Living Well Ayurveda

01/06/2025

Due to a generous, anonymous sponsor I’m able to offer one more free scholarship spot to the Jan. 11 Restore Retreat in New Orleans. (Thank you, you lovely human!) There also is one paid spot left (all paid spots are sliding scale). If you’d like to claim the scholarship, email me at [email protected]. (You do not need to explain why you need the scholarship.) If you want to claim the last paid spot, visit the link below for tickets and retreat details. See you soon!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/restore-mini-retreat-with-living-well-ayurveda-tickets-1115728155949?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/05/2025

Some words of wisdom on walking and meditation in the Reel and here in the caption from Buddhist teacher and author Thich Nhat Hahn for your Sunday. “There are many ways to calm a negative energy without suppressing or fighting it. You recognize it, you smile to it, and you invite something nicer to come up and replace it; you read some inspiring words, you listen to a piece of beautiful music, you go somewhere in nature, or you do some walking meditation.“

12/23/2024

ONLY SEVEN SPOTS LEFT: Join me on Saturday, Jan. 11 in New Orleans for a restorative retreat in an artful setting. This in-person, four-hour event includes pranayama (breathwork), Dharana (meditation), restorative yoga asana (gentle physical practice for all levels) and an Ayurvedic workshop (talk) session to help you connect to your true nature. Held in the studio of artist amid her lively and expressive artwork, the retreat is limited to 10 attendees, so don’t wait to claim your spot!

This event is priced on a sliding scale to keep it affordable and inclusive. Many of us are struggling to even pay rent or the mortgage right now, so two free “scholarship” spots were made available on a first come first served basis and there is ONE SCHOLARSHIP REMAINING. Email Melanie at [email protected] to claim the scholarship spot. Use the subject line “Free Spot.” You do not need to explain why you are requesting a free ticket. Ease into 2025 with me.

Additional details at link below!

(Pssst: This would make a great gift. 🎁)

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/restore-mini-retreat-with-living-well-ayurveda-tickets-1115728155949?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/22/2024

In Ayurveda, doshas aren’t just our personal constitutions. They also correspond to seasons and times of day. For example, 2 to 6 a.m. is one of two vata times (the other being 2 to 6 p.m.). Each doshic time of day corresponds with activities that complement the dosha. Vata relates to the element of air and spiritual and breath practices so this time of day is ideal for pranayama (breathwork), dhyana (meditation) and asana (physical yoga practice) or other movement such as a walk outside. The dosha clock looks like this:•Vata: 2-6 a.m.•Kapha: 6-10 a.m •Pitta: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. •Vata: 2-6 p.m.•Kapha: 6-10 p.m. •Pitta: 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Waking up during a.m. vata time sets you up for an energetic day attuned with nature. Waking up early is challenging for many people however, so a good ratricharya (evening routine) is essential to getting the right amount of sleep. As the saying goes, a good day starts the night before. This could mean eating a light supper at least two ours before bed; disconnecting from devices at least two hours before bed; gentle stretching and calming pranayama; enjoying a sleepytime Ayurvedic drink (such as spiced milk); and, or Abhyanga (oil massage and a warm bath). Do you have an evening routine? What does it look like?

12/21/2024

Today marks the winter solstice, which in the Northern Hemisphere is the shortest day of the year with the least amount of light. In Ayurveda, living in tune with nature on this day might mean slowing down. Light a candle and reflect in your journal or during meditation about what is no longer serving you and how you might let go and be more at ease in the coming weeks and months. Sit in silence, rest, move with intention and reverence, and nourish yourself with warm, nutritive foods and beverages to emulate nature and the stillness of the season.

12/19/2024

This time of year, I’m all about chai lattes and any other cinnamony, clovey, gingery tea. Chai is comforting, supports digestion, stokes digestive fire (agni) and is loaded with antioxidants. I love this recipe from The Ayurvedic Institute:

3 cups water
4 cloves
2 pinches nutmeg, ground
2 pinches cinnamon, ground
2 pinches cardamom, ground
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped fine
1 tsp black tea (with or without caffeine according to your dosha and, or current imbalances)
1 cup milk (more or less according to your dosha, taste and, or current imbalances))
2 tsp sugar, Sucanat or other sugar, such as maple syrup, according to your dosha (constitution), taste and, or current imbalances)

Boil water with spices for 2 minutes. Add tea and simmer for 2 minutes. Add milk and heat until hot but not boiling. Add sweetener, serve and enjoy! ☕️

12/17/2024

Hi, y’all! I created a retreat (in New Orleans). Join me? Here are the deets: Life, work and the new year are coming at us fast, but guess what? We can slow it down — for a few hours at least. Join me on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 at ArtEgg studios in New Orleans for a half-day, guided mini-retreat to relax, restore and rest. This intimate, in-person, four-hour event will feature pranayama (breathwork), Dharana (meditation), restorative yoga asana (physical practice) and an Ayurvedic workshop (talk) session to help you connect to your true nature. Take this opportunity to reconnect with your inner self and leave feeling refreshed and renewed. This event, held in the studio of artist Caroline Mendez amid her lively and expressive artwork, is limited to 10 attendees, so don’t wait to claim your spot. Agenda, pricing and other info at the link!

Ease into 2025 during a restorative mini-retreat with Living Well Ayurveda to restore your mind, body and spirit.

10/04/2024

Most mornings, I start the day with something simple like fruit. Today it was a cooling and hydrating apple and banana smoothie. It’s still hot in New Orleans so I haven’t yet switched to cool weather foods. Well, it’s day by day, really. This recipe is tridoshic (meaning good for all constitutions, but avoid if fruit combining disagrees with your digestion). I adapted this from a recipe by Joyful Belly College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion.

Apple and Banana Smoothie with Ginger and Lime:

•1 raw (sweet) apple, peeled, cored and chopped
•1 ripe (but not overly) banana, peeled and chopped
•1/4 lime, juiced
•1 cup of water
•1/4 teaspoon ground ginger or 1/2 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped
•Pinch of ground cardamom
•Sprinkle of cinnamon for garnish, optional

Add all ingredients except cinnamon to blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with sprinkle of cinnamon, if desired. Enjoy! Please let me know if you try it and tell me what you think.

09/24/2024

With each new day, week, month, season or year, we’re offered another chance to begin again. Whether your yoga practice has stalled or your nutrition has tanked, just pick up where you left off. This is why we call it practice.
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09/23/2024

You’ve probably read about ashwagandha or heard more than one friend swear by it for its calming effect. What is it and could you benefit from it? Check out my interview with Ayurveda practitioner Scott Roos for a little ashwagandha 101.

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(As with any supplement or change in diet, consult your healthcare practitioner before taking it.)

A primer on the stress-relieving wonder root You’ve probably read about ashwagandha or heard more than one friend swear by it for its calming effect. In fact, a small 2012 study by the National Cen…

08/10/2024

Did you know I created an online class? Explore Ayurveda on your own timeline with this self-paced course I designed to guide you toward a better understanding of basic Ayurvedic principles, habits and routines. In this course, you’ll discover ways to nourish your body, mind and spirit, and tap into your intuition and inner intelligence via the tools and practices of the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. Visit https://living-well-ayurveda.teachable.com/p/four-week-ayurvedic-course to learn more and buy the class. I have a limited number of spaces open and would love to see you nab one! 🌱

07/21/2024

(TL;DR? Skip to the bottom for a delish, gut healthy lassi recipe.) Rheumatoid arthritis runs in my husband’s family and a few months ago, he began experiencing joint pain. So, being the ayurvedic nutrition counselor and yoga teacher I am, I suggested a few lifestyle changes (and a trip to the doctor). The goal was (and still is, because babysteps) to transition him to an anti-inflammatory lifestyle centering on more movement (for him that looks like walks, biking, hiking, yoga and weight training) and an anti-inflammatory diet. His eating plan is a hybrid ayurvedic-mediterranean diet, because the latter is more familiar to him and this is all about meeting people where they are.

The first step was getting his gut health in order. So, I developed a lassi recipe that would: cultivate good gut bacteria (yogurt helps here) while also feeding it the enzymes (raw honey or maple syrup provides this element) that help the bacteria thrive; infuse it with spices that stoke digestive fire (agni) and have anti-inflammatory properties; and make sure it tastes good. (That last part is key!)

He loves the drink and we both enjoy it daily. He has been sticking with his plan fairly well and the combo has eliminated the pain for now, though we are both mindful that he will need to keep discussing this issue and his lifestyle plans with his doctor and monitor his health. (ALWAYS talk to your doctor when trying a new health plan.) Either way, these lifestyle changes are helping him feel more energetic and cutting down on the inflammation that was giving him pain. Long story long: Here’s the recipe! 😆

Delicious Gut Health Lassi

• 1/4 cup Greek-style yogurt
• 1 cup room temp or warm (not hot) water
• 1 teaspoon raw honey or pure maple syrup (depending on your dosha or any doshic imbalances)
• 1/4 teaspoon each ground ginger, ground cinnamon and ground turmeric (you can batch this in advance and use 1 teaspoon of the mixture)

Directions
Combine ingredients and whisk or shake. Pour into a glass and enjoy.

If you try it, let me know what you think!
✨🥛✨

01/14/2024

Sunday rest is essential. (But not just on Sunday.) Learning to spend and enjoy time alone with myself has been life changing, because: “The road is merciless when the company you can neither keep nor avoid is your own. And yet, by degrees of habit, this is how we live, until we learn how to make ourselves at home wherever we are.” — Karen Maezen Miller, “Paradise in Plain Sight: Lessons from a Zen Garden”