name”. They are light sleepers and gravitate towards warm environments. Creativity and enthusiasm are hallmarks of balanced Vata.
If your prakriti or original constitution has more Vata in it, you will exhibit many of the characteristics and qualities of Vata when you are in balance than people who have more Pitta or Kapha in their make-up. And that’s natural.
But if the qualities become extreme, or more pronounced than usual at a given time, then the Vata in you has in all likelihood become aggravated or imbalanced, and needs to be brought back into balance. And if a predominantly Kapha or Pitta person starts exhibiting many Vata qualities, that indicates a Vata imbalance in that Kapha or Pitta body type. In both cases, it is then time to follow a Vata-balancing diet and lifestyle to help restore the level of Vata in the physiology to its normal proportion.
Factors that can cause Vata dosha to increase in the physiology include a diet that contains too many dry or raw foods, over-consumption of ice-cold beverages, exposure to cold dry winds, a variable daily routine, too much travel, and mental overexertion.
Signs that you need to balance Vata
Are you constantly worried, anxious, overwhelmed, fretful?
Do you feel tired but find yourself unable to slow down and relax?
Do you find it difficult to settle down and fall asleep at night?
Is your sleep restless when you do manage to fall asleep?
Is your skin feeling dryer than usual,stretched taut or flaking?
Is your hair more brittle, with split ends happening oftener?
Are your lips raw and chapped? Is your throat constantly dry?
Is your digestion irregular? Do you experience problems with abdominal gas?
Do you feel like you cannot sit still, that you need to be constantly moving?
Do you feel “spaced out”? Is it harder to remember things for more than a short period of time?
Is your attention span shorter than usual? Is it harder to focus?
Do your bowel movements occur less than once daily?
If you answered yes to many of the questions above, following a Vata-balancing diet and lifestyle can help restore balance to Vata.
Twitter Updates for 2009-09-24
Posted by Mary on Sep 24, 2009
- Would you like some Paneer, Dear? http://bit.ly/vkyDZ #
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Would you like some Paneer, De…
Posted by Mary on Sep 23, 2009
Would you like some Paneer, Dear? http://bit.ly/vkyDZ
Ayurvedic Cooking – Spotlight – Paneer
Posted by Mary on Sep 23, 2009
Paneer is a fresh cheese traditionally made from whole milk. It is crumbly and semi-soft when raw, and has a firm, slightly chewy texture when cooked. Its faintly nutty flavor works well with many different foods and spices. It does not melt down with frying or cooking, but retains its shape and texture, so it can crumbled or cubed for use in different dishes.
From the ayurvedic perspective, paneer offers nourishment but can be taxing on the digestion. It is preferable to eat paneer dishes at the mid-day meal, and to cook it with spices that enhance digestion. If you would like to combine paneer with other vegetables, or to make it in a sauce, dice the paneer and fry the cubes in ghee separately and add to the dish two to three minutes before the cooking process is complete. Fried paneer cubes make an excellent garnish for rice pulaos. Sliced paneer can be baked into a casserole with other vegetables.
While paneer is available at Indian grocery stores, it can easily be made fresh at home. Ayurvedic healers recommend making the paneer fresh for use within the day for better digestibility.
